• Journal of the Health Care and Life Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.87-96
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• 2023

This descriptive research study aims to identify the importance and satisfaction of new advanced safety education and marine telemedicine service, and to identify the priority of educational needs for trainees who have received advanced safety reeducation. Data from 190 trainees who conducted advanced safety retraining at the MarineCom were used for the study. As a result of the study, the vital sign measurement method was selected as the top priority for the new advanced safety education, and the nervous system, circulatory system, and surgical system were selected as the top priority for the educational need by type of marine telemedicine guidance. These results suggest that there was a high demand for education on vital sign measurement methods in order to determine the appropriate first aid by grasping the overall condition of the patient in the event of an emergency. Working and monotonous daily life acted as a cause of mental and physical stress, so the incidence of patients in the nervous system, circulatory system, and surgical system was high, and compared to other systems, it was judged that the demand for education was high because the patient was related to life.

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• v.54 no.8
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• pp.454-465
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• 2024

Background and Objectives: The popliteal artery is generally regarded as a "no-stent zone." Limited data are available on the outcomes of drug-coated balloons (DCBs) for popliteal artery disease. This study aimed to evaluate the 12-month clinical outcomes among patients who received DCB treatment for atherosclerotic popliteal artery disease. Methods: This prospective, multicenter registry study enrolled 100 patients from 7 Korean endovascular centers who underwent endovascular therapy using IN.PACT DCB (Medtronic) for symptomatic atherosclerotic popliteal artery disease. The primary endpoint was 12-month clinical primary patency and the secondary endpoint was clinically driven target lesion revascularization (TLR)-free rate. Results: The mean age of the study cohort was 65.7±10.8 years, and 77% of enrolled patients were men. The mean lesion length was 93.7±53.7 mm, and total occlusions were present in 45% of patients. Technical success was achieved in all patients. Combined atherectomy was performed in 17% and provisional stenting was required in 11%. Out of the enrolled patients, 91 patients completed the 12-month follow-up. Clinical primary patency and TLR-free survival rates at 12 months were 76.0% and 87.2%, respectively. A multivariate Cox regression analysis identified female and longer lesion length as the significant independent predictors of loss of patency. Conclusions: DCB treatment yielded favorable 12-month clinical primary patency and TLR-free survival outcomes in patients with popliteal artery disease.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.291-302
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• 2024

Sustained meteorological drought can lead to hydrological drought, known as drought propagation. The propagated droughts cause more damage to the region than the non-propagated droughts. Recent studies on drought propagation have focused on identifying the lag time using correlation analysis. There is a lack of studies comparing damage patterns between propagated and non-propagated droughts. In this study, the overlap and pooling propagation between meteorological and hydrological droughts were analyzed using drought indices in Chungcheong Province to identify drought propagation, and the propagation characteristics such as pooling, attenuation, lag and extension were analyzed. The results showed that although Chungju-si experienced a meteorological drought in 2010, no damage was caused by the drought. However, a meteorological drought in 2017 and 2018 propagated into a hydrological drought of longer duration but less severity, resulting in drought-affected damage. Similarly, Cheongyang-gun experienced a meteorological drought in 2017, but no damage was reported from the drought. However, in the neighboring county of Buyeo-gun, a meteorological drought with a similar magnitude propagated to a hydrological drought during the same period, resulting in drought-affected damage. The overall results indicated that the damage from propagated drought events was more severe than the non-propagated drought events, and these results can be used as basic data for establishing drought response policies suitable for the region.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.595-608
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• 2024

In this study, aluminum lathe waste was used by replacing aggregates in certain proportions in order to obtain expansive concrete using recycled materials. For this reason, five different aluminum wastes of 1%, 2%, 3%, 4% and 5% were selected and also reference without aluminum waste was produced. Based on the mechanical tests conducted, which included slump, compression, splitting tensile, and flexural tests, it was evident that the workability of the material declined dramatically once the volume ratio of aluminum exceeded 2%. As determined by the compressive strength test (CST), the CS of concrete (1% aluminum lathe wastes replaced with aggregate) was 11% reducer than that of reference concrete. It was noted that the reference concrete's CS values, which did not include aluminum waste, were greater than those of the concrete that contained 5% aluminum. When comparing for splitting tensile strength (STS), it was observed that the results of STS generally follow the parallel inclination as the CS. The reduction in these strengths when 1% aluminum is utilized is less than 10%. These ratios modified 18% when flexural strength (FS) is considered. Therefore, 1% of aluminum waste is recommended to obtain expansive concrete with recycled materials considering minimum loss of strength. Moreover, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analysis was performed and the results also confirm that there was expansion in the aluminum added concrete. The presence of pores throughout the concrete leads to the formation of gaps, resulting in its expansion. Additionally, for practical applications, basic equations were developed to forecast the CS, STS, and FS of the concrete with aluminum lathe waste using the data already available in the literature and the findings of the current study. In conclusion, this study establishes that aluminum lathe wastes are suitable, readily available in significant quantities, locally sourced eco-materials, cost-effective, and might be selected for construction using concrete, striking a balance among financially and ecological considerations.

• Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.263-275
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• 2022

BACKGROUND: Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is a complication beyond the first-year post-heart transplantation (HTx). We aimed to test the utility of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) to detect functional/structural changes in HTx recipients with CAV. METHODS: Seventy-seven prospectively recruited HTx recipients beyond the first-year post-HTx and 18 healthy controls underwent CMR, including cine imaging of ventricular function and T1- and T2-mapping to assess myocardial tissue changes. Data analysis included quantification of global cardiac function and regional T2, T1 and extracellular volume based on the 16-segment model. International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation criteria was used to adjudicate CAV grade (0-3) based on coronary angiography. RESULTS: The majority of HTx recipients (73%) presented with CAV (1: n = 42, 2/3: n = 14, 0: n = 21). Global and segmental T2 (49.5 ± 3.4 ms vs 50.6 ± 3.4 ms, p < 0.001;16/16 segments) were significantly elevated in CAV-0 compared to controls. When comparing CAV-2/3 to CAV-1, global and segmental T2 were significantly increased (53.6 ± 3.2 ms vs. 50.6 ± 2.9 ms, p < 0.001; 16/16 segments) and left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly decreased (54 ± 9% vs. 59 ± 9%, p < 0.05). No global, structural, or functional differences were seen between CAV-0 and CAV-1. CONCLUSIONS: Transplanted hearts display functional and structural alteration compared to native hearts, even in those without evidence of macrovasculopathy (CAV-0). In addition, CMR tissue parameters were sensitive to changes in CAV-1 vs. 2/3 (mild vs. moderate/severe). Further studies are warranted to evaluate the diagnostic value of CMR for the detection and classification of CAV.

• Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.133-137
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• 2022

Backgrounds/Aims: Anatomical resection has superior oncologic outcomes over non-anatomical resection in hepatocellular carcinoma, and left lateral sectionectomy is the simplest and easiest perform anatomical resection procedure among liver resections. The purpose of this study was to find out the safety and feasibility of pure laparoscopic left lateral sectionectomy (PLLLS) for hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods: Patients who underwent left lateral sectionectomy at a tertiary referral hospital, from August 2007 to April 2019 were enrolled in this retrospective study. After matching the 1 : 3 propensity score, 17 open and 51 pure laparoscopic cases were selected out of 102 cases of total left lateral resection for hepatocellular carcinoma. The group was analyzed in terms of patient demographics, preoperative data, and postoperative outcomes. Results: During the study period, there was no open conversion case. The mean operative time and complication were not statistically significant different between the two groups. There was no statistically significant difference in disease-free survival and overall survival had no statistical between the two groups. There were no mortality cases, and postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter in the PLLLS group than in the open left lateral sectionectomy (OLLS) group. Conclusions: The oncologic outcomes and complication rate were the same in the PLLLS and OLLS groups. However, the hospital stay was shorter in the PLLLS group than in the OLLS group. The present study findings demonstrate that the PLLLS is a safe and feasible procedure for hepatocellular carcinoma.

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.325-335
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• 2024

Background and Objectives: The number of sensitized heart failure patients on waiting lists for heart transplantation (HTx) is increasing. Using the Korean Organ Transplantation Registry (KOTRY), a nationwide multicenter database, we investigated the prevalence and clinical impact of calculated panel-reactive antibody (cPRA) in patients undergoing HTx. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 813 patients who underwent HTx between 2014 and 2021. Patients were grouped according to peak PRA level as group A: patients with cPRA ≤10% (n= 492); group B: patients with cPRA >10%, <50% (n=160); group C patients with cPRA ≥50% (n=161). Post-HTx outcomes were freedom from antibody-mediated rejection (AMR), acute cellular rejection, coronary allograft vasculopathy, and all-cause mortality. Results: The median follow-up duration was 44 (19-72) months. Female sex, re-transplantation, and pre-HTx renal replacement therapy were independently associated with an increased risk of sensitization (cPRA ≥50%). Group C patients were more likely to have longer hospital stays and to use anti-thymocyte globulin as an induction agent compared to groups A and B. Significantly more patients in group C had positive flow cytometric crossmatch and had a higher incidence of preformed donor-specific antibody (DSA) compared to groups A and B. During follow-up, group C had a significantly higher rate of AMR, but the overall survival rate was comparable to that of groups A and B. In a subgroup analysis of group C, post-transplant survival was comparable despite higher preformed DSA in a desensitized group compared to the non-desensitized group. Conclusions: Patients with cPRA ≥50% had significantly higher incidence of preformed DSA and lower freedom from AMR, but post-HTx survival rates were similar to those with cPRA <50%. Our findings suggest that sensitized patients can attain comparable post-transplant survival to non-sensitized patients when treated with optimal desensitization treatment and therapeutic intervention.

• Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.84-90
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• 2022

Backgrounds/Aims: Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) remains a dreadful complication. Duct-to-mucosa pancreaticojejunostomy (DTMPJ) is a commonly performed anastomosis after PD. This study aims to evaluate whether there is a size limit of pancreatic duct below which POPF rate increases significantly after DTMPJ. Methods: A retrospective study was performed from a database with prospectively collected data on consecutive patients undergoing DTMPJ. Results: Between the years 2003 and 2019, a total of 288 patients with DTMPJ were recruited. POPF occurred in 56.3% of the patients, of which 43.8% were biochemical leak, 8.7% were grade B, and 1.4% were grade C. Overall operative morbidity was 51.4%, of which 19.1% were major complications. Five patients (1.7%) died within 90 days of operation. Patients with grade B/C POPF had significantly soft pancreas (p < 0.001), smaller duct size (p = 0.031), and a diagnosis of carcinoma of the pancreas (p = 0.027). When a clinically significant POPF rate was analysed based on the pancreatic duct diameter, pancreatic duct size ≤ 1 mm had the highest POPF rate (35.7%). There was a significant difference in POPF rate between adjacent ductal diameter ≤ 1 mm and > 1 mm to 2 mm (35.7% vs 13.3%; p = 0.040). Multivariable analysis showed that for the soft pancreas, pancreatic duct diameter ≤ 1 mm was the only significant predictive factor for POPF (p = 0.027). Conclusions: DTMPJ can be safely performed for pancreatic duct > 1 mm without significantly increased POPF risk.

• Experimental and Molecular Medicine
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• v.54
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• pp.1236-1249
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• 2022

Acquired resistance to inhibitors of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) is a major clinical challenge for ALK fusion-positive non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In the absence of secondary ALK mutations, epigenetic reprogramming is one of the main mechanisms of drug resistance, as it leads to phenotype switching that occurs during the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Although drug-induced epigenetic reprogramming is believed to alter the sensitivity of cancer cells to anticancer treatments, there is still much to learn about overcoming drug resistance. In this study, we used an in vitro model of ceritinib-resistant NSCLC and employed genome-wide DNA methylation analysis in combination with single-cell (sc) RNA-seq to identify cytidine deaminase (CDA), a pyrimidine salvage pathway enzyme, as a candidate drug target. CDA was hypomethylated and upregulated in ceritinib-resistant cells. CDA-overexpressing cells were rarely but definitively detected in the naïve cell population by scRNA-seq, and their abundance was increased in the acquired-resistance population. Knockdown of CDA had antiproliferative effects on resistant cells and reversed the EMT phenotype. Treatment with epigenome-related nucleosides such as 5-formyl-2'-deoxycytidine selectively ablated CDA-overexpressing resistant cells via accumulation of DNA damage. Collectively, our data suggest that targeting CDA metabolism using epigenome-related nucleosides represents a potential new therapeutic strategy for overcoming ALK inhibitor resistance in NSCLC.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.87 no.4
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• pp.465-472
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• 2024

Background: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) expressing eosinophilia experience slightly fewer episodes of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), than those without eosinophilia. However, the severity and burden of hospitalized pneumonia patients with COPD involving eosinophilia have not been assessed. Methods: We evaluated the differences in clinical characteristics between patients with CAP and COPD with or without eosinophilia by a post hoc analysis of a prospective, multi-center, cohort study data. Results: Of 349 CAP patients with COPD, 45 (12.9%) had eosinophilia (blood eosinophil ≥300 cells/µL). Patients with eosinophilia had a lower sputum culture percentile (8.1% vs. 23.4%, p<0.05), a lower percentile of neutrophils (70.3% vs. 80.2%, p<0.05), reduced C-reactive protein levels (30.6 mg/L vs. 86.6 mg/L, p<0.05), and a lower pneumonia severity index score (82.5 vs. 90.0, p<0.05), than those without eosinophilia. The duration of antibiotic treatment (8.0 days vs. 10.0 days, p<0.05) and hospitalization (7.0 days vs. 9.0 days, p<0.05) were shorter in eosinophilic patients. The cost of medical care per day (256.4 US$ vs. 291.0 US$, p<0.05), cost for the medication (276.4 US$ vs. 349.9 US$, p<0.05), and cost for examination (685.5 US$ vs. 958.1 US$, p<0.05) were lower in patients with eosinophilia than those without eosinophilia. Conclusion: Eosinophilia serves as a favorable marker for the severity of pneumonia, health-care consumption, and cost of medical care in patients with CAP and COPD.