• Title/Summary/Keyword: Defect Rate

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Clinical Characteristics and Prognostic Factors of Vesicoureteral Reflux (방광요관역류의 임상적 특징 및 예후인자)

  • Kim, Wun-Kon;Ha, Tae-Sun
    • Childhood Kidney Diseases
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    • v.18 no.1
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    • pp.29-35
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    • 2014
  • Introduction: Persistent vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), a major cause of urinary tract infection (UTI) in children, can result in serious renal complications, such as reflux nephropathy and chronic renal failure. We evaluated the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of VUR. Methods: From December 1993 to May 2011, we examined 117 children with vesicoureteral reflux who were admitted to the Department of Pediatrics and Urology, Chungbuk National University hospital for a UTI. The patients were managed medically or surgically. Results: Male patients had a slightly higher prevalence of VUR than female patients (55%). The degrees of the 161 refluxing ureters, as classified by the International Reflux Study Committee, were as follows: grade I, 15 ureters; grade II, 32 ureters; grade III, 54 ureters; grade IV, 26 ureters; grade V, 34 ureters. One hundred and sixty-one renal units (115 cases) underwent a 99m TC-DMSA renal scan, and 62% showed abnormal findings. The incidence of renal cortical defects showed a direct correlation with the severity of VUR. Ninety-four refluxing ureters were followed up medically, and 66 ureters (67%) either disappeared or improved. However, 9 refluxing ureters persisted. The spontaneous resolution rate of VUR seemed to be higher in younger patients with lower grades of reflux, and without renal cortical defects. Sixty-seven refluxing ureters (41%) were treated surgically, 62 refluxing ureters (92%) disappeared, and 5 refluxing ureters (8%) persisted. Conclusion: The incidence of renal cortical defects in patients with UTIs was 62% (in a 99m TC-DMSA renal scan), and showed a direct correlation with the severity of VUR. The spontaneous resolution rate seemed to be lower in the patients with higher grades of VUR, older age (over 4 years old) and diffuse renal cortical defects.

Avascular Necrosis of Femoral Head on Bone Scan (대퇴골두 무혈성 괴사의 뼈스캔상의 병기)

  • Yang, Hyung-In;Kim, Eui-Jong;Kim, Deog-Yoon;Ryu, Kyung-Nam;Cho, Kyung-Sam
    • The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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    • v.28 no.2
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    • pp.206-213
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    • 1994
  • We studied 90 patients(179 femoral heads) with avascular necrosis of femoral head, who had been performed X-ray, bone scan and MRI to compare of the findings of AVN on bone scan between each other, retrospectively. The patients were 82 males and 9 females, their mean age was 45 years. Radiographic stages were classified by Steinberg modification, radionuclide stages were classified as followed; stage o(or type 0) : normal, stage 1 : faint ring like uptake around the femoral head, stage 2: intense ring like uptake, stage 3: irregular increased uptake with central photon defect, stage 4 : Intense diffuse increased uptake at femoral head and stage 5 : hip joint deformity with relatively mild increased uptake. The findings of MRI were classified according to extent, location, early or advanced lesion, signal intensity of the lesion and joint effusion. 156(87%) of 179 femoral heads had avascular necrosis, 68(75.5%) of 90 patients had bilateral AVN, 35 femoral heads had early stage and 120 had advanced stage. The detection rate of AVN by X-ray and bone scan were 85% (134), 91.6% (143), respectively. Early AVN with atypical types of bone scan showed larger extent, moderate to large amount of joint effusion, soft tissue hypertrophy within joint, and secondary degenerative changes. Bone scan had relatively high detection rate in the diagnosis of AVN of femoral head, and demonstrated various types depending on the disease stage.

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Dietary Life Status of Korean Prisoners' and the Background during the Period of Japanese Ruling (일제하(日帝下)(1920년대) 조선인수형인(朝鮮人受刑人)의 식생활상황(食生活狀況)과 그 배경(背景))

  • Kim, Chon-Ho
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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    • v.18 no.1
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    • pp.56-68
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    • 2003
  • The objects of this study are to find out (1) real situation of the food supply in prison under Imperial Government of Japan more cleary (historical meaning) and (2) which might help in understanding wrong present food consumption patterns in Korea which causes environmental as well as health problems. It is generally known that the length of the Japanese occupation for Korea is 36 years. However, it is concluded in this study that it was longer (70 years ; from 1875 to 1945 from when Japanese Army attacked and occupied Yungjongdo and Kanghwado island to e time when they were defeated on World War II.) Korea was annexed by Japan in 1910 then the Imperial Government of Japan dismissed the Korea Army, controlled the Office of Justice and the management of prison by force. Since then about 50% of all land was fell into Japanese Government ownership and 80% of Korean farmers became as tenant. After this change, Korea farmers were forced to pay extremely high rent (up to 80% of its harvest). Forced immigration, low price procurement of grain by Japanese government up to more than 30%of their production, was practiced. Accordingly, the food situation of Korean farmers became miserable, which may caused more violations of Imperial Japanese Law. Malnutrition, epidemic diseases, mortality rate of infants soared and average life expectancy shortened to 20-30 years old. This was the period of World Economic Crises and Food Crises in Japan. It was said then that if one Japanese comes to Korea then 200 Koreans will starved to death. Meanwhile, Proconsul Bureau of Chosun requested to the Department of Medicine, the Imperial University of Kyungsung to survey food supply situation of Koreans in prison throughout Korea. Objectives of the survey then was not only to find out scientifically whether it is agreeable in maintaining prisoner's health and also find out the possibility to save food during food crisis. Survey was started from 1923 and ended in 1945, and it focussed on prisoners in the Seodaemoon Prison. This report is the outcome of the first survey. They concluded that the food supplied was nutritionally (had) no problem, in compare with those of workers in the factory, students in the dormitory in Japan and with those of prisoners in Taiwan, France and Germany. Amount of grain supplied were different according to their work lord and was divided into 9 different levels. Total grain was consisted of 50% millet, 30% soybean and 20% indica rice(variety). However, there were no difference in the amount of supply of side dishes between work groups. For the highest working group, 3280g of boiled grain per day was supplied to make stomach full but as a side dishes, salty fermented bean paste, fermented fish and salty soups, etc. was supplied. Deficiency of animal protein were observed, however, high intake of soybean may possibly caused animal protein deficiency problem. On the contrary, the intake of water soluble vitamins were insufficient but the level of calcium and iron intake seems to be sufficient, however, imbalance of intake of nutrition may caused low absorbtion rate which might caused malnutrition. High intake of dietary fiber and low intake of cholesterol may possibly prohibited them from so called modem disease but may caused the defect in disease resistancy againist epidemics and other traditional disease. Over intake of salt(20-30g per day) was observed. Surveyors who attended in this survey, mentioned that the amount of food intake may nutritionally be sufficient enough but the quality of food(and possibly, the taste of food) were like that of animal feed. For the officials who received this report might consider that considering the war situation and food crisis, the supply situation of food in the prison may considered to be good enough(because they are not starving). But as a Korean who studied this report, one feel extremely pity about those situation because (situation of) those period were very harsh under the Imperial Law and keeping the Law by Koreans were almost impossible, therefore, about one third adult violated the Law and were put into jail. And they were treated like animals.

Pelvic MRI Application to the Dosimetric Analysis in Brachytherapy of Uterine Cervix Carcinoma (자궁경부암의 강내조사치료에 있어서 흠수선량평가시 골반강 자기공명사진의 응용)

  • Chung, Woong-Ki;Nah, Byung-Sik;Ahn, Sung-Ja
    • Radiation Oncology Journal
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    • v.15 no.1
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    • pp.57-64
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    • 1997
  • Purpose : Before we report the results of curative radiotherapy in cervix cancer patients, we review the significance and safety of our dose specification methods in the brachytherapy system to have the insight of the potential Predictive value of doses at specified points. Matersials and Methods : We analyze the 리5 cases of cervix cancer patients treated with intracavitary brachytherapy in the lateral simulation film we draw the isodose curve and observe the absorbed dose rate of point A, the reference point of bladder(SBD) and rectum(SRD). In the sagittal view of Pelvic MRI film we demarcate the tumor volume(TV) and determine whether the prescription dose curve of point A covers the tumor volume adequately by drawing the isodose curve as correctly as possible. Also we estimate the maximum Point dose of bladder(MBD) and rectum(MRD) and calculate the inclusion area where the absorbed dose rate is higher than that of point A in the bladder(HBV) and rectum(HRV), respectively. Results : Of forty-five cases, the isodose curve of point A seems to cover tumor volume optimally in only 24(53%). The optimal tumor coverage seems to be associated not with the stage of the disease but with the tumor volume. There is no statistically significant association between SBD/SRD and MBD/MRD, respectively. SRD has statistically marginally significant association with HRV, while TV has statistically significant association with HBV and HRV. Conclusion : Our current treatment calculation methods seem to have the defect in the aspects of the nonoptimal coverage of the bulky tumor and the inappropriate estimation of bladder dose. We therefore need to modify the applicator geometry to optimize the dose distribution at the position of lower tandem source. Also it appears that the position of the bladder in relation to the applicators needs to be defined individually to define 'hot spots'.

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Characterization of SiC nanowire Synthesized by Thermal CVD (열 화학기상증착법을 이용한 탄화규소 나노선의 합성 및 특성연구)

  • Jung, M.W.;Kim, M.K.;Song, W.;Jung, D.S.;Choi, W.C.;Park, C.J.
    • Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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    • v.19 no.4
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    • pp.307-313
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    • 2010
  • One-dimensional cubic phase silicon carbide nanowires (${\beta}$-SiC NWs) were efficiently synthesized by thermal chemical vapor deposition (TCVD) with mixtures containing Si powders and nickel chloride hexahydrate $(NiCl_2{\cdot}6H_2O)$ in an alumina boat with a carbon source of methane $(CH_4)$ gas. SEM images are shown that the growth temperature (T) of $1,300^{\circ}C$ is not enough to synthesize the SiC NWs owing to insufficient thermal energy for melting down a Si powder and decomposing the methane gas. However, the SiC NWs could be synthesized at T>$1,300^{\circ}C$ and the most efficient temperature for growth of SiC NWs is T=$1,400^{\circ}C$. The synthesized SiC NWs have the diameter with an average range between 50~150 nm. Raman spectra clearly revealed that the synthesized SiC NWs are forming of a cubic phase (${\beta}$-SiC). Two distinct peaks at 795 and $970 cm^{-1}$ in Raman spectra of the synthesized SiC NWs at T=$1,400^{\circ}C$ represent the TO and LO mode of the bulk ${\beta}$-SiC, respectively. XRD spectra are also supported to the Raman spectra resulting in the strongest (111) peaks at $2{\Theta}=35.7^{\circ}$, which is the (111) plane peak position of 3C-SiC. Moreover, the gas flow rate of 300 sccm for methane is the optimal condition for synthesis of a large amount of ${\beta}$-SiC NW without producing the amorphous carbon structure shown at a high methane flow rate of 800 sccm. TEM images are shown two kinds of the synthesized ${\beta}$-SiC NWs structures. One is shown the defect-free ${\beta}$-SiC NWs with a (111) interplane distance of 0.25 nm, and the other is the stacking-faulted ${\beta}$-SiC NWs. Also, TEM images exhibited that two distinct SiC NWs are uniformly covered with $SiO_2$ layer with a thickness of less 2 nm.

Survival and Problems after Repair of Tetralogy of Fallot (Fallot 4징 교정수술후의 생존 및 문제점)

  • 손세정;한재진;이영탁;김성호
    • Journal of Chest Surgery
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    • v.32 no.3
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    • pp.237-248
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    • 1999
  • Background: The late results of repair of tetralogy of Fallot(TOF) are favorable in most patients. Some portion of the patients with tetralogy, however, require reoperation for residual lesions or result in late death. The outcome of patients after tetralogy repair performed during the past 13 years was studied, with an emphasis on postrepair survival and problems including reoperations. Material and Method: A retrospective review of clinical, echocardiographic and catheterization data was performed in 569 of 775 patients with TOF who underwent corrective repair between 1983 and 1995 at Sejong General Hospital, Buchon, Korea. Result: Of 28(4.9%) early deaths(defined as 30 days postrepair), 12 deaths(42.9%) were <1 year of age, with an operative mortality of 15.4%. The surviving 541 patients(age 2.8 months to 43.4 years, median 23 months) have been followed up from 1 month to 12.6 years(median 35 months) postoperatively. Most patients were in good functional class and had normal right ventricular(RV) function. Postrepair results were compared between the transatrial-transpulmonary approach and the conventional right ventriculotomy. The former technique provided a lesser incidence of significant pulmonary regurgitation(P<0.001) and alesser degree of RV dysfunction(P<0.05) compared with those in the latter. There were 10(1.8%) late deaths during the follow-up period and 6 of the deaths were directly related to reoperation or ventricular dysfunction. The 10-year actuarial survival rate was 96.7%. There were 44 reoperations(8.1%) in 39 patients(7.2%), with an operative mortality of 10.3%. The main indications or reoperation included residual ventricular septal defect(VSD) (n=6), pulmonary stenosis(PS) (n=11), VSD with PS(n=17), pulmonary regurgitation(n=7), and tricuspid regurgitation(n=2). The 5- and 10-year freedom from reoperation were 89.4% and 76.1%, respectively. Conclusion: Although the majority of patients with repaired TOF are clinically well, with a high rate of survival, approximately 7% of patients have residual lesions that require surgical therapy. Therefore, the timely and meticulous corrective repair is mandatory to avoid reoperation, and continued close surveillance is also needed for the early detection of residual problems.

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Differential Effects of Recovery Efforts on Products Attitudes (제품태도에 대한 회복노력의 차별적 효과)

  • Kim, Cheon-GIl;Choi, Jung-Mi
    • Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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    • v.18 no.1
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    • pp.33-58
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    • 2008
  • Previous research has presupposed that the evaluation of consumer who received any recovery after experiencing product failure should be better than the evaluation of consumer who did not receive any recovery. The major purposes of this article are to examine impacts of product defect failures rather than service failures, and to explore effects of recovery on postrecovery product attitudes. First, this article deals with the occurrence of severe and unsevere failure and corresponding service recovery toward tangible products rather than intangible services. Contrary to intangible services, purchase and usage are separable for tangible products. This difference makes it clear that executing an recovery strategy toward tangible products is not plausible right after consumers find out product failures. The consumers may think about backgrounds and causes for the unpleasant events during the time gap between product failure and recovery. The deliberation may dilutes positive effects of recovery efforts. The recovery strategies which are provided to consumers experiencing product failures can be classified into three types. A recovery strategy can be implemented to provide consumers with a new product replacing the old defective product, a complimentary product for free, a discount at the time of the failure incident, or a coupon that can be used on the next visit. This strategy is defined as "a rewarding effort." Meanwhile a product failure may arise in exchange for its benefit. Then the product provider can suggest a detail explanation that the defect is hard to escape since it relates highly to the specific advantage to the product. The strategy may be called as "a strengthening effort." Another possible strategy is to recover negative attitude toward own brand by giving prominence to the disadvantages of a competing brand rather than the advantages of its own brand. The strategy is reflected as "a weakening effort." This paper emphasizes that, in order to confirm its effectiveness, a recovery strategy should be compared to being nothing done in response to the product failure. So the three types of recovery efforts is discussed in comparison to the situation involving no recovery effort. The strengthening strategy is to claim high relatedness of the product failure with another advantage, and expects the two-sidedness to ease consumers' complaints. The weakening strategy is to emphasize non-aversiveness of product failure, even if consumers choose another competitive brand. The two strategies can be effective in restoring to the original state, by providing plausible motives to accept the condition of product failure or by informing consumers of non-responsibility in the failure case. However the two may be less effective strategies than the rewarding strategy, since it tries to take care of the rehabilitation needs of consumers. Especially, the relative effect between the strengthening effort and the weakening effort may differ in terms of the severity of the product failure. A consumer who realizes a highly severe failure is likely to attach importance to the property which caused the failure. This implies that the strengthening effort would be less effective under the condition of high product severity. Meanwhile, the failing property is not diagnostic information in the condition of low failure severity. Consumers would not pay attention to non-diagnostic information, and with which they are not likely to change their attitudes. This implies that the strengthening effort would be more effective under the condition of low product severity. A 2 (product failure severity: high or low) X 4 (recovery strategies: rewarding, strengthening, weakening, or doing nothing) between-subjects design was employed. The particular levels of product failure severity and the types of recovery strategies were determined after a series of expert interviews. The dependent variable was product attitude after the recovery effort was provided. Subjects were 284 consumers who had an experience of cosmetics. Subjects were first given a product failure scenario and were asked to rate the comprehensibility of the failure scenario, the probability of raising complaints against the failure, and the subjective severity of the failure. After a recovery scenario was presented, its comprehensibility and overall evaluation were measured. The subjects assigned to the condition of no recovery effort were exposed to a short news article on the cosmetic industry. Next, subjects answered filler questions: 42 items of the need for cognitive closure and 16 items of need-to-evaluate. In the succeeding page a subject's product attitude was measured on an five-item, six-point scale, and a subject's repurchase intention on an three-item, six-point scale. After demographic variables of age and sex were asked, ten items of the subject's objective knowledge was checked. The results showed that the subjects formed more favorable evaluations after receiving rewarding efforts than after receiving either strengthening or weakening efforts. This is consistent with Hoffman, Kelley, and Rotalsky (1995) in that a tangible service recovery could be more effective that intangible efforts. Strengthening and weakening efforts also were effective compared to no recovery effort. So we found that generally any recovery increased products attitudes. The results hint us that a recovery strategy such as strengthening or weakening efforts, although it does not contain a specific reward, may have an effect on consumers experiencing severe unsatisfaction and strong complaint. Meanwhile, strengthening and weakening efforts were not expected to increase product attitudes under the condition of low severity of product failure. We can conclude that only a physical recovery effort may be recognized favorably as a firm's willingness to recover its fault by consumers experiencing low involvements. Results of the present experiment are explained in terms of the attribution theory. This article has a limitation that it utilized fictitious scenarios. Future research deserves to test a realistic effect of recovery for actual consumers. Recovery involves a direct, firsthand experience of ex-users. Recovery does not apply to non-users. The experience of receiving recovery efforts can be relatively more salient and accessible for the ex-users than for non-users. A recovery effort might be more likely to improve product attitude for the ex-users than for non-users. Also the present experiment did not include consumers who did not have an experience of the products and who did not perceive the occurrence of product failure. For the non-users and the ignorant consumers, the recovery efforts might lead to decreased product attitude and purchase intention. This is because the recovery trials may give an opportunity for them to notice the product failure.

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Clinical Outcome of Treatment for Stage IIA, IIB and III Osteosarcomas (Comparative Studies between Invasive Surgical Treatment and Non-invasive HIFU Technique) (진행된 장관골 골육종의 수술 및 비수술적 강력 집속 초음파 치료의 장기 추적 결과)

  • Wenzhi, Chen;Wei, Wang;Zhibiao, Wang;Hui, Zhu;Kequan, Li;Hao, Piao Xiang;Haibing, Su;Chengbing, Jin;Feng, Wu;Jin, Bai;Rhee, Seung-Koo;Kang, Yong-Koo;Bahk, Won-Jong;Chung, Yang-Guk;Huh, Sung-Woo;Lee, Eun-Sang
    • The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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    • v.12 no.1
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    • pp.37-46
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    • 2006
  • Purpose: To evaluate the end results between the surgical treatment with neo-adjuvant chemotherapy in Korea and non-invasive high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) technique in China for osteogenic sarcomas. Materials and Methods: The surgical treatment with neoadjuvant chemotherapy for total 67 cases (4 IIA, 58 IIB, and 5 III) in Korea since 1993 and the HIFU therapy for total 71 cases (57 II and 14 III) in China since 1997 was performed. In Korea, neo-adjuvant chemotherapy in 66 cases out of total 67 patients, but the adjuvant chemotherapy in only one case was done. On the contrary, in China, full chemotherapy for more than 9 times for 37 patients with stage II out of total 71 cases, but for less than 8 times of partial chemotherapy for 23 patients (stage II) and 14 patients (stage III) was done. The surgical treatment in total 67 Korean patients was done with wide resection and reconstruction for 56 patients, but wide resection without reconstruction for 5 patients and amputation for 6 patients. In china, total 71 patients was treated with average 1.5 times (1~4 times) of HIFU, and if there are some evidences of residual tumor after HIFU with following MRI, the second HIFU therapy was given 2~4 weeks later. After then, the bony defect was in no touch, keep bracing for long time expecting regeneration. All of them were followed for average 46 Mo (12~150 Mo) in Korea, but followed for average 22 Mo (9 years~8 months) in China. Results: The 5 year survival rate (stage II), was average 92.7% (IIA 100%, IIB 85.5%) in Korea series, and average 78.7% (full chemotherapy 91.8%, part chemotherapy 56.6%) in China series. The 3 year survival rate (stage III) was 20% in Korea and 7.1% in China. So, the final overall survival rate was 65.2% in Korea and 51.8% in China. The overall functional outcome score by ISOLS was 24.3 (81%) in Korea and 19.8 (73%) in China. There are 25.4% (17/67 cases) of complications in Korea and 31% (27 complications in 22 patients out of total 71 cases) in China after each treatment. Conclusions: The end results of Korea series which was treated with neoadjuvant chemo- and surgical methods are better than that of non-invasive thermal ablation in china. But we also believe the HIFU, as one of, was also effective to decrease the local recurrence and symptomatic releaf for stage II or even in III of osteogenic sarcomas.

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Early and Mid-term Results of Operation for Infective Endocarditis on Mitral Valve (감염성 승모판 심내막염의 중단기 수술 성적)

  • Ahn, Byong-Hee;Chun, Joon-Kyung;Yu, Ung;Ryu, Sang-Wan;Choi, Yong-Sun;Kim, Byong-Pyo;Hong, Sung-Bum;Bum, Min-Sun;Na, Kook-Ju;Park, Jong-Chun;Kim, Sang-Hyung
    • Journal of Chest Surgery
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    • v.37 no.1
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    • pp.27-34
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    • 2004
  • Background: Infective endocarditis shows higher operative morbidity and mortality rates than other cardiac diseases. The vast majority of studies on infective endocarditis have been made on aortic endocarditis, with little attention having been paid to infective endocarditis on the mitral valve. This study attempts to investigate the clinical aspects and operative results of infective endocarditis on the mitral valve. Meterial and Method: The subjects of this study consist of 23 patients who underwent operations for infective endocariditis on the mitral valve from June 1995 to May 2003. Among them, 2 patients suffered from prosthetic valvular endocarditis and the other 21 from native valvular endocarditis. The subjects were evenly distributed age-wise with an average age of 44.8$\pm$15.7 (11∼66) years. Emergency operations were performed on seventeen patients (73.9%) due to large vegetation or instable hemodynamic status. In preoperative examinations, twelve patients exhibited congestive heart failure, four patients renal failure, two patients spleen and renal infarction, and two patients temporary neurological defects, while one patient had a brain abscess. Based on the NYHA functional classification, seven patients were determined to be at Grade II, 9 patients at Grade III, and 6 patients at Grade IV. Vegetations were detected in 20 patients while mitral regurgitation was dominant in 19 patients with 4 patients showing up as mitral stenosis dominant on the preoperative echocardiogram. Blood cultures for causative organisms were performed on all patients, and positive results were obtained from ten patients, with five cases of Streptococcus viridance, two cases of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus, and one case each of Corynebacteriurn, Haemophillis, and Gernella. Operations were decided according to the AA/AHA guidelines (1988). The mean follow-up period was 27.6 $\pm$23.3 (1 ∼ 97) months. Result: Mitral valve replacements were performed on 43 patients, with mechanical valves being used on 9 patients and tissue valves on the other 4. Several kinds of mitral valve repair or mitral valvuloplasty were carried out on the remaining 10 patients. Associated procedures included six aortic valve replacements, two tricuspid annuloplasty, one modified Maze operation, and one direct closure of a ventricular septal defect. Postoperative complications included two cases of bleeding and one case each of mediastinitis, low cardiac output syndrome, and pneumonia. There were no cases of early deaths, or death within 30 days following the operation. No patient died in the hospital or experienced valve related complications. One patient, however, underwent mitral valvuloplasty 3 months after the operation. Another patient died from intra-cranial hemorrhage in the 31st month after the operation. Therefore, the valve-related death rate was 4.3%, and the valve-related complication rate 8.6% on mid-term follow-up. 1, 3-, and 5-year valve- related event free rates were 90.8%, 79.5%, and 79.5%, respectively, while 1, follow-up. 1, 3-, and 5-year valve- related event free rates were 90.8%, 79.5%, and 79.5%, respectively, while 1, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 100%, 88.8%, and 88.8%, respectively. Conclusion: The findings suggest that a complete removal of infected tissues is essential in the operative treatment of infectious endocarditis of the mitral valve. It is also suggested that when infected tissues are completely removed, neither type of material nor method of operation has a significant effect on the operation result. The postoperative results also suggest the need for a close follow-up observation of the patients suspected of having brain damage, which is caused by preoperative blood contamination or emboli from vegetation, for a possible cerebral vascular injury such as mycotic aneurysm.

Trend Analysis of the Prices and Numbers of Azalea Cultivars for Landscaping in Korea (국내 조경용 철쭉류의 가격 및 종수 추이분석)

  • Choi, Jae-Jin;Park, Seok-Gon
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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    • v.42 no.4
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    • pp.30-36
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    • 2014
  • This study was conducted to determine the causes of unreasonable prices and small numbers of azalea cultivars by analyzing the price trends and the number of azalea cultivars announced over the last 25 years based on data from the Public Procurement Service(PPS), Korea Price Research Center and the Landscaping Tree Association(LTA)(hereinafter, officially announcing agencies and organizations) which are major references used when landscape planting is decided. The prices of azalea cultivars announced by the official announcing agencies and organizations have moved in similar patterns over the past 25 years because the prices of azalea cultivars announced by the LTA were referred to by other official announcing agencies and organizations when they officially announced the prices of azalea cultivars. The PPS set lower officially fixed prices of azalea cultivars compared to other official announcing agencies and organizations, and the reason for this is considered to be the intention of the PPS to suppress landscape tree price increases because of the government's policies to suppress price increases. The prices of azalea cultivars seem to change rapidly due to the imbalance between the demand and supply of azalea cultivars rather than the effects of consumer price fluctuation rates because the production periods of azalea cultivars are shorter when compared to other landscape trees. The prices of azalea cultivars from the official announcing agencies and organizations have been set higher than the prices in actual transactions. The reason for this is considered to be the intention of the official announcing agencies and organizations to allow landscaping companies to cover defect costs resulting from the practice of subcontracting planting work and secure profits of subcontractors for planting work. The official announcing agencies and organizations have simply announced prices of 5~8 main azalea cultivars that have been used in the past. The names of azalea cultivars being cultivated and criteria for classification have not been clear; thus, landscape designers have not written clear names of azalea cultivars to be cultivated on planting drawings as practice and landscapers planted those azalea cultivars which could be easily obtained. Therefore, it is assumed that there has been no demand for new azalea cultivars. Thus, the vicious circle in which the prices of only those azalea cultivars that were produced in the past have been announced is repeated.