• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.237-244
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• 2001

Back pain has plagued humans for many thousands of years. The treatment of back pain is divided into operative treatment and conservative treatment. It is reported that cure rate of conservative treatment is 80~90 percent. Generally, the treatment of oriental medicine is mostly conservative treatment. But, surgery should not be used as a last resort in treatment; it is just one of many treatment options for various spinal conditions. In some instance, it can be to preferred choice; in other situations, alternative therapies may be superior. Selections of the operation in HIVD 1. Acute disc herniations with a protracted significant component af back pain. 2. Chronic disc degeneration with significant back pain and degeneration limited to one or two disc levels. 3. Sugical instability created during decompression. 4. The presence of neural arch defects coincident with disc disease. 5. Symptamatic and radiographically demonstrable segmental instability. Selections of the operation in stenosis 1. If it does not slowly progress in physical therapy and other nonoperative measures, many of these patients may ultimately need surgical decompression. 2. Absolute stenosis in an impression of CT, MRI.(under 10mm) 3. In patients with established symptoms of .neurogenic claudication. 4. In patients with bad influence of neurogenic derangement.(strength, sensory) Selections of the operation in spondylolisthesis 1. Persistence or recurrence of major symptoms for at least one year despite activity modification and physical therapy. 2. Tight hamstrings, persistently abnormal gait, or postural deformities unrelieved by physical therapy. 3. Sciatic scoliosis. 4. Progressive neurologic deficit. 5. Progressive slipping beyond 25 or 50 percent, even when asymptomatic. 6. A high slip angle (40 to 50 degrees) in a growing child, since it is likely to be associated with further progression and deformity. 7. Psychologic problems attributed to shortness of trunk, abnormal gait, and postural deformities characteristic of more severe slips.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.22-28
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• 2016

Background: Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) with selective shunting is the surgical method currently used to treat patients with carotid artery disease. We evaluated the incidence of major postoperative complications in patients who underwent CEA with selective shunting under transcranial Doppler (TCD) at our institution. Methods: The records of 45 patients who underwent CEA with TCD-based selective shunting under general anesthesia from November 2009 to June 2015 were reviewed. The risk factors for postoperative complications were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analysis. Results: Preoperative atrial fibrillation was observed in three patients. Plaque ulceration was detected in 10 patients (22.2%) by preoperative computed tomography imaging. High-level stenosis was observed in 16 patients (35.5%), and 18 patients had contralateral stenosis. Twenty patients (44.4%) required shunt placement due to reduced TCD flow or a poor temporal window. The 30-day mortality rate was 2.2%. No cases of major stroke were observed in the 30 days after surgery, but four cases of minor stroke were noted. Univariate analysis showed that preoperative atrial fibrillation (odds ratio [OR], 40; p=0.018) and ex-smoker status (OR, 17.5; p=0.021) were statistically significant risk factors for a minor stroke in the 30-day postoperative period. Analogously, multivariate analysis also found that atrial fibrillation (p<0.001) and ex-smoker status (p=0.002) were significant risk factors for a minor stroke in the 30-day postoperative period. No variables were identified as risk factors for 30-day major stroke or death. No wound complications were found, although one (2.2%) of the patients suffered from a hypoglossal nerve injury. Conclusion: TCD-based CEA is a safe and reliable method to treat patients with carotid artery disease. Preoperative atrial fibrillation and ex-smoker status were found to increase the postoperative risk of a small embolism leading to a minor neurologic deficit.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.490-497
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• 2018

Background: The growth process of ginseng seedlings is very important in producing good quality ginseng. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of different microclimates on the growth characteristics of ginseng seedlings in a multi-layer bed facility. Methods and Results: Ginseng seedlings were cultivated in a three-layer bed facility. The air temperatures on the first and second floors were similar, while that on the third floor was about $1-4^{\circ}C$ higher than that on the other floors. The vapor pressure deficit (VPD) was higher inside than on the outside of the facility, and that on third floor was the highest in the multi-layer bed system. The photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll fluorescence, and growth characteristics of ginseng seedlings did not significantly differ among the three floors. The yield of ginseng seedlings was the highest at $721g/1.62m^2$ on the first floor. Conclusions: It was found that microclimate plays an important role in growing ginseng seedlings in multi-layer bed facilities, and therefore proper environmental control is important. In addition, producing ginseng seedlings using multi-layer bed facilities is a technology that is expected to provide a way to overcome climate change and stabilize ginseng production.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.275-282
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• 2022

Background: Stroke is a neurological disorder characterized by brain tissue damage following a decrease in oxygen supply to brain due to blocked blood vessels. Reportedly, 80% of all stroke cases are classified as cerebral infarction, and the incidence rate of this condition increases with age. Herein, we compared the efficacies of Korean White ginseng (WG) and Korean Red Ginseng (RG) extracts (WGex and RGex, respectively) in an ischemic stroke mouse model and confirmed the underlying mechanisms of action. Methods: Mice were orally administered WGex or RGex 1 h before middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), for 2 h; the size of the infarct area was measured 24 h after MCAO induction. Then, the neurological deficit score was evaluated and the efficacies of the two extracts were compared. Finally, their mechanisms of action were confirmed with tissue staining and protein quantification. Results: In the MCAO-induced ischemic stroke mouse model, WGex and RGex showed neuroprotective effects in the cortical region, with RGex demonstrating superior efficacy than WGex. Ginsenoside Rg1, a representative indicator substance, was not involved in mediating the effects of WGex and RGex. Conclusion: WGex and RGex could alleviate the brain injury caused by ischemia/reperfusion, with RGex showing a more potent effect. At 1,000 mg/kg body weight, only RGex reduced cerebral infarction and edema, and both anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic pathways were involved in mediating these effects.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.194-200
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• 2022

Background: Injury is the leading cause of death or disability in children and adolescents. Rates of deaths from injuries have recently declined, but studies of the occurrence of nonfatal injuries are lacking. Purpose: This study aimed to investigate nonfatal injuries in children and adolescents younger than 20 years based on data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey, 2007-2018. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted to determine whether children and adolescents had experienced an injury requiring a hospital visit in the previous year. We investigated each injury's risk factors and characteristics. Results: Of a total of 21,598 children and adolescents, 1,748 (weighted percentage, 8.1%) experienced one or more injuries in the previous year. There was no yearly difference in the proportion of injuries experienced. Among the male subjects, 10.0% had an injury experience; among the female participants, 6.1% had an injury experience (P<0.001). The highest rate was 9.0% in children aged 1-4 years. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, male sex; having an urban residence; having restricted activity due to visual, hearing, or developmental impairment; and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder were significant risk factors for injury experience. The characteristics of up to 3 injuries per patient were investigated, and 1,951 injuries were analyzed. Falls and slips accounted for 34.9%, collisions for 34.1%, and motor vehicle accidents for 11.3% of the total injuries. Ninety-six percent of injuries were unintentional, 20% caused school absences, and 10% required hospitalization. Conclusion: Among Korean children and adolescents, 8.1% experienced injuries at least once a year with no significant differences in incidence over the past 12 years. Greater attention and effort to prevent injuries are needed.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.65 no.3
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• pp.57-67
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• 2023

A flash drought is a rapid-onset drought that develops over a short period of time as weather and environmental factors change rapidly, unlike general droughts, due to meteorological abnormalities. Abnormally high evapotranspiration rates and rapid declines in soil moisture increase vegetation stress. In addition, crop yields may decrease due to flash droughts during crop growth and may damage agricultural and economic ecosystems. In this study, Flash Drought Intensity Index (FDII) based on soil moisture data from Gravity Recovery Climate Experiment (GRACE) was used to analyze flash drought. FDII, which is calculated using soil moisture percentile, is expressed by multiplying two factors: the rate of intensification and the drought severity. FDII was developed for domestic flash drought events from 2014 to 2018. The flash drought that occurred in 2018, Chungcheongbuk-do showed the highest FDII. FDII was higher in heat wave flash drought than in precipitation deficit flash drought. The results of this study show that FDII is reliable flash drought analysis tool and can be applied to quantitatively analyze the characteristics of flash drought in South Korea.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.4 s.261
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• pp.289-297
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• 2006

Background: Surgery for Stanford type A aortic dissection shows a high operative mortality rate and frequent postoperative brain injury. This study was designed to find out the risk factors leading to operative mortality and brain injury after surgical repair in patients with type A aortic dissection. Material and Method: One hundred and eleven patients with type A aortic dissection who underwent surgical repair between February, 1995 and January 2005 were reviewed retrospectively. There were 99 acute dissections and 12 chronic dissections. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed to identify risk factors of operative mortality and brain injury. Resuit: Hospital mortality occurred in 6 patients (5.4%). Permanent neurologic deficit occurred in 8 patients (7.2%) and transient neurologic deficit in 4 (3.6%). Overall 1, 5, 7 year survival rate was 94.4, 86.3, and 81.5%, respectively. Univariate analysis revealed 4 risk factors to be statistically significant as predictors of mortality: previous chronic type III dissection, emergency operation, intimal tear in aortic arch, and deep hypothemic circulatory arrest (DHCA) for more than 45 minutes. Multivariate analysis revealed previous chronic type III aortic dissection (odds ratio (OR) 52.2), and DHCA for more than 45 minutes (OR 12.0) as risk factors of operative mortality. Pathological obesity (OR 12.9) and total arch replacement (OR 8.5) were statistically significant risk factors of brain injury in multivariate analysis. Conclusion: The result of surgical repair for Stanford type A aortic dissection was good when we took into account the mortality rate, the incidence of neurologic injury, and the long-term survival rate. Surgery of type A aortic dissection in patients with a history of chronic type III dissection may increase the risk of operative mortality. Special care should be taken and efforts to reduce the hypothermic circulatory arrest time should alway: be kept in mind. Surgeons who are planning to operate on patients with pathological obesity, or total arch replacement should be seriously consider for there is a higher risk of brain injury.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.376-385
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• 2013

There are conflicts about energy price increase among government, producer, and consumer. The supplier insists on price increase for escaping running a deficit and business continuity, but the consumer concerns about worsening profitability and price rise. This study investigates the effects of energy rate increase on national economy using input-ouput(I-O) analysis. This study attempts to analyze the effects of national economy due to Coke and hard-coal, Naphtha, Gasoline, Kerosene, Light oil, Heavy oil, Liquefied petroleum gas, Electric utilities, Manufactured gas supply and Steam and hot water supply (using input-output table for the year 2011, Korea.) The results of the sectoral price changes due to a 10% increase in energy price that is obtained from the Leontief price model are presented in article. The result of this analysis is presented: The impact of the 10% increase in electricity rate on the general price level is estimated to be 0.2196%. In case of Kerosene, the impact is 0.1222%. It shows that Electric utilities are approximately 18 times larger price inducing effect as Kerosene. Also, this study indicates 3 years results sequentially to make it possible to observe trend. Then, study suggests balancing price by making each energy source adjusted.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.820-828
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• 2015

This study was carried out to determine the effects of vernalization, temperature, and soil water deficit (SD) on mesophyll cells, growth, and yield of Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L). The palisade parenchyma and spongy tissues of Chinese cabbage were observed under full irrigation and two weeks of SD treatment. These cells were severely collapsed by four weeks SD treatment. The SD treatment had the greatest influence on the growth of Chinese cabbage among the tested treatment factors (vernalization, temperature, and SD), growth significantly decreased by severe drought treatment (four weeks SD treatment). In addition, the relative growth rate, unit leaf rate, leaf area ratio, specific leaf area, and leaf weight ratio were significantly affected by SD treatment; however, other individual factors and their combined treatments did not influence the analyzed growth parameters. The yield under vernalization after high temperature and full irrigation treatments was 3,056 kg/10 a, which was the greatest among all the tested treatments, while four-week SD treatment significantly reduced the yield. Head formation of Chinese cabbage was not altered under SD treatment, and vernalization treatments did not induce bolting. Our results indicated that collapsing mesophyll cells and reduced growth and yield were induced by SD treatment. Thus we suggest that optimal irrigation system should be install to avoid or overcome crippling drought conditions in the open field.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.4 no.3_4
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• pp.59-67
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• 1981

Stomatal resistances of the leaves in Heteromeres arbutifolia and of the stems in Ferocactus acanthodes were studied to estimate active and passive behaviors of the guard cells on a theoretical basis. Active and passive stomatal responses to light and water deficit were observed. When the change rate of existent water due to variation of osmotic potential in the guard cells and the loss rate of transpirational water from the guard cells are $\Delta$wi-$\Delta$wt and leaded to active behaviors for opening and closing stomata. However, when stems of F. acanthodes with stomata closecd under the solar irradiation were covered with black cloth and then taken off, behaviors of the guard cells occurred in the condition of $\Delta$wi<$\Delta$wt and were passive. Under the conditiion of $\Delta$wi<$\Delta$wt due to cutout from stems, passive behaviors of the guard cells in H. arbutifolia and F. acanthodes always occurred in spite of the solar irradiation and darkness, respectively. The transpirational resistance coefficients of the guard cells in stems of F. acanthodes (0.380) and Opuntia bigelovii (0.135) wer emuch higher than in leaves of H. arbutifolia (0.034). Moreover, stomatal opening in stems of F. acanthodes during the daytime could be induced by watering. Those results are interpreted as that since the guard cells in desert Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) plants always exist in the state of stomatal opening, nocturnal stomatal opening and daytime stomatal closing are exhibited by passive behaviors of the guard cells in the alternant conditioins of $\Delta$wi>$\Delta$wt and $\Delta$wi<$\Delta$wt, respectively.