• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.1047-1057
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• 1998

Background : Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disorder of unknown origin and characterized by accumulation of T cells and macrophages. Various cytokines may play crucial roles in the activation of T cells and macrophages, and thereby in the formation of granulomas. However, little is known about the balance between proinflammatory cytokines and antiinflammatory cytokines in the development of sarcoid granulomas and disease activities. In the present study, we measured IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) from patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis to find out whether there is an imbalance between proinflammatory cytokines and antiinflammatory cytokines in the lung. Methods: Fourteen subjects with the diagnosis of sarcoidosis and six healthy volunteers were included. BALF was concentrated ten-fold by pressure ultrafiltration and each cytokine levels were measured by EUSA method. Active sarcoidosis was defined by major organ involvement or clinically progressive diseases. Results: The mean IL-6 levels in the BALF of the active sarcoidosis group were significantly increased than in controls or inactive sarcoidosis group(p<0.05). Meanwhile, the IL-8 levels were increased and IL-10 levels were decreased in the active sarcoidosis group than in controls or inactive sarcoidosis group without significance(p>0.05). In active pulmonary sarcoidosis patients, the IL-6 levels in BALF correlated with the BALF CD4/CD8 ratio(r=0.768, p<0.05) and IL-8 levels(r=0.564, p<0.05). Conclusions : The data presented showed that pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 is important in the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis and decreased tendency of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 might also be involved in the development of granulomatous inflammation in sarcoidosis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.1000-1011
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• 1998

Background: For the diagnosis or evaluation of airway obstruction in bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive lung disorders, various parameters derived from the forced expiratory volume curve and maximal expiratory flow volume curve have been used. Recently the peak expiratory flow(PEF) measured by the peak flow meter is widely used because of its simplicity and convenience. But there were still no data of the predicted normal values measured by the peak flow meter in Korea. This study was to obtain the predicted normal value of PEF and to know the accuracy of this value to predict $FEV_1$. Method: The measurements of PEF by the MiniWright peak flow meter and several parameters derived from the forced expiratory volume and maximal expiratory flow volume curves by the Microspiro HI 501(Chest Co.) were done in 129 men and 125 women without previous history of the respiratory diseases. The predicted normal values of parameters according to the age and the height were obtained, and the regression equation of $FEV_1$ by PEF was calculated. Results: The predicted normal values of PEF(L/min) were -2.45$\times$Age(year) +1.36 $\times$ Height(cm)+427 in men, and -0.96 $\times$ Age (year) + 2.01 $\times$ Height (cm) + 129 in women. FEFmax derived from the maximal expiratory flow volume curve was less than by 125 L/min in men and 118 L/min in women respectively compared to PEF. $FEV_1$(ml) predicted by PEF was 5.98 $\times$ PEF(L/min) + 303 in men, and 4.61 $\times$ PEF(L/min) + 291 in women respectively. Conclusion : The predicted normal value of PEF measured by the peak flow meter was calculated and it could be used as a standard value of PEF while taking care of patients with airway obstruction. $FEV_1$, the gold standard of ventilatory function, could be predicted by PEF to a certain extent.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.1-14
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• 1998

1. Purpose : The correct constitutional diagnosis and the accurate prescription are very important in clinical application of Sasang Constitutional Medicine. Lee Je-ma emphasized that symptom is the best clue to diagnose constitution in "DongYi Suse Bowon". After research the characteristics of each constitution's symptoms and the backgrounds of constitutional prescriptions, this paper is to know the correct clinical application of Sasang Constitutional Medicine. 2. Method : Through the clinical applications of "DongYi Soose Bowon" and "Dongyi Sasang Sinpeun", the characteristics of constitutional symptoms and the application of prescription were researched 3. Results & Conclusions 1) The symptoms of Sasang Constitutional Medicine were came from the Hyung-Sang Medicine(形象醫學) which were important to mind-body equally and from the summarizing spirit of four Qi such as Warm-Hot-Cool-Cold(溫熱凉寒) 2) The symptoms of Soeumin and Soyangin are the Cold-Hot symptoms of ingestive food(水穀) and the treatment of symptoms is to control the ascent-descent of up and down. The symptoms of Taeumin and Taeyangin are the Warm-Cool symptoms of Qi-Yack(氣液) and the treatment of symptom is to control the unfasten-fasten of interior and exterior. 3) The symptoms of Taeyangin are 'Weak Lower part and Firm Upper part symptom'(下虛上實病證) and 'Blood and Yack Exhasted Symptom'(血液俱耗病證), the symptoms of Soeumin are 'Fall Down Symptom'(下陷病證) and Stomach Cold Symptom(胃寒病證), the symptoms of taeumin is 'Dryness Fever Symptom'(燥熱病證) and 'Interior Fever Symptom'(燥熱病證), the symptoms of Soyangin is 'Fire Fever Symptom'(火熱病證) and 'Interior Fever Symptom'(燥熱病證). 4) The characteristics of sasang constitutional symptoms are the exterior-interior symptoms classified with nature-emotion and cool-hot, the inclusive control of exterior-interior symptoms with healthy energy, and the classification of ingestive food symptoms and Qi-Yack symptoms. 5) The characteristics to treat symptoms are the classification of seriousness and obedience, the use herbs according to each constitutions, and inclusive symptoms control.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.67-76
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• 2004

Background : Pulmonary hypertension is a poor prognostic factor in patients with chronic respiratory disease. However, diagnosing pulmonary hypertension is a difficult procedure which often requires an invasive test. Thus new alternative biochemical markers would be useful in clinical field and are in search. We sought to assess the role of plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP) in patients with pulmonary hypertension. Method : We measured plasma NT-proBNP level in twenty nine patients suspected for pulmonary hypertension. Pulmonary hypertension was defined as being right ventricular systolic pressure more than 35 mm Hg estimated by Doppler echocardiography. Plasma NT-proBNP level was measured by electrochemiluminescence sandwich immunoassay. Results : The log-transformed values for plasma NT-proBNP levels showed a linear correlation (correlation coefficiency: 0.783, p-value <0.001) with right ventricular systolic pressure. Plasma NT-proBNP levels closely correlated with right ventricular systolic pressure, right ventricular hypertrophy, interventricular septal flattening and right ventricular dilatation. Conclusion : Our results suggest that the measurement of plasma NT-proBNP level is an useful marker of the presence of pulmonary hypertension.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.58 no.6
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• pp.570-575
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• 2005

Introduction : Diffuse interstitial lung diseases (DILD) comprise of a large group of lung diseases with diverse etiologies. They are classified into four categories based on the etiology and pathological findings. In Korea, epidemiological data on DILD has never been reported in a prospective manner. Method : From May 2002 to April 2004, total 487 patients with DILD were prospectively registered at Samsung Medical Center. The prospective observational analysis of the etiologies, its classification based on 2002 ATS/ERS (American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society) guidelines, as well as diagnostic tests and the retrospective analysis of the treatment modalities were carried out. Any infectious and malignant causes were excluded. Results : 1) The patients were classified into idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) in 269 patients (55.2%), known causes of DILD in 168 patients (34.5%), sarcoidosis in 27 patients (5.5%), other forms of DILD in 14 patients (2.9%), and undetermined DILD in 9 patients (1.9%). 2) The diagnostic test showed that most patients had undergone chest high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and pulmonary function test (PFT) (97%, 89%). Transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) and surgical lung biopsy (SLB) were performed in limited patients (38%, 29%). 3) Among 269 patients with IIP, 220 (82%) had idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) while 23 (9%) had nonspecific interstitial pneumonia. SLB was carried out in 36% of patients with IIP. 4) Symptomatic supportive care was given to 67% of IPF, but specific medical treatment including corticosteroids was administered to 89% of non-IPF patients. Conclusion : A nationwide registry of DILD patients is required to determine the annual incidence, etiology, and practice pattern of diagnosis and treatment in Korea.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.25-32
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• 2005

Purpose : To evaluate the degree of the artifact which is caused by the mascara and the eye shadow when acquiring MR images and compare the difference of the image distortion according to the change of various pulse sequence. Material and Method : The popular domestic mascara and eye shadow products were selected from three different companies respectively and divided into two groups mascara (M1, M2, M3 ), eye shadow (E1, E2, E3). Self-designed quadrature type saddle coil which has 4 cm inside diameter, 8 cm length and which is for both Tx and Rx was used. MR image was acquired respectively after applying the mascara to the tape from study 1, the eye shadow to the tape from study 2 and adding the eye shadow to the mascara from study 3. The FSE(fast spin echo), the SE(spin echo), the GE(gradient echo) were used as pulse sequences. The degree of the image distortion which was measured from each sequence was analyzed in quality and quantity. Result : The mascara and the eye shadow caused the artifacts to the MR images partially and induced the image distortion. There was a little difference in terms of the degree of artifact according to the change of pulse sequence. From the study 3 in which the eye shadow was applied to the mascara, on the axial plane image, the width of artifact was 16.73 mm in the GE pulse sequence, 6.64 mm in the SE pulse sequence, and 6.19 mm in the FSE pulse sequence. The degree of the artifact appeared highly in order of the GE, the SE and the FSE. On the sagittal plane image, the length of artifact was 22.84 mm in the GE, 17.81 mm in the SE and it appeared highly with the SE and the FSE technique order. Conclusion : When examining the eyeball and the brain of a woman with the mascara and the eye shadow, we have to consider that the artifact caused by them can have an effect on the image diagnosis. We concluded that it is more suitable for a brain and a eyeball T2 emphasizing image to use the FSE technique than the GE technique.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.75-81
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• 2006

In the past, most patient of breast cancer suffered side effects due to the useless removement of Axillary Lymph Node, but there is no need to remove it because of the result in this study. The purpose of this study is to save surgery time and side effects after surgical operation for patients with breast cancer by making decisions of operation range for metastasis in first Stenosis Lymph Node using the $^{99m}Tc-Tincolloid$ Scintigraphy and the Micro Probe for radioisotope. As a result of this study, 15 among 20 patients became objects of this study could reduced side effects for operation because there were no axillary lymph node operations. However there is no standard for method of this treatment. It should be standardize where inject point is, how much $^{99m}Tc-Tincolloid$ should be injected(radioactivity value), and the need of massage and Lymph Scintigraphy. Nevertheless I think that this result of study is useful to reduce suffering and side effects from breast cancer and also we should try to do that continuously. The objects for this study were 20 patients diagnosed as breast cancer by Ultrasonography, Mammography & Biopsy. The average of patient age was 45.4 years and its range was between 31 and 71 years. In case of clinical period there were 9 patients of Period I and II patients of Period III. The equipment for this study were $^{99m}Tc-Tincolloid$ describing the Stenosis Lymph Node as a tracer, Micro Probe : Neoprobe 2000(the rest is Gamma Probe) tracing the location, and MS-II Gamma Camera : SIEMENS(the rest is MS-II Gamma Camera) describing the images. There were 3 methods for this study, after selecting one of those methods all 20 patients were performed Stenosis Lymph Node diagnosis & Gamma Probe in operation room. The result was that I imaged all the 20 patients, and seek the Stenosis Lymph Node by using Gamma Probe. Metastasis in Stenosis Lymph Node was 5 and Metastasis in Axillary Lymph Node was 3 between Metastasis in Stenosis Lymph Node cases. Finally 15 patients were also proved that Axillary Lymph Node was Positive and that means there was no Metastasis in Axillary Lymph Node.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.633-638
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• 2017

The amount of radioactive waste has been rapidly increased with development of radiation treatment in medical field. Recently, it has been a common practice to use I-131 for thyroid cancer, F-18 for PET/CT and Tc-99m for diagnosis of nuclear medicine. All the wastes concerned have been disposed of by means of the self-disposal method, for example incineration, after storage enough to decay less than clearance level. IAEA proposed criteria for clearance level of waste which depends on the individual ($10{\mu}Sv/y$) and collective dose (1 man-Sv/y), and concentration of each nuclide (IAEA Safety Series No 111-P-1.1, 1992 and IAEA RS-G-1.7, 2004). In this study, specific radioactivity of radioactive waste contaminated with Re-186 was measured to confirm whether it meets the clearance level. Re-186 has long half life of 3.8 days relatively and emits beta and gamma radiation, therefore it can be applied in treatment and imaging purposes. The specific radioactivity of contaminated gloves weared by radiation workers was measured by MCA(Multi-channel Analyzer) which was calibrated by reference materials in accordance with the measuring procedure. As a result, comparison evaluation of decay storage period between the half-life which was calculated by attenuation curve based on real measurement and physical half-life was considered, and it is showed that the physical half-life is longer than induced half-life. Therefore, the storage period of radioactive waste for self-disposal may be curtailed in case of application of induced half-life. The result of this study will be proposed as ISO standard.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.9
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• pp.781-789
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• 1999

Background: Pulmonary artery banding(PAB) accompanies some risks in the aspect of band complications and mortality in the second-stage operation. To assess these risks of the second-stage operation after PAB, we reviewed the surgical results of the second-stage operation in the pediatric patients who had undergone PAB in infancy. Material and Method: From May 1988 to June 1997, a total of 29 patients with preliminary PAB underwent open heart surgery. Ages ranged from 2 to 45 months(mean 20.6$\pm$9.0 months). Preoperative congestive heart failure conditions were improved after PAB(elective operation group) in 27 patients, but early second-stage procedures were required in the remaining 2 patients due to sustaining congestive heart failure(early operation group). Preoperative surgical indications included 2 double outlet right ventricles(DORV group) and 27 ventricular septal defects as the main cardiac anomaly(VSD group). Result: The mean time interval from PAB to the second-stage operation was 15.5$\pm$8.7 months(range 5 days to 45 months). One patient in the DORV group underwent intraventricular tunnel repair and modified Glenn procedure in the other. In the VSD group, the VSD was closed with a Dacron patch in all patients. Concomitant procedures included a right ventricular infundibulectomy in 4 patients and a valvectomy of the dysplastic pulmonary valve in 1 patient. At the second-stage operations, pulmonary angioplasty was required due to the stenotic banding sites in 18 patients. One patient underwent complete ligation of the main pulmonary artery with the modified Glenn procedure. The mortality at the second-stage operation was 17.2%(5 patients). Causes of death were 4 low cardiac output, and 1 autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Diagnosis with DORV and the early operative group were the risk factors for operative death in this series. There was 1 late death. Conclusion: This study revealed the second-stage operation for pulmonary artery debanding and closure of VSD in children was complicated by the correction of the acquired lesions with a significantly high incidence of morbidity and early postoperative deaths. Primary repair is recommended for isolated VSD, if possible.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.1 s.270
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• pp.25-31
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• 2007

Background: Cerebral protection is one of the most important procedures during aortic arch surgery. We can minimize neurological complications through short period of total circulatory arrest and resuming of brain perfusion. We evaluated 11 patients who underwent arch replacement using antegrade brain perfusion via right axillary artery. Material and Method: Between July 2004 and July 2006, 11 patients (male 9, female 2) underwent aortic arch replacement with antegrade brain perfusion via right axillary artery. Preoperative diagnosis was listed; 5 type A aortic dissections (5/11, 45.5%), 5 aortic aneurysms (5/11, 45,5%) and 1 type A IMH (intramural hematoma, 1/11, 9%). The mean age at the time of operation was $60.3{\pm}12.8$ years. For antegrade brain perfusion, we performed right axillary artery cannulation in all patients. Retrograde brain perfusion was used briefly during total circulatory arrest. Result: The mean total circulatory arrest time was $31.1{\pm}16.9$ minutes and the mean retrograde brain perfusion time was $21{\pm}17.8$ minutes. Mean antegrade brain perfusion time was $77.9{\pm}17.5\;(43{\sim}101)$ minutes. We had neither operative mortality nor permanent neurological complications. Conclusion: By means of antegrade brain perfusion via right axillary artery, that could lead to decrease circulatory arrest time and minimize damages to severely atheromatous arch vessels, we can expect to reduce neurological complications after aortic arch replacement. Further investigation with iarge patient populations will be required.