• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.41 no.2
• /
• pp.107-121
• /
• 2020

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify the characteristics of patients who visited the emergency room (ER) of a Korean medicine (KM) hospital and to provide basic data for further research. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis using electronic medical records of 263 patients who visited the ER of OO University Oriental Hospital from January 1 to December 31, 2019. Results: Of the 263 patients' medical records, 245 were included in this analysis. The male-to-female ratio was 1.09:1. The average age was 52 years, with patients in their 40s having the largest distribution. The district where the hospital was located had the largest number of patients. The distribution by visit time was the lowest in the early morning. Most patients visited on Sunday, in September, and on the day of onset. The admission rate was 39.18%, and largest number of patients was admitted to the Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion. The percentage of patients who revisited the KM hospital as an outpatient were 26.17%. The diagnosis for most patients was musculoskeletal disease. Acupuncture was the most common treatment, accounting for 62.45% of the cases, followed by herbal medicines, accounting for 54.69% of the cases. National health insurance was the most common type of insurance registered. Most patients visited the ER of the KM hospital via the ER of the hospital. Conclusions: This clinical analysis helped us identify the characteristics of patients visiting the ER of a KM hospital. Continuous data accumulation is required in relation to this for further studies.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.331-336
• /
• 2007

Objective : The aim of this study was to analyze the treatment results and prognostic factors in patients with massive cerebral infarction who underwent decompressive craniectomy. Methods : From January 2000 to December 2005, we performed decompressive craniectomy in 24 patients with massive cerebral infarction. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records, radiological findings, initial clinical assessment using the Glasgow Coma Scale, serial computerized tomography (CT) with measurement of midline and septum pellucidum shift, and cerebral infarction territories. Patients were evaluated based on the following factors : the pre- and post-operative midline shifting on CT scan, infarction area or its dominancy, consciousness level, pupillary light reflex and Glasgow Outcome Scale. Results : All 24 patients (11 men, 13 women; mean age, 63 years; right middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory, 17 patients; left MCA territory, 7 patients) were treated with large decompressive craniectomy and duroplasty. The average time interval between the onset of symptoms and surgical decompression was 2.5 days. The mean Glasgow Coma Scale was 12.4 on admission and 8.3 preoperatively. Of the 24 surgically treated patients, the good outcome group (Group 2 : GOS 4-5) comprised 9 cases and the poor outcome group (Group1 : GOS 1-3) comprised 15 cases. Conclusion : We consider decompressive craniectomy for large hemispheric infarction as a life-saving procedure. Good preoperative GCS, late clinical deterioration, small size of the infarction area, absence of anisocoria, and preoperative midline shift less than 11mm were considered to be positive predictors of good outcome. Careful patient selection based on the above-mentioned factors and early operation may improve the functional outcome of surgical management for large hemispheric infarction.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.278-283
• /
• 2001

Objective : Massive cerebral infarction could be accompanied by severe brain swelling and death secondary to transtentorial herniation. Approximately 10% to 15% of middle cerebral artery infarctions are associated with this phenomenon. However, the effectiveness and timing of decompressive surgery are still controversial. In this study, we present our results on the effect of decompressive craniectomy in life threatening cerebral infarction. Method : We retrospectively analyzed 15 patients who underwent decompressive craniectomy for massive cerebral infarction from January 1997 to April 1999. Surgical indication was based on the clinical signs such as neurological deterioration, pupillary reflex, and radiological findings. Clinical outcome was assessed by Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS). Results : All 15 patients(five men, ten women ; mean age, 52.3 years ; right 11, left 4) were treated with wide craniectomy and duroplasty. The average time interval between onset of symptom and surgical decompression was 2.9 days. Clinical signs of uncal herniation(anisocoria, or fixed and dilated pupils) were presented in 13 of 15 patients. Mean Glasgow coma scale(GCS) was 12.4 points on admission, 8.1 points on preoperative state and 11.8 points postoperatively. Overall outcomes were favorable in 5 cases(Glasgow outcome scale : GOS I, II), unfavorable in 6 cases(Glasgow outcome scale : GOS III, IV) and dead in 4 cases. Conclusion : Early decompressive craniectomy before brain stem compression is considered as an effective lifesaving procedure for massive cerebral infarction unresponsive to aggressive medical therapy.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.42 no.2
• /
• pp.83-88
• /
• 2007

Objective : Pituitary apoplexy, resulting from an acute infarction or hemorrhage mainly in pituitary adenomas, is a rare yet major clinical event with neurological, ophthalmological and hormonal emergent consequences. The authors review our surgical experience with a series of 16 cases of pituitary apoplexy. Methods : The cases of pituitary apoplexy, operated via trans-sphenoidal approach in our hospital between 1998-2005, were retrospectively analyzed in terms of their clinicoradiological features, pathological findings and surgical outcomes. Results : The mean age of patients (9 male and 7 female) was 47.1 years. The average time of presentation after onset of symptom was 8.9 days. Pituitary apoplexy occurred as an initial manifestation of pituitary adenoma in all patients. Headache was the most common presenting symptom (94%). Visual disturbance was found in 56% of patients. Thirty-one percent of the patients had hypopituitarism. On magnetic resonance imaging, this entire catastrophic event accompanied with macroadenoma in a mean size of 22.5 mm. Only four patients needed postoperative hormone replacement therapy. Three of them showed preoperative hypopituitary function, and one patient in normal pituitary function. There was no specific complication in any of these patients. Conclusion : Early trans-sphenoidal decompression with high-dose corticosteroid replacement showed good outcomes of pituitary apoplexy.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetic Resonance Society
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.34-45
• /
• 2012

Melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) subtype is associated with obese humans. Especially, in a patient with severe early-onset obesity, novel heterozygous mutation in the MC4R gene was detected, resulting in an exchange of aspartic acid to asparagine in $90^{th}$ amino acid residue located in the predicted second trans-membrane domain (TM2). Mutations in the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) gene are the most frequent monogenic causes of severe obesity which have been described as heterozygous with loss of function. In order to compare structure difference between MC4R wild type (MC4R-TM2-wt) and mutant (MC4R-TM2-D90N), we designed both MC4R-TM2-wt and MC4R-TM2-D90N construct in pET 21b vector. In this study, we optimized high-yield purification procedure for recombinant TM2-D90N. Eluted recombinant protein was resolubilized under urea condition for thrombin cleavage reaction and we conducted the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with reverse phase column under 1% acetonitrile, 0.01% TFA buffer solution. The molecular size of purified target peptide was confirmed by Tricine-SDS page analysis. To characterize MC4R-TM2-D90N, we have performed $^{15}N$-isotope labeling of peptide using M9 media and purified labeled target peptide for hetero-nuclear NMR spectroscopy.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.18 no.10
• /
• pp.145-157
• /
• 2018

In this study, we analyzed the effect of the income level of cancer, stroke, and myocardial infarction on mortality by using National Health Insurance Service(NHIS) Cohort 2.0 DB. Patients who newly developed the disease in 2007 were observed till 2015. The analysis used the Cox probability proportional risk model and the competing risk model. The income level used information at the time of the onset of the disease in 2007, categorized into low / mid / high. The results showed that there were differences in the risks of death and secondary disease in patients with cancer, stroke, or myocardial infarction according to the income level. In addition to the need for a social safety net to lower the incidence of early deaths in low-income families, it seems necessary to continue to strengthen universal protection for serious diseases similar to the current policy.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.12 no.6
• /
• pp.470-475
• /
• 2002

The effects of the conditions of the collector formation on electrical characteristics of the packaged SiGe hetero-junction bipolar transistors (HBT) were investigated. While the DC characteristics of SiGe HBTs such as IV characteristic, forward current gain, Early voltage, and breakdown voltage were hardly changed after packaging, the AC characteristics such as $f_{\tau}\; and\; f_{max}$ were degraded severely. With the rise of the collector concentration, the break-down voltage decreased but the $f_{\tau}$ increased. Additionally, $\beta$ and $f_{\tau}$ values were kept high in the range of elevated collector current due to the increase of the critical current density for the onset of the Kirk effect. The devices As implanted before the collector deposition showed lower breakdown voltage and higher $f_{\tau}$ than the others, which seems to be originated from the As up-diffusion resulting in the thinner collector.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.50 no.4
• /
• pp.288-292
• /
• 2011

Objective : Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), especially MMP-2 and MMP-9 have been known to play an important role in secondary inflammatory reaction after spinal cord injury (SCI). The aim of this study was to investigate the expression and activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and to determine their relationship with disruption of endothelial blood-barrier after photochemically induced SCI in rats. Methods : Female Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing between 250 and 300 g (aged 8 weeks) received focal spinal cord ischemia by photothrombosis using Rose Bengal. Expressions and activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were assessed by Western blot and gelatin zymography at various times from 6 h to 7 days. Endothelial blood-barrier integrity was assessed indirectly using spinal cord water content. Results : Zymography and Western blot analysis demonstrated rapid up-regulation of MMP-9 protein levels in spinal cord after ischemic onset. Expressions and activities of MMP-9 showed a significant increased at 6 h after the photothrombotic ischemic event, and reached a maximum level at 24 h after the insult. By contrast, activated MMP-2 was not detected at any time point in either the experimental or the control groups. When compared with the control group, a significant increase in spinal cord water content was detected in rats at 24 h after photothrombotic SCI. Conclusion : Early up-regulation of MMP-9 might be correlated with increased water content in the spinal cord at 24 h after SCI in rats. Results of this study suggest that MMP-9 is the key factor involved in disruption of the endothelial blood-barrier of the spinal cord and subsequent secondary damage after photothrombotic SCI in rats.

• Aerospace Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.65-72
• /
• 2012

Numerical simulations were performed to study the stall characteristics of turboprop aircraft. Stall characteristics were qualitatively investigated using the computational results of various configurations based on the combinations of propeller and high lift device. For the analysis of stall characteristics, three-dimensional Navier-Stokes solver with Spalart-Allmaras turbulence model was used and the relative motion between propeller and wing was simulated using sliding mesh technique. For the cruise configurations, major flow separation was occurred at the fuselage/wing fairing and the separation was reduced under propeller slipstream condition. For the high lift device configuration without propeller, major flow separation was occurred at the outboard side of nacelle. With rotating propeller, early stall onset due to low relative velocity and high effective angle of attack was observed on the outboard wing section. Regarding rotating direction of propeller, inboard-down direction was preferred due to the stall delay effect of propeller slipstream.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.24-27
• /
• 1992

Background: Captopril is an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor that has been widely used in treating hypertension. Cough has been recognized as a side effect, but has little attention in the pulmonary literature. Method: To emphasize that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor should be considered among possible etiology of chronic cough, we report clinical investigation about 15 patients with captopril-induced cough. Results: The age range of the 15 patients was 48 to 82 years (mean 58.5 years). There were 5 men and 10 women. Captopril dosage in patients with cough was 25-75 mg (mean 43.3 mg). Onset of cough after starting a captopril ranged from 5 days to 180 days (mean 55.2 days), and cessation of cough after discontinuation of the drug was as early as one day and no longer than 7 days. Conclusion: It is necessary to recognize that chronic cough is not uncommon with the use of captopril.