• Title/Summary/Keyword: Evaluation index

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Evaluation of the Jaw-Tracking Technique for Volume-Modulated Radiation Therapy in Brain Cancer and Head and Neck Cancer (뇌암 및 두경부암 체적변조방사선치료시 Jaw-Tracking 기법의 선량학적 유용성 평가)

  • Kim, Hee Sung;Moon, Jae Hee;Kim, Koon Joo;Seo, Jung Min;Lee, Joung Jin;Choi, Jae Hoon;Kim, Sung Ki;Jang, In-Gi
    • The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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    • v.30 no.1_2
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    • pp.177-183
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    • 2018
  • Purpose : Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy(VMAT) has the advantage of uniformly and precisely irradiating the tumor to the shape of the tumor while reducing the risk of radiation damage to normal tissues. such as brain cancer, head and neck cancer and prostate cancer, It is being used for treatment. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of the Jaw-Tracking technique(JTT) in VMAT for brain and head and neck cancer. Materials and Methods : We selected eight patients with brain and head and neck cancer(4 Brain, 4 head and neck) who were treated with the VMAT treatment technique. Contouring information of the patient's tumor and normal organ was fused to the Rando phantom using the deformable registration of Velocity(Varian, USA). A treatment plan was developed using the Varian Eclipse(ver 15.5, Varian, USA) with the same patient actual beam parameters except for the use of jaw-tracking. As the evaluation index, the maximum dose and mean dose of target and OAR were compared and a portal dosimetry was performed for the treatment plan verification. Results : When using JTT, the relative dose of OAR decreased by 5.24 % and the maximum dose by 7.05 %, respectively, compared with the Static-Jaw technique(SJT). In the various OARs, the mean dose and maximum dose reduction ranges ranged from 0.01 to 3.16 Gy and from 0.12 to 6.27 Gy, respectively. In the case of the target, the maximum dose of GTV, CTV, PTV decreased by 0.17 %, 0.43 %, and 0.37 % in JTT, and the mean dose decreased by 0.24 %, 0.47 % and 0.47 %, respectively. Gamma analysis The JTT and SJT passing rates were $98{\pm}1.73%$ and $97{\pm}1.83%$ on the basis of 3 % / 3 mm, respectively. Comparing the doses of all OARs applied to the experiment, it was found that the use of JTT resulted in a significant decrease in dose due to additional jaw shielding besides MLC than SJT. Conclusion : In radiation therapy using VMAT treatment plan, we can apply JTT in the case of adjacent tumor and normal organs such as brain cancer and head and neck cancer, and in radiotherapy required large field and high energy caused increase leakage dose through MLC. It is considered that the target dose of PTV can be increased by lowering the dose of normal tissue surrounding the tumor.

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Evaluation of Land Use Change Impact on Hydrology and Water Quality Health in Geum River Basin (금강유역의 토지이용 변화가 수문·수질 건전성에 미치는 영향 평가)

  • LEE, Ji-Wan;PARK, Jong-Yoon;JUNG, Chung-Gil;KIM, Seong-Joon
    • Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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    • v.22 no.2
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    • pp.82-96
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    • 2019
  • This study evaluated the status of watershed health in Geum River Basin by SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) hydrology and water quality. The watershed healthiness from watershed hydrology and stream water quality was calculated using multivariate normal distribution from 0(poor) to 1(good). Before evaluation of watershed healthiness, the SWAT calibration for 11 years(2005~2015) of streamflow(Q) at 5 locations with 0.50~0.77 average Nash-Sutcliffe model efficiency and suspended solid (SS), total nitrogen(T-N), and total phosphorus(T-P) at 3 locations with 0.67~0.94, 0.59~0.79, and 0.61~0.79 determination coefficient($R^2$) respectively. For 24 years (1985~2008) the spatiotemporal change of watershed healthiness was analyzed with calibarted SWAT and 5 land use data of 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, and 2008. The 2008 SWAT results showed that the surface runoff increased by 40.6%, soil moisture and baseflow decreased by 6.8% and 3.0% respectively compared to 1985 reference year. The stream water quality of SS, T-N, and T-P increased by 29.2%, 9.3%, and 16.7% respectively by land development and agricultural activity. Based on the 1985 year land use condition. the 2008 watershed healthiness of hydrology and stream water quality decreased from 1 to 0.94 and 0.69 respectively. The results of this study be able to detect changes in watershed environment due to human activity compared to past natural conditions.

Analysis of Changes in Tree Height-Diameter Allometry for Major Tree Species in South Korea (우리나라 주요 수종의 수고-직경 상대생장 변화 분석)

  • Moonil Kim;Taejin Park;Youngjin Ko;Go-Mi Choi;Soonchul Son;Yejun Kang;Jaehee Yoo;Minkyeong Kim;Hyeonji Park;Woo-Kyun Lee
    • Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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    • v.112 no.1
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    • pp.71-82
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    • 2023
  • Forest biomass is used as a representative indicator of forest size, maturity, and productivity. Therefore, quantitative evaluation is important for management and harvest as well as the evaluation of ecosystem functions and services including CO2 absorption. The allometric equation is a widely used method for estimating the value of each component through the relative growth rate of plants. Recently, studies indicated that the relative growth of trees is changing because of the increased CO2 concentration in the atmosphere and the resulting climate change, raising the need to review the previously developed relative growth models and coefficients. In this study, the height-diameter at breast height (DBH) relationships of four major tree species in Korea [(Pinus densiflora (PD), Larix kaempferi (LK), Quercus variabilis (QV), and Quercus mongolica (QM)] were analyzed using the 5th-7th National Forest Inventory (NFI) data. Furthermore, these results were compared with the present yield table from the National Institute for Forest Science. This analysis revealed that the expected height for the same DBH increased as the NFI progressed. For example, in model analysis, the expected heights for PD, LK, QV, and QM for DBH of 25 cm were 12.48, 19.17, 14.47, and 13.19 m, respectively, in the 5th NFI data. In the 7th NFI data, these values were estimated as 13.61 (+9.1%), 21.58 (+12.7%), 15.76 (+8.9%), and 13.93 m (+5.6%), respectively. These results indicate that the major tree species in South Korean forests currently are more vigorous in height growth than in diameter growth when compared to the height-DBH development trends by tree species identified through past survey data.

Ecological Evaluation Using Seaweed Distribution Characteristics along the Coast of Jeju Island (제주도 연안의 해조류 분포 특성을 이용한 생태학적 평가)

  • Sung-Hwan Cho;Young-Seok Noh;Seung-Hwan Won;Soo-Kang Kim;Sang-Mok Jung
    • Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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    • v.36 no.6
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    • pp.627-638
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    • 2022
  • This study was conducted at a village fishing farm on 4 peaks on the main island of Jeju Island and 2 peaks on an inhabited island to compare the distribution characteristics of seaweeds along the coast of Jeju Island from May to December 2018. A total of 101 species of seaweeds were surveyed, including 13 species (12.9%) of green algae, 24 species (23.8%) of Phaeophyta, and 64 species (63.4%) of Rhodophyta. The largest number of seaweeds appeared in May and the fewest in October, showing typical features of a temperate sea area. The number of seaweed species that appeared was 66 and 65 species at the water depths of 5 m and 8 m, respectively, and the largest was 74 species at 12 m. The number of seaweeds that appeared by area was the largest at 66 species on Udo Island, an eastern island near Jeju Island, and the lowest at 27 species in Pyoseon-ri, an eastern part of Jeju Island. The important values of emerging species were high in the order of, Ecklonia cavaand Corallina crassissima at 21.1% and 20.3%, respectively, Corallina aberransat 9.2%, Amphora ephedraeaat 6.2%, and Sargassum macrocarpumat 4.4%. Among seaweeds, an average of 11.2 species of coralline algae appeared, and the mean importance value was 32.6% in the sear area. The lowest importance value was 14.7% on Udo Island, and the highest was 41.0% in Pyoseon-ri. The mean ecological evaluation index (EEI) of seaweed colonies ranged from 2.1 to 10. It was the lowest at the water depth of 12 m in Pyoseon-ri in May and June and was 7.3 or higher in other areas, indicating good condition. This study rated the standardized ecological grade I for the water depth of 12 m on Udo Island and grade II for the water depths of 5 m and 8 m in Sagye-ri and on Chujado Island. Grade III was the water depth of 5 m and 12 m in Pyoseon-ri and Guideok 2-ri and the water depth of 5 m and 8 m in Pyeongdae-ri, and grade IV was the water depth of 8 m in Guideok 2-ri.

Effects of Impact of Climate Change on Livestock Productivity - For bullocks, dairy, pigs, laying hens, and broilers - (기후변화가 축산 생산성에 미치는 영향 -거세우, 낙농, 양돈, 산란계, 육계를 대상으로-)

  • Lee, H.K.;Park, H.M.;Shin, Y.K.
    • Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
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    • v.20 no.1
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    • pp.107-123
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    • 2018
  • The global impact of climate change on agriculture is now increasing. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of climate change on livestock productivity. The variables that have the greatest influence on climate change factors were examined through previous studies and expert surveys. We also used the actual productivity data of livestock farmers to investigate the relationship with climate change. In order to evaluate the climate for changes in livestock productivity, national representative data (such as bullocks, dairy, pigs, laying hens, and broilers) were surveyed in Korea. Also, to select and classify evaluation indexes, we selected climate change factor variables as prior studies and studied the weighting factor of climate variable factors. In this study, the researchers of industry, academia, and farmers in the livestock sector conducted questionnaires on the indicators of vulnerability to climate change using experts, and then weighed the selected indicators using the hierarchical analysis process (AHP). In order to verify the validity of the evaluation index, was examined using domestic climate data (temperature, precipitation, humidity, etc.). Correlation and regression analysis were performed. The empirical relationship between climate change and livestock productivity was examined through this study. As a result, we used data with high reliability of statistical analysis and found that there are significant variables.

Evaluating efficiency of Coaxial MLC VMAT plan for spine SBRT (Spine SBRT 치료시 Coaxial MLC VMAT plan의 유용성 평가)

  • Son, Sang Jun;Mun, Jun Ki;Kim, Dae Ho;Yoo, Suk Hyun
    • The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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    • v.26 no.2
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    • pp.313-320
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    • 2014
  • Purpose : The purpose of the study is to evaluate the efficiency of Coaxial MLC VMAT plan (Using $273^{\circ}$ and $350^{\circ}$ collimator angle) That the leaf motion direction aligned with axis of OAR (Organ at risk, It means spinal cord or cauda equine in this study.) compare to Universal MLC VMAT plan (using $30^{\circ}$ and $330^{\circ}$ collimator angle) for spine SBRT. Materials and Methods : The 10 cases of spine SBRT that treated with VMAT planned by Coaxial MLC and Varian TBX were enrolled. Those cases were planned by Eclipse (Ver. 10.0.42, Varian, USA), PRO3 (Progressive Resolution Optimizer 10.0.28) and AAA (Anisotropic Analytic Algorithm Ver. 10.0.28) with coplanar $360^{\circ}$ arcs and 10MV FFF (Flattening filter free). Each arc has $273^{\circ}$ and $350^{\circ}$ collimator angle, respectively. The Universal MLC VMAT plans are based on existing treatment plans. Those plans have the same parameters of existing treatment plans but collimator angle. To minimize the dose difference that shows up randomly on optimizing, all plans were optimized and calculated twice respectively. The calculation grid is 0.2 cm and all plans were normalized to the target V100%=90%. The indexes of evaluation are V10Gy, D0.03cc, Dmean of OAR (Organ at risk, It means spinal cord or cauda equine in this study.), H.I (Homogeneity index) of the target and total MU. All Coaxial VMAT plans were verified by gamma test with Mapcheck2 (Sun Nuclear Co., USA), Mapphan (Sun Nuclear Co., USA) and SNC patient (Sun Nuclear Co., USA Ver 6.1.2.18513). Results : The difference between the coaxial and the universal VMAT plans are follow. The coaxial VMAT plan is better in the V10Gy of OAR, Up to 4.1%, at least 0.4%, the average difference was 1.9% and In the D0.03cc of OAR, Up to 83.6 cGy, at least 2.2 cGy, the average difference was 33.3 cGy. In Dmean, Up to 34.8 cGy, at least -13.0 cGy, the average difference was 9.6 cGy that say the coaxial VMAT plans are better except few cases. H.I difference Up to 0.04, at least 0.01, the average difference was 0.02 and the difference of average total MU is 74.1 MU. The coaxial MLC VMAT plan is average 74.1 MU lesser then another. All IMRT verification gamma test results for the coaxial MLC VMAT plan passed over 90.0% at 1mm / 2%. Conclusion : Coaxial MLC VMAT treatment plan appeared to be favorable in most cases than the Universal MLC VMAT treatment planning. It is efficient in lowering the dose of the OAR V10Gy especially. As a result, the Coaxial MLC VMAT plan could be better than the Universal MLC VMAT plan in same MU.

Evaluation of Liver Function Using $^{99m}-Lactosylated$ Serum Albumin Liver Scintigraphy in Rat with Acute Hepatic Injury Induced by Dimethylnitrosamine (Dimethylnitrosamine 유발 급성 간 손상 흰쥐에서 $^{99m}-Lactosylated$ Serum Albumin을 이용한 간 기능의 평가)

  • Jeong, Shin-Young;Seo, Myung-Rang;Yoo, Jeong-Ah;Bae, Jin-Ho;Ahn, Byeong-Cheol;Hwang, Jae-Seok;Jeong, Jae-Min;Ha, Jeong-Hee;Lee, Kyu-Bo;Lee, Jae-Tae
    • The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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    • v.37 no.6
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    • pp.418-427
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    • 2003
  • Objects: $^{99m}-lactosylated$ human serum albumin (LSA) is a newly synthesized radiopharmaceutical that binds to asialoglycoprotein receptors, which are specifically presented on the hepatocyte membrane. Hepatic uptake and blood clearance of LSA were evaluated in rat with acute hepatic injury induced by dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) and results were compared with corresponding findings of liver enzyme profile and these of histologic changes. Materials and Methods: DMN (27 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally in Sprague-Dawley rat to induce acute hepatic injury. At 3(DMN-3), 8(DMN-8), and 21 (DMN-21) days after injection of DMN, LSA injected intravenously, and dynamic images of the liver and heart were recorded for 30 minutes. Time-activity curves of the heart and liver were generated from regions of interest drawn over liver and heart area. Degree of hepatic uptake and blood clearance of LSA were evaluated with visual interpretation and semiquantitative analysis using parameters (receptor index : LHL3 and index of blood clearance : HH3), analysis of time-activity curve was also performed with curve fitting using Prism program. Results: Visual assessment of LSA images revealed decreased hepatic uptake in DMN treated rat, compared to control group. In semiquantitative analysis, LHL3 was significantly lower in DMN treated rat group than control rat group (DMN-3: 0.842, DMN-8: 0.898, DMN-21: 0.91, Control: 0.96, p<0.05), whereas HH3 was significantly higher than control rat group (DMN-3: 0.731,.DMN-8: 0.654, DMN-21: 0.604, Control: 0.473, p<0.05). AST and ALT were significantly higher in DMN-3 group than those of control group. Centrilobular necrosis and infiltration of inflammatory cells were most prominent in DMN-3 group, and were decreased over time. Conclusion: The degree of hepatic uptake of LSA was inversely correlated with liver transaminase and degree of histologic liver injury in rat with acute hepatic injury.

Assessment for the Utility of Treatment Plan QA System according to Dosimetric Leaf Gap in Multileaf Collimator (다엽콜리메이터의 선량학적엽간격에 따른 치료계획 정도관리시스템의 효용성 평가)

  • Lee, Soon Sung;Choi, Sang Hyoun;Min, Chul Kee;Kim, Woo Chul;Ji, Young Hoon;Park, Seungwoo;Jung, Haijo;Kim, Mi-Sook;Yoo, Hyung Jun;Kim, Kum Bae
    • Progress in Medical Physics
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    • v.26 no.3
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    • pp.168-177
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    • 2015
  • For evaluating the treatment planning accurately, the quality assurance for treatment planning is recommended when patients were treated with IMRT which is complex and delicate. To realize this purpose, treatment plan quality assurance software can be used to verify the delivered dose accurately before and after of treatment. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of treatment plan quality assurance software for each IMRT plan according to MLC DLG (dosimetric leaf gap). Novalis Tx with a built-in HD120 MLC was used in this study to acquire the MLC dynalog file be imported in MobiusFx. To establish IMRT plan, Eclipse RTP system was used and target and organ structures (multi-target, mock prostate, mock head/neck, C-shape case) were contoured in I'mRT phantom. To verify the difference of dose distribution according to DLG, MLC dynalog files were imported to MobiusFx software and changed the DLG (0.5, 0.7, 1.0, 1.3, 1.6 mm) values in MobiusFx. For evaluation dose, dose distribution was evaluated by using 3D gamma index for the gamma criteria 3% and distance to agreement 3 mm, and the point dose was acquired by using the CC13 ionization chamber in isocenter of I'mRT phantom. In the result for point dose, the mock head/neck and multi-target had difference about 4% and 3% in DLG 0.5 and 0.7 mm respectively, and the other DLGs had difference less than 3%. The gamma index passing-rate of mock head/neck were below 81% for PTV and cord, and multi-target were below 30% for center and superior target in DLGs 0.5, 0.7 mm, however, inferior target of multi-target case and parotid of mock head/neck case had 100.0% passing rate in all DLGs. The point dose of mock prostate showed difference below 3.0% in all DLGs, however, the passing rate of PTV were below 95% in 0.5, 0.7 mm DLGs, and the other DLGs were above 98%. The rectum and bladder had 100.0% passing rate in all DLGs. As the difference of point dose in C-shape were 3~9% except for 1.3 mm DLG, the passing rate of PTV in 1.0 1.3 mm were 96.7, 93.0% respectively. However, passing rate of the other DLGs were below 86% and core was 100.0% passing rate in all DLGs. In this study, we verified that the accuracy of treatment planning QA system can be affected by DLG values. For precise quality assurance for treatment technique using the MLC motion like IMRT and VMAT, we should use appropriate DLG value in linear accelerator and RTP system.

Pergola's Shading Effects on the Thermal Comfort Index in the Summer Middays (여름철 낮 그늘시렁의 차양이 온열쾌적 지표에 미치는 영향)

  • Ryu, Nam-Hyong;Lee, Chun-Seok
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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    • v.41 no.6
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    • pp.52-61
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    • 2013
  • This study was conducted to investigate the effects of pergola's shading on the thermal comfort index in the summer. The 3 type of pergolas($4m{\times}4m{\times}h2.7m$) which were screened overhead(I)/overhead west(II)/overhead west north(III) plane with reed blind for summer shading and winter wind break, were constructed on the 4th floor rooftop. Thereafter the meteorological variables(air temperature, humidity, radiation, and wind speed) of pergola I, III and rooftop were measured from 14 to 16 August 2013(1st experiment), those of pergola I, II and rooftop were measured from 26 to 28 August 2013(2nd experiment). The effects of pergola's shading on the radiation environment and mean radiant temperature($T_{mrt}$), standard effective temperature($SET^*$) were as follows. The maximum 1 h mean values of differences ${\Delta}$ of the sums of shortwave radiant flux densities absorbed by the human body (${\Delta}K_{abs,max}$) between pergola I, III and nearby sunny rooftop were $-119W/m^2$, $-158W/m^2$, those between pergola I, II and rooftop were $-145W/m^2$, $-159W/m^2$. The maximum 1 h mean values of differences ${\Delta}$ of the sums of long wave radiant flux densities absorbed by the human body (${\Delta}L_{abs,max}$) between pergola I, III and nearby sunny rooftop, were $-15W/m^2$, $-17W/m^2$, those between pergola I, II and nearby rooftop, were $-8W/m^2$, $-7W/m^2$. The response of the direction dependent long wave radiant flux densities $L_1$ on the pergola's shading turned out to be distinctly weaker as compared to shortwave radiant flux densities $K_1$. The pergola's shading leads to a lowering of $T_{mrt}$ and $SET^*$. The peak values of $T_{mrt}$ absorbed by the human body were decreased $16^{\circ}C$ and $21.4^{\circ}C$ under pergola I and III as compared to that of nearby rooftop in the 1st experiment. Those were decreased $18.8^{\circ}C$ and $20.8^{\circ}C$ under pergola I and II as compared to that of nearby rooftop in the 2nd experiment. The peak values of $SET^*$ absorbed by the human body were decreased $2.9^{\circ}C$ and $2.6^{\circ}C$ under pergola I and III as compared to that of nearby rooftop in the 1st experiment. Those were decreased $3.5^{\circ}C$ and $2.6^{\circ}C$ under pergola I and II as compared to that of nearby rooftop in the 2nd experiment. The relative $SET^*$ decrease in pergola II, III compared to nearby sunny rooftop $SET^*$ were lower than that in pergola I, revealing the influence of the wind speed. Therefore it is essential to design pergola to maximize wind speed and minimize solar radiation to achieve comfort in the hot summer. The $SET^*$ under pergola I, III were exceeded $28.7^{\circ}C$ and $30.4^{\circ}C$ which were the upper limit of thermal comfort and tolerable zone during all most daytimes in the 1st experiment(maximum air temperature $37.5^{\circ}C$). The $SET^*$ under pergola I was exceeded $28.7^{\circ}C$ which was the upper limit of thermal comfort zone at 13h, that under pergola II was exceeded $28.7^{\circ}C$ from 8h to 14h, meanwhile the $SET^*$ under pergola I, II were within thermal tolerable zone during most daytimes in the 2nd experiment(maximum air temperature $34.4^{\circ}C$). Therefore to ensure the thermal comfort of pergola for summer hottest days, pergola should be shaded with not only reed blind but also climbing and shade plants. $T_{mrt}$ and $SET^*$ were suitable index for the evaluation of pergola's shading effects and outdoors.

Short-Term Efficacy of Steroid and Immunosuppressive Drugs in Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and Pre-treatment Factors Associated with Favorable Response (특발성폐섬유화증에서 스테로이드와 면역억제제의 단기 치료효과 및 치료반응 예측인자)

  • Kang, Kyeong-Woo;Park, Sang-Joon;Koh, Young-Min;Lee, Sang-Pyo;Suh, Gee-Young;Chung, Man-Pyo;Han, Jung-Ho;Kim, Ho-Joong;Kwon, O-Jung;Lee, Kyung-Soo;Rhee, Chong-H.
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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    • v.46 no.5
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    • pp.685-696
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    • 1999
  • Background : Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a diffuse inflammatory and fibrosing process that occurs within the interstitium and alveolus of the lung with invariably poor prognosis. The major problem in management of IPF results from the variable rate of disease progression and the difficulties in predicting the response to therapy. The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the short-term efficacy of steroid and immunosuppressive therapy for IPF and to identify the pre-treatment determinants of favorable response. Method : Twenty patients of IPF were included. Diagnosis of IPF was proven by thoracoscopic lung biopsy and they were presumed to have active progressive disease. The baseline evaluation in these patients included clinical history, pulmonary function test, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), and chest high resolution computed tomography (HRCT). Fourteen patients received oral prednisolone treatment with initial dose of 1mg/kg/day for 8 to 12 weeks and then tapering to low-dose prednisolone (0.25mg/kg/day). Six patients who previously had experienced significant side effects to steroid received 2mg/kg/day of oral cyclophosphamide with or without low-dose prednisolone. Follow-up evaluation was performed after 6 months of therapy. If patients met more than one of followings, they were considered to be responders : (1) improvement of more than one grade in dyspnea index, (2) improvement in FVC or TLC more than 10% or improvement in DLco more than 20% (3) decreased extent of disease in chest HRCT findings. Result : One patient died of extrapulmonary cause after 3 month of therapy, and another patient gave up any further medical therapy due to side effect of steroid. Eventually medical records of 18 patients were analyzed. Nine of 18 patients were classified into responders and the other nine patients into nonresponders. The histopathologic diagnosis of the responders were all nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) and that of nonresponders were all usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) (p<0.001). The other significant differences between the two groups were female predominance (p<0.01), smoking history (p<0.001), severe grade of dyspnea (p<0.05), lymphocytosis in BAL fluid ($23.8{\pm}16.3%$ vs $7.8{\pm}3.6%$, p<0.05), and less honeycombing in chest HRCT findings (0% vs $9.2{\pm}2.3%$, p<0.001). Conclusion : Our results suggest that patients with histopathologic diagnosis of NSIP or lymphocytosis in BAL fluid are more likely to respond to steroid or immunosuppressive therapy. Clinical results in large numbers of IPF patients will be required to identify the independent variables.

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