• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.29-39
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• 2004

Background : The diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to mediastinal tumors and cysts have changed over the past three decades. This report summarizes our forty-two years of experience with these tumors. Methods : This study retrospectively reviewed 479 patients with primary mediastinal tumors and cysts that were diagnosed and managed over the past 17-year period (1985~2002) and compared them to the report of the previous 25-year result (1960~1985) in Yonsei University College of Medicine, Severance Hospital in Seoul, Korea. Results : During the 17 years, there were 479 cases of pathologically proven mediastinal tumors and cysts. Thymoma (38.2%) was the most common mediastinal tumor and has increased noticeably during recent years. The gender ratio showed a male predominance (1.3:1) and the age distributions were even over all the age groups. The most common sites of the tumor and the proportion(28.6%) of malignant tumors were the same as that previously reported. A diagnosis of a tumor in asymptomatic patients was possible in 174 cases (36.3%), which was higher that reported previously. The diagnostic yield of a fine needle aspiration biopsy was 68.6% in the total tumors and 80.9% in the malignant tumors. A surgical resection was the most frequently chosen treatment modality and was performed in 405 cases (84.6%). The complete resection rate was 91.1%, which is higher than the previous result of 78.8%. Conclusion : These results showed that the prevalence of mediastinal tumors and cysts, particularly thymoma, increased. A fine needle aspiration biopsy was a valuable preoperative differential diagnostic method for malignant tumors. The surgical and complete resection rate increased remarkably possibly due to the better applicable chest CT scans, the more frequent health check-up provided by the regular health promotion program for all people as a health insurance policy, and the improved diagnostic techniques in the pathologic, radiological, and clinical fields.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-33
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• 1997

The objective of this study was to analyze the in vitro and in vivo corrosion products of low and high copper amalgams. The four different types of amalgam alloy used in this study were Fine cut, Caulk spherical, Dispersalloy, and Tytin. After each amalgam alloy and Hg were triturated according to the directions of the manufacturer by means of the mechanical amalgamator(Amalgam mixer. Shinhung Co. Korea), the triturated mass was inserted into a cylindrical metal mold which was 12mm in diameter and 10mm in height. The mass was condensed by 150Kg/cm compressive force. The specimen was removed from the mold and aged at room temperature for about seven days. The standard surface preparation was routinely carried out by emery paper polishing under running water. In vitro amalgam specimens were potentiostatically polarized ten times in a normal saline solution at $37^{\circ}C$(potentiostat : HA-301. Hukuto Denko Corp. Japan). Each specimen was subjected to anodic polarization scan within the potential range -1700mV to+400mV(SCE). After corrosion tests, anodic polarization curves and corrosion potentials were obtained. The amount of component elements dissolved from amalgams into solution was measured three times by ICP AES(Inductive Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry: Plasma 40. Perkim Elmer Co. U.S.A.). The four different types of amalgam were filled in occlusal and buccal class I cavities of four human 3rd molars. After about five years the restorations were carefully removed after tooth extraction to preserve the structural details including the deteriorated margins. The occlusal surface, amalgam-tooth interface and the fractured surface of in vivo amalgam corrosion products were analyzed. In vivo and in vitro amalgam specimens were examined and analyzed metallographically by SEM(Scanning Electron Microscope: JSM 840. Jeol Co. Japan) and EDAX(Energy Dispersive Micro X-ray Analyser: JSM 840. Jeol Co. Japan). 1. The following results are obtained from in vitro corrosion tests. 1) Corrosion potentials of all amalgams became more noble after ten times passing through the in vitro corrosion test compared to first time. 2) After times through the test, released Cu concentration in saline solution was almost equal but highest in Fine cut. Ag and Hg ion concentration was highest in Caulk spherical and Sn was highest in Dispersalloy. 3) Analyses of surface corrosion products in vitro reveal the following results. a)The corroded surface of Caulk spherical has Na-Sn-Cl containing clusters of $5{\mu}m$ needle-like crystals and oval shapes of Sn-Cl phase, polyhedral Sn oxide phase. b)In Fine cut, there appeared to be a large Sn containing phase, surrounded by many Cu-Sn phases of $1{\mu}m$ granular shapes. c)Dispersalloy was covered by a thick reticular layer which contained Zn-Cl phase. d)In Tytin, a very thin, corroded layer had formed with irregularly growing Sn-Cl phases that looked like a stack of plates. 2. The following results are obtained by an analysis of in vivo amalgam corrosion products. 1) Occlusal surfaces of all amalgams were covered by thick amorphous layers containing Ca-P elements which were abraded by occlusal force. 2) In tooth-amalgam interface, Ca-P containing products were examined in all amalgams but were most clearly seen in low copper amalgams. 3) Sn oxide appeared as a polyhedral shape in internal space in Caulk spherical and Fine cut. 4) Apical pyramidal shaped Sn oxide and curved plate-like Sn-Cl phases resulted in Dispersalloy. 5) In Tytin, Sn oxide and Sn hydroxide were not seen but polyhedral Ag-Hg phase crystal appeared in internal space which assumed a ${\beta}_l$ phase.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.239-244
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• 2007

In order to investigate the effect of fluorine ion in the $Li_{1-x}FeO_2Li_xMnO_2$ (Mn/(Mn + Fe) = 0.8) cathode material, it was synthesized $Li_{1-x}FeO_{2-y}F_y-Li_xMnO_2$ (Mn/(Mn + Fe) = 0.8, $0.05{\le}y{\le}0.15$) cathode materials at $350^{\circ}C$ for 10hrs using solid-state method. $Li_{1-x}FeO_{2-y}F_y-Li_xMnO_2$ (Mn/(Mn + Fe) = 0.8, $0.0{\le}y{\le}0.1$ was composed many large needle-like particles of about $1-1.5\;{\mu}m$ and small particles of about 50-100 nm, which were distributed among the larger particles. However, $Li_{1-x}FeO_{1.85}F_{0.15}-Li_xMnO_2$ material showed slightly different particle morphology. The particles of $Li_{1-x}FeO_{1.85}F_{0.15}-Li_xMnO_2$ were suddenly increased and started to be a spherical type of particle shape. $Li/Li_{1-x}FeO_{1.9}F_{0.1}-Li_xMnO_2$ cell showed a high initial discharge capacity of 163 mAh/g and a high cycle retention rate of 95% after 50 cycles. The initial discharge capacity of $Li/Li_{1-x}FeO_{2-y}F_y-Li_xMnO_2$ ($0.05{\le}y{\le}0.15$) cells increased according to the increase of F content. However, the cycleability of this cell was very rapidly decreased when the substituted fluorine content is over 0.1. We suggested that too large amount of F ion fail to substitute into the $Li_{1-x}FeO_2-Li_xMnO_2$ structure, which resulted in the severe decline of battery performance.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.152-155
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• 2009

Purpose: The most widely accepted tool for follow up management of thyroid cancer patients is serum thyroglobulin (Tg) measurement, but its value is limited by the interference of anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (anti-Tg Ab). Recently thyroglobulin measurement in the wash out of fine-needle aspiration biopsy specimens (Tg-FNAB) is frequently used for differential diagnosis of recurrences/metastases. The aim of this study was the investigation of the diagnostic utility of Tg-FNAB compared with serum Tg. Materials and Methods: We enrolled 41 consecutive patients with thyroid cancer who were evaluated for Tg-FNAB between January 2007 and February 2008 retrospectively. We ruled out 6 patients who anti-Tg Ab positive (${\geq}$100 U/mL) in the RIA (BRAHMS anti-Tgn RIA 100Det; BRAHMS Aktiengesell schaft, Berlin, Germany). Serum Tg and Tg-FNAB were measured by immunoradiometric assay (BRAHMS Tg pluS RIA 100 Det; BRAHMS Aktienge sellschaft, Berlin, Germany). We evaluated for Tg-FNAB compared with serum Tg and corresponding cytological smear. To compare the values of the two the t-test was used. Results: Tg-FNAB values were significantly higher (median 1,060 ng/mL, range 0.2~434,000 ng/mL) than serum Tg (median 2.5 ng/mL, range 0.9~131 ng/mL) (p=0.0394). The rate of correspondence with Tg-FNAB between cytological result was 87.9% and 65.9% in the case of serum Tg. Tg-FNAB was positive in 28 (24 with positive and 4 with suspicious cytology). Of the remaining 13 patients with negative Tg-FNAB, 1 had suspicious and 12 had unsuspicious cytology. serum Tg was positive in 26 (17 with positive and 3 with suspicious and 6 with unsuspicious cytology), Of the remaining 15 patients with negative serum Tg, 8 was positive in cytological result and 1 had suspicious and 6 had unsuspicious cytology. Conclusions: Tg-FNAB measurement is more accurate with high sensitivity (87.9%) than serum Tg (65.9%). The Tg-FNAB was a useful predictor for detecting recurrences/metastases with serum Tg.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.98 no.6
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• pp.791-798
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• 2009

The role of forest and soil carbon under global climate change is getting important as a carbon sink and it is necessary to research on applicable forest models as well as in the field for a study of these dynamics. On this study, historical annual litter dataset as a major input data for the forest soil carbon model, Yasso was established using a dendrochronological reconstruction method, and the soil carbon dynamics of a Pinus densiflora forest in Gwangneung, Korea was simulated using Yasso. The amount of litter (needle, branch, stem and fine root) production, which was estimated using the dendrochronological method, has increased continuously from 1971 to 2006. Furthermore, there was no significant error between estimated and measured values of litter production (needle and branch) in 2006. The average of simulated soil carbon stock up to 30 cm depth was $46.30{\pm}4.28tCha^{-1}$, which accounted for 53% of carbon stock in trees of the forest, and had no significant difference and error with measured soil carbon stock. Under the climate change trend in Korea according to IPCC A1B scenario, it was estimated that the simulated soil carbon stock in the region would increase continuously from 1971 to 2041 and then decreased until 2100. Compared to the result of the scenario that there is no climate change, the soil carbon stock could be decreased up to 7.58% at 2100. It was inferred the dendrochronological reconstruction method and simulation of Yasso model are useful to estimate soil carbon dynamics of the natural P. densiflora forest. Follow-up researches, such as improvement of the dendrochronological method and Yasso model and their application and validation in various environment, are needed to produce more reliable results.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.87-94
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• 1996

For evaluating the suitability of human follicular fluid(HFF) as protein supplement in ART, this preliminary study was performed to examine the maturation promoting activity of HFF on mouse follicular oocytes in vitro. Mouse follicular oocytes were collected from ovaries of 21-28 day old ICR mice by puncturing the antral follicles with fine needle at 48 hours after PMSG injection. The oocytes were rinsed and cultured in modified Whittingham's $T_6$ medium containing purines or dbcAMP to maintain meiotic arrest, and different concentrations of HFF were added into the culture medium to examine the effect of HFF on releasing the oocytes from the suppressive influence of the meiotic inhibitors. As a control for HFF, the maturation promoting activity of human fetal cord serum(HFCS) was investigated and compared with the activity of HFF. While HFF was separated, by molecular weight(M.W), into high M.W. fraction(M.W>30,000) and low M.W. fraction(M.W<30,000) and the effects of the fractions on meiotic resumption were investigated in the presence of the meiotic inhibitors. Also hormone analysis was performed to compare the content of hormones in HFF with that in HFCS. Same concentrations of HFF and HFCS induced similar germinal vesicle break down(GVBD) rates of the oocytes meiotic arrested by purines(4mM hypoxanthine+0.75mM adenosine), but the extrusion rate of 1st polar body(PB) of the oocytes cultured in HFF(65.0%, P<0.05) was significantly higher than that(51.6%) in HFCS. While, in the presence of 200 M dbcAMP, the maturation promoting activity of HFF (GVBD: 70.5%, $p<10^{-6}$; 1st PB extrusion: 67.1%, $p<10^{-3}$) was significantly greater than that of HFCS(GVBD: 35.2%; 1st PB extrusion: 41.1%). The oocytes cultured in the fraction of HFF containing high M.W. components showed higher meiotic maturation rates than the oocytes cultured in the low M.W. fraction of HFF. Gonadotropins and $E_2$ were known to improve the completion of maturation changes, and the levels of these hormones were higher in HFF than in HFCS. Therefore, HFF was more effective than HFCS to use for promoting meiotic resumption of mouse oocytes in vitro.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.77 no.6
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• pp.251-257
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• 2014

Background: Transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) is a valuable diagnostic tool for peripheral pulmonary lesions. The diagnostic yield of TBLB reportedly ranges from 41%-60%. Many studies demonstrated the various factors that influence the yield of TBLB, including size, location, and distance from the carina or pleura. However, no study has evaluated the effects of the bronchoscope diameter. We evaluated whether the bronchoscope diameter affected the diagnostic yield of TBLB. Methods: We reviewed records from 178 patients who underwent TBLB using bronchoscopes of two different diameters (5.7 mm, thick outer diameter, Olympus BF-200; 4.9 mm, thin, BF-260). The fluoroscopic guidance rates, yield of TBLB and flexible bronchoscopy (FB) were compared between the two groups. Additionally, we compared the results of the procedures with respect to diagnosis, distance from the pleura, and size of the lesion. Results: The results of fluoroscopic guidance, TBLB, and FB yield using thin diameter bronchoscope were significantly better than those obtained with a thick diameter bronchoscope (p=0.021, p=0.036, and p=0.010, respectively). Particularly, when the distance from the pleura was ${\leq}10mm$, success rates for fluoroscopic guidance and FB with thin bronchoscope were higher (p=0.013 and p=0.033, respectively), as compared to with thick bronchoscope. Conclusion: A thinner diameter bronchoscope increased the yield of bronchoscopy, and bronchial washing in conjunction with TBLB was useful in the diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary nodules.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.16-24
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• 1993

During 7 years, from Jan. 1986 to Dec. 1992, authors studied 208 cases of the surgically managed thyroid nodules at the Department of General Surgery, Han Kang Sacred Heart Hospital and obtained the following results. 1) Among the total 208 cases, male to female ratio was 1:11.2 in benign thyroid diseases and 1:9 in malignant thyroid diseases. The benign disease was prevalent between second and forth decade comparing with malignant disease between third and fifth decade. 2) The most common duration of illness was 3 months(26.0%). 3) Palpable neck mass was the most common chief complaint(100%). Palpitation. fatigue, and sweating were common complaints in patient with benign disease, and fatigue, palpitation, and sweating in malignant disease in decreasing order of frequency. 4) 55.8 % of lesions were in right lobe, 33.2% in left lobe, 5.8% in diffuse type, 4.8% in bilateral lobes, and 0.5% in isthmus. 5) The most common size of nodule was between 2.0cm and 3.9cm in diameter, which consisted of 55.1% of benign disease and 48.0% of malignant disease. 6) 86.5% of thyroid function test showed euthyroidism, 10.1% hyperthyroidism, and 3.4% hypothyroidism. 7) Thyroid scanning of 176 patients revealed cold nodules in 92.5% of benign diseases and in 92.9% of malignant diseases. 8) The most common benign disease was adenomatous hyperplasia(62.7%), and the most common malignant disease was papillary adenocarcinoma(80.0%). 9) Fine needle aspiration cytology was performed in 91 cases, and it showed 69.0% of sensitivity, 90.3% of specificity, and 83.5% of accuracy. 10) Frozen biopsy was performed in 109 cases. and it showed 93.9% of sensitivity, 100.0% of specificity, and 98.2% of accuracy. 11) The most commonly performed operation was unilateral lobectomy(including unilateral lobectomy with isthmectomy)(79.1%) in benign disease. and total thyroidectomy(62.0%) in malignant disease. 12) Postoperative complication showed 5 cases of wound infection (2.4%), 3 cases of transient hypoparathyroidism(1.4%), 3 cases of transient hoarseness(1.4%), 2 cases of postoperative bleeding(1.0%), 1 case of permanent hypoparathyroidism(0.5%), 1 case of permanent hoarseness(0.5%), and 1 case of postoperative pneumonia (0.5%).

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.459-463
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• 2015

A 14-year-old, castrated male mixed-breed dog weighing 9 kg was presented for hematuria and dysuria. Abdominal ultrasound showed unilateral hydronephrosis and hydroureter with focal thickening of the ureteral wall. Surgical exploration revealed an intraluminal mass arising from the proximal left ureter. Mass resection was performed. Histopathology of the ureteral mass was consistent with a papillary transitional cell carcinoma. The patient recovered well post-operatively, but was diagnosed with another tumor three months later, this time in the right kidney. Fine-needle aspiration cytology of the renal mass revealed an epithelial cell tumor with mesenchymal features.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.603-606
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• 2011

An 11-year-old castrated male cocker spaniel presented with halitosis, anorexia, and swelling of the left face. Upon physical examination, a firm mass was detected in the left buccal mucosa. Fine needle aspiration cytology revealed a malignant tumor of mesenchymal origin. We performed biopsy, which gave a diagnosis of oral fibrosarcoma. The client refused surgical treatment, and carboplatin chemotherapy (300 $mg/m^2$, IV, q 21 days) was initiated. The mass gradually decreased in size and disappeared about 89 days after the initial chemotherapy. Complete remission was attained, and the tumor did not relapse. This case report shows that a single carboplatin chemotherapy session can achieve macroscopic complete remission of oral fibrosarcoma.