• Advances in pediatric surgery
• /
• 제19권2호
• /
• pp.57-65
• /
• 2013

The entity of negative appendectomies still poses a dilemma in chlidren. Focused computed tomography (CT) scanning has become the diagnostic test of choice in many hospitals. However, the impact of CT scans on the diagnosis in children is unknown exactly. The purpose of this study was to critically evaluate CT scans for the evaluation of acute appendicitis in children, to review utilization of this diagnostic test in our appendicitis population and to determine if diagnostic accuracy has improved. A retrospective analysis of efficacy of CT scan for diagnosis of appendicitis in children was conducted. Children undergoing appendectomy for acute appendicitis were reviewed from 2007 to 2012. Perforation and negative appendectomy (removal of a normal appendix) rates were determined by the final pathologic report. Statistical comparison were made using the $x^2$ test and significance was assigned at p < 0.05. Five hundred four appendectomies were performed. Mean age was $10.1{\pm}3.21$ years, and 62.7% were boys. Overall, 308 children (61.1%) underwent CT scanning, 100 (19.8%) had US performed, and 97 (19.2%) had no radiographic study. A pathologically normal appendix was removed in 8.7% (27 of 308) of CT patients, 9.0% (9 of 100) of US patients, and 11.3% (11 of 97) of patients without a study. The frequency of CT scanning increased from 29.7% (27 of 91) of all children in 2007 to 75.6% (59 of 78) in 2012, whereas utilization of US decreased from 30.8% (28 of 91) to 11.5% (9 of 78). During this time period the difference in the negative appendectomy rate did change significantly from 14% to 6%. Liberal use of CT scans in diagnosing appendicitis in children has resulted in a decreased negative appendectomy rate.

• 한국세라믹학회지
• /
• 제55권2호
• /
• pp.166-173
• /
• 2018

In order to investigate the effect of Mn on the dielectric and piezoelectric properties of PMN-PT [$Pb(Mg_{1/3}Nb_{2/3})O_3-PbTiO_3$], four different types of 71PMN-29PT samples were prepared using the solid-state single crystal growth (SSCG) method: (1) Undoped single crystals, (2) undoped polycrystalline ceramics, (3) Mn-doped single crystals, and (4) Mn-doped polycrystalline ceramics. In the case of single crystals, the addition of 0.5 mol% Mn to PMN-PT decreased the dielectric constant ($K_3{^T}$), piezoelectric charge constant ($d_{33}$), and dielectric loss (tan ${\delta}$) by about 50%, but increased the coercive electric field ($E_C$) by 50% and the electromechanical quality factor ($Q_m$) by 500%, respectively. The addition of Mn to PMN-PT induced an internal bias electric field ($E_I$) and thus specimens changed from piezoelectrically soft-type to piezoelectrically hard-type. This Mn effect was more significant in single crystals than in ceramics. These results demonstrate that Mn-doped 71PMN-29PT single crystals, because they are piezoelectrically hard and simultaneously have high piezoelectric and electromechanical properties, have great potential for application in fields of SONAR transducers, high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), and ultrasonic motors.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제17권12호
• /
• pp.5281-5285
• /
• 2016

Background: Brachytherapy is the most commonly used conservative treatment for the uveal melanoma. The aim of this study was to evaluate therapeutic results of Ruthenium-106 plaque brachytherapy in the management of localized uveal melanoma cases. Methods: We reviewed retrospectively the clinical records of all patients treated in our department for an uveal melanoma, undergoing Ruthenium-106 plaque brachytherapy, from January 1996 to December 2015. We focused on clinical features, therapeutic characteristics, local and distant tumor control and side effects. Results: Nineteen patients were enrolled in our study. Mean age was 56.2 years (28-79) and the sex ratio was 1.37:1 males to females. Diagnosis was made on the basis of ophthalmological clinical examination, angiography, ultrasound and/or magnetic resonance. Median tumor diameter was 9.7 mm (6-13) and median thickness 4.4 mm (2.5-8). The dose of Ruthenium-106 plaque brachytherapy prescribed to the apex of each tumor was 70 Gy in all cases. The median radiation dose to the sclera surface was 226.4 Gy (range: 179.6-342.3) and the median total application time 115.2 hours (range: 27 to 237). After a median follow-up of 61.5 months, local control was achieved in 17 patients (89%): 16 demonstrated a partial tumor response and 1 tumor stabilization. Two patients suffered local progression leading to enucleation, one dying of hepatic metastasis. Radiation-induced complications were cataracts in 3 cases and vitreal hemorrhage in 2. Conclusion: Ruthenium-106 plaque brachytherapy is an efficient treatment for localized uveal melanoma, offering good local control with low toxicity.

• 한국세라믹학회지
• /
• 제54권2호
• /
• pp.150-157
• /
• 2017

Three types of piezoelectric single crystals [PMN-PT (Generation I $[Pb(Mg_{1/3}Nb_{2/3})O_3-PbTiO_3]$), PMN-PZT (Generation II $[Pb(Mg_{1/3}Nb_{2/3})O_3-Pb(Zr,Ti)O_3]$), PMN-PZT-Mn (Generation III)] were grown by the solid-state single crystal growth (SSCG) method, and their dielectric and piezoelectric properties were measured and compared. Compared to (001) PMN-PT and PMN-PZT single crystals, the (001) PMN-PZT-Mn single crystals exhibited a higher transition temperature between the rhombohedral and tetragonal phases ($T_{RT}=144^{\circ}C$), as well as a higher coercive electric field ($E_C=6.3kV/cm$) and internal bias field ($E_I=1.6kV/cm$). The (011) PMN-PZT-Mn single crystals showed the highest coercive electric field ($E_C=7.0kV/cm$), and the highest stability of $E_C$ and $E_I$ during 60 cycles of polarization measurement. These results demonstrate that both Mn doping (for higher electromechanical quality factor ($Q_m$)) and a (011) crystallographic orientation (for higher coercive electric field and stability) are necessary for high power transducer applications of these piezoelectric single crystals. Specifically, the (011) PMN-PZT-Mn single crystal (Gen. III) had the highest potential for application in the fields of SONAR transducers, high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), ultrasonic motors, and others.

• 제어로봇시스템학회논문지
• /
• 제16권5호
• /
• pp.463-468
• /
• 2010

An obstacle avoidance method for a mobile robot is proposed in this paper. Our research was focused on the obstacles that can be found indoors since a robot is usually used within a building. It is necessary that the robot maintain the desired direction after successfully avoiding the obstacles to achieve a good autonomous navigation performance for the specified project mission. Sensors such as laser, ultrasound, and PSD (Position Sensitive Detector) can be used to detect and analyze the obstacles. A PSD sensor was used to detect and measure the height and width of the obstacles on the floor. The PSD sensor was carefully calibrated before measuring the obstacles to achieve better accuracy. Data obtained from the repeated experiments were used to plot an error graph which was fitted to a polynomial curve. The polynomial equation was used to navigate the robot. We also obtained a direction-error model of the robot after avoiding the obstacles. The prototypes for the obstacle and direction-error were modeled using a neural network whose inputs are the obstacle height, robot speed, direction of the wheels, and the error in direction. A mobile robot operated by a notebook computer was setup and the proposed algorithm was used to navigate the robot and avoid the obstacles. The results showed that our algorithm performed very well during the experiments.

• 대한방사선기술학회지:방사선기술과학
• /
• 제43권4호
• /
• pp.281-288
• /
• 2020

This study was intented as an investigation of the employment process into UAE for Korean and overseas sonographers to understand requirements for working abroad in regards to primary education curriculum and employment expansion abroad. A total of 10 candidates are selected who were working together with a job title of a cardiac sonographer in the same department under one hospital in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The candidates had clinical experience over 2 years in other countries after graduation and for 1 year at least in UAE. Data was collected through in-depth interviews, a web search and literature reviews. We analyzed the process regarding their curriculums studying in colleges, educational courses and certificates related medical fields. The findings were created with four essential themes: first, there are specific colleges or diploma courses corresponding academic major in United states, Portugal, Turkey, India and Pakistan. Secondly, healthcare professions were systemized by certifying as a specialist relevant medical fields. Thirdly, it is mandatory to be employed in UAE that are clinical experience for 2 years at least after graduation of specific courses. Lastly, It is required to work in UAE that is a license of healthcare authority under each state by taking a national examination or transferring own certificates to a current license in UAE. In conclusion, the results indicate that employing process for healthcare professionals depends on the educational requirements or clinical experience accumulated due to the various systems to be certified in each country. We believe that this study suggests experimental information for Korean job seekers considering working abroad in the medical ultrasound fields.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• 제47권1호
• /
• pp.20-25
• /
• 2020

Background Ultrasonic dissection devices cause less thermal damage to the surrounding tissue than monopolar electrosurgical devices. We compared the effects of using an ultrasonic dissection device or an electrocautery device during prosthetic breast reconstruction on seroma development and short-term postoperative complications. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent implant-based reconstruction following mastectomy between March 2017 and September 2018. Mastectomy was performed by general surgeons and reconstruction by plastic surgeons. From March 2017 to January 2018, a monopolar electrosurgical device was used, and an ultrasonic dissection device was used thereafter. The other surgical methods were the same in both groups. Results The incidence of seroma was lower in the ultrasonic dissection device group than in the electrocautery group (11 [17.2%] vs. 18 [31.0%]; P=0.090). The duration of surgery, total drainage volume, duration of drainage, overall complication rate, surgical site infection rate, and flap necrosis rate were comparable between the groups. Multivariate analysis revealed that the risk of seroma development was significantly lower in the ultrasonic dissection device group than in the electrocautery group (odds ratio for electrocautery, 3.252; 95% confidence interval, 1.242-8.516; P=0.016). Conclusions The findings of this study suggest that the incidence of seroma can be reduced slightly by using an ultrasonic dissection device for prosthesis-based breast reconstruction. However, further randomized controlled studies are required to verify our results and to assess the cost-effectiveness of this technique.

• 비파괴검사학회지
• /
• 제32권5호
• /
• pp.526-539
• /
• 2012

본 연구에서는 기존의 방광 내압 측정의 문제점을 근본적으로 해결할 수 있는 새로운 접근법인 '초음파를 이용한 비침습적 방광 내압 측정 기술'을 제안한다. 제안된 기술은 초음파에 의한 캐비테이션 현상을 이용한다. 즉, 체외에서 조사된 고강도 초음파 펄스에 의해 방광 내에 생성된 기포의 동 특성은 방광 내압에의 영향을 받는다는 물리적인 현상에 근거한다. 본 논문에서는 초음파 방광 내압의 측정 기술의 이론적 기초를 제시하고 및 초기적인 측정 실험을 통해 실현 가능성을 입증했다. 제안된 초음파 방광 압력 측정법은 비침습적이며, 성별, 연령에 관계없이 적용 가능하고, 상시 측정이 가능하여 향후 방광 및 배뇨 장애 관련 진단 및 치료에 크게 기여할 것으로 기대된다.

• 전자공학회논문지
• /
• 제52권11호
• /
• pp.127-134
• /
• 2015

초음파를 이용한 조직 자극 기법은 지속적으로 연구, 개발되고 있으며, 최근 미용 및 비만 치료에 대한 관심이 높아짐에 따라 초음파 지방 제거술에 대한 다양한 연구가 진행되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 초음파 지방 제거술을 위한 초음파 변환기를 설계하고, 조사조건에 따른 집속영역의 형태와 열 변성 영역을 시뮬레이션 하였다. 이를 통하여 제원을 검증하였으며, 제작된 변환기의 초음파 방사 특성 및 가열 특성을 측정하여 유효성을 평가하였다. 또한 복합 구조의 매질을 대상으로 초음파 가열 특성을 예측하였으며 제작된 변환기의 집속점 형태 및 가열 특성이 지방층을 충분히 유화시킬 수 있을 것으로 판단하였다. 본 연구의 결과는 보다 효율적이고 안전한 초음파 지방 제거술의 기초 연구로 활용될 것으로 사료된다.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• 제51권4호
• /
• pp.1037-1040
• /
• 2019

For the past 50 years, graphite has been widely used as a moderator, reflector and fuel matrix in different kinds of gas-cooled reactors. Resulting in approximately 250,000 metric tons of irradiated graphite waste. One of the most significant long-lived radioisotope from graphite reactors is carbon-14 ($^{14}C$) with a half-life of 5730 years, this makes it a huge concern for deep geologic disposal of nuclear graphite (NG). Considering the lifecycle of NG a number of waste management options have been developed, mainly focused on the achievement the radiological requirements for disposal. The existing approaches for recycling depend on the cost to be economically viable. In this new study, an affordable process to remove $^{14}C$ has been proposed using samples taken from the Nuclear Power Plant in Latina (Italy) which have been used to investigate the capability of organic and inorganic solvents in removing $^{14}C$ from exfoliated nuclear graphite, with the aim to design a practicable approach to obtain graphite for recycling or/and safety disposed as L& LLW.