• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.174-181
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• 2005

Purpose: Reduction of respiratory motion artifacts in PET images was studied using respiratory-gated PET (RGPET) with moving phantom. Especially a method of generating simulated helical CT images from 4D-CT datasets was developed and applied to a respiratory specific RGPET images for more accurate attenuation correction. Materials and Methods: Using a motion phantom with periodicity of 6 seconds and linear motion amplitude of 26 mm, PET/CT (Discovery ST: GEMS) scans with and without respiratory gating were obtained for one syringe and two vials with each volume of 3, 10, and 30 ml respectively. RPM (Real-Time Position Management, Varian) was used for tracking motion during PET/CT scanning. Ten datasets of RGPET and 4D-CT corresponding to every 10% phase intervals were acquired. from the positions, sizes, and uptake values of each subject on the resultant phase specific PET and CT datasets, the correlations between motion artifacts in PET and CT images and the size of motion relative to the size of subject were analyzed. Results: The center positions of three vials in RGPET and 4D-CT agree well with the actual position within the estimated error. However, volumes of subjects in non-gated PET images increase proportional to relative motion size and were overestimated as much as 250% when the motion amplitude was increased two times larger than the size of the subject. On the contrary, the corresponding maximal uptake value was reduced to about 50%. Conclusion: RGPET is demonstrated to remove respiratory motion artifacts in PET imaging, and moreover, more precise image fusion and more accurate attenuation correction is possible by combining with 4D-CT.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.51-56
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• 2015

Purpose As medical radiation exposures on patients are being social issues an interest in a relief of radiation exposures on patients is increasing. Further, there are many cases where some patients among who are getting PET/CT tests choose to get implanted with metal artifacts in their bodies. This study is to find out effects of presence or absence of metal artifacts when dose change or CT attenuation correction for the relief of radiation exposures are applied using phantoms through changes in standard uptake value (SUV). Materials and Methods GE company's Discovery 710 machine was used for PET/CT test equipments. We used NEMA IEC body phantoms. We also used screw and mesh cage made of titanium which are used in real clinical processes for the metal artifacts. Two experiments were conducted: One is to test and measure repeatedly about SUV about differences in CT attenuation corrections according to dose changes and another is to do the same procedure for SUV about the presence and absence of the metal artifacts. We injected $^{18}F-FDG$ into NEMA IEC body phantoms with a TBR ratio of 4:1 and then put the metal material into the transformation phantoms. Once a scanning for the metal artifacts was done we eliminated the metal artifacts and went on non-metal artifacts. For the each two experiments, we scanned repeatedly with CT kVp (140, 120, 100, 80) and mA (120, 80, 40, 20, 10) for an experimental condition. For PET, we reconstructed each with standard AC (STD) technique and quantitation achieved cnsistently QAC) technique among CT attenuation correction methods. We conducted a comparative analysis on measured average values and variations which were measured through repeated measure of SUV of region 1, 2, 3 spheres for each conditions of non-metal /metal scan. Results For each kVp, 120, 80, 40 (mA) of non/metal (screw, mesh cage) showed low frequency of fluctuation rates of above 2%. In 20, 10 mA above 2% of fluctuation rates appeared in high frequency. Also, when we compared the fluctuation rates of STD and QAC techniques in non/metal (screw, mesh cage) tests QAC technique showed about 1-10% of differences for each conditions compared to STD technique. In addition, metal types did not have significant effects on fluctuation rates. Conclusion We confirmed that SUV fluctuation rates for both STD and QAC techniques increase as dosage is lower. We also found that the SUV of PET data was maintained steadily in a low dosage for QAC technique when compared with STD technique. Hence, when the low dosage is used for the relief of radiation exposures on patients QAC technique may be exploited helpfully and this could be applied in the same way for patients with metal artifacts implanted in their bodies.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2015

Purpose $^{99m}Tc-DMSA$ renal scintigraphy serves as location, size and shape of kidney, so it has been used for diagnosis and passage observation after the operation or treatment. There are 3 methods of calculating the relative renal uptake ratio such as geometric mean of the counts from the anterior and posterior views, arithmetical mean from the only posterior view and posterior view which applied the renal depths. In this study, we seek to correlation between the change of total relative uptake ratio according to different inspection methods of obtaining the renal count rate. Materials and Methods The phantom experiments proceeded 5 times depending on each renal depth with the kidney phantom and tissue equivalent materials. In the clinical research, we investigated 36 adult patients who had visited our hospital from february to october, 2014 and received $^{99m}Tc-DMSA$ renal scan. The equipment was used as a gamma camera named INFINIA (General Electric Healthcare, milwaukee, USA) and we drew the region of interests through semiautomatic method by using Xeleris Ver. 2.1220 of GE. In addition, we obtained the lateral view of kidney to measure the renal depth of each patient. Then the results were compared with 3 methods of calculating relative renal uptake ratio. Results The phantom studies show when the difference between the left ant right kidney depth were less than 1 cm, there were no statistically significant difference among values calculated through anterior and posterior views and only posterior view (P>0.05), while the excess of 1cm, the results showed a statistically significant change in the value (P<0.05). In case of clinical research, the correlation between total relative uptake ratio by obtaining both sides of image and posterior view applied the kidney depth (r=0.999) was higher than by obtaining only posterior view and applying the kidney depth to one side image (r=0.988). Conclusion This study has found that, the difference of calculating total relative uptake ratio compared with obtaining anterior and posterior views and only posterior view. In order to reduce the error, we recommend the method of obtaining anterior and posterior views and is considered to be useful, particularly the patients have similar uptake ratio of left and right kidney and difficulties of measurements of kidney depth.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.111-119
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• 2013

Purpose: Mucopolysaccharidosis type I (MPS I) is a lysosomal storage disorder caused by deficiency of the enzyme ${\alpha}$-L-iduronidase, which leads to a broad spectrum of multisystemic manifestations. Short stature and decreased growth velocity are prominent features of MPS I. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) on growth of Korean MPS I patients from a single center. Methods: Height data were obtained by retrospective chart review of 10 Korean patients with MPS I who had received ERT for a minimum of 3 years. Height was expressed as standard deviation scores (SDS) based on normative data. Annual growth rates were calculated before and during ERT. A piecewise regression model was used to analyze height z-scores before and after treatment. Individual analysis was performed for impact of phenotype [(severe (Hurler) versus attenuated (Hurler-Scheie, Scheie)] on growth. Results: Annual growth was 3.3 cm (z-score= -0.21) in the year before ERT and 6.2 cm (z-score= 0.17), 5.8 cm (z-score= 0.07), and 3.8 cm (z-score= -0.4) in the first, second, and third years of ERT, respectively. Regression analysis showed improvement in the slope after ERT (difference= 0.04; P=0.022). Estimated slope differences between severe and attenuated phenotypes were statistically significant before (P=0.001) and after treatment (P<0.0001), although no significant difference was noted when stratified by phenotype. Conclusion: ERT with aldurazyme appears to have a positive impact on linear growth in patients with MPS I.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.141-168
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• 2001

Healthcare service organizations can apply the cost of quality(COQ) model as a method to evaluate a service quality improvement project such as Total Quality Management (TQM). COQ model has been used to quantify and evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of TQM project through estimation between cost and benefit in intervention for a quality Improvement to provide satisfied services for a customer, and to identify a non value added process. For estimating cost of quality, We used activities and activity costs based on Activity Based Costing(ABC) system. These procedures let the researchers know whether the process is value-added by each activity, and identify a process to require improvement in TQM project. Through the series of procedures, health care organizations are service organizations can identify a problem in their quality improvement programs, solve the problem, and improve their quality of care for their costumers with optimized cost. The study subject was a quality improvement program of the department of radiology department in a hospital with n bed sizes in Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). The principal source of data for developing the COQ model was total cases of retaking shots for diagnoses during five months period from December of the 1998 to April of the 1999 in the department. First of the procedures, for estimating activity based cost of the department of diagnostic radiology, the researchers analyzed total department health insurance claims to identify activities and activity costs using one year period health insurance claims from September of the 1998 to August of the 1999. COQ model in this study applied Simpson & Multher's COQ(SM's COQ) model, and SM's COQ model divided cost of quality into failure cost with external and internal failure cost, and evaluation/prevention cost. The researchers identified contents for cost of quality, defined activities and activity costs for each content with the SM's COQ model, and finally made the formula for estimating activity costs relating to implementing service quality improvement program. The results from the formula for estimating cost of quality were following: 1. The reasons for retaking shots were largely classified into technique, appliances, patients, quality management, non-appliances, doctors, and unclassified. These classifications by reasons were allocated into each office doing re-taking shots. Therefore, total retaking shots categorized by reasons and offices, the researchers identified internal and external failure costs based on these categories. 2. The researchers have developed cost of quality (COQ) model, identified activities by content for cost of quality, assessed activity driving factors and activity contribution rate, and calculated total cost by each content for cost for quality, except for activity cost. 3. According to estimation of cost of quality for retaking shots in department of diagnostic radiology, the failure cost was ￦35,880, evaluation/preventive cost was ￦72,521, two times as much as failure cost. The proportion between internal failure cost and external failure cost in failure cost is similar. The study cannot identify trends on input cost and quality improving in cost of qualify over the time, because the study employs cross-sectional design. Even with this limitation, results of this study are much meaningful. This study shows possibility to evaluate value on the process of TQM subjects using activities and activity costs by ABC system, and this study can objectively evaluate quality improvement program through quantitative comparing input costs with marginal benefits in quality improvement.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.593-600
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• 2009

In this study, disabled people's life quality according to their use of dental healthcare services were examined, and the factors that influence their life quality were examined. The subjects in this study were 198 domestic disabled people in Jeollabuk-do, on whom a survey was conducted from May 1 to June 1, 2008. After the collected data were analyzed with SPSS WIN 12.0 program, the following findings were acquired: 1. 68.2% of the subjects had an experience of using dental service institutes. Over 80.0% of the physically disabled, the mentally handicapped, and the sensory-disturbance sufferers each used dental service institutes in their locations. Regarding the reason for visiting dental service institutes, 43.4% of the physically disabled visited for regular examination (the largest group for that reason), followed by the mentally handicapped with 37.9%. 43.5% of the sensory-disturbance sufferers visited for pain and fracture. 2. The subjects' life quality level relating to oral health was found to be an average 3.39 point score. There was a statistically significant difference in their life quality levels in terms of demographic features, such as age, religion, marriage/non-marriage, education, and subjective health status variables. Those experienced in using dental service institutes enjoyed higher levels of life quality (p=.011). And, with regard to disability characteristics, the degree of disability and the period of disability influenced the quality of life with a statistical significance. 3. Regarding variables influencing the life quality of subjects, in terms of general characteristic variables, subjective health status were influential variables, and in terms of characteristic variables relating to the use of dental clinics and disability, the experience of using dental service institutes influenced the quality of life. In conclusion, nationwide efforts to nurture separate dental personnels responsible for the disabled, to expand relevant facilities and to improve the health care insurance are required to promote the oral health of domestic disabled people's.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.525-534
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• 2021

In order to provide high-quality medical services to the public and contribute to the improvement of public health, it is necessary to enact an independent law according to the work of radiological technologists. Therefore, this study intends to review the regulations related to radiographers in the Medical Service Technologists, etc. Act. and to present opinions and directions for enactment of individual laws for radiological technologists. An online survey was conducted to 15,000 radiological technologists working in medical institutions and education sites in Korea; 1,027 people (6.85%) responded. The questionnaire consisted of 3 questions on demographic characteristics, 5 questions on the scope of work, and 12 questions on the revision of the Medical Service Technologists, etc. Act. and the establishment of the Radiological Technologist Independent Act. Reliability and factor analysis were performed on 9 questions measured on a Likert 5-point scale in "Revision of the Medical Service Technologists, etc. Act. and the establishment of the Radiological echnologist Independent Act" among the questionnaire items. Reliability for the total 9 questions was Chronbach α=0.728. There was a high perception that the regulations related to radiological technologists were insufficient in the current Medical Service Technologists, etc. Act., and the perception that examinations performed by radiological technologists at medical institutions were included in medical practice was high. If the Radiological Technologist Independent Act is enforced, a high percentage of respondents said that they could receive legal protection through the institutionalization of the scope of work, that the status of radiological technologists would be improved, and the scope of work would be expanded. The response that the scope of work of radiological technologists should be included was the highest at 96.6%. In the analysis according to demographic characteristics, it was found that 96.7% of the respondents were agreed regardless of the factors. Radiological technologists will have to work hard to secure the public health by coping with new radiology devices, procedures and treatment methods. Therefore, as the results of this study, it is expected that the enactment and implementation of the Radiological Technologist Independent Act will contribute to the improvement of the quality of treatment for patients and to the public health.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.153-161
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• 2021

Backgrounds: This study was performed to analyze the main key words of newspaper articles related to COVID-19 in 2020 for each category of quarantine measures according to the epidemic period of COVID-19. Methods: We analyzed articles related to COVID-19 in three major newspapers of Korea between February 17 and December 31, 2020. We targeted the front page articles on mondays and thursdays. The analysis of the relationship between the two variables was confirmed through the chi-square test. Results: As a result of analyzing the main key words for each category of quarantine measures, non-pharmaceutical intervention were the most common at 54.3%, followed by 3Ts(test, tracing, treatment and vaccine) at 31.9%. In the category of non-pharmaceutical intervention, social distancing was the most common at 33.9%. In the categories such as 3Ts(test, tracing, treatment) and vaccine, diagnostic tests were the most common at 41.8%. Conclusions: It was identified that non-pharmaceutical intervention were the most common, and there was a difference in the reporting of main key words by category of quarantine measures for each epidemic period related to COVID-19 in 2020.

• Korea Science and Art Forum
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.215-226
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• 2019

This study analyzed the healing effect of the design elements of healing environment from the perspective of environmental stress, which is one of the contents of environmental psychology. By examining the objective healing effects of the design elements of the healing environment, this study attempted to prepare a theoretical basis for contributing to the construction of a systematic and systematic healing environment. This study consists of three phases. Firstly, three environmental stress theories (Attention Recovery Theory, Evolutionary Psychology, and Environmental Stress Model) were examined to review the academic basis of which the theoretical concept of the healing environment has been derived and developed. Second, we analyzed 16 previous research on the design elements of healing environment and used them as an analysis framework of this study. Thirdly, 11 foreign studies that proved the healing effects of healing environment design elements through objective research methods were considered and analyzed as an analysis framework, and the basis for applying design elements in constructing healing environment was prepared. The research results are as follows. First, the concept of healing environment was developed from Lazarus's psychological stress theory and Ulrich's theory of evolutionary psychology, suggesting that it can be used as one of the noninvasive healing tools that affect stress reduction. Second, the healing environment design elements could be divided into 15 factors and categorized as physical environment, psychological environment, and social environment, and it was found that most of them were mentioned and studied in the previous research in order of nature-friendly, aesthetic, and openness. Third, most of the previous research on the healing effects of the design elements of the healing environment were related to natural affinity and aesthetics, and it was found that the visual elements of the healing environment could affect the actual stress reduction.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.1383-1392
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• 2021

It has been reported that emodin, a major pharmacologically active ingredient of herbal medicines such as Polygonum cuspidatum, Polygonum multiflorum, Rheum palmatum, and Aloe vera, is effective in antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and liver protection. In this study, to investigate the potential of emodin to be used as a skin disease and functional material, the activity related to the improvement of inflammation and skin barrier function was confirmed. To observe the anti-inflammatory effect on HaCaT cells, which are human keratinocytes, cytokine inhibition was confirmed by ELISA kit and protein expression by western blot. In HaCaT cells activated with TNF-α (10 ng/mL)/IFN-γ (10 ng/mL), emodin was treated with each concentration (5, 10, 20, 40) µM. As a result, It was confirmed that the production amount of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 decreased as the concentration of emodin increased. In the experimental results on the expression levels of inflammation-related proteins iNOS and COX-2, it was confirmed that 48% of iNOS and 29% of COX-2 were inhibited compared to control at a concentration of 20 µM of emodin. As an indicator of skin barrier function improvement, the mRNA expression level of filaggrin, involucrin, and loricirn and the production amount of filaggrin, involucrin, and loricirn were confirmed. and excellent results were obtained with an emodin concentration-dependent increase. In particular, filaggrin, which was produced twice as much as the control at a concentration of 20 µM, is a protein involved in the formation of NMF, a natural moisturizing factor, and is known to play an important role in moisturizing the stratum corneum. In conclusion, it was confirmed that emodin can be used as a material for improving inflammation and improving skin barrier function, which is part of the potential for use as a skin disease and functional material. It is believed that if additional research is performed in the future, the scope of its application can be further expanded.