• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.69 no.2
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• pp.95-102
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• 2010

Background: The increasing rate of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) is a threat to the public health and TB control. In Korea, about 75~80% of TB patients are treated in private hospitals and the rate has been continuously increasing since 2000. Methods: On a retrospective basis, we enrolled 170 newly diagnosed with or retreated for multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) in 2004 from 21 private hospitals. We extracted the following demographics and treatment history from patient medical records: initial treatment outcomes, cumulative survival rates, treatment outcomes, and prognostic factors. Results: Of the 170 patients, the majority were male (64.1%), the mean age was 44.5 years old, and mean body-mass-index was $20.2kg/m^2$. None of the patients tested positive for HIV. Eleven (6.5%) were confirmed to have extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) at treatment initiation. Treatment success rates were not different between XDR-TB (36.4%, 4/11) and non-XDR MDR-TB (51.6%, 82/159). Default rate was high, 21.8% (37/170). Far advanced disease on X-ray was a significant negative predictor of treatment success; advanced disease and low BMI were risk factors for all-cause mortality. Conclusion: In private hospitals in Korea, the proportion of XDR-TB in MDR-TB was comparable to previous data. The treatment success rate of MDR-/XDR-TB remains poor and the failure rate was quite high. Adequate TB control policies should be strengthened to prevent the further development and spread of MDR-/XDR-TB in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.57-67
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• 2020

Pinus densiflora is the most widely distributed tree species in South Korea. Its ecological and socio-cultural attributes makes it one of the most important tree species in S. Korea. In recent times however, the distribution of P. densiflora has been affected by dieback. This phenomenon has largely been attributed to climate change. This study was conducted to investigate the responses of growth and physiology of P. densiflora to drought and nitrogen fertiliz ation according to the RCP 8.5 scenario. A Temperature Gradient Chamber (TGC) and CO₂. Temperature Gradient Chamber (CTGC) were used to simulate climate change conditions. The treatments were established with temperature (control versus +3 and +5℃; aCeT) and CO₂ (control: aCaT versus x1.6 and x2.2; eCeT), watering(control versus drought), fertilization(control versus fertilized). Net photosynthesis (P_n), stomatal conductance (g_s), biomass and relative soil volumetric water content (VWC) were measured to examine physiological responses and growth. Relative soil VWC in aCeT significantly decreased after the onset of drought. P_n and g_s in both aCeT and eCeT with fertiliz ation were high before drought but decreased rapidly after 7 days under drought because nitrogen fertilization effect did not last long. The fastest mortality was 46 days in aCeT and the longest survival was 56 days in eCeT after the onset of drought. Total and partial biomass (leaf, stem and root) in both aCeT and eCeT with fertiliz ation were significantly high, but significantly low in aCeT. The results of the study are helpful in addressing P. densiflora vulnerability to climate change by highlighting physiological responses related to carbon allocation under differing simulated environmental stressors.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.3 s.260
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• pp.177-183
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• 2006

Background: The bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt (BCPS) is one of the primary palliative procedures for complex congenital heart disease. It has many advantages, but it is known to have high risks in young infants. Material and Method: From 1995 to 2003, 48 infants under the age of one year underwent BCPS. All the patients were Fontan candidates due to functional univentricular heart physiology. There were no significant differences in preoperative variables, except in mean age (67.58$\pm$3.78 vs. 212.91$\pm$13.44 days), and mean body weight (4.51$\pm$0.29 vs. 6.62$\pm$0.27 kg), between group A (<3 months, n=12) and group B ($\ge$3 months, n=36). Result: In group A, the arterial oxygen saturations serially measured were significantly lower. Hospital mortality was $25\%$, and $19\%$, respectively. During follow up, there were 2 late mortalities in group A, and 5 in group B. Conclusion: This study showed that operative risk in young infants was comparable to that of older patients, and BCPS could be a good option as a primary palliative procedure, and may eliminate other repeated palliative procedures which could be the risk factors for Fontan candidates. However, in high-risk patients accompanying pulmonary hypertension, or heterotaxia syndrome, other palliative procedures should be considered.

• The Korean Journal of Medicine
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• v.93 no.6
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• pp.538-547
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• 2018

Background/Aims: The impact of left ventricular (LV) diastolic function and filling pressure on clinical outcomes in young patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has been poorly studied. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the impact of LV diastolic function and LV filling pressure on major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) in young patients with AMI. Methods: A total of 200 young patients (males < 45 year, females < 55 year) with AMI were divided into two groups according to the diastolic function; normal (n = 46, $39.5{\pm}5.3$ years) versus abnormal (n = 154, $43.5{\pm}5.1$ years). Results: Despite regional wall motion abnormalities, normal LV diastolic function was not uncommon in young AMI patients (23.0%). During the 40 months of clinical follow-up, MACEs developed in 26 patients (13.0%); 14 re-percutaneous coronary intervention (7.0%), 8 recurrent MI (4.0%), and 4 deaths (2.0%). MACEs did not differ between the normal and abnormal diastolic function group (13.6% vs. 10.9%, p = 0.810), but MACEs were significantly higher in the high LV filling pressure group than the normal LV filling pressure group (36.8% vs. 10.5%, p < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, high LV filling pressure was an independent predictor of MACEs (hazard ratio 3.022, 95% confidence interval 1.200-7.612, p = 0.019). Conclusions: This study suggested that measurement of the LV filling pressure (E/e' ratio) would be useful in the risk stratification of young patients with AMI. However, it would be necessary to monitor this category of patient more carefully.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.7
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• pp.497-503
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• 2003

Pulmonary aspergillosis usually results from the colonization of the existing lung lesions by chronic pulmonary diseases, such as tuberculosis. Most cases of pulmonary aspergilloma have been treated surgically for many years because it is a potentially life-threatening disease causing massive hemoptysis. Here we reviewed our results from the last 10 years. Material and Method: We reviewed 31 cases surgically treated from Aug. 1992 to Jul. 2002. retrospectively. This investigation is designed to illustrate the peak age incidence, sex ratio, chief complaints, preoperative study, anatomic location of operative site, postoperative pathologic finding and postoperative complications. Result: The peak age Incidence laid in the 3rd and 4th decade of 20 cases (64.5%). The most common complaint was hemoptysis in 27 cases (87.1%). The 31 cases had a history of treatment with anti-tuberculous drugs under impression of pulmonary tuberculosis. The 19 cases (61.3%) showed the so-called “Air-meniscus sign” on the preoperative chest X-ray. In the 31 cases (100%) on the chest computed tomography. as a preoperative diagnostic modality, positivity was shown in 37.9%, 83.3% was shown on the fungus culture of sputum for Aspergillus, serum immunodiffusion test for A. fumigatus, respectively. The anatomical location of aspergilloma was mainly in the upper lobe in 19 cases (61.3%) and the majority of cases were managed by lobectomy. The postoperative pathologic findings showed that 31 cases (100%) were combined with tuberculosis. The postoperative complications include empyema, prolonged air leakage, remained dead space, postoperative bleeding and these numbers of cases is 3 cases (9.7%), 2 cases (6.45%), 2 cases (6.45%), 1 case (3.23%), respectively. one case was died postoperatively due to massive beeding, and asphyxia. Conclusion: Compared with the previous study, there is no significant difference in results. Preoperative chest computed tomography and immunodiffusion test were more commonly available and showed high positivity. Operations often became technically difficult because of pleural space obliteration, indurated hilar structures, and poor expansion of the remaining lung, which were more prominent in the patients with complex aspergillosis. In such cases, medical treatments and interventional procedures like bronchial artery embolization are preferred. However, cavernostomy is also recommanded with few additional morbidity because of its relatively less invassiveness. Early surgical intervention is the recommended management for patients with simple aspergilloma considering the Row surgical mortality and morbidity in recent days.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.7
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• pp.483-488
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• 2003

There are still debates in the literature on the relative benefits of blood cardioplegia and crystalloid cardioplegia in pediatric cardiac surgery. We performed a clinical trial to compare the myocardial protective effect between HTK solution and blood cardioplegic solution in congenital heart surgery. Material and Method: 15 patients who underwent HTK solution cardioplegia (group 1) and 15 patients who underwent blood cardioplegia(group 2) were included in this study. Preoperative and postoperative serial serum cardiac enzyme levels (troponin I, CK-MB, LDH) were measured in all patients. Clinical data were analyzed and compared between the two groups. Result: There were no differences in age and body weight between the two groups. Operative diagnosis included ventricular septal defect (VSD, n＝4), atrial septal defect (ASD, n＝1), tetralogy of Fallot (TOF, n＝4), and other complex heart diseases (n＝6) in group 1, VSD (n＝7), ASD (n＝5), and TOF (n＝3) in group 2. Cardiopulmonary bypass times were 99.1$\pm$48.1 minutes in group 1, and 69.3$\pm$27.3 minutes in group 2 (p＝0,02). Aortic clamping times were 52.1$\pm$23.6 minutes in group 1, and 37.9$\pm$20.5 minutes in group 2 (p＝0.07). There was no mortality and spontaneous defibrillation was possible in all patients. No differences were observed in the serial enzyme levels between the two groups. There were no differences in the duration of inotropic support and ventilator time between the two groups. Conclusion: HTK solution provided comparable myocardial protection compared with blood cardioplegic solution. A single high dose of HTK solution may be safely and conveniently used for an extended periods as well in congenital heart surgery.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.146-160
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• 2014

Objective: This study was performed to explore the effectiveness of community organization as a strategy for health promotion. Methods: We used data from community health interviews from 6 administrative sections (eup, myeon, or dong) with high mortality from August to October, conducted once in both 2010 and 2013 as part of the Health Plus Happiness Plus Projects based on the concept of community empowerment in Gyeongsangnam-do Province. For 2010, the study subjects comprised a systematic sampling of 220 adults from each of the six sections for a total of 1320 subjects, and for 2013, 200 from each section for a total of 1200 subjects. We compared main health behavior indicators and empowerment score between these two years. Results: Smoking prevalence in men was 47.4% in 2013, and 47.7% in 2010, respectively. Prevalence of walking 5 days or more per week was 35.6% in 2013, significantly lower than 46.2% in 2010. Also, during that period, both biennial health examination rate and biennial gastric cancer screening rate among those 40 years of age and over significantly increased from 57.7% to 63.6% and from 49.3% to 55.0%, respectively. Mean empowerment score at the community level significantly increased from 12.6 to 14.0. Conclusions: This study suggests that the three-year implementation of community organization might have helped to increase the participation rate of biennial health examinations including cancer screenings in the community. However, this was not the case for smoking cessation and walking. Further studies are needed for evidence-based health promotion.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.43-46
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• 2007

Purpose : Neonatal bacterial meningitis has been known that its mortality and morbidity is high and its neurologic complications are common. This study was performed to review of the etiology of neonatal bacterial meningitis in Busan, Korea. Methods : We retrospectively analyzed 21 medical records of patients who were diagnosed neonatal bacterial meningitis in four university hospitals in Busan from January 1997 to December 2005. We analyzed age at onset of symptoms, symptoms at admission, causative organisms, and complications. Results : There were 11 male patients and 10 female patients. One premature neonate was included. 7 patients had symptoms at 2-3 weeks after birth and 6 patients at 1-2 weeks after birth. 18 cases had fever, 8 cases had seizure and some had poor feeding, lethargy and irritability. The most common organism causing neonatal bacterial meningitis was Group B streptococcus (GBS). 11 cases were due to GBS, 3 cases due to E. coli, 3 cases were due to Klebsiella pneumoniae, and 2 cases due to Streptococcus pneumoniae. one Listeria monocytogenes and one Enterobacter cloacae were included. 18 patients were alive and 3 patients died. Mental retardation, developmental delay and epilepsy occurred in a living patient. Conclusions : Although this was a retrospective study, we found that Group B streptococcus (GBS) was the most common organism causing neonatal bacterial meningitis and this data is nearly same as others in the world.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.694-699
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• 2010

Background: In addition to clinical and radiographic findings, a histopathologic examination is important in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis. This study evaluated the diagnostic usefulness of a scalene node biopsy in patients with suspected sarcoidosis. Material and Method: We studied 35 patients who underwent scalene node biopsy because of suspicion of sarcoidosis on a chest x-ray and a computerized tomogram between 2001 and 2009, regardless of symptoms. Result We studied 15 men and 20 women whose mean age was $41.51{\pm}11.21$ years (25~64). Three among the 35 were diagnosed with tuberculosis and 27 with sarcoidosis, resulting in a diagnostic yield of 84.4%. The mean lymph node diameter size was 1.3 (${\pm}0.12$) (0.3~3.6 cm) cm. We divided the group of participants according to stage - whether on chest x-ray the lung was affected or not (stage 0, 1 and stage 2, 3). We divided lymph node sizes as well - whether they were larger than 1 cm or smaller than 1 cm. For these subgroups, there were no significant differences in diagnostic yield (p=0.604) (p=0.084). There were no complications or mortality. Conclusion: Scalene node biopsies are simply done under local anesthesia, without major complications. They have a high diagnostic yield regardless of the stages of the disease and lymph node size. We conclude that scalene node biopsy is a good alternative to other biopsy methods in sarcoidosis.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.359-364
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• 2008

The development of Aulacorthum solani (Kaltenbach) was studied at temperatures ranging from 12.5 to $27.5^{\circ}C$ under $65{\pm}5%$ RH, and a photoperiod of 16:8 (L:D). Mortality of $1st{\sim}2nd$ nymph was higher than that of $3rd{\sim}4th$ nymph at the most temperature ranges whereas at high temperature of $27.5^{\circ}C$, more $3{\sim}4th$ nymph stage individuals died. The total developmental time ranged from 16.9 days at $12.5^{\circ}C$ to 6.6days at $22.5^{\circ}C$, suggesting that higher the temperature, faster the development. However, at higher temperature of $25^{\circ}C$ the development took 7.4 days. The lower developmental threshold temperature and effective accumulative temperatures for the total immature stage were $0.08^{\circ}C$ and 162.8 day-degreeslated development. The nonlinear shape of temperature rewas well described by the modified Sharpe and DeMichele model. When the normalized cumulative frequency distributions of developmental times for each life stage were fitted to the three-parameter Weibull function, attendance of shortened developmental times was apparent with in $1{\sim}2nd$ nymph, $3{\sim}4th$ nymph, and total nymph stages in descending order. The coefficient of determination $r^2$ ranged between 0.86 and 0.91.