• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.298-307
• /
• 2009

By using the MR T2 map technique, this study intends, first, to measure the change of T2 values of cartilage between healthy people and patients with osteoarthritis and, second, to assess the form and the damage of cartilage in the knee-joint, through which this study would consider the utility of the T2 map technique. Thirty healthy people were selected based on their clinical history and current status and another thirty patients with osteoarthritis of the knee who were screened by simple X-ray from November 2007 to December 2008 were selected. Their T2 Spin Echo (SE hereafter) images for the cartilage of the knee joint were collected by using the T2 SE sequence, one of the multi-echo methods (TR: 1,000 ms; TE values: 6.5, 13, 19.5, 26, 32.5. 40, 45.5, 52). Based on these images, the changes in the signal intensity (SI hereafter) for each section of the cartilage of the knee joint were measured, which yielded average values of T2 through the Origin 7.0 Professional (Northampton, MA 01060 USA). With these T2s, the independent samples T-test was performed by SPSS Window version 12.0 to run the quantitative analysis and to test the statistical significance between the healthy group and the patient group. Closely looking at T2 values for each anterior and lateral articular cartilage of the sagittal plane and the coronal plane, in the sagittal plane, the average T2 of the femoral cartilage in the patient group with arthritis of the knee ($42.22{\pm}2.91$) was higher than the average T2 of the healthy group ($36.26{\pm}5.01$). Also, the average T2 of the tibial cartilage in the patient group ($43.83{\pm}1.43$) was higher than the average T2 in the healthy group ($36.45{\pm}3.15$). In the case of the coronal plane, the average T2 of the medial femoral cartilage in the patient group ($45.65{\pm}7.10$) was higher than the healthy group ($36.49{\pm}8.41$) and so did the average T2 of the anterior tibial cartilage (i.e., $44.46{\pm}3.44$ for the patient group vs. $37.61{\pm}1.97$ for the healthy group). As for the lateral femoral cartilage in the coronal plane, the patient group displayed the higher T2 ($43.41{\pm}4.99$) than the healthy group did ($37.64{\pm}4.02$) and this tendency was similar in the lateral tibial cartilage (i.e., $43.78{\pm}8.08$ for the patient group vs. $36.62{\pm}7.81$ for the healthy group). Along with the morphological MR imaging technique previously used, the T2 map technique seems to help patients with cartilage problems, in particular, those with the arthritis of the knee for early diagnosis by quantitatively analyzing the structural and functional changes of the cartilage.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.37-46
• /
• 2006

Purpose: To evaluate the end results between the surgical treatment with neo-adjuvant chemotherapy in Korea and non-invasive high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) technique in China for osteogenic sarcomas. Materials and Methods: The surgical treatment with neoadjuvant chemotherapy for total 67 cases (4 IIA, 58 IIB, and 5 III) in Korea since 1993 and the HIFU therapy for total 71 cases (57 II and 14 III) in China since 1997 was performed. In Korea, neo-adjuvant chemotherapy in 66 cases out of total 67 patients, but the adjuvant chemotherapy in only one case was done. On the contrary, in China, full chemotherapy for more than 9 times for 37 patients with stage II out of total 71 cases, but for less than 8 times of partial chemotherapy for 23 patients (stage II) and 14 patients (stage III) was done. The surgical treatment in total 67 Korean patients was done with wide resection and reconstruction for 56 patients, but wide resection without reconstruction for 5 patients and amputation for 6 patients. In china, total 71 patients was treated with average 1.5 times (1~4 times) of HIFU, and if there are some evidences of residual tumor after HIFU with following MRI, the second HIFU therapy was given 2~4 weeks later. After then, the bony defect was in no touch, keep bracing for long time expecting regeneration. All of them were followed for average 46 Mo (12~150 Mo) in Korea, but followed for average 22 Mo (9 years~8 months) in China. Results: The 5 year survival rate (stage II), was average 92.7% (IIA 100%, IIB 85.5%) in Korea series, and average 78.7% (full chemotherapy 91.8%, part chemotherapy 56.6%) in China series. The 3 year survival rate (stage III) was 20% in Korea and 7.1% in China. So, the final overall survival rate was 65.2% in Korea and 51.8% in China. The overall functional outcome score by ISOLS was 24.3 (81%) in Korea and 19.8 (73%) in China. There are 25.4% (17/67 cases) of complications in Korea and 31% (27 complications in 22 patients out of total 71 cases) in China after each treatment. Conclusions: The end results of Korea series which was treated with neoadjuvant chemo- and surgical methods are better than that of non-invasive thermal ablation in china. But we also believe the HIFU, as one of, was also effective to decrease the local recurrence and symptomatic releaf for stage II or even in III of osteogenic sarcomas.

• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.52-59
• /
• 2010

To examine among patients with vertebral compression fracture the extent to which signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) values at the lumbar vertebral compression fracture site vary on diffusion-weighted MR images according to varying b values on the 1.5T MR device. Diffusion-weighted MR images of 30 patients with compression fracture due to chronic osteoporosis who underwent vertebral MRI from Jan. 2008 to Nov. 2009 were respectively obtained using a 1.5-T MR scanner with the b values increased from 400, 600, 800, 1,000 to $1,200\;s/mm^2$. For diffusion-weighted MR images with different b values, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) was assessed at three sites: the site of compression fracture of the lumbar vertebral body at L1 to L5, and both the upper and lower discs of the said fracture site, while for ADC map images with different b values, the SNR and ADC were respectively assessed at those three sites. As a quantitative analysis, diffusion-weighted MR images and ADC map images with b value of $400\;s/mm^2$ (the base b values) were respectively compared with the corresponding images with each different b value. As far as qualitative analysis is concerned, for both diffusion-weighted MR and ADC map images with b value of $400\;s/mm^2$, the extent to which signal intensity values obtained at the site of compression fracture of the lumbar vertebral body at L1 to L5 vary according to the increasing b values were examined. The quantitative analysis found that for both diffusion-weighted MR and ADC map images, as the b values increased, the SNR were relatively lowered at all the three sites, compared to the base b value. Also, it was found that as the b values increased, ADC valueswere relatively lowered at all the three sites on ADC map images. On the other hand, the qualitative analysis found that as the b values increased to more than $400\;s/mm^2$, the signal intensity gradually decreased at all the sites, while at the levels of more than $1,000\;s/mm^2$, severe image noises appeared at all of the three sites. In addition, higher signal intensity was found at the site of compression fracture of the lumbar vertebral body than at the discs. Findings showed that with the b value being increased, both the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) values gradually decreased at all the sites of the lumbar vertebral compression fracture and both the upper and lower discs of the fracture site, suggesting that there is a possibility of a wider range of applications to assessment of various vertebral pathologies by utilizing multi b values in the diffusion-weighted MRI examination.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.48 no.7
• /
• pp.737-744
• /
• 2005

Purpose : Infants and children with cardiovascular diseases often present with respiratory symptoms. However, missed or delayed evaluation for potential airway problem may complicate overall prognosis. The aim of this study is to determine the clinical characteristics of these patients and explore the cause of airway problem. Methods : We reviewed the medical records of 64 patients(M : F=33:31, mean age : $6.3{\pm}7.5$ months) whose airway problems were proven by computed tomography or bronchoscopy in perioperative periods at the Asan Medical Center from January 1997 to June 2004. Patients were divided into two groups based on the duration of ventilator care : ${\leq}7$ days(group 1 : 23 cases, M : F=10 : 13) and >7 days(group 2 : 41 cases, M : F=23 : 18). Results : The patients in group 2 significantly developed more post-operative respiratory symptoms than group 1(P<0.001) and had more airway problems including extrinsic obstruction, intrinsic anomaly, and combined problem than group 1 although not significantly different(P=0.082). Among underlying diseases, the most common diseases were vascular anomaly(26.2 percent) and aortic arch anomaly(26.2 percent) in group 1 and pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect(22.4 percent) in group 2. The most frequent respiratory symptoms were recurrent wheezing pre-operatively and failure of ventilator weaning post-operatively. The major types of airway anomaly were tracheomalacia and tracheal stenosis(in each case 18.2 percent). Nineteen patients with persistent airway problems underwent aortopexy or other vascular correction. Of the 19 patients, 13(68.4 percent) were improved, but 2 failed in weaning ventilator and 4 died of non-airway problems. Conclusion : Early evaluation and treatment for potential airway problems may affect natural or surgical prognosis in patients with cardiovascular diseases presenting with respiratory symptoms.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2013

Purpose: A selection of proper energy in treatment planning is very important because of having different dose distribution in body as photon energy. In generally, the low energy photon has been used in intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for head and neck (H&N) cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of partially used high energy photon at posterior oblique fields on IMRT plan for H&N cancer. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out on 10 patients (nasopharyngeal cancer 5, tonsilar cancer 5) treated with IMRT in Seoul National University Bundang Hospital. CT images were acquired 3 mm of thickness in the same condition and the treatment plan was performed by Eclipse (Ver.7.1, Varian, Palo Alto, USA). Two plans were generated under same planing objectives, dose volume constraints, and eight fields setting: (1) The low energy plan (LEP) created using 6 MV beam alone, (2) the partially used high energy plan (PHEP) created partially using 15 MV beam at two posterior oblique fields with deeper penetration depths, while 6 MV beam was used at the rest of fields. The plans for LEP and PHEP were compared in terms of coverage, conformity index (CI) and homogeneity index (HI) for planning target volume (PTV). For organs at risk (OARs), $D_{mean}$ and $D_{50%}$ were analyzed on both parotid glands and $D_{max}$, $D_{1%}$ for spinal cord were analyzed. Integral dose (ID) and total monitor unit (MU) were compared as addition parameters. For the comparing dose to normal tissue of posterior neck, the posterior-normal tissue volume (P-NTV) was set on the patients respectively. The $D_{mean}$, $V_{20Gy}$ and $V_{25Gy}$ for P-NTV were evaluated by using dose volume histogram (DVH). Results: The dose distributions were similar with regard to coverage, CI and HI for PTV between the LEP and PHEP. No evident difference was observed in the spinal cord. However, the $D_{mean}$, $D_{50%}$ for both parotid gland were slightly reduced by 0.6%, 0.7% in PHEP. The ID was reduced by 1.1% in PHEP, and total MU for PHEP was 1.8% lower than that for LEP. In the P-NTV, the $D_{mean}$, $V_{20Gy}$ and $V_{25Gy}$ of the PHEP were 1.6%, 1.8% and 2.9% lower than those of LEP. Conclusion: Dose to some OARs and a normal tissue, total monitor unit were reduced in IMRT plan with partially used high energy photon. Although these reduction are unclear how have a clinical benefit to patient, application of the partially used high energy photon could improve the overall plan quality of IMRT for head and neck cancer.

• Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.1-21
• /
• 2020

With the rapid development of artificial intelligence technology, various techniques have been developed to extract meaningful information from unstructured text data which constitutes a large portion of big data. Over the past decades, text mining technologies have been utilized in various industries for practical applications. In the field of business intelligence, it has been employed to discover new market and/or technology opportunities and support rational decision making of business participants. The market information such as market size, market growth rate, and market share is essential for setting companies' business strategies. There has been a continuous demand in various fields for specific product level-market information. However, the information has been generally provided at industry level or broad categories based on classification standards, making it difficult to obtain specific and proper information. In this regard, we propose a new methodology that can estimate the market sizes of product groups at more detailed levels than that of previously offered. We applied Word2Vec algorithm, a neural network based semantic word embedding model, to enable automatic market size estimation from individual companies' product information in a bottom-up manner. The overall process is as follows: First, the data related to product information is collected, refined, and restructured into suitable form for applying Word2Vec model. Next, the preprocessed data is embedded into vector space by Word2Vec and then the product groups are derived by extracting similar products names based on cosine similarity calculation. Finally, the sales data on the extracted products is summated to estimate the market size of the product groups. As an experimental data, text data of product names from Statistics Korea's microdata (345,103 cases) were mapped in multidimensional vector space by Word2Vec training. We performed parameters optimization for training and then applied vector dimension of 300 and window size of 15 as optimized parameters for further experiments. We employed index words of Korean Standard Industry Classification (KSIC) as a product name dataset to more efficiently cluster product groups. The product names which are similar to KSIC indexes were extracted based on cosine similarity. The market size of extracted products as one product category was calculated from individual companies' sales data. The market sizes of 11,654 specific product lines were automatically estimated by the proposed model. For the performance verification, the results were compared with actual market size of some items. The Pearson's correlation coefficient was 0.513. Our approach has several advantages differing from the previous studies. First, text mining and machine learning techniques were applied for the first time on market size estimation, overcoming the limitations of traditional sampling based- or multiple assumption required-methods. In addition, the level of market category can be easily and efficiently adjusted according to the purpose of information use by changing cosine similarity threshold. Furthermore, it has a high potential of practical applications since it can resolve unmet needs for detailed market size information in public and private sectors. Specifically, it can be utilized in technology evaluation and technology commercialization support program conducted by governmental institutions, as well as business strategies consulting and market analysis report publishing by private firms. The limitation of our study is that the presented model needs to be improved in terms of accuracy and reliability. The semantic-based word embedding module can be advanced by giving a proper order in the preprocessed dataset or by combining another algorithm such as Jaccard similarity with Word2Vec. Also, the methods of product group clustering can be changed to other types of unsupervised machine learning algorithm. Our group is currently working on subsequent studies and we expect that it can further improve the performance of the conceptually proposed basic model in this study.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.473-479
• /
• 2009

Background: Retrograde autologous priming (RAP) is known to be useful in decreasing the need of transfusions in cardiac surgery because it prevents excessive hemodilution due to the crystalloid priming of cardiopulmonary bypass circuit. However, there are also negative side effects in terms of blood conservation. We analyzed the intraoperative blood-conserving effect of RAP and also investigated the efficacy of autotransfusion and ultrafiltration as a supplemental method for RAP. Material and Method: From January 2005 to December 2007, 117 patients who underwent isolated coronary artery bypass operations using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) were enrolled. Mean age was 63.9$\pm$9.1 years (range 36$\sim$83 years) and 34 patients were female. There were 62 patients in the RAP group and 55 patients in he control group. Intraoperative autotransfusion was performed via the arterial line. RAP was done just before initiating CPB using retrograde drainage of the crystalloid priming solution. Both conventional (CUF) and modified (MUF) ultrafiltrations were done during and after CPB, respectively. The transfusion threshold was less than 20% in hematocrit. Result: Autotransfusions were done in 79 patients (67.5%) and the average amount was 142.5$\pm$65.4 mL (range 30$\sim$320 mL). Homologous red blood cell (RBC) transfusion was done in 47 patients (40.2%) and mean amount of transfused RBC was 404.3$\pm$222.6 mL. Risk factors for transfusions were body surface area (OR 0.01, 95% CI 0.00 $\sim$ 0.63, p=0.030) and cardiopulmonary bypass time (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01 $\sim$ 1.08, p=0.019). RAP was not effective in terms of the rate of transfusion (34.5% vs 45.2%, p=0.24). However, the amount of transfused RBC was significantly decreased (526.3$\pm$242.3ml vs 321.4$\pm$166.3 mL, p=0.001). Autotransfusion and ultrafiltration revealed additive and cumulative effects decreasing transfusion amount (one; 600.0$\pm$231.0 mL, two; 533.3$\pm$264.6 mL, three; 346.7$\pm$176.7 mL, four; 300.0$\pm$146.1 mL, p=0.002). Conclusion: Even though RAP did not appear to be effective in terms of the number of patients receiving intraoperative RBC transfusions, it could conserve blood in terms of the amount transfused and with the additive effects of autotransfusion and ultrafiltration. If we want to maximize the blood conserving effect of RAP, more aggressive control will be necessary - such as high threshold of transfusion trigger or strict regulation of crystalloid infusion, and so forth.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• v.23 no.6
• /
• pp.461-473
• /
• 2002

Concept mapping is a device for representing the conceptual structure of a subject discipline in a two dimensional form which is analogous to a road map. In the teaching and learning of earth science, each concept depends on its relationships to many others for meaning. Using concept mapping in teaching helps teachers and students to be more aware of the key concepts and relationships among them. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of the use of concept mapping on science achievement and the scientific attitude in ocean units of earth science. The results of this study are as follows; first, the science achievement of a group of concept mapping teaching is significantly higher than that of the group of traditional teaching. Also, when the achievement levels are compared among different cognitive ability groups, the effect is more significant in mid or lower level student groups than in high level groups. The use of concept mapping is more effective when the concepts have a distinct concept hierarchy. Second, the scores of the test of ‘attitude toward scientific inquiry’ and ‘application of scientific attitude’ of the group of concept mapping teaching are significantly higher than those of the group of traditional teaching, whereas the scores of the test of ‘interest in science learning’ of concept mapping teaching is not different from those of group of traditional teaching. Third, the survey on the use of concept mapping shows a positive response across the tested groups. The use of concept mapping is more beneficial in fostering the comprehension of the topic. A concept map of student's own construction facilitates the assessment of learning, thus promising the usefulness of concept mapping as a means of evaluation. In regard to retention aspect, concept mapping is considered to be more effective in confirming and remembering the topic, while less effective in the aspects of activity and interest. In conclusion, the use of concept maps makes learning an active meaningful process and improves student's academic achievement and scientific attitude. If the concept mapping is more effectively as an active teaching strategy, more meaningful learning will be attained.

• Korean Journal of Hospice Care
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.5-14
• /
• 2007

Objective : This study was done to identify the status of Spiritual Well-Being in Nursing Students and to investigate the correlation between related various characteristics and Spiritual Well-Being and to provide baseline data for ride school-life and development of Spiritual-education program for nursing students. Method : The data was collected from 188 christian Nursing students by using questionary method. they are all all agreed to participate in this study. Their Spiritual Well-Being were measured using Spiritual Well-Being scale developed by Paloutzian & Ellison(1983) and translated by Choi(1990) and reversed by Kang(1996). Results : The data was analyzed by using SPSS/PC+12.0. The summary of results were as follows; 1. The mean score of Spiritual Well-Being were $63.95\pm10.256$(range from 20-80) 2. There were significant differences between the grade(F=6.101, p= .001), type of religion(F= 17.703, p= .000), In Christian, the level of devotee(F=8.194, p= .000), duration of church attendance(F=7.947, p= .000), regular attendance of chapel(F=4.242, p= .000), regular reading(study) of Bible and prayer (F=5.863, p= .001=0). perceived personal encounter with Jesus(F=4.160, p= .000), religion of parent(F=9.320, p= .000), perceived attitude of parenting(F=4.146, p= .000), hope to admit/transfer to other course or not(F=-2.050, p= .050). Conclusion : Our results were valuable to provide basic guidelines for ride school-life and for the development of Spiritual-education program for Nursing students.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.156-162
• /
• 2009

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical usefulness of upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy in children with Henoch-Sch$\"{o}$nlein purpura (HSP). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical, endoscopic, and histopathologic records of children with HSP who had been admitted to the Department of Pediatrics of Gil Hospital and underwent upper GI endoscopy between January 2002 and June 2009. Patients were classified into the following two groups for statistical analysis: duodenal involvement (+) and duodenal involvement (-). Results: Fifty-one children with HSP underwent upper GI endoscopy; the mean age was 7.2${\pm}$2.9 years. The upper GI endoscopy showed abnormalities of the duodenum in 38 cases (74.5%), 22 of which had duodenal ulcers. Among the biopsy specimens obtained from the duodenum of 37 cases, 13 cases (35.1%) had leukocytoclastic vasculitis, neutrophil debri, and/or extravasation of RBCs. Steroid use was more frequent in the duodenal involvement (+) group (86.8%) than the duodenal involvement (-) group (53.8%; p=0.02). The mean length of hospitalization was 13.9${\pm}$8.43 days in the duodenal involvement (+) group and 8.1${\pm}$4.62 days in the duodenal involvement (-) group (p=0.003). The recurrence rate was significantly higher in the duodenal involvement (-) group than the duodenal involvement (+) group (p=0.027), whereas none of the other study parameters, such as the age of onset, renal involvement, and steroid use, led to significantly higher or lower recurrence rates. Conclusion: These results suggest that duodenal involvement can influence the clinical course and prognosis of HSP in children.