• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.8
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• pp.938-943
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• 2009

Purpose : We performed this study in order to investigate the effect of direct renin inhibition on an experimental animal model with nephrotoxic serum nephritis and tried to give useful information for clinical research and renin inhibitor treatment. Methods : Thirty BALB/c 6-week-old male mice were divided into 4 groups: control group (CO, n=5), control-treatment group with aliskiren (CT, n=5), disease group (DO, n=10), and disease treatment group with aliskiren (DT, n=10). Nephritis was induced by an intravenous injection of 0.25 mg/g weight of rabbit anti-GBM immunoglobulin G. Model 2002 Alzet mini-osmotic pumps (Durect Corp.) for aliskiren infusion were implanted into CT and DT. Each group strain was sacrificed serially one at a time on day 14. We estimated the protein-creatinine ratio in 12-hour-collected urine (UP/Cr) and measured the mesangial matrix score in the PAS-stained kidney of each strain. Results : One strain at CT and DT died on day 6 and 7, respectively. Each group strain was sacrificed serially at a time on day 10 because DO were seriously ill. The UP/Cr of each group is as follows: CO, $31.24{\pm}6.54mg/mg$, CT, $23.38{\pm}13.60mg/mg$, DO, $112.72{\pm}10.97mg/mg$, DT $114.07{\pm}32.30mg/mg$. There was no significant difference between DO and DT. The mesangial matrix score of each group was CO, $0.23{\pm}0.10$; CT, $0.13{\pm}0.03$; DO, $1.90{\pm}0.48$; and DT, $1.28{\pm}0.41$, respectively, and there was a significant difference between DO and DT in the extent of mesangial matrix expansion (P=0.008). Conclusion : We found that renin inhibition was able to suppress the mesangial matrix expansion in experimental mice with acute nephritis, although there were no significant differences in UP/Cr.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.34 no.2_1
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• pp.301-306
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• 2018

Urbanization causes urban floods and urban heat island in the summer, so it is necessary to understanding the changes of the thermal environment through urban climate and energy balance. This can be explained by the energy balance, but in urban areas, unlike the typical energy balance, the storage heat flux saved in the building or artificial land cover should be considered. Since the environment of each city is different, there is a difficulty in applying the method of retrieving the storage heat flux of the previous research. Especially, most of the previous studies are focused on the overseas cities, so it is necessary to study the storage heat retrieval suitable for various land cover and building characteristics of the urban areas in Korea. Therefore, the object of this study, it is to derive the regression formula which can quantitatively retrieve the storage heat using the data of the area where various surface types exist. To this end, nonlinear regression analysis was performed using net radiation and surface temperature data as independent variables and flux tower based storage heat estimates as dependent variables. The retrieved regression coefficients were applied to each independent variable to derive the storage heat retrieval regression formula. As a result of time series analysis with flux tower based storage heat estimates, it was well simulated high peak at day time and the value at night. Moreover storage heat retrieved in this study was possible continuous retrieval than flux tower based storage heat estimates. As a result of scatter plot analysis, accuracy of retrieved storage heat was found to be significant at $50.14Wm^{-2}$ and bias $-0.94Wm^{-2}$.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.25-35
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• 2009

Purpose: The characteristics of hospitalized patients in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), including hospitalization costs (HC) and National Health Insurance (NHI) status were studied. Methods: We gathered the following data from 7 hospitals in Korea during 2006: the distribution of patients according to birth weight (BW), and the duration of the hospital stay according to BW and He. Results: The patients who were admitted to the NICU consisted of high-risk neonates, including low birth weight or premature neonates, which comprised 50% of all neonates admitted to the NICU. The duration of hospitalization was 75-90 days for neonates with BW <1,000 g, 45-60 days for neonates with BW between 1,000 and 1,499 g, and approximately 15 days for neonates with BW between 2,000 and 2,499 g. The portion of the HC covered by the NHI was 77.1%, 22.9% of the total HC was not covered by the NHI (19.5% was included in the list, but not covered by the NHI and 3.4% was not listed, but covered by the NHI). The average total HC per person was 4,360,000 won, and the HC covered and not covered by the NHI were 3,677,000 won and 1,007,000 won, respectively. The mean HC were as follows; 35,000,000 won for a BW <500 g, 18,000,000 won for a BW between 500 and 999 g, 16,000,000 won for a BW between 1,000 and 1,499 g, and 4,200,000 won for a BW between 1,500 and 1,999 g. Conclusion: Not only premature, but also ill neonates were under the care of the NICU. The HC increased as the BW decreased and the hospitalization period increased. The proportion of the patient's financial burden is >25% of the total He. For this matter, additional NHI is needed.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.137-142
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• 2005

Purpose: To analyze the outcome of radiation therapy for patients with a metastatic carcinoma of cervical lymph nodes from an unknown primary (MUO), and identify the prognostic factors for these patients. Materials and Methods: Between July 1981 and June 1999, 39 patients with MUO underwent radiation therapy with curative intent. Twelve patients were treated with radiation therapy alone (Group 1), 8 with neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radiation therapy (Group 2), and 19 with either an excision or neck dissection and postoperative radiation therapy (Group 3). There were 31 males and 8 females, with a median age of 55 years, ranging from 25 to 77 ears. The median duration of follow-up was 38 months, ranging from 3 to 249 months. Results: The 5-year overall survival rate was $55\%$. According to the treatment modality, the 5-year disease-free survival rates of Groups 1, 2 and 3 were 48, 19 and $75\%$, respectively (p=0.0324). In addition to the treatment modality, the appearance of the primary site was a significant prognostic factor for disease-free survival (p=0.0085). Conclusion: Surgical resection and radiation therapy achieves a superior disease-free survival compared to radiation therapy alone, either with or without chemotherapy Further investigation Is needed to evaluate the role of chemotherapy in the treatment of MUO.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.11 no.8
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• pp.629-635
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• 2001

To improve the ductility of $A1_3Hf$ intermetallics, which are the potential high temperature structural materials, the mechanical alloying behavior. the effect of Cu addition on the $Ll_2$ phase formation and the behavior of vacuum hot-pressed consolidation were investigated. During the mechanical alloying by SPEX mill, the $Ll_2 A1_3Hf$ intermetallics with the grain size of 7~8nm was formed after 6 hours of milling in Al-25at.%Hf system. The $Ll_2$ Phase of Al_3Hf$ intermetallics with the addition of 12.5at.%Cu, similar to that of the binary Al-25at.% Hf, was formed, but the milling time necessary for the formationof the $Ll_2$ phase was delayed form 6 hours to 10 hours. The lattice parameter of ternary $Ll_2(Al+Cu)_3Hf$ intermetallics decreased with the increase of Cu content. The onset temperature of $Ll_2$ to $D0_{23}$ phase in $Al_3Hf$ intermetallics was around 38$0^{\circ}C$, the temperature upon completion varied from 48$0^{\circ}C$ to 5$50^{\circ}C$ as the annealing time. The onset temperature of $Ll_2$ to $D0_{23}$ phase transformation in $(Al+ Cu)_3Hf$ intermetallics increased with the amount of Cu and the highest onset temperature of $700^{\circ}C$ was achieved by the Cu addition of 10at.%. The relative density increased from 89% to 90% with the Cu addition of 10at.% in $Al_3Hf$ intermetallics hot-pressed in vacuum under 750MPa at 40$0^{\circ}C$ for 3 hours. The relative density of 92.5% was achieved without the phase transformation and the grain growth as the consolidation temperature increased from 40$0^{\circ}C$ to 50$0^{\circ}C$ in $(Al+Cu)_3Hf$ intermetallics hot-pressed in vacuum under 750MPa for 3 hours.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.3-6
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• 2012

Purpose : Samsung medical ceter shall find a cause of the interference factor and suggest a solution for it. Materials and Methods : A sample of $^{18}F$-FDG, radioactive pharmaceuticals produced by TRACERlab MX and FASTlab synthesizer. Gel-clot method uses Positive control tube and single test tube. Kinetic chromogenic method uses ENDOSAFE-PTS produced by Charles River. Results : According to Gel clot method of Endotoxin Tests at FASTlab, both turbidity and viscosity increased at 40-fold dilution and Gel clot was detected. In case of TRACERlab MX, Gel clot was detected in most of samples but intermittently not in a few of them. When using ENDOSAFE-PTS, sample CV (Coefficient of Variation) of FASTlab is 0% at all dilution rates whereas spike CV is 0% at 1-fold dilution, 0~35% at 10-fold, 3.6~12.9% at 20-fold, 5.2~7.1% at 30-fold, 1.1~17.4% at 40-fold, spike recovery; 0% at one-fold, 25 ~ 58% at 10-fold, 50 ~ 86% at 20-fold, 70~92% at 30-fold, and 75~120% at 40-fold. Sample CV of TRACERlab MX, is 0% at all dilution rates whereas spike CV is 1.4~4.8% at one-fold dilution, 0.6~19.9% at 10-fold, spike recovery; 35~72% at one-fold dilution and 77~107% at 10-fold. Conclusion : Gel clot does not seem to occur probably to H3PO4 which engages in bonding with Mg2+ion contributing gelation inside PCT. Dilution which is identical to reducing the amount of H3PO4, could remove interfering effects accordingly. Spike recovery was obtained within 70~150% - recommended values of supplier - at 40-fold dilution even in kinetic chromogenic method.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.8-12
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• 2010

Purpose: In $^{18}F$-FDG automated synthesizer, deliver is done in automated mode after synthesis until the dispenser. After the delivery, the yield is calculated from the radioactivity which was read by the dose calibrator located in the dispenser. However, when the distance between the automated synthesizer and the dispenser is far, there are $^{18}F$-FDG residues, which results in loss of the amount of $^{18}F$-FDG. This study investigated the usefulness of a method that minimizes $^{18}F$-FDG residues. Materials and Methods: The structure of the tubing between the (TRACERlab Mx FDG; GE.) and the dispenser is that the distance is 8 m and the internal diameter is 1/16 inch. The synthesis process of The module goes through the synthesis process of trap, synthesis, delivery in the automated module. The time taken for synthesis is about 25 to 26 minutes, after which rinsing is done. However, after rinsing, as the distance of the tubing increased, there were 10~13% of $^{18}F$-FDG residues. Therefore, a method of using push syringe and $N_2$ gas in manual mode to minimize $^{18}F$-FDG residues is analyzed. Results: In manual mode, there were $^{18}F$-FDG residues of 4~5% for the push syringe, and there were $^{18}F$-FDG residues of less than 1% for the $N_2$ gas, which showed that the method using $N_2$ gas had superior usefulness. Also, there were no $^{18}F$-FDG residues in the cleaning the next day. Conclusion: The distance between the synthesizer and the dispenser needs to be reduced as much as possible, to reduce the rate of loss of $^{18}F$-FDG resulting from the distance of the tubing. However, in case the distance between the synthesizer and the dispenser has to be increased due to the system structure, using push syringe and $N_2$ gas simultaneously is a useful method for minimizing $^{18}F$-FDG residues.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.19-32
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• 2007

In Korea, there have been various methods of estimating groundwater recharge which generally can be subdivided into three types: baseflow separation method by means of groundwater recession curve, water budget analysis based on lumped conceptual model in watershed, and water table fluctuation method (WTF) by using the data from groundwater monitoring wells. However, groundwater recharge rate shows the spatial-temporal variability due to climatic condition, land use and hydrogeological heterogeneity, so these methods have various limits to deal with these characteristics. To overcome these limitations, we present a new method of estimating recharge based on water balance components from the SWAT-MODFLOW which is an integrated surface-ground water model. Groundwater levels in the interest area close to the stream have dynamics similar to stream flow, whereas levels further upslope respond to precipitation with a delay. As these behaviours are related to the physical process of recharge, it is needed to account for the time delay in aquifer recharge once the water exits the soil profile to represent these features. In SWAT, a single linear reservoir storage module with an exponential decay weighting function is used to compute the recharge from soil to aquifer on a given day. However, this module has some limitations expressing recharge variation when the delay time is too long and transient recharge trend does not match to the groundwater table time series, the multi-reservoir storage routing module which represents more realistic time delay through vadose zone is newly suggested in this study. In this module, the parameter related to the delay time should be optimized by checking the correlation between simulated recharge and observed groundwater levels. The final step of this procedure is to compare simulated groundwater table with observed one as well as to compare simulated watershed runoff with observed one. This method is applied to Mihocheon watershed in Korea for the purpose of testing the procedure of proper estimation of spatio-temporal groundwater recharge distribution. As the newly suggested method of estimating recharge has the advantages of effectiveness of watershed model as well as the accuracy of WTF method, the estimated daily recharge rate would be an advanced quantity reflecting the heterogeneity of hydrogeology, climatic condition, land use as well as physical behaviour of water in soil layers and aquifers.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.74-81
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• 2007

Purpose: Routine pancreatico-splenectomy with total gastrectomy should no longer be considered as the standard surgical procedure for gastric cancer because of the lack of proven surgical benefit for survival. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinicopathologic factors and the survival of patients with locally advanced gastric cancer and they had undergone combined pancreatico-splenectomy with a curative intent. Material and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed a total of 118 patients who had undergone total gastrectomy with distal pancreatico-splenectomy from 1990 to 2001. The patients were divided into 2 groups: 90 patients who were free from cancer invasion (group I), and 28 patients with histologically proven cancer invasion into the pancreas (group II). The various clinicopathologic factors that were presumed to influence survival and the survival rates were analyzed. Results: The rate of pathological pancreatic invasion was 23.7%. The tumor stage, depth of invasion, pancreas invasion, lymph node metastasis, lymph node ratio, curability and the hepatic and peritoneal metastasis were statistically significance on univariate analysis. Among these factors, the tumor stage, lymph node ratio and curability were found to be independent prognostic factor on multivariate analysis. The 5-years survival rates were 36.2% for group I and 13.9% for group II. The morbidity rate was 22.1%, and this included pancreatic fistula (5.1%), intra-abdominal abscess (4.2%) and bleeding (4.2%). The overall mortality rate was 0.8%. Conclusion: Combined distal pancreatico-splenectomy with total gastrectomy with a curative intent was selectively indicated for those patients with visible tumor invasion to the pancreas, a difficult complete lymph node dissection around the distal pancreas and spleen, and no evidence of liver metastasis or peritoneal dissemination.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.42-48
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• 2011

Purpose: Several factors including prolonged inflammatory response are thought to contribute to the pathogenesis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). The clinical findings can be explained by an increased production of proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-$\alpha$ ). We investigated the relationship between susceptibility to BPD and TNF-$\alpha$ promoter polymorphisms to identify genetic factors of the disease. Methods: Thirty-eight preterm infants who had developed BPD and 55 controlled infants with a birth weight <1,500 g were analyzed for TNF-$\alpha$ genotypes. The alleles of five promoter sites (-1031/-863/-857/-308/-238) of TNF-$\alpha$ gene were determined using $Taqman^{(R)}$-based allelic discrimination assays. Results: Gestational age ($27^{+5}{\pm}2^{+0}$ wk vs. $29^{+2}{\pm}1^{+4}$ wk, P<0.0001) and birth weight (990${\pm}$270 g vs. 1,220${\pm}$230 g, P<0.0001) were lower in the BPD group compared to the control group. The incidence of respiratory distress syndrome (71.1% vs. 49.1%, P=0.035) and patent ductus arteriosus (71.1% vs. 50.9%, P=0.052) was higher in the BPD group compared to the control group. The frequencies of the alleles and genotypes of five promoter sites (-1031/-863/-857/-308/-238) of TNF-$\alpha$ gene did not show differences between the BPD group and the control group. Conclusion: TNF-$\alpha$ promoter polymorphisms are not associated with susceptibility to BPD in Korean preterm infants.