• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2004

Background: Infective endocarditis shows higher operative morbidity and mortality rates than other cardiac diseases. The vast majority of studies on infective endocarditis have been made on aortic endocarditis, with little attention having been paid to infective endocarditis on the mitral valve. This study attempts to investigate the clinical aspects and operative results of infective endocarditis on the mitral valve. Meterial and Method: The subjects of this study consist of 23 patients who underwent operations for infective endocariditis on the mitral valve from June 1995 to May 2003. Among them, 2 patients suffered from prosthetic valvular endocarditis and the other 21 from native valvular endocarditis. The subjects were evenly distributed age-wise with an average age of 44.8$\pm$15.7 (11∼66) years. Emergency operations were performed on seventeen patients (73.9%) due to large vegetation or instable hemodynamic status. In preoperative examinations, twelve patients exhibited congestive heart failure, four patients renal failure, two patients spleen and renal infarction, and two patients temporary neurological defects, while one patient had a brain abscess. Based on the NYHA functional classification, seven patients were determined to be at Grade II, 9 patients at Grade III, and 6 patients at Grade IV. Vegetations were detected in 20 patients while mitral regurgitation was dominant in 19 patients with 4 patients showing up as mitral stenosis dominant on the preoperative echocardiogram. Blood cultures for causative organisms were performed on all patients, and positive results were obtained from ten patients, with five cases of Streptococcus viridance, two cases of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus, and one case each of Corynebacteriurn, Haemophillis, and Gernella. Operations were decided according to the AA/AHA guidelines (1988). The mean follow-up period was 27.6 $\pm$23.3 (1 ∼ 97) months. Result: Mitral valve replacements were performed on 43 patients, with mechanical valves being used on 9 patients and tissue valves on the other 4. Several kinds of mitral valve repair or mitral valvuloplasty were carried out on the remaining 10 patients. Associated procedures included six aortic valve replacements, two tricuspid annuloplasty, one modified Maze operation, and one direct closure of a ventricular septal defect. Postoperative complications included two cases of bleeding and one case each of mediastinitis, low cardiac output syndrome, and pneumonia. There were no cases of early deaths, or death within 30 days following the operation. No patient died in the hospital or experienced valve related complications. One patient, however, underwent mitral valvuloplasty 3 months after the operation. Another patient died from intra-cranial hemorrhage in the 31st month after the operation. Therefore, the valve-related death rate was 4.3%, and the valve-related complication rate 8.6% on mid-term follow-up. 1, 3-, and 5-year valve- related event free rates were 90.8%, 79.5%, and 79.5%, respectively, while 1, follow-up. 1, 3-, and 5-year valve- related event free rates were 90.8%, 79.5%, and 79.5%, respectively, while 1, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 100%, 88.8%, and 88.8%, respectively. Conclusion: The findings suggest that a complete removal of infected tissues is essential in the operative treatment of infectious endocarditis of the mitral valve. It is also suggested that when infected tissues are completely removed, neither type of material nor method of operation has a significant effect on the operation result. The postoperative results also suggest the need for a close follow-up observation of the patients suspected of having brain damage, which is caused by preoperative blood contamination or emboli from vegetation, for a possible cerebral vascular injury such as mycotic aneurysm.

• Weed & Turfgrass Science
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.70-75
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• 2013

Seven medicinal plant extracts were tested for antifungal activities against six species of the major turfgrass pathogenic fungi (Colletotrichum graminicola, Pythium spp., Rhizoctonia cerealis, Rhizoctonia solani AG1-1, Rhizoctonia solani AG2-2, and Sclerotinia homoeocarpa) using paper disk diffusion method. Three medicinal plant extracts, including Pinus densiflora showed antifungal activities. In suppression of mycelium growth test, on medium adding P. densiflora extract showed that inhibition rate of mycelium growth were above 80% in 10 mg/10 ml concentration of the extract. The inhibition rate of Pythium spp. was 100% and C. graminicola was 84.3% in 10 mg/10 ml concentrations of P. densiflora extract, respectively. In particularly, the inhibition rate of Pythium spp. was 89.5% in 2 mg/10 ml concentrations of P. densiflora extract. As a result, P. densiflora extract showed high antifungal activity to Pythium spp. and C. graminicola of the turfgrass pathogen in in vitro test.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.755-760
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• 2001

Objective : To determine the feasibility of translabyrinthine approach in the vestibular schwannoma patients, the authors reviewed eighteen consecutive cases, focusing at their functional outcome and operative complications. Materials and Method : To evaluate the functional outcome, we reviewed preoperative radiological findings such as size of tumors and location of jugular bulb as well as the preoperative neurological status including audiometric analysis and cranial nerve function in 18 patients, diagnosed as vestibular schwannoma. Also the surgical outcome was evaluated according to the functional preservation of facial nerve and incidence of the surgical complication as well as the extent of surgical resection. Results : The age of patients ranged from 21 to 62 years, with a mean of 50 years. Of 18 patients operated in our center by the translabyrinthine approach, wide exposure with total removal of the mass was possible in 16 cases (88.8%). The facial nerve was anatomically preserved in 88.8%. At six-month follow-up, facial nerve function was good(Grade I-II) in 15 patients(83%) and acceptable(I-IV) in all patients. Although the jugular bulb was highly placed is five patients, gross total resection was possible without facial nerve injury in all patients by the translabyrinthine approach. One patient experienced CSF leakage after surgery, but there was no patient with disabling deficit. Conclusion : Use of the translabyrinthine approach for removal of vestibular schwannomas resulted in good anatomical and functional preservation of the facial nerve, with minimal incidence of morbidity and no mortality. In cases of high jugular bulb impacted into mastoid bone, total removal was possible by displacing the jugular bulb with Surgicel cellulose and placement of bone wax.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.21-26
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• 2010

Background: Although quantitative sensory test (QST) is being used with increasing frequency for measuring sensory thresholds in clinical practice and epidemiologic studies, there has been no age-matched normative data in Korean adults. The objective of this study is to evaluate the value of QST in diabetic polyneuropathy with normal range in Korean adults. Methods: The Computer Aided Sensory Examination IV 4,2 (WR Medical Electronics Co., Stillwater, Minnesota, U.S.A.), with 4,2,1 stepping algorithm was used to determine vibration and cold perception threshold in 70 normal controls and 19 patients with diabetic polyneuropathy aged from 21 to 79 years. The data were used to define age-matched upper and lower normal limits and normal range of side to side difference. We also evaluated the duration of diabetes, serum HbA1C level, and findings of nerve conduction study (NCS) and QST in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy. Results: In normal adults, sensory thresholds slightly increased with age, and a slight side-to-side difference was observed. The diagnostic sensitivity of QST was not higher than NCS in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy (36.8% vs. 42.1%, p=0.716), especially among elderly patients. Conclusions: QST might be used as a complementary test for NCS in the diagnosis of diabetic polyneuropathy. Although the QST is a simple method for the evaluation of peripheral nerve function, there are some limitations. Most of all, because the QST measuring is dependent on the subjective response of patients, the degree of concentration and cooperation of the patients can significantly affect the result. And thus, attention should be paid during the interpretation of QST results in patients with peripheral neuropathy.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.08a
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• pp.189-189
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• 2012

Lead sulfide (PbS) nanocrystal quantum dots (NQDs) are promising materials for various optoelectronic devices, especially solar cells, because of their tunability of the optical band-gap controlled by adjusting the diameter of NQDs. PbS is a IV-VI semiconductor enabling infrared-absorption and it can be synthesized using solution process methods. A wide choice of the diameter of PbS NQDs is also a benefit to achieve the quantum confinement regime due to its large Bohr exciton radius (20 nm). To exploit these desirable properties, many research groups have intensively studied to apply for the photovoltaic devices. There are several essential requirements to fabricate the efficient NQDs-based solar cell. First of all, highly confined PbS QDs should be synthesized resulting in a narrow peak with a small full width-half maximum value at the first exciton transition observed in UV-Vis absorbance and photoluminescence spectra. In other words, the size-uniformity of NQDs ought to secure under 5%. Second, PbS NQDs should be assembled carefully in order to enhance the electronic coupling between adjacent NQDs by controlling the inter-QDs distance. Finally, appropriate structure for the photovoltaic device is the key issue to extract the photo-generated carriers from light-absorbing layer in solar cell. In this step, workfunction and Fermi energy difference could be precisely considered for Schottky and hetero junction device, respectively. In this presentation, we introduce the strategy to obtain high performance solar cell fabricated using PbS NQDs below the size of the Bohr radius. The PbS NQDs with various diameters were synthesized using methods established by Hines with a few modifications. PbS NQDs solids were assembled using layer-by-layer spin-coating method. Subsequent ligand-exchange was carried out using 1,2-ethanedithiol (EDT) to reduce inter-NQDs distance. Finally, Schottky junction solar cells were fabricated on ITO-coated glass and 150 nm-thick Al was deposited on the top of PbS NQDs solids as a top electrode using thermal evaporation technique. To evaluate the solar cell performance, current-voltage (I-V) measurement were performed under AM 1.5G solar spectrum at 1 sun intensity. As a result, we could achieve the power conversion efficiency of 3.33% at Schottky junction solar cell. This result indicates that high performance solar cell is successfully fabricated by optimizing the all steps as mentioned above in this work.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.160-169
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• 2007

Background: Hwa-Byung is known as a specific Korean cultural syndrome which corresponds to DSM-IV(MMPI). Some Korean women who have experienced heart aching anger(Hwa-Byung) complain physical pains as well as psychological problems. As for these physical pains, upper limb arthropathy(e.g. golf elbow pains, tennis elbow pains, or shoulder-joint pains) have not been paid attentions. In spite of not having done her excessive physical endeavor or exercise, some Korean middle aged women complain those arthropathy pains. And they go round orthopedics, pain clinics, and oriental medicine clinics. Purpose: This study was practiced in Severance Oriental Medicine Clinic. The oriental medicine doctor had a question about the major origin of upper limb pains which were not caused by excessive physical endeavor. To answer the question, this study has been practiced. In the process of interview with some those women, the major cause of those syndromes has been revealed as Hwa-Byung. The purpose of this study is to discover the meanings of the women's life who have been experienced Hwa-Byung with upper limb arthropathy. Results: These upper limb arthropathy can be explained by meridian theory. Shoulder-joint pain and golf elbow with Hwabyung can be explained by Heart meridian of hand-shoyin and the points of these pains are in the flow of this meridian. Tennis elbow with Hwabyung can be explained by Small intestine meridian of hand-taiyang and this point is in the flow of this meridian. The results of interview with 9 middle aged women was analyzed and interpreted according to Spradley's method of ethnography. The analysis revealed three core cultural themes : 1) There are certainly external cause to provoke Hwa-Byung. A patricentric family system, husband's playing around with another woman, cruel treatment by husband's family, or financial failure may be present anteriorly. 2) The chief existing condition is the discord between husband and wife. The stoppage of mutual communication, lacking in understanding, unfeeling, heartless, or unsympathetic is an major phenomenon of married life. So the important factor is not the sexual relations or problems but the discords of communication. 3) The feeling of anger, the sense of nihility, the desire to escape, and the effort to forgiveness coexist together. At a glance, they seemed to be a process. For example, anger seemed to present at first, then nihility seemed at second, then escape seemed at third, and then forgiveness seemed at last. But at point of visiting clinic to be treated, they are mixed up together as if in a jumble.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.135-169
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• 2014

This study empirically analyzes changes in production patterns of farmers by agricultural disaster insurance. The aim of this project is to achieve stability of farm management by paying insurance in case of a natural disaster. However, it causes farmers to change production patterns in the direction of increasing production, and leads the crop price to drop. This can be explained by producers' risk reduction through the disaster insurance. The empirical analysis is based on IV approach with using two stage least squares method. The first stage estimates by difference-in-differences methodology indicate that the production of insurable crops increases more about 80,000ton on average than that of non-insurable crops. In addition, to solve the endogeneity problem caused by general supply and demand model, I use the first stage estimates and find that the price index of the crops drops about 2.3% according to the production increase by 10,000ton. The credibility of these results is also attained by various robustness checks. These findings suggest that it is necessary for government to analyze the whole economy which consists of producer and consumer welfare when it determines the policy. Besides, it implies that it is essential to develop a new market to cope with the unintended effect.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.421-431
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• 2002

C-shaped canal configuration is very difficult to treat because that clues about preoperative canal anatomy cannot be ascertained from clinical crown morphology and limited information can be derived from radiographic examination. This study was done to get more informations about the root and canal configuration of C-shape root by 3-dimensionally reconstructing for the purpose of enhancing success rate of endodontic treatment. 30 mandibular molars with C-shaped root were selected. Six photo images from occlusal, apical, mesial, distal, buccal, lingual directions and radiographic view were taken as preoperative ones to compare them with 3-D image. After crown reduction to the level of 1-2mm over pulpal floor was performed, teeth were stored in 5.25% sodium hypochlorite solution for the removal of pulp tissue and debris. They were cleaned under running water, allowed to bench dry and embedded in a self-curing resin. This resin block was serially ground with a microtome (Accutom-50, Struers, Denmark) and the image of each level was recorded by digital camera (FinePix S1-pro, Fuji Co., Japan). The thickness of each section was 0.25mm. Photographs of serial sections through all root canal were digitized using Adobe Photoshop 5.0 and then minimum thickness of open and closed sites were measured (open site is the surface containing occluso-apical groove closed site is oppsite). After dizitization using 3-D Doctor (Able software Corp, USA). 3D reconstruction of the outer surface of tooth and the inner surface of pulp space was made. Canal classsification of C-shaped roots was performed from this 3-D reconstructed image. The results were as follows : 1. Most C-shape rooted teeth showed lingual groove (28/30). 2 According to Vertuccis' calssification, type I, II, III, IV, VII were observed. but also new canal types suck as 2-3-2, 1-2-3-2. 2-3-2-1, 2-3-2-3 were shown. 3 There was little difference in minimum thickness on coronal and apical portions, but open site were thinner than closed site on mid portion. Conclusively, 3D reconstruction method could make the exact configurations of C-shape root possible to be visualized and analyzed from multi-directions. Data from minimum thickness recommend cleaning and shaping be more carefully done on dangerous mid portion.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.88-93
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• 2006

Objective : The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between IgE-mediated atopic dermatitis and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) in Korean children. Method : This case-control study included 69 patients with atopic dermatitis and 42 normal students. Diagnoses of atopic dermatitis and assessments of its severity were made by the dermatologist. The MAST tests were administered to atopic dermatitis patients. The parents of all of the subjects completed the parent versions of the ADHD Rating Scale-IV(ARS). Results: Compared to the normal control group, the atopic dermatitis group scored significantly higher in the total, inattention, and hyperactivity/impulsivity profiles of the ARS(t=3.35, p<0.01 : t=6.41, p<0.01 ; t=3.93, p<0.01, respectively), The atopic dermatitis patients with ADHD hyperactivity/impulsivity subtype showed more severe symptoms of atopic dermatitis than those with ADHD inattentive subtype. The MAST-positive atopic dermatitis patients showed significantly increased incidence of ADHD symptoms than the MAST-negative counterparts. Conclusion : The results of this study suggest the possibility of an association between IgE-mediated atopic responsiveness and ADHD symptomatology.

• Korean Business Review
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• v.12
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• pp.119-138
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• 1999

In this study, we empirically investigate the relations between trading volumes and our proxies for information flows and differences of opnion. Econometric methods to analyze the relations in the equity and KOSPI 200 futures markets include Generalized Method of Moment(GMM) and Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedasticity(GARCH) models. Major findings from our empirical analyses are summarized as follows; (i) Trading volume in both the equity and KOSPI 200 futures markets varies positively with proxies for information flows. We find that trading volumes in both markets are closely related to firm-specific information rather than market-wide information. (ii) Trading volumes in the equity and KOSPI 200 futures market have positive relations with our proxies for differences of opinion. (iii) Day-of-the-week effect is clear in both markets. Trading volumes in both the equity and KOSPI 200 futures markets tend to be relatively low early and late in the week. (IV) Futures contract life-cycle effect is clear. In other words, futures trading volume increses in the period around contract expiration. (V) In addition, ARCH effect on trading volumes is reported significant enough to take into account. The disturbance of trading volumes in both markets seem to be conditional heteroscedastic.