• Title/Summary/Keyword: Johns Hopkins University

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Reconstructive Procedures Combined with or Without Prosthetic Valve Replacement for Cardiac Valvular Lesions (심장판막 질환 성형술에 대한 임상적 고찰)

  • Kim, Y.;Cho, B.K.;Hong, S.N.
    • Journal of Chest Surgery
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    • v.9 no.2
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    • pp.207-214
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    • 1976
  • Operations for cardiac valvular disease has been progressed in various ways. Since 1949 when Lord Russel operated mitral stenosis by closed technique at Johns Hopkins Hospital then much progress has been achieved and that nowadays severely diseased cardiac valve has been replaced by prosthetic valve, which is almost ideal in hemodynamic aspect, but still it has many problems such as thromboembolism, destruction of red blood cell, pressure gradient, and disturbance of left ventricular function, so in case of delicate situations, valve replacement should be decided carefully. Besides prosthetic valve, there are some kinds of reconstructive procedures and these have been resulted in better prognosis than prosthetic valve replacement in selected cases. So, authors have reviewed 61 Cases of cardiac patients who have been operated reconstructive valvular surgery by cardiopulmonary bypass, at Yonsei University, from Jan. 1963 to Mar. 1976. Out of 61 cases, 9 patients were replaced by prosthetic valve and rest of the patients were operated upon in various reconstructive procedures such as commissurotomy, valvotomy, valvuloplasty, and annuloplasty. Twenty cases of congenital heart diseases with valvular lesion, which had been operated for valvular lesion were also included in this statistics. Out of 9 cases of prosthetic valvular replacement five cases of prosthetic valvular replacement was done combined with other reconstructive procedures after attempted valvuloplasty. Comparative prognosis of both procedures are somewhat variable by reporters, average 19% of mortality after reconstructive surgery and 38% of mortality after prosthetic valve replacement in long term results. Most common cause of death in postoperative period was low output syndrome in both cases. It seems that good preoperative evaluation and proper reconstructive surgery will afford good prognosis in selected cardiac valvular diseased patient.

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Vascular Cell Responses against Oxidative Stress and its Application

  • Ryoo, Sung-Woo;Lee, Sang-Ki;Kim, Cuk-Seong;Jeon, Byeong-Hwa
    • International Journal of Vascular Biomedical Engineering
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    • v.2 no.2
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    • pp.1-9
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    • 2004
  • The history of studies in biology regarding reactive oxygen species (ROS) is approximately 40 years. During the initial 30 years, it appeared that these studies were mainly focused on the toxicity of ROS. However, recent studies have identified another action regarding oxidative signaling, other than toxicity of ROS. Basically, it is suggested that ROS are reactive, and degenerate to biomolecules such as DNA and proteins, leading to deterioration of cellular functions as an oxidative stress. On the other hand, recent studies have shown that ROS act as oxidative signaling in cells, resulting in various gene expressions. Recently ROS emerged as critical signaling molecules in cardiovascular research. Several studies over the past decade have shown that physiological effects of vasoactive factors are mediated by these reactive species and, conversely, that altered redox mechanisms are implicated in the occurrence of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases ROS is a collective term often used by scientist to include not only the oxygen radicals($O2^{-{\cdot}},\;{^{\cdot}}OH$), but also some non-radical derivatives of oxygen. These include hydrogen peroxide, hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and ozone (O3). The superoxide anion ($O2^{-{\cdot}}$) is formed by the univalent reduction of triplet-state molecular oxygen ($^3O_2$). Superoxide dismutase (SOD)s convert superoxide enzymically into hydrogen peroxide. In biological tissues superoxide can also be converted nonenzymically into the nonradical species hydrogen peroxide and singlet oxygen ($^1O_2$). In the presence of reduced transition metals (e.g., ferrous or cuprous ions), hydrogen peroxide can be converted into the highly reactive hydroxyl radical (${^{\cdot}}OH$). Alternatively, hydrogen peroxide may be converted into water by the enzymes catalase or glutathione peroxidase. In the glutathione peroxidase reaction glutathione is oxidized to glutathione disulfide, which can be converted back to glutathione by glutathione reductase in an NADPH-consuming process.

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Steep plasma density gradient at middle latitudes observed by DMSP and TOPEX during the magnetic storm of 11-12 April 2001

  • Park, Sa-Rah;Kim, Khan-Hyuk;Kil, Hyo-Sub;Jee, Geon-Hwa;Lee, Dong-Hun;Goldstein, J.
    • Bulletin of the Korean Space Science Society
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    • 2011.04a
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    • pp.26.3-27
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    • 2011
  • Formation of a steep plasma density gradient in the middle-latitude ionosphere during geomagnetic storms and the latitudinal migration of its location depending on the storm phase are suggested to be associated with the ionospheric signature of the plasmapause. We test this idea by using the satellite and ground observation data during the 11 April 2001 storm. The locations of the steep plasma density gradient identified by TOPEX/Poseidon (2001 LT) and DMSP (1800 and 2130 LT) satellites coincide with the ionospheric footprints of the plasmapause identified by the IMAGE satellite. This observation may support the dependence of the middle-latitude plasma density gradient location on the plasmapause motion, but does not explain why the steep density gradient whose morphology is largely different from the morphology of the middle-latitude ionization trough during quiet period is formed in association with the plasmapause. The ionospheric disturbances in the total electron content (TEC) maps shows that the steep TEC gradient is formed at the boundary of the positive ionospheric storm in low-middle latitudes and the negative ionospheric storm in middle-high latitudes. We interpret that the thermospheric neutral composition disturbance in the dayside is confined within the middle-high latitude ionospheric convection zone. The neutral composition latitudes and, therefore, the locations of the steep plasma density gradient coincide with the footprints of the plasmapause. The TEC maps show that the appearance of the steep plasma density gradient in the pre-midnight sector during the recovery phase is related to the co-rotation of the gradient that is created during the main phase.

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Impact of Dust Transported from China on Air Quality in Korea -Characteristics of PM2.5 Concentrations and Metallic Elements in Asan and Seoul, Korea

  • Yang, Won-Ho;Son, Bu-Soon;Breysse, Patrick;Chung, Tae-Woong
    • Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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    • v.33 no.6
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    • pp.479-487
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    • 2007
  • [ $PM_{2.5}$ ], particulate matter less than 2.5 um in a diameter, can penetrate deeply into the lungs. Exposure to $PM_{2.5}$ has been associated with increased hospital visits for respiratory aliments as well as increase mortality. $PM_{2.5}$ is a byproduct of combustion processes and as such has a complex composition including a variety of metallic elements, inorganic and organic compounds as well as biogenic materials (microorganisms, proteins, etc). In this study, the average concentrations of fine particulates $PM_{2.5}$ have been measured simultaneously in Asan and Seoul, Korea, by using particulate matter portable sampler from September 2001 to August 2002. Sample collection filters were analyzed by ICP-OES to determine the concentrations of metallic elements (As, Ni, Fe, Cr, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, Si). Annual mean $PM_{2.5}$ concentrations in Asan and Seoul were 37.70 and $45.83\;{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively. The highest concentrations of $PM_{2.5}$ were found in spring season in both cities and the concentrations of measured metallic elements except As in Asan were higher than those in Seoul, suggesting that yellow dust in spring could affect $PM_{2.5}$ concentrations in Asan rather than Seoul. The correlation coefficients of Pb and Zn were 0.343 for Asan and 0.813 for Seoul during non-yellow dust condition, suggesting that Pb and Zn were influenced with the same sources. The correlation coefficients between Si and Fe in the fine particulate mode were 0.999 (Asan) and 0.998 (Seoul) during yellow dust condition. It was suggested that these two elements were impacted by soil-related transport from China during the yellow dust storm condition.

Biochemical Adaptation to the Freezing Environment - the Biology of Fish Antifreeze Proteins

  • Li, Zhengjun;Li, n Qingsong;Low Woon-Kai;Miao Megan;Hew Choy L.
    • Ocean and Polar Research
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    • v.25 no.4
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    • pp.607-615
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    • 2003
  • Many organisms are known to survive in icy environments. These include both over wintering terrestrial insects and plants as well the marine fish inhabiting high latitudes. The adaptation of these organisms is both a fascinating and important topic in biology. Marine teleosts in particular, can encounter ice-laden seawater that is approximately $1^{\circ}C$ colder than the colligative freezing point of their body fluids. These animals produce a unique group of proteins, the antifreeze proteins (AFPs) or antifreeze glycoproteins (AFGPs) that absorb the ice nuclei and prevent ice crystal growth. Presently, there are at least four different AFP types and one AFGP type that are isolated from a wide variety of fish. Despite their functional similarity, there is no apparent common protein homology or ice-binding motifs among these proteins, except that the surface-surface complementarity between the protein and ice are important for binding. The remarkable diversity of these proteins and their odd phylogenetic distribution would suggest that these proteins might have evolved recently in response to sea level glaciations just 1-2 million years ago in the northern hemisphere and 10-30 million years ago around Antarctica. Winter flounder, Pleuronectes americanus, has been used as a popular model to study the regulation of AFP gene expression. It has a built-in annual cycle of AFP expression controlled negatively by the growth hormone. The signal transduction pathways, transcription factors and promoter elements involved in this process have been studied in our laboratory and these studies will be presented.

Analysis on the Prevention Measures and Factors of Alcohol-related Accident in the Construction Industry (건설업에서 음주사고 예방대책 실시현황 및 관련요인분석)

  • Lee, Na-Kyeong;Jung, Hye-Sun;Yi, Yun-Jeong;Jhang, Won-Gi;Kim, Ji-Yun;Yi, Kwan-Hyung
    • Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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    • v.18 no.1
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    • pp.98-105
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    • 2009
  • Purpose: This study was to analyze the current preventive measures on alcohol-involved accident and the factors that affect such preventive measures in the construction industry. Method: The survey was administered to examine how the preventive measures on alcohol-involved accident were executed using the data of '2005 Occupational Safety and Health Survey' conducted in 2005 by the Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute. For this study, we analyzed 944 work places in the construction industry. Result: The preventive measures on alcohol-involved accident were being executed in 62.1% of construction companies. As for the number of actual preventive measures on alcohol-involved accident, work places in Jeolla-do executed 2.63 times more frequently than those in Chungcheong-do, and work places with the Occupational Safety and Health Conference executed 2.22 times more frequently than those without such a measure. Conclusion: Joining the Occupational Safety and Health Conference was to be one of the most influential ways of preventive measures on alcohol-involved accident in the construction industry. Accordingly, if workers and employers look for active measures and administer them through the Occupational Safety and Health Conference, it will reduce alcohol-involved accident in the construction industry and contribute to the better preventive measures on alcohol-involved accident in the construction and other industries.

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Working Conditions of Occupational Health Nurses in Korea (산업간호사의 근무조건 실태 분석)

  • Kim, Young Im;Kim, Soon-Lae;Kim, Hee Girl;Lee, Jong Eun;Kim, Young Hee
    • Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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    • v.16 no.2
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    • pp.130-138
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    • 2007
  • Purpose: The aim of the study was to investigate the working condition of occupational health nurses and analyze change pattern of working condition compared to 10 years ago. Method: A questionnaire was measured to 431 occupational health nurses attending the training program held by the Korean Association of Occupational Health Nurses during the period from June 2005 through November 2005. Results: The number of respondents aged 30 years or older and those who are married increased, compared their counterparts found in the earlier study conducted in 1996. Respondents with a college degree accounted for 13.5% in the earlier study, but respondents with a college degree increased to 38.0% in the study. Those with more than 10 years of work experience also increased. Employment type of respondents divided into permanent employment(56.3%) and contract-based employment(41.1%), compared with permanent employment(66.4%) and contract-based employment(32.0%) found in the earlier study. Of total respondents, 91.1% said their retirement age was 55 years or above, and the ratio is higher than that found in the earlier study. Conclusion: The study revealed that the working condition for occupational health nurses especially career recognition, employment type and promotion system were getting worse. It is therefore necessary to implement measures to improve those conditions.

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Differential Parental Transmission of Markers in BCL3 among Korean Cleft Case-parent Trios

  • Park, Beyoung-Yun;Sull, Jae-Woong;Park, Jung-Yong;Jee, Sun-Ha;Beaty, Terri H.
    • Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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    • v.42 no.1
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    • pp.1-4
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    • 2009
  • Objectives : Isolated cleft lip with or without cleft palate(CL/P) is among the most common human birth defects, with a prevalence of approximately 1 in 700 live births. The B-Cell Leukemia/lymphoma 3(BCL3) gene has been suggested as a candidate gene for CL/P based on association and linkage studies in some populations. This study tests for an association between markers in BCL3 and isolated, non-syndromic CL/P using a case-parent trio design, while considering parent-of-origin effects. Methods : Forty case-parent trios were genotyped for two single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs) in the BCL3 gene. We performed a transmission disequilibrium test(TDT) on individual SNPs, and the FAMHAP package was used to estimate haplotype frequencies and to test for excess transmission of multi-SNP haplotypes. Results : The odds ratio for transmission of the minor allele, OR(transmission), was significant for SNP rs8100239(OR=3.50, p=0.004) and rs2965169(OR=2.08, p=0.027) when parent-of-origin was not considered. Parentspecific TDT revealed that SNP rs8100239 showed excess maternal transmission. Analysis of haplotypes of rs2965169 and rs8100239 also suggested excess maternal transmission. Conclusions : BCL3 appears to influence risk of CL/P through a parent-of-origin effect with excess maternal transmission.

A Review on the Health Risks Associated with the Use of Products Containing Benzalkonium Chloride (BKC), Focusing on Humidifier Disinfectant Products (염화벤잘코늄(Benzalkonium chloride) 살균제의 용도 및 건강 위험에 대한 고찰 - 가습기 살균제를 중심으로)

  • Kim, Jiwon;Zoh, Kyung Ehi;Kim, Hana;Park, Dong-Uk
    • Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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    • v.47 no.6
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    • pp.513-520
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    • 2021
  • Background: Benzalkonium chloride (BKC) has been extensively used as a preservative in industrial products and in hygiene, medical, and cosmetic applications. Humidifier disinfectant (HD) products containing BKC have been used in South Korea. Objectives: This study was aimed to review types of products containing BKC, to summarize the regulations in the US, EU, Japan, and South Korea, and to review the health effects associated with the use of HD. Methods: We reviewed and summarized documents which were searched through PubMed and Google Scholar with the key words: BKC and asthma/contact dermatitis, humidifier disinfectant-associated lung injury (HDLI), and more. Results: Regulations in most countries including South Korea do not allow its use as disinfectants in spray-type of products for medicine, cosmetics, and household products. Two types of HD containing BKC (800~1,270 ppm) were marketed in South Korea from 1996~2003. Health effects reported from people who used products containing BKC were allergic contact dermatitis, erythema, and respiratory disease, including asthma. Two people who responded as HD users containing BKC only were confirmed to have developed asthma. HD-associated lung injury (HDLI) was reported by consumers who used both HD containing polyhexamethylene guanidine (PHMG) and HD containing BKC. Conclusions: In conclusion, the use of BKC as a biocide has to be controlled considering the route and pattern of exposure. Products containing BKC as preservatives were reviewed with exposure routes and sites in the human body such as skin, eyes, and the respiratory tract. HD containing BKC was clinically evaluated to be associated with asthma.

A Detecting Technique for the Climatic Factors that Aided the Spread of COVID-19 using Deep and Machine Learning Algorithms

  • Al-Sharari, Waad;Mahmood, Mahmood A.;Abd El-Aziz, A.A.;Azim, Nesrine A.
    • International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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    • v.22 no.6
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    • pp.131-138
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    • 2022
  • Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) is viewed as one of the main general wellbeing theaters on the worldwide level all over the planet. Because of the abrupt idea of the flare-up and the irresistible force of the infection, it causes individuals tension, melancholy, and other pressure responses. The avoidance and control of the novel Covid pneumonia have moved into an imperative stage. It is fundamental to early foresee and figure of infection episode during this troublesome opportunity to control of its grimness and mortality. The entire world is investing unimaginable amounts of energy to fight against the spread of this lethal infection. In this paper, we utilized machine learning and deep learning techniques for analyzing what is going on utilizing countries shared information and for detecting the climate factors that effect on spreading Covid-19, such as humidity, sunny hours, temperature and wind speed for understanding its regular dramatic way of behaving alongside the forecast of future reachability of the COVID-2019 around the world. We utilized data collected and produced by Kaggle and the Johns Hopkins Center for Systems Science. The dataset has 25 attributes and 9566 objects. Our Experiment consists of two phases. In phase one, we preprocessed dataset for DL model and features were decreased to four features humidity, sunny hours, temperature and wind speed by utilized the Pearson Correlation Coefficient technique (correlation attributes feature selection). In phase two, we utilized the traditional famous six machine learning techniques for numerical datasets, and Dense Net deep learning model to predict and detect the climatic factor that aide to disease outbreak. We validated the model by using confusion matrix (CM) and measured the performance by four different metrics: accuracy, f-measure, recall, and precision.