• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.560-569
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• 2003

Background : A large number of pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitric oxide, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, and ozone influence on the body. These pollutants put a burden on the lung and the sequelae resulting from the oxidative stress are thought to contribute to the development of fibrotic lung disease, emphysema, chronic bronchitis and lung cancer. Also, carbon monoxide generated from the incomplete combustion of carbon-containing compounds is an important component of air pollution caused by traffic exhaust fumes and has the toxic effect of tissue hypoxia and produce various systemic and neurologic complications. The objective of this study is to compare the difference of pulmonary function and serum carboxyhemoglobin(CO-Hb) level between the traffic policemen and clerk policemen. Method : Three hundred and twenty-nine of traffic policemen, and one hundred and thirty clerk policemen were included between 2001 May and 2002 August. The policemen who took part in this study were asked to fill out a questionnaire which included questions on age, smoking, drinking, years of working, work-related symptoms and past medical history. The serum CO-Hb level was measured by using carboxyoximeter. Pulmonary function test was done by using automated spirometer. Additional tests, such as elecrocardiogram, urinalysis, chest radiography, blood chemistry, and CBC, were also done. Results : $FEV_1(%)$ was $97.1{\pm}0.85%$, and $105.7{\pm}1.21%$(p<0.05). FVC(%) was $94.6{\pm}0.67%$, and $102.1{\pm}1.09%$, respectively(p<0.05). Serum CO-Hb level was $2.4{\pm}0.06%$, and $1.8{\pm}0.08%$(p<0.05). After correction of confounding factors (age, smoking), significant variables were FVC(%), $FEV_1(%)$ and serum CO-Hb level(%)(p<0.05). Conclusion : Long exposure to air pollution may influence the pulmonary function and serum CO-Hb level. But, further prospective cohort study will be needed to elucidate detailed influences of specific pollutants on pulmonary function and serum carboxyhemoglobin level.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.65-71
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• 2006

Background : Hemoptysis, when massive and untreated, has a mortality rate of over 50 percents, is considered as one of most dreaded of all respiratory emergencies and can have a variety of underlying causes. Bronchial artery embolization (BAE) has become an established procedure in the management of massive and recurrent hemoptysis, and its efficacy is widely documented thereafter by number of articles. However, the long-term success rate of BAE is known to be unfavorable. Risk factors influencing that control failure are inevitably needed. Materials and methods : Seventy-five patients underwent bronchial artery embolization due to massive hemoptysis in Severance Hospital from Jan. 2000 to Jan. 2005. Nine patients' data were not available and could not be contacted with. Finally 66 patients' (48 males, 18 females) medical records were analyzed retrospectively during a mean follow up period of 20.4 months (ranging from 1 month to 54 months). Results : Among 66 patients whose data were available, 23(34.9%) patients had recurrent major hemoptysis. Patients' age, sex, underlying disease, previous intervention history, and number of feeding vessels had no statistical validity as risk factors of recurred major hemoptysis. But bilaterality of lesion, amount of hemoptysis, and pleural thickening were revealed as meaningful factors for predicting relapse (p = 0.008, 0.018, and 0.001, respectively). Conclusion : According to our series, patients presenting with larger amount of hemoptysis, pleural thickening of chest radiography and bilateral lesion are associated with increased risk of major hemoptysis in patients treated with BAE.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.575-587
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• 2002

Objective : To investigate the understanding of breast-feeding in pregnant woman and the proper way of encouraging breast-feeding. Methods : Each questionnaire included items about demographic characteristics and the understanding of breast-feeding. The questionnaires were filled up by pregnant women visiting obstetric clinics in Seoul and its vicinities, Busan, Choongjoo and Chungjoo from July 2001 to August 2001. One thousand, two hundred ninety questionnaires were analysed by Chi square tests and multiple logistic regressions. Results : The majority of pregnant women(87.4%) planned breast-feeding. Forty three percent of them had plans to breast-feed for 4-6 months. There were no differences in the level of education, the family size and the source of information about breast-feeding in planning to breast-feed (P>0.05). The main reasons for not choosing to breast-feed were returns to work(41.3%), previous failures of breast-feeding(17.4%), concerns about insufficient amount of breast milk(10.9%), breast and nipple problems(10.3%) and maternal illness(9.4%). The average score on the test of the understanding about breast-feeding was 59.7/100. The average scores on the understanding about the methods and advantages of breast-feeding were 45.3/100 and 86.1/100, respectively. The maternal status of employment, previous history of breast-feeding, the time of decision to breastfeed, person advocating breast-feeding and the understanding on the advantages of breast-feeding were significant determinant factors in planning to breast-feed(P<0.05). Conclusion : Pediatricians should take steps to make an effort to increase the breast-feeding rate and to encourage breast-feeding by timely education. Beyond the medical field, political and social supports for breast-feeding are urgently needed.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.646-653
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• 2002

Purpose : The incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in children has been increasing worldwide recently, which is thought to be related to the increasing prevalence of obesity. We investigated to evaluate the incidence and the characteristics of type 2 diabetes mellitus in children and also analysed the relationship between intrauterine growth retardation and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods : We investigated 25 children diagnosed as type 2 diabetes mellitus between March 1990 and December 2000. The analysis was performed retrospectively with medical records based on the clinical characteristics and laborotory findings. Results : Incidence of type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus in children has been increasing since 1990. We demonstrated an increase in the percentage of type 2 diabetes mellitus children from 5.3% in 1990 to 21.0% in 2000. Sixty eight percent of patients(17/25) were classified as obese group. Initial symptoms at first visit were polyuria, polydipsia and polyphagia 48%(12/25), asymptomatic glycosuria 40% (10/25), weight loss 8%(2/25) and obesity 4%(1/25). The mean age at diagnosis was $12.9{\pm}1.8$ years. 64%(16/25) of patients had positive family history of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Autoanti-bodies were positive in 18.1%(4/22) of patients. Twenty eight percent (7/25) of patients had an associated disease and two patients had fatty liver in association with obesity. Treatment consisted of diet, exercise, education and oral hypoglycemic agents. Three patients were treated with insulin as well as oral hypoglycemic agents because of poor blood glucose control. Long-term diabetic complications occurred in 4 patients. Intrauterine growth retardtion was found in 34.6%(9/25); 88.9% (8/9) of these patients were non-obese group. Conclusion : The increase in the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in children is thought to be related to the increasing prevalence of obesity. The non-obese group of patients might be associated with intrauterine growth retardation.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.341-351
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• 2009

There is tremendous variability in the ways patients present with taste problems. Because of complex and multifactorial etiological background, it is not simple to evaluate patients with taste disorders. Accurate assessment of patients' status by prudent, thorough history taking and symptom analysis is the most essential for exact diagnosis of taste disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with taste problems as a primary complaint. Consecutive series of 50 patients (12 males and 38 females, mean age $53.6\;{\pm}\;14.7$ years) were included for the present study. All subjects were requested to complete a comprehensive questionnaire. Clinical evaluation procedures included oral examination, interview, questionnaire analysis, panoramic radiography, blood test and measurement of salivary flow rate. The obtained results were as follows: 1. Among the patients, 36 patients (72%) complained of oral mucosal pain or burning sensation. Of these patients, 18 patients (36%) were diagnosed as burning mouth syndrome. 2. Nineteen patients (38%) complained of subjective oral dryness. The flow rate of unstimulated whole saliva was less than 0.1 mL/min in 14 patients (28%) and 17 (34%) had a stimulated whole salivary flow rate of less than 0.5 mL/min. 3. Among the types of taste disorders, hypogeusia, the most frequently reported, was found in 25 patients (50%), dysgeusia in 18 patients (36%), phantogeusia in 15 patients (30%), hypergeusia in 10 patients (20%), and ageusia in 5 patients (10%). Nineteen patients (38%) reported more than one type of taste disorder and the most frequent combination was dysgeusia + hypogeusia (n=6, 12%). 4. Based on data from the medical and dental histories and examinations, the patients were assigned to 12 probable causal categories. Taste disorders due to oral mucosal diseases and idiopathic taste disorder were the most frequent (n=9; 18%, each), followed by psychogenic taste disorder (n=8; 16%), drug-induced taste disorder (n=7; 14%), and taste disorder due to dry mouth (n=6; 12%). These 5 categories of taste disorder accounted for 78% of all cases in this study.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.624-631
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• 1994

Background: Genus of Aspergilli are ubiquitous saprophytic molds in nature, but its change from a saprophytic fungus to a pathogenic organism has occurred since the use of various antibiotics. The fungus affects the chronically ill and debilitated population. Recently frequency of the fungal infection is increasing in Korea with abuse of antibiotics and glucocorticoids. Method: We analyzed medical records of 52 patients with pulmonary aspergillosis seen at Hanyang University Hospital from 1980 to 1994. The results were as follows; Results: 1) Ages ranged between second to eighth decades with majority(50%) in the fourth to fifth decades. The male to female ratio was 1.1:1. 2) Hemoptysis and productive cough, the leading symptoms, occurred in 42.3% and 25% respectively. 3) On chest X-ray fingings, the characteristic "fungus ball" pattern were observed in 53.8% of the 52cases. 4) Sputum culture for aspergilli were positive in 21.6% of the cases. We performed fine needle aspiration in 22 patients and the diagnostic yield was 100%. 5) Thirty-six patients had history of treatment with antituberculous drugs under diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis for an average of 27.3 months. But sputum analysis for acid-fast bacilli were positive in 5.6%(2cases of 36cases), and postoperative pathologic findings showed that 38.9%(12 cases of 28cases) were combined with tuberculosis. 6) Right upper and left upper lobes were predominantly involved(34.6% and 19.2% respectively) and lobectomies were performed in 21 cases. 7) Underlying diseases were present in 47 cases and 48.9% of them were pulmonary tuberculosis. Conclusion: These results showed that pulmonary aspergillosis usually develops in patients with open cavitary pulmonary tuberculosis. And we must consider the possibility of pulmonary aspergillosis in a patient with hemoptysis and cavitary lung lesion.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.374-382
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• 1999

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate etiologic factor, treatment, prognosis of spontaneous pneumothorax (SP). Material and Methods: The medical records of 225 cases of SP experienced at Kyungpook University Hospital from Jan. 1996 to Dec. 1997 were retrospectively analyzed. Results: The patients were 128 primary SP and 97 secondary SP. The mean age was $30{\pm}15.5$ years in primary SP and $51{\pm}7.4$ years in secondary SP. The ratio of male to female was 8:1 in primary SP and 5.5:1 in secondary SP. Smoker was more common in seconday SP (71.1 %) than primary SP (34.4%). About 70% of patients with primary and secondary SP was underweighted. The previous history of SP was present in 28.9% and 25.8% of primary and secondary SP, respectively. The main underlying lung diseases in secondary SP were inactive tuberculosis (68%), active tuberculosis (12.4%) and COPD (11.3%). Tube thoracostomy was performed in 96.8% and 97.9% of primary and secondary SP, respectively. The duration of chest tube insertion was longer in seconday SP ($18.2{\pm}19.59$ days) than primary SP ($7.5{\pm}6.57$ days). The open thoracotomy were performed in 22.7% and 10.3% of primary and secondary SP, respectively. The most com- mon indication of open thoracotomy was recurrence in primary SP and persistent air leak in secondary SP. During following-up of $17{\pm}7.8$ months, the recurrence rate in patients with conservative treatment was 16.5% and 11.8% of primary and secondary SP, respectively. The recurrence was most common within 1 month after discharge. Conclusion: Greater attention and research about SP are necessary for more efficient patient care.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.378-387
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• 2003

Background : Promoter methylation of tumor suppressor genes is one of the key epigenetic changes in many human cancers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the promoter methylation status of the Death-associated protein(DAP) kinase gene, which played an important role in lung cancer, in the serum DNA of primary lung cancer patients. Methods : This study investigated the aberrant methylation of DAP kinase in the serum of 65 primary lung cancer patients by methylation-specific PCR (MSP). Results : Methylation in the serum was detected in 29 of 65(44.6%) for DAP kinase. There was no statistical association between methylation of DAP kinase and age, smoking history, histologic type, or stage. Methylation of DAP kinase was found more frequently in men (p=0.044). Conclusions : This study suggests that the aberrant methylation of the DAP kinase promoter is readily detectable in the serum DNA of lung cancer patients using MSP analysis.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.442-454
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• 2017

Biological weapon is manipulated and produced from microorganisms such as bacteria, virus, rickettsia, fungi etc. It is classified as one of the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) along with chemical weapon and radiological weapon. Biological weapon has a number of operational advantages over the other WMDs including ease of development and production, low cost and possibility of covert dissemination. In this study we analyze the history of biological weapon's development and the existing biological threats. Then, we predict the social impact of biological attack based on the physical properties of biological agent and infection mechanisms. By analyzing the recognition, dispersion pattern of agents, characteristics of the diseases in the biological weapon related historical events such as Sverdlovsk anthrax accident, 2001 anthrax attack, we found out some of the facts that biological attack would not likely to be recognized rapidly, produce large number of the exposed, increase number of paients who suffed from severe respiratory illness. It would lead the public health and medical service providers to be struggled with hugh burden. Base on the facts that we found from this case study, we suggested the main capabilities of public health required to respond to bioterrorism event efficiently. Syndromic surveillance and other reporting system need to be operated effeciently so that any suspicious event should be detected promptly. the pathogen which suspected to be used should be identified through laboratory diagnostic system. It is critical for the public health agency to define potentially exposed population under close cooperation with law enforcement agencies. Lastly, massive prophylaxis should be provided rapidly to the people at need by operating human and material resources effeciently. If those capacities of public health are consistantly fortified we would be able to deal with threat of bioterrorism successfully.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.34 no.12
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• pp.901-908
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• 2001

Background : Coronary artery bypass graft(CABG) in patients with advanced left ventricular dysfunction has often been regarded as having high mortality rate, despite the great improvement in operative result of CABG. With recent advances in surgical technique and myocardial protection, surgical revascularization improved the symptom and long-term survival of these high risk patients more than the medical conservative treatment. Material and Methold : Clinical data of 31(4.1％) patients with preoperative ejection fraction less than 30% among 864 CABGs performed between January 1995 and March 1999 were retrospectively analyzed and pre- and postoperative changes of the ejection fraction on echocardiography were analyzed. There were 26 men and 5 women. The mean age was 60.7 years(range 41 to 72 years). History of myocardial infarction(30 cases, 98％) was the most common preoperative risk factor. There were seven irreversible myocardial infarction on thallium scan. Most patients had triple vessel diseases(26 cases, 84％) and first degree of Rentrop classification(16 cases, 52％) on coronary angiography. The mean number of distal anastomosis during CABG was per patient was 4.9${\pm}$0.8 sites in each patient. In addition to long saphenous veins, the internal mammary artery was used in 20 patients. Total bypass time was 244.7${\pm}$3.7 minutes(range, 117 to 567 minutes), and mean aortic cross-clamp time was 77.9 ${\pm}$ 1.6 minutes(range, 30 to 178 minutes). There were five other reparative procedures such as two left ventricular aneurysrmectomy, two mitral repair, and one aortic valve replacement. There were twelve postoperative complications such as three cardiac arrhythmia, two bleeding(re-operation), one delayed sternal closure, eleven usage of intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation for low cardiac output. Two patients died, postoperative mortality was 6.5% . Twenty-nine patients were relieved of chest pain and left ventricular ejection fraction after operation was significantly higher(38.5${\pm}$11.6%, p 0.001) as compared with preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction(25.3${\pm}$2.3%). The follow up period of out patient was 25. 3 months. Conclusion: In patients with coronary artery disease and advanced left ventricular dysfunction, coronary artery bypass grafting can be performed relatively safely with improvement in left ventricular function, but it will be necessary to study long term results.