• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.78-83
• /
• 1999

Purpose : We have compared the characteristics of Siemens virtual wedge device with physical wedges for clinical application. Materials and Methods : We investigated the characteristics of virtual and physical wedges for various wedge angles (15, 30, 45, and 60$^{\circ}$) using 6- and 15MV photon beams. Wedge factors were measured in water using an ion chamber for various field sizes and depths. In case of virtual wedge device, as upper jaw moves during irradiation, wedge angles were estimated by accumulated doses. These measurements were performed at off-axis points perpendicular to the beam central axis in water for a 15cm${\times}$20cm radiation field size at the depth of loom. Surface doses without and with virtual or physical wedges were measured using a parallel plate ion chamber at surface. Field size was 15cm H20cm and a polystyrene phantom was used. Results : For various field sizes, virtual and physical wedge factors were changed by maximum 2.1% and 3.9%) , respectively. For various depths, virtual and physical wedge factors were changed by maximum 1.9% and 2.9%, respectively. No major difference was found between the virtual and physical wedge angles and the difference was within 0.5$^{\circ}$ . Suface dose with physical wedge was reduced by maximum 20% (x-ray beam :6 MV, wedge angle:45$^{\circ}$, 550: 80 cm) relative to one with virtual wedge or without wedge. Conclusions : Comparison of the characteristics of Siemens virtual wedge device with physical wedges was performed. Depth dependence of virtual wedge factor was smaller than that of physical wedge factor. Virtual and physical wedge factors were nearly independent of field sizes. The accuracy of virtual and physical wedge angles was excellent. Surface dose was found to be reduced using physical wedge.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.173-193
• /
• 1996

This study was carried out to elucidate the causes of farmer's disease and greenhouse disease in the rural area of Kyungnam province during 1996. 2,171 (69.1%) of the 3,140 adults above 20 years old who had lived in the selected 20 villages in Uiryong County of Kyungnam Province were selected in order to over both residents who live in the green house distracts and conventional rural area. The results were as follows: 1. Among the subjects, the male was 42.2% and female was 57.6%. The average age for the male was 52.3, 55.6 for the female. 2. The proportion of the farmers in the subjects was 81.5%. Among these 78.0% were engaged in the greenhouse farming. 3. Among the eight symptoms of Nofusho(japanese farmer's comples), lumbago was the most frequently complained and followed by shoulder stiffness and parenthesis of hand or foot. 4. The total score of farmer's disease was evidently higher in the female and the older the score was clearly bigger. 5. The prevalence of Nofusho(Japanese farmer's comples)was 26.8% and 43.15% was for the suspected Nofusho. In the male, the prevalence of Nofusho was 13.6% and 40.9% for the suspected Nofusho and in the female 36.5% and 44.7% were shown, comparatively. 6. According to the multiple classification analysis, sex, age, and occupation were selected as significant variables to explain the total score of Nofusho. 7. The correlations between the total score of Nofusho and the number of sick day, working years, and age were significant, comparatively. 8. According to the multiple classification analysis corolling interaction between independent variables, age was the only variable which was significant in the male and age, pesticide work in the female. 9. The score of greenhouse disease was highest in the group who engaged in greenhouse farming and conventional farming(2.76 for male, 3.77 for female) followed by the group who engaged only in greening house farming(2.66 for male, 3.49 for female) and by the group who engaged only in conventional farming(2.27 for male, 3.05 for female) 10. According to the multiple classification analysis with the total score of greenhouse disease as dependent variable, corolling interaction between independent variables, age and pesticide work were revealed as significant variables in the male, while, pesticide work and farming type were significant in the female. According to the above results, the following could be suggested. Because lumbago, shoulder stiffness, paresthesia of hand and foot were the most frequently complained symptoms in the respondent, the development of farming tool to reduce the body burden and periodical physical exercise and rest is highly recommended. It is revealed that both in the farmer' disease and greenhouse disease the score was higher in the female than in the male. So the reasonables measures is recommended to reduce the working hours of the female. Pesticide work was revealed as the significant variable in the female in farmer's disease and both in the male and the female in greenhouse disease. So the development of the safe method of pesticide spraying including safety education should be introduced. Particularly the female should be excluded in pesticide spraying.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.299-306
• /
• 1996

Purpose : Respiratory symptoms related with malignant airway disease have been the main causes of lowered qualify of life and also sometimes may be life-threatening if not properly managed. The authors report the short-term experiences of endobronchial brachytherapy for symptomatic malignant airway obstruction using high dose rate after-loading brachytherapy unit. Materials and Methdos : Twenty-five Patients with symptomatic malignant airway obstruction were treated with endobronchial brachytherapy between the period of December 1994 and March 1996 at Department of Radiation Oncology of Samsung Medical Center Twenty-one ($84\%$) were patients with non-small cell lung cancer, three with tracheal malignancies, and one with recurrence of esophageal cancer. Twenty Patients were given elective external beam radiation therapy, while six were given endobronchial laser evaporation therapy on emergency bases in addition to endobronchial brachytherapy. Three procedures for each patient were planned and total of 70 procedures were completed. Results : Improvement rates of major respiratory symptoms after endobronchial brachytherapy procedures were $88\%$(22/25). $96\%$(22/23), $100\%$ (15/15), and $100\%$(9/9) for cough, dyspnea, hemoptysis and obstructive pneumonia, respectively. ECOG performance scores were improved in $56\%$ of total patients group, while there was no case with worsened ECOG score. Fifteen patients died and the median interval from the start of treatment to death was 4 months (range: $1\~17$ months), while that of ten survivors was 9 months (range $5\~19$ months). There were five patients with controlled intrathoracic disease, who have survived over one rear. All deaths were associated with uncontrolled local and/or distant disease. Four Patients died of massive fatal hemoptysis, three of who received emergency endobronchial laser evaporation therapy before the start of endobronchial brachytherapy. Conclusion : Endobronchial brachytherapy has been confirmed as an excellent palliative treatment modality improving respiratory symptoms as well as patients' general performance status. Based on the current observations, use of endobronchial brachytherapy in curative setting as a boost technique may be warranted.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.185-194
• /
• 1998

Purpose : With the development of stereotactic immobilization systems capable of reliable serial repositioning, fractionated stereotactic radiation therapy (FSRT) offers the Potential for an improved treatment outcome by excellent dose delivery, and dose distribution characteristics with the favorable radiobiological properties of fractionated irradiation. We describe our initial experience using FSRT for the treatment of intracranial benign tumor. Materials and Methods : Between August 1995 and December 1996. 15 patients(7 males and 8 females aged 6-70 years) were treated with FSRT. The patients had the following diagnosis pituitary adenoma(10) including one patient who previously had received radiotherapy, craniopharyngioma (2), acoustic neurinoma (1), meningioma (2). Using the Gill-Thomas-Cosman relocatable head frame and multiple non-coplanar therapy, the daily dose of 2Gy was irradiated at 90% to 100% isodose surface of the isocenter The collimator sizes ranged from 26mm to 70mm. Results : In all patients except one follow-up lost, disease was well-controlled. Acute complication was negligible and no patient experienced cranial nerve neuropathies and radiation necrosis. In overall patient setup with scalp measurements, reproducibility was found to have mean of $1.1{\pm}0.6mm$ from the baseline reading. Conclusion : Relocatable stereotactic system for FSRT is highly reproducible and comfortable. Although the follow-up period was relatively short. FSRT is considered to be a safe and effective radiation technique as the treatment of intracranial tumor. But the fractionation schedule(fraction size, overall treatment time and total dose) still remains to be solved by further clinical trials.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.156-163
• /
• 1998

Background & Objectives: Frameless fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy(FFSRT) is a modification of stereotactic radiosurgery(SRS) with radiobiologic advantage of fractionation without losing mechanical accuracy of SRS. Local recurrence of head and neck cancer at or near skull base benefit from reirradiation. Main barrier to successful palliation is dose limitation secondary to normal tissue tolerance. We try to evaluate the efficacy and safety of FFSRT as a new modality of reirradaton in these challenging patients. Materials & Methods: Seven patients with recurrent head & neck cancer involving at or near skull base received FFSRT from September 1995 to November 1997. Six patients with nasopharyngeal cancer had received induction chemotherapy and curative radiation therapy. One patient with maxillary sinus cancer had received total maxillectomy and postoperative radiation therapy as a initial treatment. Follow-up ranged from 11 to 32 months with median of 24 months. Three of 7 patients received hyperfractionated radiation therapy(1.1-1.2Gy/fraction, bid, total 19.8-24Gy) just before FFSRT. All patients received FFSRT(3-5Gy/fraction, total 15-30Gy/5-10fractions). Chemotherapy(cis-platin $100mg/m^2$) were given concurrently with FFSRT in four patients. Second course of FFSRT were given in 4 patients with progression or recurrence after initial FFSRT. Because IF(irregularity factor; ratio of surface area of target to the surface area of sphere with same volume as a target) is too big to use conventional stereotactic RT using multiple arc method for protection of radiation damage to critical normal tissue, all patients received FFSRT with conformal method using irregular static ports. Results: Five of 7 patients showed complete remission in follow-up CT &/or MRI. Three of these five patients who developed marginal, in-field, and out-field recurrences, respectively. Another one of complete responders has been dead of G-I bleeding without evidence of local recurrence. One partial responder who showed progressive disease 15 months after initial FFSRT has received additional FFSRT, and then he is well-being with symptomatic improvement. One minmal responder who showed progression of locoregional disease 9 months after $1^{st}$ FFSRT has received 2nd FFSRT, and then he is alive with stable disease. Five of 7 case had showed direct invasion to skull base and had complaint headache and various symptoms of cranial nerve involvement. Four of these five case showed improvement of neurologic symptoms after FFSRT. No significant neurologic complicaltion related to FFSRT was observed during follow-up periods. Tumor volumes were ranged from 3.9 to 50.7 cc and surface area ranged from 16.1 to $114.9cm^2$. IF ranged from 1.21 to 1.74. The average ratio of volume of prescription isodose shell to target volume was 1.02 that indicated the improvement of target coverage and dose distribution with FFSRT with conformal method compared to target coverage with FFSRT with multiple arc method. Conclusion: Our initial experience suggests that FFSRT with conformal method was relatively effective and safe modality in the treatment of recurrent head and neck cancer involving at or near skull base. Treatment benefit included good palliation of symptoms and reasonable radiographic response. However, more experience and additional follow-up are needed to better assess its ultimate role in treating these challenging patients.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.25 no.5
• /
• pp.557-567
• /
• 2015

To increase the marketability of Dolsan leaf mustard Kimchi, seasonings were prepared by sea tangle and Lentinus edodes. Gat Kimchi A (GK-A) and Gat Kimchi B (GK-B) were prepared by addition of complex seasoning with Sea tangle (CSS), complex seasoning with Lentinus edodes (CSL), respectively and evaluated the quality characteristics. GK-A contained high minerals and dietary fiber and showed the effect of delaying pH-lowering and acidity-rising. There were no significant differences in salinity test after 70 days. Reducing sugar of test groups was higher than control. During the fermentation, Leuconostoc sp. was grown in GK-A and GK-B than control. Growth of control's Lactobacillus sp. increased 20 days after. Up to 30 days, lightness of control was high. Yellowness were increased browning potential in GK-B, 20 days after. From the initial to 10 days, Hardness of GK-A showed higher than the others. glutamic acid and aspartic acid content of GK-A was higher significantly than the others in the entire fermentation period (p<0.05). At 0, 10, 30 days, sweet-tasty amino acids of GK-A showed a significantly higher level than the others (p<0.05). From 10 days to 40 days of fermentation, the sensory evaluation of GK-A is better than the other groups. Comprehensively reviewed the above results, the conclusion is as follows: CSS made with sea tangle as a main ingredient. GK-A by seasoning the CSS to 90 g GK-A is expected as a new Dolsan leaf mustard products that can provide flavor and nutrition to the consumer at the same time.

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

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.193-200
• /
• 2011

Purpose : The effect of corticosteroid on severe pneumonia caused by 2009 pandemic influenza (H1N1) A virus is controversial. This study was aimed to present the effects of early, short-term corticosteroid treatment for severe pneumonia with this virus infection. Methods : A retrospective analysis was performed on severe pneumonia patients (37 patients) who had severe respiratory distress at presentation requiring oxygen therapy and received intravenous methylprednisolone (MP, 8-10 mg/kg, divided in 4 doses/day for 2-3 days) with oseltamivir. The clinical and laboratory characteristics of the patients were evaluated through the medical records and chest radiographic findings. Results : The mean age and male-to-female ratio of the patients were 6.5${\pm}$2.9 years of age, and 3.4:1 (male 29 patients), respectively. The 5-9 aged group was predominant among the age groups (25 patients, 67.6%). Duration of fever prior to admission was 1.4${\pm}$0.6 days and dyspnea developed within 24 h after beginning of respiratory symptoms in all patients. All patients were previously healthy and received oseltamivir within 48 h. Thirteen patients (35.1%) developed dyspnea during oseltamivir treatment. Following MP infusion, all 37 patients including 13 progressive pneumonia patients during oseltamivir treatment showed an immediate halt in the progression of pneumonic infiltration with rapid clinical improvement. There were no side-effects following steroid use. Conclusion : For severe pneumonia patients, early corticosteroid treatment halted clinical exacerbation, and possibly prevented progression to acute respiratory distress syndrome. Further controlled clinical studies are needed for the role of corticosteroids and antivirals on severely affected patients with influenza virus infections.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.93-99
• /
• 2015

Objectives : The purpose of this preliminary study was to investigate job stress and stress coping strategy among workers in a regional statistics office. Methods : A total of 133 workers in regional statistics office participated in this study and they were divided into two groups, survey group(n=109) and support group(n=24) depending on relation to statistical survey task. They were asked to respond to Short Form of Korean Occupational Stress Scale(KOSS-SF) and Stress Coping Strategy(SCS) to investigate sociodemographic characteristics, job stress, and stress coping strategy. Results : The proportion of the 133 participants in the sample was 59(44.4%) of men, 74(55.6%) of women. There were no significant differences in KOSS-SF scores in relation to age, sex, education, and marital status, while the KOSS-SF scores were significantly different between the two groups. In regard to the subscales of KOSS-SF, the two groups had significant differences in insufficient job control, interpersonal conflict, job insecurity, and organization system. In addition, the total score of KOSS-SF had a negative correlation with problem-focused coping strategy and social support coping strategy of SCS. Conclusions : Our results suggest that workers of survey group had more job stress compared to those who works in support group in regional statistical office. In addition, in comparison with workers of support group, both men and women of survey group get stressed when they were confronted with interpersonal conflicts. Our results suggest that using problem-focused coping and social support coping strategy lowers job stress.