• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.9
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• pp.790-798
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• 1999

Background: As the early outcome after coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG) has been stabilized, neurologic complication has now become one of the most important morbidity. The aim of this study was to find out the risk factors associated with the neurologic complications after CABG. Material and Method: In 351 patients who underwent CABG, the incidence and features of neurologic complications, with associated perioperative risk factors, were retrospectively reviewed. Neurologic complication was defined as a new cerebral infarction confirmed by postoperative neurologic examination and radiologic studies, or delayed recovery of consciousness and orientation for more than 24 hours after the operation. Result: Neurologic complications occurred in 18 patients(5.1%), of these nine(2.6%) were diagnosed as having new cerebral infarctions(stroke). Stroke was manifested as motor paralysis in four patients, mental retardation or orientation abnormality in four, and brain death in one. Statistical analysis revealed the following variables as significant risk factors for neurologic complications by both univariate and multivariate analyses: cardiopulmonary bypass longer than 180 minutes, atheroma of the ascending aorta, carotid artery stenosis detected by Duplex sonography, and past history of cerebrovascular accident or transient ischemic attack. Age over 65 years, aortic calcification detected by simple X-ray, and intraoperative myocardial infarction were significant risk factors by univariate analysis only. Neither the severity of carotid artery stenosis nor technical modifications such as cannulation of the aortic arch or single clamp technique, which were expected to affect the inciden e of neurologic complications, had significant relationship with the incidence. Conclusion: This study confirmed the strong association between neurologic complications after CABG and atherosclerosis of the arterial system. Therefore, to minimize the incidence of neurologic complications, systematic evaluation focused on atherosclerotic lesions of the arterial system followed by adequate alteration of operative strategy is needed.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.410-415
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• 2004

Background: In the operation for coronary artery stenosis, the procedures for mitral regurgitation are restricted to cases of more than moderate mitral regurgitation or for the lesions in leaflets. This is based on the belief that the less than mild regurgitation are a form of reversible change results from ischemia with coronary artery stenosis. We studied the changes and prognostic factors of mitral regurgitation in patients with coronary artery stenosis and mitral regurgitation who underwent coronary artery bypass surgery alone. Material and Method: We reviewed the medical records of 90 patients with coronary artery stenosis and mitral regurgitation who underwent coronary artery bypass surgery alone by a single surgeon from Jan. 1995 to Dec. 2002, We grouped the patients according to the postoperative changes of mitral regurgitation, and then we statistically compared the findings of echocardiogram between preoperative and last follow up. Result: There were 24 cases with progression of mitral regurgitation, 12 cases without changes, 54 cases with improvements of mitral regurgitation in total 90 patients. The bypass to LAD was proven as the significant prognostic factor of mitral regurgitation. The preoperative end diastolic left ventricular volume index were higher in aggravated group with 105.38$\pm$38.89 $m\ell$ compared to 71.75$\pm$28,45 $m\ell$ in improvement group, and 84.00$\pm$11.66 $m\ell$ in no change group. The grade of preoperative mitral regurgitation did not show significant differences among the groups. Conclusion: The mitral regurgitation in patient with coronary artery stenosis can be improved after the coronary artery bypass surgery alone. However, the expectation of improvements based on the degree of preparative mitral regurgitation can not be justified, therefore, the procedures for mitral regurgitation should be aggressively considered even in the cases of mild mitral regurgitation. Also, further study should be performed to identify the exact prognostic factors of mitral regurgitation including the left ventricular volume index, and whether the left anterior descending artery has been bypassed.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.710-718
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• 2009

Background: The Cox maze procedure has been used as a standard surgical treatment for atrial fibrillation for about 20 years. Recently, the creators have used a bipolar radiofrequency electrode (Cox maze IV procedure) instead of the incision and suture (cut-sew) technique to make atrial ablation lesions for persistent atrial fibrillation. We investigated clinical outcomes for the Cox maze procedure with a bipolar radiofrequency electrode and cryoablator in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation, and compared results with clinical outcomes of the cut-sew procedure. Material and Method: Between April 2005 and July 2007, 40 patients with persistent atrial fibrillation underwent Cox maze IV procedure with a bipolar radiofrequency electrode and cryoablator (bipolar radiofrequency group). Surgical outcomes were compared with those of 35 patients who had the cut-sew technique for the Cox maze III procedure. All patients had concomitant cardiac surgery. Postoperatively, the patients were followed up every 1 to 2 months. Result: At 6 months postoperatively, the conversion rate to regular sinus rhythm was not significantly different between the two groups: 95.0% for the bipolar radiofrequency ablation group; 97.1% for the cut-sew technique (p=1.0). At the end of the follow-up period, the conversion rate to regular sinus rhythm was also not significantly different (92.5% vs. 91.6%, p=1.0). In multivariate analysis using a Cox-regression model, the postoperative atrial dimension was an independent determinant of sinus conversion in the bipolar radiofrequency ablation group (hazard ratio 31, p=0.005). In the Cox-regression model for both groups, atrial fibrillation at 6 months postoperatively (hazard ratio 92.24, p=0.003) and the postoperative left atrial dimension (hazard ratio 16.05, p=0.019) were independent risk factors of continuance or recurrence of atrial fibrillation after Cox maze procedures. Aortic cross-clamp time and cardiopulmonary bypass time were significantly shorter in the radiofrequency group than in the cut-sew group. Conclusion: In the Cox maze procedure for patients with persistent atrial fibrillation, the use of bipolar radiofrequency ablation and a cryoablator is as good as the cut-sew technique for conversion to sinus rhythm. The postoperative left atrial dimension is an independent determinant of postoperative continuance and recurrence of atrial fibrillation.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.85-90
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• 2010

Purpose: To evaluate the rate of tumor response, local control, and treatment-related complications after hypofractionated radiotherapy for recurrent hepatocelluar carcinoma (HCC) less than 5 cm in size. Materials and Methods: Among the HCC patients who were treated by radiotherapy (RT) between 2006 and 2007 after the failure of previous treatment, a total of 12 patients were treated with hypofractionated RT. The criteria for hypofractionated RT was as follows: 1) HCC less than 5 cm, 2) HCC not adjacent to a critical organ, 3) HCC without portal vein tumor thrombosis, and 4) less than 15% of normal liver volume that irradiated 50% of the prescribed dose. Hypofractionated RT was performed with 50 Gy delivered in 10 fractions, at a rate of 5 fractions per week. The evaluation of tumor response was determined by CT scans performed at 3 months after the cessation of RT, followed by the evaluation of toxicity by Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 3.0. The median follow-up period after radiotherapy was 18 months. Results: A complete response (CR) was achieved in 5 of 12 lesions (41.7%) at CT performed at 3 months after the cessation, whereas the overall complete response was observed in 7 of 12 cases (58.3%). In-field local control rate was sustained in 83.3% of patients. All patients developed intra-hepatic metastases except for 2 patients. The overall survival rate was 90.0% at 1 year and 67.5% at 2 years, respectively. Three patients developed Grade 1 nausea during RT and 1 patient showed a progression of ascites after RT. There was no grade 3 or greater treatment-related toxicities. Conclusion: Hypofractionated RT for small-sized HCC as a salvage therapy showed a 58.3% CR rate and 83.3% of local control. Fifty Gy administered in 10 fractions of partial liver irradiation is considered as a tolerable dose that does not cause severe complications.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.225-228
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• 2007

The therapy by injection-acupuncture (AP) with bee-venom (apitoxin) and injection-AP with apitoxin combined by administration of Chinese herbal medicine was applied in 2 cases with canine intervertebral disc disease (IVDD). Case 1 was diagnosed as thoraco-lumbar IVDD (T11-T12, T12-T13, L3-L4 and L4-L5) and case 2 was diagnosed as IVDD at T10-T11 and T12-T13, respectively Injection-AP with apitoxin($Apitoxinc{(R)}$, total $200{\mu}g$ of apitoxin, 0.1 ml/acupoint) plus physical exercise (walking with gocart, TID/day) and aquatherapy (swimming treatment, BID/week) were given to each patient. The used acupoints were GV20 (Bai Hui), GB30 (Huan Tiao), ST36 (Zu San Li), GB34 (Yang Ling Quan), ST40 (Feng Long), ST41 (Jie Xi) and BL40 (Wei Zhong), the lesions, and trigger points. In addition, Chinese herbal medicine (Koda Pharmaceutical Co., Taiwan) including Zheng Gu Zi Jin Dan (正骨紫金丹 : 1 g), Shiuh Duann(續斷 : 0.2 g), Du Zhong(杜仲 : 0.2 g), Mo Yao(沒藥 : 0.2 g), Ru Xian(乳香 : 0.2 g) and Pyrite(自然銅 : 0.2 g) were orallly mdeicated BID for 0\9days in case 2. Walking was possible after session 11 for 4 weeks in case 1 and after session 6 for 2 weeks in case 2, respectively.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.91-98
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• 2006

A filtrate powder, designated as KNF2022, produced from culture broth of Acinetobacter sp. KTB3 was tested for their inhibitory effects on Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) infection to Nicotiana glutinosa or N. tabacum cv. Xanthi nc. When 1/100 dilution with distilled water was treated to the plants and PMMoV was inoculated, the inhibition was estimated to be 94.3 and 95.6%, respectively. The same concentrations of KNF2022 inhibited infections of Pepper mottle virus (PepMoV) and Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) on Chenopodium amaranticolor by 97.1 and 92.5%, respectively. Duration of inhibitory activity of the filtrate powder from Acinetobacter sp. culture broth against PMMoV infection on N. glutinosa was maintained for 2 days at 80% inhibition level, however, the inhibitory effect was diminished from 4 days after treatment to 50% levels. To evaluate inhibitory effects on systemic host plants of the antiviral agent, symptom developments of PMMoV, PepMoV and CMV on KNF2022-treated pepper plants were investigated. Delayed symptom developments until 10 days after inoculation (DAI) were observed for all the three viruses when the viruses were inoculated individually, and these delayed symptom development effects were maintained until 30 DAI in case of PepMoV. Moreover, PepMoV was not detected by RT-PCR and ELISA until 30 DAI. These delayed symptom development effects were diminished in all combinations of three virus co-inoculations due to synergism of three viruses on symptom developments. Inhibitory effect of KNF2022 was verified under electron microscopic examinations using purified virus preparations. Particles of PMMoV and PepMoV were observed on specimens from 5 min after KNF2022 treatment, and the particle sizes were reached in the range of 200-250 nm and 400-600 nm, respectively. Furthermore, the viral particles were destructed and particle sizes were reached in the range of 100-150 nm and 300-500 nm, respectively, on 60 min after treatments. Reduction of local lesion numbers on N. tabacum cv. Xanthi nc and C. amaranticolor were accompanied with reduction of virus particle sizes. In the case of CMV destructed particle numbers were also increased according to incubation period after KNF2022 treatment and local lesions on C. amaranticolor were reduced.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.277-283
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• 1995

Purpose : This study was performed to measure dose alteration at the air-tissue interface resulting from rebuild-up to the loss of charged particle equilibrium in the tissues around the air-tissue interfaces. Materials and Methods : The 6 and 10-MV photon beam in dual energy linear accelerator were used to measure the surface dose at the air-tissue interface The polystyrene phantom sized $25{\times}25{\times}5\;cm^3$ and a water phantom sized $29{\times}29{\times}48\;cm^3$ which incorporates a parallel-plate ionization chamber in the distal side of air gap were used in this study. The treatment field sizes were $5{\times}5\;cm^2,\;10{\times}10\;cm^2\;and\;20{\times}20\;cm^2$. Air cavity thickness was variable from 10 mm to 50 mm. The observed-expected ratio (OER) was defined as the ratio of dose measured at the distal junction that is air-tissue interface to the dose measured at the same point in a homogeneous phantom. Results : In this experiment, the result of OER was close or slightly over than 1.0 for the large field size but much less (about 0.565) than 1.0 for the small field size in both photon energy. The factors to affect the dose distribution at the air-tissue interface were the field size, the thickness of air cavity. and the photon energy. Conclusion : Thus, the radiation oncologist should take into account dose reduction at the air-tissue interface when planning the head and neck cancer especially pharynx and laryngeal lesions, because the dose can be less nearly $29{\%}$ than predicted value.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.22-31
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• 2010

Purpose : This study was performed to evaluate the relationship between glomerular basement membrane (GBM) alterations to epithelial cell (EpC) structure and renal function in Alport Syndrome (AS) patients. Methods : Fifteen patients diagnosed with AS (4-26yrs) were examined. The GBM in AS was categorized as : C1) normal, C2) minor alterations (widening of lamina rara interna or externa without lamina densa change), C3) nonspecific splitting of lamina densa, C4) basket-weaving pattern of lamina densa splitting. The length of each GBM portion along the epithelial side was measured on the systematically obtained electron microscopic photographs. Furthermore to obtain an objective assessment of the degree of glomerular EpC foot process change, the number of slit pores along $10\;{\mu}m$ of peripheral GBM in each category was obtained. Results : The percentage of normal GBM portion (C1) correlated inversely with daily protein excretion (g/day/$m^2$, P<0.05) and sum of the percentage of abnormal GBM portion (C2+C3+C4) had direct correlation with daily protein excretion (g/day/$m^2$, P<0.05). There were no significant relationships between the percentages of other categories of GBM alterations and creatinine clearance or protein excretion. There were no significant relationships between of creatinine clearance in relation to normal GBM(C1) portion as well as that in relation to sum of the percentage of abnormal GBM portion (C2+C3+C4). GBM abnormality did not correlate with age at biopsy. Conclusion : The extent of GBM structural abnormality is related to proteinuria in AS but the epithelial response is uniform even though the GBM ultrastructural lesions are not.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2005

Purpose: Physiologic intestinal FDG uptake is frequently observed in asymptomatic individuals for cancer screening FDG PET Colonic FDG accumulation is a well-known confusing findings that interfere true cancer detection or cause false positive. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pattern and intensity of colonic uptake in whole body FDG PET in asymptomatic healthy adults and to correlate them with colonoscopic findings. Materials and Methods: We reviewed retrospectively 64 subjects (age: 27-87, M:F=31:33) who underwent both FDG PET and colonoscopy for cancer screening. FDG uptake patterns were classified as focal, segmental and diffuse. Maximum SUV were measured. The PET results were compared with colonoscopic and histologic findings. Results: In 13 patients FDG bowel uptake was interpreted as focal, in 17 patients as segmental and in 34 patients as diffuse uptake. Six adenomas (17.6%, average diameter=5.0 mm) were found in diffuse pattern, 7 adenomas (41.1%, 5.6 mm) in segmental and 4 adenomas and 1 adenocarcinoma (38.5%, 16.4 mm) in focal uptake pattern. In patients with focal uptake, four were non-adenomatous pathologic lesions (30.8%, 2 intestinal tuberculosis, 2 mucosal ulcer). There is no difference of mean SUV between patients with adenoma and with negative colonoscopic results in each group of intestinal FDG pattern (Diffuse: $1.7{\pm}0.1\;vs.\;1.9{\pm}0.5$, Segmental: $4.8{\pm}3.6\;vs.\;4.2{\pm}1.2$, Focal: $6.5{\pm}4.7\;vs.\;3.5{\pm}1.3$). large adenomas (>1 cm) can be detected more in the focal uptake pattern (4 out of 5) rather than in segmental (1 out of 7) or diffuse uptake (none) and had higher SUV ($6.3{\pm}4.8$) than small adenomas ($3.5{\pm}3.0$) (statistically insignificant). Conclusion: focal FDG uptake is associated more often with large adenoma and other pathologic findings in colonoscopy. Segmental uptake cannot discriminate presence of adenoma from negative results, while diffuse pattern may have more chance to be normal.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.536-541
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• 2017

The object of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effects of Litsea japonica fruit flesh extract (LJF-HE) on gastritis of an stress-induced SD rat model. Rats were randomly divided into six groups: Normal (normal group), Control (stress-induced gastritis), Ranitidine (stress-induced gastritis and ranitidine 50 mg/kg), LJF-HE-L (stress-induced gastritis pretreated with L. japonica fruit flesh extract at 30 mg/kg), LJF-HE-M (stress-induced gastritis pretreated with L. japonica fruit flesh extract at 60 mg/kg), LJF-HE-H (stress-induced gastritis pretreated with L. japonica fruit flesh extract at 120 mg/kg). In groups treated with LJF-HE, gastric mucosal damage and pepsin activity were reduced. Additionally, there were decreases in the expression of cholecystokinin 2 receptor (CCK-2r) in the gastric lesions. The plasma levels of IL-$1{\beta}$ slightly but significantly decreased in LJF-HE treated groups compared to control. The plasma level of PGE2 was also significantly increased in LJF-HE treated groups. These results suggest that LJF-HE has the ability to reduce of the severity stress-induced gastritis.