• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.72 no.1
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• pp.8-14
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• 2012

Background: Although airway obstruction in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is due to pathologic processes in both the airways and the lung parenchyma, the contribution of these processes, as well as other factors, have not yet been evaluated quantitatively. We therefore quantitatively evaluated the factors contributing to airflow limitation in patients with COPD. Methods: The 213 COPD patients were aged >45 years, had smoked >10 pack-years of cigarettes, and had a post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in one second ($FEV_1$)/forced vital capacity (FVC) <0.7. All patients were evaluated by medical interviews, physical examination, spirometry, bronchodilator reversibility tests, lung volume, and 6-minute walk tests. In addition, volumetric computed tomography (CT) was performed to evaluate airway wall thickness, emphysema severity, and mean lung density ratio at full expiration and inspiration. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify the variables independently associated with $FEV_1$ - the index of the severity of airflow limitation. Results: Multiple linear regression analysis showed that CT measurements of mean lung density ratio (standardized coefficient ${\beta}$=-0.46; p<0.001), emphysema severity (volume fraction of the lung less than -950 HU at full inspiration; ${\beta}$=-0.24; p<0.001), and airway wall thickness (mean wall area %; ${\beta}$=-0.19, p=0.001), as well as current smoking status (${\beta}$=-0.14; p=0.009) were independent contributors to $FEV_1$. Conclusion: Mean lung density ratio, emphysema severity, and airway wall thickness evaluated by volumetric CT and smoking status could independently contribute to the severity of airflow limitation in patients with COPD.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.62 no.2
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• pp.98-104
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• 2007

Background: Although there is an increasing incidence of Mycobacterium abscessus pulmonary disease in Korea, the optimal therapeutic regimen has not yet been established and there are no reports of the long-term treatment outcomes. This study examined the long-term treatment outcomes of M. abscessus pulmonary disease. Methods: Twenty-nine patients diagnosed with M. abscessus pulmonary according to the American Thoracic Society criteria and treated from January 1996 to December 2003 were enrolled in ghis study. The clinical characteristics, radiological findings, treatment outcome, and follow up data were analyzed retrospectively. Results: The mean age of the 29 patients was 56.1 (${\pm}13.6$) years and there was a female (22/29) dominance. The chest radiography revealed the nodular bronchiectatic type to be dominant (69%, 20/29). Twenty-seven (93.1%) were prescribed clarithromycin-containing regimens, and injectable drugs, mainly aminoglycosides, were included in the regimen of nineteen patients. The most predominant regimen (48.3%) consisted of clarithromycin and amikacin. The treatment success, failure, and default were achieved in 19(65.5%), 9(31.0%), and 1(3.4%), respectively. The median duration to culture conversion was 42 days (range 15-362) and the median duration of treatment in the success group was 543 days (range 176-1,160). An adjunctive surgical resection was performed in five patients, which resulted in treatment success in two patients. After the completion of treatment, nineteen patients were followed up for a median duration of 931 days (range 230-2,294). Only one (5.3%) patient relapsed 45 days after completing treatment. Conclusion: Treatment with clarithromycin-containing regimens resulted in a successful treatment in approximately two thirds of patients with M. abscessus pulmonary disease. The long-term relapse rate was also quite low.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.62 no.2
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• pp.113-118
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• 2007

Background: Paraquat is known to induce oxidant injury that results in multiorgan failure and lung fibrosis. Iron has been considered to play a key role in paraquat-induced oxidant lung injury. This study examined the effect of deferoxamine, an iron-chelating agent, in the treatment of paraquat poisoning. Methods: From September, 2001 to April, 2005, 28 patients with paraquat poisoning who were admitted at a medical intensive care unit of a University-affiliated hospital, were enrolled in this study. Sixteen patients were treated according to the paraquat poisoning treatment guidelines and 12 received an intravenous infusion of deferoxamine in addition to the treatment guidelines. Results: There were no differences between the two groups in terms of age, gender, severity of paraquat poisoning, and the time elapsed from ingestion to presentation at hospital. There was no difference in overall mortality between the two groups but the incidence of respiratory failure in the deferoxamine group was higher than in the conventional group(4/7 versus 0/9, p=0.019). Conclusion: Deferoxamine seems to have no clinical benefit compared with the conventional treatment.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.1041-1051
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• 2005

In order to assure the safety of the seaweeds, we measured the contents of the trace metals in the seaweeds harvested from Korean coastal area. We collected 620 marine algal samples from fourteen areas, and then analyzed the trace metals such as Hg, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn. The contents of Hg, Cd, Ni and Mn were higher in the seaweeds collected from Chungnam Taean area. The contents of Cr and Cu were higher in the seaweeds collected from Yeongdeok and Tongyeong area, respectively. And Pb and Zn were highly detected from the seaweeds of Ulsan area. The mean levels of trace metals were high in the order of Zn $(48.02\pm41.20{\mu}g/g)\;>\;Mn (34.63\pm38.95{\mu}g/g)\;>\;Cu(6.29\pm6.52{\mu}g/g)\;>\;Ni(2.17\pm4.00{\mu}g/g)\; >\;Cr(1.61\pm2.35{\mu}g/g)\;>\;Pb(1.28\pm2.37{\mu}g/g)\;>\; Cd(0.67\pm0.75{\mu}g/g)\;>\;Hg(0.02\pm0.02{\mu}g/g)$. Zn was consistently most abundant metal in all samples, followed by Mn and Cu, which are very important for human health. There were higher contents of Hg and Cd in brown algae, the contents of Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni and Pb in green algae, the content of Zn in red algae among them. Additionally, significant linear correlations were observed between a total 28 different pairs of metals, of them, the correlation factor between Cr and Ni showed the highest (r=0.374, p<0.001). The trace metal contents of seaweeds varied with habitats and kinds of samples, nevertheless they showed very safe level in edible seaweeds tested. Scytosiphon lomentaria, which has been known as a little use of food, have shown a clear selectivity for Cr and Pb. Among non-edible seaweeds, Sargassum thunbergii for both Cd and Mn, Lomentaria hakodatensis for Ni and Grateloupia prolongata for Zn have shown a clear selectivity, respectively. Therefore, these seaweeds could be useful as bioindicator for each trace metal pollution.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.63 no.5
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• pp.405-411
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• 2007

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical applicability of the repeatability criteria recommended by the American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society (ATS/ERS) spirometry guidelines and to determine which factors affect the repeatability of spirometry in Korean adults. Methods: We reviewed the spirometry data of 4,663 Korean adults from the Korean National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (KNHANES) Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Cohort (COPD cohort) and the Community-based Cohort Study VI-Fishing village/Islands (community cohort). We measured the anthropometric factors and differences between the highest and second-highest FVC (dFVC) and $FEV_1$ ($dFEV_1$) from prebronchodilator spirometry. Analyses included the distribution of dFVC and $dFEV_1$, comparison of the values meeting the 1994 ATS repeatability criteria with the values meeting the 2005 ATS/ERS repeatability criteria, and the performance of linear regression for evaluating the influence of subject characteristics and the change of criteria on the spiro-metric variability. Results: About 95% of subjects were able to reproduce FVC and $FEV_1$ within 150 ml. The KNHANES based on the 1994 ATS guidelines showed poorer repeatability than the COPD cohort and community cohort based on the 2005 ATS/ERS guidelines. Demographic and anthropometric factors had little effect on repeatability, explaining only 0.5 to 3%. Conclusion: We conclude that the new spirometry repeatability criteria recommended by the 2005 ATS/ERS guidelines is also applicable to Korean adults. The repeatability of spirometry depends little on individual characteristics when an experienced technician performs testing. Therefore, we suggest that sustained efforts for public awareness of new repeatability criteria, quality control of spirograms, and education of personnel are needed for reliable spirometric results.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2008.06a
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• pp.226-226
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• 2008

지난 10여년 동안 Sn-3.0Ag-0.5(wt%)Cu 합금은 대표 무연솔더 조성으로 다양한 전자제품의 실장 및 접합에 적용되어 왔으며, 그 신뢰성 역시 충분히 검증된 바 있다. 그러나 최근 Ag 가격의 급격한 상승과 솔더 접합부의 내 충격 신뢰성을 보다 향상시키고자 하는 업계의 동향은 Ag의 함량이 낮은 무연솔더 조성의 적용 확대를 유도하고 있다. 이에 따라 본 연구자들은 저 Ag 함유 무연슬더로 Sn-1.2Ag-0.5Cu-0.4In 조성을 제안한 바 있는데, 이는 Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu 조성 이상의 solderability를 가지면서도 그 금속원료 가격이 약 20% 가량 저렴한 특징을 가진다. 또한 열 싸이클링 (cycling) 테스트를 통한 슬더 조인트의 신뢰성을 평가한 결과, Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu에 크게 뒤떨어지지 않는 양호한 특성이 관찰되었다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 열 싸이클링 테스트와 더불어 최근 그 중요성이 지속적으로 커지고 있는 내 충격 신뢰성 평가 시험을 실시하여 개발된 4원계 무연솔더 조성의 기계적 특성을 기존 무연솔더 조성과 비교, 분석해 보았다. 각 솔더 조성은 솔더 볼 형태로 제조되어 CSP(Chip Scale Package) 상에 범핑 (bumping)되었으며, CSP를 PCB(Printed Circuit Board) 상에 실장하는 공정에서도 Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu 및 Sn-1.2Ag-0.5Cu-0.4In의 두 종류의 솔더 페이스트가 사용되었다. 본 연구에서의 내 충격 신뢰성 시험에는 자체 제작한 rod drop 시험기를 사용하였는데, 고정된 CSP 실장 board의 후면 부위를 일정한 높이에서 추를 반복적으로 자유 낙하시켜 급격한 충격을 주는 방식으로 실험을 실시하였다. 이 때 추의 무게는 30g, 낙하 높이는 10cm 였으며, 추의 낙하 시 측정된 board 의 휨 변위량은 약 0.7mm로 측정되었다. 사용된 CSP와 PCB 는 모두 daisy chain 방식으로 연결되어 있기 때문에 저항측정기를 사용한 간단한 실시간 저항 측정 방법으로 시험 이력에 따른 파단부의 발생 시점과 대략의 위치를 손쉽게 확인할 수 있었다. 솔더 조인트의 파단 기준 저항값으로 $1000\Omega$을 설정하였으며. 각 조건 당 5 개 이상의 샘플에 대해 평가를 실시한 후 그 평균값을 조사하였다. 시험 결과 제안된 Sn-1.2Ag-0.5Cu-0.4In 조성은 대표적인 저 Ag 함유 조성인 Sn-1.0Ag-0.5Cu에 비해서는 떨어지는 내 충격 신뢰성을 나타내었지만, 우수한 연성에 기인하여 Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu 조성에 비해서는 약 2 배 이상 우수한 신뢰성이 관찰되었다. 또한 CSP의 실장 시 Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu보다 Sn-1.2Ag-0.5Cu-0.4In 조성 솔더 페이스트를 적용한 경우에서 보다 우수한 내 충격 신뢰성을 나타내어 기본적으로 개발된 Sn-1.2Ag-0.5Cu-0.4In 솔더 페이스트가 Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu 조성의 기존 솔더 페이스트 보다 내 충격 신뢰성이 우수함을 검증할 수 있었다. 각 조성의 솔더 조인트를 $150^{\circ}C$ 에서 500시간 aging한 후 실시한 내 충격 신뢰성 평가에서는 모든 조성에서 그 신뢰성이 급감하는 경항을 나타내었으나, Sn-1.2Ag-0.5Cu-0.4In가 Sn-l.0Ag-0.5Cu보다도 그 상대적인 신뢰성이 우수한 것으로 관찰되었다. 이와 같이 aging 후 실시하는 충격시험은 가장 실제적인 상황과 유사한 조건이므로 상기의 실험 결과는 매우 고무적이었으며, 이에 대한 보다 면밀한 분석이 요청되었다. 마지막으로 파면 및 미세조직 관찰을 통하여 각 조성에서의 충격 파단 특성을 비교, 분석해 보았다.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.988-993
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• 2008

The characteristics of NO oxidation using sodium chlorite ($NaClO_2$) powder have been investigated by a flow type packed-bed reactor, where the reaction temperature and the space velocity are varied in the range of $20{\sim}230^{\circ}C$ and $0.4-2.2{\times}10^5hr^{-1}$, respectively, and the simulation gas mixtures are composed of NO (0~200 ppm), $NO_2$ (0-200 ppm), $O_2$ (0~15%) and $H_2O$ (0~15%) within $N_2$ balance. It has been found that the oxidation efficiency of NO depends greatly on the reaction temperature, exhibiting the existence of critical reaction temperature at about $170^{\circ}C$ where the oxidation efficiency of NO is maximized and then abruptly decreased with further increase of reaction temperature, resulting in being negligible over $190^{\circ}C$. Such a behavior in the oxidation efficiency has been originated from the phase transition of $NaClO_2$ at about $170^{\circ}C$ to form $NaClO_3$, and NaCl which are chemically inactive toward the oxidation of NO. The chemical reaction of NO with $NaClO_2$ has been observed to produce $NO_2$, ClNO and $ClNO_2$, whereas that of $NO_2$ only OClO species. Additionally, we have also observed that the introduction of $O_2$ and $H_2O$ has little influence on the oxidation of NO.

• Clean Technology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.375-382
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• 2014

This work investigated the plasma-catalytic decomposition of isopropyl alcohol (IPA) and the behavior of the byproduct compounds over monolith-supported metal oxide catalysts. Iron oxide ($Fe_2O_3$) or copper oxide (CuO) was loaded on a monolithic porous ${\alpha}-Al_2O_3$ support, which was placed inside the coaxial electrodes of plasma reactor. The IPA decomposition efficiency itself hardly depended on the presence and type of metal oxides because the rate of plasma-induced decomposition was so fast, but the behavior of byproduct formation was largely affected by them. The concentrations of the unwanted byproducts, including acetone, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, methane, carbon monoxide, etc., were in order of $Fe_2O_3/{\alpha}-Al_2O_3$ < $CuO/{\alpha}-Al_2O_3$ < ${\alpha}-Al_2O_3$ from low to high. Under the condition (flow rate: $1L\;min^{-1}$; IPA concentration: 5,000 ppm; $O_2$ content: 10%; discharge power: 47 W), the selectivity towards $CO_2$ was about 40, 80 and 95% for ${\alpha}-Al_2O_3$, $CuO/{\alpha}-Al_2O_3$ and $Fe_2O_3/{\alpha}-Al_2O_3$, respectively, indicating that $Fe_2O_3/{\alpha}-Al_2O_3$ is the most effective for plasma-catalytic oxidation of IPA. Unlike plasma-alone processes in which tar-like products formed from volatile organic compounds are deposited, the present plasma-catalyst hybrid system did not exhibit such a phenomenon, thus retaining the original catalytic activity.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.40-46
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• 2009

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the quantitative evaluation of the corticospinal tract (CST) at the multiple levels by using functional MRI (fMRI) co-registered to diffusion tensor tractography (DTT). Materials and Methods : Ten normal subjects without any history of neurological disorder participated in this study. fMRI was performed at 1.5 T MR scanner using hand grasp-release movement paradigm. DTT was performed by using DtiStudio on the basis of fiber assignment continuous tracking algorithm (FACT). The seed region of interest (ROI) was drawn in the area of maximum fMRI activation during the motor task of hand grasp-release movement on a 2-D fractional anisotropy (FA) color map, and the target ROI was drawn in the cortiocospinal portion of anterior lower pons. We have drawn five ROIs for the measurement of FA and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) along the corona radiata (CR) down to the medulla. Results : The contralateral primary sensorimotor cortex (SM1) was mainly found to be activated in all subjects. DTT showed that tracts originated from SM1 and ran to the medulla along the known pathway of the CST. In all subjects, FA values of the CST were higher at the level of the midbrain and posterior limb of internal capsule (PLIC) than the level of others. Conclusion : Our study showed that co-registered fMRI and DTT has elucidated the state of CST on 3-D and analyzed the quantitative values of FA and ADC at the multiple levels. We conclude that co-registered fMRI and DTT may be applied as a useful tool for clarifying and investigating the state of CST in the patients with brain injury.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.135-146
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• 2002

Background and Purpose : This study shows the clinical effects on treatment with Rheumatoid arthritis using Aqua-acupuncture such as Ursi Fel Bovis Calculus and Cathami Flos that are known for which have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. Objective and Methods : This study has been carried out Aqua-acupuncture treatment such as Cathami Flos and Ursi Fel Bovis Calculus twice or three times a week with patients diagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis on 7 criteria of US Rheumatism Academy. Results : 1. If you see the sexual distribution, it shows the rates of male and female 1: 1.83. Age distribution shows as age ascend it shows high. 2. If you see the duration distribution, it shows chronic tendency in order of more than 6 months(63.3%), 2 to 5 months, and I month. 3. If you see the invaded distribution, it shows chronic tendency in order of hand(37 cases), wrist joint(34 cases), knee joint(32 cases), ankle joint(21 cases), elbow joint(16 cases), shoulder joint(14 cases), feet(14 cases), hip joint(9 cases), low back(6 cases), neck(4 cases). 4. Seeing the mean post-therapeutic index among groups on RA factor level distinction, it shows that 0-18(normal range) scored 89.0, 19-50 scored 94.8, 51-80 scored 101.2, 81-100 scored 97.3, 101-140 scored 102.4, above 141 scored 97.5. 5. Seeing the mean post-therapeutic index among groups on CRP level distinction, it shows that 0-0.4(normal range) scored 100, 0.5-1.0 scored 48.6, 1.1-2.0 scored 34.9, 2.1-3.0 scored 35.7, 3.1-4.0 scored 37.1, 4.1-5.0 scored 53.8, above 5.0 scored 70.4. 6. Seeing the mean post-therapeutic index among groups on ESR level distinction, it shows that 0-20(normal range) scored 48.6, 21-40 scored 57.5, 41-60 scored 59.2, 61-80 scored 59.2, above 81 scored 66.0. 7. If you see the satisfactory assesment after Aqua-acupuncture treatment such as Cathami Flos and Ursi Fel Bovis Calculus, Excellent is 11 cases, Good is 14 cases, and Moderate 5 cases. Conclusion : It will be better effects, if herbal medicine, moxibustion, and acupuncture are used together with Cathami Flos and Ursi Fel Bovis Calculus on rheumatoid arthritis as chronic inflammatory disease.