• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.338-342
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• 1994

Pulmonary clearance of Tc-99m-DTPA(PCD) has been used for the measurement of polmonary epithelial permeability. It has been reported to be increased not only in variety of polmonary diseases including ARDS, interstitial fibrosis, and smokers, but also in normal subjects on positive end expiratory pressure respirator, or after exercise. It was also noted that decrease of pulmonary blood flow due to pulmonary arterial obstruction results in delayed PCD. Normal range of PCD varies with institutes. We prospectively measured PCD in 17 normals (5 males and 12 females) consisted of staffs and trainees in the department of radiology of Kangnam St. Mary's hospital using original Bark Nebulizer (India). Age ranged from 32 to 43 years. 370 MBq of Tc-99m-DTPA was inhaled in supine position and supine posterior images were subsequently obtained with 1 min/frame, $64{\times}64$ matrix and word mode for 30min. Regions of interest were set on each lung, whole lungs, and upper, middle and lower thirds of right lung, respectively. Best fit regression curve was obtained by least square method from initial 7min after peak activity on each curve and time for half clearance of maximum activity (t1/2) was calculated. Mean t1/2 was $51{\pm}11.2min$ for whole lung. There was no significant difference between t1/ 2 of right and left lungs. Initial uptake was higher in the lower third and t1/2 was shorter in the lower third than in the upper third(P<0.05). We reviewed several reports on PCD and compared our data with the others. In this study, faster clearance in the lower third may be due to the position imaged with or the environment the subjects belong to, and further investigation is under way.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.2 s.30
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• pp.79-99
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• 1995

The survey was done on 30 cases of obese patients who were treated by fasting therapy in the Dept. of Oriental Rehabilitation Medicine, oriental medical hospital in Won Kwang University from May 1995 to August 1995. The results are as follows: 1. The ratio of females to males was 1:14. The distribution was 20th decades (63%), 30th decade(13%), 10th decade(6.7%), and 40th decade(6.7%). 2. In the age of obese-prevalence, the middle to high school years was the highest number as 12 persons(40%). The 20th decade(23.3%) and 30th decade(13.3%) were the second and third highest frequency of subjects. 3. In the obesity index, 150% of ideal weight was the highest percentage with persons(40%). 120-129%(30%), 130-139%(23.3%) and 140-149%(6.7%) were in order of frequency. 4. In the family histories of obese patients, it was found that hypertension had a high incidence of 8 persons. Other evidences of family histories were DM (7), cancer (3) and CVD (2). In hereditary tendency of obese parents, it was known that hereditary tendency of obese mothers was high at 14 persons, that of obese fathers was 5 persons, and that of obese parents was 2 persons. 5. In identifying the cause of obesity, it was found that changes of diet patterns was high at 24 persons(80%). Pregnancy, birth and diseases were in order of cause. 6. The review of consumption showed that obese patients ate the same amount as non-obese persons in the case of 21 patients(70%), 8 patients(26.7%) ate more than non-obese persons and 1 person(3.3%) ate less than persons of the same ages. 7. Obese patients consumption of daily snacks was 10 persons(33%). 17 person(57%) of the obese patients ate midnight snacks every 3-4 days. 11 persons(37%) of the obese patients ate out every 3 - 4 days. 8. For the purpose of weight reduction, 15 patients(50%) used exercise. Fasting therapy(36.7%) and food restriction(33.3%) were the second and third methods used by obese patients. 9. In the relation of constitution medicine usage with obese patients, TAE-EUM-IN was 14 persons(46.7%), SO-EUM-IN was 11 persons(36.7%), and SO-YANG-IN was 5 persons(l6.7%).

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2006

PURPOSE: Previous studies have documented the lack of ultrasound's non-thermal effects on nerve conduction using frequencies of 1 MHz and 870 kHz. The purpose of this study was to determine the biophysical effects of continuous ultrasound on median local forearm temperature and motor nerve conduction velocities using frequencies of 3.0 MHz. SUBJECTS: Twelve healthy subjects (6 males, 6 females, age $22.30{\pm}2.41$ yrs, weight $61.33{\pm}10.16$ kg, height $167.58{\pm}8.04$ cm) without a history of neurological or musculoskeletal injury to their dominant arm volunteered for this study. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Each subject received a total of five treatments, one each at .0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 W/$cm^2$ of 3 MHz continuous ultrasound on the anterior surface of the middle area of dominant forearm for 10 minutes. Dependent measures for forearm local temperature and median motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) were taken pretreatment and immediately post-treatment. One-way ANOVA were used for each dependent measure. RESULTS: The posttreatment forearm local temperature were differed significantly (p<0.001) between intensities of ultrasound. The posttreatment forearm local temperature of the ultrasound treated with 1.0 w/$cm^2$, 1.5 w/$cm^2$ and 2.0 w/$cm^2$ were significantly higher than 0.5 w/$cm^2$ and 0.0 w/$cm^2$ of ultrasound (p<0.05). The posttreatment median MNCV were differed significantly from the respective pretreatment velocities (p<0.001). The MNCV of the ultrasound treated with 0.0 w/$cm^2$ and 0.5 w/$cm^2$ were significantly (p<0.05) slower than that observed pretreatment, while the three ultrasound intensities produced significantly increased posttreatment MNCV: 1.0 w/$cm^2$ and 1.5 w/$cm^2$ and 2.0 W/$cm^2$. The posttreatment MNCV at 2.0 w/$cm^2$ and 1.5 w/$cm^2$ was significantly faster than that at 0 w/$cm^2$, 0.5 w/$cm^2$ and 1.0 w/$cm^2$ (p<0.05), the MNCV at 1.0 w/$cm^2$ was significantly faster than that associated with 0 w/$cm^2$ and 0.5 w/$cm^2$ of ultrasound (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The decreased median motor forearm local temperature and MNCV of the ultrasound treated with 0.0 w/$cm^2$ and 0.5 w/$cm^2$ were attributed to the cooling effect by ultrasound transmission gel. Local forearm temperature and nerve conduction velocity were directly related to the intensity of ultrasound. Alterations in MNCV from ultrasound on healthy nerves appeared to be related to temperature changes induced by thermal effects of ultrasound.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.40-45
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• 1998

Recently, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for mediastinal lesions has been considered a new effective therapeutic method. From March, 1992 to April, 1997, 33 cases of video assisted thoracoscopic surgery for mediastinal lesions were performed. Gender distribution was 16 males and 17 females. Average age was 42 years old(ranged from 14 to 69). The locations of lesions were anterior mediastinum in 14 cases, middle mediastinum in 5 cases, posterior mediastinum in 11 cases, and superior mediastinum in 3 cases. These included 9 neurilemmomas, 5 benign cystic teratoma, 4 pericardial cysts, 2 ganglioneuroma, 2 thymus, 2 thymic cyst, 1 thymoma, 2 esophageal leiomyomas, 1 dermoid cyst, 1 lipoma, 1 malignant lymphoma, 1 bronchogenic cyst, 1 pericardial effusion, and 1 Boerhaave's disease with empyema. Working window was needed in 6 cases. We converted to open thoracotomy in 6 cases. Reasons of convertion to open thoracotomy were large sized mass(1), severe adhesion(3), and difficult location to approach(2). The average operation time was 116min($\pm$56 min). The average chest tube drainage time was 4.7days. The average hospital stay was 8.7 days. Operative complications were atelectasis(2), empyema with mediastinitis(1), recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy(1), and plenic nerve palsy(1). In conclusion, VATS for mediastinal lesions were performed with shorter operation time and hospital stay, and lesser complications and pain than those of conventional thoracotomy.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.128-134
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• 1991

This report is an analysis of 60 cases of primary mediastinal tumors and cysts which were experienced in chonbuk National University Hospital, Wonkwang University Hospital and Chonju Presbyterian Medical Center from january 1985 to October 1990. The result was summarized like this; 1) Age distribution was various from ages of 5 to 75 years. There were 26 males and 34 females, sex ratio of patients was 1: 1.3 (M:F). 2) The most common chief compliant was dyspnea (21 cases, 35%) and followed by chest pain, coughing and chest discomfort. 17 patients (28%) were asymptomatic. 3) The most common primary mediastinal tumor was thymoma, which comprise 28% (17 cases) of all our cases and followed by neruogenic tumor (14 cases, 23%) and germ cell tumor (11 cases, 18%). 4) The incidence of malignancy of all case was 22%; 2 cases were asymptomatic and the most common malignancy was malignant lympoma (5 cases, 38.5%). 5) The anterior mediastinum was the most common tumor location and followed by posterior and middle mediastinum. Anterior mediastinal tumors mainly consisted of thymomas and germ cell tumors and posterioc mediastinal tumors mainly did neurogenic tumors. 6) Of 60 cases, 21 cases were confirmed histopathologically by percutaneous transthoracic needle lung biopsy. 7) Of 60 cases, 40 cases were received radical tumor resection.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.115-122
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• 2006

Objectives : This study was conducted to examine the relationships of the several socioeconomic position indicators with the mortality risk in a representative longitudinal study of South Korea. Methods : The 1998 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was conducted on a cross-sectional probability sample of South Korean households, and it contained unique 13-digit personal identification numbers that were linked to the data on mortality from the National Statistical Office of Korea. Of 5,607 males and females, 264 died between 1999 and 2003. Cox's regression was used to estimate the relative risks (RR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) of mortality. Results: Socioeconomic differences in mortality were observed after adjustments were made for gender and age. Compared with those people having college or higher education, those people without any formal education had a greater mortality risk (RR=2.21, 95% CI=1.12-4.40). The mortality risk among manual workers was significantly greater than that for the non-manual workers (RR=2.73, 95% CI=1.47-5.06). A non-standard employment status was also associated with an increase in mortality: temporary or daily workers had a greater mortality risk than did the full-time workers (RR=3.01, 95% CI=1.50-6.03). The mortality risk for the low occupational class was 3.06 times greater than that of the high and middle occupational classes (95% CI=1.75-5.36). In addition, graded mortality differences according to equivalized monthly household income were found. A reduction of monthly household income by 500 thousand Korean Won (about 400 US dollars) was related with a 20% excess risk of mortality. Self-reported poor living standards were also associated with an increased risk of mortality. Those without health insurance had a 3.63 times greater risk of mortality than the insured (95% CI=1.61-8.19). Conclusions: This study showed the socioeconomic differentials in mortality in a national longitudinal study of South Korea. The existence of socioeconomic mortality inequalities requires increased social discussion on social policies in Korean society. Furthermore, the mechanisms for the socioeconomic inequalities of mortality need to be explored in future studies.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.125-132
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• 2010

Captured specimens of the lesser white-toothed shrew, Crocidura suaveolens were classified into three age classes by tooth wear and seasonal variations of reproductive organs were investigated. Molars of juveniles had not tooth wear and the height of the third molars were lower than the first and second molars, young adults had smooth tooth wear and the third molars reached to the first and second molars, and old adults had heavy tooth wear and the third molars also reached to the first and second molars. On the basis of histological examination, seasonal variation of breeding was confirmed that breeding season of adult males was from early February to early October, having a peak of the breeding in April and July, and non-breeding season was from in the middle of October to late January. Young and old adult males of the breeding season had large testes with enlarged seminiferous tubules filling with numerous germ cells and expanded caudal epididymides with a vast number of spermatozoa, Young and old adult males of the non-breeding season had the small testes with the extremely slender seminiferous tubules filling with only spermatogonia and the reduced caudal epididymides without spermatozoa. Males weighing more than 3.9 g in the body weight and 0.013 g in the testis and epididymis weight reached sexual maturation in breeding season, and the females weighing more than 3.8 g in body weight of the breeding season were pregnant condition having 5~6 litters or had the Graafian follicles and the corpus lutea in the ovary.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.2 s.66
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• pp.36-43
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• 2006

Objectives : Acupuncture has been widely applied to rehabilitation after stroke by Oriental medical doctors in Korea. It has been reported that acupuncture increased cerebral blood supply and stimulated the functional activity of brain nerve cells. In addition, a correlation between activation of specific areas of brain cortices and corresponding acupuncture stimulation at the therapeutic points had been well illustrated. rill now, however, there were few studies which evaluated a correlation between activation of specific areas of brain and frequently-used acupuncture therapy for stroke, such as LI4-LI11 electro-acupuncture (EA) for paresis after stroke. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of LI4-LI11 EA on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in normal volunteers using Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT). Methods : In the resting state, $^{99m}Tc-ECD$ brain SPECT scans were performed on 10 normal volunteers (8 males, 2 females, mean age $25.6{\pm}2.3$years; age range from 24 to 31 years). 7 days after the resting examination, 15 minutes of electro-acupuncture were applied at LI 4 and LI 11 on the right side of the subjects. Immediately after LI4-LI11 EA, the second SPECT images were obtained in the same manner as the resting state. Significant increases and decreases of regional cerebral blood flow after LI4-LI11 EA were estimated by comparing their SPECT images with those of the resting state using paired t statistics at every voxel, which were analyzed by Statistical parametric mapping with a threshold of p=0.001, uncorrected (extent threshold: k=100 voxels). Results : EA applied at right LI4-LI11 increased rCBF in right frontopolar area (Brodmann area 10) and left middle frontal area (Brodmann area 46). Interestingly, all the areas showing increased rCBF corresponded to the territories of both anterior cerebral arteries. However, LI4-11 EA decreased rCBF in the left occipital lobe (peristriate area, Brodmann area 19). Conclusions : The results demonstrated a correlation between LI4-11 EA and rCBF increase in the frontal lobes. It is also suggested that there may be a correlation between LI meridian and the territory of the anterior cerebral arterties.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.337-341
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• 2006

Objectives : Endobronchial anthracofibrotic pigmentation, which presents as dark black or brown pigmentation mucosal changes of multiple bronchi combined with bronchial fibrosis and obstruction, is not a rare finding when performing diagnostic bronchoscopy for Koreans. This study was performed to define the clinical characteristics and to determine the association of these finding with the Korean life style and such other diseases as coal workers, pneumoconiosis or tuberculosis in the patients with anthracofibrotic pigmentation. Methods : This retrospective analysis was conducted on 70 (5.2%) patients with endobronchial anthracofibrotic pigmentation, among a total of 1340 patients who underwent bronchoscopy. The distinctive clinical features, the personal life style, the past medical history, the histology and microbiology, the radiologic finding and the natures of the bronchoscopic lesions were analyzed. Results : This mean age of the patients with anthracofibrotic pigmentation was $60.6{\pm}9.2$ year old and the male to female ratio was 1:1.7. The common respiratory symptoms of these patients were coughing and sputum (81%, 57/70), and this was followed in order by dyspnea and hemoptysisir. The symptoms were not related with smoking and an occupational history such as being a coal worker and so on. Pneumonia was most common finding on the radiologic studies. On bronchoscopy, the right middle lobe bronchus was most commonly involved. The most common associated disease was tuberculosis, and 40 cases (57.1%) were diagnosed by AFB staining, TB PCR, bronchoscopic guided tissue biopsy and a past history of tuberculosis. Other diseases related with anthracotic pigmentation were hypertension, diabetes, COPD, lung cancer, pneumoconiosis and asthma. Conclusion : These results suggest that endobronchial anthracofibrotic pigmentation was mostly related with pulmonary tuberculosis rather than with coal- related disease. Endobronchial anthracofibrotic pigmentation was more prevalent in older age females in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.50-59
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• 2019

Objectives : Many of the patients with type 2 diabetes are associated with sleep problems, and the rate of insomnia is known to be higher in the general population. The aims of this study were to know the frequency and clnical characteristics of insomnia, and related variables to insomnia in patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Methods : For 99 patients from 18 to 80 years of age (65 males and 34 females) with type 2 diabetes, interviews were performed. Total sleep time and sleep latency was evaluated. Insomnia was evaluated using the Korean Version of the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI-K). Severity of depressive symptoms were evaluted using the Korean version of the Hamilton Depression Scale (K-HDRM). According to the cutoff score of 15.5 on the ISI-K, subjects were divided into the group of type 2 diabetics with insomnia (N=34) and those without insomnia (N=65) at first, and then statistically analyzed. Results : TInsomnia could be found in 34.34% of type 2 diabetics. Type 2 diabetics with insomnia had significantly more single or divorced (respectively 11.8%, p<0.05), higher total scores of the K-HDRS ($11.76{\pm}5.52$, p<0.001), shorter total sleep time ($5.35{\pm}2.00hours$, p<0.001), and longer sleep latency ($50.29{\pm}33.80minutes$, p<0.001). The all item scores of the ISI-K in type 2 diabetics with insomnia were significantly higher than those in type 2 diabetics without insomnia, that is, total ($18.38{\pm}2.69$), A1 (Initial insomnia) ($2.97{\pm}0.76$), A2 (Middle insomnia) ($3.06{\pm}0.69$), A3 (Terminal insomnia) ($2.76{\pm}0.61$), B (Satisfaction) ($3.18{\pm}0.72$), C (Interference) ($2.09{\pm}0.97$), D (Noticeability) ($2.12{\pm}1.09$) and E (Distress) ($2.21{\pm}0.81$) (respectively p<0.001). Variables associated with insomnia in type 2 diabetics were as following. Age had significant negative correlation with A3 items of the ISI-K (${\beta}=-0.241$, p<0.05). Total scores of the K-HDRS had significant positive correlation, while total sleep time had significant negative correlation with all items of the ISI-K (respectively p<0.05). Sleep latency had significant positive correlation with total,, A1, B and E item scores of the ISI-K (respectively p<0.05). Conclusions : Insomnia was found in about 1/3 of type 2 diabetics. According to the presence of insomnia, clinical characteristics including sleep quality as well as quantity seemed to be different. Because depression seemed to be correlated with insomnia, clinicians should pay attention to early detection and intervention of depression among type 2 diabetics.