• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.23 no.10
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• pp.949-958
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• 2022

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of using a deep learning-based analysis of auscultation data to predict significant stenosis of arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) in patients undergoing hemodialysis requiring percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). Materials and Methods: Forty patients (24 male and 16 female; median age, 62.5 years) with dysfunctional native AVF were prospectively recruited. Digital sounds from the AVF shunt were recorded using a wireless electronic stethoscope before (pre-PTA) and after PTA (post-PTA), and the audio files were subsequently converted to mel spectrograms, which were used to construct various deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) models (DenseNet201, EfficientNetB5, and ResNet50). The performance of these models for diagnosing ≥ 50% AVF stenosis was assessed and compared. The ground truth for the presence of ≥ 50% AVF stenosis was obtained using digital subtraction angiography. Gradient-weighted class activation mapping (Grad-CAM) was used to produce visual explanations for DCNN model decisions. Results: Eighty audio files were obtained from the 40 recruited patients and pooled for the study. Mel spectrograms of "pre-PTA" shunt sounds showed patterns corresponding to abnormal high-pitched bruits with systolic accentuation observed in patients with stenotic AVF. The ResNet50 and EfficientNetB5 models yielded an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.99 and 0.98, respectively, at optimized epochs for predicting ≥ 50% AVF stenosis. However, Grad-CAM heatmaps revealed that only ResNet50 highlighted areas relevant to AVF stenosis in the mel spectrogram. Conclusion: Mel spectrogram-based DCNN models, particularly ResNet50, successfully predicted the presence of significant AVF stenosis requiring PTA in this feasibility study and may potentially be used in AVF surveillance.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.24 no.12
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• pp.1249-1259
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• 2023

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for osteoporosis screening. Materials and Methods: Eligible patients who had and had not undergone DXA screening were identified from among those aged 50 years or older at Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan. Age, sex, screening year (index year), and Charlson comorbidity index of the DXA and non-DXA groups were matched using inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) for propensity score analysis. For cost-effectiveness analysis, a societal perspective, 1-year cycle length, 20-year time horizon, and discount rate of 2% per year for both effectiveness and costs were adopted in the incremental cost-effectiveness (ICER) model. Results: The outcome analysis included 10337 patients (female:male, 63.8%:36.2%) who were screened for osteoporosis in southern Taiwan between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2021. The DXA group had significantly better outcomes than the non-DXA group in terms of fragility fractures (7.6% vs. 12.5%, P < 0.001) and mortality (0.6% vs. 4.3%, P < 0.001). The DXA screening strategy gained an ICER of US$ -2794 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) relative to the non-DXA at the willingness-to-pay threshold of US$ 33004 (Taiwan's per capita gross domestic product). The ICER after stratifying by ages of 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, and ≥ 80 years were US$ -17815, US$ -26862, US$ -28981, and US$ -34816 per QALY, respectively. Conclusion: Using DXA to screen adults aged 50 years or older for osteoporosis resulted in a reduced incidence of fragility fractures, lower mortality rate, and reduced total costs. Screening for osteoporosis is a cost-saving strategy and its effectiveness increases with age. However, caution is needed when generalizing these cost-effectiveness results to all older populations because the study population consisted mainly of women.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.36 no.1 s.114
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• pp.14-29
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• 2006

Developments in computer technology have made possible the 3-dimensional (3-D) evaluation of hard and soft tissues in orthodontic diagnosis, treatment planning and post-treatment results. In this study, Korean adults with normal occlusion (male 30, female 30) were scanned by a 3-D laser scanner, then 3-D facial images formed by the Rapidform 2004 program (Inus Technology Inc., Seoul, Korea.). Reference planes in the facial soft tissue 3-D images were established and a 3-D coordinate system (X axis-left/right, Y axis-superior/inferior, Z axis-anterior/posterior) was established by using the soft tissue nasion as the zero point. Twenty-nine measurement points were established on the 3-D image and 43 linear measurements, 8 angular measurements, 29 linear distance ratios were obtained. The results are as follows; there were significant differences between males and females in the nasofrontal angle $(male:\;142^{\circ},\;female:\;147^{\circ})$ and transverse nasal prominence $(male:\;112^{\circ},\;female:\;116^{\circ})$ (p<0.05). The transverse upper lip prominence was $107^{\circ}$ in males, $106^{\circ}$ in females and the transverse mandibular prominence was $76^{\circ}$ in both males and females. Li-Me' was 0.4 times the length of Go-Me'(mandibular body length) and the mouth height was also 0.4 times the width of the mouth width. The linear distance ratio from the coronal reference plane of FT, Zy, Pn, ULPm, Li, Me' was -1/-1/1/0.5/0.5/-0.6 respectively. The 3-D facial model of Korean adults with normal occlusion were be constructed using coordinate values and linear measurement values. These data may be used as a reference in 3-D diagnosis and treatment planning for malocclusion and dentofacial deformity patients and applied for 3-D analysis of facial soft tissue changes before and after orthodontic treatment and orthognathic surgery.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.70-79
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• 1999

This study attempts to encourage the development of a rehabilitation delivery system as a substitute service for hospitalization such as a community based intermediate facility or home health care. We need substitute services for hospitalization to curtail the length of stay for inpatients due to car accidents. It focused on developing an estimation for early discharge based on a detailed statement of treatment from medical records of 109 inpatients who were hospitalized at General Hospital in 1997. This study has three specific purposes: First, to find the mean length of stay and mean medical expenditure. Second, to estimate the mean of early discharge from the mean length of stay. Third, to analyize the income effect per bed from early discharge. In order to analyze the length of stay and medical expenditure of inpatients the author conducted a micro and macro-analysis with medical expenditure records. To estimate the early discharge we examined with a group of 4 experts decreases in the amount of treatment after surgery, in treatments, in tests, in drug methods. We also looked their vital signs, the start of ROM exercise, the time removel, a patient's visitations, and possible stable conditions. In addition to identifing the income effect due to an early discharge, the data was analyzed by an SPSS-PC for windows and Excell program with a regression analysis model. The research findings are as follows: First, the mean length of stay was 47.56 days, but the mean length of stay due to early discharge was 32.26 days. The estimation of early discharge days was shown to depend on the length of stay. The longer the length of stay, the longer the length before discharge. For example, if the patient stayed under 14 days the mean length of stay was 7.09 while an early discharge was 6.39, whereas if the mean length of stay was 155.73, the early discharge time was 107.43. The mean medical expenditure per day of car accident patients was found to be 169,085 Won, whereas the mean medical expenditure per day was shown to be in a negative linear form according to the length of stay. That is the mean expenditure for under 14 days of stay was 303,015 Won and the period of the hospitalization of 15 days to 29 days was 170,338 Won and those of 30 days to 59 days was 113,333 Won. The estimation of the income effect due to being discharged 16 days was around 2,350,000 Won with a regression analysis model. However, this does not show the real benefits from an early discharge, but only the income increasing amount without considering prime medical cost at a general hospital. Therefore, we need further analysis on cost containments and benefits incending turn over rates and medical prime costs. From these research findings, the following suggestions have been drawn, we need to develop strategies on a rehabilitation delivery system focused on consumers for the 21st century. Varions intermediate facilities and home health care should be developed in the community as a substitute for shortening the length of stay in hospitals. In home health care cases, patients who want rehabilitation services as a substitute for hospitalization in cooperation with private health insurance companies might be available immediately.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.125-132
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• 1998

Purpose : To study whether a low protein diet increase the efficacy of antihypertensive therapy on the progression of renal failure, we conducted an experimental study using 5/6 nephrectomized rats(n=63). Methods : At 7 days after surgery, rats were randomly assigned to three groups according to receiving antihypertensive drug: no antihypertensive drug (U), enalapril (E), and nicardipine (N), respectively and fed a low protein diet (6$\%$ protein). Proteinuria, mesangial matrix expansion score and glomerular volume were assessed at 4, 12 and 16 weeks after renal ablation. Results : Group U rats on a low protein diet developed progressive hypertension ($140{\pm}8,\;162{\pm}5,\;171{\pm}5\;and\;184{\pm}11\;mmHg$ at 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks) which were controlled by E and N. Group U rats on a low protein diet developed proteinuria ($74{\pm}15\;mg/day$ at 16 weeks) which were decreased by E ($42{\pm}12 mg/day$) or N ($48{\pm}8 mg/day$) (p<0.05). Mesangial matrix expansion score and glomerular volume were not different between groups U, E and N on a low protein diet regardless of the antihypertensive drugs administered. Conclusion : A low protein diet did not affect blood pressure. Enalapril and nicardipine-treated rats on a low protein diet did not have different mesangial matrix expansion and glomerular volumes from rats on a low protein diet at 12 weeks and 16 weeks, in spite of the better controlling of systemic hypertension and lessening of proteinuria. Thus, combined treatment with a low protein diet and antihypertensive drugs didn't appear to show any addition,11 effects to attenuate glomerular injury.

• Journal of the Korean Regional Science Association
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.3-19
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• 2018

The objective of this study is to observe the efficiency of clinical performance on the supply and demand of medical resources in Korea. For the empirical analysis, we constructed the dataset on age standardized mortality rate, the number of physician, specialist, surgery, medical institution, ratio of general hospitals of 16 provinces in Korea from 2006 to 2013. The panel probability frontier model is employed as an analysis method and considered heteroscedasticity and autocorrelation of the error in panel data. In addition, the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the 16 provinces, unemployment rate, elderly population ratio, GRDP per capita, and ratio of hospitals in comparison to the general hospitals are used to find the effect on the technical efficiency of clinical performance on supply and demand of medical resources. The results are as follows. First, for the clinical performance, the supply side of human resources such as doctors and specialists and the demand side factors such as chronic illness clinic per unit population have a significant influence, respectively. Second, the technical efficiency of clinical performance on the supply and demand of medical resources of each input component was 59-70% in terms of clinical efficiency in each region. Third. estimates of technical efficiency of inputs that affect clinical performance showed a slight increase in all regions during the analysis period, but the increase trend decreased slightly. Fourth, the ratio of the elderly population and GRDP per capita have a positive influence on the technical efficiency of clinical performance on the supply and demand of medical resources. The difference of each efficiency by region is due to the regional differences of the input medical resources and the combination of them and the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the region. It is understood that the differences in technological efficiency due to the complexity of supply and demand of medical resources, demographic structure and economic difference affecting clinical performance by region are different.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.325-329
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• 2010

The osteogenic potential of hydroxyapatite/poly $\varepsilon$-caprolactone composite (HA/PCL) scaffolds with matrigel was evaluated in a rat calvarial defect model. Calvarial defect formation was surgically created in Sprague Dawley rats (n = 18). HA/PCL scaffold was grafted with matrigel (M-HA/PCL group, n = 6) or without matrigel (HA/PCL group, n = 6). A critical defect group (CD group, n = 6) did not received a graft. Four weeks after surgery, bone formation was evaluated with radiography, micro computed tomography (micro CT) scanning, and histologically. No bone tissue formation was radiographically evident in the CD group. Bone tissue was radiographically evident in the HA/PCL and M-HA/PCL groups, however, there was more bone-similar opacity in the M-HA/PCL group. Micro CT analysis revealed that the bone volume of the M-HA/PCL group was higher than the HA/PCL group, however, no significant difference was found between the HA/PCL and M-HA/PCL groups. Bone mineral density in the M-HA/ PCL group was significantly higher than in the HA/PCL group (p < 0.05). Histologically, new bone was formed only from existing bone in the CD group, showing concavity without bone formation in the defect. In the HA/PCL group, new bone formation was only derived from existing bone, while in the M-HA/PCL group the largest bone formation was observed, with new bone tissue forming at the periphery of existing bone and around the HA/PCL scaffold with matrigel. The results indicate that the combination of HA/PCL scaffold with matrigel may be an effective means of enhancing bone formation in critical-sized bone defects.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.60 no.2
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• pp.135-142
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• 2022

Purpose. This study aims to evaluate the combined effect of reduced thickness in different regions on the fracture resistance of monolithic zirconia crowns. Materials and methods. Seven nickel-chromium dies were generated from a 3D model of mandibular first molar using the digital scanner with the following geometries: 1.5 mm occlusal reduction, 1.0 mm deep chamfer. Based on the abutment model, Zirconia blocks (Luxen Zirconia) were selected to fabricate Sixty-three zirconia crowns with occlusal thicknesses of 0.3 mm, 0.5 mm, and 1.5 mm, and different axial thicknesses of 0.3 mm, 0.5 mm, and 1.0 mm. All crowns were cemented by resin cement. Next, the crowns were subjected to load-to-fracture test until fracture using an electronic universal testing machine. In addition, fracture patterns were observed with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Two-way ANOVA and the Tuckey HSD test for post hoc analysis were used for statistical analysis (P < .05). Results. The mean values of fracture resistancerecorded was higher than the average biting force in the posterior region. The two-way ANOVA showed that the occlusal and axial thickness affected the fracture resistance significantly (P < .05). However, the effect of axial thickness on fracture resistance did not show a statistical difference when thicker than 0.5 mm. The observed failure modes were partial or complete fracture depending on the severity of crack propagation. Conclusion. Within the limitations of the present study, the CAD-CAM monolithic zirconia crown with extremely reduced thickness showed adequate fracture resistance to withstand occlusal load in molar regions. In addition, both occlusal and axial thickness affected the fracture resistance of the zirconia crown and showed different results as combined.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.7
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• pp.603-612
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• 1999

Background : It has been documented that brief repetitive periods of ischemia and reperfusion (ischemic preconditioning, IP) enhances the recovery of post-ischemic contractile function and reduces infarct size after a longer period of ischemia. Many mechanisms have been proposed to explain this process. Recent studies have suggested that transient increase in the intracellular calcium may have triggered the activation of protein kinase C(PKC); however, there are still many controversies. Accordingly, the author performed the present study to test the hypothesis that preconditioning with high concentration of calcium before sustained subsequent ischemia(calcium preconditioning) mimics IP by PKC activation. Material and Method : The isolated hearts from the New Zealand White rabbits(1.5∼2.0 kg body weight) Method: The isolated hearts from the New Zealand White rabbits(1.5∼2.0 kg body weight) were perfused with Tyrode solution by Langendorff technique. After stabilization of baseline hemodynamics, the hearts were subjected to 45-minute global ischemia followed by a 120-minute reperfusion with IP(IP group, n=13) or without IP(ischemic control, n=10). IP was induced by single episode of 5-minute global ischemia and 10-minute reperfusion. In the Ca2+ preconditioned group, perfusate containing 10(n=10) or 20 mM(n=11) CaCl2 was perfused for 10 minutes after 5-minute ischemia followed by a 45-minute global ischemia and a 120-minute reperfusion. Baseline PKC was measured after 50-minute perfusion without any treatment(n=5). Left ventricular function including developed pressure(LVDP), dP/dt, heart rate, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure(LVEDP) and coronary flow(CF) was measured. Myo car ial cytosolic and membrane PKC activities were measured by 32P-${\gamma}$-ATP incorporation into PKC-specific pepetide. The infarct size was determined using the TTC (tetrazolium salt) staining and planimetry. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance(ANOVA) variance(ANOVA) and Tukey's post-hoc test. Result: IP increased the functional recovery including LVDP, dP/dt and CF(p<0.05) and lowered the ascending range of LVEDP(p<0.05); it also reduced the infarct size from 38% to 20%(p<0.05). In both of the Ca2+ preconditioned group, functional recovery was not significantly different in comparison with the ischemic control, however, the infarct size was reduced to 19∼23%(p<0.05). In comparison with the baseline(7.31 0.31 nmol/g tissue), the activities of the cytosolic PKC tended to decrease in both the IP and Ca2+ preconditioned groups, particularly in the 10 mM Ca2+ preconditioned group(4.19 0.39 nmol/g tissue, p<0.01); the activity of membrane PKC was significantly increased in both IP and 10 mM Ca2+ preconditioned group (p<0.05; 1.84 0.21, 4.00 0.14, and 4.02 0.70 nmol/g tissue in the baseline, IP, and 10 mM Ca2+ preconditioned group, respectively). However, the activity of both PKC fractions were not significantly different between the baseline and the ischemic control. Conclusion: These results indicate that in isolated Langendorff-perfused rabbit heart model, calcium preconditioning with high concentration of calcium does not improve post-ischemic functional recovery. However, it does have an effect of limiting(reducing) the infart size by ischemic preconditioning, and this cardioprotective effect, at least in part, may have resulted from the activation of PKC by calcium which acts as a messenger(or trigger) to activate membrane PKC.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.33 no.7
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• pp.531-540
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• 2000

Baclgrpimd; Recent studies have suggested that the cardioprotective effect of ischemic preconditioning(IP) is closely related to glycogen depletion and attenuation of intracellular acidosis. In the present study, the authors tested this hypothesis by perfusion isolated rabbit hearts with glucose(G) is closely related to glycogen depletion and attenuation of intracellular acidosis. In the present study, the authors tested this hypothesis by perfusion isolated rabbit hearts with glucose(G)-free perfusate. Material and Method; Hearts isolated from New Zealand white rabbits(1.5~2.0 kg body weight) were perfused with Tyrode solution by Langendorff technique. After stabilization of baseline hemodynamics, the hearts were subjected to 45 min global ischemia followed by 120 min reperfusion with IP(IP group, n=13) or without IP(ischemic control group, n=10). IP was induced by single episode of 5 min global ischemia and 10 min reperfusion. In the G-free preconditioned group(n=12), G depletion was induced by perfusionwith G-free Tyrode solution for 5 min and then perfused with G-containing Tyrode solution for 10 min; and 45 min ischemia and 120 min reperfusion. Left ventricular functionincluding developed pressure(LVDP), dP/dt, heart rate, left ventricular end-distolic pressure(LVEDP) and coronary flow (CF) were measured. Myocardial cytosolic and membrane PKC activities were measured by 32P-${\gamma}$-ATP incorporation into PKC-specific peptide and PKC isozymes were analyzed by Western blot with monoclonal antibodies. Infarct size was determined by staining with TTC(tetrazolium salt) and planimetry. Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Turkey's post-hoc test. Result ; In comparison with the ischemic control group, IP significantly enhanced functional recovery of the left ventricle; in contrast, functional significantly enhanced functional recovery of the left ventricle; in contrast, functional recovery were not significantly different between the G-free preconditioned and the ischemic control groups. However, the infarct size was significantly reduced by IP or G-free preconditioning(39$\pm$2.7% in the ischemic control, 19$\pm$1.2% in the IP, and 15$\pm$3.9% in the G-free preconditioned, p<0.05). Membrane PKC activities were increased significantly after IP (119%), IP and 45 min ischemia(145%), G-free [recpmdotopmomg (150%), and G-free preconditioning and 45 min ischemia(127%); expression of membrane PKC isozymes, $\alpha$ and $\varepsilon$, tended to be increased after IP or G-free preconditioning. Conclusion; These results suggest that in isolated Langendorff-perfused rabbit heart model, G-free preconditioning (induced by single episode of 5 min G depletion and 10 min repletion) colud not improve post-ischemic contractile dysfunction(after 45-minute global ischemia); however, it has an infarct size-limiting effect.