• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.37-52
• /
• 2022

Over the past decades, radiation therapy combined with imaging modalities that ensure optimal image guidance has revolutionized cancer treatment. The two major purposes of using imaging modalities in radiotherapy are to clearly delineate the target prior to treatment and set up the patient during radiation delivery. Image guidance secures target position prior to and during the treatment. High quality images provide an accurate definition of the treatment target and the possibility to reduce the treatment margin of the target volume, further lowering radiation toxicity and improving the quality of life of cancer patients. In this review, the various types of image guidance modalities used in radiation therapy are distinguished into ionized (kilovoltage and megavoltage image) and nonionized imaging (magnetic resonance image, ultrasound, surface imaging, and radiofrequency). The functional aspects, advantages, and limitation of imaging using these modalities are described as a subsection of each category. This review only focuses on the technological viewpoint of these modalities and any clinical aspects are omitted. Image guidance is essential, and its importance is rapidly increasing in modern radiotherapy. The most important aspect of using image guidance in clinical settings is to monitor the performance of image quality, which must be checked during the periodic quality assurance process.

• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.113-118
• /
• 2022

Gadolinium neutron capture therapy (Gd-NCT) is a precision radiation therapy that kills cancer cells using the neutron capture reaction that occurs when ¹⁵⁷Gd hits thermal neutrons. ¹⁵⁷Gd has the highest thermal neutron capture cross section of 254,000 barns among stable isotopes in the periodic table. Another stable isotope, ¹⁵⁵Gd, also has a high thermal neutron trapping area (~ 60,700 barns), so gadolinium that exists in nature can be used as a Gd-NCT drug. Gd-NCT is a mixed kinetic energy of low-energy and high-energy ionizing particles, which can be uniformly distributed throughout the tumor tissue, thereby solving the disadvantage of heterogeneous dose distribution in tumor tissue. The Gd complexes of small-sized molecule are widely used as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in clinical practice. Therefore, these compounds can be used not only for diagnosis but also therapy when considering the concept of Gd-NCT. This multifunctional trial can look forward to new medical advance into NCT clinical practices. In this review, we introduce gadolinium compounds suitable for Gd-NCT and describe the necessity of image guided Gd-NCT.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.38 no.6
• /
• pp.891-901
• /
• 2017

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the anti-asthmatic effect of alismatis rhizoma and alisol acetate B combination therapy in a murine asthma model. Methods: C57BL/6 mice were sensitized to and challenged with a mixture of ragweed, dust mite, and aspergillus to induce an asthma animal model. Alismatis rhizoma extract and alisol acetate B combination therapy was co-administered only in the experimental group. To evaluate the anti-asthmatic effect of the combination therapy, inflammatory cell counts in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid were determined, and tissue was examined histologically with hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stains, by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of IgE, IL-4, and IL-5, and with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of IL-5, IL-33, MUC5AC. Results: Alismatis rhizoma and alisol acetate B combination therapy reduced the number of inflammatory cells, alleviated histologic features, and down-regulated all the investigated asthma mediators, IgE, IL-4, IL-5, IL-33, and MUC5AC. Conclusions: According to the above results, alismatis rhizoma and alisol acetate B combination therapy may have therapeutic potential for asthma.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.194-199
• /
• 1995

Most boys afflicted with panhypogammaglobulinemia, also known as X-linked agammaglobulinemia, remain healthy during the first 6 to 12 months of life because of protection by maternally transmitted IgG antibodies. Thereafter, they repeatedly acquire infections with high-grade pathogens, such as pneumococci, streptococci, and hemophilus unless given antibiotics or immunoglobulin replacement therapy. We experienced a case of panhypogammaglobulinemia in a 4 years old boy. He had been suffered from recurrent upper respiratory tract infection, otitis media and pneumonia since late infancy. He was admitted due to right pleural effusion with pneumonia, and streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated from pleural fluid and blood cultures. His immune status revealed panhypogammaglobulinemia and deficiency in mature B lymphocyte. He was treated with appropriate antibiotics therapy, but showed poor responses. He was transferred to department of thoracic surgery, and received minithoracotomy (decortication) operation. He was successfully treated with operation, antibiotics, and IV gammaglobulin infusions. Now he is being followed with periodic IV gammaglobulin replacement therapy.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.7-12
• /
• 2000

This study is intended to provide information to menopausal women so they can control their symptoms. The basic data was gathered by interviewed 200 postmenopausal women on a HRT program. The women were questioned about their perception of menopause and compliance to the therapy with the fellowing result $71.7\%$ of the women experianced hot flushes, and $64.1\%$ experienced short term memory loss and some psychological symptoms. The women reported that these symptoms reduced their quality of life. $53\%$ of the women responded that menopause is a natural state and $59.1\%$ agreed to HRT based on their doctor's recommendation. $76.2\%$ of the women reported that HRT was effective, with $74.7\%$ reporting reduced hot flush symptoms $67.3\%$ of the women reported compliance with the medication schedule. and $43.9\%$ reported periodic non-compliance. Although HRT has been shown to be an effective treatment, the study found that less than $10\%$ of postmenopausal women are currently being treated and these treated women are generally negligent in continuing with HRT, The study recommends that a program be developed that explains the benefits and risks of HRT to be distributed to patients being treated by doctors and pharmacists. In conclusions, It is very important for hormone replacement therapy on menopausal women to take more intensive medication consultation to increase medication compliance and effectiveness of pharmacotherapy.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Neurotherapy
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.43-48
• /
• 2018

Purpose The purpose of this study is to identify the prevalence, risk factors, characteristics, and interventions of hip joint problems in children with cerebral palsy, and to be able to serve as leverage for early detection, prevention, and function recovery. Method The electronic journal site was searched by the search terms "cerebral palsy", "hip joint", "hip joint dislocation", we analyzed and descript the cited articles from domestic and foreign papers in Pubmed 9, Science Direct 7, and K RISS analysis and analysis. Results Children with cerebral palsy showed the different prevalence according to their disability type, severity, and functional level, and we knew that abnormal neuromuscular control, stiffness, and biomechanical changes could be risk factors. Migration Index, Acetabolum Index, Neck shaft angle using by radiography and passive ROM test, special tests were available for the diagnosis and evaluation of the hip joint. Combination of physical therapy and orthopedic surgery was very important intervention, and complementary alternative therapy, orthosis, and postural assistant are effective. Conclusion We suggested that early detection and prevention is the most important periodic examination and that a multidisciplinary approach is a major factor in intervention.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
• /
• v.38 no.5
• /
• pp.304-313
• /
• 2023

This study was a qualitative investigation into the food security and food variety among the rural elderly. For the qualitative data collection, nineteen elderly people who lived in Yangpyeong-gun were interviewed individually. Food security and variety was evaluated based on accessibility and affordability. The participants seemed to have difficulty preparing their own meals and eating with their families or others. The frequency of vegetable intake was found to be high, as vegetables were available through cultivation. However, in terms of diversity, the intake of meat and milk, which are sources of protein and calcium, was found to be significantly low. This has to do with very poor physical accessibility. A lack of nutrition education was identified as the biggest reason for not following dietary therapy despite having a pre-existing disease condition. Therefore, for the elderly in Yangpyeong-gun, it is suggested that a basic nutrition policy for food supply that can increase their actual intake is more essential than education on cooking and nutrients. Moreover, periodic nutrition education or a regular counseling system for dietary therapy through local public health centers may help improve the health of the elderly.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.13-16
• /
• 2016

PURPOSE: The Fukuda test can be used at home and in school to diagnose scoliosis at an early stage and prevent serious curvature of the spine. This study aimed to use the Fukuda test to detect scoliosis. An additional aim was to invoke the national interest in imbalanced postures and habits, which result in scoliosis, by providing data obtained in periodic assessments. METHODS: The study consisted of 35 idiopathic scoliosis patients (22 in right lumbar spinal region and 13 in the left lumbar spinal region). The distance of displacement and angle of displacement were measured following the Fukuda test. A correlation analysis was then used to examine the distance of displacement and angles of displacement and rotation with regard to the direction of the curve in scoliosis. RESULTS: There was a significant negative correlation (p<0.00) between the direction of the curve in scoliosis and the angle of displacement, but there was no correlation between the cobb's angle and distance of displacement or between the cobb's angle and angle of rotation. CONCLUSION: The Fukuda test did not capture changes in spinal curvature such as the cobb's angle, or subsequent changes in the muscles. Thus, the Fukuda test is not suited to examining the direction or status of the thoracic curve in scoliosis patients. Simple methods to objectively measure scoliosis need to be developed.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
• /
• v.21 no.6
• /
• pp.557-564
• /
• 2018

Along with the aging society, the prevalence of dementia is also increasing. Dementia causes short-term memory loss as well as difficulties of performing daily activities and gradually causes suffering of the patients and their family. In spite of various programs for prevention of dementia of older people are being implemented, there is a lack of developing natural-based program for physical and mental health promotion. Therefore, it is necessary to develop programs for the elderly living alone who are more vulnerable to dementia because of their social and economic isolation. The purpose of this study was to develop a natural-based program and investigate the effects of 10 weeks forest therapy program for dementia prevention to improve the psychological and physical health of the elderly living alone. The experimental subjects were 30 elderly (aged 65 or older) and 31 elderly participated in control group. The Stress response, depressive symptoms, weight, body mass index (BMI), fat mass and muscle mass were measured for pre and post test. The results showed that the experimental group showed subjective stress relief (t=5.249, p=.000), improvement in symptoms of depression (t=4.152, p=.000), and decreases in weight (t=2.686, p=.012), BMI (t=2.629, p=.014) and fat mass (t=2.918, p=.007) after the forest therapy program. The experimental group showed lower stress reactions(t=-7.185, p=.000) and less depressive symptoms (t=-5.303, p=.000) than control group after participating the program. These results suggest that periodic forest exposure can help having less stressful and depressive status than non-forest exposure and the forest therapy program can reduce participants' psychological and physical risk factors of dementia.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.575-581
• /
• 2000

Objective : Asthma is a lung disorder characterized by periodic attacks of wheezing alternating with periods of relatively normal breathing. And quality of life in asthmatic patients shows a tendency to decrease. So we had a clinical study whether if oriental medical treatment could improve their quality of life or not. Methods : The 15 cases were new patients that visited at division of respiratory system, department of internal medicine in Kyunghee medical center from the 1 st of July, 2000 to the 1 st of August. All of them were diagnosed as asthma and treated by western medical therapy. We used a Quality of Life Questionnaire for adult Korean Asthmatics(QLQAKA) and evaluated the results after two times answers, at an interval of two weeks. Results : The mean of the first answer was 2.84 marks and 3.36 ones after two weeks. If there is a difference of over 0.5 points between the two, we can admit significant effect. After the asthmatic patients treated by oriental medical therapy, they gained a difference of 0.52 points, 10.4%. Conclusions : We suggest that oriental medical therapy can improve the quality of life of asthmatic patients arid we can alternate side effects of western medical therapy with oriental one. if they carry out two different treatments at the same time.