• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.61 no.6
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• pp.700-706
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• 2018

Objective : Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PV) is a minimally invasive procedure designed to treat various spinal pathologies. The maximum number of levels to be injected at one setting is still debatable. This study was done to evaluate the usefulness and safety of multilevel PV (more than three vertebrae) in management of osteoporotic fractures. Methods : This prospective study was carried out on consecutive 40 patients with osteoporotic fractures who had been operated for multilevel PV (more than three levels). There were 28 females and 12 males and their ages ranged from 60 to 85 years with mean age of 72.5 years. We had injected 194 vertebrae in those 40 patients (four levels in 16 patients, five levels in 14 patients, and six levels in 10 patients). Visual analogue scale (VAS) was used for pain intensity measurement and plain X-ray films and computed tomography scan were used for radiological assessment. The mean follow-up period was 21.7 months (range, 12-40). Results : Asymptomatic bone cement leakage has occurred in 12 patients (30%) in the present study. Symptomatic pulmonary embolism was observed in one patient. Significant improvement of pain was recorded immediate postoperative in 36 patients (90%). Conclusion : Multilevel PV for the treatment of osteoporotic fractures is a safe and successful procedure that can significantly reduce pain and improve patient's condition without a significant morbidity. It is considered a cost effective procedure allowing a rapid restoration of patient mobility.

• Proceedings of the Korea Information Processing Society Conference
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• 2004.05a
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• pp.703-706
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• 2004

나선형 CT 혈관촬영에서 획득한 영상의 분석를 통해서 폐색전증이 의심되는 부위를 자동으로 검출하는 방법으로, 연구 대상은 20명의 환자를 대상으로 분석하였으며 CT 검사 후 방사선과 의사가 정상소견을 받은 환자 5명과 폐색전증이 있는 판독소견을 가진 15명을 대상으로 비교 분석하였다. CT 검사하는 동안에 조영제를 투입하면, 폐색전증이 발생한 부위는 조영제 양과 분포가 불균등하여 명암값이 낮게 검출된다. 검출방법으로는 전처리 작업으로 폐영역만을 분할하고, 분할된 폐영역에서 혈관을 찾기 위해 모폴로지기법를 적용하여 세선화(thinning) 작업을 진행한다. 다음 공정으로는 경계선을 찾아 local watershed를 적용하여 혈관을 검출하고, 검출된 혈관내에서 원형모델을 적용하여 모폴로지(morphology)을 통해 국소 부위의 미세한 농도변화를 인지하여 색전이 발생한 영역을 자동검출하였다. 본 논문의 자동검출시스템에서는 색전증이 있는 경우에 true positive의 발생빈도는 case 당 4.5개가 검출되었다. 정상인의 경우에도 혈류의 흐름, 혈류의 분기점, 노이즈로 인한 false positive의 빈도는 case 당 2.6개가 발생하여 전체적으로 false positive는 5.2개가 검출되었다. 본 논문은 false positive의 비율이 높게 검출되었지만 폐영역 CT 검사의 컴퓨터지원진단시스템(computer aided diagnosis)의 향후 연구과제에 방향을 제시할 수 있을 것이라 사료된다.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.283-293
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• 2022

A 42-year-old male patient with prolonged throat pain and discomfort, dry mouth, and general weakness and recently diagnosed with tonsillitis, pulmonary embolism, and venous thrombosis was admitted to the internal Korean medicine department. A sudden onset of diabetic ketoacidosis with hyperammonemia was diagnosed on the second day of treatment. During admission, the patient received insulin therapy, hydration, and traditional Korean medicine treatment, including herbal medicine. Subjective symptom change was evaluated daily and blood glucose level checked five times per day. At discharge, the patient's fasting and postprandial blood sugar levels were adequate. After an additional two weeks of herbal treatment, the symptoms were significantly ameliorated. Thus, having been admitted with dysregulated glucose metabolism leading to a hyperglycemic crisis after a series of inflammatory events, the patient showed symptomatic improvements and decreased blood glucose after 18 days of hospitalization and treatment.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.84 no.1
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• pp.311-317
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• 2023

CT-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy (PTNB) plays a key role in the diagnosis of pulmonary abnormalities. Although the procedure is considered safe and effective, there exists a potential for complications, such as pneumothorax, hemorrhage, hemoptysis, air embolism, and tumor seeding. However, pneumatoceles after CT-guided PTNB have been rarely reported. Herein, we report two cases of pneumatoceles that developed immediately after PTNB for primary lung cancer. A pneumatocele filled with hematoma should be considered in cases with a newly developed nodule along the needle tract during short-term follow-up CT after PTNB.

• Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.172-175
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• 2023

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a part of our lives now and we have no more effective way of coping than a vaccine. COVID-19 is a disease that causes severe thrombosis outside the respiratory tract. Vaccines also protect us in this respect, but in some rare cases, thrombosis has been found to develop after vaccination (much less frequently than COVID-19). What was interesting in our case was that it showed how a disaster could happen under three factors that predispose to thrombosis. A 65-year-old female patient with disseminated atherosclerosis was admitted to the intensive care unit with complaints of dyspnea and dysphasia. In the evening of the day, the patient had the vaccination 2 weeks ago, she had active COVID-19. On examination, lower extremity pulses could not be detected. The patient's imaging and blood tests were performed. Multiple complications such as embolic stroke, venous and arterial thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and pericarditis were observed in the patient. This case may give consideration to anticoagulant therapy studies. We give effective anticoagulant therapy in the presence of COVID-19 in patients at risk of thrombosis. Can anticoagulant therapy be considered after vaccination in patients at risk of thrombosis such as disseminated atherosclerosis?

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.60 no.5
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• pp.540-547
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• 2006

Background : Vital stability and right side heart failure are major prognostic factors of acute pulmonary thromboembolism. While it is important to recognize right side heart failure, it is often difficult in real practice. Recently, several studies have described early diagnostic tools for detecting right side heart failure including echocardiography and biochemical markers. This study, we evaluated the prognostic role of the B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) in an acute pulmonary thromboembolism. Methods : Thirty-four patients with a diagnosis of acute pulmonary thromboembolism were enrolled in the study. The BNP levels were measured and echocardiography was performed at the Emergency Department. Data on the prognostic factors including ventilatory support, vital stability, pulmonary artery pressure, degree of tricuspid valve regurgitation, complications and death was collected from the patients' medical records. The patients with an acute pulmonary thromboembolism were divided into two groups based on the vital stability and the BNP level and the cutoff values and prognostic factors of the two groups were compared. Results : The predictors of the vital stability that influence the prognosis of patients with acute pulmonary thromboembolism were the BNP level, ventilatory support and death. The plasma BNP levels showed a strong correlation with the vital stability, ventilatory support, thrombolytic therapy and death. When the BNP cutoff level was set to 377.5 pg/dl in a ROC curve, the sensitivity and the specificity for differentiating between the groups with stable or unstable vital signs was 100% and 90%, respectively. Conclusion : This study indicates that a measurement of the plasma BNP levels may be a useful prognostic marker in patients with an acute pulmonary thrombo-embolism.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.763-773
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• 1996

Background : Behçet's syndrome is a chronic multisystemic disease affecting many organs such as skin, mucosa, eye, joint, central nervous system and blood vessels. Lung involvement occurs in 5% of Behçet's syndrome and is thought to be due to the pulmonary vasculitis leading to thromboembolism, aneurysm and arteriobronchial fistula. Pulmonary vasculitis in Behçet's syndrome is a unique clinical feature, differing from other vasculitis affecting the lung and is one of the major causes of death. Therefore, we examined the incidence, the clinical features, the radioloic findings and the clinical courses of the lung involvement in Behçet's syndrome. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and radiologic studies of 10 cases of the lung involvement in Behçet's syndrome diagnosed at Yongdong Severance Hospital and Severance Hospital from 1986 to 1995. We analysed the clinical features, the radiological findings, the treatment modalities and the clinical courses. Results: 1) The incidence of the lung involvement in Behçet's syndrome was 2%(10/487). The male to female ratio was 8 : 2 and the mean age was 34 years. The presenting symptom was hemoptysis in 5 of 10 cases, and massive hemoptysis was noted in 2 cases. Other pulmonary symptoms were cough(6/10), dyspnea(4/10), and chest pain(2/10). Other manifestations were oral ulcers(10/10), genital ulcers(9/10), skin lesions(7/10), and eye lesions(6/10). 2) The laboratory findings were nonspecific. The posteroanterior views of chest radiographies showed multiple infiltrates(6/10), nodular or mass-like opacities(4/10), or normal findings(2/10). The chest CT scans showed multifocal consolidations(6/8), and aneurysms of the pulmonary aneries(4/8). The pulmonary angiographies were performed in 3 cases, and showed pulmonary artery aneurysms in 2 cases. The ventilation-perfusion scans in 2 cases of normal chest x-ray showed multiple mismatched findings. 3) The patients were treated with combination therapy consisting of corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide, and colchicine or anticoagulant agents. Surgical resection was performed in one case with a huge aneurysm. 4) We have followed up nine of ten cases. Three cases are well-being with medical therapy, two cases are severely disabled now and four cases died due to massive hemoptysis, massive pulmonary embolism, or sepsis. Conclusion : Pulmonary vasculitis is a main feature of the lung involvement of Behçet's syndrome, causing hemorrhage, aneurysmal formation, and/or thromboemboism. The lung involvement of Behçet's syndrome is uncommon but is one of the most serious prognostic factors of the disease. Therefore, an aggressive diagnostic work-up for early detection and proper treatment are recommended to improve the clinical course and the survival.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.337-347
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• 2014

Purpose: Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is the cause of fatal diseases such as pulmonary embolism, due to a prolonged immobility, surgery, paralysis, and injuries. This study aimed to develop an evidence-based practice guideline for DVT prevention and apply it to patients with surgery in diverse nursing sites in South Korea. Methods: A 24-staged processes of adaptation was carried out on the basis of "adaptation of nursing practical guidelines" developed by Gu et al., in 2012. Results: Developed nursing guidelines of DVT prevention are composed of 79 recommendations in 8 domains. The extent and ratings of each recommendation with its evidence were addressed along with the background information. Conclusion: The developed DVT prevention guideline is necessary to be added to the evidence-based practice guidelines for the fundamentals of nursing practice. The developed guideline is needed to be disseminated to diverse nursing clinical settings in order to prevent DVT and enhance the quality nursing care.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.34-50
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• 1996

The present experiment was desinged to investigate the effects of Tongdosan water extracts on the Cardiovascular System in the Experimental Animals. Thus, the changes of blood pressure and heart rate were measured after oral admini- stration. Measurment of Mortality rate was observed for measuring the effect of Tongdosan water extract. Tongdosan water extract against pulmonary thrombo- embolism induced by collagen the mixture(0.1ml/10g, 2mg/kg B.W) plus serotonin(5mg/kg B.W) in mouse. The effect of Tongdosan water extract was examined by observing the change of collagen-induced platelet aggregation, coagulation activity, ex vivo and in vitro fibrinolytic activity of euglobulin fraction in rats. The results were summarized as followings. 1. Tongdosan dropped the blood pressure in spontaneous hypertensive rat. 2. The drug increased the auricular blood flow in rabbit. 3. The drug relaxed the artery contraction by pretreated norepinephrine in rat. 4. The drug inhibited the death rate of mouse which was led to thromboembo- lism by serotonin and collagen. 5. The drug inhibited the platelet aggregation in rat. 6. The drug prolonged the prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time on the test of plasma coagulation factor activity in rat, but was not valuable. 7. The drug reduced the fibrinogen lyses time of rat ex vivo assay and lyses area was increased. 8. Tongdosan reduced fibrinogen lyses time of rat in vitro assay. According to the above mentioned results, Tongdosan increased the blood flow and dropped the blood pressure by the dilation of blood vessel. And the drug presented the antithrombin acivity, inhibited the platelet aggregation.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.438-449
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• 2009

Objectives: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a common complication among stroke patients. The implication of DVT progressing into a fatal pulmonary embolism is one of the main reasons treatment cannot be delayed. However, when there is a contradiction for anticoagulants, such intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), it is difficult to determine the course of treatment. Our team reports a case with both acute DVT and ICH who improved with herbal medicine Hyulbuchuko-tang. Methods : A patient with a variety of thrombosis risk factors (atrial fibrillation, DVT, Cb-inf with intracranial hemorrhage due to thrombolytic complications) showed classic symptoms of DVT (pain, edema, discoloration), disorientation and chest discomfort. The patient was administered Hyulbuchuko-tang three times a day for 24 days without any anticoagulants. Conservative therapy including elastic stocking and leg elevation was co-administered. Laboratory tests and extremity vascular Doppler sonography were carried out 3 times during the treatment period. Results : After our treatment period, both popliteal vein DVT and calf vein DVT were not discovered by sonography, and thrombosis derived factors (eg. D-dimer, fibrinogen) decreased. There was no sign of edema or discoloration after treatment, and the patient no longer complained of leg pain, disorientation or chest discomfort. Conclusion : From these results, we suggest that there is a positive effect of Hyulbuchuko-tang on DVT. Hyulbuchuko-tang should be considered as a treatment option when western medical procedures are unavailable.