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Clinical Usefulness of Rapid Antigen Test on the Diagnosis of Influenza (인플루엔자 진단을 위한 신속 항원검사의 유용성)

  • Kim, Jae Seon;Choi, Hyon Joo;Ahn, Young Min;Hwang, Young Ok
    • Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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    • v.48 no.12
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    • pp.1348-1353
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    • 2005
  • Purpose : Influenza is a respiratory disease which prevails widely every year and shows high morbidity and mortality among not only chronic invalids and the old, but also among infants and young children. To prevent community-acquired influenza infection, to facilitate prompt antiviral therapy and to avoid unnecessary use of antibiotics, an easy, rapid diagnostic method for the influenza virus is needed. We evaluated a lateral-flow immunoassay(QuickVue Influenza Test), compared to viral culture. Methods : During two consecutive years from Jan. 2004 to June 2004 and from Feb. 2005 to Jan. 2005, 408 patients who were suffering from fever, cough and/or sore throat and myalgia were enrolled in our study. A total of 408 patients were tested with $QuickVue^{(R)}$(Quidel Co., San Diego, USA) influenza rapid antigen test and virus cultures at the same time. Results : Of the 408 patients tested, children who showed positive results at the virus culture numbered 77; among them, 55(71.4 percent) were type A/H3N2 and 22(28.5 percent) were type B. QuickVue influenza test had a sensitivity of 71.4 percent and a specificity of 95.8 percent. The positive and negative predictive values were 79.7 percent and 93.5 percent, respectively. Conclusion : In our study, this test had comparable high sensitivity and high specificity and many advantages, such as being easy to perform and simple to interpret, and showing rapid results. If rapid influenza antigen tests are widely applied in the clinic, we can begin treatment more rapidly and reduce influenza complications and the abuse of antibiotics.

A Study on the Quality Improvement of Brain Perfusion SPECT Image (뇌혈류 단일광자방출단층촬영 영상 품질 향상에 대한 연구)

  • Kil, Sang-Hyeong;Lim, Yung-Hyun;Park, Gwang-Yeol;Cho, Seong-Mook
    • The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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    • v.23 no.2
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    • pp.13-19
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    • 2019
  • Purpose Tc-99m HMPAO is widely used radiopharmaceutical for brain perfusion SPECT. Tc-99m HMPAO is chemically unstable and is liable to show deterioration of labeling efficiency due to high incidence of secondary Tc-99m HMPAO complex, free pertechnetate and reduced-hydrolyzed Tc-99m. In this study, we investigated whether sialogogues administration could reduce the impurities of Tc-99m HMPAO. Materials and Methods In thirty subjects(20 male and 10 female, age range 19~89 years, mean age $60.7{\pm}14.5years$), brain perfusion SPECT were performed at basal and citric acid stimulation states consecutively after injection of 555 MBq of Tc-99m HMPAO. In the salivary glands, the uptake coefficient was calculated using Siemens processing program. Statistical comparison between before and after the citric acid stimulation performed paired t-test. P value less than 0.05 was regarded as statistically significant. Results Salivary glands uptake was $12900{\pm}3101$ counts in basal and $10677{\pm}2742$ counts in citric acid stimulation states. Unnecessary impurities in the body is much decreased after citric acid administration(t=10.78, P<0.05). The image quality was much improved after administration of citric acid and the regional cerebral perfusion was clearly from demarcated the background. Conclusion The impurity is distributed throughout the body particularly in the salivary glands and nasal mucosa when Tc-99m HMPAO brain perfusion SPECT is performed. If this impurities is not removed, the quality of the image may deteriorate, resulting in errors in visual evaluation. The use of sialogogues could be helpful for decreasing unnecessary impurities in the body.

Evaluation of Stabilization Capacity for Typical Amendments based on the Scenario of Heavy Metal Contaminated Sites in Korea (국내 중금속 부지오염시나리오를 고려한 안정화제의 중금속 안정화 효율 규명)

  • Yang, Jihye;Kim, Danu;Oh, Yuna;Jeon, Soyoung;Lee, Minhee
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.54 no.1
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    • pp.21-33
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    • 2021
  • The purpose of this study is to determine the order of priority for the use of amendments, matching the optimal amendment to the specific site in Korea. This decision-making process must prioritize the stabilization and economic efficiency of amendment for heavy metals and metalloid based on domestic site contamination scenarios. For this study, total 5 domestic heavy metal contaminated sites were selected based on different pollution scenarios and 13 amendments, which were previously studied as the soil stabilizer. Batch extraction experiments were performed to quantify the stabilization efficiency for 8 heavy metals (including As and Hg) for 5 soil samples, representing 5 different pollution scenarios. For each amendment, the analyses using XRD and XRF to identify their properties, the toxicity characteristics leaching procedure (TCLP) test, and the synthetic precipitation leaching procedure (SPLP) test were also conducted to evaluate the leaching safety in applied site. From results of batch experiments, the amendments showing > 20% extraction lowering efficiency for each heavy metal (metalloid) was selected and the top 5 ranked amendments were determined at different amount of amendment and on different extraction time conditions. For each amendment, the total number of times ranked in the top 5 was counted, prioritizing the feasible amendment for specific domestic contaminated sites in Korea. Mine drainage treatment sludge, iron oxide, calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide, calcite, iron sulfide, biochar showed high extraction decreasing efficiency for heavy metals in descending order. When the economic efficiency for these amendments was analyzed, mine drainage treatment sludge, limestone, steel making slag, calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide were determined as the priority amendment for the Korean field application in descending order.

A Study on Conventional Expression of Hangul Ganchal and Email (조선시대 한글 간찰과 이메일의 상투적 표현 고찰)

  • Jeon, Byeong-yong
    • (The)Study of the Eastern Classic
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    • no.49
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    • pp.431-459
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    • 2012
  • The purpose of this article is to compare and analyze the conventional expression of Hangul Ganchal in Cheosun Dynasty and Email. Conventional expression is used remarkably in introductions and conclusions. In introduction, it is used for addressing and safety greetings while in conclusion, it is used for closing address and closing words. In Cheosun Dynasty, an envelope of Ganchal only included the details of the receiver because the letter was genuinely delivered by someone who knew the receiver and the sender very well. An envelope of Ganchal is applicable to the screen of the internet which is used for emailing. In an email, we see the name of the sender and the title of the text and once we click the title, we are able to view the text. The difference between the Ganchal and the email was reflected on how the receiver's detail showed on Ganchal and the email show the sender's details. In a case of addressing in a letter while using the conventional expression, we can see how we use "To~" in humble term and " ~께" in a honorific term. We confirmed that the conventional expression has not yet settled in both of the Gnachal and email for the seasonal greetings. The safety greetings comprised with both of the senders' and receivers' latest updates. In Ganchal, this composition is well described conventionally, whereas in emails, only the receivers' latest news are written but the senders' latest updates are hard to be seen throughout the text. In Ganchal's closing section, the closing address and closing words were expressed conventionally. However, in the case of email; those were again hard to be found throughout. To conclude, in Ganchal the conventional expression was developed and placed in 16thcentury(Sun-eon) when there was a focus in our native language. In 17thcentury(Hyeon-eon), it stood still for a sometime and moved on to 19thcentury(Jing-eon) when there was a strong in fluence of Hangul Ganchal, which resulted in regression to the conservative expression. In general, we are able to confirm that the conventional expression is slowly disappearing.

Evaluation of K-Cabbage Model for Yield Prediction of Chinese Cabbage in Highland Areas (고랭지 배추 생산 예측을 위한 K-배추 모델 평가)

  • Seong Eun Lee;Hyun Hee Han;Kyung Hwan Moon;Dae Hyun Kim;Byung-Hyuk Kim;Sang Gyu Lee;Hee Ju Lee;Suhyun Ryu;Hyerim Lee;Joon Yong Shim;Yong Soon Shin;Mun Il Ahn;Hee Ae Lee
    • Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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    • v.25 no.4
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    • pp.398-403
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    • 2023
  • Process-based K-cabbage model is based on physiological processes such as photosynthesis and phenology, making it possible to predict crop growth under different climate conditions that have never been experienced before. Current first-stage process-based models can be used to assess climate impact through yield prediction based on climate change scenarios, but no comparison has been performed between big data obtained from the main production area and model prediction so far. The aim of this study was to find out the direction of model improvement when using the current model for yield prediction. For this purpose, model performance evaluation was conducted based on data collected from farmers growing 'Chungwang' cabbage in Taebaek and Samcheok, the main producing areas of Chinese cabbage in highland region. The farms surveyed in this study had different cultivation methods in terms of planting date and soil water and nutrient management. The results showed that the potential biomass estimated using the K-cabbage model exceeded the observed values in all cases. Although predictions and observations at the time of harvest did not show a complete positive correlation due to limitations caused by the use of fresh weight in the model evaluation process (R2=0.74, RMSE=866.4), when fitting the model based on the values 2 weeks before harvest, the growth suitability index was different for each farm. These results are suggested to be due to differences in soil properties and management practices between farms. Therefore, to predict attainable yields taking into account differences in soil and management practices between farms, it is necessary to integrate dynamic soil nutrient and moisture modules into crop models, rather than using arbitrary growth suitability indices in current K-cabbage model.

An Analysis on the Level of Evidence used in Gifted Elementary Students' Debate (초등과학 영재의 논증활동에서 사용된 증거의 수준 분석)

  • Cho, Hyun-Jun;Yang, Il-Ho;Lee, Hyo-Nyong;Song, Yun-Mi
    • Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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    • v.28 no.5
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    • pp.495-505
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    • 2008
  • The purpose of this study was to analyze the level of evidence used in gifted elementary students' argumentation. The subjects were 15, 5th and 6th grade students selected in the Science Education Institute for Gifted Youth in K University. After the argumentation task was given to students 2 weeks ago, the students grouped themselves in the affirmative and negative and took part in a debate for 2 hours. Their argumentation process was observed, recorded and transcribed for analysis. Transcribed data was given a Protocol Number according to priority and was examined to find out what were the characteristics when students participated in the task. The evidence used in argumentation was graded from level 1 to level 6 according to Perella's Hierarchy of Evidence and the rate of frequency classified by the level was expressed in graph. Students used Level 1- Level 2 evidence above 50% without for or against task. They had weak argumentation making use of low-level evidence such as individual experience, opinion and another person's experience rather than objective evidences. On the other hand, students commented on the lack of opponent's evidence when they could not trust an opponent's evidence. If one team asked the other to present more evidence but could not, they disregarded the question and turned to another topic. And in cases where the opponent team refuted with evidences of high level, the other team just repeated their claim or evaded the rebuttal. The students tended to complete the argument without the same conclusions with some interruptions. The results show that we need an educational programs including scientific argumentation for science-gifted elementary school students.

Usefulness of Xact-bone for the Resolution Advancement of Gamma Camera Image (감마카메라 영상에서 분해능 향상을 위한 Xact-bone의 유용성 평가)

  • Kim, Jong-Pil;Yoon, Seok-Hwan;Lim, Jung-Jin;Woo, Jae-Ryong
    • The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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    • v.15 no.2
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    • pp.30-35
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    • 2011
  • Purpose: The Boramae Hospital are currently using Wide beam reconstruction (WBR: UltraSPECT, Israel) to improve the resolution. The Xact-bone belongs to the WBR. It has been reported that Xact-bone helps us to improve image resolution and contrast. This study will be evaluated clinical usefulness of Xact-bone method. Materials and Methods: The usefulness evaluation of Xact-bone method was analyzed in resolution test and contrast ratio. The resolution test in Planar image were obtained from Full width at half maximum (FWHM) by using capillary tube. And the contrast ratio was obtained from Bone and Soft tissue (B/S) ratio values that were acquired from bone scan study of 50 patients before and after using the Xact-bone method. We prepared the Triple Line Source Phantom, NEMA IEC Body Phantom and Standard Jaszczak Phantom to acquire the FWHM and Contrast Ratio values of Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) image. Subsequently we compared among the Filtered backprojection (FBP), Orderd subset expectation maximization (OSEM) and Xact-Bone image. Results: The results of the planar Xact-bone data improved resolution about 20% by using capillary tube. In addition it was improved B/S ratio about 15%. When using Triple Line Source Phantom, SPECT Xact-bone data improved resolution for both FBP, OSEM methods about 20% and 10%, respectively. Contrast ratio in each spheres has also been increased for both methods that using NEMA IEC body Phantom and Standard Jaszczak Phantom. Conclusion: When we were using Xact-bone method, we could see to improve the resolution and Contrast ratio as compared to do not use the Xact-bone method. Accordingly, by using WBR's Xact-bone method is expected to improve the image quality. However, when introducing new software, it is needed to match the characteristics of the hospital protocol and clinical application.

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A Study on the Turnover Intention and Job Satisfaction of Dental Hygienists (치과위생사의 이직의도와 직무만족도에 관한 연구)

  • Yoon, Mi-Sook;Lee, Kyung-Hee;Choi, Mi-Sook
    • Journal of dental hygiene science
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    • v.6 no.3
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    • pp.147-152
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    • 2006
  • The purpose of this study was to help decrease turnover and to make full use of dental hygienists and to help improve management by managers. After relevant literature and data were reviewed, a survey was conducted on dental hygienists, who worked at dental institutes in different areas, for about four months from September through December, 2004, to find out their turnover intention and job satisfaction level. When the collected data were analyzed, the following findings were given: 1. The collective average of the dental hygienists investigated in job satisfaction was $3.30{\pm}0.70$. By area, they expressed the best satisfaction at a clear role factors with a mean of $3.53{\pm}0.73$, and they were pleased with wages factors and promotion factors the least with an average of $3.14{\pm}0.70$ and $3.18{\pm}0.80$. 2. The collective average of the dental hygienists investigated in turnover intention was $3.23{\pm}0.77$. As for connections between general characteristics and turnover intention, By age, those who aged in 21 and 25 were most intended(p < 0.001). The unmarried dental hygienists were more intended than the married ones(p < 0.001). By type of hospital, those who worked at dental clinics were most intended(p< 0.01). By career, those who had worked at one to three years were intended the most(p < 0.001), and as to the length of service at current work places, those who had worked at their current work places for one to three years were intended the most(p < 0.001). By monthly mean pay, those whose pay ranged from 1.3 to 1.6 million won found their turnover most intended(p< 0.01). 3. Regarding correlation among turnover intention and job satisfaction were both inversed correlationship, and wages factor(r = -0.249, p < 0.01) and interrelationship factors(r = -0.218, p < 0.01) had a strong correlation to turnover intention, and clear role factors had a strong correlation to job contents factors by job satisfaction(r = 0.612, p < 0.01), and job satisfaction factors had a strong correlation to job contents factors(r = 0.759, p < 0.01).

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Evaluate the Change of Body Shape and the Patient Alignment State During Image-Guided Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy in Head and Neck Cancer Patients (두경부 환자의 VMAT 시 체형변화와 환자 정렬과의 상관관계 고찰)

  • Seo, Se Jeong;Kim, Tae Woo;Choi, Min Ho;Son, Jong Gi
    • The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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    • v.29 no.2
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    • pp.109-117
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    • 2017
  • Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the change of body shape and the patient alignment state during image-guided volumetric modulated arc therapy in head and neck cancer patients, Materials and Methods: We performed a image-guided volumetric modulated arc therapy plan for 89 patients with head and neck cancer who underwent curative radiotherapy. Ten of them were evaluated for set up error. The landmarks of the ramus, chin, posterior neck, and clavicle were specified using ARIA software (Offline review), and the positional difference was analyzed. Results: The re-CT simulation therapy was performed in 60 men with $17{\pm}4$ cycles of treatment. The weight loss rate was $-6.47{\pm}3.5%$. 29 women performed re-CT simulation at $17{\pm}5$ cycles As a result, weight loss rate was $-5.73{\pm}2.7%$. The distance from skin to C1, C3, and C5 was measured, and both clavicle levels were observed to measure the skin shrinkage changes. The skin shrinkage standard deviations were C1 (${\pm}0.44cm$), C3 (${\pm}0.83cm$), and C5 (${\pm}1.35cm$), which is about 1 mm shrinkage per 0.5 kg reduction. Skin shrinkage according to the number of treatments was 1 ~ 4 fractions (no change), 5 ~ 13 fractions (-2 mm), 14 ~ 22 fractions (-4 mm) and 23 ~ 30 fractions (-6 mm). Conclusion: When the body shape changes about 5 mm, the central dose starts to differ about 3 % or more. Therefore, the CT simulation treatment for the adaptive therapy should be additionally performed. In addition, it is necessary to actively study the CT simulation therapy method and set up method of the lower neck and to examine the use of a new immobilization device.

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On-line Image Guided Radiation Therapy using Cone-Beam CT (CBCT) (콘빔CT (CBCT)를 이용한 온라인 영상유도방사선치료 (On-line Image Guided Radiation Therapy))

  • Bak, Jin-O;Jeong, Kyoung-Keun;Keum, Ki-Chang;Park, Suk-Won
    • Radiation Oncology Journal
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    • v.24 no.4
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    • pp.294-299
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    • 2006
  • $\underline{Purpose}$: Using cone beam CT, we can compare the position of the patients at the simulation and the treatment. In on-line image guided radiation therapy, one can utilize this compared data and correct the patient position before treatments. Using cone beam CT, we investigated the errors induced by setting up the patients when use only the markings on the patients' skin. $\underline{Materials\;and\;Methods}$: We obtained the data of three patients that received radiation therapy at the Department of Radiation Oncology in Chung-Ang University during August 2006 and October 2006. Just as normal radiation therapy, patients were aligned on the treatment couch after the simulation and treatment planning. Patients were aligned with lasers according to the marking on the skin that were marked at the simulation time and then cone beam CTs were obtained. Cone beam CTs were fused and compared with simulation CTs and the displacement vectors were calculated. Treatment couches were adjusted according to the displacement vector before treatments. After the treatment, positions were verified with kV X-ray (OBI system). $\underline{Results}$: In the case of head and neck patients, the average sizes of the setup error vectors, given by the cone beam CT, were 0.19 cm for the patient A and 0.18 cm for the patient B. The standard deviations were 0.15 cm and 0.21 cm, each. On the other hand, in the case of the pelvis patient, the average and the standard deviation were 0.37 cm and 0.1 cm. $\underline{Conclusion}$: Through the on-line IGRT using cone beam CT, we could correct the setup errors that could occur in the conventional radiotherapy. The importance of the on-line IGRT should be emphasized in the case of 3D conformal therapy and intensity-modulated radiotherapy, which have complex target shapes and steep dose gradients.