• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.67 no.4
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• pp.325-330
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• 2009

Background: Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is still common disease among the elderly patients in Korea where the overall incidence of TB is decreasing. Adverse drug reactions (ADR) associated with anti-TB drugs occurs frequently. Especially the aged tends to have more frequent ADRs than younger ones. These ADRs can cause significant morbidity, compromise therapeutic effects of drugs and even induce drug resistance. Therefore we evaluated the effect of ADRs on the first-line anti-TB drugs in elderly patients with active pulmonary TB. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts and radiological findings of the patients with 65 and older who were bacteriologically confirmed as active TB and treated with standard anti-TB drugs for at least 6 months. Major ADR was defined with temporary or continuous stop of any first-line drugs intake. Results: An ADR was noted in 54% of all patients. The incidence of major ADR was 32% in all elderly patients. Dermatologic ADR (9%) was the most common among the major ADRs. GI trouble (8%), arthralgia (6%), visual change (6%), hepatotoxicity (4%), and fever (1%) were also noted. The drugs responsible for major ADR were ethambutol (62%), pyrazinamide (35%), rifampin (18%) and isoniazid (9%). Major ADRs were associated with higher ESR level at the initiation of anti-TB drugs. Conclusion: First-line anti-TB drugs in elderly patients frequently caused the major ADRs. Therefore the elderly patients receiving anti-TB drugs should be closely monitored and better tolerable therapy should be considered as part of a TB research agenda.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.9-24
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• 1993

The time-dependent radioecological model applicable to Korean environment has been developed in order to assess the radiological consequences following the short-term deposition of radionuclides in an accident of nuclear power plant. Time-dependent radioactivity concentrations in foodstuffs can be estimated by the model called 'KORFOOD' as well as time-dependent and time-integrated ingestion doses. Three kinds of critical radionuclides and thirteen kinds of foodstuffs were considered in this model. Dynamic variation of radioactivities were simulated by considering several effects such as deposition, weathering and washout, resuspension, root uptake, translocation, leaching, senescence, intake and excretion of soil by animals, intake and excretion of feedstuffs by animals, etc. The input data to the KORFOOD are the time of the year when the deposition occurs, the kinds of radionuclides and foodstuffs for estimation. The time-dependent specific activities in rice and the ingestion doses due to the consumption of all considered foodstuffs were calculated with deposition time using agricultural data-base in Kori region. In order to validate results of KORFOOD, the calculated results were compared with those by a leading German model, ECOSYS-87. The comparison of results shows good agreements within a factor of ten.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.20-30
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• 2016

Background: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) recovers the alignment of the knee joint, but fails to automatically restore the alignment and function of the hip and ankle joints. It may affect the alignment and stability of the knee joint, therefore therapeutic intervention in hip and ankle joint is necessary for the rehabilitation process after TKA. Objects: The aim of this study was to comparison of the effects of the two exercise methods on the coronal plane alignment after TKA. This study conducted an experiment by dividing subjects into a lower extremity isometric co-contraction group (LEIC) and a quadriceps isolated isometric contraction (QIIC) group. Methods: A total of 37 subjects were randomly assigned to the LEIC ($n_1$=19) or the QIIC ($n_2$=18). Exercise was applied to five times per week for three weeks, starting on the eighth day after surgery. Range of motion exercises were performed as a common intervention and then each group performed quadriceps isometric contraction exercises with 10 sets of 5 repetitions. Radiological imaging was performed prior to surgery, one month and six months after surgery. In addition, the hip-knee-ankle angle (HKA) and tibiotalar angle (TTA) were measured. Results: The HKA was close to neutral in the LEIC rather than the QIIC (p<.05). The LEIC showed varus and the QIIC exhibited valgus TTA (p<.05). In a comparison of HKA and TTA over time, there was no significant change in either group (p>.05). According to the comparison of the TTA before surgery, the LEIC showed significant changes in the varus direction (p<.05), while there was no significant change in the QIIC (p>.05). Conclusion: The LEIC method triggered changes in the TTA and brought the HKA close to the neutral. Thus, LEIC is more effective than QIIC in creating stability in the coronal plane alignment of the knee and ankle joints after TKA.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.549-555
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• 2018

The medical imaging technique images the contrast formed based on the difference in absorption coefficient of X-rays which changes according to the composition and thickness of the object. At this time, not only primary rays entering the image detector but also scattered rays greatly affect the image quality. Therefore, in this paper, Forward scattering rate and Scattered to primary ratio analysis were performed through Monte Carlo simulation in order to consider influence of scattered ray generated according to object thickness and radiation exposure area change on image quality. In the study, the Forward scattering rate corresponding to the thickness of the object was analyzed at a maximum of 15.3%p and the Scattered to primary ratio was analyzed at 2.00 to 4.54, but it was analyzed as maintaining a constant value for radiation exposure area change. Based on these results, the thickness of the object should be considered as a factor influencing the quality of the image, but radiation exposure area verified that it is a factor that does not affect the image quality. We believe that the results of this research can be utilized as basic information of scattered radiation to improve image quality.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.557-563
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• 2018

Coincidence summing correction effects are known to be greater as the efficiency of the detector increases and as the distance between the source and the detector increases. A point source($^{60}Co$) was used to vary the distance in the direction of the detector's center axis and in the radial direction to obtain the P/T ratio for Coincidence summing correction calibration. In this study, values for coincidence summing corrected calibration of the values in the central and radial directions were applied to the mixed volume source(450 ml CRM source) to compare the overall peak efficiency change according to P/T with Geant4. In addition, the efficiency obtained from the mapping method is applied to the seaweed, a marine sample, and the compatibility of the P/T ratio with the detector and sample very dose together. The efficiency corrected to 1,836 keV was applied to the energy zone affected by the efficiency of 500 keV and the relative error of the measured and corrected values was well matcched by the 3.2 % peak efficiency correction. As with 450 mL CRM source, the larger the volume, the lower the P/T ratio was by ${\pm}5%$. This is due to the increased scattering of gamma-rays emitted as the source becomes farther away from the detector, and this change in P/T has been confirmed to affect the Coincidence summing corrected peak efficiency.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.532-537
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• 2009

Objective : Recently, motion preservation has come to the forefront of emerging technologies in spine surgery. This is the important background information of the emergence of cervical arthroplasty as an alternative to arthrodesis that offers the promise of restoring normal spinal movement and reduces a kinematic strain on adjacent segments. The study was designed to evaluate early surgical outcome and radiological effects of $Bryan^{(R)}$ cervical disc prosthesis. Methods : The authors retrospectively reviewed radiographic and clinical outcomes in 52 patients who received the $Bryan^{(R)}$ Cervical Disc prosthesis, for whom follow-up data were available. Static and dynamic radiographs were measured by computer to determine the angles formed by the endplates of the natural disc preoperatively, those formed by the shells of the implanted prosthesis, the angle of functional spine unit (FSU), and the C2-7 Cobb angle. The range of motion (ROM) was also determined radiographically, whereas clinical outcomes were assessed using Odom's criteria, visual analogue pain scale (VAS) and neck disability index (NDI). Results : A total of 71 $Bryan^{(R)}$ disc were placed in 52 patients. A single-level procedure was performed in 36 patients, a two-level procedure in 13 patients, and a three-level procedure in 3. Radiographic and clinical assessments were made preoperatively. Mean follow-up duration was 29.2 months, ranging from 6 to 36 months. All of the patients were satisfied with the surgical results by Odom's criteria, and showed significant improvement by VAS and NDI score (p < 0.05). The postoperative ROM of the implanted level was preserved without significant difference from preoperative ROM of the operated level (p < 0.05). 97% of patients with a preoperative lordotic sagittal orientation of the FSU were able to maintain lordosis. The overall sagittal alignment of the cervical spine was preserved in 88.5% of cases at the final follow up. Interestingly, preoperatively kyphotic FSU resulted in lordotic FSU in 70% of patients during the late follow up, and preoperatively kyphotic overall cervical alignment resulted in lordosis in 66.6% of the patients postoperatively. Conclusion : Arthroplasty using the $Bryan^{(R)}$ disc seemed to be safe and provided encouraging clinical and radiologic outcome in our study. Although the early results are promising, this is a relatively new approach, therefore long-term follow up studies are required to prove its efficacy and its ability to prevent adjacent segment disease.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.337-345
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• 2014

The present study examined the effects of soybean-derived phosphatidylserine (SB-PS) on the learning and memory function and the neural activity in rats with trimethyltin (TMT)-induced memory deficits. The cognitive improving efficacy of SB-PS on the amnesic rats, which was induced by TMT, was investigated by assessing the Morris water maze test and by performing cholineacetyl transferase (ChAT), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and cAMP responsive element binding protein (CREB) immunohistochemistry. A positron emission tomography (PET) scanning the rat brain was by performed administer 18F-Fluorodeoxy-glucose (18F-FDG). The rats with TMT injection showed impaired learning and memory of the tasks and treatment with SB-PS produced a significant improvement of the escape latency to find the platform in the Morris water maze at the 2nd day compared to that of the MCT group. In the retention test, the SB-PS group showed increased time spent around the platform compared to that of the MCT group. Consistent with the behavioral data, SB-PS 50 group significantly alleviated the loss of acetyl cholinergic neurons in the hippocampus compared to that of the MCT group. Treatment with SB-PS significantly increased the CREB positive neurons in the hippocampus as compared to that of the MCT group. In addition, SB-PS groups increased the glucose uptake in the hippocampus and SB-PS 50 group increased the glucose uptake in the frontal lobe, as compared to that of the MCT group. These results suggest that SB-PS may be useful for improving the cognitive function via regulation of cholinergic marker enzyme activity and neural activity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.389-395
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• 2018

The study attempted to use computed tomography images to determine the usefulness of the reduction in the axial reduction algorithm in the event of a metallic artifacts reduction in the image of the beam-hardening effect, which is known as the most effective method of reducing metallic artifact reduction in the image and the reduction of the metal produced in this study. As a result, the result is increased to 140 kVp to reduce the value of the CT value by 0.02 to 0.05 %, resulting in decreased axial effect (P > 0.05). The CT value decreased from 12.4 to 26.9 % when applied to the reduction of the metallic. 12.4 to 26.9 % (p<0.05). In addition, in the qualitative assessment by the clinical trial evaluation, it was assessed as 1.8 points after applying the MAR algorithm, In the resolution of resolution and contrast evaluations, the estimation of the decrease in metallic artifact effects was assessed as the metal was assessed to be scored 7.2 points after the MAR algorithm was evaluated. Therefore, in case of artifacts due to irreversible beam hardening effect, it is useful to reduce artifacts caused by beam hardening effect by using various methods derived from existing researches and scanning by applying the metal artifact reduction algorithm proposed in this experiment.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.467-474
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• 2018

CBCT is useful for improving the accuracy of the treatment site, but Repeated use increases the exposure dose. In this study, we aimed to provide basic data for dose reduction in CBCT implementation by dataization the simulating and dose reduction effect using shielding substance. Material in this study, Analyzation the photon beam by simulate the CBCT Through MCNPX and then calculate the absorption dose of body organ at shooting moment of thoracic abdominal position as target UF-Revise simulated body. At this time. Dose reduction effects at this time were evaluated according to the texture of materials and presence of shielding materials( lead, antimony, barium, sulfate, tungsten, bismuth). When CBCT was taken without shielding, the dose was calculated to be high in the breast and spine, and the dose in the esophagus and lung was calculated to be low. The doses according to the shield material were calculated as barium sulfate, antimony, bismuth, lead, and tungsten. The shielding rate was the highest in the thymus (73.6%) and the breast (59.9%) compared with the dose reduction according to presence or absence of the shield. However, it showed the lowest shielding rate in lung (2.1%) and spine (12.6%).

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.7
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• pp.365-374
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• 2017

This study examined the effects of the demographic and health characteristics and chronic diseases on the health-related quality of life in service employees. From January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2014, this study analyzed the data on 607 service employees based on the 2nd data of the 6th National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey with at-test, ANOVA, and hierarchical regression analysis use of SPSS. The results of the analysis showed that the quality of Life in women was lower (${\beta}=-.074$, p=.050) than that of men, and the older the subjects were, the lower their quality of life(${\beta}=307$, p=.000). Regarding the subjective health status, there was a significant increase in the "very Poor"(${\beta}=186$, p=0.027) and "good"(${\beta}=196$, p=.001) status. The quality of life improved with increasing activity (${\beta}=-0.222$, p=0.000)). Some of the subjects perceived "high stress" (${\beta}=-0.123$, p=0.003) and the others perceived "low stress"(${\beta}=-0.176$, p=0.000). The less they perceived stress, the higher their quality of life. The factors explained 24.6％ of the health-related quality of life of the subjects. Therefore, to improve health-related quality of life of service employees, more activity opportunities should be given, the subjective health status should be positively perceived and psychological measures to decrease the level of stress should be developed.