• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.57 no.6
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• pp.528-534
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• 2004

Background : Microscopic examination of sputum smears for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) is the most important and rapid diagnostic test for pulmonary tuberculosis. However, the AFB observed on the smear may represent either M. tuberculosis or nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). This study examined the clinical usefulness of a polymerase chain reaction test for M. tuberculosis (TB-PCR) for the differentiation of pulmonary tuberculosis and NTM lung disease in patients with smear-positive sputums in a tertiary hospital in Korea. Material and Methods : From January, 2003 to December, 2003, 826 AFB smear-positive and culture-positive sputum specimens were collected from 299 patients. Results : NTM were recovered from 26.6% (220/826) of the smear-positive sputum specimens and 23.4% (70/299) of the patients with smear-positive sputum. All the patients with isolated NTM had clinically significant NTM lung disease; 38 patients (54.3%) had M. avium and 26 patients (37.1%). had M. abscessus. In the patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, 78.7% of the patients (74/94) showed TB-PCR positivity, and all the patients with NTM lung disease showed negative results on the TB-PCR test (p<0.001). A positive result of the TB-PCR test on the sputum or bronchial washing fluid specimens was able to predict pulmonary tuberculosis with 88.4% sensitivity, 100% specificity, a 100% positive predictive value and a 79.7% negative predictive value for the patients with smear-positive sputum. Conclusion : The TB-PCR test for sputum specimens or bronchial washing fluid specimens could be useful for differentiating pulmonary tuberculosis and NTM lung disease for the patients with smear-positive sputum in Korea.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.62 no.6
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• pp.479-485
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• 2007

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the differences in CT findings according to sputum smear-positive or -negative results in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis having a single cavity. Methods: A total of 32 patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis having a single cavity on CT were classified into two groups: smear-positive (n=19) and smear-negative (n=13). The CT findings were reviewed retrospectively. The presence of consolidation, the number of lobes showing consolidation, ground-glass opacity, micronodules and nodule, the maximum diameter of the cavity, and the shape and maximum thickness of the cavity wall were assessed. Result: The maximum diameter of the cavity was $33.84{\pm}13.65mm$ and $27.08{\pm}9.04mm $ in the smear-positive and -negative groups, respectively (p>0.05). The amount of consolidation and the number of lobes with consolidation were found to be 89.5% and 30.8% (p=0.01) and $1.37{\pm}0.90$ and $0.31{\pm}0.48$ (p=0.0002) in the smear-positive and -negative groups, respectively. Consolidations in two or more lobes were only noted in 31.6% of in the sputum smear- positive group (p< 0.05). There were no other significant differences between the two groups. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values for the presence of consolidation were 89.5%, 69.2%, 73.9%, and 81.8%, respectively. Conclusion: While the absence of consolidation on CT may be associated with sputum smear-negative results in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis having a single cavity, the presence of consolidation in two or more lobes on CT may be associated with spear-positive results in these patients.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.25-32
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• 2000

To analyze the relationship between climatic factors (monthly temperatures and precipitations) and the radial growths or Pinus densiflora with different topographical settings in Worak National Park, Korea, 20 stands were chosen and 10 trees were selected from each stand. After crossdating, each ring-width series was double detrended (standardized) by fitting first a negative exponential or straight regression line and secondly a 60-year cubic spline. The growth patterns coud be categorized by four groups using cluster analysis. Cluster Ⅰ stand has north aspect, but others have south or southwest aspects. Cluster Ⅰ (one), cluster Ⅱ (ten), and cluster Ⅲ (two) stands are located in lower. elevation (305∼580 m), however, cluster Ⅳ (seven) stands are located in higher elevation, mostly in 560～870 m. Cluster Ⅱ and Ⅲ stands are located at similar elevation with the same aspect, however, cluster Ⅱ stands are located on more rocky and stiff slope with shallow soil depth. The response functions were used to examine the difference in the relationships between climatic factors and tree growths among the 4 cluster chronologies. The climatic factors are not limiting the growth in the cluster Ⅰ stand as highly as in other cluster plots because of rather mesic conditions in the north slope. The precipitation in the spring appears to be the main limiting factor in the cluster Ⅱ stands. The topographical characteristics of the sites of cluster Ⅱ, shallow soil depths on the rocky slope in the south aspect at lower elevation, may enhance the sensitivity of growth to moisture stress. In cluster Ⅲ and cluster Ⅳ, winter and spring temperature prior to the growth become more important than for cluster Ⅱ. This pattern is com-mon for Pinus densiflora trees growing in higher. elevation (equation omitted 800 m) in South Korea. It nay be re-lated with preconditioning effects of temperature as the temperature decreases with increasing elevation (cluster Ⅳ) or in the valley (cluster Ⅲ). The results obtained by tree-ring analysis were digitalized by GIS and spatio-temporal information on tree-ring data and topographic setting were analyzed and displayed simultaneously. The results of this study can be used to predict the future change of Pinus densiflora ecosystem to climate change expected in central Korea.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.49-58
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between cord blood adiponectin and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and their effect on fetal growth and insulin resistance in mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods: Cord blood adiponectin and IGF-I were compared between mothers with GDM (GDM group, N=53) and controls (non-GDM group, N=101). Neonates were classified into three groups of small for gestational age (SGA, N=26), appropriate for gestational age (AGA, N=97), and large for gestational age (LGA, N=31) by birth weight. The association between cord adiponectin and IGF-I levels was evaluated in relation to maternal and neonatal clinical data. Results: Cord adiponectin was lower in the GDM group than in the non-GDM group (P<0.001). There was no significant difference in cord adiponectin among the SGA, AGA, and LGA groups in the GDM group (P=0.228). The cord adiponectin of AGA in the GDM group was significantly lower than that in the non-GDM group (P<0.001). The most powerful predictor affecting cord adiponectin was the result of maternal 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. The cord IGF-I values between the GDM group and the non-GDM group were not different (P=0.834). Neonates with the heavier birth weight had the higher cord IGF-I levels. The most powerful predictor affecting cord IGF-I was birth weight and the next was maternal parity. Conclusion: Both cord blood adiponectin and IGF-I were associated with fetal growth, but IGF-I was a more general and direct factor affecting fetal body size, and adiponectin seemed to have more association with insulin sensitivity than growth.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.487-499
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• 2016

The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of testosterone (T) and estradiol-$17{\beta}$ ($E_2$) on the production of progesterone ($P_4$) by granulosa cells, and of the $E_2$ on the production of $P_4$ and T by theca internal cells. In the first experiment, granulosa cells isolated from the largest ($F_1$) and third largest ($F_3$) preovulatory follicle were incubated for 4 h in short-term culture system, $P_4$ production by granulosa cells of both $F_1$ and $F_3$ was increased in a dose-dependent manner by ovine luteinizing hormone (oLH), but not T or $E_2$. In the second experiment, $F_1$ and $F_3$ granulosa cells cultured for 48 h in the developed monolayer culture system were recultured for an additional 48 h with increasing doses of various physiological active substances existing in the ovary, including T and $E_2$. Basal $P_4$ production for 48 h during 48 to 96 h of the cultured was about nine fold greater by $F_1$ granulosa cells than by $F_3$ granulosa cells. In substances examined oLH, chicken vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (cVIP) and T, but not $E_2$, stimulated in a dose-dependent manner $P_4$ production in both $F_1$ and $F_3$ granulosa cells. In addition, when the time course of $P_4$ production by $F_1$ granulosa cells in response to oLH, cVIP, T and $E_2$ was examined for 48 h during 48 to 96 h of culture, although $E_2$ had no effect on $P_4$ production by granulosa cells of $F_1$ during the period from 48 to 96 h of culture, $P_4$ production with oLH was found to be increased at 4 h of the culture, with a maximal 9.14 fold level at 6 h. By contrast, $P_4$ production with cVIP and T increased significantly (p<0.05) from 8 and 12 h of the culture, respectively, with maximal 6.50 fold response at 12 h and 6, 48 fold responses at 36 h. Furthermore, when $F_1$ granulosa cells were precultured with $E_2$ for various times before 4 h culture with oLH at 96 h of culture, the increase in $P_4$ production in response to oLH with a dose-related manner was only found at a pretreatment time of more than 12 h. In the third experiment, theca internal cells of $F_1$, $F_2$ and the largest third to fifth preovulatory follicles ($F_{3-5}$) were incubated for 4 h in short-term culture system with increasing doses of $E_2$. The production of $P_4$ and T by theca internal cells were increased with the addition of $E_2$ of $10^{-6}M$. These increases were greater in smaller follicles. These results indicate that, in granulosa cells of the hen, T may have a direct stimulatory action in the long term on $P_4$ production, and on $E_2$ in long-term action which may enhance the sensitivity to LH for $P_4$ production, and thus, in theca internal cells, $E_2$ in short term action may stimulate the production of $P_4$ and T.

• Journal of Distribution Research
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.171-192
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• 2011

This paper focuses on the retail industry of industrial share of the GDP, productivity of distribution industry and input-out analysis between Korea and Japan, also results are summarized as follows. First, the share of GDP in agriculture, forestry and fisheries of the both countries is falling. That of manufacture increases in South Korea, while Japan is falling. While distribution industry shows vice versa. Employed population by industry is falling both countries also. The relative labor productivity shows that agriculture, forestry and fisheries, retail industry needs more labor, while manufacture has been met for both countries. Second, compare to Japan, the retail industry of Korea has been increased since 1990. Likewise, overall productivity of distribution industry in Korea has been increased while almost that of Japan has declined. Third, production inducement effects of Japan are greater than that of Korea. On the other hand, import inducement effects show vice versa. Fourth, as shown from the final demand of distribution industry and the rate of dependence on production inducement, we can see that the “increase in stocks” increases while gross government fixed capital formation shows vice versa. Korea's private consumption expenditure increases while Japan shows versa. South Korea's government consumption expenditure and exports are rising, on the other hand, that of Japan is declining. Fifth, the rate of dependence on distribution industry and import inducement shows the same tendency from both countries. As we can see from the private consumption expenditure, government consumption expenditure, gross government fixed capital formation, gross private fixed capital formation, increase in stocks, the rate of dependence on import inducement is more effective than the rate of dependence on production inducement. While the exports are comparatively ineffective. Sixth, the degrees of influence of retail industry are similar between Korea and Japan, while sensitivity of the Korean industry has been weakened. In this sense, strong policies are needed to boost the industry. Seventh, the investments in the retail industry of Korea showed the public-led trend, while Japan showed private sector-led investment trend. The investment trend of Korea's retail industry will be switched into private sector-led investment step by step in the future. This finding will be an important clue to set the policy direction of Korea distribution industry. Finally, both Korea and Japan are still in need of employment in retail industry. Not addressed in this paper, such as value-added-induced effects, employment inducement effect, will be remaining challenges in the following paper.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.12
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• pp.1362-1369
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• 2005

Purpose : This study aimed to investigate the correlation between the plasma level of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide(pro-BNP) and several known risk factors influencing outcomes after Fontan operations, and to assess whether pro-BNP levels can be used as predictive risk factors in Fontan operations. Methods : Plasma pro-BNP concentrations were measured in 35 patients with complex cardiac anomalies before catheterization. Cardiac catheterization was performed in all subjects. Mean right atrium pressure, mean pulmonary artery pressure(PAP), and ventricular end-diastolic pressure(EDP) were obtained. Cardiac output and pulmonary vascular resistance were calculated by Fick method. Results : Plasma pro-BNP levels exhibited statistically significant positive correlations with mean PAP(r=0.70, P<0.001), pulmonary vascular resistance(r=0.57, P<0.001), RVEDP(r=0.63, P<0.001), LVEDP(r=0.74, P<0.001), and cardiothoracic ratio(r=0.71, P<0.001). The area under the ROC curve using pro-BNP level to differentiate risk groups in Fontan operations was high : 0.868(95 percent CI, 0.712-1.023, P<0.01). The cutoff value of pro-BNP concentrations for the detection of risk groups in Fontan operations was determined to be 332.4 pg/mL(sensitivity 83.3 percent, specificity 82.7 percent). Conclusion : These data suggest that plasma pro-BNP levels may be used as a predictive risk factor in Fontan operations, and as a guide to determine the mode of therapy during follow-up after Fontan operations.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.137-144
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of reducing of craniofacial radiation dose using automatic exposure control (AEC) technique in the 64 multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT). We used SOMATOM Definition 64 multi-detector CT, and head of whole body phantom (KUPBU-50, Kyoto Kagaku CO. Ltd). The protocol were helical scan method with 120 kVp, 1 sec of rotation time, 5 mm of slice thickness and increment, 250 mm of FOV, $512{\times}512$ of matrix size, $64{\times}0.625\;mm$ of collimation, and 1 of pitch. The evaluation of dose reducing effect was compared the fixed tube current of 350 with AEC technique. The image quality was measured the noise using standard deviation of CT number. The range of craniofacial bone was to mentum end from calvaria apex, which devided three regions: calvaria~superciliary ridge (1 segment), superciliary ridge~acanthion (2 segment), and acanthion~mentum (3 segment). In the fixed tube current technique, CTDIvol was 57.7 mGy, DLP was $640.2\;mGy{\cdot}cm$ in the all regions. The AEC technique was showed that 1 segment were 30.7 mGy of CTDIvol, 340.7 $mGy{\cdot}cm$ of DLP, 2 segment were 46.5 mGy of CTDIvol, $515.0\;mGy{\cdot}cm$ of DLP, and 3 segment were 30.3 mGy of CTDIvol, $337.0\;mGy{\cdot}cm$ of DLP. The standard deviation of CT number was 2.622 with the fixed tube current technique and 3.023 with the AEC technique in the 1 segment, was 3.118 with the fixed tube current technique and 3.379 with the AEC technique in the 2 segment, was 2.670 with the fixed tube current technique and 3.186 with the AEC technique in the 3 segment. The craniofacial radiation dose using AEC Technique in the 64 MDCT was evaluated the usefulness of reducing for the eye, the parotid and thyroid with high radiation sensitivity particularly.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.11
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• pp.1381-1388
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• 2002

Purpose : Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography(MRCP) is a noninvasive method for imaging the pancreaticobiliary tree. The aim of this study was to evalute the usefulness of MRCP for the diagnosis of pancreaticobiliary diseases in children. Methods : From October 1996 to May 2001, 67 patients with obstructive jaundice and three patients with chronic recurrent pancreatitis were evaluated with abdominal ultrasonography and MRCP. The final diagnosis was based on the operative and pathologic findings with biopsy specimen including clinical and laboratory findings. Results : A total of 70 patients, consisting of 31 males and 39 females, with a mean age of $2.6{\pm}3.3$ years were studied. The final diagnosis was biliary atresia in 25, neonatal cholestasis in 18, choledochal cyst without anomalous pancreatobiliary duct union(APBDU) in nine, choledochal cyst with APBDU in seven, cholestatic hepatitis in five, chronic recurrent pancreatitis in three, sclerosing cholangitis in two, and secondary biliary cirrhosis in one case. The overall diagnostic accuracy of abdominal ultrasonography was 75.7% and that of MRCP was 97.1%. The sensitivity and specificity of MRCP were 100% and 98% for biliary atresia, 87.5% and 100% for choledochal cyst with APBDU, 100% and 100% for choledochal cyst without APBDU, sclerosing cholangitis and chronic recurrent pancreatitis, respectively. Conclusion : MRCP is a fast, non-invasive and reliable method for diagnosing pancreaticobiliary diseases in children and will be the standard diagnostic procedure in the future.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.519-524
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• 2010

Purpose : To determine the efficacy of the N-terminal fragment of B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) as a useful diagnostic method in children with incomplete Kawasaki disease (KD). Methods : Ninety-six patients who were diagnosed as having KD between January 2008 and June 2009 were enrolled in the study. American Heart Association recommendations for diagnosis were used, and patients were divided into the complete KD and incomplete KD groups. Blood tests including NT-proBNP were performed on admission day. Nineteen patients who had other febrile diseases other than KD were enrolled as control. Results : Thirty-three patients (34%) had incomplete KD. Change in the lips and oral cavity and conjunctivitis were the most common clinical features, but their frequency was lower than complete KD (76% vs 98%, 76% vs 90%). Patients with incomplete KD exhibited significantly higher NT-proBNP level than that of control ($1,407.7{\pm}1633.5pg/mL$ vs $126.2{\pm}135.5pg/mL$, $P$<0.001). An NT-proBNP cutoff value of 158 pg/mL provided a sensitivity of 81% and a specificity of 74% for diagnosis of incomplete KD. Conclusion : NT-proBNP assay can be clinically useful for the diagnosis of incomplete KD, if the patient has persistent fever, change in the lips and oral cavity, and conjunctivitis, and if the patient with those symptoms is suspected to have incomplete KD.