• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.8
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• pp.868-873
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• 2008

Purpose : Immunotherapy is accepted as the only treatment of allergic disease that can modify the natural course of the disease and ameliorate symptoms. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ultra-rush therapy using Dermatophagoides extracts in children. Methods : Of children older than four years who had visited Bundang CHA Pediatric Allergy Clinic, those showing positive reactions only to Dermatophagoides in the skin prick test and to the nasal provocation test were included. In all, 11 and 12 patients respectively preferred conventional and ultra-rush immunotherapy. We elevated allergen concentrations diluted to 1,000:1 of the end strength by 2-3 times with 30-minute intervals and checked oxygen saturation, pulse rate, blood pressure, and systemic reactions every 15 minutes. Immunotherapy effectiveness was valued by changes in nasal provocation test scores before and after immunotherapy. Results : The average ages of patients in the conventional and ultra-rush immunotherapy groups were $8.3{\pm}2.3$ and $9.2{\pm}2.8years$, respectively. Systemic reactions were observed in six in the ultra-rush group (50%) without anaphylaxis and one (9%) in the conventional group. The average scores in the nasal provocation test before and after treatment in the conventional group were $8.2{\pm}1.5$ and $4.6{\pm}2.1$, respectively (P=0.043). In the ultra-rush immunotherapy group, the scores changed from $6.2{\pm}2.2$ to $3.7{\pm}2.5$ (P=0.017). Conclusion : Ultra-rush immunotherapy using Dermatophagoides in children is effective for treating allergic disease but can induce systemic effects rather than conventional immunotherapy.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.92-100
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• 2021

Purpose: Rapid detection of etiologic organisms is crucial for initiating appropriate therapy in patients with central nervous system (CNS) infection. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of the BioFire^® Meningitis/Encephalitis (ME) panel in detecting etiologic organisms in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from febrile infants. Methods: CSF samples from infants aged <90 days who were evaluated for fever were collected between January 2016 and July 2019 at the Seoul National University Children's Hospital. We performed BioFire^® ME panel testing of CSF samples that had been used for CSF analysis and conventional tests (bacterial culture, Xpert^® enterovirus assay, and herpes simplex virus-1 and -2 polymerase chain reaction) and stored at -70℃ until further use. Results: In total, 72 (24 pathogen-identified and 48 pathogen-unidentified) CSF samples were included. Using BioFire^® ME panel testing, 41 (85.4%) of the 48 pathogen-unidentified CSF samples yielded negative results and 22 (91.7%) of the 24 pathogen-identified CSF samples yielded the same results (enterovirus in 19, Streptococcus agalactiae in 2, and Streptococcus pneumoniae in 1) as those obtained using the conventional tests, thereby resulting in an overall agreement of 87.5% (63/72). Six of the 7 pathogen-unidentified samples were positive for human parechovirus (HPeV) via BioFire^® ME panel testing. Conclusions: Compared with the currently available etiologic tests for CNS infection, BioFire^® ME panel testing demonstrated a high agreement score for pathogen-identified samples and enabled HPeV detection in young infants. The clinical utility and cost-effectiveness of BioFire^® ME panel testing in children must be evaluated for its wider application.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.672-676
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• 2006

Purpose : Low dose aspirin is used due to its antiplatelet effect for the subacute phase of Kawasaki disease(KD). It is usually used for 6-8 weeks, then various hematologic laboratory tests and follow up echocardiography for evaluating coronary abnormalities are performed. Our review investigated the usefulness of various follow up laboratory tests performed at 6 weeks after the onset of KD. Methods : Two hundred eighty-two children diagnosed and hospitalized with KD were identified by reviewing patient's charts. Cases which were diagnosed between January 1997 and December 2004 were included in this study. We reviewed laboratory data including leukocytes, platelet counts, antistreptolysin O(ASO), erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR), C-reactive protein(CRP), aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), urinalysis, and echocardiograms performed at admission and 6 weeks after the onset of KD. Paired t-test and Fisher's exact test, as well as logistic regression tests, were used for the statistical analysis. Results : At 6th week data, ESR and CRP were still elevated in 35(12.4 percent) and 12(4.3 percent) patients, respectively. Sterile pyuria were all normalized. But, 36 patients(12.8 percent) showed thrombocytosis, 22(7.8 percent) elevated AST, 15(5.3 percent) leukocytosis, and 6(2.1 percent) coronary abnormalities. Coronary abnormalities at the 6th week were only shown in patients with initial abnormalites. Younger age and initial thrombocytosis were risk factors for thrombocytosis at the 6th week. Conclusion : All children with initial coronary abonormalites should have an echocardiogram at 6 weeks after the onset of fever. In view of case-effectiveness, additional echocardiographic studies are justified only if abnormalities are present at admission. ESR, CRP, and urinalysis performed at the 6 weeks after onset of KD is not significant for clinical information of progression. Platelet count should be estimated at 6th week for a judgement of continuous antiplatelet therapy.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.61-67
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• 2009

Purpose : The rate of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) in children is an indicator of the effectiveness of TB control programs in the community. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of DR-TB in children and evaluate TB management. Methods : Between January 1999 and July 2007, drug susceptibility tests for anti-TB drugs were employed for patients aged less than 19 years with culture-positive TB. Results : A total of 607 cases (16.6%) were resistant to at least one anti-TB drug as follows: isoniazid (INH; 13.8%), rifampin (8.9%), pyrazinamide (4.2%), streptomycin (3.7%), ethambutol (EMB; 5.9%), and para-aminosalicylic acid (PAS; 1.9%). Multidrug-resistant (MDR) TB was found in 276 cases (7.6%); extensive drug resistant (XDR) TB, in 5 cases (0.2%). The rate of resistance to at least one anti-TB drug in children aged >15 years (16.1%) was significantly lower than that in children aged <15 years (20.5%) (P=0.016). The rate of resistance to at least one anti-TB drug and multidrug-resistance in this survey decreased significantly (P<0.001) as compared to the previous survey (1987-1995). The rate of resistance to INH, EMB, and PAS also significantly decreased (P<0.05). Conclusion : The rate of DR-TB in children in Korea has decreased over time; however, it remains higher than that in other countries. MDR-TB and XDR-TB are the emerging problems in Korean children. Therefore, the selection of effective drugs through drug susceptibility tests and evaluating risk factors of resistant TB is essential to successful therapy and a decreased incidence of DR-TB.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.30 no.1_2
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• pp.201-208
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• 2018

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to compare and analyze the set-up errors using the Combine IGRT with ExacTrac and CBCT phased in the treatment of Stereotatic Body Radiotherapy. Methods and materials : Patient who were treated Stereotatic Body Radiotherapy in the ulsan university hospital from May 2014 to november 2017 were classified as treatment area three brain, nine spine, three pelvis. First using ExacTrac Set-up error calibrated direction of Lateral(Lat), Longitudinal(Lng), Vertical(Vrt), Roll, Pitch, Yaw, after applied ExacTrac moving data in addition to use CBCT and set-up error calibrated direction of Lat, Lng, Vrt, Rotation(Rtn). Results : When using ExacTrac, the error in the brain region is Lat $0.18{\pm}0.25cm$, Lng $0.23{\pm}0.04cm$, Vrt $0.30{\pm}0.36cm$, Roll $0.36{\pm}0.21^{\circ}$, Pitch $1.72{\pm}0.62^{\circ}$, Yaw $1.80{\pm}1.21^{\circ}$, spine Lat $0.21{\pm}0.24cm$, Lng $0.27{\pm}0.36cm$, Vrt $0.26{\pm}0.42cm$, Roll $1.01{\pm}1.17^{\circ}$, Pitch $0.66{\pm}0.45^{\circ}$, Yaw $0.71{\pm}0.58^{\circ}$, pelvis Lat $0.20{\pm}0.16cm$, Lng $0.24{\pm}0.29cm$, Vrt $0.28{\pm}0.29cm$, Roll $0.83{\pm}0.21^{\circ}$, Pitch $0.57{\pm}0.45^{\circ}$, Yaw $0.52{\pm}0.27^{\circ}$ When CBCT is performed after the couch movement, the error in brain region is Lat $0.06{\pm}0.05cm$, Lng $0.07{\pm}0.06cm$, Vrt $0.00{\pm}0.00cm$, Rtn $0.0{\pm}0.0^{\circ}$, spine Lat $0.06{\pm}0.04cm$, Lng $0.16{\pm}0.30cm$, Vrt $0.08{\pm}0.08cm$, Rtn $0.00{\pm}0.00^{\circ}$, pelvis Lat $0.06{\pm}0.07cm$, Lng $0.04{\pm}0.05cm$, Vrt $0.06{\pm}0.04cm$, Rtn $0.0{\pm}0.0^{\circ}$. Conclusion : Combine IGRT with ExacTrac in addition to CBCT during Stereotatic Body Radiotherapy showed that it was possible to reduce the set-up error of patients compared to single ExacTrac. However, the application of Combine IGRT increases patient set-up verification time and absorption dose in the body for image acquisition. Therefore, depending on the patient's situation that using Combine IGRT to reduce the patient's set-up error can increase the radiation treatment effectiveness.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.34
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• pp.21-30
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of oral positioning stent, the BinkieRT^TM in radiation treatment for head and neck cancer patients in terms of tongue positions reproducibility, tongue doses and material properties. Materials and Methods: 24 cases using BinkieRT^TM during radiation treatments were enrolled. The tongue was contoured on planning CT and CBCT images taken every 3 days during treatment, and then the DSC and center of tongue shift values were analyzed to evaluate the reproducibility of the tongue. The tongue dose was compared in terms of dose distribution when using BinkieRT^TM and different type of oral stents (mouthpiece, paraffin wax). Randomly selected respective 10 patients were measured tongue doses of initial treatment plan for nasal cavity and unilateral parotid cancer. Finally, In terms of material evaluation, HU and relative electron density were identified in RTPS. Results: As a result of DSC analysis, it was 0.8 ± 0.07, skewness -0.8, kurtosis 0.61, and 95% CI was 0.79~0.82. To analyze the deviation of the central tongue shift during the treatment period, a 95% confidence interval for shift in the LR, SI, and AP directions were indicated, and a one-sample t-test for 0, which is an ideal value in the deviation(n=144). As a result of the t-test, the mean and SD in the LR and SI directions were 0.01 ± 0.14 cm (p→.05), 0.03 ± 0.25 cm (p→.05), and -0.08 ± 0.25 cm (p ←.05) in the AP direction. In the case of unilateral parotid cancer patients, the Dmean to the tongue of patients using BinkieRT^TM was 16.92% ± 3.58% compared to the prescribed dose, and 23.99% ± 10.86% of patients with Paraffin Wax, indicating that the tongue dose was relatively lower when using BinkieRT^TM (p←.05). On the other hand, among nasal cavity cancer patients, the Dmean of tongue dose for patients who used BinkieRT^TM was 4.4% ± 5.6%, and for those who used mouthpiece, 5.9% ± 6.8%, but it was not statistically significant (p→.05). The relative electron density of Paraffin Wax, BinkieRT^TM and Putty is 0.94, 0.99, 1.26 and the mass density is 0.95, 0.99 and 1.32 (g/cc), Transmission Factor is 0.99, 0.98, 0.96 respectively. Conclusion: The result of the tongue DSC analysis over the treatment period was about 0.8 and Deviation of the center of tongue shifts were within 0.2 cm, the reproducibility was more likely excellent. In the case of unilateral head and neck cancer patients, it was found that the use of BinkieRT^TM rather than Paraffin Wax or Putty can reduce the unnecessary dose irradiated to the tongue. This study might be useful to understand of BinkieRT^TM's properties and advantages. And also it could be another considered option as oral stent to keep the reproducibility of tongue and reducing dose during head and neck radiation treatments.

• Sijohaknonchong
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• v.26
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• pp.25-54
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• 2007

This paper examines the literatherapy effects of Korea's oldest form of literature, Sijo, and its role in the future of literatherapy. Since literature is the expression of human emotions, and therapy is related to medicine, the two seem to have little in common, but they share the function of resolving conflicts. The effectiveness of literatherapy has only recently become a matter of discussion. However, literatherapy is greatly involved with the utility value of literature, and should be taken seriously. This research focused on the literatherapy function of the 16th-17th century Gangho-Sijo. Gangho-Sijo was created by literary men from the Sarim-school, who were removed from their posts in the government due to a massacre(Sawha) and rianly(Dangjaing), and spent most of their time away from politics. Their Sijo were mostly about life in retreat, and their mental state at that time. In relation to literatherapy, the mentality and attitudes of these scholars can be divided into three stages. The first is anxiety and depression, the second tranquility and harmony. and the third serenity. At the final stage, the scholars are liberated from worldly desires. Each of these phases hold the effect of literatherapy. The first stage can relate to 'theory of purgation', ISO-Prinsip, which is based on 'like cures like' which means to treat something with its own kind Fight fire with fire. The second step involves 'theory of purification', and by balancing his emotions, the scholar can achieve mental stability. In the final stage, literatherapy is acquired when the scholar expresses his emotions in a clarification(theory of clarification). At this phase, literatherapy finally has an effect, while the phase itself functions as literatherapy as well. The study of literatherapy is still at its early stages, thus has many limitations. However, literatherapy has bright prospects, and it is my hope that this report will be used as a reference for its further research.

• Journal of Music and Human Behavior
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-20
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• 2007

Mothers of Children with Disabilities have many difficulties in parenting because of their children's disabilities. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a Group music psychotherapy programs on parenting stress and self efficacy, and to explore the experiences of the mothers who participated in the program. Twenty mothers of children with disabilities participated in this study. These twenty mothers were divided into 10 mothers of each group. The Experimental group participated in the Group music psychotherapy programs, while the control group did not. The Group music psychotherapy program was implemented for 8 weeks. To prove the effects of the program, pretest-posttest control group design was applied. The differences between pre-test and post-test of two groups were analyzed using independent t-test. The quantitative results of the study were as follows: First, a significant differences was found between the experimental group and control group in parenting stress level. Second, a significant differences was found between the experimental group and control group in self-efficacy level. From the qualitative analyses, four themes emerged from the decrement of parenting stress; Positive change of recognition about their children, Getting rid of stress, Keeping their composure, and Sharing of their emotions. And three themes emerged from the increment of self-efficacy; Discovery of oneself, New stimulus, and Mental support. All the result described above shows that group music psychotherapy program gives positive effect to decrease in parenting stress and also to increase in self-efficacy. And new possibility and effectiveness can be proposed in the music therapeutic approach to the parents of children with disabilities.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.378-382
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• 1997

To evaulate the effectiveness and risk factors for shunt failure of the Blalock-Taussig shunt in neonates, we analyzed the 21 neonates who were undergone Blalok-Taussig shunt operation at Dong-A University Hospital from December 1991 to Feburary 1996. We evaluated operative mortality, patency of the shunt. and distortion of pulmonary artery. We also determined the risk factors for the shunt failure. Age at operation was from 1 day to 30 days(mean 11.7 days). We ghts were 2.4 to 4.5kg(mean 3.1 kg). The underlying lesions included severe tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary stenosls or atresia(N=11) and single ventricle varieties with. pulmonary stenosis or atresia(N=10). Prostaglandin El was given in 13 neonates prior to operation. The mean preoperative(prior to prostaglandin El therapy) and postoperative arterial oxygen tension were 30.1 mmHg and 46.3 mmHg respectively(P(0.01). The shunt was performed through a left thoracotomy in 11 patients and through a right thoracotomy In 10. A 5 mm graft was used in 15 patients and a 4 mm graft in 6 patients. The incidence of early shunt occlusion was 9.5%(2 patients). The hospital mortality was 9.5%(2 patients with early shunt occlusion). Univariate analysis revealed that body weight of 2.6 kg or less(p=0.021), pulmonary artery size of 3mm or less(p=0.008), and 4 mm graft (p=0.021) were risk factors predictive of early shunt failure. The patency rate of the shunt in hospital survivors was 100% at mean ollow-up of ll.3 months(There was not death or reoperation related to shunt failure). 10 patients were catheterized during postoperative follow-up. There was no significant distorsion of pulmonary artery. So we concluded that the modified Blalock-Taussig shunt in neonates was excellent in the hospital survivors.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.123-130
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• 2005

Purpose: We wanted to improve the setup reproducibility of breast cancer patients when utilizing a commercially available breast board for radiation therapy. The breast board was modified by using a new head rest and 2 types of board fixation devices. Materials and Methods: A conventional head/neck rest was modified to be positioned in various slots of the breast board, and it was fabricated 1 cm thinner to provide more comfort to a patient when the patient's neck was rotated. This rest improves the uncertainty of the daily setup. Also, the sagging problems at the left and right sides became negligible with the two types of board fixation devices: (1) the stair type, and (2) the arm type. The first device consists of an upper/lower holder with 4 stair-types of grooves and 4 rectangular Inserts. In order to cover the whole range of vertical setup of the breast board, 4 rectangular inserts were needed, and each covered 10 steps. The arm-type fixation device was also fabricated and attached to the breast board, It had two aluminum bars that were fixed by utilizing a lock-type of screw. These devises were evaluated with two volunteers in order to prove the effectiveness of the improved setup accuracy. Results; The developed cranio-caudal fixation device demonstrated that it could reduce the cranio-caudal error by nearly $55\%$ compared to the old device. As for left-and-right inclination, the stair-type and arm-type fixation devices can reduce the relative inclination by nearly $80\%$ and $90\%$, respectively, compared to the breast board without the fixation device. Conclusion: It was verified that the developed devices were effective for positioning the patients and for avoiding inclination of the breast board.