• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.476-480
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• 2005

Immunosuppressive therapy in pediatric renal transplant recipients is changing consequence of the increasing number of available immunosuppressive agents. The optimal use of immunosuppressive agents requires a thorough understanding of the pharmacokinetic characteristics, but the information on the pharmacokinetic characteristics of these drugs in pediatric transplant recipients is still limited. In general, patients younger than 5 years old show higher clearance rates, therefore the need for higher dosages in younger patients seems evident. By the therapeutic drug monitoring, trough($C_{min}$) and peak level($C_{max}$) are measured and the area under the blood concentration-time curve(AUC), which is taken as being representative of total systemic exposure can be calculated. Cyclosporine A (CSA) has poor bioavailability, which contributes to high inter- and intra-patient pharmacokinetic variability. CSA concentration measured 2 hours after administration($C_2$) has better correlation with the AUC than $C_{min}$ and is an alternative technique that predicts the AUC. Tacrolimus(Tac) has a great deal of inter-individual variability like CSA but intra-individual variability in systemic exposure is considered to be low. Both CSA and Tac are metabolized by a cytochrome P-450 enzyme isoform(CYP3A4). We should consider changing the dosages when CSA or Tac is used in combination with the medicines that inhibit or induce the CYP3A4. In case of steroid-free immunosuppressive therapy, the blood concentration of Tac should be frequently checked and dosage adjustment may be needed.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.193-201
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of the immediate postoperative nutritional status and calorie adequacy on clinical outcomes in liver transplant recipients. Methods: A total number of 99 patients who received liver transplants were recruited from a tertiary university hospital. Demography, subjective global assessment, clinical outcomes and calorie adequacy were evaluated through personal interviews, electronic medical records and dietary records. Anthropometric measures, body mass index and percent of ideal body weight were also obtained. Results: At admission to the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU), the triceps skinfold thickness and mid-arm muscle circumference were significantly lower in the malnourished group than in the well-nourished group (p<.05, respectively). In the clinical outcomes, transfusion of red blood cells, mechanically ventilated hours, length of stay in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), length of stay in the hospital, and prothrombin time were significantly higher in the malnourished group than in the well-nourished group (p<.05, respectively). The mechanically ventilated hour was significantly higher in the group with less than 50% of their required energy intake (p<.05). Conclusion: Therefore, it is important to assess the nutritional status of immediate postoperative patients. Furthermore, studies on nutritional interventions are urgently needed to provide adequate nutritional care for patients in ICUs.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.5 no.5
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• pp.305-305
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• 2005

In modern society, diseases are variously found. Also, disease can be fatal once starting attack or one misses the proper medical examination time. According to the development of society, our liver settled on exhausted status which causes high disease development ratio because of excess business, smoking and drinking. Especially liver related disease cannot be recovered, therefore it depends on internal organ transplant surgery. In this paper, calculate volume from rendered liver shape using 3-dimensional image processing method and we develop an image processing method for the image acquired by MDCT, that can simulate incision line decision according to blood vessel segmentation that can be used on liver transplant operation. Simulation results which adopt automatic liver segment abstraction algorithm show that it can help surgical operation.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.727-733
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• 1997

Autotransplantation is a procedure which transplants teeth from the original position to other positions in the same individual. It is classified surgical reposition by intraalveolar autotransplantation and transalveolar autotransplantation. The prognosis for successful autotransplantation is dependent on a number of factors such as root development, surgical technique, patient's age, endodontic treatment, time and type of splinting, preservation of periodontal ligament and storage medium. The most important factor is preservation of periodontal ligament. The cause of the failure of transplantation include damage of the transplant during removal from deep palatal malposition, poor regeneration of the bone around the transplant and chronic periodontal infection. In case I, Impacted maxillary canine for which surgical exposure and orthodontic treatment was impossisle was transplanted. After 2 weeks, It showed periapical radiolucency and external root resorption. So, endodontic treatment was done. One year later, permanent filling was done with gutta percha. In case II, Transpositioned maxillary central incisor was transplanted after extraction of impacted mesiodens. Pulp vitality was maintained during 5 months without other clinical symptons.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.16-22
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• 2017

A specialist in the medical field is probably one of the most time-consuming professions to train for before one is considered an expert. Inclusive of medical school, it can take as long as 20 or more years of structured training before one graduates as a new specialist in a particular surgical subspecialty or medical field. A fellowship is often the last official phase in this professional marathon, typically defined as a 1 to 2-year full-on clinical subspecialty experience. One would expect this important "finishing school" to be well researched and written about, however, as compared to other professionals and fields, there is scanty literature on how one can get into a good fellowship program. This is a perspective piece on the intricacies of securing a position in a good fellowship program, drawn from the collective experience of the authors, their colleagues and friends. There are several ways to achieve this and many processes one will encounter. A variety of factors one will need to consider, decide and works towards in this effort of optimizing of their chances of success in getting into their fellowship program of choice. The thought processes, suggestions and solutions at each phase may be helpful. In conclusion, obtaining a choice fellowship position is as much an art as a science, and maybe some luck. Many factors, some more obvious and objective, some softer and more subtle, can all influence the outcome in one way or another.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.75-80
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• 2017

Purpose: To investigate the frequency, presentation, management, and outcome of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in pediatric patients who underwent renal transplantation. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of 70 patients under the age of 18, who underwent renal transplantation between January 1990 and November 2014. A diagnosis of CMV infection was based on serology, molecular assays, antigenemia assays, and culture. CMV infection was defined as detection of virus and CMV disease was diagnosed when clinical signs and symptoms were present. Results: The number of patients with CMV infection was 18 (25.7% of renal transplant recipients). Twelve were male (66.7%), and the $mean{\pm}standard$ deviation (SD) age at infection was $13.3{\pm}3.9$ years. Median time of infection after renal transplantation was 4 months (range 1.0-31.0 months). Pretransplantation CMV status in the infected group was as follows: donor (D)+/recipient (R)+, 11 (61.1%); D+/R-, 7 (38.9%); D-/R+, 0; and D-/R- 0. Nine patients had CMV disease with fever, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, or organ involvement such as enteritis, hepatitis, and pneumonitis. The age of disease occurrence was $13.1{\pm}3.9$ years and the median time to disease onset after renal transplantation was 8 months (range 1.0-31.0). Immunosuppressive agents were reduced or discontinued in 14 patients (77.8%), antiviral agents were used in 11 patients (61.1%), and all patients with CMV infection were controlled. Conclusions: A quarter of the patients had CMV infection about 4 months after renal transplantation. CMV infection was successfully treated with reduction of immunosuppressants or with antiviral agents.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.211-216
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• 2006

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of greenhouse cooling by a geothermal heat pump system on greenhouse temperature and growth of vegetable transplants in summer season. Greenhouse air temperature in day time was $3-4^{\circ}C$ lower in fog plus shading system than in shading, while in night time that was $5-7^{\circ}C$ lower in geothermal heat pump (GHP) plus shading system compared to shading or fogplus shading. system. Plant height of cucumber, tomato and hot pepper transplants was shortened in GHP plus shading compared to shading or fog plus shading system. And Leaf area and dry weight were slightly decreased in GHP plus shading compared to the other systems. Therefore, healthy transplant index on cucumber, tomato and hot pepper was higher in GHP plusshading than in shading or fogplusshading system.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.175-178
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• 2014

Background: Resection rates of lung cancer are low in general and especially in countries like Nepal. Advanced stage at presentation and poor general condition of the patient are the usual causes. Materials and Methods: In this prospective observational study, one hundred cases of lung cancer who presented at the Thoracic Surgery Unit between October 2011 and October 2012 were included. Results: Those aged in the $6^{th}$ and $7^{th}$ decades together accounted for 72/100 patients. The male to female ratio was 2:1. There was a mean-$29.2{\pm}14.2$ pack yrs smoking history with only five non-smokers. Seventy-six patients presented with locally advanced disease while 21 had metastases. Only three had local disease. The average time between onset of symptoms to first contact with a doctor was $2.3{\pm}5.3$ months (range: 0-35.6 months). Average time between first contact to referral was $50.4{\pm}65.7$ days (range-0-365). Only three patients were resected, one after neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. Advanced disease was the cause of unresectability in 95 cases. One of three patients with local disease had pulmonary functions allowing the warranted resection. $N_2$ disease with $T_{1-3}$ on CT scan was found in 47. Three of these patients underwent mediastinoscopy and all confirmed uninvolved $N_2$. Conclusions: Lung resection rates in our center remain low. Late presentation leading to advanced disease and poor pulmonary reserves preclude resection in most cases. More liberal use of mediastinal staging and better assessment of pulmonary functions may allow us to improve resection rates.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.297-305
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• 2018

Purpose: There is a lack of scholarly reports on pediatric emergency department (PED) exposure to hyperbilirubinemia. We aimed to describe the epidemiology of hyperbilirubinemia in patients presenting to a PED over a three-year period. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study, completed at an urban quaternary academic PED. Patients were included if they presented to the PED from 2010 to 2012, were 0 to 18 years in age, and had an elevated serum bilirubin for age. A chart review was completed to determine the incidence of hyperbilirubinemia, etiology, diagnostic work up and prognosis. The data set was stratified into four age ranges. Results: We identified 1,534 visits where a patient was found to have hyperbilirubinemia (0.8% of all visits). In 47.7% of patients hyperbilirubinemia was determined to have arisen from an identifiable pathologic etiology (0.38% of all visits). First-time diagnosis of pathologic hyperbilirubinemia occurred in 14% of hyperbilirubinemia visits (0.11% of all visits). There were varying etiologies of hyperbilirubinemia across age groups but a male predominance in all (55.0%). 15 patients went on to have a liver transplant and 20 patients died. First-time pathologic hyperbilirubinemia patients had a mortality rate of 0.95% for their initial hospitalization. Conclusion: Hyperbilirubinemia was not a common presentation to the PED and a minority of cases were pathologic in etiology. The etiologies of hyperbilirubinemia varied across each of our study age groups. A new discovery of pathologic hyperbilirubinemia and progression to liver transplant or death during the initial presentation was extremely rare.

• Journal of Korean Medical Science
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• v.33 no.50
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• pp.326.1-326.10
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• 2018

Background: This retrospective study analyzed the causes of failure in the management process from the identification of brain-dead potential organ donors to actual donation in Korea over the past 5 years. Methods: Data of 8,120 potential brain deaths reported to the Korea Organ Donation Agency were used, including information received at the time of reporting, donation suitability evaluation performed by the coordinator after the report, and data obtained from interviews of hospital medical staff and the donor's family. Results: From January 2012 to December 2016, the total number of brain-dead potential organ donors in Korea was 8,120, of which 2,348 (28.9%) underwent organ procurement surgery with designated recipients. While the number of transplant donors has increased over time, the ratio of transplant donors to medically suitable brain-dead donors has decreased. The common causes of donation failure included donation refusal (27.6%), non-brain death (15.5%), and incompatible donation (11.6%); 104 potential donors (7.8%) were unable to donate their organs because they were not pronounced brain dead. Conclusion: The rate of successful organ donation may be increased by analyzing the major causes of failure in the brain-dead organ donation management process and engaging in various efforts to prevent such failures.