• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.290-298
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• 1992

Although early diagnosis of urinary tract infection is important, the radiologic evaluation is still controversial because of the low sensitivity and the lack of cost-effectiveness. This study was carried out to evaluate the clinical utility of high resolution triple head $^{99m}Tc-DMSA$ SPECT imaging in urinary tract infection. We prospectively performed $^{99m}Tc-DMSA$ planar and SPECT imaging, ultrasound of kidney (US), intravenous pyelography (IVP) and voiding cystourethrography (VCU) in all 60 adult patients with UTI [26 with first episode of acute pyelonephritis (APN), 22 with recurrent APN, and 12 persistent asymptomatic pyuria] and 25 normal persons. To assess reversibility of the renal cortical defect (RCD), $^{99m}Tc-DMSA$ SPECT was repeated 1 to 8 months later in those patients with abnormal initial findings. Overall detection rate of $^{99m}Tc-DMSA$ SPECT imaging was 83% (50/60), but planar, US, IVP and VCU showed abnormal findings in 68%, 28%, 32% and 13%, respectively. 25 out of 27 patients with normal or single RCD were all normal in other radioligic studies. Only two patients showed vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) on VCU (grade I) and mild hydronephrosis on IVP. But, high proportion of those with multiple RCD showed abnormal findings on US (17/33), IVP (18/33), and VCU (7/33): 67% in any of these 3 studies. Especially, 3 out 7 patients with VUR showed multiple RCD on $^{99m}Tc-DMSA$ SPECT without any abnormality on IVP or US. 25 normal persons showed normal findings in all studies except one false positive finding on $^{99m}Tc-DMSA$ SPECT imaging. Follow-up $^{99m}Tc-DMSA$ SPECT was done in 28 patients (13 with single RCD, 15 with multiple RCD). All 13 patients with single RCD showed improvement. Those with multiple RCD presented improvement in 4, no change in 10, and aggravation in 1 on follow-up studies. With these results, we conclude: 1) $^{99m}Tc-DMSA$ SPECT imaging is superior to planar imaging, US, IVP or VCU in detection of renal lesion in urinary tract infection. $^{99m}Tc-DMSA$ SPECT is useful as a initial diagnostic tool in adult patients with urinary tract infection. 2) The multiple RCD on $^{99m}Tc-DMSA$ SPECT represent the high probability of irreversible tissue change and need of extensive urological work-up.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.245-253
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• 2003

Puorpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of $^{99m}Tc$ DMSA scintigraphy on the dignosis of a renal scar in children with urinary tract infections. Materials and Methods: Eighty three patients were included in this study, who were diagnosed as the urinary tract infection on the basis of symptom, urinalysis and urine culture. $^{99m}Tc$ DMSA scintigraphy and voiding cystoureterography were peformed within 7days before the treatment in all patients. We classified the scintigraphic findings as follow s : 1 ; a large hypoactive upper or lower pole. 2 ; a small hypoactive area. 3 ; single defect resulting in localized deformity of the outlines. 4 ; deformed outlines in a small or normal sized kidney. 5 ; multiple defects. 6 ; diffuse hypoactive kidney without regional impairment. Follow-up scintigraphy was done at least 6 months after the initial study. When the abnormality on the initial scintigraphy was not completely resolved on the follow-up scan, the lesion was defined as containing a scar. Results: One hundred and fifteen renal units of 166 units(69.3%) showed abnormal findings on the DMSA scintigraphy. 65 units(56.5%) was diagnosed as containing renal scars on follow-up scintigraphies. Incidences of renal scar among renal units showing pattern 3, 4 and 5 on the initial scan was 75%, 78% and 78%, respectively. Whereas many of renal units showing 1, 2 and 6 pattern were recovered(65%, 76%, 50%). Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of pattern-based DMSA scintigraphic findings on the diagnosis of renal scar was 76.9%, 85.1% and 81.9%, respectively. VUR was significantly associated with the renal scar when the initial DMSA shows unrecoverable findings(pattern 3, 4, 5). Odds ratio of the renal scar in a kidney showing unrecoverable initial scintigraphic findings was 19.1. Odds ratio in a kidney with mild or moderate-to-severe VUR was 3.5 and 14.4 respectively. Conclusion: In the urinary tract infection, renal scar was significantly developed in a kidney showing unrecoverable findings on the initial DMSA scan and VUR on voiding cystoureterography.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.258-270
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• 1999

This study was carried out to offer the basic data for more qualitative lives of the middle-aged women through their health maintenance and control. So, the researcher reviewed and analyzed the health problems of the middle-aged women, the differences of main symptoms in each subject, positive ratcs in screening tests, the difference of screening tests with age and the correlation of obesity and blood pressure with screening tests. All subjects were 218 women(40-59years) who had a check-up at a comprehensive health check-up center in K University Hospital in Seoul from July 1, 1998 to August 31. 1998. Questionaires were developed to get subjects, general characteristics. main symptoms, medical examination and diagnosed disease by the researcher referring through the questionaires of comprehensive health check-up center and the medical recorders were used as a tool of study. The researcher analyzed the data with SPSS PC+ ; the distribution of the subjects, general characteristics and main symptoms with percentage : the difference between main symptoms and screening tests with X$^2$-test, ANOVA. The results are as follows. 1) Among the age distribution, most were 40-45 years old and unemployed. 2) The most common complaints were indigestion in digestive system, cough in respiratory system, heart beat in cardiovascular system, general sweat in endocrine system. edema in urinary system, easy bruise in hematologic system, backache in musculoskeletal system, headache in psychoneurologic system, lochia in gynecology, itch in dermatology system, eye ball pain in visual system and tinnitus in auditory system. 3) In main symptoms according to age, the 40-45 age group had a higher rate of complaints in digestive system and gynecology than other age group ; the 46-49 age group in endocrine system. 4) The main symptoms according to diagnosis had no difference statistically. 5) The screening tests which showed high rates of abnormality were mammography(the highest), abdominal ultrasonography, upper gastrointestinal series/gastrofiberscopy, PFT. In all age group the highest rate of abnormality was seen in mammography. 6) In screening tests according to age. the 46-49 age group showed higher positive rates of pap smear, blood sugar test, urine test than any other age group ; the 50-55 age group showerd higher positive rates of obesity, BP, chest X-ray, abdominal ultrasonography, ESR, SGOT, CRP and urine micro. 7) In correlation of obesity with screening test, the obesity group showed higher positive rates of blood pressure, chest X-ray, abdominal ultrasonography, HCT and CRP than the normal weight group. 8) In correlation of blood pressure with screening test, the hypertension group showed higher positive rate of obesity, chest X-ray, abdominal ultrasonography, pap smear and blood sugar than the normal blood pressure group. In conculusion, the middle-aged women have various physical symptoms and affected by age. The obesity and BP have an important effect on the health of the middle aged women. Therefore, this study is considered significant as data for qualitative lives of the middle-aged women playing an important part of family health care by catching of their health problem complaints for prevention of disease and promotion of health.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.563-576
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• 1997

This study was carried out to identify basic data for more efficient operation of comprehensive health check-up centers in the national health care system. The researcher reviewed and analyzed the main symptoms of the subjects according to sex, age, occupation and positive rate in the screening tests of a comprehensive health check-up, performed at one comprehensive health check-up center in located in a hospital. The subjects were 512 persons who had a check-up at the comprehensive health check-up, center in K university hospital in Seoul from October 2, 1996 to March 30, 1997. A questionaire developed by the researcher to obtain subject's general characteristics, main symptoms, medical examination, diagnosed disease was used as the tool for the study. The researcher analyzed the data with SPSS PC/sup +/ program. : the distribution of the subject's general characteristics and main symptoms was described with percentages and the difference between main symptoms and screening tests analyzed with X²-test, t-test, ANOVA. The result of this study are as follows : 1. For the distribution of diagnosis in males. liver disease was most frequent and hypertension was second : in females, hypertention and liver disease were not common in that order. 2. The most common complaints were indigestion in the digestive system, sputum in the respiratory system, irregular heart beat in the cardiovascular system, frequent urine in the urinary system vertigo in the hematologic system. 3. The main symptoms according to sex were for females, a statistically siguificant higher rate of complaints in the digestive system, cardiovascular system, urinary system, hematologic system, musculoskeletal, mental & nervous system as compared to males. 4. The main symptoms according to age were that in the the second decade there wara higher rate of complaints in the digestive system, and cardiovascular system than in the older age groups : and in the fifth decade more in the musculoskeletal system. 5. The main symptoms according to occupation were that formers and fishers had a higher rate of complaints in the mental and nervous system as compared to other occupation groups : and office workers, in gynecology. 6. The main symptoms according to diagnosis, were symptoms of the digestive system, frequent in liver disease : symptoms of the cardiovascular system in allergic disease. 7. The screening tests which showed the highest rates were UGI /FGS, PFT : In males a higher rate of abnormality was seen in abdominal ultrasono- graphy and in, females, in mammography. 8. In screening tests according to sex, males showed a higher positive rate for chest X-rays, and LFT, and females, in mammography, pap smear, CBC. 9. In screening tests according to age, higher positive rates of obesity, high blood pressure, chest X-ray, mammography, pap smear, FBS, CBC, urine test were seen in the fifth decade : PFT and abdominal ultrasonography in the third decade. The subjects who wanted comprehensive health check-up were not asymptomatic but had an illness with several symptoms. It is found that the most frequent diagnosed diseases were hypertention and liver disease. So proper observations must be done for them. Comprehensive health check-ups should be changed to a comprehensive examination including treatment beyond examination for those subjects with positive results.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.169-177
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• 1998

Purpose : Renal duplication is a common occurrence, and the range of ureteral and renal anomalies draining the two poles of the duplex kidney leads to a variety of clinical presentations. Method : A series of 61 children with duplicated systems was studied retrospectively who were admitted during last 12years. Results : Of the children $60.6\%$ were accompanied with urologic anomalies that required surgical treatment, and most children initially were presented with urinary tract infection. $42.6\%$ of children were either diagnosed incidentally during evaluation of other non-urologic disease or during follow-up evaluation of abnormal antenatal renal sonogram. Conclusion : From our point view, children with history of abnormal antenatal renal sonogram, or with symptoms such as urinary tract infection, hematuria, abdominal pain should be evaluated radiologially fully to confirm further abnormality and accompanied complications. And routine follow-up using abdominal ultrasonogram, VCUG, and urine culture should be used to prevent and detect early treatable complications.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.51-58
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• 1975

It is a great value to find an early detection of involvement of ureteric obstruction in the carcinoma of cervix. Little or no knowledge of the condition of the kidneys or the lower urinary tract are able to elucidate by the biochemical studies such as blood nitrogen or urine creatinine in carcinoma of cervix. Findings of urography delineates the condition of urinary tract stasis in the renal pelvis and ureters, however, slight stasis maybe difficult to demonstrate. On the other hand isotope nephrography is accepted as a sensitive method to observe renal function especially in regarding to the excretory function of kidney. It was attempted to analysis the findings of urography conjunction with isotope nephrography in 50 cases of unselected patients with invasive carcinoma of cervix through pre and post irradiation follow up studies. Urography was done as a routine procedure and.analysed emphasising changes of collecting systems and ureter condition. Isotope nephrography was carried out by means of $15{\mu}ci\;I^{131}$-Hippuran injected intravenously and the curves were analysed as follows. Parameter were; time of maximum amplitude ($T_{max}$), half time of maximum amplitude ($T\frac{1}{2}$), Kac and Kex value calculated from these two parameters in Tobe's method. The excretion index by Aurell defines the ratio between the maximum activity and the activity measured on the slope of the third phase ten minites after it has reached its maximum. Results: 1. 28.8% had an abnormal IVP suggestive of ureteric involvement before irradiation therapy and the patient of stage III and IV were the great part. 2. 21.7% had abnormal findings of per-irradiation renogram whom showed normal IVP. The other group showed normal IVP which group also showed normal renogram prior irradiation. 3. The more severe the ureteric involvement, the change of excretion index was greater. 4. Even in stage I and II patient, abnormal renogram was revealed in 12 cases (39.4%) among 31 cases. 5. All cases of TAH showed abnormal findings of IVP and renogram. 6. No. definite change of renogram was obtained just after the irradiation therapy (point $A:8000{\sim}9000rads,\;B:5000{\sim}6000rads,\;Co:11000{\sim}13000rads$). Each 3 month follow up study was performed and comparing with preirradiation study which showed significant changes of excretion index of renogram were 42.8% in $6{\sim}9$ month follow-up and 75% in $9{\sim}12$ month, respectively. 7. It seems to be important to observe the parameter Kex and excretion index of renogram to determine early abnormality of kidney excretory function by means of post-irradiation follow up study.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.215-221
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• 2009

Purpose : Thymus is a lymphoproliferative organ that changes size in various physiological states in addition to some pathological conditions. Thymus is susceptible to involution, and shows a dramatic response to severe stress. Thymic measurements may be helpful in various diseases. UTI (urinary tract infection) is most common bacterial infection in infants and VUR (vesicoureteral reflux) is a common abnormality associated with UTI. In our study, the size of thymus was compared on the premise that a greater stress is exerted on the body when UTI is accompanied by VUR, than when occurs on its own. Methods : Thymic size was measured on standard chest anteroposterior radiographs and expressed as the ratio between the transverse diameter of the cardiothymic image at the level of the carina and that of the thorax (CT/T). The medical records of 99 febrile urinary tract infection infants without other genitourinary anomalies except VUR were reviewed retrospectively. Results : Among 99 patients with febrile UTIs, 25 were febrile UTI without VUR and 74 with VUR. For the UTI with VUR group, there was a significant decrease in the thymic size compared to the those without VUR group ($0.382{\pm}0.048$ vs $0.439{\pm}0.079$, P<0.05). However, there were no differences in the duration of fever and WBC, CRP between the UTI with VUR and UTI without VUR. In addition, there were no differences in the cardiothymic/thoracic ratios between renal defects and renal scars in febrile UTI patients. Conclusion : The results of this study show that the shirinkage of thymus was more frequently found in the UTI patients with VUR. Therefore, awareness of the risks associated with thymic size is important for the appropriate work up and management of UTI patients.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.561-565
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• 2003

Purpose : Urinary tract infection(UTI) is the most common bacterial infectious disease that may induce severe renal injury unless early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are performed. If recurrent UTI is prevented, renal injury can be also reduced. Therefore, we studied the risk factors of recurrent UTI in children. Methods : We performed a retrospective study of 168 children(58 girls and 110 boys) who were treated for UTI in the Department of Pediatrics, Korea University Medical Center, during 2000-2001. Among 168 children, 93 children were followed up for more than six months. For the detection of recurrence of UTI, we performed monthly routine urine cultures and physical examinations. Results : The total rate of recurrence was 32.3%. The recurrent rate in boys and girls were 37.1% and 17.4%, respectively(P<0.05). The most common causative bacteria in the first onset and in recurrence were Escherichia coli. There was a significant difference in the onset age of UTI between boys with recurrence($4.8{\pm}1.0months$) and without recurrence($16.5{\pm}3.8months$)(P<0.01). In 77% of cases, urinary tract infection recurred within six months of the first infection. The time of the first recurrence after UTI was $3.7{\pm}0.6months$ in boys and $14{\pm}8.2months$ in girls(P<0.01). The number of recurrences showed a significant difference between the group under the age of one year($0.69{\pm}0.8/year$) and those above the age of one year($0.16{\pm}0.4/year$)(P<0.05). There was no difference in the recurrent rate between those with structural abnormality and those with normal anatomy. Conclusion : Monthly routine urine cultures are efficient in detecting recurrent UTI in children. Because the male sex and young age especially less than one year of age are risk factors for increased recurrence rate of UTI, these children should be followed-up with urine cultures.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.101-109
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• 2013

Purpose: Pediatric urolithiasis is uncommon in children but is a cause of significant morbidity and damage to the kidney. Although much information on adult urolithiasis is available in the literature, large studies on the pediatric population are still scarce. In this report, we review our experience with pediatric urolithiasis over 22 years at a tertiary referral center. Method: We retrospectively reviewed the records of children with newly diagnosed urolithiasis between January 1991 and May 2013. We assessed the age, sex, family history, initial symptoms, location of stones, underlying cause, stone analysis, treatment, and recurrence among the patients. Results: In total, 137 patients (96 male, 41 female) were assessed. The age range was 0-17 years (mean age, 6.0 years). Forty-three (31%) children were aged <1 year, and 37% (16/43) had a history of intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Thirteen patients (9.5%) had a family history of stones. The most common symptoms at presentation among the patients were gross hematuria (56/137, 41%) and flank or abdominal pain (46/137, 34%). The stones were located in the kidney (85/137, 62%), ureter (29/137, 21%), bladder (2/137, 1.4%), and multiple locations (20/137, 15 %). Congenital abnormalities of the genitourinary (G-U) tract, with or without metabolic abnormality, or urinary tract infection (UTI) was detected in 26 children (19%). Ninety-one patients (66%) underwent metabolic examination, and 38% of these patients exhibited an abnormality. UTI, with or without abnormalities of the G-U tract, or metabolic abnormality was detected in 26 children (19%). Of the 35 stones analyzed, the majority were calcium stones (20/35, 57%), followed by infected stones (5/35, 14%), uric acid stones (4/35, 11%), carbonate apatite stones (3/35, 7%), cystine stones (2/35, 6%), and phosphate stones (1/35, 3%). Five patients (4%) required open procedures, with or without non-open procedures, whereas 77 patients (56%) were managed conservatively; the remaining 55 patients (40%) received some other form of intervention. Eighteen patients (13%) had stone recurrence during the follow-up period. Conclusions: Pediatric urolithiasis is commonly associated with abnormalities of the G-U tract and/or metabolic disorders and/or UTI. Half of the patients will pass their stones spontaneously, and all the techniques of minimally invasive surgery are applicable in the treatment of children with stones. As the recurrence rates are high among this population, long-term follow-up is recommended and the complete clearance of stones is important.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.265-270
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• 2003

Purpose : To characterize the infants under 3 months of age with urinary tract infections(UTIs), and especially patients with bacteremia or meningitis Methods : Hospital records of all the infants under 3 months of age discharged from our hospital for 69 consecutive months with the diagnosis of initial episode of UTI were reviewed. UTI was defined when patients had fever with pyuria, and had urine culture results of ${\geq}10^5$ colony forming units/mL from a bag specimen. Patients with previously known urologic abnormality or immunodeficiency were excluded. Nosocomial infections were also excluded from the study. Results : The male:female ratio was 35 : 6. Of the urine cultures, 40(97.6%) yielded single pathogen, one yielded two pathogens. Escherichia coli was the predominant isolate from the urine. Five patients(12%) also had bacteremia. Pathogens isolated from the blood cultures were E. coli(4) and Enterococcus faecalis(1). No patient had culture-positive meningitis or cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis. Clinical or laboratory findings between patients with and without bacteremia were not different significantly. The rate of vesicoureteral reflux(VUR) was 44%. The sensitivity of ultrasound for detection of VUR was 38%; specificity was 50%. Conclusion : Clinical and laboratory data were not helpful for identifying patients with bacteremia at the time of presentation. Consequently, blood cultures need to be obtained from all febrile infants under 3 months of age with UTIs. A large-scale study including the indication of lumbar puncture for infants with a febrile UTI and study of evaluation and treatment of infants under 3 months of age with UTIs are required.