• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제62권5호
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• pp.389-397
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• 2007

Background B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) has been shown to be strong mortality predictors in a wide variety of cardiovascular syndromes. Little is known about BNP in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We studied whether BNP can predict mortality in patients with ARDS. Method Echocardiographic study was done to all patients with ARDS, and we excluded patient with low ejection fraction (less than 50%) or showing any features of diastolic dysfunction. 47 patients were enrolled between December, 2003 and February, 2006. Parameters including BNP were obtained within 24h hours at the time of enrollment. Result Mean BNP concentrations and APACHE II scores differed between the survivors and nonsurvivors (BNP, $219.5{\pm}57.7pg/mL$ vs $492.3{\pm}88.8pg/mL$; p=0.013, APACHE II score, $17.4{\pm}1.6$ vs $23.1{\pm}1.3$, p=0.009, respectively). With the use of the threshold value for BNP of 585 pg/mL, the specificity for the prediction of mortality was 94%. The threshold value for APACHE II of 15.5 showed sensitivity of 87%. 'APACHE II + $11{\times}logBNP$' showed sensitivity 63%, and specificity 82%, using threshold value for 46.14. Conclusion BNP concentrations and APCHE II scores were more elevated in nonsurvivors than survivors in patients with ARDS who have normal ejection fraction. BNP can predict mortality. Further study should be done.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.75-79
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• 2016

Purpose The ASAN Medical Center, Nuclear Medicine performs TSH (Thyroid stimulating hormone) and FT4 (Free Thyroxine) tests 8 times per day. Accordingly, 70 ~ 80 kit tubes are consumed every day for the measurements and the time consumed for reagent dispensing averages over 170 seconds, where the TAT (turnaround time) may be effected when the number of test samples is larger than expected. Therefore, the following test was conducted with the purpose to reduce the number of kit tubes consumed, and reduce the time for reagent dispensing. Materials and Methods The test is based on applying the same reagent for tests where the number of samples is 30 or less. The test for TSH was conducted 9 times from July $1^{st}$ 2015 to July $10^{th}$ 2015. The test for FT4 was conducted 4 times from June $18^{th}$ 2015 to June $22^{nd}$, 2015. Standard Solution No.2 (0.153 uU/mL) and No.5 (4.96 uU/mL) was selected as the two-point standards for the TSH test, and Standard Solution No.3 (0.777 ng/dL) and No.4 (2.044 ng/dL) was selected as the two-point standards for the FT4 test. 38 test samples were subject to correlation analysis. Results For TSH, the result of the normal test shows ranges of 0.20 ~ 0.37 uU/mL for Control1, 0.53 ~ 0.71 uU/mL for Control2, and 6.77 ~ 7.94uU/mL for Control3, while the result of two-point calibration curve test shows ranges of 0.18 ~ 0.27 uU/mL for Control1, 0.53 ~ 0.71 uU/mL for Control2, and 7.30 ~ 8.52 uU/mL for Control3. For FT4, the result of the normal test shows ranges of 0.85 ~ 0.94 ng/dL for Control1 and 4.23 ~ 4.57 ng/dL for Control2, while the result of two-point calibration curve test shows ranges of 0.61 ~ 0.75 ng/dL for Control1 and 3.88 ~ 5.71 ng/dL for Control2. For TSH, the CV% of the normal test for Control1, Control2 and Control3 are 10.5, 3.3 and 3.6 respectively, while the CV% of the two-point calibration curve test for Control1 and Control1 are 12.4, 8.2 and 5.1 respectively. The result shows an outstanding correlation of TSH: y = 0.9985x - 0.0459 $R^2=0.9986$. For FT4, the CV% of the normal test for Control1 and Control2 are 0.70 and 0.71 respectively, while the CV% of the two-point calibration curve test for Control1 and Control1 are 8.7 and 16.2 respectively. The result shows an outstanding correlation of FT4: y = 1.2674x - 0.1133 $R^2=0.9824$. Conclusion The two-point calibration curve can be efficiently applied for TSH in cases where the number of test samples is not large, since the number of samples to be re-tested increases when the result is abnormal from the calibration curve. The two-point calibration curve test should not be applied for FT4 where the results do not consistently comply with the quality assessment range. Depending on how the two-point calibration curve is applied, up to 5 test tubes can be conserved per test, and the reduced time for reagent dispensing is anticipated to have a positive effect on the TAT (turnaround time).

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.148-153
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• 2005

Purpose: To analyze the clinical result of the arthroscopic reduction and fixation for the displaced tibial spine fractures in children and report the utility of the arthroscopic treatment with the review of the literature. Methods: Between December 2000 and July 2004, five patients (average age 9.1 years) received an arthroscopic reduction and fixation of displaced tibial spine fracture. A male-to-female ratio was 3:2 and mean follow-up was 38.2$(13{\sim}56)$ months. All five patients were classified type III by Movers and McKeever classification. The average period from injury to operation was 4.8 days $(3{\sim}8days)$, the avulsed fragment was reduced by operative arthroscopy and fixated by pull-out suture in 3 patients and by cannulated screw in 2 patients. Postoperatively long leg cast was applied for 2 weeks, and then gradual range-of-motion exercise was permitted. Full weight-bearing ambulation was permitted after 6 weeks. The clinical evaluation was performed by range of motion, Lachman and pivot shift test, KT-1000 arthrometer, Lysholm knee score and the modified Feagin score. Results: All five patients had no symptom and recovered full range of motion of the affected knees. Lachman test was positive finding of 1+ laxity in one patient, the others were negative, and all patients were negative findings for pivot shift test. The result of KT-1000 arthrometric assessment is mean maximum side-to-side differences 1.9 mm. Average Lysholm knee score was 99.4. All patients had excellent results in modified Feagin score. Conclusion: Arthroscopic reduction and fixation of displaced tibial spine fracture in children showed excellent result without complication. Both pull-out suture fixation and cannulated fixation provide an effective treatment option for fixation of the displaced anterior tibial spine fracture.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제47권1호
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• pp.66-76
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• 1999

Background : To assess the utility of HRCT in the evaluation of visceral pleural invasion and to determine whether visceral pleural invasion and bronchovascular bundle thickening on the same lobe could be related to the recurrence and survival in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) Method: Eighty one patients, which were fulfilled long-term follow-up at least 18 months (maximum 103 months) among which 434 patients had underwent curative surgical resection for NSCLC from 1986 to 1995, were studied. They were analyzed to evaluate whether the prognostic factors such as the recurrence and survival depend on visceral pleural invasion and bronchovascular bundle thickening to the same lobe. Thirty two patients adjacent to a chest wall or a fissure were evaluated for visceral pleural invasion by HRCT. CT criteria included abutting pleura along the chest wall, abutting and/or compressing fissure, croosing fissure, and pleural tail. Results: The positive predictive value and the negative predictive value of crossing fissure were 100% and 100%, respectively. Two patients showing spiculated interface between a mass and abutting fissure were confirmed to have visceral pleural invasion at surgery. Visceral pleural invasion confirmed at surgery was significant to local recurrence and survival (p<.05. p<.05, respectively). Brochovascular bundle thickening to the same lobe on CT scan was significant to survival (p<.05) but was not significant to local and distant recurrence (p>.05). Conclusion : Visceral pleural invasion and bronchovascular bundle thickening to the same lobe have a role in predicting prognosis such as recurrence and survival in NSCLC. Therefore, the analysis of visceral pleural invasion on CT scan and the pathological analysis of bronchovascular bundle thickening to the same lobe may be necessary to predict the prognosis in NSCLC.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.87-99
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• 2016

Purpose : This study will evaluate the clinical utility by applying clinical schematic that uses monoenergy or dual energy as according to the location of tumors to the stereotactic radiotherapy to compare the change in actual dose given to the real tumor and the dose that locates adjacent to the tumor. Materials and Methods : CT images from a total of 10 patients were obtained and the clinical planning were planned based on the volumetric modulated arc therapy on monoenergy and dual energy. To analyze the change factor in the tumor, Comformity Index(CI) and Homogeneity Index(HI) and maximum dose quantity were each calculated and comparing the dose distribution on normal tissues, $V_{10}$ and $V_5$, first ~ fourth ribs closest to the tumor ($1^{st}{\sim}4^{th}$ Rib), Spinal Cord, Esophagus and Trachea were selected. Also, in order to confirm the accuracy on which the planned dose distribution is really measured, the 2-dimensional ion chamber array was used to measure the dose distribution. Results : As of the tumor factor, CI and HI showed a number close to 1 when the two energies were used. As of the maximum dose, the front chest wall showed 2% and the dorsal tumor showed equivalent value. As of normal tissue, the front chest wall tumors were reduced by 4%, 5% when both energies were used in the adjacent rib and as of trachea, reduced by 11%, 17%. As of the dose in the lung, as of $V_{10}$, it reduced by 1.5%, $V_5$ by 1%. As of the rear chest wall, when both energies were used, the ribs adjacent to the tumors showed 6%, 1%, 4%, 12% reduction, and in the lung dose distribution, $V_{10}$ reduced by 3%, and $V_5$ reduced by 3.1%. The dose measurement in all energies were in accordance to the results of Gamma Index 3mm/3%. Conclusion : It is considered that rather than using monoenergy, utilizing double energy in the clinical setting can be more effectively applied to the superficial tumors.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제65권6호
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• pp.471-475
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• 2008

Background: In order to achieve a maintenance level and to prevent hemorrhagic complications, regular monitoring of the INR is mandatory for patients on oral anticoagulation therapy (OAT). A point-of-care instrument for INR monitoring is convenient for users, but the accuracy of the results has been controversial, and so this calls for exact evaluation of the point-of-care instrument that is used for INR monitoring. Methods: From Aug 2007 through Feb 2008, 85 patients on OAT among the all the patients who were admitted to Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital were involved in this study. Parallel measurements of the PT INR were performed using a CoaguChek-XS and, a CA-7000 laboratory reference instrument and the results were analyzed. In addition, the patients' clinical data, including the diagnosis and the frequency and interval of the INR measurements, were also analyzed. Results: Of the 85 patients, 25 were admitted more than once to undergo INR testing and the mean interval between testing was 8.6 weeks with 39% and 38% of the tests being less than INR 2 units with using the CoaguChek-XS and the reference method, respectively. The coefficients of variation of CoaguChek-XS were 4.50 and 2.45 for the high and low INR patients, respectively. An excellent correlation was found between the two methods with a $R^2$ of 0.966 (p<0.001). Through Bland-Altman analysis, the mean INR difference between the two methods was 0.13 with the limit of agreement being -0.47~+0.72 with a 95% confidence interval. CoaguChek-XS was shown to overestimate the INR value for patients with an increasing INR, as compared to the reference method. Conclusion: CoaguChek-XS demonstrated great precision and accuracy for patients on OAT when compared to the laboratory INR results. Accordingly, the instrument should help to monitor the INR in the patients on OAT.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제51권12호
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• pp.1329-1335
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• 2008

Purpose : This study aimed to determine the best cutoff line for insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP)-3 to discriminate between growth hormone deficiency (GHD) patients and the control group. Methods : Two hundred thirty subjects with normal controls (129 boys and 101 girls, aged 7-15 years), 14 patients with complete GHD (12 boys and 2 girls), and 17 patients with partial GHD (9 boys and 8 girls) were studied. IGF-I serum concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay (RI), and IGFBP-3 concentrations were measured by immunoradiometric assay (IRMA). Results : The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) plot analysis showed that the best IGF-I and IGFBP-3 cutoff line was at -1 standard deviation (SD). By comparing IGF-I serum levels of GHD children within 1 SD of normal control, we determined the sensitivity (S) (87.5-100%) and specificity (Sp) (80-84.6%) according to the age group. For IGFBP-3, we determined the following values: S (58.7-85.7%) and Sp (79.2-85.5%). Eleven of 14 patients with complete GHD (78.5%) and 16 of 17 patients with partial GHD (94.1%) had IGF-I concentrations equal to or below -1 SD of the control group mean. Ten of 12 complete GHD children (83.3%) and 13 of 17 partial GHD children (76.5%) had IGFBP-3 concentrations equal or below -1 SD of the control group mean. Conclusion : We conclude that the measurement of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 concentrations might provide essential supplementary data in the diagnostic evaluation of patients with GHD. Our results support the need to use cutoff lines based on below -1 SD of the control.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• 제26권2호
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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.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• 제43권6호
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• pp.565-571
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• 2009

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical value of rectal gas distension F-18 FDG PET/CT imaging for the differentiation of the rectal focal uptake lesions. Materials and Methods: Twenty four patients (M:F=11:13, Age $62.8{\pm}12.4$ years) underwent rectal gas distension F-18 FDG PET/CT, prospectively: initial image at 50-60 min after the intravenous injection of F-18 FDG and rectal distension image after the infusion of air through the anus. Focally increased uptake lesions on initial images but disappeared on rectal distension images defined a physiological uptake. For the differential evaluation of persistent focal uptake lesions on rectal distension images, colonoscopy and histopathologic examination were performed. Results: Among the 24 patients, 27 lesions of focal rectal uptake were detected on initial images of F-18 FDG PET/CT. Of these, 7 lesions were able to judge with physiological uptake because the focal increased uptake disappeared from rectal distension image. Remaining 3 lesions were non-rectal lesions (2 lesions: rectovesical space, 1 lesion: uterine myoma). Among 17 lesions which was showed persistent increased uptake in rectal distension image, 15 lesions were confirmed as the malignant tumor (SUVmax=$15.9{\pm}6.8$) and 2 lesions were confirmed as the benign lesions including adenoma and inflammatory disease. Conclusion: The rectal distension F-18 FDG PET/CT imaging could be an important noninvasive method for the differentiation of malignant and benign focal rectal uptake lesions including physiologic uptake.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.81-85
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• 2011

Purpose: With the introduction of PET since 1994, test methods have made rapid progress. Accordingly, the studies on the diagnosis and treatment of cancer as well as treatment response evaluation PET test are useful. However, it is difficult to divide stomach lesions and secretion. The purpose of this study is to reduce additional shooting by dividing lesions and secretion of stomach. Materials and Method: This study aiming at total 228 cancer patients was conducted from Aug 18 to Sep. 10, 2010. Among them, 115 patients had a test without water intake before shooting from Aug. 8 to 31 and 113 had a test after drinking 500 cc water right before shooting from Sep. 1 to 10 The Discovery ST PET/CT (GE Healthcare, USA) was used, and pearson's chi-square test was conducted to analyze significance through SPSS (Ver.18). Results: Among the total 228 cancer patients, there were 115 who had a test without water intake before shooting, 89 who had no double additional shooting, 13 who had stomach additional shooting and 13 who had other additional shooting. In addition, 109 had no additional shooting among 113 who had a test after taking 500 cc water, 1 had stomach additional shooting and 3 had other additional shooting. According to the findings above, the patients who had a test without water intake show reduced additional shooting, but for more exact significance, pearson's Chi-square test was carried out and the significance percentage was 0.001 that is smaller than 0.05, which means two groups have a significant relationship. As the minimum expectation frequency was 6.94 and there was no expectation frequency smaller than 5, so that it doesn't need to carry out pearson's exact verification. Conclusion: The above analysis has found that if one drinks 500cc water before the test, not only stomach additional shooting but also other additional shooting can be dramatically reduced, and test delay can be also reduced.