• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.11
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• pp.897-902
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• 2004

Background: Although great concerns have been raised regarding the suitability of the use of the radial artery as a bypass conduit after transradial catheterization, there has been no studies that examined this issue in Korea. The purpose of this study was to compare clinical and angiographic results of radial artery grafting between patients with and without previous transradial catheterization. Material and Method: From January 2000 to February 2004, a total of 93 patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting using the radial artery: 49 patients received preoperative transradial catheterization for coronary angiography (group I) and 44 patients did not (group II). These patients were retrospectively reviewed. Result: There was no significant difference in sex ratio, age, clinical diagnosis, risk factors, ejection fraction and early clinical outcomes between two groups. The graft patency rates in groups I and II were both 100% in the internal thoracic artery and in the radial artery, and 85% and 86% in the saphenous vein. respectively. The stenosis-free graft patency in groups I and II were 93% and 81% in the radial artery respectively but no statistical significance was shown. Conclusion: There was no significant difference in graft patency at postoperative coronary angiography between two groups. Radial artery graft after transradial catherization seems to be suitable for bypass conduit in short-term analysis.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.206-213
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• 1994

We studied 90 patients(179 femoral heads) with avascular necrosis of femoral head, who had been performed X-ray, bone scan and MRI to compare of the findings of AVN on bone scan between each other, retrospectively. The patients were 82 males and 9 females, their mean age was 45 years. Radiographic stages were classified by Steinberg modification, radionuclide stages were classified as followed; stage o(or type 0) : normal, stage 1 : faint ring like uptake around the femoral head, stage 2: intense ring like uptake, stage 3: irregular increased uptake with central photon defect, stage 4 : Intense diffuse increased uptake at femoral head and stage 5 : hip joint deformity with relatively mild increased uptake. The findings of MRI were classified according to extent, location, early or advanced lesion, signal intensity of the lesion and joint effusion. 156(87%) of 179 femoral heads had avascular necrosis, 68(75.5%) of 90 patients had bilateral AVN, 35 femoral heads had early stage and 120 had advanced stage. The detection rate of AVN by X-ray and bone scan were 85% (134), 91.6% (143), respectively. Early AVN with atypical types of bone scan showed larger extent, moderate to large amount of joint effusion, soft tissue hypertrophy within joint, and secondary degenerative changes. Bone scan had relatively high detection rate in the diagnosis of AVN of femoral head, and demonstrated various types depending on the disease stage.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.44-51
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• 2003

Purpose : Acute pyelonephritis in children may result in permanant renal damage which later in life may lead to hypertension and renal failure. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the factors that might be useful for predicting the development of renal scar in children with urinary tract infection(UTI). Methods : We retrospectively reviewed 442 patients with UTI who were admitted to the Department of Pediatrics of Chonbuk National University Hospital, during the period from April 1992 to March 2002. The patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of renal scar on the follow-up DMSA renal scan, and we compared the factors associated with renal scarring between the two groups. Results : There were no significant differences in sex, causative organism and acute phase reactants between the groups with and without renal scar. The age at diagnosis was significantly higher in the renal scar group compared to that without scar. Of the 60 patients with renal scar, 78% had vesicoureteral reflux(VUR), but 13% of patients without scar had VUR. Furthermore, the severity of VUR was significantly correlated with renal scar formation. 53% showed multiple cortical defects on the initial DMSA renal scan, compared to 32% in the non-scar group. In addition, 76% of patients showing multiple cortical defects on the initial DMSA renal scan with VUR had renal scar. Conclusion : The presence and grade of VUR, and findings on the initial DMSA renal scan would contribute to predict risk of renal scar formation in children with UTI.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.170-177
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• 2008

Purpose : The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the incidence of relapse or nephritis might be influenced by the duration of corticosteroid therapy in children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura(HSP). Methods : We retrospectively analyzed 186 children with a diagnosis of HSP in two major hospitals in Ilsan, Korea from the years 2000 to 2003. To evaluate whether renal involvement or relapse might be influenced by the duration of corticosteroid therapy in children with HSP, one pediatric nephrologist from hospital A, maintained corticosteroid therapy for at least 2 weeks(Group A, n=94). The other from hospital B used only during the symptomatic period(Group B, n=92). Results : There were no significant differences in age, sex, body weight, white blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelet count, serum protein and albumin levels between the two groups. The incidence of abdominal pain or arthralgia also did not differ between two groups. However, the duration of steroid therapy was significantly longer in Group A than in Group B and the cumulative dose of prednisolone was also higher in Group A than in Group B. The development of nephritis was more frequent in Group A. Conclusion : The longer duration of steroid use was not associated with the decreased rate of nephritis. Therefore, corticosteroids should be used carefully in a selected group of HSP children, and be tapered rapidly after control of the acute symptoms.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.249-258
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• 1993

Between March 1983 and December 1989, ninety-six patients with intracranial glioma were treated in the Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic University Medical College. We retrospectively reviewed each case to evaluate variable factors influencing the treatment results and to develop an optimal therapy Policy. Median follow-up is 57 months (range: 31~133 months). Of the 96 patients, 60 $(63\%)$ were males and 36 $(37\%)$ were females. Ages ranged from 3 to 69 years (median 42 years). The most common presenting symtoms were headeche $(67\%)$ followed by cerebral motor and sensory discrepancy $(54\%),$ nausea and vomiting $(34\%),$ seizure $(19\%),$ mental change $(10\%)$ and memory and calculation impairment $(8\%).$ Eighty five $(88.5\%)$ patients all, except 11 $(11.5\%)$ brain stem lesions, were biopsy proven intracranial glioma. The distribution by histologic type was 64 astrocytomas $(75\%),$ 4 mixed oligoastrocytomas $(5\%),$ and 17 oligodendrogliomas $(20\%).$ Fourty nine patients $(58\%$ were grade I, II histology and 36 $(42\%)$ patients were grade III, IV histology. Of the 96 patients, 64 $(67\%)$ recieved postoperative RT and 32 $(33\%)$ were treated with primary radiotherapy. Gross total resection was peformed in 14 $(16\%)$ patients, subtotal resection En 29 $(34\%),$ partial resection in 21 $(25\%),$ and biopsy only in 21 $(25\%).$ Median survival time was 53 months (range 2~ 133 months), and 2- and, 5-year survival rate were $69\%,49\%$ respectively. 5-year survival rate by histologic grade was grade I, $70\%,$ grade II, $58\%,$ grade III, $28\%,$ and grade IV, $15\%.$ Multivariated analysis demonstrate that age at diagnosis (p=0.0121), Karnofsky performance Status (KPS) (p=0.0002), histologic grade (p=0.0001), postoperative radiation therapy (p=0.0278), surgical extent (p =0.024), cerebellar location of tumor (p=0.0095) were significant prognostic factors influencing on survival.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.409-414
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• 2001

Background : Legionella pneumophila has been recognized as an important cause of community-acquired pneumonia(CAP) requiring hospitalization. However, epidemiological data on the occurrence of legionella-related pneumonia is unavailable in Korea. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the etiological importance of legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 in patients hospitalized with CAP. Method : The CAP patients over 16 year-old were recruited from July 1999 to June 2000 at the Chunchon Sacred Heart Hospital. Fifty four patients (male 29, female 25, average age $63.8{\pm}15.3$) were included in this study. A diagnosis of a legionella pneumophila infection was based on a urinary antigen test using the Binax Company enzyme immunoassay. The severity of pneumonia was assessed using the Fine's PORT scoring system. Result : The average Fine's PORT score was 99.7(${\pm}44.9$). According to the risk classification proposed by the Infectious Disease Society of America, the number of patients in each class(from class I to class V) were 6(11.1%), 13(24.1%), 9(16.7%), 14(25.8%), and 12(22.2%), respectively. Thirty two patients(59.3%) were initially admitted to the intensive care unit. The mortality rate was 16.7%(9 in 54). In all patients, urinary antigens to Legionella pnewnophila serogroup 1 were not detected. Conclusion : Legionella pnewnophila may play little role in causing adult CAP in Korea. Therefore, the routine use of macrolide in the empirical treatment of the CAP patients based upon the ATS guidelines(1993) in Korea should be reevaluated.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.192-198
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• 1993

In 1984, a magnetic resonance spectrometer(magnetic resonance analyser, MRA $I_{TM}$) was developed by Sigrid Lipsett and Ronald J. Weinstock in the USA, Biomedical applications of the spectrometer have been examined by Dr. Hoang Van Duc(pathologist, USC), and Nakamura, et al(Japan). From their theoretical views, the biophysical functions of this machine are to analyse and synthesize a healthy tissue and organ resonance pattern, and to detect and correct an abnormal tissue and organ resonance pattern. All of the above functions are based on Quantum physics. The healthy tissue and organ resonance patterns are predetermined as standard magnetic resonance patterns by digitizing values based on peak resonance emissions(response levels or high pitched echo-sounds amplified via human body). In clinical practice, a counter or neutralizing resonance pattern calculated by the spectrometer can correct a phase-shifted resonance pattern(response levels or low pitched echo-sounds) of a diseased tissue and organ. By administering the counter resonance pattern into the site of pain and trigger point, it is possible to readjust the phase-shifted resonance pattern and then to alleviate pain through regulation of the neurotransmitter function of the nervous system. For assessing clinical effectiveness of pain relief with MRA $I_{TM}$ this study was designed to estimate pain intensity by the patient's subjective verbal rating scale(VRS such as graded to no pain, mild, moderate and severe) before application of it, to evaluate an amount of pain relief as applied the spectrometer by the patients subjective pain relief scale(visual analogue scale, VAS, 0~100%), and then to observe a continuation of pain relief following its application for managing acute and chronic pain in the 102 patients during an 8 months period beginning March, 1993. An application time of the spectrometer ranged from 15 to 30 minutes daily in each patient at or near the site of pain and trigger point when the patient wanted to be treated. The subjects consisted of 54 males and 48 females, with the age distribution between 23~40 years in 29 cases, 41~60 years in 48 cases and 61~76 years in 25 cases respectively(Table 1). The kinds of diagnosis and the main site of pain, the duration of pain before the application, and the frequency of it's application were recorded on the Table 2, 3 and 4. A distinction between acute and chronic pain was defined according to both of the pain intervals lasting within and over 3 months. The results of application of the spectrometer were noted as follows; In 51 cases of acute pain before the application, the pain intensities were rated mild in 10 cases, moderate in 15 cases and severe in 26 cases. The amounts of pain relief were noted as between 30~50% in 9 cases, 51~70% in 13 cases and 71~95% in 29 cases. The continuation of pain relief appeared between 6~24 hours in two cases, 2~5 days in 10 cases, 6~14 days in 4 cases, 15 days in one case, and completely relived of pain in 34 cases(Table 5~7). In 51 cases of chronic pain before the application, the pain intensities were rated mild in 12 cases, moderate in l8 cases and severe in 21 cases. The amounts of pain relief were noted as between 0~50% in 10 cases, 51~70% in 27 cases and 71~90% in 14 cases. The continuation of pain relief appeared to have no effect in two cases. The level of effective duration was between 6~12 hours in two cases, 2~5 days in 11 cases, 6~14 days in 14 cases, 15~60 days in 9 cases and in 13 cases the patient was completely relieved of pain(Table 5~7). There were no complications in the patients except a mild reddening and tingling sensation of skin while applying the spectrometer. Total amounts of pain relief in all of the subjects were accounted as poor and fair in 19(18.6%) cases, good in 40(39.2%) cases and excellent in 43(42.2%) cases. The clinical effectiveness of MRA $I_{TM}$ showed variable distributions from no improvements to complete relief of pain by the patient's assessment. In conclusion, we suggest that MRA $I_{TM}$ may be successful in immediate and continued pain relief but still requires several treatments for continued relief and may be gradually effective in pain relief while being applied repeatedly.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.45-51
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• 2003

A nationwide survey on choledochal cyst was undertaken among 39 members of the Korean Association of Pediatric Surgeons. The members were required to complete a questionnaire and the case registration form for each patient during the five year period of 1997 to 2001. Three hundred and forty eight patients were registered from 32 institutions. The average number of patients per surgeon was one to two every year. The male to female ratio was 1:3.4. The age of patients on diagnosis was $49.0{\pm}44.4$ months. The geographic distribution was 34.8% in Seoul and Kyoungki-do, 33.3% in Kyoungsang-do, 17.9% in Cholla-do, and 8.5% in Choongchung-do, in order of frequency. The three common clinical presentations were abdominal pain (63.8%), vomiting (35.3%), and jaundice (29.1%). Only seven patients (2%) presented with classic triad, and 25 patients were diagnosed by antenatal ultrasonographic examination. According to the Todani Classification, 238 patients (7l.3%) were type 1, 3 (0.9%) type 11, and 93 (27.8%) type IV. At the time of the operation, three important associated conditions were choledocholithiasis in 45 patients (15.1%), liver fibrosis (Grade 1-4) in 35, and previous operative procedure for biliary diseases in 10. Associated anomalies were observed in 13 patients (3.8%). Three hundred thirty nine (98.8%) of 343 lesions were treated by Cyst excision and Roux-Y hepaticoiejunostomy. One hundred seventy-six patients had an anomalous arrangement of the pancreatobiliary ductal system (APBD): APBD was not in 92 patients, biliary duct joined to the pancreatic duct in 51, and pancreatic duct joined to the biliary duct in 26. There were 8.5% early, and 7.7% late phase operative complications. The major complications were bleeding, anastomotic leakage, and acute pancreatitis. The combination of acute abdomen and choledochal cyst may suggest spontaneous rupture. Because of the development of late intrahepatic bile duct stones, long term follow up after cyst excision and hepaticojejunostomy is required. The optimal time of surgical intervention should also be considered in the situation of routine use of antenatal ultrasonographic examination. This is the first review of the choledochal cyst in Korea and provides baseline data for future comparisons.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.401-408
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• 1997

Background : Pulmonary sequestration is a rare congenital malformation, which is manifested by formation of nonfunctioning lung tissue lacking normal communication with the tracheobronchial tree. The preoperative diagnostic rate has been relatively low, and without consideration of pulmonary sequestration, unexpected bleeding from aberrant vessels may be a serious problem during the operation. The purpose of our study is to describe the clinical features of pulmonary sequestration based on a review of 15 cases treated by operation. Method : Fifteen patients with pulmonary sequestration who had undergone surgical treatment from 1991 through May 1996 at Yongdong Severance Hospital and Severance Hospital were reviewed retrospectively. Results : The mean age of the patients was 22.5 years (range 5~57), and male to female ratio was 9 : 6. Clinical presentations varied from recurrent respiratory infections such as fever, cough, and sputum or chest pain to no symptom. The chest simple X-rays showed multicystic shadow(10/15) and solid mass-like shadow(5/15). The chest CT scans, done in twelve cases, showed multicystic lesion with or without lung infiltration(8/12), solid mass-like lesion(4/12), The chest MRIs, done in three cases, revealed the aberrant arteries originating from descending aorta(2/3). Aortograms, done in four cases, showed the aberrant arteries originating from descending thoracic aorta(2/4), abdominal aorta(I/4), and intercostal artery(1/4). and the venous returns were via the pulmonary veins. Pulmonary sequestration was considered preoperatively in six patients of fifteen. Other preliminary diagnosis were lung tumor(3/15), lung abscess(21/15), bronchiectasis(2/15), and mediastinal tumor(2/15). In the operative findings, twelve cases were of intralobar type and three cases of extralobar type. The left lower lobe was most often affected(9/15) and one extralobar sequestration was in the pericardium. The aberrant arteries originated from descending thoracic aorta(6/15), abdominal aorta(1/15), internal thoracic arteries (2/15), intercostal artery(1/15), pericardiophrenic artery(1/15), but in four cases, the origins could not be defined. There was no mortality or complication postoperatively. Conclusion : In our study, preoperative diagnostic rate was relatively low, and clinical features were similar to previous reports. Preoperative vigorous diagnostic approach including aortography is strongly advocated not only for its diagnostic value, but also for accurate localization of the aberrant vessels, which is major concern to surgical procedure.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.126-132
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• 1999

Objectives: The purposes of this study were to investigate 1) the incidence of insomnia, 2) the clinical characteristics of the insomniacs, 3) the correlation of severity of insomnia with somatic complaints and psychological distresses, and 4) the beliefs and attitudes about sleep in patients with chronic renal failure on hemodialysis. Methods: The author evaluated 153 patients, receiving hemodialysis therapy at the four outpatients hemodialysis units in Pusan, Korea. The patients had completed a self-administered questionnaire package, which consisted of basic demographic findings, questions characterizing insomnia, Beck Depression Inventory(BDI), Spielburger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI), and visual analogue scales measuring quantitatively the severity of the self-perceived psychological and somatic symptoms. And several laboratory data were collected. Diagnosis of insomnia was made in the base of insomnia criteria of DSM-IV and international classification of sleep disorders. Subjects were dichotomized into those who reported any characteristics of insomnia or those who had no insomnia during the preceding two weeks. Results: Insomnia was found in 100(65.4%) of 153 patients. No statistical differences were found between the patients with and without insomnia in terms of age, gender, education, marital status, mean duration of hemodialysis and all considered laboratory findings except serum albumin. The patients with insomnia had significantly higher BDI score and predialysis systolic blood pressure, and lower serum albumin as compared to non-insomnia group. Significant differences were found between two groups in terms of self-perceived distress such as sadness, anxiety, worry, pruritus, and dysfunction of daily life. The data showed statistically significant correlation between insomnia severity and some variables such as physical dysfunction, pruritus, bone pain, sadness, anxiety, worry, dysfunction of daily life and excessive daytime sleepiness. The patients with insomnia had significantly several dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep than those without insomnia. Conclusion: These results indicate that insomnia is very common in hemodialysis patients and likely contribute to the impaired quality of life experienced by many these patients. The author suggests that physical and psychological distresses would be reduced and the quality of life could be improved if their sleep disturbances are properly ameliorated in patients on hemodialysis.