• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.497-508
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• 1998

Purpose: Using rest T1-201/dipyridamole stress gated Tc-99m-MIBI/ 24 hour delay T1-201 SPECT, we investigated the predictive values of the markers of the stress-rest reversibility (Rev), T1-201 rest perfusion (Rest), T1-201 24 hour redistribution (Del) and Tc-99m-MIBI gated systolic thickening (Thk) for wall motion improvement after coronary artery bypass surgery. Materials and Methods: In 39 patients (M;F= 34:5, age $58{\pm}8$), preoperative and postoperative (3 months) SPECT were compared. 24 hour delayed SPECT was done in 16 patients having perfusion defects at rest. Perfusion or wall motion was scored from 0 to 3 (0: normal to 3: defect or dyskinesia). Wall motion was abnormal in 142 segments among 585 segments of 99 artery territories which were surgically revascularized. Results: After bypass surgery, ejection fraction increased from $37.8{\pm}9.0%$ to $45.5{\pm}12.3%$ in 22 patients who had decreased ejection fraction preoperatively. Wall motion improved in 103 (72.5%) segments among 142 dysfunctional segments. Positive predictive values (PPV) of Rev, Rest, Del, and Thk were 83%, 76%, 43%, and 69% respectively. Negative predictive values (NPV) of Rev, Rest, Del, and Thk were 48%, 44%, 58%, and 21%, respectively. Rest/gated stress/delay SPECT had PPV of 74% and NPV of 46%. Though univariate logistic regression analysis revealed Rev (p=0.0008) and Rest (p=0.024) as significant predictors, stepwise multivariate test found Rev as the only good predictor (p=0.0008). Conclusion: Among independent predictors obtained by rest T1-201/ stress gated Tc-99m-MIBI/ delayed T1-201 myocardial SPECT for wall motion improvement after bypass surgery, stress-rest reversibility was the single most useful predictor.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.9 s.254
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• pp.627-632
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• 2005

Background: The video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) with 2 mm thoracoscopy in primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) was known to be unreliable in its accuracy and recurrence rate. We compared 10 mm VATS with 2 mm VATS in the results of operation. Material and Method: From Sept. 1998 to Dec. 2002, 176 cases (10 mm VATS; 73 cases, 2 mm VATS; 103 cases) of PSP were treated by VATS blob resection at Korea University Ansan Hospital. 10 mm thoracoscope, 5 mm port, and 5 mm instruments were used in 10 mm VATS group, and 2 mm thoracoscope, 2 mm ports and 2 mm instruments used in 2 mn VATS group. In the two groups, staples were inserted through 11.5 mm port for chest tube. Result: The mean follow-up duration was 20,8$\pm$16.1 months in 10 mm VATS group, and 13.9 $\pm$8.2 months in 2 mm VATS. The most common indication of operation was a recurrent pneumothorax ($34\%$) in 10 mm VATS and patient's desire ($40\%$) in 2 mm VATS, respectively. The operation time, number of staples used in operation, postoperative chest tube keeping days, postoperative total amount of drainage, and postoperative hospitalization days were statistically lower in 2 mm VATS. Other significant variables affecting the operation time in linear regression analysis were the number of staples that used in operation, the presence of pleural adhesion, and type of pleurodesis and thoracoscope used in operation. However, $R^2$ values were lower than 0.1. The postoperative recurrence rate was $2.7\%$ in 10 mm VATS and $2.9\%$ in 2 mm VATS. It was not significant statistically. Recurrent cases developed within 1 year in both groups but the difference was statistically insignificant. Conclusion: Although there were differences in follow-up duration between two groups, the operation time, number of staples that used in operation, postoperative chest tube keeping days, postoperative total amount of drainage, and postoperative hospitalization days were statistically lower in 2 mm VATS. And in 2 mm VATS, there were no technical difficulties during operation and no differences in recurrence rate from 10 mm VATS. As a result, we suggest that 2 mm VATS can be used in the treatment of PSP.

• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.185-205
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• 2010

Climate change vulnerability assessment based on local conditions is a prerequisite for establishment of climate change adaptation policies. While some studies have developed a methodology for vulnerability assessment at the national level using statistical data, few attempts, whether domestic or overseas, have been made to develop methods for local vulnerability assessments that are easily applicable to a single city. Accordingly, the objective of this study was to develop a conceptual framework for climate change vulnerability, and then develop a general methodology for assessment at the regional level applied to a single coastal city, Mokpo, in Jeolla province, Korea. We followed the conceptual framework of climate change vulnerability proposed by the IPCC (1996) which consists of "climate exposure," "systemic sensitivity," and "systemic adaptive capacity." "Climate exposure" was designated as sea level rises of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 meter(s), allowing for a simple scenario for sea level rises. Should more complex forecasts of sea level rises be required later, the methodology developed herein can be easily scaled and transferred to other projects. Mokpo was chosen as a seaside city on the southwest coast of Korea, where all cities have experienced rising sea levels. Mokpo has experienced the largest sea level increases of all, and is a region where abnormal high tide events have become a significant threat; especially subsequent to the construction of an estuary dam and breakwaters. Sensitivity to sea level rises was measured by the percentage of flooded area for each administrative region within Mokpo evaluated via simulations using GIS techniques. Population density, particularly that of senior citizens, was also factored in. Adaptive capacity was considered from both the "hardware" and "software" aspects. "Hardware" adaptive capacity was incorporated by considering the presence (or lack thereof) of breakwaters and seawalls, as well as their height. "Software" adaptive capacity was measured using a survey method. The survey questionnaire included economic status, awareness of climate change impact and adaptation, governance, and policy, and was distributed to 75 governmental officials working for Mokpo. Vulnerability to sea level rises was assessed by subtracting adaptive capacity from the sensitivity index. Application of the methodology to Mokpo indicated vulnerability was high for seven out of 20 administrative districts. The results of our methodology provides significant policy implications for the development of climate change adaptation policy as follows: 1) regions with high priority for climate change adaptation measures can be selected through a correlation diagram between vulnerabilities and records of previous flood damage, and 2) after review of existing short, mid, and long-term plans or projects in high priority areas, appropriate adaptation measures can be taken as per this study. Future studies should focus on expanding analysis of climate change exposure from sea level rises to other adverse climate related events, including heat waves, torrential rain, and drought etc.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.680-688
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• 2009

Purpose : Cysteinyl leukotrienes are important proinflammatory mediators in asthma. Recently, it was suggested that a promoter polymorphism in the genes encoding for leukotriene C4 synthase (LTC4S), a key enzyme in the leukotriene synthetic pathway, and cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 (CysLTR1) might be associated with aspirin-intolerant asthma. We investigated whether polymorphisms in LTC4S and CysLTR1 genes or their interactions were associated with the asthma phenotype, lung function, or bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR) in Korean children. Methods : A total of 856 asthmatic children and 254 non-asthmatic controls were enrolled; a skin prick test, lung function test and bronchial provocation test were performed. Of those enrolled, 395 children underwent exercise challenge tests. The LTC4S A(-444)C and CysLTR1 T(＋927)C were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Results : Of those enrolled, 699 children were classified as having atopic asthma and 277 children, as having exercise-induced asthma (EIA). LTC4S and CysLTR1 polymorphisms were not associated with atopic asthma, EIA, or asthma per se. Lung function and BHR were not significantly different between the wild type (AA or TT) and the variant (AC＋CC or TC＋CC) genotypes in asthmatics, atopic asthmatics, and EIA (＋) asthmatics, while total eosinophil counts were higher in the variant type of LTC4S than in the wild type in atopic asthmatics. There were no associations between the gene-gene interactions of LTC4S and CysLTR1 genotypes and the asthma phenotypes. Conclusion : LTC4S A(-444)C and CysLTR1 T(＋927)C polymorphisms and their gene-gene interactions are not associated with asthma phenotype, lung function, or BHR in Korean children.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.102-113
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• 2003

Purpose : Acute respiratory tract infections are the most common illnesses in children. The great majority of these infections involving lower respiratory tracts infections(LRTI) are caused by respiratory viruses such as respiratory syncytial virus(RSV), parainfluenza virus (PIV), influenza virus(INF), adenovirus(ADV), etc. Our purpose of this study was to examine the seasonal occurrence, clinical and laboratory features of each viral infections. Methods : Nasopharyngeal aspirates(NPA) were collected from 913 hospitalized children on the first day of admission. They were all admitted to Hangang Sacred Heart hospital and diagnosed as LRTIs. The study period was from September 1998 to August 2002. Specimens were inoculated onto HEp-2 cell, LLC-MK2 cell and MDCK cell. Viruses were detected by immunofluorescent method performed at day 10 postinoculation. Respiratory viruses were detected in 251(27%) cases. Medical records of 208 cases diagnosed as acute LRTIs were all taken reviewed and analyzed. Results : The identified pathogens were RSV 122 cases(58%), PIV 30 cases(14%), INFA 20 cases(10%), INFB 21 cases(11%) and ADV 15 cases(7%) during the study period. Outbreaks of RSV infections occurred every year but mostly on December, 1998 and November, 1999. LRTIs by PIV and ADV occurred during all seasons of the year. INFA was isolated moslty on March, 1999 and January, 2000. INFB infections occurred largely on April, 2002. The clinical diagnoses were bronchiolitis 88 cases(43%), pneumonia 87 cases(42%), croup 19 cases(9%) and tracheobronchitis 14 cases(6%). Common symptoms and signs were cough, rhinorrhea, sputum and fever. WBC counts in peripheral blood showed normal findings in 123 cases(59%). Each viral infections also showed some differences in auscultatory findings and chest X-ray findings. Conclusion : We learned that viruses are one of the major and important etiologic agents of acute LRTIs of children in Korea. However, we still need to find out more about its characteristic clinical features and continue studying on their seasonal occurrence to focus on their management and also prevention.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.599-612
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• 2017

Human hair (HH) is produced as a waste from beauty parlor and barbershop. HH-based adhesives were formulated with NaOH-hydrolyzed HH, $H_2SO_4$-hydrolyzed chicken blood (CB) and PF as a crosslinking agent. Physicochemical properties and retention rate against hot water of the adhesives were measured to investigate the potential of HH as a raw material of wood adhesives. HH was composed of keratin-type protein of 80% and over. Ash of less than 0.1% was contained in HH. Among the amino acids included in HH, glutamic acid showed the highest content, followed by cysteine, serine, arginine and threonine. Solid content of the adhesives ranged from 33.2% to 41.8% depending on hydrolysis conditions of HH and PF type. Viscosity at $25^{\circ}C$ ranged from 300 to $600mPa{\cdot}s$ resulting in a sprayable adhesive. Retention rate against hot water measured to evaluate the water resistance of adhesives was the highest in the cured resin formulated with 5% NaOH-hydrolyzed HH and 5% $H_2SO_4$-hydrolyzed CB. Meanwhile, the molar ratio of formaldehyde to phenol in PF did not have a significant impact on the retention rate of HH-based adhesives. When the retention rates of HH-based adhesives were compared to those of conventional wood adhesive resins used for the production of wood-based panels extensively, HH-based adhesives formulated with 30 wt% PF showed lower retention rate than commercial urea-formaldehyde resin. However, when PF content was increased to 35 wt%, the retention rate greatly increased and approached to that of commercial melamine-urea-formaldehyde resin. Except for the results mentioned above, the analysis of economic feasibility suggests that HH-based adhesives can be used for the production of wood-based panels if HH is hydrolyzed in proper conditions and then the HH-based adhesives are formulated by the HH hydrolyzates with 35 wt% PF.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.34-40
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• 2009

Background: The principal surgical technique for treating an abdominal aortic aneurysm since the 1960s has been the transperitoneal approach, yet there have been some recent studies that have reported improved surgical results with using the retroperitoneal approach. However, there are only limited clinical Korean studies that have, compared between the transperitoneal and retroperitoneal approaches. Material and Method: This study included 36 patients who had been diagnosed as having an aneurysm of the abdominal aorta and they were surgically treated between January 2001 and July 2007. The patients were subdivided into the retroperitoneal approach group (n=17) and the transperitoneal approach group (n=19), and they were compared in terms of the preoperative risk factors, the postoperative complications and the operative mortality. The risk factors of operative mortality risk and long-term survival for the 36 patients were assessed by the Kaplan-Meier method. Result: There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of gender, age, the underlying disease, a history of smoking, rupture of aneurysm, the preoperative symptoms, the operation time and the incidence of postoperative complications. However, the duration of postoperative fasting, the number of days of having an indwelling nasogastric tube and the length of the stay in the intensive care unit were significantly short for the retroperitoneal approach group (p<0.05). There was a 16.7% rate of operative mortality (6/36) and five of the deaths were attributed to preoperative ruptured aneurysm. On univariate analysis, a higher preoperative serum creatinine level (SCr ${\geq}$1.8 mg/dL, p=0.016) and ruptured aneurysm (p<0.001) were the significant risk factors of operative mortality. As assessed by the Kaplan-Meier method, the long-term survival was comparable between the groups and the five-year survival rate of all the patients was 57.5%. Conclusion: In the present study, a retroperitoneal approach has several advantages such as a shorter intensive care unit stay, a shorter duration of postoperative fasting and a shorter duration of an indwelling nasogastric tube. Therefore, unless there is any contraindication for a retroperitoneal approach, it could be considered as a primary surgical access for repairing an abdominal aortic aneurysm.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.380-387
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• 2016

This study was performed to select potentially available biological control agent from soil bacteria for prevention of ginseng damping off. More than five hundred strains were isolated from ginseng rhizosphere soil. By testing antifungal activity, we have selected three soil bacteria strains and their ability to produce antibiotics and lytic enzymes such as cellulase, protease and pectate lyase was examined. Also, the presence of genes for biosynthesis of lipopeptide such as fengycin, bacillomycin D, surfactin, iturin A, and zwittermicin A was investigated in selected strains. All three strains produced cellulase, protease, and xylanase. Moreover, these strains had gene for biosynthesis of bacillomycin D, surfactin, and iturin A. ES1 and ES3 strains were identified Bacillus methylotrophucus and ES2 was confirmed Bacillus amyloliquefaciens using phylogenetic analysis on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequences. In field test, control value of ES1, ES2 and ES3 treatment was 32.4%, 46.8% and 36.7%, respectively. This results indicate that antagonistic microbes with high ability of antifungal and lytic enzyme activity can be used as a useful biological control agent to control ginseng damping off.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.85-93
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• 2012

Purpose: It is essential to minimize the respiratory-induced motion of involved organs in the Tomotherapy for tumor located in the chest and abdominal region. However, the application of breathing control system to Tomotherapy is limited. This study was aimed to investigate the possible application of the ABCHES system and its efficacy as a means of breathing control in the tomotherapy treatment. Materials and Methods: Five subjects who were treated with a Hi-Art Tomotherapy system for lung, liver, gallbladder and pancreatic tumors. All patients undertook trained on two breathing methodes using an ABCHES, free breathing methode and shallow breathing methode. When the patients could carry out the breathing control, 4D-CT scan was a total of 10 4D tomographic images were acquired. A radiologist resident manually drew the tumor region, including surrounding nomal organs, on each of CT images at the inhalation phase, the exhalation phase and the 40% phase (mid-inhalation) and average CT image. Those CT images were then exported to the Tomotherapy planning station. Data exported from the Tomotherapy planning station was analyzed to quantify characteristics of dose-volume histograms and motion of tumors. Organ motions under free breathing and shallow breathing were examined six directions, respectively. Radiation exposure to the surrounding organs were also measured and compared. Results: Organ motion is in the six directions with more than a 5 mm displacement. A total of 12 Organ motions occurred during free breathing while organ motions decreased to 2 times during shallow breathing under the use of Abches. Based on the quantitative analysis of the dose-volume histograms shallow breathing showed lower resulting values, compared to free breathing, in every measure. That is, treatment volume, the dose of radiation to the tumor and two surrounding normal organs (mean doses), the volume of healthy tissue exposed to radiation were lower at the shallow breathing state. Conclusion: This study proposes that the use of ABCHES is effective for the Tomotherapy treatment as it makes shortness of breathing easy for patients. Respiratory-induced tumor motion is minimized, and radiation exposure to surrounding normal tissues is also reduced as a result.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.9
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• pp.991-997
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• 2005

Purpose : Cow's milk protein-induced enterocolitis(CMPIE) is a symptom complex of vomiting and/or diarrhea caused by delayed hypersensitivity and may result in serious complications. This study was undertaken to identify high risk factors to facilitate the early recognition of CMPIE. Methods : We reviewed the data of 101 patients, aged 15 to 45 days, admitted due to vomiting and/or diarrhea between 2003 and 2004. After excluding 13 patients absolutely breast-fed and 2 patients transferred from other hospitals with the impression of CMPIE, the 86 study subjects were divided into three groups based on the underlying etiologies; CMPIE, infectious and non-infectious group. Results : CMPIE was diagnosed in 11 patients(12.8%). On admission, failure to gain weight(P=0.003), hypoalbuminemia(P=0.003), peripheral leukocytosis(P=0.015), and metabolic acidosis(P=0.014) were more significant in the CMPIE group than in the others. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the independent predictors of high risks for CMPIE were failure to gain weight <10 g/day(OR, 10.25[95% CI, 1.62-65.06]) and serum hypoalbuminemia <3.5 g/dL(OR, 9.18[95% CI, 1.69-49.74]). Cow's milk challenges were performed in the 11 CMPIE patients; vomiting(81.8%), abnormal stool test(80.0%), peripheral leukocyte count and absolute neutrophil count(ANC) increase(100.0%) (P<0.05), and enteropathy(100.0%). Conclusion : CMPIE is not a rare clinical disease in early infancy. The high risk factors of CMPIE were identified as follow : failure to gain weight below 10 g/day, hypoalbuminemia on admission and a rapid decrease during admission. Cow's milk challenge test with endoscopic duodenal biopsy was helpful to confirm CMPIE.