• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.141-146
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• 2007

Obstructive Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Syndrome (OSAHS) is a disorder characterized by the repetitive collapse of the pharyngeal airway during sleep, which leads to oxygen desaturation, sleep fragmentation, daytime sleepiness, and increased risk for hypertension and stroke. We investigated the clinical factors related to the severity of OSAHS. Polysomnography was performed in three hundred and ninety five consecutive adult patients with clinical symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. All patients completed the sleep questionnaire and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale before polysomnography. Patients were classified into four groups based on the severity of their polysomnographic data: Non-OSA group, characterized by Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) < 5; mild OSA group, by AHI 5-15; moderate OSA group, by AHI 16-30; and severe OSA group, by AHI > 30. Neck circumference was also measured at the cricothyroid level. A total of 395 patients (336 men and 59 women) were studied. In the non-OSA group, there were 55 patients; their mean neck circumference was $39.63{\pm}4.24cm$ and mean BMI was $24.48{\pm}3.53$. In the mild group, there were 101 patients; their mean neck circumference was $41.93{\pm}3.75cm$ and mean BMI was $25.33{\pm}2.94$. In the moderated group, there were 93 patients; their mean neck circumference was $43.27{\pm}3.50cm$ and BMI was $25.90{\pm}2.88$. In the severe group, there were 146 patients; their mean neck circumference was $44.94{\pm}3.93cm$ and mean BMI was $26.81{\pm}3.76$. Men had significantly larger neck circumference than women ($Mean{\pm}SD$, $43.72{\pm}3.83$ vs $39.17{\pm}4.30$, p < 0.001), and higher AHI than women ($29.12{\pm}22.65$ vs $14.63{\pm}14.11$, p < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis revealed that neck circumference was the most significant predictor of AHI. Neck circumference and BMI were positively correlated with the severity of OSAHS. The severity of OSAHS was greater in men than in women.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.73-76
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• 2013

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is one possibility for the treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). The aim of this study was study the analysis of polysomnography of pre-UPPP and post-UPPP. All patients were evaluated by means of a physical examination, the epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), the beck depression inventory (BDI) and the nocturnal polysomnography (PSG) before surgery, and 6~12 months after surgery. A total of 15 patients were investigated. All underwent UPPP. The patients were between 26 and 62 years old ($mean{\pm}SD$; $39.7{\pm}10.9$) with a lean body mass index (BMI) of $mean{\pm}SD$; $26.2{\pm}3.0kg/m^2$. The comparison of sleep questionnaires showed that after UPPP, the patients had a significantly lower BMI ($26.2{\pm}3.0kg/m^2$ vs $26.0{\pm}3.4kg/m^2$, p=0.241), ESS ($10.0{\pm}5.4$ vs $6.9{\pm}3.2$, p=0.022), BDI ($9.2{\pm}8.2$ vs $4.2{\pm}4.3$, p=0.343) and higher blood pressure ($127.5{\pm}12.1$ vs $123.7{\pm}12.0$, p=0.272) compared to before UPPP. The comparison of sleep parameters showed that after UPPP, patients had a significantly lower stage N1 ($108.8{\pm}53.1$ vs $82.2{\pm}48.9$, p=0.016), lower sleep latency ($4.9{\pm}4.4$ vs $2.0{\pm}1.7$, p=0.083), a lower total arousal number ($210.6{\pm}90.3$ vs $147.1{\pm}87.3$, p=0.019), lower oxygen desaturation index (ODI) ($30.2{\pm}20.9$ vs $10.2{\pm}15.1$, p=0.006), lower apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ($31.6{\pm}22.4$ vs $10.9{\pm}15.4$, p=0.005), and a lower respiratory disturbance index (RDI) ($37.4{\pm}21.3$ vs $18.5{\pm}16.5$, p=0.008) compared to after UPPP. The comparison of sleep parameters showed that after UPPP, patients had a significantly higher stage N2 ($154.0{\pm}39.9$ vs $180.5{\pm}49.5$, p=0.017), higher REM ($58.5{\pm}29.7$ vs $72.6{\pm}34.0$, p=0.249), higher $meanSaO_2$ ($94.3{\pm}2.0$ vs $95.9{\pm}0.9$, p=0.043), and higher $meanSaO_2$ ($79.3{\pm}8.5$ vs $83.1{\pm}7.9$, p=0.116) than before UPPP. After UPPP, 6 patients were cured, 2 showed marked improvement, and 7 did not improve. After surgery, the success of the treatment was at 53%. The subjective patient satisfaction was higher than before the surgery.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.325-334
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• 2014

The effects of aloe on liver function and lipid metabolic disorders induced by alcohol consumption were studied in rats using aloe power (0.25%, 0.5%, 1%) and 10% ethanol. 35 Sprague-Dawley (male, 4 weeks old) rats were divided into five groups and fed experimental diets for six weeks. Body weights of rats tended to be lower in all alcohol supplemented groups than in the control. Food intakes and dry feces per day were significantly lower in all alcohol supplemented groups than in the control. Atherogenic indices (AI) were highest in the alcohol group and decreased in proportion with aloe amount. Serum triglyceride level was significantly higher in the alcohol group than in the control, but tended to be lower in the aloe supplemented groups. In relation to liver function, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities tended to be higher in the alcohol groups than in the control, but lower in the aloe groups, especially in the alcohol+0.5% AO group. The levels of liver cholesterol were significantly lower in the alcohol group than in the control and aloe supplemented groups. In the histochemical evaluation, fat droplets appeared extensively on the liver-lobule in the alcohol group, whereas they decreased slightly in the alcohol+0.25% AO group and apparently disappeared in the alcohol +0.5% AO. On the other hand, fat droplets appeared again on the liver-lobule in the alcohol+1% AO group, but were reduced compared with the alcohol group. Regarding the fatty acid composition of adipose tissue triglycerides, the level of linoleic acid (18:2) was significantly higher in the aloe supplemented group. Regarding the fatty acid composition of liver phosphatidylcholine (PC), the level of linoleic acid was higher in the alcohol group and alcohol+1% AO group than the other groups. In contrast, the level of arachidonic acid was significantly lower in the alcohol group. As a result, arachidonic / linoleic acid ratios were significantly lower in the alcohol group compared to the control group, whereas the ratios of the aloe supplemented groups were similar to that of the control group. Therefore, aloe had some beneficial effects on lipid metabolic disorders induced by alcohol and affected desaturation of fatty acids.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences
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• v.37A no.12
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• pp.1054-1064
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• 2012

HDR (high dynamic range) tone mapping algorithms are used in image processing that reduces the dynamic range of an image to be displayed on LDR (low dynamic range) devices properly. The retinex is one of the tone mapping algorithms to provide dynamic range compression, color constancy, and color rendition. It has been developed through multi-scale methods and luminance-based methods. Retinex algorithms still have drawbacks such as the emphasized noise and desaturation. In this paper, we propose a multi scale tone mapping algorithm for enhancement of contrast, saturation, and noise of HDR rendered images based on visual brightness functions. In the proposed algorithm, HSV color space has been used for preserving the hue and saturation of images. And the algorithm includes the estimation of minimum and maximum luminance level and a visual gamma function for the variation of viewing conditions. And subjective and objective evaluations show that proposed algorithm is better than existing algorithms. The proposed algorithm is expected to image quality enhancement in some fields that require a improvement of the dynamic range due to the changes in the viewing condition.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.173-195
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• 2022

Like vertebrates, insects synthesize various eicosanoids after the committed catalytic step of phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂). However, the subsequent biosynthetic steps exhibit some deviation from those of vertebrates. Due to little composition of arachidonic acid in insect phospholipids, PLA₂ releases linoleic acid, which is another polyunsaturated fatty acid and relatively rich in insect phospholipids, to synthesize arachidonic acid via chain extension and desaturation. Resulting arachidonic acid is then oxygenated into a prostaglandin (PG), PGH₂, by a specific peroxidase called peroxynectin, but not by cyclooxygenase. PGH₂ is then isomerized to various PGs such as PGA₂, PGD₂, PGE₂, PGI₂, and a thromboxane (TXB₂). All four epoxyeicosatrienoic acids such as 5,6-EET, 8,9-EET, 11,12-EET, and 14,15-EET are also synthesized from arachidonic acid by oxygenation of vertebrate types of monooxygenases. However, the other type of eicosanoids called leukotrienes are found in insect tissues but their synthetic pathway is unclear. Eicosanoids mediate various insect physiological processes such as metabolism, excretion, immunity, and reproduction. Thus, identification of novel compounds interrupting eicosanoid biosynthesis would be a novel approach to develop insecticides. This review focuses on PGs and their immune mediation.

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.170-184
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• 2023

Background and Objectives: Several cases involving severe right ventricular (RV) failure in advanced cancer patients have been found to be pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathies (PTTMs). This study aimed to discover the nature of rapid RV failure syndrome with a suspected diagnosis of PTTM for better diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis prediction in clinical practice. Methods: From 2011 to 2021, all patients with clinically suspected PTTM were derived from the one tertiary cancer hospital with more than 2000 in-hospital bed. Results: A total of 28 cases of clinically suspected PTTM with one biopsy confirmed case were included. The most common cancer types were breast (9/28, 32%) and the most common tissue type was adenocarcinoma (22/26, 85%). The time interval from dyspnea New York Heart Association (NYHA) Grade 2, 3, 4 to death, thrombocytopenia to death, desaturation to death, admission to death, RV failure to death, cardiogenic shock to death were 33.5 days, 14.5 days, 7.4 days, 6.4 days, 6.1 days, 6.0 days, 3.8 days and 1.2 days, respectively. The NYHA Grade 4 to death time was 7 days longer in those who received chemotherapy (7.1 days vs. 13.8 days, p value=0.030). However, anticoagulation, vasopressors or intensive care could not change clinical course. Conclusions: Rapid RV failure syndrome with a suspected diagnosis of PTTM showed a rapid progressive course from symptom onset to death. Although chemotherapy was effective, increased life survival was negligible, and treatments other than chemotherapy did not help to improve the patient's prognosis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.62 no.5
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• pp.382-388
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• 2007

Background: The cognitive function is impaired in patients with hypoxemic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, there are conflicting results regarding the cognitive function in patients with non-hypoxemic COPD. COPD patients also have sleep disorders. This study examined the cognitive function in non-hypoxemic COPD patients, and nocturnal sleep was assessed in COPD patients with a cognitive dysfunction. Methods: Twenty-eight COPD patients (mean age, 70.7 years) with an oxygen saturation > 90%, and 33 healthy control subjects (mean age, 69.5 years) who had visited for a routine check-up were selected. The neurocognitive tests were performed using the Korean version of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD-K) Neuropsychological Battery. Results: The scores of the word list recall test (p=0.03) and the word list recognition test (p=0.006) in the COPD group were significantly lower than those in the control group. Nine patients showed a significantly impaired cognitive function. Seven of these underwent polysomnography, which revealed apnea-hypopnea indices ${\geq}$ five per hour in five patients. The median oxygen desaturation index and median limb movement index were 3.6/h and 38.6/h, respectively. Conclusion: These results suggest that the verbal memory function is impaired in non-hypoxemic COPD patients. Six out of seven COPD patients with an impaired cognitive function had sleep disorders of sleep apnea and/or periodic limb movements during sleep.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.255-261
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and blood pressure (BP) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea (OSAH). Patients were classified into four groups based on their severity of polysomnographic data: the snoring group (n=108)-characterized by Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI<5); the mild OSA group (n=186)-AHI $5{\leq}AHI$<15; the moderate OSA group (n=179)- AHI $15{\leq}AHI$<30; and the severe OSA group (n=233)-$AHI{\geq}30$. On the same night of polysomnography (PSG), BP levels were measured before sleeping (bedtime BP) and immediately after waking up on the following morning (morning BP). EDS was recognized as ESS (epworth sleepiness scale)${\geq}9$. The differences and correlations between BP and PSG parameters in the EDS and non-EDS groups of OSAH patients were analyzed. MAP was positively correlated with BMI, AHI, and total arousal (r=0.099, r=0.142, r=0.135, p<0.01, p<0.01, p<0.01), while negatively correlated with mean $SaO_2$ (r=-0.258, p<0.01). The EDS group had overall younger population ($47.2{\pm}11.3$ vs $50.3{\pm}11.4$, p=0.023), higher DBP (both bedtime and morning, $83.1{\pm}9.7$ vs $81.4{\pm}8.8$ and $86.4{\pm}9.2$ vs $83.6{\pm}9.7$)(p=0.031, p=0.047), and higher SBP (both bedtime and morning, $126.7{\pm}11.2$ vs $123.4{\pm}12.4$, $128.9{\pm}12.4$ vs $125.3{\pm}12.9$)(p=0.021, p=0.021) than compared with the non-EDS group. In hypertensive OSAH patients, patients with EDS were also younger and had higher total arousal number, as well as higher morning and bedtime DBP and SBP than compared with the non-EDS group (p<0.005, p=0.008, p<0.001 and p<0.001). EDS in OSAHS patients is a special phenotype characterized by younger age, higher DBP, more severe desaturation, and hypertension.

• 아동간호학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1997.11a
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• pp.61-74
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• 1997

Endotracheal suctioning is a routine procedure used for clearing secretions from the airway of the intubated infant. This procedure is not without complications. Endotracheal suctioning has been associated with decreases in $PaO_2$, decreases in systemic venous oxygenation, alterations in mean arterial Pressure, disturbances in cardiac rhythm and development of nosocomial pneumonia. So several endotracheal suctioning techniques have been developed to prevent these blown complications. Another method of Endotracheal suctioning eliminates the risk associated with disconnecting the infant from the ventilatior to perform the suctioning procedure. Studies examining closed endotracheal suctioning methods reported that the closed method results in less arterial oxygen saturation, and less systemic venous oxygen desaturation. However those studies have focused on adult patients, and there have been no published studies for newborn infants. The specific purpose of this study is to investigate the two methods and to make a comparison in terms of (1)variations in $SaO_2$, heart rate, and respiration rate appeared before and after the endotracheal suctioning; (2)difference in occurrence of nosocomial infection; (3)difference in recovery time to arrive at pre-suction baseline after suctioning and in nursing time taken for the suctioning. The present study is based on the data obtained from two groups of newborn infants : one group comprises 8 infants with closed suctioning (a total of 304 suctions) among 17 infants treated with ventilator and the other group 9 infants with open method (a total of 629 suctions). The data were analyzed using the SPSS statistical program package. As the distribution test on dependent variables with the Skewnesser Shapiro Wilk test showed an asymmetric distribution, the Wilcoxon Matched-pairs Singled- Ranks test was used for the test of variations in $SaO_2$, heart rate, and respiration rate appeared before and after the endotracheal suctioning. The difference in $SaO_2$ recovery time and nursing time was analyzed with the Mann-Whitney U-Test. The difference in physiologic consequences and occurrence of nosocomial infection between the two groups was analyzed with the Fisher's Exact Test. The results of the study are summarized as follows. For the hypothesis 1 (There would be a difference in $SaO_2$, heart rate, and respiration rate before and after suctioning between the two suctioning methods), the difference in $SaO_2$ turns out to be statistically significant (P=0.015), but heart rate and respiration rate do not procedure a notable difference (P=0.630). The hypothesis 2 (There would be a difference in rates at which a complication arises after suctioning between the two groups) does not prove to be statistically valid (P=0.246). For the hypothesis 3(There would be a difference in $SaO_2$ recovery time and nursing time between the two groups), the average $SaO_2$ recovery time after suctioning turned out to have somewhat significant difference (P=0.064), however the difference in nursing time taken for the suctioning was not statistically significant (P=0.610). The analyses indicate that the closed endotracheal suctioning is more efficient as compared with the open method, in maintaining pre-suction baseline $SaO_2$ and a rapid recovery of newborn infants. Based on these results we suggust to apply the closed method to newborn infants in the ventilation treatment. We also suggest to extend the investigation to include the comparison of suction cost taking into account the case in which a complication arises after endotracheal suctioning between the two groups.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.283-291
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• 1993

Background: Long-term low flow oxygen therapy not only increases survival, but also improves the quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with chronic hypoxemia. For the assessment and improvement of the status of home oxygen therapy, we analyzed clinical experience of 26 patients who have been administered low flow oxygen at home. Method: Twenty-six patients (18 men and 8 women) who have been received long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) at home were examined. We reviewed physical characteristics, clinical history, pulmonary function test, ECG, arterial blood gas analysis, hemoglobin and hematocrit, types of oxygen devices, inhalation time per day, concentration of administered $O_2$, duration of $O_2$ therapy, and problems in the home oxygen therapy. Results: The underlying diseases of patients were COPD 14 cases, far advanced old pulmonary tuberculosis 9 cases, bronchiectasis 2 cases, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis 1 case. The reasons for LTOT at home were noted for cor pulmonale 21 cases, for dyspnea on exertion and severe ventilatory impairment 4 cases, and for oxygen desaturation during sleep 1 case. The mean values of aterial blood gas analysis before home oxygen therapy were $PaO_2$ 57.7 mmHg, $PaCO_2$ 48.2 mmHg, and $SaO_2$ 87.7%. And the mean values of each parameters in the pulmonary function test were VC 2.05 L, $FEV_1$ 0.92 L, and $FEV_1$/FVC% 51.9%. Nineteen patients have used oxygen tanks as oxygen devices, 1 patient oxygen concentrator, 2 patients oxygen tank and liquid oxygen, and other 4 patients oxygen tank together with portable oxygen. The duration of oxygen therapy was below 1 year in 3 cases, 1~2 years in 15 cases, 3~5 years in 6 cases, 9 years in 1 case, and 10 years in 1 case. All patients have inhalated oxygen with flow rate less than 2.5 L/min. And only 10 patients have inhalated oxygen more than 15 hours per day, but most of them short time per day. Conclusion: For the effective oxygen administration, it is necessary that education for long-term low flow oxygen therapy to patients, their family and neighbor should be done, and also the institutional backup for getting convenient oxygen devices is required.