• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.83 no.2
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• pp.157-166
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• 2020

Background: Infectious conditions may increase the risk of venous thromboembolism. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk factor for combined infectious disease and its influence on mortality in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE). Methods: Patients with PE diagnosed based on spiral computed tomography findings of the chest were retrospectively analyzed. They were classified into two groups: patients who developed PE in the setting of infectious disease or those with PE without infection based on review of their medical charts. Results: Of 258 patients with PE, 67 (25.9%) were considered as having PE combined with infectious disease. The sites of infections were the respiratory tract in 52 patients (77.6%), genitourinary tract in three patients (4.5%), and hepatobiliary tract in three patients (4.5%). Underlying lung disease (odds ratio [OR], 3.69; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.926-7.081; p<0.001), bed-ridden state (OR, 2.84; 95% CI, 1.390-5.811; p=0.004), and malignant disease (OR, 1.867; 95% CI, 1.017-3.425; p=0.044) were associated with combined infectious disease in patients with PE. In-hospital mortality was higher in patients with PE combined with infectious disease than in those with PE without infection (24.6% vs. 11.0%, p=0.006). In the multivariate analysis, combined infectious disease (OR, 4.189; 95% CI, 1.692-10.372; p=0.002) were associated with non-survivors in patients with PE. Conclusion: A substantial portion of patients with PE has concomitant infectious disease and it may contribute a mortality in patients with PE.

• Journal of Digital Contents Society
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.463-470
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• 2015

The angular dependence of active dosimeters, EPD, is analysed and compared with that of passive dosimeters, OSLD, after evaluating their relative response and uncertainty of measurement, where it is known that the personal use of them has been increased recently. There appeared a minor variation for average relative response of OSLD in the horizontal and vertical directions within the range $0^{\circ}{\sim}{\pm}90^{\circ}$, which are 0.97 and 0.95 respectively. The variations of angular dependence in the same situations with OSLD are 0.65 and 0.62, respectively, which also reveals a negligible effect on the overall uncertainty. EPDs within the interval $0^{\circ}{\sim}{\pm}60^{\circ}$ for horizontal and vertical directions are 0.94 and 0.97, respectively. These satisfy the requirements of IEC 61526. Uncertainties about the dependence of direction from horizontal and vertical directions are 0.44, 0.40, respectively. The impact of these uncertainties on the overall uncertainty was negligible. However, we observed a significant change in reactivity: the relative reactivities for $+90^{\circ}$ and $-90^{\circ}$ from the horizontal direction are 0.60, 0.37, while that form vertical direction is 0.06. The direction dependence of OSLD was superior to EPD in the range of $0^{\circ}{\sim}{\pm}90^{\circ}$. There appeared a rapidly changing structural features in EPD response for a certain direction. Therefore, we conclude that concurrent use of passive dosimeters and auxiliary dosimeter provides accurate data for personal dose measurements.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.200-209
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• 2007

We generated gene expression data from the tissues of 50 gastric cancer patients, and applied meta-analysis and gene set analysis to this data and three other stomach cancer gene expression data sets to define the gene expression changes in gastric tumors. By meta-analysis we identified genes consistently changed in gastric carcinomas, while gene set analysis revealed consistently changed biological themes. Genes and gene sets involved in digestion, fatty acid metabolism, and ion transport were consistently down-regulated in gastric carcinomas, while those involved in cellular proliferation, cell cycle, and DNA replication were consistently up-regulated. We also found significant differences between the genes and gene sets expressed in diffuse and intestinal type gastric carcinoma. By gene set analysis of cytogenetic bands, we identified many chromosomal regions with possible gross chromosomal changes (amplifications or deletions). Similar analysis of transcription factor binding sites (TFBSs), revealed transcription factors that may have caused the observed gene expression changes in gastric carcinomas, and we confirmed the overexpression of one of these, E2F1, in many gastric carcinomas by tissue array and immunohistochemistry. We have incorporated the results of our meta- and gene set analyses into a web accessible database (http://human-genome.kribb.re.kr/stomach/).

• Korean Journal of Digital Imaging in Medicine
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.32-44
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• 2002

The role of radiology department has been greatly increased in the past few years as the technology in the medical imaging devices improved and the introduction of PACS (Picture Archiving and Communications System) to the conventional film-based diagnostic structure is a truly remarkable factor to the medical history. In addition, the value of using digital information in medical imaging is highly expected to grow as the technology over the computer and the network improves. However, the current medical practice, using PACS is somewhat limited compared to the film-based conventional one due to a poor image quality. The image quality is the most important and inevitable factor in the PACS environment and it is one of the most necessary steps to more wide practice of digital imaging. The existing image quality control tools are limited in controlling images produced from the medical modalities, because they cannot display the real image changing status. Thus, the image quality is distorted and the ability to diagnosis becomes hindered compared to the one of the film-based practice. In addition, the workflow of the radiologist greatly increases; as every doctor has to perform his or her own image quality control every time they view images produced from the medical modalities. To resolve these kinds of problems and enhance current medical practice under the PACS environment, we have developed a program to display a better image quality by using the ROI optical density of the existing gray level values. When the LUT is used properly, small detailed regions, which cannot be seen by using the existing image quality controls are easily displayed and thus, greatly improves digital medical practice. The purpose of this study is to provide an easier medical practice to physicians, by applying the technology of converting the H-D curves of the analog film screen to the digital imaging technology and to preset image quality control values to each exposed body part, modality and group of physicians for a better and easier medical practice. We have asked to 5 well known professional physicians to compare image quality of the same set of exam by using the two different methods: existing image quality control and the LUT technology. As the result, the LUT technology was enormously favored over the existing image quality control method. All the physicians have pointed out the far more superiority of the LUT over the existing image quality control method and highly praised its ability to display small detailed regions, which cannot be displayed by existing image quality control tools. Two physicians expressed the necessity of presetting the LUT values for each exposed body part. Overall, the LUT technology yielded a great interest among the physicians and highly praised for its ability to overcome currently embedded problems of PACS. We strongly believe that the LUT technology can enhance the current medical practice and open a new beginning in the future medical imaging.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.265-276
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• 2000

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to observe the clinical characteristics of 6 patients who were not improved after admitted conservative treatment in this 311 patients. Methods : We retrospectivety reviewed 311 patients of Herniated Lumbar Intervertebral Disc which undenvent admitted conservative treatment from November 1997 to June 2000. 311 patients were diagnosed by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging in addition to physical examination. Other complications were not detected in 311 patients with Hemiated Lumbar Intervertebral Disc. In case that the scoliosis appeared to caused by severe pain, we included this scoliosis patient with the object of survey. Results : 1. In 6 patients who were not improved, 4 patients were large herniation and 2 patients were medium herniation. 2. In all of 6 patients, the angle of straight leg raising test was low and was not imporved unril discharge. 3. X-ray findings showed straightening in all of 6 patients, disc space narrowing in 3 of 6 patients. 4. X-ray findings showed scoliosis in 3 of 4 patients who were severe pain. 5. The onset was relarively long from 30 days to 7 years. 6. The age was relatively young from 10's to 30's. 7. The adimission date was ralatively long from 32 days to 105 days. Conclusions : In 6 patients, there were observed much volume of disc herniation, low angle of straight leg raising test, young people in an age group, straightening of x-ray finding.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.204-212
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• 1998

Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia(BOOP) is a type of diffuse interstitial lung disease that has emerged in the past decade as an important cause of acute respiratory illness in adult. Clinically, the entity usually starts with a subacute influenza-like illness, followed by cough, progressive dyspnea, and weight loss. Organized inflammatory polypoid materials predominantly affecting distal bronchioles, alveolar ducts, and peribronchial alveolar spaces are a key pathologic findings. BOOP is characterized by a good response to glucocorticoid and an excellent prognosis. However, there is a subset of BOOP who presents with a fulminant course leading to death or chronic severe fibrosis with marked impairment of lung function. Recently, we have experienced a case of rapidly progressive BOOP, diagnosed by open lung biopsy and showed a reluctant response to corticosteroid.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.63 no.5
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• pp.449-453
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• 2007

Totally implanted central venous access devices for chemotherapy (chemoport) are being used increasingly in lung cancer patients. Vascular catheters are associated with various complications including infection, thrombosis as well as spontaneous fractures and embolization of the catheter, which is known as 'pinch-off syndrome'. 'Pinch-off syndrome' refers to the compression of a subclavian central venous catheter between the clavicle and first rib resulting in an intermittent or permanent obstruction, which can lead to tears, transection, or embolization. We report two cases of fractured and embolized implanted subclavian venous catheters in which the fragments were removed percutaneously. A 62-year-old man presented with back pain with a duration of a few weeks. The chest radiograph revealed complete transsection and embolization of the catheter into the right atrium. In addition, a 47-year-old woman with a chemoport had a grade 3 pinch-off sign in a chest radiograph demonstrating complete transsection and embolization of the catheter into the pulmonary artery. Both cases were managed by retrieving the embolized distal fragment percutaneously and removing the proximal section of the catheter.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.380-389
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• 2007

In Korea, undoubtedly, the cancer is one of the most common reasons of death, and hepatoma is the second highest fatal cancer regardless of the gender only next to the stomach cancer In the middle and prime-aged between 40 and 60 years, the incidence of hepatoma is the highest in the world, and the death rate due to hepatoma is the highest among OECD countries. In this paper, we propose a novel method for automatic identification of hepatoma from a contrast enhanced CT images, which is used in an expert system that helps medical specialists. First, consecutive $40{\sim}50$ contrail enhanced CT images are photographed by every 5mm from the upper part of the chest, and using position information on the rib, we classify the internal area including only internal organs and the external one that consists of the rib, subcutaneous fat layers, and the background from the CT images. Then, the region of the liver is extracted from the classified internal area by using information on the intensity, the distribution of brightness, and using the regions extracted from consecutive images, we restore information on the 5 mm space occurred between the consecutive two slides tty applying a shape-based interpolation method. Lastly, using the characteristics such as the brightness and the morphology, we are able to extract the regions of hepatoma. The expert system based on our method is sufficiently competitive when it is compared with the diagnoses by specialists in the diagnostic radiology.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2015.10a
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• pp.582-585
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• 2015

In the aging society, TKRA is steadily increased because of joint diseases. Artificial joint used in TKRA generates metal artifacts in the MRI. Metal artifact may affect diagnosis. In study, We are going to minimize the effect of metal artifact to improve the value of diagnosis by changing the sequence and the type of artificial joint(Co-Cr, Ni-Ti). 1.5T AVANTO, plastic containers and each of the artificial joint (Normal, Co-Cr, NiTi) were used. After the artificial joints fixed in a paper cup was inserted in a plastic container of cylindrical, Signal intensity was measured. To obtain strong and uniform signal intensity, the plastic container was filled with water. We changed Sequences(T1 TSE, T2 TSE, PD TSE) and obtained an Axial image. After excepting the maximum and minimum values, We calculated the average of SNR, CNR and PSNR. Consequently, The SNR, CNR value of PD TSE are measured higher than these of T1 TSE, T2 TSE and The PSNR of Co-Cr is higher than this of Ni-Ti. The SNR of Co-Cr is similar to the SNR of normal comparing this of Ni-Ti. As a result, Using sequence of PD Tse and Co-Cr alloy is considered to be useful.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.63-71
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• 1991

Noninvasive techniques for antenatal detection of the fetal development and well-being such as biophysical profile, non-stress and stress test remain major challenges in modem obstetric practice. To obtain and analyze umbilical artery velocity waveform by pulsed-wave doppler ultrasound, a total of 160 determinations were carried out on 157 normal pregnant women between 16th to 41st week gestation. The ratio of peak systolic to end-diastolic flow velocity(S/D ratio), pulsatility index and resistance index were measured as indices of the resistance in feto-placental circulation. The results were as follows : As gestation advances, the, mean values for peak systolic and end-diastolic velocities raised progressively. As gestation advances, the mean values for the S/D ratio declined progressively, exhibiting high diastolic flow velocity caused by low resistance. Pulsatility index, and resistance index were also declined progressively, as gestation advances. The analysis of umbilical artery blood flow velocity waveforms provides a new noninvasive technique to evaluate fetal development and well-being, and may be expected a reliable method for assessment of fetal life.