• The Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Ultrasound Society
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2014

Purpose: To determine the therapeutic effectiveness of ultrasound-guided medial branch block (MBB) for the herniated lumbar disc patients who did not relieve their symptoms after percutaneous epidural neuroplasty (PEN). Materials and Methods: From August 2011 to February 2013, 559 patients with herniated lumbar disc have undergone PEN. Among them, ultrasound-guided MBBs were performed for the patients who had sustained low back pain and refered pain to lower extremities. Eighty eight patients were followed at 1 month and 39 patients could be followed at 6 month. All procedures have been performed by the one operator, and 23 G, 10 cm needle was placed and 0.5% lidocaine was injected under ultrasound guide. To target medial branches from L1 to L5, the groove at the root of transverse process and the base of superior articular process has been identified on transverse scan. Patients were evaluated by Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) at each follow-up. Significant pain relief was described as a 50% or more reduction in VAS and significant improvement in function was described as at least a 40% reduction in ODI. Results: VAS showed that preprocedure pain ($7.35{\pm}1.68$; $mean{\pm}SD$) significantly decreased 1 month after block ($3.36{\pm}2.98$) and 6 month ($3.05{\pm}2.27$) (p<0.05). ODI also showed that preprocedure score ($32.82{\pm}8.77$) significantly decreased at 1 month ($15.14{\pm}14.01$) and 6 month ($12.97{\pm}8.82$) (p<0.05). Significant pain relief was observed in 64.49% at 1 month and 64.10% at 6 month. Significant functional improvement in 59.81% at 1 month and 61.54% at 6 month. Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided medial branch block may sufficiently treat the facet problems secondary from disc disease.

• Korean journal of psychology:General
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.81-107
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• 2017

The study aims to investigate the clinical utility of Bayley-III using US norm in Korea. A total of 98 preterm infants and 93 term infants were assessed with the K-Bayley-III. The performance pattern of preterm infants was analyzed with mixed design ANOVA which examined the differences of scaled scores and composite scores of Bayley-III between full term- and preterm- infant group and within preterm infants group. Then, We have investigated agreement between classifications of delay made using the BSID-II and Bayley-III. In addition, ROC plots were constructed to identify a Bayley-III cut-off score with optimum diagnostic utility in this sample. The results were as follows. (1) Preterm infants have significantly lower function levels in areas of 5 scaled scores and 3 developmental indexes compared with infants born at term. Significant differences among scores within preterm infant group were also found. (2) Bayley-III had the higher scores of the Mental Development Index and Psychomotor Developmental Index comparing to the scores of K-BSID-II, and had the lower rates of developmental delay. (3) All scales of Bayley-III, Cognitive, Language and Motor scale had the appropriate level of discrimination, but the cut-off composite scores of Bayley-III were adjusted 13~28 points higher than 69 for prediction of delay, as defined by the K-BSID-II. It explains the lower rates of developmental delay using the standard of two standard deviation. This study has provided empirical data to inform that we must careful when interpreting the score for clinical applications, identified the discriminating power, and proposed more appropriate cut-off scores. In addition, discussion about the sampling for making the Korean norm of Bayley-III was provided. It is preferable that infants in Korea should use our own validated norms. The standardization process to get Korean normative data must be performed carefully.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.78-85
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• 2021

Objectives: When elderly patients show depressive symptoms, discrimination between depressive disorder and prodromal phase of Alzheimer's disease is important. We tested whether a quantitative electroencephalogram (qEEG) marker was associated with cerebral amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition in older adults with depression. Methods: Non-demented older individuals (≥ 55years) diagnosed with depression were included in the analyses (n = 63; 76.2% female; mean age ± standard deviation 73.7 ± 6.87 years). The participants were divided into Aβ+ (n = 32) and Aβ- (n = 31) groups based on amyloid PET assessment. EEG was recorded during the 7min eye-closed (EC) phase and 3min eye-open (EO) phase, and all EEG data were analyzed using Fourier transform spectral analysis. We tested interaction effects among Aβ positivity, condition (EC vs. EO), laterality (left, midline, or right), and polarity (frontal, central, or posterior) for EEG alpha band power. Then, the EC-to-EO alpha reactivity index (ARI) was examined as a neurophysiological marker for predicting Aβ+ in depressed older adults. Results: The mean power spectral density of the alpha band in EO phase showed a significant difference between the Aβ+ and Aβ- groups (F = 6.258, p = 0.015). A significant 3-way interaction was observed among Aβ positivity, condition, and laterality on alpha-band power after adjusting for age, sex, educational years, global cognitive function, medication use, and white matter hyperintensities on MRI (F = 3.720, p = 0.030). However, post-hoc analyses showed no significant difference in ARI according to Aβ status in any regions of interest. Conclusion: Among older adults with depression, increased power in EO phase alpha band was associated with Aβ positivity. However, EC-to-EO ARI was not confirmed as a predictor for Aβ+ in depressed older individuals. Future studies with larger samples are needed to confirm our results.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.880-890
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• 2020

Objective: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are known to be at risk of osteoporosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between thoracic vertebral bone density measured on chest CT (D_Thorax) and clinical variables, including survival, in patients with COPD. Materials and Methods: A total of 322 patients with COPD were selected from the Korean Obstructive Lung Disease (KOLD) cohort. D_Thorax was measured by averaging the CT values of three consecutive vertebral bodies at the level of the left main coronary artery with a round region of interest as large as possible within the anterior column of each vertebral body using an in-house software. Associations between D_Thorax and clinical variables, including survival, pulmonary function test (PFT) results, and CT densitometry, were evaluated. Results: The median follow-up time was 7.3 years (range: 0.1-12.4 years). Fifty-six patients (17.4%) died. D_Thorax differed significantly between the different Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease stages. D_Thorax correlated positively with body mass index (BMI), some PFT results, and the six-minute walk distance, and correlated negatively with the emphysema index (EI) (all p < 0.05). In the univariate Cox analysis, older age (hazard ratio [HR], 3.617; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.119-6.173, p < 0.001), lower BMI (HR, 3.589; 95% CI, 2.122-6.071, p < 0.001), lower forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁) (HR, 2.975; 95% CI, 1.682-5.262, p < 0.001), lower diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide corrected with hemoglobin (DL_CO) (HR, 4.595; 95% CI, 2.665-7.924, p < 0.001), higher EI (HR, 3.722; 95% CI, 2.192-6.319, p < 0.001), presence of vertebral fractures (HR, 2.062; 95% CI, 1.154-3.683, p = 0.015), and lower D_Thorax (HR, 2.773; 95% CI, 1.620-4.746, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with all-cause mortality and lung-related mortality. In the multivariate Cox analysis, lower D_Thorax (HR, 1.957; 95% CI, 1.075-3.563, p = 0.028) along with older age, lower BMI, lower FEV₁, and lower DL_CO were independent predictors of all-cause mortality. Conclusion: The thoracic vertebral bone density measured on chest CT demonstrated significant associations with the patients' mortality and clinical variables of disease severity in the COPD patients included in KOLD cohort.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.11
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• pp.101-110
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• 1993

The residues of combined insecticide of polynactin complex(tetranactin) and BPMC were determined to establish an index for the safety use to apple. Evaluation was made on residual concentration of tetranactin and BPMC in apple as a function of application frequency and date when the combined insecticide of tetranactin and BPMC was sprayed into apple. Their persistence in soil were also studied under the field and laboratory conditions. Recovery percentage from apple was ranged from 74.0 to 77.5 in tetranactin, 87.1 to 83.6 in BPMC, those from soil was 82.3 to 88.4 in tetranactin, 83.6 to 887.1 in BPMC. The minimum detectable limits of tetranactin and BPMC were 0.01ppm in apple pulp and 0.03ppm in apple peel and soil. The residue percentage of tetranactin and BPMC in the peel and pulp part of apple was about 96 in peel part by five sprays up to 3th day before harvest. The residues of tetranactin and BPMC in apple are proved to 0.39ppm and 0.75ppm by five sprays up to 30days before harvest. Maximum residue limit(MRL) of BPMC for fruits was established of 0.3ppm in Environment Protection Agency of Korea, and thus it is suggested that the preharvest intervals of combined insecticide for apple could be 30 days with twice spray. The half life of tetranactin in soil under field and laboratory conditions was 6.9 and 24.4 days, and in case of BPMC was 6.3 and 23.2 days, respectively.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.115-128
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• 2012

This paper investigates the effects of diffuser on the acoustical parameters in music hall with consideration of the result of scattering coefficient measurement. A scale model hall of 600 seats with orchestra shell was used for experiments. The materials of 1:50 scale model was chosen through absorption coefficient measurement based on ISO 354. The model was matched to the computer simulation model in terms of reverberation time. In order to evaluate the effect of diffuser location, the measurements were accomplished with and without diffusers according to 7 configurations by diffuser-installed region; sidewall, balcony front, ceiling and so on. The following acoustical parameters were extracted from each measurement case; Reverberation time (RT), Early decay time (EDT), Clarity (C80), Center time (Ts), Sound strength (G) and Temporal diffusion (TD) from the auto-correlation function (ACF) of impulse responses. As a result, the absorption power and diffusion power were increased with number of diffusers. Accordingly RT, EDT and G were decreased by diffuser and the redirection of reflections was occurred briskly. Averaged TD was 6.05 to 6.30 by measurement cases. RT was found to be the most related factor to diffusion power (R = 0.94). The correlation between TD and EDT was high (R = 0.73). In addition, the effects of diffuser-installed location were discussed in terms of acoustical parameter variation.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.22-25
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• 2004

Purpose: The heel fat pad has a unique structure that is important for its shock absorbing function. Loss of elasticity and change in the thickness of the heel pad have been suggested as cause of heel pain. The present study shows the relationship between the thickness of heel fat pad and age, sex, obesity and plantar heel pain. Materials and Methods: A study of heel pad thickness using plain lateral radiographs, unloaded by body weight, was carried out on 66 patients with plantar heel pain and 326 normal subjects. The population was divided into two or three groups according to their age, sex, body mass index, and the presence of symptom. We evaluated the differences in heel pad thickness between groups, and the relationship between BMI and Sex and Age was also determined, using statistically analytic method by SPSS version 10.1 program. Results: Heel pad thickness was greater in the subject over 40 years old (p<0.001), and in the overweight (p<0.001), and male heel pad was thicker than female (p<0.001). But there was no statistically significant difference for heel pad thickness between normal subject and plantar heel pain group. Conclusion: In this study, we found that there is a relationship between heel pad thickness and age, sex, and obesity. But we could not show that the difference of heel pad thickness is contributing factor to plantar heel pain. Although it could not be proved statistically, we believe that a change of heel pad thickness play a role in the development of heel pain. So we are planning to assess a relationship of heel pad elasticity and thickness and plantar heel pain again with prospective study method on the basis of the results of this study.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.43-51
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• 1981

In an attempt to evaluate the diagnostic significance of the serum thyroxine binding globulin (TBG) in various thyroid disease states, the authors measured serum $T_3$ uptake, $T_3$, total $T_4\;free\;T_4$, TSH and TBG by radioimmunoassay technique, and calculated the free $T_4$ index$(FT_4I)$ and $T_4/TBG$ ratio in 10 cases of normal subjects, 11 cases of hypothyroidism, 62 cases of euthyroidism and 37 cases of hyperthyroidism. The data were analysed in the aspects of diagnostic significance in each thyroid disease state, and the results were as follows; 1. In 10 cases of normal subjects, serum TBG was $17.4\sim26.8{\mu}g/ml$, $FT_4I$ was $5.1\sim9.7$, and $T_4/TBG$ ratio was $21.9\sim49.9(Mean{\pm}S.D.)$. 2. In 62 cases of euthyroidism with diffuse and nodular goiter, $FT_4I$ was $7.26{\pm}1.82,\;T_4/TBG$ ratio was $31.47{\pm}10.42$, and there were no significant difference from those of normal subjects (p>0.5). 3. In 11 cases of hypothyroidism, the $FT_4I$ was $3.13{\pm}2.15,\;T_4/TBG$ ratio was $11.3{\pm}5.31$, significantly lower than normal controls (p<0.01). 4. In 37 cases of hyperthyroidism, the $FT_4I$ was $30.0{\pm}12.0,\;T_4/TBG$ ratio was $121.4{\pm}62.2$, significantly higher than normal controls (p<0.01). 5. There were significant correlations between the $FT_4I$ and $T_4/TBG$ ratio, total $T_4\;and\;T_4/TBG$ ratio, in each thyroid function states. 6. The $FT_4I$ showed 100% of diagnostic value in hyperthyroidism, 89.2% in euthyroidism, and 80% in hypothyroidism group. The $T_4/TBG$ ratio showed 100% of diagnostic value in hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, and 80.6% in euthyroidism group. The above results suggest that $T_4/TBG$ ratio and $FT_4I$ showed same diagnostic value in hyperthyroidism group, but $T_4/TBG$ showed higher diagnostic significance than $FT_4I$ in hypothyroidism.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.857-869
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• 2010

Objectives : The aim of this study was to evaluate whether rats with non-obstructive antral dilation could be a useful tool resembling functional dyspeptic patients. We also investigated the effect of Bojoongikki-tang (BJ), and Youngkaechulgam-tang (YK) in antral dilated rats. Methods : Non-obstructive antral dilation was performed by first wrapping a non-absorbable rubber ring (D:6mm, W:4mm, T:1mm) around the 1st portion of the duodenum causing pyloric obstruction (PO). After 12 weeks, except for some PO group rats used for the control, the rubber ring was removed by performing another operation. The antral dilated rats (AD) were then divided into three groups, a non-treatment group (AD-NT), and two herbal medicine groups each given an extract solution containing 125 mg/kg of Youngkaechulgam-tang (AD-YK) or Bojoongikki-tang (AD-BJ) for 4 weeks. Then gastric contractility was evaluated by bowel sound measurement, and afterwards the changes of the weight, and morphologic changes of the stomach were evaluated for each group including the normal intact group (NI). Results : Loss of weight and enlargement of the stomach surface area was seen in the PO group. Decrease of gastric motility index was observed in the AD-NT group, while the increased surface area of the stomach was not significantly different from the PO group. Youngkaechulgam-tang seemed to increase gastric contraction, whereas Bojoongikki-tang showed no effect. Weight gain of rats was observed in both the AD-YK and AD-BJ groups, but there seemed to be no change of the dilated stomach surface area. Conclusions : The non-obstructive antral dilated rat seems to be an experimental pathologic model that reflects the gastric dysmotility similar to functional dyspeptic patients with antral dilation. Therefore patients with dysmotility-like dyspepsia with antral function disorders should be treated efficiently. As Youngkaechulgam-tang is shown to increase both gastric contraction and weight in antral dilated rats, it may be used for treating functional dyspepsia. However, Bojoongikki-tang should be used with caution in patients with gastric dysmotility.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.266-276
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to implement and evaluate the nutrition education program for elementary school children Subjects were 5th graders (n = 142) of an elementary school in Seoul, and 138 children completed four sessions of nutrition education during March-April, 2008. One group pretest-posttest design was used to evaluate the program effectiveness. Anthropometric measurements and measurements on nutrition knowledge, eating attitudes and eating behavior were done before and after education. Data were analyzed using paired t-test, t-test and ${\chi}^2-test$. After completing nutrition education, body mass index (from 19.3 to 18.9), fat mass (from 10.9 kg to 10.1 kg), percent body fat (from 25% to 23.3%) of subjects decreased significantly (p < 0.001). Percentages of overweight or obese children were 24.6% at pretest and decreased to 20.3% at posttest, although it did not reach statistical significance. Total score of nutrition knowledge increased significantly from 11.9 (59.5/100) at pretest to 14.7 (73.5/100) at posttest (p < 0.001). After nutrition education, percentages of correct answers increased significantly in 10 knowledge items out of 20 items. These included items such as desirable weight control, energy requirements for boys, food groups, snack, and function of fat and balanced meals (p < 0.001). Total score of eating attitudes increased significantly from 35.1 to 36.9 (p < 0.001). Attitude of applying nutrition knowledge to daily life (p < 0.001), interest toward nutrition and health (p < 0.001), attitude of moderating food intake (p < 0.01), and attitude toward eating habit and future health (p < 0.05) were significantly different between pretest and posttest. Total score of eating behaviors increased significantly from 46.7 (possible score: 20-60) to 49.5 by nutrition education (p < 0.001). Improvement in eight eating behaviors were noticed after nutrition education. These included eating meals slowly, eat protein foods (p < 0.001), eating breakfast, eating meals regularly, eating meals with diverse foods, having dairy foods, eating foods using plant oils (p < 0.01), and having grains (p < 0.05). Subjects evaluated quite positively in attractiveness of program, understanding of program contents, helpfulness of program in improving nutrition knowledge and meal management. Study results show that the nutrition education program was effective in improving nutrition knowledge, eating attitudes and changing eating behaviors of children. This program can be used in nutrition education of children at school or at public health centers.