• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.50-55
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• 2004

Background: Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD) can detect microembolic signals (MES) in the patients with a potential embolic source. Clinical significance of MES has not been demonstrated in patients with prosthetic mechanical heart valves. We studied the correlation between cerebral thromboemoblic events after the mechanical heart valve surgery (MHVS) and residual MES during TCD monitoring with 100% oxygen inhalation in patients with mechanical heart valves. Material and Method: Twenty patients with previous cerebral thromboemoblic events after MHVS and a sex- and age-matched control group (n=30) were studied. TCD monitoring was performed from unilateral middle cerebral artery. After baseline monitoring for 20 minutes, 61 of oxygen was inspired for 40 minutes. Result: The site of valve and the duration after MHVS of the patients did not differ from those of controls. During baseline monitoring, there was no significant difference in MES prevalence or counts compared to controls. During oxygen inhalation, patients showed a higher MES prevalence (55%, 27.6%, p=0.045) and a more frequent MES counts (p=0.027) compared to controls. Conclusion: TCD monitoring with oxygen inhalation may be useful to differentiate clinically significant MES in patients with mechanical heart valve.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.349-359
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• 2017

The objective of this study is to review the safety and health information displayed on containers of humidifier disinfectants (HD). We summarized not only general characteristics related to the marketing and manufacturing of HD, such as the duration sold and the name of the company, but also the safety and health information, such as identification of disinfectants, recommended use volume, and precautions. All of this information was reviewed by HD brand. We collected safety and health information from 31 HD brands. We found that companies that sold and manufactured HD brands differ. Two companies were found to sell their HD without permission after 2011 when the health effects caused by HD were widely known. The name of the disinfectants were not identified on the container of HD. The recommended volumes were found not to be based on toxicological evidence and set without consideration of the level of susceptibility of users. Most companies displayed phrases such "this HD is safe for humans, even children" on the front of the container. No inhalation and skin toxicity precautions were provided. In conclusion, most HD did not properly display information related to safety and health to protect the health of HD users. There has been no official investigation to evaluate the risks posed by HD, such as the sales volume by HD, identification of chemical disinfectants, or their concentration, nor have there been actions to control the chemical quality of HD. In addition, government actions to punish the malicious practices of companies that manufactured and sold HD were found to inappropriate.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.67 no.3
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• pp.249-253
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• 2009

On 7 December 2007, the Hebei Spirit ran aground near Taean and released approximately 10,900 tons of oil into the sea. Crude oil on the coastal areas and fumes in the air increased the number of health problems among the local population. We report a case of respiratory failure after the oil spill clean-up work. A 66-year-old female was admitted to hospital with cough, sputum, and dyspnea of 1-month duration after the oil spill clean-up. She was diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia and treated with empirical antibiotics. However, she had progressive respiratory failure without identification of the pathogen. Respiratory failure due to chronic inhalation of hydrocarbons from the crude oil spill clean-up was suspected. After mechanical ventilation care, she recovered from respiratory failure and was discharged. We report a case of severe respiratory toxic effects after an oil spill clean-up. We concluded that long-term hydrocarbon inhalation during the oil spill clean-up may have induced respiratory failure in this case.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.696-706
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• 2023

Consequences of an anticipated Beyond Design Basis Accident (BDBA) Long-Term Station Blackout (LTSBO) event with complete loss of grid power in the VVER-1200 reactor of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) of Unit-1 are assessed using the RASCAL 4.3 code. This study estimated the released radionuclides, received public radiological dose, and ground surface concentration considering 3 accident scenarios of International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale (INES) level 7 and two meteorological conditions. Atmospheric transport, dispersion, and deposition processes of released radionuclides are simulated using a straight-line trajectory Gaussian plume model for short distances and a Gaussian puff model for long distances. Total Effective Dose Equivalent (TEDE) to the public within 40 km and radionuclides contribution for three-dose pathways of inhalation, cloudshine, and groundshine owing to airborne releases are evaluated considering with and without passive safety Emergency Core Cooling System (ECCS) in dry (winter) and wet (monsoon) seasons. Source term and their release rates are varied with the functional duration of passive safety ECCS. In three accident scenarios, the TEDE of 10 mSv and above are confined to 8 km and 2 km for the wet and dry seasons, respectively in the downwind direction. The groundshine dose is the most dominating in the wet season while the inhalation dose is in the dry season. Total received doses and surface concentration in the wet season near the plant are higher than those in the dry season due to the deposition effect of rain on the radioactive substances.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.59 no.6
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• pp.690-695
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• 2005

Nitric acid is an oxidizing agent used in metal refining and cleaning, electroplating, and other industrial applications. Its accidental spillage generates oxides of nitrogen, including nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide ($NO_2$), which cause chemical pneumonitis when inhaled. The clinical presentation of a nitric acid inhalation injury depends on the duration and intensity of exposure. In mild cases, there may be no symptoms during the first few hours after exposure, or the typical symptoms of pulmonary edema can appear within 3-24 hours. However, in cases of prolonged exposure, progressive pulmonary edema develops instantaneously and patients may not survive for more than 24 hours. We report a case of a 44-year-old male who was presented with acute respiratory distress syndrome after nitric acid inhalation. He complained of cough and dyspnea of a sudden onset after inhaling nitric acid fumes at his workplace over a four-hour period. He required endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation due to fulminant respiratory failure. He was managed successfully with mechanical ventilation using positive end expiratory pressure and systemic corticosteroids, and recovered fully without any deterioration in his pulmonary function.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.193-215
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• 1991

This study is aimed at providing basic information applicable to setting up the education programs and strategies to prevent smoking among high school students by analysing smoking behavior and influencing factors. The samples consisted of 814 students, 557 parents and 362 teachers selected randomly from 8 high schools, one from each school district in Seoul. Date Analyses were made through Chi-Square test, Factor Analysis, One Way ANOVA, Multiple Regression, Correlation. SPSS/$PC^+$program was utilized. Smoking behavior (continuous smoking, re-smoking, ex-smoking, never smoking, daily smoking, occasional smoking) were used as dependent variables. Influencing factors (male students, habits, attitudes and knowledge toward smoking, home life, school life, juvenile delinquency, friendship, demographic parent's and teacher's recognition toward male students smoking) were used as in dependent variables. The major findings of the study are as follows : 1. The total smoking rate occupies 41.1% whereas the continuous smoking rate stands at 19.2%, re-smoking rate 9.5%, ex-smoking rate 12.4% and never smoking rate 58.9%. 2. The total smoking rate among high school students is significantly correlated with their monthly expenditures and type of school (p<0.001). The continuous smoking rate also shows the same tendency. As the length of butt get shorter, the current smoking rate increase. The duration of smoking is in proportion to its continuity. The major motive of smoking is curiousity whereas that re-smoking is to follow friend's behavior. The study shows that peer pressure is the most powerful factor influencing smoking behavior of students. Friends and fellow students encourage to pick up smoking and resume smoking even alter one stops smoking. 3. The correlationship between favorable attitudes toward smoking and the current smoking rate and its continuity is statistically significant(p<0.05, p<0.01, p<0.001). 4. The stability and harmony of family life and the current smoking rate show negative correlationship. The daily smoking amount of father is in proportion to the continuity of students' smoking. When parents are in favor of smoking, it is more likely that the experimental smoking rate increase the smoking rate increases, and vice versa. The more acceptable attitudes toward smoking among siblings is also one of the factors to increase the smoking rate and continuity (p<0.001). The more lenient the attitudes of parents toward their children's association with smoking friends, the higher the smoking rate. When students have difficulties in adjusting to school life, it is more likely that the current smoking rate and continuity increase. 5. The continuity of smoking and friendship are significantly correlated (p<0.05, p<0.01, p<0.001). 6. The continuity of smoking and juvenile delinquency are significantly correlated (p<0.001). 7. The difference in attitudes and smoking reasons of parents and students is significantly correlated to different smoking behavior (p<0.01, p<0.001). While smoking knowledge does not significantly influence their smoking behavior, it is noted that in the case of teachers, smoking reason (p<0.05), attitudes (p<0.001) and knowledge (p<0.05) strongly influence their smoking behavior. 8. There is a significantly correlation among the smoking reasons, attitudes and knowledge between students and parents(p<0.001). As for the correlationship between regularity and smoking amount and other influencing factors, the daily smoking amount is in proportion to depth of inhalation and duration of smoking, negative attitudes of parents unstability of family, dissatisfaction of family members, juvenile delinquency, strong smoking reasons and positive attitudes towards smoking. 9. In the case of daily smokers depth of inhalation is significantly correlated to the duration of smoking, juvenile delinquency, acceptability of parents, dissatisfaction of family members and smoking reasons. The duration of smoking motives is significantly correlated to juvenile delinquency, high acceptability of parents, strong smoking motive and positive attitudes toward smoking. 10. It is noted that 40% of parents and 30% of teachers do not recognize the significant correlationship between and the relative influencing factors mentioned above.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.9
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• pp.955-961
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• 1992

In this study, 237 cases of spontaneous pneumothorax experienced at the department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Kosin Medical College during from January 1986 to December 1990 were analysed retrospectively. 1. The ratio of male to female was 4.6: 1, predominent in male. The incidence of age group was highest as 36% between 21 and 40 years old. 2. The associated diseases of pneumothorax were 27 cases, in which pyothorax were 8 cases, and hydrothorax were 19 cases. 3. The site of pneumothorax was as follows: right side was 53%, left side was 45%, and both side was 2%, so right side was slight high. 4. The empolyed managements were as follows: bed rest with oxygen inhalation in 13 cases, closed thoracostomy in 155 cases, open thoracotomy in 69 cases. 5. The operative procedures of thoracotomy were as follows; simple pleurodesis in 2 cases, blebectomy & bullectomy in 38 cases, parietal pleurecttnny in 4 cases, segmentectomy in 12 cases, lobectomy in 9 cases. 6. The indication of open thoracotomy were as follows, recurrent history in 35 cases, contralateral pneumothorax history in 2 cases, continuous air leakage in 24 cases, bilateral pneumothorax in 2 cases, and visible blebs & bullaes on the chest X-ray in 6 cases. 7. The hospital duration after management was as follow, open thoracotomy in 13.2 days, closed thoracostomy in 22.4 days. The recurrent pneumothorax after closed thoracostomy was 25 cases, about 15%.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.417-421
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• 2007

Post-intubation granuloma of the larynx is a rare complication of general inhalation anesthesia, which is associated with direct mechanical irritation of laryngeal mucosa from trauma, prolonged period of endotracheal intubation, multiple intubations and endotracheal movement. This study was performed retrospectively to evaluate symptoms, incidence, duration and site for prevention of the intubation granuloma. The authors investigated 16 patients of intubation granuloma among 719 patients during 1 year period from August, 2005 to July, 2006 at the Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Pusan National University Hospital. The results were as follows. 1. The incidence was 16/719 cases(2.2%) 2. The female to male ratio was 7:1 3. Hoarseness was the main symptom 4. Most cases occurred after 2-jaw orthognathic surgery.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.165-173
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• 2016

Dentists often sedate patients in order to reduce their dental phobia and stress during dental treatment. Sedatives are administered through various routes such as oral, inhalation, and intravenous routes. Intravenous administration has the advantage of rapid onset of action, predictable duration of action, and easy titration. Typically, midazolam, propofol or dexmedetomidine are used as intravenous sedatives. Administration of these sedatives via infusion by using a syringe pump is more effective and successful than infusing them as a bolus. However, during intravenous infusion of sedatives or opioids using a syringe pump, fatal accidents may occur due to the clinician's carelessness. To prevent such risks, smart syringe pumps have been introduced clinically. They allow clinicians to perform effective sedation by using a computer to control the dose of the drug being infused. To ensure patient safety, various alarm features along with a drug library, which provides drug information and prevents excessive infusion by limiting the dose, have been added to smart pumps. In addition, programmed infusion systems and target-controlled infusion systems have also been developed to enable effective administration of sedatives. Patient-controlled infusion, which allows a patient to control his/her level of sedation through self-infusion, has also been developed. Safer and more successful sedation may be achieved by fully utilizing these new features of the smart pump.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.123-132
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• 2021

Radiological impact analyses were carried out for a near-surface radioactive waste repository at Gyeongju in South Korea. The RESRAD-ONSITE code was applied for the estimation of maximum exposure doses by considering various exposure pathways based on a land area of 2,500 ㎡ with a 0.15 m thick contamination zone. Typical influencing input parameters such as shield depth, shield materials' density, and shield erosion rate were examined for a sensitivity analysis. Then both residential farmer and industrial worker scenarios were used for the estimation of maximum exposure doses depending on exposure duration. The radiation dose evaluation results showed that 60Co, 137Cs, and 63Ni were major contributors to the total exposure dose compared with other radionuclides. Furthermore, the total exposure dose from ingestion (plant, meat, and milk) of the contaminated plants was more significant than those assessed for inhalation, with maximum values of 5.5×10-4 mSv·yr-1 for the plant ingestion. Thus the results of this study can be applied for determining near-surface radioactive waste repository conditions and providing quantitative analysis methods using RESRAD-ONSITE code for the safety assessment of disposing radioactive materials including decommissioning wastes to protect human health and the environment.