• Archives of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.73-80
• /
• 2018

Purpose: This study was evaluated the effects of nucleoplasty and chemonucleolysis, as interventional treatments for herniated intervertebral disc disease, on spinal tissues. Methods: Nucleoplasty using plasma beam and chemonucleolysis with collagenase were conducted on the spinal motion segments that were dissected from of human cadaver spine under fluoroscopic guidance. After the procedure, the intervertebral discs were transected, and the changes in gross findings were examined. Subsequently, the influence of the procedure on the nucleus pulposus, annuls fibrosus, and endplate was analyzed through a pathologic examination. Results: Nucleoplasty was confirmed to eliminate the local range of tissues in nucleus pulposus according to the procedure tract and to not affect other tissues. In chemonucleolysis, we found that collagenase diffused from the surgical site within the nucleus pulposus and was not present in the annulus fibrosus and endplate. Conclusions: The clinically-used interventional treatments that were investigated here were not found to do not cause additional damage to areas other than those targeted.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.263-275
• /
• 2022

Structural collapses can occur as a result of a dynamic amplification of either, the building's seismic response or the ground shaking by local site effects; one of the reasons is a resonance effect due to the proximity of the structural elastic fundamental period TE and the soil fundamental period TS. We evaluate the vulnerability to resonance effects in Guadalajara, México, in a three-step schema: 1) we define structural systems in the building environment of western Guadalajara, in terms of their construction materials and structural components; 2) we estimate TE with different equations, to obtain a representative value in elastic conditions for each structural system; and, 3) we evaluate the resonance vulnerability by the analysis of the ratio between TE and TS. We observe that the larger the soil fundamental period, the higher the resonance vulnerability for buildings with height between 17 and 39 m. For the sites with a low TS, the most vulnerable buildings will be those with a height between 2 and 9 m. These results can be a helpful tool for disaster prevention, by avoiding the construction of buildings with certain heights and structural characteristics that would result in a dangerous proximity between TE and TS.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.69-79
• /
• 2011

In this study, empirical site amplifications and S-wave velocity profiles for shallow and deep soils are estimated using earthquake ground motion records in metropolitan Manila, the Philippines. We first apply a spectral inversion technique to the earthquake records to estimate effects of source, path, and local site amplification. The earthquake data used were obtained during 36 moderate earthquakes at 10 strong-motion stations of an earthquake observation network in Manila. The estimated Q value of the propagation path is modelled as $54.6f^{1.1}$. Most of the source spectra can be approximated with the omega-square model. The site amplifications show characteristic features according to surface geological conditions. The amplifications at the sites in the coastal lowland and Marikina Valley shows predominant peaks at frequencies from 1 to 5 Hz, while those in the central plateau are characterised by no dominant peaks. These site amplifications are inverted to subsurface S-wave velocity. We, next, discuss the relationship between the amplifications and average S-wave velocity in the top 30m of the S-wave velocity profiles. The amplifications at low frequencies are well correlated with the averaged S-wave velocity. However, high-frequency amplifications cannot be sufficiently explained by the averaged S-wave velocity in the top 30 m. They are correlated more with the average of S-wave velocity over depths less than 30 m.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.80-93
• /
• 2018

The following results could be obtained from the research on awareness and satisfaction of the tourists who joined the program 'A Journey in Search of King Mu's Road'. With regard to awareness of the site tour program, tourists replied that they participated in the program mainly because of their interest in education for their children. They expressed great needs for the municipal government office to maintain walkways, signboards and guide maps as well as to reinforce safety facilities as a measure to increase satisfaction with the site tour on the part of visitors and tourists. In terms of satisfaction with operation and management of the site tour program, the contents of the program were highly appreciated while it turned out necessary to rediscover garden culture resources and to develop and operate an expanded internal tour course for tourists to look around inside the relics by utilizing the recently excavated Baekje historical resources. As a consequence, it might be expected possible to experience and educate the local history and garden culture thanks to the historical culture and environmental values that have been preserved in the Baekje cultural circles. Moreover, the importance of walking trips will be recognized for its effects to allow those who get tired from daily life to come into contact with nature, practice self-reflection and care for their health as well.

• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.179-189
• /
• 2014

The Saemaeul Movement, which is the representative national campaign of Korea aimed at the development of local communities, has drawn a great deal of attention from home and abroad and formed an element of Korea's national brand since 2000. Accordingly, this research was conducted for the purpose of constructing a memorial park in Shindo Village, Cheongdo County, North Kyoungsang Province, which is a home to the Saemaeul Movement. As the Saemaeul Movement is benchmarked by many countries around the world today, this research aims to communicate the spirit and social value of the movement and disseminate its effects of local community development in rural areas through the construction of a memorial park. In this study, the design motive of the memorial park was conceived through the historical review and case studies of the Saemaeul Movement. In parallel, theoretical study was also conducted on design techniques as the basis of this research. In consideration of the characteristics of a technical article, this research was conducted in several phases. In the first phase, the conditions of the site where the park construction was planned were analyzed and the direction of its development was set. In the second phase, the main theme and the basic principles of planning were established, and the contents of the park construction project were devised in detail. In the last phase, a comprehensive plan was established, including a space layout to accommodate activities, facilities and programs to be introduced to the park. The park construction site ($106,000m^2$) was divided into four zones (memorial zone, historical theme park, education zone and experience zone) based on circulation planning aimed at creating memorial space, and was linked to eco-friendly ecological space in consideration of environmental features. At a time when the Saemaeul Movement is being propagated across the world, the result of this study will help create a place for its memorial and play a pivotal role to boost international movements aimed at promoting co-prosperity across the global village. It will also bear significance as an example of theme-based park construction in a rural area and the invigoration of a local community.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.210-216
• /
• 2015

Background: Infusion methods during regional analgesia using perineural catheters may influence the quality of postoperative analgesia. This study was conducted to compare the effects of combined or bolus-only infusion of 0.2% ropivacaine on the postoperative analgesia in interscalene brachial plexus block (ISBPB) with perineural catheterization. Methods: Patients scheduled for arthroscopic rotator cuff repair were divided into two groups, one that would receive a combined infusion (group C, n = 32), and one that would receive intermittent infusion (group I, n = 32). A perineural catheter was inserted into the interscalene brachial plexus (ISBP) using ultrasound (US) and nerve stimulation, and 10 ml of 0.2% ropivacaine was administered. After the operation, group C received a continuous infusion of 4 ml/h, and a 4 ml bolus with a lockout interval of 60 min. Group I received only a 4 ml bolus, and the lockout interval was 30 min. Postoperative pain by the numeric rating scale (NRS) and the forearm muscle tone by the manual muscle test (MMT) were checked and evaluated at the following timepoints: preoperative, and postoperative 1, 4, 12, 24, 36, and 48 h. Supplemental opioid requirements, total consumed dose of local anesthetic, and adverse effects were compared between the two groups. Results: Sixty-four patients completed the study and the postoperative values such as operation time, time to discharge, and operation site were comparable. There were no differences in NRS scores and supplemental opioid requirements between the two groups. The MMT scores of group I at 4 and 12 h after surgery were significantly higher than those of group C (P < 0.05). The total consumed dose of local anesthetic was significantly lower in group I than in group C (P < 0.05). The adverse effects were not different between the groups. Conclusions: The bolus-only administration of 0.2% ropivacaine provided a similar analgesic effect with a lower total volume of local anesthetic and decreased motor weakness compared to combined infusion. Therefore, bolus-only administration is an effective postoperative analgesic method in ISBPB with perineural catheterization after rotator cuff repair.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.43 no.6
• /
• pp.903-915
• /
• 1996

Background: Combination chemotherapy is now considered to be the cornerstone of small cell lung cancer (SCLC). management but the optimal management of limited SCLC is not well defined. The role of thoracic radiotherapy (TRT) is less well established. Recent meta-analyses reports revealed that TRT combined with chemotherapy produce "good" local control and prolonged survival. But other reports that survival was not changed. The liming, dose, volume and fractionation for TRT with the combined chemotherapy of SCLC remains unsettled. In this study, we analyzed the effects according to the timing of thoracic radiotherapy in limited SCLC. Method: All fifty one patients received cytoxan, adriamycin and vincristine(CAV) alternating with etoposide and cisplatin(VPP) every 3 weeks for 6 cycles were randomized prospectively into two groups: concurrent and sequential. 27 patients received 4500cGy in 30 fractions(twice daily 150cGy fractional dose) over 3 weeks 10 the primary site concurrent with the first cycle of VPP(concurrent gorup). 24 patients received 4000 to 5000cGy over 5 or 6 weeks after completion of sixth cycles of chemotherapy(sequential group). Results: 1. Response rates and response duration : Response rates were not significantly different between two groups(p=0.13). But response duration was superior in the concurrent group(p=0.03). 2. Survival duration was nor different between two groups(p=0.33). 3. Local control rate was superior in the concurrent group(p=0.00). 4. Side effects and toxicities: Hematologic toxicities, especially leukopenia, infection and frequency of radiation esophagitis were higher in the concurrent group (p=0.00, 0.03, 0.03). Conclusion: The concurrent use of TRT with chemotherapy failed to improve the survival of limited stage SCLC patients compared with the sequential use of TRT but response duration and local control rate were superior in the concurrent group. Frequency of radiation esophagitis, life threatening hematologic toxicities and infection were more frequent in the concurrent group than sequential group. So, the selection of an optimal schedule of chemotherapy combined with TRT that would lead to a major increase in survival with minimal toxicity is remained to be validated in large scale study in the future.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.63 no.3
• /
• pp.397-405
• /
• 2020

Objective : We retrospectively evaluated the efficacy of Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKS) for recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in patients who previously underwent radiotherapy, and analyzed the treatment outcomes over 14 years. Methods : Ten patients with recurrent NPC who had previously received radiotherapy underwent stereotactic radiosurgery using a Gamma Knife^® (Elekta Inc, Atlanta, GA, USA) between 2005 and 2018. The median target volume was 8.2 ㎤ (range, 1.7-17.8), and the median radiation dose to the target was 18 Gy (range, 12-30). The median follow-up period was 18 months (range, 6-76 months). Overall and local failure-free survival rates were determined using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results : The NPCs recurred at the primary cancer site in seven patients (70%), as distant brain metastasis in two (20%), and as an extension into brain in one (10%). The recurrent tumors in seven of the 10 patients (70%) were found on the routine follow-up imaging studies. Two patients presented with headache and one with facial pain. Local failure after GKS occurred in five patients (50%) : two of whom died eight and 6 months after GKS, respectively. No adverse radiation effects were noted after GKS. The 1- and 3-year overall survival rates after GKS were 90% and 77%, respectively. The local failure-free survival rates at 6 months, 1 year, and 3 years after GKS were 80%, 48%, and 32%, respectively. The median interval from GKS to local failure was 8 months (range, 6-12). Univariate analysis revealed that using co-registration with positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was associated with a lower local failure rate of recurrent NPC (p=0.027). Conclusion : GKS is an acceptable salvage treatment option for patients with recurrent NPC who previously received radiation therapy. PET-CT and MRI co-registration for dose planning can help achieve local control of recurrent NPC.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.367-379
• /
• 2014

Background: Over the last decade, medical tourism industry has grown in Korea. Especially the number of Mongolian medical tourists has increased rapidly. Therefore, the Mongolia is one of the targets for Korea medical tourism. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of destination image and expected attributes of medical services on Mongolian's intention to use Korean medical tourism service. Methods: This study empirically collected survey data from Mongolian lived in Mongolia. The study analyzed the data using a PLS model. Results: Our results are as follows. First, the country image didn't significantly have causal effects on expected medical service quality and perceived risk. Second, tourism image (e.g., entertainment, economic feasibility, and local convenience) has significantly causal effects on expected medical service quality and perceived risk. However, tourist site as tourism image didn't significantly have causal effects on expected medical service quality and perceived risk. Third, medical image made a statistically significant effect on expected medical service quality and perceived risk. Fourth, the expected medical service quality showed a significant effect on intention to use Korean medical tourism service. Fifth, the perceived risk of medical tourism showed a significant effect on the reliability of medical tourism, but didn't show a significant effect on the intention to use Korean medical tourism service. Finally, the reliability has a significant effect on the intention to use Korean medical tourism service. Conclusion: From our empirical results, this study concluded that as a strategy attracting Mongolian patients, it is more effective to strengthen Korean hospital image and tourism image than Korean country image.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.37-46
• /
• 2005

In the field of earthquake engineering, recent improvements in many areas, such as seismological source modeling, analysis of travel path effects, and characterization of local site effects on strong shaking, have led to significant advances in both code-based and more advanced procedures for evaluating earthquake ground motions. A missing link, however, is empirically verified design procedures fur assessing the effects of soil-structure interaction (SSI). Available Soil-Structure Interaction (SSI) analysis techniques range from simple substructure-type procedures to relatively sophisticated finite element procedures. The most common substructure approach for foundation-soil interaction is to use a frequency-dependent and complex-valued impedance function. This study uniquely evaluates impedance functions for two well-instrumented sites w significant inertial SSI effects using a system Identification technique. The system identification analysis results are then compared to predictions from a simple theoretical model to gain insight into the inertial interaction effect in the subject sites.