• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.241-247
• /
• 2014

Purpose: Serum vitamin C is one of the indicators for antioxidant levels in the body and it is lower in cancer patients compared with the healthy population. However, there have been few studies on the levels of serum vitamin C in terminally ill cancer patients and related factors. Methods: We followed 65 terminal cancer patients who were hospitalized in two palliative care units. We collected data of age, sex, cancer type, functional status, clinical symptoms, history of cancer therapy, and various laboratory findings including serum vitamin C level. Patients were categorized into two groups according to the quartile of serum vitamin C level (Q1-3 vs. Q4), which were compared each other. Stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors related to serum vitamin C levels. Results: The mean serum vitamin C level was $0.44{\mu}g/mL$, and all patients fell into the category of vitamin C deficiency. Univariate analysis showed that The serum vitamin C level was lower in non-lung cancer patients (P=0.041) and febrile patients (P=0.034). Multivariate analysis adjusted for potential confounders such as lung cancer, fever, dysphagia, dyspnea, C reactive protein, and history of chemotherapy demonstrated that odds for low serum vitamin C level was 3.7 for patients receiving chemotherapy (P=0.046) and 7.22 for febrile patients (P=0.02). Conclusion: Vitamin C deficiency was very severe in terminally ill cancer patients, and it was associated with history of chemotherapy and fever.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.11 no.7
• /
• pp.597-603
• /
• 2017

High-dose $^{131}I$ therapy has been generally carried out to remove remaining thyroid tissue or to cure metastasize lesion of patients who received full thyroidectomy due to differentiated thyroid cancers. In case high-dose $^{131}I$ therapy is carried out for a patient, the patient should be hospitalized being isolated for a certain period in order to restrict the amount of exposure to radiation of people at large from the patient within the limit of a level of radiation. Effective half-life is an important value to calculate how family members are exposed to radiation from a patient or to decide the period of isolation of the patient from the family members. Therefore, in this study we calculated the effective decay constant, effective half-life and period of isolation of high-dose $^{131}I$ therapy patient using NM670 SPECT/CT. As a result of carrying out this study, the effective half-life of high-dose $^{131}I$ therapy patients was derived and the time to reach the discharge level of 1.2 GBq was confirmed. When they were compared with each other in each of curative doses, the effective half-life did not have significant difference, but the time when the level of radiation remaining in the interior of the body to reach the criteria of isolation and discharge showed significant difference and it could be confirmed that the higher the curative dose the longer the period of isolation becomes. When the effective half-lives in each type of preparation were compared with each other, they did not show significant difference. However, When the times to reach the level of radiation that is the criteria of isolation and discharge in each type of preparations, they showed significant difference. The cause of the shortening of the isolation period for rhTSH patients group is decided to be low curative dose. Accordingly, if the current national health insurance (the insurance is applied to using of rhTSH in 3.7 GBq or lower) is maintained, while discerning them in each of types of preparation, we would be able to discharge patients at the time earlier than the current period of isolation (2 nights and 3 days).

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.40 no.6
• /
• pp.454-468
• /
• 2014

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the actual condition of the farm work environment and personal protective equipment as part of the effort to improve livestock work for the safety and health of poultry farmers and provide basic data for establishing plans to improve and develop personal protective equipment. Methods: For this purpose, a questionnaire survey on general information about stables, the poultry work environment, accidents, the wearing of work clothes and personal protective equipment, and the level of awareness related to personal protective equipment was conducted among 148 poultry farmers. Results: As a result, it was found that poultry workplace environment was exposed to such risks as fine dusts; organic dusts; poisonous gases; odorous substances; chicken excrement; contact with chickens, bacteria or viruses; and accidents related to machine operation. Thirteen percent of respondents suffered severe respiratory diseases, and the most frequently injured sites due to accidents were the hands (25.7%), knees (23.8%), arms (17.3%), and head (10.9%). The most frequent type of accident was collisions between the body and obstacles or machinery during movement (36.4%), followed by erroneous machine operation such as feeders and electric shocks (8.5%). Regarding the wearing of work clothes and personal protective equipment, 51.7% of the respondents wore worn-out clothing or everyday clothes, whereas only 32.0% wore work clothes. The percentage of farmers who wore proper protective equipment for the work environment during poultry work was 48.4%. The most frequently used type of protective equipment was boots (38.9%), followed by mask (36.7%), gloves (36.3%), appropriate work clothes (22.6%), quarantine clothes (17.6%), helmets (13.4%), and goggles (12.6%). The rate of wearing goggles was low because they were considered inconvenient and lowered work efficiency. Furthermore, they purchased everyday products available on the market for their personal protective equipment which were not appropriate for maintaining safety in an actual harmful environment and its consequent risks. As a result of the survey of the awareness level related to personal protective equipment, their levels of awareness of accidents and attitude proved to be average or higher, but the practice of wearing protective equipment and the level of knowledge and management of personal protective equipment were lower. Conclusion: This survey found that the wearing status of personal protective equipment among poultry farmers was insufficient even though they were exposed to risks. Most respondents were aware of the necessity of wearing personal protective equipment and of the potential for accidents, but they did not wear proper protective equipment. Their wearing rate was low due to a lack of knowledge about protective equipment, as well as the inconvenience of wearing it. Therefore there is a need to improve and develop specialized personal protective equipment for respiration, hands, and eyes, as well as work clothes that can protect farmers from major harmful matter that is generated in the poultry workplace. Based on the results of this investigation, we will conduct further studies on the required performance and design directions of personal protective equipment while collecting more objective data through field-oriented assessments.

• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.279-284
• /
• 2012

The X ray has been widely used in both diagnosis and treatment. Recently, a miniature X ray tube has been developed for radiotherapy. The miniature X ray tube is directly inserted into the body irradiated, so that X rays can be guided to a target at various incident angles according to collimator geometry and, thus, minimize patient dose. If such features of the miniature X ray tube can be applied to development of X ray imaging as well as radiation treatment, it is expected to open a new chapter in the field of diagnostic X ray. However, the miniature X ray tube requires an added filter and a collimator for diagnostic purpose because it was designed for radiotherapy. Therefore, a collimator and an added filter were manufactured for the miniature X ray tube, and mounted on. In this study, we evaluated beam characteristics of the miniature X ray tube for diagnostic X ray system and accuracy of measuring the HVL. We used the Si PIN Photodiode type Piranha detector (Piranha, RTI, Sweden) and estimated the HVL of the miniature X ray tube with added filter and without added filter. Through an another measurement using Al filter, we evaluated the accuracy of the HVL obtained from a direct measurement using the automatic HVL calculation function provided by the Piranha detector. As a result, the HVL of the miniature X ray tube was increased around 1.9 times with the added filter mounted on. So we demonstrated that the HVL was suitable for diagnostic X ray system. In the case that the added filter was not mounted on, the HVL obtained from use of the automatic HVL calculation function provided by Piranha detector was 50% higher than the HVL estimated using Al filter. Therefore, the HVL automatic measurement from the Piranha detector cannot be used for the HVL calculation. However, when the added filter was mounted on, the HVL automatic measurement value using the Piranha detector was approximately 15% lower than the estimated value using Al filter. It implies that the HVL automatic measurement can be used to estimate the HVL of the miniature X ray tube with the added filter mounted on without a more complicated measurement method using Al filter. It is expected that the automatic HVL measurement provided by the Piranha detector enables to make kV-X ray characterization easier.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.31 no.7
• /
• pp.1139-1150
• /
• 1998

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of the silkworm powder on blood levels of glucose, Hb Alc, insulin, and lipids. Thirty-one NIDDM patients from Kyung Hee Medical Center were divided into two groups : patients with silkworm powder supplements and drug treatments(Drug diabetes) and patients with silkworm powder supplement only(Non-drug diabetes). For the control group, age-matched subjects were recruited. During the 4 weeks of the experimental period, silkworm powder(500mg/mea1) was given to the subjects right after each meal. Nutritional assessments and dietary education were carried out periodically, and body weight and blood pressure were measured when patients visited the hospital. Overnight fasting and 2-h postprandial blood glucose levels were measured at 2 week intervals. The blood levels of insulin, Hb Alc, and lipids were measured before and after the supplements. The mean ages of the three groups were 56.7-59.6 years old. The height, weight, and BMI did not differ among the groups. The fasting blood glucose levels were 138.1$\pm$22.0mg/dl for the Drug treated diabetes group, 175.0$\pm$32.0mg/dl for the Non-drug diabetes group, and 108. 3$\pm$16.gmg/dl for the control group at the begining of the supplement. After 4-wks of supplements, the blood levels of glucose tended to decrease in all three experimental groups. Before the supplements, the 2-h postprandial blood glucose levels of the Drug diabetes, Non drug diabetes, and control groups were 244.7$\pm$62.6mg/dl, 272.4$\pm$40.1mg/dl, and 147.7$\pm$28.0mg/dl, respectively. After the supplement, the levels were 197.2$\pm$30.gmg/dl, 208.6$\pm$ 56.6mg/dl, and 151.3$\pm$30.3mg/dl, respectively. This shows that silkworm powder tended to lower blood levels by 19.4% and 23.4% in NIDDM patient groups. However, the changes in the blood levels of insulin, Hb Alc, ind lipids were not observed after the supplement. In conclusion, the present study has demonstrated that silkworm powder has a tendency to decrease 2-h postprandial blood glucose levels, but it should be used with caution in controlling the diabetes. (Korean J Nutrition 31(7) 1139-1150, 1998)

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.121-127
• /
• 2013

This work was carried to evaluate production efficiency factor, carcass yield and meat quality with weeks of Large-type Korean native ducks. Korean native ducks (n = 90) from National Institute of Animal Science (RDA, Korea) were used in this work. Ninety ducks were divided into 6 groups (15 birds/group) and were fed with meat-type duck diets for 8 wk old. When ducks grew at specific wk (6, 7 and 8 weeks), 2 ducks per group were slaughtered at 6, 7 and 8 wk old. Production efficiency factor, carcass yield, partial meat and meat quality were researched in this work. There was no significant difference on livability with weeks, but body weight at 7 and 8 wk old was higher than that at 6 wk old (P<0.05). Feed conversion ratio at 6, 7 and 8 wk old were 2.25, 2.69 and 3.21, respectively, so there was significant difference with weeks (P<0.05). Production efficiency factor at 6, 7 and 8 wk old were 256.6, 199.8 and 153.0, respectively, so there was significant difference with weeks (P<0.05). Carcass yield at 8 wk old was higher than that at 6 and 7 wk old as 73.5% (P<0.05). Lightness at 6, 7 and 8 wk were 41.8, 39.0 and 38.1, respectively, and that at 6 wk old was the higher than other weeks (P<0.05). There was no significant difference on redness at 6, 7, and 8 wk old (P>0.05) and yellowness at 8 wk old was higher compared to other weeks (P<0.05). Cooking loss was the highest at 6 wk old as 31.6%, but water holding capacity was the highest at 8 wk old (P<0.05). There was no significant difference on shear force among weeks. pH at 6 wk old was the lower than that of other weeks as 5.84. Moisture content significantly decreased with weeks (P<0.05) and fat content at 8 wk was the highest as 1.88% (P<0.05). Protein content significantly increased with weeks until 20.9% at the age of 8 wk (P<0.05). Ash content at 7 and 8 wk old was the higher than that at 6 wk old (P<0.05). There was no significant difference on juiciness, tenderness, and flavor with weeks. Finally, these results may provide that shipping time at 7 wk old preferred to that at 6 and 7 wk old, but further research was needed because of deficiency of data.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
• /
• v.41 no.6
• /
• pp.52-61
• /
• 2013

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of pergola's shading on the thermal comfort index in the summer. The 3 type of pergolas($4m{\times}4m{\times}h2.7m$) which were screened overhead(I)/overhead west(II)/overhead west north(III) plane with reed blind for summer shading and winter wind break, were constructed on the 4th floor rooftop. Thereafter the meteorological variables(air temperature, humidity, radiation, and wind speed) of pergola I, III and rooftop were measured from 14 to 16 August 2013(1st experiment), those of pergola I, II and rooftop were measured from 26 to 28 August 2013(2nd experiment). The effects of pergola's shading on the radiation environment and mean radiant temperature($T_{mrt}$), standard effective temperature($SET^*$) were as follows. The maximum 1 h mean values of differences ${\Delta}$ of the sums of shortwave radiant flux densities absorbed by the human body (${\Delta}K_{abs,max}$) between pergola I, III and nearby sunny rooftop were $-119W/m^2$, $-158W/m^2$, those between pergola I, II and rooftop were $-145W/m^2$, $-159W/m^2$. The maximum 1 h mean values of differences ${\Delta}$ of the sums of long wave radiant flux densities absorbed by the human body (${\Delta}L_{abs,max}$) between pergola I, III and nearby sunny rooftop, were $-15W/m^2$, $-17W/m^2$, those between pergola I, II and nearby rooftop, were $-8W/m^2$, $-7W/m^2$. The response of the direction dependent long wave radiant flux densities $L_1$ on the pergola's shading turned out to be distinctly weaker as compared to shortwave radiant flux densities $K_1$. The pergola's shading leads to a lowering of $T_{mrt}$ and $SET^*$. The peak values of $T_{mrt}$ absorbed by the human body were decreased $16^{\circ}C$ and $21.4^{\circ}C$ under pergola I and III as compared to that of nearby rooftop in the 1st experiment. Those were decreased $18.8^{\circ}C$ and $20.8^{\circ}C$ under pergola I and II as compared to that of nearby rooftop in the 2nd experiment. The peak values of $SET^*$ absorbed by the human body were decreased $2.9^{\circ}C$ and $2.6^{\circ}C$ under pergola I and III as compared to that of nearby rooftop in the 1st experiment. Those were decreased $3.5^{\circ}C$ and $2.6^{\circ}C$ under pergola I and II as compared to that of nearby rooftop in the 2nd experiment. The relative $SET^*$ decrease in pergola II, III compared to nearby sunny rooftop $SET^*$ were lower than that in pergola I, revealing the influence of the wind speed. Therefore it is essential to design pergola to maximize wind speed and minimize solar radiation to achieve comfort in the hot summer. The $SET^*$ under pergola I, III were exceeded $28.7^{\circ}C$ and $30.4^{\circ}C$ which were the upper limit of thermal comfort and tolerable zone during all most daytimes in the 1st experiment(maximum air temperature $37.5^{\circ}C$). The $SET^*$ under pergola I was exceeded $28.7^{\circ}C$ which was the upper limit of thermal comfort zone at 13h, that under pergola II was exceeded $28.7^{\circ}C$ from 8h to 14h, meanwhile the $SET^*$ under pergola I, II were within thermal tolerable zone during most daytimes in the 2nd experiment(maximum air temperature $34.4^{\circ}C$). Therefore to ensure the thermal comfort of pergola for summer hottest days, pergola should be shaded with not only reed blind but also climbing and shade plants. $T_{mrt}$ and $SET^*$ were suitable index for the evaluation of pergola's shading effects and outdoors.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.48 no.5
• /
• pp.481-487
• /
• 2005

Purpose : Adiponectin, adipose tissue-specific protein, has anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic properties. It has been found to have a negative correlation with obesity and to play a role in modulating glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. Serum adiponectin concentrations are decreased in adults with obesity and type 2 diabetes. We investigated the difference in adiponectin levels between obese and non-obese children, and evaluated the relationship of serum adiponectin with body mass index(BMI), serum fasting insulin, lipid profiles and homeostasis model assessment(HOMA) in children. Methods : We measured serum adiponectin levels by radioimmunoassay in 113 children(82 obese children and 31 non-obese controls) from 8 to 15 years of age, and also checked BMI, fasting serum glucose, insulin and lipid profiles. Fasting and postprandial serum adiponectin concentrations were compared by oral glucose tolerance tests in 27 obese children. The correlations of adiponectin with BMI, insulin, low density lipoprotein(LDL)-cholesterol and HOMA were analyzed by Pearson's correlation. Results : The serum adiponectin levels were significantly lower in the obese group(19.7 mg/mL) than in the non-obese group(27.5 mg/mL)(P<0.01). Serum adiponectin concentrations were negatively correlated with BMI(r=-0.39, P<0.01), serum insulin(r=-0.28, P<0.01), LDL-C(r=-0.20, P<0.01) and HOMA(r=-0.22, P<0.01). At oral glucose tolerance tests in obese children, postprandial 2 hours adiponectin level(19.8 mg/mL) was decreased compared to fasting level(25.8 mg/mL)(P<0.01). Conclusion : Serum adiponectin concentrations were inversely related to adiposity and insulin resistance in children. We suggest the serum adiponectin level could be used as an early marker of insulin resistance in obese children.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.53 no.4
• /
• pp.532-537
• /
• 2010

Purpose : Early postoperative arrhythmias are a major cause of mortality and morbidity after open heart surgery in the pediatric population. We evaluated the incidence and risk factors of early postoperative arrhythmias after surgery of congenital heart disease. Methods : From January 2002 to December 2008, we retrospectively reviewed the medical records of the 561 patients who underwent cardiac surgery in Kyungpook National University Hospital. We analyzed patients' age and weight, occurrence and type of arrhythmia, cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time, aortic cross clamp (ACC) time, and postoperative electrolyte levels. Results : Arrhythmias occurred in 42 of 578 (7.3%) cases of the pediatric cardiac surgery. The most common types of arrhythmia were junctional ectopic tachycardia (JET) and accelerated idioventricular rhythm (AIVR), which occurred in 17 and 13 cases, respectively. The arterial switch operation (ASO) of transposition of the great arteries (TGA) had the highest incidence of arrhythmia (36.4%). Most cases of cardiac arrhythmia showed good response to management. Patients with early postoperative arrhythmias had significantly lower body weight, younger age, and prolonged CPB and ACC times ($P$<0.05) than patients without arrhythmia. Although the mean duration of ventilator care and intensive care unit stay were significantly longer ($P$<0.05), the mortality rate was not significantly different among the 2 groups. Conclusion : Early postoperative arrhythmias are a major complication after pediatric cardiac surgery; however, aggressive and immediate management can reduce mortality and morbidity.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.184-189
• /
• 2007

Purpose: This study was to explore barriers to effective pain management in general population. Methods: Total 163 Participants completed the Barrier Questionnaire-II (BQ-II), a 27-item on a six point scale, from May to June in 2007. BQ-II consisted of four subscales which were 1) physical effects (PE) addressing beliefs that side effects of analgesics are inevitable and concerns about tolerance, fatalism (Fa) addressing fatalistic beliefs about cancer pain and its management, Communication (Co) addressing the beliefs of 'good patient' and concerns of distracting physician from underlying disease, and harmful effects (HE) addressing fear of addiction and harmful effect to immune system of pain medicine. Results: The BQ-II total had an internal consistency of 0.877 in this study. HE was the biggest barrier (3.03) followed by PE (2.73), Fa (2.15), and Co (1.71). Items appeared as great concerns were 'there is a danger of becoming addicted to pain medication'(3.58), 'using pain medicine blocks your ability to know if you have any new pain' (3.18), 'pain medicine is very addictive' (3.09), 'when you use pain medicine your body becomes used to its effects and pretty soon it won't work any more' (3.09), and 'drowsiness from pain medicine is difficult to control' (3.09). Only 12 respondents (7.4%) reported that they took any type of pain education, however, those who took pain education represented significantly lower barriers to pain management than who did not (P=.029). Conclusion: This result suggests the strategies for public education to surmount cancer pain.