• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.40-47
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• 2009

Purpose: Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) has variable degree of F-18 FDG avidity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between F-18 FDG uptake and pathological or immunohistochemical features of DTC. Materials and Methods: DTC patients who underwent both pre-operative F-18 FDG PET/CT scan and surgery were included in the study. Maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmax) of primary tumor were calculated. If the primary tumor showed no perceptibly increased F-18 FDG uptake, region of interest was drawn based on finding of a portion of the PET/CT images. Pathological and immunohistochemical markers such as presence of lymph node (LN) metastasis and underlying thyroiditis, tumor size, Ki-67 labeling index, expressions of EGFR, COX-2, and Galectin-3 were evaluated. Results: Total of 106 patients was included (102 papillary carcinomas, 4 follicular carcinomas). The mean SUVmax of the large tumors (above 1 cm) was significantly higher than the mean SUVmax of small (equal to or less than 1 cm) ones ($7.8{\pm}8.5$ vs. $3.6{\pm}3.1$, p=0.004). No significant difference in F-18 FDG uptake was found according to the presence or absence of LN metastasis and underlying thyroiditis, or the degree of Ki-67 labeling index, expression of EGFR, COX- 2 and Galectin-3. Conclusion: In conclusion, the degree of F-18 FDG uptake in DTC was associated with the size of primary tumor. But there seem to be no relationship between F-18 FDG uptake of DTC and expression of Ki-67, EGFR, COX-2 and Galectin-3.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.347-356
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• 1999

Background: Exit site/tunnel infection causes considerable morbidity and technique failure in CAPD patients. We presently use a unique revision method for the treatment of refractory ESI/TI in CAPD patients and mupirocin prophylaxis for high risk patients. Materials and Methods: We reviewed 139 CAPD patients about the ESI/TI from October 1993 to February 1999 at Yeungnam University Hospital. At the beginning of the ESI. we usually started medications with rifampicin and ciprofloxacin and then changed the antibiotics according to the sensitivity test. If the ESI had persisted and there were TI symptoms (purulent discharge, abscess lesion around exit site). we performed catheter revision(external cuff shaving, disinfection around tunnel and new exit site on opposit direction) with a combination of proper antibiotics. We applied local mupirocin ointment at the exit site three times per week to the 34 patients who had the risk of ESI starting from October 1998. Results: The total follow-up was 2401 patient months(pt. mon). ESI occurred on 105 occasions in 36 out of 139 patients, and peritonitis occurred on 112 occasions in 67 out of 139 patients. The total number of incidences of ESI and peritonitis was 1 per 23.0 pt. mon and 1 per 2l.6 pt.mon. The most common organism responsible for ESI was Staphylococcus aureus (26 of 54 isolated cases, 48%), followed by the Methicillin resistant S. aureus(MRSA) (13 cases, 24%). Seven patients(5: MRSA. 2: Pseudomonas) had to be treated with a revision to control infection. Three patients experienced ESI relapse after revision. One of them improved with antibiotics, while another needed a second revision and the remaining required catheter removal due to persistent MRSA infection with re-insertion at the same time. But, there was no more ESI in these 3 patients who were received management to relapse (The mean duration: 14.0 months). The rates of ESI were significantly reduced after using mupirocin than before(1 per 12.7 vs 34.0 pt.mon, P<0.01). Conclusions: In summary, revision technique can be regarded as an effective method for refractory ESI/TI before catheter removal. Also local mupirocin ointment can play a significant role in the prevention of ESI.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.97-106
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• 1990

1. Background Women's health and their involvement in health care are essential to health for everyone. If they are ignorant, malnourished or over-worked, the health &-their families as well as their own health will suffer. Women's health depends on broad considerations beyond medicine. Among other things, it depends upon their work in farming. their subordination to their families, their accepted roles, and poor hygiene with poorly equipped housing and environmental sanitation. 2. Objectives and Contents a. The health status of rural women : physical and mental complaints, experience of pesticides intoxication, Farmer's syndrome, experiences of reproductive health problems. b. participation in and attitudes towards housework and farming c. accessibility of medical care d. status of maternal health : fertility, family planning practice. induced abortion, and maternal care 3. Research method A nationwide field survey, based on stratified random sampling, was conducted during July, 1986. Revised Cornell Medical index(68 out of 195 items). Kawagai's Farmers Syndrome Scale, and self-developed structured questionnaires were used to rural farming wives(n=2.028). aged between 26-55. 4. Characteristics of the respondents mean age : 40.2 marital status : 90.8% married mean no. of household : 4.9 average years of education : 4.7 yrs. average income of household : \235,000 average years of residence in rural area : 36.4 yrs average Working hours(household and farming) : 11 hrs. 23 min 5. Health Status of rural women a. The average number of physical and mental symptoms were 12.4, 4.7, and the rate of complaints were 22.1%, 38.8% each. revealing complaints of mental symptomes higher than physical ones. b. 65.4% of rural women complained of more than 4 symptoms out of 9, indicating farmer's syndrome. 11.9 % experienced pesticide overdue syndrome c. 57.6% of respondents experienced women-specific health problems. d. Age and education of respondents were the variables which affect on the level of their health 6. Utilization of medical services a. The number of symptoms and complaints of respondents were dependent on the distance to where the health-care service is given b. Drug store was the most commonly utilized due to low price and the distance to reach. while nurse practitioners were well utilized when there were nurse practitioner's office in their villages. c. Rural women were internalized their subordination to husbands and children, revealing they are positive(93%) in health-care demand for-them but negative(30%) for themselves d. 33.0% of respondents were habitual drug users, 4.5% were smokers and 32.3% were alcohol drinkers. and 86.3% experienced induced-abortion. But most of them(77.6%) knew that those had negative effects on health. 7. Maternal Health Care a. Practice rate of contraception was 48.1% : female users were 90.9% in permanent and 89.6% in temporary contraception b. Induced abortions were taken mostly at hospital(86.3%), while health centers(4.7%), midwiferies(4.3%). and others(4.5%) including drug stores were listed a few. The repeated numbers of induced abortion seemed affected on the increasing numbers of symptoms and complaints. c. The first pre-natal check-up during first trimester was 41.8%, safe delivery rate was 15.6%, post-natal check-up during two months after delivery. Rural women had no enough rest after delivery revealing average days of rest from home work and farming 8.3 and 17.2. d. 86.6% practised breast feeding, showing younger and more educated mothers depending on artificial milk 8. Recommendations a. To lessen the multiple role over burden housing and sanitary conditions should be improved, and are needed farming machiner es for women and training on the use of them b. Health education should begin at primary school including health behavior and living environment. c. Women should be encouraged to become policy-makers as well as administrators in the field of women specific health affairs. d. Women's health indicators should be developed and women's health surveillance system too.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.9-19
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• 2002

This study was conducted to compare the health behaviors of patient s before and after a stroke and propose health education program to reduce risk factors related to stroke recurrence. Data were collected from eighty- eight stroke patients registered at the Gyeongju-si Health Center between July 1, to August 30, 1999, by interviewing patients from a prepared structured questionnaire, which included questions on that patients ' general characteristics, health- related behaviors, family-related characteristics, and pre- and post - stroke health status. Smoking rate of 51.1% before stroke reduced to 25.0% after stroke; drinking rate of 52.3% before stroke reduced to 17.0% after stroke; daily smoking amount of 20.1 packs per day before stroke significantly reduced to 14.9 packs per day after stroke; and daily drinking amount of 92.4ml before stroke significantly reduced to 23.7ml after stroke. Smoking rate according to sex showed a marked decrease in the male subjects, but 31.6% still smoked even after their stroke. Among the female subjects, smoking rate of 16.1% before stroke reduced to 12.9% after stroke. Observation of the change in health- related behaviors of stroke patient s showed significant change in smoking rate, drinking rate and intake of regular meals etc. of patient s with a spouse and patients who received preventive health education. Health education on quitting smoking, temperance, low fat diet, exercise and regular meals for stroke patient s are needed, and public and private organizations can do their part in development and providing continuing health education programs and health education.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.163-172
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• 2005

Purpose: This study is to identify the effect of a death education program to the nursing students on their anxiety of death and attitudes toward nursing care of the dying. Methods: The design of this study is nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The subjects of experimental group 20 and control group 16 in senior grade of department of Nursing G university in J city. The experimental group had Death education Program, which was a three days per week program, for 2 weeks. And post-test was carried out in the same way as the pre-test. Data analysis was done using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Chi-square test, t-test, paired Sample t-test using with SPSS win 10.0. Results: the experimental group was decreased in degree of anxiety of death and was improved in degree of positive attitudes toward nursing care of the dying. Conclusion: The death Education Program can be an effective nursing education program for their Nursing students to decrease their death anxiety and to prepare care of the dying.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.209-217
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• 2002

Purpose : Corticosteroid has been used as the mainstay therapy of childhood NS. But SIO is one of the serious complications of long-term steroid therapy, especially in growing children. Recently calcium, calcitonin, PTH, vitamin D and bisphosphonate has been used to treat or prevent SIO in adult, which is rare in children with NS. We studied the effect of $1{\alpha}-(OH)D_3$ and Pamidronate on SIO using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Patients and methods : We studied thirty patients who admitted in the Dept. of Pediatrics of Kyung Hee Medical Hospital with NS. All patients was received longterm steroid therapy. There was no history of bone, liver, or endocrine disease. The samples, serum protein, albumin, BUN, creatinine, calcium, phosphorus, and BMD were obtained before and the six months after the dose of $1{\alpha}-(OH)D_3$ and Pamidronate, respectively Results : The mean age was $6.9{\pm}3.3\;and\;6.5{\pm}2.5$ years old. The mean duration of steroid therapy was $28.8{\pm}1.8\;and\;27.6{\pm}1.0$ months. The changes of serum protein, albumin, BUN, creatinine, calcium and phosphorus level between pre-treatment and post-treatment did not show statistical significance in both $1{\alpha}-(OH)D_3$ and Pamidronate treatment group. However, BMD was increased in both from $0.472{\pm}0.12\;and\;0.457{\pm}0.10\;g/cm^2\;to\;0.533{\pm}0.12$ and $0.529{\pm}0.09\;g/cm^2$ after treatment. (P<0.05) Conclusion : Both $1{\alpha}-(OH)D_3$ and Pamidronate appears to be effective in treating and preventing SIO in children with nephrotic syndrome requiring long-term steroid therapy.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.54-60
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• 2010

Purpose: Nuclear medicine manufacturers provide various softwares which shorten imaging time using their own image processing techniques such as UlatraSPECT, ASTONISH, Flash3D, Evolution, and nSPEED. Seoul National University Hospital has introduced softwares from Siemens and Philips, but it was still hard to understand algorithm difference between those two softwares. Thus, the purpose of this study was to figure out the difference of two softwares in planar images and research the possibility of application to images produced with high energy isotopes. Materials and Methods: First, a phantom study was performed to understand the difference of softwares in static studies. Various amounts of count were acquired and the images were analyzed quantitatively after application of PIXON, Siemens and ASTONISH, Philips, respectively. Then, we applied them to some applicable static studies and searched for merits and demerits. And also, they have been applied to images produced with high energy isotopes. Finally, A blind test was conducted by nuclear medicine doctors except phantom images. Results: There was nearly no difference between pre and post processing image with PIXON for FWHM test using capillary source whereas ASTONISH was improved. But, both of standard deviation(SD) and variance were decreased for PIXON while ASTONISH was highly increased. And in background variability comparison test using IEC phantom, PIXON has been decreased over all while ASTONISH has shown to be somewhat increased. Contrast ratio in each spheres has also been increased for both methods. For image scale, window width has been increased for 4~5 times after processing with PIXON while ASTONISH showed nearly no difference. After phantom test analysis, ASTONISH seemed to be applicable for some studies which needs quantitative analysis or high contrast, and PIXON seemed to be applicable for insufficient counts studies or long time studies. Conclusion: Quantitative values used for usual analysis were generally improved after application of the two softwares, however it seems that it's hard to maintain the consistency for all of nuclear medicine studies because result images can not be the same due to the difference of algorithm characteristic rather than the difference of gamma cameras. And also, it's hard to expect high image quality with the time shortening method such as whole body scan. But it will be possible to apply to static studies considering the algorithm characteristic or we can expect a change of image quality through application to high energy isotope images.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.5 s.250
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• pp.357-365
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• 2005

Background: Patients with mitral regurgitation (MR) in the setting of coronary artery disease have a dismal long-term prognosis whether treated medically or surgically. Moreover, the optimal management of moderate ischemic MR at the time of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) remains the subjects of controversy. Thus, the present retrospective study was undertaken to determine whether mitral valve surgery for moderate ischemic MR at the time of CABG would be preferable to CABG alone in terms of clinical outcome. Material and Method: Between January 1997 and December 2003, 34 patients with moderate (Gr 3/4) ischemic MR underwent CABG alone (Group I, n=23) or CABG plus mitral valve surgery (Group II, n=11). Operative mortality, long-term survival and echocardiographic parameters were used to evaluate the efficacy of mitral valve surgery in patients with moderate ischemic MR. The mean follow-up durations of each group were $69.3\pm4.3$ months and $53.1\pm4.9$ months respectively. Result: There was no hospital mortality in both groups. There was one case of late mortality in Group I. The mean number of bypass graft was similar ($3.8\pm1.2\;vs\;3.7\pm1.3$ respectively). Cardiopulmonary bypass time was longer in group II (p=0.014). In group II, all of the patients received mitral annuloplasty using ring. On immediate postoperative echo-cardiogram, mitral regurgitation was reduced more in group II (p=0.002). Echocardiogram performed at last follow-up state showed no difference except the grade of MR between the two groups. Actuarial survival of both groups at 5 years was similar ($95.5\%\;vs\;100\%$, p=0.48). Conclusion: This study shows that in selected patients with moderate ischemic MR, CABG without mitral valve surgery might be sufficient. However, patients with low EF and NYHA functional class pre-operatively had tendency of significant residual MR, so mitral valve surgery should be necessary in these patients, and moreover, MR severity and left ventricle volume decreased more in mitral valve surgery group. Therefore, more large-scale studies are necessary to determine these effects on the ventricular function and long-term survival.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.97-102
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• 1994

Objectives : Since Mountain proposed the new staging system of non-small cell lung cancer in 1986, the indications for operation of NSCLC have been extended. However, operative mortality is from 3 to 6%. Therefore it is important to reduce unnecessary operation and to evaluate unresectability of tumor correctly, preoperatively. The purpose of this study is to find out the causes of unresectability in patients who were initially thought to be resectable preoperatively. Methods : By retrospective analysis, 64 patients out of 291 NSCLC patients who were undergone operation for curative resection in Seoul National University Hospital from Jan. of 1987 to Dec. of 1991, were found to be unresectable at operating room, were selected for this study. Out of 64 patients, 42 were evaluable. The analysis was focused on the change of pre- & post-operative staging and the causes of unresectability of tumors. Results : Among 42 patients with unresectable tumor who could be evaluated, preoperative CT finding showed resectable tumors in 55%(23 patients) and suspicious for unresectable tumors in 45%(19 patients). The causes of unresectability were technically unresectable T3 lesions in 7%(3 patients), T4 lesions in 62%(26 patients), N2 lesions in 17%(7 patients) and N3 lesions in 14%(6 patients). Conclusion : The major causes of unresectability of NSCLC were pulmonary artery invasions. It is suggested that careful evaluation of mediastinal structure, especially great vessels by additional imaging technique other than CT(like MRI) is indicated in selected NSCLC cases.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.144-151
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• 1994

Background: Miliary tuberculosis almost always results from the discharge of infected caseous material into the blood stream, usually from a well hidden lymph node in the presentation of this disease in the past four decades, and although it is seen less frequent1y today than previously, its presentation and manifestation may require greater suspicion and diligence by the physician. We investigated the clinical characteristics, predisposing factors and accompanying diseases of miliary tuberculosis and tried to acquire the early diagnosis and treatment of this disease. Methods: A retrospective clinical study was done on 40 cases of miliary tuberculosis admitted to Hanyang University Hospital from Mar. 1989 to Dec.1992. The study investigated age and sex distribution, seasonal distribution, duration of symptoms before admission, pre-disposing factors, clinical symptoms, biochemical findings, chest X-ray findings, extrapulmonary tuberculosis associated with miliary tuberculosis, prognosis and mortality rate. Results: 1) The patients were most common in the age group between 20 and 29(23%) and the ratio of male to female was 1.4:1(male 23 : female 17). 2) Sputum smears for tubercle bacilli were positive in 5 cases(13%). 3) The most common clinical symptoms were fever with chilling(47.5%), coughing(47.5%), second most common symptom was dyspnea(32.5%), and the physical findings on admission were tachycardia(30%), weight loss(27.5%), meningeal signs(17.5%) in order. 4) The predisposing factors were heavy alcohol drinking(6 cases), steroid use(3 cases), pregnancy(2 cases) etc. 5) The chest X-ray findings on admission were miliary shadow only(40%), in addition pneumonic infiltration, pleurisy, and calcification in order. 6) The extrapulmonary tuberculosis associated with miliary tuberculosis were tuberculous meningitis(30%), bone and joint tuberculosis(17.5%), intestinal tuberculosis(15%) in order. 7) Biochemical findings were increased SGOT/SGPT(32.5%), increased alkaline phosphatase(32.5%), hypoalbuminemia(15%), hyponatremia(15%) etc. 8) About 4-6 weeks later after treatment(INH, RFP, PZA, EMB), 26 cases(65%) were improved on clinical symptoms or chest X-ray, 12 cases(30%) were stationary or aggravated, and 2 cases(5%) were died. Conclusion: For the early diagnosis and treatment of miliary tuberculosis, we must see its presentation and manifestation with greater interest and suspicion and investigate its predisposing factors and accompanying diseases.