• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.62-66
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• 2009

Purpose: Chromosomal abnormalities of abortuses have been used to investigate common etiologies of spontaneous abortion, but the frequencies and types of spontaneous abortions have demonstrated considerable variation among different countries and races. Materials and Methods: A cytogenetic analysis of 75 abortuses was performed at GenDix, Inc. from January 2006 to December 2007. Results: The frequency of chromosome abnormalities in abortuses was 32.0% (24/75 cases). Among the chromosomal abnormalities, trisomy was present in 62.5% (15/24 cases) of cases and the most frequent trisomy was trisomy 21 with an occurrence rate of 26.6% (4/15 cases). The following was trisomy 22 (3/15 cases) and trisomy 20 (2/15 cases). The average maternal age for abnormal karyotypes was $34.3{\pm}3.3$. Conclusion: Cytogenetic analysis of abortus is important for diagnosis and genetic counseling of patients with spontaneous abortion.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.17-21
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was designed to investigate possibilities for quantitative analysis using the electromyography and sonography. For better understanding, we evaluated the correlation between the pressure pain threshold and sonography, spontaneous electrical activity in trigger points located in the upper trapezius muscle. Methods: Thirty three active subjects volunteered to participate in this study (n=33). They had a palpable taut band, exquisite spot tenderness of a nodule in a taut band, spontaneous pain, referred pain, jump sign, local twitch response, and a painful limit to full stretch range of motion. We measured Pressure pain threshold, density, white area index, root mean square, and reaction. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was calculated to estimate the relationship between the pressure pain threshold and other variables including density, white area index, root mean square, and reaction time. Results: There were significant correlations between pressure pain threshold and density (r=-0.75, p<0.01), and between pressure pain threshold and white area index (r=-0.74, p<0.01). A significant correlations between pressure pain threshold and root mean square (r=-0.59, p<0.01). The significant correlation was found between pressure pain threshold and reaction time (r=-0.64, p<0.01). Conclusion: These should indicate whether quantitative analysis can be done using the characteristics of electromyography and sonography.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.293-299
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was performed to find the relationship between pain and joint effusion using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in temporomandibular disorder (TMD) patients. Materials and Methods: The study subjects included 232 TMD patients. The inclusion criteria in this study were the presence of spontaneous pain or provoked pain on one or both temporomandibular joints (TMJs). The provoked pain was divided into three groups: pain on palpation (G1), pain on mouth opening (G2), and pain on mastication (G3). MRI examinations were performed using a 1.5-T MRI scanner. T1- and T2-weighted images with para-sagittal and para-coronal images were obtained. According to the T2-weighted image findings, the cases of effusions were divided into four groups: normal, mild (E1), moderate (E2), and marked effusion (E3). A statistical analysis was carried out using the $X^2$ test with SPSS (version 12.0, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results: Spontaneous pain, provoked pain, and both spontaneous and provoked pain were significantly related to joint effusion in TMD patients (p<0.05). However, among the various types of provoked pain, pain on palpation of the masticatory muscles and TMJ (G1) was not related to joint effusion in TMD patients (p>0.05). Conclusion: Spontaneous pain was related to the MRI findings of joint effusion; however, among the various types of provoked pain, pain on palpation of the masticatory muscles and TMJ was not related to the MRI findings of joint effusion. These results suggest that joint effusion has a significant influence on the prediction of TMJ pain.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.225-228
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• 2011

Background: Conventional treatment (i.e. chest tube insertion and chemical pleurodesis) still remains standard for patients with secondary spontaneous pneumothorax because the risk of surgical bullectomy is deemed high in this subset. However, it has been suggested that surgical treatment using thoracoscopy may expedite postoperative recovery and, thus, may reduce hospital stay. Materials and Methods: Retrospective review of 61 patients with secondary spontaneous pneumothorax, who underwent conventional treatment (n=39) or video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) (n=22) between January 2007 and December 2009, was performed. Talc was used for chemical pleurodesis in both groups. Results: Hospital stay of conventional treatment group and VATS group was $14.2{\pm}14.2$ days (4~58 days) and $10.6{\pm}5.8$ days (5~32 days), respectively, with statistically significant difference (p=0.033). Recurrence rate of conventional treatment group was also significantly higher (12/39, 30%) compared to VATS group (1/22, 4.5%) (p=0.016). Conclusion: In selected patients with secondary spontaneous pneumothorax with continuous air leak or inadequate lung expansion, thoracoscopic surgery with chemical pleurodesis using talc results in shorter hospital stay and lower recurrence rate compared to conventional approach.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.581-584
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• 2020

The effect of a chemical pretreatment on the surface carbon was investigated using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and electrochemical methods. Primitive carbon has a reducing power likely due to incompletely oxidized functional groups on the surface. We aim to control this reducing power by chemical treatment and apply for the spontaneous deposition of nanoparticles (NPs). Highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) was initially treated with a reducing agent, NaBH4 or an oxidizing agent, KMnO₄, for 5 min. Subsequently, the pretreated carbon was immersed in a platinum (Pt) precursor. Unexpectedly, SEM images showed that the reducing agent increased spontaneous PtNPs deposition while the oxidizing agent decreased Pt loading more as compared to that of using bare carbon. However, the amount of Pt on the carbon obviously decreased by NaBH₄ treatment for 50 min. Secondly, spontaneous reduction on pretreated glassy carbon (GC) was investigated using the catalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). GC electrode treated with NaBH4 for a short and long time showed small (onset potential: -640 mV vs. MSE) and large overpotential for the HER, respectively. Although the mechanism is unclear, the electrochemistry results correspond to the optical data. As a proof-of-concept, these results demonstrate that chemical treatments can be used to design the shapes and amounts of deposited catalytic metal on carbon by controlling the surface state.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.81-87
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• 2018

Objective: There have been many cases of spontaneous adverse drug reactions to fentanyl at a regional pharmacovigilance center in the hospital. To assess the factors causing the adverse drug reactions reported in patients receiving fentanyl patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) monotherapy or in combination with fentanyl transdermal therapeutic system (TTS) for acute post-operative pain management. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study with all patients prescribed fentanyl PCA for pain management after orthopedic surgery at a single university hospital from June 2012 to May 2013. We analysed the factors causing adverse drug reactions reported by a spontaneous reporting system in patients receiving fentanyl PCA monotherapy and those receiving fentanyl TTS in combination with fentanyl PCA. Results: Based on the spontaneous adverse drug reaction reporting, the risk ratio for the incidence rate of adverse drug reaction in the fentanyl TTS combination therapy group was 3.04 (95 % CI: 2.4-4.00, P < 0.0001), which was approximately 3-fold higher than that reported for fentanyl PCA monotherapy. Only 60 % of the adverse drug reactions were reported. Conclusion: It is inappropriate to add fentanyl TTS to fentanyl PCA to manage post-operative acute pain. There is a need to improve adverse drug reaction reporting. We expect that regular analysis of adverse drug reactions reported at regional pharmacovigilance centre would aid in appropriate drug utilization by patients.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.156-162
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• 2001

Objective : The purpose of this study is to review our experience with spontaneous thalamic hemorrhage. Clinical outcome of patients was brought about by comparing stereotactic aspiration and conservative medical therapy. Methods : The study consists of seventy-three cases with spontaneous thalamic hemorrhage which were treated from the period of Jan. 1993 to Dec. 1999. Thirty-eighty patients were treated with computed tomography (CT) guided stereotactic aspiration and thirty-five patients were treated conservatively. We compared the factors affecting treatment and the factors are as follows : age & sex, conscious level on admission, hematoma volume, hematoma sites, presence of ventricular penetration. Results : The results in the thirty eight stereotactic aspirated cases for the 6 months from oneset are as follows : good recovery or moderate disability in 43%, severe disability in 32%, vegitative state in 11%, dead in 13% respectively. The clinical result was more favorable in stereotactic aspiration, with 11-30cc hematoma volume, extend to internal capsule of hematoma, poor conscious level on admission than conservative medical therapy. But age & sex, conscious level on admission, presence of ventricular penetration were not influential in the statistical outcome between stereotactic aspiration and conservative medical therapy. Conclusion : Treatment modality of spontaneous thalamic hemorrhage is still controversial. But stereotactic aspiration is more recommended for improvement therapeutic results than conservative treatment or open craniotomy in case of 11-30cc hematoma volume, extend to internal capsule of hematoma and poor conscious level on admission.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.279-290
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• 2021

Purpose: Using images in the facial image comparison process poses a challenge for forensic experts due to limitations such as the presence of facial expressions. The aims of this study were to analyze how morphometric changes in the face during a spontaneous smile influence the facial image comparison process and to evaluate the reproducibility of measurements obtained by digital stereophotogrammetry in these situations. Materials and Methods: Three examiners used digital stereophotogrammetry to obtain 3-dimensional images of the faces of 10 female participants(aged between 23 and 45 years). Photographs of the participants' faces were captured with their faces at rest (group 1) and with a spontaneous smile (group 2), resulting in a total of 60 3-dimensional images. The digital stereophotogrammetry device obtained the images with a 3.5-ms capture time, which prevented undesirable movements of the participants. Linear measurements between facial landmarks were made, in units of millimeters, and the data were subjected to multivariate and univariate statistical analyses using Pirouette^® version 4.5 (InfoMetrix Inc., Woodinville, WA, USA) and Microsoft Excel^® (Microsoft Corp., Redmond, WA, USA), respectively. Results: The measurements that most strongly influenced the separation of the groups were related to the labial/buccal region. In general, the data showed low standard deviations, which differed by less than 10% from the measured mean values, demonstrating that the digital stereophotogrammetry technique was reproducible. Conclusion: The impact of spontaneous smiles on the facial image comparison process should be considered, and digital stereophotogrammetry provided good reproducibility.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.410-419
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• 1996

Background : Spontaneous pneumothorax have been managed with a variety of methods. The technique most frequently used is chest tube drainage. Small caliber catheters were first used in the management of pneumothorax complicating the percutaneous needle aspiration lung biopsy, and the try to treat spontaneous pneumothorax also has been reported. However, the value of small caliber catheters in spontaneous pneumothorax has not been fully evaluated. So, we tried to elucidate the efficacy of 8 French catheter in the management of spontaneous pneumothorax. Method : From January, 1990, to April, 1994, 44 patients with spontaneous pneumothorax treated at Chung-Ang university hospital were reviewed. The patients were sub-divide into 8 French catheter insertion group (n=21) and chest tube insertion group (n=23). We compared the presence of underlying lung disease, the extent of the collapse, the duration of indwelling catheter and complication between two groups. Results : 1) The duration of indwelling showed no significant difference between 8 French catheter group and chest tube. But, complication after insertion as subcutaneous emphysema was developed in only chest tube group. (p<0.05) 2) In the primary spontaneous pneumothorax, all case of the pneumothorax of which size was less than 50% showed complete healing with 8 French catheter insertion. Whereas the success rate in patients with large pneumothorax (more than 50%) was tended to be dependent on the age. 3) In the patients with secondary spontaneous pneumothorax who were managed with 8 French catheter, the success rate was trended to be high if the underlying disease of pneumothorax was not COPD and if the patient was young. Conclusion : These results show that 8 French catheter insertion probably was effective in the pneumothorax less than 50%, the primary spontaneous pneumothorax, young age or secondary pneumothorax not associated with COPD.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.251-255
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• 1987

In this study, 186 cases of spontaneous pneumothorax experienced at the Dept. of thoracic and Cardiovascular surgery, chosun University Hospital during from Jan. 1978 to Mar. 1987 were analysed retrospectically. The results were as follows: 1. The sex ratio of the stadied patient was 2.5:! in male prominence and the incidence and the incidence was highest in the adolescence between 20-29 year of age. 2. The clinical symptoms were frequently Dyspnea (52.2%) and Chest pain (38.7%). The etiologic factors were as follows, Tuberculous origin in 55.9%, Unknown origin in 17.2%, Bullae in 11.8%. 3. In the method of treatment, closed thoracotomy was the most effective procedure in achieving the expansion of collapsed lung in 87.1%. Other methods were bed rest with high oxygen inhalation, thoracentesis and open thoracotomy. 4. The incidences of complication were developed in 12.4% and recurrent rates were seen in 9.7%.