• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.10
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• pp.1096-1101
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• 2005

Purpose : Recently, early surfactant replacement and tidal volume based gentle ventilation has been a fundamental treatment of respiratory distress syndrome(RDS). The aims of this study were to survey the changes in ventilator care duration and rate of complication in RDS groups. Methods : We performed a retrospective study of 255 newborn infants less than 1,500 g admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit(NICU) and discharged from January 1999 to December 2003. 141 of 255 newborn infants were RDS groups that required invasive management, such as endotracheal intubation, surfactant replacement and assisted ventilation. We analyzed epidemiologic data to study the changes in ventilator care duration and outcome of RDS groups. Results : Of 141 RDS groups, 135 were mild to moderate RDS groups and only 6 were severe RDS groups. 24(17.8%) of 135 mild to moderate RDS groups and 3(50%) of 6 severe RDS groups were antenatal no use of maternal dexamethasone. 127(90.1%) of 141 RDS groups underwent replacement of surfactant during 3 hours after birth. 121(85.9%) weaned within 48 hours. Conclusion : Our study shows a decreased frequency of severe RDS by a antenatal use of maternal dexamethasone and decreased duration of ventilator care by early surfactant replacement and gentle ventilation.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.18-28
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• 2001

This study was carried out to investigate the characteristics of water quality variations by stand water balance in YangPyong-Gun Gejung-Lee small forest watershed. Water quantity. pH, $Cl^-$, $NO_3{^-}$, $SO_4{^{2-}}$, $Na^+$, $NH_4{^+}$, $K^+$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Ca^{2+}$ were monitored in open rainfall for one unit storm and long-term stream water in small forest watershed from January. 1998 to December. 1999. The results were summarized as follows: The runoff rate was 46.4% in 1998 and 52.2% in 1999. The average pH values of rainfall were 4.8 to 6.2 and those of stream water were 6.4 to 7.1 in small forest watershed. Total amount of input anion and cation values (kg/ha) in rainfall were $SO_4{^{2-}}>NO_3{^-}>Ca^{2+}>NH_4{^+}>Cl^->Na^+>K^+>Mg^{2+}$ and in stream water were $NO_3{^-}>Ca^{2+}>SO_4{^{2-}}>Na^+>Cl^->K^+>Mg^{2+}>NH_4{^+}$ in the order, respectively. The dissolved $NH_4{^+}$ was stored 5.29kg/ha and output of the other contents were more flow than input in small forest watershed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.11
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• pp.1508-1514
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant contents and antioxidant activities of solvent fractions from methanolic extract of sericea lespedeza. To determine the antioxidant compounds in solvent fractions from methanolic extract, total polyphenolic, flavonoid, tannin, and proanthocyanidin contents were measured by spectrophotometric methods. Solvent fractions were evaluated for antioxidative capacity according to DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities. Total polyphenolic contents were 12.44, 3.61, 6.39, 27.11, 20.00, and 9.32 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g extract residue (ER), respectively. Total flavonoid contents were 2.94, 9.92, 7.77, 9.27, 5.11, and 2.66 mg catechin equivalent (CE)/g ER, respectively. Total tannin contents were 8.75, 10.04, 7.42, 17.32, 11.65, and 7.61 mg tannic acid equivalent (TAE)/g ER, respectively. Total proanthocyanidin contents were 346.09, 63.50, 103.76, 288.62, 231.99, and $358.48{\mu}g$ CE/g ER, respectively. DPPH radical scavenging activities of solvent fractions from methanolic extract of sericea lespedeza were 20.62, 5.16, 9.29, 20.80, 20.00 and 20.79 mg Trolox equivalent (TE)/g ER, and ABTS radical scavenging activities were 33.86, 9.24, 17.36, 33.76, 33.49, and 33.86 mg TE/g ER, respectively. SOD-like activities were 4.12, 0.61, 2.01, 9.89, 13.47, and 11.82 units/mL, and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibition activities were 93.85 and 61.64% at concentrations of 50 and $25{\mu}g/mL$ in the water fraction, respectively. The results of this study show that notable antioxidant activities in sericea lespedeza have significant health benefits.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.405-415
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• 2000

To determine application rate of elemental sulfur to adjust pH of alkaline soil, buffer curve method was investigated. The elemental sulfur required to control pH 8.3 to pH 6.3 by buffer curve calculation was treated in two soils of silty loam and sandy loam, and the sulfur-mixed soils were moistened with 50% of water holding capacity during incubation of 6 weeks at $30^{\circ}C$. Soil pH was lowered with incubation and reached to target point after 4 weeks of incubation, and elemental sulfur was oxidised entirely to sulfate. This means that buffer curve has the accuracy to determine sulfur application rate in alkaline soil. However it is estimated that application rate of sulfur should be carefully determined in the field scale. Excess application of elemental sulfur resulted in extremely low soil pH and caused the hinderance of lettuce growth by nutritional imbalance and ion toxicity. To simplify the determination procedure of sulfur requirement, buffer curve method by addition of 0.1N-HCl solution as unit of mL was developed, it was compared with theroutine methods which diluted $H_2SO_4$ solution and $Ca(OH)_2$ are added as cmolc per kg soil to adjust each pH step. Buffer capacities, cmolc kg $soil^{-1}$ $pH^{-1}$, calculated from two buffer curves were not significantly different. The result indicates that buffer curve method by 0.1N-HCl can be used to adjust high pH of alkaline soil.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.177-185
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• 2006

Purpose: Purpose of this study is to synthesize $^{99m}Tc$-labeled transferrin for injection imaging and to compare it with $^{67}Ga$-titrate for the detection of infectious foci. Materials and methods: Succinimidyl 6-hydrazino-nicotinate hydrochloride-chitosan-transferrin (Transferrin) was synthesized and radiolabeled with $^{99m}Tc$. Labeling efficiencies of $^{99m}Tc$-Transferrin were determined at 10 min, 30 min, 1 hr, 2 hr, 4 hr and 8 hr. Biodistribution and imaging studies with $^{99m}Tc$-Transferrin and $^{67}Ga$-citrate were performed in a rat abscess model induced with approximately $2{\times}10^8$ colony forming unit of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923. Results: Successful synthesis of Transferrin was confirmed by mass spectrometry. Labeling efficiency of $^{99m}Tc$-Transferrin was $96.2{\pm}0.7%,\;96.4{\pm}0.5%,\;96.6{\pm}1.0%,\;96.9{\pm}0.5%,\;97.0{\pm}0.7%\;and\;95.5{\pm}0.7%$ at 10 min, 30 min, 1 hr, 2 hr, 4 hr and 8 hr, respectively. The injected dose per tissue gram of $^{99m}Tc$-Transferrin was $0.18{\pm}0.01\;and\;0.18{\pm}0.01$ in the lesion and $0.05{\pm}0.01\;and\;0.04{\pm}0.01$ in the normal muscle, and lesion-to-normal muscle uptake ratio was $3.7{\pm}0.6\;and\;4.7{\pm}0.4$ at 30 min and 3 hr, respectively. On image, lesion-to-background ratio of $^{99m}Tc$-Transferrin was $2.18{\pm}0.03,\;2.56{\pm}0.11,\;3.08{\pm}0.18,\;3.77{\pm}0.17,\;4.70{\pm}0.45\;and\;5.59{\pm}0.40$ at 10 min, 30 min, 1 hr, 2 hr, 4 hr and 10 hr and those of $^{67}Ga$-citrate was $3.06{\pm}0.84,\;4.12{\pm}0.54\;and\;4.55{\pm}0.74 $ at 2 hr, 24 hr and 48 hr, respectively. Conclusion: Transferrin is successfully labeled with $^{99m}Tc$, and its labeling efficiency was higher than 95% and stable for 8 hours. $^{99m}Tc$-Transferrin scintigraphy showed higher image quality in shorter time compared to $^{67}Ga$-citrate image. $^{99m}Tc$-transferrin is supposed to be useful in the detection of the infectious foci.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.421-428
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• 2009

Purpose: We have evaluated characteristics of adrenal masses incidentally observed in nonenhanced F-18 FDG PET/CT of the oncologic patients and the diagnostic ability of F-18 FDG PET/CT to differentiate malignant from benign adrenal masses. Materials and Methods: Between Mar 2005 and Aug 2008, 75 oncologic patients (46 men, 29 women; mean age, $60.8{\pm}10.2$ years; range, 35-87 years) with 89 adrenal masses incidentally found in PET/CT were enrolled in this study. For quantitative analysis, size (cm), Hounsfield unit (HU), maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), SUVratio of all 89 adrenal masses were measured. SUVmax of the adrenal mass divided by SUVliver, which is SUVmax of the segment 8, was defined as SUVratio. The final diagnosis of adrenal masses was based on pathologic confirmation, radiologic evaluation (HU<0 : benign), and clinical decision. Results: Size, HU, SUVmax, and SUVratio were all significantly different between benign and malignant adrenal masses.(P < 0.05) And, SUVratio was the most accurate parameter. A cut-off value of 1.0 for SUVratio provided 90.9% sensitivity and 75.6% specificity. In small adrenal masses (1.5 cm or less), only SUVratio had statistically significant difference between benign and malignant adrenal masses. Similarly a cut-off value of 1.0 for SUVratio provided 80.0% sensitivity and 86.4% specificity. Conclusion: F-18 FDG PET/CT can offer more accurate information with quantitative analysis in differentiating malignant from benign adrenal masses incidentally observed in oncologic patients, compared to nonenhanced CT.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.55-60
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• 2008

Background: Circulating levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) provide prognostic information for patients with heart failure. The aim of our study was to investigate whether preoperative and postoperative BNP levels could predict postoperative complications and outcomes in patients after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). Material and Method: Data was collected prospectively on 30 patients (M/F=19/11, age $60.0{\pm}9.6$ years) undergoing conventional CABG during a 1-year period beginning on January 1, 2005. Patients underwent off-pump CABG, and combined surgery was excluded. The BNP assay was performed preoperatively, immediate postoperatively at the intensive care unit (ICU), and 1, 3, 5, and 7days postoperatively. Result: Preoperative BNP levels significantly correlated with preoperative echocardiographic ejection fraction and an ICU stay of 5 days or more (r=-0.4, p=0.028; r=0.39, p=0.031, respectively). A preoperative BNP cut-off value above 263 pg/mL demonstrated high specificity (90.5%) for predicting postoperative complications using the receiver operating characteristics curves. Preoperative and postoperative (7 days) BNP levels were different depending on the abscence (mean BNP=$99{\pm}23\;pg/mL$ vs. $296{\pm}74\;pg/mL$, p<0.05) and presence (mean BNP=$212{\pm}29\;pg/mL$ vs. $408{\pm}23\;pg/mL$, p<0.01). Conclusion: Preoperative BNP levels >263 pg/mL predict postoperative complications in patients receiving CABG.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.288-294
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• 2007

The LSCF cathode far Solid Oxide Fuel Cell was investigated to develop high performance unit cell at intermediate temperature by modified oxalate method with different electrolytes and different pH. The LSCF powders employed La, Sr, Co and Fe oxides, oxalic acid, ethanol and $NH_4OH$ solution were synthesized with pH controlled as 2, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 at $80^{\circ}C$ Single crystalline phase was obtained from pH $2{\sim}9$. on the other hand, $La_2O_3$ appeared from pH 10. Very fine powder with particle size of 50 nm was obtained at calcination temperature of $800^{\circ}C$ for 4 hours. LSCF cathode synthesized at pH 7 showed the highest electric conductivity in the temperature range of $600^{\circ}C$ to $900^{\circ}C$ its value was 950 S/cm at $900^{\circ}C$ Under same synthesis conditions, polarization resistance of each LSCF cathode was changed with different calcination temperatures. As-prepared powder presented 2.52, 1.54 and $2.58\;{\Omega}$ at $600^{\circ}C$ with ScSZ, 8Y-YSZ and GDC as its electrolyte respectively after calcination at $800^{\circ}C$ for 4 hours.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.1277-1283
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• 1998

Background : Surgical tracheostomy(ST) is usually performed by surgeons in operating room. For a patient with mechanical ventilation, however, transportation to operating room for ST could be dangerous for patients. In addition, ST is often delayed due to unavailability of operating room or surgeon. Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy(PDT), although novel in Korea, is gaining popularity as a bedside procedure in the hospitals of western countries. We evaluated the technical ease and safety of PDT in comparison with ST. Method : Thirty-eight patients in medical intensive care unit (ICU) who were either under mechanical ventilation for more than 7 days or required airway protection, were randomly assigned to ST(18 patients) or PDT(20 patients). Between two groups, there was no significant clinical difference except that female to male ratio was higher in the ST group. ST was performed by second year residents of the department of otolaryngology while PDT was performed by third grade medical resident and pulmonologist under bronchoscopic guide using Ciaglia Percutaneous Tracheostomy Set(Cook Critical Care, Bloomington, USA) in medical ICU. The following factors were compared between two groups : number of delayed cases after the decision for tracheostomy, procedural time, complications related to tracheostomy. Results : Delayed cases were 11 in ST group and 3 in PDT group (P<0.05). Procedural time was significantly shorter in PDT group ($15.6{\pm}7.1min$) than in ST group ($29.1{\pm}11.6min$, P<0.0001). Complications related to tracheostomy occurred in 5 cases in ST group : accidental decannulation (1), subcutaneous emphysema (2) and minor bleeding (2), and in 4 cases in PDT group : minor bleeding (2), subcutaneous emphysema (1) and premature extubation (1) (P>0.05). Conclusion : Since percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy was easy to practice and its complications were not different from surgical tracheostomy, PDT can be a useful bedside procedure for mechanically ventilated patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.67 no.3
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• pp.205-211
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• 2009

Background: Serum procalcitonin level has been considered prognostic during sepsis and septic shock. We investigated the significance of procalcitonin in critically ill patients with respiratory infections. Methods: The patients who had radiographically diagnosed diffuse lung infiltrations were enrolled on a prospective basis. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid for the purpose of quantitative cultures (${\geq}10^4$ cfu/mL) was obtained from all patients. Serum procalcitonin levels determined by PCT-Q kit were measured on BAL day and classified as follows; <0.5 ng/mL, 0.5~2.0 ng/mL, 2.0~10.0 ng/mL and >10.0 ng/mL. We analyzed the patient's characteristics according to outcome; favorable or unfavorable, defined as death. Results: Patients from the following categories were included: medical 17 (47.2%), surgical 9 (25%), and burned 10 (27.8%). APACHE II scores on admission to intensive care unit were 11.5${\pm}$6.89 and 11 (30.6%) had unfavorable outcomes. A procalcitonin level ${\geq}$0.5 ng/mL was in 17 (47.2%) of all. On univariate analysis, the frequencies of burn injury, mechanical ventilation, multiple organ failure, and a procalcitonin level ${\geq}$0.5 ng/mL were more often increased in patients with unfavorable outcomes than in those with favorable outcomes (p<.05). Also, a higher procalcitonin range and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) were more closely associated with an unfavorable outcome (p<.05). However in multivariate analysis, a strong predictor of unfavorable outcome was burn injury (p<.05). A procalcitonin level ${\geq}$0.5 ng/mL was more sensitive in predicting VAP than unfavorable outcome. Conclusion: A higher procalcitonin level seems to be associated with VAP, but further study is required to know that procalcitonin would be a prognostic marker in critically ill patients with respiratory infections.