• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.18-30
• /
• 2023

Forest destruction is an inevitable result of the development processes. According to the environmental impact assessment, over 10% of the destroyed trees need to be recycled and transplanted to minimize the impact of forest destruction. However, the rate of successful transplantation is low, leading to a high rate of tree death. This is attributable to a lack of consideration for environmental factors when choosing a temporary site for transplantation and inadequate management. To monitor transplanted trees, a field survey is essential; however, the spatio-temporal aspect is limited. This study evaluated the applicability of remote sensing for the effective monitoring of transplanted trees. Vegetation indices based on satellite remote sensing were derived to detect time-series changes in the status of the transplanted trees at three temporary transplantation sites. The mortality rate and vitality of transplanted trees before and after the transplant have a similar tendency to the changes in the vegetation indicators. The findings of this study showed that vegetation indices increased after transplantation of trees and decreased as the death rate increased and vitality decreased over time. This study presents a method for assessing newly transplanted trees using satellite images. The approach of utilizing satellite photos and the vegetation index is expected to detect changes in trees that have been transplanted across the country and help to manage tree transplantation for the environmental impact assessment.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.45 no.2
• /
• pp.404-415
• /
• 1998

Background: Sleep apnea syndrome, which occurs in 1~4 % of the adult population, frequently has different cardiovascular complications such as hypertension, ischemic heart disease, cardiac arrythmia as well as sleep-wake disorder such as excessive daytime hypersomnolence or insomnia. Mortality and vascular morbidity are reported to be significantly higher in sleep apnea syndrome patients than in normal population. According to the recent studies, autonomic dysfunction as well as hypoxemia, hypercapneic acidosis, and increased respiratory effort, may playa role in the high prevalence of cardiovascular complications in patients with sleep apnea syndrome. However the cause and mechanism of autonomic neuropathy in patients with sleep apnea syndrome are not well understood. We studied the existence of autonomic neuropathy in patients with sleep apnea syndrome and factors which influence the pathogenesis of autonomic neuropathy. Method: We used the cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy(CAN) test as a method for evaluation of autonomic neuropathy. The subjects of this study were 20 patients who diagnosed sleep apnea syndrome by polysomnography and 15 persons who were normal by polysomnography. Results: Body mass index and resting systolic blood pressure were higher in sleep apnea group than control group. Apnea index(Al), respiratory disturbance index(RDI) and snoring time percentage were significantly higher in sleep apnea group compared with control group. But there were no significant differences in saturation of oxygen and sleep efficiency in two groups. In the cardiac autonomic neuropathy test, the valsalva ratio was significantly low in sleep apnea group compared with control group but other tests had no differences between two groups. The CAN scores and corrected QT(QTc) interval were calculated significantly higher in sleep apnea group, but there were no significant correlations between CAN scores and QTc interval. There were no significant data of polysomnography to correlate to the CAN score. It meant that the autonomic neuropathy in patients with sleep apnea was affected by other multiple factors. Conclusion: The cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy test was a useful method for the evaluation of autonomic neuropathy in patients with sleep apnea syndrome and abnormalities of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy were observed in patients with sleep apnea syndrome. However, we failed to define the factors that influence the pathogenesis of autonomic neuropathy of sleep apnea syndrome. This study warrants futher investigations in order to define the pathogenesis of autonomic neuropathy in patients with sleep apnea syndrome.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.74-82
• /
• 2016

Objectives : Suicide attempters have impaired decision making and are at high risk of reattempt. Therefore it is important to refer them to psychiatric treatment. Especially, People with medical comorbidity are at higher risk of suicidal attempt and mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of suicidal attempters and to analyze the influence of the medical comorbidity on decision to receive psychiatric treatment after visit to an emergency department. Methods : One hundred and thirty two patients, who visited the emergency room of a general hospital in Gyeonggi-do between January, 2012 and December, 2012 were enrolled as the subjects of this study. After reviewing each subject's medical records retrospectively, demographic and clinical factors were analyzed. Results : Regardless of the engagement type, either via admission or outpatient clinic, the determinant factors of psychiatric treatment engagement were psychiatric diagnosis, employment status, previous psychiatric treatment history, and previous attempt history. Comparison of severity of medical comorbidity(Charlson Comorbidity Index) showed that suicide attempters who received psychiatric treatment via admission or refused the treatment tended to have higher level of medical comorbidity than who received psychiatric treatment via outpatient department. Conclusions : Our findings showed that medical comorbidity of suicide attempters affected the decision to accept psychiatric treatment. All psychiatrists should evaluate the presence and the severity of medical comorbidity of the suicide attempters and consider implementing more intervention for the medically ill attempters who are willing to discharge against advice.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.383-394
• /
• 1999

Objectives: This study was conducted to identify the factors influencing the mortality of Koreans over the age of 40 by a nested case-control study. Methods: The cohort consisted of the beneficiaries of Korea Medical Insurance Corporation for Government Employees & Private School Teachers and Staff(KMIC) who received health examinations of KMIC in 1992 and 1993 retrospectively. At that time, they were more than 40 years old. The cases were 19,258 cohort members who had died until December 31, 1997. The controls were 19,258 cohort members who were alive until December 31, 1997. Controls were matched with age and sex distribution of the cases. The data used in this study were the funeral expenses requesting files, and the files of health examinations and health questionnaires gathered in 1992 and 1993. To assess the putative risk factors of death, student t-test, chi-square test, multiple logistic regression analysis were used. Results : In multiple logistic regression analysis, independent risk factors of death were as follows; systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, blood glucose, AST, urine glucose, urine protein, alcohol drinking(frequency), cigarette smoking and perceived health status, intake of restoratives and blood transfusion showed positive associations with death; coffee consumption showed negative associations with death; and body mass index and serum total cholesterol showed J-shaped association with death. Conclusions: Regarding the direction of association, the result of analysis on the data restricted to '96-'97 was same as that of '93-'97. But in some variables such as obesity, serum cholesterol, the odds ratios of death in the data of '96-'97 were higer than those of '93-'94, which suggested that the data of '93-'94 was bearing effect-cause relationship. We concluded that it suggested further researches using long-term follow-up data to be needed in this area.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
• /
• v.7 no.4
• /
• pp.248-253
• /
• 2007

Purpose: Surgical wound complications remain a cause of morbidity and mortality among postoperative patients, and the cost of caring for patients with a surgical wound complication is substantial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of a vinyl wound protector to reduce the rate of wound complications when used in clean-contaminated surgery. Materials and Methods: Between May 2006 and September 2006, 295 patients with a gastric cancer that underwent gastric surgery were studied prospectively, and the patients were randomized into one of two groups: the no wound protector group (n=137) or the polyethylene protector group (n=132). Results: The demographics and operation type and operation time were similar for patients in both groups. The rate of wound complication was different between patients in the no protector group (n=42) and the polyethylene protector group (n=12) (P=0.001) and the rates of seroma (P=0.001), infection (P=0.030) and dehiscence (P=0.282) were different for the two groups. The postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter in the polyethylene protector group of patients (P=0.040). Conclusion: The use of a polyethylene protector resulted in a reduction of the surgical wound complication rate, and the cost of caring for patients, and morbidity and mortality among postoperative patients could be reduced.

• Korean Circulation Journal
• /
• v.53 no.4
• /
• pp.254-267
• /
• 2023

Background and Objectives: Although the shortage of donor is a common problem worldwide, a significant portion of unutilized hearts are classified as marginal donor (MD) hearts. However, research on the correlation between the MD and the prognosis of heart transplantation (HTx) is lacking. This study was conducted to investigate the clinical impact of MD in HTx. Methods: Consecutive 73 HTxs during 2014 and 2021 in a tertiary hospital were analyzed. MD was defined as follows; a donor age >55 years, left ventricular ejection fraction <50%, cold ischemic time >240 minutes, or significant cardiac structural problems. Preoperative characteristics and postoperative hemodynamic data, primary graft dysfunction (PGD), and the survival rate were analyzed. Risk stratification by Index for Mortality Prediction after Cardiac Transplantation (IMPACT) score was performed to examine the outcomes according to the recipient state. Each group was sub-divided into 2 risk groups according to the IMPACT score (low <10 vs. high ≥10). Results: A total of 32 (43.8%) patients received an organ from MDs. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was more frequent in the non-MD group (34.4% vs. 70.7, p=0.007) There was no significant difference in PGD, 30-day mortality and long-term survival between groups. In the subgroup analysis, early outcomes did not differ between low- and high-risk groups. However, the long-term survival was better in the low-risk group (p=0.01). Conclusions: The outcomes of MD group were not significantly different from non-MD group. Particularly, in low-risk recipient, the MD group showed excellent early and long-term outcomes. These results suggest the usability of selected MD hearts without increasing adverse events.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.48 no.6
• /
• pp.599-605
• /
• 2005

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to examine the causes, clinical courses and outcomes in children with acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS), and evaluate the physiologic variables as prognostic factors in the patients. Methods : Retrograde medical chart review was carried out in 24 patients who were diagnosed with ARDS at the pediatric intensive care unit(PICU) during 20-month period. Results : The incidence of ARDS among all PICU admission was 3.7 percent and the mortality rate was 37.5 percent, which was 14.8 percent of overall deaths in PICU. The most common causes of ARDS were pneumonia and sepsis. We found significant differences between survivors and nonsurvivors in $PaO_2/FiO_2$ ratio(P/F ratio), alveolar arterial oxygen gradient and oxygenation index(OI) on the second day from the onset of ARDS. Therapies for ARDS such as high frequency oscillator ventilation(HFOV), recruitment maneuver and low dose corticosteroid improved the P/F ratio and OI, especially in survivors. Conclusion : The mortality rate of children with ARDS was 37.5 percent; an important cause of death in PICU. HFOV, recruitment maneuver and low dose corticosteroid seemed to be effective in pediatric ARDS. The P/F ratio, alveolar arterial oxygen gradient and OI on the second day from the onset of ARDS may be useful as prognostic factors.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
• /
• v.8 no.4
• /
• pp.256-261
• /
• 2008

Purpose: Intra-abdominal fluid collection is one of the risk factors associated with postoperative morbidity or mortality for patients who undergo gastric cancer surgery. The aim of this study was to analyze the clinicopathological characteristics of the patients with postoperative intra-abdominal fluid collection and to identify the indications for inserting a percutaneous drain (PCD) in patients with intra-abdominal fluid collection. Materials and Methods: Among the 1,277 patients who underwent operations for gastric cancer at Seoul National University Hospital between April 2005 and July 2006, the data of 117 patients with an intra-abdominal fluid collection were reviewed. Results: The number of patients' with pathologic stage I, II, III and IV disease was 42 (36.8%), 23 (20.2%), 16 (14%) and 33 (28.9%), respectively. Forty-three patients (36.3%) underwent PCD insertion and the other 43 patients received conservative management. A univariate analysis of multiple clinical variables revealed that age, gender, diabetes, liver disease, lymph node dissection, the pathologic stage and the body mass index (BMI, $kg/m^2$) were not significantly associated with PCD insertion (P>0.05). However, the univariate analysis showed that two characteristics were associated with a significantly high incidence of PCD insertion: a diameter of an intra-abdominal fluid collection greater than 4 cm and infectious signs such as leukocytosis, fever and bacteremia. Conclusion: About two thirds of the intra-abdominal fluid collections after surgery for gastric cancer were managed with only conservative method without other morbidities of mortality. Surgeons should consider performing PCD insertion if the largest diameter of an intra-abdominal fluid collection is over 4 cm or if infectious signs are seen.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.127-134
• /
• 1985

Battery trial with 240 broiler chicks of Hubbard strain was conducted for a period of 2 weeks in order to compare the anticoccidical efficacy of polyether ionophorous antibiotics ; Maduramicin ammonium, Monensin and Salinomyc in sodium. The criteria used in these anticoccidial efficacy studies were anticoccidial index, growth rate, feed efficiency, mortality, lesion score and the number of oocysts produced after artificial inoculation with 70,000 sporulated oocysts of Eimeria tenella(90%) and E.necatrix (10%) to each bird. The result obtained are summarized as follow: 1. All groups medicated anticoccidial feed additives improved body weight gain and feed efficiency. However, it was found that the group medicated with Maduramicin showed better body weight gain (352.5 and 648.8 g) and feed efficiency(1.603 and 1.680) during the first and the second week experiments, 2. The mortality rate(4.2%) and lesion scores (1.72) of Maduramicin medicated group, from artificial coccidiosis were comparatively lower than those of other two medicated groups, 3. It was also found that oocyst output (0.25 ${\times}$ 10$^4$) in Maduramicin medicated group were lower than those of other two groups. 4. Anticoccidial indexes during the first week were 177.9 in Maduramicin medica-group, 158.7 in Salinomycin medicated group, 141.6 in Monensin medicated group and 78.0 in infected, nonmedicated group as compared with 200.0 in noninfected, nonmedicated group (NNC) 5. Anticoccidial indexes during the second week were 201.1 in Maduramicin group 184.0 in infected, nonmedicated group as compared with 200.0 in noninfected, nonmedicated group (NNC).

• Journal of Aquaculture
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.82-88
• /
• 2008

A 12-week feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of probiotics as a feed additive for juvenile Korean rockfish Sebastes schlegeli. Four experimental diets supplemented with no probiotic(Control), Bacillus polyfermenticus(BP), Bacillus licheniformis(BL) or Bacillus polyfermenticus plus Saccharomyces cerevisiae(BP+SC) at $1.0{\times}10^7$ CFU/kg diet as a dry-mater(DM) basis were prepared by mixing with a basal diet. After 12 weeks of the feeding trial, fish fed BP+SC diet showed significantly higher weight gain(WG), feed efficiency(FE), specific growth rate(SGR) and protein efficiency ratio(PER) than those of fish fed control diet(P<0.05), however there were no significant differences in WG, FE, SGR and PER among fish fed the BP, BL and BP+SC diets. Fish fed BP and BP+SC diets showed significantly higher condition factor(CF) than that of fish fed control and BL diets. Fish fed BP, BL, BP+SC diets showed significantly higher hepatosomatic index(HSI) than that of fish fed control diet, however there was no significant difference in HSI among fish fed BP, BL and BP+SC diets. Fish fed BP+SC diet showed significantly lower serum glucose than that of fish fed control diet, however there was no significant difference in serum glucose among fish fed BP, BL and BP+SC diets. Fish fed BP+SC diet showed significantly higher respiratory burst activity(NBT assay) than that of the fish fed control and BL diets, however there was no significant difference in NBT assay between fish fed BP and BP+SC diets. Fish fed BP and BL diets showed significantly higher lysozyme activity than that of the fish fed control diet, however there was no significant difference in lysozyme activity among fish fed BP, BL and BP+SC diets. Fish fed BP and BP+SC diets showed significantly lower cumulative mortality than that of the fish fed control diet, however there was no significant difference in cumulative mortality among fish fed BP, BL and BP+SC diets after the challenge test. From these results, dietary B. polyfermenticus, B. licheniformis and B. polyfermenticus plus S. cerevisiae supplementation in juvenile Korean rockfish diet could enhance growth performances, non-speicific immunities and a higher resistance against the specific pathogen.