• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.28-35
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• 2007

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical usefulness of ultrasound examination of children performed by a pediatrician. Methods: One thousand children who presented with symptoms of a gastrointestinal disorder and underwent abdominal ultrasound evaluation in the Department of Pediatrics, between January 2003 and June 2006, were included in this study. We analyzed the patient's medical records and ultrasound results retrospectively. Results: Among the 1,000 patients, 58.4% were male and 41.6% were female. The mean age of the patients was $4.7{\pm}4.0$ years. The main reasons for ultrasound were abdominal pain (43.9%), vomiting (17.3%), elevated liver enzymes (11.8%), and jaundice (9.8%). Abnormal ultrasound findings were present in 57.9% of cases. The major abnormal findings were mesenteric lymphadenitis (29.2%), fatty liver (12.1%), hepatitis (6.4%), hepatosplenomegaly (6.2%), and acute appendicitis (4.8%). The time interval between the initial medical evaluation and the ultrasound evaluation was within 24 hours in most cases (78.5%). The main findings in children with abdominal pain were mesenteric lymphadenitis (32.6%), fatty liver (5.9%), intussusception (2.7%), and acute appendicitis (2.7%). The main findings in children with vomiting were mesenteric lymphadenitis (12.7%), hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (10.4%), and acute appendicitis (3.5%). The major ultrasound findings in children with urinary tract diseases were hydronephrosis (45.4%), urolithiasis (21.5%) and cystic renal disease (18.1%). Conclusion: Ultrasound examination played an important role as a non-invasive and prompt screening examination for detection of abdominal diseases. Ultrasound was an important tool for pediatricians to determine timely information for patient management.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.183-190
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• 2009

Purpose : To evaluate the number and severity of adverse reactions after Japanese Encephalitis (JE) vaccination in children using different vaccines (inactivated vaccine or live attenuated vaccine) and to determine the ability and safety of the vaccines to provide effective immunization for JE. Methods : From August 2006 to February 2007, we conducted a prospective cohort study of the adverse reactions associated with JE immunization in Korea. We investigated common adverse reactions during the 4 days following immunization using telephone collaborations with four public health centers and nine pediatric clinics. Results : The mean age of children receiving the inactivated vaccines and live attenuated vaccines, respectively, were 1.4 y (range: 1 to 8.5) and 1.7 y (range: 1 to 8.3). The number of children that received the inactivated vaccines was 425 (64.6%). A total of 233 (35.4%) received the live attenuated vaccines. Fourteen children (3.3%) had more than one localized adverse event with the inactivated vaccine, and six (2.6%) had more than one event with the live attenuated vaccine (P =0.607). Systemic adverse reactions occurred in 5.2% vs. 8.2%, respectively, of these groups (P =0.131). Fever was more common in the live attenuated vaccine group than in the inactivated vaccine group on the day of vaccination (P =0.026). Conclusions : The rate of adverse events in our study was even lower than that previously reported. No significant difference in outcomes between inactivated vaccine and live attenuated vaccine was found in JE-immunized children. Fever was more common in the live attenuated vaccine group than in the inactivated vaccine group on the day of vaccination.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.3-28
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• 2016

While product liability has been settled as a technical term in civil law, criminal law does not commonly accept technical term for it. Not like civil law, product liability in criminal law point outs individual responsibility and disability of normative order. Meaning that causation between individual's action of violation of duty and the result of danger of legal interest or infringement of legal interest must be proved. In criminal law excluding "non-result-constituted crimes (Unternehmensdelikt)", charge of injuring, accidental infliction of injury, homicide or involuntary manslaughter is problematic in product liability. Of course, it is necessary to distinguish whether the action related to the outcome is act or ommission. Also the causal relationship between the action and the result must be proved, and the intention or negligence should be recognized. In this paper, it analyzes cases that were problematic in Korea, Germany, Spain, etc. Mainly focusing on the problems revealed in the determination of causal relationship, especially recognizing criminal liability related to products. Furthermore it is followed by the view of reviewing the cause-and-effect relationship by 2 steps, dividing natural scientific causation and the normative causal relationship. In this process, to acknowledge criminal product liability in accordance with recognizing cause-and-effect relationship, there should be general risk of specific substance causing the outcome. This only premise can be meaningful to examine the casual relationship from specific cases. As it shows in some cases and theories, it is not contradicting general law of cause and effect by determining specific causal relationship by free evaluation of evidence if a general causal relationship does not exist. Also since judge's testimony does not hold a dominant position from rule of thumb, it is possible to recognize specific causal relationship. However this paper takes position that if there is no objective and reasonably undeniable cause and effect law. If there is no objective and reasonably undeniable causal law, which is the premise for recognizing concrete causal relations, judge should sentence guilty according to "in dubio pro reo" principle. In addition, it is not allowed for the defendant to burden unproven fact by free evaluation of evidence which has an effect of shift of burden of proof.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.343-347
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• 2003

Background: The femoral artery is the most common site of canuulation for cardiopulmonary bypass in surgery for type A aortic dissection. Recently, many surgeons prefer the axillary artery to the femoral artery as the arterial cannulation site for several benefits. We evaluated the safety and usefulness of axillary artery cannulation in surgery for acute type A aortic dissection. Material and Method: Between Oct. 1995 and Sep. 2001, 71 patients underwent operations for acute type A aortic dissection. The arterial cannula was inserted into the axillary artery in 31 patients (AXILLARY group, mean age=56), and into the femoral artery in 40 patients (FEMORAL group, mean age=57). We retrospectively compared the incidence of mortality, morbidities, and hospital course. Result: The mean duration of cardiopulmonary bypass and circulatory arrest were significantly shorier in the AXILLARY group (207 min and 39min, respectively) than in the FEMORAL group (263min and 49 min, respectively; P<0.05). Postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter in the AXILLARY group than in the FEMORAL group (mean 15 days vs. 35 days, p<0.05). Although there was no difference in the incidence of new-onset permanent neurological dysfunction (3.2%, in the AXILLARY group, 2.5% in the FEMORAL group), the incidence of transient neurological dysfunction was significantly lower in the AXILLARY group (12.9% vs. 25%, p<0.05). In the FEMORAL group, two patients needed urgent conversion to cannulation site due to arch vessel malperfusion. In the AXILLARY group, there was only one patient who had a complication related to the cannulation, i.e., median nerve injury. Conclusion: Axillary artery cannulation was safe and helpful in decreasing the cerebral ischemic time and incidence of transient neuroligcal dysfunction in surgery for acute type A aortic dissection, It enabled us to approach the patients with aortic arch pathology more aggressively.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.134-139
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• 2014

Purpose: Adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR) technique is a reconstruction method of CT image using statistical noise modeling which is known to reduce image noise and to preserve image quality despite reducing radiation dose. The aim of this study is to evaluate images using ASIR on bone SPECT/CT which is primarily performed in our hospital. Materials and Methods: We compared the images of applied ASIR (ASIR level: 20-80%) and none ASIR by changing the mA based on 120 kVp, 100 mA using Discovery NM/CT 670 (GE, U.S.A). First, we evaluated attenuation correction in SPECT image by changing the ASIR level using Anthropomorphic phantom. Second, we compared the contrast to noise ratio (CNR), image noise and spatial resolution in CT image using ACR phantom. Third, after selecting the ASIR level applicable patient using lower torso phantom, we examined 2 patients who followed up bone SPECT/CT and we performed blind test. Results: The degree of attenuation correction in SPECT image showed no significant difference between applied ASIR and none ASIR (P>0.05). When applied ASIR, the noise of CT image were reduced at least 17 up to 52% by changing the mA. The CNR of image with ASIR was maintained more than 0.8 at 40 mA (ASIR 60%) while those without ASIR showed 0.42 at standard 40 mA. In comparison of the high contrast object, we distinguished 12 line pairs/cm at 40 mA regardless of appling ASIR. Comparison of the patients image applied ASIR level 60% (40 mA) which found out by spine image of lower torso phantom showed no signigicant difference between applied ASIR and none ASIR in blind test. The CTDIvol and DLP for applied ASIR 60% showed decreased by 60%, 60% on average than using standard mA. Conclusion: The study show that the radiation dose in SPECT/CT using ASIR can be reduced despite degradation of SPECT and CT images. In addition, higher ASIR level could be possibly applied characteristics of SPECT/CT that region of interest is limited to bone.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.211-217
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• 2019

Currently, cultivation of mushrooms using the Information and Communication Technology (ICT)-based smart farming technique is increasing rapidly. The main environmental factors for growth of mushrooms are temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide (CO₂), and light. Among all the mentioned factors, currently, only temperature has been maintained under automatic control. However, humidity and ventilation are controlled using a timer, based on technical experience.Therefore, in this study, a Pleurotus eryngii first-generation smart farm model was set up that can automatically control temperature, humidity, and ventilation. After installing the environmental control system and the monitoring device, the environmental condition of the mushroom cultivation room and the growth of the fruiting bodies were studied. The data thus obtained was compared to that obtained using the conventional cultivation method.In farm A, the temperature during the primordia formation stage was about 17℃, and was maintained at approximately 16℃ during the fruiting stage. The humidity was initially maintained at 95%, and the farm was not humidified after the primordia formation stage. There was no sensor for CO₂ management, and the system was ventilated as required by observing the shape of the pileus and the stipe. It was observed that, the concentration of CO₂ was between 700 and 2,500 ppm during the growth period. The average weight of the mushrooms produced in farm A was 125 g, and the quality was between that of the premium and the first grade.In farm B. The CO₂ sensor was in use for measurement purposes only; the system was ventilated as required by observing the shape of the pileus and the stipe. During the growth period, the CO₂ concentration was observed to be between 640 and 4,500 ppm. The average weight of the mushrooms produced in farm B was 102 g.These results indicate that the quality of the king oyster mushroom is determined by the environmental conditions, especially by the concentration of CO₂. Thus, the data obtained in this study can be used as an optimal smart farm model, where, by improving the environmental control method of farm A, better quality mushrooms were obtained.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.51-57
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• 2018

Purpose: End-of-life (EoL) decisions are challenging and multifaceted for patients and physicians. This study was aimed to explore how EoL care is practiced for patients with a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed medical records of patients who died after agreeing to a DNR order in 2016 at a university hospital. Characteristics including cause of death, intensity of EoL care, and other factors were reviewed and statistically analyzed. Results: Of total 375 patients, 170 patients (45.3%) died with malignancies, and 205 patients (54.6%) with other causes involving the central nervous system (19.2%), pulmonary (14.7%), cardiologic (6.7%) and infectious (6.4%) conditions. Both the cancer and non-cancer patient groups showed a short duration from DNR to death (median 3 days vs 2 days, P=0.629). An intensive care group comprising patients who received one or more intensive treatments such as ventilator (n=205) showed a higher number of non-cancer patients and a shorter duration from DNR to death than a group that withheld treatment before DNR (P<0.05). Conclusion: EoL decisions were made very late by both cancer and non-cancer patients. About half of the patients did not have cancer, and two-thirds of them decided DNR during intensive treatment. To make a good EoL decision, a shared decision making with patients should be done at an earlier stage.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.185-198
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• 2008

Influences of dietary brown seaweed(BSW) on the nutrient metabolism, anti-oxidant enzyme activity and cell-mediated immune response were studied in broiler chicks activated acute phase response. 72 Hatched male broiler chicks(Ross) were divided into 12 pens, 6 heads per pen, and fed the BSW 0.0% (Basal) or 2.0% diet, respectively, and injected with the Salmonella typhimurium lipopoly saccharide(LPS) for activation of the acute phase response three times at 8, 10 and 12 d of age. During 4 wks of experimental feeding, growth performance of broiler chicks was not affected by dietary BSW and the acute phase response. Compared with control birds, the acute phase response did not affect the daily weight gain in birds fed BSW 2.0% diet, decreased nitrogen balance(NB) or metabolizable energy(ME) utilization per metabolic body size(kg0.75), and enhanced activities of peroxidase or extracellular SOD(EcSOD), tumor necrosis factor-alpha and ovotransferrin in plasma and MnSOD and CuZnSOD in erythrocyte cytosol. Compared to BSW 0.0% diet, 2.0% diet enhanced protein retention(NB) per kg0.75 regardless the acute phase response, did not affect uric acid nitrogen excretion(UAN) per kg0.75 in birds during the acute phase response, decreased(p<0.05) the UAN excretion per kg0.75 in control birds. And BSW 2.0% diet also decreased(p<0.05) plasma peroxide level and erythrocyte peroxidase or MnSOD activity but increased plasma peroxidase and EcSOD activity and interleukin-1 activity secreted from LPS-stimulated PBMC in 4 week broiler chicks.

• Journal of Broadcast Engineering
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.602-611
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• 2008

The sound design performed in the production of media contents, such as TV, movie, and CF, have been conducted through the experienced feeling of some experts in the aspect of auditory effects that communicates stories. Also, there have been few studies of the quantitative approach and verification to apply visual and auditory effects felt by users. This study is a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design and investigates the difference in communication effects in which the difference in a sound design in the production of media contents that affects users. This study analyzed the brain quotient (BQ) obtained by the measurement of brain waves during the watching of an experiment image (track A) designed by using a 60-second TV CF only and an experiment image (track B) designed by sound effects and music and investigated which sound design represents differences in communication effects for users. The results of this investigation can be summarized as follows: First, in the results of the comparison of the attention quotient (ATQ), which is the BQ of recognition effects, between A and B tracks, the track A showed a higher difference in activation than the track B. It can be analyzed that the sound design based on music showed higher levels in attention and concentration than that of the sound effect design. Second, in the results of the comparison of the emotional quotient (EQ), which is emotional effects, between A and B tracks, the track A represented a higher difference than the track B. It means that the sound design based on music showed higher contribution levels in emotional effects than that of the design based on sound effects. Third, in the results of the comparison of the left and right brain equivalent quotient (ACQ), which is memory activation effects, between A and B tracks, there were no significant differences. In the results of the experiments, although there are some constraints in TV CF based on the conventional theories in which sound effects based design affects strong concentration, and music based design affects emotional feeling, the music based design may present more effects in continued concentration. In addition, it was evident that the music based design showed higher effects in emotional aspects. However, it is necessary to continue the study by increasing the number of subjects for improving the little differences in ACQ. This study is useful to investigate the communication effects of the sound based design in media contents as a quantitative manner through measuring brain waves and expect the results of this study as the basic materials in the fields of sound production.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.314-321
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• 2015

Purpose: It is well known that a terminal cancer condition affects not only patient themselves but their family members because the patients experience a variety of symptoms. This study was aimed to investigate modifiable factors that influence family caregivers' quality of life, depression, and anxiety. Methods: From January 2015 through May 2015, a survey was conducted with 61 family caregivers of hospice patients who were hospitalized in two university hospitals and one municipal hospital in Busan. The questionnaire was consisted of characteristics of family caregivers and patients, the Korean version of the Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer (CQOLC-K), Beck's Depression Inventory II (BDI-II), Beck's Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and patient's symptom controlling scores rated by family caregivers. Results: Family caregivers' depression was associated with religion. Quality of life and depression of family caregivers were also influenced by monthly household income. Patient age was inversely related to family caregiver's quality of life ($r_s=-0.259$, P=0.043). Family caregivers' quality of life was associated with patient's anxiety (r=0.443, P=0.001). Family caregivers' depression was affected by patient's constipation (r=0.276, P=0.046), anxiety (r=0.508, P<0.001), and daytime drowsiness (r=0.377, P=0.005). And family caregivers' anxiety was influenced by patients' sleep disturbance (r=0.276, P=0.046), depression (r=0.297, P=0.031), and anxiety (r=0.357, P=0.009). Conclusion: According to our findings, family caregivers had higher quality of life and less depression and anxiety when symptoms in hospice patients were well controlled.