• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.27-39
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• 1996

The change in spent fuel characteristics by DUPIC fuel cycle(burnup of spent PWR fuel again in CANDU) is examined with time elapse since discharge. Major characteristics examined include isotopic concentration, radioactivity, decay heat radiotoxicity and radiation source-term of spent fuel material, which is existing in a type of spent PWR and DUPIC fuel. Behaviors of major nuclides contributing to such changes are also analyzed in terms of radionuclide concentration. From the analysis, the change in radionuclide concentration by DUPIC shows approximately 2% decrease in actinides concentration and 20% increase in fission products concentration. Radioactivity and decay heat of spent DUPIC fuel does not depend upon radionuclides concentrations, which is a unique in sence of general characteristics of spent fuel. In terms of gamma spectrum, spent DUPIC fuel shows lower values than that of spent PWR fuel by 40 to 50% in the range of $0.01{\sim}0.575$ MeV but much higher over 3.5MeV. Neutron Intensities of both spent fuels are mainly determined by $({\alpha},\;n)$ reaction and spontaneous fission reaction of actinides. Of them, especially, the spontaneous fission reaction Is a major neutron source-term, which causes that neutron intensities of spent DUPIC fuel $having{\sim}3.3$ times higher Cm-244 concentration are ${\sim}4$ times higher than that of spent PWR fuel.

• Proceedings of the Korean Journal of Food and Nutrition Conference
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• 2003.07a
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• pp.78-78
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• 2003

심혈관계질환의 예방과 영양교육의 기초자료를 제공하기 위하여 성인 남녀를 대상으로 규칙적인 운동 습관과 음주, 흡연, 폐경, 비만 여부에 따라 신체계측치와 콜레스테롤, 중성지방, LDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol 등의 혈청지질 및 영양소 섭취량을 비교 조사한 결과는 다음과 같다. 1)체중이나 신장, 비만 정도 및 WHR 등 신체계측지수는 음주나 흡연 여부에 따른 차이가 없었으나, 혈청 중성지방 농도를 유의적으로 상승시켰다. 2)음주군은 비음주군에 비하여 단백질의 열량비율(% RDA)이 유의적으로 높았으며(p<0.05), 흡연군은 비타민 A와 나이아신, 비타민 B6, 엽산, 비타민 C, 비타민 E의 섭취량에 있어서 비흡연자들보다 낮은 경향을 보였다. 3)운동에 의한 혈청지질 농도에는 뚜렷한 차이가 없었으나, 남성들의 경우 현재의 체중과 PIBW, Quetlet index, 엉덩이둘레가 비운동자들보다 많은 것으로 나타났다. 영양소 섭취량에 있어서 남성의 경우 운동군이 비운동군에 비해 콜레스테롤과 나이아신 및 인을 더 섭취하고 있었으며, 당질의 섭취비율은 유의적으로 더 낮았다(p<0.05). 여성의 경우에는 불포화지방에 유의적 차이를 보여 비운동군의 불포화지방 섭취량이 더 많았다(p<0.05). 4)폐경한 여성의 경우 폐경 전 여성에 비하여 신장은 더 작고 WHR은 더 높았다. 폐경 이후 estrogen 분비의 변화로 인하여 혈중 지질 성분 중에서는 cholesterol이 198.4$\pm$36.3mg/dl, LDL이 119.5$\pm$34.9mg/dl로 폐경 전의 수치보다 유의적으로 높았다(p<0.01). 5)비만 여부는 남자의 경우 콜레스테롤 농도에(p<0.01)), 여자의 경우 중성지방 농도(p<0.01)에 대해 의미있는 설명력을 보이는 변수로 작용하고 있었다. 그러나 식이 섭취상태와의 관련성은 나타나지 않았다. 이상에서 생활습관이 신체계측치 및 혈중 지질 농도와 일부 상관을 보이는 것을 알 수 있었으며, 건강위험 요인도 관찰할 수 있었다. 고지혈증은 심혈관계질환의 주요한 위험 인자로 알려져 있으며, 그 유발 요인에는 여러 환경적인 요인과 식이 요인이 있다. 또한 생활습관은 영양소의 섭취량에도 영향을준다. 이처럼 식이 요인과 생활습관은 단독 혹은 상호 영향을 주게 되므로 고지혈증 및 심혈관계질환을 개선하려면 식사요법과 생활습관 교정을 병행하여야 한다. 고지혈증의 원인 중의 하나로 지적되고 있는 음주와 흡연은 상호 유도작용이 있으므로 금연이나 절주를 하고자 할 경우 두가지를 동시에 자제해야 효과적일 것으로 생각된다. 폐경후 여성들에게 발생 빈도가 높은 심혈관질환의 위험요인인 고지혈증을 예방하고자 하는 노력은 폐경후 여성들의 삶의 질적 향상을 위해서도 매우 중요하다. 또한 균형식 섭취와 운동을 통해 혈중 지질 수준을 건강하게 유지하고, 비만으로의 이행을 방지함으로써 심혈관계질환을 예방하도록 하여야겠다.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.57-65
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• 2014

Purpose: Since most terminally ill cancer patients die of multiple organ failure, plasma endotoxin concentration levels may be used to predict the life expectancy. This study was performed to evaluate the clinical significance of endotoxin level in plasma as a prognostic factor for survival in patients with terminal cancer. Methods: This study was conducted with 56 terminally ill cancer patients, above 20 years old, from April 2009 through October 2009. Demographic characteristics, Karnofsky performance status, and survival time were evaluated. We analyzed blood levels of white blood cell hemoglobin, hematocrit, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, c-reactive protein, total bilirubin and endotoxin in each patient. Results: We considered following variable for univariate analysis: plasma endotoxin level, sex, age, WBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit, AST, ALT, total bilirubin, CRP and severity of pain. Univariate analysis did not show a significant association between plasma endotoxin level and survival time. However, in a multivariate analysis with factors that were found to be significantly associated with survival sex, WBC count and total bilirubin level in univariate analysis, high levels of plasma endotoxin and short survival time were significantly related. Conclusion: Plasma endotoxin level could be used as a prognostic factor to predict the life expectancy of terminally ill cancer patients.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.66-74
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• 2000

Background: During the follow up period after transarterial embolization(TAE), cases of pulmonary metastasis were more prevalent in TAE-treated patients than in TAE-untreated patients. Therefore, a study was conducted to evaluate whether TAE increases the incidence of pulmonary metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma and to clarify the risk factors for pulmonary metastasis. Methods: From March 1991 to March 1995, 156 patients who had been diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma by serology, and radiographic and histologic methods at Yeungnam University hospital were involved in this study. We excluded 12 patients with lung metastasis on initial diagnosis and the others. The remaining 144 patients had been followed up for at least 5 months and, divided into four groups according to lung metastasis and trans-arterial embolization treatment, and evaluated for age, sex, child-pugh score, liver cirrhosis, and level of AFP. Results: Pulmonary metastasis was found in 18.0% (26/144), of which 92.3%(24/26) and 7.7%(2/26) of the patients with and without transarterial chemoembolization, respectively. Of the patients, 23.5% (24/102) with TAE had lung metastais during follow-up periods and 4.7% (2/42) without TAE had lung metastasis. There was more likelihood for lung metastasis after TAE. but there was no difference between two groups in age, sex, child-pugh class, the presence of liver cirrhosis, and AFP. Conclusions: The incidence of pulmonary metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma after TAE was higher. Child-pugh class was the only related clinical preciptating factors for pulmonary metastasis in TAE in our study. Our results suggest that regular chest X-ray check-ups may be more frequently needed by patients who had TAE treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.8
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• pp.856-860
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• 2008

Purpose : This study aimed to examine the factors influencing the appearance of headache and backache following diagnostic lumbar puncture in children, focusing on the need for strict bed rest after lumbar puncture. Methods : We studied 70 two-fifteen-year-old pediatric patients who underwent diagnostic lumbar puncture from July 2005 to July 2007 at Konkuk University Hospital. We divided them into two groups. Patients in the first group (n=24) were allowed free mobility and patients in the second group (n=46) were to have strict bed rest for four hours after puncture. Data were analyzed by age, sex, number of puncture attempts, cell counts and pressure in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), duration of bed rest, and occurrence of headache and backache. Results : The rate of complications was not significantly related to sex, age, presence of enterovirus, CSF pressure, or postural headache. The occurrence of headache was significantly correlated with white blood cell (WBC) count in CSF (P=0.043). Symptom frequency did not differ significantly between the groups. Backache was significantly related to the frequency of puncture attempts (P=0.046). Conclusion : Strict bed rest following diagnostic lumbar puncture in children does not influence headaches and backaches. These are respectively related to the WBC count on the CSF profile and the frequency of attempts. Therefore, after lumbar puncture, absolute bed rest is not necessary and patients are more comfortable with free mobility.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.12
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• pp.1540-1545
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• 2002

Purpose : Vesicoureteral reflux(VUR) is defined as a retrograde flow of urine from the bladder into the upper urinary tract. It has been shown to predispose patients to hypertension, renal scarring, and end-stage renal failure if not recognized and treated. The observation that VUR occurs in siblings of children with reflux at a significantly higher rate than the general pediatric population has been recognized for many years and VUR was detected in 26% to 51% of siblings of patients with VUR. The purpose of this study is to determine the incidence of VUR in asymptomatic siblings of children with VUR and to see if this form of screening would be practical. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed the records of 28 patients with VUR and their siblings. The total number of asymptomatic siblings investigating VUR were 28 persons. All patients and siblings were evaluated for VUR by a voiding cystourethrography and all patients and siblings with VUR were performed $^{99m}Tc$ 2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid renal scan. Results : A total of 28 patients(14 boys, 14 girls) with VUR were studied; the mean patient age was 2.7 years(range 1 month to 8.4 years). The total number of asymptomatic siblings investigating VUR were 28 persons(17 boys, 11 girls) and the mean age was 3.3 years(range 2 months to 7.4 years). Renal scar was detected in 20 of 28(71.4%) patients with VUR. VUR was noted in three of 28(10.7%) siblings and renal scar was detected in one of three siblings with VUR. Conclusion : In this study, the predictive value of a positive family history alone in identifying VUR was 10.7%. This incidence suggests more investigation of asymptomatic siblings and continued study of this group of patients at risk is needed for clarifying the family screening of patients with VUR.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.44-53
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• 2017

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors for posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) and to evaluate the association between Epstein-Barr viral load and the development of PTLD in pediatric heart transplant recipients. Methods: We reviewed children aged <18 years who underwent heart transplantation and quantitative analysis of blood Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) viremia at our institute from January 2006 to March 2015. Clinical characteristics and EBV viral loads were compared according to the presence of PTLD. Results: Over 9 consecutive years, a total of 40 heart transplant recipients, were included. Among 28 children with available EBV viral load measurements, seven patients (25%) had EBV viremia only defined as at least one time of ${\geq}457copies/mL$. PTLD occurred in three recipients (7.5%) 4.3, 6.3, and 17.0 months after transplant and all PTLD cases had preceding EBV viremia. The median age at transplant was 5.3 years (range, 0.5 to 6.0 years) in the PTLD group, compared with 11.9 years (range, 0.3 to 17.8 years) in the non-PTLD group (P=0.021). The median values of the peak EBV levels in the PTLD group were 3,452,170 copies/mL (range, 46,750 to 7,622,910 copies/mL); the peak EBV levels in the non-PTLD group were 3,112 copies/mL (range, 2,250 to 103,000 copies/mL). Conclusions: Younger age at transplant and presence of EBV viremia were associated with the development of PTLD in pediatric heart transplant recipients. A prospective study will be required to determine the blood EBV load for predicting the development of PTLD in these patients.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.195-202
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• 2010

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to determine if there are prognostic factors leading to permanent parenchymal damages to kidney in children after acute pyelonephritis. Methods : This study was conducted in 160 pediatric patients with acute pyelonephritis admitted to Ajou University Hospital from 2000 to 2005, whose renal cortical defects were confirmed by $^{99m}Tc$-dimercaptosuccinic acid scintigraphy (DMSA scan). Along with the follow-up DMSA scan after 6 months, they were classified into two groups; recovered group (106) and scarred group (54). The clinical characteristics of each group were compared. Results : Among the total of 160 patients, 106 (66.3%) showed recovery of the initial defect (the recovered group), while 54 (33.8%) showed permanent defects on the followup DMSA scan (scarred group). Recovery rate was poor for patients of 1 year and older, or patients with the duration of fever and pyuria longer than 7 days. The recovery rate was poor in the patients with history of frequent febrile episodes and abnormal results of imaging studies, such as voiding cystourethrography (VCUG), ultrasonography. Conclusion : The recovery rate of children with renal defects on DMSA scan with acute pyelonephritis was lower when the patient is older than 1 year, when the duration of fever and pyuria exceeded 7 days, and when the patients had the histories of frequent febrile episodes and had urinary tract abnormalities on imaging studies. These findings suggest that there may be under- or mis-diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis by pediatrician.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.99-107
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• 2012

Purpose: Most terminally ill cancer patients die from cancer anorexia-cachexia syndrome. This study evaluated a prognostic role of plasma leptin levels in terminally ill cancer patients. Methods: This study enrolled 69 terminally ill cancer patients who were aged above 20 years old from July 2009 to July 2010. For univariate analysis, an association between leptin levels and patient's characteristics or other variables was examined using Spearman's correlation analysis, Wilcoxon's rank-sum test or Kruskal-Wallis test, as appropriately. For multivariable analysis, Cox's proportional hazard regression model was used to evaluate a clinical significance of plasma leptin levels as a prognostic factor and to determine factors which affect the risk of death in terminally ill cancer patients. Results: A statistically significant positive correlation between plasma leptin levels and survival time was found. Univariate Cox's proportional hazard regression analyses also showed a moderately significant association between plasma leptin levels and survival time. However, after adjusting variables for sex, white blood cell counts, total bilirubin, AST, ALT, albumin and CRP levels, plasma leptin levels were not significantly associated with survival time. Conclusion: No significant association was found between plasma leptin levels and survival time in terminally ill cancer patients. However, this study suggested a prognostic value of plasma leptin levels in gastrointestinal cancer patients.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.18-26
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• 2014

Purpose: Anorexia is a common symptom in terminal cancer patients. Some data have suggested a role of visfatin in regulating feeding behavior. We studied the relationship of a serum visfatin level and anorexia in cancer patients provided with hospice care. Methods: After informed consent was obtained, 69 cancer patients over 20 years old at a hospice center were enrolled in the study from July 2009 to July 2010. We characterized patients by age, sex, body mass index, primary cancer site, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status, etc. Also, blood tests were performed to measure the level of hemoglobin, white blood cell (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), total cholesterol, albumin, lymphocyte count, glucose, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$), interukin-6, leptin and visfatin. Results: The mean age of subjects was 65.5 years old, According to univariate analysis, pulse, ECOG performance scale, opioid use and visfatin level were different between the anorexia and non-anorexic group (P<0.05). The median visfatin level was higher in the anorexia group than the good appetite group (P=0.0323). Serum visfatin concentrations were not related with either body mass index or serum leptin or total cholesterol levels, but it was negatively correlated with serum albumin levels (P=0.0198) and lymphocyte counts (P=0.0013). Conclusion: This study did not identify a novel link between visfatin levels and anorexia in cancer patients at a hospice.