• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.161-168
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• 2009

The carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) is an early structural marker of the atherosclerotic process and is the only non-invasive test that is currently recommended by the American Heart Association for evaluation of the risk. However, use of this parameter has a limitation because it assumes uniform thickness throughout the blood vessel, whereas atherosclerosis is a focal phenomenon that is confined to intima. In fact, plaque can be found along the atherosclerotic blood vessels even though its value is unknown. The aim of this study is to analyze the carotid plaque and IMT in the stroke patients. We investigated the patients with ischemic stroke, who were admitted to the department of neurology at the Stroke Special Hospital from January to March 2008. After the carotid IMT and plaque were assessed by B-mode ultrasonography, IMT and carotid plaque to risk variables (age, sex) were analyzed. The distribution of CCA IMT was significantly different in terms of age (p = 0.004). Likewise, the distribution of carotid plaque was also significantly different in terms of age (p = 0.006). Carotid plaque was 69 and 92% in normal and abnormal CCA IMTs respectively. The results showed that the CCA IMT was closely associated with carotid plaque.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.267-272
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• 2015

In this study, the reduction of dose and risk was evaluated from using automatic mA control in 4D CT scan of patients whose organ movement was considered for gated radiotherapy. The organ doses, CTDI, effective doses from 4D CT with and without using automatic mA control were evaluated using CT-Expo program for each 10 patients of liver and lung cancer, and the risk of exposure induced death and loss of life expectancy were evaluated using PCXMC program. It was founded that there were 26.8%, and 15.5% dose reduction in organ doses and CTDI for liver and lung cancer patients and 16.5% and 19.8% risk reduction in liver and lung cancer patients. The organ doses and effective doses were evaluated for the parameter of each patient used in CT scans, and risks considering age and gender could be evaluated. It was founded that there were 21.2% dose reduction and 18.2% risk reduction in 4D CT scan using AEC for liver and lung cancer patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.66 no.1
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• pp.27-32
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• 2009

Background: The management of patients with lung cancer has improved recently, and many of them will require admission to the medical intensive care unit (MICU). The aim of this study was to examine the clinical characteristics and to identify risk factors for mortality in patients with lung cancer admitted to the MICU. Methods: We conducted retrospective analysis on 88 patients with lung cancer admitted to the MICU between April 2004 and March 2008. Results: Of the 88 patients (mean age, 66 years), 71 patients (80.7%) had non-small cell lung cancer and 17 patients (19.3%) had small cell lung cancer. Distant metastasis were present in 79 patients (89.8%). The main reasons for MICU admission were acute respiratory failure (77.3%), sepsis (11.4%), and central nervous system dysfunction (4.5%). Mechanical ventilation was used in 54 patients (61.4%). Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score, length of MICU stay, need for mechanical ventilation, source of MICU admission were correlated with MICU mortality. The type of lung cancer and metastasis were not predictive factors of death in MICU. Conclusion: Most common reason for ICU admission was acute respiratory failure. Mortality rate of lung cancer patients admitted to the MICU was 65.9%. APACHE II score, length of ICU stay, need for mechanical ventilation, source of MICU admission were predicted factors of death in the MICU.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.140-146
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• 2012

Purpose: The objective of this study was to assess the clinical outcome of arthroscopic release of the extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB) tendon in chronic recalcitrant lateral epicondylitis and tried to determine any prognostic factors. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of 24 patients with lateral epicondylitis treated by arthroscopic ECRB release was performed. Outcome measures included a patient self rating and visual analog scale (VAS). Functional evaluation was made with Quick-disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) score system to identify preoperative factors that might be associated with the outcomes. Results: Twenty one (88%) elbows received benefit from the procedure. A mean preoperative VAS pain score and the mean Quick-DASH were significantly improved at final follow up. Age, sex, dominant arm and duration of symptom, presence of capsular tear or calcification did not correlate significantly with the clinical outcome. Three of four patients without T2-weighted high signal focus of the ECRB origin on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed higher Quick-DASH score. Conclusion: Arthroscopic release of the ECRB is an effective option for chronic recalcitrant lateral epicondylitis. Lack of high signal focus on preoperative MRI is significantly associated with a poor surgical outcome and a considerable factor for the proper surgical indication.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.36-42
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• 1997

Though myocardial perfusion was usually expected to improve after coronary artery bypass graft(CABG) surgery, some myocardial segments were aggravated after operation, as we compared perfusion changes on postoperative SPECT with preoperative ones. In this study, we evaluated perfusion changes after operation in rest and stress myocardial SPECT in 44 patients (M:F=25:19, age 57.1 $year{\pm}8.2$) who had CABG before and 3 months after operation. We tried to find out possible causes for perfusion aggravation with multivariate logistic regression analysis regarding whether bypass graft was artery or vein and which coronary artery territory was operated. Among 616 myocardial segments which were operated, 89(14.4%) aggravated after operation. In the univariate analysis, myocardial segments in the left circumflex arteries(LCx) aggravated more often(p<0.01) than others and segments having operative angioplasty did less often(p<0.01). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that LCx was risk factor for perfusion aggravation [odds ratio=2.54 (95% confidence interval : 1.53-4.22, p<0.01)]. However, this was not the case when we analysed in terms of arterial territories. Among 106 coronary arterial territories which were operated, 27(25.5%) aggravated. The territories having aggravated had similar characteristics regarding whether they received arterial or venous grafts, angioplasty and whether the operated territories were left anterior descending, right coronary or left circumflex arteries. In conclusion, myocardial segments in the left circumflex artery tended to aggravate more often after bypass surgery than the others. In short-term comparison of perfusion after surgery, we could not find any tendency that arterial or venous graft was associated with more frequency of the aggravation of perfusion after operation.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.273-278
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• 2008

There have been studies about dog’s personality and behavior, which is helpful to breed dogs as guide or companion. In this study, a questionnaire was developed using 54 Jindo dogs, which considered ten items about aggressiveness and sociability. The scores were analyzed by principle component analysis (PCA), after accounting for four variables: age, gender, growing place, and coat-colors. Our results from the PCA indicated three principle components, which classified ‘aggressiveness’, ‘sociability’ and unknown factor. The four variables did not significantly affect aggressiveness(P>0.05). However, there was a relationship between coat-color and sociability, i.e., the Jindo dogs with fawn color were more sociable than the white ones(P<0.1).

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.12 no.7
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• pp.273-283
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• 2012

Drug-eluting stents (DES) have significantly reduced in-stent restenosis, compared to bare-metal stents (BMS). However, there remains concern for the increased risk of stent thrombosis (ST) associated with DES. The present study sought to evaluate the incidence, clinical characteristics and outcome of ST in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) during a 1-year follow-up. 80 patients who developed ST were divided into 2 groups according to stent type: group I (DES-ST, n = 57 ) and group II (BMS-ST, n = 23 ). There were no differences between group I and II in the overall incidence of ST (2.7% vs. 4.3%, p=0.064) and in the incidence of each type of ST: acute ST (8.8% vs. 2.3%), subacute ST (50.9% vs. 60.9%), late ST (19.3% vs. 8.7%), and very late ST (21.1% vs. 17.4%) (p=0.605). Predictors of 1-year mortality were the occurrence of ST (OR 8.12, 95% CI 2.83-23.61, p<0.001), left ventricular ejection fraction<40% (OR 6.41, 95% CI 2.42-16.96, p<0.001), and age${\geq}$75 years (OR 4.98, 95% CI 1.95-12.74, p=0.001).

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.199-210
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• 2005

Background: The role of obesity in prostate cancer etiology remains controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between obesity and prostate cancer risk. Materials and methods: Between January 2000 and June 2005, 286 patients suspected of having prostate cancer underwent prostate biopsy. The clinical records of the 286 study patients were retrospectively reviewed with regard to age, Body Mass Index (BMI), serum PSA, TRUS, and prostate biopsy results. They were stratified by BMI into three groups according to the cutoffs recommended for Asian populations: normal, BMI less than 23 $kg/m^2$; overweight, BMI 23 to 25 $kg/m^2$; and obese, BMI greater than 25 $kg/m^2$. Results: As for BMIs, 132 (46.2%) were normal, 95 (33.2%) overweight and 59 (20.6%) were obese. A total of 99 (34.6%) patients were diagnosed as having prostate cancer. In multivariate logistic regression analyses, no significant association was observed between BMI and prostate cancer detection. Conclusion: We initially hypothesized that obesity may be biologically associated with increased prostate cancer development. However, our study did not show a significant association between BMI and prostate cancer.

• The Korean Journal of Medicine
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• v.93 no.6
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• pp.548-555
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• 2018

Background/Aims: Assessment of fluid status in hemodialysis patents is very important. Overhydration in hemodialysis is associated with generalized edema, cardiovascular complications, and hypertension. The aim of this study was to determine the factors correlated with mortality of hemodialysis patients, assessing body muscle mass and fluid status using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Methods: This study enrolled 93 patients who underwent hemodialysis between January 2010 and May 2015 at CHA Bundang Medical Center. Medical records of enrollees up to June 2017 were reviewed retrospectively. These included laboratory results (serum albumin, C-reactive protein [CRP], lipid profile, etc.) and BIA data (extracellular water, intracellular water, total body water, soft lean mass, fat free mass, skeletal muscle mass, etc.). Results: Eleven of 93 patients had expired by May 2017. Among the surviving subjects, mean age was younger, CRP levels were lower, albumin levels were higher, and extracellular water/total body water (ECW/TBW) ratios were lower than in the expired patient group. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that overhydration (ECW/TBW > 0.4) was associated with higher mortality. Conclusions: In hemodialysis patients, overhydration is an important factor in mortality, and BIA could be a reliable modality in its assessment. We suggest that, for hemodialysis patients, overhydration is more of a risk factor for mortality than is muscle wasting.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.113-122
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• 2019

Tooth wear is gradually increasing with increasing life expectancy. In particular, it is important to establish a treatment plan in the early stages so that it does not proceed to moderate or severe wear stages. It is essential to diagnose tooth wear accurately in order to plan a treatment for it. There are many risk factors including age, diet, and drugs which affects tooth wear. For the diagnosis of a tooth wear, appropriate index and evaluation method should be used. There were various tooth wear indices such as TWI, Lussi index, BEWE, and TWES. The evaluation method includes clinical examination, dental cast examination and clinical photographs. Recently, a 3D scanner is being used to assess tooth wear. The risk factors, tooth wear evaluation system, the methods of measuring tooth wear, and related literature were reviewed. The strengths and weaknesses of each index and evaluation methods were compared to derive a proper way to diagnose tooth wear.