• The Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Ultrasound Society
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.61-65
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• 2012

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of ultrasound-guide steroid injection according to Morton's neuroma size. Materials and Methods: From October 2008 to September 2011, 17 patients (23 cases) diagnosed with Morton's neuroma were investigated. All cases were female and mean age was 52.6 years old. Neuroma were measured by the horizontal and longitudinal length of the mass and underwent ultrasound-guided steroid (5 mg dexamethasone) injection. The efficacy of the injection was determined by Visual Analogue Scale pain score and patient satisfaction(subdivided 4 group-much improved, improved, not improved, aggrevation) Results: 7 of 23(30.4%) cases showed much improved and improved satisfaction and mean longitudinal and horizontal length were $0.71{\pm}0.39cm$ and $0.47{\pm}0.24cm$, respectively. 16 of 23(69.6%) cases showed not improved and aggrevation satisfaction and mean longitudinal and horizontal length were $0.83{\pm}0.42cm$ and $0.54{\pm}0.14cm$, repectively. There was a significant difference in VAS and patient satisfaction in case longitudinal and horizontal length were smaller than 0.5 cm and 0.4 cm. (p<0.05) Conclusion: The ultrasonography is a important modality in diagnosis and treatment of morton's neuroma. Ultrasound-guide steroid injection is effective in case longitudinal and horizontal length were smaller than 0.5 cm and 0.4 cm, respectively.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.154-163
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• 2005

Irregular discharges of freshwater through the water gates of the Keum River Estuarine Weir, Korea, whose construction had been completed in 1998 with its water gates being operated as late as August 1994, drastically modified the estuarine environment. Sharp decrease of salinity along with the altered concentrations of inorganic nutrients are accompanied with the irregular discharges of freshwater into the estuary under the influence of regular semi-diurnal tidal effect. Field sampling was carried out on the time of high tide at 2 fixed stations(St.1 near the Estuarine Weir and St.2 off Kunsan Ferry Station) every other day for 4 months from mid-February 2004 to investigate into the semi-weekly variation of spring phytoplankton community in relation to the freshwater discharges from Keum River Estuarine Weir. CV(coefficient of variation) of salinity measurements was roughly 2 times greater in St.1 than that in St.2, reflecting extreme salinity variation in St.1 Among inorganic nutrients, concentrations of N-nutrients($NO_3^-,\;NO_2^-$ and $NH_4^+$) were clearly higher in St.1, to imply the more drastic changes of the nutrient concentrations in St.1. than St.2 following the freshwater discharges. As a component of phytoplankton community, diatoms were among the top dominants in terms of species richness as well as biomass. Solitary centric diatom, Cyclotella meneghiniana, and chain-forming centric diatom, Skeletonema costatum, dominated over the phytoplankton community in order for S-6 weeks each (Succession Interval I and II), and the latter succeeded to the former from the time of <$10^{\circ}C$ of water temperature. Cyanobacterial species, Aphanizomenon Posaquae and Phormidium sp., which might be transported into the estuary along with the discharged freshwater, occupied high portion of total biomass during Succession Interval III(mid-April to late-May). During this period, freshwater species exclusively dominated over the phytoplankton community except the low concentrations of the co-occurring 2 estuarine diatoms, Cyclotella meneghiniana and Skeletonema costatum. During the 4th Succession Interval when the water temperature was over $18^{\circ}C$, the diatom, Guinardia delicatula, was predominant for a week with the highest dominance of $75\%$ in discrete samples. To summarize, during all the Succession Intervals other than Succession Interval III characterized by the extreme variation of salinity under cooler water temperature than $18^{\circ}C$, the diatoms were the most important dominants for species succession in spring. If the scale and frequency of the freshwater discharge could have been adjusted properly even during the Succession Interval III, the dominant species would quite possibly be replaced by other estuarine diatom species rather than the two freshwater cyanobacteria, Aphanizomenon flosaquae and Phormidium sp.. The scheme of field sampling every other day for the present study was concluded to be the minimal requirement in order to adequately explore the phytoplankton succession in such estuarine environment as in Keum River Estuary: which is stressed by the unpredictable and unavoidable discharges of freshwater under the regular semi-diurnal tide.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.144-150
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• 1997

Purpose : The kidney is one of the most common sites of cyst formation. Cystic diseases of the kidney are a diverse group of clinicopathologic entities and variable prognosis. They span a wide range of both age of presentation and severity of the renal disease. And many of them are systemic disorders, sharing similar process of cyst formation in other organs. Recently, development of imaging studies has been contributing widely to the diagnosis of the diseases. Treatment, however, is not established satisfactorily. We performed this study to evaluate the occurrence and treatment of cystic diseases of the kidney. Methods : We reviewed retrospectively the medical records of 44 patients with cystic diseases of the kidney in the Department of Pediatrics, during last 11 years. Results : In the 44 patients with cystic diseases of the kidney, 31 patients(71%) had multicystic dysplastic kidney and 11(35%) of them received nephrectomy due to differentiation from neoplasms or severe abdominal distension. Seven patients(16%) had polycystic kidney disease, and all of them were infantile type. Five patients(11%) were diagnosed as having a simple renal cysts. Progression to renal failure was noted in none of the cases. In 14(32%) out of total 44 patients, the diagnosis was made in neonatal or infantile pelted. Conclusion : The incidence of cystic diseases of the kidney appeared very low, but further investigation on their pathogenesis, classification, and indication of treatment is needed.