• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.40-47
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• 2000

Purpose: Renal involvement is the most important prognostic factor of HSP. Therefore, the pathogenesis and prognostic factors in renal involvement have been studied by many researchers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical risk factors and the role of TNF-$\alpha$ in renal involvement of HS purpura. Methods: The subjects of this study were 12 patients of HS purpura, 7 patients of HS nephritis, and 5 age-matched controls. We have analysed the rist factors for renal involvement in clinical symptoms and collected the sera and urines of all subjects in acute and convalescent stage. The concentration of TNF-$\alpha$ in the collected sera and urines were measured by sandwich ELISA and compared with that of age-matched controls. Results: Statistical analysis showed that persistent purpura increased the risk of developing renal involvement (P=0.0018). and serum TNF-$\alpha$ levels in the acute stage of patients with renal involvement($11.45{\pm}7.01$ pg/ml) were significantly higher than those of without renal involvement($6.32{\pm}1.31$pg/m1) and of age-matched controls($5.99{\pm}1.34$pg/m1)(P=0.012, 0.027, respectively). However, urine TNF-$\alpha$ levels have no correlation with renal involvement. On investigation of serum TNF-$\alpha$ levels in acute stage of HS purpura, persistent purpura had a significantly higher increase(P=0.038). Conclusion: Serum concentration of TNF-$\alpha$ is a risk factor and has a predictable value along with clinical risk factors, such as, persistent purpura for renal involvement in HS purpura. Also, the effectiveness of the specific treatment fur antagonizing TNF-$\alpha$ in HS nephritis may need further study.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.26-33
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• 2007

[ $\underline{Purpose}$ ]: The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the incidence and aspects of myocardial perfusion defects in patients who were subjected to either two-dimensional or three-dimensional simulation techniques for early left-sided breast cancer. The myocardial perfusion defects were determined from using single photon emitted computerized tomography (SPECT) myocardial perfusion images. $\underline{Materials\;and\;Methods}$: Between January 2002 and August 2003, 32 patients were enrolled in this study. The patients were diagnosed as having early (AJCC stage T1-T2N0M0) left-sided breast cancer and were treated with tangential irradiation after breast-conserving surgery and systemic chemotherapy. The patients were divided into two groups according to the type of simulation received: two-dimensional simulation using an X-ray fluoroscope simulator or three-dimensional simulation with a CT simulator. All patients underwent technetium-99m-sestamibi gated perfusion SPECT at least 3 years after radiotherapy. The incidence and area of myocardial perfusion defects were evaluated and were compared in the two groups, and at the same time left ventricular ejection fraction and cardiac wall motion were also analyzed. The cardiac volume included in the radiation fields was calculated and evaluated to check for a correlation between the amount of irradiated cardiac volume and aspects of myocardial perfusion defects. $\underline{Results}$: A myocardial perfusion defect was detected in 11 of 32 patients (34.4%). There were 7 (46.7%) perfusion defect cases in 15 patients who underwent the two-dimensional simulation technique and 4 (23.5%) patients with perfusion defects in the three-dimensional simulation group (p=0.0312). In 10 of 11 patients who had myocardial perfusion changes, the perfusion defects were observed in the cardiac apex. The left ventricular ejection fraction was within the normal range and cardiac wall motion was normal in all patients. The irradiated cardiac volume of patients in the three-dimensional simulation group was less than that of patients who received the two-dimensional simulation technique, but there was no statistical significance as compared to the incidence of perfusion defects. $\underline{Conclusion}$: Radiotherapy with a CT simulator (three-dimensional simulation technique) for early left-sided breast cancer may reduce the size of the irradiated cardiac volume and the incidence of myocardial perfusion defects. Further investigation and a longer follow-up duration are needed to analyze the relationship between myocardial perfusion defects and clinical ischemic heart disease.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.188-195
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• 2011

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the polymerization shrinkage stress among conventional methacrylate-based composite resins and a silorane-based composite resin. Materials and Methods: The strain gauge method was used for the determination of polymerization shrinkage strain. Specimens were divided by 3 groups according to various composite materials. Filtek Z-250 (3M ESPE) and Filtek P-60 (3M ESPE) were used as a conventional methacrylate-based composites and Filtek P-90 (3M ESPE) was used as a silorane-based composites. Measurements were recorded at each 1 second for the total of 800 seconds including the periods of light application. The results of polymerization shrinkage stress were statistically analyzed using One way ANOVA and Tukey test (p = 0.05). Results: The polymerization shrinkage stress of a silorane-based composite resin was lower than those of conventional methacrylate-based composite resins (p < 0.05). The shrinkage stress between methacrylate-based composite resin groups did not show significant difference (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Within the limitation of this study, silorane-based composites showed lower polymerization shrinkage stress than methacrylate-based composites. We need to investigate more into polymerization shrinkage stress with regard to elastic modulus of silorane-based composites for the precise result.

• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.185-205
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• 2010

Climate change vulnerability assessment based on local conditions is a prerequisite for establishment of climate change adaptation policies. While some studies have developed a methodology for vulnerability assessment at the national level using statistical data, few attempts, whether domestic or overseas, have been made to develop methods for local vulnerability assessments that are easily applicable to a single city. Accordingly, the objective of this study was to develop a conceptual framework for climate change vulnerability, and then develop a general methodology for assessment at the regional level applied to a single coastal city, Mokpo, in Jeolla province, Korea. We followed the conceptual framework of climate change vulnerability proposed by the IPCC (1996) which consists of "climate exposure," "systemic sensitivity," and "systemic adaptive capacity." "Climate exposure" was designated as sea level rises of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 meter(s), allowing for a simple scenario for sea level rises. Should more complex forecasts of sea level rises be required later, the methodology developed herein can be easily scaled and transferred to other projects. Mokpo was chosen as a seaside city on the southwest coast of Korea, where all cities have experienced rising sea levels. Mokpo has experienced the largest sea level increases of all, and is a region where abnormal high tide events have become a significant threat; especially subsequent to the construction of an estuary dam and breakwaters. Sensitivity to sea level rises was measured by the percentage of flooded area for each administrative region within Mokpo evaluated via simulations using GIS techniques. Population density, particularly that of senior citizens, was also factored in. Adaptive capacity was considered from both the "hardware" and "software" aspects. "Hardware" adaptive capacity was incorporated by considering the presence (or lack thereof) of breakwaters and seawalls, as well as their height. "Software" adaptive capacity was measured using a survey method. The survey questionnaire included economic status, awareness of climate change impact and adaptation, governance, and policy, and was distributed to 75 governmental officials working for Mokpo. Vulnerability to sea level rises was assessed by subtracting adaptive capacity from the sensitivity index. Application of the methodology to Mokpo indicated vulnerability was high for seven out of 20 administrative districts. The results of our methodology provides significant policy implications for the development of climate change adaptation policy as follows: 1) regions with high priority for climate change adaptation measures can be selected through a correlation diagram between vulnerabilities and records of previous flood damage, and 2) after review of existing short, mid, and long-term plans or projects in high priority areas, appropriate adaptation measures can be taken as per this study. Future studies should focus on expanding analysis of climate change exposure from sea level rises to other adverse climate related events, including heat waves, torrential rain, and drought etc.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.184-192
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• 2009

Background: Although complications from transfusion are known to happen, transfusion is performed during most open heart surgeries. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of performing cardiac surgery without allogenic blood transfusion. Material and Method: Between January to August 2007, 44 consecutive patients who underwent open heart surgery with using various blood conservation methods were retrospectively enrolled. They were divided into group I (the onpump group, n=17) and group II (the offpump group, n=27). The blood conservation methods were intraoperative autologous donation, cell saver, retrograde autologous priming, conventional ultrafiltration and modified ultrafiltration. Antianemic agents were administered to all the patients postoperatively. We analyzed the possibility of bloodless operations, the causes of homologous transfusion, the serial change of the hematocrit and the postoperative chest tube drainage, and we compared the results between the two groups. If comparison between the two groups was not reasonable, then we compared two groups with the individual control groups I and II (49 patients) in 2006. Result: 40 (90.9%) of 44 patients were successfully operated on without transfusion and the success rate was 88.2% (15/17) for group I and 92.6% (25/27) for group II. There was no statistical difference between the two groups (p=NS). The causes of transfusion were 2 cases of postoperative bleedings, 1 case of intraoperative bleeding and 1 mistake of the indication for transfusion. There was no statistical difference of the total chest tube drainage (Group I: $417{\pm}359mL$, Group II: $451{\pm}237mL$) (p=NS), but the total chest tube drainages of the two groups were less than each of the control groups 1 and II (p<0.05). The lowest hematocrit level of Group I was $16.4{\pm}2%$, and this occurred just after infusion of cardioplegics and the hematocrits of both groups were recovered to the preoperative level at 2 months postoperatively. Conclusion: In this study, bloodless open heart surgery could be performed in 90.9% of the patients with intraoperative autologous donation, cell saver, retrograde autologous priming, conventional ultrafiltration and modified ultrafiltration. A combination of various blood conservation methods is the most important and bloodless cardiac surgery could be performed with meticulous bleeding control and strictly following the transfusion indications.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.46-55
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• 2017

Objectives : Outpatient treatment orders refer to a mandatory social program in which mentally ill persons are ordered by the court to participate in specified outpatient treatment programs. This study aimed to investigate the factors that affect outpatient treatment orders and adherence to outpatient treatment in mental health patients. Methods : A survey on outpatient treatment orders and adherence to outpatient treatment was conducted on 60 psychiatrists between October and November 2016. The questionnaire items were drafted based on a literature review, and they were then evaluated by 3 psychiatrists and 1 law school professor before being finalized. Answers from the respondents were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and the median, maximum, and minimum values of the effectiveness scores of outpatient treatment orders were calculated. Results : Among the 60 psychiatrists, 45(75.0%) were aware of outpatient treatment orders; however, only 2 out of the 45(4.0%) had actually used the program in the last 12 months. The subjective effectiveness was very low, with only 40 points out of 100. Furthermore, of the readmitted patients, 37.7% had received continued outpatient treatment, whereas 53.1% chose to quit the outpatient treatment programs, meaning that the number of dropouts was higher. Among the discharged patients, approximately two-thirds were receiving continued treatment. With regard to follow-up for dropouts, majority of the responses were either "Not taking any action"(n=27) or "Not following up"(n=15). Only two respondents answered "Contact the community mental health promotion center," meaning that this response was very rare. Meanwhile, when asked about efficient measures to be implemented for dropouts, a vast majority of the respondents(n=30) selected the answer "Work with the community mental health promotion center." Conclusions : The outpatient treatment orders currently being administered were found to be ineffective, and the associated adherence to outpatient treatment was also found to be extremely poor. Hence, the effectiveness of the therapeutic interventions could benefit from institutional as well as administrative improvements. Community mental health promotion centers are expected to have an important role in the future.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.11-21
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• 2016

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze the difference in tear film stability according to the wearing time when wearing clear and circle soft contact lens(circle lens) made of same material. Methods: The clear and circle contact lenses of hilafilcon B and nelfilcon A materials were respectively applied on the subjects classified as normal and dry eyes depending on their tear volume, and their tear film stability was investigated by measuring the non-invasive tear film break-up times, lens centration and the first appearing area of tear breakup after 30 mins and 6 hrs of lens wearing. Results: Non-invasive tear film breakup time significantly reduced with increase of the wearing time for normal and dry eyes when wearing clear and circle contact lenses. The starting ratio of tear film break-up was higher at the peripheral area of clear and circle lenses in all two different materials, and higher at the peripheral area of dry eyes than normal eyes. Starting ratio of tear film break-up was higher at the peripheral area of nelfilcon A lenses compared with hilafilcon B lenses, however, its change with the increase of wearing time showed a different aspect. The number of tear film break-up per unit area when wearing circle lenses of nelfilcon A increased at the central area with the wearing time while its number was higher at the peripheral area when wearing circle lenses of hilafilcon B. The centration of clear lenses made of two materials was closer to pupil compared to circle lenses with the increase of wearing time, however, a larger decentration was shown in dry eyes compared with normal eyes. Conclusions: The research revealed that an effect on tear film stability may be changed by clear lenses as well as circle lenses with coloring process according to the increase of wearing time, and the factors affecting on tear film stability may also vary depending on lens materials. Thus, the appropriate lenses should be selected by the consideration of lens material as well as coloring method/dyes according to the wearers' habit such as daily wearing time and wearing period when trying to wear clear and circle lenses.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.712-718
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• 2002

Purpose : Infantile colic is one of the most commonly encountered problems, characterized by excessive crying in apparently healthy young infants within the first 3 months of life. It is commonly assumed that the infant with colic has distress and possible pain. In recent investigations, it has been found that sucrose has an analgesic effect in newborn infants. The purpose of this study is to examine if sugar solution as sucrose also has an analgesic effect on infant colic. Methods : This prospective randomized, double-blind placebo controlled study examined healthy term infants aged 4 to 12 weeks with colic. A total of 40 infants were randomly assigned into two groups who visited Daedong Hospital from June 1999 to June 2001. Each group received sugar solution or sterile water. All data from parental diaries and interviews were recorded and analysed blindly. Results : The daily crying time and the colic improvement score were significantly better in sugar solution group as compared with the control(P=0.019, 0.045). No significant differences were noted between groups regarding the number of night wakenings(P=0.173). Conclusion : We conclude that sugar solution has an analgesic effect on infantile colic.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.7
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• pp.554-564
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to assist farmers in determining the optimal time for the shipment of stored apples by investigating the market trends, storage status and release dates of low-temperature stored apples. We surveyed 300 apple cultivation farms in Daegu, Gyeongbuk Province, which is the main producer of apples, and examined the cultivars, cultivation areas, storage conditions, and shipment status of apples. The main results are as follows: the proportion of apples cultivatedat different ripening times was surveyed. According to the results, the proportions of early, middle and late varieties were 78.3%, 63.7% and 96.0%, respectively. Also, 48.7% of the farm households surveyed had cold storage facilities. The average storage cost per apple box(15kg) was 978.3 won for self-storage and 1,771.8 won for consignment storage. For the six(6) months between November and April, the proportion of shipped apples was 91.6% of the total stored apples. The (average total?)annual apple shipment, including apples stored in general storage warehouses, was 744.4 boxes. The (average total?) annual shipment of cold storage apples was 616 boxes. The stored apples were mainly shipped to 'wholesale markets', which have the highest sales share, followed by 'production site collectors' and then 'supermarkets'. The most common shipping method of the apples was by general trucks, followed by low-temperature trucks, and finally by delivery services. The analysis of the factors influencing the decision to release apples by period showed that it was affected by the storage cost, loss rate, and customary shipping in the off-season(from May to August). On the other hand, in the general release season(from November to April), the statistically significant decision factors for the release of apples were the future expected price, storage cost and decision of the leading farmer groups. For farmers with a high share of general shipment, the deciding factors for the release of apples were the future expected price, storage cost, high income expectation, and decision by leading farmers.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.321-331
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• 2017

This study was conducted to identify communication types of nurses, satisfaction with nursing services and intent to revisit the hospital by hospitalized patients, and to investigate factors influencing intent to revisit the hospital at a time of expansion of comprehensive nursing care service. The subjects consisted of 123 hospitalized patients in sixgeneral hospitals with more than 100 beds in Gyeongsangnam-do. Data were collected by a self-report questionnaire from July 1 to July 30, 2017. The collected data were analyzed by t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and hierarchical regression. There were significant differences in intend to revisit the hospital depending on age(F=9.83, p<0.001), gender(t=-3.82, p<0.001), marital status(t=2.24, p=0.028), education(F=11.92, p<0.001) and days of hospitalization(F=7.81, p<0.001). Intent to revisit the hospital indicated a significantly positive correlation between informative(r=0.609, p<0.001) and affiliative(r=0.536, p<0.001) communication types and satisfaction with nursing services(r=7.97, p<0.001), as well as a significantly negative correlation with authoritative communication types(r=-0.356, p<0.001). Factors influencing intent to revisit the hospital were informational communication type(${\beta}=0.38$, p=0.003) and satisfaction with nursing services(${\beta}=0.84$, p<0.001). Based on these findings, it is necessary to develop various educational programs and conduct systematic education to facilitate effective communication between nurses and patients in order to improve the quality of nursing service and satisfaction of patients admitted to comprehensive nursing care services.