• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.215-221
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• 2009

Purpose : Thymus is a lymphoproliferative organ that changes size in various physiological states in addition to some pathological conditions. Thymus is susceptible to involution, and shows a dramatic response to severe stress. Thymic measurements may be helpful in various diseases. UTI (urinary tract infection) is most common bacterial infection in infants and VUR (vesicoureteral reflux) is a common abnormality associated with UTI. In our study, the size of thymus was compared on the premise that a greater stress is exerted on the body when UTI is accompanied by VUR, than when occurs on its own. Methods : Thymic size was measured on standard chest anteroposterior radiographs and expressed as the ratio between the transverse diameter of the cardiothymic image at the level of the carina and that of the thorax (CT/T). The medical records of 99 febrile urinary tract infection infants without other genitourinary anomalies except VUR were reviewed retrospectively. Results : Among 99 patients with febrile UTIs, 25 were febrile UTI without VUR and 74 with VUR. For the UTI with VUR group, there was a significant decrease in the thymic size compared to the those without VUR group ($0.382{\pm}0.048$ vs $0.439{\pm}0.079$, P<0.05). However, there were no differences in the duration of fever and WBC, CRP between the UTI with VUR and UTI without VUR. In addition, there were no differences in the cardiothymic/thoracic ratios between renal defects and renal scars in febrile UTI patients. Conclusion : The results of this study show that the shirinkage of thymus was more frequently found in the UTI patients with VUR. Therefore, awareness of the risks associated with thymic size is important for the appropriate work up and management of UTI patients.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.28-36
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• 2001

Objectives : This study was undertaken to identify the clinical and psychological characteristics in patients of mental disability assessment following traumatic brain injury who had the finding with or without abnormal brain imaging study. Methods : A consecutive series of 59 patients were assessed in hospital from January 1994 to December 1998. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on normal or abnormal brain imaging and the two groups were compared in demographic characteristics, psychiatric symptoms, type of head injury, clinical psychological findings. There were 27 patients with abnormal findings and 32 with normal findings in brain imaging study. Results : Abnormal finding group in brain imaging study had significantly higher incidence of psychosis, decreased memory, decreased appetite, increased nihilistic idea, and intracranial hemorrhage. Also, abnormal finding group showed significantly lower level of performance on the block design subtest of K-WAIS and had significantly lower scores on F, hypochodriasis, depression, hysteria, psychopathic deviate, psychasthenia and schizophrenia subscale of the MMPI. Conclusion : The findings suggest that the patients undergone brain surgery due to intracranial hemorrage at that time of brain injury may have higher frequency of abnormal findings in brain imaging study, complain more cognitive and affective symptoms, and have lower the abstract concept formation and perceptual organization abilities.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.7
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• pp.711-715
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• 2005

Purpose : With the recent improved survival of extremely low birth weight infants(ELBWI), enteral feeding has become a major issue. This study investigates the effects of early enteral feeding in ELBWI on their morbidity, duration of hospitalization, and mortality. Methods : ELBWI admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at Samsung Medical Center from November 1994 to April 2004 who survived more than 14 days were enrolled. ELBWI were divided into two groups : an early feeding group(EF), in which enteral feeding was started within 3 days after birth; and a late feeding group(LF), in which enteral feeding was started beyond 3 days after birth. 80 ELBWI came under EF, and 131 ELBWI under LF. Results : Birth weight and gestational age did not differ between the two groups. In EF, the time to achieve full enteral feeding and the duration of parenteral nutrition were significantly shorter than in LF. The incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia was significantly lower in EF, but the incidences of sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis, and cholestasis were not different between the two groups. There was no difference in the survival rate between the two groups, but the duration of hospitalization was significantly shorter in EF. Conclusion : Early enteral feeding in ELBWI did not increase the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis and sepsis, but rather decreased the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia and shortened the duration of hospitalization.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.599-605
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• 2005

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to examine the causes, clinical courses and outcomes in children with acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS), and evaluate the physiologic variables as prognostic factors in the patients. Methods : Retrograde medical chart review was carried out in 24 patients who were diagnosed with ARDS at the pediatric intensive care unit(PICU) during 20-month period. Results : The incidence of ARDS among all PICU admission was 3.7 percent and the mortality rate was 37.5 percent, which was 14.8 percent of overall deaths in PICU. The most common causes of ARDS were pneumonia and sepsis. We found significant differences between survivors and nonsurvivors in $PaO_2/FiO_2$ ratio(P/F ratio), alveolar arterial oxygen gradient and oxygenation index(OI) on the second day from the onset of ARDS. Therapies for ARDS such as high frequency oscillator ventilation(HFOV), recruitment maneuver and low dose corticosteroid improved the P/F ratio and OI, especially in survivors. Conclusion : The mortality rate of children with ARDS was 37.5 percent; an important cause of death in PICU. HFOV, recruitment maneuver and low dose corticosteroid seemed to be effective in pediatric ARDS. The P/F ratio, alveolar arterial oxygen gradient and OI on the second day from the onset of ARDS may be useful as prognostic factors.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.250-256
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• 2002

The objective was to know if chinese cabbage growers in Gangwon alpine farmland control agricultural pests including weeds effectively and use pesticide properly. Examiners visited 185 farmers at Taebaek, Pyongchang, and Jeongseon and surveyed 33 questions on pest control methods pesticide use. Chinese cabbage farmers have noxious plant diseases such as clubroot, bacterial soft rot, downy mildew, anthracnose, and mosaic disease, and also noxious insects such as diamondback moth, aphid, beet armyworm, common cabbage worm, and Japanese native slug. In addition, farmers have noxious weeds such as common chickweed, marsh pepper, hairy crabgrass, common purslane, and horseweed. To control diseases and insects, 51.3% of farmers used many chemical agents, while 20.7% of farmers used chemical agents with too much emphasis on paraquat and glyphosate to control weeds: 87.2% of the answered farmers have a preference of the both non-selective herbicides. Farmers in the survey area selected pesticides on the basis of their own experience and sales managers' recommendation (84.2%) which results in the use of inappropriate pesticides such diniconazole. Many farmers have experienced phytotoxicities (46.7%) and pesticide poisoning (51.2%). We conclude that a systematic educational program for the proper selection and use of pesticides should be conducted for chinese cabbage growers in Gangwon alpine farmland.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.277-283
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• 2003

Purpose : Craniopharyngiomas are often accompanied by severe endocrine disorders. Although there is universal growth hormone deficiency(GHD), the resulting growth pattern is very heterogeneous. We report the growth and endocrine outcome of 44 children with craniopharyngioma, with emphasis on initial symptoms, growth before and during growth hormone(GH) treatment and spontaneous growth in spite of GHD. Methods : We performed a retrospective study of 44 children treated at our centre between 1984 and 2002. Results : About 30% of patients had symptoms suggesting endocrine disorder at diagnosis. After surgery, multiple endocrinopathies were almost universal. Before GH therapy, height velocity was $8.00{\pm}2.71cm/yr$ in the normal growth group(n=11) and $1.79{\pm}1.10cm/yr$ in the subnormal growth group(n=7) during the first year and during the second year, $6.76{\pm}2.49cm/yr$ and $2.29{\pm}1.33cm/yr$, respectively. There was no difference of body mass index(BMI) change between before and after surgery in the two groups. Height standard deviation score(SDS) was $-1.46{\pm}0.74$ in the normal growth group and $-0.43{\pm}0.97$ in the subnormal growth group. Before GH treatment height SDS was $-1.31{\pm}1.25$ and BMI was $20.46{\pm}3.60$. During GH treatment, height SDS increased to $-0.60{\pm}1.37$ in the first, and to $-0.41{\pm}1.54$ in the second year(P<0.05), but BMI did not change significantly. Conclusion : The endocrine morbidity could develop in most children with craniopharyngioma before and after the operation and should be managed properly. Although all treated patients benefit from GH therapy, further studies are necessary to find out the possible mechanism of growth regulation in normally growing children, despite GH deficient.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.102-107
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• 1998

The objective was to know if seed potato farmers in Kangwon alpine area control weeds effectively and use herbicides properly to control weeds. Seed potato farmers in Pyongcbang, Hoengsong, and Kangnung have noxious weeds, such as marsh pepper, lambsquarters, barnyard grass, mugwort, asiatic dayflower, hairy carbgrass, ladysthumb, common chickweed, field horsetail, and common purslain, in their farmyard. These are controlled by a combination of physical and chemical weed control methods. However, several weeds such as marsh pepper, field horsetail and, mugwort are poorly controlled by 2-fold amount of several herbicides, including paraquat, pendimethalin, and metribuzin (58% of the answered). Herbicides are not selected and used in a proper manner by seed potato farmers: most of farmers selected herbicides by their experience (51% of the answered) and dealers recommendation (34% of the answered), while only a few farmers of the answered took advantage of the Farmers Handbook for Herbicide Application. In addition, the selected herbicides, including non-registered ones such as paraquat and fluazifop-butyl, are applying three to five years in a succession. With these improper selection and usage of herbicides, sixty-seven percent of the answered farmers have experienced crop damage and seventy-five percent have poisoning. We conclude that a systemic educational program for the proper selection and use of herbicides is needed for seed potato farmers in Kangwon alpine area.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.54-59
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• 1999

The objective was to know if corn growers at Hongchcel County, Kangwon-do, where corn is the major agricultural product, control weeds effectively and use herbicides properly to control weeds. Sixty-eight corn growers at Hongchon were participated in this survey. Corn growers have noxious weeds, such as hairy carbgrass, common purslane, lambsquarters, Asiatic dayflower, mugwort and barnyard grass in their corn fields. Forty-four percents of the answered corn growers control weeds by hand weeding, and the others by a combination of physical and chemical methods. Corn growers have a preference of paraquat and alachlor for a pre-emergence treatment (94% of the answered) and of paraquat, glufosinate, glyphosate and fluazifop-P-butyl for a post-emergence treatment (87% of the answered). Corn growers did not select and use herbicides in a proper manner. fifty-four percent of the answered corn fevers selected herbicides by their own experience and 18 percent by neighbors recommendation. Herbicides were not selected and used in a proper manner by corn growers: 54 percent of the answered selected herbicides by the experience of growers and 18 percent by the recommendation of neighbors. In addition, a half of the answered applied over two-fold higher amounts of herbicides than the recommended rate. With these improper- selection and use of herbicides, 37 percent of the answered have experienced the crop damage and 42 percent the herbicide poisoning. We conclude that the development of the educational program for the proper selection and use of herbicides is needed for corn growers in Kangwon-do.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.129-136
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• 1996

Purpose : To evaluate the effectiveness and tolerance of patients of external beam radiotherapy for carcinoma of the extrahepatic biliary system (EHBS) including gall bladder (GB) and extrahepatic bile ducts (EHBD) and to define the role of radiotherapy for these tumors. Methods and Materials : We retrospectively analyzed the records of 43 patients with carcinoma of the EHBS treated with external beam radiotherapy at our institution between April, 1986 and Julr, 1994. Twenty three patients had GB cancers and remaining 20 patients did EHBD cancers. Of those 23 GB cancers, 2 had Stage II, 12 did Stage III and 9 did Stage IV disease, respectively. Male to female ratio was 11 to 12. Fifteen patients underwent radical surgery with curative intent and 8 patients did biopsy and bypass surgery alone All of the patients except for 3 patients were treated with 4500 cGy or higher doses postoperatively Follow up periods ranged from 11 to 82 months. Of those 20 EHBD cancers, one had Stage I, 2 did Stage II, 10 did Stage III and 7 did Stage IV disease, respectively. Male to female ratio was 16 to 4 Sixteen patients underwent Whipple's procedure or resection and drainage with curative aim and remaining 4 patients did bypass surgery alone Postoperatively 16 patients were irradiated with 4500 cGy or higher doses and 4 patients with 3180 to 4140 cGy Follow up periods ranged from 8 to 34 months. Results : Overall median survival time of patients with GB cancer was 11 months. Median survival time for Patients with Stage III and IV disease were 14 months and 5 months, respectively. Corresponding two rear survival rates were $36\%$(4/11) and $13\%$(1/8), respectively Those who underwent surgery with curative intent showed significantly better survival at 12 months than those who underwent bypass surgery alone($67\%$ vs $13\%$). None of the patients died of treatment related complications Median survival time for entire group of 20 EHBD patients was 10 months Median survivals of 10 Stage III and 7 Stage IV disease were 10 and 8 months, respectively. Two patients who underwent Whipple's procedure had 11 and 14 month survival and those treated with resection and drainage showed median survival of 10 month. Conclusion : Postoperative external beam radiotherapy for carcinoma of the extrahepatic biliary system is well tolerated and might improve survival of patients, especially those with resectable lesions with microscopic or gross residual disease after surgery.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.182-186
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• 2000

Purpose : To determine treatment or이ecol for inoperable esophageal cancer patients, 껜e evaluated survival rate and prognostic factors. Materials and Methods : We evaluated esophageal cancer treated by curative or palliative am in KCCH from 1992 to 1996, retrospectively. Recurrent or underdose case below 40 Gy were excluded. The number of male and female were 35 and 5, respectively. Thirty-eight patients were squamous carcinoma and 2 patients were not biopsy proven. Ten patients were treated with radiation therapy and chemotherapy Median dose of radiation therapy was 59.4 Gy and the range was $40\~60$ Gy. Results : The median survival is 6.5 months and 1-year survival rate was $28.3\%$. Age, location, radiation dose and chemotherapy were not significant prognostic factors. Median survivals of patients with below stage III and over stage IVA were 7.6 and 6.2 months respectively, but it is not significant. Conclusions : The survival for esophageal cancer is very poor. For patients with curative aim, chemotherapy must be considered. For patients with palliative aim, short-term external beam radiation therapy and/or brachytherapy must be considered.