• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.119-128
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to measure the average actual treatment time at the time of Tomotherapy treatment. We want to investigate the time required for the procedure in the treatment process that affects the actual treatment time. Patients and Methods: We measured the time required by the procedure in 31 patients who were treated with tomography therapy. Beam-on time, Image registration time, Set-up with scan time and Actual treatment time were measured and stepwise regression analysis was performed. Result: The average treatment time per a patient was 21.44 - 23.92 minutes. Beam-on time, Image registration time, and Set-up with Scan time were the important factors affecting the actual treatment time. The biggest influence was Beam-on time and Registration time was less affected by analysing. Conclusion: The average treatment time per a patient in tomotherapy treatment was $22.68{\pm}3.37$ minutes. The Approximately 21 patients are expected to be treated within 8 hours of regular work time. However, if the treatment is interrupted or the time of the procedure is changed during the treatment process, it affects the schedule of the daily treatment patients and the workload is expected to increase.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.61-68
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• 2014

Objective: The aim of the present study is to assess the prevalence and related risk factors of suicide ideation among middle and high school students in an urban area. Methods: We surveyed 3,691 middle and high school students (2,159 male, 1,532 female, 11-19 years of age) using a self-report questionnaire that covered basic socio-demographic data, academic achievements, presence of physical or psychiatric illness, sleep duration on weekdays, time spent at private academies on weekdays and weekends, and subjective needs for counseling. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Reynolds' Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire (SIQ) were included in the survey. Results: The prevalence of students with high suicide ideation ($SIQ{\geq}62$) was 4.6%. In a logistic regression model, female sex (p = 0.002), younger age (p < 0.001), poor academic achievement (p = 0.043) and higher score of BDI (p < 0.001) were associated with a higher SIQ score. In addition, younger age (p = 0.045) and a higher BDI score (p < 0.001) were associated with a higher SIQ score adolescents having high suicide ideation ($SIQ{\geq}62$). Conclusion: Related risk factors of suicide ideation in adolescents were female sex, younger age, poor academic achievement, and a depressive mood. It would be especially helpful to pay more attention to younger adolescents and a depressive mood as a high-risk group. The understanding of these factors will be helpful for providing an effective suicide screening and prevention program for adolescents.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.102 no.4
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• pp.543-549
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• 2013

This study was conducted to evaluate age-specific and generalized allometric equations and biomass expansion factors (BEFs) for each tree component across three age-sequence stands (35-year-old, 51-year-old, 62-year-old) of black pine (Pinus thunbergii Parl.) in Jinju, located in the western part of Gyeongnam province, Korea. Biomass in each tree component, i.e. foliage, branch, and stem, was quantified by destructive tree harvesting. Allometric regression equations were significant (P<0.05) with diameter at breast height (DBH) or combination of DBH and height ($DBH^2H$) accounting for 55-98% of the variation (as indicated by coefficients of determination, $R^2$) in aboveground biomass except for foliage biomass of the 62-year-old stand. Generalized allometric equations can be used to estimate the biomass of black pine stands because the slopes of age-specific equations over 35-year-old stands were not significantly different by the age-sequence. The stem density and biomass expansion factor (BEFs) were not significantly different (P>0.05) from different stand ages and ranged from 0.45 to $0.51gcm^{-3}$, and from 1.32 to 1.38, respectively. The results indicate that allometric equations, stem density and aboveground BEFs in the matured black pine over 35-year-old are little influenced by different stand ages.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.249-255
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• 2007

Objectives : The aim of this prospective study is to investigate predictors estimating relapse in Korean alcohol-dependent patients using variables like alcohol history, drinking craving, treatment motivation and insight. Methods : Alcohol dependent patients(N=48) who completed questionnaires about sociodemographic variables and drinking history, Timeline Follow-Back(TLFB), Obsessive-Compulsive Drinking Scale(OCSD), Alcohol Urge Questionnaire(AUQ), Pennsylvania Alcohol Craving Scale(PACS), University of Rhode Island Change Assessment(URICA), Hanil Alcohol Insight Scale(HAIS) were followed-up for 24weeks. Subjects who drank heavily(5 standard drinking or more/day) or were not followed up anymore were classified as the relapse group. We used logistic regression analysis with backward elimination of SPSS PC+11.5 to investigate relapse estimate predictors. Results : Average drinking amount per drinking day for last 1 year and HAIS score were predictors of relapse in alcohol-dependent patients. Conclusions : Our findings suggest that therapist should give more attention to alcohol-dependent patients who had more drinks per drinking day for last 1 year and had lower insight level.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.40-49
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• 2013

Current service system of the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) for blooming date forecasting in spring depends on regression equations derived from long term observations in both temperature and phenology at a given station. This regression based system does not allow a timely correction or update of forecasts that are highly sensitive to fluctuating weather conditions. Furthermore, the system cannot afford plant responses to climate extremes which were not observed before. Most of all, this method may not be applicable to locations other than that which the regression equations were derived from. This note suggests a way to replace the location restricted regression equations with a thermal time based phenology model to complement the KMA blooming forecast system. Necessary parameters such as reference temperature, chilling requirement and heating requirement were derived from phenology data for forsythia, azaleas and Japanese cherry at 29 KMA stations for the 1951-1980 period to optimize spring phenology prediction model for each species. Best fit models for each species were used to predict blooming dates and the results were compared with the observed dates to produce a correction grid across the whole nation. The models were driven by the KMA's daily temperature data at a 5km grid spacing and subsequently adjusted by the correction grid to produce the blooming date maps. Validation with the 1971-2012 period data showed the RMSE of 2-3 days for Japanese cherry, showing a feasibility of operational service; whereas higher RMSE values were observed with forsythia and azaleas.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.9
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• pp.935-938
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• 2005

Purpose : The aim of the present study was to ascertain whether the increase of carotid intima-media thickeness(cIMT) as one of premature pathologic changes of atherosclerosis, was present in obese children compared to normal weight children. Methods : The obese group consisted of 21 obese/overweight(body mass index(BMI) above 85 percentile of age, sex standards) children and the control group of 11 normal weight children. None of the children had any chronic illnesses or previous medication history. We investigated the age, sex, height, weight, and systolic/diastolic blood pressure. We measured cIMT by ultrasonogram. In 19 of the obese group, we tested the serum glucose level, liver transaminase level, and cholesterol level etc. Results : The increase of cIMT in obese group did not achieved statistical significance(obese group vs. control group; 0.42 vs. 0.40 mm, P=0.0592). In addition, cIMT showed no significant correlation with any physical/laboratory variables including BMI(P=0.0585). Conclusion : To our knowledge, this is the first study to measure the cIMT in Korean children. Though the results approached statistical significance, we could not prove an increase of cIMT in obese children or an association between cIMT and BMI, due to the study's small sample size. In the future, larger and more extensive trials are needed.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.256-261
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• 2008

Purpose : Leptin and adiponectin are two representative adipocytokines. Leptin increases, but adiponectin decreases, with obesity and insulin resistance. We aimed to study the relationship between the leptin/adiponectin ratio and insulin resistance in healthy children. Methods : Seventy-seven healthy children (36 boys and 41 girls) were enrolled in this study. Anthropometric measurements were performed, and the percentage of weight for height (%WFH) was calculated in each subject. Fasting plasma levels of glucose, insulin, leptin, adiponectin, testosterone, estradiol, and sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG) were measured. The free androgen index (FAI) was used as a representative of testosterone bioactivity. The homeostasis model assessment was used to estimate the degree of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Results : In the boys, HOMA-IR was significantly correlated with age, pubertal stage, free androgen index (FAI), leptin, and the leptin/adiponectin ratio. HOMA-IR was also significantly related to age, percentage of weight for height (%WFH), pubertal stage, estradiol, leptin, and the leptin/adiponectin ratio in girls. The leptin/adiponectin ratio was independently related to HOMA-IR after adjusting for age, %WFH, and FAI in the boys (P<0.05). The leptin/adiponectin ratio was not independently related to HOMA-IR after adjusting for age, %WFH, and estradiol in girls. Conclusion : In non-obese healthy children, the leptin/adiponectin ratio was significantly correlated with insulin resistance. The leptin/adiponectin ratio was independently related to insulin resistance even after adjusting for age, degree of obesity, and androgen levels in healthy boys.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.91-97
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• 2012

Objectives : With the increase in cancer prevalence, the health behavior of cancer survivors has become an important issue. This study was conducted to examine the psychosocial correlates of behavior changes after cancer diagnosis. Methods : 95 patients completed questionnaires assessing depression, anxiety, insomnia, posttraumatic stress symptoms, social constraints, personal beliefs about cancer cause and health-related behavior changes after cancer diagnosis. Results : In the multiple logistic regression analysis, insomnia was the only significant predictor of positive change in physical behavior : normal sleep group(Odds ratio=9.462, 95% CI 1.738-51.509) and subthreshold insomnia group(Odds ratio=10.529, 95% CI 1.701-65.161) showed a larger increase compared to the insomnia group. In psychosocial behavior, low age, religion and causal belief in hormonal factors were independent factors that predicted increase in positive change. Conclusions : This study showed a difference between predictors of physical and psychosocial health behavior change after breast cancer diagnosis. Multi-faceted approaches are required to promote positive change in health behavior in cancer patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.59 no.6
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• pp.600-605
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• 2005

Background : Primary multidrug-resistant tuberculosis is defined as Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates that are resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampin in never-been-treated tuberculosis patients, and this malady is caused by the transmission of a resistant strain from one patient, who is infected with a resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain, to another patient. The prevalence of primary multidrug-resistant tuberculosis could be a good indicator of the performance of tuberculosis control programs in recent years. We conducted a case-control study to identify the risk factors for primary multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. Methods : From January 1, 2001 to, June 30, 2003, by conducting prospective laboratory-based surveillance, we identified 29 hospitalized patients with P-MDRTB and these patients constituted a case group in this study. The controls were represented by all the patients with culture-confirmed drug susceptible tuberculosis who were admitted to National Masan Hospital during the same study period. The odds ratios for the patients with primary multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, as compared with those of the patients with drug susceptible tuberculosis, were calculated for each categorical variable with 95% confidence intervals. Results : Multivariate logistic regression showed that the presence of diabetes mellitus (odds ratio 2.68; 95% confidence interval, 1.05-6.86) was independently associated with having primary multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. Conclusion : This study has shown that diabetes mellitus might be one of the risk factors for primary multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.55-60
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• 2008

Purpose : The ability to perform chromosome analysis of cryopreserved cord blood mononuclear cells is important for future retrospective studies. We compared the karyotypes of cryopreserved cells with cells before cryopreservation. Methods : One cord blood (CB) sample was obtained from normal healthy volunteer. Karyotype analysis was performed before cryopreservation. After mononuclear cell separation with Ficoll-Hypaque, the mononuclear cells were cryopreserved by programmed controlled-rate freezer and then transferred into the liquid nitrogen ($-196^{\circ}C$) for 3 days. After rapid thawing, cytogenetic analysis was performed as the same method for each sample by different conditions. The samples were divided by three groups. The first group was no culture before cryopreservation, the second group was 72 hours culture before cryopreservation, but no 24 hours culture after thawing and the third group was 72 hours culture before cryopreservation and 24 hours culture after thawing. Results : The chromosome analysis was successful in the second and third groups of CB sample. Conclusion : The successful result from CB samples may suggest the usefulness of long-term cryopreservation for retrospective study in various clinical settings including hematologic malignancies.