• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.117-124
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• 2017

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of changes in degrees of freedom of the fingers (i.e., the number of the fingers involved in tasks) on the task performance during force production and releasing task. Method: Eight right-handed young men (age: $29.63{\pm}3.02yr$, height: $1.73{\pm}0.04m$, weight: $70.25{\pm}9.05kg$) participated in this study. The subjects were required to press the transducers with three combinations of fingers, including the index-middle (IM), index-middle-ring (IMR), and index-middle-ring-little (IMRL). During the trials, they were instructed to maintain a steady-state level of both normal and tangential forces within the first 5 sec. After the first 5 sec, the subjects were instructed to release the fingers on the transducers as quickly as possible at a self-selected manner within the next 5 sec, resulting in zero force at the end. Customized MATLAB codes (MathWorks Inc., Natick, MA, USA) were written for data analysis. The following variables were quantified: 1) finger force sharing pattern, 2) root mean square error (RMSE) of force to the target force in three axes at the aiming phase, 3) the time duration of the release phase (release time), and 4) the accuracy and precision indexes of the virtual firing position. Results: The RMSE was decreased with the number of fingers increased in both normal and tangential forces at the steady-state phase. The precision index was smaller (more precise) in the IMR condition than in the IM condition, while no significant difference in the accuracy index was observed between the conditions. In addition, no significant difference in release time was found between the conditions. Conclusion: The study provides evidence that the increased number of fingers resulted in better error compensation at the aiming phase and performed a more constant shooting (i.e., smaller precision index). However, the increased number of fingers did not affect the release time, which may influence the consistency of terminal performance. Thus, the number of fingers led to positive results for the current task.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.88 no.4
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• pp.429-437
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• 1999

Heavy metals(Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) in tree rings of P. thunbergii growing at Onsan Industrial Complex of air polluted area were analyzed to study the condition of heavy metal pollution. The tree ring width began to decrease after operation of factories and decreased abruptly at Onsan Industrial Complex after 1991. Cd contents in tree rings showed 119.4ppb to 867.0ppb level and suddenly increased after 1991. Cu contents showed 309.5ppb to 3686.8ppb, and Pb contents 911.33ppb to 7997.1ppb and fluctuations of those were high after operation of factories. Zn contents showed the highest level of 3528.7ppb to 23826.7ppb and largely ascended after 1960, and increased suddenly after 1992, as compared to former tendency. On the other hand, heavy metal contents in tree rings of P. thunbergii at Gosung of non-air polluted area were far lower than Onsan I. C., and there was a wide difference between both areas after 1990. On the heavy metal contents accumulated in bark of P. thunbergii of both areas, it was higher to 10 times in Cd, 1,000 times in Cu, 285 times in Pb and 133 times in Zn contents at Onsan than at Gosung. In the heavy metal analysis for circle plate and cores, heavy metal contents in cores were generally higher than those in disk and Pb contents showed specially high difference, but pattern of variation by tree age showed a similar tendency.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.112 no.4
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• pp.554-560
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• 2023

To prevent illegal timber distribution, DNA markers have been used to identify the species and origin. However, extracting high-quality DNA from timber is difficult because of its physical and chemical properties. In this study, we investigated whether the age of timber tissue influences the yield of DNA extraction and the success rate of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to understand the relationship between the establishment time of the wood annual ring and the extracted DNA concentration (ng/μl), purity (A260/A280), and PCR success rate (%) from pinewood, a major Korean domestic species. According to the results, it was observed that as the distance from the cambium increased, indicating that the tissue was older, the concentration and purity of the extracted DNA decreased significantly. For the trnM-trnV (285 bp) and rpoC1 (298 bp) regions, the PCR success rate was 100%. However, for the rbcL (1.3 kb) region, the PCR success rate was 66.67%. Moreover, PCR amplification of the rbcL region failed at all points older than 30 years. Thus, it is deduced that as time passes, along with the decay of timber cells, DNA is degraded, leading to a decrease in DNA concentration, purity, and PCR success rate. The results of this study are expected to be beneficial for future applications, such as the species identification of timber, providing valuable insights and potential utilization in this field.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.320-328
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• 2008

Background: Numerous surgical devices for mitral repair have been used in the past with good results. In this study we describe a simple annuloplasty technique with using a new device ($Mitracon^{(R)}$). The aim of this study was to assess its efficacy and surgical results with using $Mitracon^{(R)}$. Material and Method: From May 2003 to October 2005, 46 patients (21 women and 25 men (mean age of $51.4{\pm}17.8$ years) with mitral regurgitation from various causes were treated with either the $Mitracon^{(R)}$ (the $Mitracon^{(R)}$ group) or the Capentier Edward rigid ring (the CE group). The median follow-up duration was 18.9 months. Result: The mean grade of mitral regurgitation before and immediately after surgery in the $Mitracon^{(R)}$ group and the CE group decreased from $3.2{\pm}0.8$ to $0.6{\pm}0.7$ and $3.4{\pm}0.7$ to $0.3{\pm}0.5$, respectively. There were no significant changes in the ejection fraction either between the two groups or before and immediately after surgery. No deaths were seen in either group. Early postoperative echocardiography of all 46 patients showed only trivial mitral regurgitation or none at all. Echocardiography at a median of 18.9 months also showed no progression in mitral regurgitation. The mean grade of mitral regurgitation in the $Mitracon^{(R)}$ group at this time point decreased from $3.2{\pm}0.8$ to $0.8{\pm}0.7$ (p<0.05). The CE group also showed a similar degree of decrease from $3.4{\pm}0.7$ to $0.3{\pm}0.6$ (p<0.05). The mitral valve area in the $Mitracon^{(R)}$ group at 1 year follow-up was $3.3{\pm}0.9cm^2$. The mitral valve area in the CE group was $2.7{\pm}0.6cm^2$. The mean mitral pressure gradient in the $Mitracon^{(R)}$ group at 1 year follow-up was $3.1{\pm}1.3$ mmHg. The mean pressure gradient in the CE group was $4.5{\pm}2.1$ mmHg, although any statistical significant difference for this between the groups was not reached. Conclusion: The present study showed the described technique to be safe and effective in the intermediate term. Because long term results are unavailable, a more extensive prospective randomized multicenter trial may be warranted to determine whether this procedure should be generally applied for repair of mitral valve disease.

• Proceedings of the KOR-BRONCHOESO Conference
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• 1976.06a
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• pp.87.4-88
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• 1976

The statistcal study was done on 81 cases of the foreign bodies in the food passages (73 cases) and air passages (8 cases), who had visited the Dept. of Otolaryngology of Kyung Hee Medical Center and treated endoscopically, from Nov. 1971 to Mar 1976. The results were as follows, 1) The incidence of esophageal foreign bodies (73 cases) in order of frequency was coin (61 cases; 83.6%), bone (6 cases; 8.2%), food particles (3 cases; 4.1%), discs (2 cases), and other metals (l case). The incidence of foreign bodies in the air passages (8 cases) was food particles (3 cases; 37.5%), pointed metal (2 cases; 25%), plastic pencil cap (l case), plastic ring (1 case), and wood piece (1 case) in order. 2) In sex distribution, 51 cases (62.9%) were males and 30 cases (37.1%) were females, and the ratio between males and females was about 1.7 : 1.3. In the age incidence, 69 cases (82.5%) of all foreign bodies were under 5 years of age, and especially, coin cases were 59 cases (96.7%) and the highest was 8 years of age, lowest was 11 months of age. 7 cases (87.5%) of all airway foreign bodies were under 10 years of age. 4) The ratio between the food passages(73 cases) and the air passages (8 cases) was about 9 : 1. In the location of the foreign bodies of the food passages, 66 cases (90.4%) were in the first esophageal narrowing, 5 cases (6.9%) in the second narrowing, and 2 cases (2.7%) in the third narrowing. In the air passages, the frequent sites were trachea (5 cases; 62.5%), larynx (2 cases), and bronchus (1 case) in order. 5) In duration of lodgement, 63 cases (86. 3%) of esophageal foreign bodies were removed within 24 hours, and one case was removed within 16 days. The number of cases lodged within 24 hours were 4 cases (50%). in the air passages and one case was removed within 18 days. 6) In treatment, 37 cases (50.7%) of esophageal foreign bodies were extracted by modified upper esophagoscopy, 33 cases (42.5%) by esophagoscopy under the local anesthesia, 3 cases (4.1%) by esophagoscopy under the general anesthesia. 8 cases of the coin cases were passed into the stomach during the endoscopic examination. Laryngeal foreign bodies (2 cases; 25%) were extracted by laryngoscopy under the local anesthesia. 2 cases (40%) of tracheal foreign bodies by Bronchoscopy with tracheotomy under the local anesthesia, 3 cases (60%) by Bronchoscopy under the general anesthesia, and bronchial foreign body (1 case) by open thoracotomy under the general anesthesia, at the Dept. of Chest surgery.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.21-26
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• 2012

The radial artery superficial palmar branch free flap is based on the perforators of the superficial palmar branch of the radial artery and its venae comitantes. This flap can be used as a sensible flap including palmar cutaneous branch of the median nerve. Forty radial artery superficial palmar branch free flaps were performed at Centum Institute during October 2010 to December 2011. There were 32 males and 8 females and their mean age were 48 years (range 30 to 66 years). The thumb injured in 13 patients, the index finger in 16 patients, the middle finger in 4 patients, the ring finger in 2 patients, and the little finger in 5 patients. The mean size of the flap was $2.5{\times}3.5$ cm(range $2{\times}2.5$ to $3{\times}7$ cm). The donor site was always closed primarily. The overall survival rate was 90.2 percent. The flaps showed well-padded tissue with glabrous skin. All patients have touch sensation and showed 12 mm two point discrimination in an average(range 8 to 15 mm). Donor site morbidity was conspicuous. One patient showed unsightly scar. Early postoperative range of motion of the affected thumb showed slightly limited radial and palmar abduction. But it improved after postoperative 2 months, and patients did not complaint limitation of motion. In conclusion, the radial artery superficial palmar branch free flap can be used as an option for soft tissue reconstruction of finger defects where local or island flaps are unsuitable.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.209-216
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• 1998

The purpose of this study was to compare the right and left eye size, distance between two eyes, interpupillary distance on growth stage aging changes in Korean. The author divided into 5 groups according to subject's age(group A : 7~12 years, group B : 13~15 years, group C : 16~18 years, group D : 19~24 years, group E : 25~30 years). The high values of inter outer canthal distance(T) and distance between two eyes(G) were 94.30 mm, 36.66 mm at group B respectively. The ratio of identical eye size was about 10.0% in A, B, C group but 22.7% in E group. P[T-(right eye size + left eye size) / 2] was wider than IPD. Data showed that the difference was 5.72 mm in group B and 1.13 mm in group E. The reason for this is that the pupils are displaced nasally from the center of the limbal ring. This has significant meaning in ophthalmic procedures.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.2055-2060
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• 2016

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common causes of death worldwide and in Thailand. The X-ray repair cross-complementary protein 1 (XRCC1) is required for efficient DNA repair. The effects of this gene on survival in colorectal cancer remain controversial and have not been reported in Thailand. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of the XRCC1 gene with survival of colorectal cancer patients in a Thai population. Materials and Methods: Data and blood samples were collected from 255 newly diagnosed and pathologically confirmed CRC patients who were recruited during the period 2002 to 2006 and whose vital status was followed up until 31 October, 2014. Real-time PCR-HRM was used for genotype identification. The Kaplan-Meier method, the log-rank test, and Cox proportional hazard regression were used to estimate cumulative survival curves and compare various survival distributions and adjusted hazard ratios. Results: Most of the cases were males, and the median age was 55 years. The median survival time was 2.43 years. The cumulative 1-, 3-, 5-, 7-, and 10 year survival rates were 76.70%, 39.25%, 26.50%, 16.60% and 3.56%, respectively. After adjustment, female gender, ages 50-59 and ${\geq}60years$, tumour stage III+IV, a signet-ring cell carcinoma, and poor differentiation had significant associations with increased risk of CRC death. While the XRCC1 Arg/Arg homozygote appeared to be a risk factor for CRC death, the association was not significant. Conclusions: The genetic variant in the XRCC1 may not be associated with the survival of CRC patients in Thailand. Further studies are needed to verify our findings.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.32-41
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• 1992

From August 1982 to December 1991, 58 consecutive infants with tetralogy of Fallot underwent primary repair. Age ranged from 22 days to twelve months [n=58, 8.7$\pm$2.7 months] and body weight from 3.1 to 13 kilograms [n=58, 7.8$\pm$1.7 kilograms]. Qne infant had absence of the pulmonary valve; one had Ebstein`s anomaly and one had supramitral ring. Thirty-two patients [56%] experienced anoxic spell. Preoperative pulmonary artery indices were measured in 38 cases, ranging 126-552mm2/M2BSA[n=38, 251$\pm$79mm2/M2BSA]. All infants required a right ventricular outflow tract patch; in 41, the patch extended across the pulmonary valve annulus, in 13 of them, monocusps were constructed. All had patch closure of ventricular septal defect. Two infants had REV operation for avoiding injury to the canal branch of the right coronary artery which cross the right ventricular out flow tract. Post repair PRV/LV were measured at operating room in 40 cases, which revealed mean value of 0.49$\pm$0.12 [range: 0.25-0.74]. The hospital mortality was 10.3% [6 patients], and causes of deaths were right heart failure due to sustained right ventricular hypertension[4] and right ventricular outflow tract obstruction, intractablesuraventricular tachyarrhythmia[1], hypoxia[1] due to residual right to left shunt across the atrial septal defect in patient associated with Ebstein`s anomaly. All infants were doing well at follow-up from 1 to 101 months[20.6 months /patient, 1, 072 patient-month] Serial postoperative echocardiograms revealed no residual ventricular septal defects and estimated RVOT gradients between 0 and 40 mmHg except 3 cases [50, 50, 60 mmHg]. There were no late deaths and late ventricular arrhythmias or congestive heart failure. Redo operations were done in 2 cases because of residual right ventricular outflow tract obstruction. This experience with infants with tetralogy of Fallot suggests that, if mortality is tolerable, eletive repair of tetralogy of Fallot could be reasonably undertaken during the first year of life, and even better results could be anticipated along with improvement of methods of myocardial protection and postoperative care.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.70-81
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• 1988

From January 1962 to March 1987, 97 patients underwent operation for mitral valve disease. Of these patients, 61 [62.9%] required mitral valve replacement. Thirty-six patients [37.1%] had mitral valve repair. The mean age was 26.9*11.6 years [range 5 months to 48 years]. There were 32 [88.9%] cases of rheumatic valve disease, 4 [11.1%] cases of congenital mitral valve disease. Valve dysfunction was classified into three types: type I [normal leaflet motion], 6 patients; type II [prolapsed leaflet], 1 patient; type III [restricted leaflet motion], 29 patients. Twenty-nine patients [80.6%] had pure or predominant stenosis and 7[19.4%] had pure regurgitation. No patient was in NYHA functional class I. Three patients [16.7%] were in functional class II, 15[83.3%] were in functional class II. The techniques used included closed mitral commissurotomy [16 patients], open mitral commissurotomy [13 patients], localized Wooler type annuloplasty [4 patients], suture repair of leaflet defect [3 patients], chordal shortening [1 patient], Carpentier ring annuloplasty [1 patient], and fenestration of fused chordae [1 patient]. There were two perioperative deaths [5.6%], related to left ventricular failure and reoperation. The survivors were followed up for 94 patient-years [mean 4.68*5.54 years]. One late death [1.1*1.1% per patient-year] occurred and was valve related. Reoperation was required in 3 patients, of whom 2 were deaths. There was 1 case [1.1*1.1% per patient-year] of thromboembolism. No patient received anticoagulant after operation. At 10 year, 92*7.4% of the patients were still alive. The actuarial survival rate of patients free of valve-related complication was 79*6.4% at 6 years, 27*12.1% at 11 years. After surgery, 18 patients [88.9%] were in NYHA functional class I or II.