• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.101-105
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• 2011

Purpose: Estradiol in the menstrual cycle and ovulation induction as an important test of currently national nuclear medicine laboratory in the normal patients and patients with infertility tests are being performed. For the diagnosis of menopause is an important test with follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing hormone (LH). Currently participating in external quality control of the nation's hospitals that is 54 percent of 37 hospitals, 20 hospitals have been using A's reagent. The kit's test results are highly different from other kit comes with the test results of specimens have been found. And for the phenomenon is to study the problem. Materials and Methods: Estraiol test were referred to our hospital which results of samples as more than 100pg/ml 75 specimens measured by radioimmunoassay(RIA) test with company A company B company C company D Kit, Chemiluminescent assay (CMIA) to examine and compare to the results from april to August in 2010. Results: Kit for each manufacturing company as measured by the results obtained using the average value of the correlation coefficient (R2) and A company 0.8906 B 0.9527 C 0.9547 and D company correlation coefficient of 0.873 showed a good correlation that measuring the results of A company high concentrations when Company B Company C Company D with CMIA test concentrations measured low results that the two cases were discovered specimens. Conclusion: Most of the test results of 75 samples came up with a similar trend, but two cases were reported in the patients very differently. A company result reported higher than 700 pg/ml, while the rest of other test results report was approximately 10 pg/ml. The common point of two samples more than 50 years patients are estimated to be diagnosed with cancer in postmenopausal patients receiving treatment and levels of FSH were found to be greater than 50 mIU/ml. Did not identify the exact cause. I suggest if you are using A company kit that need to again check when Estradiol result and follicle stimulating hormone results is higher.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• 제38권4호
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• pp.337-345
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• 2015

After the Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011, concerns about radiation by people are increasing rapidly. If people could know how much they will be exposed by radiation, it may help them avoiding it and understand what exactly radiation is. By doing this, we were helping to reduce the anxiety of radiation contamination. In this study, we have researched figures of radioactivity with 'Captus-3000 thyroid uptake measurement systems' in well counter detector system. The materials were measured with Briquette, Shiitake, Pollock, Button type battery, Alkaline battery, Topsoil, Asphalt, Gasoline, Milk powder, Pine, Basalt stone, Pencil lead, Wasabi, Coarse salt, Tuna(can) Cigar, Beer, and then we categorized those samples into Land resources, Water resources, Foodstuff and Etc (Beer classified as a water resources has been categorized into Foodstuff). Also, we selected the standard radiation source linear 137Cs to measure the sensitivity of well counter detector. After that, we took cpm(counter per minute) for the well counter detector of thyroid uptake system's sensitivity. Then we compared the results of each material's cpm and converted those results to Bq/kg unit. There were a little limitation with the measurement equipment because it has less sensitivity than other professional equipment like 'High purity germanium radiation detector'. Moreover, We didn't have many choices to decide the materials. As a result, there are macroscopic differences among the rates of material's spectrum. Therefore, it had meaningful results that showed how much each material had emitted radiation. To compare the material's cpm with BKG, we've compounded their spectrums. By doing that, we were able to detect some differences among the spectrums at specific peak section. Lastly, Button type battery, Alkaline Battery, Briquette, Asphalt and Topsoil showed high value. There were classified emitting high radiation Group A and emitted lower radiation Group B. The Group A, alkaline battery showed higher rate of radiation by 7.67 %, and Button type battery was yield 4.65 % higher rate than BKG. Additionally, Asphalt (8.03 %), Topsoil (3.76 %), Briquette (7.46 %) were yield for higher values. Several samples of the daily supplies were yield little higher, but it seems safe to use in daily lives. In the case of the 'Foodstuff', all of the samples were safe and they were under the radiation limits of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for Food; thus, we highly recommend this study to you as a reference of common daily routine.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.85-124
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• 2016

The Human gene testing act (GenDG) in Germany starts from the characteristic features of gene testing, i.e. dualisting structure consisted of anlaysis on the one side and the interpretation on the other side. The linguistic distincion of 'testing', 'anlaysis' and 'judgment' in the act is a fine example. Another important basis of the regulation is the ideological purpose of the law, that is information autonomy. The normative texts as such and the founding principle are the basis of the classification of testing types. Especially in the case of gene testing for medical purpose is classified into testing for diagnostic purpose and predictive purpose. However, those two types are not always clearly differentiated because the predictive value of testing is common in both types. In the legal regulation of gene testing it is therefore important to manage the uncertainty and subjectivity which are inherent in the gene-analysis and the judgment. In GenDG the system ensuring the quality of analysis is set up and GEKO(Commity for gene tisting) based on the section 23 of GenDG concretes the criterium of validity through guidelines. It is also very important in the case of gene testing for medical purpose to set up the system for ensurement of procedural rationality of the interpretation. The interpretation of the results of analysis has a wide spectrum because of the consistent development of technology on the one side and different understandings of different subjects who performs gene testings. Therefore the process should include the communication process for patients in oder that he or she could understand the meaning of gene testing and make plans of life. In GenDG the process of genetic counselling and GEKO concretes the regulation very precisely. The regulation as such in GenDG seems to be very suggestive to Korean legal polic concerning the gene testing.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제41권1호
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• pp.68-73
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• 2008

Background: The presence of infiltrated mediastinal lymph nodes is a crucial factor for the prognosis of lung cancer. The aim of our study is to investigate the pattern of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer that spreads to the mediastinal lymph nodes, in relation to the primary tumor site, in patients who underwent major lung resection with complete mediastinal lymph node dissection. Material and Method: We retrospectively. studies 293 consecutive patients [mean age $63.0{\pm}8.3$ years (range $37{\sim}88$) and 220 males (75.1%)] who underwent major lung resection due to non-small cell lung cancer from January 1998 to December 2005. The primary tumor and lymph node status was classified according to the international TNM staging system reported by Mountain. The histologic type of the tumors was determined according to the WHO classification. Fisher's exact test was used; otherwise the chi-square test of independence was employed. A p-value < 0.05 was considered significant. Result: Lobectomy was carried out in 180 patients, bilobectomy in 50, sleeve lobectomy in 10 and pnemonectomy in 53. The pathologic report revealed 124 adenocarcinomas, 138 squamous-cell tumors, 14 adenosquamous tumors, 1 carcinoid tumor, 8 large cell carcinomas, 1 carcinosarcoma, 2 mucoepidermoid carcinomas and 5 undifferentiated tumors. The TNM stage was IA in 51 patients, IB in 98, IIB in 41, IIIA in 71, IIIB in 61 and IV in 6. 25.9 % of the 79 patients had N2 tumor. Most common infiltrated mediastinal lymph node was level No.4 in the right upper lobe, level No. 4 and 5 in the left upper lobe and level No. 7 in the other lobes, but no statistically significant difference was observed. Thirty-six patients (12.3%) presented with skip metastasis to the mediastinum. Conclusion: Mediastinal lymph node dissection is necessary for accurately determining the pTNM stage. It seems that there is no definite way that non-small cell lung cancer spreads to the lymphatics, in relation to the location of the primary cancer. Further, skip metastasis to the mediastinal lymph nodes was present in 12.3% of our patients.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.177-189
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• 2009

Iron (oxyhydr)oxides commonly form as secondary minerals of high reactivity and large surface area resulting from alteration and weathering of primary minerals, and they are efficient sorbents for inorganic and organic contaminants. Accordingly, they have a great potential in industrial applications and are also of substantial interest in environmental sciences. Goethite (${\alpha}$-FeOOH) is one of the most ubiquitous and stable forms of iron (oxyhydr)oxides in terrestrial soils, sediments, and ore deposits, as well as a common weathering product in rocks of all types. This study focused on adsorption reaction as a main mechanism in scavenging arsenic using goethite. Goethite was synthesized in the laboratory to get high purity, and a variety of mineralogical and physicochemical features of goethite were measured and related to adsorption characteristics of arsenic. To compare differences in adsorption reactions between arsenic species, in addition, a variety of experiments to acquire adsorption isotherm, adsorption edges, and adsorption kinetics were accomplished. The point of zero charge (PZC) of the laboratory-synthesized goethite was measured to be 7.6, which value seems to be relatively higher, compared to those of other iron (oxyhydr)oxides. Its specific surface area appeared to be $29.2\;m^2/g$ and it is relatively smaller than those of other (oxyhydr)oxides. As a result, it was speculated that goethite shows a smaller adsorption capacity. It is likely that the affinity of goethite is much more larger for As(III) (arsenite) than for As(V) (arsenate), because As(III) was observed to be much more adsorbed on goethite than As(V) in equivalent pH conditions. When the adsorption of each arsenic species onto goethite was characterized in various of pH, the adsorption of As(III) was largest in neutral pH range (7.0~9.0) and decreased in both acidic and alkaline pH conditions. In the case of As(V), the adsorption appeared to be highest in the lowest pH condition, and then decreased with an increase of pH. This peculiarity of arsenic adsorption onto goethite might be caused by macroscopic electrostatic interactions due to variation in chemical speciation of arsenic and surface charge of goethite, and also it is significantly affected by change in pH. Parabolic diffusion model was adequate to effectively evaluate arsenic adsorption on goethite, and the regression results show that the kinetic constant of As(V) is larger than that of As(III).

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• 제51권1호
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• pp.7-13
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• 2015

Hydrotrope-combined copper (HCC) is a copper ($Cu^{2+}$)-based algicide, which is combined with a hydrotrope that keeps copper ion in solution to improve performance. This study assessed the growth inhibition effect of HCC against Microcystis aeruginosa which is one of the most common toxic cyanobacterium in eutrophic freshwater environment. Various HCC doses, ranging from 5.5 to $550{\mu}g/L$ as $Cu^{2+}$, were applied to either BG-11 or 1/4 diluted medium with low- or high-inoculum density of M. aeruginosa. Growth inhibition was monitored based on a decrease in chlorophyll-a content in culture medium during the incubation. Results showed that HCC significantly inhibited the growth of M. aeruginosa in a dose-dependent manner. In case of 1/4 diluted BG-11 medium, HCC dose as low as $5.5{\mu}g$ $Cu^{2+}/L$ completely inhibited the production of chlorophyll-a by M. aeruginosa. It was found that HCC did not induce any significant release of microcystin-LR from M. aeruginosa. Acute toxicity of HCC was tested using Daphnia magna, and the 24-h $EC_{50}$ value was 0.30 mg/L as $Cu^{2+}$ which was much higher than the actual inhibition dose. Ames test was performed using Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium TA100, and HCC showed no increase in the number of revertant colonies. The result suggested that HCC does not have any mutagenic potential in the aquatic environment. In addition, no genotoxic effect of HCC was also confirmed based on the SOS ChromoTest using Escherichia coli PQ37. Therefore, HCC could be used as a relatively safe and effective pre- and post-treatment agent to control hazardous algal blooming in aquatic environments.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.171-182
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• 2010

The slag excavated from Gyesil-ri in Gongju, Yeonje-ri in Cheongwon and Beopcheonsaji (temple) site in Wonju are analyzed by X-ray Fluorescence Analyzer, metallurgical microscope, SEM-EDS etc., for chemical composition and microstructure to figure out the raw material and the iron manufacturing technique. First of all, as a result of principal component analysis, the total Fe-content of slag from Gyesil-ri is 39 to 44% and the modified rate is 15 to 21%, which is common in ancient iron slag. Yeonje-ri site is found the ancient iron-smelting furnace. The total Fe-content of slag from Yeonje-ri is 41 to 43% and modified rate is 18~30%, which is also the general value in the ancient slag. However only slag is excavated in the residential area at Beopcheonsaji site and there is no iron making relic. In addition, the result of principal component analysis contains that the total Fe-content of Beopcheonsaji site is 52 to 57%, and modified rate is 8 to 14%. It shows that the total Fe-content of Beopcheonsaji site is higher than relic from Gyesil-ri and Yeonje-ri and the modified rate is lower than other sites. This results mean that recollecting rate of Fe in Beopcheonsaji site is lower than other sites. Also, as a result of minor elements analysis, the slag from Gyesil-ri has the higher level of Ti, V and Zr than other sites and the microstructure are observed as magnetite and ulvospinel, so that the raw material of slag is iron sand. But the slag from Yeonje-ri and Beopcheonsaji site are identified to use iron ore. As a result of microstructure observation, fayalite, gray-columnar crystal, is found in the slag from Yeonje-ri and big wustite as main phase is observed in the slag from Beopcheonsaji site. This study show that the slag from Yeonje-ri is made of smelt ash produced during smelting works and the slag from Beopcheonsaji site is made of forging ash produced during forging work concerning the excavated location and the microstructure.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• 제13권3호
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• pp.181-189
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• 2010

Purpose: Recently, health policy making is increasingly based on evidence. Therefore, Korean Terminal Cancer Patient Information System (KTCPIS) was developed to meet such need. We aimed to report its developmental process and statistics from 6 months data. Methods: Items for KTCPIS were developed through the consultation with practitioners. E-Velos web-based clinical trial management system was used as a technical platform. Data were collected for patients who were registered to 34 inpatient palliative care services, designated by Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Family Affairs, from $1^{st}$ of January to $30^{th}$ of June in 2009. Descriptive statistics were used for the analysis. Results: From the nationally representative set of 2,940 patients, we obtained the following results. Mean age was $64.8{\pm}12.9$ years, and 56.6% were male. Lung cancer (18.0%) was most common diagnosis. Only 50.3% of patients received the confirmation of terminal diagnosis by two or more physicians, and 69.7% had an insight of terminal diagnosis at the time of admission. About half of patients were admitted to the units on their own without any formal referral. Average and worst pain scores were significantly reduced after 1 week when compared to those at the time of admission. 73.4% faced death in the units, and home-discharge comprised only 13.3%. Mean length of stay per admission was $20.2{\pm}21.2$ days, with median value of 13. Conclusion: Nationally representative data on the characteristics of patients and their caregiver, and current practice of service delivery in palliative care units were obtained through the operation of KTCPIS.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• 제31권2호
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• pp.212-222
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• 2004

The application of acidulated phosphate fluoride gel(APF) and fluoride varnishes are the most common topical fluoride therapy. The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare the remineralization effects of two topical fluoride agents, APF gel and fluoride varnish with microtomograph and 3D image analyzer without sample preparation and chemical fixation. For the purpose of the study, the artificial caries lesion was caused on the caries-free permanent pre molar and 48 specimens were divided into three groups each containing 16 specimens No application was performed on group 1, which acted as control group. Group 2 was treated with APF gel and was removed after a minute. Group 3 was treated with the topical application of fluoride varnish and removed after 45 minutes. Each specimen was placed into a closed container with 50ml of a artificial saliva during three months and the 3D images of the remineralization area were taken using the SkyScan each month. Using the density-measuring program in V $works^{TM}$, the density value of the remineralization area was measured. The following results were obtained: 1. All groups demonstrated an increase in the density of artificial caries lesion with time. 2. The density was significantly higher in APF gel and fluoride varnish group than control group at 1 month, 2 months, 3 months after the treatment(P<0.05). 3. The difference of the density between that "prior to treatment" and that "1 month after treatment" in Group 2 and Group 3 was significantly higher than that of Group 1 and, the difference of the density between that "1 month after treatmen" and that "2 month after treatment" in Group 3 was significantly higher than that of Group 1 and 2(P<0.05). 4. The fluoride varnish was more effective after 2 and 3 months and continuous than the APF gel.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제60권1호
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• pp.76-82
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• 2006

Background : The objective of this study was to understand sleep-related problems, and to determine whether the sleep questionnaires is a clinically useful method in patients who need polysomnography. Methods : Subjects were patients who performed polysomnography and who asked to answer a sleep questionnaires at the Sleep Disorders Clinic of St. Paul's Hospital, Catholic University of Korea. Baseline characteristics, past medical illness, behaviors during sleep-wake cycle, snoring, sleep-disordered breathing and symptoms of daytime sleepiness were analyzed to compare with data of polysomnography. Results : The study population included 1081 patients(849 men, 232 female), and their mean age was $44.2{\pm}12.8years$. Among these patients, 38.9% had an apnea-hypopnea index(AHI)<5, 27.9% had $5{\leq}AHI<20$, 13.2% had $20{\leq}AHI<40$, and 20.0% had $40{\leq}AHI$. The main problems for visiting our clinic were snoring(91.7%), sleep apnea(74.5%), excessive daytime sleepiness(8.0%), insomnia(4.3%), bruxism(1.1%) and attention deficit(0.5%). The mean value of frequency of interruptions of sleep was 1.6 and the most common reason was urination(46.3%). Epworth Sleepiness Scale(ESS) had a weak correlation with AHI(r=0.209, p<0.01). When we performed analysis of sleep questionnaires, there were significant differences in the mean values of AHI according to the severity of symptoms including snoring, daytime sleepiness, taking a nap and arousal state after wake(p<0.05). Conclusion : On the basis of statistical analysis of sleep questionnaires, the severity of subjective symptoms such as ESS, snoring, daytime sleepiness and arousal state after wake correlated with the AHI significantly. Therefore the sleep questionnaires can be useful instruments for prediction of the severity of sleep disorder, especially sleep-disordered breathing.