• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.903-911
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• 2023

Objective: Regrowth after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of symptomatic large thyroid nodules, initially treated as benign, sometimes turns out to be malignancies. This study aimed to assess the ultrasound (US) characteristics of thyroid nodules initially treated as benign with RFA and later diagnosed as cancers, predictive factors for cancers masquerading as benign, and methods to avoid RFA in these cancers. Materials and Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 134 consecutive patients with 148 nodules who underwent RFA between February 2008 and November 2016 for the debulking of symptomatic thyroid nodules diagnosed as benign using US-guided biopsy. We investigated the pre-RFA characteristics of the thyroid nodules, changes at follow-up after RFA, and the final surgical pathology. Results: Nodule regrowth after RFA was observed in 36 (24.3%) of the 148 benign nodules. Twenty-two of the 36 nodules were surgically removed, and malignancies were confirmed in seven (19.4% of 36). Of the 22 nodules removed surgically, pre-RFA median volume (range) was significantly larger for malignant nodules than for benign nodules: 22.4 (13.9-84.5) vs. 13.4 (7.3-16.8) mL (P = 0.04). There was no significant difference in the regrowth interval between benign and malignant nodules (P = 0.49). The median volume reduction rate (range) at 12 months was significantly lower for malignant nodules than for benign nodules (51.4% [0-57.8] vs. 83.8% [47.9-89.6]) (P = 0.01). The pre-RFA benignity of all seven malignant nodules was confirmed using two US-guided fine-needle aspirations (FNAs), except for one nodule, which was confirmed using US-guided core-needle biopsy (CNB). Regrown malignant nodules were diagnosed as suspicious follicular neoplasms by CNB. Histological examination of the malignant nodules revealed follicular thyroid carcinomas, except for one follicular variant, a papillary thyroid carcinoma. Conclusion: Symptomatic large benign thyroid nodules showing regrowth or suboptimal reduction after RFA may have malignant potential. The confirmation of these nodules is better with CNB than with FNA.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.7
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• pp.737-744
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• 2005

Purpose : Infants and children with cardiovascular diseases often present with respiratory symptoms. However, missed or delayed evaluation for potential airway problem may complicate overall prognosis. The aim of this study is to determine the clinical characteristics of these patients and explore the cause of airway problem. Methods : We reviewed the medical records of 64 patients(M : F=33:31, mean age : $6.3{\pm}7.5$ months) whose airway problems were proven by computed tomography or bronchoscopy in perioperative periods at the Asan Medical Center from January 1997 to June 2004. Patients were divided into two groups based on the duration of ventilator care : ${\leq}7$ days(group 1 : 23 cases, M : F=10 : 13) and >7 days(group 2 : 41 cases, M : F=23 : 18). Results : The patients in group 2 significantly developed more post-operative respiratory symptoms than group 1(P<0.001) and had more airway problems including extrinsic obstruction, intrinsic anomaly, and combined problem than group 1 although not significantly different(P=0.082). Among underlying diseases, the most common diseases were vascular anomaly(26.2 percent) and aortic arch anomaly(26.2 percent) in group 1 and pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect(22.4 percent) in group 2. The most frequent respiratory symptoms were recurrent wheezing pre-operatively and failure of ventilator weaning post-operatively. The major types of airway anomaly were tracheomalacia and tracheal stenosis(in each case 18.2 percent). Nineteen patients with persistent airway problems underwent aortopexy or other vascular correction. Of the 19 patients, 13(68.4 percent) were improved, but 2 failed in weaning ventilator and 4 died of non-airway problems. Conclusion : Early evaluation and treatment for potential airway problems may affect natural or surgical prognosis in patients with cardiovascular diseases presenting with respiratory symptoms.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.11
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• pp.1061-1066
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• 2007

Purpose : Early identification of developmental disabilities allows intervention at the earliest possible point to improve the developmental potential. The Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ), a parent- completed questionnaire, can be used as a substitute for formal screening tests. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity of the Korean version of the ASQ (K-ASQ) as a screening tool for detecting developmental delay of young Korean children in the setting of a busy pediatric outpatient clinic. Methods : Parents completed the K-ASQ in the waiting room of the pediatric outpatient clinic of St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic University Medical College. Out of 150 completed the ASQ, 67 who were born term and had no previous diagnosis of developmental delay, congenital anomalies, or neurological abnormalities were enrolled. The cut-off values of less than 2 standard deviations (SD) below the mean for the ASQ were used to define a "fail", and children who failed in one or more domains tested were classified as "screen-positive". Diagnosis of developmental delay was made when the developmental indices fell below -1 SD of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development-II. Results : (1) The mean age of children was $16.4{\pm}7.4$ months. Ten children (14.9%) were small-for- gestational age infants. The mean birth weight and gestational age were $3.1{\pm}0.6kg$ and $38.8{\pm}1.4$ weeks. Nine children (13.4%) were twins and 33 (49.0%) were male. The mean maternal education in years was $13.6{\pm}2.4$, and 31.3% had full-time jobs. The time for completing the ASQ was $10.2{\pm}3.0$ minutes. (2) Seventeen children (25.4%) were classified as screen-positive, four of them were delayed in development. Among eight children diagnosed with developmental delay, four were screen-positive and the other four were screen-negative by the ASQ. (3) The test characteristics of the ASQ were as follows: sensitivity (50.0%); specificity (78.0%); positive predictive value (23.5%); negative predictive value (92.0%). Conclusion : The high negative predictive value of the K-ASQ supports its use as a screening tool for developmental delay in the setting of a pediatric outpatient clinic.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.5 no.5
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• pp.295-302
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• 2011

To n the field of nuclear medicine, with regard to checking regular patients, from the moment they register up to the doctor's diagnosis, the person in charge of the checks can find errors in the diagnosis, reexamine, reanalyze the results or save images to PACS. Through this process, the results obtained from the readings are delayed due to checks and additional tests which occur in hospitals, causing patient satisfaction and affected reliability. Accordingly, the purpose is to include visual inspection of the results to minimize error, improve efficiency and increase patient satisfaction. Nuclear medicine and imaging tests from examines at Asan Medical Center, Seoul, from March 2008 to December 2008, were analyzed for errors. The first stage, from January 2009 to December 2009, established procedures and know-how. The second stage from January 2010 until June 2010 conducted Pre-and Post-filtering assessment, and the third stage from July 2010 until October 2010 consisted of cross-checks and attaching stickers and comparing error cases. Of 92 errors, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd stage had 32 cases, and there were 46 cases after the 4th stage, with the overall errors reduced by 74.3% from 94.6%. In the field of general nuclear medicine, where various kinds of checks are performed according to the patient's needs, analysis, image composition, differing images in PACS, etc, all have the potential for mistakes to be made. In order to decrease error rates, the image can continuously Cross-Check and Confirm diagnosis.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.327-338
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• 2020

In recent years, the temperature of Korea has been rapidly increasing due to global warming. Over the past 40 years, the temperature of Korea has risen by about 1.26℃ compared to that in the early 1980s. By region, the west region of the Gangwon Province was the highest at 1.76℃ and the Jeonnam Province was the lowest at 0.96℃. As the temperature continues to rise, it is expected that the rice yield will decrease in the future using the current standard cultivation method. As a result of global warming, the periods in which rice cultivation could be possible in regions each year has increased compared those to the past, showing a wide variety from 110 days in Taebaek to 180 days in Busan and Gwangyang. In addition, the transplanting time was delayed by 3-5 days in all regions. The average annual yield of rice showed an increasing trend when we analyzed the average productivities of developed varieties for cooked rice since the 1980s, especially in the early 1990s, which showed a rapid increase in productivity. The relationship between the average temperature at the time of development and the rice yield was divided into the periods before and after 1996. The higher the average temperature, the lower the yield of the developed varieties until 1996. However, since 1996, the increase in the average temperature did not show a trend in the productivity of the developed varieties. The climate change adaptability of developed rice varieties was investigated by analyzing the results of growing crops nationwide from 1999 to 2016 and the change in the annual yields of developed varieties and recently developed varieties as basic data to investigate the growth status of the crops in the country. As a result of annual comparisons of the yields of Taebongbyeo (2000) and Ungwangbyeo (2004) developed in the early 2000s for Odaebyeo, which was developed in the 1980s, the annual yields were relatively higher in varieties in the 2000s despite the increase in temperature. The annual yields of Samgwangbyeo (2003) and Saenuribyeo (2007), which were recently developed as mid-late-type varieties, were higher than those of an earlier developed variety called Chucheongbyeo, which was developed in the 1970s. Despite the rapid increase in temperature, rice cultivation technology and variety development are well adapted to climate change. However, since the biological potential of rice could reach its limit, it is necessary to develop continuous response technology.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.293-301
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• 1999

This study was to examine whether Hanwoo IVM/IVF/IVC blastocyst can be successfully survived in vitro/in vivo after vitrification and one-step dilution. For vitrification, blastocysts were serially exposed in glycerol (G) and ethylene glycol(EG) mixtures［10% (v Iv) G for 5 min., 10% G plus 20% EG (v/v) for 5 min., and 25% G plus 25% EG (v/v) for 30 sec.］ which is diluted in 10% FBS added D-PBS. And then they were loaded in the straw, placed in cold nitrogen vapor for 3 min. and plunged into L$N_2$(－196$^{\circ}C$). One-step dilution within the straw was done in $25^{\circ}C$ and 36$^{\circ}C$ water for about 5 min. and 3 min., respectively. Recovered embryos after one-step dilution were cultured in cumulus cell mono-layered drop for 48 h or were transferred into recipient cows. When the embryo survival in vitro was assessed to re-expanded and hatched rates at 24 hand 48 h after one-step dilution, the results of vitrified group (85.4, 43.8%) was high, although these results were significantly lower than normal development (100.0, 63.3%) of control group, respectively (P＜0.001, P＜0.05). When in vitro survival of vitrified groups according to developmental stage was compared, the results of fast developed embryos (expanded blastocyst and early hatching blastocyst stage) were significantly higher than those of delayed developed one (early blastocyst stage) after one-step dilution (early hatching: 88.0, 48.0%: expanded: 81.1, 45.3%; early: 66.7, 14.3%) (P＜0.05). Also, in case of in vitro survival of vitrified groups according to embryo age (day 7, 8 and 9), when embryo age was younger, in vitro survival was significantly higher (day 7: 67.3, 34.5%; day 8: 76.9, 40.7%; day 9: 60.9, 23.9%)(P＜0.05). Finally, when in vivo development potential of vitrified and one-step diluted Hanwoo blastocysts was examined, 4 of 8 recipient (50%) cows became confirmed pregnant. These results demonstrated that our vitrification and one-step dilution technique can be applied easily and effectively on field trial without the equipment and embryological skills required for conservative dilution and transfer.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.477-482
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• 2006

Viral diseases, especially Barley yellow mosaic virus (BaYMV) and Barley mud mosaic virus (BaMMV), have been most serious in barley fields. In this study, we investigated the effect of different level of resistance to viral diseases on the plant growth and yield in barley. Various viral disease symptoms on leaves of overwintered plants were similar between medial-resistant and susceptible varieties of Saessalbori and Baegdong. In diagnosis of virus infection, BaYMV and BaMMV were detected in Saessalbori and Baegdong, but not in the resistant variety, Naehanssalbori. Plant height was restrained about $11{\sim}12cm$ prior to heading in Saessalbori and Baegdong comparing to Naehanssalbori. Even if both varieties were medial resistant to virus diseases, Saessalbori was different from Baegdong in heading date and culm length due to its recovery from viral damages prior to heading. Both medial-resistant and susceptible varieties were quite different from the resistant variety in yield components such as heading date, number of spikes and culm length when evaluated in the virus-infected or non-infected field. Baegdong delayed 7 days in heading date and reduced by more than 50% in culm length and spike numbers as compared to Naehanssalbori. On the other hand, Saessalbori showed similar heading date, but was shorter by 20% in culm length than Naehanssalbori. Three varieties tested in the non-infected field over two years were not significantly different for yield potential with ranges of $340{\sim}405kg/10a$. However, significant yield reduction (P<0.01) was observed in Saessalbori and Baegdong with ranges of $108{\sim}288kg/10a$ as compared to Naehanssalbori (391 kg/10a) when tested in the virus-infected field. Yield potentials of Saessalbori and Baegdong reduced by 35 and 63%, respectively in the virus-infected field as compared to those in the non-infected field. Our results showed that damages from virus diseases were significant on the early plant growth to yield and its components in barley.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.37-42
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• 2003

This study was conducted at a volcanic ash soil in the Experimental Farm of Cheju national university from May 1, 2000 to August 25, 2000 to determine the optimum frequency of split N application for. forage production of Jeju Italian millet(Setaria italica Beauvis). N .rate was applied with 200kg N/ha, and frequencies of the split application were 1. 2, 3, 4 and f times. Days to heading was 87 days in the N applied plot all at once, was delayed to 93 days at the five times split-applied plot. Plant height was the greatest (143cm) at the four times split-applied plot, but above o. below that was short. Leaf length, number of leaves and nodes were a similar tendency to plant height. SPAD(Soil Plant Analysis Development) reading values rose 34.3∼36.2 as N was split-applied from one to five times. Fresh forage, dry matter, crude Protein and TDN yield at the H split-applied to four times increased 33.08∼5l.50MT/ha, 9.94∼13.36MT/ha, 0.93∼1.70MT/ha and 5.06∼7.28MT/ha, respectively, but at the five tines split-applied plot decreased to 49.33MT/ha, 12.69MT/ha, 1.65MT/ha and 6.98 MT/ha, respectively. As the increasing of N split-applied. crude protein, crude fat NFE and TDN content increased 9.4∼13.0％, 1.5∼l.9％, 44.5∼45.5% and 50.9∼55.0％, respectively, whereas crude fiber and crude ash content decreased 35.3∼31.6% and 9.3∼8.3, respectively.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.179-189
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• 1993

It has recently become possible to record electrical activity originating from abnormally conducting myocardium from the body surface with high - gain amplification and averaging technique. These signals, which result from delayed ventricular activation(late potentials), have been recorded in patients with documented ventricular tachyarrythmia. Several electrode lead system for detecting ventricular late potential were introduced. Pyramidal electrode lead system(PLS) is useful. Also interpretation of SAECG in the young could be of value in detecting those at risk for episodic ventricular tachycardia, but suffer from a lack of data in normal young people. Selection of subjects : For this study, normal healthy young adult volunteers (age: mean 24 years) were recruited from the medical students at Yeungnam University Hospital, Internal Medicine. Twenty fourths male and seventeenths female subjects were selected. All subjects had normal resting ECGs as judged from both the standard 12 channel lead and echocardiography, and none had a history of cardiovascular disease. All subjects were considered to be in good general physical condition. Signal-averaged electrocardiography : In order to obtain low noise recordings with a small number of averaging cycles, all subject ware asked to relax completely in the supine position. Silver/silver chloride electrodes were attached after the skin was cleaned with alcohol, to constitute classic flank lead system(FLS) and pyramidal lead system(PLS). Signals were recorded and processed using a commercially available microprocessor-augmented ECG cart(Marquette Electronics, USA) suitable for portable bedside recording. There was no difference between normal values, determined by FLS and PLS at high pass filtering of 25 Hz and 80 Hz, but significant, difference was found in HFLAD and RMS-40 of 40 Hz(p<0.05). These results will provide a basis for interpretations of SAECG, determined by FLS and PLS in healthy young adults with normal QRS duration.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.11 no.8
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• pp.629-635
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• 2001

To improve the ductility of $A1_3Hf$ intermetallics, which are the potential high temperature structural materials, the mechanical alloying behavior. the effect of Cu addition on the $Ll_2$ phase formation and the behavior of vacuum hot-pressed consolidation were investigated. During the mechanical alloying by SPEX mill, the $Ll_2 A1_3Hf$ intermetallics with the grain size of 7~8nm was formed after 6 hours of milling in Al-25at.%Hf system. The $Ll_2$ Phase of Al_3Hf$ intermetallics with the addition of 12.5at.%Cu, similar to that of the binary Al-25at.% Hf, was formed, but the milling time necessary for the formationof the $Ll_2$ phase was delayed form 6 hours to 10 hours. The lattice parameter of ternary $Ll_2(Al+Cu)_3Hf$ intermetallics decreased with the increase of Cu content. The onset temperature of $Ll_2$ to $D0_{23}$ phase in $Al_3Hf$ intermetallics was around 38$0^{\circ}C$, the temperature upon completion varied from 48$0^{\circ}C$ to 5$50^{\circ}C$ as the annealing time. The onset temperature of $Ll_2$ to $D0_{23}$ phase transformation in $(Al+ Cu)_3Hf$ intermetallics increased with the amount of Cu and the highest onset temperature of $700^{\circ}C$ was achieved by the Cu addition of 10at.%. The relative density increased from 89% to 90% with the Cu addition of 10at.% in $Al_3Hf$ intermetallics hot-pressed in vacuum under 750MPa at 40$0^{\circ}C$ for 3 hours. The relative density of 92.5% was achieved without the phase transformation and the grain growth as the consolidation temperature increased from 40$0^{\circ}C$ to 50$0^{\circ}C$ in $(Al+Cu)_3Hf$ intermetallics hot-pressed in vacuum under 750MPa for 3 hours.