• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.12-18
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• 2003

The purpose of this study is to evaluate children who underwent hepatic resection for primary malignant hepatic tumor in the period from January 1994 to December 2001. A total of 8 patients, seven with hepatoblastoma (HB) and one with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), were studied. One HCC was resectable at the initial diagnosis, but five cases of unresectable HB received two cycles of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) before operation. One patient with an unresectable HB with bone marrow metastasis was operated after one cycle of TACE and one cycle of systemic chemotherapy based on CCG-823F protocol. Another unresectable HB patient received systemic chemotherapy instead of TACE before operation. Postoperative chemotherapy was administered to all of the patients after complete surgical resection on CCG-823F protocol. All 6 patients who underwent TACE and neoadjuvant chemotherapy showed marked reduction in tumor volume and a clear outline of the lesion. Major complication was not noticed. Mean alpha-fetoprotein (${\alpha}$-FP) level at diagnosis, after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and after postoperative chemotherapy was 9,818 (42-35,350), 664, and 10.1 ng/mL, respectively. Half life of the ${\alpha}$-FP after complete resection was 5.1 days (3.0-8.7 days). Median follow up period was 57.1 months (10-97 months) and all the patients are alive with NED. In conclusion, preoperative chemotherapy, especially TACE, is effective, safe, and useful to treat initially unresectable hepatoblastoma, and serial level of the serum ${\alpha}$-FP is a useful tumor marker for diagnosis and monitoring therapeutic responses.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.964-972
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• 2000

We report three patients with pulmonary hypertension in Takayasu's arteritis, who showed long-term favorable response, clinically and hemodynamically, to the nitric oxide donor, molsidomine. In these patients, the inhaled nitric oxide was effective in reducing pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) as was shown in the acute vasodilator response test using the invasive hemodynamic monitoring. Molsidomine (single oral dose of 4 mg) was also effective in reducing PAP and PVR in the acute test, but nifedipine was not. With 4 mg of molsidomine three times daily, their dyspnea, exercise capacity and hemodynamic parameters were improved. These favorable responses have lasted during the 1st and 3rd month follow-up in all patients.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.54.3-55
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• 2016

DEEP-South Scheduling and Data reduction System (DS SDS) consists of two separate software subsystems: Headquarters (HQ) at Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI), and SDS Data Reduction (DR) at Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI). HQ runs the DS Scheduling System (DSS), DS database (DB), and Control and Monitoring (C&M) designed to monitor and manage overall SDS actions. DR hosts the Moving Object Detection Program (MODP), Asteroid Spin Analysis Package (ASAP) and Data Reduction Control & Monitor (DRCM). MODP and ASAP conduct data analysis while DRCM checks if they are working properly. The functions of SDS is three-fold: (1) DSS plans schedules for three KMTNet stations, (2) DR performs data analysis, and (3) C&M checks whether DSS and DR function properly. DSS prepares a list of targets, aids users in deciding observation priority, calculates exposure time, schedules nightly runs, and archives data using Database Management System (DBMS). MODP is designed to discover moving objects on CCD images, while ASAP performs photometry and reconstructs their lightcurves. Based on ASAP lightcurve analysis and/or MODP astrometry, DSS schedules follow-up runs to be conducted with a part of, or three KMTNet telescopes.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.40
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• pp.37.1-37.7
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• 2018

Background: Fibrous dysplasia (FD) is characterized by the replacement of normal bone by abnormal fibro-osseous connective tissue and typically treated with surgical contouring of the dysplastic bone. When dysplastic lesions involve occlusion, not only is surgical debulking needed, orthognathic surgery for correction of dentofacial deformity is mandatory. However, the long-term stability of osteotomized, dysplastic bone segments is a major concern because of insufficient screw-to-bone engagement during surgery and the risk of FD lesion re-growth. Case presentation: This case report reviewed two patients with non-syndromic FD that presented with maxillary occlusal canting and facial asymmetry. Le Fort I osteotomy with recontouring of the dysplastic zygomaticomaxillary region had been performed. The stability of osseous segments were favorable. However, dysplastic, newly formed bone covered the previous plate fixation site and mild bony expansion was observed, which did not influence the facial profile. Including the current cases, 15 cases of orthognathic surgery for FD with dentition have been reported in the literature. Conclusion: The results showed that osteotomy did not appear to significantly reduce the long-term stability of the initial fixation insufficiency of the screw to the dysplastic bone. However, based on our results and those of the others, long-term follow-up and monitoring are needed, even in cases where the osteotomized segment shows stable results.

• Journal of Korean Dental Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.87-95
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• 2017

This case study was to report the possible increase in the denture retention and psychological relief using the implant-supported fixed prostheses in a completely edentulous patient. The implants were placed in the anterior portion of the mandible in a patient who had completely edentulous state following the extraction of residual abutment teeth, and consequently a distal extension removable partial denture was fabricated. The patient's adaptation and satisfaction to the new prosthesis was monitored and confirmed in terms of masticatory function and esthetics, by restoring the oral condition similar to initial status before the residual teeth extraction. After 6 months, radiographic examination confirmed that both the abutment teeth and the implants were stable and well maintained. Considering the relatively short clinical follow-up period, however, continuous long-term monitoring was required.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.679-682
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• 2015

The Hiroshima Astrophysical Science Center (HASC) was founded in 2004 at Hiroshima University, Japan. The main mission of this institute is the observational study of various transient objects including gamma-ray bursts, supernovae, novae, cataclysmic variables, and active galactic nuclei by means of multi-wavelength observations. HASC consists of three divisions; the optical-infrared astronomy division, high-energy astronomy division, and theoretical astronomy division. HASC is operating the 1.5m optical-infrared telescope Kanata, which is dedicated to follow-up and monitoring observations of transient objects. The high-energy division is the key operation center for the Fermi gamma-ray space telescope. HASC and the high-energy astronomy group in the department of physical science at Hiroshima University are closely collaborating with each other to promote multi-wavelength time-domain astronomy. We report the recent activities of HASC and some science topics pursued by this multi-wavelength collaboration.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.67 no.5
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• pp.430-435
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• 2009

Background: Thus far, research studies on community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) have focused on its clinical severity. Recently, it has been determined that procalcitonin (PCT) level is correlated with severity of CAP. A retrospective study conducted at our hospital used risk predictability and PCT to determine whether or no PCT is useful in assessing the severity of CAP. Methods: This study covered 92 CAP cases that were admitted to the respiratory department at Changwon Fatima Hospital between July 1, 2008 and June 30, 2009. All enrolled subjects were measured for infection markers and risk predictability. Results: Based on hospital admission data, enrolled subjects had Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI) scores serving as risk predictors showed that both PCT and white blood cell (WBC) were statistically significant as infection markers (p=0.001, 0.037). Thus, this study used ROC curves in PSI for data analysis. As a result, it was determined that the area under curve (AUC) of PCT and WBC was 0.694 and 0.593 respectively, indicating that PCT has a higher test value for WBC, when PCT was higher than 0.745 ng/mL. In addition, it was found that PCT levels higher than 0.745 ng/mL had higher PSI scores than the group with PCT lower than 0.745 ng/mL (p=0.032). Conclusion: In order to predict risk of pneumonia cases admitted due to symptoms of CAP, it is important to consider PCT as well as PSI, and follow-up monitoring of PCT cases.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.684-688
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• 1995

Hyperhidrosis, one of the abnormalities in autonomic nervous system, has been treated with dermatologic principles or thoracic sympathectomy via conventional axillary thoracotomy or dorsal spinal approach. But these techniques were rather ineffective or invasive. Recently, VATS is widely applied in thoracic surgical area, and hyperhidrosis is not the exception of these cases.From May 1993 to August 1994, 30 patients with bilateral palmar hyperhidrosis underwent bilateral thoracic [T2, T3 sympathectomy with thoracoscopic surgery at Seoul National University Hospital. There were 20 men and 10 women and the mean age was 23.0 years.Mean operating time was 115 min and there was no thoracotomy conversion. Operative complications were anesthetic overdose in 1, Horner`s syndrome in 1, and small amount of residual pneumothorax in 6. Mean postoperative hospital stay was 2.3 days [range from 1 to 4 days and postoperative analgesics were required in 17 cases with a single dose.Sweating amount was measured in 12 patients, showing significantly decreased amount from 284.5 mg preoperatively to 18.9 mg postoperatively in 5 minutes [p=0.004 . There was no recurrence during mean 6 months follow up. Twenty two patients [73.3 % complained moderate compensatory hyperhidrosis on the trunk.In conclusion, all patients were greatly satisfied with those results including no more palmar sweating, less pain, better cosmetics, short hospital stay. In addition, recent use of sweating amount measurement and intraoperative temperature monitoring could make this technique more accurate, so we easily applied thoracoscopic sympathectomy with minimal risk.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.13-25
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• 2012

There is growing evidence that substance use such as tobacco or alcohol consumption influences health disparity among adolescents. Previous research papers have shown an inconsistency in the relationship between socio-economic status (SES) and substance use in adolescents. However, little is known about socio-economic differences in unhealthy behaviors among Korean adolescents. The purpose of the present study is to explore associations between SES and substance use in Korean adolescents. The analysis was performed using data from the 2009 Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (YRBS), which included a nationally representative sample of middle and high school students. Drinking/heavy drinking and smoking/daily smoking behavior indices were used for dependent variables, and perceived economic status, family affluence score, parents' education were used for independent variables. Chi-square test were used to compare tobacco and alcohol consumption among 3 SES groups. Logistic regression models were used to identify statistically significant socio-economic factors after adjusting other covariates. Higher perceived economic status and higher family affluence were associated with higher rates of smoking, daily smoking, drinking, and heavy drinking, while lower level of parents' education was related to higher use of tobacco and alcohol. Socio-economic status significantly influences health behaviors in adolescents, and it may consequently affect health disparity in their adulthood. Therefore, there is a need of continuous monitoring and follow-up research of health disparity among adolescents.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.271-276
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• 2006

Objective : Despite the recent progress that has been made in intracerebral monitoring, it is still difficult to quantify the exact extent of primary brain damage after severe head injury. In this work, we investigate the role of S-100B protein as a serum marker of brain damage after severe head injury. Methods : 21 patients with severe head injury [GCS score <9] were selected for this prospective study. A venous blood sample was taken as soon as possible after head injury and the serum concentration of S-100B protein was measured daily for five consecutive days. The serum level of S-100B protein was compared with the patients' outcome. The outcome was measured twice, at hospital discharge and after 6 months of follow-up using the Glasgow Outcome Scale[GOS]. Results : Those patients who died within two weeks [after head injury] had a significantly higher serum S-100B value than those who survived [median, 9.64ug/L versus 2.91ug/L]. Seven [78%] of the nine patients who died had a maximum S-100B value of 2ug/L or higher, while three [25%] of the twelve surviving patients showed a maximum S-100B protein value of more than 2ug/L [P<005]. Conclusion : These results indicate that S-100B protein appears to be the most reliable index for estimating the extent of brain damage.