• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
• /
• v.27 no.7
• /
• pp.1038-1043
• /
• 2021

Guaranteed seafarer wage payment is essential to ensure a stable supply of seafarers. However, disputes over non-payment of wages to seafarers often occur. In this study, an automatic wage payment system was designed using a blockchain-based smart contract to resolve the problem of seafarers' wage arrears. The designed system consists of an information register, a matching processing unit, a review rating management unit, and wage remittance before deploying smart contracts. The matching process was designed to send an automatic notification to seafarers and shipowners if the sum of the weight of the four variables, namely wages, ship type/fishery, position, and license, exceeded a pre-defined threshold. In addition, a review rating management system, based on a combination of mean and median, was presented to serve as a medium to mutually fulfill the normal working conditions. The smart contract automatically fulfills the labor contract between the parties without an intermediary. This system will naturally resolve problems such as fraudulent advance payment to seafarers, embezzlement by unregistered employment agencies, overdue wages, and forgery of seafarers' books. If this system design is commercialized and institutionally activated, it is expected that stable wages will be guaranteed to seafarers, and in turn, the difficulties in human resources supply will be solved. We plan to test it in a local environment for further developing this system.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.365-373
• /
• 2023

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
• /
• 2022.10a
• /
• pp.266-266
• /
• 2022

The outbreaks of blast, bacterial blight and viral diseases have been increasing in early maturing rice cultivating areas in the central northern regions, recently. As the occurrence of sudden insects pests and disasters increases due to global climate warming, it is urgent to develop a variety of disaster-tolerant, high-quality varieties in response. This study was carried out to elucidate the characteristics of early-maturing, high-quality and multiple disease resistant rice variety, Cheolweon109 that was adapted to cultivation in the mid-mountainous regions of the central northern regions. Cheolweon109 was derived from a cross between Suweon546, medium maturing variety, and Sangju44 which is early maturing and resistant to blast, bacterial blight and rice stripe virus. The heading date of Cheolweon109 was July 30, 3 days later than Odae. The culm length of Cheolweon109 was 79 cm, which was about 5 cm taller than Odae, and the ripening ratio was 85.1%, which was 10% higher than that of Odae. This variety had 5.54 MT/ha of milled rice productivity, which was 99% of the Odae. Although Cheolweon109 was tall, it was strong against lodging. It was strong against bacterial blight (K1, K2, K3 race), rice stripe virus, and the pre-harvest sprouting which rate was 2.4%. The appearance of the grains of rice was clean, the glossiness was 70.6, and the head rice ratio was 95.3% high. Because Cheolweon109 had superior disease resistance, disaster resistance, and high quality than Odae, it was expected that can be used to expand the diversity of early maturing and high-quality rice varieties in central northern regions.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.66 no.6
• /
• pp.726-734
• /
• 2023

Objective : Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) patients using antithrombotic agents (AT) at high risk for cardiovascular disease are increasing. The authors aimed to analyze the factors influencing outcome by targeting patients using AT and to establish a desirable treatment strategy. Methods : A retrospective analysis was performed on data from 462 patients who underwent burr hole trephination (BHT) surgery for CSDH at five hospitals from March 2010 to June 2021. Outcomes included incidence of postoperative acute bleeding, recurrence rate, and morbidity or mortality rate. Patients were divided into the following four groups based on their history of AT use : no AT. Only antiplatelet agents (AP), only anticoagulants (AC), both of AP and AC. In addition, a concurrent literature review was conducted alongside our cohort study. Results : Of 462 patients, 119 (119/462, 25.76%) were using AT. AP prescription did not significantly delay surgery (p=0.318), but AC prescription led to a significant increase in the time interval from admission to operation (p=0.048). After BHT, AP or AC intake significantly increased the period required for an in-dwelling drain (p=0.026 and p=0.037). The use of AC was significantly related to acute bleeding (p=0.044), while the use of AP was not (p=0.808). Use of AP or AC had no significant effect on CSDH recurrence (p=0.517 and p=1.000) or reoperation (p=0.924 and p=1.000). Morbidity was not statistically correlated with use of either AP or AC (p=0.795 and p=0.557, respectively), and there was no significant correlation with mortality for use of these medications (p=0.470 and p=1.000). Conclusion : Elderly CSDH patients may benefit from maintenance of AT therapy during BHT due to reduced thromboembolic risk. However, the use of AC necessitates individualized due to potential postoperative bleeding. Careful post-operative monitoring could mitigate prognosis and recurrence impacts.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.30 no.sup2
• /
• pp.289-293
• /
• 2001

Objectives : The optimal treatment of craniopharyngioma is controversial. Despite recent advances in microsurgical management, complete surgical removal of craniopharyngioma remains very difficult. Radiation added to surgery is effective, but radiation therapy resulted in untoward side effect in young patient. Gamma knife radiosurgery offers the theoretical advantage of a reduced radiation dose to surrounding structures during the treatment of residual or recurrent craniopharyngioma compared with fractionated radiotheraphy. We described retrospective analysis of tumor size and clinical symptoms of patients after gamma knife radiosurgery in residual or recurrent craniopharyngioma were performed. Material and Methods : From September 1990 to January 2000, 18 patients of craniopharyngioma were treated by gamma knife radiosurgery. All patient had undergone surgery, but residual or recurrent tumor was found and all of them treated postoperative gamma knife radiosurgery. The mean age was 19(from 6 to 66) and male to female ratio was 10 to 8 and 8 patients were below 15 years old. In young age group(below age 15), the average volume of the tumor was $2904.8mm^3$ and mean maximal gamma knife dose was 34.9Gy. In old age group(older than 15), the average volume of the tumor was $2590.4mm^3$ and mean maximal gamma knife dose was 45.2Gy. The size of the tumor was average $2730.1mm^3$($88-12000mm^3$), mean average radiation dose was 40.7Gy and the mean prescription dose was 17.6 Gy(4-35Gy) delivered to a median prescription 50.7% isodose. Results : The follow up was from 1 year to 9 years(mean 59.1 months) after gamma knife radiosurgery. The tumor was controlled in 13(72.2%) patients. The tumor decreased in 9 patients and not changed in 4 patients. The tumor size increased in 4(22.2%) patients during follow up period. In two cases the tumor size increased because of its cystic portion was increased, but their solid portion of the tumor was not changed. In another two patients, the solid portion of the tumor was increased. So, one patient underwent reoperation and the other patient underwent operation and repeated gamma knife radiosurgery. The tumor recurred in one case(5.6%) that is a outside of irradiated site. The presenting symptoms were improved in 4 patients(improved visual acuity in 1, controlled increased intracranial presure sign in 3 patients). In one case, visual acuity decreased after gamma knife radiosurgery. The endocrine symptoms were not influenced by gamma knife radiosurgery. Conclusion : Craniopharyngioma can be treated successfully by gamma knife radiosurgery. Causes of the tumor regrowth are inadequate dose planning because of postoperatively poor margination of the tumor, close approximation of optic nerve and residual tumors outside the target lesion. Recurrence can develop 4 years after gamma knife radiosurgery. Volume is important, but the accurate targeting is more important to prevent tumor recurrence. If the tumor definition is not clear during planning gamma knife surgery, long-term image follow up is required.

• Journal of Korean Medical Science
• /
• v.33 no.49
• /
• pp.323.1-323.12
• /
• 2018

Background: Vitamin K antagonist (VKA) to prevent thromboembolism in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients has limitations such as drug interaction. This study investigated the clinical characteristics of Korean patients treated with VKA for stroke prevention and assessed quality of VKA therapy and treatment satisfaction. Methods: We conducted a multicenter, prospective, non-interventional study. Patients with $CHADS_2{\geq}1$ and treated with VKA (started within the last 3 months) were enrolled from April 2013 to March 2014. Demographic and clinical features including risk factors of stroke and VKA treatment information was collected at baseline. Treatment patterns and international normalized ratio (INR) level were evaluated during follow-up. Time in therapeutic range (TTR) > 60% indicated well-controlled INR. Treatment satisfaction on the VKA use was measured by Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM) after 3 months of follow-up. Results: A total of 877 patients (age, 67; male, 60%) were enrolled and followed up for one year. More than half of patients (56%) had $CHADS_2{\geq}2$ and 83.6% had $CHA_2DS_2-VASc{\geq}2$. A total of 852 patients had one or more INR measurement during their follow-up period. Among those patients, 25.5% discontinued VKA treatment during follow-up. Of all patients, 626 patients (73%) had poor-controlled INR (TTR < 60%) measure. Patients' treatment satisfaction measured with TSQM was 55.6 in global satisfaction domain. Conclusion: INR was poorly controlled in Korean NVAF patients treated with VKA. VKA users also showed low treatment satisfaction.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.337-343
• /
• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this report is to describe the proton therapy system at Samsung Medical Center (SMC-PTS) including the proton beam generator, irradiation system, patient positioning system, patient position verification system, respiratory gating system, and operating and safety control system, and review the current status of the SMC-PTS. Materials and Methods: The SMC-PTS has a cyclotron (230 MeV) and two treatment rooms: one treatment room is equipped with a multi-purpose nozzle and the other treatment room is equipped with a dedicated pencil beam scanning nozzle. The proton beam generator including the cyclotron and the energy selection system can lower the energy of protons down to 70 MeV from the maximum 230 MeV. Results: The multi-purpose nozzle can deliver both wobbling proton beam and active scanning proton beam, and a multi-leaf collimator has been installed in the downstream of the nozzle. The dedicated scanning nozzle can deliver active scanning proton beam with a helium gas filled pipe minimizing unnecessary interactions with the air in the beam path. The equipment was provided by Sumitomo Heavy Industries Ltd., RayStation from RaySearch Laboratories AB is the selected treatment planning system, and data management will be handled by the MOSAIQ system from Elekta AB. Conclusion: The SMC-PTS located in Seoul, Korea, is scheduled to begin treating cancer patients in 2015.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.124-134
• /
• 2005

Purpose : It has been known that the diagnostic confirmation of group A streptococcal pharyngitis is accompanied with the results of throat culture and/or rapid antigen detection test(RADT). This study was designed to evaluate the usefulness and cost benefits of the RADT in patients with a sore throat compared the empirical antibiotic treated group without using RADT or throat culture with the antibiotic treated group according to the results of RADT test and/or throat culture. Methods : From April 2003 to August 2003, total 369 patients were enrolled this study. They were redistributed into two groups. In one group, the RADT test and throat culture were used and the patients received antibiotic treatment according to the results of test and in the other group, no diagnostic examinations were used and the patients were treated with antibiotics which were chosen empirically. The flow sheet with questionnaire was drawing up and obtained the clinical symptoms, signs and the name of antibiotics that were administered. Results : A total of 244 patients were treated after the throat culture and/or RADT, and 125 patients were treated empirically. The prevalence of bacteriologically confirmed group A streptococcal pharyngitis was 20.1%. The sensitivity and specificity of RADT were 89.8% and 86.1%, respectively. Positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 62.0% and 97.1%, respectively. The rate of antibiotic use was high in both groups. Because the physician used the antibiotics even if the result of RADT was negative. So about 37% of reduction of antibiotics use might be possible if we used antibiotics according to the results of RADT. There were no cost differences between the RADT applied group and the empirically treated antibiotic group if we could reduce the price of RADT to 63% of the current price. Conclusion : The RADT could be applied for the easy and rapid diagnosis and prompt treatment for group A streptococcal pharyngitis, and RADT could reduced the number of antibiotics used if the price of RADT was reduced to 63% of current price. For accurate evaluation of efficacy and cost effect, further controlled study is needed.

• Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research
• /
• v.10 no.6
• /
• pp.648-661
• /
• 2018

Purpose: Pollen-food allergy syndrome (PFAS) is an immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated allergy in pollinosis patients caused by raw fruits and vegetables and is the most common food allergy in adults. However, there has been no nationwide study on PFAS in Korea. In this study, we investigated the prevalence and clinical characteristics of PFAS in Korea. Methods: Twenty-two investigators participated in this study, in which patients with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and/or bronchial asthma with pollen allergy were enrolled. The questionnaires included demographic characteristics, a list of fruits and vegetables, and clinical manifestations of food allergy. Pollen allergy was diagnosed by skin prick test and/or measurement of the serum level of specific IgE. Results: A total of 648 pollinosis patients were enrolled. The prevalence of PFAS was 41.7% (n = 270). PFAS patients exhibited cutaneous (43.0%), respiratory (20.0%), cardiovascular (3.7%) or neurologic symptoms (4.8%) in addition to oropharyngeal symptoms. Anaphylaxis was noted in 8.9% of the PFAS patients. Seventy types of foods were linked to PFAS; e.g., peach (48.5%), apple (46.7%), kiwi (30.4%), peanut (17.4%), plum (16.3%), chestnut (14.8%), pineapple (13.7%), walnut (14.1%), Korean melon (12.6%), tomato (11.9%), melon (11.5%) and apricot (10.7%). Korean foods such as taro/taro stem (8.9%), ginseong (8.2%), perilla leaf (4.4%), bellflower root (4.4%), crown daisy (3.0%), deodeok (3.3%), kudzu root (3.0%) and lotus root (2.6%) were also linked to PFAS. Conclusions: This was the first nationwide study of PFAS in Korea. The prevalence of PFAS was 41.7%, and 8.9% of the PFAS patients had anaphylaxis. These results will provide clinically useful information to physicians.

• Korean Journal of Breeding Science
• /
• v.43 no.6
• /
• pp.606-610
• /
• 2011

'Jungmo1001' is an early maturing intermediate breeding line developed from a cross between Cheolweon52 and SR14694-57-4-2-1-3-2-2 by the rice breeding team of National Institute of Crop Science, Rural Development Administration (RDA) in 1994. 'Jungmo1001' has about 107 days duration from seeding to heading in mid-northern inland plain, southern alpine area and north-eastern coastal areas. It has about 73 cm in culm length with semi-erect plant type and good canopy architecture. This variety has 13 tillers per hill and 90 spikelets per panicle. Its 1,000 grain-weight of brown rice is 21.2 g which is less than 26.3 g of 'Odaebyeo'. Milled kernels are translucent with non-glutinous endosperm, low amylose content (18.1%) compared with 'Odaebyeo' palatability of cooked rice is very good. This variety shows strong resistance to cold treatment, lodging, premature heading and wilting. This variety shows moderately resistant to blast disease but susceptible to bacterial blight, stripe virus and insect pests. The milled rice yield performance of this variety is about 5.45 MT/ha by ordinary culture in local adaptability test for three years. This variety may be highly adaptable to the mid-northern inland plain, southern alpine area and north-eastern coastal areas of Korea.