• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.344-349
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• 2021

Background: Cancer patients have been disproportionally affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, with high rates of severe outcomes and mortality. Fever is the most common symptom in COVID-19 patients. During the COVID-19 pandemic, physicians may have difficulty in determining the cause of fever (COVID-19, another infection, or cancer fever) in cancer patients. Furthermore, there are no specific guidelines for managing cancer patients with fever during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, this study evaluated the clinical characteristics and outcomes of cancer patients with fever during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 328 cancer patients with COVID-19 symptoms (fever) admitted to five hospitals in Daegu, Korea from January to October 2020. We obtained data on demographics, clinical manifestations, laboratory test results, chest computed tomography images, cancer history, cancer treatment, and outcomes of all enrolled patients from electronic medical records. Results: The most common COVID-19-like symptoms were fever (n=256, 78%). Among 256 patients with fever, only three (1.2%) were diagnosed with COVID-19. Most patients (253, 98.8%) with fever were not diagnosed with COVID-19. The most common solid malignancies were lung cancer (65, 19.8%) and hepatobiliary cancer (61, 18.6%). Twenty patients with fever experienced a delay in receiving cancer treatment. Eighteen patients discontinued active cancer treatment because of fever. Major events during the treatment delay period included death (2.7%), cancer progression (1.5%), and major organ dysfunction (2.7%). Conclusion: Considering that only 0.9% of patients tested for COVID-19 were positive, screening for COVID-19 in cancer patients with fever should be based on the physician's clinical decision, and patients might not be routinely tested.

• Healthcare Informatics Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.394-401
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• 2018

Objectives: Augmented reality (AR) technology has become rapidly available and is suitable for various medical applications since it can provide effective visualization of intricate anatomical structures inside the human body. This paper describes the procedure to develop an AR app with Unity3D and Vuforia software development kit and publish it to a smartphone for the localization of critical tissues or organs that cannot be seen easily by the naked eye during surgery. Methods: In this study, Vuforia version 6.5 integrated with the Unity Editor was installed on a desktop computer and configured to develop the Android AR app for the visualization of internal organs. Three-dimensional segmented human organs were extracted from a computerized tomography file using Seg3D software, and overlaid on a target body surface through the developed app with an artificial marker. Results: To aid beginners in using the AR technology for medical applications, a 3D model of the thyroid and surrounding structures was created from a thyroid cancer patient's DICOM file, and was visualized on the neck of a medical training mannequin through the developed AR app. The individual organs, including the thyroid, trachea, carotid artery, jugular vein, and esophagus were localized by the surgeon's Android smartphone. Conclusions: Vuforia software can help even researchers, students, or surgeons who do not possess computer vision expertise to easily develop an AR app in a user-friendly manner and use it to visualize and localize critical internal organs without incision. It could allow AR technology to be extensively utilized for various medical applications.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.143-150
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• 2019

Background: Skin is an organ that protects the human body from various environmental stimuli that can induce immune system activation. Skin aging can be largely divided into two categories: physiological aging, which is caused by the a decreased physiological function of the skin and structural changes with aging, and photoaging, which is caused by the chemical stress induced by external stimuli such as ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Methods and Results: The objective of this study was to investigate the anti-wrinkle and UV protective effect of catechin-rich green tea extract (CGTE) in activated keratinocyte (HaCaT cells) and UV-induced skin damage in hairless mice. The results showed that CGTE inhibits the tumor necrosis factor-alpha interferon-gamma ($TNF-{\alpha}+IFN-{\gamma}$)-induced expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 in HaCaT cells. In addition, the CGTE treatment significantly reduced wrinkle formation, epidermal thickness, collagen deposition, and transepidermal water loss in dorsal skin irradiated with UVB. However, the ${\beta}$-glucosidase activity was significantly increased. The CGTE treatment inhibits mRNA expression and enzyme activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the dorsal skin irradiated with UVB. Conclusions: It is expected that CGTE can be effectively used as a functional food and cosmetic ingredient to improve skin moisture retention and reduce wrinkle formation.

• Agribusiness and Information Management
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.36-49
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• 2020

This study pertains to direction of exports direction of major agricultural commodities viz., rice, maize, bengal gram, chillies and cotton from India. In the ensuing next decade during 21st century, India is likely to witness changes in the export pattern of these commodities due to both internal and external constraints. One of the major internal constraints is mounting cost of production. Similarly, one of the most important external constraints include excessive subsidization by importing countries that makes Indian commodities less competitive in the international market. So, the important research question is to analyse the direction of exports of major agricultural commodities from India during post-WTO regime. The dynamic nature of trade pattern of the selected commodities was analyzed by employing the first order Markov process by examining gains and losses in respect of export shares of major Indian agricultural commodities to different countries. During the post-WTO regime, it was found that Saudi Arabia for rice, Bangladesh for maize, Pakistan for bengal gram, Malaysia for (dry) chillies, China, mainland for cotton are the loyal destinations for the commodities. The increasing demand for the selected commodities in countries like Saudi Arabia, Côte d'Ivoire for rice; Malaysia for maize; Pakistan and Algeria for Bengal gram; USA and Sri Lanka for (dry) chillies and Vietnam, Pakistan and Indonesia for cotton need to be explored for augmenting the exports. In order to achieve this goal, it is essential that consumer preferences in newer markets, market intelligence and impediments for augmenting exports need to be researched. It is also high time to analyze the export competitiveness of selected commodities across these importing countries.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.215-218
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• 2022

The rectum is the least frequently injured organ in trauma, with an incidence of about 1% to 3% in trauma cases involving civilians. Most rectal injuries are caused by gunshot wounds, blunt force trauma, and stab wounds. A 46-year-old male patient was crushed between two vehicles while he was working. He was hemodynamically unstable, and the Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma showed hemoperitoneum and hemoretroperitoneum; therefore, damage control surgery with pelvic packing was performed. A subsequent whole-body computed tomography scan showed a displaced pelvic bone and sacrum fracture. There was evidence of an anorectal full-thickness laceration and urethral laceration. In second-look surgery performed 48 hours later, the pelvis was stabilized with external fixators, and it was decided to proceed with loop sigmoid colostomy. A tractioned rectal probe with an internal balloon was positioned in order to approach the flaps of the rectal wall laceration. On postoperative day 13, a radiological examination with endoluminal contrast injected from the stoma after removal of the balloon was performed and showed no evidence of extraluminal leak. Rectosigmoidoscopy, rectal manometry, anal sphincter electromyography, and trans-stomic transit examinations showed normal findings, indicating that it was appropriate to proceed with the closure of the colostomy. The postoperative course was uneventful. The optimal management for extraperitoneal penetrating rectal injuries continues to evolve. Primary repair with fecal diversion is the mainstay of treatment, and a conservative approach to rectal lacerations with an internal balloon in a rectal probe could provide a possibility for healing with a lower risk of complications.

• Korean Journal of Transplantation
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.154-159
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• 2014

Background: Lung transplantation (LTx) is a life-saving treatment for patients with end-stage lung disease; however, the shortage of donor lungs has been a major limiting factor to increasing the number of LTx. Growing experience following LTx using donor lungs after cardiac death (DCD) has been promising, although concerns remain. The purpose of this study was to develop a DCD lung harvest model using an ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) system and to assess the function of presumably damaged lungs harvested from the DCD donor in pigs. Methods: The 40 kg pigs were randomly divided into the control group with no ischemic lung injury (n=5) and the study group (n=5), which had 1 hour of warm ischemic lung injury after cardiac arrest. Harvested lungs were placed in the EVLP circuit and oxygen capacities (OC), pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), and peak airway pressure (PAP) were evaluated every hour for 4 hours. At the end of EVLP, specimens were excised for pathologic review and wet/dry ratio. Results: No statistically significant difference in OC (P=0.353), PVR (P=0.951), and PAP (P=0.651) was observed in both groups. Lung injury severity score (control group vs. study group: 0.700±0.303 vs. 0.870±0.130; P=0.230) and wet/dry ratio (control group vs. study group: 5.89±0.97 vs. 6.20±0.57; P=0.560) also showed no statistically significant difference between the groups. Conclusions: The function of DCD lungs assessed using EVLP showed no difference from that of control lungs without ischemic injury; therefore, utilization of DCD lungs can be a new option to decrease the number of deaths on the waiting list.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.62-65
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• 2017

Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive disease and despite the efforts of the past few decades, the 5-year overall survival (OS) rate remains disappointing and does not exceed 10% in Korea. Especially, only 15-20% of patients are candidates for surgical resection because most patients are diagnosed with locally advanced or metastatic disease, and their only treatment approach is palliative chemotherapy. Since the first chemo-regimen of Gemcitabine and Nanoparticle albumin bound (nab) - paclitaxel was brought to clinical practice in 2013, the improvement in overall survival, progression-free survival, and response rate was achieved in patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma. We report the case of a young patient with cardiogenic shock accompanied by multi-organ failure after 4^th cycle Gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel chemotherapy with partial response.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.213-218
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• 2024

The myocardial nuclear medicine examination is widely performed to diagnose myocardium disease using various radionuclides. Although image quality according to radionuclides has improved, the radiation exposure for target organ as well as peripheral organs should be considered. Here, the aim of this study was to evaluate absorbed dose (Gy) for peripheral organs in myocardial nuclear medicine scan from myocardium according to various scan environments based on Monte Carlo simulation. The simulation environment was modeled 5 cases, which were considered by radionuclides, number of injections, and radiodosage. In addition, the each radionuclide simulation such as distribution fraction was considered by recommended standard protocol, and the mesh computational female phantom, which is provided by International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) 145, was used using the particle and heavy ion transport code system (PHITS) version 3.33. Based on the results, the closer to the myocardium, the higher the absorbed dose values. In addition, application for dual injection for radionuclides leaded to high absorbed dose compared with single injection for radionuclide. Consequently, there is difference for absorbed dose according to radionuclides, number of injections, and radiodosage. To detect the accurate diseased area, acquisition for improved image quality is crucial process by injecting radionuclides, however, we need to consider absorbed dose both target and peripheral inner organs from radionuclides in terms radiation protection for patient.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.84 no.3
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• pp.686-691
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• 2023

Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a fibroinflammatory disorder that can involve any organ system; however, myocarditis is extremely rare. A 52-year-old male with dyspnea and chest discomfort underwent cardiac MRI that revealed edema and nodular, patchy, mesocardial and subendoardial delayed enhancement of left ventricle, suggesting myocarditis. Laboratory findings revealed elevated serum IgG4 and eosinophilia. Cardiac biopsy confirmed eosinophilic myocarditis with IgG4-positive cells. Here, we present an unusual case of IgG4-RD manifesting as eosinophilic myocarditis.

• The Korean journal of internal medicine
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.448-457
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• 2024

Background/Aims: Improved knowledge of local epidemiology and predicting risk factors of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria are required to optimize the management of infections. This study examined local epidemiology and antibiotic resistance patterns of liver cirrhosis (LC) patients and evaluated the predictors of MDR bacteremia in Korea. Methods: This was a retrospective study including 140 LC patients diagnosed with bacteremia between January 2017 and December 2022. Local epidemiology and antibiotic resistance patterns and the determinants of MDR bacteremia were analyzed using logistic regression analysis. Results: The most frequently isolated bacteria, from the bloodstream, were Escherichia coli (n = 45, 31.7%) and Klebsiella spp. (n = 35, 24.6%). Thirty-four isolates (23.9%) were MDR, and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase E. coli (52.9%) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (17.6%) were the most commonly isolated MDR bacteria. When Enterococcus spp. were cultured, the majority were MDR (MDR 83.3% vs. 16.7%, p = 0.003), particularly vancomycin-susceptible Enterococcus faecium. Antibiotics administration within 30 days and/or nosocomial infection was a significant predictor of MDR bacteremia (OR: 3.40, 95% CI: 1.24-9.27, p = 0.02). MDR bacteremia was not predicted by sepsis predictors, such as positive systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) or quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA). Conclusions: More than 70% of strains that can be treated with a third-generation cephalosporin have been cultured. In cirrhotic patients, antibiotic administration within 30 days and/or nosocomial infection are predictors of MDR bacteremia; therefore, empirical administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics should be considered when these risk factors are present.