• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.967-975
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• 2019

Objective: To evaluate whether the combination of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and ¹¹C-methionine positron emission tomography (¹¹C-MET PET) could increase accurate diagnostic sensitivity for non-enhancing supratentorial gliomas. Materials and Methods: Between February 2012 and December 2017, 109 patients with non-enhanced supratentorial lesions on contrast-enhanced MRI were enrolled. Each patient underwent MRS and ¹¹C-MET PET before treatment. A lesion was considered to be a glioma when either the MRS or ¹¹C-MET PET results reached the diagnostic threshold. The radiological diagnosis was compared with the pathological diagnosis or medical diagnostic criteria. Results: The sensitivity and specificity were 60.0% and 50.0% for MRS and 75.8% and 50.0% for ¹¹C-MET PET, respectively. Upon combining the two modalities, the sensitivity and specificity of the imaging-based diagnosis prior to surgery reached 89.5% and 42.9%, respectively. Statistically significant differences in the sensitivities were observed between the combined and individual approaches (MRS alone, 89.5% vs. 60.0%, p < 0.001; ¹¹C-MET PET alone, 89.5% vs. 75.8%, p = 0.001). However, no significant differences in specificity were observed between the combined and individual modalities. Conclusion: The combination of MRS and ¹¹C-MET PET findings significantly increases accurate diagnostic sensitivity for non-enhancing supratentorial gliomas without significantly lowering the specificity. This finding suggests the potential of the combined MRS and ¹¹C-MET PET approach in clinical applications.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.24 no.spc1
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• pp.23-36
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this guideline is to show the evidence-based guidelines of diagnosis and evaluation of Hwabyung by the synthesis and organization of existing research contents. Methods : We investigated the existing research on the concept of Hwabyung. Further, we investigated the diagnostic tools, self-diagnostic method, symptoms assessment tools, oriental medical diagnostic methods, treatment evaluation tools and other testing methods of Hwabyung. Results : There was a Hwabyung diagnostic interview schedule (HIBDS) in the standardized measure for the diagnosis of Hwabyung. In the symptoms assessment tools of Hwabyung, there was a self-report measurement tool of Hwabyung and measurement tool of Hwabyung to be evaluated by the interviewer. In the oriental medical diagnostic method, there was an instrument of pattern identification for Hwabyung. In the treatment assessment tool, there was an instrument of oriental medical evaluation for Hwabyung. In addition, MMPI, SCL-90R, Zung's self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), Zung's self-rating depression scale (SDS), State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI) and etc. can be used for the diagnosis and assessment of Hwabyung. Conclusions : We expect 'Clinical Guidelines for the Treatment of Hwabyung' to be useful for the diagnosis and assessment of Hwabyung.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.150-155
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• 2011

It is a very important diagnosis and evalution of Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Korea where hepatitis B-virus is endemic. Protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist II (PIVKA-II) appears to be a useful tumor marker. This study was purposed to investigate usefulness of PIVKA-II in the diagnosis and fallow-up after treatment of HCC. A total of 418 patients were included in 187 patients (44.7%) of HCC, 83 patients (19.9%) of liver cirrhosis, 74 patients (17.7%) of chronic hepatitis and 74 patients (17.7%) of other liver diseases with serum PIVKA-II levels by Hicatch PIVKA-II kit. PIVKA-II level were analysed for difference of groups and the comparison of treatment responses. The sensitivity and specificity of PIVKA-II in the diagnosis of HCC were 80.2%, 87.0% at the cut-off value of 40 mAU/mL. There were statistically significant difference between the HCC and other groups (p<0.001), before and after PIVKA-II levels after treatment in HCC (p<0.001). PIVKA-II can be used as a useful tumor marker for patients with HCC, especially early diagnosis in high risk groups, treatment response assesment and monitoring of recurrence.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.243-250
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• 2009

Objectives : The purposes of this study is to estimate the cost of cancer care after its diagnosis and to identify factors that can influence the cost of cancer care. Methods : The study subjects were patients with an initial diagnosis one of four selected tumors and had their first two-years of cancer care at a national cancer center. The data were obtained from medical records and patient surveys. We classified cancer care costs into medical and nonmedical costs, and each cost was analyzed for burden type, medical service, and cancer stage according to cancer types. Factors affecting cancer care costs for the initial phase included demographic variables, socioeconomic status and clinical variables. Results : Cancer care costs for the initial year following diagnosis were higher than the costs for the following successive year after diagnosis. Lung cancer (25,648,000 won) had higher costs than the other three cancer types. Of the total costs, patent burden was more than 50% and medical costs accounted for more than 60%. Inpatient costs accounted for more than 60% of the medical costs for stomach and liver cancer in the initial phase. Care for latestage cancer was more expensive than care for early-stage cancer. Nonmedical costs were estimated to be between 4,500,000 to 6,000,000 won with expenses for the caregiver being the highest. The factors affecting cancer care costs were treatment type and cancer stage. Conclusions : The cancer care costs after diagnosis are substantial and vary by cancer site, cancer stage and treatment type. It is useful for policy makers and researchers to identify tumor-specific medical and nonmedical costs. The effort to reduce cancer costs and early detection for cancer can reduce the burden to society and improve quality of life for the cancer patients.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.367-370
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• 2007

Objective: Pituitary adenomas are common neurological lesions believed to account for 10% to 15% of all primary brain tumors. There can be diagnostic confusion due to discordance of the preoperative endocrine and the postoperative immunohistochemical diagnosis. In this study, the rate of discordance between preoperative and postoperative findings and their clinical implications were investigated. Methods: From March 2005 to March 2006, 26 patients who underwent surgery for a pituitary adenoma were enrolled in this study. The preoperative pituitary hormone level and postoperative immunohistochemical results were compared and analyzed. Results: The median age of the patients was 38 years [range 15-66 years]. The male to female ratio was 8 to 18. The endocrine evaluation showed 16 hormonally-active and 10 hormonally-inactive adenomas. The immunohistochemical findings showed : 13 prolactin-positive, 1 GH-positive, 1 FSH-positive, 8 pleurihormone-positive and 3 stain-negative adenomas. The percentage of discordance observed between the preoperative endocrine and postoperative immunohistochemical diagnosis was 54%. Nine of 10 endocrine non-functioning adenomas showed : 3 PRL positive, 1 GH positive, 2 PRL+GH positive, 1 TSH+FSH positive, 1 FSH+ACTH+PRL positive and 1 FSH+LH+PRL positive adenomas by immunohistochemistry. Three endocrine PRL+GH secreting adenomas showed 2 PRL positive and 1 FSH+GH positive by immunohistochemistry. One endocrine PRL secreting and 1 GH secreting adenoma showed 1 PRL+ TSH positive and 1 GH+PRL positive by immunohistochemistry, respectively. The diagnosis of the other 12 pituitary adenomas showed concordance. Conclusion : The results of this study showed 54% discordance rate between the preoperative endocrine and postoperative immunohistochemical diagnosis for pituitary adenomas.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.57-60
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• 2003

A 4 year old female with acute lower abdominal pain was admitted with the diagnosis of periappendiceal abscess made by ultrasonography. At laparotomy, the appendix was normal, but the left ovary was twisted and necrotic. Appendectomy and left salpingo-oophorectomy were performed. The pathology of the appendix was normal, and the left tube and ovary were ischemic and had hemorrhagic necrosis. Pediatric adnexal torsion may be difficult to diagnosis clinically. Sonography is the preferred imaging study. It usually confirms a pelvic mass but may not establish the diagnosis. The correct diagnosis of adnexal torsion is often made at exploration. The most common erroneous diagnosis is acute appendicitis or periappendiceal abscess. Therapy for adnexal torsion remains controversial. While extirpation has been the standard of treatment in the past, there are current proponents of conservative therapy with adnexal sparing. Early diagnosis may lead to more frequent salvage of affected adnexa.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.47-55
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• 2019

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to research the relations between the Renying pulse and Qikou pulse diagnosis(人迎氣口脈診法) and the Chong vessel(衝脈) based on Yin and Yang(陰陽). Methods : We set up locations of the Renying pulse and the Qikou pulse as ST9(Renying pulse) and LU9(Qikou pulse) respectively. Several medical texts and papers were examined from the ancient to modern periods, in which the relations between the Renying and Qikou pulse diagnosis(人迎氣口脈診法) and the Chong vessel(衝脈) were analyzed based on Yin and Yang(陰陽). Results & Conclusions : The Chong vessel(衝脈) goes around the whole body and its dysfuction can be determined at pulsating sites. Also the Chong vessel(衝脈) supplies Source Qi(原氣) to the Stomach where it generates Nutrient Qi(營氣) and Defense Qi (衛氣). Due to the Lung's function that balances Nutrient Qi(營氣) and Defense Qi(衛氣), the balance between Yin and Yang is accomplished. This Yin-Yang balance can be confirmed through pulse diagnosis of the Renying pulse and Qikou pulse(人迎氣口脈診法).

• Journal of Oriental Medical Thermology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.55-65
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was performed to evaluate DITI (Digital Infrared Thermographic Imaging)'s potential for diagnosis and indicator of abdominal cold hypersensitivity treatment from the clinical case study. Methods: The patient was a 35-year-old woman who was suffered by general coldness, sweating and general pain. The patient was treated by Herb medicine, Acupuncture treatment, Moxa treatment and Physical Treatment. The progress of symptoms was evaluated by checking the change of VAS, and inspecting the DITI. We studied the statistical significance from the difference of DITI results before and after treatment by paired T-test using SPSS windows (version 12.0). Results: The general coldness, sweating and general pain of this patient have declined, especially the abdominal coldness improvement showing. As a results, the temperature of four abdominal sites(GV4,6,12,17) after treatment were statistically higher than those before treatment. With comparison of Indang, DITI difference of abdominal sites before and after treatment were statistically significant from paired T-tests. Conclusion: The results suggest that DITI can be used for the diagnosis and assessment of abdominal cold hypersensitivity treatment.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.91-116
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• 2010

As Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a new and rare illness, medical cause for it has not yet been clearly found out. Nevertheless, the patients continue to file lawsuits for damage compensation against wrongdoers or their insurers, claiming that the cause of the illness is certain actions of the wrongdoers. Moreover, the claim amount reaches to hundreds of millions of won through billions of won unlike other illnesses. Therefore, CRPS has become an important legal issue in the damage compensation lawsuit. Even though the wound is slight, the development and result may be serious in the case of CRPS. As a result, a sharp conflict arises even regarding medical diagnosis of CRPS in the lawsuit. And, even if the medical diagnosis of CRPS is admitted, severe debates occurs with regard to many issues, which include the causation between accident and CRPS in connection with establishment of damage compensation liability and scope of liability like anamnesis, determination standard of aftereffect disability, and scope of admitted aftereffect medical expense in connection with scope of damage compensation. In this study, I will review fundamental medical research on CRPS up to now and discuss principal legal issues in the damage compensation lawsuit focusing on lower court rulings.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.57 no.6
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• pp.515-521
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• 2004

With the increasing resolution of modern CT scanners, analysis of the larger numbers of images acquired in a lung screening exam or diagnostic study is necessary, which also needs high accuracy and reproducibility. Recent developments in the computerized analysis of medical images are expected to aid radiologists and other healthcare professional in various diagnostic tasks of medical image interpretation. This article is to provide a brief overview of some of computer-aided diagnosis schemes in chest CT.