• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.295-299
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• 2008

Objectives : The Korean government in January 2006 instigated an exemption policy for hospitalized children under the age of six years old. This study examines how this policy affected the utilization of medical care in Korea. Methods : A total of 1,513,797 claim records from the Health Insurance Review Agency were analyzed by complete enumeration methods. The changes of medical utilization were compared from 2005 to 2006. In addition, the changes of medical utilization between 2004 and 2005 were compared as a pseudo-control group. Results : The admission rate increased 1.14-fold from 15.20% in 2004 to 17.32% in 2005, and this further increased 1.08-fold to 18.65% in 2006. The increase of patients with a common cold (1.2-fold) was higher than that of both the general patients (1.08-fold) and the patients, with the top 10 fatal diseases (0.91-fold). The average length of stay per case for clinics showed the highest increase rates (1.06-fold). The rates of patients with the common cold showed a higher increase (1.05-fold) than that of the general patients. The average medical expense per case was increased by 1.10-fold from 2005 to 2006, which was higher than that from 2004 to 2005 (1.04-fold). The increase rate for patients with the common cold was higher at 1.18-fold than that of the general patients. Conclusions : The cost exemption policy has especially led to an increase in the utilization of clinics and the utilization by patients with a common cold.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.126-132
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• 2011

Background and Objectives : Vocal fold paresis is a clinical condition and considered as a continuum of neurologic dysfunction encompassing partial denervation and variable degrees and patterns of reinnervation. Its incidence, clinical presentation, significance are incompletely understood and still debated. This study describes the clinical, electromyographic findings in patients who presented with complaints of dysphonia and whose laryngoscopic finding revealed vocal fold paresis. Materials and Method : 47 patients (male : 25, female : 22) who referred to Ewha Womans University Medical Center Voice clinic for evaluation of vocal complaints were enrolled in this study. All patients had undergone a through history and physical examination including strobovideoscopic and laryngoscopic examination. Patients with in the history and/or laryngoscopic examination suggestive of vocal fold paresis were evaluated by laryngeal electromyography (LEMG). Results : Of these patients, 23 (48.9%) were found to have evidence of neuropathy on LEMG. There was no significant difference in voice symptoms and laryngoscopic findings between two groups of patients with evidence of neuropathy and who show normal findings on LEMG. Conclusion : LEMG can clinically help to guide the evaluation and management of vocal fold paresis. Due to some limitations of LEMG, laryngoscopic findings and clinical correlations should also be considered when diagnosing the vocal fold paresis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.139-141
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• 2019

The causes of vocal cord paralysis include iatrogenic injury during thyroid or cervical surgery, heart and chest surgery, and tumorous lesion such as laryngeal cancer and lung cancer. In addition to these common causes, rarely, cardiovascular disease can also cause vocal fold paralysis. A disease known as Cardiovocal syndrome, or Ortner's syndrome, causes left vocal fold paralysis when the left recurrent laryngeal nerve is compressed by the pulmonary artery and aorta, which is occurred by pulmonary hypertension from heart disease. We report for the first case in Korea the diagnosis of vocal fold paralysis caused by Ortner's syndrome.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.27-31
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• 2010

Mild vocal fold hypomobility is a common finding of which clinical significance is incompletely understood. Recently, electrophysiologic investigations have shown that vocal fold hypomobility is a continuum of neurogenic dysfunction ; partial denervation (paresis), complete denervation (paralysis), and variable degrees and patterns of reinnervation. Despite a sound pathophysiological basis for its existence, interest in and acceptance of the diagnosis of vocal fold paresis is relatively recent. Vocal fold paresis may be a relatively common and often overlooked condition that can be difficult to diagnose since laryngoscopy does not reliably distinguish innocent laryngeal asymmetry from hypomobility caused by paresis. Although not entirely free from error, laryngeal electromyography seems to hold more promise as a means of reliable diagnosis than laryngoscopy, and should be employed systematically in the evaluation of suspected paresis. The means to help most patients with paresis already exists in the repertoire of interventions developed to treat paralysis. However, since the vocal fold retains substantial movement, more conservative treatment strategy is recommended as a first line of treatment. The authors reviewed the representative reports of vocal fold paresis and summarized the controversies and consensus regarding the vocal fold paresis.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.471-479
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• 2008

Purpose: Sunken eyelid is a deformity of upper eyelid due to atrophy of periocular fat tissue, loss of skin elasticity. It causes the skin retraction of eyelid and unfavorable fold. Sunken eyelid occurs from the results of natural aging process, facial trauma, complication of previous periocular surgery, etc. We acquired a satisfied correction of sunken eyelid and unfavorable fold using autologous fat injection only. The aim of this study is a assessment of autologous fat injection for correction of sunken eyelid accompanied with unfavorable fold. Methods: From August 2002 to March 2006, we performed 37 cases of correction of sunken eyelid with unfavorable fold using autologous fat injection. They were all females with ages ranged from 23 to 63. Fat was harvested from lower abdomen and centrifuged with Coleman system. Multi-layered injection of purified fat was done from orbital fat layer to orbicularis oculi muscle. Results: Overall, improvement of sunken eye and unfavorable fold was observed in the majority of the patients. Discomfort of eye opening was improved in 24 patients. The average injection volume was 1.33 mL in right eyelid, 1.31 mL in left eyelid at first injection. Second injection was done in patients who absorption of injected fat was noted with. No specific complications were observed. Conclusion: Natural and attractive upper eyelid was acquired from fat injection only in sunken eyelid with unfavorable fold. To the authors' knowledge, it is desirable for sunken eyelid accompanied with unfavorable fold to be treated with autologous fat injection at first. Although some shortcomings are substantial, autologous fat injection is easy and effective method for correction of unfavorable fold in sunken eyelid without specific complication.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.110-117
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• 2009

Vocal fold paralysis continues to be a dominant topic in laryngology. This review article discusses the management principle of patients suffering from unilateral vocal fold paralysis. There are currently some main methods ; voice therapy ; injection laryngoplasty ; laryngeal framework surgery ; reinnervation procedures.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.28-32
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• 2012

Vocal fold scar disrupts structure of lamina propria and causes significant change in vocal fold tissue biomechanics, resulting in a range of voice problems that often significantly compromise patient quality of life. Although several therapeutic management have been offered in an attempt to improve vocal fold scar, the ideal treatment has not yet been found. Recently, several tissue engineering technique for vocal fold scar using growth factors, several cells, and scaffolds have been described in tissue culture and animal models. Several growth factors such as hepatocyte growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, and transforming growth factor beta 3 for therapy and prevention of vocal fold scar have been studied. Cell types to regenerate vocal folds in scarring tissue have been introduced autologous or scarred vocal fold fibroblast and adult mesenchymal stem cells. Decellularized organ matrix and several hyaluronic acid materials have used as scaffolds for vocal fold scar.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.153-161
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• 2020

Cytochrome P450(CYP) gene is involved in the biotransformation of drugs and environmental pollutants. In this study, we analyzed the nucleotide sequence of the Anguilla japonica CYP1(AjCYP1) family gene and examined the relative expression of AjCYP1A, AjCYP1B and AjCYP1C1 in response to the exposure to environmental pollutants. After exposure to B[a]P 20mg/kg bw, the expression of AjCYP1 family gene increased over time. Among four tissues examined (liver, spleen, gill and kidney), AjCYP1 family gene was expressed significantly in the kidney. Compared with the control group, AjCYP1A was expressed about 5-fold at 48 hr, AjCYP1B about 6-fold at 24 hr, and AjCYP1C1 about 4-fold at 24 hr. However, after exposure to B[a]P 200mg/kg bw, AjCYP1A did not change in all tissues. On the other hand, AjCYP1B was expressed at about 4-fold at 24 hr in the spleen and 4-fold at 48 hr in the gill. Finally AjCYP1C1 was expressed 3.7-fold and 4.3-fold in the spleen and kidneys at 48 hr, respectively. Taken together, our results suggest that the expression of AjCYP1 gene in eel tissues might be used as a useful tool to assess the exposure to environmental pollutants in aquaculture system.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.3-6
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• 2012

Purpose : Samsung medical ceter shall find a cause of the interference factor and suggest a solution for it. Materials and Methods : A sample of $^{18}F$-FDG, radioactive pharmaceuticals produced by TRACERlab MX and FASTlab synthesizer. Gel-clot method uses Positive control tube and single test tube. Kinetic chromogenic method uses ENDOSAFE-PTS produced by Charles River. Results : According to Gel clot method of Endotoxin Tests at FASTlab, both turbidity and viscosity increased at 40-fold dilution and Gel clot was detected. In case of TRACERlab MX, Gel clot was detected in most of samples but intermittently not in a few of them. When using ENDOSAFE-PTS, sample CV (Coefficient of Variation) of FASTlab is 0% at all dilution rates whereas spike CV is 0% at 1-fold dilution, 0~35% at 10-fold, 3.6~12.9% at 20-fold, 5.2~7.1% at 30-fold, 1.1~17.4% at 40-fold, spike recovery; 0% at one-fold, 25 ~ 58% at 10-fold, 50 ~ 86% at 20-fold, 70~92% at 30-fold, and 75~120% at 40-fold. Sample CV of TRACERlab MX, is 0% at all dilution rates whereas spike CV is 1.4~4.8% at one-fold dilution, 0.6~19.9% at 10-fold, spike recovery; 35~72% at one-fold dilution and 77~107% at 10-fold. Conclusion : Gel clot does not seem to occur probably to H3PO4 which engages in bonding with Mg2+ion contributing gelation inside PCT. Dilution which is identical to reducing the amount of H3PO4, could remove interfering effects accordingly. Spike recovery was obtained within 70~150% - recommended values of supplier - at 40-fold dilution even in kinetic chromogenic method.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.124-127
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• 2019

Vocal fold scarring is an intractable phonosurgical condition. The number of patients with vocal fold scars is increasing with the aging of society and with the increasing application of laryngeal microsurgery. Many methods are available to treat these, including voice therapy, stem cells, regenerative scaffolds, and growth factors. However, no standard treatment strategy has yet been established, and novel techniques are required. Basic fibroblast growth factor has been shown to be effective for the treatment of mild chronic vocal fold scarring. The combined use of basic fibroblast growth factor and regenerative scaffolds is currently under investigation. Here, we report a female patient in whom vocal fold scarring developed after two laryngeal microsurgeries. We performed laryngeal microsurgery to remove the scar tissue and used basic fibroblast growth factor and a collagen scaffold to promote healing. The patient's voice quality was greatly increased, and she was content with her voice after 2 years of follow-up. This is the first report of this methodology in Korea and is presented along with a review of the literature.