• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.183-189
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• 2005

Purpose: Despite the advance of medical science, the number of cancer patient have increased and the mortality rate is also on the rise. Therefore, a perfect cure for cancer is crucial, but the value and meaning of the remaining life for the patient are also becoming more and more important. The principal aim of this study is to examine the differences in the quality of life, physical and psychosocial symptoms according to the performance status of terminal cancer patients. Methods: We evaluated the performance status, demographical data, blood analysis and quality of life of cancer patients who visited the Department of family Medicine at Myoung-ji Hospital in Korea between September 1, 2003 and August 31, 2005. Their performance status (ECOG) was divided into two groups ($ECOG\;0{\sim}1/ECOG\;2{\sim}4$) and analyzed by ANOVA to see if there was a difference in their blood analysis and quality of life. A P value of less than 0.05 was considered to be significant. Results: A total of 104 patients were evaluated, among which 71 patients (23 male and 48 female) scored $0{\sim}1$, and 33 patients (8 males and 25 females) scored $2{\sim}4$ in the ECOG. The blood analysis showed that patients whose performance status was $2{\sim}4$ had lower levels of lymphocytes, hemoglobin, protein, albumin and sodium. The evaluation on their quality of life showed that the overall health status of patients with $2{\sim}3$ functional ability were poor (P=0.02). Also, from a functional perspective, these patients had poor physical (P=0.05) and role (P=0.01) scores, and in terms of symptoms, they showed a significant loss of appetite. Conclusion: If a patient's performance status was poor, levels related to certain nutritions were also found to fall in blood tests, thereby leading to an overall weakened state of health. However, there was no difference in symptoms except for a loss of appetite. In conclusion, it is most important to increase the appetite in patients with poor performance status.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.34-41
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• 2016

Adult-onset type II citrullinemia (CTLN2) is characterized by episodes of neurologic symptoms associated with hyperammonemia leading to disorientation, irritability, seizures, and coma. CTLN2 is distinct from classical citrullinemia, which is caused by a mutation of the argininosuccinic acid synthetase (ASS) gene. The serum citrulline level is elevated, while the activity of ASS in liver tissue is decreased. CTLN2 is known to have a poor prognosis if the proper treatment is not taken. We reported a female aged 37 years who developed recurrent attacks of altered consciousness, aberrant behavior, and vomiting. We initially suspected the patient had CTLN2 because of the signs of hyperammonemic encephalopathy, such as altered mentality, memory disturbance, and aberrant behaviors provoked by exercise-induced stress and excessive intravenous amino acid administration. Through her peculiar diet preferences and laboratory findings that included hyperammonemia and citrullinemia, we diagnosed the patient as CTLN2, and SLC25A13 sequencing revealed known compound heterozygous mutations (IVS11+1G>A, c.674C> A). Her parents were heterozygous carriers, and we identified that her older sister had the same mutations. The older sister had not experienced any episodes of hyperammonemia, but she had peculiar diet preferences. The patient and her sister have been well with conservative management. When considering the clinical course of CTLN2, it was meaningful that the older sister could be diagnosed early in an asymptomatic period and that preemptive treatment was employed. Through this case, CTLN2 should be considered in adults who present symptoms of hyperammonemic encephalopathy without a definite etiology. Because of its rare incidence and similar clinical features, CTLN2 is frequently misdiagnosed as hepatic encephalopathy, and it shows a poor prognosis due to the lack of early diagnosis and proper treatment. A high-carbohydrate diet, which is usually used to treat other urea cycle defects, can also exaggerate the clinical course of CTLN2, so proper metabolic screening tests and genetic studies should be performed.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.20-24
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• 2009

This study was conducted to investigate the roles of co-existed organic materials (OM) with different biodegradability in composting of cattle manure in terms of $CO_2$ emission and $NH_3$ volatilization. Either sawdust (SD, low biodegradability) or rice bran (RB, high biodegradability) was mixed with cattle manure at a various rate and the amounts of $CO_2$ emission and $NH_3$ volatilization were determined periodically during 4 weeks of composting. Percentage of dry matter loss during the composting period was also calculated. The amount of $CO_2$ emitted increased with increasing rate of OM and was significantly (P<0.01) higher in the RB treatment than in the SD treatment by 43 to 122% depending on the rate of OM Accordingly, % of dry matter loss during 4 weeks of composting was higher in the RB (rang: from 35.1 % to 41.5%) than that in the SD treatments (from 18.7% to 22.6%), showing that RB is more biodegradable than SD. During the early composting period up to 8 days, negligible amount of ammonia volatilization was detected in both treatments regardless of application rates. In the RB treatment, substantial amount of ammonia volatilization was detected thereafter, however, no meaningful ammonia volatilization was observed in the SD treatment until the end of composting. Such differences could be attributed to the different properties of SD and RB. For example, the high C/N ratio of SD could enhance $NH_4^+$ immobilization and thus decrease $NH_4^+$ concentration that is susceptible to ammonia volatilization. Binding of $NH_4^+$ on to phenolic compounds of SD may also contribute to the decrease in $NH_4^+$ concentration. Meanwhile, as RB has a relatively low C/N ratio, remineralization of immobilized $NH_4^+$ could increase $NH_4^+$ concentration as high as the level for the occurrence of ammonia volatilization. Therefore, our study suggests that OM which is resistant to biodegradation can reduce $NH_3$ volatilization largely by physico-chemical pathways across the entire composting period and that easily biodegradable OM can retard $NH_3$ volatilzation via microbial immobilization in the early period of composting followed by rapid remineralization, leading to substantial volatilization of $NH_3$ in the middle stage of composting.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.237-251
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• 2009

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of replacing antibiotics by organic acid mixture on growth performances and blood metabolites in growing pigs. Twenty-five crossbred pigs (Large White${\times}$Landrace) at the age of 79 days were fed five different diets by supplementing organic acid mixture and chlortetracycline. The experimental diets were consisted of diets without antibiotics supplementation (control), diets added 100mg/kg of chlortetracycline to control diet (T1), diets added 100mg/kg of chlortetracycline and 0.1% of $Acidomix^{(R)}$ (comprising formic acid 25%, sorbic acid 10%, fumaric acid 10%) to control diet (T2), diets added 0.1% of $Acidomix^{(R)}$ to control diet (T3), and diets added 0.3% of $Acidomix^{(R)}$ to control diet (T4). The changes in feed conversion ratio, average daily gain and blood metabolites were investigated. Twenty-five pigs were allotted to five treatments with five replications of each and the experiment was conducted on the basis of complete randomized design for 6 weeks. Average daily gain was significantly (p<0.05) different between T4 and control diets. All treatments including diets added $Acidomix^{(R)}$ and chlortetracycline were slightly higher than control diets. The feed intakes did not show a significant difference between the control and other treatments, and did not give change in feed intake by the addition of $Acidomix^{(R)}$. No differences on feed conversion ratio among treatments were observed but T4 and T3 treatments showed lower value than other treatments. The concentrations of blood urea nitrogen, total cholesterol and triglyceride were significantly (p<0.05) different among treatments, but their values were within the normal range representing that effects on blood profile by organic acid or antibiotics supplementation were not found. The results from this study indicated that adding chlortetracycline or organic acid mixtures to diets showed tendency to improve average daily gain and feed conversion ratio in growing pigs. These results showed that antibiotics could be replaced by organic acid mixture in growing pig diets, leading to stimulated growth and improved feed conversion ratio.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.19 no.1 s.19
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• pp.31-44
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• 1986

For many years, $NO_2$ has been regarded as one of the elements among indoor air pollutants of urban homes, leading to increased public concerns on this gas. For the purpose of preparing the fundamental data for the evaluation and control of health effect relevant to $NO_2$ levels, authors measured the indoor (kitchen, living room, bed room) and outdoor $NO_2$ levels categorized by the type of house(apartment, detached dwelling) and cooking fuel(L.P.G., briquette) in the winter and summer, and surveyed the variables(kitchen ventilation, family size, parental smoking) may effect the indoor $NO_2$ levels. The level of $NO_2$ was measured by Palmes tube, and this survey was carried out at 110 homes in the Pusan area from October 1984 to September 1985. The obtained results were as follows: 1) The mean indoor and outdoor $NO_2$ level in winter and summer, respectively, was $0.029{\pm}0.012$ ppm and $0.022{\pm}0.012$ ppm in the kitchen, $0.022{\pm}0.009$ ppm and $0.018{\pm}0.010$ ppm in the living room, $0.017{\pm}0.008$ ppm and $0.016{\pm}0.010$ ppm in the bed room, and $0.021{\pm}0.007$ ppm and $0.016{\pm}0.007$ ppm outdoors. 2) In the category of the type of house and cooking fuel, the highest mean indoor and outdoor $NO_2$ level in the winter was in apartments using briquettes, and in the summer. the highest level was in apartments using L.P.G. 3) In the category of the type of house, the mean indoor and outdoor $NO_2$ level in the winter and summer was higher in the apartment group compared to detached dwelling. 4) In the category of the type of cooking fuel, the mean indoor and outdoor $NO_2$ level in the winter was higher in the briquette group, and in the summer, the L.P.G. group was higher. 5) In the category of the kitchen ventilation, family size, parental smoking and asthma attack history of children, there was an insignificant difference in the indoor $NO_2$ levels.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.21 no.2 s.24
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• pp.224-237
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• 1988

To determine the causes of and related factors to childhood injuries, the emergency room records and inpatient medical records were reviewed for 4,849 injured children out of 15,790 pediatric patients(<15 years old) who visited the emergency rooms of 3 university hospitals and 2 general hospitals in Taegu from 1 January to 31 December 1987. Out of total injured children, 54.675 were 3-8 years old and the male to female ratio of the total injured children was about 2:1. The leading causes of injury were falls and slips (29.1%) and traffic accident(28.2%). The frequency of injury was higher in May-October than the rest of months and 51.6% of the injuries occurred between 15 and 20 o'clock. Falls and slips took place most frequently at the stairway(25.7%). The most common interpersonal violence was inflicted injuries(85.6%) and there were 11 child rapes. Dog bites accounted for 67.6% of all biting injuries and it occured 2.9 times more in male than in female. CO intoxication was the most common cause of poisoning (45.3%) and scalding accounted for 85.2% of all burns. Common places of drownings were river (32.2%), swimming pool (22.6%) and construction site(19.3%). To prevent childhood injuries, it is recommended to eliminate the hazardous environmental factors, to provide safe playgrounds, to educate the children for safety from kindergarten and the general public through mass communication, to establish a strict safety standard for houses, public buildings and facilities, and playgrounds.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.99-105
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• 1974

According to the content of sugar and starch of each positional leaf sheath and internode at heading and 4 weeks after it using IR667-Suwon 214 (high yielding var. having tropical Indica parantage) and Jinheung (local leading var. temperate Japonica) rice grown in various cultivation seasons the suitability of grouping into the high sugar type (sugar>starch), sugar, tendency (increasing tendency in sugar content), high starh type (starch>sugar) and starch tendency (increasing tendency in starch) in carbohydrate metabolism was reexamined as follows. 1. Sugar tendency appeared strongly in IR667 than Jinheung, internode than leaf sheath, late season cultivation than early season, 4 weeks after than heading and high temperature than low temperature. Thus at heading, leaf sheath and internode of Jinheung in early and late season cultivation were high starch type, and lower internode in early season cultiattion and leaf sheath and internode in late season for IR667 were high sugar type. In very late season all internodes of both varieties except 1st internode of Jinheung at heading were high starch type. At four week after heading all leaf sheaths except 1st and 4th one of Jinheung and all internodes were high sugar type. High sugar type was intensified 4 weeks after heading in leaf sheaths than in internodes of IR667 in early season and of both varieties in late season. 2. The upper three leaf sheaths and internodes seem to work in the same way for carbohydrate translocation. Among them upper ones showed sugar tendency at heading and starch tendency 4 weeks after heading and it was clear in Jinheung. 3. The later the cultivation season, the higher the carbohydrate content (sugar+starch), and such tendency was clear 4 weeks after heading and in IR667, suggesting teanslocation inhibition by low temperature. 4. Grain filling rate (weight increase per day) was more rapid in early season cultivation and IR667 took shorter days to reach maximum rate. 5. The later the cultivation season, the greater the percent contribution of carbohydrate before heading to yield and it was always greater in IR667, a leaf sheath type. 6. Sugar and starch ratio appears to be determined principally by metabolic characteristics of variety according to growth process and secondly but considerably by environmental factors.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.83-88
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• 1976

A study was made on the interstrain difference in dose-infection response and induction response of silkworm to the two strains of cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus to obtain some informations on screening the leading strains. Comparison of dose-infection responses of larvae following the inoculation of the inclusion body of cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus revealed that there is no significance in the resistance to dose-infection and any of strains were more resistant at advanced stage(4th instar) than younger stage(2nd instar). In the pathogenicity between cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus with hexagonal and tetragonal outline, the hexagonal polyhedra showed higher pathogenicity than the tetragonal polyhedra. However, the averages of $LC_{50}$ of cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus with hexagonal outline to larvae of parental inbred line were 6.12${\times}$10$\^$6//$m\ell$ at 2nd instar and 1.57${\times}$10$\^$7//$m\ell$ at 4th instar in spring and those to their hybrids were 1.28${\times}$10$\^$6//$m\ell$ at 2nd ins tar and 4.99${\times}$10$\^$6//$m\ell$ at 4th ins tar in autumn. Meanwhile the $LC_{50}$ averages of tetragonal polyhedra. to larvae of parental inbred line were 2.06${\times}$10$\^$7//$m\ell$ at 2nd instar and 5.67${\times}$10$\^$7//$m\ell$ at 4th instar in spring and those to their hybrids were 9.84${\times}$10$\^$6//$m\ell$ at 2nd instar and 3.86${\times}$10$\^$7//$m\ell$ at 4th instar in autumn, respectively. In comparison of induction response of silkworm larvae to inoculation of tetragonal polyhedra of cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus, the induction rate of hexagonal polyhedra was remarkably higher in the treatment of inoculation at 2nd instar than at 4th instar and at the concentration of 1.3${\times}$10$\^$6//$m\ell$ than at any others. Most of induction showed a mixed infection with hexagonal and tetragonal polyhedra of cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.6 s.263
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• pp.440-448
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• 2006

Background: Surgery of descending thoracic or thoracoabdominal aorta has the potential risk of causing neurological injury including spinal cord damage. This study was designed to find out the risk factors leading to spinal cord and brain damage after surgery of descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aorta. Material and Method: Between October 1995 and July 2005, thirty three patients with descending thoracic or thoracoabdominal aortic disease underwent resection and graft replacement of the involved aortic segments. We reviewed these patients retrospectively. There were 23 descending thoracic aortic diseases and 10 thoracoabdominal aortic diseases. As an etiology, there were 23 aortic dissections and 10 aortic aneurysms. Preoperative and perioperative variables were analyzed univariately and multivariately to identify risk factors of neurological injury. Result: Paraplegia occurred in 2 (6.1%) patients and permanent in one. There were 7 brain damages (21%), among them, 4 were permanent damages. As risk factors of spinal cord damage, Crawford type II III(p=0.011) and intercostal artery anastomosis (p=0.040) were statistically significant. Cardiopulmonary bypass time more than 200 minutes (p=0.023), left atrial vent catheter insertion (p=0.005) were statistically significant as risk factors of brain damage. Left heart partial bypass (LHPB) was statistically significant as a protecting factor of brain (p=0.032). Conclusion: The incidence of brain damage was higher than that of spinal cord damage after surgery of descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aorta. There was no brain damage in LHPB group. LHPB was advantageous in protecting brain from postoperative brain injury. Adjunctive procedures to protect spinal cord is needed and vigilant attention should be paid in patients with Crawford type II III and patients who have patent intercostal arteries.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.285-291
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• 2010

Background: Thoracic trauma is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. A rib fracture that is secondary to blunt thoracic trauma is an important indicator of the severity of the trauma. The purpose of study was to determine the morbidity and mortality rates and the management of rib fractures. Material and Method: We performed a retrospective study that involved all the blunt trauma patients with rib fractures, excluding those that were transferred to other hospital within 3 days, that were seen at our hospital between May 2002 and December 2008. Of the 474 admitted patients, 454 met the inclusion criteria. There were 356 male and 98 females, and their overall mean age was 53 years (range: 5~90 years). The outcome parameters included the mechanism of injury, the number of fractured ribs, the length of stay in the ICU, the Injury Severity Score (ISS), the length of the hospital stay, the pulmonary complications and the mortality. Result: The mechanism of trauma included traffic accidents in 189 (41.7%) cases, slipping down in 103 (22.7%) cases, falls in 85 (18.7%) cases, cultivator accidents in 30 (6.6%) cases, industrial accidents in 32 (7.0%) cases and assault in 15 (3.3%) cases. Intrathoracic injury was noted such as hemothorax in 269 (59.3%) cases, pneumothorax in 144 (31.7%) cases, pulmonary contusion in 95 (20.9%) cases, subcutaneous emphysema in 29 (6.4%) cases and great vessel injury in 5 (0.1%) cases. Conservative treatment was administered to most of the patients. Tube thoracostomy was administered in 234 (51.5%) cases, whereas thoracotomy was performed in 18 (4.0%) cases. The mean duration of thoracostomy was $5.2{\pm}6.2$ days. Most of the cases with rib fracture were treated in wards and their mean duration of hospital stay was $22.5{\pm}20$ days. The mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) was $14.8{\pm}10.9$ (range: 3~75). The mortality rate was calculated to be 4.8% (n=22). The main factors correlated with an adverse outcome were the number of ribs fractured, the duration of thoracostomy and pulmonary disease. Industrial insurance affected the length of hospitalization. Pulmonary contusion and the Injury Severity Score (ISS) affected the mortality. Conclusion: Rib fractures are a indicator of severe injury. Because of the complication and associated injuries, we believe these patients should be admitted for evaluation and treatment. Recent studies on the impact of rib fractures after blunt trauma have shown that patients as young as 40 years of age demonstrate increased morbidity and mortality with similar injuries as compared to that of older patients. The ISS and pulmonary contusion influenced the mortality rate. Patients with isolated rib fractures should be hospitalized if the number of fractured ribs is one or more.