• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.67-76
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• 2004

Background : Pulmonary hypertension is a poor prognostic factor in patients with chronic respiratory disease. However, diagnosing pulmonary hypertension is a difficult procedure which often requires an invasive test. Thus new alternative biochemical markers would be useful in clinical field and are in search. We sought to assess the role of plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP) in patients with pulmonary hypertension. Method : We measured plasma NT-proBNP level in twenty nine patients suspected for pulmonary hypertension. Pulmonary hypertension was defined as being right ventricular systolic pressure more than 35 mm Hg estimated by Doppler echocardiography. Plasma NT-proBNP level was measured by electrochemiluminescence sandwich immunoassay. Results : The log-transformed values for plasma NT-proBNP levels showed a linear correlation (correlation coefficiency: 0.783, p-value <0.001) with right ventricular systolic pressure. Plasma NT-proBNP levels closely correlated with right ventricular systolic pressure, right ventricular hypertrophy, interventricular septal flattening and right ventricular dilatation. Conclusion : Our results suggest that the measurement of plasma NT-proBNP level is an useful marker of the presence of pulmonary hypertension.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.55-61
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• 2009

Recently, the number of high-rise buildings being built in Korea by major construction companies for residential and commercial use has been increasing. When constructing a high-rise building, it is necessary to apply massive amounts of concrete to form a mat foundation that can withstand the huge load of the upper structure. However, it is of increasing concern that due to limitations in terms of the amount of placing equipment, available job-sites and systems for mass concrete placement in the construction field, it is not always possible to place a great quantity of concrete simultaneously in a large-scale mat foundation, and for this reason consistency between placement lift cannot be secured. In addition, a mat foundation Is likely to crack due to the stress caused by differences inhydration heat generation time. To derive a solution for these problems, this study provides test results of a hydration heat crack reduction method by applying placement lift change and setting time control with a super retarding agent for mass concrete in a large-scale mat foundation. Mock-up specimens with different mixtures and placement liftswere prepared at the job-site of a newly-constructed high-rise building. The test results show that slump flow of concrete before and after adding the super retarding agent somewhat Increases as the target retarding time gets longer, while the air content shows no great difference. The setting time was observed to be retarded as the target retarding time gets longer. As the target retarding time gets longer, compressive strength appears to be decreased at an early stage, but as time goes by, compressive strength gets higher, and the compressive strength at 28 days becomes equal or higher to that of plain concrete without a super retarding agent. For the effect of placement lift change and super retarding agent on the reduction of hydration heat, the application of 2 and 4 placement lifts and a super retarding agent makes it possible to secure consistency and reduce temperature difference between placement lifts, while also extending the time to reach peak temperature. This implies that the possibility of thermal crack induced by hydration heat is reduced. The best results are shown in the case of applying 4 placement lifts.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.169-176
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• 2009

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a syndrome accompanied with the abnormal secretion or function of insulin, a hormone that plays a vital role in controlling the blood glucose level (BGL). Type land 2 DM are most common form and the prevalence of the latter is recently increasing, The aim of this article was to assess whet her Type 2 DM could act as a predisposing risk factor on the pulpo-periapical pathogenesis. Previous literature on the pathologic changes of blood vessels in DM was thoroughly reviewed. Furthermore, a histopathologic analysis of artificially-induced periapical specimens obtained from Type 2 diabetic and DM-resistant rats was compared. Histopathologic results demonstrate that the size of periapical bone destruction w as larger and the degree of pulpal inflammation was more severe in diabetic rats, indicating that Type 2 D M itself can be a predisposing risk factor that makes the host more susceptible to pulpal infection. The possible reasons may be that in diabetic state the lumen of pulpal blood vessels are thickened by atheromatous deposits, and microcirculation is hindered, The function of polymorphonuclear leukocyte is also impair ed and the migration of immune cells is blocked, leading to increased chance of pulpal infection. Also, lack of collateral circulation of pulpal blood vessels makes the pulp more susceptible to infection. These decrease the regeneration capacity of pulpal cells or tissues, delaying the healing process, Therefore, when restorative treatment is needed in Type 2 DM patients, dentists should minimize irritation to the pulpal tissue un der control of BGL.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.93-102
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• 2012

Thanks to the rapid increase of the interest in the quality control of the General X-ray systems, this research proposes the direction of the quality control through comparing and inspecting the actual condition of the respective quality control in the Clinic, the educational institution and the hospital. The subjects of the investigation are diagnostic radiation equipment's in the clinic, the educational institution and the hospital around the capital. A test of kVp, mR/mAs out put test and reproducibility of the exposure dose, half value layer, an accordance between the light field and the beam alignment test, and lastly reproducibility of the exposure time. Then the mean difference of the percentage, the CV (Coefficient of Variation, CV) and the attenuated curve which are respectively resulted from the above tests are computed. After that we have evaluated the values according to the regulations on the Diagnostic Radiation Equipment Safety Administration regulations. In the case of the clinic and the educational institution, there were 22 general X-ray devices. And 18.2% of the kVp test, 13.6% of the reproducibility of exposure dose test, 9.1% of the mR/mAs out put test, and 13.6% of the HVL (Half Value Layer) test appeared to be improper. In the case of the hospital, however, there were 28 devices. And 7.1% of the reproducibility of exposure dose, 7.1% of the difference in the light field/ beam alignment, and 7.1% of the reproducibility of the exposure time appeared to be improper. According to the investigation, the hospital's quality control condition is better than the condition in the clinic and the educational institution. The quality control condition of the general X-ray devices in the clinic is unsatisfactory compared to the hospital. Thus, it is considered that realizing the importance of the quality control is necessary.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.99-110
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• 2013

In the medical field, the necessity of education growth for the professional Radiation Technologists has been emphasized to become experts on radiation and the radiation field is important of the society. Also, in hospitals and companies, important on thesis is getting higher in order to active and cope with rapidly changing internal and external environment and a more in-depth expert training, the necessity of new teaching and learning model that can cope with changes in a more proactive has become. Thesis writing classes brought limits to the in-depth learning as to start a semester and rely on only specific programs besides, inevitable on passive participation. In addition, it does not have a variety opportunity to present, an actual opportunity that can be written and discussed does not provide much caused by instructor-led classes. As well as, it has had a direct impact on the quality of the thesis, furthermore, having the opportunity to participate in various conferences showed the limitations. In order to solve these problems, in this study, writing thesis has organized training operations as a consistent gradual deepening of learning, at the same time, the operational idea was proposed based on the connectivity integrated operating and effective training program & instructional tool for improving the ability to perform the written actual thesis. The development of teaching and learning model consisted of 4 system modeling, scaffolding, articulation, exploration. Depending on the nature of the course, consisting team following the personal interest and the topic allow for connection subject, based on this, promote research capacity through a step-by-step evaluation and feedback and, fundamentally strengthen problem-solving skills through the journal studies, help not only solving the real-time problem by taking wiki-space but also efficient use of time, increase the quality of the thesis by activating cooperation through mentoring, as a result, it was to promote a positive partnership with the academic. Support system in three stages planning subject, progress & writing, writing thesis & presentation and based on cognitive apprenticeship. The ongoing Coaching and Reflection of professor and expert was applied in order to maintain these activities smoothly. The results of this study will introduce actively, voluntarily and substantially join to learners, by doing so, culture the enhancement of creativity, originality and the ability to co-work and by enhance the expertise of based-knowledge, it is considered to be help to improve the comprehensive ability.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.1316-1322
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• 1996

From May 1977 to December 1994, 1.060 cases of open heart surge y for congenital heart disease were performed under cardiopulmonary bypass in Chonnam University Hospital They were divided into two groups; group A(677 cases, from May 1977 lo December 1989), group B(38B cases, from January 1990 to December 1994), to be compared and analized. Of the 1, 060 cases, there were 889 acyanotic (83.9%) and 171 cyanotic(16.1%). The operative mortality was 7.8% in group A and 5.7% in group B (total : 6.6%). The operative mortality for group A was 25% in cyanotic disease and 3.7% in acyanotic disease, respectively in group B, it was 23.8%, 3.2%. There were 19 patients (3.8%) and 78 patients(20.4%) with body weight under 10kg in group A and group B respectively. The operative mortality for these patients were 31.6% in A group and 16.1% in B group. In result, increasing trend in congenital heart disease in patients under 10 kg of body weight has been noted, whereas mortality has decreased. The operative mortality of tetralogy of Fallot has decreased in group B t an group A. These results suggest that the operative result have improved in recent years.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.98-105
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• 2005

Purpose : The objective of our study was to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of p53 and bax proteins as prognostic markers in FIGO stage IIb invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix. Materials and Methods : Sixty-five cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix (stage IIb) that were diagnosed from October 1995 to December 2003 were analyzed retrospectively for the bax and p53 expression. These expressions were determined immunohistochemically and they were correlated to the patients' overall survival and disease-free survival. Results : The overall 5-year survival (OS) rate and the disease-free survival (DFS) rate were $65.1\%$ and $62.9\%$, respectively. p53 and bax immunoreactivity was seen in $26.2\%$ and $52.3\%$ of cases, respectively, with variable levels of expression. On the univariate analysis, only p53 positivity correlated with poor survival in DFS (log-rank test p=0.027), but this significance was not maintained on multivariated analysis by Cox's regression. The nine cases with the immunophenotype ps3+/bax- had the poorest survival. Conclusion : Neither p53 nor bax expression are Independent predictors of the prognosis for stage IIb cervical squamous cancers. Evaluation of p53 and bax co-expression may affect the clinical outcome and further investigation is needed.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 2015

Purpose Whole body bone scan, which makes up a largest percentage of nuclear medicine tests, has high sensitivity and resolution about bone lesion like osteomyelitis, fracture and the early detection of primary cancer. However, any standard for valuation has not yet been created except minimum factor. Therefore, in this study, we will analysis the method which show a quantitative evaluation index in whole body bone scan. Materials and Methods This study is conducted among 30 call patients, who visited the hospital from April to September 2014 with no special point of view about bone lesion, using GE INFINIA equipment. Enumerated data is measured mainly with patient's whole body count and lumbar vertabrae, and the things which include CNR (Contrast to Noise ratio), SNR (Signal to Noise ratio) are calculated according to the mean value signal and standard deviation of each lumbar vertabrae. In addition, the numerical value with the abdominal thickness is compared to each value by the change of scan speed and tissue equivalent material throughout the phantom examination, and compared with 1hours deleyed value. Completely, on the scale of ten, 2 reading doctors and 5 skilled radiologists with 5-years experience analysis the correlation between visual analysis with blind test and quantitative calculation. Results The whole body count and interest region count of patients have no significant correlation with visual analysis value throughout the blind test(P<0.05). There is definite correlation among CNR and SNR. In phantom examination, Value of the change was caused by the thickness of the abdomen and the scan speed. And The poor value of the image in the subject as a delay test patient could be confirmed that the increase tendency. Conclusion Now, a standard for valuation has not been created in whole body bone scan except minimum factor. In this study, we can verify the significant correlation with blind test using CNR and SNR and also assure that the scan speed is a important factor to influence the imagine quality from the value. It is possible to be some limit depending on the physiology function and fluid intake of patient even if we progress the evaluation in same condition include same injection amount, same scan speed and so on. However, that we prove the significant evaluation index by presenting quantitative calculation objectively could be considered academic value.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2015

Purpose $^{99m}Tc-DMSA$ renal scintigraphy serves as location, size and shape of kidney, so it has been used for diagnosis and passage observation after the operation or treatment. There are 3 methods of calculating the relative renal uptake ratio such as geometric mean of the counts from the anterior and posterior views, arithmetical mean from the only posterior view and posterior view which applied the renal depths. In this study, we seek to correlation between the change of total relative uptake ratio according to different inspection methods of obtaining the renal count rate. Materials and Methods The phantom experiments proceeded 5 times depending on each renal depth with the kidney phantom and tissue equivalent materials. In the clinical research, we investigated 36 adult patients who had visited our hospital from february to october, 2014 and received $^{99m}Tc-DMSA$ renal scan. The equipment was used as a gamma camera named INFINIA (General Electric Healthcare, milwaukee, USA) and we drew the region of interests through semiautomatic method by using Xeleris Ver. 2.1220 of GE. In addition, we obtained the lateral view of kidney to measure the renal depth of each patient. Then the results were compared with 3 methods of calculating relative renal uptake ratio. Results The phantom studies show when the difference between the left ant right kidney depth were less than 1 cm, there were no statistically significant difference among values calculated through anterior and posterior views and only posterior view (P>0.05), while the excess of 1cm, the results showed a statistically significant change in the value (P<0.05). In case of clinical research, the correlation between total relative uptake ratio by obtaining both sides of image and posterior view applied the kidney depth (r=0.999) was higher than by obtaining only posterior view and applying the kidney depth to one side image (r=0.988). Conclusion This study has found that, the difference of calculating total relative uptake ratio compared with obtaining anterior and posterior views and only posterior view. In order to reduce the error, we recommend the method of obtaining anterior and posterior views and is considered to be useful, particularly the patients have similar uptake ratio of left and right kidney and difficulties of measurements of kidney depth.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.373-384
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• 2011

This experiment was conducted to investigate the selection of regional double cropping system for production of organic forage in middle part of Korea and investigated their productivity, feed values and stock carrying capacity. The test results proved the Sorghum${\times}$Sudangrass hybrid was 10.9 $ton{\cdot}ha^{-1}$, the one of Rye + Red clover and Rye + Hairy vetch were the highest one as 3.3 $ton{\cdot}ha^{-1}$ and the relative yield about a Rye is higher in the dry matter yield in the field soil. And as for the relative forage values (RFV), Corn is the most excellent ones as 96.6 but there were no the significant difference between the Sorghum${\times}$Sudangrass hybrid of 84.4 and it. The total digestible nutrient (TDN) content in Rye + Hairy vetch is higher than others as 59.7%. As for the relative feed value, Rye + Red clover is the highest one as 83.8 but there was no significant differences between them. As for the ability to raise livestock in the field soil, the average values of $K_{CP}$ and $K_{TDN}$ are shown as 4.27 head/ha/yr in Sorghum${\times}$Sudangrass hybrid. As for the same crops, the average values of $K_{CP}$ and $K_{TDN}$ showed the highest ones as 1.74 head/ha/yr, in Rye + Red clover but there were no the significant differences. As for the dry matter yield of the rice field soil, organic rice straw was 3.3 $ton{\cdot}ha^{-1}$ and Rye + Red clover significantly showed the highest values as 4.1 $ton{\cdot}ha^{-1}$. In the rice filed soil, the crude protein content of organic rice straw was 3.1% and the TDN content of organic rice straw was 55%. The TDN content in Rye + Red clover was higher than others as 59.7%. As for the relative forage values, Rye + Red clover showed the highest one as 83.8 but there were no significant differences between them. As for the ability to raise livestock in the rice field, the average values of $K_{CP}$ and $K_{TDN}$ in the organic rice straw was 1.04 head/ha/yr and the average values of $K_{CP}$ and $K_{TDN}$ in Rye + Red clover is the highest one as 1.84 head/ha/yr, but there were no significant differences in all of them.