• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.45-51
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• 2011

Purpose: The antimicrobial resistance of Helicobacter pylori is one of the critical factors in failure of eradication therapy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate antimicrobial resistance of H. pylori in Korean children. Methods: Gastric mucosal specimens for H. pylori were obtained from children with dyspepsia who were cared for at Asan Medical Center Children's Hospital in Seoul, Korea between 2003 and 2009. Antimicrobial resistance tests were performed using the disk diffusion method for clarithromycin and amoxicillin and the E-test for metronidazole and tetracycline. Most children with H. pylori infections were treated using triple therapies. Results: Thirty-three children had positive H. pylori cultures, although a resistance test was only performed in 28 patients. Resistant strains were found in 9 children (32.1%). The resistance rates to clarithromycin and metronidazole were 25% and 17.8%, respectively. There was no resistance to amoxicillin or tetracycline. The resistance rates decreased from 44.4% (2003~2006) to 26.3% (2006~2009) during the study period. Conclusion: Korean children demonstrated relatively high antimicrobial resistance to H. pylori in this study. However, there was a temporarily decreasing trend during the study period. A larger multi-regional study may be needed to determine the optimal antimicrobial treatment for pediatric patients infected with H. pylori.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.158-164
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• 1994

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis is a disease of unknown etiology characterized by the accumulation of PAS positive lipoproteinaceous material in the alveolar spaces sparing septum. The therapy which has enjoyed the greatest success is whole lung lavage. The authors reported here, a case of 44 year old male patient with pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, and this is the 7th case in Korea. The patient underwent whole lung lavage but expired due to brain edema complicated by the procedure. He complained exertional dyspnea and cyanotic lips, and presented fine inspiratory crackle at both lower lung fields, decreased arterial oxygen pressure, and diffuse infiltration at whole lung field. Light microscopic finding of lung tissue obtained by transbronchial lung biopsy revealed PAS positive amorphous, granular material filled in the alveolar spaces, and electron microscopy of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid concentrate showed many electron-dense multi-lamellated structures. To treat the disease, the authors tried whole lung lavage of left lung with $37^{\circ}C$ isotonic saline under general anesthesia. However, he expired due to brain edema probably due to dilutional hyponatremia complicated by the procedure, 11 days after the procedure. Whole lung lavage is known relatively safe, but fatal complication may occur like this case.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.213-219
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• 2017

Objectives: Early intensive interventions are very important for children with autism spectrum disorder. We examined the actual conditions of hospital-based early intensive interventions for autism spectrum disorder in Seoul, in order to help develop and implement an evidence-based early intensive intervention model for use in Korea. Methods: Nine hospital-based institutes running an early intensive intervention program for children with autism spectrum disorder responded to a questionnaire in September 2014. They provided a brief introduction to their program, explained its theoretical bases, and reported the number of children, their age, intervention time, duration and so on. Results: In the majority of the institutions, the intervention was provided for over 20 hours every week, and the theoretical bases included various applied behavioral analysis (ABA) methods and other therapies (language and occupational therapy). The therapist-child ratio ranged from 1:1 to 5:3. Various types of therapists were involved, including behavioral analysts, special education teachers and (or) language pathologists. There was only one clinic where the behavioral analyst was the main therapist. Usually, the intervention was terminated just before the child entered elementary school. The main merit of the hospital-based intervention in our survey was the effectiveness of the multi-disciplinary intervention plan and its other merits were the accuracy of the diagnosis, its ability to be combined with medicine, and so on. Conclusion: The current hospital-based early intensive intervention programs provide interventions for over 20 hours per week and employ multidisciplinary approaches. However, there are very few institutes for children with autism and very few intervention specialists and specialist education courses in the country. We need more educational programs for intervention therapists and have to try to develop policies which encourage the implementation of an evidence-based early intensive intervention program nationwide.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.192-200
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• 2006

We evaluated the positional accuracy of the delivered beams to the target in a phantom by simulating the whole process of the radiation treatments Including CT scanning, planning and beam exposures with MLCs. For this purpose, a phantom was made to calibrate the alignment between the CT and the attached laser system. A new, convenient method was also devised to align the setup lasers in the treatment room. Film was used for the Identification of the delivered beam and analyzed with a homemade computer program. The positional differences between the target and the beam centers varied with the couch rotations. The accelerator we used showed a maximum discrepancy of 2.0 mm at the table angle of $295^{\circ}$. The same measurements based on the new isocenter from the Winston-Lutz test resulted in the maximum of 1.35 mm for all rotation angles. The evaluation of the differences between the target and the beam centers is useful for the treatment planning.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.8 no.11
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• pp.182-188
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• 2008

The MLC(multi leaf collimator) in charge of important role in radiation therapy field recently have been exchanging from shielding block into it rapidly, owing to being convenient. However, MLC can be occurred the leakage dose of inter_leaves and the error of algorithm in imput and output from digital signal. We compared the difference of imput method to MLC made by Varian Cop. with the error and effective field induced by MLC shaper and film scanner based on XimaVision value as using MLC layer of various shapes. According to comparing standard value with them to basic MLC layer (test1-5), MLC shaper was $0{\sim}0.29cm$, $0.23{\sim}3.59cm^2$ and film scanner was $0{\sim}0.78cm$, $0.24{\sim}3.89cm^2$. At the MLC layer to be applied in clinic, MLC shaper was $0{\sim}0.54cm$, $0.04{\sim}1.68cm^2$ and film scanner was $0{\sim}0.78cm$, $0.24{\sim}3.89cm^2$. The more distance and field from axis of central line increase, the more bigger the error value increases. There is a few mm error from standard point at the process which imput various information to apply MLC in clinic. and effective field did not have variation of monitor unit and dose owing to being a few cm2 error against real field. But there are some problem to shield critical organs because some part of target volume induced by the movement of organs can be not included, therefore we have to pay attention on the process to imput MLC layer

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.6 no.5
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• pp.295-302
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to convergence approach analyse the depression tendency by family situation and leisure history in the elderly who live in town house in Gyeonggi-do. This study analysed factors such as family situation, leisure history related to the depression tendency. This study selected 20 elderly people over 65 as research subjects and all data analysis was to conduct analyze by multi-variables independent t-test and one-way ANOVA. The results of GDS showed 11 people(55%) presented with mild depression tendency(M=13.0) and 1 person(5%) showed severe depression tendency. 11 out of 30 questions in GDS had a significant difference among the depression degree. Individual disease type had a significant difference in depression tendency statistically(F(3, 16)=4.534, p<.05). Past leisure satisfaction among total leisure history factors had a significant difference in depression tendency(F(2,17)=3.989, p<.05). The participants whose leisure activity was absent in the past and present showed a regressive depression tendency. Participants with no social companions also presented with the same. The study concluded to grasp the real condition of depression, and make practical alternatives for that, multilateral depression tendency analysis using diverse methods are necessary in the near future for improving reliability of tools.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.552-558
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• 2015

Background The Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome (KTS) is characterized by three clinical features, namely cutaneous capillary malformations, venous malformations, and soft tissue and/or bony hypertrophy of the extremities. The varied manifestations are attributed to the unpredictable clinical nature and prognosis of the syndrome. To elucidate the clinical characteristics of this disease, we reviewed a relatively large number of KTS patients who presented to our vascular anomalies center. Methods We conducted a retrospective study with 19 patients who were diagnosed with KTS and treated in our vascular anomalies clinic between 2003 and 2014, and examined their demographic characteristics, their clinical features, and the treatments administered. Results The sex distribution was balanced, with 9 (47%) males and 10 (53%) females. The mean follow-up period was 4.1 years (range, 7 months-9 years). Most of the patients received conservative treatments such as medication or physiotherapy. Compression therapies such as wearing of elastic garments/bandages were also administered, and surgical interventions were considered only when the patients became excessively symptomatic. Other treatments included laser therapy and sclerotherapy, and all the treatments were adjusted according to each case, tailored to the conditions of the individual patients. Conclusions KTS is an extremely rare, multifactorial disorder that induces widely varied symptoms. Because of this unique feature, plastic surgeons, when not careful, tend to attach a one-sided importance to typical symptoms such as limb hypertrophy or capillary malformation and thus overlook other symptoms and clinical features. KTS can be suspected in all infants who show capillary malformations or limb hypertrophy and require a multi-disciplinary approach for comprehensive management.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.236-241
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• 2012

Background: Prolonged usage of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) may induce multi-organ failure. This study is aimed to evaluate prognostic factors in the patients with ECMO. Also, the prognosis of ECMO with Kidney Injury Network Scoring system is studied. Materials and Methods: From May 2005 to July 2011, 172 cases of ECMO were performed. The cases of perioperative use of ECMO were excluded. Renal failure patient and younger than 15 years old one were also excluded. As a result, 26 cases were enrolled in this study. Male patients were 15 (57.7%), and mean age was $56.57{\pm}17.03$ years old. Demographic data, ECMO parameters, weaning from ECMO, and application of continuous renal replacement therapy are collected and Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN) scores were evaluated just before ECMO and day 1, day 2 during application of ECMO. Results: Venoarterial ECMO was applied in 22 cases (84.6%). The reasons for applications of ECMO were cardiac origin in 21 (80.8%), acute respiratory distress syndrome in 4, and septic shock in 1 case. Successful weaning from ECMO was achieved in 15 cases (57.7%), and survival discharge rate was 9 cases (34.6%). Mean duration of application of ECMO was $111.39{\pm}54.06$ hours. In univariate analysis, myocarditis was independent risk factors on weaning failure. Using the receiver operating characteristic curve, level of hemoglobin on 24 hours after ECMO, and base excess on 48 hours after ECMO were showed more than 0.7. AKIN score was not matched the prognosis of the patients with ECMO. Conclusion: In our study, the prognosis of the patients with myocarditis was poor. Hemoglobin level at first 24 hours, and degree of acidosis at 48 hours were useful methods in relating with prognosis of ECMO. AKIN scoring system was not related with the prognosis of the patients. Further study for prognosis and organ injury during application ECMO may be needed.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.116-133
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• 2002

Background : It is very common in Korea to take care of non-acute patients in an acute setting, due to the lack of long-term facilities. Long term hospitalization increase medical expenses and decreases the bed utilization, which can affect the urgent and emergent admissions, and eventually jeopardize the hospital financially. In this study, strategies for effective transfers to the lower levels of care, and to decrease the length of stay were presented by surveying and analyzing the patient's knowledge of the transfer needs, and the willingness to transfer those whose hospital length of stay was more than 30days. Method : The survey is subject to a group of 251 patients who have been hospitalized over 30 days in a general hospital in Seoul. Excluding those that were in the Intensive Care Unit and psychiatric ward, 214 in-patients were used as participants. They were surveyed from April 9, 2002 to April 17, 2002. One hundred and thirty seven out of 214 were responded which made the response rate 64%. Data were analyzed by SAS and SPSS. Result : Multi-variable Logistic Regression Analysis showed a significant effect in medical expenses, knowledge of referral system and the information of the receiving hospital. The financial burden in medical expenses made the patient 10.7 times more willing to be transferred, knowledge of the referral system made them 5 times more willing to be transferred, and the information of receiving hospital makes 6.5 times more willing to be transferred. Reasons for willing to be transferred to a lower level of care were the phase of physical therapy, the distance from home, the attending physician's advice and being unable to be treated as an out patient. Reasons for refusing to be transferred were the following. The attending physician's competency, not being ready to be discharged, not trusting the receiving hospital's competency due to the lack of information, or never hearing about the referring system by the attending physician. Conclusion : Based on this, strategies for the effective transfer to the lower levels of care were suggested. It is desirable for the attending physician to be actively involved by making an effort to explain the transfer need, and referring to the Healthcare Coordinating Center, which can help the patient make the right decision. Nationwide networking for the referral system is the another key factor that may need to be suggested as an alternative to decrease the medical expenses. Collaborating with the Home Health Agency for the early discharge planning and the Social Service Department for financial aid are also needed. It is recommended that the hospital should expedite the transfer process by prioritizing the cost and the information as medical expenses, knowledge of referring system and the information of the receiving hospital, are the most important factors to the willingness to transfer to a lower level of care.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.55-64
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• 2015

Dose calculations which are a crucial requirement for radiotherapy treatment planning systems require accuracy and rapid calculations. The conventional radiotherapy treatment planning dose algorithms are rapid but lack precision. Monte Carlo methods are time consuming but the most accurate. The new combined system that Monte Carlo methods calculate part of interesting domain and the rest is calculated by neural can calculate the dose distribution rapidly and accurately. The preliminary study showed that neural networks can map functions which contain discontinuous points and inflection points which the dose distributions in inhomogeneous media also have. Performance results between scaled conjugated gradient algorithm and Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm which are used for training the neural network with a different number of neurons were compared. Finally, the dose distributions of homogeneous phantom calculated by a commercialized treatment planning system were used as training data of the neural network. In the case of homogeneous phantom;the mean squared error of percent depth dose was 0.00214. Further works are programmed to develop the neural network model for 3-dimensinal dose calculations in homogeneous phantoms and inhomogeneous phantoms.