• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.147-159
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• 2008

Objectives : In order to investigate the relation of body composition analysis and isokinetic trunk muscle strength for the screening test of low back pain. Methods : This study was carried out with the data from comprehensive medical testing. 75 subject aged 20-59 performed the segmental bioelectrical impedance analysis, isokinetic trunk muscle strength test and questionnaire. Then we analyzed the relationship of data. Results : Low back pain(LBP) prevalence in high obesity index(Body mass index(BMI), Percentage of Body Fat(PBF), Waist Hip Ratio(WHR)) group was higher than LBP prevalence in normal obesity index group(p<0.001). In LBP group, Extension Peak Torque(Ext.PT), Extension Peak Torque per Body Weight(Ext.PT/BW) were significantly lower than Non-LBP group(p<0.001). And 90% of LBP group indicated abnormal Extension-Flexion Ratio(E/F ratio)(1.0 < Normal E/F ratio <1.6). When it comes to analyze relation between obesity index and muscle strength, Ext.PT/BW was significantly decreased according to PBF, WHR score. And correlation coefficient in Flex.PT, Flex.PT/BW, Ext.PT, Ext.PT/BW and PBF showed decreasing function. Conclusions : Results from this investigation showed positive correlation between obesity and LBP prevalence. Decreased muscle strength and inbalanced E/F ratio were shown in LBP. Trunk muscle strength was changed according to body mass composition parameters. This results are expected to contribute to prevent and diagnose LBP by application the clinical index of body composition analysis.

• KIPS Transactions on Software and Data Engineering
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.109-114
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• 2012

Honeycombs are dense structures that small cysts, which generally have about 2~10 mm in diameter, are surrounded by the wall of fibrosis. When honeycomb is found in the patients, the incidence of acute exacerbation is generally very high. Thus, the observation and quantitative measurement of honeycomb are considered as a significant marker for clinical diagnosis. In this point of view, we propose an automatic segmentation method using morphological image processing and assessment of the degree of clustering techniques. Firstly, image noises were removed by the Gaussian filtering and then a morphological dilation method was applied to segment lung regions. Secondly, honeycomb cyst candidates were detected through the 8-neighborhood pixel exploration, and then non-cyst regions were removed using the region growing method and wall pattern testing. Lastly, final honeycomb regions were segmented through the extraction of dense regions which are consisted of two or more cysts using cluster analysis. The proposed method applied to 80 High resolution computed tomography (HRCT) images and achieved a sensitivity of 89.4% and PPV (Positive Predictive Value) of 72.2%.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.67-77
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• 2010

Purpose: The aims of this study are to evaluate psychological impact and quality of life according to the cancer diagnosis and mutation status in Korean families with BRCA mutations. Materials and Methods: Seventeen affected carriers (AC), 16 unaffected carriers (UC) and 13 healthy non carriers (NC) from 13 BRCA mutation families were included in the study. Outcomes were compared with regard to depression (Beck Depression Inventory), anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, STAI), optimism (Reevaluation of the Life Orientation test, LOT-R), knowledge of hereditary ovarian cancer, and quality of life (QoL) (SF-36v2 Health Survey, physical component score [PCS], mental component score [MCS]) among three groups. Result: Level of depression, optimism, and PCS were similar in AC, UC, and NC. Anxiety score was elevated in all three groups. MCS was significantly low in AC than in UC and NC (P=0.009, P=0.017). Knowledge of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer was high in AC than NC (P=0.001). MCS was significantly related to whether patient was affected by cancer (P=0.043) and has occupation (P=0.008) or not in multivariable analysis. Conclusion: From this cross sectional study, psychological adverse effect was not related to the carrier status of BRCA mutation. Elevated anxiety in BRCA family members was observed but, independent to affection and the type of genetic mutation. AC showed low mental QoL. Further effort to understand psychological impact and QoL of genetic testing in BRCA family members is required for follow-up in clinical aspects.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.214-222
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• 2002

Purpose : The aim of this study was to evaluate myocardial injury in children treated with adriamycin by echocardiography, which is non-invasive and safe measurement for children. Methods : Left ventricular dimensions, wall stress, and contractile function were determined by echocardiographic methods in 17 patient recepients with adriamycin chemotherapy at rest(group 1) and during stress(group 2). Twenty age-matched normal subjects were established as control group. Results : End-diastolic dimension was decreased in both groups(group 1; $92{\pm}7%$ of normal, group 2; $87{\pm}8%$ of normal, P<0.05). Left ventricular end diastolic volume and wall mass were also decreased in both groups(group 1; $96{\pm}12mL/m^2$ and $145{\pm}18g/m^2$, group 2; $87{\pm}8mL/m^2$ and $137{\pm}16g/m^2$, respectively, P<0.05 and P<0.05) and group 2 showed lower values than group 1. Meridional end systolic stress(ESSm) was increased in both groups but there was no significant difference between the two groups(group 1; $52.6{\pm}6.2g/cm^2$, group 2; $63.5{\pm}8.5g/cm^2$, P<0.05, normal value $45.7{\pm}3.5g/cm^2$). The load-independent relation of rate-corrected circumferential fiber shortening velocity(Vcfc) to ESSm has a significant abnormal change in 7 out of 17(41%) in group 1 and 12 out of 17(71%) in group 2. Conclusion : The load-dependent systolic index, such as fractional shortening, may fail to show abnormality because of the compensatory changes in preload and afterload which can mask the impaired contractility. Therefore, systolic performance also should be monitored by a load-indepedent contractility index such as slope value of the end-systolic pressure-dimension relation and the position of the left ventricular stress-fiber shortening velocity after exercise.