• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.11
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• pp.1241-1248
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• 2009

Purpose:The etiology of Kawasaki disease (KD) is still unknown. Recently, an association between human coronavirus NL63 (HCoV-NL63) and KD was implicated. Hence, we attempted to determine the association between KD and acute respiratory viral infections. Methods:Nasopharyngeal aspirate samples were obtained from 54 patients diagnosed with KD at the Seoul National University (SNU) Children's Hospital and SNU-Bundang Hospital between October 2003 and September 2006. Viral diagnoses of 11 respiratory viruses were made using multiplex reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR): respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), adenovirus, rhinovirus (RV), parainfluenza viruses (PIVs) 1 and 3, influenza viruses (IFVs) A and B, human metapneumovirus (HMPV), human bocavirus (HBoV), HCoV OC43/229E, and HCoV-NL63. Clinical data were reviewed retrospectively. Results:The median age was 32 months (6 months-10.4 years). Respiratory symptoms were observed in 37 patients (69%). The following respiratory viruses were identified in 12 patients (22%): RV (n=4), PIV-3 (n=2), HBoV (n=2), and adenovirus, RSV, PIV-1, IFV-A, and HCoV-NL63 (n=1). Co-infection with PIV-3 and RV was observed in one patient. Respiratory symptoms were observed in 7 (58.3%) and 30 (71.4%) patients of the virus-positive and virus-negative groups (P>0.05). Response rate to intravenous immunoglobulin administration was 67% (n=8) and 86% (n=36) in the virus- positive and virus-negative groups (P>0.05). Conclusion:Respiratory symptoms were commonly observed in KD patients but the association between respiratory viruses and KD were not found. Large multicenter-based investigations are required to confirm the association between acute respiratory viral infections and KD.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.162-169
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• 2008

Purpose : Oxcabarzepine (OXC), newly recommended antiepileptic drug, has been prescribed for patients with partial seizures and generalized tonic clonic seizures in Korea from 1999. There are limited reports about an efficacy of OXC therapy in epileptic children in Korea. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of OXC in the light of our experience. Methods : The patients, who had visited the pediatric neurology clinic of Korea University Guro Hospital from January 2001 to December 2006, were included. The data of 144 patients who were administrated OXC as monotherapy or polytherapy, was summarized retrospectively and we evaluated the efficacy and safety of OXC. Results : After 6 months of OXC therapy, 77 patients (53.5%, n=144) achieved seizure freedom, 48 patients (33.3%) experienced >50% improvement. After 12 months of OXC therapy, cessation of seizure was observed in 88 patients (61.1%, n=133), and 27 patients (18.8%) manifested an improvement. Monotherapy group showed superior efficacy to polytherapy one. The frequent side effects of OXC were drowsiness (20.1%), headache (12.5%), dizziness (9.7%) and rash (8.3%). They did not related to patient's age or sex, and dosage of OXC. Twenty four patients (16.7%) experienced hyponatremia, but which were neither symptomatic nor significant one. Conclusion : The efficacy and safety of OXC in our patients were excellent and had less significant side effects than established international one. We expect this report contributes toward OXC therapy in epileptic children.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.143-150
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• 2014

In general radiotherapy, mega-voltage (MV) x-ray images are widely used as the unique method to verify radio-therapeutic fields. But, the image quality of MV images is much lower than that of kilo-voltage x-ray images due to scatter interactions. Since 1990s, studies for the scatter correction have performed with digital-based MV imaging systems. In this study, a novel method for the scatter correction is suggested using scatter to primary ratio (SPR), instead of conventional methods such as digital image processing or scatter kernel calculations. We measured two MV images with and without a solid water phantom describing a patient body with given imaging conditions, and calculated un-attenuated ratios. Then, we obtained SPR distributions for the scatter correction. For experimental validation, a line-pair (LP) phantom using several Al bars and a clinical pelvis MV image was used. As the result, scatter signals of the LP phantom image were successfully reduced so that original density distribution of the phantom was restored. Moreover, image contrast values increased after SPR correction at all ROIs of the clinical image. The mean value of increases was 48%. The SPR correction method suggested in this study has high reliability because it is based on actually measured data. Also, this method can be easily adopted in clinics without additional cost. We expected that the SPR correction can be an effective method to improve the quality of MV image guided radiotherapy.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2017

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the perception and emotional experiences in rare and intractable diseases for caregivers of pediatric patients with mitochondrial diseases in order to provide therapeutic interventions for patients, caregivers, and families. Methods: A total of 83 caregivers of pediatric patients with mitochondrial diseases were recruited from the pediatric mitochondrial disease clinics of the Gangnam Severance Hospital in South Korea. Participants completed the survey about their perception of mitochondrial disease and emotional experiences after the diagnosis, and these clinical data were analyzed accordingly. Results: Surveys from a total of 83 caregivers of patients were analyzed, and the patients' age ranged from 6 to 12 years (33%), followed by ages 1 to 6 years (30%). Children with mitochondrial diseases were between 0 and 0.5 years of age at the time of first symptom onset (43%), and the duration of illness lasted more than 10 years in most cases (42%). Prior to diagnosis of mitochondrial diseases, the amount of awareness the caregivers had was 'Not at all' for both rare and intractable diseases and mitochondrial diseases in 44 cases and 68 cases, respectively. For the caregivers' emotional experiences, the most common initial responses were 'Discouraged/despair', 'Helpless/lethargic', and 'Disconcerted'. 'Anxious', 'Committed to treatment', and 'Responsibility as family members' were the most common emotional responses from the caregivers, followed by 'Disconcerted' and 'Helpless/lethargic'. Conclusion: It is important to consider the level of perception and emotional experiences of caregivers and patients with rare and intractable mitochondrial diseases for planning treatment programs.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.485-494
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• 2004

Background : To assess the effects of mDOT implementation on sputum smear conversion for AFB (Acid fast bacilli) positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients, modified Directly Observed Treatment (mDOT) was started on October $8^{th}$ 2001 at a health center in Seoul. mDOT was defined through weekly interviewing and supervising of a patient by a supervisor (doctor, nurse, or lay health worker). The sputum smear conversion of a mDOT group was compared with that of a self-medication (self) group. Methods : This study included 52 AFB positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients registered at a health center in Seoul between October $8^{th}$ 2001 and April $23^{rd}$ 2002. 24 and 28 patients were enrolled in the mDOT and self medication groups, respectively. Paired (1:1) individual matching, by gender, extent of disease, relapse and age-matching variables, was performed between the two groups, resulting in 20 paired matches. This prospective study was planned as an unblinded, non-randomized quasiexperimental pilot project. Outcomes were identified from results of sputum smear examinations for AFB in both groups at 2 weeks, and 1 and 2 months. The paired matching data were analyzed using the SAS program version 8.1 by McNemar test. Results : At the end of 2 weeks of treatment, the sputum smear conversion of the mDOT group was somewhat higher than that of the self medication group (78.57 vs. 50%, p-value=0.289), and after 1 month of treatment no statistically significant difference was shown between the two groups (83.33 vs. 50, p-value=0.125). At the end of 2 months of treatment (initial intensive phase), the sputum smear conversions of the mDOT and self groups were 95 and 75%, respectively (p-value=0.219). Conclusions : The implementation of mDOT did not result in clinically significant increases in the sputum smear conversion at 2 weeks, and 1 and 2 months compared with that of the self medication group. However, the increases experienced might contribute to diminishing the infectious period of AFB positive patients, and this approach may act as a guide for a specific group of patients. In this study, mDOT was performed for one hundred percent of the intensive treatment phase. It can also be an effective treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis patients, and may be useful for some high risk tuberculosis patients.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.100-106
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• 1998

Purpose: Ceftriaxone, a potent parenteral third-generation semisynthetic cephalosporin is widely used for the treatment of a variety of bacterial infections in both children and adult. Review of recent data indicates that ceftriaxone treatment has been associated with the development of reversible biliary pseudolithiasis and that is thought by many to be a benign process. Despite, several reports describe patients with ceftriaxone pseudolithiasis who required cholecystectomy for presumed acute cholecystitis. In this study we evaluated the incidence, risk factors, and prognosis of gallbladder pseudolithiasis after ceftriaxone treatment. Methods: Between march, 1997 and January, 1998, any child admitted to the Children's hospital of National University of Seoul and prescribed ceftriaxone for probable or definite bacterial infection were eligible for the study. 21 of them had ultrasound examination on the 2~12 days later after the start of ceftriaxone treatment, 8 of whom documented gallbladder precipitates or pseudolithiasis during treatment by serial abdominal ultrasound. Repeat abdominal ultrasound was performed 10~80 days later after the end of ceftriaxone treatment. The children with underlying liver disease or decreased renal function were excluded in this study. Results: 1) 21 children had ultrasound examinations of gallbladder during ceftriaxone treatment and 8 (38%) of them acquired pseudolithiasis. 2) The patients who developed gallbladder pseudolithiasis were significantly older ($6.3{\pm}2.9$ yr. vs $2.2{\pm}3.1$ yr.)(p<0.05), and older than 24 months were probably the significant risk associated with this phenomenon (p<0.05). However, no significant differences in sex, type of infection, fasting, and ceftriaxone treatment regimen (dose, duration of therapy). 3) The abnormality found on gallbladder ultrasonography was a strikingly hyperechogenic material with post-acoustic shadowing in 5 patients without post-acoustic shadowing in 3 patients 4) Follow up of gallbladder ultrasound was performed in 6 patients after cessation of ceftriaxone treatment. Sonographic abnormalities completely resolved within 14 days post cessation of therapy in 2 patients; 30 days, 1 patient; 80 days, 3 patients. Conclusions: We suggest that routine abdominal ultrasound should be considered in all children who received high dose ceftriaxone in more than 24 months of age and developed hepatobiliary symptoms during or just after ceftriaxone treatment.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.206-213
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• 2011

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical value of Osstem$^{(R)}$ USII plus system implants. Clinical and radiographic data were analyzed for 88 implants placed and functionally loaded for a 12 month period at the Yonsei University Dental Hospital. Materials and Method: Based on the patient's medical records, clinical factors and their effects on implant marginal bone resorption, distribution and survival rate were analyzed. The marginal bone loss was evaluated at implant placement and during a 6 to 12 months functional loading period. The independent sample t-test was used to evaluate the interrelationship between the factors (${\alpha}$=0.05), and one way repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare the amount of marginal bone resorption. Results: The cumulative survival rate for 88 implants was 100%. The marginal bone resorption from implant placement to prosthetic delivery was 0.24 mm and the average marginal bone resorption from prosthetic delivery to 12 months of functional loading was 0.19 mm. The total average bone resorption from implant placement to 12 months of functional loading was 0.43 mm. There were no statistically differences in the amount of marginal bone resorption when implants were placed in the maxilla or the mandible (P>.05), however, implants placed in the posterior areas showed significantly more marginal bone loss than those placed in the anterior areas (P<.05). Conclusion: Based on these results, the short term clinical success rate of RBM surface treated external connection domestic implants showed satisfactory results and the marginal bone loss was in accord with the success criteria of dental implants.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.167-174
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• 2012

Purpose: The respiration is one of the most important factors in respiratory gating radiation therapy (RGRT). We have developed an unique respiratory guidance system using an audio-visual system in order to support and stabilize individual patient's respiration and evaluated the usefulness of this system. Materials and Methods: Seven patients received the RGRT at our clinic from June 2011 to April 2012. After breathing exercise with the audio-visual system, we measured their spontaneous respiration and their respiration with the audio-visual system respectively. With the measured data, we yielded standard deviations by the superficial contents of respiratory cycles and functions, and analyzed them to examine changes in their breathing before and after the therapy. Results: The PTP (peak to peak) of the standard deviations of the free breathing, the audio guidance system, and the respiratory guidance system were 0.343, 0.148, and 0.078 respectively. The respiratory cycles were 0.645, 0.345, and 0.171 respectively and the superficial contents of the respiratory functions were 2.591, 1.008, and 0.877 respectively. The average values of the differences in the standard deviations among the whole patients at the CT room and therapy room were 0.425 for the PTP, 1.566 for the respiratory cycles, and 3.671 for the respiratory superficial contents. As for the standard deviations before and after the application of the PTP respiratory guidance system, that of the PTP was 0.265, that of the respiratory cycles was 0.474, and that of the respiratory superficial contents. The results of t-test of the values before and after free breathing and the audio-visual guidance system showed that the P-value of the PTP was 0.035, that of the cycles 0.009, and that of the respiratory superficial contents 0.010. Conclusion: The respiratory control could be one of the most important factors in the RGRT which determines the success or failure of a treatment. We were able to get more stable breathing with the audio-visual respiratory guidance system than free breathing or breathing with auditory guidance alone. In particular, the above system was excellent at the reproduction of respiratory cycles in care units. Such a system enables to reduce time due to unstable breathing and to perform more precise and detailed treatment.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.265-270
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• 2003

Purpose : To characterize the infants under 3 months of age with urinary tract infections(UTIs), and especially patients with bacteremia or meningitis Methods : Hospital records of all the infants under 3 months of age discharged from our hospital for 69 consecutive months with the diagnosis of initial episode of UTI were reviewed. UTI was defined when patients had fever with pyuria, and had urine culture results of ${\geq}10^5$ colony forming units/mL from a bag specimen. Patients with previously known urologic abnormality or immunodeficiency were excluded. Nosocomial infections were also excluded from the study. Results : The male:female ratio was 35 : 6. Of the urine cultures, 40(97.6%) yielded single pathogen, one yielded two pathogens. Escherichia coli was the predominant isolate from the urine. Five patients(12%) also had bacteremia. Pathogens isolated from the blood cultures were E. coli(4) and Enterococcus faecalis(1). No patient had culture-positive meningitis or cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis. Clinical or laboratory findings between patients with and without bacteremia were not different significantly. The rate of vesicoureteral reflux(VUR) was 44%. The sensitivity of ultrasound for detection of VUR was 38%; specificity was 50%. Conclusion : Clinical and laboratory data were not helpful for identifying patients with bacteremia at the time of presentation. Consequently, blood cultures need to be obtained from all febrile infants under 3 months of age with UTIs. A large-scale study including the indication of lumbar puncture for infants with a febrile UTI and study of evaluation and treatment of infants under 3 months of age with UTIs are required.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.115-122
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• 2015

Purpose : The aim of this study, evaluate the accuracy of HeaxPOD evo RT system using the non-coplanar beam. Materials and Methods : 13 treatment plans are used which applied non-coplanar beams and 10 treatment plans which coplanar beams are used. the correction value what adjust to 6D couch is determined by each patient's setup errors only rotation direction. The study executed followings. first, Applying the correction value, measure the point dose and calculate the ${\gamma}$-index(${\gamma}=3%$ / 3 mm, ${\gamma}=2%$ / 2 mm). second, acquire data as previous methods without correction by HexaPOD. Results : For comparing the two results, we find out the more precise applying HexaPOD by point dose 0.2% in coplanar and non-coplanar. in the case of ${\gamma}$-index<1(${\gamma}=3%$ / 3 mm), more precise 2.2% in coplanar and 7% in Non-coplanar. Particularly, ${\gamma}$-index<1(2% / 2 mm) show the difference 9.2% in coplanar and 15.1% non-coplanar between apply HexaPOD and dose not apply HexaPOD. Conclusion : Using the HexaPOD is more precise than without HexaPOD. It suggests that HexaPOD evo RT system is very useful for precise and high dose delivery.