• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.49-55
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• 2007

HCV is a single-stranded RNA virus and more than 1 million new cases are reported annually worldwide. The six major HCV genotypes and numerous subtypes vary in their geographic distribution. It is thought that genetic heterogeneity of HCV may account for some of the differences in disease outcome and response to treatment observed in HCV infected persons. In this study, we determined HCV genotypes among chronic Korean HCV patients and evaluated direct sequence PCR protocols developed. For the study, 232 chronic HCV patient sera were used. HCV RNA was extracted and two pairs of consensus PCR primers were selected in 5'UTR region for amplification of HCV RNA. Amplification products obtained from the HCV positive cases were subjected to automatic sequencing. Sequences were compared with those in GenBank by using the BLAST program. From this study, five HCV genotypes, 1b, 2a, 2b, 2c and 3a were found. HCV genotypes 4, 5 and 6 were not determined. HCV genotype 1b (53.9%, 125/232) and 2a (35.8%, 83/232) were most frequently found. This group was followed by 2b (3.9%, 9/232), 3a (3.4%, 8/232) and 2c (3.0%, 7/232). The data presented here suggest a complex distribution of HCV types and they were well correlated with other reports on Koreans and will be helpful for type-specific follow-up of Korean HCV patients. This study showed that 5'UTR direct sequence analysis is a sensitive and rapid method to identify HCV genotypes.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.21-38
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• 2004

Objectives : Moxibustion has been become very useful tool to prevent and treat various diseases with acupuncture in oriental medicine. Expecially, moxibustion combining the heat stimulation and chemical stimulation of Artemisiae Argyi has a non-invasive characteristics comparing to the other therapeutic tools. However, because the moxibustion makes the patient's skin be burn by the combustible feature of moxibustion, most of people have been scared of being scald. Methods : In this study, we have developed new non-combustible moxibustion tools in collaboration with company (Hana Medical, co. and ICURE, co.) and tested the efficacy through effects of moxibustion of Cheon-chu $(ST_{25})$ on the abdominal thermography of health subject. The non-combustible moxibustion has main characteristics of controlled heating to inhibit being scald and heat stimulation lasting over 1 hrs. Also, to induce the chemical stimulation, the bottom contacting with skin was coated by the extract of artemisiae argyi. The volunteers who participating in this study had taken rest for 20 - 30 mins in room temperature $(23-25^{\circ}C)$ before the examination and informed them what to prohibit smoking, drinking and administration of drug for the previous day The thermography of abdomen including a below part of the chest was taken using Infra-Red Imaging System (IR 2000, MEDI-CORE Co., Korea) by time interval of 15 minutes. Results : The results showed that moxibustion of Cheon-chu $(ST_{25})$ had more potencies of changes on all the ROIs of abdominal thermography than those of control group. Also, it was observed that the quantities of thermal changes following moxibustion of Cheon-chu $(ST_{25})$ been increased significantly comparing that of control group at all the ROIs (region of interest). Observed the thermography classified by ROI, however, moxibustion of Cheon-chu $(ST_{25})$ could modulate ipsilateral specific areas concerning to the abdominal pathway of Stomach Meridian. Conclusion : These results suggest that new non-combustible moxibusion has some similarity as like as the conventional moxibustion and moxibustion of Cheon-chu $(ST_{25})$ may modulate thermal changes of abdominal areas.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.21-26
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• 2014

Objectives: The purpose of this article is to analyze the incidence, demographic distribution, type, and etiology of mandible fractures that were treated by the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Kyung Hee University Dental Hospital from January 2002 to December 2012. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive and analytic retrospective study that evaluated 735 patients that were treated for mandible fracture. Results: This study included 1,172 fractures in 735 patients. The ratio of male to female patients was 5.45 : 1; the maximum value was in patients between 20 and 29 years (38.1%) and the minimum in patients over 70 years old. The monthly distribution of facial fractures peaked in the fall and was lower during winter. No specific correlation was identified based on the annual fracture distribution. Among the 735 fracture patients, 1.59 fracture lines were observed per patient. The most frequent site was the symphysis, which accounted for a total of 431 fractures, followed by the angle (348), condyle (279), and body (95). The symphysis with angle was the most common site identified in combination with fracture and accounted for 22.4%, followed by symphysis with condyle (19.8%). The angle was the most frequent site of single fractures (20.8%). The major cause of injury was accidental trauma (43.4%), which was followed by other causes such as violence (33.9%), sports-related accidents (10.5%), and traffic accidents (10.1%). Fracture incidents correlated with alcohol consumption were reported between 10.0%-26.9% annually. Conclusion: Although mandible fracture pattern is similar to the previous researches, there is some changes in the etiologic factors.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.68 no.4
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• pp.218-225
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• 2010

Background: Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is a useful technique to recover lower airway fluid and cells involved in many respiratory diseases. Miliary tuberculosis is potentially lethal, but the clinical manifestations are nonspecific and typical radiologic findings may not be seen until late in the course of disease. In addition, invasive procedures are often needed to confirm disease diagnosis. This study analyzed the cells and the T-lymphocyte subset in BAL fluid from patients with miliary tuberculosis to determine specific characteristics of BAL fluid that may help in the diagnosis of miliary tuberculosis, using a less invasive procedure. Methods: On a retrospective basis, we enrolled 20 miliary tuberculosis patients; 12 patients were male and the mean patient age was $40.5{\pm}16.2$ years. We analyzed differential cell counts of BAL fluid and the T-lymphocyte subset of BAL fluid. Results: Total cells and lymphocytes were increased in number in the BAL fluid. The percentage of CD4+ Tlymphocytes and the CD4/CD8 ratio in BAL fluid were significantly decreased and the percentage of CD8+ T-lymphocytes was relatively higher. These findings were more prominent in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In the HIV-infected patients, the proportion of lymphocytes was significantly higher in BAL fluid than in peripheral blood. There were no significant differences between the BAL fluid and the peripheral blood T-lymphocytes subpopulation. Conclusion: BAL fluid in patients with miliary tuberculosis demonstrated lymphocytosis, a lower percentage of CD4+ T-lymphocytes, a higher percentage of CD8+ T-lymphocytes, and a decreased CD4/CD8 ratio. These findings were more significant in HIV-infected subjects.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.147-153
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• 2001

We have discussed that the total body irradiation(TBI) dose distribution of 6 and 10 MV photon beams, also differences between calculation dose use of compensator sheet and measurements in humanoid phantom. Total body irradiation and hemi-body irradiation(HBI) can be effectively performed when uniformity of dose distribution is estabilished. The method of TBI and HBI dosimatry requires special considerations related to technique, long distance and very large field, machine parameter, patient positioning. TBI and HBI with megavoltage photon beams requires basic dosimatric data which have to be measured directly or derived from the standard beam data. The semiconductor detector and ion chamber were positioned at a dmax depth, mid depth, and its specific ratio was determined using a scanning data by RFA-7 3-dimensional water phantom and solid phantom. The effective source axis distance 380 cm, the field size from 120 cm to 152 cm, isodose distributions were analyzed as a function of the thickness in phantom. Also, have discussed that the measurement of basic data for clinical photon beams for dosage calculations, data calculation sheet and the use of tissue compensation to improve dose uniformity. We have improved a dose uniformity in the TBI and HBI method.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.885-888
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• 2002

Prevalence of food allergic disease was examined by identifying the most common foods implicated in allergic reactions in Korea. Patients were subjected to test determining the amount of specific IgE antibody in serum against food allergens by CAP system. A total 9054 CAP analyses on egg white, egg yolk, cow milk, ${\alpha}-lactalbumin,\;{\beta}-lactoglobulin$, casein, wheat, rice, buckwheat, soybean, peach, crab, shrimp, pork, beef, chicken, tuna, salmon, mackerel, and food mix were undertaken. The results were considered to be positive when CAP value was same and/or greater than +2 (0.7 U/mL). Positive results of CAP analyses were 11.3% (1022/9054 cases), consisting of 336 on egg white, 266 on cow milk, 95 on egg yolk, 76 on soybean, 69 on ${\alpha}-lactalbumin$, 61 on casein, 58 on ${\beta}-lactoglobulin$, 39 on buckwheat, 12 on wheat, 3 on beef, 2 on crab, and 1 on rice, shrimp, pork, chicken or mackerel, and 0 on peach, tuna or food mix. Egg, cow milk, soybean, buckwheat, and wheat were identified as the most common allergic foods in Korea, showing an average of two different food sources for allergy per patient.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.143-152
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• 2008

Purpose: Specific bacteria are believed to play an important role in chronic periodontitis. Although extensive microbial analyses have been performed from subgingival plaque samples of periodontitis patients, systemic analysis of subingival microbiota has not been carried out in a Korean population so far. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of 29 putative periodontal pathogens in Korean chronic periodontitis patients and evaluate which pathogens are more associated with Korean chronic periodontitis. Material and Methods: A total of 86 subgingival plaque samples were taken from 15 chronic periodontits(CP) patients and 13 periodontally healthy subjects in Korea. CP samples were obtained from the deepest periodontal pocket (>3 mm probing depth[PD]) and the most shallow periodontal probing site ($\leq$3 mm PD) in anterior tooth and posterior tooth, respectively, of each patient. Samples in healthy subjects were obtained from 1 anterior tooth and 1 posterior tooth. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) of subgingival plaque bacteria was performed. Detection frequencies(% prevalence) of 29 putative periodontal pathogens were investigated as bacterium-positive sites/total sites. Results: With the exception of Olsenella profuse and Prevotella nigrescens, the sites of diseased patients generally showed higher prevalence than the healthy sites of healthy subjects for all bacteria analyzed. Tanerella forsythensis (B.forsythus), Campylobacter rectus, Filifactor alocis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas endodontalis and Porphyromonas gingivalis were detected in more than 80% of sites with deep probing depths in CP patients. In comparison between the sites (deep or shallow PD) of CP patients and the healthy sites of healthy subjects, there was statistically significant difference(P<0.05) of prevalence in T.forsythensis (B.forsythus), C.rectus, Dialister invisus, F.alocis, P.gingivalis and Treponema denticola. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that the four putative periodontal pathogens, T.forsythensis (B.forsythus), C.rectus, P.gingivalis and F.alocis are closely related with CP patients in the Korean population.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.68-71
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• 2005

We report a case of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, which occurred primarily during the REM sleep stage. A 55-year-old female patient who complained of chronic insomnia on the initial visit turned out to have obstructive sleep apnea syndrome of a mild degree (respiratory disturbance index (RDI) of 13.8/hour, %time spent below 90% of SaO2=5.0%) on nocturnal polysomnography. Interestingly, apnea episodes and desaturations mainly occurred during REM sleep stage. And RDI and destaturations during REM sleep stage were found to be severe enough to classify as a severe degree of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. These findings suggest that severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome might be masked under the symptom of chronic insomnia and that apneas can be predominantly localized within REM sleep epochs. In terms of treatment, "REM sleep-dependent" apneas may call for different methods of treatment, especially REM sleep-specific pharmacological intervention.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.55-60
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• 2004

Anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome (AHS) is an uncommon, but potentially fatal and mutilsystemic disorder that occurs after exposure to the arene oxide-producing anticonvulsants-carbamzepine, phenobarbital and phenytoin. The multisystemic reactions include fever, skin eruptions, lymphadenopathy, hematologic abnormality and hepatitis. The diagnosis of AHS is made by history of drug exposure and clinical course. No specific treatments are proved as benefit except discontinuing the offending drug and trying the steroids in some severe cases. We report a case of carbamazepine induced anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome characterized by skin rash, eosinophilia, subcarinal lymphadenopathy and eosinophilic pneumonia. The patient was resolved completely after only discontinuing carbamazepine.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.71 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 2011

Background: Pneumonia is commonly seen in outpatient clinics. it is widely known as the most common cause of death from infectious disease. Pneumonia has been diagnosed by its typical symptoms, chest X-ray and blood tests. However, both chest X-rays and blood tests have limitations in diagnosis. Thus primary care clinicians usually have been constrained due to a lack of adequate diagnostic tools. Vibration response imaging (VRI) is a newly emerging diagnostic modality, and its procedure is non-invasive, radiation-free, and easy to handle. This study was designed to evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of the VRI test among pneumonia patients and to consider its correlation with other conventional tests such as Chest X-ray, laboratory tests and clinical symptoms. Methods: VRI was performed in 46 patients diagnosed with pneumonia in Konkuk University Medical Center. VRI was assessed in a private and quiet room twice: before and after the treatment. Sensors for VRI were placed on a patient's back at regular intervals; they detected pulmonary vibration energy produced when respiration occurred and presented as specific images. Any modifications either in chest X-ray, C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell count (WBC) or body temperature were compared with changes in VRI image during a given time course. Results: VRI, chest X-ray and CRP scores were significantly improved after treatment. Correlation between VRI and other tests was not clearly indicated among all patients. But relatively severe pneumonia patients showed correlations between VRI and chest X-ray, as well as between VRI and CRP. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that VRI can be safely applied to patients with pneumonia.