• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
• /
• v.59 no.3
• /
• pp.674-677
• /
• 2010

The purpose of this study was to analyze bradykinesia of forearm movement in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) as compared to those of normal subjects. A gyrosensor was selected for the measurement of forearm movement, because it can provide angular velocity signal which is free from the gravitational artifact and also because it can be conveniently used during clinical test of bradykinesia. Forty PD patients (age: $65.7\pm11.1$ yrs, H&Y stage:$2.3\pm0.5$), 14 age-matched elderly subjects ($65\pm3.9$ yrs) and 17 healthy young subjects ($24\pm2.1$ yrs) participated in this study. Angular velocity during forearm movement of pronation/supination was measured in both arms. Suggested quantitative measures of bradykinesia were root-mean-squared (RMS) angular velocity, RMS angle, peak power and total power which were derived from the angular velocity. ANOVA showed that all measures were significantly different among three groups (p<0.001). Subsequent post-hoc test revealed that all measures in PD patients were significantly smaller than in healthy elderly and healthy young subjects (p<0.05). This results suggest that PD patients can be differentiated from normal subjects using suggested measures.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.207-212
• /
• 2005

Objective: Classically, single photon emission tomography is known to be the reference standard for evaluating the hemodynamic status of patients with moyamoya disease. Recently, T2-weighted perfusion magnetic resonance(MR) imaging has been found to be effective in estimating cerebral hemodynamics in moyamoya disease. We aim to assess the utility of perfusion-weighted MR imaging for evaluating hemodynamic status of moyamoya disease. Methods: The subjects were fourteen moyamoya patients(mean age: 7.21 yrs) who were admitted at our hospital between Sep. 2001 to Sep 2003. Four normal children were used for control group. Perfusion MR imaging was performed before any treatment by using a T2-weighted contrast material-enhanced technique. Relative cerebral blood volume(rCBV) and time to peak enhancement(TTP) maps were calculated. Relative ratios of rCBV and TTP in the anterior cerebral artery(ACA), middle cerebral artery(MCA) and basal ganglia were measured and compared with those of the posterior cerebral artery(PCA) in each cerebral hemispheres. Using this data, we analysed the hemodynamic aspect of pediatric moyamoya disease patients in regarding to the age, Suzuki stage, signal change in FLAIR MR imaging, and hemispheres inducing symptoms. Results: The mean rCBV ratio of ACA, MCA did not differ between normal children and moyamoya patients. However the significant TTP delay was observed at ACA, MCA territories (mean = 2.3071 sec, 1.2089 see, respectively, p < 0.0001). As the Suzuki stage of patients is advanced, rCBV ratio is decreased and TTP differences increased. Conclusion: Perfusion MR can be applied for evaluating preoperative cerebral hemodynamic status of moyamoya patients. Furthermore, perfusion MR imaging can be used for determine which hemisphere should be treated, first.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.232-239
• /
• 1992

Acute renal failure is a well known serious complication following open heart surgery and is associated with a significant increase in morbidity and mortality rate. From 1984 to 1990, 33 patients who had acute renal failure following cardiopulmonary bypass received renal replacement therapy. PD[Peritonial dialysis] was employed in 11 patients and CAVH[continous arteriovenous hemofiltration] was employed in 22 patients. Their age ranged from 3 months to 64 years[mean 25.5$\pm$7.8 years]. The disease entities included congenital cardiac anomaly in 18, valvular heart disease in 15 and aorta disease in 2 cases. Low cardiac output was thought as a primary cause of ARF except two redo valve cases who showed severe Aemolysis k depressed renal function preoperatively. Mean serum BUN and creatinine level at the onset renal replacement therapy were 65$\pm$8 mg/dl and 3.5$\pm$0.4 mg/dl respectively, declining only after reaching peak level 7&10 days following the onset of therapy. Overall hospital mortality was 72.7%[24/33]; 81%[9/11] in PD group and 68.2% [15/22] in CAVH group respectively. The primary cause of death was low cardiac output & hemodynamic depression in all the cases. The fatal complications included multiorgan failure in 7, disseminated intravascular coagulation and sepsis in 6, neurologic damage in 4 and mediastinitis in 3 cases. No measurable differences were observed between CAVH and PD group upon consequence of acute renal failure and disease per se. The age at operation, BUN/Cr level at the onset of bypass and highest BUN/Cr level and the consequence of low output status were regarded as important risk factors, determining outcome of ARF and success of renal replacement therapy. Thus, we concluded that althoght the prognosis is largely determined by severity of low cardiac output status and other organ complication, early institution of renal replacement therapy with other intensive supportive measures could improve salvage rate in established ARF patients following CPB.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.793-796
• /
• 2015

Background: Chronic lymphoid leukemia (CLL) is not an uncommon hematological malignancy which primarily affects elderly individuals. It is more common in developed world than in developing countries. The rational of this study was to determine the clinico-hematological profile in Pakistan. Materials and Methods: In this prospective cross sectional study, sixty patients with CLL were enrolled from January 2011 to June 2013. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 21. Results: The mean age was $59.0{\pm}9.2years$ (range 40-82) and the male to female ratio was 2.1:1. Peak age group was 60-70 years (38.3%) and 18.3% were under 50 years old. Major complaints were weakness (51.7%), fever (18.3%) and abdominal discomfort (13.3%). Main clinical findings were splenomegaly (46.6%), lymphadenopathy (36.6%) and pallor (26.7%). Some 16.7% were diagnosed incidentally. The mean hemoglobin was $10.8{\pm}2.4g/dl$, with a total leukocyte count of $91.5{\pm}87.8{\times}10^9/l$ and platelets $197.8{\pm}103.2{\times}10^9/l$. Anemia and thrombocytopenia were seen in 26.7% and 21.7% of cases, respectively. High LDH and hyperuricemia were detected in 15% each and elevated serum creatinine was seen in 11.6%. According to Rai staging 11.6% were in stage 0, 13.3% stage 1, 26.7% each for stage II and stage III while 21.7% patients were in stage IV. Conclusions: CLL in our patients in Pakistan, unlike in the West, is seen in a relatively young population with male predominance. Primarily disease is of B-cell origin and about 2/3 of the patients present at advanced stage.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.7
• /
• pp.2653-2657
• /
• 2015

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is the second most common neoplasm of head and neck in Tunisia. The distribution is bimodal with a first period occurrence between 15 and 20 years old and a second peak at around 50 years of age. Undifferentiated carcinoma of nasopharynx type III (UCNT) is the predominant histological type (93.4%). Data of cancer registry of North Tunisia confirmed that it is an intermediate risk area for NPC with overall ASRs of 3.6 and 1.6/100,000 respectively in males and females. This study aimed to present the evolution of incidence rate of nasopharyngeal carcinoma over a period of 12 years (1994-2006). Data of cancer registry of North Tunisia (NTCR), covering half of the Tunisian population, were used to determine evolution of NPC incidence, calculated by 5 year periods. The estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) was used as an estimate of the trend. To best summarize the behavior or the data trend across years, we used a join-point regression program. Between 1994 and 2006, we observed negative annual average change of standardized incidence in men and women (-3.3%and -2.7%) also for the standardized incidences which showed a rather important decline (26.4% in males and 22.3% in females). The truncated age standardized incidence rate of NPC in adults aged of 30 years old and more (N= 1209) decreased by -0.4% per year from 1994 to 2006 over time in north Tunisia dropping from 6.09 to 4.14 person-years. However, the rate was relatively stable during this period among youths aged 0-29 years (N= 233) in both sexes. NPC demonstrated a favorable evolution from 1994-2006 probably due to a improvement in socioeconomic conditions.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.14 no.5
• /
• pp.457-461
• /
• 2005

The survey of user's satisfactory degree of location, plantings, facilities, operation, and management factors on national parks' camp sites was carried out. Many problems were analyzed and identified. This survey was for proposing the correct way to plan and draft for camping site after this. In addition to, the realization of environmental education through nature friendly recreation was aimed at. According to the result of the survey, the followings were suggested as necessities to improve the camp site. 1. Repair and replacement of insufficiently managed facilities should be aimed at. 2. Facilities for a handicapped person should be preferentially introduced. 3. Active management and publicity in low-demand season that practiced by developed countries should be carried out. Seasonal program for various age groups should be operated. 4. Surrounding tourist site, camp site, and trail should be organically connected by shuttle bus and other transports. A survey was carried out for the user satisfaction in the campsites of national parks. Based on this survey concerned with the location, planting, facilities, operation and management, the problems were identified and analysed to improve future design and plan of the campsites. This study aims for the realization of environmental education through nature friendly recreation. The following points are suggested as needed according to the survey result. 1. damaged facilities should be repaired or replaced. 2. introduction of the facilities for disabled should be prioritized. 3. consistent and active management and publicity work should be operated in the off-peak season. and the seasonal activity programs for the various age groups should be provided. 4. the site should be well connected with other surrounding campsites and tourist sites using the shuttle bus and other transport method.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.60 no.8
• /
• pp.261-265
• /
• 2017

Purpose: Studies on cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections in immunocompetent children are lacking, and minimal information is available in the medical literature on hepatic manifestations and complications of CMV. The aims of this study were to evaluate the clinical characteristics, laboratory data, and prognosis of children with CMV hepatitis, and to investigate its prevalence at a single medical center in Korea over a 10-year period. Methods: One hundred thirty-two children diagnosed with CMV infection based on specific markers (anti-CMV IgM, CMV polymerase chain reaction in blood and urine, or CMV culture of urine) were included in the study. Clinical and biochemical characteristics, immunological markers, and outcomes of hepatic CMV infection were determined. Results: The median age of patients (n=132) was 8.5 months (range, 14 days-11.3 years). Peak total bilirubin and alanine aminotransferase levels in serum ranged from 0.11-21.97 mg/dL, and 5-1,517 IU/L, respectively. Alanine aminotransferase remained elevated from 2-48 weeks. Jaundice was the most common clinical feature of hepatic CMV infection during infancy. The hematologic findings revealed anemia, leukocytosis, and monocytosis in CMV-infected patients. All participants recovered without administration of ganciclovir. Conclusion: In children with CMV hepatitis, fever was the most common symptom at presentation, and jaundice was the most common clinical feature of hepatic CMV infection in infants younger than 3 months of age. Hepatic CMV infection in immunocompetent children is often a self-limited illness that does not require antiviral therapy, as most patients in this study had favorable outcomes.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.188-196
• /
• 2012

Objectives : This study was aimed to provide the basic characteristic of patients who visited an Oriental medical hospital emergency room. Methods : We performed a retrospective study on 1,119 patients who visited Kyunghee University Oriental Medical Hospital Emergency Room from June 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012. Results and Conclusions : 1. In distribution of sex, the rate of males was 44.1%, and that of females was 55.9%. The male to female ratio was thus 1:1.26. The patients' average age was 54.64 and the 6th decade of life was the peak age group. 2. Most of the patients visited the Oriental medical hospital emergency room between 11:00 and 23:00. 3. In distribution by days of the week, the most common was Sundays (24.5%), followed by Mondays (16.7%). 4. In the month distribution, the most was December (12.4%), followed by November (10.0%). 5. The patients were grouped as follows: neurological diseases 58.9%, musculoskeletal disease 27.5%, internal medical disease 10.4%, and others 3.2%. 6. Admission rate of patients being treated was 38.8%, and the admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) was 4.5%. of total visiting patients.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.15 no.8
• /
• pp.1103-1109
• /
• 2002

This study investigated the effect of 2-bromo-$\alpha$-ergocryptine (anti prolactin agent) on plasma levels of prolactin, oestradiol-17$\beta$ and progesterone in domestic hen during the active period of lay. Fifty healthy female White Leghorn birds were administered with anti prolactin agent (2-bromo-$\alpha$-ergocryptine, Sigma-USA., methane sulphonate salt, $C_{32}H_{40}BrN_5O_5.CH_4SO_3$) subcutaneously @100$\mu$g/kg body weight at weekly intervals from 17th to 36th week of age. Another group of fifty birds as controls were given placebo in place of bromocriptine. The level of prolactin remained lower in treated birds than in the control birds from 19 to 36 weeks of age. Level of prolactin even in the control group was found to decrease during the peak production period. Oestradiol-$17{\beta}$ and progesterone concentration in treated birds were significantly (p<0.01) higher than the controls during the treatment. Egg production, is positively correlated with oestradiol-$17{\beta}$ (r=0.02; r=0.67) and progesterone (r=0.49; r=0.90) in control and treated groups respectively where as prolactin level is positively correlated with egg production in the control birds (r=0.07). Prolactin levels were negatively correlated with egg production (r=-0.55) in treated birds; and oestradiol-$17{\beta}$ (r =-0.71; r=-0.53) and progesterone (r=-0.22; r=-0.27) respectively in control and treated groups. The total number of pause days during the treatment period decreased significantly (p<0.01) in the treated group compared to the control group. The reduction in pause days in treated group resulted in 1.76% increase in egg production over that in control group. The increase in egg laying days and the total egg production were found to be significant (p<0.01). These results indicate that a lower level of prolactin in circulatory blood enhances egg production in the domestic hen.

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.33-38
• /
• 2012

Despite the importance of chloride binding, it is very difficult to measure the binding capacity, in particular, for the concrete body in an existing structure: in fact, the measurement procedure for chloride binding is much influenced by the environmental condition such as temperature, fineness of sample and pore water extraction techniques. The present study concerns the quantification of the binding capacity of chloride ions in concrete using the X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. Once the binding isotherm of chlorides was determined by the Langmuir isotherm, as a function of the W/C, curing age and binder type, the generation of bound chlorides (i.e. Friedel's salt) was simultaneously ensured by the XRD technique. The amount of bound chloride was then determined by analyzing the peak intensity for the bound chlorides in the XRD curve. It was found that an increase in the curing age and a decrease in the W/C resulted in an increase in the binding capacity.