• Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.344-349
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• 2024

Backgrounds/Aims: The implementation of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols has demonstrated significant advantages for patients by mitigating surgical stress and expediting recovery across a spectrum of surgical procedures worldwide. This investigation seeks to assess the effectiveness of the ERAS protocol specifically in the context of major liver resections within our geographical region. Methods: Our department conducted retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data, gathered from consenting individuals who underwent liver resections from January 2018 to December 2023. The assessment encompassed baseline characteristics, preoperative indications, surgical outcomes, and postoperative complications among patients undergoing liver surgery. Results: Among the included 184 patients (73 standard care, 111 ERAS program), the baseline characteristics were similar. Median postoperative hospital stay differed significantly: 5 days (range: 3-13 days) in ERAS, and 11 days (range: 6-22 days) in standard care (p < 0.001). Prophylactic abdominal drainage was less in ERAS (54.9%) than in standard care (86.3%, p < 0.001). Notably, in ERAS, 88.2% initiated enteral feeding orally on postoperative day 1, significantly higher than in standard care (47.9%, p < 0.001). Early postoperative mobilization was more common in ERAS (84.6%) than in standard care (36.9%, p < 0.001). Overall complication rates were 21.9% in standard care, and 8.1% in ERAS (p = 0.004). Conclusions: Our investigation highlights the merits of ERAS protocol; adherence to its diverse components results in significant reduction in hospital length of stay, and reduced occurrence of postoperative complications, improving short-term recovery post liver resection.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.79-84
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• 2008

Purpose: With advancements in laparoscopic surgery, there have been efforts to expand the indication for laparoscopic surgery up to advanced gastric cancer. However, scant data are available regarding the feasibility and advantages of laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) with standard radical D2 lymph node dissection. Materials and Methods: Twenty-two patients who were preoperatively diagnosed with cT1N0M0 gastric cancer underwent LADG with standard D2 lymphadenectomy between February and August 2007. They were compared with patients who underwent conventional open D2 lymphadenectomy with respect to clinicopathologic features, surgical outcomes, and postoperative course. Results: The mean operative time was significantly longer in the LADG group than in the open group ($160{\pm}25min$ vs. $135{\pm}21min$, P<0.001). However, surgical outcomes, such as surgical margin and number of retrieved lymph nodes ($25.7{\pm}11.1$ vs. $26.9{\pm}9.2$, P=ns) were comparable between the groups. The LADG group exhibited quicker postoperative recovery, and both groups exhibited similar postoperative morbidity and mortality. Conclusion: LADG with D2 lymphadenectomy is feasible and safe, with short-term surgical outcomes comparable to those seen in open D2 lymphadenectomy. Further prospective clinical investigation will be needed to better evaluate the advantages of LADG with D2 lymphadenectomy.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.28-34
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• 2019

Regardless of the ignition source, the main factors affecting the spread of flames to the human body are combustibles. The sound absorption material, which is the finishing material used in music institutes and karaoke rooms, consists of polyurethane that generates a large amount of toxic gas with a high amount of combustion gases during a fire. Still, the current law does not require the use of impregnated finishing materials for tutoring services with less than 100 users. In this study, the rate of flame diffusion was measured using the MultiRaelite composite gas measuring instrument (target substance VOC, HCHO, SO₂, CO₂, CO, HCN, and NO₂) for the collection of sound-absorbing materials installed in the actual music academy. The results showed that the toxic gas found in this experiment exceeded the allowable concentration of TWA (Time Weighted Average) and STEL (Short Term Exposure Limit). In addition, a comparative combustion test of the general sound absorber and non-combustion sound absorbing materials on the market showed wide differences in ignition and diffusion. Therefore, based on the results of the experiment, private institutes with less than 100 users should be mandated to use non-combustion sound absorbing materials.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.453-460
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• 2005

Since late 1970s, water quality monitoring had been performed in Korea by various agencies according to their own needs and objectives. Lacking of consistency in principles, such diverse operation has been producing difficulties in management of information on water quality parameters. These difficulties resulted from the fact that the expansion of monitoring networks had been based not on systematic methodology with considerations on scientifically established planning objectives but on personal experiences and subjective judgments in locating monitoring stations. This study aimed, therefore, to develop a selection methodology for locating monitoring stations to provide various informations on water quality to satisfy various monitoring objectives such as understanding short and long term trends of water quality, monitoring violations to water quality standards, identifying external causes and sources affecting water quality changes, supporting utilization of water resources, examining short-term variations in water quality through a concentrated investigation, estimating pollution loads from each unit watershed, supporting water quality modeling, and establishing informative systems for water resources management. Also, we applied the proposed methodology and presented an improved expansion plan for water quality monitoring networks in the Han River.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.226-235
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• 2011

Field measurements of the winds and waves were carried out for one year at multiple locations inside and outside of the Pohang New Harbor in order to clarify the reason of downtimes frequently occurring at most of the harbor quays and to establish an efficient countermeasure. In addition, the downtime records of the quays and precipitation data provided by Korea Meteorological Agency were acquired for mutual comparison and comprehensive analysis of the cause of downtimes. Except the influence of precipitation, it was found that the downtimes occurred when the height of waves entering into the harbor incurred by either one of swell, wind seas, or mixture of both, exceeded a threshold. The seiche whose period ranges from 5 to 80 minutes, which was suspected as a possible cause of the downtimes, is shown to have no direct relation with the downtimes. Meanwhile, the height of far-infra-gravity waves whose period ranges between 0.5 and 3 minutes, propagating to the harbor mouth forced by short period waves, showed almost proportional relationship with the height of short period waves. Based on the result of this study, it is concluded that the downtime problems of Pohang New Harbor can be greatly improved by effectively preventing the entrance of short period waves such as swell or wind seas.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.279-286
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• 2017

Determination of the order of latent fingerprints deposition on the surface of thermal paper, often found in crime scenes, is related to the study of time course and aging of fingerprints and can provide additional information in criminal investigations. A preliminary study was performed to determine the deposition order of fingerprints left with two different conditions of deposition pressure and time (in seconds) after 1 day intervals for 7 days on thermal paper (receipt and fax thermal paper) using an iodine fuming method. The resultant images of the visualized fingerprints were analyzed with densitometric image analysis to measure the changes in the areas of the ridges, which can be correlated to the deposition order. No significant variation was found with the different types of thermal paper. The average areas of the friction ridges increased gradually or were similar to the values from day 1 for 3 days, and then a continual decrease was shown from day 4 through day 7. The area values from day 6 and day 7 were less than half of those from day 1. Furthermore, the test with overlapped fingerprints showed the possibility of differentiation between fingerprints that are 1-3 and 6-7 days old based on the clarity visible to the naked eye. Additional experiments with the deposition conditions can prove that the current method is valuable for the determining the order of fingerprint deposition on thermal paper.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.988-994
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• 2008

The purpose of the investigation was to establish how the pineal-adrenal axis plays an important role in thermoregulation in female goats under short-term heat stress. The study was conducted to observe the influence of glucocorticoids on pineal function in goats and its influence on stress alleviation capability. Melatonin and glucocorticoid secretions and several other endocrine and biochemical blood parameters reflecting the animals well being were determined over a one week period after goats had been exposed to $40^{\circ}C$ and 60% relative humidity for 10 days. Six female goats were used in the study. These animals served as self controls prior to the start of the experiment. The study was conducted for a period of seventeen days in a psychrometric chamber at $40^{\circ}C$ and 60% relative humidity. Chemical pinealectomy was achieved using propranolol followed by exogenous hydrocortisone treatment. Blood samples were drawn twice daily after each treatment to find the effect of hydrocortisone on plasma glucose, total protein, total cholesterol, cortisol, insulin, aldosterone, melatonin and corticosterone. Chemical pinealectomy significantly ($p{\leq}0.05$) affected plasma levels of the parameters studied and these could be significantly ($p{\leq}0.05$) counteracted by administration of hydrocortisone. Chemical pinealectomy aggravated thermal stress, although administration of hydrocortisone could ameliorate the condition. This indicated a role of the pineal in support of thermoregulation. The study establishes the modulating effect of glucocorticoids on pineal activity to relieve thermal stress in goats.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.179-188
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• 2005

To develop the novel anti-allergic drug, many sophoricoside derivatives were synthesized. Among these derivatives, JSH-II-3, VI-3, VII-3, VIII-3, VII-20 and VII-20 (sodium salt) were selected and subjected to high throughput toxicity screening (HTTS) because they revealed strong IL-5 inhibitory activity and limitation of quantity. Single cell gel electrophoresis (Comet) assay, mouse lymphoma thymidine kinase ($tk^{+/-}$) gene assay (MOLY), chromosomal aberration assay in mammalian cells and Ames reverse mutation assay in bacterial system were used as simplified, inexpensive, short-term in vitro screening tests in our laboratory. Through the primary screening using the comet assay, we could choose the first candidates of sophoricoside derivatives with no genotoxic potentials as JSH-VI-3, VII-3, VII-20 and VII-20 (sodium salt). Also JSH-VII-3, VII-20 and VII-20 (sodium salt) are non-mutagenic in MOLY assay, while JSH-II-3 is mutagenic at high concentration with the presence of metabolic activation system in both comet assay and MOLY assay. The selected derivatives (JSH-VI-3, VII-3, VII-20 and VII-20 (sodium salt) are not mutagenic in S. typhimurium TA98 and TA100 strains both in the presence and absence of metabolic activation. From results of chromosomal aberration assay, 6 h treatment of JSH-VI-3, VII-3 and VII-20 (sodium salt) were not revealed clastogenicity both in the presence and absence of S-9 mixture. Therefore, we suggests that JSH-VI-3, VII-3, VII-20 and VII-20 (sodium salt), as the optimal candidates with both no genotoxic potential and IL-5 inhibitory effects must be chosen. To process the development into new anti-inflammatory drug of these derivatives, further investigation will need.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.11-24
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• 2011

Working in a research laboratory means exposure to a wide range of hazardous substances. Several studies indicated that laboratory workers, especially working with chemicals, might have an increased risk of certain cancers. However, exposure assessment data in laboratory settings are scarce. This study was performed to examine several approaches for quantitatively assessing the exposure levels to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) among workers in chemistry laboratories. The list of 10 target VOCs, including ethanol, acetone, 2-propanol, dichlormethane, tetrahydrofuran, benzene, toluene, n-hexane, ethyl acetate, chloroform, was determined through self-administered questionnaire for six chemistry research laboratories in a university, a government-funded research institute, or private labs. From September to December 2008, 84 air samples were collected (15 area samples, 27 personal time weighted samples, 42 personal task-basis short-term samples). Real time monitors with photo ionization detector were placed during the sampling periods. In this study, benzene was observed exceeding the action levels, although all the results were below the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV). From the air sampling results, we concluded that (1) chemicals emitted during experiments could directly affect to neighbor office areas (2) chemical exposures in research laboratories showed a wide range of concentrations depending on research activities (3) area samples tended to underestimate the exposures relative to personal samples. Still, further investigation, is necessary for developing exposure assessment strategies specific to laboratories with unique exposure profiles.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.293-298
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• 2003

This study was attempted to develop the physicochemical ad morphological stability test methods for the cream and lotion formulations among the cosmetic foundations and to provide the guidance for the stability methods with respect to basic emulsions and creams. With these developed stability test methods, we can evaluate the expired date or life time of the available basic cosmetics, especially basic lotions ad creams. Also, the stability test methods established in this study can be used as a guideline to test physical and morphological stability of cosmetics in the future. Thus, we selected two types of basic cosmetics such as lotions and creams made by four different cosmetic companies ad applied them to the stability test methods depending on the temperature changes such as temperature cycling and freezing-thawing cycling test. After the temperature changes, the conductivity, turbidity, particle size, creaming ratio and pH changes of the creams and lotions were evaluated and morphological changes such as crystal formation, odor, color and feeling of the creams and lotions were also tested. As the results of the stability tests, all the tested creams and lotions except for one lotion were stable. Therefore, it may be concluded that these short-term accelerated stability tests as physical stability test depending on the temperature change study were suitable for the stability testing methods for the basic cosmetics and may be useful for the establishment of the guideline for the stability test of cosmetics.