• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.247-253
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• 2018

Background: Early extubation after cardiovascular surgery has some clinical advantages, including reduced hospitalization costs. Herein, we review the results of ultra-fast-track (UFT) extubation, which refers to extubation performed on the operating table just after the operation, or within 1-2 hours after surgery, in patients with congenital cardiac disease. Methods: We performed UFT extubation in patients (n=72) with a relatively simple congenital cardiac defect or who underwent a simple operation starting in September 2016. To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of our recently introduced UFT extubation strategy, we retrospectively reviewed 195 patients who underwent similar operations for similar diseases from September 2015 to September 2017, including the 1-year periods immediately before and after the introduction of the UFT extubation protocol. Propensity scores were used to assess the effects of UFT extubation on length of stay (LOS) in the intensive care unit (ICU), hospital LOS, and medical costs. Results: After propensity-score matching using logistic regression analysis, 47 patients were matched in each group. The mean ICU LOS ($16.3{\pm}28.6$ [UFT] vs. $28.0{\pm}16.8$ [non-UFT] hours, p=0.018) was significantly shorter in the UFT group. The total medical costs ($182.6{\pm}3.5$ [UFT] vs. $187.1{\pm}55.6$ [non-UFT] ${\times}100,000$ Korean won [KRW], p=0.639) and hospital stay expenses ($48.3{\pm}13.6$ [UFT] vs. $54.8{\pm}29.0$ [non-UFT] ${\times}100,000KRW$, p=0.164) did not significantly differ between the groups. Conclusion: UFT extubation decreased the ICU LOS and mechanical ventilation time, but was not associated with postoperative hospital LOS or medical expenses in patients with simple congenital cardiac disease.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.80 no.3
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• pp.296-303
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• 2017

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is related to high mortality and morbidity. There are no proven therapeutic measures however, to improve the clinical course of ARDS, except using low tidal volume ventilation. Metformin is known to have pleiotropic effects including anti-inflammatory activity. We hypothesized that pre-admission metformin might alter the progress of ARDS among intensive care unit (ICU) patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study from January 1, 2005, to April 30, 2005 of patients who were admitted to the medical ICU at Seoul National University Hospital because of ARDS, and reviewed ARDS patients with DM. Metformin use was defined as prescribed within 3-month pre-admission. Results: Of 558 patients diagnosed with ARDS, 128 (23.3%) patients had diabetes and 33 patients were treated with metformin monotherapy or in combination with other antidiabetic medications. Demographic characteristics, cause of ARDS, and comorbid conditions (except chronic kidney disease) were not different between metformin users and nonusers. Several severity indexes of ARDS were similar in both groups. The 30-day mortality was 42.42% in metformin users and 55.32% in metformin nonusers. On multivariable regression analysis, use of metformin was not significantly related to a reduced 30-day mortality (adjusted ${\beta}-coefficient$, -0.19; 95% confidence interval, -1.76 to 1.39; p=0.816). Propensity score-matched analyses showed similar results. Conclusion: Pre-admission metformin use was not associated with reduced 30-day mortality among ARDS patients with DM in our medical ICU.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.289-295
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• 2006

A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) numerical model has been developed to effectively study the ventilation efficiency of multi-span greenhouses with internal crops. As the first step of the study, the internal plants of the CFD model had to be designed as a porous media because of the complexity of its physical shapes. In this paper, the results of the wind tunnel tests were introduced to find the aerodynamic resistance of the plant canopy. The Seogun tomato was used for this study which made significant effects on thermal and mass exchanges with the adjacent air as well as internal airflow resistance. With the main factors of wind speed, static pressure, and density of plant canopy, the aerodynamic resistance factor was statically found. It was finally found to be 0.26 which will be used later as an input data of the CFD model. Moreover, the experimental procedure of how to find the aerodynamic resistance of various plants using, wind tunnel was established through this study.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.131-139
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• 2018

The king oyster mushroom (Pleurotus eryngii) is widely consumed because of its flavor, texture, and its functional properties such as antioxidant activity and prebiotic effects. However, long-term product storage and transportation (e.g., export) are difficult because of its limited durability. The shelf-life of king oyster mushroom is affected by environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, gas composition, and ventilation, which may affect sensory characteristics including respiration rate, texture, moisture, flavor, color, and pH. The major problems regarding storage of mushrooms are browning, flavor changes, and softening. To address these problems, novel preservation techniques were developed, and more durable variants were bred. Different drying methods, gamma irradiation, chitosan coating, modified atmosphere (MA) packaging, and controlled atmosphere (CA) storage were evaluated in order to extend the shelf-life of king oyster mushrooms. Freeze drying showed better results for the preservation of mushrooms than other drying methods. Irradiation with 1 kGy was more effective for extending mushroom shelf-life than higher doses. The preservative performance of chitosan-based films was improved by combining the compound with other hydrocolloids, such as oil, protocatechuic acid, and wax. The CA storage conditions recommended for king oyster mushrooms are 5kPa $O_2$ and 10 to 15kPa $CO_2$ at temperatures below $10^{\circ}C$. Active MA packaging with microperforated PP film was also effective for maintaining quality during storage.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.467-478
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• 2006

Maintenance of an optimal air quality in the enclosed pig building is potentially important in terms of pig performance and farmer health. The objective of this on-site experiment is to evaluate and compare efficiencies of currently utilized biological additives to reduce odor emissions from the enclosed pig building. As a result, generally all the additives except for salt water, artificial spice and essential oil were proved ineffective in reducing odor generation. The beneficial effects of salt water, artificial spice and essential oil on odor reduction were highlighted on ammonia, odor intensity and offensiveness, and sulfuric odorous compounds, respectively. To efficiently utilize odor masking agent such as the artificial spice, ventilation rate should keep slightly lower than the optimal level. Essential oil functioned well as not only masking agent but also antimicrobial agent for reducing odor. To precisely quantify odor concentration, it should be measured by not the odor sensor but the olfactometry technique.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.168-178
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• 2012

The objective of this study is applied to office buildings to evaluate quantitative evaluation method about performance of double-skin at design stage to establish the basis for the purpose of evaluation performance. Select the evaluation building about design plan for applying the double-skin using the dynamic heat load analysis program the annual heating and cooling load of before and after the double-skin. Using CFD to analyze wind factor and applied ventilation for realistic results. Effects of double-skin to apply, and control techniques that can be done more realistically proposed through to set and control for shade control mode of ventilator and inside cavity wall of double-skin. Apply for the building the double-skin due to interpretation of the annual heating and cooling loads applied to interpret the quantitative effect confirmed the possibility. According to the form of a double skin was confirmed cavity environmental changes.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.159-169
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• 2016

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the generating characteristics of VOCs and the exposure effect to chemicals among laundry workers and to identify the current status of occupational safety and health through health check-ups. Methods: During the six-month period from April to September 2015, this study quantitatively measured seven VOCs in ten laundries and carried out health examinations on 35 workers. Results: Comparing the monitoring results for the ten laundries, they were classified into three groups by ventilation system, dry-cleaning and size of shop. The average concentration of toluene, chlorobenzene, xylene, ethylbenzene, benzene, styrene and TCE were 23.9, 15.6, 5.5, 2.8, 0.9, 0.3 and $1.3{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively. During dry-cleaning, VOC concentrations were 1.3-8.9 times higher than usual. On the other hand, at night the concentrations of toluene, chlorobenzene, xylene, ethylbenzene, benzene, styrene and TCE were 64.3, 41.5, 12.2, 6.3, 1.1, 1.2 and $6.6{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively. The health checkup results for the 35 workers showed that 13 workers were diagnosed as normal, while 22 workers were diagnosed as requiring continuous monitoring or re-checkup of liver and hematogenous functions. Conclusions: Although the results of exposure evaluation to VOCs did not exceed reference value and items had a low correlation with health checkup items, it is necessary to improve indoor air quality due to VOC volatilization from clothes.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.109-121
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to determine factors influencing patient satisfaction with medical services in hospital, which is classified into environmental aspect, human services and procedural services. Based on the results of literature review, the study focused on effects of social-demographical factors on patient satisfaction. The environmental aspect of medical care services included medical equipment and facilities, hygiene, ventilation, heating and air-conditioning, waiting and resting space, ward space and parking facilities. Procedural service included registration process, bill payment, waiting time after registration, examination and prescription as well as appointment process. Human services consisted of physicians listening to stories of patients, examination duration, physicians' explanation and physicians' service. As for nurses, explanation about disease, examination procedure and results, kindness and nursing care were evaluated. Services provided by other staff members were also evaluated. Patient satisfaction, defined as individual attitude toward medical service as a whole, was measured using a questionnaire. A total of 700 in-or out-patients were surveyed in 6 hospitals with more than 300 beds in North Gyeongbuk Province. 1. The level of patient satisfaction varied with characteristics of patients. Male patients and those in their 30s had a low level of satisfaction. Dissatisfaction level was positively related to education level but negatively related to economic condition. 2. As for patient satisfaction with medical service providers and other employees in hospital, satisfaction level with physician's explanation about treatment was higher. But dissatisfaction levels with treatment duration and the lack of explanation about examination procedures were high, calling for improvement. Dissatisfaction level with nursing care was high, calling for training of nurses for better service. Given the low level of satisfaction with human services, hospital employees need to be trained to improve their service. 3. It Was found that administrative service was also a significant factor influencing patient satisfaction in addition to medical service. It is therefore important for hospitals to provide patients with prompt and convenient procedural service. 4. Environmental factors such as medical equipment and amenity facilities also affected patient satisfaction. Thus environmental condition, procedural service and human service are all important to improve medical service in hospital. In summary, procedural service was the most significant factor for patient satisfaction. The level of satisfaction in patients was also affected by human service and environmental condition. It is therefore necessary to take patient-oriented approach in providing medical service in an effort to improve patient satisfaction. The finding of a lower level of satisfaction with human service signifies the need for training of healthcare providers and other hospital employees for better services. The introduction of advanced management programs is also needed to improve procedures that patients go through in hospitals.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.19 no.1 s.57
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• pp.80-86
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• 2005

In this study effects of the natural wind and the forced smoke ejection by operating the exhaust fan are studied numerically to examine the flow characteristics of the smoke and heat generated from a fire on the platform of an underground subway station. Three different situations, including 1) the case with no natural wind and no exhaust fan operation, 2) the case with natural wind but no exhaust fan operation and 3) the case with no natural wind but exhaust fan operation, are considered for the numerical analyses. The numerical results show that the natural wind causes a rapid spread of the fire along the tunnel resulting in rapid spread of the smoke and heat over the platform which affects the escape. The operation of the exhaust fan also results in the rapid spread of smoke and heat over the platform, but the time required for reaching the safe escaping height of the smoke layer with the exhaust fan operation is much longer than that without the exhaust fan operation. The numerical results also show that the required capacity of the exhaust fan becomes larger when the effect of the natural wind is included.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.348-354
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• 2008

Bisphenol A (BPA), an environmental endocrine disrupter, enters the human body continuously in food and drink. Young children are likely to be more vulnerable than adults to chemical exposure due to the immaturities of their organ systems, rapid physical development, and higher ventilation, metabolic rates, and activity levels. The direct effect of BPA on peripheral tissue might also be of importance to the development of insulin resistance. However, the influence that BPA has on insulin signaling molecules in skeletal muscle has not been previously investigated. In this study, we examined the effect of BPA on fasting blood glucose (FBG) in post-weaned Wistar rats and on insulin signaling proteins in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells. Subsequently, we investigated the effects of BPA on insulin-mediated Akt phosphorylation in C2C12 myotubes. In rats, BPA treatment (0.1-1,000 ng/mL for 24 hours) resulted in the increase of FBG and plasma insulin levels, and reduced insulin-mediated Akt phosphorylation. Furthermore, the mRNA expression of insulin receptor (IR) was decreased after 24 hours of BPA treatment in C2C12 cells in a dose-dependent manner, whereas the mRNA levels of other insulin signaling proteins, including insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and 5'-AMP-dependent protein kinase (AMPK), were unaffected. Treatment with BPA increased GLUT4 expression and protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) activity in C2C12 myotubes, but not in protein levels. We conclude that exposure to BPA can induce insulin resistance by decreasing IR gene expression, which is followed by a decrease in insulin- mediated Akt activation and increased PTP1B activity.