• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.46 no.2
• /
• pp.224-231
• /
• 2020

Objective: The objectives of this study are to update the information on the characteristics of humidifier disinfectant (HD) usage with HD associated health problems and to discuss the role of HD exposure assessment in the national program to monitor health problems in patients with HD associated diseases. Method: A total of 201 HD associated patients who registered to undergo clinical examination at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital was interviewed to acquire their responses regarding several HD use characteristics, including type of HD brands used, HD use duration, average daily HD use hours, and the volume of the room in which HD was used. The responses of the HD associated patients to HD use-related questions were compared between responses in the lung injury investigation and this study. Results: The responses of HD associated patients in this study were found to be different from those in the lunginjury investigation. In particular, some of the patients who had not answered in the lung-injury investigation were able to answer thanks to assistance from the investigator in this study. For their responses regarding the name of the most commonly used HD brand, the number of patients who did not answer (N=11) was reduced to eight in this study. Significant changes in the responses of study subjects to questions related to HD use were achieved through the interview in this study. Conclusion: This study found significant changes in the responses regarding HD use characteristics. HD exposure assessment should be included in the program in order to allow surveillance of HD associated health problems.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.247-254
• /
• 2014

Strain properties of concrete member which acts as an important factor in the stability of the concrete structure in the event of fire, significantly affected the characteristics of the coarse aggregate, which accounts for most of the volume. For this reason, there are many studies on concrete using artificial lightweight aggregate which has smaller thermal expansion deformation than granite coarse aggregate. But the research is mostly limited on concrete using clay-based lightweight aggregate. Therefore, in this study, the high temperature compressive strength and elastic modulus, thermal strain and total strain, high temperature creep strain of concrete was evaluated. As a result, remaining rate of high-temperature strength of concrete using lightweight aggregate is higher than concrete with general aggregate and it is determined to be advantageous in terms of structural safety and ensuring high-temperature strength from the result of the total strain by loading and strain of thermal expansion. In addition, in the case of high-temperature creep, concrete shrinkage is increased by rising loading and temperature regardless of the type of aggregate, and concrete using lightweight aggregate shows bigger shrinkage than concrete with a granite-based aggregate. From this result, it is determined to require additional consideration on a high temperature creep strain in case of maintaining high temperature like as duration of a fire although concrete using light weight aggregate is an advantage in reducing the thermal expansion strain of the fire.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• /
• v.31 no.6
• /
• pp.478-484
• /
• 2009

Three-dimensional porous scaffolds play an important role in tissue engineering strategies. They provide a void volume in which vascularization, new tissue formation, and remodeling can occur. Like any grafted materials, the ideal scaffold for bone tissue engineering should be biocompatible without causing an inflammatory response. It should also possess biodegradability, which provides a suitable three-dimensional environment for the cell function together with the capacity for gradual resorption and replacement by host bone tissue. Various scaffolds have already been developed for bone tissue engineering applications, including naturally derived materials, bioceramics, and synthetic polymers. The advantages of biodegradable synthetic polymers include the ability to tailor specific functions. The purpose of this study was to examine the osteogenic activity of periosteal-derived cells in a polydioxanone/pluronic F127 scaffold. Periosteal-derived cells were successfully differentiated into osteoblasts in the polydioxanone/pluronic F127 scaffold. ALP activity showed its peak level at 2 weeks of culture, followed by decreased activity during the culture period. Similar to biochemical data, the level of ALP mRNA in the periosteal-derived cells was also largely elevated at 2 weeks of culture. The level of osteocalcin mRNA was gradually increased during entire culture period. Calcium content was detactable at 1 week and increased in a time-dependent manner up to the entire duration of culture. Our results suggest that polydioxanone/pluronic F127 could be a suitable scaffold of periosteal-derived cells for bone tissue engineering.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.17 no.8 s.88
• /
• pp.1166-1171
• /
• 2007

Exercise is the strongest stress to which the body is ever exposed. The body responds to this stress through a set of physiological changes in its metabolic, hormonal, and immunological systems. In this study, responses of the immune system to the long-term aerobic and anaerobic exercises have been investigated. Regular moderate exercise is associated with a reduced incidence of infection compared with a sedentary groups. Aerobic training increases the heart rate and enhances the body's intake of oxygen long enough to benefit the condition of the body. In recent years, the importance of exercise in everyday life has been rapidly increasing. Moderate exercise appears to stimulate the immune system. And also, Exercise elicits an increase in the numbers of circulating lymphocytes and lymphocyte subsets (including NK cells) which is followed by a decrease in the numbers of cells during recovery from exercise. However, prolonged bouts of strenuous exercise cause a temporary depression of various aspects of immune functions (e.g. lymphocyte proliferation, monocyte antigen presentation, open window periods, exercise induced asthma, exercise induced anaphylaxis) that usually lasts 2-24 hr after exercise depending on the intensity and duration of the exercise bout. Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) was defined as a decrease of at least 15% in pre exercise forced expiratory volume in one second at any time point after exercise. This includes elevation of cortisol and cathecholamines in plasma. On the other hand, highly trained athletes exhibit a chronic mild hypercortisolism at baseline that maybe an adaptive change to chronic exercise. And, Consuming carbohydrate during prolonged strenuous exercise attenuates rises in stress hormones and appears to limit the degree of exercise-induced immune depression. Recent evidence suggests that antioxidant vitamin supplementation may also reduce exercise stress and impairment of leukocyte functions.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.25 no.11
• /
• pp.1318-1326
• /
• 1992

Backgroud. To determine the influence of age at operation upon surgical outcome in patients with isolated secundum atrial septal defect, retrospective clinical analysis was done. Material and method. From June, 1976 to December, 1991, 146 patients, 63 male and 83 female patients ranging in age from 13 months to 56 years, were operated on for isolated secundum atrial septal defect. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to their age at operation: Group I [<20 years old], 91 patients[62.3%]; Group II [21 to 40 years old], 44 patients[30.1%]; GroupIII[>41 years old], 11 patients[7.6%]. Significant differences in clinical features, hemodynamic function, early and late results between age groups were speculated. Results. One hundred thirty-one patients[89.6%] were symptomatic at the time of operation, the most common symptoms being dyspnea on exertion, recurrent respiratory infection, palpitation and chest pain. Patients in NYHA class III or IV were 3.3% in group I, 25% in groupIII, and 54.5% in group Ill. Hemodynamic data was available for 138 patients [94.5%]. Significant pulmonary hypertension [MPA systolic pressure $^3$ 40mmHg] was noted in 22 patients [15.9%]. Patients with pulmonary vascular disease [Rp/Rs>1.25] were 2% in group I, 7.3% in group Il, and 9.1% in groupIII. But there were no significant differences between the age groups in the size of the shunt or the ratio of pulmonary to systemic flow. Atrial septal defects were closed with direct suture in 144 patients and patch repair was performed in 2 patients with high defect. Atrial arrhythmia [8.2%] was the most common postoperative complication. The mean [LSD] duration of follow-up in all patients was 16$\pm$22 months [range, 1~96 months]. Functional result was excellent regardless of the age groups. During follow-up period, late cardiovascular events were arrhythmia [7 cases], reoperation for recurrent ASD [2 cases], and premature late death due to bacterial endocarditis [1 case]. Incidence of preoperative and late atrial fibrillation was significantly higher in older age group. Conclusion. Age at operation is one of the most important predictor of early and late surgical outcome with its impact on the following factors : 1] hemodynamic alterations and ventricular dysfunction due to longstanding volume and pressure overload, 2] pulmonary vascular disease, and 3] atrial arrhythmia including atrial fibrillation as a result of atrial dilatation. Therefore, among patients with surgically repaired atrial septal defects, those operated on over the age of 20 require careful supervision on the long-term basis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.142-148
• /
• 1998

Video-assisted thoracic surgery(VATS) is emerging as a viable alternative to thoracotomy when surgical treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax is required. 20 patients with spontaneous pneumothorax underwent bullectomy between July 1995 and May 1996. The patients were divided into two groups : Control group ; the patients who received with mid-axillary approach(n=10), Experimental group ; the patients who received with VATS (n=10). The results were as follows ; 1. The total sex distribution was male predominance (male:female=17:3). Mean age of control group was 29.6$\pm$9.8 years and experimental group was 27.2$\pm$11.9 years. 2. The mean period of postoperative chest tube indwelling duration and hospital stay were 3.3$\pm$0.8 days and 7.9$\pm$1.2 days in control group and 2.1$\pm$0.9 days and 5.2$\pm$3.1 days in experimental group(p=0.005 and p=0.02). 3. The mean time of operation, vital signs and arterial blood gas analysis did not showed any statistical differences between the groups. 4. Percent recovery of tidal volume and forced vital capacity were significantly improved in experimental group comparing with control group (p<0.05). 5. The patients undergoing VATS experienced significantly less postoperative pain and limitation of motion. In conclusion, VATS is safe and offers the potential benefits of shorter postoperative hospital stays and less pain with cosmetic benefits.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.55-78
• /
• 2005

The purpose of this study was to provide basic data for the improvement of the guidelines and training programs regarding the cardiopulmonary resuscitation performance of bystanders who can respond to the incidents in earlier times as the first responder of the cardiac arrest incident, by reviewing the performance of basic CPR and the influencing factors after providing 70 students of Department of Emergency Medical Technology with the CPR training. For the purpose of the study, the collected data were computerized and analyzed by SPSS-WIN program(ver. 10.1). The results for this study were as follows The duration of session between the groups in the BLS CPR were 3 minutes and 36 seconds, 2 minutes and 32 seconds respectively. The average compression number per minute were 24.3 times and 33,2 times respectively(p=.000), and the average compression rate per minute were 112 times and 122 times respectively(p=.000). The average ventilation number per minute were 3.54 times and 5.1 times respectively(p=.000). The errors in compression "Too shallow" were 20.73 times(34.6%) and 23,23 times(38,7%) out of 60 times in 4 cycles with the standard of 38 nun. In CPR performance results according to gender in the first episode, males showed better results in compression depth as 41.5 mm comparing to females average 38.2 mm(p=.015). When ventilation results were compared according to the use of FS, the average ventilation number per minute, total ventilation per minute and the average volume per episode were significantly higher when FS was not used(<.040), There was no significant difference in ventilation accuracy between two groups. According to the results, we need to improve and distribute portable barrier devices, and to be familiar with those devices. We need to enforce ventilations as well as to include compressions so that faster and more accurate CPR can be performed. Additionally, we need to exclude ventilation only cases, minimize the interference time of chest compression due to inaccurate ventilation, simplify or minimize the complicatedness of CPR performance and responding time related to breathing, provide first responders with various training programs such as initial assessment and ventilations only, or initial assessment and chest compression-only CPR and than provide advanced training with AHA BLS education including CPR for more than two people according to CPR skills and target characteristics.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.54 no.2
• /
• pp.107-111
• /
• 2013

Objective : We investigated the effectiveness of stereotactic gamma knife Radiosurgery (GKR) for radioresistant brain metastases with the impact upon histology. Methods : Between April 2004 and May 2011, a total of 23 patients underwent GKR for 67 metastatic brain tumors from 12 renal cell cancers, 5 sarcomas and 6 melanomas. The mean age was 56 years (range, 18 to 79 years). Most of the patients were classified as the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group recursive partitioning analysis class II (91.3%). The synchronous metastasis was found in 6 patients (26.1%) and metachronous metastasis in 17 patients (73.9%). We analyzed the local control rate, intracranial progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Results : The mean tumor volume for GKR was 2.24 cc and the mean prescription dose was 19.4 Gy (range, 10 to 24) to the tumor margin. Out of metachronous metastases, the median duration to intracranial metastasis was 3.3 years in renal cell cancer (RCC), 2.4 years in melanoma and 1.1 years in sarcoma (p=0.012). The total local control rate was 89.6% during the mean 12.4 months follow-up. The six-month and one-year local control rate was 90.2% and 83% respectively. Depending on the pathology, the control rate of RCC was 95.7%, sarcoma 91.3% and melanoma 80.5% during the follow-up. The common cause of local failure was the tumor bleeding in melanoma. The median PFS and OS were 5.2 and 8.4 months in RCC patients, 6.5 and 9.8 months in sarcoma, and 3.8 and 5.1 months in melanoma. Conclusion : The GKR can be one of the effective management options for the intracranial metastatic tumors from the radioresistant tumors. The melanoma showed a poor local control rate compared to other pathologies because of the hemorrhage.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.23 no.6
• /
• pp.467-475
• /
• 2002

Hyperthermia using transrectal thermal probes has been used for a noninvasive treatment of prostate diseases. However it is known that heating the rectal wall at excessively high temperature can lead to destruction of the rectal mucous membrane. and it is difficult to maintain an optimum temperature over the entire prostate. Thus, a more accurate understanding of the heat transfer mechanism between prostate and hyperthermia system is needed Numerical analysis was performed to investigate how the cold/warm stimulations on the prostate surface affect the temperature distribution in the prostate model. The general purpose software "FLUENT" was used for obtaining a finite volume solution to the unsteady conduction equation and to calculate the time-varying temperature in the prostate. Effects of the warm/cold stimulations and the stimulation frequency on the temperature distribution were simulated. and we visualized how hyperthermia affected the inside of the prostate. It was found that the effect of hyperthermia by using a typical heating method is limited due to the low thermal conductivity of the prostate. Consecutive repetitions of warm and cold stimulations were considered to provide the thermal irritations inside a prostate. The effects of temperature difference and duration of warm/cold stimulations were investigated, and basic data for the optimum period and effective patterns of stimulations were obtained. A simplified bioheat equation was also solved to describe effects of the blood flow on the blood-tissue heat transfer. The effect of blood flow was not dominant compared to that of warm/cold stimulations. These results might be used as data for design of prostate treating probe, prostatic therapy and thermal stimulation effects on the prostate.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.39 no.11 s.268
• /
• pp.844-849
• /
• 2006

Background: The diffuse infiltrative lung disease requires surgical lung biopsy for its final diagnosis. We evaluated the effect of surgical lung biopsy for final diagnosis of duffuse interstitial lung disease and compared video assisted thoracoscopic lung biopsy(TLB) with open lung biopsy(OLB). Material and Method: We evaluated the patients who underwent surgical lung biopsy from March 2000 from December 2005, retrospectively, We divide to two groups(OLB and TLB group) and compared them. Result: There were 36 patients and cough was the most common pre- operative symptom. Surgery time, anesthetic time, hospital stay, duration of chest tube indwelling, specimen volume and the rate of post-operative complication were not significantly different between two groups. Histologic diagnosis was confirmed in all cases. There was one post-operative death who had suffered from respiratory failure since pre-operative period. Conclusion: Surgical lung biopsy is effective method in final diagnosis for diffuse infiltrative lung disease. Video assisted thoracoscopic lung biopsy is lesser invasive method than open lung biopsy and provide similar results, so it is basic diagnostic method of surgical lung biopsy.