• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.87-94
• /
• 2012

To compare monthly variations of phytoplankton biomass and community composition between in seawater and sediment of the Gomso Bay (tidal flat: approximately 75%), the photosynthetic pigments were analyzed by HPLC every month in 1999 and every two months in 2000. Ambient physical and chemical parameters (temperature, salinity, nutrients, dissolved oxygen, and chemical oxygen demand) were also examined to find the environmental factors controlling structure of phytoplankton community. The temporal and spatial variations of chlorophyll a concentration in seawater were correlated well with the magnitude of freshwater discharge from land. The biomass of microphytobenthos at the surface sediments was lower than that in other regions of the world and 2-3 times lower than phytoplankton biomass integrated in the seawater column. Based on the results of HPLC pigment analysis, fucoxanthin, a marker pigment of diatoms, was the most prominent pigment and highly correlated with chlorophyll a in seawater and sediment of the Gomso Bay. These results suggest that diatoms are the predominant phytoplankton in seawater and sediment of the Gomso Bay. However, the monthly variation of chlorophyll a concentration in seawater at the subtidal zone was not a good correlation with that in sediment of the Gomso Bay. Although pelagic plankton was identified in seawater by microscopic examination, benthic algal species were not found in the seawater. These results suggest that contribution from the suspended microphytobenthos in the tidal flat to the subtidal zone of the Gomso Bay may be low as a food source to the primary consumer in the upper water column of the subtidal zone. Further study needs to elucidate the vertical and horizontal transport magnitude of the suspended microphytobenthos in the tidal flat to the subtidal zone.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.66 no.4
• /
• pp.288-294
• /
• 2009

Background: A lung hyperinflation, or air trapping, caused by expiratory flow-limitation contributes to dyspnea in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Forced expiratory volume in 1 second ($FEV_1$) has served as an important diagnostic measurement of COPD, but does not correlate with patient-centered outcomes such as dyspnea. Therefore, this study was performed to investigate the role of radiologic quantity in evaluating the dyspnea in patients with COPD by measuring lung hyperinflation in chest x-ray and high resolution chest tomography (HRCT). Methods: Fifty patients with COPD were enrolled in this study. Their subjective dyspnea score (modified Borg scale dyspnea index), spirometry, and lung volume were measured. Simultaneous hyperinflations of chest x-ray score ("chest score") and degree of emphysema of HRCT ("HRCT score") were measured. The "chest score" were composed of lung length, retrosternal space width, and height of the arc of the diaphragm and "HRCT score" were composed of severity and extent of emphysema. Results: The mean age of patients was 69 years old and their mean $FEV_1$ was 51.7%. The Borg score significantly correlated with parameters of spirometry and lung volume, including FVC, $FEV_1$, $FEV_1$/FVC, RV, RV/TLC, and DLCO. The Borg score correlated well with "HRCT score", but did not correlate with "chest score". Also, the Borg scale correlates inversely with body mass index. Conclusion: The quantity of emphysema on chest HRCT may serve as an objective marker of dyspnea in patients with COPD.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.151-157
• /
• 2017

The objectives of this study were to determine the impact of soil water content on the growth, stomatal conductance, and photosynthesis of Kimchi cabbage and to evaluate proper parameters for development of growth models. There were five levels of irrigation amount treatments (0, 200, 300, 400, and 500 mL/d/plant) and those were commenced at one day after transplanting (DAT). We measured soil water content, stomatal conductance, photosynthesis characteristics, and the A-Ci curve. The growth of Kimchi cabbage as affected by irrigation amount was evaluated at 38 days after transplanting, however, the growth with 0 and 200 mL/d/plant irrigation amount treatments measured at 29 DAT. The relationship between soil water content and stomatal conductance was highly correlated ($r^2=0.999$) and the function represented by y = 6097.4x - 4.2984. The stomatal conductance of Kimchi cabbage leaves showed $300mmol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ when the soil water content was below $0.05m^3/m^3$. The stomatal conductance was rapidly decreased by scarcity of soil moisture. A-Ci curve indicated normal curve in fully irrigation treatment (500 mL/d/plant), however, $CO_2$ couldn't diffuse through the intercellular Kimchi cabbage leaves treated with 0 mL/d/plant. The dry weight of full irrigation treatment was greater approximately 6.8 times than that of deficit irrigation (0 mL/d/plant). In addition, leaf area index showed a logarithmic function (y = 16.573 + 3.398 ln x) with soil water content and that of R-squared represents 0.913. Results indicated that the soil water content was highly correlated with stomatal conductance and leaf area index. Indeed, the scarcity soil moisture reduced photosynthesis and retarded growth.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.148-152
• /
• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the distribution of the diameter of four strand autologous hamstring tendon and to identify the factors related to the diameter. Materials and Methods: Between December 2004 and July 2006, 66 patients underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using autologous hamstring tendon. Sixty one patients were male and the other 5 patients were female. Both semitendinosus and gracilis tendon were harvested in every case. Harvested two tendons were folded once together to create a four strand double loop graft and were passed through cylindrical sizer to measure their diameter. Parameters such as sex, age, height and weight were analyzed for their correlation with the diameter of the graft. Results: The diameter of the graft ranged from 6 mm to 10 mm. The graft with the diameter of 8 mm was most common and the average diameter of all the grafts was $7.85{\pm}0.92mm$. Seven patients (10.6%) had a graft with the diameter of 6 mm, which is considered too thin to be ideal one. No statistically significant correlation was found between age of the patient and the diameter of the graft. However, the diameter of the graft was significantly correlated with sex, height and weight of the patient. Female patients had a significant tendency to have thinner hamstring tendons. Both small height and light weight of the patients were correlated with thinner hamstring tendons significantly. Conclusion: Sex, height and weight of the patients were the factors that had a statistically significant correlation with the diameter of the graft. Being aware of the risk factors related with harvesting exceedingly thin hamstring tendon prior to anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, one can utilize wide range of options in selecting an optimal graft.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.39 no.4 s.118
• /
• pp.450-461
• /
• 2006

In this study, sorption kinetics of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) onto coastal sediments were investigated at pH 5.5 using laboratory batch adsorbers. Four different models: one-site mass transfer model (OSMTM), pseudo-first-order kinetic model (PFOKM) ,pseudo-second-order kinetic model (PSOKM) and two compartment first-order kinetic model (TCFOKM) were used to analyze the sorption kinetics. As expected from the number of model parameters involved, the three-parameter TCFOKM was better than the two-parameter OSMTM, PFOKM and PSOKM in describing sorption kinetics of Pb and Cd onto sediments. Most sorption of Pb and Cd was rapidly completed within the first three hours, followed by slow sorption in the subsequent period of sorption. All models predicted that the sorbed amount at the apparent sorption ($q_{e,s}$) equilibria increased as the CEC and surface area of the sediments increased, regardless of initial spiking concentration ($C_0$) and heavy metal and the sediment type. The sorption rate constant ($k_s,\;hr^{-1}$) in OSMTM also increased as the CEC and BET surface area increased. The rate constant of pseudo-first-order sorption ($k_{p1,s},\;hr^{-1}$) in PFOKM were not correlated with sediment characteristics. The results of PSOKM analysis showed that the rate constant of pseudo-second-order sorption ($k_{p2,s},\;g\;mmol^{-1}\;hr^{-1}$) and the initial sorption rate ($v_{o,s},\;mg\;g^{-1}\;hr^{-1}$) were not correlated with sediment characteristics. The fast sorption fraction ($f_{1,s}$) in TCFOKM increased as CEC and BET surface increased regardless of initial aqueous phase concentrations. The sorption rate constant of fast fraction ($k_{1,s}=10^{0.1}-10^{1.0}\;hr^{-1}$) was much greater than that of slow sorption fraction ($k_{2,s}=10^{-2}-10^{-4}\;hr^{-1}$) respectively.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.203-213
• /
• 2013

Objecives : The purpose of the study was to evaluate treatment outcome of mandibular advancement device(MAD) in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients using full night polysomnography and cephalometry. Methods : Twenty-seven OSA patients were confirmed by full night, lab-attended polysomnography. Cephalometric examinations were conducted to obtain SNA, ANB, $AH{\bot}MP$, AH-C3, SPT, PNS-U, NAS, SOAS, MOAS, and HAS. Mandibular advancement devices (MADs) were fabricated and delivered for all subjects. After acclimation period of MAD, the second polysomnographic examinations were conducted in the same manner. Polysomnographic variables were compared between before and after MAD placement. Also, correlation coefficients were calculated between apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and each item of cephalometric parameters. Results : There were significant improvements in total AHI, lowest $SpO_2$, and total arousal index after MAD therapy. Also, there were significant improvements in NREM $SpO_2$ and NREM AHI, but not in REM $SpO_2$ and REM AHI with MAD. Stratifying the sleep stage, there were significant decrease in stage I and significant increases in stage II and REM, but change in stage III was not significant. SNA and SOAS were significantly correlated with total AHI and NAS was significantly correlated with supine AHI. ANB was significantly associate with the effect of MAD. Conclusions : MAD is an effective treatment in OSA patients comparing polysomnographic variables before and after treatment. Cephalometric examination can be useful to evaluate OSA patients and predict treatment outcome of MAD.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.50 no.8
• /
• pp.774-780
• /
• 2007

Purpose : The anthracyclines (AC) are widely used chemotherapeutic agents for pediatric cancers. However, the therapeutic use of these agents is limited by their cardiotoxicity. The aim of the present study was to investigate the usefulness of plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels as a marker for AC-induced cardiotoxicity compared to echocardiography in Korean children with cancer. Methods : Fifty-five pediatric cancer patients who had received chemotherapy including AC were enrolled. The cumulative AC doses, clinical symptoms, and two echocardiography parameters, left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), were studied and compared with plasma BNP levels. Results : In 55 patients, plasma BNP levels were measured 115 times and echocardiographies were performed 64 times. The median cumulative dose of AC was $325mg/m^2$ (range 120-600; mean 345) and the median plasma BNP level was 10 pg/mL (range 5-950; mean 31). The cumulative AC doses correlated significantly with the plasma BNP levels (P=0.002). The plasma BNP levels correlated significantly with LVFS (P=0.018) and LVEF (P=0.025). Dilated cardiomyopathies were identified in three patients. LVFS and LVEF decreased and plasma BNP levels increased in a patient with acute dilated cardiomyopathy and in that with symptomatic chronic dilated cardiomyopathy. However, LVFS, LVEF and plasma BNP levels were normal in a patient with asymptomatic chronic dilated cardiomyopathy. Conclusion : The results of this study demonstrated that plasma BNP levels could be used as a marker for AC-induced cardiotoxicity; they showed good correlation with echocardiography findings in pediatric cancer patients. Plasma BNP levels may be used for the detection and management of AC-induced cardiotoxicity in Korean children with cancer.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.555-566
• /
• 2008

Hydrogeochemical study in Samseung area (Boeun, Chungbuk) and waterrock interaction experiment using rock samples from the area were performed to elucidate the fluoride source in groundwater and explaining geochemical behavior of fluoride ion. Fluoride concentration of public water supply mostly using groundwater in Boeun area was significantly higher in South Korea. The maximum fluoride concentration of the study area was 3.9 mg/L, and 23% of samples exceeded the Korean Drinking Water Standard of fluoride (1.5 mg/L). The average concentration of fluoride was 1.0 mg/L and median was 0.5 mg/L. Because of high skewness (1.3), median value is more appropriate to represent fluoride level of this area. The relationships between fluoride ion and geochemical parameters ($Na^+$, $HCO_3$, pH, etc.) indicated that the degree of waterrock interaction was not significant. However, high fluoride samples were observed in $NaHCO_3$ type on Piper's diagram. The negative relationship between fluoride and $NO_3$ ion which might originate from surface contaminants was obvious. These results indicate that fluoride ion in groundwater is geogenic origin. The source of fluoride was proved by waterrock interaction batch test. Fluoride concentration increased up to 1.2 mg/L after 96 hours of reaction between water and biotite granite. However, the relationship between well depth and fluoride ion, and groundwater age and fluoride ion was not clear. This indicates that fluoride ion is not correlated with degree of waterrock interaction in this area but local heterogeneity of fluoriderich minerals in granite terrain. High fluoride concentration in Boeun area seems to be correlated with distribution of permeable structures in hard rocks such as lineaments and faults of this area. This entails that the deep bedrock groundwater discharges through the permeable structures and mixed with shallow groundwater.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.398-404
• /
• 1999

Purpose: Diabetic nephropathy is the most common cause of end stage renal disease and the incidence is progressively increasing. The aim of this study was to investigate the differences of $^{99m}Tc$-DMSA renal uptake among diabetic patients with normoalbuminuria, microalbuminuria and overt proteinuria, and then to determine the clinical usefulness of $^{99m}Tc$-DMSA in predicting early diabetic nephropathy Materials and Methods: $^{99m}Tc$-DMSA scan was performed and a total renal uptake of $^{99m}Tc$-DMSA was measured in 145 diabetic patients. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to the amount of 24 hour urinary albumin excretion as Group I (normoalbuminuria, 74 cases), Group II (microalbuminuria, 39 cases), and Group III (overt proteinuria, 32 cases). The differences of $^{99m}Tc$-DMSA renal uptake among the 3 groups and the correlation between the renal uptake of $^{99m}Tc$-DMSA and other clinical parameters were analyzed. Results: The total renal uptake of $^{99m}Tc$-DMSA of Group II ($40.8{\pm}11.0%$) was significantly lower than that of Group I ($54.4{\pm}6.3%$, p<0.001). The uptake of Group III ($27.7{\pm}12.0%$) was significantly lower than those of both Group I and Group II (p<0.001). $^{99m}Tc$-DMSA total renal uptakes correlated negatively with serum creatinine level (r=-0.629, p<0.001) and positively correlated with creatinine clearance rate (r=0.102, p<0.001). Conclusion: $^{99m}Tc$-DMSA total renal uptake of diabetic patients with microalbuminuria was significantly decreased compared with that of patients of normoalbuminuria. Therefore, $^{99m}Tc$-DMSA scan can be used as a diagnostic study for early detection of the diabetic nephropathy.

• Herbal Formula Science
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.185-205
• /
• 2008

The purpose of this study is to determine whether the clinical activity of patients with atopic dermatitis(AD) correlate with their serum cytokine levels. 86 patients with AD were treated with KHS, YMH and GHT. On each visit to the clinic, their skin status was evaluated using the SCORAD index and serum IL-4, $IFN-{\gamma}$, IL-12, IL-13, IL-2 and IL-10 were measured by ELISA. After oral administration of herbal medicine, patients' skin status and subjective parameters such as pruritus and sleeplessness were significantly improved according to regression analysis. In particular, patients aged 0-9 showed stronger responses to treatment, which implies that the younger patients aged, the easier the treatment by herbal formula became. In analysis of the type of chosen herbal medicines, YMH treated group showed a stronger response in reduction of affected lesion, intensity of a lesion and subjective symptoms, while KHS treated group showed the least reduction. The levels of serum IL-4, $IFN-{\gamma}$ and IL-2 correlated with disease activity. Moreover, in patients under 0-9, the IL-4 level had a corrleation with disease activity; patients under 10-19 showed a correlation between the levels of IL-4 and IL-2 and disease activity; patients under 20-29 showed a correlation between the levels of IL-2, IL-12 and $IFN-{\gamma}$ and disease activity. In comparison with chosen herbal medicines, the groups treated with YMH or GHT treated group showed a correlation between the levels of IL-4, IL-12 and IL-2 and disease activity while KHS treated group did not. Our data suggest that serum levels of IL-4 and IL-13 are good indicators of clinical improvement in treating AD.