• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.241-250
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the relation between quantitative magnetic resonance imaging biomarkers, and clinical performances in chronic phase of carbon monoxide intoxication. Materials and Methods: Eighteen magnetic resonance scans and cognitive evaluations were performed, on patients with carbon monoxide intoxication in chronic phase. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) ratios of affected versus unaffected centrum semiovale, and corpus callosum were obtained. Signal intensity (SI) ratios between affected centrum semiovale, and normal pons in T2-FLAIR (fluid-attenuated inversion recovery) images were obtained. The Mini-Mental State Exam, and clinical outcome scores were assessed. Correlation coefficients were calculated, between MRI and clinical markers. Patients were further classified into poor-outcome and good-outcome groups based on clinical performance, and imaging parameters were compared. T2-SI ratio of centrum semiovale was compared, with that of 18 sex-matched and age-matched controls. Results: T2-SI ratio of centrum semiovale was significantly higher in the poor-outcome group, than that in the good-outcome group and was strongly inversely correlated, with results from the Mini-Mental State Exam. ADC ratios of centrum semiovale were significantly lower in the poor outcome group than in the good outcome group, and were moderately correlated with the Mini-Mental State Exam score. Conclusion: A higher T2-SI and a lower ratio of ADC values in the centrum semiovale, may indicate presence of more severe white matter injury and clinical impairment. T2-SI ratio and ADC values in the centrum semiovale, are useful quantitative imaging biomarkers for correlation with clinical performance in individuals with carbon monoxide intoxication.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.36-43
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• 2019

Background: Diabetic peripheral polyneuropathy (DPN) is associated with a variety of symptoms. Nerve conduction studies (NCSs) are considered to be the gold standard of nerve damage assessments, but these studies are often dissociated from the subjective symptoms observed in DPN patients. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the correlations between NCS parameters and neuropathic symptoms quantified using the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI). Methods: Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with or without symptoms of neuropathy were retrospectively enrolled. Demographic data, clinical laboratory data, MNSI score, and NCS results were collected for analysis; DPN was diagnosed based on the MNSI score (${\geq}3.0$) and abnormal NCS results. Pearson's correlation coefficients were used to evaluate the relationships between MNSI score and NCS variables. Results: The final analyses included 198 patients (115 men and 83 women) with a mean age of $62.6{\pm}12.7$ years and a mean duration of diabetes of $12.7{\pm}8.4$ years. The mean MNSI score was 2.8 (range, 0.0-9.0), and 69 patients (34.8%) were diagnosed with DPN. The MNSI score was positively correlated with the median motor nerve latency and negatively correlated with the median motor, ulnar sensory, peroneal, tibial, and sural nerve conduction velocities (NCVs). When the patients were categorized into quartiles according to MNSI score, peroneal nerve conduction velocity was significantly lower in the second MNSI quartile than in the first MNSI quartile (p = 0.001). A multivariate analysis revealed that the peroneal NCV was independently associated with MNSI score after adjusting for age, sex, and glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels. Conclusions: The present results indicate that a decrease in peroneal NCV was responsible for early sensory deficits in T2DM patients.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.62 no.6
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• pp.661-670
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• 2019

Objective : Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is known to involve the cervical spine up to 86%. It often causes cervical instability like atlantoaxial subluxation (AAS), subaxial subluxation, and vertical subluxation (VS). In order to find the relation between RA and cord compression, we will evaluate the characteristics and risk factors of basilar invagination (BI) and cervicomedullary junction (CMJ) compression. Methods : From January 2007 to May 2015, 12667 patients administrated to Hanyang University Medical Center. Four thousand three hundred eighty-six patients took cervical X-ray and 250 patients took cervical computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Radiologic parameters, medication records were obtained from 242 patients. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed with correlation of CMJ compression, basin-dental interval (BDI), basin-posterior axial line interval (BAI), pannus formation, BI, and AAS. Results : In the point of CMJ compression, atlantodental interval (ADI), posterior-atlantodental interval, BAI, AAS, and BI are relatively highly correlated. Patients with BI have 82 times strong possibility of radiologic confirmed CMJ compression, while AAS has 6-fold and pannus formation has the 3-fold possibility. Compared to the low incidence of BI, AAS and pannus formation have more proportion in CMJ compression. Furthermore, wrist joint erosion was correlated with VS and AAS. Conclusion : BI has a very strong possibility of CMJ compression, while AAS and pannus formation have a high proportion in CMJ compression. Hence bilateral wrist joint erosion can be used as an indicator for the timing of screening test for cervical involvement. We suggest the early recommendation of cervical spine examination for the diagnosis of cervical involvement in order to prevent morbidity and mortality.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.64 no.1
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• pp.110-119
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• 2021

Objective : Preoperative prediction of the arachnoid membrane descent in pituitary surgery is useful for achieving gross total removal and avoiding cerebrospinal fluid leakage resulting from tearing of the arachnoid membrane in the chiasmatic cistern. In this study, we analyzed the patterns of arachnoid membrane descent during or after pituitary tumor surgery and identified the factors related to this descent. Methods : Analysis was restricted to pituitary macroadenomas not extending into the third ventricle or over the internal carotid artery. To minimize confounding factors, patients who underwent revision surgery, those who had a torn arachnoid during operation or small medial diaphragma sellae (DS) opening, and subtotal resections were excluded. We enrolled 41 consecutive patients in this retrospective analysis. The degree of arachnoid descent was categorized using intraoperative videos. Preoperative magnetic resonance findings, including tumor height, suprasellar extension, and variables including DS area and medial opening size, tumor composition, and displacement of the pituitary stalk and gland were evaluated to determine their correlations with arachnoid membrane descent. Results : Arachnoid membrane descent was significantly correlated with DS area and medial opening size. Based on T2-weighted images (T2WI) magnetic resonance (MR) images, tumor composition was significantly associated with arachnoid membrane descent. Other factors were not significantly correlated with arachnoid membrane descent. Conclusion : T2WI of tumor composition and preoperative MR imaging of DS area and medial opening provided valuable information regarding arachnoid membrane descent. These parameters may serve as fundamental measures to facilitate complete resection of pituitary macroadenomas.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.77-85
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• 2022

Background: After the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS) accident, a model was developed to estimate the external exposure doses for residents who were expected to return to their homes after evacuation orders were lifted. However, the model's accuracy and uncertainties in parameters used to estimate external doses have not been evaluated. Materials and Methods: The model estimates effective doses based on the integrated ambient dose equivalent (H^*(10)) and life patterns, considering a dose reduction factor to estimate the indoor H^*(10) and a conversion factor from H^*(10) to the effective dose. Because personal dose equivalent (H_p(10)) has been reported to agree well with the effective dose after the FDNPS accident, this study validates the model's accuracy by comparing the estimated effective doses with H_p(10). The H_p(10) and life pattern data were collected for 36 adult participants who lived or worked near the FDNPS in 2019. Results and Discussion: The estimated effective doses correlated significantly with H_p(10); however, the estimated effective doses were lower than H_p(10) for indoor sites. A comparison with the measured indoor H^*(10) showed that the estimated indoor H^*(10) was not underestimated. However, the H_p(10) to H^*(10) ratio indoors, which corresponds to the practical conversion factor from H^*(10) to the effective dose, was significantly larger than the same ratio outdoors, meaning that the conversion factor of 0.6 is not appropriate for indoors due to the changes in irradiation geometry and gamma spectra. This could have led to a lower effective dose than H_p(10). Conclusion: The estimated effective doses correlated significantly with H_p(10), demonstrating the model's applicability for effective dose estimation. However, the lower value of the effective dose indoors could be because the conversion factor did not reflect the actual environment.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.135-143
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate polysomnographic and cephalometric characteristics of patients with OSA according to obesity level based on the World Health Organization (WHO) Asian-Pacific BMI criteria. Methods: One hundred and thirty-one consecutive patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) were evaluated using standard level 1 polysomnography and cephalometric analyses. The subjects were categorized into normal, overweight and obese groups according to the WHO Asian-Pacific BMI criteria. Respiratory indices and cephalometric parameters were compared among groups. Results: The 131 patients consisted of 111 males and 20 females, with a mean age of 44.1±12.4 years. The mean value of BMI was 25.3±3.4 kg/m² for all subjects, 20.6±2.2 kg/m² for normal (n=27), 24.0±0.5 kg/m² for overweight (n=33) and 27.6±2.2 kg/m² for obese (n=71). The obese group had a significantly higher apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and respiratory arousal index and lower oxygen saturation level than the normal group (p<0.05). Total AHI, mean oxygen saturation level and respiratory arousal index were significantly correlated with BMI (p<0.001). A longer soft palate and anterior position of the hyoid bone were significantly correlated with BMI level (p ≤0.05). Conclusions: Obese patients have a higher risk of compromised craniofacial skeletal features and soft tissue structures, and severe OSA than non-obese patients.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2023.05a
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• pp.374-374
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• 2023

Groundwater is the main source of water on which relies many countries in case of emergency, this is the case of Japan in 2011 after the great Sendai Earthquake. This important resource is found to be heavily influenced by human induced factors such as wetland area reduction. For groundwater sustainable management in perfect cohesion with wetland it is important to understand the relationship between both resources. Wetlands have a strong interaction with both groundwater and surface water, influencing catchment hydrology and water quality. Quantifying groundwater-wetland interactions can help better identify locations for wetlands restoration and/or protection. This study uses observation data from piezometers and wetland to study the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the correlation. Groundwater level, wetland area, chemical, organic and inorganic contaminants are the important parameters used. the results proved that few contaminants in the wetland are found in groundwater and in general the wetland quality does not affect that much groundwater quality. The strong linear relationship found between wetland water level and nearest groundwater level proved that, in term of quantity, groundwater and wetland are strongly correlated. While wetland becoming dry, groundwater level has dropped in the region about 0.52m. The area of wetland was found to be lightly correlated with groundwater level, proving that wetlands dry has contributed to groundwater level declining. This study has showed that whilst rainfall variability contributed to the decline and loss of wetlands, the impacts from landuse changes and groundwater extraction were likely to be significant contributors to the observed losses.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.86 no.4
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• pp.272-283
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• 2023

Background: In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), decreased muscle mass is a frequently encountered comorbidity in clinical practice. However, the evaluation of muscle mass in patients with COPD in real-world practice is rare. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of all patients with COPD who underwent bioelectrical impedance analysis at least once between January 2011 and December 2021 in three hospitals. Then, we analyzed the performance rate of muscle mass measurement in the patients and the correlation between muscle mass, clinical parameters, and COPD prognosis. Results: Among the 24,502 patients with COPD, only 270 (1.1%) underwent muscle mass measurements. The total skeletal muscle mass index was significantly correlated with albumin, alanine transaminase, and creatinine to cystatin C ratio in patients with COPD (r=0.1614, p=0.011; r=0.2112, p=0.001; and r=0.3671, p=0.001, respectively). Acute exacerbation of COPD (AE COPD) was significantly correlated with muscle mass, especially the truncal skeletal muscle mass index (TSMI) in males (r=-0.196, p=0.007). In the multivariate analysis, TSMI and cystatin C were significant risk factors for AE COPD (hazard ratio, 0.200 [95% confidence interval, CI, 0.048 to 0.838] and 4.990 [95% CI, 1.070 to 23.278], respectively). Conclusion: Low muscle mass negatively affects the clinical outcomes in patients with COPD. Despite its clinical significance, muscle mass measurement is performed in a small proportion of patients with COPD. Therefore, protocols and guidelines for the screening of sarcopenia in patients with COPD should be established.

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.406-417
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• 2023

Background and Objectives: Pathophysiological changes of right ventricle (RV) after repair of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) are coupled with a highly compliant low-pressure pulmonary artery (PA) system. This study aimed to determine whether pulmonary vascular function was associated with RV parameters and exercise capacity, and its impact on RV remodeling after pulmonary valve replacement. Methods: In a total of 48 patients over 18 years of age with repaired TOF, pulmonary arterial elastance (Ea), RV volume data, and RV-PA coupling ratio were calculated and analyzed in relation to exercise capacity. Results: Patients with a low Ea showed a more severe pulmonary regurgitation volume index, greater RV end-diastolic volume index, and greater effective RV stroke volume (p=0.039, p=0.013, and p=0.011, respectively). Patients with a high Ea had lower exercise capacity than those with a low Ea (peak oxygen consumption [peak VO₂] rate: 25.8±7.7 vs. 34.3±5.5 mL/kg/min, respectively, p=0.003), while peak VO₂ was inversely correlated with Ea and mean PA pressure (p=0.004 and p=0.004, respectively). In the univariate analysis, a higher preoperative RV end-diastolic volume index and RV end-systolic volume index, left ventricular end-systolic volume index, and higher RV-PA coupling ratio were risk factors for suboptimal outcomes. Preoperative RV volume and RV-PA coupling ratio reflecting the adaptive PA system response are important factors in optimal postoperative results. Conclusions: We found that PA vascular dysfunction, presenting as elevated Ea in TOF, may contribute to exercise intolerance. However, Ea was inversely correlated with pulmonary regurgitation (PR) severity, which may prevent PR, RV dilatation, and left ventricular dilatation in the absence of significant pulmonary stenosis.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.31-44
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• 2009

The objective of this study was to measure backscattering coefficients of paddy rice using a L-, C-, and X-band scatterometer system with full polarization and various angles during the rice growth period and to relate backscattering coefficients to rice growth parameters. Radar backscattering measurements of paddy rice field using multifrequency (L, C, and X) and full polarization were conducted at an experimental field located in National Academy of Agricultural Science (NAAS), Suwon, Korea. The scatterometer system consists of dual-polarimetric square horn antennas, HP8720D vector network analyzer ($20\;MHz{\sim}20\;GHz$), RF cables, and a personal computer that controls frequency, polarization and data storage. The backscattering coefficients were calculated by applying radar equation for the measured at incidence angles between $20^{\circ}$ and $60^{\circ}$ with $5^{\circ}$ interval for four polarization (HH, VV, HV, VH), respectively. We measured the temporal variations of backscattering coefficients of the rice crop at L-, C-, X-band during a rice growth period. In three bands, VV-polarized backscattering coefficients were higher than hh-polarized backscattering coefficients during rooting stage (mid-June) and HH-polarized backscattering coefficients were higher than VV-, HV/VH-polarized backscattering coefficients after panicle initiation stage (mid-July). Cross polarized backscattering coefficients in X-band increased towards the heading stage (mid-Aug) and thereafter saturated, again increased near the harvesting season. Backscattering coefficients of range at X-band were lower than that of L-, C-band. HH-, VV-polarized ${\sigma}^{\circ}$ steadily increased toward panicle initiation stage and thereafter decreased, and again increased near the harvesting season. We plotted the relationship between backscattering coefficients with L-, C-, X-band and rice growth parameters. Biomass was correlated with L-band hh-polarization at a large incident angle. LAI (Leaf Area Index) was highly correlated with C-band HH- and cross-polarizations. Grain weight was correlated with backscattering coefficients of X-band VV-polarization at a large incidence angle. X-band was sensitive to grain maturity during the post heading stage.