• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.571-575
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• 1998

One of the most significant features of diagnostic ultrasonic instruments is to provide real time information of the soft tissues movements. Echocardiogram has been widely used for diagnosis of heart diseases since it is able to show real time images of heart valves and walls. However, the currently used ultrasonic images are deteriorated due to presence of speckle noises and image dropout. Therefore, it is very important to develop a new technique which can enhance ultrasonic images. In this study, a technique which extracts enhanced binary images in echocardiograms was proposed. For this purpose, a digital moving image file was made from analog echocardiogram, then it was stored as 8-bit gray-level for each frame. For an efficient image processing, the region containing the heat septum and tricuspid valve was selected as the region of interest(ROI). Image enhancement filters and morphology filters were used to reduce speckle noises in the images. The proposed procedure in this paper resulted in binary images with enhanced contour compared to those form the conventional threshold technique and original image processing technique which can be further implemented for the quantitative analysis of the left ventricular wall motion in echocardiogram by easy detection of the heart wall contours.

• KIISE Transactions on Computing Practices
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.521-531
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• 2016

In this paper, since most business process of D-agency is being performed through some information systems, including Onnara System is a government standard operating management system, computerized accumulated in the system documentation based on, even if there is no independent job analysis system, in a judgment that can be can be tissue diagnosis, it presented a job analysis plan that leverages the existing information system. Most material is passed online in business processing between departments and between colleagues, it is returned. In situations where most information systems for such business processing is built developed, grasp the work procedures and information systems D-agency data accumulated to derive the necessary elements for job analysis quantified, and verified the validity of the element in the regression statistics.In addition, classification system (BRM, Business Reference Model) of the existing functionality that is available only Onnara System, and to establish a job analysis architecture to be able to function diagnostic departments to leverage common also in other information systems, related implement illustrating additional features of the information system, to derive a department duties value calculation formula with it, and present various job analysis plan that can actually be utilized to diagnose and derived elements department appropriate personnel.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.11
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• pp.1167-1173
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• 2006

Purpose : To evaluate various sepsis screening tests, individually and in combination, to formulate a guideline for the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis. Methods : The study was a retrospective cohort study. It took place at the neonatal intensive care unit of the Paediatric Department, Il Sin Christian Hospital, Busan, Korea, over a period of 68 months from 1st, April, 2001 to 31st, December, 2005. This study evaluated 100 neonates having clinical features of sepsis and 100 normal asymptomatic neonates and used screening tests including C-reactive protein (CRP), total leukocyte count (TLC), absolute neutrophil count (ANC), immature neutrophils to total neutrophil count ratio (I/T ratio), thrombocytopenia, degenerative changes in the neutrophils and gastric aspirate cytology (GAC) for the diagnosis of neontal sepsis. Results : The sensitivity of CRP and ANC was high. CRP had 86 percent sensitivity for group-A (proven sepsis) and 74 percent sensitivity for group-B (probable sepsis) and 94 percent specificity for group-A, B. ANC had sensitivity of 72 percent for group-A and 62 percent for group-B and 86 percent specificity for group-A, B. For group-A, sensitivity, specificity of GAC for polymorphs was 74 percent and 94 percent respectively. As for sensitivity, specificity of platelet count for group-A was 64 percent and 89 percent respecively. The sensitivity, specificity and predictive values (PV) of the individual tests and different test combinations were also calculated for group-A and B. Conclusion : For the detection of culture negative cases in neonatal sepsis, screening tests including CRP, TLC, ANC, thrombocytopenia, cytoplasmic vacuolization in the neutrophils and GAC for polymorphs have high sensitivity. A combination of three tests has higher sensitivity.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.40-49
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• 2012

The NE Asiatic Solidago virgaurea complex in Korea has been reported on 5 taxa (S. virgaurea subsp. asiatica, S. virgaurea var. taquetii, S. virgaurea var. coreana, S. virgaurea subsp. leiocarpa, and S. virgaurea subsp. gigantea). However, the broad morphological variations and a lack of diagnostic characteristics have made it difficult to distinguish these taxa and have thus resulted in a complicated taxonomy in the complex. Therefore, to clarify the classification and delimitation of each taxon, the morphological characteristics of the S. virgaurea complex were investigated by examining the original descriptions and type specimens. Field work was also conducted to investigate the morphological and geographic features. In conclusion, S. japonica Kitam., as a legitimate name, was distributed all over the country except for the Is. Ulleung-do in Korea, as distinguished from S. virgaurea L. Both S. virgaurea var. taquetii and S. virgaurea var. coreana were considered as synonyms of S. japonica, as their morphological characteristics were within the variation range of those of S. japonica. Furthermore, S. virgaurea subsp. leiocarpa does not occur in Korea. Additional investigations are required to clarify the classification of S. virgaurea subsp. gigantea, whose populations were not found during the investigation in this study. S. dahurica, meanwhile, was distributed in the northern part of North Korea.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.21
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• pp.9395-9404
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• 2014

Background: Primary vaginal yolk sac tumor is a rare malignancy in the pediatric population, and a diagnostic challenge and appropriate initial treatment remains unsolved. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinicopathologic features, treatment and prognosis of this tumor. Materials and Methods: Eight cases of primary vaginal yolk sac tumor were reported with a literature review. Results: There were 4 pure yolk sac tumor cases and four mixed germ cell tumors containing yolk sac tumor element, including two cases with embryonal carcinoma and two cases with embryonal carcinoma and dysgerminoma. Partial vaginectomy was performed in four cases and all patients received chemotherapy. 85 cases in literatures were reviewed and 9 cases were misdiagnosed. Follow-up data was available in 77 cases and 5-year overall survival rate was 87.6%. 5-year survival rate of biopsy with chemotherapy, conservative surgery with chemotherapy and radical surgery with chemotherapy was 91.1%, 100% and 28.6%, respectively (p<0.001). Compared to cases without relapse or metastasis after initial treatment, patients with relapse or metastasis had a shorter overall survival (35.6% vs 96.6%, p<0.001). Conclusions: Mixed germ cell tumor containing yolk sac tumor element was not uncommon and partial vaginectomy may be a good choice for primary vaginal mixed yolk sac tumor type to eradicate local tumor cells and provide complete information for pathological diagnosis and postoperative adjuvant therapy.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.278-283
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• 2004

The incidence of a pulmonary leiomyosarcoma as a primary lung tumor is quite rare. We report a case of primary leiomyosarcoma with a cardiac invasion in a 76 year old man. He was admitted due to left anterior chest wall pain for one month. Chest computed tomography showed a $9{\times}8{\times}10cm$ sized, large round mass in the left upper and lower lobes, and an amorphous low density lesion within the left atrium. Chest magnetic resonance imaging showed a large round mass in the left upper and lower lobes with growth into the left atrium. A diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma with prominent osteoclast-like giant cells was made based on the microscopic and immunohistochemical findings of a permanent specimen by explothoracotomy. The pathologic features of the tumor showed round mononuclear hyperchromatic cells and multinucleated giant cells that resembled osteoclasts. The immunohistochemical staining showed that the giant cells are positive for CD68 but negative for the muscle markers while the round cells were positive for the muscle marker. The patient refused further treatment and died after two months.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.173-178
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• 2007

Purpose: This study was conducted to analyze the clinical manifestation and natural course of benign transient hyperphosphatasemia (BTH) in children. Methods: A total of 17 children diagnosed with BTH between June 2006 and July 2007, were included in this study. Clinical records and laboratory tests were analyzed retrospectively for all children. Results: The mean age of the patients was $26.9{\pm}13.8$ months (range: 9 to 49 months). Nine of the 17 BTH cases (52.9%) occurred in patients that had previously suffered from infectious diseases. While the patients were suffering from BTH, the mean serum level of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was $2,500.2{\pm}1,165.1$ U/L, however, these elevated serum ALP levels normalized within 7 weeks of recovery in all cases. In addition, a seasonal peak in the onset of BTH was observed from September to December. Further, the measurement of ALP isoenzymes in 7 of the patients with BTH, revealed a marked elevation of bone fraction. Conclusion: It is important for pediatricians to understand the clinical manifestation and benign course of BTH to avoid unnecessary diagnostic evaluation in children showing a transient increase in ALP activities.

• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2015

The standard GARCH model imposing symmetry on the conditional variance, tends to fail in capturing some important features of the data. This paper, hence, introduces the models capturing asymmetric effect. They are the EGARCH model and the GJR model. We provide the systematic comparison of volatility models focusing on the asymmetric effect of news on volatility. Specifically, three diagnostic tests are provided: the sign bias test, the negative size bias test, and the positive size bias test. This paper shows that there is significant evidence of GARCH-type process in the data, as shown by the test for the Ljung-Box Q statistic on the squared residual data. The estimated unconditional density function for squared residual is clearly skewed to the left and markedly leptokurtic when compared with the standard normal distribution. The observation of volatility clustering is also clearly reinforced by the plot of the squared value of residuals of export volume and values. The unconditional variance of both export volumes and export value indicates that large shocks of either sign tend to be followed by large shocks, and small shocks of either sign tend to follow small shocks. The estimated export volume news impact curve for the GARCH also suggests that $h_t$ is overestimated for large negative and positive shocks. The conditional variance equation of the GARCH model for export volumes contains two parameters ${\alpha}$ and ${\beta}$ that are insignificant, indicating that the GARCH model is a poor characterization of the conditional variance of export volumes. The conditional variance equation of the EGARCH model for export value, however, shows a positive sign of parameter ${\delta}$, which is contrary to our expectation, while the GJR model exhibits that parameters ${\alpha}$ and ${\beta}$ are insignificant, and ${\delta}$ is marginally significant. That indicates that the asymmetric volatility models are poor characterization of the conditional variance of export value. It is concluded that the asymmetric EGARCH and GJR model are appropriate in explaining the volatility of export volume, while the symmetric standard GARCH model is good for capturing the volatility.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.238-242
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• 2005

We report the case of a girl with peritoneal tuberculosis (Tb) who presented with mimicking features of ovarian cancer including massive ascites, elevation of CA-125 and ovarian masses. These ovarian masses cannot be ruled out malingnacy with image study. Gram stain, acid-fast stain, bacteriological and mycological culture of centrifuged ascites cells were negative. Tumor markers revealed an elevated CA-125 level of 112 U/mL and adenosine deaminase level were significantly high with 118 U/L. Diagnostic laparoscopy was done. The histology of the peritoneum and the ovary showed multiple granulomatous nodules with epithelioid cells and multi-nucleated giant cells. And there were no evidence of malignancy. Furthermore acid-fast bacilli (AFB) was identified in this specimen. Peritoneal Tb was difficult to diagnosis in our patient because it mimicked ovarian cancer. And this is the first case of abdominal Tb mimicking ovarian cancer in children in Korea.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.1403-1407
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• 2015

Background: New tumour biomarkers are being intensely investigated for malignant mesothelioma (MM). Fibulin-3 is produced in MM but its role remains uncertain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of measuring serum fibulin-3 in the diagnosis and prognosis of MM. Materials and Methods: This prospective study was performed on 43 patients and 40 healthy controls who were admitted to our hospital between January 2012 and January 2014. Data from MM patients, including demographic and clinical features, routine laboratory data, levels of serum fibulin-3, and treatment outcomes were defined as potential prognostic factors. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for fibulin-3 was used to detect the cut-off value with highest sensitivity and specificity. Univariate survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method in patients with MM. Afterwards, the possible factors identified with univariate analyses were entered into the cox regression analysis. Results: Our results revealed that patients with MM had significantly higher serum levels of fibulin-3 than controls. The results showed that the best cut-off point was 36.6 ng/ml with an AUC (area under the curve)=0.976, sensitivity=93.0% and specificity=90.0. In our study, the initial significant poor prognostic factors were advanced stage, high white blood cell count, high platelet count, high C-reactive protein (p<0.05 for each variable). Later, according to multivariate analysis the results showed only advanced stage as significant parameter (p=0.040). Conclusions: We determined that real use for serum fibulin-3 was not for prognosis but for diagnosis in MM. Also advanced stage was associated with poor MM prognosis.