• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.84 no.1
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• pp.51-74
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• 2023

Multiple myeloma, which is a proliferative disease of plasma cells that originate from a single clone, is the second most common hematologic malignancy following non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In the past, its diagnosis was made based on clinical findings (so-called "CRAB") and a skeletal survey using radiographs. However, since the implementation of the International Myeloma Working Group's revised guideline regarding the radiologic diagnosis of multiple myeloma, whole-body (WB) MRI has emerged to play a central role in the early diagnosis of multiple myeloma. Diffusion-weighted imaging and fat quantification using Dixon methods enable treatment response assessment by MRI. In keeping with the trend, a multi-institutional and multidisciplinary consensus for standardized image acquisition and reporting known as the Myeloma Response Assessment and Diagnostic System (MY-RADS) has recently been proposed. This review aims to describe the clinical application of WB-MRI based on MY-RADS in multiple myeloma, discuss its limitations, and suggest future directions for improvement.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.260-265
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• 2024

During the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, wastewater-based epidemiology was used for surveying infectious diseases. In this study, wastewater surveillance was employed to monitor COVID-19 outbreaks. Wastewater influent samples were collected from four sewage treatment plants in Ulsan (Gulhwa, Yongyeon, Nongso, and Bangeojin) between August 2022 and August 2023. The samples were concentrated using the polyethylene glycol-sodium chloride pretreatment method. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA was extracted and detected using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Next generation sequences was used to perform correlation analysis between SARS-CoV-2 concentrations and COVID-19 cases and for COVID-19 variant analysis. A strong correlation was observed between SARS-CoV-2 concentrations and COVID-19 cases (correlation coefficient, r = 0.914). The COVID-19 variant analysis results were similar to the clinical variant genomes of three epidemics during the study period. In conclusion, monitoring COVID-19 via analyzing wastewater facilitates early recognition and prediction of epidemics.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.433-443
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• 2024

This study investigated the effect of packaging method and root trimming on quality of green onions during storage. Two packaging methods (tied with string, S or packaged with film bag, FP) and two root trimming states (attaching the roots without trimming, AR or cutting the roots leaving about 5 mm, CR) were treated after harvest. Then, the green onions stored at 20℃ for 8 days and 1℃ for 6 weeks to investigate changes in quality. When stored at 20℃, the differences in marketability between S and FP were minimal, while when stored at 1℃, the marketability of the FP remained higher than that of S. The leaf color change in CR progressed faster than in the AR treatment group, leading to faster quality deterioration. The occurrence of weight loss, browning, and softening of stems progressed as the storage period elapsed. However, except weight loss, they were at a level that did not affect marketability within the marketability limit period determined by color change and wiltig of leaves. The allicin and quercetin contents of stems increased in the early stages when quality deteriorated after harvest but decreased as quality deterioration became more severe.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.7
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• pp.497-503
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• 2003

Pulmonary aspergillosis usually results from the colonization of the existing lung lesions by chronic pulmonary diseases, such as tuberculosis. Most cases of pulmonary aspergilloma have been treated surgically for many years because it is a potentially life-threatening disease causing massive hemoptysis. Here we reviewed our results from the last 10 years. Material and Method: We reviewed 31 cases surgically treated from Aug. 1992 to Jul. 2002. retrospectively. This investigation is designed to illustrate the peak age incidence, sex ratio, chief complaints, preoperative study, anatomic location of operative site, postoperative pathologic finding and postoperative complications. Result: The peak age Incidence laid in the 3rd and 4th decade of 20 cases (64.5%). The most common complaint was hemoptysis in 27 cases (87.1%). The 31 cases had a history of treatment with anti-tuberculous drugs under impression of pulmonary tuberculosis. The 19 cases (61.3%) showed the so-called “Air-meniscus sign” on the preoperative chest X-ray. In the 31 cases (100%) on the chest computed tomography. as a preoperative diagnostic modality, positivity was shown in 37.9%, 83.3% was shown on the fungus culture of sputum for Aspergillus, serum immunodiffusion test for A. fumigatus, respectively. The anatomical location of aspergilloma was mainly in the upper lobe in 19 cases (61.3%) and the majority of cases were managed by lobectomy. The postoperative pathologic findings showed that 31 cases (100%) were combined with tuberculosis. The postoperative complications include empyema, prolonged air leakage, remained dead space, postoperative bleeding and these numbers of cases is 3 cases (9.7%), 2 cases (6.45%), 2 cases (6.45%), 1 case (3.23%), respectively. one case was died postoperatively due to massive beeding, and asphyxia. Conclusion: Compared with the previous study, there is no significant difference in results. Preoperative chest computed tomography and immunodiffusion test were more commonly available and showed high positivity. Operations often became technically difficult because of pleural space obliteration, indurated hilar structures, and poor expansion of the remaining lung, which were more prominent in the patients with complex aspergillosis. In such cases, medical treatments and interventional procedures like bronchial artery embolization are preferred. However, cavernostomy is also recommanded with few additional morbidity because of its relatively less invassiveness. Early surgical intervention is the recommended management for patients with simple aspergilloma considering the Row surgical mortality and morbidity in recent days.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.50-63
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• 1997

Background : A pressure sore was defined as any skin lesion caused by unrelieved pressure and resulting in damage to underlying tissue. The health care institutions in the United States were reported the incident rate of pressure sores ranging from 6 to 14 %. Intensive Care Unit needed highest quality of care has been found over 40% incidence rate of pressure sore. Also, Annual expenditures for the care of pressure sores in patients in the United States have been estimated to be $7.5 billion; furthermore, 50 percent more nursing time is required to care for patients with pressure sore in comparison to the time needed to implement preventive measures against pressure sore formation. However, In Korea, there were little reliable reports, or researches, about incidence rates of pressure sore in health care institution including intensive care unit and about the integrated approach like CQI action team for risk assessment, prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers. Therefore, this study was to develop pressure sore risk assessment tool and the protocol for prevention of pressure sore formation through CQI action team activities, to monitor incident rate of pressure sore and the length of sore formation for patients at high risk, and to approximately estimate nursing time for sore dressing during research period as the effect of CQI action team. Method : CQI action team in intensive care unit, launched since early 1996, reviewed the literature for the standardized risk assessment tool, developed the pressure sore assessment tool based on the Braden Scale, tested its validity, compared on statistics including incidence rate of pressure sore for patients at high risk. Throughout these activities, CQI action team was developed the protocol, called as St. Marys hospital Intensive Care Unit Pressure Sore Protocol, shifted the emphasis from wound treatment to wound prevention. After applied the protocol to patients at high risk, the incident rate and the period of prevention against pressure development were tested with those for patients who received care before implementation of protocol by Chi-square and Kaplan-Meier Method of Survival Analysis. Result : The CQI action team found that these was significant difference of in incidence rate of pressure sores between patients at high risk (control group) who received care before implementation of protocol and those (experimental group) who received it after implementation of protocol (p<.05). 25% possibility of pressure sore formation was shown for the patients with 6th hospital day in ICU in control group. In experimental group, the patients with 10th hospital day had 10% possibility of pressure sore. Therefore, there was significant difference(p<.05) in survival rate between two groups. Also, nursing time for dressing on pressure sore in experimental group was decreased as much as 50% of it in control group. Conclusion : The collaborative team effort led to reduced incidence, increased the length of prevention against pressure sore, and declined nursing care times for sore dressing. However, there have had several suggestions for future study. The preventive care system for pressure sore should be applied to patients at moderate, or low risk throughout continuous CQI team activities based on Bed Sore Indicator Fact Sheet. Hospital-wide supports, such as incentives, would be offered to participants for keeping strong commitment to CQI team. Also, Quality Information System monitoring incidents and estimating cost of poor quality, like workload (full time equivalence) or financial loss, regularly in a hospital has to be developed first for supporting CQI team activities as well as empowering hospital-wide QI implementation. Being several limitations, this study would be one of the report cards for the CQI team activities in intensive care unit of an acute hospital and a trial of quality improvement of health care in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.119-128
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• 2013

Since the early 2000s, demand for coastal dredging projects have been significantly increased, and the dredged sediments have showed the continuing marked increases through the multiple projects with other coastal development and constructions. As significant or potential degradation of marine environment has been mounting, we checked the current situation of marine environmental impact assessment through marine water and sediment qualities in relation with dredging projects of the sea area utilization consultation statements submitted in 2011. While analysis percentages of the general items were usually higher, harmful components such as metals revealed wide variation of analysis percentages. In the event of analysis of metals, the pre-treatment process (full digestion) and analysis method were not properly implemented in accordance with the guidelines for preparation of consultation statements. Although not specified in the guidelines, verification procedures (tests of recovery efficiency and detection limit) to secure the reliability were almost ignored. As a result, most of developers did conduct poor marine environmental impact assessment on coastal dredging and related projects. We suggested that the responsible government authority should establish new detailed guidelines on the sea area utilization consultation for more strict evaluation and diagnosis of marine environment and distinctly request the developer to obey the guidelines by complementing the system of the sea area utilization consultation.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.413-420
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the control efficacy of major environment-friendly control agents against powdery mildew, as affected by the application condition such as disease-developing stage and microclimate, as compared with the efficacy of pesticides in plug seedling of three Cucurbitaceae vegetables, including cucumber, melon, and oriental melon. Single or combined application of major six environment-friendly control agents was used in the experiment: two biofungicide (Ampelomyces quisqualis 94013 and Bacillus subtilis Y1336), two plant extracts (neem oil and extracts of Rheum undulatum), and two mineral materials (wettable sulfur powder and lime bordeaux mixture). These control agents were treated to the plug seedlings for preventing powdery mildew and curative applications for managing powdery mildew. In all treatments, the disease incidence declined as daily average temperatures increased to $30^{\circ}C$ for consecutive 6~8 days with maximum temperature over $40^{\circ}C$. In preventative application, the control efficacy against powdery mildew was the highest in the treatment of wettable sulfur powder, and lowest in the B. subtilis Y1336, with values of 20~40%. In cucumber seedlings, the preventive single application of neem oil or wettable sulfur powder was more effective than curative application of fungicides, while the control efficacy of these agents was similar to those of fungicides in melon seedlings. The single application of R. undulatum extracts was also effective in preventing the disease for both cucumber and melon seedlings, showing a higher control efficacy than those of biofungicides during seedling stage. The treatment of water spray was not effective and showed a higher disease incidence than the untreated control plot in the oriental melon and melon seedlings. The curative application with environment friendly control agents, after powdery mildew was first detected, could not successfully controlled the disease at the middle stage (5~10% of disease incidence) of disease development. The curative combined application of [R. undulatum extracts (1st application) + wettable sulfur powder (2nd) + neem oil (3rd)] showed the highest control efficacy among the other treatments, with control value over 80% at the early stage (less than 1% of disease incidence) of disease development.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.465-473
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• 2016

This study was carried out to evaluate restoration process of a few wetlands in the National Institute of Ecology (NIE). Wetlands were composed of the former rice paddies that passive restoration was led through only natural process and by creating waterway, and an ecological pond, a reservoir that restorative treatment was practiced. As the result of analysis on landscape change in the current wetland space, existing wetland in NIE was usually from the former rice field and some parts were from the residential area or forest. Change of species composition was progressed from crops or ruderals resistant to human interferences to plant species, which has removed artificially for cultivation and grow usually in the typical wetland. Both species diversity and occurrence of exotic plants were the highest when restoration project is in progress and stages after and before restoration were followed. In an ecological pond that restorative treatment was done, vegetation introduced as riparian buffer was established successfully and thereby it was expected that it could contribute to buffer environmental stress comming from the outside. Synthesized the above mentioned results, change of wetland vegetation established in NIE resembled the typical trend of early successional stage occurring in the abandoned rice paddy and consequently, it was estimated that successful restoration is under progress. Restoration under progress in an ecological pond where artificial aid in the least level was added, could be evaluated in successful as well. In particular, successful establishment of buffering vegetation, which can play diverse ecological functions, could be evaluated as significant restoration effect. But adaptive management to improve ecological quality for the section that buffering vegetation is insufficient, is required.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.94-99
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• 2008

The most common cause of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in childhood is adenotonsillar hypertrophy. Adenotonsillectomy improves the symptoms quite well in most cases. However, some patients could experience the OSAS again after adenotonsillectomy, who might have several risk factors such as incomplete operation, misdiagnosis, combined anatomical malformation, sinusitis or chronic allergic rhinitis, obesity, initial severe OSAS, and early onset OSAS. We report a case of 11-year-old obese boy who presented with snoring for several years. He was obese with body mass index (BMI) of $26.3kg/m^2$ and also found to have fatty liver by ultrasonogram. Initial polysomnography (PSG) showed that he met the criteria of severe OSAS with the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of 70.5. He underwent adenotonsillectomy and symptoms improved immediately. Four months later symptoms were relieved with AHI of 0, but 1 year after the adenotonsillectomy he started to complain snoring again and the subsequent PSG results showed that OSAS has relapsed with AHI of 43. Paranasal sinus X-ray and physical examination showed sinusitis and re-growth of adenoid. Obesity was proved not to be a contributing factor because his BMI decreased to normal range ($23.1kg/m^2$) after diet control and regular exercise. Also, liver transaminase was normalized and fatty liver was disappeared on follow-up abdominal ultrasonogram. After treatment of sinusitis, symptoms were relieved with decreased AHI (8.5). This case suggests that simple adenotonsillectomy might not be the end of OSAS treatment in childhood. Patients who had adenotonsillectomy should be followed by subsequent PSG if symptoms recur. It is also important to be aware of risk factors in the recurrent OSAS for the proper intervention according to the cause.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.301-317
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• 2005

The number of patients with tongue carcinoma is increasing rapidly among young individuals in many parts of the world. Oral carcinoma progresses from hyperplastic lesion through dysplasia to invasive carcinoma and the concept of "field cancerization" with molecular alteration has been suggested for oral cavity carcinogenesis. Significant improvement in treatment and prognosis will depend on more detailed understanding of the multi-step process leading to cancer development. To induce tongue carcinoma in rat by 4-NQO, each drinking water was made to 10 ppm, 25 ppm, 50 ppm and control (only D.W. without 4-NQO). Specimens were classified into 4 groups such as control, I (mild & moderate dysplasia), II (severe dysplasia and carcinoma in situ), III (carcinoma). The mRNA expressions of Bcl-2 family were evaluated by RT-PCR technique. For anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family, mRNA expression of Bcl-w was down-regulated in all stages of tongue carcinogenesis model. However, mRNA expression of Bcl-2 was up-regulated. For pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family, all members were down-regulated in all stages of tongue carcinogenesis model except for Bad mRNA in group III. In terms of BH3 only protein, mRNA expressions of Bok and Mcl-1 were down regulated in all stages of specimen, but Bmf in group II and BBC3 in group III were up-regulated. Our current findings demonstrated the involvements of mRNA expression of Bcl-2 family in multi-step tongue carcinogensis. This highlights the necessity for continued efforts to discover suitable biomakers (Bcl-2 family) for early diagnosis of the disease, and to understand its pathogenesis as a first step in improving methods of treatment. The discovery of these potential biomarkers and molecular targets for cancer diagnostics and therapeutics has the potential to significantly change the clinical approach and outcome of the disease.