• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.273-286
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• 1998

As there has arisen a concern that failure of the high burnup fuel under the reactivity-insertion accident(RIA) may occur at the energy lower than the expected, fuel behavior under the rod ejection accident in a typical Westinghouse-designed 950 MWe PWR was analyzed by using the three dimensional nodal transient neutronics code, PANBOX2 and the transient fuel rod performance analysis code, FRAP-T6. Fuel failure criteria versus the burnup was conservatively derived taking into account available test data and the possible fuel failure mechanisms. The high burnup and longer cycle length fuel loading scheme of a peak rod turnup of 68 MWD/kgU was selected for the analysis. Except three dimensional core neutronics calculation, the analysis used the same core conditions and assumptions as the conventional zero dimensional analysis. Results of three dimensional analysis showed that the peak fuel enthalpy during the rod ejection accident is less than one third of that calculated by the conventional zero dimensional analysis methodology and the fraction of fuel failure in the core is less than 4 %. Therefore, it can be said that the current design limit of less than 10 percent fuel failure and maintaining the core coolable geometry would be adequately satisfied under the rod ejection accident, even though the conservative fuel failure criteria derived from the test data are applied.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.73-82
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• 2003

Objectives: A new software (Cardiac SPECT Analyzer: CSA) was developed for quantification of volumes and election fraction on gated myocardial SPECT. Volumes and ejection fraction by CSA were validated by comparing with those quantified by Quantitative Gated SPECT (QGS) software. Materials and Methods: Gated myocardial SPECT was peformed in 40 patients with ejection fraction from 15% to 85%. In 26 patients, gated myocardial SPECT was acquired again with the patients in situ. A cylinder model was used to eliminate noise semi-automatically and profile data was extracted using Gaussian fitting after smoothing. The boundary points of endo- and epicardium were found using an iterative learning algorithm. Enddiastolic (EDV) and endsystolic volumes (ESV) and election fraction (EF) were calculated. These values were compared with those calculated by QGS and the same gated SPECT data was repeatedly quantified by CSA and variation of the values on sequential measurements of the same patients on the repeated acquisition. Results: From the 40 patient data, EF, EDV and ESV by CSA were correlated with those by QGS with the correlation coefficients of 0.97, 0.92, 0.96. Two standard deviation (SD) of EF on Bland Altman plot was 10.1%. Repeated measurements of EF, EDV, and ESV by CSA were correlated with each other with the coefficients of 0.96, 0.99, and 0.99 for EF, EDV and ESV respectively. On repeated acquisition, reproducibility was also excellent with correlation coefficients of 0.89, 0.97, 0.98, and coefficient of variation of 8.2%, 5.4mL, 8.5mL and 2SD of 10.6%, 21.2mL, and 16.4mL on Bland Altman plot for EF, EDV and ESV. Conclusion: We developed the software of CSA for quantification of volumes and ejection fraction on gated myocardial SPECT. Volumes and ejection fraction quantified using this software was found valid for its correctness and precision.

• International Journal of Heart Failure
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.137-139
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• 2024

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.336-339
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• 1996

Stellate ganglion block which usually practiced in pain clinics may combined with hemodynamic changes because it blocks sympathetic nerve chains. We measured the hemodynamic changes with NCCOM3-$R7^{(R)}$ (BOMED, U.S.A.) which applicated bioimpedance method in twenty-two patients. Mean arterial pressure, heart rate, cardiac output, ejection fraction and left ventricle end diastolic volume (LEDV) were measured before stellate ganglion block (control), 1, 3, 5, 10 and 20 minutes after stellate ganglion block with 8 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine. The results were as follows: Mean arterial pressure decreased significantly (p<0.05) in 10, 20 minutes after stellate ganglion block comparing to control, but not clinically significant. Heart rate, cardiac output, ejection fraction and LVEDV showed no significant change compared to control value. These results showed that stellate ganglion block is a safe technique without significant hemodynamic changes.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.223-230
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• 1988

Emax, end-systolic pressure-volume relationship, has been established as a new concept which can be representative of ventricular contractility itself since 1970s. Comparing to ejection fraction[EF], Emax is independent of preload and afterload. However Emax has not been proved precisely in non-thoracotomized condition because current methods have limitation in measuring ventricular chamber volume accurately in in viva state. The Dynamic Spatial Reconstructor[DSR], high speed computerized tomography, can measure ventricular chamber volume accurately throughout cardiac cycle in non-thoracotomized state. So Emax and EF of the left ventricle was tried to measure precisely in in vivo condition with DSR. Emax was compared to EF to estimate its ability to evaluate ventricular contractility. 5 mongrel dogs, weighing 15-16kg, were used for measuring Emax and EF of the left ventricle in 3 or 4 different loading conditions using DSR. Emax value in 5 dogs was from 2.62 to 10.49. Each dog has one Emax value regardless of loading conditions. However EF in 5 dogs varies depending on loading conditions. The conclusions are that Emax is useful in in viva state and EF varies depending on loading conditions. So Emax should be tried to use in clinical situation rather than EF because it is always representative of contractility itself regardless loading conditions in in viva state.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.656-663
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• 1994

Evaluation of heart function is of importance in assessing the results of valvular heart surgery. Information on volume and functional change of heart chamber can be obtained by cardiac catheterization and echocardiography. We studied 41 patients with mitral stenosis[MS] and 23 patients with mitral regurgitation[MR] using M-mode echocardiography before and after mitral valve replacement[MVR] at Pusan Paik Hospital. Preoperative cardiac catheterization was available in 56 cases, and the results were obtained as follows. 1. In patients with MS, preoperative average LV end-diastolic dimension[EDD] and end-systolic dimension[ESD] were remained within normal range, but postoperative EDD and ESD were significantly decreased[P<0.01]. The preoperative and postoperative LV ejection fraction[EF] were remained within the normal range and no significant change[P>0.05]. The preoperative left atrial dimension[LAD] was enlarged considerably above normal[P<0.01], but was significantly decreased after surgery[P<0.001]. The preoperative LV posterior wall thickness[PWTh] was within normal range, and no significant change after surgery[P>0.05]. 2. In patients with MR, preoperative average end-diastolic dimension[EDD] and end-systolic dimension[ESD] were significantly greater than normal[P<005], but postoperative EDD and ESD were significantly decreased[P<0.01]. The preoperative LV ejection fraction[EF] and fractional shortening[FS] were within normal range, and no significant change after surgery[P>0.05].The preoperative left atrial dimension[LAD] was enlarged considerably above normal [P<0.01], but was significantly decreased after surgery[P<0.001].The preoperative LV posterior wall thickness[PWTh] was within normal range, and no significant change after surgery[P>0.05].

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.34-46
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• 2023

Background and Objectives: Diabetes mellitus (DM)-associated heart failure (HF) causes high morbidity and mortality. In this study, we established a zebrafish larvae model for in vivo research on diabetic HF. Methods: DM-like phenotypes were induced by treating zebrafish larvae with a combination of D-glucose (GLU) and streptozotocin (STZ). HF was induced by treatment with terfenadine (TER), a potassium channel blocker. Additionally, myocardial contractility, motility, and viability were evaluated. Results: The zebrafish larvae treated with a combination of GLU and STZ showed significantly higher whole-body glucose concentrations, lower insulin levels, and higher phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase levels, which are markers of abnormal glucose homeostasis, than the group treated with only GLU, with no effect on viability. When treated with TER, DM zebrafish showed significantly less myocardial fractional shortening and more irregular contractions than the non-DM zebrafish. Furthermore, in DM-HF with reduced ejection fraction (rEF) zebrafish, a significant increase in the levels of natriuretic peptide B, a HF biomarker, markedly reduced motility, and reduced survival rates were observed. Conclusions: We established a DM-HFrEF zebrafish model by sequentially treating zebrafish larvae with GLU, STZ, and TER. Our findings indicate the potential utility of the developed zebrafish larvae model not only in screening studies of new drug candidates for DM-HFrEF but also in mechanistic studies to understand the pathophysiology of DM-HFrEF.

• International Journal of Heart Failure
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.93-106
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• 2024

Being commonly diagnosed in elderly women and associated with comorbidities as well as ageing-related cardio-vascular changes, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) has been recently considered as a distinct cardiogeriatric syndrome. Frailty is another frequent geriatric syndrome. HFpEF and frailty share common underlying mechanisms, often co-exist, and represent each other's risk factors. A threshold of 65 years old is usually used to screen patients for both frailty and HFpEF in research and clinical settings. However, both HFpEF and frailty are very heterogenous conditions that may develop at younger ages. In this review we aim to provide a broader overview on the coexistence of HFpEF and frailty throughout the lifetime. We hypothesize that HFpEF and frailty patients' profiles (young, elderly, superaged) represent a continuum of the common ageing process modified by cumulative exposure to risk factors resulting to a presentation of HFpEF and frailty at different ages. We believe, that suggested approach might stimulate assessment of frailty in HFpEF assessment and vice versa regardless of age and early implementation of targeted interventions. Future studies of pathophysiology, clinical features, and outcomes of frailty in HFpEF by age are needed.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.39-45
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• 1986

Resting gated blood pool scan was used to derive left ventricular functional changes in normals (N=13, mean age=43) and in patients with coronary artery disease (N=50, mean age=53). Peak filling rates, average filling rates, and ejection fractions were significantly depressed in coronary artery disease. (p<0.0005, each other). And in coronary artery disease with normal ejection fraction (N=21), peak filling rates and average filling rates were depressed also, and peak filling rates of coronary artery disease with normal ejection fraction were abnormal in 61.2% and average fillin rates were abnormal in 71.4%. It appears that (1) resting peak filling rates and average filling rates were sensitive and easily obtainable parameters of the diastolic dysfunction assosiated with coronary artery disease, (2) a significant proportion of coronary artery disease patients without any evidence of abnormal systolic function have depressed resting peak filling rates and average filling rates of the left ventricle.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.91-95
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• 2012

Purpose: In this study, we evaluated the ejection fraction (EF) according to the difference of patient position in Gated Blood Pool (GBP) scan. Material and Methods: The analysis was performed to 80 patients ($51.2{\pm}17.4$ years old) who examined GBP scan in Department of nuclear medicine, National Cancer Center from March 2011 to August 2011. We divided the patients into two groups; one group received conventional position (raise left arm up supine) and supine position (group 1) and the other group received conventional position and left arm back down supine position (group 2). To observe the change EF according to patient position difference, the image was reconstructed and analyzed by Xeleris (GE, USA). We measured body mass index (BMI) of patients. Result: In group 1, EF error less than 3% occurred at a rate of 72.5% (29 of the 40 patients). In group 2, EF error less than 3% occurred at a rate of 79% (32 of the 40 patients). The patient's BMI did not affect ejection fraction. Conclusion: The EF error of left arm back down supine position closer to conventional position than in supine position shows the results.