• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.35-39
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• 2016

To conduct a kinetic study of paraquat (PQ), we investigated 9 patients with acute PQ intoxication. All of them ingested more than 20 ml of undiluted PQ herbicide to commit suicide and arrived at our hospital early, not later than 7 h after PQ ingestion. The urine dithionite test for PQ in all of the nine patients was strongly positive at emergency room. Blood samples were obtained every 30 min for the first 2~3 h and then every 1 or 2 h, as long as the clinical progression was stable among the patients for 30 h after PQ ingestion. The area under the plasma concentration-time curve ($AUC_{inf}$), which was extrapolated to infinity, was calculated using the trapezoidal rule. Toxicokinetic parameters, such as the terminal elimination half-life, apparent oral clearance, and apparent volume of distribution ($V_d/F$) were calculated. The maximum PQ concentration ($C_{max}$) and the time to reach maximum PQ concentration ($T_{max}$) were also obtained. Plasma PQ concentrations in nine patients were well described by a bi-exponential curve with a mean terminal elimination half-life of $13.1{\pm}6.8h$. $C_{max}$ and $AUC_{inf}$ were $20.8{\pm}25.7mg/l$ and $172.5{\pm}160.3h{\cdot}mg/l$, respectively. Apparent volume of distribution and apparent oral clearance were $50.9{\pm}61.3l/kg$ and $173.4{\pm}111.2l/h$, respectively. There were a significant correlation (r=0.84; p<0.05) between the PQ amount ingested and $C_{max}$. $AUC_{inf}$ also showed a significant correlation (r=0.83; p<0.05) with the PQ amount ingested. These correlations provide evidence that PQ has dose-linear toxicokinetic characteristics.

• Current Optics and Photonics
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.269-279
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• 2018

We are currently investigating the feasibility of a 1.6 m telescope with a laser-guide star adaptive optics (AO) system. The telescope, if successfully commissioned, would be the first dedicated adaptive optics observatory in South Korea. The 1.6 m telescope is an f/13.6 Cassegrain telescope with a focal length of 21.7 m. This paper first reviews atmospheric seeing conditions measured over a year in 2014~2015 at the Bohyun Observatory, South Korea, which corresponds to an area from 11.6 to 21.6 cm within 95% probability with regard to the Fried parameter of 880 nm at a telescope pupil plane. We then derive principal seeing conditions such as the Fried parameter and Greenwood frequency for eight astronomical spectral bands (V/R/I/J/H/K/L/M centered at 0.55, 0.64, 0.79, 1.22, 1.65, 2.20, 3.55, and $4.77{\mu}m$). Then we propose an AO system with a laser guide star for the 1.6 m telescope based on the seeing conditions. The proposed AO system consists of a fast tip/tilt secondary mirror, a $17{\times}17$ deformable mirror, a $16{\times}16$ Shack-Hartmann sensor, and a sodium laser guide star (589.2 nm). The high order AO system is close-looped with 2 KHz sampling frequency while the tip/tilt mirror is independently close-looped with 63 Hz sampling frequency. The AO system has three operational concepts: 1) bright target observation with its own wavefront sensing, 2) less bright star observation with wavefront sensing from another bright natural guide star (NGS), and 3) faint target observation with tip/tilt sensing from a bright natural guide star and wavefront sensing from a laser guide star. We name these three concepts 'None', 'NGS only', and 'LGS + NGS', respectively. Following a thorough investigation into the error sources of the AO system, we predict the root mean square (RMS) wavefront error of the system and its corresponding Strehl ratio over nine analysis cases over the worst ($2{\sigma}$) seeing conditions. From the analysis, we expect Strehl ratio >0.3 in most seeing conditions with guide stars.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.51-57
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• 1984

The success of human in vitro fertilization (IVF) & embryo transfer (ET) has focused attention on the culture conditions that can provide optimal development of the preimplantation embryo. Studies of in vitro fertilization using mouse have direct implications to human IVF, since similar conditions are used for both species. Mouse IVF as a quality control system for human IVF & ET was studied since Feb., 1984. The results were as follows: 1. Egg retrieval following superovulation in IeR mice was l5.1${\pm}$5.3 eggs ovulated/mouse (Mean${\pm}$ S.D.) 2. In vitro cleavage rate was 61.7% (1146 eggs cleaved/l858 eggs inseminated) and % blastocyst was 42.6%. 3. In comparison with two media of Ham's F-10 and m-KRB, in vitro cleavage rate were 40.9%/63.l% and %blastocyst were 44.3%/61.2% (P<0.05). 4. It was concluded that mouse IVF system has a valuable place in human IVF & ET as a quality-control system and in human reproductive physiology as a research model.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.107-114
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was aimed to describe the level of medication adherence and to identify the impact of cognitive function and self-efficacy on medication adherence of elderly patients with chronic disease. Methods: The descriptive study included 303 patients over 65 years with chronic diseases from two medical centers in Cheonan city. Data were collected from July to November 2011. A questionnaire including questions on the Korean version of mini-mental state examination (MMSE-K), self-efficacy and medication adherence were completed by the subjects. Data were analyzed using the SPSS/WIN 20.0 program. Results: The mean score of medication adherence was $1.4{\pm}1.6$. In univariate analysis, exercise (t=2.85, p=.005), type of disease (F=3.91, p=.001) and self-efficacy (r=-.57, p<.001) were the significant factors related to medication adherence. Linear regression analysis demonstrated that self-efficacy (${\beta}$=-.57, p<.001) was a significantly associated factor with medication adherence. Self-efficacy explained about 33% of the total variance of the medication adherence in elderly patients. Conclusion: The results suggest that self-efficacy to medication can be a facilitator to medication adherence in elderly patients. However, these results indicate that there remains much work to be done in identifying other predictors of medication adherence of elderly patients with chronic diseases.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.187-194
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the perception of role transition from a student nurse to a registered nurse among senior year nursing students and to examine factors affecting their role transition. Methods: A descriptive survey with convenience sampling was conducted in four nursing colleges in Seoul, South Korea. Data were collected using a self-administrated questionnaire. Four instruments including role transition, self-esteem, interpersonal relationships and anxiety during clinical practicum were used and the students'demographics were also collected. A multiple logistic regression was used to identify predictors for the role transition. Results: A total of 233 nursing students were surveyed and final analysis was conducted utilizing 226 participants. Mean point of perceived role transition (5 point scale) was $3.34{\pm}0.44$. In a multiple regression model, high self-esteem, good interpersonal relationships, low anxiety during clinical practicum, and high satisfaction in college life were significant predictors of a smooth transition (Adj. $R^2$=.32, F=22.28, p<.001). Conclusion: The findings suggest that role transition from a student nurse to a registered nurse is facilitated through the establishment of programs to improve self-esteem and interpersonal relationships and to reduce anxiety during clinical practicum.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.331-336
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• 1990

In order to evaluate the adaptability of Aardi goats to arid environment, 5 Aardi bucks were deprived of water for four days during spring and summer seasons. The rise in average maximum ambient temperature from $24.8^{\circ}C$ in spring to $35.8^{\circ}C$ in summer caused a significant rise in rectal temperature ($0.3^{\circ}C$), respiratory rate (62%), serum osmolaity (8%) and serum sodium concentration (17%). While, it resulted in a significant decline in dry matter intake (50%), urine volume (74%) and fecal water excretion (60%) compared with their values in spring, but had no significant effect on the volume of drinking water. At the end of the 4-days deprivation period during spring, respiratory rate, dry matter intake and urine volume were reduced by 18, 77 and 91% relative to their average in control goats. The corresponding reduction in summer were 58, 100 and 100%. Serum osmolaity was risen by 15% in spring deprived goats and 29% in summer deprived goats. Rectal temperature rose by a mean value of $1.3^{\circ}C$ only in goats deprived of water in summer. Percent of moisture in the feces declined from 64 in control goats, to 24% in water deprived goats during spring season. The corresponding values in summer were 25 and 6%. These responses of Aardi goats deprived of water in summer indicate that they possess a water economy mechanism enable them to tolerate infrequent drinking in hot-arid environment.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.2579-2581
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• 2016

Background: Neuroendocrine tumors represent 20% of primary lung neoplasms in some registries. According to the WHO classification of 2004, reconsidered for 2015, these lung tumors are divided into 4 groups: typical and atypical carcinoid, small cell and large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas. We report in this paper, for the first time in Lebanon, the distribution and the population characteristics of these tumors. Materials and Methods: This descriptive retrospective study concerned all the pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors (NET) with their characteristics diagnosed in $H\hat{o}tel$ Dieu de France in Beirut, Lebanon from 2001 to 2012, with attention to features like age, gender and subgroup. Results: Of 194 patients with pulmonary NET, 12.4% were typical carcinoid tumors, 3.6% atypical carcinoid, 66.5% small cell lung cancer, 7.7% combined small cell carcinomas and 9.8% large cell neuroendocrine tumors. The mean ages of patients were respectively 51.2 years in typical carcinoid, 64 years in atypical carcinoid, 64.2 years in small cell lung cancers, 67.2 in combined small cell lung cancer and 66.9 in large cells neuroendocrine tumors. The M/F sex ratios were respectively 0.3, 1.3, 1.4, 2.7 and 2.2. Conclusions: The characteristics of lung neuroendocrine tumors in our Lebanese institution are comparable to those reported in the literature.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.382-389
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA) on the postoperative patient's pain management and recovery of bowel movement with gastrointestinal cancer Method: The participants were 249 patients diagnosed with gastrointestinal disease and scheduled for elective surgery, who were recruited to either the postoperative patient-controlled analgesia group or epidural analgesia group. Participants aged 20 and above were recruited from P, K, D, and I university hospitals in B city. Pain visual analogue scale, and recovery of bowel movement according to PCA-related characteristics were measured using structured questionnaires from April 2005 through December 2005. Descriptive statistics t-test and F-test were used to analyze the data. SPSS WIN 10.0 program was used. Results: Mean score for pain was 62.31. Scores for pain on the visual analogue scale were significantly lower in the epidural-PCA than in the intravenous PCA, and also significantly lower in the absence of side effect of PCA than in the presence of side effect. Recovery time for bowel movement was significantly faster in the absence of side effect of PCA than in the presence of side effect. Conclusion: Based on the findings, there is a significant difference in pain and no difference in first passage of flatus according to PCA infusion route in patients who are post-operative for gastrointestinal cancer.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the levels of stress, self-efficacy for smoking cessation, smoking temptation, and nicotine dependency, and to identify factors influencing nicotine dependency among male college students who smoke. Methods: In this study, a cross-sectional survey design was adopted for 283 male college students who smoke in D city, Korea. Data was analyzed for descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation, and multiple regression using the SPSS 20.0 program. Results: The mean score of stress was $27.00{\pm}6.28$, self-efficacy for smoking cessation was $25.61{\pm}6.71$, smoking temptation was $53.87{\pm}11.02$, and nicotine dependency was $3.63{\pm}1.96$. There was a significant positive correlation between stress and nicotine dependency (r=.58, p<.001) and between smoking temptation and nicotine dependency (r=.59, p<.001). There was a significant negative correlation between self-efficacy for smoking cessation and nicotine dependency (r=-.59, p<.001). The significant factors influencing nicotine dependency were stress (${\beta}=.357$, p<.001), self-efficacy for smoking cessation (${\beta}=.359$, p<.001), and smoking temptation (${\beta}=.297$, p<.001). This model explained 60.3% of variance in nicotine dependency (F=105.59, p<.001). Conclusion: The results suggest that an intervention program is needed to reduce the perception of stress and smoking temptation, and to increase the ability of self-efficacy for smoking cessation among male college students who smoke with the intention to quit smoking.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.575-585
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• 2000

This study was performed to observe the influence of host immune response on the chemotherapy of mice experimentally infected with Fasciola hepatica. Following immunosuppression with prednisolone or immunoenhancement with Freund's complete adjuvant(FCA), mice were experimentally infected with 3 Fasciola hepatica metacercariae and treated with closantel at 1 week post infection. In the group of mice infected with metacercariae alone, 2 mice of 10 were dead at 10 weeks post infection(20% mortality), and adult flukes were recovered from the liver and the peritoneal cavity of the remaining 8 mice(100% infectivity). In the group of mice treated with prednisolone and infected with metacercariae, 8 of 10 mice died before euthanasia with a mean time of death earlier than the control group (p<0.05). In the group of immunosuppressed mice infected with metacercariae and treated with closantel 20mg/kg, 4 of 10 mice died before sacrifice. In the group of mice infected and treated with closantel 20mg/kg, mortality and infectivity was 10% and 30%, respectively. Similar results were observed in mice infected and treated with closantel 5mg/kg which resulted in 10% and 50% mortality and infectivity, respectively. These results indicated that the efficacy of closantel treatment was decreased in immunosuppressed mice, while the pathogenicity was increased. In immunoenhanced mice infected with metacercariae, on the other hand, the efficacy of chemotherapy with both 5mg/kg or 20mg/kg closantel resulted in only 10% infectivity. The results shown in this study strongly suggest that a close interaction between chemotherapy against F hepatica with closantel and the host immune system exists. Considering that fascioliasis is a zoonosis, treatment regimen against the infection to immunosuppressed patients may require a concurrent prescription of an appro-priate immuno-enhancing adjuvant.