• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.171-179
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• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of study was to report the clinical improvement of late complications of COVID-19 patient complaining of dyspnea treated with Korean medicine pulmonary rehabilitation. Methods: To assess the treatment outcomes, we used the modified medical research council scale (mMRC), 6-minute walk distance (6MWD), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), St. George respiratory questionnaire (SGRQ). Results: After treatments, the patient's clinical symptoms were improved with mMRC, 6MWD, PEFR, and SGRQ. Conclusions: The Korean medicine pulmonary rehabilitation was effective in the treatment of late complications of COVID-19 patient. This study suggested the possibility of Korean Medicine pulmonary rehabilitation program in the clinic for late complications of COVID-19.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.82 no.2
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• pp.166-172
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• 2019

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine whether components of the ProVent model can predict the high medical costs in Korean patients requiring at least 21 days of mechanical ventilation (prolonged mechanical ventilation [PMV]). Methods: Retrospective data from 302 patients (61.6% male; median age, 63.0 years) who had received PMV in the past 5 years were analyzed. To determine the relationship between medical cost per patient and components of the ProVent model, we collected the following data on day 21 of mechanical ventilation (MV): age, blood platelet count, requirement for hemodialysis, and requirement for vasopressors. Results: The mortality rate in the intensive care unit (ICU) was 31.5%. The average medical costs per patient during ICU and total hospital (ICU and general ward) stay were 35,105 and 41,110 US dollars (USD), respectively. The following components of the ProVent model were associated with higher medical costs during ICU stay: age <50 years (average 42,731 USD vs. 33,710 USD, p=0.001), thrombocytopenia on day 21 of MV (36,237 USD vs. 34,783 USD, p=0.009), and requirement for hemodialysis on day 21 of MV (57,864 USD vs. 33,509 USD, p<0.001). As the number of these three components increased, a positive correlation was found betweeen medical costs and ICU stay based on the Pearson's correlation coefficient (${\gamma}$) (${\gamma}=0.367$, p<0.001). Conclusion: The ProVent model can be used to predict high medical costs in PMV patients during ICU stay. The highest medical costs were for patients who required hemodialysis on day 21 of MV.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.4-8
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• 2022

Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) is defined as the triad of obesity (body mass index, [BMI] ≥ 30 kg/m²), daytime hypercapnia (PaCO2 ≥ 45 mm Hg), and sleep breathing disorder, after excluding other causes for hypoventilation. As the obese population increases worldwide, the prevalence of OHS is also on the rise. Patients with OHS have poor quality of life, high risk of frequent hospitalization and increased cardiopulmonary mortality. However, most patients with OHS remain undiagnosed and untreated. The diagnosis typically occurs during the 5th and 6th decades of life and frequently first diagnosed in emergency rooms as a result of acute-on-chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure. Due to the high mortality rate in patients with OHS who do not receive treatment or have developed respiratory failure, early recognition and effective treatment is essential for improving outcomes. Positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy including continuous PAP (CPAP) or noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is the primary management option for OHS. Changes in lifestyle, rehabilitation program, weight loss and bariatric surgery should be also considered.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.457-465
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• 2023

Irradiation-assisted stress corrosion cracking (IASCC) is one of the main degradation mechanisms of austenitic stainless steels, which are used as reactor internal materials. Slow strain rate testing (SSRT) has been widely applied to evaluate the IASCC initiation characteristics of proton-irradiated tensile specimens. Tensile specimens require low surface roughness for micro-crack observation, and electropolishing is the most important specimen pre-treatment process used for this. In this study, optimal electropolishing conditions were examined through analyzing results of polarization experiments and surface roughness measurements after electropolishing. Corrosion cell and electropolishing equipment were fabricated for polarization tests and electropolishing experiments using SSRT specimens. The experimental parameters were electropolishing time, current density, electrolyte temperature, and stirring speed. The optimal electropolishing conditions for SSRT tensile specimens made of type 316 stainless steel were evaluated as a polishing time of 180 seconds, a current density of 0.15 A/cm², an electrolyte temperature of 60 ℃, and a stirring speed of 200 RPM.

• Acute and Critical Care
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.238-245
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• 2018

Background: Infection by multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens leads to poor patient outcomes in intensive care units (ICUs). Contact precautions are necessary to reduce the transmission of MDR pathogens. However, the importance of the surrounding environment is not well known. We studied the effects of ICU relocation on MDR respiratory pathogen detection rates and patient outcomes. Methods: Patients admitted to the ICU before and after the relocation were retrospectively analyzed. Baseline patient characteristics, types of respiratory pathogens detected, antibiotics used, and patient outcomes were measured. Results: A total of 463 adult patients admitted to the ICU, 4 months before and after the relocation, were included. Of them, 234 were admitted to the ICU before the relocation and 229 afterward. Baseline characteristics, including age, sex, and underlying comorbidities, did not differ between the two groups. After the relocation, the incidence rate of MDR respiratory pathogen detection decreased from 90.0 to 68.8 cases per 1,000 patient-days, but that difference was statistically insignificant. The use of colistin was significantly reduced from 53.5 days (95% confidence interval [CI], 20.3 to 86.7 days) to 18.7 days (95% CI, 5.6 to 31.7 days). Furthermore, the duration of hospital stay was significantly reduced from a median of 29 days (interquartile range [IQR], 14 to 50 days) to 21 days (IQR, 11 to 39 days). Conclusions: Incidence rates of MDR respiratory pathogen detection were not significantly different before and after ICU relocation. However, ICU relocation could be helpful in reducing the use of antibiotics against MDR pathogens and improving patient outcomes.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.623-632
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• 2023

Background/Aims: Endoscopic resection of all colorectal adenomatous lesions with a low complication rate, simplicity, and negative residuals is challenging. Hence, we developed a new method called "non-injection resection using bipolar soft coagulation mode (NIRBS)" method, adapted for colorectal lesions. In addition, we evaluated the effectiveness of this method. Methods: We performed NIRBS throughout a 12-month period for all colorectal lesions which snare resection was acceptable without cancerous lesions infiltrating deeper than the submucosal layer. Results: A total of 746 resected lesions were included in the study, with a 4.5 mm mean size (range, 1-35 mm). The major pathological breakdowns were as follows: 64.3% (480/746) were adenomas, and 5.0% (37/746) were intraepithelial adenocarcinomas (Tis lesions). No residuals were observed in any of the 37 Tis lesions (mean size, 15.3 mm). Adverse events included bleeding (0.4%) but no perforation. Conclusions: NIRBS allowed the resection of multiple lesions with simplicity because of the non-injection and without perforating due to the minimal burn effect of the bipolar snare set in the soft coagulation mode. Therefore, NIRBS can be used to resect adenomatous lesions easily, including Tis lesions, from small to large lesions without leaving residuals.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.86 no.4
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• pp.294-303
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• 2023

Background: The human lung serves as a niche for a unique and dynamic bacterial community related to the development and aggravation of multiple respiratory diseases. Therefore, identifying the microbiome status is crucial to maintaining the microecological balance and maximizing the therapeutic effect on lung diseases. Therefore, we investigated the histological type-based differences in the lung microbiomes of patients with lung cancer. Methods: We performed 16S rRNA sequencing to evaluate the respiratory tract microbiome present in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Patients with non-small cell lung cancer were stratified based on two main subtypes of lung cancer: adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma (SqCC). Results: Among the 84 patients analyzed, 64 (76.2%) had adenocarcinoma, and 20 (23.8%) had SqCC. The α- and β-diversities showed significant differences between the two groups (p=0.004 for Chao1, p=0.001 for Simpson index, and p=0.011 for PERMANOVA). Actinomyces graevenitzii was dominant in the SqCC group (linear discriminant analysis [LDA] score, 2.46); the populations of Haemophilus parainfluenza (LDA score, 4.08), Neisseria subflava (LDA score, 4.07), Porphyromonas endodontalis (LDA score, 3.88), and Fusobacterium nucleatum (LDA score, 3.72) were significantly higher in the adenocarcinoma group. Conclusion: Microbiome diversity is crucial for maintaining homeostasis in the lung environment, and dysbiosis may be related to the development and prognosis of lung cancer. The mortality rate was high, and the microbiome was not diverse in SqCC. Further large-scale studies are required to investigate the role of the microbiome in the development of different lung cancer types.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.167-178
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• 2022

To investigate the influence of manufacturing environment on bonding performance of mixed cross laminated wood (CLT) using polyurethane (PUR) adhesive, a boiling water soak delamination test according to the temperature and relative humidity was conducted. The 5-ply mixed CLT consisted of Japanese Larch for external and middle layer and yellow poplar for internal layer. The PUR adhesives with different opening times of 10 and 30 minutes were used. The mixed CLT was manufactured according to pressing times of PUR and manufacturing environments of summer and winter. In case of summer environment, the delamination rate of the mixed CLT with pressing time of 4 hours using a PUR adhesive with open time of 10 minutes met the requirements of KS F 2081. In case of winter environment, the delamination rate of the mixed CLT didn't meet the requirements of KS standard. However, it was possible to confirm the effect of improving the adhesive performance by adjusting the pressing time according to the open time of the adhesive under the manufacturing conditions. The delamination rate of CLT with open time 30 minutes PUR, manufactured by indirect moisture supply methods was 11.2% better than direct moisture supply methods. As a result of delamination test in the same condition of relative humidity and adhesive, it was found that the temperature of manufacturing environment influences the adhesive performance.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.457-469
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• 2016

During the late phase of severe accidents of light water reactors, a porous debris bed is expected to develop on the bottom of the flooded reactor cavity after breakup of the melt in water. The geometrical configuration, i.e., internal and external characteristics, of the debris bed is significant for the adequate assessment of the coolability of the relocated corium. The internal structure of a debris bed was investigated experimentally using the DAVINCI (Debris bed research Apparatus for Validation of the bubble-Induced Natural Convection effect Issue) test facility. Particle sedimentation under the influence of a two-phase natural convection flow due to the decay heat in the debris bed was simulated by dropping various sizes of particles into a water vessel with air bubble injection from the bottom. Settled particles were collected and sieved to obtain the particle mass, size distribution in the radial and axial positions, and the bed porosity and permeability. The experimental results showed that the center part of the particle bed tended to have larger particles than the peripheral area. For the axial distribution, the lower layer had a higher fraction of larger particles. As the sedimentation progressed, the size distribution in the upper layers can shift to larger sizes because of the higher vapor generation rate and stronger flow intensity.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.218-227
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Malnutrition during hospitalization is linked to increased morbidity and mortality, but there are insufficient studies observing clinical factors contributing to weight loss during hospitalization in Indonesia. This study was therefore undertaken to determine the rate of weight loss during hospitalization and the contributing factors. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This was a prospective study involving hospitalized adult patients aged 18-59 yrs, conducted between July and September 2019. Body weight measurement was taken at the time of admission and on the last day of hospitalization. The factors studied were malnutrition at admission (body mass index < 18.5 kg/m²), immobilization, depression (Beck Depression Inventory-II Indonesia), polypharmacy, inflammatory status (neutrophil-lymphocytes ratio; NLR), comorbidity status (Charlson Comorbidity Index; CCI), and length of stay. RESULTS: Totally, 55 patients were included in the final analysis, with a median age of 39 (18-59 yrs) yrs. Of these, 27% had malnutrition at admission, 31% had a CCI score > 2, and 26% had an NLR value of ≥ 9. In all, 62% presented with gastrointestinal symptoms, and depression was documented in one-third of the subjects at admission. Overall, we recorded a mean weight loss of 0.41 kg (P = 0.038) during hospitalization, with significant weight loss observed among patients hospitalized for 7 days or more (P = 0.009). The bivariate analysis revealed that inflammatory status (P = 0.016) was associated with in-hospital weight loss, while the multivariate analysis determined that the contributing factors were length of stay (P < 0.001) and depression (P = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: We found that inflammatory status of the patient might influence the incidence of weight loss during hospitalization, while depression and length of stay were independent predictors of weight loss during hospitalization.