• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.179-188
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• 2020

Purpose: We compared noncoplanar volumetric modulated arc therapy (ncVMAT) plans to coplanar VMAT (cVMAT) plans by evaluating the dosimetric quality of each for esophageal cancer. Methods: Twenty patients treated for esophageal cancer with the cVMAT technique were retrospectively selected. The cVMAT plans consisted of three coplanar full arc beams. The ncVMAT plans consisted of two coplanar full arc beams and one noncoplanar partial arc beam ranging from 45° to 315° with a couch rotation angle of 315°±5°. For dosimetric evaluation, the dose-volumetric (DV) parameters of the planning target volume (PTV) and organs at risk (OARs) were calculated for all VMAT plans. Results: No clinically noticeable differences between the cVMAT and ncVMAT plans were observed in the DV parameters of the PTV. For the lungs, the V_{13 Gy} and mean dose for ncVMAT plans were smaller than those for cVMAT plans, showing statistically significant differences. For the heart, the values of the maximum dose for cVMAT and ncVMAT plans were 53.8±2.9 and 50.9±3.3 Gy, respectively (P=0.004). For the spinal cord, the values of the maximum dose for cVMAT and ncVMAT plans were 37.1±5.1 and 34.7±5.7 Gy, respectively (P<0.001). Conclusions: The use of ncVMAT plans provides better PTV coverage and sparing of OARs compared to that of cVMAT plans for long, tube-like esophageal cancer. For esophageal cancer, the ncVMAT plans showed a more favorable plan quality than the cVMAT plans.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.16-28
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop nurses' core competencies and sub-competencies and to verify the validity and importance-performance of core competencies. Methods: The core competencies of nurses were derived through an analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, as well as a literature analysis of domestic and foreign accreditation institutions. Validity and importance-performance analyses were conducted on the core competencies derived from nursing colleges nationwide. Results: Six core competencies of nurses were revealed: integration of knowledge and nursing skills, critical thinking, communication, leadership, safety management, and global competency. Further, eighteen sub-competencies were derived. The content validity ratio values for the core competencies were higher than 0.74. Communication skills among multidisciplinary teams and communication skills among nursing teams were shown to be the most important competencies to be improved. Conclusion: The results of this study are meaningful in terms of how the core competencies of nurses were derived and evaluated for the fourth cycle of nursing education accreditation according to the changes of time and culture.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.343-350
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• 2021

3D printing technology is an additive manufacturing technology produced through 3D scanning or modeling method. This technology can be produced in a short time without mold, which has recently been applied in earnest in various fields. In the medical field, 3D printing technology is used in various fields of radiology and radiation therapy, but related research is insufficient in the field of nuclear medicine. In this study, we compare the characteristics of traditional nuclear medicine phantom with 3D printing technology and evaluate its applicability in clinical trials. We manufactured the same size phantom of poly methyl meta acrylate(PMMA) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene(ABS) based on the aluminum step wedge. We used BrightView XCT(Philips Health Care, Cleveland, USA) SPECT/CT. We acquired 60 min list mode for Aluminum, PMMA and ABS phantoms using Rectangular Flood Phantom (Biodex, New York, USA) ^99mTcO₄ 3 mCi(111 MBq), 6 mCi (222MBq) and ⁵⁷Co Flood phantom(adq, New Hampshire, USA). For the analysis of acquired images, the region of interest(ROI) were drawn and evaluated step by step for each phantom. Depending on the type of radioisotope and radiation dose, the counts of the ABS phantom was similar to that of the PMMA phantom. And as the step thickness increased, the counts decreased linearly. When comparing the linear attenuation coefficient of Aluminum, PMMA and ABS phantom, the linear attenuation coefficient of the aluminium phantom was higher than that of the others, and the PMMA and ABS phantom had similar the linear attenuation coefficient. Based on ABS phantom manufactured by 3D printing technology, as the thickness of the PMMA phantom increased, the counts and linear attenuation coefficient decreased linearly. It has been confirmed that ABS phantom is applicable in the clinical field of nuclear medicine. If the calibration factor is applied through further research, it is believed that practical application will be possible.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.21-30
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• 2022

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of treadmill training with taping on the affected ankle joint on the gait and balancing ability in patients with sub-acute stroke. METHODS: Nineteen patients with sub-acute hemiplegic stroke in a rehabilitation hospital were assigned randomly to either the experimental group (n = 10), who received treadmill training with taping on the affected ankle joint or the control group (n = 9), who received general treadmill training. All participants performed 60 min of comprehensive rehabilitation therapy (five sessions per week for four weeks). Each group received treadmill training with or without taping on the affected ankle joint for 20 min (three sessions per week for four weeks). The gait and balancing ability were measured before and after the four-week training. RESULTS: Post-training scores of 10-meter walk test (10 MWT), timed up and go (TUG) test, and center of pressure (COP) path length and velocity for the experimental group increased significantly compared to that pre-training (p < .05). The experimental group showed a larger decrease in the 10 MWT and TUG test than the control group (-3.5 s vs. -1.01 s, p < .05; -4.9 s vs. -1.7 s, p < .05; respectively) CONCLUSION: Treadmill training with taping on the affected ankle joint might improve the gait and balancing ability of stroke patients and is considered a more effective method for improving gait and balancing ability than the method of general treadmill training.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.578-585
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• 2023

An artificial sphincter implanted in the bulbous urethra to treat severe postprostatectomy urinary incontinence is effective, but embedding-associated complications can occur. We assessed the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of urethral graciloplasty cross-innervated by the pudendal nerve. A simulation surgery on three male fresh cadavers was performed. Both ends of the gracilis muscle were isolated only on its vascular pedicle with proximal end of the obturator nerve severed and transferred to the perineum. We examined whether the gracilis muscle could be wrapped around the bulbous urethra and whether the obturator nerve was long enough to suture with the pudendal nerve. In addition, surgery was performed on a 71-year-old male patient with severe urinary incontinence. The postoperative 12-month outcomes were assessed using a 24-hour pad test and urodynamic study. In all cadaveric simulations, the gracilis muscles could be wrapped around the bulbous urethra in a γ-loop configuration. The length of the obturator nerve was sufficient for neurorrhaphy with the pudendal nerve. In the clinical case, the postoperative course was uneventful. The mean maximum urethral closure pressure and functional profile length increased from 40.7 to 70 cm H₂O and from 40.1 to 45.3 mm, respectively. Although urinary incontinence was not completely cured, the patient was able to maintain urinary continence at night. Urethral graciloplasty cross-innervated by the pudendal nerve is effective in raising the urethral pressure and reducing urinary incontinence.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.16-27
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• 2019

A burning test was conducted on the smoke and combustion gases generated from cypress wood treated with sodium silicate, 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane sol, 3-(2-aminoethylamino)propylmethyldimethoxysilane sol, and 3-(2-aminoethylamino) propyltrimethoxysilane sol. The silicone compound sol was applied to each of the cypress wood specimens three times with a brush. The smoke and combustion generation gas were analyzed using a cone calorimeter (ISO 5660-1) and the smoke was also evaluated by applying new smoke risk assessment method. The smoke performance index (SPI) of the cypress treated with silicone compound increased 1.66 to 8.42 times and the smoke growth index (SGI) was 11.8 to 88.2%, respectively. The smoke intensity (SI) is expected to be 1.0~50.5% lower than that of the base specimens, resulting in lower smoke and fire hazards. The third maximum carbon monoxide (CO_peak) concentration of the specimens treated with silicone compounds was 22.5~33.3% lower than that of the base specimens. On the other hand, it produced potentially fatal toxicity that was 1.48~1.72 times higher than the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) acceptance standard (PEL). Cypress wood itself produced a high carbon monoxide concentration, but the silicon compound played a role in reducing this level.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.35 no.10
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• pp.717-723
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• 2013

The Korea Ministry of Environment prepares some paticulate matter eliminate measures for national health protection, as the Paticulate Matter ($PM_{2.5}$) exceeds the standard at more than half of the monitoring posts installed in the nation's big cities. At the center of JeonJu, when measuring the ultrafine particles of inner car at the different driving conditions, at the condition of the Actuator of inner recirculation mode and the Blower of 2-speed, the reduction speed of the ultrafine particles is most fast and the concentration stays low. When the windows are opened during driving, outer pollutants enter the car and also inner paticulate matter flies in all direction, and the increase of passengers causes the scattering of the ultrafine paticles. As the filter for air cleaning, the using of polypropylene non-woven fabric (used commonly now) is most excellent, but for the removal of volatile organic substance as well as the paticulate matter, it is thought that the using of activated carbon fiber filter, carbon adsorbent, is even more excellent.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.44 no.10
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• pp.770-779
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• 2021

Transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana expressing an anti-rabies monoclonal antibody (mAb), SO57, was obtained using Agrobacterium-mediated floral dip transformation. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) retention signal Lys-Asp-Glu-Leu (KDEL) was tagged to the C-terminus of the anti-rabies mAb heavy chain to localize the mAb to the ER and enhance its accumulation. When the inaccurately folded proteins accumulated in the ER exceed its storage capacity, it results in stress that can affect plant development and growth. We generated T₁ transformants and obtained homozygous T₃ seeds from transgenic Arabidopsis to investigate the effect of KDEL on plant growth. The germination rate did not significantly differ between plants expressing mAb SO57 without KDEL (SO plant) and mAb SO57 with KDEL (SOK plant). The primary roots of SOK agar media grown plants were slightly shorter than those of SO plants. Transcriptomic analysis showed that expression of all 11 ER stress-related genes were not significantly changed in SOK plants relative to SO plants. SOK plants showed approximately three-fold higher mAb expression levels than those of SO plants. Consequently, the purified mAb amount per unit of SOK plant biomass was approximately three times higher than that of SO plants. A neutralization assay revealed that both plants exhibited efficient rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test values against the rabies virus relative to commercially available human rabies immunoglobulins. KDEL did not upregulate ER stress-related genes; therefore, the enhanced production of the mAb did not affect plant growth. Thus, KDEL fusion is recommended for enhancing mAb production in plant systems.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.482-489
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• 2021

Background: Asthma is an incurable hyper-responsive disease of the pulmonary system that is caused by various allergens, including indoor and outdoor stimulators. According to the Global Asthma Network, 339 million people suffered from asthma in 2018, with particularly severe forms in children. Numerous treatments for asthma are available; however, they are frequently associated with adverse effects such as growth retardation, neurological disorders (e.g., catatonia, poor concentration, and insomnia), and physiological disorders (e.g., immunosuppression, hypertension, hyperglycemia, and osteoporosis). Methods: Korean Red Ginseng has long been used to treat numerous diseases in many countries, and we investigated the anti-asthmatic effects and mechanisms of action of Korean Red Ginseng. Eighty-four BALB/c mice were assigned to 6 treatment groups: control, ovalbumin-induced asthma group, dexamethasone treatment group, and 3 groups treated with Korean Red Ginseng water extract (KRGWE) at 5, 25, or 50 mg/kg/day for 5 days. Anti-asthmatic effects of KRGWE were assessed based on biological changes, such as white blood cell counts and differential counts in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, serum IgE levels, and histopathological changes in the lungs, and by examining anti-asthmatic mechanisms, such as the cytokines associated with Th1, Th2, and Treg cells and inflammation pathways. Results: KRGWE affected ovalbumin-induced changes, such as increased white blood cell counts, increased IgE levels, and morphological changes (mucous hypersecretion, epithelial cell hyperplasia, inflammatory cell infiltration) by downregulating cytokines such as IL-12, IL-4, and IL-6 via GATA-3 inactivation and suppression of inflammation via NF-κB/COX-2 and PGE₂ pathways. Conclusion: KRGWE is a promising drug for asthma treatment.

• Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.105-114
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• 2018

The aim of this study was to evaluate the change of phenolic compounds after phosphite treatment on Cheorwon onion. Onion is a perennial plant belonging to the lily family. It is native to Persia of Southwest Asia. It is widely cultivated in the temperate regions of the world. Onion is a good name for the 'Okchong' to drop blood cholesterol and cardiovascular blood flow to increase the prevention of adult diseases. Cheorwon area is inland, but it has high continental climate due to its high altitude. Therefore it is said that the onion cultivated in this region has higher sugar content and higher taste than onion grown in the southern region. Phosphorus components are particularly important ingredients for promoting muscle development. However, if the phosphoric acid content of the soil part is maintained to a large extent until the harvest, the competition of the nutrients tends to cause decay of the root part. Therefore, it is important to improve the quality and shelf life of onion by inducing nutrient balance by applying foliar fertilization method on the reducing phosphorus at harvest time. In this study, acidity was controlled by diluting phosphorous acid(H₃PO₃) and potassium hydroxide(KOH), followed by leaf surface treatment with phosphite on onion. In this study, the concentration of phosphite was diluted to 500, 1,000, 1,500ppm and sprayed three times over the onion leaves in May 2018 using an atomizer and harvested at the end of June, and the phenolic compounds were analyzed by HPLC. As a result, the content of quercetin, one of the important substances in onion, was phosphite 500ppm(179.70㎍/g), 1,000(150.27), 1,500(105.95). The contents of caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, rutin, kaempferol, and sugar content were higher in the treatments than in the control. Therefore, the phosphite does not have a great influence on the growth, but it may play a role as a method of achieving balance with nitrogen in the rainy season by supplying the role of the material catalyst and the water soluble phosphoric acid and the potassium in the influence of the material change.