The beam characteristics and dosimetric measurements of the 10 MV X-ray beam from a Mevatron KD linear accelerator are examined. The Percent Depth Dose (PDD) table and the Tissue Maximum Ratio (TMR) table are taken from measurement as a function of the field size and the depth. The calculated TMR table from PDD table is compared with those from measurement. Other beam characteristics such as output factor, beam profile (including flatness, symmetry and penumbra), wedge, and the variation of Dmax are presented.
Particle Accelerators*

Three cDNA fragments located within NS5 region of HCV were synthesized by RT using viral RNA extracted from blood sample of Korean patient as a template. The cDNAs were amplified by PCR, cloned into the T-vector, and the nucleotide sequences were determined. Comparative a analysis of the nucleotide and amino acid sequence of NS5 cDNAs showed that it is closely related with HCV type 1b. The cloned NS5 cDNA showed 91-94% homology at the nucleotide sequence level and 96-98% homology at the amino acid sequence level with several strains of the HCV type 1b. The NS5 cDNAs were subcloned into E. coli expression vectors to construct pRSETA5-1, pTHAN5-1, pRSETC5-2, pRSETBB1, pRESTCB1 and PRSETB-H3. Expression of the NS5 proteins was achieved by inducing the promoter with isopropyl-thio-P-D-galactoside (IPTG) and confirmed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The NS5 proteins were immunoreactive against sera from Korean hepatitis C patients in Western blot analysis. Among the recombinant NS5 proteins, pRSETA5-1 plasmid derived protein, coded from aa2022 to aa2521 of HCV polyprotein, showed the strongest immunoreactivity against sera from Korean hepatitis C patients in immunoblot analysis. These results suggest that NS5 proteins would be useful as an antigen for detection of antibody against HCV in the blood samples.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Blotting, Western ; Clone Cells* ; Cloning, Organism* ; DNA, Complementary ; Electrophoresis ; Hepacivirus* ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Plasmids ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Viral

The glucose uptake rate by Eurytrema pancreaticum was a mean value of 16.44 +/- 2.42 micro-mole/hr/g, and total CO(2) production rate by the fluke averaged 5.82 +/- 0.97 micro-mole/hr/g. The relative specific activity of respiratory CO(2) showed a mean value of 5.75 +/- 0.84 per cent. The rate of CO(2) production derived from medium C(14)-glucose was a mean of 0.33 +/- 0.10 micor-mole/hr/g. Therefore, the average value of 0.32 +/- 0.04 per cent of glucose utilized by the flukes from the medium C(14)-glucose was oxidized to respiratory CO(2). The tissue concentration of glycogen in E. pancreaticum was a mean of 45.50 +/- 2.18 mg/g or 4.55 +/- 0.22 %/g. But the turnover rate of glycogen pool was a mean of 0.027 +/- 0.003 %/hr or 0.009 +/- 0.002 mg/hr/g. The average value of 0.64 +/- 0.23 percent of glucose utilized by the flukes from the medium C(14)-glucose was incorporated into the glycogen. These data account for that only 1 per cent of the utilized glucose by the flukes participated in furnishing the oxidation into respiratory CO(2) and the synthetic process into glycogen.
parasitology-helminht-trematoda- Eurytrema pancreaticum ; glucose-biochemistry ; autoradiograhy ; glucose ; glycogen ; CO(2)

Twenty four subjects at weaning period were selected for experimental feeding of 10% fish flour supplements with wheat flour noodles. Experimental regimen was 2 months. Total serum protein, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and red blood cell counts were increased significantly in both sexes. However, a reduction of albumin concentration in serum was found ; also significant increases in globulin fractions occured. Although results suggest an advantage of fish flour supplements, further investigation is required to conclude the definite benefit of fish Hour supplements to Korean children, who need taste acceptability tests of fish flour under strictly controlled conditions.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To compare treatment outcome of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) under the size of 5 cm in relation to underlying liver function and treatment modalities, analysis of data from 145 patients was performed. METHODS: In this study, the records of 145 patients with small HCC (< 5 cm in diameter determined by hepatic angiography) were reviewed. Clinical parameters were analyzed and survival rate, recurrence rate were calculated. RESULTS: There were 107(73.8%) men and 38 women. Mean age at diagnosis was 55.1(range .' 25 83 year-old). HBsAg was detected in 97(66.9%) patients. Seventy two(50.0%) patients showed markedly elevated(>40 ng/mL) serum alpha-fetoprotein(AFP) level. Liver cirrhosis was associated in 109(75.2%) patients. Sixty five(44.8%) patients underwent surge, 63(43.5%) underwent transarterial therapy(TAT), 8(5.5%) underwent other modalities of therapy and the remaining 9(6.2% ) patients did not receive any specific treatment for HCC. In relation to the underlying liver function, 119(82.1% ) patients belonged to the non-cirrhotic or Child-Pugh class A, 20(13.8%) to class B and 6(4.1%) to class C. The median follow-up duration was 21 months. When analyzed with respect to treatment modalities alone, median survival was 43 months for all patients, 60 months for surgery, 29 months for TAT, 20 months for other treatment and 18 months for patients who received no specific treatment. Without considering liver function, cumulative 3 year survival rate was 68.6% for surgery, 43.9% for TAT, 29.2% for other treatment and 0% for no treatment. The survival rate for the patients who underwent surgery was significantly higher than for any other treatment modalities without considering the underlying liver function or in the non-cirrhotic/Child-Pugh class A(p<0.001). In patients whose tumor size was equal to or less than 3 cm, there was no difference in survival rate in relation to the treatment modalities when not considering the underlying liver function of each patient(p>0.05). But in patients classified as the non-cirrhotic/Child-Pugh class A, better survival was observed in the surgep group than the TAT group(p<0.05). The only factor influencing survival was the pre-treatment serum AFP level(p<0.05). The overall recurrence rate was 30.3%. For the entire patients, the factor significantly influencing the recurrence rate was the presence of underlying cirrhosis. When considering only the patients in the surgery group, the different types of surgical procedures significantly influenced the recurrence rate. CONCLUSION: Surgery is the treatment of choice for patients with HCC equal to or smaller than 5 cm. But for those patients whose tumor size is less than 3 cm, TAT may be a reasonable alternative to surgep when the liver function is not adequate for hepatic resection. Because overall recurrence rate exceeded 30% and median time of recurrence was only 9.5 months after definitive treatment, careful follow-up is required for all patients who undergo treatment for small HCC.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver* ; Male ; Recurrence ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome*

OBJECTIVE: In applying Electro-Convulsive Therapy(ECT) to patients, initial electric stimuli have been often determined without the adequate guidelines. This study was designed to determine adequate numerical value of parameters for initial electric stimuli inducing seizure successfully in ECT. We prepared Asan Medical Center(AMC) guidelines for 4 parameters based on our clinical experiences and MECTA(Monitored Electro-Convulsive Therapy Apparatus, MECTA Crop(R)) instruction manual, and investigated the success rate in the first session of ECT following AMC guidelines for parameters. METHOD: Twenty-two patients(male 10, female 12) treated with ECT using MECTA SR-1 model in Asan Medical Center between september 1996 and october 1998 were included in this study. We carried out bilateral ECT under anesthesia according to AMC guidelines. Seizure that persisted longer than 20 seconds was considered successful. RESULTS: 18 of 22 patients showed successful seizures in the first session (82%). Four patients failed to show successful seizures. One out of the foiled patients received inadequate stimuli due to premature release of switch burton and two patients were taking continuously anticonvulsants and anxiolytics, respectively prior to ECT. But all foiled patients except one, who was thought to have unusually high seizure threshold, demonstrated successful seizures in the second session with the same initial parameters. CONCLUSIONS: The bilateral ECT according to AMC guidelines resulted in the adequate seizures in all patients except one patient who had unusually high seizure threshold. These data show that AMC guidelines can be successfully applied in ECT using MECTA device.
Anesthesia ; Anti-Anxiety Agents ; Anticonvulsants ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Female ; Humans ; Seizures

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical usefulness of chest high-resolution computed tomography(HRCT) in patients with chronic coughs or persistent wheezing with normal chest X-ray finding. METHODS: We reviewed the charts, chest X-rays, and HRCT findings of patients with chronic coughs or persistent wheezing of less than 2 years of age. The records were sourced from the Department of Pediatrics, Inha University Hospital covering the period from July, 1999 to June, 2000. Chronic cough was defined as a cough which was prolonged for more than 3 weeks. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 24 patients(male 15 and female 9, mean age 4.7+/-3.8 months old). Among them, 16 patients showed normal findings(66.7%) and 8 patients showed abnormal (33.3%) in simple chest X-rays. Among 16 patients who had the normal chest X-rays, 13 patients showed abnormal chest HRCT findings(81.3%) such as air space consolidation of the dependent portion(62.5%), bronchiolitis obliterans(12.5%), and bronchopulmonary dysplasia(6.3%). CONCLUSION: We suggest that the chest HRCT is a useful diagnostic tool in the evaluation of patients with chronic cough or persistent wheezing with normal chest X-ray, especially below 2 years of age.
Bronchiolitis ; Cough* ; Female ; Humans ; Pediatrics ; Respiratory Sounds ; Thorax*

PURPOSE: Development of renal scarring is associated with delayed diagnosis and treatment of urinary tract infection(UTI). This study was performed to clarify how soon treatment should be started to inhibit renal scarring after onset of UTI and the factors associated with renal scarring in children with a first episode of febrile UTI. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 163 patients with a first episode of febrile UTI under the age of 2 years from April 2000 to April 2004. All patients had a DMSA renal scan and voiding cystourethrogram done in the diagnostic period, 6 months after which a follow-up renal scan was done. After patients were divided into 2 groups according to the duration of fever prior to start of treatment, the duration of fever after start of treatment, and total duration of fever, initial and follow-up DMSA scan findings were analyzed among the different groups. We compared the factors associated with renal scars between the groups with and without renal scars. RESULTS: The initial DMSA renal scan identified abnormal finding in 23% of the patients who were treated < or =24 hr from the onset of disease and in 43% of those with fever more than 24 hr. Renal scars developed in 33% of patients who were treated < or =24 hr and 38% of those with fever >24 hr prior to treatment. Renal scars developed in 34% of patients with remission of fever < or =48 hr after treatment and in 50% of those with fever >48 hr after treatment. The risk for renal scars was significantly higher in children who had total duration of fever >72 hr(67%) than in those with shorter duration(19%). In children with renal scars, VUR was most highly associated with an increased risk of renal scar formation. CONCLUSION: Although children with a first episode of febrile UTI are treated within 24hr after onset of the fever, renal damage cannot be prevented completely and it is mainly associated with VUR.
Child* ; Cicatrix* ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Succimer ; Urinary Tract Infections* ; Urinary Tract* ; Vesico-Ureteral Reflux

To assess the adverse effects of dust on pulmonary function and to determine the association between subjective respiratory symptoms, cognitions about working environments and pulmonary functions, the study was conducted on 719 coal mine workers (395 workers on direct part, 324 workers on indirect part) being employed in a coal mine industry located in Hwa-Soon area. Questionnaires on respiratory symptoms and cognitions about working environments were filled out by themselves, and pulmonary function test was given by trained doctors. The results obtained were as follows ; 1. Significantly increased subjective respiratory symptoms prevalence were found in the workers on direct part comparing to workers on indirect part, and symptoms prevalence rate was higher in sputum, coughing, respiratory difficulty, palpitation and chest pain in order. 2. Significantly increased cognitions degree about working environments were found in workers on direct part comparing to workers on indirect part, and the degree was higher in dust concentration, temperature, working density and humidity in order. 3. FVC, FEV(0.5), FEF(200-1200ml) and FEF(25-75%) were lower for workers on direct part than that for workers on indirect part. 4. In workers on direct and indirect part, lung functions except FEF(200-l200ml) for the high subjective symptom group was smaller than that for the low group. There was not significane statistically, but the significane was found in FVC and FEVt in total coal workers. 5. In workers on direct part, FEVt and FEF(25-75%) for high cognition group about working environmental conditions was smaller than that for the low group but other lung functions were reversed. But in workers on indirect part, similar results was found and the significance was found in FEV(0.5) FEF(25-75%) and FEF(200-1200ml) in total coal workers. 6. Lung functions had negative correlation between sputum and FEF(200-1200ml).
Chest Pain ; Coal* ; Cognition ; Cough ; Dust ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humidity ; Lung ; Prevalence ; Questionnaires ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Sputum

The purpose of this study was to estimate the national prevalence of childhood asthma and other allergic diseases in Korea, and to determine potential risk factors for the diseases. Stratified random samples of 42,886 were selected from 34 elementary (6-12 yr olds) and 34 middle schools (12-15 yr olds) nationwide, and 38,955 were in the final analysis. The Korean-translated modified version of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire was used in this cross-sectional survey. Twelve-month prevalences of the symptoms of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, and flexural eczema were 8.7%, 10.5%, 7.3% in 6-12 yr olds, and 8.2%, 10.0%, 3.9% in 12-15 yr olds, respectively. For allergic conjunctivitis, food allergy, and drug allergy, the prevalences in 6-12 yr olds were 11.2%, 6.5%, and 1.5%, respectively. Asthma and flexural eczema decreased significantly with age. Other significant risk factors were also noted. For 6-12 yr-old asthma, adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of body mass index was 1.21 with 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0-1.48, aOR of passive smoking was 1.37 with 95%CI 1.24-1.51, aOR of carpet use was 1.28 with 95%CI 1.10-1.49. For 6-12 yr-old eczema, aOR of affluence was 1.22 with 95%CI 1.07-1.39. The control of obesity and passive smoking would be the most important preventive measures of allergic diseases.
Adolescence ; Age Distribution ; Asthma/*epidemiology ; Child ; Conjunctivitis, Allergic/*epidemiology ; Drug Hypersensitivity/epidemiology ; Eczema/*epidemiology ; Female ; Food Hypersensitivity/epidemiology ; Human ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Prevalence ; Questionnaires ; Risk Factors ; Sex Distribution