PURPOSE: To develop a software program for computer-assisted instruction on MR imaging of congenital heart disease for medical students and residents to achieve repetitive and effective self-learning. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used a film scanner(Scan Maker 35t) and IBM-PC(486 DX-2, 60 MHz) for acquisition and storage of image data. The accessories attached to the main processor were CD-ROM drive(Sony), sound card(Sound blaster-Pro), and speaker. We used software of Adobe Photoshop(v 3.0) and Paint Shop-Pro(v 3.0) for preprocessing image data, and Paint brush from Microsoft Windows 3.1 for labelling. The language used for programming was Visual basic(v 3.0)from Microsoft Corporation. RESULTS: We developed a software program for computer-assisted instruction on MR imaging of congenital heart disease as an effective educational tool.
CD-ROM ; Computer-Assisted Instruction ; Education ; Heart Defects, Congenital* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Paint ; Students, Medical

Purpose: This study aimed to identify factors associated with the occurrence of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) and to study its impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with breast cancer. Methods: In total, 137 women with breast cancer who had undergone more than one cycle of chemotherapy were recruited for this descriptive study from the outpatient department of a university hospital in Incheon, Korea. Data were collected using a self-reported questionnaire, which included the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-CIPN20 and EORTC QLQ-C30. Results: The mean CIPN score between patients was 13.57 on the sensory scale, 15.87 on the motor scale, and 25.06 on the autonomic scale. Of the studied socio-demographic, disease and treatment, and health behavior-related factors, only the chemotherapy regimen was significantly associated with CIPN (t = 2.50, p= .013). Taxane-based chemotherapy was significantly related to higher CIPN scores. Regression analyses revealed that CIPN was a factor that was significantly influential on HRQoL, adjusting for socio-demographic and clinical factors. Conclusion This study suggests that oncology nurses need to be aware of the increased risk of CIPN in patients with breast cancer undergoing taxane-based chemotherapy. In addition, interventions for alleviating CIPN may be required to improve HRQoL among these patients.

Bovine coccidiosis is one of the most important parasitic diseases affecting calf productivity. Here, we investigated the prevalence of Eimeria spp. in pre-weaned native Korean calves and determined the correlation between diarrhea and Eimeria spp. Fecal samples were collected from individual calves (288 normal and 191 diarrheic) in 6 different farms. Of the 479 samples, Eimeria oocysts were detected in 124 calves (25.9%). Five Eimeria spp. were identified; E. zuernii (18.8%) was the most prevalent, followed by E. auburnensis (12.5%), E. bovis (7.5%), E. subspherica (5.8%), and E. bukidnonensis (1.0%). A significant correlation was observed between diarrhea and mixed infection with more than 2 Eimeria spp. (odds ratio [OR]=2.21; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.09–4.49; P=0.03) compared to single infection (OR=1.29; 95% CI: 0.77–2.15; P=0.33). Of the 5 Eimeria spp. identified, E. subspherica (95% CI: 1.24–5.61; P=0.01) and E. bukidnonensis (95% CI: 825.08–1,134.25; P=0.00) strongly increased the risk of diarrhea by 2.64-fold and 967.39–fold, respectively, compared to other species. Moreover, mixed infection with E. auburnensis and E. bukidnonensis was significantly associated with diarrhea (OR=2,388.48; 95% CI: 1,009.71–5,650.00; P < 0.00) in pre-weaned native Korean calves. This is the first report to demonstrate the importance of E. bukidnonensis associated with diarrhea in pre-weaned native Korean calves. Further epidemiological studies should investigate the prevalence of E. bukidnonensis and the association between E. bukidnonensis and diarrhea.
Agriculture ; Coccidiosis ; Coinfection ; Diarrhea ; Efficiency ; Eimeria ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Oocysts ; Parasitic Diseases ; Prevalence

No abstract available.
Diagnosis* ; Thrombosis*

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to survey the overall quality of mammographic images in Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 598 mammographic images collected from 257 hospitals nationwide were reviewed in terms of eight image quality categories, namely positioning, compression, contrast, exposure, sharpness, noise, artifacts, and examination identification, and rated on a five-point scale: (1=severe deficiency, 2=major deficiency, 3=minor deficiency, 4=good, 5=best). Failure was defined as the occurrence of more than four major deficiencies or one severe deficiency (score of 1 or 2). The results were compared among hospitals of varying kinds, and common problems in clinical image quality were identified. RESULTS: Two hundred and seventeen mammographic images (36.3%) failed the evaluation. Poor images were found in descending order of frequency, at The Society for Medical Examination (33/69, 47.8%), non-radiology clinics (42/88, 47.7%), general hospitals (92/216, 42.6%), radiology clinics (39/102, 38.2%), and university hospitals (11/123, 8.9%) (p<0.01, Chi-square test). Among the 598 images, serious problems which occurred were related to positioning in 23.7% of instances (n=142) (p<0.01, Chi-square test), examination identification in 5.7% (n=34), exposure in 5.4% (n=32), contrast in 4.2% (n=25), sharpness in 2.7% (n=16), compression in 2.5% (n=15), artifacts in 2.5% (n=15), and noise in 0.3% (n=2). CONCLUSION: This study showed that in Korea, 36.3% of the mammograms examined in this sampling had important image-related defects that might have led to serious errors in patient management. The failure rate was significantly higher in non-radiology clinics and at The Society for Medical Examination than at university hospitals.
Artifacts ; Hospitals, General ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Korea ; Mammography ; Noise

BACKGROUND: Korean regression models for spirometric reference values are different from those of Americans. Using spirometry results of Korean adults, goodness-of-fits of the Korean and the USA Caucasian regression models for forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) were compared. METHODS: The number of study participants was 2,360 (1,124 males and 1,236 females). Spirometry was performed under the guidelines of the American Thoracic Society and the European Respiratory Society. After excluding unsuitable participants, spirometric data for 729 individuals (105 males and 624 females) was included in the statistical analysis. The estimated FVC and FEV1 values were compared with those measured. Goodness-of-fits for Korean and USA Caucasian models were compared using an F-test. RESULTS: In males, the expected values of FVC and FEV1 using the Korean model were 12.5% and 5.7% greater than those measured, respectively. The corresponding values for the USA Caucasian model were 3.5% and 0.6%. In females, the difference in FVC and FEV1 were 13.5% and 7.7% for the Korean model, and 6.3% and 0.4% for the USA model, respectively. Goodness-of-fit for the Korean model regarding FVC was not good to the study population, but the Korean regression model for FEV1, and the USA Caucasian models for FVC and FEV1 showed good fits to the measured data. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the USA Caucasian model correlates better to the measured data than the Korean model. Using reference values derived from the Korean model can lead to an overestimation regarding the prevalence of abnormal lung function.
Adult ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Lung ; Male ; Prevalence ; Reference Values ; Spirometry ; Vital Capacity

The posaconazole tablet formulation was developed to have improved bioavailability compared to the oral suspension. Here, we compared posaconazole plasma concentration (PPC) with the posaconazole oral suspension versus the tablet in Korean patients undergoing remission induction chemotherapy for hematologic malignancies. PPC was measured at 3, 8, and 15 days of treatment with the oral suspension (174 patients) or the tablet (40 patients). At all time-points, mean PPC was significantly higher with the tablet compared to the oral suspension. Our findings suggest that posaconazole tablets generate an optimal PPC earlier and in more patients than the oral suspension among Korean patients.
Antifungal Agents ; Biological Availability ; Dosage Forms ; Drug Therapy ; Hematologic Neoplasms* ; Humans ; Plasma* ; Remission Induction ; Tablets

Background/Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and natural progression of subepithelial lesions (SELs) in the upper gastrointestinal (UGI) tract. Methods: The medical records of patients with UGI SELs who underwent endoscopic screening at eight university hospitals between January and December 2010 were retrospectively investigated. The follow-up evaluations were performed until December 2016. Results: UGI SELs were found in 1,044 of the 65,233 participants screened (endoscopic prevalence, 1.60%; the total number of lesions, 1,062; mean age, 55.1±11.2 years; men, 53.6%). The median follow-up period was 48 (range, 8–74) months. SELs were most frequently found in the stomach (63.8%) and had a mean size of 9.9±6.1 mm. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) was performed in 293 patients (28.1%). The most common lesions were leiomyomas, followed by gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), and ectopic pancreas. The proportions of SELs with malignant potential according to size were 3% (<1 cm), 22% (1–2 cm), 27% (2–3 cm), and 38% (≥3 cm). In gastric SELs larger than 1 cm, resections were performed in 20 patients because of an increase in size, of which 12 were found to be GISTs. Conclusions The prevalence of UGI SELs was 1.60%. Further, 23% of gastric SELs ≥1 cm were precancerous lesions, most followed by EUS and clinical decisions without initial pathological confirmation.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Asthma ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Nebulizers and Vaporizers ; Nitric Oxide ; Odds Ratio ; Prescriptions ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Respiratory Sounds

BACKGROUND: Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is regarded as a potential biomarker for identifying eosinophilic inflammation. We aimed to evaluate the clinical implication of FeNO and its influence on inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) prescription rate in Korean chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. METHODS: FeNO level and its association with clinical features were analyzed. Changes in the prescription rate of ICS before and after FeNO measurement were identified. RESULTS: A total of 160 COPD patients were divided into increased (≥25 parts per billion [ppb], n=74) and normal (<25 ppb, n=86) FeNO groups according to the recommendations from the American Thoracic Society. Compared with the normal FeNO group, the adjusted odds ratio for having history of asthma without wheezing and with wheezing in the increased FeNO group were 2.96 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.40–6.29) and 4.24 (95% CI, 1.37–13.08), respectively. Only 21 out of 74 patients (28.4%) with increased FeNO prescribed ICS-containing inhaler and 18 of 86 patients (20.9%) with normal FeNO were given ICS-containing inhaler. Previous exacerbation, asthma, and wheezing were the major factors to maintain ICS at normal FeNO level and not to initiate ICS at increased FeNO level. CONCLUSION Increased FeNO was associated with the history of asthma irrespective of wheezing. However, FeNO seemed to play a subsidiary role in the use of ICS-containing inhalers in real-world clinics, which was determined with prior exacerbation and clinical features suggesting Th2 inflammation.