• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.158-164
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• 2012

Purpose: To evaluated the patterns of failure, survival rate, treatment-related toxicity and prognostic factors in postoperative radiotherapy of patients with ependymoma. Materials and Methods: Thirty patients who underwent surgery and postoperative radiotherapy for ependymoma between the period of June 1994 and June 2008 were reviewed retrospectively. The age of patients ranged from 21 months to 66 years (median, 19 years). Seventeen patients had grade II ependymoma, and 13 had grade III anaplastic ependymoma according to the World Health Organization grading system. The postoperative irradiation was performed with 4 or 6 MV photon beam with median dose of 52.8 Gy (range, 45 to 63 Gy), and radiation field including 2 cm beyond the preoperative tumor volume. Median follow-up period was 51 months (range, 12 to 172 months). Results: Fourteen out of 30 (46.7%) patients experienced recurrence, and 12 of those died. Among those 14 patients who experienced recurrence, 11 were in-field and 3 were out-of-field recurrence. The 5-year overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 66.7% and 56.1%, respectively. On univariate analysis, tumor grade was a statistically significant prognostic factor for OS and PFS. There were two complications after surgery and postoperative radiotherapy, including short stature and facial palsy on the left side. Conclusion: We observed good survival rates, and histologic grade was a prognostic factor affecting the OS and PFS. Almost all recurrence occurred in primary tumor site, thus we suggest further evaluation on intensity-modulated radiotherapy or stereotatic radiosurgery for high-risk patients such as who have anaplastic ependymoma.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.4349-4352
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• 2014

Background: Pancreatic cancer has a high mortality rate because it is usually diagnosed late. Since little is known about this cancer in Iran, with the aim of improving this knowledge deficiency, we evaluated clinical, laboratory biomarkers, imaging findings and treatment modalities in Iranian patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Materials and Methods: 131 cases of pancreatic adenocarcinoma in 2010-2013 were obtained from the Taleghani Hospital Record Department. Cases confirmed by histopathology from CT-guided biopsy, EUS-FNA and surgery examination were included. We excluded those with incomplete medical records. Results: The study included 131 subjects between 24 and 97 years of age and a mean age of $63{\pm}13.4$ years. Eighty (61.1%) were male and 51 (38.9%) female. Previous history included diabetes mellitus in 36 (27.5%), alcohol drinking in 5 (3.9%), smoker in 28 (21.4%) and opium addiction in 13 (10%). The common presenting history included weight loss in 79 (60.3%), abdominal pain in 77 (58.8%), fever in 11 (8.4%), nausea in 30 (22.9%), jaundice in 72 (55%), pruritus in 52 (39.7) and anemia in 33 (25.2%). CA19-9 levels with cut offs of 50, 100 and 200 U/ml were increased in 81%, 72% and 66% of patients, respectively. Tumor staging was: stage I, 3 (2.3%); stage II, 10 (7.6%); stage III, 58 (44.3%); and stage IV, 60 (45.8%). From 45 patients, 17 received ERCP inserted metallic stents and 22 plastic stents, the remaining 6 failed that PTC was done. Whipple surgery and chemotherapy were conducted for 10 and 29 patients, respectively. Conclusions: This disease affected older people and there was a male preponderance. The commonest risk factors were diabetes mellitus, smoking and cholelithiasis. The majority of patients presented with loss of appetite, loss of weight, jaundice, abdominal pain and discomfort. Almost all presented at late stages of the disease so that curative surgery was impossible. Also chemotherapy was only performed in a few patients as a neoadjuant treatment.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.319-329
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• 2010

Objectives: This study was performed to determine the levels of quality of life (QOL) according to the grade of long-term care service for the elderly people who were admitted from long-term care insurance, and to reveal its association with the physical and mental functioning such as the Activity of Daily Living (ADL), the Instrumental Activity of Daily Living (IADL), the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and the Mini-Mental State Examination-Korean version (MMSE-K). Methods: The interviews were performed during the period from March 1 to May 31, 2009, for 958 elderly people in urban and rural areas. The questionnaire items included various indices such as the ADL, IADL, CES-D, and MMSE-K, as independent variables and the index of QOL, as the dependent ones. For statistical analysis, t-tests were used for the mean scores of QOL according to gender and the grade of long-term care services, and Spearman's correlation was used for each variable. The effects of physical and mental functioning for QOL were assessed by covariance structure analysis. The statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Results: The mean scores of QOL among all the subjects was $55.4{\pm}15.62$ (Grade I: $49.7{\pm}14.17$, Grade II: $56.8{\pm}14.62$, Grade III: $59.4{\pm}16.36$), and it was lower according to the higher grade of long-term care insurance. In terms of the correlation matrix of the QOL and the physical and mental function factors, the QOL showed positive correlation with the ADL, IADL and MMSE-K, while it had negative correlation with depression. On the analysis of covariance, mental functioning (depression and the MMSE-K) had a greater influence on the level of QOL than the physical functioning (ADL and IADL). Conclusions: The level of the QOL in the elderly people who were admitted from long-term care insurance was lower according to higher the grade of long-term care insurance. Also, the mental functioning (depression and MMSE-K) was more influential on the level of the QOL than the physical functioning (ADL and IADL).

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.1589-1595
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• 2014

Objective: Forkhead box C2 (FOXC2) is a member of the winged helix/forkhead box (Fox) family of transcription factors. It has been suggested to regulate tumor vasculature, growth, invasion and metastasis, although it has not been studied in cervical cancer. Here, we analyzed FOXC2 expression in cervical tissues corresponding to different stages of cervical cancer development and examined its correlation with clinicopathological characteristics. In addition, we examined the effects of targeting FOXC2 on the biological behavior of human cervical cancer cells. Methods: The expression of FOXC2 in normal human cervix, CIN I-III and cervical cancer was examined by immunohistochemistry and compared among the three groups and between cervical cancers with different pathological subtypes. Endogenous expression of FOXC2 was transiently knocked down in human Hela and SiHa cervical cells by siRNA, and cell viability and migration were examined by scratch and CCK8 assays, respectively. Results: In normal cervical tissue the frequency of positive staining was 25% (10/40 cases), with a staining intensity (PI) of $0.297{\pm}0.520$, in CIN was 65% (26/40cases), with a PI of $3.00{\pm}3.29$, and in cancer was 91.8% (68/74 cases), with a PI of $5.568 {\pm}3.449$. The frequency was 100% in adenocarcinoma (5/5 cases) and 91.3% in SCCs (63/69 cases). The FOXC2 positive expression rate was 88.5% in patients with cervical SCC stage I and 100% in stage II, showing significant differences compared with normal cervix and CIN. With age, pathologic differentiation degree and tumor size, FOXC2 expression showed no significant variation. On transient transfection of Hela and SiHa cells, FOXC2-siRNA inhibition rates were 76.2% and 75.7%; CCK8 results showed reduced proliferation and relative migration (in Hela cells from $64.5{\pm}3.16$ to $49.5{\pm}9.24$ and in SiHa cells from $60.1{\pm}3.05$ to $44.3{\pm}3.98$) (P < 0.05). Conclusion: FOXC2 gene expression increases with malignancy, especially with blood vessel hyperplasia and invasion degree. Targeted silencing was associated with reduced cell proliferation as well as invasion potential.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.41-51
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• 1995

Bone mass accretion during puberty appears to be critical in the development of peak bone mass. Although bone density of females in Korea has been studied, only a few studies have related bone mass with anthropometric patterns or puberty in the pubescent girls. This study was conducted as part of a study of major determinants of bone development during puberty. Subjects were aged 14∼16 yr(mean 14.97), and had no history of disorders or dedication use likely to influence bone or calcium metabolism. Bone mineral density and content were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry using a Lunar DPX+Scanner (Lunar Madison, WI). Also, total body fat, and total lean body mass were assessed using a Lunar DPX dual-energy X-ray absorptiometer, Pubertal status was assessed according to the Marshall and Tanner guidelines. Serum levels of osteocalcin was measured by RIA using a commercial kit assay. Skinfold measurements were taken with a skinfold caliper(Lange Caliper, USA). Data were analyzed using the regression and GLM procedure of the statistical package SAS. The results indicated that the observed means for lumbar spine BMD and femoral BMD correspond to approximately 91% and 96% of the means for young adult females, respec tively. All subjects were menarchal, with the majority being in the middle to end stages of pubertal development. Total body BMD was positively related to fat mass(P<0.001), lean body mass and time since menarche, and negatively related to urine pyridinoline, serum alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin. The data indicate that girls who reported lower age for menarche had significantly higher bone densities than girls who reported higher age for menarche. Attaining peak skeletal bone mass during puberty may reduce the incidence of osteoporosis in later life. this finding suggests that early menarche may augment peak bone mass, influencing the extent of bone loss later in adulthood. The results suggest that good nutrition in childhood appears to be needed not for growth and development, but possibly also to assure an optimal peak of bone mass and thus greater latitude for the maintenance or skeletal integrity in the face of bone losses. Troeps skinfold thickness was a better predictor of total BMD and total BMC than was any other skinfold thickness. The study did not find a relationship between total BMD and body fat %, but total fat was significantly positively related to total BMD(r=0.49) and total BMC(r=0.60). It supports earlier report that there was a significant correlation between TBMD and body weight. Conclusively, total fat, lean body mass and pubertal development could influence BMD in pubescent girls. Clearly, longitudinal studies are required to assess the effect of puberty on peak bone mass, and to define further the potential determinants of peak bone mass.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.55-62
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• 2015

Purpose: The aims of this study were to evaluate the differences in subjective symptoms, clinical characteristics, distribution according to Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) subgroup, psychological profile of TMD patients, and to identify the prevalence and trend according to age. Methods: A total of 1,052 patients (261 men and 791 women; mean age, $34.40{\pm}15.73$ years) who visited the Orofacial Pain Clinic of the Department of Oral Medicine, Seoul National University Dental Hospital complaining of TMD symptoms of were evaluated. All patients were questioned for medical history, clinical symptoms and contributing factors. Clinical examination and patient grouping based on RDC/TMD was conducted. Radiographies were taken. The Korean version of RDC/TMD axis II and Symptom Checklist-90-Revision (SCL-90-R) were administered to evaluate pain-related disability level and psychological status of the patients. Results: Prevalence peaked in the 20-year-old age group. There were more women than men in all groups. The highest T-score among SCL-90-R dimensions was somatization in each group, except for teenagers who showed the highest T-score in interpersonal sensitivity. The 30-year-old age group showed the highest distribution of high disability based on the graded chronic pain scale. Age was positively associated with pain intensity (r=0.100), number of positive muscles on palpation (r=0.137) and negatively associated with maximum mouth opening (r=-0.168). Conclusions: Subjective symptoms and clinical characteristics of TMD patients show distinct tendencies according to different age groups. Treatment should be customized and personalized according to age for efficient symptom resolution and patient satisfaction.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.207-215
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• 1987

The Keum River Estuary was investigated two times in April and July, 1986, to study process controlling chlorophyll distribution in estuarine waters. During the surveys, distribution patterns were studied for chlorophyll-a, nutrients, ph, SPM (Suspended Particulate Matter), DO (Dissolved Oxygen), temperature, salinity, etc. During April survey(low-discharge period), sea water penetrated to Kangkyung, about 35km upstream from the constructing weir, while in July (high-discharge period) only to 3 km upstream from the weir,In April SPM showed very high concentrations (500mg/l)on the average. But very low concentrations(about10mg/l)were observed in July due to high discharge of fresh water.Chlorophyll-a concentrations showed large variations both in time and space :much higher concentraations in July than in April and sharp decrease in concentrations at the fresh water-sea water interface (April:$6.5\mu\textrm{g}/{\ell}$ for fresh waters and 41.4\mu\textrm{g}/{\ell}$ forestuarine waters). Differebce ub chlorophyll-a concentrations for these two surveys appear to be caused mainly by the difference in effectiveness of penetrating lights controlled by SPM in the waters. Sharp decrease in chlorophll-a at the fresh water-sea water interface is believed to be resulted from mass mortality of fresh water phytoplankton caused by changes in osmotic pressure in the region. Observations in the same regions such as increase in AOU(Apparent Oxygen Utilization)and ammonia, decrease in PH,probably resulted through decomposition processes of dead planktons,furtuer support the idea.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.18 no.3 s.39
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• pp.115-135
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• 1990

The purpose of this study was to suggest an improvement proposal for colors in urban environment with special regard to the surface color and their situations of apartment buildings in Seoul. For this goal, 167 cases of different color types of apartment buildings were surveyed. And, the survey was performed in the view of color by areas, by localtion, by builder, by paint year, by built year, by appearance of building, and by surface texture to prove the influencing factors on the surface colors. These collected data analyzed and compared with the existing studies to find out the changing trend of colors. The results are as follows : 1) The use of neutral gray($26.4{\%}$) and warm color(YR, Y, GY; 56.4%) were dominant and the usage trend of higher 'value'(87.4%) and lower 'saturation'(73.0%) was obvious. Especially, the use of PB and P was noticeable. 2) In comparing the existing studies, the changing trend in the surface color pattern was found. That is, neutral gray was used dominantly in 1970's, warm color(YR, Y)in the middle of 1980's. In the end of 1980's, warm color were also used dominantly same as before and GY, PB, P were used noticeably with some rising tendency of higher 'value' and lower 'saturation' was obvious. 3) The results of analysis by localtion shows that the different color groups might exist in Seoul city. Neutral gray and YR were dominant in zone I. Warm colors(YR, Y, GY)were prevailed in zone II, III, IV. In zone V, many colors were evenly used. In zone VI, middle values at warm color were dominant. Progressively, these color groups with further study could be considered in the color management in urban environment possibly. 4) Surface color of apartment buildings were different from their builders. 5) Concerned with the painted year, the use of higher 'value' and lower 'saturation' was increased gradually with the change of times. 6) the analysis by the built year revealed that the 'value' of surface colors on the old buildings was lower than that of the new ones. 7) The 'value' of colors on the surface with texture was higher than that of the surface without texture. 8) In the combination of two colors, the use of 'value' with difference at the same 'hue' was found harmonions in many cases, but the 'saturation' in usage was included in the ambiguity (Moon & Spencer's term). The ambiguity in color harmony should be improved in the near future.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.201-214
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• 2000

Precise and detailed clinical research and evaluation based on objective standards are imperative factors in securing reliability of a clinical test. Built on this principle, this clinical test has been conducted during the period between March 1999 and March 2000 dealing with 31 outpatients treated with ShiHo-GuizhiTang or ShiHo-GuizhiTang modify and ShiHo-GuizhiTang mixed prescriptions at the Sung-bo ORIENTAL MEDICAL CLINIC. A variety of information relating to those patients has been collected and analyzed under such criteria as precise diagnoses and their clinical effectiveness. The analysis was duly based on "The theory of cold syndrome". Then, the 31 patients' individual clinical information was compared one another by breaking down the results into sub-categories including gender, age, disease, main symptom, blood pressure, pulse beats, syndrome of abdomen, treatment period, modify and mixed prescription, and evaluation. The result of this clinical test can be summarized as follows: First, ShiHo-GuizhiTang appears to be more frequently prescribed in the case of female patients than in the case of male patients despite the fact that it does not necessarily need to be applied only to female. In addition, the numbers of prescriptions of ShiHo-GuizhiTang in the two age groups consisting of elementary school children and economically active adults respectively were the highest among other age groups. Second, ShiHo-GuizhiTang proved to be most effective in treatment for respiratory ailments and arthritis. Third, ShiHo-GuizhiTang brought down blood pressure of hypertension patients and at the same time benefited patients with normal or lower-than-normal blood pressure who were vulnerable to diseases due to low disease-resistance. Fourth, ShiHo-GuizhiTang was effective in the case of frequent pulse(rapid pulse) and thereby indicating the fact it carries Taiyang superficies syndrome. 지맥 arises from suppressed immune responses owing to adrenocortical hormones. ShiHo-GuizhiTang controls and revitalizes those suppressed immune systems which stem from slow pulse and, as a consequence of that process, helps them return to normal condition of pulse. Fifth, from the standpoint of syndrome of abdomen, feeling of obstruction in the epigastrium serves as an important standard in the process of diagnosing diseases and evaluating effectiveness of treatments. Sixth, according to the results of the clinical test with the 31 patients, a total of 81 percent of test subjects benefited from the treatment. The figure is the sum of 52 percent of I-class (both main symptom and accompanying symptoms had been eliminated) and 29 percent of II-class (part of main symptom and accompanying symptoms had been eliminated) respectively. All told it is safe to say that ShiHo-GuizhiTang can elect to be a viable clinical treatment. In conclusion, it is estimated that this clinical study has drawn up guidelines for objective diagnostic standards and evaluation on specific treatments' effectiveness. This will lead to more general application of ShiHo-GuizhiTang. On top of that, this study could also provide an opportunity to stress the significance of ShiHo-GuizhiTang and ShiHo-GuizhiTang modify and ShiHo-GuizhiTang mixed prescriptions as an alternative treatment for collagen disease which comes from environmental degradation and pollution.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.143-148
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• 2009

This study was carried out to detennine the optimal submerged culture conditions for the growth increase of ginseng adventitious roots containing germanium by means of a fractional factorial design with four factors and three levels, using the response surface methodology (RSM). The ginseng (Panax ginseng CA. Meyer) adventitious roots were induced by plant growth regulators and cultured in a liquid SH medium. The effects of various $GeO_2$ and phosphoric acid ($H_3P0_4$) concentrations in the medium, $GeO_2$ addition time and the pH of the medium on the fresh weight of the ginseng adventitious roots were investigated. The optimum pH of the medium and the phosphoric acid concentration detennined by the partial differentiation of the model equation were 4.7 and 6.0 roM, respectively. The predicted optimal $GeO_2$ concentration was 10 ppm and the $GeO_2$ addition time did not affect the growth of ginseng adventitious roots. Under these conditions, the growth of the ginseng adventitious root containing germanium was predicted to be 2.47 g.