• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.6277-6283
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• 2012

Background: Northern Iran counts as one of the highest prevalence regions for esophageal cancer (EC) worldwide. This study was designed to assess the epidemiologic aspects of EC in north central and northwest Iran over a 10 year period. Materials and Methods: The Guilan cancer registry study (GCRS) is a population-based cancer registry study featuring retrospective (1996-2003) and prospective (2004-2005) phases. A detailed questionnaire based on WHO standards for cancer registratration was applied to gather the required information. Two trained physicians coded information using ICD-O-3 in close coordination with an expert pathologist. Results: A total of 19,936 cases of malignancy (mean age $55.4{\pm}18.0$ years, range: 1-98 years) were registered, including 1,147 cases (670 males, 447 female; mean age: $64.0{\pm}11.5$ years) of EC. In 1996 the male/female ratio among patients with EC was 1.25 which increased to 1.53 in 2005. The lower third of the esophagus still remained the most common site of tumors. The average age-standardized rate (ASR) was 6.9 and 4.1 per $10^5$ men and women, respectively. In 1996, the ASRs were 7.2 and 5.2 per $10^5$ men and women which decreased to 6.9 and 4.1 per $10^5$ in 2004-2005. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) was the most prevalent histological subtype of EC accounting over 80% of cases. Conclusions: However the prevalence of adenocarcinoma (ADC) showed an increase to 18.4%. Guilan province may be considered a relatively low incidence region for EC.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.129-135
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• 2006

Vascular smooth muscle contraction is mediated by activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2, an isoform of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). However, the role of stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in vascular smooth muscle contraction has not been defined. We investigated the role of JNK in the contractile response to norepinephrine (NE) in rat aortic smooth muscle. NE evoked contraction in a dose-dependent manner, and this effect was inhibited by the JNK inhibitor SP600125. NE increased the phosphorylation of JNK, which was greater in aortic smooth muscle from hypertensive rats than from normotensive rats. NE-induced JNK phosphorylation was significantly inhibited by SP600125 and the conventional-type PKC (cPKC) inhibitor Go6976, but not by the Rho kinase inhibitor Y27632 or the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor LY294002. Thymeleatoxin, a selective activator of cPKC, increased JNK phosphorylation, which was inhibited by $G{\ddot{o}}6976$. SP600125 attenuated the phosphorylation of caldesmon, an actin-binding protein whose phosphorylation is increased by NE. These results show that JNK contributes to NE-mediated contraction through phosphorylation of caldesmon in rat aortic smooth muscle, and that this effect is regulated by the PKC pathway, especially cPKC.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.158-175
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• 2000

Up to date, the economic feasibility analysis on land consolidation and on-farm development projects were mainly depended upon the direct benefits from market value of project outputs. Therefore the projects were neglected in allocation of the government's financial funds and loans on account of undervaluation of the project benefits including socio-economic and environmental values of the projects. Accordingly the Extended Benefit Cost Analysis Method should be adapted to cover not only the benefits such as non-market values of environmental functions of the projects and but also the economic market values of the project outputs. The main objectives of this study is (1) to provision of the guideline for economic feasibility analysis based on the IBRD and ADB guidelines, (2) to estimate the benefits such as Productivity increase effect, labor saving effect, off-farm income increase effect during off-farm season, saving of O&M cost of farm mechanization, enhance of farmer's public health, increase of environmental public function of paddy fields, effect of food security and establishment of peaceful and uncontroversial rural society by implementing the land consolidation and on-farm development, (3) to introduce the newly adapted analytical method as the extended benefit cost analysis which could make possible the analysis of non-market goods such as the food security value and the environmental public value of paddy fields. To carry out the study, the publication on the guideline for economic analysis of agricultural projects were reviewed and consulted and for the post evaluation of the land consolidation and on-farm development project, field survey in Jeongja area were made for the feasibility study of the project by new method. According to the initial project plan, Jeongja land consolidation and on-farm development project has 96ha of benefit area and the project was started in 1989 and completed in the spring, 1990. The total project costs were amounted to 1,052 million won and the annual project benefits were estimated at 135.4 million in 1989 constant market prices. On the other hand, the newly estimated project benefits as a part of post evaluation of the project were amounted to 602.1 million won including all the benefits from the market and non-market commodities of the project as mentioned above column. The original IRP(Internal rate of return) of the project was estimated at 15.81%. On the other hand, the IRR of the post evaluation of the project was amounted to 16.83%. In case of including the benefit from the environment public function of paddy field, the SRR(Social Rate of Return) was reached to 38.81% and when we added the benefit from food security of the project, the SRR showed very high rate as 46.41%. In conclusion, the project were verified socio-economically feasible and environmentally sustainable considering the above decision making criteria.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.50-60
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• 1987

Sensitivity, expressed in the $96h-LC_{50}$ determined with continuous flow system, was compared for eight developmental stages of Oryzias latipes with butachlor, diazinon and fenitrothion. Significance of the laboratory determined $96h-LC_{50}$ in real field situation was evaluated for butachlor using outdoor model agrosystem. In the laboratory tests, the most sensitive stage was post-larva stage IV(7 days after hatching) with $96h-LC_{50}$ of 0.14, 1.4, and 1.6ppm for butachlor, diazinon and fenitrothion, respectively, whereas the least sensitive stage was early embryo stage(1 day after fertilization), and then the susceptibility was somewhat stable after 21days after hatching. In the model agrosystem test, the highest concentration of 0.53ppm of butachlor in water was obtained at the 2nd day after application. The stages IV and VIII showed mortality of over 50% at 96 hours after application. It is concluded that the conventional use of butachlor in the field would cause significant adverse effect on O. latipes. It is suggested that sensitivity test at the early life stages with fish is an important part of the ecotoxicological assessment of chemicals.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.383-387
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• 2004

Effects of oyster shell powder as a liming material were investigated in an apple orchard. Soil texture of the apple orchard was silty clay loam (Upyeong series with 7% of slope) and topsoil pH was 5.6. Treatments of 1,590 kg oyster shell powder $ha^{-1}$ and calcium-magnesium carbonate as much as oyster shell powder were included in the experiment. With treatments of oyster shell powder and calcium-magnesium carbonate, the length, number and diameter of new branches and the diameter of main, secondary and side branches increased in comparison with control. With oyster shell powder application, soil pH increased from 5.6 to 6.8 at the harvest. In addition, it increased exchangeable Ca from 2.6 to $4.2cmol_c\;kg^{-1}$. But it didn't make any difference in chlorophyll, sugar and malic acid contents. The apple weight per fruit of oyster shell powder application was 9 g more than that of control. Apple yield was highest ($37,000kg\;ha^{-1}$) in the oyster shell powder treatment, and the yield increase was significantly different at 5% level LSD. We concluded that the oyster shell powder can be an alternative of lime and effective to restore soil nutrient balance in apple orchard soil.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.321-330
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• 2021

Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the development of neuronal disorders including brain ischemic injury. Thioredoxin 1 (Trx1), a 12 kDa oxidoreductase, has anti-oxidant and anti-apoptotic functions in various cells. It has been highly implicated in brain ischemic injury. However, the protective mechanism of Trx1 against hippocampal neuronal cell death is not identified yet. Using a cell permeable Tat-Trx1 protein, protective mechanism of Trx1 against hydrogen peroxide-induced cell death was examined using HT-22 cells and an ischemic animal model. Transduced Tat-Trx1 markedly inhibited intracellular ROS levels, DNA fragmentation, and cell death in H2O2-treatment HT-22 cells. Tat-Trx1 also significantly inhibited phosphorylation of ASK1 and MAPKs in signaling pathways of HT-22 cells. In addition, Tat-Trx1 regulated expression levels of Akt, NF-κB, and apoptosis related proteins. In an ischemia animal model, Tat-Trx1 markedly protected hippocampal neuronal cell death and reduced astrocytes and microglia activation. These findings indicate that transduced Tat-Trx1 might be a potential therapeutic agent for treating ischemic injury.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.34-40
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• 2006

Background: Extubation failure was associated with poor prognosis and high hospital mortality. Cuff leak test (CLT) has been proposed as a relatively simple method for detecting laryngeal obstruction that predispose toward postextubation stridor (PES) and reintubation. We examined the risk factors of extubation failure and evaluated the usefulness and limitation of CLT for predicting PES and reintubation. Methods: Thirty-four consecutive patients intubated more than 24 hours were examined. The subjects were evaluated daily for extubation readiness, and CLT was performed prior to extubation. Several parameters in the extubation success and failure group were compared. The accuracy and limitation of CLT were evaluated after choosing the thresholds values of the cuff leak volume (CLV) and percentage (CLP). Results: Of the 34 patients studied, 6 (17.6%) developed extubation failure and 3 (8.8%) were accompanied by PES. The patients who had extubation failure were more likely to have a longer duration of intubation and more severe illness. The patients who developed PES had a smaller cuff leak than the others: according to the CLV ($22.5{\pm}23.8$ vs $233.3{\pm}147.1ml$, p=0.020) or CLP ($6.2{\pm}7.3$ vs $44.3{\pm}24.7%$, p=0.013). The best cut off values for the CLV and CLP were 50ml and 14.7%, respectively. The sensitivity, negative predictive value, and specificity of CLT were relatively high, but the positive predictive value was low. Conclusion: The likelihood of developing extubation failure increases with increasing severity of illness and duration of intubation. A low CLV or CLP (<50ml or 14.7%) is useful in identifying patients at risk of PES, but the CLT is not an absolute predictor and should not be used an indicator for delaying extubation.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.466-473
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• 2000

Background : Patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer are often treated with radiation alone or in combination with chemotherapy. Both modalities have a potentially damaging effect on pulmonary function. In order to examine changes in the cardiopulmonary exercise function of patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer before and after conventional radiotherapy, we conducted a prospective study involving patients with such cancer, that had received radiation therapy. Method : Resting pulmonary function test, thoracic radiographic finding and cardiopulmonary exercise test(CPET) were assessed prior to and 4 weeks following radiation therapy in 11 male patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Patient with endobronchial mass were excluded. Results : The forces vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second ($FEV_1$ and maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV) did not decreased between before and 4 weeks after radiation but the diffusing capacity (DLCO) had decreased by 11% 4 weeks after radiation, which was not statistically significant. No changes in maximal oxygen consumption ($VO_2$max), carbon dioxide production ($VCO_2$), exercise time and work load were attributed to radiation therapy. Follow up cardiopulmonary exercise testing revealed unchanged cardiovascular function, ventilatory function and gas exchange. No difference in cardiopulmonary exercise test performance was observed between pre- and post-radiation. Conclusion : Cardiopulmonary exercise function did not decrease within the short-term after the radiation of patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.435-444
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• 2022

Hibiscus hamabo Sieb. et Zucc. (yellow hibiscus) is a deciduous semi-shrub plant and mainly growing in Jeju Island. This is known the unique wild hibiscus genus and classified as an 2nd grade of endangered plant for Korean Red List. In previous studies, properties of germination, ecological, genetical and salt resistance have been reported. In this study, we investigated mass-proliferated adventitious root using bioreactor, antioxidant and whitening effects to conduct functional ingredients. Yellow hibiscus were collected from Gujwa, Jeju by prior permission and they were introduced by explant type and various medium composition after surface sterilization. As a result, seed response rates were evaluated at range of 51.17~51.83%, in terms of comprehensive efficiency of shoot and root formation. In the case of adventitious root propagation condition was confirmed in half strength Murashige and Skoog medium salts, 30 mg/L sucrose, and 2 mg/L indole-3-butyric acid for 8 weeks in 5,000 mL bioreactor. We also compared between relationship with biomass and secondary metabolites accumulation by total phenolics content, the flavonoid content, DPPH free radical scavenging activity and melanin content. The results indicated that adventitious root mass proliferation, antioxidant and whitening effect could develop value of the high-quality cosmeceutical ingredient and further metabolite studies.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.16 no.1 s.26
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• pp.25-34
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• 1980

The in vitro guinea pig ureter responded to 5 sec trains of electrical stimuli with two contractions; the first an 'on response' (ON) occurred with $0.1{\sim}0.3$ sec after the onset o the stimulus train, the second an 'off response'(OFF) occurred $0.2{\sim}1.0$ sec after the termination of the stimulus train. Relaxation occurred between the two responses during a time when the stimulus was still being delivered. Longer duration and/or higher frequencies of stimuli within the train were required to elicit the OFF than the ON. Decreasing temperature from $37^{\circ}$ to $22^{\circ}$ decreased ON amplitude and increased OFF amplitude. $Ca^{++}$-free solution, 2 mM EDTA, 1 mM $Mn^{++}$ or $1{\mu}M$ verapamil rapidly abolished ON. OFF persisted when ON had disappeared by repeated stimulation at 0.12 train per sec. Conversely, caffeine, $50{\mu}M$ and theophylline, $10{\mu}M$ abolished OFF with only slight reduction of ON, and sodium nitroprusside decreased preferentially ON amplitude rather than OFF. Relaxation between ON and OFF was incomplete in low $Na^+$ solution. ON and OFF were not affected by the neural blockers tetrodotoxin, atropine or phentolamine, also pyrilamine and methysergide, and relaxation between ON and OFF was $Na^+$ dependent. Furthermore, ON depends on free $Ca^{++}$ and OFF is more dependent on bound or stored $Ca^{++}$.