• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.106-110
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• 2005

Purpose : Repetitive bleeding into the joint space is the cause of debilitative hemophilic arthropathy. To interrupt this process, we treated the hemophilic patients suffering from repetitive joint bleeding with radiation therapy. Materials and Methods : From 1997 to 2001, a total of 41 joints from 37 hemophilic arthropathy patients were treated with radiation therapy at Kyung Hee University Hospital. The treated joints were 35 ankles, 3 knees and 3 elbows, respectively. The age of the patients ranged from 4 to 27 years (median age: 11 years). The radiation dose ranged from 900 cGy to 2360 cGy (median dose: 900cGy). The fraction size was 150 cGy, 180 cGy or 200 cGy. The number of bleeding in one year before and after radiotherapy was compared. Results : There was a tendency of frequent bleeding for the Patients younger than 11 (p=0.051) but there was also a tendency for more improvement in this group (p=0.057). The number of joint bleedings was related with joint pain (p=0.012) and joint swelling (p=0.033) but not with the Arbold-Hilgartner stage (p=0.739), cartilage destruction (p=0.718) and synovial hypertrophy (p=0.079). The number of bleeding was reduced in thirty-three cases, and eight cases showed no improvement after radiation therapy. The average number of bleeding in a month was 2.52 before radiotherapy, but this was reduced to 1.4 after radiotherapy (p=0.017). Conclusion : Radiation therapy was effective for the hemophilia patients with repetitive joint bleeding to decrease the bleeding frequency and to prevent hemophilic arthropathy.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 2011

Purpose: To evaluate the pathological and clinical effects of preoperative chemoradiation (CCRT) in cases of locally advanced rectal cancer and to determine the predictive factors for tumor downstaging. Materials and Methods: From March 2004 to August 2008, 33 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer were treated with preoperative CCRT. Twenty-eight patients (84.8%) were treated using a concomitant boost technique while five (15.2%) patients were treated using a cone down boost technique. All patients received 50.4 Gy of irradiation and concurrent chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil. The median follow-up duration was 24.2 months (range, 9.8 to 64.7 months). Results: Thirty-one (93.9%) patients underwent surgery. Twenty-four patients (72.7%) underwent anal sphincter-preserving surgery. The 3-year disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival rates were 63.4% and 78.8%, respectively. Post-operative factors were more important for DFS. Pathologic N stage, margin status, and pathologic differentiation were significant prognostic factors (p=0.001, 0.029, 0.030). Tumor size and lymphovascular invasion were also associated with marginal significance (p=0.081, 0.073). However, only pre-treatment T stage was a significant pre-operative factor (p=0.018). The complete pathological response rate was 9.1 %. T-downstaging was observed in ten (30.3%) patients, whereas N-downstaging was found in 24 (72.7%) patients. Pre-treatment T stage and the interval between CCRT and operation were the predictive factors for downstaging in a univariate analysis (p=0.029, 0.027). Pre-treatment carcinoembryogenic antigen was also associated with marginal significance (p=0.068). Conclusion: The survival of rectal cancer patients can be better determined based on post-operative findings. Therefore, pre-operative CCRT for downstaging of the tumor seems to be important. Pre-treatment T stage and the interval between CCRT and operation can be used to predict downstaging.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.7
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• pp.777-783
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• 2006

Purpose : Urinary tract infection(UTI) is one of the most frequent infections in children. E. coli is the most frequent etiological micropathogen in pediatric community UTI, and E. coli has developed resistance to many antibiotics, highlighting the need for regular surveys of this organism resistant patterns in the community. The aim of this study was to determine the oral antibiotic susceptibility patterns of E. coli, isolated from pediatric patients with uncomplicated community acquired UTI. Methods : E. coli isolates, obtained from pediatric patients with uncomplicated community acquired UTI between October in 2004 to September in 2005. And minimal inhibitory concentrations(MICs) of oral aminopenicillins and beta-lactamase inhibnitors(ampicillin, amoxacillin, ampicillin-sulbactam), oral cephalosporins(cefaclor, cefixime) and sulfa drug(trimethoprime-sulfamethoxazole) were performed according to the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards(NCCLS) guide line. Results : Total 211 organisms were isolated from pediatric out-patients with community UTI. E. coli was the most common organism(89 percent), followed by E. fecalis, Proteus species, S. aureus, M. morganii, and P. aeruginosa. The resistant rates of aminopenicillins and beta-lactamase inhibitors, cefaclor and sulfa drug to E. coli were very high. But, the resistant rate of cefixime was markedly low, and ESBL strains were isolated with small rates. Conclusion : Our study results suggest that aminopenicillins, cefaclor and sulfa drug may not be useful as first line empirical antibiotics to treat pediatric patients with community UTI in Korea. But, 3rd generation cephalosporin such as cefixime can be used as effective second line antibiotics after primary treatment failure, also may be useful as an empirical first line antibiotic. Finally, we conclude that a continuous surveillance study to monitor susceptibility patterns of E. coli in community UTI will be needed for the standard guide lines of empirical oral antibiotic treatment.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.61-66
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• 2002

Purpose : To determine wether varicella can be prevented by administration of oral acyclovir(ACV) during the incubation period of the disease. Methods : Starting 9 days after exposure to the index case in their families, ACV(40 mg/kg/day in four divided doses) was given orally to 20 exposed children for 5 days. Their clinical features was compared with those of 20 control subjects. Antibody titers to VZV were measured in both group 1 week and 4 weeks after finishing the oral ACV administration. Results : The mean age of family members with varicella(51.4 months) were significantly high compared to that of ACV prophylaxis group(28.5 months) and control group(31 months) (P<0.05). Among the 12 children with ACV prophylaxis who completed follow up blood sampling, nine children were diagnosed as VZV infection on the serologic test(75%). Among them six children showed positive VZV IgM on the first blood sample and two children showed serocoversion to positive IgM on the second test after ACV prophylaxis. One child who was negative on both IgM and IgG, showed positive IgG on the second test. The incidence of fever and severity of skin rashes were significantly low in children received oral ACV than in the control group. No or reduced number of maculopapular eruption were observed in the oral ACV group compared to multiple vesicles of the control group. Conclusion : In the present study, we observed that oral ACV prophylaxis to the family contacts is effective in reducing severity of skin lesion. It is likely that oral ACV 9 days after contact prevents or reduces blood dissemination of VZV. Little is known about clinical effect and immunity to the virus in exposed children with no varicella symptom after treatment. We propose the checking up antibody to VZV some period after oral ACV, and considering vaccination to whom with no antibody. But further more studies are needed to practical application of oral ACV for the postexposure prophylaxis of varicella.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.257-264
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• 1997

Purpose: We performed this study to find out short period humoral immunogenicity and safety of 47 passaged Oka strain live attenuated varicella vaccine(1,400PFU) in 12 months to 15 years aged healthy children. Methods: Ninety nine healthy chidren, who have no histories of varicella vaccination, recent chicken pox illness and contact, allergy to other vaccines and underlying severe diseases, were involved in this study from April 1997 to August 1997. 5ml blood were collected before vaccination and after vaccination from all vaccinees to measure varicella membrane antibody by FAMA, and varicella IgG antibody by EIA. And immediate reactions within 30 minutes after vaccination, local and systemic reactions within 3 days after vaccination and vaccine induced systemic illness during 6 weeks postvaccination period were observed in all vaccinees to identify side effects of study vaccine. Results: 1) 49 seronegative and 50 seropositive vaccinees were identified in both prevaccination serologic tests. 2) Serologic responses after vaccination measured by the FAMA in seronegative group showed that the mean GMT level revealed 64.0, and seroconversion rate was 97.9%. And serologic responses after vaccination measured by the FAMA in seropositive group showed that the mean GMT level(242.2) was markedly elevated comparing with the mean GMT level(9.2) of pre vaccination. 3) The results of EIA in seronegative group revealed that postvaccination mean GMT was 435.2(prevaccination GMT; 78.7), and 100% seroconversion rate. Also, the results of EIA in seropositve group showed that the mean GMT level(769.9) of postvaccination was almostly two fold hihger than the mean GMT level(419.7) of prevaccination. 4) Observed local reactions like injection sites redness, pain, hardness and itching sense were mild and disappeared within 3 days, also shorterm systemic reactions like irritability, lethargy, poor appetites and rash were not remarkable. And there were no remarkable side effects due to vaccine during study period in all vaccinees. Conclusion: We confirmed that 47 paasaged Oka strain live attenuated varicella vaccine has high shorterm humoral immunogenicity and safety. However, we need more detail and longterm humoral and cell mediated immunogenicity studies of this vaccine including clinical field trials.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.193-200
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• 2011

Purpose : The effect of corticosteroid on severe pneumonia caused by 2009 pandemic influenza (H1N1) A virus is controversial. This study was aimed to present the effects of early, short-term corticosteroid treatment for severe pneumonia with this virus infection. Methods : A retrospective analysis was performed on severe pneumonia patients (37 patients) who had severe respiratory distress at presentation requiring oxygen therapy and received intravenous methylprednisolone (MP, 8-10 mg/kg, divided in 4 doses/day for 2-3 days) with oseltamivir. The clinical and laboratory characteristics of the patients were evaluated through the medical records and chest radiographic findings. Results : The mean age and male-to-female ratio of the patients were 6.5${\pm}$2.9 years of age, and 3.4:1 (male 29 patients), respectively. The 5-9 aged group was predominant among the age groups (25 patients, 67.6%). Duration of fever prior to admission was 1.4${\pm}$0.6 days and dyspnea developed within 24 h after beginning of respiratory symptoms in all patients. All patients were previously healthy and received oseltamivir within 48 h. Thirteen patients (35.1%) developed dyspnea during oseltamivir treatment. Following MP infusion, all 37 patients including 13 progressive pneumonia patients during oseltamivir treatment showed an immediate halt in the progression of pneumonic infiltration with rapid clinical improvement. There were no side-effects following steroid use. Conclusion : For severe pneumonia patients, early corticosteroid treatment halted clinical exacerbation, and possibly prevented progression to acute respiratory distress syndrome. Further controlled clinical studies are needed for the role of corticosteroids and antivirals on severely affected patients with influenza virus infections.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.31-39
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• 2009

Purpose : Neisseria meningitides is one of the most common causative pathogens of bacteremia and meningitis. Recently protein-conjugated vaccines have been developed and included in the routine vaccination schedule in a few countries. In Korea, carriage rates of N. meningitides among healthy adults have been reported. However, systematic data for childhood carriage rates are not available. This study was performed to evaluate the carriage rates of N. meningitides and the serotype distribution among healthy children attending day care centers. Methods : During the period of January through May 2005, nasopharyngeal swabs and culture were obtained from 904 children attending 13 different day care centers located in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. The Vitek NHI card was used to identify N. meningitides and the crgA gene was detected via polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Serotype determination was performed by agglutination test using N. meningitides antisera to serotypes A, B, C, D, 29E, W135, X, Y, and Z. PCR for detection of the org2 and saiD gene confirmed serotypes A, B, C, W135, and Y. Results : The mean age among 904 children was 4.5 years; 6.5% (59/904) were children <2 years old, 53.8% (486/904) were 2-5 years old, and 39.7% (359/904) were >5 years old; 52.0% (468/904) were male. N. meningitides was isolated from only 7 children attending 5 different day care centers and the overall carriage rate of N. meningitides was 0.8%. The detected serotypes of N. meningitides were serotype A (n=2), C (n=2), and Y (n=3). Conclusion : The carriage rate of N. meningitides among healthy children attending day care centers was very low in Korea and the detected serotypes were A, C, and Y.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.64-71
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• 2007

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical utility of rapid detection of Down syndrome and Edward syndrome by Interphase Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization (FISH) analysis. Methods : Aretrospective study in 309 cases of amniotic fluid samples, analysed by interphase FISH with DNA probes specific to chromosome 18 and 21, was performed. All FISH results w ere compared with conventional cytogenetic karyotypings. Results : The results were considered as informative and they were obtained within 48 hrs. A case of Down syndrome and a case of Edward syndrome were diagnosed by FISH and confirmed by subsequent cytogenetic analysis. In 12 cases with normal FISH results, the cytogenetic analysis showed a case of partial trisomy 22, three cases of sex chromosomal aneuploidy, two cases of mosaicism, two cases of microdeletion, and four cases of structural rearrangement. Conclusion : FISH is a rapid and effective diagnostic method, which can be used as an adjunctive test to cytogenetic analysis, for prenatal identification of chromosome aneuploidies. For the more genome-wide screening with variety of probes, the technique of FISH is both expensive and labor-intensive.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.35 no.3 s.99
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• pp.237-246
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• 2002

Tamjin Dam is built in the upper reaches of the Tamjin River which flows through the Janghung-gun and Gangjin-gun of the Jeollanamdo, Korea. In order to map out a preservation strategy of the fish community from dam construction, We studied the distribution of fish distribution and changes of the habitat environment. we found 49 fish species inhabiting in the downstream and upstream of the Tamjin Dam. Among them, migratory fish were two species sweet smelt, Plecoglossus altivelis and freshwater eel, Anguilla japonica. The Coreoperca kawamebari which designated as a species to be protected by The Ministry of Environment of Korea was also observed. After the dam construction, reservoir would be filled with water and running water system will change to standing water system. Then the habitat and spawning space for mountain torrent fish will be reduced and the migration of migratory fish to upstream will be blocked. Through our study, we proposed several ways to protect fish community. In order to preserve the reduced habitat and spawning area of mountain torrent fish, a fishway has been diagnosed to be built in the shallow reservoir in the entrance of the upriver. The establishment of artificial spawning ground on the riverside has been recommended. In addition, We propose a creation of a shelter for fresh water eel, Anguilla japonica in areas where the depth of the water is about l0m by laying rocks. Since it is difficult for a spawning ground to be formed naturally in the reservoir due to the year-round changes in water level, We suggested a floating spawning facility using an artificial fixture. In the downstream of the dam, a waterway-style habitat and spawning ground in the river and increasing the diversity and abundance of fish fauna in the Tamjin River. A low-cost and highly efficient operational fishway has been recommended so that migratory fish such as Plecoglossus altivelis (sweetfish) can migrate from the lower reaches to the upper reaches of the river.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.142-149
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• 2016

'Shinseong', a winter forage triticale cultivar (X Triticosecale Wittmack), was developed at the Department of Rice and Winter Cereal Crop, NICS, RDA in 2015. The cultivar 'Shinseong' was selected from the cross RONDO/2$^*$ERIZO_11//KISSA_4/3/ASNO/ARDI_3//ERIZO_7 by CIMMYT (Mexico) in 1998. Subsequent generations were handled in pedigree selection programs at Mexico from 1999 to 2004, and a line 'CTSS98Y00019S-0MXI-B-3-3-5' was selected for earliness and good agronomic characteristics. After preliminary and advance yield testing in Korea for 3 years, the line was designated 'Iksan47'. The line was subsequently evaluated for earliness and forage yield in seven locations, Jeju, Iksan, Cheongwon, Yesan, Gangjin, Daegu, and Jinju from 2013 to 2015 and was finally named 'Shinseong'. Cultivar 'Shinseong' has the characteristics of light green leaves, yellow culm and spike, and a medium grain of brown color. The heading date of cultivar 'Shinseong' was April 24 which was 3 days earlier than that of check cultivar 'Shinyoung'. The tolerance or resistance to lodging, wet injury, powdery mildew, and leaf rust of 'Shinseong' were similar to those of the check cultivar. The average forage dry matter yield of cultivar 'Shinseong' at milk-ripe stages was $15MT\;ha^{-1}$, which was 3% lower than that ($15.5MT\;ha^{-1}$) of the check cultivar 'Shinyoung'. The silage quality of 'Shinseong' (6.7%) was higher than that of the check cultivar 'Shinyoung' (5.9%) in crude protein content, while was similar to the check cultivar 'Shinyoung' in acid detergent fiber (34.6%), neutral detergent fiber (58.6%), and total digestible nutrients (61.6%). It showed grain yield of $7.2MT\;ha^{-1}$ which was 25% higher than that of the check cultivar 'Shinyoung' ($5.8MT\;ha^{-1}$). This cultivar is recommended for fall sowing forage crops in areas in which average daily minimum mean temperatures in January are higher than $-10^{\circ}C$.