• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.5 s.250
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• pp.323-334
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• 2005

Background: Gene therapy is a new and promising option for the treatment of severe myocardial ischemia by therapeutic angiogenesis. The goal of this study was to elucidate the efficacy of therapeutic angiogenesis by using VEGF165 in large animals. Material and Method: Twenty-one pigs that underwent ligation of the distal left anterior descending coronary artery were randomly allocated to one of two treatments: intramyocardial injection of pCK-VEGF (VEGF) or intramyocardial injection of pCK-Null (Control). Injections were administered 30 days after ligation. Seven pigs died during the trial, but eight pigs from VEGF and six from Control survived. Echo-cardiography was performed on day 0 (preoperative) and on days 30 and 60 following coronary ligation. Gated myocardial single photon emission computed tomography imaging (SPECT) with $^{99m}Tc-labeled$ sestamibi was performed on days 30 and 60. Myocardial perfusion was assessed from the uptake of $^{99m}Tc-labeled$ sestamibi at rest. Global and regional myocardial function as well as post-infarction left ventricular remodeling were assessed from segmental wall thickening; left ventricular ejection fraction (EF); end systolic volume (ESV); and end diastolic volume (EDV) using gated SPECT and echocardiography. Myocardium of the ischemic border zone into which pCK plasmid vector had been injected was also sampled to assess micro-capillary density. Result: Micro-capillary density was significantly higher in the VEGF than in Control ($386\pm110/mm^{2}\;vs.\;291\pm127/mm^{2};\;p<0.001$). Segmental perfusion increased significantly from day 30 to day 60 after intramyocardial injection of plasmid vector in VEGF ($48.4\pm15.2\%\;vs.\;53.8\pm19.6\%;\;p<0.001$), while no significant change was observed in the Control ($45.1\pm17.0\%\;vs.\;43.4\pm17.7\%;\;p=0.186$). This resulted in a significant difference in the percentage changes between the two groups ($11.4\pm27.0\%\;increase\;vs.\;2.7\pm19.0\%\;decrease;\;p=0.003$). Segmental wall thickening increased significantly from day 30 to day 60 in both groups; the increments did not differ between groups. ESV measured using echocardiography increased significantly from day 0 to day 30 in VEGF ($22.9\pm9.9\;mL\;vs.\;32.3\pm9.1\;mL;\; p=0.006$) and in Control ($26.3\pm12.0\;mL\;vs.\;36.8\pm9.7\;mL;\;p=0.046$). EF decreased significantly in VEGF ($52.0\pm7.7\%\;vs.\;46.5\pm7.4\%;\;p=0.004$) and in Control ($48.2\pm9.2\%\;vs.\;41.6\pm10.0\%;\;p=0.028$). There was no significant change in EDV. The interval changes (days $30\~60$) of EF, ESV, and EDV did not differ significantly between groups both by gated SPECT and by echocardiography. Conclusion: Intramyocardial injection of pCK-VEGF165 induced therapeutic angiogenesis and improved myocardial perfusion. However, post-infarction remodeling and global myocardial function were not improved.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.486-491
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• 2004

Purpose: factor analysis and independent component analysis (ICA) has been used for handling dynamic image sequences. Theoretical advantages of a newly suggested ICA method, ensemble ICA, leaded us to consider applying this method to the analysis of dynamic myocardial $H_2^{15}O$ PET data. In this study, we quantified patients' blood flow using the ensemble ICA method. Materials and Methods: Twenty subjects underwent $H_2^{15}O$ PET scans using ECAT EXACT 47 scanner and myocardial perfusion SPECT using Vertex scanner. After transmission scanning, dynamic emission scans were initiated simultaneously with the injection of $555{\sim}740$ MBq $H_2^{15}O$. Hidden independent components can be extracted from the observed mixed data (PET image) by means of ICA algorithms. Ensemble learning is a variational Bayesian method that provides an analytical approximation to the parameter posterior using a tractable distribution. Variational approximation forms a lower bound on the ensemble likelihood and the maximization of the lower bound is achieved through minimizing the Kullback-Leibler divergence between the true posterior and the variational posterior. In this study, posterior pdf was approximated by a rectified Gaussian distribution to incorporate non-negativity constraint, which is suitable to dynamic images in nuclear medicine. Blood flow was measured in 9 regions - apex, four areas in mid wall, and four areas in base wall. Myocardial perfusion SPECT score and angiography results were compared with the regional blood flow. Results: Major cardiac components were separated successfully by the ensemble ICA method and blood flow could be estimated in 15 among 20 patients. Mean myocardial blood flow was $1.2{\pm}0.40$ ml/min/g in rest, $1.85{\pm}1.12$ ml/min/g in stress state. Blood flow values obtained by an operator in two different occasion were highly correlated (r=0.99). In myocardium component image, the image contrast between left ventricle and myocardium was 1:2.7 in average. Perfusion reserve was significantly different between the regions with and without stenosis detected by the coronary angiography (P<0.01). In 66 segment with stenosis confirmed by angiography, the segments with reversible perfusion decrease in perfusion SPECT showed lower perfusion reserve values in $H_2^{15}O$ PET. Conclusions: Myocardial blood flow could be estimated using an ICA method with ensemble learning. We suggest that the ensemble ICA incorporating non-negative constraint is a feasible method to handle dynamic image sequence obtained by the nuclear medicine techniques.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.1-25
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• 2008

Purpose : Since 1967, The Korean Pediatric Society and Korean Government have developed Korean Growth Standards every 10 years. Last version was published in 1998. During past 40 years, Korean Growth Standards were mainly descriptive charts without any systematic nor statistical standardization. With the global epidemic of obesity, many authorities such as World Health Organization (WHO) and United States' Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have been changed their principles of growth charts to cope with the situations like ours. This article summarizes and reviews the whole developmental process of new 2007 Korean Growth Charts with discussion. Methods : With the initiative of Division of Chronic Disease Surveillance in Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we have performed new national survey for the development of new Standards in 2005 and identified marked increase of childhood obesity and plateau of secular increment of final height in late adolescents. We have developed new Growth Standards via adapting several innovative methods, including standardization of all available raw data, which were acquired in 1997 and 2005 national survey and full application of LMS method. Results : We could get new standardized charts; weight-for-age, length/height-for-age, weight-for-height, head circumference-for-age and BMI-for-age. Other non-standardized charts based on 2005 survey data were also published; waist circumference-for-age, mid-arm circumference-for-age, chest circumference-for-age and skinfold-for-age. Clinical guideline was also developed. Conclusion : Developmental process and results of new Korean Growth Charts are comparable with other internationally well-known Growth Standards, WHO 2006 Growth Standards and CDC Growth Charts. 2007 Korean Growth Charts are relevant especially in Korea and Korean ethnic groups.

• The Korean Journal of Air & Space Law and Policy
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• v.17
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• pp.55-89
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• 2003

What are the international aviation regimes? It is said that they are sets of principles, norms, rules, and decision-making procedures of international aviation around which aviation actors' (states-actors, intergovernmental aviation organization, international aviation conventions, airlines and their organizations etc.) expectations converge in a given aviation issue-area for the purposes of the human welfare and the operations of the stable civil aviation. In this regards, the purposes of this study are focused on the aviation actors' shifts. Chronologically, international aviation regimes have been developed by some stages as followings; The 1st stage is the period from 1944 Chicago Convention to 1978 US Deregulation Act, when the aviation regulations and rules within the international aviation relations were implemented by Chicago-Bermuda regimes as Christer Jonsson pointed out. In this first stage, the sovereignty for the airspace over their countries is absolute. The second stage is the period from 1978 to '1992 Open Skies Agreement' between US and Netherlands. In this regime, airlines' activities as well as state-actors' have been actuated. The third stage is the period from 1992 to the contemporary. In this stage, airlines' activities for the consumers such as 'Open Skies Agreements', 'e-commerce business', 'airspace open policy within EU area', 'service open policy of WTO', and 'airlines' strategic alliance' are the central focal points in the world aviation relationship. In the conclusion, this phenomenon of the core actors in the international aviation rules has been shifted from the states-actors to the non-states actors especially, operating airlines, or consuming customers. Finally, I' d like to suggest that international aviation regimes should be developed to promote and facilitate the globalized level for the people's movements among the global aviation society. That is the way to proceed to the welfare and peace for all human beings of the World.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.459-474
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• 1988

A study was made of a method of rational assessment on the roentgeno-cephalogram in orthodontic practice. Fifty eight measurements were analyzed on the roentgeno-cephalograms of 50 male and 50 female Korean adults with the acceptable profile and the normal occlusion. The means and standard deviations of measurements were studied in male and female groups by various analytic methods, and the sex difference was examined statistically. The obtained data were compared with those of the Japanese and American standards by useing a Japanese adults standard polygon chart reported by lizuka and Ishikawa. Amongs of 58 measurements, 14 have been selected as statistically significant and clinically useful, and used to make a Korean adult standard polygon chart. The results obtained were as follows: 1. Standards for cphalometric analysis in Korean adults were obtained, and the polygon chart and cephalometric profilogram were also made by using the standards in order to apply to a clinical diagnosis. 2. The sex difference was recognized in linear measurements, but not in angular measurments. 3. In comparison with the American standards from Downs and Graber, the Korean showed significant differences in angle of convexity, mandibular plane angle, Y-axis angle, interincisal angle and lower incisor to mandibular plane angle. Thus, the Korean showed a more retruded chin position, convex facial type, than white people. 4. In comparison with the Japanese standards from Iizuka and Ishikawa, the Korean showed a significant similarity with the Japanese, especially in females. 5. Upper incisor to Huxely line angle, established as a new measurement, proved to be paralell to X-Y axis angle.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.349-356
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• 2013

A set of experiments were conducted to determine the zero temperature and total effective temperature for the summer diapause and post-diapause development of Matsucoccus thunbergianae Miller et Park (Hemiptera: Margarodidae) which infests the Japanese black pine, Pinus thunbergii. The diapausing first instar nymphs were kept in cool storage during three separate times, each starting from May 4th, June 19th, and August 15th of 2002. Cool storage temperatures were 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0, 12.5 and $15.0^{\circ}C$. The nymphs were chilled for 10, 20, 30 or 40 days in the first two sets of experiments. In the third experiment, nymphs were chilled for 3, 6, 9 or 12 days. Molting into the second instar nymphs was examined every 10 days, starting at 20 days after taken out from the cool storage. Optimum temperature range of the diapause development was between 7.5 and $10^{\circ}C$, where diapause development was completed in 40, 20, and 6 days by the insects chilled from May 4th, June 19th and August 15th, respectively. Comparing the three sets of experiments with different chilling periods, zero temperature for diapause development was calculated as $29^{\circ}C$. Effective temperature for diapause development was 964 degree days, and it was estimated that nymphs completed their diapause development by September 8th in nature. Under natural temperature conditions >50% eclosion into the second instar occurred on November 9th. Zero temperature for post-diapause development was $10^{\circ}C$, and total effective temperature for post-diapause development until the molt into the second instar was 391 degree days.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.60 no.5
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• pp.554-563
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• 2006

Background: PM is known to induce various pulmonary diseases, including asthma, cancer, fibrosis and chronic bronchitis. Despite the epidemiological evidence the pathogenesis of PM-related pulmonary diseases is unclear. Methods: This study examined the effects of PM exposure on the secretion of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and $IL-1{\beta}$ in the cultured alveolar macrophages. The cultured primary alveolar macrophages were treated with the medium, PM ($5{\sim}20{\mu}g/cm^2$), LPS (5ng/ml), and PM with LPS for 24h and 48h respectively. ELISA was used to assay the secreted $TNF-{\alpha}$ and $IL-{\beta}$ in the culture medium. Western blotting was used to identify and determine the level of proteins isolated from the culture cells. The cells cultured in the $Lab-Tek^{(R)}$ chamber slides were stained with immunocytochemical stains. Results: PM induced $TNF-{\alpha}$ and $IL-1{\beta}$ secretion in the culturing alveolar macrophages, collected from the SPF and inflammatory rats. However, the effects were only dose-dependent in the inflammatory macrophages. When the cells were co-treated with PM and LPS, there was a significant synergistic effect compared with the LPS in the both cell types. Conclusion: PM might be play an important role in the induction and/or potentiation of various lung diseases by oversecretion of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and $IL-1{\beta}$.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.492-504
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• 2014

Feral pigeon (Columba livia) has been known as a good indicator for accumulations of chemical pollutants in urban areas. However, it is against the animal rights to kill the indicator species in order to monitor pollutants accumulations in wild birds. Eggs and feathers of birds, therefore, have been used as non-invasive monitoring materials. Even though eggs are a good indicator for accumulations of lipophilic pollutants, but unsuitable for some heavy metals such as lead and cadmium because bird's ovary builds a sort of barrier to inhibit higher accumulations of some heavy metals in the eggs. Therefore, feathers instead of eggs have been used as a non-invasive indicator for accumulations of heavy metals. However, there are few studies of heavy metal accumulations of feral pigeon in Korea. In this study, we characterized the characteristics of heavy metal accumulations of feathers in relation to internal organs (bloods, viscera and bones) in feral pigeons between two sites (Hangang Park representing urban area and Hampyeong Park for rural area). The samples from the Hangang Park showed significantly higher lead (Pb) concentrations in the blood, liver and bone than those from Hampyeong Park. The Pb concentration in the feathers was also significantly higher at Hangang Park than at Hampyeong Park. The analytical result for the breast, wing and tail feathers, and the internal organs (blood, lung, liver, kidney and bone) indicated that the Pb concentrations in the feathers were significantly positively correlated with the levels in the kidney and bone. Overall, feathers of feral pigeon may be candidate for bioindicator to monitor for Pb accumulations in urban areas.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.83-90
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• 2004

Processed meals, such as a ground meat and hamburger patty, are required to ensure that no pathogens remain in the final products. However, there was no rapid method available to verify that the recommended end-point cooking temperature(EPT) was reached. Thus, the objective of this study was to rapidly determine EPT of ground pork hams using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis(SOS-PAGE), based on the disappearance of sarcoplasmic proteins after cooking. Fresh pork hams were added two levels of salt(0, 2%) and fat(15, 25%) combinations, and stored in refrigerator overnight, and cooked to internal cooking temperatures of $64^{\circ}C$ to $74^{\circ}C$ with $2^{\circ}C$ increments. Cooked pork hams were measured cooking loss(CL, %), protein solubility(PS) and SOS-PAGE. CL(%) was reduced with the addition of 2% salt, as compared to the control, regardless of fat contents. It was also increased with increasing eooking temperature. Protein solubility was affected by the cooking temperature, resulting in reduced PS up to $64^{\circ}C$(P < 0.05), but remained constant higher than $68^{\circ}C$. In SOS-PAGE analysis, protein bands with the molecular weights of 36 and 66 kDa were affected by the addition of salt and fat combinations. regardless of treatments. These protein fractions were decreased gradually with increased cooking temperatures up to $68^{\circ}C$ ${\sim}$ $70^{\circ}C$ and might be good indicators for the determination of EPT in ground pork hams.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2010

Xenotransplantation of pig organs is complicated by the existence of polytropic replication-competent porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERV) capable of infecting human cells. Two classes of infectious human-tropic replication-competent PERVs (PERV-A and PERV-B) and one class of ecotropic PERV-C are known. The potential for recombination between ecotropic PERV-C and human-tropic PERVs adds another level of infectious risk. A recombinant PERV-A/C (PERV-A14/220) virus is 500-fold more infectious than PERV-A. Two determinants of this high infectivity was identified; one was isoleucine-to-valine substitution at position 140 in RBD (receptor binding domain), and the other lies within the PRR (proline rich region) of the envelope protein. To examine whether the effects of the cytoplasmic tail of the PERV-C Env on fusogenesity also influences infectivity, we constructed a pseudotype retroviral vectors containing MoMLV core protein and PERV envelopes. Pseudotyping experiments with the PERV envelope glycoproteins indicated that recombinant PERV-A/C virus is 10-fold more infectious than PERV-A by lacZ staining. This result supports the suggestion that viral transduction of PERV-A/C is enhanced by a membrane-proximal cytoplasmic amphiphilic ${\alpha}$-helix in PERV-C Env tail.