• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.166-174
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• 2003

Microcystin produced by cyanobacteria in surface waters, such as eutrophic lake and river, is a kind of serious environmental problems due to its toxicity to human and wild animals. Microcystin is synthesized nonribosomally by the large modular multi-functional enzyme complex known as microcystin synthetase encoded by the mcy gene cluster. Amplification of mcy genes by PCR from cultures and environmental samples is a simple and efficient method to detect the toxigenic Microcystis. In order to evaluate primers designed to detect toxic microcystin-producing strains, 17 cyanobacterial strains and 20 environmental samples were examined by PCR with 7 pairs of primers. Some microcystin-producing cyanobacteria were not detected with FAA-RAA, TOX4F-TOX4R and FP-RP primers. The fragment of unexpected size was amplified with NSZW2-NSZW1 primers in Microcystis strains isolated from the lakes in Korea. TOX1P-TOX1F primers failed in amplification of toxin-producing strains. Only MSF-MSR and TOX2P- TOX2F primers amplified the fragments of mcy genes from 11 strains of microcystin-producing Microcystis. The water samples taken from 20 lakes in Korea were analyzed by PCR using each of the primers. In all the water samples, cyanobacteria capable of producing microcystin were detected by the PCR with TOX2P-TOX2F primers. These results indicate that TOX2P-TOX2F primers are better than the other primers for detection of microcystin-producing Microcystis strains in Korea. The nucleotide sequences of mcy gene in Microcystis aeruginosa NIER10010 suggest genetic diversity of Korean isolates.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.157-161
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• 2006

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to investigate the pathogens of central venous catheter-related blood stream infections and search for the association among the insertion site, the duration and the underlying conditions with the prevalence of central venous catheter-related blood stream infections under 15 years old. Methods : A retrospective study was performed from Jan, 2003 to Dec, 2003 in Severance Hospital on 112 patients who undertook central venous catheter insertions. Results : We examined 112 patients who undertook central venous catheter insertion. The mean age of patients was $4.77{\pm}4.12$ years old. Coagulase negative Staphylococci was the most common organism of central venous catheter-related blood stream infections accounting for 33.9 percent, followed by Eenterococcus faecium(9.3 percent), and Staphylococcus aureus(7.5 percent), The most common insertion site was the right femoral vein, followed by the right jugular vein and the left femoral vein. The mean insertion period was $14.17{\pm}12.00$ days. Conclusion : Central venous catheter-related blood stream infections were not only related to the underlying conditions, but also to the insertion site. We need to study the clinical importance of coagulase negative Staphylococci as it is part of the normal flora of the skin. In future, more studies are needed to take preventive measures and improve treatment methods.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.95-102
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• 2008

Objectives : Diabetes patients suffer from severe stress in maintaining the diet therapy and exercise therapy as well as the disease itself, and this stress has bad effects on controlling the glucose level and causes high prevalence rate of depressive and anxiety disorders. These symptoms again have deleterious effects on blood glucose control. A lot of researches about the relationship between glycemic control and symptoms of depression and anxiety and about the positive effects of the treatments of depression and anxiety disorder on glycemic control in diabetic patients are being performed. In Korea, the research regarding the relationship between glycemic control and depression and anxiety symptoms are seldom performed. In this study, we tried to find out the correlation between the glycemic control and depressive symptom and anxiety symptom. Methods : The study included 65 patients(male 34, female 31) with Diabetes in outpatient clinic of the Department of Endocrinology in Dankook University Hospital. We used the HbA1c levels to check glycemic control through blood sample analysis and used Beck Depression Inventory(BDI) and Beck Anxiety Inventory(BAI). Results : Among the 65 Diabetes patients, 21(32.30%) had mild depressive symptoms, and 6(9.23%) had moderate or severe depressive symptoms. The relation of HbA1c and BDI was not statistically significant, but was significant between HBA1c and BAI, (R=0.567, P<0.001). In the linear regression analysis, BAI had an effect on HbA1c($\beta=0.533$, T=5.012, P=0.00), but BDI, diabetes complications, diabetic morbid period and BMI had no effect on HbA1C. The relationship between HbA1c and BDI was not statistically significant, but the relationship between HbA1c and BAI was statistically significant(R=0.254, P<0.001). Conclusions : In this study, the rates of diabetic patients with depressive symptoms were higher, but those with anxiety symptoms were not higher than the general population. We could not find out significant relationship between depressive symptom and glycemic control, but found the significant relationship between the anxiety symptom and glycemic control in diabetic patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.163-173
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• 2007

Lipid peroxidation is one of the main manifestations of oxidative damage and has been found to play an important role in the toxicity and carcinogenesis of many carcinogens. This study was carried out to determine the effects of vitamin C on lipid contents and fatty acid compositions of serum and liver in male rats treated with radiation or aflatoxin $B_1\;(AFB_1)$. Six week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 7 groups; control group, radiation exposed group, $AFB_1$ treated group, X-ray and $AFB_1$ co-treated group. Three groups, except control group, were each further divided into vitamin C administered group and not administered groups. For this study, vitamin C was injected with 10 mg/kg of body weight by intraperitoneal injection and 1 hr later, 0.4 mg/kg of $AFB_1$ was injected by the same method. These administrations were repeated every 3 days over a period of 15 days. Only one time, X-ray was irradiated on whole liver with 1,500 cGy. Then vitamin C and AFB1 were administered by the same level and same method described above. On the 16th day of treatments, the animals were sacrificed. From the analysis of the serum lipid patterns, significant decrease (p<0.01) in triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol levels were observed in X-ray and $AFB_1$ co treated group administered with vitamin C (group 7). In liver lipids, the levels of free cholesterol and total cholesterol were also decreased in X-ray and $AFB_1$ co treated group administered with vitamin C (group 7). The levels of serum free cholesterol and hepatic TG were not significantly different among all groups according to vitamin C administrations. The high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol level of serum was significantly (p<0.01) increased while the low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol level was decreased in X-ray and $AFB_1$ co treated group administered with vitamin C (group 7). In the phospholipid fatty-acid compositions of serum and liver tissue, group 3, 5 and 7 showed an increase in polyunsaturated fatty-acid (PUFA) but a decrease in saturated fatty acid (SFA) when compared to the control group. The composition ratio of fatty acid varied according to vitamin C administration. These results suggested that vitamin C has partly suppressive effects on lipid contents and fatty acid composition of serum and liver in rats treated by radiation and $AFB_1$.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.696-703
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• 2011

We performed a randomized placebo-controlled trial to determine whether or not fermented red ginseng supplementation modulates blood glucose and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic patients. A total of 38 patients were randomized to either a fermented red ginseng group or placebo group. The patients in the experimental or placebo group consumed 780 mg of fermented red ginseng or cellulose supplement per day for 12 weeks, respectively. Lifestyle factors and dietary intakes of the patients were not altered during the 12-weeks period. In the fermented red ginseng group after 12 weeks, the fasting blood glucose levels were significantly decreased ($136.29{\pm}16.45$ mg/dL to $127.71{\pm}17.74$ mg/dL) and $HbA_1c$ was also decreased. Especially, high HbA1c (HbA1c $\geq$8%, $8.45{\pm}0.56%$ to $7.82{\pm}0.53%$) was significantly decreased compared to low HbA1c (HbA1c <8%, $6.71{\pm}0.85%$ to $6.44{\pm}0.49%$) in the fermented red ginseng group. Serum low-density lipoprotein was slightly decreased in the fermented red ginseng group compared to the placebo group. Homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance was significantly reduced in the fermented red ginseng group compared to the placebo group. These results suggest that fermented red ginseng supplementation could be helpful to reduce blood glucose by improving insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic patients.

• Journal of Korea Foresty Energy
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.65-75
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• 2002

The study was carried out to determine the growth and biomass production of major deciduous trees including Betula platyphylla var. japonica, Betula schmidtii, Zelkova serrata, Acer mono, Prunes sargentii, and Ligustrum obtusifolium subjected to artificial shade treatment in nursery field. The six deciduous trees seedlings grow for 2 years under different light intensity of 100%, 38-62%, 22-28%, 7-20%, and 2-6% of the full sun light intensity. The results were as follows; In the seedling heights and root collar diameters of shade intolerant species like Betula platyphylla var. japonica and Betula schmidtii, the relative growth rates of seedlings grown in full sun showed 2 times as compared with those subjected to the shade treatment of 2-6% light intensities of full sun. In the shade tolerant species like Acer mono ant Ligustrum obtusifolium, the growth performances were better in the seedlings grown in 38-62% light intensities of full sun. Total dry mass including the dry mass of leaves, shoot and root were as a whole decreased with shade treatment. The ratio of the dry mass of leaves and stem increased the dry mass of root. T/R ratio of the seedlings increased by decreasing the relative light intensity. And the T/R ratio of 2-6% light intensities of full sun was ranged from 1.1~5.0 were greater in the full sun light was ranged from 0.6~3.2. Light intensity by artificial shade treatment decreased in deciduous trees when compared on the whole, it showed tendency that SLA increases, increased that seeing resemblant tendency in LAR and LWR and changed of light intensity is strong, it increased that showed difference as statistical. But, LWR of Betula platyphylla var. japonica increased gradually and showed tendency that decreases rapidly in the shade treatment of 2-6% light intensities of full sun. This result is thought that biomass production decreased by shading treatment influenced in physiological characteristics such as leaf area and decrease of the leaf amount.

• Korean Business Review
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• v.11
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• pp.241-253
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• 1998

One form of the anomalies of stock price changes as reaction to earnings information is believed to be caused by the so-called earnings fixation, which is the overreaction of stock prices to earnings. According to the Sloan (1996) study, stock price changes are positively associated with earnings at the time of earnings releases, but the association becomes negative after that, as the early overreaction is corrected. However, the problem in his study is to use cash flows computed by adjusting earnings with appropriate income statement and balance sheet items. As Bahnson et al. (1996) show, these cash flows substantially deviate from SFAS No. 95 cash flows and the sample used in this study is found to be subject to this substantial measurement error. Therefore, the result of Sloan might be driven by this error and the reexamination of earnings fixation is warranted. The results are generally consistent with those in Sloan. First, earnings is positively associated with stock price changes at the time of earnings releases, but the association becomes negative after that. Second, cash flows show a weak association with stock price changes at the time of earnings releases, but the association become stronger thereafter. Third, when seperated from cash flows, accruals have an incremental explanation about stock price changes beyond that of cash flows, accruals have a negative association later on. This finding is consistent with stock price overreaction to accruals, even when more cleaner cash flow data are used.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.60-65
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• 2014

Purpose: To diagnose soft tissue tumor, such as lipoma and Schwannoma, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is sufficient in most cases. However, various characteristics are found in MRI images of Schwannoma, thus other type of tumors are often misdiagnosed as Schwannoma with MRI images. In this study, we evaluate the diagnostic value of specific MRI findings of Schwannoma. Materials and Methods: From January 2002 to May 2013, 104 patients who are suspected as Schwannoma rith MRI images are included in data, and the final diagnosis is confirmed with biopsy. Patients are divided into group 1 and group 2 who are confirmed as Schwannoma and other disease with biopsy, respectively. Results: 92 patients were diagnosed as Schwannoma (group 1) and 12 patients were diagnosed as other disease (group 2). We investigate the diagnostic value of specific MRI findings of Schwannoma. 41 patients of group 1 (45%) and 0 patients of group 2 (0%) showed target sign, 47 patients of group 1 (51%) and 2 patients of group 2 (17%) showed fascicular sign, 44 patients of group 1 (48%) and 5 patients of group 2 (42%) showed fat split sign, 28 patients of group 1 (30%) and 1 patients of group 2(9%) showed nerve entering and exiting sign, and 8 patients of group 1 (9%) and 6 patients of group 2 (50%) showed none of four specific findings on their MRI images. 52 patients of group 1 (57%) and 5 patients of group 2 (42%) have tumors on the pathway of nerve. Target sign could be considered as the best diagnostic value of the sign we investigate (p<0.05). Conclusion: Although specific MRI findings have powerful diagnostic value, patients are often misdiagnosed as Schwannoma with MRI findings. Therefore, if patients who are suspected as Schwannoma based on MRI findings have no target sign on their MRI images, we should consider the possibility of other disease.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.69-73
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• 2010

Purpose: Sentinel lymph node (SLNB) is the first confronted lymph node from primary lesion of tumor through lymphatic drainage, which is important for determining early metastasis and setting guidelines for treatment. We reported significant of sentinel lymph node biopsy in malignant melanoma (MM) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of lower extremities. Materials and Methods: Twenty-five cases of surgically treatment and being possible for follow up more than 1 year among the patients who were diagnosed as MM and SCC in this institution from Sep. 2005 to Jan. 2009, and 10 cases of them were performed SLNB. Average age was 64 years old, and 15 cases of male and 10 cases of female were in this group. Results: 3 years overall survival rate was 100% and 3 years disease-free survival rate was 76%. Metastasis occurred in total 6 patients, 4 cases of inguinal lymph nodes, 1 case of soft tissue around knee, 1 case of left achilles tendon. In 15 cases of not performing SLNB, overall survival rate was 93.3% and disease-free survival rate was 73.3%. In 10 cases of performing SLNB, overall survival rate was 100% and disease-free survival rate was 90%. And only 1 case showed positive finding in the biopsy, and none of the 10 cases showed metastasis in follow-up. Conclusion: SLNB leads simpler and less complications compared to prior elective lymph node dissection, and shows high degree of accuracy. Throughout the SLNB, setting guidelines for treatment by accurate staging is thought to be helpful for increasing the survival rate in the patient with MM and SCC.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.347-354
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• 2006

Most patients suffering from TMD appear to have unsatisfactory masticatory function and compromised values of bite force. The purposes of this study were to investigate and compare bite force between affected and unaffected sides of patients with unilateral TMD and to evaluate its relation with duration of TMD. 42 patients with unilateral TMD, from Department of Oral Medicine, Dankook University Dental Hospital, were selected for this study. The ratio of men to women was 9:33 and their mean age of $27.2{\pm}10.4$ years. The bite forces were measured over both canines (for anterior bite force) and $1^{st}$ molars (for posterior bite force) using a bite force recorder while all the subjects were asked to clench successively for 3 seconds not until pain was felt. They were compared with those measured from bilateral TMD patients(N=6, M:F=1:5, mean age: $23.0{\pm}27.3$ years). The unilateral TMD patients were divided into time groups according to duration of TMD on the basis of 1 and 6 months, respectively. Paired and unpaired t-tests were used for statistical analysis. Unilateral TMD patients in this study showed that the affected sides had significantly lower bite force than the unaffected sides(force difference of about 7-8 kgf, p<0.05) while there was no significant sides difference in the bilateral patients. Nor did bite force on the affected sides reveal significant difference between unilateral and bilateral TMD patients. With regards to TMD duration, there was significant difference between the patients with TMD < 6 months and $\geq$ 6 months (p<0.05) while no significant difference existed between < 1 month and $\geq$ 1 month. The results of this study indicated that unilateral TMD patients can exhibit more reduced bite force on the affected sides compared with that on the unaffected sides and that bite force on the unaffected sides might be deteriorated more as longer did TMD last.