• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.225-231
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• 2008

Purpose: Laparoscopic gastric resection (LGR) is increasingly being used instead of open gastric resection (OGR) as the standard surgical treatment for gastric submucosal tumors. Yet there are few reports on which technique shows better postoperative outcomes. This study was performed to compare these two treatment modalities for gastric submucosal tumors by evaluating the postoperative outcomes. We also provide an analysis of the learning curve for LGR. Materials and Methods: Between 2003.4 and 2008.8, 103 patients with a gastric submucosal tumor underwent either LGR (N=78) or OGR (n=25). A retrospective review was performed on a prospectively obtained database of 103 patients. We reviewed the data with regard to the operative time, the blood loss during the operation, the time to the first soft diet, the postoperative hospital stay, the tumor size and the tumor location. Results: The clinicopatholgic and tumor characteristics of the patients were similar for both groups. There was no open conversion in the LGR group. The mean operation time and the bleeding loss were not different between the LGR group and the OWR group. The time to first soft diet (3.27 vs. 6.16 days, P<0.001) and the length of the postoperative hospital stay (7.37 vs. 8.88 days, P=0.002) were shorter in the LGR group compared to the OGR group. The tumor size was bigger in the OGR group than that in the LGR group (6.44 vs. 3.65 cm, P<0.001). When performing laparoscopic gastric resection of gastric SMT, the surgeon was able to decrease the operation time and bleeding loss with gaining more experience. We separated the total cases into 3 periods to compare the operation time, the bleeding losses and the complications. The third period showed the shortest operation time, the least bleeding loss and the fewest complications. Conclusion: LGR for treating a gastric submucosal tumor was superior to OGR in terms of the postoperative outcomes. An operator needs some experience to perform a complete laparoscopic gastric resection. Laparoscopic resection could be considered the first-line treatment for gastric submucosal tumors.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.132-138
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• 2007

Purpose: In Korea, the number of laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomies for early gastric cancer patients has been on the increase. Although minimally invasive surgery is more beneficial, no reported case of a total laparoscopic gastrectomy has been reported because of difficulty with intracorporeal anastomosis. This study attempts, through our experience, to determine the safety and feasibility of a total laparoscopic gastrectomy with various types of intracorporeal anastomosis using laparoscopic linears stapler in treating early gastric carcinomas. Materials and Methods: We investigated the surgical results and clinicopatholgical characteristics of 81 patients that underwent a totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy at our department between June 2004 and May 2007. The intracorporeal anastomoses were performed by using laparoscopic linear staplers. Results: The mean operative time was 287 minutes, the mean anastomotic time was 40 minutes, and the mean number of laparoscopic linear staplers used for an operation was 7.5. The mean time to the first flatus, the first food intake, and discharge from hospital was 2.9, 3.6, and 10.3 days respectively. There were 11 cases of postoperative complications, but no case of postoperative mortality or conversion to an open procedure. In 75 patients with an adenocarcinoma, the mean number of lymph nodes harvested was 38.1 and the stage distribution was as follows: stage I, 72 patients; stage II, 2 patients; stage IV, 1 patient. During the mean follow-up period of 14 months, 5 patients died of other causes and there were no cases of cancer recurrence. Conclusion: A total laparoscopic gastrectomy with intracorporeal anastomosis by using a laparoscopic linear stapler was found to be safe and feasible. We were able to obtain acceptable surgical outcomes in terms of minimal invasiveness.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.146-151
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• 2007

Purpose: Pledget is a PTFE felt that is usually used for suture reinforcement in cardiovascular surgery. In order to minimize the difficulty in intracorporeal continuous gastrointestinal suturing by reducing the number of tied knots, we have used pledget as substitute for a knot (pledget suturing). Materials and Methods: Thirty-two consecutive patients who underwent totally laparoscopic uncut Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy after distal gastrectomy in our institution were enrolled in this study, and the patients were divided into three groups according to the method of intracorporeal anastomosis. Basically, intracorporeal anastomosis was performed by several firings of linear staplers; however, the entry holes for the stapler at the jejunojejunostomy and the gastrojejunostomy were closed by pledget suturing in group A (8 patients), the entry hole for the stapler at jejunojejunostomy was closed by conventional suturing in group B (8 patients), and all of the entry holes for the stapler were closed by stapling in group C (16 patients). The surgical outcomes of each group were compared to each other. Results: The anastomotic time in group A was not longer than in group B, although there were more sutures used in group A, but it was longer than in group C. The number of stapler cartridges used in group A was the smallest among the three groups. In group B, there were two cases of a break of suture material during anastomosis, there were no such cases in group A. There was no complication related to anastomosis in all of the groups. Conclusion: Pledget was found to be useful for minimizing the difficulty in intracoproreal continuous gastrointestinal suturing and reducing the number of stapler cartilages used in intracorporeal anastomosis.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.182-188
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• 2008

Purpose: Transcriptional factors of CREB (cAMP response element binding protein) are involved in regulating the gene expression in response to a variety of signaling pathways. The proteins produced by the CREB genes play key roles in many physiological processes, including memory and long-term potentiation. The retinoic acid receptor (RAR) axis mediates epithelial cell differentiation and proliferation in many tissues. This study examined the expressions of RAR and CREB and their relationship with the clinicopathologic factors and their significance. Materials and Methods: The levels of the RAR and CREB expressions were measured in 150 gastric adenocarcinomas by performing immunohistochemical staining. Results: 1. An RAR protein expression was found in 63.3% of the adenocarcinomas (95/150) and a CREB expression was found in 60.7% (91/150) of the adenocarcinomas. 2. An RAR protein expression was found in 72.2% (78/108) of the intestinal type adenocarcinomas and in 40.5% (17/42) of the diffuse type adenocarcinomas (P<0.05). Based on the depth of invasion, an RAR protein expression was found in 58.3% (14/24) of the T1 adenocarcinomas, in 61.9% (13/21) of the T2 adenocarcinomas, in 63.5% (61/96) of the T3 adenocarcinomas, in 77.8% (7/9) of the T4 adenocarcinomas and in 74.7% (62/83) of the adenocarcinomas with lymph node metastasis and in 49.2% (33/67) of the adenocarcinomas without lymph node metastasis (P<0.01). 3. A CREB expression was found in 69.4% (75/108) of the intestinal type and in 38.1% (16/42) of the diffuse type (P>0.05). Based on the depth of invasion, a CREB expression was found in 50% (12/24) of the T1 adenocarcinomas, in 52.4% (11/21) of the T2 adenocarcinomas, in 64.6% (62/96) of the T3 adenocarcinomas, in 66.6% (6/9) of the T4 adenocarcinomas, in 71.1% (59/83) of the adenocarcinomas with lymph node metastasis and in 47.8% (32/67) of the adenocarcinomas without lymph node metastasis (P<0.01). 4. The RAR protein and CREB expressions coincided in 71.4% of the gastric adenocarcinomas and a significant correlation between them was found (P<0.05). Conclusion: We found a significant relationship between the expression of RAR and CREB and the histology and lymph node metastasis of gastric cancer. Further studies are needed to confirm their biologic meaning in gastric carcinogenesis.

• Proceedings of the Korean Ceranic Society Conference
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.1-112
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• 2005

This report is results of a research on recent R&D trends in electroceramics, mainly focusing on the papers submitted to the organizing committee of the International Conference on Electroceramics 2005 (ICE-2005) which was held at Seoul on 12-15 June 2005. About 380 electroceramics researchers attended at the ICE-2005 from 17 countries including Korea, presenting and discussing their recent results. Therefore, we can easily understand the recent research trends in the field of electroceramics by analyses of the subject and contents of the submitted papers. In addition to the analyses of the papers submitted to the ICE-2005, we also collected some informations about domestic and international research trends to help readers understand this report easily. We analysed the R&D trends on the basis of four main categories, that is, informatics electroceramics, energy and environment ceramics, processing and characterization of electroceramics, and emerging fields of electroceramics. Each main category has several sub-categories again. The informatics ceramics category includes integrated dielectrics and ferroelectrics, oxide and nitride semiconductors, photonic and optoelectronic devices, multilayer electronic ceramics and devices, microwave dielectrics and high frequency devices, and piezoelectric and MEMS applications. The energy and environment ceramics category has four sub-categories, that is, rechargable battery, hydrogen storage, fuel cells, and advanced energy conversion concepts. In the processing and characterization category, there exist domain, strain, and epitaxial dynamics and engineering sub-category, innovative processing and synthesis sub-category, nanostructured materials and nanotechnology sub- category, single crystal growth and characterization sub-category, theory and modeling sub-category. Nanocrystalline electroceramics, electroceramics for smart sensors, and bioceramics sub-categories are included to the emerging fields category. We hope that this report give an opportunity to understand the international research trend, not only to Korean ceramics researchers but also to science and technology policy researchers.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.419-427
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• 2012

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of two shading methods, shading agent spray on the glasshouse and internal shading screen treatment, on the growth and fruit quality of paprika (Capsicum annuum L. 'Cupra' and 'Coletti') in summer season cultivation. In the shading agent treatment, a commercial shading agent diluted with water at a ratio of 1 : 4 was sprayed on the roof of a glasshouse. In the internal shading screen treatment, a 10~20% shaded screen was used during the day time when the sun radiation was greater than $700W{\cdot}m^{-2}$. Compared to the unshaded control, photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) decreased in the greenhouse in the shading agent (SA) and shading screen (SS) treatments by 20% and 30%, respectively. Lower air temperatures and higher relative humidities were observed in the SA than in both the control and the SS treatment. Time to reach the break point of humidity deficit $8g{\cdot}m^{-3}$ was 2 hours late in the SA than in both the control and the SS treatment. Compared to control, both the SA and the SS treatments showed lower instantaneous temperatures of leaf, fruit, and flower by $2^{\circ}C$, $5^{\circ}C$ and $3^{\circ}C$, respectively. There were no differences in number of branches, stem diameter, and leaf size among treatments although both shading treatments promoted plant height in both cultivars. Botrytis infection ratio declined with the SA treatment by 14.7% in 'Cupra' and 22.1% in 'Coletti' as compared to that in the control. Shading increased fruit size in both cultivars, whereas no differences were observed in the number of locules and thickness of fruit tissue among treatments. Shading treatment increased mean fruit weight by a range of 10 to 15 g per fruit, while it decreased soluble solids contents as compared to that in the control. Similar Hunter values were observed among treatments, while fruit firmness increased slightly in shading treatments. Compared to the control, shading treatments improved marketable fruits by 11.7~22.6% and increased the number of fruits per plant by 4~9.2 in both 'Cupra' and 'Coletti'. The results of this study indicate that shading agent application on the roof of glasshouse would be one of the most effective options to reduce heat stress imposed on the paprika crop in summer cultivation, resulting in improved crop growth and fruit yield.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.120-130
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• 1999

Purpose: This study was performed to evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of double-phase Tc-99m MIBI parathyroid scintigraphy with single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in patients with hyper-parathyroidism. We also evaluated the relationship between Tc-99m MIBI uptake and oxyphil cell contents in parathyroid glands. Materials and Methods: The subjects were 28 parathyroid glands of 10 patients who underwent Tc-99m MIBI parathyroid scintigraphy and parathyroidectomy for clinically suspected hyper-parathyroidism. Early and delayed pinhole images were obtained at 15 minutes and 2 hours after injection of Tc-99m MIBI, and SPECT images were followed. The weight and oxyphil cell contents of parathyroid tissue were obtained from pathologic specimen, and the scintigraphic findings were compared with histopathology. Results: In surgical histopathology, 6 parathyroid adenomas and 9 parathyroid hyperplasias were confirmed. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value of early and delayed images were 46.7% (7/15), 76.9% (10/13), 70% (7/10) and 66.7% (10/15), 92.3% (12/13), 90.9% (10/11), respectively. SPECT image detected an additional small hyperplasia.. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value of combined interpretation of early and delayed images with SPECT were 73.3% (11/15), 100% (13/13), 100% (11/11). The sensitivity was 100% (6/6) for adenoma, whereas that was 55.5% (5/9) for hyperplasia. Both adenomas and hyperplasias showed significantly increased oxyphil cell contents compared with normal parathyroid glands (p<0.0001), but the oxyphil cell content and weight were not significantly different between adenomas and hyperplasias. Conclusion: Double-phase Tc-99m MIBI parathyroid scintigraphy with SPECT is useful for lesion localization in patients with hyperparathyroidism. Although both adenoma and hyperplasia have increased oxyphil cell content, the sensitivity is high in adenoma, but low in hyperplasia.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.522-527
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• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) of bone using Tc-99m MDP in the diagnosis of osteoporotic vertebral fractures. Materials and Methods: Thirty two patients with osteoporotic vertebral fracture were included in this study (mean age: $67{\pm}8$, male: 5, female: 27). Seventy nine vertebral fractures were detected (38 thoracic/thoracolumbar lesions and 41 lumbar lesions), which were classified by type of deformity (wedge, biconcave or compression). The patterns and locations of increased uptakes were examined and analyzed. Results: Forty seven wedge fractures, 20 biconcave fractures and 12 compression fractures were found. Diffuse and asymmetric uptakes were common in fractured bodies. More than one uptake were examined in 69 posterior elements of fractured vertebrae (87.3%) including 40 of 47 wedge fractures (85.1%), 17 of 20 biconcave fractures (85.0%) and 12 of 12 compression fractures (100%). Wedge fractures were predominant fracture in thoracic/thoracolumbar spine whereas incidence of biconcave or compression type war similar to that of wedge fracture in lumbar spine (p=0.04). Spinous process uptake was more frequently seen in lumbar lesions than thoracic/thoracolumbar lesions (p=0.009). Facet joint uptake in biconcave fracture was more common in lumbar spine (92.3%) than thoracic/thoracolumbar spine (57.1%). Spinous process uptake in biconcave fracture was also more frequently detected in lumbar spine (p=0.043). Conclusion: Bone SPECT was useful in the evaluation of osteoporotic vertebral fracture, especially posterior elements of vertebrae.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.530-537
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• 2007

Purpose: The aim of this study is to assess the specific patterns of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in patients with the early stage of subcortical vascular dementia (SVaD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) using Tc-99m HMPAO SPECT, and to compare the differences between the two conditions. Materials and Methods: Sixteen SVaD, 46 AD and 12 control subjects participated in this study. We included the patients with SVaD and AD according to NINCDS-ADRDA and NINDS-AIREN criteria. They were all matched for age, education and clinical dementia rating scores. Three groups were evaluated by Tc-99m HMPAO SPECT using statistical parametric mapping (SPM) for measuring rCBF. The SPECT data of patients with SVaD and AD were compared with those of normal control subjects and then compared with each other. Results: SPM analysis of the SPECT image showed significant perfusion deficits on the right temporal region and thalamus, left insula and superior temporal gyrus, both cingulate gyri and frontal subgyri in patients with SVaD and on the left supramarginal gyrus, superior temporal gyrus, postcentral gyrus and inferior parietal lobule, right fugiform gyrus and both cingulate gyri in AD compared with control subjects (uncorrected p<0.01). SVaD patients revealed significant hypoperfusion in the right parahippocampal gyrus with cingulated gyrus, left insula and both frontal subgyral regions compared with AD (uncorrected p<0.01). Conclusion: Our study shows characteristic and different pattern of perfusion deficits in patients with SVaD and AD, and these results may be helpful to discriminate the two conditions in the early stage of illness.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.17
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• pp.105-159
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• 1989

The purpose of this study is (a) to identify physical and content elements of children's books that seem to interest second and fifth graders to read, and (b) to observe how the influence of those elements on children's reading interest shifts as children develop. For the purpose of this study, children's books are classified into two groups: 'books of low preference' and 'books of high preference' as determined by second graders, and fifth graders' library circulation record in the library chosen as the sample for the present study. The physical and content elements of the books belonging to these two groups are analyzed and compared. Main findings and conclusions made in this study are summarised as follows: (1) The physical elements of children's books which have significant relationship with second graders' reading preference are illustration quantity, size of types, space between lines, and size of the book. (2) The content elements of children's books which have significant relationship with second graders' reading preference are the readability level of sentences, and the sex of heroes. (3) The physical elements of children's books which have significant relationship with fifth graders' reading preference are illustration quantity, illustration styles, and size of the book. (4) The content elements of children's books which have significant relationship with fifth graders' reading preference are the readability level, the sex of heroes, subject matters, themes and the environmental settings as the background of stories. (5) Reading preference of the pupils at the second and fifth grades are influenced by the quantity of illustration. Second grade pupils prefer reading books which contain a larger quantity of illustrations, whereas 5th grade pupils prefer books which contain less quantity of illustrations. (6) The relationship between second graders' reading preference and the illustration style are rejected at the $10\%$ significance level. A strong relationship, however, appears to exist between 5th graders' reading preference and the illustration style. The 5th grade pupils prefer more realistic illustrations, while cartoons and semi-abstract drawings do not appeal to them. (7) The type size, and space between lines which have had great influence on the book preference of 2nd grade pupils influence little on the 5th grade pupils book preference. (8) Second grade pupils prefer the book of a small Size, whereas 5th grade pupils whose reading taste has developed at a primary stage prefer the book of a large size beyond a certain standard. (9) Second grade pupils prefer reading books which can be easily read, whreeas 5th grade pupils prefer reading books containing difficult sentences. (10) Second grade pupils and the 5th grade pupils both prefer books in accordance with the sex of there heroes. (11) Relationship between second graders' reading preference and the subject matters are rejected at the 10% significance level. A strong relationship, however, appears to exist between 5th graders' reading preference and the subject matter. Fifth grade pupils prefer reading books of which the themes are mystery, exploration and adventure. (12) The theme of books is not proved to relate with the book preference of the 2nd grade pupils, but it is closely related with the book preference of 5th grade pupils. Fifth grade pupils prefer reading books which contain exploratory stories. (13) Second grade pupils are not influenced by the environmental setting of the story, but 5th grade pupils prefer reading stories with the environmental setting in the air. (14) The quantity of illustrations is the element influencing most on .the book preference of the 2nd grade pupils, followed by the space between the lines, which influences least on the book preference of the 5th grade pupils. (15) The physical element influencing most on the book preference of the 2nd grade pupils is the quantity of the illustrations. The physical element which has the most strong influence on the book preference of the 5th graders is illustration styles. (16) The content elements which has much influence on the book preference of the 5th grade pupils are certain kinds of characteristics of heroes. In case of the 2nd grade pupils book preference, striking evidence of such characteristics of heroes is not traced.