• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.55-66
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• 2002

This study aims to clarify the socio-economic factors which have an effectiveness on the social support in rural areas and analyze how it relates to the Individual Health promotion behavior. It is advised to improve social support in the community. The target population was all residents with no chronic and no serious disease who live in five villages of Chuncheon in Kangwon province during July of 2002. This study was done by the interview survey using questionnaire which was composed with questions about Medical Outcomes Study-Social Support Survey(MOS-SSS) and the health promotion behavior. MOS-SSS was translated to Korean and modified to be suitable for the study. The functional and social support variables were also added. The health promotion behavior was formed through the questions about whether or not stop smoking, stop drinking, the excise, the health examinations, attending health education, and hormone replacement therapies. The results are as follows; 1) the case of low-educated, divorce or separation to death, or the subject of social assistance, the social support was low. 2) the case of high social class, the social support was high. 3) there were no significant findings in the health status. 4) according to the analysis of correlation of health promotion behavior, the group with the most social support showed a high percentage of getting health examinations, attending health education, Hormone replacement therapies. However, the adjusted rate of smoking and drinking of trying to stop smoking and stop drinking resulted in low figures. The well-structured social support which the community can provide should be firstly given a priority for the group with low-income, low-educated, divorce or separation to death, and social assistance who are provided poor social support. Moreover, the social support service should be actively reflected to the health promotion program in the community.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.488-505
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• 2007

The purposes of this research are twofold; 1) to verify spatial differences of tectonic movement using the spatial distribution of earthquakes, and 2) to infer mechanisms that generate spatial accumulation patterns of earthquakes in the Korean Peninsula. The first part of this sequential paper (Park, 2007) argues that the Korean Peninsula consists of four geostructural regions in which tectonic deformation and consequent geomorphological development patterns are different from each other Since this conclusion has been made by terrain analyses alone, it is necessary to verify this suggestion using other independent geophysical data. Because earthquakes are results of movement and deformation of land masses moving in different directions, the distribution of earthquake epicenters may be used to identify the direction and rates of land mass movement. This paper first analysed the spatial distribution of earthquakes using spatial statistics, and then results were compared with the spatial arrangement of geostructural regions. The spatial distribution of earthquakes in the Korean Peninsula can be summarized as the followings; firstly, the intensity of earthquakes shows only weak spatial dependency, and shows large difference even at adjacent regions. Secondly, the epicenter distribution has a clear spatial accumulation pattern, even though the intensity of earthquake shows a random pattern. Thirdly, the high density area of earthquakes shows a clear 'L' shape, passing through Pyeongannam-do, centered at Pyeongyang, and Hwanghae-do, Seosan and Pohang. The correlation coefficient between the density of earthquakes and distance from geostructral region boundaries is much higher than those between the density of fault lines and distance from tectonic division boundaries. Since fault lines and tectonic divisions in the Korean Peninsula are the results of long-term geological development, there is an apparent scale discrepancy to find significant correlations with earthquakes. This result verifies the research hypothesis that the Korean Peninsula is divided into four geostructral regions in which each has its own moving direction and spatial deformation characteristics. The existence of geostructural regions is also supported by the movement parrerns of land masses estimated from the GPS measurements. This conclusion is expected to provide a new perspective to understand the geomorphological developments and the earthquake occurrences in the Korean Peninsula.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.26-33
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• 2008

Purpose : Phenylketonuria(PKU) is an inborn error of metabolism and a genetic disorder resulting from a deficiency of phenylalanine hydroxylase(PAH) and decreased activity of tetrahydrobiopterin(BH4).In this study the correlation between the DNA mutation and clinical manifestations was investigated and PAH DNA mutations were compared bewteen Asian and Caucasian populations. Methods : DNA was isolated from peripheral leukocytes. The PAH gene was amplified by Polymerase Chain Reaction(PCR) and the sequence was analyzed with Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification(MLPA). Results : We characterized the PAH gene of 102 independent Korean patients with PKU. PAH nucleotide sequence analysis revealed 44 different mutations, including 10 novel mutations comprising 9 missense mutations(N207D, K95del, A447P, G344D, P69S, S391I, A202T, G103S, and I306L) and 1 novel splice-site variant mutation(IVS10-3C>G). R243Q was the most prevalent mutation in this study. A259T has not previously been reported in Asian populations, but we found that this mutation had a frequency of 10.1% in our study. Furthermore, the genotypes of $BH_4$ responsive patients were analyzed and were divided into two groups: $BH_4$ medication-only group and $BH_4$ medication with diet therapy group. In the $BH_4$ medication-only group and $BH_4$ medication with diet therapy group, R241C was the most common mutation. Conclusion : Novel mutations in the PAH gene of PKU patients are still being discovered. Additional information as to the frequency of mutations in the tetrahydrobiopterine responsive gene is also accumulating. We anticipate that knowledge of these PKU gene mutations will assist the diagnosis, genetic counseling, and therapeutic treatment of PKU patients in future.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.257-262
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• 2006

Purpose: The standard protocol using large volume of oral contrast media may cause gastrointestinal discomfort and contrast-related artifacts in PET/CT. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of low dose oral contrast in $^{18}F-FDG$ PET/CT. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the whole-body PET/CT images in a total of 435 patients. About 200 ml of oval contrast agent (barium sulfate) was administered immediately before injection of $^{18}F-FDG$. The FDG uptake of intestines was analyzed by visual and semi- quantitative method on transaxial, coronal and saggital planes. Results: Seventy (16%, 113 sites) of 435 images showed high FDG uptake (peak SUV > 4); 50 (74%, 84 sites) with diffuse and 20 (15%, 29 sites) with focal uptake. The most commonly delivered site of oral contrast media was small bowel (n=27, 39%). On PET/CT images, FDG uptake coexisted with oral contrast media in 26 patients (54%, 38 sites) with diffuse pattern and 9 (45%, 9 sites) with focal pattern, and by sites, those were 38 (45%) and 9 (31%), respectively. In small bowel regions, the proportion of coexistence reached as high as 61% (29/47 sites). A visual analysis of available non-attenuation corrected PET images of 27 matched regions revealed no contrast-related artifact. Conclusion: We concluded that the application of low dose contrast media could be helpful in the evaluation of abdominal uptake in the FDG PET/CT image.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.163-170
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• 1999

Objectives: The aims of this study are 1) to determine if GAST is a better indicator in predicting ovarian response to COH compared with patient's age or basal FSH level and 2) to evaluate its role in detecting abnormal ovarian response. Design: Prospective study in 118 patients undergoing IVF-ET using GnRH-a short protocol during May-September 1995. Materials and Methods: After blood sampling for basal FSH and estradiol $(E_2)$ on cycle day two, 0.5ml (0.525mg) GnRH agonist ($Suprefact^{(r)}$, Hoechst) was injected subcutaneously. Serum $E_2$ was measured 24 hours later. Initial $E_2$ difference $({\Delta}E_2)$ was defined as the change in $E_2$ on day 3 over the baseline day 2 value. Sixteen patients with ovarian cyst or single ovary or incorrect blood collection time were excluded from the analysis. The patients were divided into three groups by ${\Delta}E_2$; group A (n=30):${\Delta}E_2$<40 pg/ml, group B (n=52): 40 pg/ml${\leq}{\Delta}E_2$<100 pg/ml, group C (n=20): ${\Delta}E_2{\leq}100$ pg/ml. COH was done by GnRH agonist/HMG/hCG and IVF-ET was followed. Ratio of $E_2$ on day of hCG injection over the number of ampules of gonadotropins used ($E_2hCGday$/Amp) was regarded as ovarian responsiveness. Poor ovarian response and overstimulation were defined as $E_2$ hCGday less than 600 pg/ml and greater than 5000 pg/ml, respectively. Results: Mean age $({\pm}SEM)$ in group A, B and C were $33.7{\pm}0.8^*,\;31.5{\pm}0.6\;and\;30.6{\pm}0.5^*$, respectively ($^*$: p<0.05). Mean basal FSH level of group $A(11.1{\pm}1.1mlU/ml)$ was significantly higher than those of $B(7.4{\pm}0.2mIU/ml)$ and C $(6.8{\pm}0.4mIU/ml)$ (p<0.001). Mean $E_2hCGday$ of group A was significantly lower than those of group B or C, i.e., $1402.1{\pm}187.7pg/ml,\;3153.2{\pm}240.0pg/ml,\;4078.8{\pm}306.4pg/ml$ respectively (p<0.0001). The number of ampules of gonadotropins used in group A was significantly greater than those in group B or C: $38.6{\pm}2.3,\;24.2{\pm}1.1\;and\;18.5{\pm}1.0$ (p<0.0001). The number of oocytes retrieved in group A was significantly smaller than those in group B or C: $6.4{\pm}1.1,\;15.5{\pm}1.1\;and\;18.6{\pm}1.6$, respectively (p<0.0001). By stepwise multiple regression, only ${\Delta}E_2$ showed a significant correlation (r=0.68, p<0.0001) with $E_2HCGday$/Amp, while age or basal FSH level were not significant. Likewise, only ${\Delta}E_2$ correlated significantly with the number of oocytes retrieved (r=0.57, p<0.001). All four patients whose COH was canceled due to poor ovarian response belonged to group A only (Fisher's exact test, p<0.01). Whereas none of 30 patients in group A (0%) had overstimulation, 14 patients among 72 patients (19.4%) in group B and C had overstimulation (Fisher's exact test, p<0.01). Conclusions: These data suggest that initial $E_2$ difference after GAST may be a better prognostic indicator of ovarian response to COH than age or basal FSH level. Since initial $E_2$ difference demonstrates significant association with abnormal ovarian response such as poor ovarian response necessitating cycle cancellation or overstimulation, GAST may be helpful in monitoring and consultation of patients during COH in IVF-ET cycle.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.107-116
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• 1999

For the study on the variation of Pinus densiflora S. et Z. natural populations. 13 stands were selected in Kangwondo region in 1994. They were located in Hyoja-Dong, Chunchon-Si [plot 1]; Sinnam-Myun, lnje-Gun [plot 2]; Buk-Myun, lnje-Gun [plot 3]; Seo-Myun, Yangyang-Gun [plot 4 and 5]; Sonyang-Myun, Yangyang-Gun [plot 6]; Toseong-Myun, Goseong-Gun [plot 7]; Synrim-Myun, Wonju-Si [plot 8]; Dunnae-Myun, Hoengsong-Gun [plot 9]; Jinbu-Myun, Pyungchang-Gun [plot 10]; Sogumgang, Kangneung-Si [plot 11]; Seo-Myun, Ulchin-Gun [plot 12]; and Mitan- Myun, Pyungchang-Gun [plot 13]. The morphological characteristics of needles and cones were investigated for twenty individual trees from each population. The results are summarized as follows: 1. Among needle characteristics, length, the number of serration. and the number of stoma row were significantly different among populations and between individuals within a population. They were 69.3~91.9mm, 25.1~28.7 per 0.5cm, and 4.1~6.2 rows for abaxial side and 2.9~4.6 rows for adaxial side, respectively. 2. Among cone characters surveyed. length and diameter were significantly different among populations and between individuals within a population. They were 31.1~43.7mm and 20.0~24.1mm, respectively. 3. A highly positive correlation was observed between the number of stoma row of abaxial side and that of adaxial side. and between length and diameter of cone. But the number of serration was negatively correlated with all traits. 4. The distance from seashore was positively correlated with needle length and the number of serration, but negatively correlated with the number of stoma row and cone length. However, the altitude was positively correlated with the number of serration, but negatively correlated with the number of stoma row and cone length. 5. Cluster analysis using average linkage method for needle and cone characteristics showed two groups to Euclidean distance 1.0. They were group I consisting of plots 1, 8, 12, and 13 and group II of plots 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, and 11. However, group II was divided again to Euclidean distance 0.8, that is a group including plots 2, 3, 9, and 11 and the other group comprising plots 4, 5, 6, 7, and 10.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.51-57
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• 2014

Purpose: The present study was conducted to establish the experimental condition for the proper evaluation of protein removal efficacy when developing protein removal agents. Its protein removal efficacy was further analyzed and compared with the result from protein removal efficacy against protein deposition on contact lens to suggest the evaluation method for efficacy of protein removal agents. Methods: Protein digestibility assay presented in the Korean pharmacopoeia was selected to establish the evaluation method for efficacy of papain, pancreatin, subtilisin A and protease itself as a ingredient and protein removal tablets or solution containing those enzymes and find a suitable test conditions. Furthermore, the cleaning efficacy of commercially available protein removal tablets and solution on balafilcon A lens deposited with protein artificially was measured and the correlation between two evaluation methods was further analyzed. Results: When pancreatin itself and the product containing pancreatin was evaluated by protein digestibility assay, both reached 28 IU/mg, the standard value of protein digestibility suggested by the Korean pharmacopoeia. In case of protease and subtilisin A tested with trichloroacetic acid B solution, both of them met the enzyme activity level proposed by the manufacturers when they were evaluated by protein digestibility assay however, papain and subtilisin A tested with trichloroacetic acid A solution were not reached the enzyme activity level. Among protein removal agents, three products except a product containing pancreatin did not meet the enzyme activity value specified by the manufacturer when they were evaluated by protein digestibility assay. However, actual protein removal efficacy of three products except a papain-containing product on the lens was greater than 90% protein removal. In the case of papain-containing protein removal product, its effect was not measured by protein digestibility assay however, its actual protein removal efficacy on the lens reached 73.72%. Conclusions: From the results, it was confirmed that the efficacy of protein removal agents for contact lens should be evaluated by different method according to the type of proteolytic enzyme contained. That is, the protein removal agents containing pancreatin, protease and subtilisin A can be evaluated by protein digestibility assay and protein removal efficiency evaluation and the products containing papain can be effectively evaluated by only the evaluation method for protein removal efficiency employing the lens.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.153-158
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• 1997

Purpose : The Dual-Energy Quantitative Computed Tomography(DEQCT) was compared with bone equivalent $K_2HPO_4$ standard solution and ash weight of animal cadaveric trabecular bone in the measurement of bone mineral contents(BMC). Method and Materials : The attenuation coefficient of tissues highly depends on the radiation energy density and effective atomic number of composition, The bone mineral content of DEQCT in this experiments was determined from empirical constants and mass attenuation coefficients of bone,fat and soft tissue equivalent solution in two photon spectra. In this experiments, the BMC of DEQCT with 80 and $120kV_p$ X rays was compared to ash weight of animal trabecular bone. Results : We obtained the mass attenuation coefficient of 0.2409 0.5608 and 0.2206 in $80kV_p$, and 0.2046, 0.3273 and $0.1971cm^2/g$ in $120kV_p$ X-ray spectra for water bone and fat equivalent materials, respectively. The BMC with DEQCT was acomplished with empirical constants $K_1=0.3232,\;K_2$=0.2450 and mass attenuation coefficients has very closed to ash weight of animal trabecular bone The BMC of empirical DEQCT and that of manufacturing DEQCT were correlated with ash weight as a correlation r= 0.998 and r= 0.996, respectively. Conclusion : The BMC of empirical DEQCT using the experimental mass attenuation coefficients and that of manufacture have showed very close to ash weight of animal trabecular bone.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.62-73
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• 2004

Purpose: The herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase gene(HSV1-tk) is an attractive candidate as a reporter gene in noninvasive reporter gene monitoring system. The HSV1-tk gene was chosen as a reporter gene, because it has been extensively studied, and there are appropriate reporter probes, substrates of HSV1-tk gene product, to apply for HSV1-tk gene imaging. We used radiolabeled 5-iodovinyl-2'-deoxyuridine (IVDU) and 5-iodovinyl-2'-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (IVFRU) as reporter probes for HSV1-tk gene monitoring system. Materials and Methods: We prepared HSV1-tk gene transduced Morris hepatoma cell line using retroviral vector, MOLTEN containing HSV1-tk gene. And we confirmed the HSV1-tk gene expression by Northern blotting and Western blotting. We compared in vitro uptakes of radioiodinated IVDU and IVFRU to monitor HSV1-tk gene expression in Morris hepatoma cell line (MCA) and HSV1-tk gene tranduced MCA (MCA-tk) cells until 480 minutes. We also peformed correlation analysis between percentage of HSV1-tk gene tranduced MCA cell % (MCA-tk%) and uptakes of radiolabeled IVDU or IVFRU. Results: MCA-tk cell expressed HSV1-tk mRNA and HSV1-TK protein. Two compounds showed minimal uptake in MCA, but increased uptake was observed in MCA-tk. IVDU showed 4-fold higher accumulation than IVFRU at 480 min in MCA-tk (p<0.01). Both IVDU and IVFRU uptake were linearly correlated ($R^2>0.96$) with increasing MCA-tk%. Conclusion: The radiolabeld IVDU and IVFRU showed higher specific accumulation in retrovirally HSV1-tk gene transfected Morris hepatoma cell line. Both IVDU and IVFRU could be used as good substrates for evaluation of HSV1-tk gene expression.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.691-701
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• 2009

Purpose: Deviations of arterial palmar arches in the hand can be explained on the embryological basis. The purpose of this study was to provide new information about palmar arches through cadaver's dissection. The values of the location and diameter in these vessels were analyzed in order to support anatomical research and clinical correlation in the hand. Methods: The present report is based on an analysis of dissections of fifty - three hands carried out in the laboratory of gross anatomy. A reference line was established on the distal wrist crease to serve as the X coordinate and a perpendicular line drawn through the midpoint between middle and ring fingers, which served as the Y coordinate. The coordinates of the x and y values were measured by a digimatic caliper, and statistically analyzed with Student's t - test. Results: Complete superficial palmar archs were seen in 96.2 % of specimens. In the most common type of males, the superficial arch was formed only by the ulnar artery. In the most common type of females, the superficial arch was formed anastomosis between the radial artery and the ulnar artery. The average length of the superficial and deep palmar arch is $110.3{\pm}33.0mm$ and $67.9{\pm}14.0mm$ respectively. Regarding the superficial palmar arch, ulnar artery starts $-16.1{\pm}5.1mm$ on X - line, and $2.5{\pm}24.5mm$ on Y - line. Radial artery appears on palmar side $7.7{\pm}3.2mm$ on X - line, and $20.9{\pm}10.9mm$ on Y - line. But radial artery starts on $6.3{\pm}3.6mm$ on X - line, and $3.4{\pm}5.1mm$ on Y - line. Digital arteries of superficial palmar arch starts on $6.1{\pm}3.7mm$, $33.9{\pm}8.8mm$ on index finger, $1.8{\pm}3.4mm$, $40.1{\pm}7.3mm$ on middle finger, $-3.2{\pm}4.9mm$, $42.6{\pm}7.0mm$ on ring finger, and $-8.9{\pm}5.1mm$, $42.5{\pm}80mm$ on little finger in respective X and Y coordinates. Radial artery of deep palmar arches measured at the palmar side perforating from the dorsum of hand. It's coordinates were $9.7{\pm}4.8mm$ on X - line, $21.7{\pm}10.2mm$ on Y - line. Ulnar artery was measured at hypothenar area, and it's coordinates were $-20.4{\pm}6.3mm$ on X - line, and $30.6{\pm}7.4mm$ on Y - line. Conclusions: Anatomically superficial palmar arch can be divided into a complete and an incomplete type. Each of them can be subdivided into 4 types. The deep palmar arch is less variable than the superficial palmar arch. We believe these values of the study will be used for the vascular surgery of the hand using the endoscope and robot in the future.