• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.13
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• pp.5187-5194
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• 2014

Background: Numerous studies have suggested that selenium deficiency may be associated with an increased risk for several types of cancer, but few have focused on thyroid cancer. Materials and Methods: We examined the association between post-diagnostic fingernail selenium levels and differentiated thyroid cancer risk in a French Polynesian matched case-control study. Conditional logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Results: The median selenium concentration among controls was $0.76{\mu}g/g$. Significantly, we found no association between fingernail selenium levels and thyroid cancer risk after conditioning on year of birth and sex and additionally adjusting for date of birth (highest versus lowest quartile: odds-ratio=1.12, 95% confidence interval: 0.66-1.90; p-trend=0.30). After additional adjustment for other covariates, this association remained non-significant (p-trend=0.60). When restricting the analysis to thyroid cancer of 10 mm or more, selenium in nails was non-significantly positively linked to thyroid cancer risk (p-trend=0.09). Although no significant interaction was evidenced between iodine in nails and selenium in nails effect (p=0.70), a non-significant (p-trend =0.10) positive association between selenium and thyroid cancer risk was seen in patients with less than 3 ppm of iodine in nails. The highest fingernail selenium concentration in French Polynesia was in the Marquises Islands ($M=0.87{\mu}g/g$) and in the Tuamotu-Gambier Archipelago ($M=0.86{\mu}g/g$). Conclusions: Our results do not support, among individuals with sufficient levels of selenium, that greater long-term exposure to selenium may reduce thyroid cancer risk. Because these findings are based on post-diagnostic measures, studies with prediagnostic selenium are needed for corroboration.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.14-31
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• 1988

The national family planning program in Korea, which was instituted as an integral part of the nation's economic development plans since 1962, has contributed greatly to a reduction in the fertility and population growth rate. The total fertility rate dipped from 6.0 births per women in 1960 to 2.0 in 1985, and the population growth rate rom 2.84 percent per year to 1.25 percent during the same period, while the contraceptive practice rate for the 15-44 married women increased from 9 percent in 1965 to 70 percent in 1985. Study findings indicate that the fertility reduction in the past 26 years is largely attributed to the virgorous implementation of the national family planning program, rising age at marriage, wide-spread use of induced abortion, and the changes in attitude regarding the value of children that came into being in the wake of the rapid socio-economic development over the period. Among the strengths of the national family planning program are the following : 1) a pluralistic system of program manageent with active participation of various government and voluntary organizations, 2) utilization of a large corps of family planning field workers to conduct face-to-face communication and motivation activities, 3) use of private physicians with government support to provide contraceptive services, 4) a systematic program management system including program planning of traget allocation, evaluation, and supervision with a broad MIS and award system, 5) numerous incentive and disincentive schemes for stimulating the small family norm and contraceptive use, and 6) strong commitments to the family planning program by political leaders. The new demographic targets during the Sixth Five-Year Economic and Social Development plan period(1987-91) have been set for a further reduction in the population growth rate to 1.0 percent by 1993, assuming that the TFR will decline to 1.75 level in 1995. This target is, however, not easy to achieve due to anticipated unfavorable factors like the strong boy preference, high discontinuation rates of reversible contraceptive methods, fertility termination-oriented contraceptive use, a plateau level of contraceptive practice rate that has mostly accounted for a sterilization, shortened length of birth intervals, and the changing patterns of contraceptive mix. The recent changes in contraceptive and fertility behaviors clearly indicate that the past quantity-oriented management system of the national program should be redirected toward a quality-oriented approach. Particularly, program efforts should be expanded to recruit new contraceptive users in the 20s of younger age groups, both for birth spacing and controlling their fertility since the women aged 20 to 29 account for more than 80 percent of the total annual births in recent years. In addition, the current contraceptive fee system of the national family planning program should be gradually shifted from free contraceptive services to a acceptor's charge system, and the provision of contraceptive services through the medical insurance system, which will cover the entire population by 1989, should be accelerated as a means of integration of family planning program with other health programs.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.229-237
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• 2022

This study investigated the growth characteristics of four strains of newly developed synthetic Korean native commercial chickens (KNCs). We investigated a suitable growth curve model in KNCs and estimated the number of days to reach a 2 kg market weight. Body weight was measured at 2-week intervals from birth to 12 weeks of age. The growth curves were estimated using von Berteralanffy, Gompertz, and logistic functions. The results showed that males were significantly heavier than females at all ages, but there were no significant differences in body weight between strains, except at birth and 2 and 6 weeks of age. The coefficients of determination and adjusted determination of growth function had high goodness-of-fit (97.4~99.7). Of the growth curve parameters, the mature weight and growth ratio were higher in males than in females, but the maturity rate was similar in males and females. The inflection point occurred at approximately 7 weeks of age for females and 8 to 9 weeks of age for males. The weights estimated from the growth curve functions almost agreed with the actual weights, except for male weights estimated using the von Bertalanffy function. The coefficients of determination of the regression equations for weight to age were 0.9583 to 0.9746. The 8- and 10-week-old body weights estimated using the regression equation, and the 12-week-old weight estimated using the logistic function were most similar to the actual weight. Using these models, the estimated age of KNCs to reach 2 kg was 62.0~64.6 days for males and 74.9~78.6 days for females.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.1511-1517
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• 2013

This study was performed to estimate the effect of age at first calving and first two calving intervals on productive life and life time profit in Korean Holsteins. Reproduction data of Korean Holsteins born from 1998 to 2004 and lactation data from 276,573 cows with birth and last dry date that calved between 2000 and 2010 were used for the analysis. Lifetime profit increased with the days of life span. Regression of Life Span on Lifetime profit indicated that there was an increase of 3,800 Won (approximately $3.45) of lifetime profit per day increase in life span. This is evidence that care of each cow is necessary to improve net return and important for farms maintaining profitable cows. The estimates of heritability of age at first calving, first two calving intervals, days in milk for lifetime, lifespan, milk income and lifetime profit were 0.111, 0.088, 0.142, 0.140, 0.143, 0.123, and 0.102, respectively. The low heritabilities indicated that the productive life and economical traits include reproductive and productive characteristics. Age at first calving and interval between first and second calving had negative genetic correlation with lifetime profit (-0.080 and -0.265, respectively). Reducing age at first calving and first calving interval had a positive effect on lifetime profit. Lifetime profit increased to approximately 2,600,000 (2,363.6) from 800,000 Won ($727.3) when age at first calving decreased to (22.3 month) from (32.8 month). Results suggested that reproductive traits such as age at first calving and calving interval might affect various economical traits and consequently influenced productive life and profitability of cows. In conclusion, regard of the age at first calving must be taken with the optimum age at first calving for maximum lifetime profit being 22.5 to 23.5 months. Moreover, considering the negative genetic correlation of first calving interval with lifetime profit, it should be reduced against the present trend of increase.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.427-433
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• 1992

Reproduction and growth to weaning were compared for Brahman crossbred (BX) and a local strain of South-East Asian cattle, "Javanese Zebu" (JZ) and their reciprocal crosses at "Erap" in the humid equatorial lowlands of Papua New Guinea. Forty heifers of each breed were mated continuously, half to bulls of each breed, for five years. BX calved first at 35 months while JZ calved at 31 months. Subsequent calving intervals were very short, at 370 and 341 days. JZ cows weighed about two thirds of the BX cattle at each stage of reproduction. Birth weights and growth to weaning were : BX 35 kg and 0.68 kg/d ; BX male $\times$ JZ female 29.3 kg and 0.53 kg/d ; JZ male $\times$ BX female 30.8 kg and 0.61 kg/d ; JZ 25 kg and 0.50 kg/d. The combination of small cow size, short calving interval and rapid calf growth resulted in the BX male $\times$ JZ female being the most efficient producer, in kg of calf weaned per cow mated per year while the reciprocal cross was the least efficient ; both straight-breds were equal and intermediate. These data show that indigenous equatorial cattle may not be inferior under good grazing conditions. For all traits, breed interactions (heterosis) was small and non-significant.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.419-426
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• 1992

After the virtual eradication of cattle during World War II, Papua New Guinea herds were rebuilt with Shorthorn and Aberdeen Angus cattle from Australia. These, and Red Sindhi and Sahiwal, imported in 1952, were considered unsuitable breeds. In 1954, Department of Agriculture, Stock and Fisheries imported three Brahman bulls and three heifers from Texas and in 1960 began importations of Afrikaner from Queensland. In Central Province, Brahmans were crossed with Angus and at Erap (Morobe) the hottest place in Papua New Guinea, Shorthorns were crossed with Afrikaners. In 1965, Brahman and Brahman-cross were sent to Erap. Records of breeding and growth rates were collected for use in upgrading in cattle of the basis of performance, not pedigree. The data are not ideal for genetic analysis, since no control groups were maintained. Birth weights (BWT), weaning weights (WWT) and calving intervals (CI) were analysed for the period 1969-1978. After exclusion of unsatisfactory data, 2,514 calf records were used, including both breeds from 1969 to 1973, but only Brahman-cross subsequently. Breed mean BWT ranged only from 30.6 to 33.8 kg. As Brahman content increased, BWT decreased and WWT increased; within a genotype, there was a negative maternal effect of high Brahman content on BWT and a positive effect on WWT which ranged from 138 to 174 kg. Afrikaner calves had heavier BWT but lighter WWT. As expected, bulls were heaviest, heifers lightest and mature cows bore and reared heavier calves. Calving interval (405 days, equivalent to 90% calving) was unaffected by breed but 4-year old cows averaged 423 days. Breed differences in BWT and WWT are consistent with the body of literature on performance of Brahmans and Afrikaners. Since cattle tick are not present and internal parasites are insignificant at Erap, the superiority of Brahmans indicates that they were better at utilizing the mediocre quality grazing of the Markham Valley or were more heat tolerant. Performance selection over ten years resulted in the virtual elimination of Afrikaners, with the final genotype approximately 9/16 Brahman, 3/8 Shorthorn and 1/16 Afrikaner.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.103-110
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• 1970

It is important to point out that the percental mortality rate of the multiple pregnancy is almost twice of the single pregnancy due mainly to their prematurity and the mothers of twins will also be suffered from the plural births to nurse and take care of them. We therefore studied the incidence, the sex ratio, the types of deliveries, the complications and the percental mortality rate of the twin deliveries in order to promote the development of our field of maternal and child nursing. We selected our materials from the 112 patients who had been admitted and delivered twins in the department of OB. & Gyn. of the S.N.U. Hospital from Jan. 1962 to Dec. 1969. The abstructed results of this study were as follows. 1. The incidence of twins among 7, 731 births was 1:69 2. The occurrence of twins from elder multigravida was 4 to 6 times higher than younger primigravida mothers under 35 years of age. 3. The generational length of 45.5% of all twins was under 38 weeks and the mean birth weight of 1st and 2nd twins were 2, 354.7gm and 2, 215.8gm respectively. 4. The sex ratio of twins was 99 males and 124 females. 5. Presentation of twins: 59 cases (52.69%) were in both vertex. 37 cases (33.03%) in vertex plus breech. 15 cases (13.39%) in both breech and one case (0.89%) in transverse presentation. 6. For the types of deliveries Spontaneous deliveries were in 90 babies (40.6%) Breech extraction in 60 babies (26.3%) Vacuum used in 33 babies (15.0%) Cesarean section in 33 babies (9.8%) Forceps in 9 babies (4.2%) and others such as version and destructive measures in 9 babies (4.1%) 7. Intervals between the 1st and 2nd delivery were analyzed and 93% of 2nd twins were delivered within minutes after 1st delivery. 8. The main complications of twin deliveries were totemic (45.5%), second was postmarital hemorrhage (19.6%) and third was hydrations (7.1%) 9. The mean percental mortality of 1st and 2nd twins was 12.52% and 16.96% respectively of which main cause of death were their prematurity.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.1318-1328
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• 2011

The tropics is not an ideal location for calf rearing as the high temperatures and humidities introduce many potential disease problems to milk fed calves. In addition, the type of dairy farming (generally poorly resourced small holder farming) and the general lack of awareness of the long term implications of poorly reared stock do not encourage farmers to pay close attention to their calf and heifer rearing systems. Surveys of calf rearing systems in Asia, tropical Africa and South America highlight the high calf and heifer mortalities. A range of 15 to 25% pre-weaning calf mortality is typical on many tropical dairy farms. It is often as high as 50%, indicating very poor calf management. This contrasts with US findings of less than 8% mortality from birth to 6 months while surveys of Australian farmers report only 3% losses. Simple extension programs on farms in Sri Lanka and Kenya have drastically reduced calf mortalities and improved pre-weaning growth rates. Improved management strategies leading to lower calving intervals, higher calving rates, reduced still born and pre-weaned calf mortalities and fewer non pregnant heifers can supply many more dairy herd replacements than currently occurs. Such strategies can increase the number of replacement heifer calves in the herd from 15 to over 35%, thus allowing farmers to increase their herd sizes through natural increases. Simple management procedures such as ensuring adequate intake of good quality colostrum within the first 12 hours of life, housing and good hygiene to minimise disease transfer, providing clean drinking water, developing appropriate feeding protocols to encourage early rumen development and paying closer attention to climate control and animal health can all lead to improved calf vigour and performance. Good record keeping is also important so farmers can more easily identify susceptible calves and quickly treat potential problems.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.331-335
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• 1999

The present study describes the analysis of the multiphasic growth function (MGF) to body weight in laboratory and wild mice. Three genetic groups of laboratory mice (Mus musculus domesticus) designated $CF_{{\sharp}1}$, C3H/HeNCrj and C57BL/6NCrj, and a genetic group of Yonakuni wild mice (Mus musculus molossinus yonakuni, Yk) were used. Mean body weights of each genetic group-sex subclass from birth to 69 days of age taken at 3-day intervals were analyzed by a monophasic, diphasic and triphasic functions for describing growth patterns. A comparison among the three functions of the MGF was based on the goodness-of-fit criteria: residual standard deviation (RSD), adjusted R-square (Adj $R^2$) and Akaike's information criterion (AIC). Result of this study indicated that body weight averaged heavier for males than for females. Among the four genetic groups within both sexes, $CF_{{\sharp}1}$ showed the highest, subsequent followed by C3H/HeNCrj, C57BL/6NCrj and Yk. Comparison among the three functions revealed that the triphasic function was the best fit to growth data, with the lowest RSD, the highest Adj $R^2$ and the lowest AIC, for the four genetic groups. For the triphasic function, RSD within each genetic group-sex subclass was similar for males and females. Adj $R^2$ was 0.999 for all genetic group-sex subclasses. AIC for laboratory mice males and females ranged from -70.48 to 66.50 and from -92.81 to -68.64, respectively; whereas for Yk wild mice males was -74.29 and females -78.42.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.332-338
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• 1999

This study was carried out to investigate weight gain and prevention of diarrhea in suckling calves which were injected with recombinant bovine somatopropin (rBST). A total of 101 breeding cows were assigned to the six groups according to the administered dosage and injected time, respectively. Groups T-1, T-3, T-4 and T-6 were injected starting 1 week before calving and groups T-2 and T-5 were injected on the calving day. The six groups were injected five times at two week intervals. Groups T-1 and T-2 were injected with 250mg composite rBST, Group T-3 was injected with 375 mg composite rBST. Groups T-4 and T-5 were injected with 500mg composite rBST, And group T-6 was injected with 500mg rBST-S. The control group was not injected with BST. The groups injected with 500 mg BrST had a lower rate of morbidity from diarrhea than the control group or the groups injected with 250 mg rBST (T-1 and T-2). Weight gain was higher in group T-4 than in the control group or groups T-1 and T-2. In Korean Native Cattle, the total weight gain was greater in group T-4 than in the control group (p<0.05). In crossbred cows, total weight gain was the highest in group T-4, and the total weight gain rate was greater than in group T-4 and the control group (p<0.05). The results of the hematological values showed that injections of rBST did not affect the level of the RBC, TP and BUN in the breeding cows at 9 weeks after postpartum or the neonatal calves. The results of this study indicate that injecting breeding cows with 500 mg rBST before calving would be effective in the preventing of diarrhea and in increasing weight gain of calves from birth to weaning.