• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2019

The names of medical technologist in Korea, Japan, and the United State of America vary depending on the medical system, educational system, and work areas. Conventionally, jobs equal or similar to medical technologist (commonly known as clinical laboratory technologist, medical laboratory technologist, clinical laboratory scientist, and medical laboratory scientist), histotechnologist, cytotechnologist, and genetic technologist. Jobs, such as extracorporeal technologist, medical electrophysiology technologist, and medical sonographer, allow other allied health professionals including medical technologists, to obtain their qualification. The work areas of medical technologists are classified into clinical pathologic technology, pathologic technology, clinical genetics technology, nuclear medicine in vitro technology, and clinical physiologic technology. New titles of Korean specialized medical technologists refer to certification systems, such as CLMJ, CMAJ, ASCP, IAC, ABRET, and ARMDS. Currently, there are eight types of specialized medical technologists under the cooperation of specialized academic societies. They are hematology, transfusionology, chemistry, immunology, microbiology, histology, cytology, nuclear medicine. It can be further divided into 20 categories according to the work areas such as mass spectrometry, infection control, Pathologists' Assistant, flow cytometry, HLA, cytogenetics, molecular genetics, cardiopulmonary physiology, neurophysiology (EEG/EMG/PSG/etc.), cardiac sonography, neurosonography (TCD/carotid), and medical device quality manager.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.457-470
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• 2023

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of kinesin superfamily member 15 (KIF15) in nasopharyngeal carcinogenesis (NPC) and explore its underlying mechanisms. We employed various assays, including the CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry, the Transwell and scratch assay, Western blotting, and nude mice transplantation tumor, to investigate the impact of KIF15 on NPC. Our findings demonstrate that KIF15 plays a critical role in the proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion of NPC cells. Furthermore, we discovered that silencing KIF15 inhibits cell proliferation, migration, and invasion while promoting apoptosis, and that KIF15's effect on NPC cell growth is mediated through the PI3K/AKT and P53 signaling pathways. Additionally, we showed that KIF15 promotes nasopharyngeal cancer cell growth in vivo. Our study sheds light on the significance of KIF15 in NPC by revealing that KIF15 knockdown inhibits NPC cell growth through the regulation of AKT-related signaling pathways. These findings suggest that KIF15 represents a promising therapeutic target for the prevention and treatment of NPC.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.14.1-14.11
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• 2021

Background: Quantitation of urine protein is important in dogs with chronic kidney disease. Various analyzers are used to measure urine protein-to-creatinine ratios (UPCR). Objectives: This study aimed to compare the UPCR obtained by three types of analyzers (automated wet chemistry analyzer, in-house dry chemistry analyzer, and dipstick reading device) and investigate whether the differences could affect clinical decision process. Methods: Urine samples were collected from 115 dogs. UPCR values were obtained using three analyzers. Bland-Altman and Passing Bablok tests were used to analyze agreement between the UPCR values. Urine samples were classified as normal or proteinuria based on the UPCR values obtained by each analyzer and concordance in the classification evaluated with Cohen's kappa coefficient. Results: Passing and Bablok regression showed that there were proportional as well as constant difference between UPCR values obtained by a dipstick reading device and those obtained by the other analyzers. The concordance in the classification of proteinuria was very high (κ = 0.82) between the automated wet chemistry analyzer and in-house dry chemistry analyzer, while the dipstick reading device showed moderate concordance with the automated wet chemistry analyzer (κ = 0.52) and in-house dry chemistry analyzer (κ = 0.53). Conclusions: Although the urine dipstick test is simple and a widely used point-of-care test, our results indicate that UPCR values obtained by the dipstick test are not appropriate for clinical use. Inter-instrumental variability may affect clinical decision process based on UPCR values and should be emphasized in veterinary practice.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3637-3641
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• 2016

To determine the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) among women with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US) referred to colposcopy and the implications for clinical management in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), the present study was conducted. We included 200 women living in $Maring{\acute{a}}$/Brazil referred to colposcopy service between August 2012 and March 2013 due to an abnormal cytology from ASC-US until high-grade intraepithelial lesion (HSIL). HPV was detected and genotyped by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The mean age was $36.8{\pm}10.5$ years, and women with and without ASC-US had similar mean ages ($37.4{\pm}11.5$ and $36.4{\pm}9.96$ years, respectively). The highest prevalence of ASC-US occurred at 20-24 years (40%). HPV-DNA was positive in 164 (82.0%) women.Of the 57 women with ASC-US, 30 (52.6%) were HPV-DNA-positive and 21 (70%) were high-risk HPV-positive (HR-HPV); the latter was similar to women without ASC-US (76.9%) but with other abnormal cytological findings present. Our data demonstrated that performing tests for HR-HPV can be used for management of women with ASC-US to support the decision of which women should be referred for an immediate or later colposcopy. The same conclusions can be applied to other LMICs for which HPV testing for primary screening has not been adopted.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.161-170
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• 2017

This study aimed at characterizing policy directions to foster competent medical technologists by analyzing the opinions of professors and medical technologists regarding university education and national licensing systems. An online survey questionnaire was distributed to 255 professors and 4,000 medical technologists in August of 2016. Fifty-nine professors (23%) and 1,099 medical technologists (27.7%) responded to the survey. The results were evaluated using descriptive statistics and comparative analysis. Professors and medical technologists agreed that there needs to be an improvement and standardization in both education at universities and practical training at hospitals. Moreover, both groups also thought that it was necessary to reform practical examinations and make improvements in the current licensing system. According to the survey results, professors and medical technologists thought that, the improvement of the quality of university education and hospital practical training should be essential, and the reform of existing national licensing examination should be necessary.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.59-68
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• 2021

Multidrug-resistant strain of Acinetobacter baumannii (MDRAB) is an emerging pathogen in health care facilities, preventing MDRAB is a public health concern. We conducted this experiment on a clinical isolate of A. baumannii with two main goals: the role of the efflux pump system in the stress provision of carbapenem and the response to the transcription level of the efflux pump gene. A total of 34 strains of A. baumannii was isolated from the Yangsan Hospital of Pusan National University. First, when we compared and observed the expression of the efflux pump gene and antibacterial resistance to carbapenem, a strong correlation was observed between carbapenem resistance and overexpression of adeB (P=0.0056). Second, a correlation between the efflux pump and concentration gradient and tolerance to carbapenem stress at the AdeABC efflux pump genes transcription level was confirmed. Our results revealed that the expression of the AdeABC efflux pump is an important resistance determinant in obtaining antibiotic resistance of the carbapenem group in A. baumannii.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2022

Total joint arthroplasty is a successful joint replacement treatment that improves joint function and overall quality of life and provides pain relief. However, the prevalence of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) has become prevalent with the rise in the incidence of arthroplasty surgery. PJI occurs rarely following arthroplasty however presents with serious complications, including high morbidity. The identification of causative microorganisms is essential for the treatment of PJI. Managing PJI requires complex treatment strategies, including long-term antibacterial treatment, and significant medical costs can be incurred. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Surgical Care Improvement Project guidelines recommend that prophylactic antibiotics such as first-generation cephalosporins be infused completely 1 hour before surgical incision. However, these preventative antibiotics are very limited, therefore risk factors must be identified to diagnosis and treat patients effectively. Moreover, determining antimicrobial susceptibility during artificial joint surgery and choosing the most appropriate treatment strategy following an accurate diagnosis of microbial infections are essential. In the present review, we describe the management, including the etiology, diagnosis, and classification of PJI, and approaches to its diagnosis using the available novel molecular diagnostic methods.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.102-110
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to examine the factors related to satisfaction of users for the order communication system (OCS). The subjects of this study were 98 clerks at Chosun university hospital. The instruments used for this study were the conveniency and the practical application of the data developed by Lee, the satisfaction level developed by Sea Seang-mi and Kim in-sook. The data was analyzed by using the t-test, ANOVA, Pearson Correlation, Stepwise Multiple Regression with SPSS 10.0 program. The mean scores of the conveniency, the practical application of the data and the satisfaction level of user for the OCS was 3.28, 3.29 and 3.34, respectively. In general characteristics of the respondents, influencing factors to the perceived the conveniency of user for the OCS were gender, career and department. In general characteristics of the respondents, influencing factors to the perceived the practical application of the data of user for the OCS were department. In general, characteristics of the respondents, influencing factors to the perceived the satisfaction level of user for the OCS were gender, career and department. The correlation between the satisfaction level and the practical application of the data were statistically significant. The main factors influencing to the satisfaction level of user for the OCS were the practical application of the data (90.3%). In conclusion, The main factors influencing to the satisfaction level of user for the OCS were the practical application of the data. Therefore, it is recommended that guidebooks of user for the OCS or various OCS programs to promote the satisfaction level of user for the OCS and to improve the satisfaction level of user for the OCS should be developed.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.71-80
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• 2010

Pseudomonas aeruginosa are important nosocomial pathogens. Their resistance to carbapenem is increasing and causing concerns in Korea. An increasing prevalence of carbapenem resistance mediated by acquired carbapenemase is being reported. Over a 10 month-period from July 2007 to April 2008, 32 strains of imipenem-nonsusceptible P. auruginosa were isolated from Kangwon National University Hospital. To determine the prevalence and genotypes of the carbapenemase-producing clinical isolates, the antibiotic susceptibility was determined by Microscan Walkaway 96 SI System and the carbapenem activity was detected by the modified Hodge test and the imipenem-EDTA-SMA double-disk synergy test. The metallo-${\beta}$-lactamase gene and OXA-type ${\beta}$-lactamase gene reported in Korea were detected by PCR. As for the result of PCR, 30 isolates of P. aeruginosa were found to have $bla_{IMP-1}$-like and 1 isolate was found to have $bla_{IMP-1}$-like and $bla_{IMP-2}$. No clinical isolates were found to have $bla_{SIM-1}$, $bla_{OXA-23}$-like and $bla_{OXA-24}$-like. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR and dendrogram for genetical similarity to band patterns of each clinical isolates were examined. P. aeruginosa were grouped into 7 clusters of up to 50% of similarity index. In the P. aeruginosa group, PS3 was resistant to the most antibiotics, PS1 was susceptible to the most antibiotics. PS7 was resistant to aztreonam unlike other groups. This is the first report of prevalence of carbapenemase in Chuncheon.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.18
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• pp.7857-7861
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• 2014

Natural killer (NK) cells play an important role in anti-tumor immunity. Interleukin (IL)-18 is an immunoregulatory cytokine that induces potent NK cell-dependent anti-tumor responses when administrated with other cytokines. In this study, we explored the effects of combining IL-18 and IL-2 on NK cytotoxicity as well as expression levels of the NK cell receptor NKG2D in vitro. Freshly isolated PBMCs were incubated for 48 h with IL-18 and IL-2, then CD107a expression on $CD3^-CD56^+$ NK cells was determined by three-colour flow cytometry to evaluate the cytotoxicity of NK cells against human erythroleukemia K562 cells and human colon carcinoma HT29 cells. Flow cytometric analysis was also employed to determine NKG2D expression on NK cells. The combined use of IL-18 and IL-2 significantly increased CD107a expression on NK cells compared with using IL-18 or IL-2 alone, suggesting that the combination of these two cytokines exerted synergistic enhancement of NK cytotoxicity. IL-18 also enhanced NKG2D expression on NK cells when administered with IL-2. In addition, blockade of NKG2D signaling with NKG2D-blocking antibody attenuated the up-regulatory effect of combining IL-18 and IL-2 on NK cytolysis. Our data revealed that IL-18 synergized with IL-2 to dramatically enhance the cytolytic activity of human NK cells in a NKG2D-dependent manner. The results appear encouraging for the use of combined IL-18 and IL-2 in tumor immunotherapy.