• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.259-268
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• 2016

Purpose: Zinc deficiency can induce serious clinical problems in the gastrointestinal (GI) system and immune system and can affect growth and development. It is more severe in younger patients. Chronic zinc deficiency is reflected more precisely in hair than in serum. We studied hair zinc levels and other hair and serum micronutrients in chronic malnourished children to identify which micronutrients are affected or correlated with the other ones. Methods: Hair mineral analyses were performed in 56 children (age, 1-15 years) presenting with malnutrition, poor growth, poor appetite, anorexia, with/without other GI symptoms (diarrhea, abdominal pain, constipation) from August 2012 to March 2015. Biochemical studies for macronutrients and major micronutrients were also conducted. Results: Hair zinc deficiency was diagnosed in 88%, and serum zinc deficiency was diagnosed in 55% of the children. There was no statistical correlation between serum and tissue zinc level. Hair zinc levels were highly correlated with serum vitamin D (r=-0.479, p=0.001), which also showed correlation with hair levels of magnesium and calcium. (r=0.564, 0.339, p=0.001, 0.011). Hair calcium level was correlated with serum pre-albumin (r=0.423, p=0.001). These correlations may explain the phenomenon that the major clinical manifestation of zinc deficiency is poor body growth. Clinical symptoms were resolved in most children after zinc supplementation. Conclusion: Hair zinc and mineral analyses are useful as a therapeutic guide in the clinical investigation of children with malnutrition and poor growth.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.3901-3905
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• 2015

Objective: Our aim was to investigation the roles of MHC class I chain-related gene A(MICA) and natural killer cell group 2D(NKG2D) in human renal cancer cells. Materials and Methods: The expression of membrane MICA (mMICA) on renal cells and NKG2D on NK cells were detected by flow cytometry (FCM); the content of sMICA were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the distribution of mMICA on renal tumor tissues by immunohistochemistry; the interaction between MICA and NKG2D was observed by antibody closed method. Results: Our results showed that the expression of mMICA in renal cancer tissues was significantly higher than in controls, where the soluble MICA was not expressed. Cytotoxic activity of NK cells was significantly reduced after exposure to NKG2D and MICA antibodies (P<0.05), and serum containing sMICA can obviously lower the function of NKG2D (P<0.05). Conclusions: The interaction of mMICA and NKG2D play important roles in mediation of cytotoxicity of NK cells in RCC. On the other hand, sMICA may mediate tumor immune escape through down- regulated NKG2D expression.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.377-388
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• 2015

Purpose: To identify user requirements for electronic nursing record (ENR) systems so as to ensure system usability. Methods: A mixed methods approach were applied in three steps : (i) task and workflow analysis with literature review of nursing documentation, (ii) literature reviews of system usability, and (iii) Use Case idenfication and consensus-based validation. We analyzed the nursing activity logs collected from a time-motion investigation of six hospitals. The Use Cases were validated by eight clinical experts from different hospitals and two experts from academia in a sequential Delphi survey. Consensus was achieved for the significance score and agreement among the panel. Results: Eight task groups and patterns of task flow were observed, which were translated into nine Use Cases. The specification of Use Cases was derived from principles, guidelines, and recommendations on nursing documentation and electronic health record systems, which was organized into three requirements of each Use Case: functionality, information, and design characteristics. Each Use Case achieved an agreement of 50~70%, and significance scores of 4 or 5 on a 5-point Likert scale. Conclusion: The nine Use Case identified were considered to be important and adequate in terms of both clinical and informatics contexts.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.187-194
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• 2018

Background: Death domain-associated protein (DAXX), originally identified as a pro-apoptotic protein, is now understood to be either a pro-apoptotic or an anti-apoptotic factor with a chromatin remodeler, depending on the cell type and context. This study evaluated DAXX expression and its clinical implications in squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. Methods: Paraffin-embedded tissues from 60 cases of esophageal squamous carcinoma were analyzed immunohistochemically. An immune reaction with more than 10% of tumor cells was interpreted as positive. Positive reactions were sorted into 2 groups: reactions in 11%-50% of tumor cells and reactions in more than 51% of tumor cells, and the correlations between expression and survival and clinical prognosticators were analyzed. Results: Forty-three of the 60 cases (71.7%) showed strong nuclear DAXX expression, among which 19 cases showed a positive reaction (31.7%) in 11%-50% of tumor cells, and 24 cases (40.0%) showed a positive reaction in more than 51% of tumor cells. A negative reaction was found in 17 cases (28.3%). These patterns of immunostaining were significantly associated with the N stage (p=0.005) and American Joint Committee on Cancer stage (p=0.001), but overall survival showed no significant difference. There were no correlations of DAXX expression with age, gender, or T stage. However, in stage IIB (p=0.046) and stage IV (p=0.014) disease, DAXX expression was significantly correlated with survival. Conclusion: This investigation found upregulation of DAXX in esophageal cancer, with a 71.7% expression rate. DAXX immunostaining could be used in clinical practice to predict aggressive tumors with lymph node metastasis in advanced-stage disease, especially in stages IIB and IV.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.5713-5718
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• 2013

Background: DNA methyltransferase-3a (DNMT3a) plays significant roles in embryogenesis and the generation of aberrant methylation in carcinogenesis. This study aimed to investigate associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the DNMT3a gene and risk of Helicobacter pylori infection, gastric atrophy and gastric cancer. Methods: The subjects comprised 447 patients with gastric cancer; 111 individuals with gastric atrophy and 961 healthy controls. Two SNPs (rs1550117 and rs13420827) of the DNMT3a gene were genotyped by Taqman assay. DNMT3a expression was analyzed in cancer tissues from 89 patients by tissue microarray technique. Odds ratio (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated by multivariate logistic regression. Results: Among healthy controls, risk of H.pylori infection was significantly higher in subjects with the rs1550117 AA genotype, compared to those with GG/AG genotypes of DNMT3a [OR=2.08, (95%CI: 1.02-4.32)]. However, no significant correlation was found between the two SNPs and risk of developing gastric atrophy or gastric cancer. In addition, no increase in DNMT3a expression was observed in the gastric cancer with H.pylori infection. Conclusions: This study revealed that DNMT3a rs1550117 polymorphism is significantly associated with an increased risk of H. pylori infection, but did not support any evidence for contributions of DNMT3a rs1550117 and rs13420827 to either gastric atrophy or gastric cancer. The biological roles of DNMT3a polymorphisms require further investigation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.532-541
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• 2010

Peroxidase-like activity of Vitreoscilla hemoglobin (VHb) has been recently disclosed. To maximize such activity, two catalytically conserved residues (histidine and arginine) found in the distal pocket of peroxidases have successfully been introduced into that of the VHb. A 15-fold increase in catalytic constant ($k_{cat}$) was obtained in P54R variant,which was presumably attributable to the lower rigidity and higher hydrophilicity of the distal cavity arising from substitution of proline to arginine. None of the modifications altered the affinity towards either $H_2O_2$ or ABTS substrate. Spectroscopic studies revealed that VHb variants harboring the T29H mutation apparently demonstrated a spectral shift in both ferric and ferrous forms (406-408 to 411 nm, and 432 to 424-425 nm, respectively). All VHb proteins in the ferrous state had a $\lambda_{soret}$ peak at ~419 nm following the carbon monoxide (CO) binding. Expression of the P54R mutant mediated the downregulation of iron superoxide dismutase (FeSOD) as identified by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF). According to the high peroxidase activity of P54R, it could effectively eliminate autoxidation-derived $H_2O_2$, which is a cause of heme degradation and iron release. This decreased the iron availability and consequently reduced the formation of the $Fe^{2+}$-ferric uptake regulator protein ($Fe^{2+}$-Fur), an inducer of FeSOD expression.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.82-87
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• 2008

Purpose: The Bio-energy metabolism control hormone by Adipocytokine is composed with Leptin, Adiponectin, resistin, TNF-a, IL-6. Adiponectin become known to participating in Insulin sensitivity exasperation, Fat metabolism accomodation and inducing metabolic disease such as diabetes mellitus, arteriosclerosis, hyperlipemia. When we accomplished the test with purpose of Research, we observed significance with a result of test related to diabetes mellitus with reference setting by way of suggestion. Methods: Result of normal group (n=100) which is committed in the SCL from September 2006 to December 2006 and result of control group (n=50) relationship examination item that is decided diabetes measures themselves against each other. Also, we measured the normal group against the control group for the reference range of adiponectin. Results: Result in normal group (n=100) appeared by Glucose (reference 70~120 mg/dl) Mean and the SD 96.99 (${\pm}24.35$), HbA1c (reference 4.0~6.0%) Mean and the SD 5.64 (${\pm}0.90$), Insulin (reference 2.0~25.0 uIU/ml) Mean and the SD 7.80 (${\pm}4.42$), the Adiponectin the Mean and the SD 9,861.23 (${\pm}4,977.0$). Result in control group(n=50) appeared by Glucose (reference 70-120 mg/dl) Mean and the SD 224.95 (5.30), the HbA1c (reference 4.0~6.0%) Mean and the SD 8.22 (1.63), Insulin (reference 2.0~25.0 uIU/ml) Mean and the SD 17.02 (3.01), C-peptide (reference 0.48~3.30 ng/ml) Mean and the SD 7.92 (${\pm}7.40$), the Adiponectin Mean and the SD 18,110.03 (${\pm}12,843.29$). Conclusions: Therefore, it seems that test results are significant and we consider that it can be apply to useful diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, arteriosclerosis, hyperlipemia patients throughout the reference range setting of Adiponectin, Leptin is one of the Bio-energy metabolism control hormone.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.120-130
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• 1994

The purpose of the present investigation was to compare the effectiveness of porous hydroxyapatite (PHA) and coralline based porous calcium carbonate(PCC) as implant materials in human periodontal osseous defects. 10 adult patients having periodontitis and 2 similar angular osseous defects ${\ge}$5mm as verified by radiographic analysis and clinical probing depth ${\ge}$4mm were selected. The measurements were recorded just before surgery and after 6 month. Clinical parameters used in this study included gingival recession, pocket depth, probing attachment level, Sulcus Bleeding Index, Plaque Index, tooth mobility and bone defect depth measurements. After initial therapy, patients were treated with mucoperiosteal flap surgery. The contralateral bony defects in each patient randomly assigned to either bone graft material, one with PHA(Interpore 200) and the other with coralline based calcium carbonate(Biocoral). After 6 month both groups showed statistically significant reduction of pocket depth, Sulcus Bleeding Index, Plaque Index and significant improvement in probing attachment level. No statistically significant differences were found between the groups. There were 3.0mm or 68% of bone repair with PHA and 3.1mm, 61% with PCC. These values were likewise not significantly different. The data and clinical impression strongly suggest that both PHA and PCC are alloplastic implants with clinically apparent acceptance by the soft and hard tissue and that they can be used as bone graft materials successfully.

• 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2000.06a
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• pp.37-42
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• 2000

Objective: To determine whether particular semen characteristics in various clinical diagnoses of infertility are associated with high oxidative stress and whether any group of infertile men is more likely to have high seminal oxidative stress. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in sperm physiological functions, but elevated levels of ROS or oxidative stress are related to male infertility. Design: Measurement of sperm concentration, motility, morphology, seminal ROS, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in patients seeking infertility treatment and controls. Setting: Male infertility clinic of a tertiary care center. Patient(s): One hundred sixty-seven infertile patients and 19 controls. Intervention(s): None. Main Outcome Measure(s): Semen characteristics, seminal ROS, and TAC in samples from patients with various clinical diagnoses and controls. Result(s): Fifteen patients (9.0%) were Endtz positive and 152(91.0%) Endtz negative. Sperm concentration, motility, and morphology were significantly reduced in all groups compared with the controls (P = .02), except in varicocele associated With infection group. Mean (${\pm}$SD) ROS levels in patient groups ranged from 2.2 ${\pm}$ 0.13 to 3.2 ${\pm}$ 0.35, signilicantly higher than controls (1.3 ${\pm}$ 0.3; P<.005). Patient groups had a significantly lower mean (${\pm}$SD) TAC from 1014.75 ${\pm}$ 79.22 to 1173.05 ${\pm}$ 58.07 than controls (1653 ${\pm}$ 115.28, P<.001), except ill the vaseclony reversal group (1532.02 ${\pm}$ 74.24). Sperm concentration was negatively correlated with ROS both overall and within all groups (P${\leq}$.007), with the exception of idiopathic infertility. Conclusion(s): Irrespective of the clinical diagnosis and semen characteristics, the presence of seminal oxidative stress in infertile men suggests its role in the pathophysiology of infertility. Medical or surgical treatments for infertility in these men should include strategies to reduce oxidative stress.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.311-324
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• 2006

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate of the specificity of Fusobacterium nucleatum subspecies-specific DNA probes using dot blot hybridization. To confirm whether the clinical isolates were F. nucleatum or not, 16S rDNA of them were cloned and sequenced. The sequencing data were used in homology search with database of GenBank. When the homology was above 98% compared with the nucleotide sequence of a certain bacteria, it was judged as the same species with the bacteria. 23 strains of F. nucleatum were isolates from subgingival plaque of periodontitis patient. The clinical isolates of F. nucleatum were classified into 10 groups using phylogenetic analysis of 16S rDNA sequence. F. nucleatum subspecies nucleatum-specific DNA probe Fu4(1.3 kb) reacted with genomic DNAs from 8 type strains of F. nucleatum and it reacted strongly with those from 8 clinical isolates. The Fp4(0.8 kb) reacted with F. nucleatum subsp. polymorphum ATCC 10953 and one clinical isolates. Fv35(1.9 kb) and Fs17(8.2 kb) probes reacted with genomic DNAs from F. nucleatum subsp. vincentii ATCC 49256 and F. nucleatum subsp. fusiform ATCC 51190, respectively. Our results showed that it is not enough to evaluate the specificity of F. nucleatum subspecies-specific DNA probes with only dot blot hybridization. Therefore, Southern blot analysis will be necessary to confirm the specificity of F. nucleatum subspecies-specific DNA probes.