• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.13-22
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• 2014

Objectives : Breast cancer has been the most prevalent female cancer in South Korea since 2001. Early detection of this disease is the most effective strategy for reducing mortality. The objective of this study was to identify factors which could predict advanced stage at diagnosis of breast cancer. Methods : Participants who were initially diagnosed with breast cancer and referred to the Stress Clinic of the Breast Cancer Center at Kyungpook National University Hospital were included. Through a semi-structured interview, the authors investigated psychosocial variables such as the extent of marital and family functioning and emotional-economic family burden as well as sociodemographic and health behavior-, health characteristic- and cancer-related variables. Results : Data were collected from 219 participants. One hundred and twenty(54.8%) subjects were diagnosed with advanced-stage breast cancer. Variables that were significantly different between the advanced-stage and early-stage groups included : monthly breast self examination(p<0.000), annual mammographic screening(p<0.000), mode of tumor detection(p<0.000), nature of the first symptoms(p<0.000), time to treatment after diagnosis(p<0.000), overloaded economic and family burden(p=0.018), marital functioning(p<0.000) and family functioning(p<0.00). Logistic regression analysis indicated that irregular annual mammography screening(OR=7.431 ; 95% CI 2.407-22.944) or a lack of screening(OR=25.299 ; 95% CI 7.855-81.482) and a dysfunctional marital relationship(OR=4.772 ; 95% CI 2.244-10.145) were significantly associated with advanced stage at diagnosis of breast cancer. Conclusions : We reconfirmed screening behavior to be a risk factor for delayed diagnosis of breast cancer. Our findings also emphasized the importance of psychosocial factors such as marital functioning in early detection of breast cancer. Psychiatric consultation in the area of martial functioning could be beneficial for increasing early detection in breast cancer.

• Journal of Internet Computing and Services
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.29-37
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• 2000

Asynchronous transfer mode is flexible to support multimedia communication services using asynchronous time-sharing and statistical multimedia techniques to the existing data communication area, ATM ABR service controls network traffic using feedback information on the network congestion situation in order to guarantee the demanded service qualities and the available cell rates, In this paper we apply the control method using queue length prediction to the formation of feedback information for more efficient ABR traffic control. If backward node receive the longer delayed feedback information on the impending congestion, the switch can be already congested from the uncontrolled arriving traffic and the fluctuation of queue length can be inefficiently high in the continuing time intervals, The feedback control method proposed in this paper predicts the queue length in the switch using the slope of queue length prediction function and queue length changes in time-series, The predicted congestion information is backward to the node, NLMS and neural network are used as the predictive control functions, and they are compared from performance on the queue length prediction. Simulation results show the efficiency of the proposed method compared to the feedback control method without the prediction, Therefore, we conclude that the efficient congestion and stability of the queue length controls are possible using the prediction scheme that can resolve the problems caused from the longer delays of the feedback information.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.315-324
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• 2016

Human cardiac fibroblasts (HCFs) have various voltage-dependent $K^+$ channels (VDKCs) that can induce apoptosis. Hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) modulates VDKCs and induces oxidative stress, which is the main contributor to cardiac injury and cardiac remodeling. We investigated whether $H_2O_2$ could modulate VDKCs in HCFs and induce cell injury through this process. In whole-cell mode patch-clamp recordings, application of $H_2O_2$ stimulated $Ca^{2+}-activated$ $K^+$ ($K_{Ca}$) currents but not delayed rectifier $K^+$ or transient outward $K^+$ currents, all of which are VDKCs. $H_2O_2-stimulated$ $K_{Ca}$ currents were blocked by iberiotoxin (IbTX, a large conductance $K_{Ca}$ blocker). The $H_2O_2-stimulating$ effect on large-conductance $K_{Ca}$ ($BK_{Ca}$) currents was also blocked by KT5823 (a protein kinase G inhibitor) and 1 H-[1, 2, 4] oxadiazolo-[4, 3-a] quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ, a soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor). In addition, 8-bromo-cyclic guanosine 3', 5'-monophosphate (8-Br-cGMP) stimulated $BK_{Ca}$ currents. In contrast, KT5720 and H-89 (protein kinase A inhibitors) did not block the $H_2O_2-stimulating$ effect on $BK_{Ca}$ currents. Using RT-PCR and western blot analysis, three subtypes of $K_{Ca}$ channels were detected in HCFs: $BK_{Ca}$ channels, small-conductance $K_{Ca}$ ($SK_{Ca}$) channels, and intermediate-conductance $K_{Ca}$ ($IK_{Ca}$) channels. In the annexin V/propidium iodide assay, apoptotic changes in HCFs increased in response to $H_2O_2$, but IbTX decreased $H_2O_2$-induced apoptosis. These data suggest that among the VDKCs of HCFs, $H_2O_2$ only enhances $BK_{Ca}$ currents through the protein kinase G pathway but not the protein kinase A pathway, and is involved in cell injury through $BK_{Ca}$ channels.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.120-131
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• 1998

This study was performed to define the physicochemical characteristics of food waste and food wastewater, and to find the effect of moisture content variation and salinity variation on aerobic composting for food wastes. In moisture content variation experiment, the samples of 2-1, 2-2, 2-3 and 24 were prepared by the moisture content of 83.8%, 70.9%, 64.8% and 45.1%, respectively. In salinity variation experiment, the samples of 3-1, 3-2, 3-3 and 3-4 were prepared by the salinity of 0.99%, 1. 69%, 1.75% and 2.34%, respectively. In both experiments, aerobic composting reactors were operated by the mode which was composed of half an hour's stirring and 2 hour's aeration per day, for 45 days. The followings are the conclusions that were derived from this study. 1. In the study of physicochemical characteristics of food waste and food wastewater, the values of pH were 4.19 and 3.96, the values of salinity were 0.91% and 1.17%, and the values of conductivity were 7.6 mS/cm and 18.2 mS/cm, respectively. 2. In food waste, the moisture content was 60.3%, organic compound content was 96.1%, total carbon was 48.0%, total nitrogen was 1.5%(therefore, C/N ratio was 32), and the concentration of total phosphorus was 1.34 mg/kg. 3. The time of temperature ascending was delayed, the highest temperature was lowered, the duration period of high temperature was shortened by the increasing of moisture content. In the higher moisture content, anaerobic condition was formed, bad smell was released, insects were gathered and multiplicated, and the reaction rate of composting was reduced. 4. In moisture content experiment, C/N ratios were changed from the range of 31.2-34.8 at the beginning phase to that of 20.4-28.4 at the last phase. 5. In salinity experiment, the reduction rate of volume was increased(40.3%) when the salinity was decreased(0.99%). Also, the reduction rate of mass was increased(51.8%) when the salinity was decreased(0.99%). This fact denotes that salinity hinders the process of composting. 6. the concentrations of total nitrogen and total phosphorus were increased from 0.74% to 1.10%, and from 0.82 mg/kg to 3.44 mg/kg, respectively when the salinity was decreased from 2.34% to 0.99%.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.196-202
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• 2007

The performance characteristics of the polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCS) were investigated under various humidification conditions at steady-state and transient conditions. The PEFC studied in this study was characterized by I-V curves in the potentiostatic mode and EIS (electrochemical impedance spectroscopy). The I-V curves representing steady-state performance were obtained from OCV to 0.25 V, and the dynamic performance responses were obtained at some voltages. The effects of anodic external humidification were measured by varying relative humidity of hydrogen from 20% to 100% while dry air was supplied in the cathode. At the high voltage region, the performance became higher with the increase of the temperature, while at the low voltage region, the performance decreased with the increase of temperature. The EIS showed that ohmic losses were larger at the dry condition of membrane and the effects of mass transport losses increased remarkably when the external and self-humidification were high. The dynamic responses were also monitored by changing the voltage of the PEFC instantly. As the temperature increased, the current reached steady-state earlier. The self-humidification with the generated water delayed the stabilization of the current except for low voltage conditions.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Toocicology Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.168-168
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• 2002

To establish a test protocol for the rodent 20-day thyroid/pubertal assay, flutamide and diethylstilbestrol (DES) were administered to intact male Sprague-Dawley rats from postnatal day 33 for 20 days. Flutamide (1, 5, and 25 mg/kg/day) or DES (10, 20, and 40 ug/kg/day) was given once daily by oral gavage to immature male rats. Prepuce separation was significantly delayed in flutamide group and in DES group. One day after the last dose, the rats were killed and pituitary, thyroid, and reproductive organs were removed and weighed. Flutamide treatment resulted in a significant reduction in the weights of epididymides, ventral prostate, seminal vesicles plus coagulating glands and fluid (SVCGF), levator ani. bulbocarvenus muscles (LABC), Cowper's glands, and glans penis. The weight of adrenal glands decreased at % mg/kg/day, while testes and any other organ weights were unaffected. No microscopic changes were observed in the thyroid glands. Serum levels of testosterone wert significantly increased in the flutamide-treated groups and serum levels of estradiol were also increased. A significant reduction in the weights of testes, epididymides, ventral prostate, SVCGF, LABC, Cowpers glands, and glans penis of DES treated group. Serum testosterone and LH decreased significantly in DES group. Decrease of estradiol was observed, but not significant. These results indicate that flutamide and DES delay puberty in the male rat and its mode of action appears to be via altered secretion of steroids, which subsequently affect the development of the reproductive tract. (Supported by the grant from NITR/Korea FDA for Endocrine Disrupter Research.)

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.247-256
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• 1999

A disease of young Holstein calves characterized by recurrent pneumonia, ulcerative and granulomatous stomatitis, enteritis with bacterial overgrowth, periodontitis, delayed wound healing, persistent neutrophilia and death at an early age had been originally described in 1983 and again in 1987. Most of these calves had stunted growth and a persistent, progressive neutrophilia (often exceeding 100,000/ml). By investigation of pedigrees, all of the affected calves have now been traced to a common sire and confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) diagnostic DNA testing to be homozygous carriers of a defective allele for bovine CD18. Neutrophils from these calves have several functional deficits and, most importantly, fail to adhere in a ${\beta}_2$-integrin dependent manner. The ${\beta}_2$-integrins represent a family of glycoproteins which participate in various leukocyte adhesion reactions during host defense. The presence or absence of ${\beta}_2$-integrin molecules can be demonstrated on the surface of neutrophils, monocytes and lymphocytes from normal or affected calves using specific monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry, or by colloidal gold immunolabeling and scanning electron microscopy in backscatter mode. Deficiency of the ${\beta}_2$-integrins on all leukocyte types in Holstein calves is analogous to leukocyte adhesion deficiency (LAD) seen in humans. Neutrophils in bovine (BLAD) and human LAD patients are unable to adhere to the endothelial lining of the cardiovascular system thus interrupting egression of neutrophils into infected tissues. Other leukocytes, while still deficient in expression of the ${\beta}_2$-integrins, are still able to efficiently egress from the blood stream due to interactions of other adhesion molecules that are not as highly expressed on neutrophils. Both BLAD cattle and LAD children (who do not receive bone marrow transplants) often die at an early age as a result of the failure of neutrophils to extravasate into infected tissues. In 1991, Shuster, et $al^{27}$, identified two point mutations within the alleles encoding bovine CD18 in a Holstein calf afflicted with leukocyte adhesion deficiency. One mutation causes an aspartic acid to glycine substitution at amino acid 128 (D128G) in an extracellular region of this adhesion glycoprotein that is highly conserved (> 95% identity) between humans, cattle and mice. The other mutation is silent. Numerous calves with clinical symptoms of leukocyte adhesion deficiency have since been tested and all have been found homozygous for the D128G allele. In addition, calves homozygous far the D128G allele have been identified during widespread DNA testing in the United States. All cattle with the mutant allele are related to one bull, who through artificial insemination (A.I.), sired many calves in the 1950's and 1960's. The carrier frequency of the D128G CD18 allele among U.S. Holstein cattle had reached approximately 15% among active A.I. bulls and 8% among cows. By 1993, the organization of the dairy industry and the diagnostic test developed to genotype cattle, enabled virtually complete eradication of bovine leukocyte adhesion deficiency among current and future A.I. bulls.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.338-342
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• 1994

Pulmonary clearance of Tc-99m-DTPA(PCD) has been used for the measurement of polmonary epithelial permeability. It has been reported to be increased not only in variety of polmonary diseases including ARDS, interstitial fibrosis, and smokers, but also in normal subjects on positive end expiratory pressure respirator, or after exercise. It was also noted that decrease of pulmonary blood flow due to pulmonary arterial obstruction results in delayed PCD. Normal range of PCD varies with institutes. We prospectively measured PCD in 17 normals (5 males and 12 females) consisted of staffs and trainees in the department of radiology of Kangnam St. Mary's hospital using original Bark Nebulizer (India). Age ranged from 32 to 43 years. 370 MBq of Tc-99m-DTPA was inhaled in supine position and supine posterior images were subsequently obtained with 1 min/frame, $64{\times}64$ matrix and word mode for 30min. Regions of interest were set on each lung, whole lungs, and upper, middle and lower thirds of right lung, respectively. Best fit regression curve was obtained by least square method from initial 7min after peak activity on each curve and time for half clearance of maximum activity (t1/2) was calculated. Mean t1/2 was $51{\pm}11.2min$ for whole lung. There was no significant difference between t1/ 2 of right and left lungs. Initial uptake was higher in the lower third and t1/2 was shorter in the lower third than in the upper third(P<0.05). We reviewed several reports on PCD and compared our data with the others. In this study, faster clearance in the lower third may be due to the position imaged with or the environment the subjects belong to, and further investigation is under way.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.617-625
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• 2001

The Skaergaard intrusion is widely considered a type example of a strongly fractionated, layered intrusion that has undergone extensive in situ igneous differentiation. The Intrusion, therefore, should be a good locality for modeling trace element vriation in a closed system. Previous studios (Haskin and Haskin, 1968; Faster et al., 1974), however, have suggested thats the rare earth elements in whole rocks and mineeral separates from the Intrusion did not fellow the expected trend for closed system crystatllization. Trace element modeling using published distribution coefficients, modal abundances of the coexisting minerals, and the concentration of trace elements In whole rocks and mineral separates from the Skaergaard Intrusion, reveals that the rare earth elements were significantly Influenced by the crystallization of abundant apatite in the Layered Series suring the final stages of crystallization. The results of trace element modeling also suggcsts that apatite, which appears sporadically in the UBS, is not a primary liquidus phase in these samples as previously suggested (Naslund, 1984) but an interstitial phase that (lid not directly effect trace element abundances In the evolving magma As the Skaergaard magma coaled convection, or convected as small Isolated cells during the final stages of differentiation, an elebated $P_{H2O}$ Induced by accumulation of volatile elements near the roof of the magma chamber ingibited or delayed the precipitation of primary apatite in the UBS If the Skaergaard differentiation Is modeler assuming primary apatite crystallization In the upper par of the LS where abundant modal apatite is present, and only late stage crystallization of apatite In the UBS where apatite Is less abundant, rare earth elements abundances follow a closed system variation trend. These results rule but any differentiation model for the Skaergaard Intrusion that Includesvolumetrically significant injections or discharges of magma Into or out of the chamber during the final 20% of the crystallization history.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.703-708
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• 2005

Cleidocranial Dysplasia(CCD) is a congenital disorder of skeletal and dental anomaly with an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance. CCD Shows a generalized defect in intramembranous bones, such as the skull, clavicles, and endochondral bones, such as the long bones and the remainder of the skeleton. The specific clinical feature of CCD is an aplasia & hypoplasia of one or both clavicles, frontal & parietal bone bossing, incomplete fontanels and sutures closure of cranial bone. Generally, relative mandibular prognathism is seen, because maxillar is underdeveloped. Dental anomalies of CCD are prolonged primary teeth, delayed eruption of the permanent teeth and multiple supernumerary teeth. Almost patients of CCD can not recognize their dental abnormality until the permanent teeth eruption was begining. So it is difficult to decide the proper timing of the treatment of patients of CCD. Pedodontists should understand the development of the dentition in CCD patient and start the treatment of CCD patient in proper time.