• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
• /
• 제15권1호
• /
• pp.9-20
• /
• 2005

Cholestatic liver disease is a frequent complication of prolonged parenteral nutrition, especially in premature infants. Numerous factors have been cited as contributing to TPN associated cholestasis. However the exact etiology remains obscure. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) has been reported to be beneficial far children and adults with various chronic cholestatic liver disease. The aim of this prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was to determine the preventive effects of UDCA administration during TPN. Seventeen pediatric patients (8 boys and 9 girls) undergoing TPN were assigned randomly to two groups, UDCA and placebo group. UDCA group (n=9) received 15 mg/kg/day UDCA and placebo group (n=8) received 15 mg/kg/day placebo enterally during the TPN period. Liver function tests (total bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase) were per-formed before TPN and weekly or three times a week. The patients' weights, complete blood count, composition of TPN, and the infusion rate of TPN and lipid were monitored everyday. Calcium and phosphate were monitored twice a week. Between the UDCA and placebo groups, there were no differences in weight at the onset of TPN, birth weight, duration of TPN, respiratory distress syndrome associated with prematurity, age at the onset of TPN, gestational age, the number of days the patients received antibiotics, the number of patients received enteral nutritions and the composition of TPN. In contrast, there was a significant difference between the UDCA and placebo groups in alanine aminotransferase levels during TPN. It doesn't seem that UDCA administration during TPN correlates directly with improvement of liver function. But the preventive administration of UDCA may be effective in reducing liver enzyme, alanine aminotransferase and has no adverse effects.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Surveying, Geodesy, Photogrammetry and Cartography
• /
• 제36권5호
• /
• pp.395-401
• /
• 2018

Recently, most of mobile devices are equipped with GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System). When the GNSS signal is available, it is easy to obtain position information. However, GNSS is not suitable solution for indoor localization, since the signals are normally not reachable inside buildings. A wide varieties of technology have been developed as a solution for indoor localization such as Wi-Fi, beacons, and inertial sensor. With the increased sensor combinations in mobile devices, mobile devices also became feasible to provide a solution, which based on PDR (Pedestrian Dead Reckoning) method. In this study, we utilized the combination of three sensors equipped in mobile devices including accelerometer, digital compass, and gyroscope and applied three representative PDR methods. The proposed methods are done in three stages; step detection, step length estimation, and heading determination and the final indoor localization result was evaluated with terrestrial LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) data obtained in the same test site. By using terrestrial LiDAR data as reference ground truth for PDR in two differently designed experiments, the inaccuracy of PDR methods that could not be found by existing evaluation method could be revealed. The firstexperiment included extreme direction change and combined with similar pace size. Second experiment included smooth direction change and irregular step length. In using existing evaluation method which only checks traveled distance, The results of two experiments showed the mean percentage error of traveled distance estimation resulted from three different algorithms ranging from 0.028 % to 2.825% in the first experiment and 0.035% to 2.282% in second experiment, which makes it to be seen accurately estimated. However, by using the evaluation method utilizing terrestrial LiDAR data, the performance of PDR methods emerged to be inaccurate. In the firstexperiment, the RMSEs (Root Mean Square Errors) of x direction and y direction were 0.48 m and 0.41 m with combination of the best available algorithm. However, the RMSEs of x direction and y direction were 1.29 m and 3.13 m in the second experiment. The new evaluation result reveals that the PDR methods were not effective enough to find out exact pedestrian position information opposed to the result from existing evaluation method.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
• /
• 제11권1호
• /
• pp.37-66
• /
• 2000

Volunteers activities in Health Centers are strategically important for the efficient utilization of human resource and local people's health promotion in community. With these backgrounds. this study is conducted to examine significant factors in relation to demand and utilization of volunteers in Health Centers. and the factors are the characteristics of Health Centers. volunteer management factors and external environment factors. Subjects in this study were 245 Health Centers all chosen. Data were collected from April. 12. 1999 to May. 31. 1999. and the data for analyses were ones of 116 respondents. Then. the data coded and submitted to Fisher's exact test. NPAR1WAY ANOVA, Correlation analysis. multiple regression analysis, multiple logistic regression analysis with SAS program. The key results from this study can be epitomized as follows: 1. 43.1% of responding health centers answered that they 'utilize volunteers'. The average number of volunteers who were engaged in responding health centers was 43, out of which 7 were men and 36 were women. As for the adequacy of the number of the volunteers. 55.1% responded 'not enough' and 30.6% responded 'adequate'. The more the number of volunteers needed. the more the number of utilizing volunteers is. When asked about their views concerning the utilization of volunteers in Health Centers. 88.7% of all respondents answered in the affirmative. The accountable factor for the utilization of volunteers was the present utilization of volunteers. 2. Concerning the reasons for using volunteers. 'to induce local people's participation in health services' was the highest comprising 76% of the responding health centers. 3. Most of volunteers were housewives and independent enterprisers. The most type of volunteer activities was 'just simple labor'. 4. As for the action duration of volunteers. 69.4% answered 'under 6 months'. The factor was significant difference with the action duration of volunteers was 'to provide social meeting' in the middle of rewards for volunteers. 5. Asked about the problem in utilizing volunteers. 53.2% answered 'the difficulty of recruitment and education for volunteers'. and 42.6% answered 'lack of budget and manpower needed for the utilization of volunteers.' 6. Concerning the evaluation of the performance by volunteers. 88% answered 'satisfactory'. With regards to the reason for that. 29.3% answered 'volunteers can provide various kinds of services' 7. 88.7% of responding health centers answered that they will continuously or newly utilize volunteers in the future. 8. The main health program services which expect utilization of volunteers were visiting health services(63.2%). old people's health services (25.3%). These were not significant difference with any explanatory variable. 9. The average number of volunteer needed in responding health centers was 38. The more the average number of utilizing volunteers. the more the number of volunteers needed is. The more the degree of financial independence. the more the number of volunteers needed is. In conclusions. Health centers are necessary to promote their role of recruitment. education and training for volunteers. the development of volunteer activities programs.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• /
• 제30권6호
• /
• pp.474-481
• /
• 2004

Squamous cell carcinoma is the most prevalent oral cancer, which is characterized by its low survival rate, high malignancy, mortality with facial defects, and poor prognosis. Exact cause and pathogenesis of the squamous cell carcinoma is still unknown. Various routes including smoking, radiation, and viral infections predispose its genesis, and recent studies revealed that genetic defects which fail to prevent cancer proliferation play a role. Generally, a cancer develops from the decreased rate of apoptosis which is an active and voluntary cell death, and from the altered cell cycles. Anticancer effect can be obtained by recovering the apoptotic process, and by suppressing the cell cycles. Among the apoptosis related factors, bcl-2, caspase-9, and VDAC (voltage-dependent anion channel)are produced in mitochondria of the cell. Cyclosporin-A is known to induce apoptosis through its activation with VDAC. This study was to reveal the anticancer effect of Cyclosporin A to the oral squamous cell carcinoma. The inverted microscope was used to find alterations in the tissue, and sensitivity test to the anticancer cells was performed with MTT (Tetrazolium-based colorimetric) assay. Following cell line culture of primary and metastastic oral squamous cell carcinoma, electrophoresis was performed with extracted total RNA. Finally, semi-quantitative study was carried out through RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction). The results of this study are as follows: 1. The inverted microscopic observation revealed a poorly defined cytoplasm at $2000ng{\sim}3000ng/ml$, indistinct nucleus, and apoptosis. 2. The Growth of cancer cells was decreased at 1000ng/ml of cyclosporin-A. No cancer cell growth was observed at over 2000ng/ml concentration of cyclosporin-A, and at one week, growth of cancer cells was ceased. 3. The MTT assays were decreased as cyclosporin-A concentration was increased. This means that the activation of succinyl dehydrogenase in mitochondria was decreased following administration of cyclosporin A. 4. A result of RT-PCR showed that amount of mRNA of VDAC-2 was decreased half times at a cyclosporine-A concentration of 2000ng/ml. In bcl-2, amount of mRNA was significantly decreased 1/5 times at 2000ng/ml. caspase-9, however, showed slight increase compared to the control group. From the results obtained in this study, administration of cyclosporin-A to the cell lines of oral squamous cell carcinoma induced alterations in morphology and growth of the cells as its concentration increased. Since apoptosis related factors such as VDAS-2, bcl-2, and caspase-9 also showed distinct alterations on their mRNAs, further research on cyclosporin A as an anti-cancer agent will be feasible.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• /
• 제29권2호
• /
• pp.113-122
• /
• 2007

Purpose: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is known to accelerate and/or enhance hard and soft tissue healing and regeneration. As such, PRP has been used in various clinical fields of surgery. Recently there have been several attempts to use PRP in the field of tissue engineering. However, some controversies still exist on exact mechanism and benefits of PRP. Therefore various animal experiments are necessary to reveal the effect of the PRP. However, even if animal experiment is performed, the efficacy of the experiment could not be validated due to absence of an animal PRP model. The purpose of this study is to establish rat PRP model by comparing several PRP fabricating methods, and to assay growth factor concentration in the PRP. Materials and methods: Rat blood samples were collected from nine SD rat (body weight: 600-800g). PRP was prepared using three different PRP fabricating methods according to previously reported literatures. (Method 1: 800 rpm, 15 minute, single centrifuge; Method 2: 1000 rpm, 10 minute, double centrifuge; Method 3: 3000 rpm, 4min and 2500 rpm, 8 min, double centrifuge). Platelet counts were evaluated in an automated machine before and after PRP fabrications. In terms of growth factor assay, prepared PRP were activated with 100 unit thrombin and 10% calcium chloride. Growth factor (PDGF-BB, VEGF) concentrations on incubation time were determined by sandwich-ELISA technique. Results: An average of 3ml (via infraorbital venous plexus) to 15ml (via celiac axis) the rat blood could be collected. By using Method 3 (3000 rpm, 4 min and 2500 rpm, 8 min, double centrifugation), around 1.5ml of PRP could be prepared. This method allowed us to concentrate platelet 3.77-fold on average. PDGF-BB concentration (mean, 1942.10 pg/ml after 1 hour incubation) and VEGF concentration (mean, 952.71 pg/ml after 1 hour incubation) in activated PRP were higher than those in untreated blood. Also PDGF-BB showed constant concentration during 4-hour incubation, while VEGF concentration was decreased after 1 hour. Conclusion: Total 11,000 g minute separation and condensation double centrifuge method can produce efficient platelet-rich plasma. Platelet-rich plasma activated with thrombin has showed higher concentrations of growth factors such as PDGF-BB and VEGF, compared to the control group. Platelet-rich plasma model in a rat model was confirmed in this study.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• 제27권4호
• /
• pp.439-449
• /
• 2017

The cause of yield reduction in a collector well, which is located in Anseong-cheon watershed in Kyunggi province, is studied by using aquifer sediments' composition and hydraulic conductivity near four horizontal wells, no. 1, no. 4, no. 6, and no. 7 wells. During test-pumping periods, groundwater yield is reduced with a trend of $12.4m^3/d/d$ at no. 1, $2.3m^3/d/d$ at no. 4, $24.4m^3/d/d$ at no. 6, and $187.3m^3/d/d$ at no. 7 and no. 7 well shows the biggest reduction. The sediments along no. 7 horizontal well have low hydraulic conductivity and high coefficient of uniformity ($C_u$), and a deviation of $C_u$ along the well is also large. This characteristics can bring the fine particles' movement and make the openings filled. Additionally, high iron ($Fe^{2+}$) content results in a precipitation of iron hydroxides during pumping or injection and they can produce a clogging in sediments. In the future study, the analysis of physical and hydrochemical changes through a long-term pumping procedure will give a more exact interpretation for the cause of yield reduction.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
• /
• 제17권2호
• /
• pp.127-133
• /
• 2012

Perpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the measuring method in radius of eyeglasses lens curvature by using keratometer in noncontact method. Methods: A trial lens for vision test in diopter range from -9.00 D to -11.50 D were attached in front part of keratometer, after that we set eyeglasses lens at the place where eyeglasses lens is apart about 25 cm from front position of keratometer. We measured the radius of curvature from observation of clear mire image while the position of eyeglasses lens is changed in a small quantity. After that, we made some formulas for compensation of radius of curvature by using spherometer. Results: The radius of curvature was successfully measured by keratometer with trial lens in front part of it. The measured radius of curvature was changed to compensation value using spherometer data, and the 5 kind of linear equation to make compensation value was made. Any kind of lenses measured by using keratometer that trial lens was attached in front part of it, after that it was confirmed that the result of calculation from line equation is exact in error ratio below 3.5%. Conclusions: It was confirmed that radius of eyeglasses lens curvature can be measured by using keratometer by noncontact method, and the accuracy is higher than "lens measure".

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제21권10호
• /
• pp.1389-1394
• /
• 2008

Abdominal fat characters are complex and economically important in the poultry industry. Their selection may benefit from the implementation of marker-assisted selection (MAS). The objective of this study was to identify the markers linked to QTL responsible for fatness traits. The Northeast Agricultural University broiler lines divergently selected for abdominal fat content (NEAUHLF) were used in the study. A total of 596 individuals from the divergent tails from the 6th to the 10th generations were genotyped at 23 microsatellite markers on chromosome 1. The differences of allele frequencies of all marker alleles between the divergent tails across the five generations were recorded. The allele frequencies of five markers, including LEI0209, LEI0146, MCW0036, ADL328 and MCW0115, had significant differences between the two tails in all five generations. The resulting p-values using Fisher's exact test on eleven markers, containing MCW248, MCW0010, MCW0106, LEI0252, LEI0068, MCW0018, MCW0061, LEI0088, MCW200, MCW283 and ROS0025, had a decreasing tendency from the 6th to the 10th generation. Statistical analysis showed that polymorphisms of the eight markers, including LEI0209, LEI0146, ROS0025, MCW0115, MCW0010, MCW0036, MCW283, ADL328, were significantly (p<0.0011) or suggestively (p<0.05) associated with abdominal fat content (AFW and AFP) across generations. It is concluded that the eight markers could be associated with the QTL affecting the deposition of abdominal fat in broiler chickens.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• 제19권7호
• /
• pp.265-274
• /
• 2018

The increasing use of curved beams in buildings, vehicles, ships, and aircraft has prompted studies directed toward the development of an accurate method for analyzing the dynamic behavior of such structures. The stability behavior of elastic curved beams has been the subject of a large number of investigations. Solutions of the relevant differential equations have been obtained traditionally using standard finite difference or finite element methods. These techniques require a great deal of computer time as the number of discrete nodes becomes relatively large under the conditions of complex geometry and loading. One of the efficient procedures for the solution of partial differential equations is the method of differential quadrature. The differential quadrature method (DQM) has been applied to a large number of cases to overcome the difficulties of the complex algorithms of programming for the computer, as well as the excessive use of storage due to the conditions of complex geometry and loading. The in-plane buckling of curved beams considering the extensibility of the arch axis was analyzed under uniformly distributed radial loads using the DQM. The critical loads were calculated for the member with various parameter ratios, boundary conditions, and opening angles. The results were compared with the precise results by other methods for cases, in which they were available. The DQM, using only a limited number of grid points, provided results that agreed very well (less than 0.3%) with the exact ones. New results according to diverse variations were obtained, showing the important roles in the buckling behavior of curved beams, and can be used in comparisons with other numerical solutions or with experimental test data.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• 제44권4호
• /
• pp.275-283
• /
• 2011

This study was conducted to evaluate the antihyperglycemic effects of three phytoestrogens, genistein, coumestrol, and enterolactone, in type 2 diabetic animals. Forty male C57BL/KsOlaHsd-db/db mice were used as a diabetic animal model. The animals were divided into four groups and fed a phytoestrogen-free AIN-76 diet (control), or one of three phytoestrogen-supplemented (3.75 mg/100 g diet) AIN-76 diets for six weeks. During the experimental period, fasting blood glucose levels were measured on week 0, 2, 5, and 6 of the experiment, and oral glucose tolerance tests were performed on the 5th week. After the experimental period, blood concentrations of HbA1c, insulin, and glucagon were measured, and hepatic glycogen content and glucose regulating enzyme activities were analyzed. Fasting blood glucose, HbA1c level, and the area under the blood glucose curve in the oral glucose tolerance test were significantly lower in all of the phytoestrogen-supplemented groups compared to the control group. Plasma glucagon levels were also significantly lower in all of the phytoestrogen-supplemented groups compared to the control group. Hepatic glycogen level was significantly higher in the coumestrol-supplemented group compared to the other groups. However, there were no significant differences in the activities of glucokinase and glucose-6-phosphatase between the groups. These results suggest that all of the three major phytoestrogens tested in the present study were effective in lowering blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetic animals. However, further studies need to be conducted to elucidate the exact mechanism for the hypoglycemic effects of phytoestrogens.