• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2006

Background: Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive diagnostic method particularly suited to investigation the long motor tracts. The clinical value of TMS in most spinal cord diseases has still to be made. Diagnostic value of magnetic motor evoked potential (MEP) parameters in intramedullary spinal cord lesions was investigated. Methods: MEP elicited by TMS was recorded in 57 patients with clinically and radiologically defined intramedullary myelopathy. Twenty five patients with cervical myelopathy (CM) and 32 thoracic myelopathy (TM) were included. Recordings were performed during resting and minimal voluntary contraction at both abductor pollicis brevis (APB) and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles. Stimulation threshold(ST), amplitude, and central motor conduction time (CCT) were measured at resting and facilitated conditions. CCT was calculated by two means; central motor latency (CML)-M using magnetic transcranial and root stimulation, and CML-F using electrical F-wave study. The results were compared between patient groups and 10 normal control group. Results: Facilitated mean ST recorded at TA was elevated in both CM and TM compared with control group. Resting mean CML-M at TA was significantly prolonged in both CM and TM, and CML-M was absent or delayed in 37.1% of CM and 8% of TM at APB with facilitation. Facilitated mean MEP amplitude at ABP was lower in CM than in TM, while MEP/M ratios were not different significantly between groups. Conclusions: Magnetic motor evoked potential has diagnostic value in intramedullary myelopathy and localizing value in differentiating between CM and TM by recording at APB and TA. It is a noninvasive way to investigate the functional status of motor tracts of spinal cord.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-28
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• 2012

Since its establishment in 1948, World Health Organization (WHO) has tried and facilitated international cooperation of public health under the goal of "the highest attainable health," and gained outcomes like the eradication of smallpox and polio, turning itself into the representative of international public health. However, there was discord between member nations during the cold war era, and the status of WHO experienced rise and fall after its establishment. WHO, the representative international health organization, also has not been freed from influences from international regime changes, which means that the discussion on the internal causes of WHO functionings should be expanded more. In this study, functionalism was tested as one of international relations theory that tries to explain the establishment and role of WHO. Especially, this study analyzed the problems and problem-solving process that WHO had to face by using Imber's five steps theory that arranged chronologically the theory of Mitrany. We mainly investigated the secondary source that described historic facts on the rise and fall of WHO in terms of roles and functionings during establishment of WHO, the cold war era, and international cooperation of public health. The roles of WHO were analyzed by selecting the gains of WHO in the post cold war era. The functionalism arrangement of Imber was appropriate to some extent in explaining the establishment and role of WHO. The first step was International Sanitary Conference in 1851 that made nations to recognize international cooperation of public health, and the second step was the establishment of WHO that handles public health as an international organization. Recent cases of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and International Health Regulations showed that each nation agreed with an international norm that they had to cooperate each other to tackle infectious diseases and smoking, and this implies that these were emergence of global governance. This process was the third step of Imber's theory (nations had a gain from international cooperation would agree with the expansion of authority of international organization). However, the last two steps of the theory are still not realized. The partial success of WHO was based on the functional elements that WHO deals with non-political elements, human resources centering on professionals, and democratic decision making process. This essential and non-political characteristics mean that necessity of international cooperation catalyzed by WHO would continue despite of the global governance era when global health governance get faced more challenges.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.35-42
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• 2012

The skin is the largest organ of the integument system whose surface is closely related to many physiological and pathological conditions. The skin surface is closely related to functional status of the epidermis and dermis. The outermost surface of the skin shows characteristic pattern defined by small furrows are called micro-relief. The micro-relief change is according to physiological and pathological conditions of the skin. But, there is no data on health Korean skin micro-relief yet. This study presents some aspect of health Korean skin micro-relief from the twenties. The silicon replicas obtained from forearm, dorsum hand and finger were analyzed by profiles were accessed by stereoscopy. We measured density of furrow, width of furrow, and depth of furrow in micro-relief with sectioned silicon replica sample using stereoscope. Stereoscopic analysis showed that male group has a larger density of furrow and depth furrow in finger significantly. The densities of furrow were shown different not only between forearm and finger but also between finger and hand in male with female group. In conclusion, there were differences results between sex different and regional difference in skin replica profile. These quantitative data can be used for basis of further skin research for Korean.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 2014

Purpose: To evaluate the prevalence of esophageal reflux-induced symptoms after gastrectomy owing to gastric cancer and assess the relationship between esophageal reflux-induced symptoms and quality of life. Materials and Methods: From January 2012 to May 2012, 332 patients were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The patients had a history of curative resection for gastric cancer at least 6 months previously without recurrence, other malignancy, or ongoing chemotherapy. Esophageal reflux-induced symptoms were evaluated with the GerdQ questionnaire. The quality of life was evaluated with the European Organization for Research and Treatment QLQ-C30 and STO22 questionnaires. Results: Of the 332 patients, 275 had undergone subtotal gastrectomy and 57 had undergone total gastrectomy. The number of GerdQ(+) patients was 58 (21.1%) after subtotal gastrectomy, and 7 (12.3%) after total gastrectomy (P=0.127). GerdQ(+) patients showed significantly worse scores compared to those for GerdQ(-) patients in nearly all functional and symptom QLQ-C30 scales, with the difference in the mean score of global health status/quality of life and diarrhea symptoms being higher than in the minimal important difference. Additionally, in the QLQ STO22, GerdQ(+) patients had significantly worse scores in every symptom scale. The GerdQ score was negatively correlated with the global quality of life score (r=-0.170, P=0.002). Conclusions: Esophageal reflux-induced symptoms may develop at a similar rate or more frequently after subtotal gastrectomy compared to that after total gastrectomy, and decrease quality of life in gastric cancer patients. To improve quality of life after gastrectomy, new strategies are required to prevent or reduce esophageal reflux.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.529-533
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• 2011

Metallothioneins (MT) are a group of low-molecular weight, cysteine-rich, intracellular proteins that are encoded by a family of genes containing at least 10 functional isoforms in human. The expression and induction of these proteins is associated with protection against DNA damage, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. Many studies have shown increased expression of MT in various human tumors, whereas MT is down-regulated in certain tumors such as hepatocellular carcinoma and liver adenocarcinoma. Hence, the expression of MT is not universal to all human tumors but may depend on the differentiation status and proliferative index of tumors, along with other tissue factors and gene mutations. Using Northern blot analysis, we found that laminin induced expression of MT-1 in HSG and PC12 cells, which can be differentiated by laminin, but had no effect on MB-231, MDA-435, and PC-3 cells, which cannot be differentiated by laminin. In addition, we analyzed the expression level of the MT-1 gene in five prostate cancer cell lines possessing different metastatic potential. The expression of MT-1 in normal and less malignant cells (RWPE-1 and WPE1-NA22) was high and up-regulated by laminin, whereas the expression of MT-1 in WPE1-NB14, WPE1-NB11, and WPE1-NB26 cells (malignant) was extremely low and not elevated by laminin. These results suggest that the MT-1 gene is involved in laminin-mediated differentiation and affects the metastatic potential of tumor cells.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1998.06a
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• pp.322-326
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• 1998

In order to evaluate menopausal syndrome objectively, examinations were performed as follows: 1) Simplified Menopausal Index (SMI Koyama) and QOL questionnaire (Nagata) were examined subjectively. 2) Urine 17-KS-5 (S Nishikaze), 17-OHCS (OH) were examined objectively. 3) A mobile telemedical device with EKG and KSG was lent to Patients. The subjects were 48 menopausal patients who visited our university hospital as outpatients. According to the results of 5, OH, the subjects were divided into 4 Groups; Group I is high S & high OH, Group ll low S & low OH, Group 111 is low S & high OH, Group tl is high S & low OH. Group IH was the largest (64.6%), Group of was none. The subjects showed significantly lower QOL condition and higher score of SMI. In the QOL, questionnaire items of fixation to physical status (psychogenic reaction), sleep (insomnia), pain(chronic pain) were in common. In SMI, functional vascular symptoms were the largest number. On treatment, Group I was considered to have no need for supplementary agents, but anti-Oketsu agents was prescribed. For Group ll and in some supplementary agents such as red ginseng were prescribed, because they showed low 5. In conclusion, all the groups showed a sign- nificant improvement of QOL and SMI. Group I showed a decrease of OH, Group ll showed an increase of 5, Group In showed an increase of S and SIOH and a decrease of OH. These phenomena were considered prohomeostatic. In QOL, the items of chronic pain, insomnia and appetite were improved. In SMI, chillness, dyspnea, palpitation, pain and fatigability were improved. In mobile tole-medical device, abnormal findings were found in 88.2% of patients. General sdaptation syndrome (Selye, H.) is considered to adjust human life. Menopause is the transit period to exhausted stage in it. So its symptoms vary from person to person. In conclusion, 5 and OH are useful both for classification of menopausal syndrome and for determining treatments according to the classification

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.130-142
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• 2014

The Korean government is considering implementation of the marine ecosystem restoration technology program (MERTP) to analyze the current status of the marine ecosystems and causes for the ecosystem deterioration as well as to eventually establish a master strategic plan for restoring ecosystem functions and preventing ecosystem functional loss. In order to determine likelihood of successful implementation, it is essential to perform an analysis of the economic feasibility of the program. The present study assessed economic feasibility of the MERTP. To this end, the dichotomous choice contingent valuation (CV) method is used. In particular, dichotomous choice (DC) format is employed as a method of eliciting willingness-to-pay (WTP) response to incentive-compatible mechanisms. The study also employed the spike model to deal with zero WTP responses from the DC CV survey. This survey of 1,000 randomly selected households in accordance with the guidelines provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (USA) was carried out nationwide in 2013. And, the respondents were asked in person-to-person interviews about their WTP for implementing the MERTP. The results showed that the annual mean WTP was estimated to be 5,414 won per household. Consequently, the annual benefit from the MERTP would be about 98.6 billion won for the next five years. Economic feasibility assessment utilizing the MERTP investment cost and expansion cost of the value provided that net present value, benefit/cost ratio, and internal rate of return are 337.8 billion won, 5.20, and 65.9 %, respectively, which are bigger than 0, 1.0, and 5.5 %, and that the MERTP passes the cost-benefit analysis.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.328-333
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• 2012

Current differential GPS (DGPS) system consists of reference station (RS), integrity monitor (IM), and control station (CS). The RS computes the pseudorange corrections (PRC) and generates the RTCM messages for broadcasting. The IM receives the corrections from the RS broadcasting and verifies that the information is within tolerance. The CS performs realtime system status monitoring and control of the functional and performance parameters. The primary function of a DGPS integrity monitor is to verify the correction information and transmit feedback messages to the reference station. However, the current algorithms for integrity monitoring have the limitations of integrity monitor functions for satellite outage or anomalies. Therefore, this paper focuses on the detection and identification methods of satellite anomalies for maritime DGPS RSIM. Based on the function analysis of current DGPS RSIM, it first addresses the limitation of integrity monitoring functions for DGPS RSIM, and then proposes the detection and identification method of satellite anomalies. In addition, it simulates an actual GPS clock anomaly case using a GPS simulator to analyze the limitations of the integrity monitoring function. It presents the brief test results using the proposed methods for detection and identification of satellite anomalies.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.128-138
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• 1998

Background : There is increased recognition that rigorous approach to functional assessment will complement the assessment of clinical status. This study is to develop the appropriate visual function index in Korean patients with cataracts by the assessment of the reliability, validity of visual function indexes including VF-14. Methods : An prospective study was performed with 92 patients who had undergone either one eye or both eye cataract surgery by 3 ophthalmologists practicing at a university hospital. Patients were interviewed. and clinical data were obtained. Doctors were questioned with self-entered questionnaire forms. Medical record was examined to understand surgery process. The survey was conducted at 1-2 days before cataract surgery. Results : We used following measures : 7 visual function indexes, global measures of patients' trouble and satisfaction with vision, and best-corrected visual acuity(VA) in each eye. 7 visual function indexes showed a high internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alpha coefficients ${\geq}$ 0.86). The better visual acuity(operated eye, better eye), the higher patient satisfaction with vision, the lower symptom score, the lower patient trouble with vision was correlated with preoperative visual function index scores. Among 7 indexes, VF-12 with the exclusion of 2 items drivings from VF-14 is a high Cronbach's alpha coefficient and correlation coefficient and the highest $R^2$. Conclusion : We conclude that VF-12 is reliable and valid in Korea. So we suggest that in Korea, all items of VF-14, the visual function index, which is in use internationally, ought to be surveyed and VF-12 which has been excluded by 2 items of drivings from VF-14 ought to be used for analysis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.855-860
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• 1998

Background: Adequate exposure of the mitral valve is a prerequisite for mitral procedures including the repair. An extended transseptal approach in mitral valvular operations is known to have certain technical advantages in recent years because of the anatomic posterior location of the mitral valve, especially in reoperations and in the presence of the small atrium in spite of the possibility of arrhythmia due to injury of sinus nodal artery. Material and Method: We compared the preoperative status, operative, and postoperative factors among patients in two study groups, transseptal only (Group I, n=10) and extended transseptal approach(Group II, n=25). Result: There were no differences in age, sex, NYHA functional class, left atrial size, and left ventricular function. The incidence of the redo-operation was high and early postoperative arrhythmia, which was improved later, appeared in 3 patients in Group II, but not in Group I. Conclusion: We believe that atrial septal incision could be extended up to the atrial roof whenever exposure of the mitral valve during a transseptal approach is inadequate because the late results were similar.