• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.1659-1664
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• 2013

The objectives of this study were to investigate color patterns of shell and mantle edge pigmentation of a Pacific oyster, C. gigas, and to estimate variance components of the two colors. A sample of 240 F0 oysters was collected from six aquaculture farms in Tongyeong, Korea to measure shell color and mantle edge pigmentation. Among the F0s, male and female individuals with black (white) shell and black (white) mantle edge were selected and mated to generate three F1 full-sib black (white) cross families (N = 265). Two and four F2 cross families (N = 286) were also produced from black and white F1 selected individuals, respectively. Variance component estimates due to residuals and families within color were obtained using SAS PROC VARCOMP procedures to estimate heritability of shell and mantle edge pigmentation. In the F0 generation, about 29% (11%) had black (white) color for both shell and mantle edge. However, in the F1 and F2 black (white) cross families, 75% (67%) and 100% (100%) of oysters had black (white) shell colors, and 59% (23%) and 79% (55%) had black (white) mantle edge, respectively. Spearman correlation coefficients between shell and mantle edge color were 0.25, 0.74, and 0.92 in F0, F1, and F2 generations, respectively, indicating that, with generations of selection process, an individual with black (white) shell color is more likely to have black (white) mantle edge pigmentation. This suggests that shell color could be a good indicator trait for mantle edge pigmentation if selection of both the colors is implemented for a couple of generations. Estimates of heritability were 0.41 and 0.77 for shell color and 0.27 and 0.08 for mantle edge pigmentation in the F1 and F2 generations, respectively, indicating that, in general, significant proportions of phenotypic variations for the shell and mantle edge colors are explained by genetic variations between individuals. These results suggest that the two color traits are inheritable and correlated, enabling effective selection on shell and mantle edge color.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.283-290
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• 2015

Purpose: The aims of this case-control study were to assess the correlation between some food habits in the last two decades and gastric cancer in East Azerbaijan of Iran. Materials and Methods: In this hospital based case control study, 616 patients (212 gastric cancer patients, 404 cancer free patients) were recruited. Food habits of patients over the past two decades were assessed with a structured questionnaire. We used conditional logistic regression analysis for estimating crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR) and their respective 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). Results: In this study, over-eating, consumption of high fat milk and yogurt and especial types of cheese increased the risk of gastric cancer (All<0.05). Consumption of such especial cheeses such as Koze and Khiki increased the risk of gastric cancer by 12.6 fold (95% CI:1.99-79.36) and 7.36 fold (95% CI:1.33-40.54), respectively. In addition, high fat food, moldy food, and pickled vegetables consumption as well as reuse of cooking oil for frying were significantly associated with gastric cancer risk. Furthermore, intake of Ghorme (deep fried meat) was positively correlated with gastric cancer risk (OR:1.31;95%CI: 0.91-1.87). Conclusions: It can be confirmed that particular food habits which have been very common in East-Azerbaijan in the last two past decades increase risk of gastric cancer. According to our results and taking into account the long latency period of gastric cancer it can be concluded that nutrition education for a healthy diet should be performed from early childhood. However, further well designed cohort studies are needed to achieve more clear results.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.5761-5767
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• 2013

The potential correlation of X-ray repair cross-complementing group 1 (XRCC1) Arg399Gln polymorphism with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) susceptibility is ambiguous. Taking account of inconsistent results of previous meta-analyses and new emerging literatures, we conducted a meta-analysis covering 15 case-control datasets to evaluate the relationship. Relevant studies from Medline, Embase and CNKI were retrieved. A fixed-effect model or a random-effect model, depending on between-study heterogeneity, were applied to estimate the association between XRCC1 polymorphism Arg399Gln and HCC risk with the results presented as odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). In accordance with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, 15 studies with data for 6,556 individuals were enrolled in this systematic review. For overall HCC,thr XRCC1 polymorphism Arg399Gln was significantly associated with HCC susceptibility in a homozygote model as well as in a dominant model (G/G vs. A/A, OR=1.253, p=0.028; G/G+A/G vs. A/A, OR= 1.281, p=0.047, respectively), but not in a heterozygote model (A/G vs. A/A, OR=1.271, p=0.066) or a recessive model (G/G vs. A/G + A/A, OR= 1.049, p=0.542). Similar results were also observed on stratification analysis by ethnicity (A/G vs. A/A, OR=1.357, p=0.025; G/G vs. A/A, OR=1.310, p=0.011; G/G+A/G vs. A/A, OR= 1.371, p=0.013). However, no potential contribution of XRCC1 Arg399Gln polymorphism to HCC susceptibility in HBV/HCV subgroups was identified. No publication bias was found in this study. In conclusion, the XRCC1 Arg399Gln polymorphism contributes to HCC susceptibility. Due to the lack of studies in Western countries, further large-sample and rigorous studies are needed to validate the findings.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.4409-4419
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• 2015

The Bhopal gas tragedy involving methyl isocyanate (MIC) is one of the most horrific industrial accidents in recent decades. We investigated the genotoxic effects of MIC in long-term survivors and their offspring born after the 1984 occurrence. There are a few cytogenetic reports showing genetic damage in the MIC-exposed survivors, but there is no information about the associated cancer risk. The same is true about offspring. For the first time, we here assessed the micronucleus (MN) frequency using cytokinesis-blocked micronucleus (CBMN) assay to predict cancer risk in the MIC-affected population of Bhopal. A total of 92 healthy volunteers (46 MIC-affected and 46 controls) from Bhopal and various regions of India were studied taking gender and age into consideration. Binucleated lymphocytes with micronuclei (BNMN), total number of micronuclei in lymphocytes (MNL), and nuclear division index (NDI) frequencies and their relationship to age, gender and several lifestyle variabilities (smoking, alcohol consumption and tobacco-chewing) were investigated. Our observations showed relatively higher BNMN and MNL (P<0.05) in the MIC-affected than in the controls. Exposed females (EF) exhibited significantly higher BNMN and MNL (P<0.01) than their unexposed counterparts. Similarly, female offspring of the exposed (FOE) also suffered higher BNMN and MNL (P<0.05) than in controls. A significant reduction in NDI (P<0.05) was found only in EF. The affected group of non-smokers and non-alcoholics featured a higher frequency of BNMN and MNL than the control group of non-smokers and non-alcoholics (P<0.01). Similarly, the affected group of tobacco chewers showed significantly higher BNMN and MNL (P<0.001) than the non-chewers. Amongst the affected, smoking and alcohol consumption were not associated with statistically significant differences in BNMN, MNL and NDI. Nevertheless, tobacco-chewing had a preponderant effect with respect to MNL. A reasonable correlation between MNL and lifestyle habits (smoking, alcohol consumption and tobacco-chewing) was observed only in the controls. Our results suggest that EF and FOE are more susceptible to cancer development, as compared to EM and MOE. The genotoxic outcome detected in FOE reflects their parental exposure to MIC. Briefly, the observed cytogenetic damage to the MIC-affected could contribute to cancer risk, especially in the EF and FOE.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.96-102
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• 2014

Objective: A recent study suggested that rs6504340, a polymorphism within the homeobox B (HOXB) gene cluster, is associated with the susceptibility for malocclusions in Europeans. The resulting malocclusions require orthodontic treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of rs6504340 and other dentition-implicated polymorphisms with dental and occlusal traits in Korean and Japanese populations. Methods: The study participants included 223 unrelated Koreans from the Busan area and 256 unrelated Japanese individuals from the Tokyo metropolitan area. DNA samples were extracted from saliva specimens. Genotyping for rs6504340 and four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that have been shown to be associated with the timing of first tooth eruption and the number of teeth at 1 year of age (rs10506525, rs1956529, rs9674544, and rs8079702) was performed using TaqMan assays. The Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN), overjet, overbite, arch length discrepancy, crown sizes, and length and width of the dental arches were measured. Spearman's correlation coefficients were calculated to evaluate relationships between rs6504340 and these dental/occlusal traits. Results: We evaluated the aesthetic components and dental health components of the IOTN in the Korean and Japanese populations and found that neither rs6504340 nor the other four SNPs showed any association with dental and occlusal traits in these East Asian populations. Conclusions: These negative results suggest that further research is needed to identify the genetic determinants of malocclusions in order to reach a consensus.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.126-132
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• 2009

Legionella spp. is the causative agent of Legionellosis, which induces a potentially fatal form of pneumonia. With a concentrated performance during the summer of 2008, we secured 73 isolates from the water systems of 25 wards in Seoul. We analysed serotypes, pathogenic genes (Dot/Icm), and patterns of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) in an attempt to confirm relationships among them. Different from the previous year's pattern (2007), among the isolates, 69 were Legionella pneumophila and 4 were Legionella spp. The serotype distribution of Legionella pneumophila was sg1 43, sg6 9, sg5 8, sg3 8, and sg2 1. The serotype for the 4 Legionella spp. was Legionella nautarum. Most of the Legionella pneumophila had several pathogenic genes. On the other hand, the 4 Legionella spp. were defective in pathogenicity in genomic terms. The PFGE patterns of the serotypes showed a tendency for diversity of Legionella pneumophila and a close correlation with genetic pathogenicity.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.118-128
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• 2009

Objects: This study was conducted to investigate the current educational environment of herbology and to develop a future-oriented curriculum for oriental medicine. The questionnaire used in this research was drawn up based on the current curriculum referring to the current curriculum of herbology and pharmacognosy. Methods: The survey was carried out presenting the questionnaires to a total 12,754 of the students and doctors of oriental medicine through e-mailing five times; of these, 2,074 replied. Results: 1. Among the respondents, about 97% agreed that it was necessary to revise and complement the current curriculum of herbology. 2. The respondents felt that the assigned lecture time of subject was "sufficient" (19%), "insufficient" (39%) and "average" (39%), respectively, and the level of lecture was "insufficient" (37%) or "average" (43%) respectively. According to priority, it showed that the contents which needed complement in lecture were discrimination of medicinal herbs (24%), practical use of action and indications (23%), and correlation with modern disease (21%). In theoretical lectures, 69% of the respondents agreed on the introduction of natural scientific methods 3. In practice, 51% of the respondents replied that the lecture time for practice was insufficient. The contents which needed to be complemented in practice were as follows: audio-visual materials for discrimination of medicinal herbs (22%), concrete exercise for the processing of medicinal herbs (21%), and attempts for the objective discrimination of medicinal herbs using instruments (microscope, analytical instrument, residual pesticide, heavy metal, genetic analysis) (16%). 70% replied that the discrimination of medicinal herbs of high price and rarity was "none or insufficient". 4. 56% replied that it was necessary to introduce and practice physicochemical analysis, and they showed higher requests according to the increase of their educational level. However, 86% replied that they had never experienced concrete attempts for objective discrimination of medicinal herbs, which seemed to indicate that, excepting some schools, practice exercise was rarely performed. Conclusions: According to results, it seems that an urgent review on the current course of herbology and a workshop on the process of experimental practice for professors is needed.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.63 no.1
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• pp.42-50
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• 1984

Photosynthetic ability and net assimilation rate were compared between two-year-old seedlings of Pinus rigida and of Pinus rigida ${\times}$ P. taeda $F_1$ to examine whether growth potential could be predicted at young stages. Six families per each species used in this study were grown at the nursery of the Institute of Forest Genetics in Suweon. Photosynthesis and net assimilation rate showed seasonal and genetic variations among the families. Photosynthetic ability of most of the families except for three families of Pinus rigida decreased with increasing ages, while net assimilation rate of all the families decreased with increasing ages. The rank of photosynthetic ability and net assimilation rate among the families varied during the experimental period. Thus, growth potential was better predicted from total photosynthetic ability and total net assimilation rate rather titan from photosynthetic ability and net assimilation rate at a certain period. Total photosynthetic ability and total net assimilation rate were correlated with total dry weight. Correlation coefficients were 0.6394 and 0.7998, respectively. Thus, growth potential of the two species could be predicted by the measurement of total photosynthetic ability and total net assimilation rate. Family K.G. No. $13{\times}7-107$ from Pinus rigida ${\times}$ P. taeda $F_1$ and family K.G. No. 1 from Pinus rigida were the best in total photosynthetic ability and total net assimilation rate within species.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.49-53
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• 2012

X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is a rare inherited metabolic disease which results in impaired peroxisomal ${\beta}$-oxidation and the accumulation of very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA) in the adrenal cortex, the myelin of the central nervous system, and the testes. X-linked ALD is caused by mutations in the ABCD1 gene encoding an ATP-binding cassette transporter superfamily located in the peroxisomal membrane. This disease is characterized by a variety of phenotypes. The classic childhood cerebral ALD is a rapidly progressive demyelinating condition affecting the cerebral white matter before the age of 10 years in boys. We report the case of a 8-year-old with childhood cerebral X-linked ALD who developed inattention, hyperactivity, motor incoordination and hemiparesis. We diagnosed ALD with elevated plasma very long chain fatty acid level and diffuse high signal intensity lesions in both parieto-occipital white matter and cerebellar white matter in brain MRI. We identified a novel c.983delT (p.Met329CysfsX7) mutation of the ABCD1 gene. There is no correlation between X-ALD phenotype and mutations in the ABCD1 gene. Further studies for searching additional non-genetic factor which determine the phenotypic variation will be needed.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.33 no.2 s.90
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• pp.145-151
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• 2000

A porous silicate material named as CellCaSi was tested for the removal of microalgae in the water sample from a eutrophic pond. The effects of the CellCaSi on water qualities were investigated on the basis of both the particle size (under 1, 2,and 4 mm) and the added amount (0, 1, 5, and 10 g/l) of the CellCaSi. The removal efficiency of chlorophyll-a was highest at 79% by the addition of 10 g/l of the CellCaSi (under 1 mm) at day 3 after treatment. That is, the removal efficiency of chlorophyll-a by the CellCaSi increased with smaller particle size and more added amount. The dominant species, Chlorella ellipsoidea, was not changed by the addition of the CellCaSi, but the species number and standing crop of the algae diminished. Total nitrogen concentration was not changed much by the addition of the CellCaSi, whereas total phosphorus concentration was reduced. pH and turbidity were not changed by the addition of the CellCaSi, whereas conductivity showed a high correlation with the amount of added CellCaSi ($Y\;=\;29.2 {\cdot}X+306$, $r^2\;=0.984$). Therefore, it seems to be necessary to limit the amount of the CellCaSi under 6.6 g/1 in consideration of a registered maximum conductivity of $500\;{\mu}mhos/cm$ for raw and potable waters.