• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.5 s.250
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• pp.323-334
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• 2005

Background: Gene therapy is a new and promising option for the treatment of severe myocardial ischemia by therapeutic angiogenesis. The goal of this study was to elucidate the efficacy of therapeutic angiogenesis by using VEGF165 in large animals. Material and Method: Twenty-one pigs that underwent ligation of the distal left anterior descending coronary artery were randomly allocated to one of two treatments: intramyocardial injection of pCK-VEGF (VEGF) or intramyocardial injection of pCK-Null (Control). Injections were administered 30 days after ligation. Seven pigs died during the trial, but eight pigs from VEGF and six from Control survived. Echo-cardiography was performed on day 0 (preoperative) and on days 30 and 60 following coronary ligation. Gated myocardial single photon emission computed tomography imaging (SPECT) with $^{99m}Tc-labeled$ sestamibi was performed on days 30 and 60. Myocardial perfusion was assessed from the uptake of $^{99m}Tc-labeled$ sestamibi at rest. Global and regional myocardial function as well as post-infarction left ventricular remodeling were assessed from segmental wall thickening; left ventricular ejection fraction (EF); end systolic volume (ESV); and end diastolic volume (EDV) using gated SPECT and echocardiography. Myocardium of the ischemic border zone into which pCK plasmid vector had been injected was also sampled to assess micro-capillary density. Result: Micro-capillary density was significantly higher in the VEGF than in Control ($386\pm110/mm^{2}\;vs.\;291\pm127/mm^{2};\;p<0.001$). Segmental perfusion increased significantly from day 30 to day 60 after intramyocardial injection of plasmid vector in VEGF ($48.4\pm15.2\%\;vs.\;53.8\pm19.6\%;\;p<0.001$), while no significant change was observed in the Control ($45.1\pm17.0\%\;vs.\;43.4\pm17.7\%;\;p=0.186$). This resulted in a significant difference in the percentage changes between the two groups ($11.4\pm27.0\%\;increase\;vs.\;2.7\pm19.0\%\;decrease;\;p=0.003$). Segmental wall thickening increased significantly from day 30 to day 60 in both groups; the increments did not differ between groups. ESV measured using echocardiography increased significantly from day 0 to day 30 in VEGF ($22.9\pm9.9\;mL\;vs.\;32.3\pm9.1\;mL;\; p=0.006$) and in Control ($26.3\pm12.0\;mL\;vs.\;36.8\pm9.7\;mL;\;p=0.046$). EF decreased significantly in VEGF ($52.0\pm7.7\%\;vs.\;46.5\pm7.4\%;\;p=0.004$) and in Control ($48.2\pm9.2\%\;vs.\;41.6\pm10.0\%;\;p=0.028$). There was no significant change in EDV. The interval changes (days $30\~60$) of EF, ESV, and EDV did not differ significantly between groups both by gated SPECT and by echocardiography. Conclusion: Intramyocardial injection of pCK-VEGF165 induced therapeutic angiogenesis and improved myocardial perfusion. However, post-infarction remodeling and global myocardial function were not improved.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.128-139
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• 1998

Background: It is well known that various cytokines and growth factors secreted mainly from alveolar macrophages do the key role in the pathogenesis of IPF. But recently it has been known that structural cells like fibroblast can also release cytokines. So the phenotypic changes in fibroblasts of IPF may do a role in continuous progression of fibrosis. The aim of this study is to find out whether there is a change in the biologic properties of the lung fibroblasts of IPF. Subjects and Method: The study was done on 13 patients with IPF diagnosed by open or thoracoscopic lung biopsy and 7 control patients who underwent resectional surgery for lung cancer. Lung fibroblast cell lines (FB) were established by explant culture technique from the biopsy or resected specimen Result: Basal proliferation of the fibroblast of IPF(IFB) measured by BrdU uptake tended to be highter than control fibroblast(NFB) (0.212 0.107 vs $0.319{\pm}0.143$, p=0.0922), also there was no significant difference in proliferation after the stimulation with PDGF or 10% serum. On the contrary, the degree of inhibition in proliferation by PGE2 was significantly lower($33.0{\pm}13.1%$) in IFB than control($46.7{\pm}10.0%$, p=0.0429). The IFB secreted significantly higher amount of MCP-l($l574{\pm}1283$ pg/ml) spontaneously than NFB($243{\pm}100$ pg/ml) and also after the stimulation with TGF-$\beta$($3.23{\pm}1.31$ ng/ml vs $0.552{\pm}0.236$ ng/ml, p=0.0012). Similarly IL-8 and IL-6 seretion of IFB was significantly higher than NFB at basal state and with TGF-$beta$ stimulation. But after the maximal stimulation with IL-1,8, no significant difference in cytokine secretion was found between IFB and NFB. Conclusion : Above data suggest that the fibroblasts of IPF were phenotypically changed and these change may do a role in the pathogenesis of IPF.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.162-174
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• 1997

Background : Metabolic cooperation via gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) is an important mechanism of the bystander effect in gene therapy using the Herpes Simplex Virus thymidine kinase/ganciclovir (HSVtk) "prodrug" system. Since retinoids have been reported to increase GJIC by induction of connexin 43 expression, we hyporthesized that treatment of tumor cells with retinoic acid could augment the bystander effect of the HSVtk/GCV system and result in improved tumor cell killing by enhancing GJIC. Methods : We transferred HSVtk gene to SKHep-J cell line that does not express connexin43, and also transferred the gene to human and murine mesothelioma cell lines that express connexin43. We verified that retinoic acid enhanced GJIC utilizing a functional double-dye transfer study and evaluated the effects of retinoic acid on the growth rate of tumor cells. We then tested the effects of retinoic acid on bystander-mediated cell killing. Results : Addition of all-trans retinoic acid (RA) increased GJIC in cell lines expressing connexin 43 and was asspciated with more efficient in vitro bystander killing in cells transduced with HSVtk via adenoviral and retroviral vectors. In contrast, there was no increase in the efficiency of the bystander effect after exposure to RA in a cell line which had no delectable connexin 43. Conclusion : These results provide evidence that retinoids can augment the efficiency of cell killing with the HSVtk/GCV system by enhancing bystander effect and may thus be a promising new approach to improve responses in gene therapy utilizing the HSVtk system to treat tumors.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.638-645
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• 2004

Background : Uteroglobin is a protein produced by the normal bronchial epithelium and its expression level is lower in non-small cell lung cancer tissues and cell lines. It mainly functions as an anti-inflammatory, and when it is overexpressed in cancer cells, the neoplastic phenotype is antagonized. cPLA2 and COX-2, which are also associated with inflammation, were reported to be related to cancer. The relationship between cPLA2, COX-2 and uteroglobin is unclear. The relationship between uteroglobin and ERK, which is related to cell growth, is also not unclear. This study investigated the changes in the cPLA2 and COX-2 expression levels and the ERK activities after the overexpression of uteroglobin in non-small cell lung cancer cell lines. Methods : The A549 and NCI-H460 cell lines were infected by adenovirus-null and adenovirusuteroglobin. The cChange in the cPLA2, COX-2 expression level and ERK activity after uteroglobin overexpression was measured by Western blot. The change in MMP activity was measured by zymography. Results : Western blot revealed decreased expression levels of cPLA2, and COX-2, and increased pERK levels in nonsmall cell lung cancer cells after uteroglobin overexpression. Zymography revealed no changes in the MMP-2 activity and lower MMP-9 activity. U0126, which is a specific inhibitor of ERK-activating kinase MEK-1/-2, prevented the decrease in the MMP-9 activity Conclusions : A decrease in cPLA2 expression, COX-2 expression, MMP-9 activity and a increase in ERK activity may be related to the anticancer effects of uteroglobin in nonsmall cell lung cancer cells.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.323-331
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• 2013

BACKGROUND: Liquid pig manure(LPM) is a useful resource if it is sufficiently fermented and utilized in the agriculture; it provides nutrients to soils, circulates organic materials and replaces chemical fertilizers(CF) with reasonable costs. Currently, there are not many trials in paddy field to continuously cultivate the crops in winter and summer season using LPM. METHODS AND RESULTS: When cultivating winter forage crops (Whole-crop-barley(WCB), Rye, Triticale, Italian ryegrass(IRG)) and summer feed corns in the rice field, CF was treated with $N-P_2O_5-K_2O$(winter forage crops: 120-100-100kg/ha, summer feed corn: 200-150-150 kg/ha), and subsequently, growth, yields, feed values and chemical properties of soil were investigated. LPM-applied areas in both winter and summer forage crops showed higher plant lengths and tillers than those of CF-applied areas, but the yield in CF-applied areas was higher than that of LPM-applied areas under continuous application of 2 years. Crude protein, neutral detergent fiber(NDF), acid detergent fiber(ADF) and total digestion nutrient(TDN) in feed values showed almost similar results between LPM and CF-applied areas. EC, organic matter, available phosphate and exchangeable cations of soils after the experiment increased in LPM applied areas, and especially, the contents of available phosphate and exchangeable sodium were high. CONCLUSION(S): Considering the above results, it was concluded that if LPM are properly utilized for continuous winter and summer cultivation of feed crops at paddy field, the cultivation costs could be decreased and be helpful to the stable production of domestic feeds.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.287-293
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• 2013

BACKGROUND: Soil incorporation of green manure crop(GMC) and liquid pig manure(LPM) is one of the methods for reduction of chemical fertilizer and the increase of crop yield. The objective of this study was to select optimal incorporation time of GMCs on growth and nutrient property in paddy soil treated LPM. METHODS AND RESULTS: The kinds of GMCs were Hordeum vulgare L.(green barley, GB) and Vicia villosa roth(hairy vetch, HV). The effects of GMCs on rice yield were investigated under different incorporation times of GMCs(LPM1: at 25 days before rice transplantation, LPM2: at 18 days before rice transplantation, LPM3: at 11 days before rice transplantation). In GB treatments, the biomass was greater in the order of $$LPM3{\geq_-}LPM2{\geq_-}LPM1$$. Contents of N, P and K ranged 1.21~1.28, 0.36~0.38 and 1.41~1.45%, respectively, regardless of incorporation times. The amounts of nutrient supply in GB treatments were higher in LPM1 than those in other treatment conditions. In GB treatments, rice yields in LPM1, LPM2 and LPM3 were 523, 525 and 526(increasing yield 3% than control) kg/10a, respectively. In HV treatments, the amounts of nutrient supply were higher in the order of $$LPM3{\geq_-}LPM2{\geq_-}LPM1$$. Rice yields were 530 kg/10a for LPM1, 531 kg/10a for LPM2, 535 (increasing yield 5% than control) kg/10a for LPM3 in HV treatments, respectively. CONCLUSION(s): The optimum incorporation time of green barley and hairy vetch was at 11 days before rice transplantation(LPM3) in paddy soil with liquid pig manure.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.307-319
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• 1998

This study is an empirical investigation and study on the measurement of nursing service quality as perceived by patients. A series of H1. H2. H3 alternative hypotheses were tested using a sample of 250 patients in Taegu City. Korea. HI hypothese were tested for application of five component of service quality (SERVQlTAL and SE RPERF : tangiblity. reliability. responsiveness. accessibility. understandability) in Taegu area Hospitals. Validity test - the five components of service quality were rearranged into two components of service quality (personal factor. nonpersonal factor). Although SERVQUAL was verified in USA. application for five components of service quality in Korea indicated that it need more analytical studies. Nobody can deny the fact that the recent growth of the nursing service quality is one of the most important driving forces of hospital management. In many hospitals. the nursing quality charges more than 50% of the medical service quality. As a result. many hospital managers should be enormous interests in the investment potentiality of the nursing service. However. doesn't many researchers invest their time and effort on the research of the quality control in nursing service. Nursing service management is the process to satisfy customer's desires and expectations through the various service activities. Presently nursing service are being faced with three Common tasks of improving quality of nursing service. competitively differential advantage and productivity because of quantitative expansion of Nursing service. Such a phenomenon is also found in our medical service industry. resulting from increasing demands for medical service owing to national medical insurance policy and consumer's attitude change emphasizing prevention of illness. excessiveness of medical facilities in large cities and increasing medical lawsuits due to influence of consumerism. Therefore. under such circumstances. this research on nursing service is conducted from nursing managements to improve the nursing service quality problems faced by medical institutions. The results of this theoretical/empirical research are as follows: 1. Nursing service Quality is regarded as patients' perceived quality and evaluated on the basis (5 dimension) of technical and functional quality. 2. Nursing service Quality is a concept of patients evaluation on the measurable multi-dimensions intrinsic and extrinsic attributes of service. 3. Nursing service Quality is conceptually defined as the difference between the perceived service and the expected service. 4. Korean consumers trend to evaluate nursing service quality based on such dimensions as responsiveness and reliability. understandability. accessibility. tangibility. 5. After analyzing whether or not there are some differences in respective medical institution. it was found that there are significant difference on understandability. reliability. communicability. courtesy. competence. 6. After analyzing the difference between the expected nursing service and the nursing perceived service, it was found that the expected nursing service is higher than the perceived service in every medical institution. 7. HI hypothesis was tested with regard to the validity test between SERVQUAL and SERVPERF in nursing service quality. The result of validity test between SERVQUAL and SERVPERF was found to have differential result. That is the R2 of SERVPERF is higher than that of SERVQUAL. Therefore. HI was verified in nursing management. H2. H3 hypotheses were tested whether or not the nursing service quality and patient satisfaction is the preceding variable. The result of H2 hypothes is that the nursing service quality is the preceding variable of patient satisfaction and the patient satisfaction is that of revisiting intention. After analyzing whether or not there is any differences on the demographic variable of five nursing service quality factor. it was found that there are statistically significant differences on communicability and courtesy at the sex. understand ability. accessibility and tangibility at the age. understandability at the academic background respectively.

• Journal of Venture Innovation
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.31-46
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• 2019

Materials and Parts acts as the bridge in the manufacturing industry. In 2018, the materials and parts industry became the leading industry in Korea as its export reached $316.2 billion, accounting for 52.3 percent of the country's total exports. As such, it is the main industry of Korea leading the trade surplus, but when it comes to Japan, it is not. The trade deficit with Japan shrinks to $24 billion last year but the materials and parts industry still accounts for 60 percent of total deficit, which is about $15.1 billion. Today Japan has the top competitiveness in the high-tech materials and parts industry and the factors can be found in cooperation and symbiosis among companies, monotsukuri spirit, and long-term government policy. In order for Korean economy to pursue the Japan's high-tech materials and parts industry, the following change of perception is necessary. First, the material and parts industry requires win-win cooperation. In general, materials and parts are intermediate products. Therefore, it is important to understand the characterist that the transactions are all made up between companies not the with consumers. Second, expansion of joint technology development is absolutely necessary. South Korea is a leading country in the field of general-purpose materials and parts. However, the research shows that South Korea has structure which small and medium-sized companies could have difficulties in developing high-tech products as finding demand and developing market are hard due to low participation of large corporations at R&D stage. It is necessary for large corporations to participate in joint R&D and share opinions of customers from the beginning stage of R&D. Third, a long-term approach is needed. Structural vulnerabilities in the Korea's materials and parts industry, including the lack of advanced technologies is the main reason of solidification of Korea's trade deficit with Japan but there are also cultural differences about technology in the background. Even if it takes time, a long-term approach is absolutely necessary to build up technology and know-how in order to secure competitiveness in the high-tech materials and parts industry. This approach applies to act of corporation and government policy.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.59 no.2
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• pp.142-150
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• 2005

Background : Continuous growth stimulation by various factors, as well as chronic oxidative stress, may co-exist in many solid tumors, such as lung cancer. A new family of antioxidant proteins, the peroxiredoxins (Prxs), have been implicated in the regulation of many cellular processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. However, a real pathophysiological significance of Prx proteins, especially in lung disease, has not been sufficiently defined. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the distribution and expression of various Prx isoforms in lung cancer and other pulmonary conditions. Method : Patients diagnosed with lung cancer, and who underwent surgery at the Ajou Medical Center, were enrolled. The expressions of Prxs, Thioredoxin (Trx) and Thioredoxin reductase (TR) were analyzed using proteomic techniques and the subcellular localization of Prx proteins was studied using immunohistochemistry on normal mouse lung tissue. Result : Immunohistochemical staining has shown the isoforms of Prx I, II, III and V are predominantly expressed in bronchial and alveolar lining epithelia, as well as in the alveolar macrophages of the normal mouse lung. The isoforms of Prx I and III, and thioredoxin were also found to be over-expressed in the lung cancer tissues compared to their paired normal lung controls. There was also an increased amount of the oxidized form of Prx I, as well as a putative truncated form of Prx III, in the lung cancer samples when analyzed using 2-dimensional electrophoresis. In addition, a 43 kDa intermediate molecular weight protein band, and other high molecular weight bands of over 20 kDa, recognized by the anti-Prx I antibody, were present in the tissue extracts of lung cancer patients on 1-Dimensional electrophoresis, which require further investigation. Conclusion : The over-expressions of Prx I and III, and Trx in human lung cancer tissue, as well as their possible chaperoning function, may represent an attempt by tumor cells to adjust to their microenvironment in a manner advantageous to their survival and proliferation, while maintaining their malignant potential.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.302-313
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• 1995

Background: Tumor necrosis factor(TNF) showed antitumor cytolytic effects on sensitive tumor cells in numerous in vivo and in vitro studies. But it could not be administered systemically to human because of severe systemic adverse effects at effective concentrations against tumor cells. Many studies showed that a high concentrations of TNF in the local milieu may evoke in vivo TNF-responsive mechanisms sufficient to suppress tumor growth. Recently developed technique of TNF gene transfer to tumor cells using retrovirus vector could be a good candidate for local TNF administration. TNF is also known to synergistically enhance in vitro cytotoxicity of chemotherapeutic drugs targeted to DNA topoisomerase II against TNF-sensitive tumor cell lines. In this study the in vitro chemosensitivity against DNA topoisomerase II targeted chemotherapeutic drugs was evaluated using some respiratory cancer cell lines to which TNF gene had been transferred. Method: NCI-H2058, a human mesothelioma cell line, A549, a human lung adenocarcinoma cell line and WEHI 164 cell line, a murine fibrosarcoma cell line were treated with etoposide and doxorubicin, which are typical topoisomerase II - targeted chemotherapeutic agents, at different concentration. The resultant cytotoxicity was measured by MIT assay. Then the cytotoxicity of the same chemotherapeutic agents was measured after TNF-$\alpha$ gene-transfer and the two results were compared. Results: The cytotoxicity was not increased significantly in WEHI164 cell line and A549 cell line but statistically significant increase was observed in H2058 cell line when TNF-$\alpha$ gene was transferred(p<0.05). Conclusion: These findings show that TNF-$\alpha$ gene transfer to respiratory cancer cell lines results in variable effects on chemosensitivity against topoisomerase II inhibitor among different cell lines in vitro and can be additively cytotoxic in certain selective tumor cell lines.