• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.3959-3963
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• 2014

The tumour suppressor genes, p53 and pRb, are known to play important roles in neoplastic transformation. While molecular routes to the uncontrolled growth of hepatocytes, leading to primary liver cancer have generated considerable interest, the roles of p53 and pRb mutations in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and hepatoblastoma (HB) remain to be clarified. We examined the immunohistochemical expression of p53 and pRb gene products in 26 HCC and 9 HB, sampled into tissue microarray blocks. 10 (38%) of 26 HCC showed > 10% tumour nuclear staining for p53 protein, 3 of these also being HbsAg positive. Conversely, none of 9 HB expressed nuclear p53 immunopositivity. Some 24 (92%) HCC and 8 (89%) HB showed loss of pRb nuclear expression. Two of the 26 HCC and one of the 9 HB showed >10% tumour nuclear staining for pRb protein. Our results suggest that p53 does not have an important role in the development of HB but may contribute in HCC. There is also loss of pRb expression in the majority of HCC and HB, supporting loss of pRb gene function in the hepatocarcinogenesis pathway. However, a comparison of the staining profiles of p53 and pRb proteins in HCC and HB did not reveal a consistent pattern to differentiate between the two types of tumours immunohistochemically. Hence the use of p53 and pRB protein expression has no contribution in the situation where there is a diagnostic difficulty in deciding between HCC and HB.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.60-71
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• 2011

Purpose: This study explored cardiovascular health (CVH), depressive symptoms, and well-being among community-based Korean women according to hwa-byung (HB) symptoms. Methods: This cross-sectional study measured HB symptoms, depressive symptoms, quality of life (QoL), and spiritual well-being (SWB) in addition to biophysical indicators of CVH. Results: Fourteen women of the HB group are more likely to live alone with lower income than 36 women in the comparison group. Compared to the comparison group, the HB group has larger mean waist circumference and higher prevalence of abdominal obesity along with more knee arthritis and back pain. Although women in the HB group appeared worse in other CVH than their counterparts, this was not statistically significant. It is noteworthy, that the HB group showed a higher probability of having a hard cardiovascular event (CVE) within 10 years than the comparison group. Women in the HB group reported more depressive symptoms, poor QoL, and low SWB as well as smoking and sleep difficulties. Conclusion: Despite the small sample size, significant relationships of HB symptoms to abdominal obesity, the probability of a hard CVE within 10 years, and psychosocial health were found. Strategies for effective community-based cardiovascular programs for Korean women may include HB screening and/or management.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.371-374
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• 2002

Production of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate)［P(3HB/V)］, by fed-batch culture of recombinant Escherichia coli harboring a plasmid containing the Alcaligenes latus polyhy-droxyalkanoate (PHA) biosynthesis genes, was examined in two pilot-scale fermentors with air supply only, In a 30 L fermentor having a XLa value of 0.11 S­$^1$, the final P(3HB/V) concentration and the P(3HB/V) content obtained were 29.6 g/L and 70.1 wt%, respectively giving a productivity of 1.37 g P(3HB/V)/L-h. In a 300 L fermentor having a XLa of 0.03 S­$^1$, the P(3HB/V) concentration and the P(3HB/V) content were 20.4 g/L and 69 wt%, respectively giving a productivity of 1.06g P(3HB/V)/L-h. These results suggest that economical production of P(3HB/V) is possible by fed-batch culture of recombinant E. coli in a large-scale fermentor having low KLa value.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.251-258
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• 2015

Objectives: This study was performed to evaluate the impact of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level on characteristics and prognosis of maxillofacial fascial infection in diabetic patients. Materials and Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 72 patients (35 patients with HbA1c lower than 7.0% and 37 patients with HbA1c higher than 7.0%) diagnosed with maxillofacial fascial space infection and hospitalized for treatment at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Dankook University Hospital (Cheonan, Korea) from January 2005 to February 2014. We compared demographics, parameters of glucoregulation (HbA1c), laboratory parameters of inflammation (white blood cell [WBC], C-reactive protein [CRP] count), type and number of involved spaces, type and number of antibiotics, period of hospitalization, number of surgical operations, need for tracheostomy, complications, computed tomography (CT), and microorganisms between the two groups. Results: Compared with the well-controlled diabetes mellitus (DM) group (HbA1c <7.0%), patients in the poorly-controlled (HbA1c ${\geq}7.0%$) DM group had the following characteristics: longer hospitalization periods, higher values of laboratory parameters of inflammation (WBC, CRP count) at the time of admission, higher number of antibiotics prescribed, more frequent complications, frequent deep neck space involvement, and distinctive main causative microorganisms. As the HbA1c level increases, hospitalization periods and incidence of complications increase gradually. Conclusion: This retrospective study suggests that regulation of DM significantly impacts maxillofacial fascial infection. Poorly controlled DM with high HbA1c level negatively influences the prognosis of infection.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.659-663
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• 2002

${\beta}$ thalassemias are usually transmitted as autosomal recessive traits. However, some dominant forms of ${\beta}$ thalassemia have been identified in individuals who have inherited a single copy of an abnormal ${\beta}$ globin gene. Thalassemia intermedia with mild anemia, jaundice, and splenomegaly has been observed in these patients. Electrophoresis has shown elevated Hemoglobin(Hb) $A_2$ and Hb F levels. In particular, there are inclusion bodies in the erythroid precursors and peripheral red blood cells after splenectomy. The molecular basis of these dominant ${\beta}$ thalassemias is heterogeneous. The authors studied the first Korean case of dominantly inherited ${\beta}$ thalassemia due to Hb Dieppe. Hb Dieppe is a missense mutation of ${\beta}$ codon $127(CAG{\rightarrow}CGG)Gln{\rightarrow}Arg$. The patient in this case was characterized by moderate anemia, hypochromia, microcytosis, elevated Hb $A_2$ levels, elevated Hb F levels and splenomegaly. The father of the patient also has the same disease. We report this case and review related literature.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.62-66
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• 2009

HbA1c is the major fraction of glycated hemoglobin, and used primarily to identify the average plasma glucose concentration over prolonged periods of time, mostly 2-3 months. It is used as markers for the diagnosis and monitoring of diabetic patients and increasingly used a marker in health screening check up for general populations. In this study, HbA1c was measured with Cobas integra 800 (Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany), using immunoturbidimetry principles. We established the reference interval for HbA1c with Cobas integra 800 and evaluated its significance. The study subjects were 36,140 (male 57.5%, and female 42.2%) who visited the Health Promotion Center of a tertiary care center in Seoul for health checkup from January to September, 2008. HbA1c levels were measured with immunoturbidimetric method. Statistical evaluation was done with SPSS. Comparison between male and female was checked with Mann-Whitney test, and among age groups with Kruskal-Wallis test. Reference interval for HbA1c was from 4.8% to 6.1%. There was no significant difference between male and female with Mann-Whitney test (P=0.539). There was significant difference among age groups with Kruskal-Wallis test (P<0.05). Reference interval for HbA1c with Cobas integra 800 was 4.8~6.1%, which was different from conventional one, 4.4-6.4%. Establishment of reference interval for each principle is needed.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.358-362
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• 2004

Characteristics of cell growth and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB-co-4HB)] synthesis was investigated through flask and batch cultures of Alcaligenes latus and Comamonas acidovorans. The specific growth rate of C. acidovorans increased with yeast extract concentration and decreased with 1,4-butanediol concentration. Optimum glucose concentration for growth of C. acidovorans was 20 g/L. In one-step flask cultures of C. acidovorans, final dry cell weight and PHA content decreased with the ratio of 1,4-butanediol to glucose, while the 4HB fraction in copolymers gradually increased to 100 $mol\%$ with an initial 1,4-butanediol concentration of 20 g/L as single carbon source. The specific growth rate of A. latus decreased with v-butyrolactone concentration and optimum sucrose concentration for growth was 10 g/L. In batch cultures of A. latus, 4HB fraction increased with initial v-butyrolactone concentration. P(3HB-co-4HB) with 19 $mol\%$ 4HB was obtained when the initial ratio of v-butyloractone (g/L) to sucrose (g/L) was 10 : 10.

• Journal of Korea Association of Health Promotion
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.39-48
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• 2006

Background : Diabetes mellitus is chronic condition which needs patients' understanding of disease status and effort for disease control. We investigated whether the patients' estimation for blood glucose control was reliable or not comparing with their HbA1C value, Method: Among people who visited one health promotion center in Seoul from 1995 to 2003,those who answered as having diabetes mellitus on self reported questionnaire were identified. Subsequent question was whether his or her diabetes was well controlled or not. We compared these replies with their HbA1C values. When their HbA1C values were below7% with answering not well controlled, we analyzed if there was any variable which can predict the discrepancy. And the same analyze we did for the opposite situation. Result: A total of 1193 patients were eligible. Those who answered as well controlled formed32.9% of the group with HbA1C values above 7%. In the cases with well controlled though significantly associated with this discrepancy, Conclusion: Considerable proportion of diabetic patients' estimation for diabetic control status was not matched with glycemic control guideline. For successful management of diabetes mellitus, more efforts for patient education and communication skills are essential.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.380-389
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• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in HbA1c through an education and consultation intervention with diabetic workers. Methods: The participants were 65 workers with Type 2 diabetes. The data were collected from May to October 2014 using questionnaires. The intervention program included six monthly sessions on exercise, dietary habits, stress management, and diabetes knowledge. Changes in HbA1c were evaluated. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and paired t-tests with SPSS WIN23.0. Results: The mean of HbA1c was 7.67% before intervention and 7.28% after intervention, and this difference was statistically significant (P<0.01).The mean level of HbA1c was significantly different depending on job position, working hours, work duration, and smoking habit. Conclusion: In conclusion, these findings support the usefulness of intervention programs in reducing HbA1c. Therefore, appropriate intervention programs involving exercise, dietary habits, stress management and diabetes knowledge should be developed and provided to diabetic workers.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.537-544
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• 1998

The cultivation conditions of transformant Alcaligenes eutrophus AER5 harboring cloned phbC gene for mass production of poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-3-hydroxyvalerate)[P(3HB-3HV)] containing high molar fraction of 3-hydroxyvalerate (3-HV) were investigated. In two-stage batch cultivation, transformant accumulated P(3HB-3HV) containing 52.2 mol% of 3HV compared to 30 mol% of parent strain A. eutrophus H16. The increased 3-HV molar fraction was due to the amplified activity of PHB synthase participating in condensation of 3-HB and 3-HV. To increase efficiency of P(3HB-3HV) accumulation, fructose was added along with precursor compound valerate, and total cell mass and P(3HB-3HV) concentrations remarkably increased, but not 3-HV molar fraction. The effect of magnesium ion showed that P(3HB-3HV) concentration and 3-HV molar fraction were significantly increased upto 6.1 g/L and 71.3 mol% at 0.01 g/L of MgSO$_4$, respectively. The efficiency of several pH adjuster, NaOH, NaOH and (NH$_4$)$_2$SO$_4$, and NH$_4$OH, on total cell mass, p(3HB-3HV) concentration, and 3-HV molar fraction was also compared. To overcome the disadvantage of two-stage cultivation, one-stage intermittent fed-batch cultivation was attempted, such a way 10.0 g/L of fructose was supplied for cell growth at initial 36 hr and then 10.0 g/L of valerate and 5.0 g/L of fructose were applied to induce the accumulation of P(3HB-3HV), consequently, 10.4 g/L of P(3HB-3HV) with 38 mol% of 3-HV fraction could be obtained after 72 hr. These results can be used for elucidating cultivation strategy for mass production of P(3HB-3HV) containing high 3-HV molar fraction using transformant A. eutrophus AER5 harboring cloned phbC gene.