• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.sup3
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• pp.185-190
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• 2016

Breast cancer is the first or second malignancy among women worldwide. Illness perception (IP) and quality of life (QoL) are major issues considering breast cancer management. An attempt was here made to inspect the predictive variables influencing IP and their impact on QoL in cancer patients. The key predictors adapted from previous studies including life satisfaction, perceived social support, self-esteem, hope, optimism, and spiritual well being were taken into account. Our sample included 200 female volunteers suffering from breast cancer applying exclusion criteria. The data were collected using various questionnaires and statistically analyzed by means of path analysis and structural equation modeling. The results revealed that of the six predictors, spiritual well being and social support had direct effects on QoL and IP. The only path with significant indirect correlation with IP was social support. Spiritual well being had the second significant direct effect on IP. Self-esteem occupied the third rank in direct effects on both QoL and IP. In conclusion, here in Iran and most likely in other strongly religious communities, spiritual intervention is an effective strategy to raise QoL. Also social support helps women suffering from breast cancer to experience better conception and coping strategies.

• BMB Reports
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.381-385
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• 2005

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is an emerging infectious disease associated with a novel coronavirus (CoV) that was identified and molecularly characterized in 2003. Previous studies on various coronaviruses indicate that protein-protein interactions amongst various coronavirus proteins are critical for viral assembly and morphogenesis. It is necessary to elucidate the molecular mechanism of SARS-CoV replication and rationalize the anti-SARS therapeutic intervention. In this study, we employed an in vitro GST pull-down assay to investigate the interaction between the membrane (M) and the nucleocapsid (N) proteins. Our results show that the interaction between the M and N proteins does take place in vitro. Moreover, we provide an evidence that 12 amino acids domain (194-205) in the M protein is responsible for binding to N protein. Our work will help shed light on the molecular mechanism of the virus assembly and provide valuable information pertaining to rationalization of future anti-viral strategies.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.534-540
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• 2006

Recent studies have shown that environmental, biochemical, nutritional or genetic factors affect bone mineral density (BMD). The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of vitamin D receptor (VDR) gentotype and nutritional status on BMD of elderly women living in a rural area. Three hundred thirty five elderly women over 65 years in Asan participated the study. Data for demographic and nutrient intakes were obtained by survey with a two day 24 hr recall method. BMD was measured by broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) using quantitative ultrasound (QUS). VDR genotypes of the subjects analyzed with Bsm I restriction enzyme were bb (92%), Bb (7%) and BB (1%). No differences were found between genotypes bb and Bb/BB in age, menopausal age, body mass index and body fat. BUA of bb genotype was higher (62.5 $\pm$ 15.6 dB/MHz) than Bb/BB genotype (56.1 $\pm$ 17.6 dB/MHz) by Student's t-tests. Correlation analyses showed strong negative correlation of BMD and age, but positive correlation with BMI, energy and calcium intake. When subgroup analyses were conducted after stratification by the median calcium intake level (412.9 mg/d), the above median calcium intake group showed significant difference in BUA by VDR genotype while the lower median calcium intake group did not show significant difference. The current study confirmed interaction of calcium intake and VDR genotype in association with BMD. Further nutritional intervention will be needed to improve calcium status of the elderly women living in rural areas.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.479-487
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• 2006

Many epidemiological and observational studies show that distorted body image of normal body weight is widespread among Korean young females. This study was performed to evaluate the prevalence of overweight and underweight of young females and, to compare nutrient intakes, body composition, serum indices (lipids, MDA: Malondialdehyde, TAS : Total Antioxidant Status) with different BMI groups. The subjects were 75 university students in Seoul. We divided the subjects into 3 groups according to their BMI by IOTF guideline (UW: underweight group, BMI < 18.5, NW: normal body weight group; 18.5 $\leq$ BMI < 23.0, OW: overweight group; BMI $\geq$ 23.0). Data on dietary intakes, body compositions and serum indices were obtained in 3 groups. Differences on all of the above variables were assessed by body weight groups. Using IOTF guidelines, the prevalence of overweight and underweight in young females were 23%, 61%, 16% respectively. $\beta$-carotene and vitamin A intake of UW were significantly higher than that of NW (p < 0.05). Fiber intakes of NW was significantly higher than that of W (p < 0.05). But intakes of energy and the other nutrients were not significantly different among BMI groups. Calcium and folate intakes were 75%, 61% of KDRIs. Serum TGs were significantly higher in OW than that of NW, UW (p < 0.05), but level of MDA and TAS were not significantly different. The association of overweight and low intake of $\beta$-carotene and vitamin A may be one of many factors predisposing obese females to a high risk of oxidative stress later in life. This requires urgent nutritional intervention programs involving enough intake of fruit and vegetables, with modification of inappropriate dietary habits.

• Information Systems Review
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.89-104
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• 2010

Recently, ubiquitous sensor network (USN) has been applied to many areas including environment monitoring. A few studies applied the USN to disaster prevention and emergency management, in particular, aiming to conserve cultural heritage. USN is an useful technology to do online real-time monitoring for the purpose of early detection of the fire which is a critical cause of damage and destruction of cultural heritages. It is necessary to online monitor the cultural heritages that human has a difficulty to access or their external appearance and beauty are important, by using the USN. However, there exists false warning from USN-based monitoring systems without human intervention. In this paper, we presented an alternative to resolve the problem by applying ontology. Our intelligent fire early detection systems for conserving cultural heritages are based on ontology and inference rules, and tested under laboratory environments.

• Korean Medical Education Review
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.32-41
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in non-cognitive factors, specifically achievement goal orientation (AGO) and self-regulated learning (SRL), influencing the academic achievement (AC) of medical and nursing students. 186 students, including 110 medical students and 76 nursing students, completed a survey, which addressed the factors of AGO and SRL. There were significant differences in the factors that affected the academic achievement of medical and nursing students. Multiple regression revealed that the AC of medical students was significantly more affected by mastery-approach AGO (p<0.05), seeking information (p<0.001), and rehearsing/memorizing SRL (p<0.01), while the AC of nursing students was affected by performance-approach AGO, self-efficacy (p<0.001), and time-management SRL. Analysis of variance revealed that significant differences in the sub-factors of AGO and SRL between the medical and nursing students. Thus, it was found that the academic achievement of medical and nursing students was influenced by non-cognitive factors, but there were significant differences in the sub-factors by group. It is suggested that comparative studies with other student groups and a longitudinal study of medical and nursing students need to be conducted, and a personalized counseling and learning intervention focusing on non-cognitive factors should be provided to medical and nursing students.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.247-261
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• 2001

This study was conducted to compare activities of daily living, fatigue and depression between rheumatoid arthritis patients and healthy persons. The subjects consisted of 53 rheumatoid arthritis patients and 53 healthy persons at a university hospital in Daegu City. Data were collected by means of structured interviews with questionnaires from July 20, 1999 to August 25, 1999. The instrument used in this study were the activities of daily living scale developed by Katz et al. (1970) and Barthel(1973), Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue by Belza et al.(1995) and CES-D(Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression) scale. Analysis of data was done by use of descriptive statistics, Pearson Correlation, Chi-square test, t-test, ANOVA, MANCOVA and Duncan with the SPSS program. The major findings are summarized as follows : 1. The first hypothesis that the rheumatoid arthritis patients will have a lower degree of activities of daily living than the healthy persons was supported (F=4.584, p=.035). 2. The second hypothesis that the rheumatoid arthritis patient will have a higher degree of fatigue than the healthy persons was supported (F=7.799, p=.006). 3. The third hypothesis that the rheumatoid arthritis patients will have a higher degree of depression than the healthy persons was supported (F=4.768, p=.031). With the above results, it can be concluded that rheumatoid arthritis patients had a lower degree of activities of daily living and a higher degree of fatigue and depression than the healthy persons. Therefore, by providing appropriate nursing intervention, activities of daily living would be much better and fatigue and depression would be alleviated.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.191-199
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• 2001

This study was undertaken to find out the perception of marital relationship and to understand the typology. The Q-population consisted of 153 statements that were collected and 33 Q-samples were selected. The P-samples for this study were made up of 30 who were married. Each responded to a Q-set of marital relationship according to 9-point scale. The results of Q-sorting were coded and analysed using QUANL PC program. Typological observations were as follows. 1) One in body and spirit type : In type 1, couples had different backgrounds respectively but felt one in body and spirit. 2) Companionship type : 2. Couples had not so much a hierarchial as a horizontal relationship. Couples perceived themselves as interdependent and friends. 3) Adaptation type : Couples readily adapted themselves to a marital relationship. They only depended on their spouses at times and stressed the relationship. Marriage was accepted as destiny rather than choice. On the basis of these results, we suggest: When a marriage is in trouble, that we assess the type of marital relationship in advance and intervene with a proper program. In addition, practical intervention programs need to be developed tailored to the type of subjective perception about the marital relation

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.3499-3503
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• 2015

Background: Cancer has become an epidemic disease. Nearly ten million new cancer cases are diagnosed annually in the world and out of these about half are from the developing world. To appropriately plan for treatment, management and prevention of the disease, it becomes necessary to study the trends about morbidity caused by cancers. Materials and Methods: Data for patients diagnosed with any form of gastrointestinal (GI) cancers was extracted from records maintained in the outpatient department registers of the Oncology Department of Government Medical College and Hospital in Chandigarh from 1999 to 2012. Trends were analysed for different categories of GI cancers for the period of 12 years. Results: In present study GI cancers accounted for 23 % of all registered cases (n-9603) of carcinomas. Males predominated for all GI cancers except in the gall bladder. Gastrointestinal cancers as a proportion of total cancers increased from 21% in 1999 to 25.9% in 2012 with a significant increasing trend in our series (${\chi}^2$ for linear trend=9.36, p<0.003). Cancers of the tonsil, oral cavity and pharynx taken together showed an increasing trend over the years (${\chi}^2$ for trend=55.2, p<0.001) whereas cancers of the lower GI (${\chi}^2=19.6$, p<0.0001) and gall bladder (${\chi}^2=19.5$, p<0.0001) showed a declining trend in our series. Conclusions: GI cancers form a significant proportion of all cancers reporting to our data. In depth studies to ascertain the reasons for the changing trends are required to design intervention programs. Further information is necessary from cancer registries and from the hospital records of oncology departments.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.1957-1962
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• 2012

Bladder cancer is a common malignancy worldwide. Despite the increased use of cisplatin-based combination therapy, the outcomes for patients with advanced disease remain poor. Recently, altered activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway has been associated with reduced patient survival and advanced stage of bladder cancer, making its upstream or downstream components attractive targets for therapeutic intervention. In the present study, we showed that treatment with DTCM-glutaramide, a piperidine that targets PDK1, results in reduced proliferation, diminished cell migration and G1 arrest in 5637 and T24 bladder carcinoma cells. Conversely, no apoptosis, necrosis or autophagy were detected after treatment, suggesting that reduced cell numbers in vitro are a result of diminished proliferation rather than cell death. Furthermore previous exposure to 10 ${\mu}g/ml$ DTCM-glutarimide sensitized both cell lines to ionizing radiation. Although more studies are needed to corroborate our findings, our results indicate that PDK1 may be useful as a therapeutic target to prevent progression and abnormal tissue dissemination of urothelial carcinomas.