• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.638-646
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• 2014

Background The combination of polycaprolactone and hyaluronic acid creates an ideal environment for wound healing. Hyaluronic acid maintains a moist wound environment and accelerates the in-growth of granulation tissue. Polycaprolactone has excellent mechanical strength, limits inflammation and is biocompatible. This study evaluates the safety and efficacy of bio-conjugated polycaprolactone membranes (BPM) as a wound dressing. Methods 16 New Zealand white rabbits were sedated and local anaesthesia was administered. Two $3.0{\times}3.0cm$ full-thickness wounds were created on the dorsum of each rabbit, between the lowest rib and the pelvic bone. The wounds were dressed with either BPM (n=12) or Mepitel (n=12) (control), a polyamide-silicon wound dressing. These were evaluated macroscopically on the 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th postoperative days for granulation, re-epithelialization, infection, and wound size, and histologically for epidermal and dermal regeneration. Results Both groups showed a comparable extent of granulation and re-epithelialization. No signs of infection were observed. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in wound size between the two groups. BPM (n=6): $8.33cm^2$, $4.90cm^2$, $3.12cm^2$, $1.84cm^2$; Mepitel (n=6): $10.29cm^2$, $5.53cm^2$, $3.63cm^2$, $2.02cm^2$; at the 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th postoperative days. The extents of epidermal and dermal regeneration were comparable between the two groups. Conclusions BPM is comparable to Mepitel as a safe and efficacious wound dressing.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.661-667
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• 2014

Background Tissue expansion is an effective and valuable technique for the reconstruction of large skin lesions and scars. This study aimed to evaluate the applicability and safety of a newly designed skin expanding bioreactor system for maximizing the graft area and minimizing the donor site area. Methods A computer-controlled biaxial skin bioreactor system was used to expand skin in two directions while the culture media was changed daily. The aim was to achieve an expansion speed that enabled the skin to reach twice its original area in two weeks or less. Skin expansion and subsequent grafting were performed for 10 patients, and each patient was followed for 6 months postoperatively for clinical evaluation. Scar evaluation was performed through visual assessment and by using photos. Results The average skin expansion rate was $10.54%{\pm}6.25%$; take rate, $88.89%{\pm}11.39%$; and contraction rate, $4.2%{\pm}2.28%$ after 6 months. Evaluation of the donor and recipient sites by medical specialists resulted in an average score of 3.5 (out of a potential maximum of 5) at 3 months, and 3.9 at 6 months. The average score for patient satisfaction of the donor site was 6.2 (out of a potential maximum of 10), and an average score of 5.2 was noted for the recipient site. Histological examination performed before and after the skin expansion revealed an increase in porosity of the dermal layer. Conclusions This study confirmed the safety and applicability of the in vitro skin bioreactor, and further studies are needed to develop methods for increasing the skin expansion rate.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.137-144
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• 2020

Epilepsy is a brain disorder that affects millions of people worldwide and is usually managed using currently available antiepileptic drugs, which result in adverse effects and are ineffective in approximately 20-25% of patients. Thus, there is growing interest in the development of new antiepileptic drugs with fewer side effects. In a previous study, we showed that a Rehmannia glutinosa (RG) water extract has protective effects against electroshock- and pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced seizures, with fewer side effects. In this study, the objective was to identify the RG components that are responsible for its anticonvulsant effects. Initially, a number of RG components (aucubin, acteoside, catalpol, and mannitol) were screened, and the anticonvulsant effects of different doses of catalpol, mannitol, and their combination on electroshock- and chemically (PTZ or strychnine)-induced seizures in mice, were further assessed. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor binding assay and electroencephalography (EEG) analysis were conducted to identify the potential underlying drug mechanism. Additionally, treated mice were tested using open-field and rotarod tests. Catalpol, mannitol, and their combination increased threshold against electroshock-induced seizures, and decreased the percentage of seizure responses induced by PTZ, a GABA antagonist. GABA receptor binding assay results revealed that catalpol and mannitol are associated with GABA receptor activity, and EEG analysis provided evidence that catalpol and mannitol have anticonvulsant effects against PTZ-induced seizures. In summary, our results indicate that catalpol and mannitol have anticonvulsant properties, and may mediate the protective effects of RG against seizures.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.33 no.1 s.108
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• pp.93-108
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• 2005

Fresh Kills is the largest landfill in the world located in the west side of Staten Island, New York. The landfill served as a storage area for New York City's trash for more than 50 years. After years of civilian and political pressure, state and local legislation decided its closure of landfill operation in Fresh Kills in March 2001. Soon after, Department of City Planning announced a Fresh Kills international design com-petition: 'Landfill to Landscape'. The winning entry was promised to be outline for the redevelopment of the 2,200 acre site which the size of three times Central Park. Forty-eight teams representing more than 200 offices from around world submitted proposals, from which six finalists that mostly led by landscape architects were selected. In December 2001, a jury of architects, landscape architects and city officials unanimously selected Field Operations as the winner. The plan, named Lifescape, visualizes the gradual 20-year transformation of the whole Staten Island into a 'natural lifestyle island' recognizing that Staten Island is home to coastal wetlands that shelter one of the most diverse ecosystems in the New York metropolitan area. It suggested that an ecologically reconstituted Fresh Kills could become the center of integrated parks and greenways system on the island otherwise fragmented. The project will be one of the largest and most ambitious undertakings in the metropolis in years developing a complex web of habitats and parklands on top of mountain of trash. This study tries to achieve two goals: One is to provide general explanations on the project, Lifescape, breaking down to its background, geographical context, design concepts and phased development plan. Another is to introduce the unique and innovative design approaches by Field Operations that are different from a conventional landscape architectural attitude. Since this project was well published through many magazines and newspapers, main focus will be upon aspects that differentiate this project from usual landscape projects. Conceptually Lifescape brought provocative notions on nature/culture relationship and the role of urban park as an active agency rather than just a green rest area. Also this project introduced pioneering graphics like plan collage, diagrammatic plan, phasing diagram and photo montage as vehicles conveying information, imagination and provocation. Witnessing the influence of the project gradually in the field of academic and practice in the States, this study is intended to become a constructive reference to similar landscape projects dealing with large and complex urban context in conjunction with restructure of contemporary city.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.97-104
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• 2011

This study was carried out to confirm the effects of luteotrophin, human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), and an anti-luteolytic agent, flunixin meglumin (FM), on pregnancy rates in Hanwoo with in vitro produced (IVP) embryo transfers (ET), and to research the effects on the estrus cycle. Treatments included hCG and FM administration 3~10 minutes prior to ET. Also, pregnancy rates were compared with lidocane treatment and FM treatment prior to ET. The results are shown below. 30-day pregnancy rate was 76.7% in the hCG-treated group and 75.7% in the FM-treated group. Both rates were higher than the 70% rate for the control group. 42-day pregnancy rate was 76.7% in the FM-treated group. This was higher than 66.7% recorded for both the hCG-treated and control groups. The pregnancy rate of the hCG-treated group was high at Day 30 (76.7%) but low at Day 40 (66.7%), and there were no differences from the FM-treated and control groups. The recurrent estrus rate of infertile individuals at 2 weeks after ET was 36.4% in the hCG-treated group, under 71.4% in the FM-treated group and 80.0% in the control group. The non-pregnancy rate of individuals without recurrent estrus was 18.2% in the hCG-treated group, which was higher than the 0% rate in both the FM-treated and control groups. The pregnancy rates were higher in the FM-treated group than the Lidocane-treated group with 72.3% versus 67.5% in the heifers and 48.9% versus 43.6% in the cows. From the above results, the FM treatment proved more effective than the hCG treatment and no treatment whatsoever in increasing pregnancy rates after ET. In addition, hCG treatment was shown to be undesirable due to the deviations it caused in the reproductive physiology of the hCG-treated recipients. Therefore, in our study, the FM treatment resulted in a higher pregnancy rate than either lidocaine treatment or no-treatment in the trials of ET.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.342-364
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• 2014

The purpose of this paper is to provide an answer for the following question: What are the major shifts and implications of the unprecedently competitive and rapidly changing media ecosystem in the era of N-screen and OTT services? I've attempted to understand the complex and competitive nexus among media from an historical context by focusing on the displacement vs. complement thesis. The TPC model by Han has been employed for the analysis of the current dynamics of US media industries by triangulating three areas: Technology/industry, public policy and consumer/culture. More specifically, the US media landscape is initially divided into two competitive turfs - the competitors equipped with OTT services and the legacy media industry, and then the traditional media industry was grouped again into PayTV group(telecom service providers with IPTV and mobile TV, cable/Satellite TV networks) and Free (over-the-air) TV networks. Six major shifts were identified by the analysis: power shift in telecom carriers, power shifts in TV industry, Telecom/OTT partnership, time shifts, place shifts, and finally business model shifts.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.278-286
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• 2018

Objective: Two experiments were conducted to evaluate vitamin $D_3$ administration to nursery pigs by injection or in drinking water on serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol ($25-OHD_3$) concentrations. Methods: At weaning, 51 pigs (27 and 24 pigs in experiments 1 and 2, respectively) were allotted to vitamin $D_3$ treatments. Treatments in experiment 1 were: i) control (CON), no vitamin administration beyond that in the diet, ii) intramuscular (IM) injection of 40,000 IU of vitamin $D_3$ at weaning, and iii) water administration, 5,493 IU of vitamin $D_3/L$ drinking water for 14 d post-weaning. Treatments in experiment 2 were: i) control (CON), no vitamin administration, and ii) water administration, 92 IU of $d-{\alpha}-tocopherol$ and 5,493 IU of vitamin $D_3/L$ drinking water for 28 d post-weaning. The lightest 2 pigs within each pen were IM injected with an additional 1,000 IU of $d-{\alpha}-tocopherol$, 100,000 IU of retinyl palmitate, and 100,000 IU of vitamin $D_3$. Results: In both experiments, serum $25-OHD_3$ was changed after vitamin $D_3$ administration (p<0.05). In experiment 1, injection and water groups had greater values than CON group through d 35 and 21 post-administration, respectively (p<0.05). In experiment 2, serum values peaked at d 3 post-administration in the injection groups regardless of water treatments (p<0.05) whereas CON and water-only groups had peaks at d 14 and 28 post-administration, respectively (p<0.05). Even though the injection groups had greater serum $25-OHD_3$ concentrations than the non-injection groups through d 7 post-administration regardless of water treatments (p<0.05), the water-only group had greater values than the injection-only group from d 21 post-administration onward (p<0.05). Conclusion: Serum $25-OHD_3$ concentrations in pigs increased either by vitamin $D_3$ injection or drinking water administration. Although a single vitamin $D_3$ injection enhanced serum $25-OHD_3$ concentrations greater than water administration in the initial period post-administration, a continuous supply of vitamin $D_3$ via drinking water could maintain higher serum values than the single injection.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.2431-2440
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• 2015

Background: Registry data from four major public hospitals indicate trends in clinical care and survival from colorectal cancer over three decades, from 1980 to 2010. Materials and Methods: Kaplan-Meier productlimit estimates and Cox proportional hazards models were used to investigate disease-specific survival and multiple logistic regression analyses to explore first-round treatment trends. Results: Five-year survivals increased from 48% for 1980-1986 to 63% for 2005-2010 diagnoses. Survival increases applied to each ACPS stage (Australian Clinico-Pathological Stage), and particularly stage C (an increase from 38% to 68%). Risk of death from colorectal cancer halved (hazards ratio: 0.50 (0.45, 0.56)) over the study period after adjusting for age, sex, stage, differentiation, primary sub-site, health administrative region, and measures of socioeconomic status and geographic remoteness. Decreases in stage were not observed. Survivals did not vary by sex or place of residence, suggesting reasonable equity in service access and outcomes. Of staged cases, 91% were treated surgically with lower surgical rates for older ages and more advanced stage. Proportions of surgical cases having adjuvant therapy during primary courses of treatment increased for all stages and were highest for stage C (an increase from 5% in 1980-1986 to 63% for 2005-2010). Radiotherapy was more common for rectal than colonic cases. Proportions of rectal cases receiving radiotherapy increased, particularly for stage C where the increase was from 8% in 1980-1986 to 60% in 2005-2010. The percentage of stage C colorectal cases less than 70 years of age having systemic therapy as part of their first treatment round increased from 3% in 1980-1986 to 81% by 1995-2010. Based on survey data on uptake of adjuvant therapy among those offered this care, it is likely that all these younger patients were offered systemic treatment. Conclusions: We conclude that pronounced increases in survivals from colorectal cancer have occurred at major public hospitals in South Australia due to increases in stage-specific survivals. Use of adjuvant therapies has increased and the patterns of change accord with clinical guideline recommendations. Reasons for sub-optimal use of radiotherapy for rectal cases warrant further investigation, including the potential for limited rural access to impede uptake of treatments at metropolitan-based radiotherapy centres.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.2465-2472
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• 2015

Background: The Quality Audit (BQA) program of the Breast Surgeons of Australia and New Zealand (NZ) collects data on early female breast cancer and its treatment. BQA data covered approximately half all early breast cancers diagnosed in NZ during roll-out of the BQA program in 1998-2010. Coverage increased progressively to about 80% by 2008. This is the biggest NZ breast cancer database outside the NZ Cancer Registry and it includes cancer and clinical management data not collected by the Registry. We used these BQA data to compare socio-demographic and cancer characteristics and survivals by ethnicity. Materials and Methods: BQA data for 1998-2010 diagnoses were linked to NZ death records using the National Health Index (NHI) for linking. Live cases were followed up to December $31^{st}$ 2010. Socio-demographic and invasive cancer characteristics and disease-specific survivals were compared by ethnicity. Results: Five-year survivals were 87% for Maori, 84% for Pacific, 91% for other NZ cases and 90% overall. This compared with the 86% survival reported for all female breast cases covered by the NZ Cancer Registry which also included more advanced stages. Patterns of survival by clinical risk factors accorded with patterns expected from the scientific literature. Compared with Other cases, Maori and Pacific women were younger, came from more deprived areas, and had larger cancers with more ductal and fewer lobular histology types. Their cancers were also less likely to have a triple negative phenotype. More of the Pacific women had vascular invasion. Maori women were more likely to reside in areas more remote from regional cancer centres, whereas Pacific women generally lived closer to these centres than Other NZ cases. Conclusions: NZ BQA data indicate previously unreported differences in breast cancer biology by ethnicity. Maori and Pacific women had reduced breast cancer survival compared with Other NZ women, after adjusting for socio-demographic and cancer characteristics. The potential contributions to survival differences of variations in service access, timeliness and quality of care, need to be examined, along with effects of comorbidity and biological factors.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.2707-2711
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• 2014

Introduction: Smoking prevalence among the medical students is high in China. Therefore, understanding the smoking motivations of medical students is crucial for smoking control, but currently there are no scales questionnaires customized for probing the smoking motivations of medical students. This aim of study was to test and modify a questionnaire for investigating smoking motivations among medical students. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1,125 medical students at Xuzhou Medical College in China in 2012.The model fit and validity was assessed by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and the reliability was tested by single-item reliability, composite reliability, and item-total correlation. Results: The prevalence of smoking was 9.84 % among study population. In the modified scales, the global fit indices identified a CFI value of 0.96, TLI was 0.96, and the RMSEA was 0.063. CFA supported the two dimensional structure of the instrument. The average variance extracted ranged from 0.45 to 0.62. All single-item reliability scores were greater than 0.20, and the composite reliability ranged from 0.74 to 0.91. Conclusion: Modified scales could be the preliminary instrument used in evaluating the smoking motivations of medical students. However, it should be further assessed using other forms and methods of validity and reliability, additional motivations of smoking, and the survey of other medical colleges in China.