• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.51-61
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• 2001

The purpose of the descriptive correlation study was to examine relations among the hope, the burden and the family function in mothers caring for children with cancer. 145 mothers completed the three questionaires of the study divided into tree sections: a) The Hope Scale, b) The Burden Scale, c) FACES-Ⅲ. The collected data was analysed with t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe test and Pearson correlation coefficients. The results were as follows: 1) The average age of mothers of children with cancer was 35.6 years old and the ages between 30 to 39 were the most abundant. 57.3％ of the mothers had an education level of below high school education and 66.0％ had religion. The average age of the children was 8.6 years old. Ages between 1 to 7 were the most and 60.8％ were diagnosed as leukemia. 2) Regarding the section of degree of burden, mothers of children with cancer marked 2.6 out of 5, and the degree of hope 3.2 out of 4. The result for family function came out to be 3.5 out of 5, an average of family cohesion of 3.9 and family adaptation of 3.1. 3) There were significantly less burden to the mothers who were living together with a spouse compared to the mothers who were not. Also mothers who replied that they preserved good health came out to be exposed to less burden compared to the mothers who did not. In analysing hope according to the general characteristics of mothers of children with cancer, mothers who were employed marked high in the degree of hope compared to unemployed mothers. Furthermore, the degree of family cohesion marked higher with mothers who had higher education of college graduate, mothers with religion and mothers with a monthly family income of over ￦3,000,000, compared to the group of mothers with lower education of high school graduate, non-religious or with a monthly family income of less than ￦1,000,000. 4) Excluding the fact that the group sorted with children diagnosed as leukemia marked a perceivably high score regarding family cohesion, compared to groups with other cancers, the degree of burden, hope and family cohesion did not show any noticeable difference according to characteristics of children with different cancers. 5) In the correlation of the hope, the burden and the family function regarding the mothers of children with cancer, the burden did not have any manifest relationship with hope or family function. However, the degree of hope and family function cohesion had a direct proportional relationship, as family cohesion marked higher when the degree of hope were high.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was done to provide basic data for developing nursing interventions to enhance quality of life of pediatric patients with cancer (children and adolescents) by examining the quality of life and related factors. Methods: Participants were 134; 67 pediatric patients and 67 parents. The PedsQL$^{TM}$ 3.0 Cancer Module was employed to measure quality of life in the participants. The related factors included general and clinical characteristics of the participants. Results: Mean score for quality of life in the patients was 75.07, and mean score for patient quality of life as perceived by their parents was 64.40. Among the quality of life subscales, treatment anxiety had the highest score whereas nausea had the lowest score. Mean score in adolescent patients (13-18 years of age) was 71.62, lower than the 78.04 for child patients (8-12 years of age). Regarding general and clinical characteristics of the participants, there were no significant differences in the scores. Conclusion: The results indicate that there is difference in perception of quality of life between patients and their parents, and between children and adolescents and these differences should be taken into account when planning and providing nursing care.

• Interdisciplinary Bio Central
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.10.1-10.12
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• 2012

Introduction: We investigated frameshift suppressor tRNAs previously reported to use five-base anticodon-codon interactions in order to provide a collection of frameshift suppressor tRNAs to the synthetic biology community and to develop modular frameshift suppressor logic devices for use in synthetic biology applications. Results and Discussion: We adapted eleven previously described frameshift suppressor tRNAs to the BioBrick cloning format, and built three genetic logic circuits to detect frameshift suppression. The three circuits employed three different mechanisms: direct frameshift suppression of reporter gene mutations, frameshift suppression leading to positive feedback via quorum sensing, and enzymatic amplification of frameshift suppression signals. In the course of testing frameshift suppressor logic, we uncovered unexpected behavior in the frameshift suppressor tRNAs. The results led us to posit a four-base binding hypothesis for the frameshift suppressor tRNA interactions with mRNA as an alternative to the published five-base binding model. Conclusion and Prospects: The published five-base anticodon/codon rule explained only 17 of the 58 frameshift suppression experiments we conducted. Our deduced four-base binding rule successfully explained 56 out of our 58 frameshift suppression results. In the process of applying biological knowledge about frameshift suppressor tRNAs to the engineering application of frameshift suppressor logic, we discovered new biological knowledge. This knowledge leads to a redesign of the original engineering application and encourages new ones. Our study reinforces the concept that synthetic biology is often a winding path from science to engineering and back again; scientific investigations spark engineering applications, the implementation of which suggests new scientific investigations.

• BMB Reports
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.201-206
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• 2013

Sulforaphane [1-isothiocyanato-4-(methylsulfinyl)-butane] is an isothiocyanate found in some cruciferous vegetables, especially broccoli. Sulforaphane has been shown to display anti-cancer properties against various cancer cell lines. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), which degrades the extracellular matrix (ECM), plays an important role in cancer cell invasion. In this study, we investigated the effect of sulforaphane on 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced MMP-9 expression and cell invasion in MCF-7 cells. TPA-induced MMP-9 expression and cell invasion were decreased by sulforaphane treatment. TPA substantially increased NF-${\kappa}B$ and AP-1 DNA binding activity. Pre-treatment with sulforaphane inhibited TPA-stimulated NF-${\kappa}B$ binding activity, but not AP-1 binding activity. In addition, we found that sulforaphane suppressed NF-${\kappa}B$ activation, by inhibiting phosphorylation of $I{\kappa}B $ in TPA-treated MCF-7 cells. In this study, we demonstrated that the inhibition of TPA-induced MMP-9 expression and cell invasion by sulforaphane was mediated by the suppression of the NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway in MCF-7 cells.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.89-95
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• 1998

Purpose : To investigate the phosphorus metabolic abnormalities in skeletal muscle of patients with mitochondrial myopathy using in vivo $^{31}P$ magnetic resonance spectroscopy(MRS). Materials and Methods : Patients with mitochondrial myopathy(N=10) and normal control subjects (N=10) participated. All in vivo $^{31}P$ MRS examinations were performed on 1.5T whole-body MRI/MRS system by using an image selected in vivo spectroscopy (ISIS) pulse sequence that provided a $4{\times}4{\times}4{\;}cm^{3}$ volume of interest (VOI) in the right thigh muscle tissue. Peak areas for each phophorus methabolite were measured using a Marquart algorithm. Results : The specific features in patients with mitochondrial myopathy were a significant increase of Pi/PCr ratio (p=0.003) and a significant decrease of ATP/PCr ratio (p=0.004) as compared with normal controls. In particular, the ${\beta}-ATP/PCr$ ratio between controls and patients with mitochondrial myopathy was predominantly altered. Conclusions : In vivo $^{31}P$ MRS may be a useful modality in the clinical evaluation of patients with mitochondrial myopathy based on ATP/PCr and Pi/PCr ratios in skeletal muscle tissue and provides a valuable information in further understanding disorders of muscle metabolism.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.337-345
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• 2011

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of force and moment produced by Nickel-titanium wires of different sizes at activation and deactivation according to differing vertical bracket displacement. Methods: Superelastic NiTi wires of 3 different sizes (0.014", 0.016", and 0.016" ${\times}$ 0.022") were tied with elastomeric or 0.009-inch stainless steel ligations in a twin-bracket, 0.018-inch slot. A testing machine recorded the effects of simulated activation of 5 distances from 1 to 5 mm and deactivation of 5 distances from 4 to 0 mm, in increments of 1 mm. Results: Frictional force increased the wire stiffness during loading. Ligation of 0.014-inch NiTi wire with O-ring resulted in a significant increase in the stiffness. On application of orthodontic force for 5 mm of vertical displacement of teeth, the effective displacement in the case of the 0.014", 0.016", and 0.016" ${\times}$ 0.022" NiTi wires was 2 mm, 3 mm, and 4 mm, respectively. Conclusions: Our results showed that movement of teeth with large vertical displacement was ineffective because of excessive friction. This finding might contribute to the understanding of the force system required for effective teeth movement and thereby facilitate the application of the appropriate light wire for leveling and alignment.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.157-162
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• 2003

Various extracts of higher plants have been used in traditional medicine systems for centuries. While tropical and sub-tropical plants have received considerable attention from the researchers for evaluation of their bioactivity, temeperate plants have always been neglected somewhat. Similarly, seeds of the plants have not been considered seriously compared to other plant parts, e.g. leaves, stems, roots, flowers, etc. as a potential source for biologically active compounds. As part of our on-going evaluation of the extracts of the seeds of temperate plants, especially from Scotland, for biological activity, Achillea millefolium, Angelica sylvestris and Phleum pratense have been chosen for the present study. Both A. millefolium and A. sylvestris are well known for their traditional medicinal uses in Europe and also in the orient, but there is no report on any medicinal properties of P. pratense available to date. Extracts of the seeds of these plants have been assessed for their antioxidant and antibacterial potential and also for general toxicity. Both DCM and MeOH extracts of A. millefolium showed the most significant broad spectrum antibacterial activity among the three plants and inhibited the growth of almost all test strains of bacteria. The DCM extracts of all three species were active against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Citrobacter freundii $(MIC=6.25{\times}10^{-1}\;mg/mL)$. While the MeOH extracts of A. millefolium and P. pratense were active against C. freundii, that of P. pratense was also active against MRSA. The MeOH extract of A. sylvestris did not show any antibacterial activity against any of the eight bacterial strains at test concentrations. The MeOH extract of P. pratense showed the most prominent antioxidant activity $(IC_{50}=145\;{\mu}g/ml)$ and there was no antioxidant activity observed with the DCM extract of A. millefolium. The DCM extract of P. pratense was the most toxic $(LC_{50}=20\;{\mu}g/ml)$ among the extracts.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.27-32
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• 1976

In recent years, explosive increase in population has been damaging mankind in terms of deprivation of natural resources and more of economical demands. Therefore, we have thought about problems as to counter-balance the increasing population, and reached a resolution of artificial methods of controlling birth. In the past, though now used in some of contraceptive methods, extravaginal ejaculation, condom were commonly used. But recently, pills, IUD and several kinds of operative procedures are quite popular. Though the recent methods are known to be effective compared with the traditional methods, a certain unwanted side effects as well as limited value of usages now must be discussed. On this aspect, we are trying to research for a ideal methods such as symptom free, more of natural way of family planning and try to zero the failure rate. And also it has been suggested that only if those scientific methods of controlling birth can be base on religious concepts of moral being, it will be enlightened. At the Happy Family Planning Clinic of St. Mary's Hospital, we apply Billing's ovulation method to out-patients who want contraception and usually advise them to use it on a self-care basis. For a retrospective study of the presurvey data analysis and use-effectiveness of the ovulation method from April 1, 1975 to Nov., 30, 1975, we have dealt with a total of 1,383 women (urban areas 465, rural areas 918). The results of preliminary survey were as follows; 1) Among 465 women in Seoul areas, the failure rate was 10.3, which signified unplanned pregnancies of 32 women. 27 of the 32 women were pregnant due to the users own failure and the remaing 5 due to the failure of the method. Therefore, the failure of the method accounted for 1.6. 2) Among 918 women in rural areas, the failure rate was 15.2 signifing unplanned pregnancies in 93 women. The cause of the failure in 81 of the 93 women was attributable to the user's own mistake and that in the remaing 12 to the default of the method. Therefore, the failure attributable to the method accounted for 2.0.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.258-266
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• 2020

Background: Oxidative stress-induced cardiomyocytes apoptosis is a key pathological process in ischemic heart disease. Glutathione reductase (GR) reduces glutathione disulfide to glutathione (GSH) to alleviate oxidative stress. Ginsenoside Rb1 (GRb1) prevents the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes; however, the role of GR in this process is unclear. Therefore, the effects of GRb1 on GR were investigated in this study. Methods: The antiapoptotic effects of GRb1 were evaluated in H9C2 cells by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, annexin V/propidium iodide staining, and Western blotting. The antioxidative effects were measured by a reactive oxygen species assay, and GSH levels and GR activity were examined in the presence and absence of the GR inhibitor 1,3-bis-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were used to investigate the binding of GRb1 to GR. The direct influence of GRb1 on GR was confirmed by recombinant human GR protein. Results: GRb1 pretreatment caused dose-dependent inhibition of tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced cell apoptosis, at a level comparable to that of the positive control N-acetyl-L-cysteine. The binding energy between GRb1 and GR was positive (-6.426 kcal/mol), and the binding was stable. GRb1 significantl reduced reactive oxygen species production and increased GSH level and GR activity without altering GR protein expression in H9C2 cells. Moreover, GRb1 enhanced the recombinant human GR protein activity in vitro, with a half-maximal effective concentration of ≈2.317 μM. Conversely, 1,3-bis-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea co-treatment significantly abolished the GRb1's apoptotic and antioxidative effects of GRb1 in H9C2 cells. Conclusion: GRb1 is a potential natural GR agonist that protects against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis of H9C2 cells.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.67 no.5
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• pp.413-421
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• 2009

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in the regulation of cell proliferation, apoptosis, development and differentiation. Several studies have shown that aberrant expression of miRNAs is involved in cancer development and progression by regulating the expression of proto-oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes. In this study, we investigated miRNA expression profiles in Korean patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: We performed miRNA microarray analysis containing 60~65 bp oligonucleotide probes representing human 318 miRNAs and validated the results of the microarray with Northern blot analysis or quantitative RT-PCR. Next, we examined the correlation between miRNA expression and the target gene transcriptional profile using a human whole-genome-expression microarray. Results: We showed that 35 miRNAs were expressed differentially in the NSCLCs and corresponding non-malignant lung tissues. We showed that 35 miRNAs were expressed differentially in the NSCLCs and corresponding nonmalignant lung tissues. Thirteen of the 35 differentially expressed miRNAs were newly identified in the present study. Of the 35 miRNAs, 2 (miR-371 and miR-210) were over-expressed in lung cancers, and 33 miRNAs, including miR-145, were under-expressed in lung cancers. miR-99b expression consistently showed a negative correlation with FGFR3 expression. Conclusion: Albeit a small number of patients were examined, these results suggest that miRNA expression profiles in Korean lung cancers may be somewhat different from the expression profiles reported on lung cancers in Western populations. The findings suggest that miR-99b might be a tumor suppressor through its up-regulation of FGFR3.