• BMB Reports
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• v.51 no.12
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• pp.630-635
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• 2018

C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CXCL2) is a small secreted protein that exhibits a structure similar to the proangiogenic subgroup of the CXC chemokine family. Recently, accumulating evidence suggests that chemokines play a pivotal role in cancer progression and carcinogenesis. We examined the expression levels of 7 types of $ELR^+$ CXCLs messenger RNA (mRNA) in 264 clinical samples. We found that CXCL2 expression was stably down-regulated in 94% of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) specimens compared with paired adjacent normal liver tissues and some HCC cell lines. Moreover, CXCL2 overexpression profoundly attenuated HCC cell proliferation and growth and induced apoptosis in vitro. In animal studies, we found that overexpressing CXCL2 by lentivirus also apparently inhibited the size and weight of subcutaneous tumours in nude mice. Furthermore, we demonstrated that CXCL2 induced HCC cell apoptosis via both nuclear and mitochondrial apoptosis pathways. Our results indicate that CXCL2 negatively regulates the cell cycle in HCC cells via the ERK1/2 signalling pathway. These results provide new insights into HCC and may ultimately lead to the discovery of innovative therapeutic approaches of HCC.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.224-227
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• 1993

We experienced one case of orthotopic cardiac transplantation in a patient with end stage dilated cardiomyopathy. This 50 year-old female recipient was suffered from NYHA functional class IV cardiac failure and dependent upon intravenous inotropic support for 2 months [recipient category 1]. Her preoperative condition was grave with left ventricular ejection fraction of 20% and estimated systolic pulmonary arterial pressure [from Doppler study] was 50mmHg. The brain-dead donor was 31 year-old male with head trauma. The body sizes [weight, height] of the donor/recipient were 70 Kg, 165 cm / 43 Kg, 160 cm and appropriately overmatched. Preoperatively, identical ABO/Rh blood group [A+] and nonreacting HLA crossmatching were confirmed. On November 11 1992 cardiac transplantation was performed without complication. Multiple organ procurement team and heart transplantation team were organized the operation schedule appropriately to minimize the ischemic time. The pump time was 126 minutes and aortic crossclamping time of recipient heart was 73 minutes and, as a result, total ischemic time of the transplanted heart was 75 minutes. Postoperatively, the vital signs were stable with minimal inotropic support. The immunosuppressive therapy was commenced from preoperatively and cyclosporine, azathioprine, and corticosteroid were used as a combination therapy as scheduled and monitored with blood drug concentration, WBC count, renal function and most importantly regular endomyocardial biopsy.Now, 5 months after transplantation, the patient is in NYHA functional class II with minimal cardiac drug support.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.89-92
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• 2014

An 8-year-old girl diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy and Russell-Silver syndrome was admitted to our pediatric intensive care unit due to low cardiac output and multiple-organ dysfunction. The patient was placed on the heart transplant waiting list and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was performed as a bridge to transplantation. After 17 days, heart transplantation was performed. The donor was a 46-year-old female (weight, 50 kg; height, 150 cm). The donor:recipient weight ratio was 3.37:1. Because the dimension and volume of the recipient's thoracic cage were insufficient, the sternum could not be closed. Nine days after transplantation, the patient underwent delayed sternal closure. To obtain adequate space, we left the sternum 4.5 cm apart from each margin using four transverse titanium plates. A transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap was chosen to cover the wound. Due to the shortage of donors, a size-mismatched pediatric heart transplantation is sometimes unavoidable. Closure of the opened sternum of a transplant recipient can be challenging. Sternal reconstruction after an extremely oversized heart transplantation with transverse titanium plate fixation and a musculocutaneous flap can effectively achieve sternal closure and stability.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.249-258
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the psychosocial status of candidates for deceased donor kidney transplantation (DDKT) in South Korea and identify factors associated with high-risk psychosocial status. Methods: The descriptive cross-sectional design included application of a standardized transplantation-specific assessment tool, the Psychosocial Assessment Candidacy Transplantation (PACT) instrument, and review of candidates' medical records. A total of 157 patients awaiting DDKT were recruited from a Korean organ transplantation center. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression. Candidates were divided into high- and low-psychosocial risk groups using 3 as the cutoff point of PACT. Results: The mean score for the PACT final rating was 2.10, and the lowest average subscale score was 2.30 for understanding the processes of transplantation and follow up. Poor physical candidacy, especially due to comorbidities, and older age were associated with high psychosocial risk. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the psychosocial status of Korean DDKT candidates was problematic. Development of systematic management programs for effective clinical strategies in the care of candidates is crucial to maintain their desirable psychosocial status in case of an emergency DDKT operation and improve post-transplantation outcomes. Continuous education is absolutely necessary to enhance understanding of the transplantation process for high-risk psychosocial candidates. Additionally, nurses and transplantation professionals should screen candidates with high-risk psychosocial status early in the process using transplantation-specific assessment tools and provide intensive interventions, particularly for poor physical candidacy patients and older candidates.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.399-404
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• 2020

Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng) is associated with a variety of therapeutic effects, including antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, vasorelaxative, antiallergic, antidiabetic, and anticancer effects. Accordingly, the use of ginseng has reached an all-time high among members of the general public. However, the safety and efficacy of ginseng in transplant recipients receiving immunosuppressant drugs have still not been elucidated. Transplantation is the most challenging and complex of surgical procedures and may require causation for the use of ginseng. In this regard, we have previously examined the safety, immunological benefits, and protective mechanisms of ginseng with respect to calcineurin inhibitor-based immunosuppression, which is the most widely used regimen in organ transplantation. Using an experimental model of calcineurin inhibitor-induced organ injury, we found that ginseng does not affect drug levels in the peripheral blood and tissue, favorably regulates immune response, and protects against calcineurin inhibitor-induced nephrotoxicity and pancreatic islet injury. On the basis of our experimental studies and a review of the related literature, we propose that ginseng may provide benefits in organ transplant recipients administered calcineurin inhibitors. Through the present review, we aimed to briefly discuss our current understanding of the therapeutic benefits of ginseng related to transplant patient survival.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.131-141
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• 2002

Purpose : Renal transplantation which allows children normal growth and development and a return to normal life. is now proven to be the best modality for children with ESRD Up to Recently, the number of renal transplantations in Asia has rapidly increased and the outcome has also improved. This investigation was planned to estimate the current status of pediatric renal transplantation in Asia and to find the keys for better improvement of outcome in pediatric renal allograft in Asian countries. Material and methods : The participating countries and institutions for this investigation were China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Korea, KSPN (Korean Society of Pediatric Nephrology), KONOS (Korean Network for Organ Sharing). Results : Many countries in Asia still do not have a well organized nation wide renal transplantation registration system independently in the pediatric field. So it's very difficult to evaluate the real state of pediatric transplantation among Asian countries. According to the estimation with fragmented data from each countries, in the front running countries of pediatric renal transplantation in Asia, about 40 or more transplants were performed in each country per year and the five year actuarial renal allograft survival was around 80% which is similar to that of western countries. But there were large gaps among the behind groups. Conclusion : Vigorous attempts to perform renal transplantation for children especially younger than 5 years old would be encouraged as well as organ donation from brain dead donor and non heart beating cadaveric donor also should be activated to cope effectively with the shortage of living donor supply. Large number of recent reports shows the favorable outcome of pre-emptive renal transplantation, we should make more efforts toward pre-emptive renal transplantation. First of all, in order to improve the outcome and to narrow the gap between Asian countries in pediatric renal transplantation, effective and continuous efforts to establish nationwide pediatric renal transplantation registration program as well as official, nation-to-nation data sharing program should be needed.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.296-299
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• 2005

We report a case of primary central nervous system(CNS) lymphoma in an organ recipient. A 33-years-old man who underwent a renal transplantation 3years previously presented with headache and vomiting. In Brain computed tomography scans and magnetic resonance images showed multiple periventricular cystic rim enhancing masses. Pathologic diagnosis by stereotactic biopsy revealed malignant non-Hodgkins B-cell lymphoma. After pathologic confirmation, methotrexate chemotherapy and whole brain radiation therapy were done. Having experienced such a case, the authors strongly recommend to add primary CNS lymphoma as one of the differential diagnoses to brain abscess, metastatic brain tumor and glioblastoma multiforme in cases of multiple ring enhancing periventricular lesions of immunocompromised patient or organ recipient.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.277-284
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• 2005

The loss or failure of an organ or tissue can occur because of accident or disease, for which tissue or organ transplantation is a generally accepted treatment. However, this approach is extremely limited due to donor shortage. Tissue engineering is a new and exciting strategy, in which patients who need a new organ or tissue are supplied with a synthetic organ or tissue. In this approach, tissues are engineered using a combination of the patient's own cells and a polymer scaffold. The polymer scaffold potentially mimics many roles of extracellular matrices in the body. Various polymers have been studied and utilized to date in tissue engineering approaches. However, no single polymer has been considered ideal for all types of tissues and approaches. This paper discusses the design parameters of those polymers potentially useful in tissue regeneration.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.74-79
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• 2020

It is necessary to expand organ donations of the deceased, as more ethical problems are emerging from the increase in organ donations from the living. As the legal and ethical discussions on donation after circulatory death (DCD) as a field with the potential to expand such domestic organ donation are being held, the need for a social consensus is increasingly highlighted. Organ DCD refers to the donation of an organ from a patient whose spontaneous blood circulation has stopped due to cardiac death. In this study, we aimed to examine whether there are legal and ethical obstacles or medical uncertainties for expanding the practice of DCD. By law, death is recognized as cardiac death, and brain death is recognized as an exception for organ transplantation. Although circulatory death precedes brain death, this paper presents a discussion to begin the process of reaching an ethical and legal agreement on whether or not circulatory death can be recognized as death. Successful implementations of DCD, including Category III DCD, in other countries are currently being reviewed to introduce Category III DCD in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.110-120
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the lived experience of patients with heart transplantation in Korea. Methods: Individual indepth interviews and a focus group interview were used to collect the data from nine patients who had heart transplantations in 2015. All interviews were audio-taped and verbatim transcripts were made for the analysis. Data were analyzed using Colaizzi's phenomenological method. Results: Among the nine participants, eight were men. Mean age was 57.30 years. Six theme clusters emerged from the analysis. 'Joy of rebirth obtained by good luck' describes the pleasure and expectation of new life after narrow survival. 'Suffering from adverse drug effects' illustrates various psychosocial difficulties, such as low self-esteem, helplessness, alienation, and burnout, arising from the side effects of medications. 'Body and mind of being bewildered' illustrates disintegrated health and haunting fear of death. 'Alienation disconnected with society' describes isolated feeling of existence due to misunderstandings from society. 'Suffering overcome with gratitude and responsibility' includes overcoming experience through various social supports and suitable jobs. Finally, 'acceptance of suffering accompanied with new heart' illustrate changed perspective of life itself. Conclusion: The findings in this study provide deep understanding and insights of the lived experience of heart related illness for these patients and should help in the development of tailored-interventions for patients with heart transplantation.