• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.16
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• pp.6813-6823
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• 2015

Glioblastoma, also known as glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), is the most aggressive of human brain tumors and has a stunning progression with a mean survival of one year from the date of diagnosis. High cell proliferation, angiogenesis and/or necrosis are histopathological features of this cancer, which has no efficient curative therapy. This aggressiveness is associated with particular heterogeneity of the tumor featuring multiple genetic and epigenetic alterations, but also with implications of aberrant signaling driven by growth factors. The transforming growth factor ${\beta}$ ($TGF{\beta}$) superfamily is a large group of structurally related proteins including $TGF{\beta}$ subfamily members Nodal, Activin, Lefty, bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and growth and differentiation factor (GDF). It is involved in important biological functions including morphogenesis, embryonic development, adult stem cell differentiation, immune regulation, wound healing and inflammation. This superfamily is also considered to impact on cancer biology including that of GBM, with various effects depending on the member. The $TGF{\beta}$ subfamily, in particular, is overexpressed in some GBM types which exhibit aggressive phenotypes. This subfamily impairs anti-cancer immune responses in several ways, including immune cells inhibition and major histocompatibility (MHC) class I and II abolishment. It promotes GBM angiogenesis by inducing angiogenic factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-I) and insulinlike growth factor-binding protein 7 (IGFBP7), contributes to GBM progression by inducing metalloproteinases (MMPs), "pro-neoplastic" integrins (${\alpha}v{\beta}3$, ${\alpha}5{\beta}1$) and GBM initiating cells (GICs) as well as inducing a GBM mesenchymal phenotype. Equally, Nodal promotes GICs, induces cancer metabolic switch and supports GBM cell proliferation, but is negatively regulated by Lefty. Activin promotes GBM cell proliferation while GDF yields immune-escape function. On the other hand, BMPs target GICS and induce differentiation and sensitivity to chemotherapy. This multifaceted involvement of this superfamily in GBM necessitates different strategies in anti-cancer therapy. While suppressing the $TGF{\beta}$ subfamily yields advantageous results, enhancing BMPs production is also beneficial.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.19
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• pp.8265-8270
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• 2014

Background: Smoking tobacco is considered as a leading cause of preventable death, mostly in developing countries like India. One of the primary goals of international tobacco control is to educate smokers about the risks associated with tobacco consumption. Tobacco warning labels (TWLs) on cigarette packages are one of the most common statutory means to communicate health risks of smoking to smokers, with the hope that once educated, they will be more likely to quit the habit. Materials and Methods: The present survey was conducted to assess the effectiveness of TWLs in communicating health risks of tobacco usage among 263 adult smokers working as bus drivers in Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), Mangalore, India. Information was collected on demographic details, exposure and response to health warnings on tobacco products, intention to quit and nicotine dependency. Results: The majority (79.5%) of the respondents revealed negative intentions towards quitting smoking. Nearly half of the participants had a 'low' nicotine dependency (47.5%) and 98.1% of the respondents had often noticed warning labels on tobacco packages. These health warnings made 71.5% of the respondents think about quitting smoking. Respondents who noticed advertisement or pictures about dangers of smoking had better knowledge, with respect to lung cancer and impotence as a consequence of tobacco. A higher exposure to warning labels was significantly associated with lower nicotine dependency levels of smokers among the present study population. A significantly higher number of respondents who noticed advertisement or pictures about the dangers of smoking thought about the risks of smoking and were more inclined to think about quitting smoking. As exposure increased, an increase in the knowledge and response of participants was also observed. Conclusions: Exposure to tobacco warning labels helps to educate smokers about health risks of tobacco smoking. It may be possible to promote oral health among bus drivers by developing strategies to educate them about these risk factors.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.125-138
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects a music group therapy program has on cognitive function and life satisfaction. We targeted the elderly who are receiving service at a daycare center. This study monitored seventeen elderly subjects who were available for language communication, walking, and defecation function even if the subject had a slight mind-body function disorder based on using the service of the daycare facilities. The subjects visited each of the welfare centers one week prior to the Korean classical music group therapy program. We conducted a pre-test of MMSE-K(Mini-Mental State Examination, Korean version) modified by Park and Gwon(1989). We also supplemented the MMSE developed by Folstein(1975) and LSI-A(Life Satisfaction Index) for the elderly developed by Neugarten, Havighurst and Tobin(1961). We conducted the Korean classical music group therapy program for 15 sessions at 50 minutes each for 1~2 times a week from July 9 to September 13, 2013 at the daycare center for OO senior welfare center. The welfare center belongs to the experimental group, excluding the OO general welfare center, which is the control group. Finally, we carried out the post-test of the MMSE-K and LSI-A in the same manner as the pre-test. We carried out the post-test on July 17, 2013, 4 days after concluding the Korean classical music group therapy program. A t-test was used in order to analyze the differences in cognitive function and life satisfaction according to each group. We used SPSS/WIN 18.0 program. This study has significance by proving that the use of Korean classical music is conducive in the improvement of cognitive function and life satisfaction of the elderly at the daycare facilities. Also, we presented the actual contents of the study to the clinical field.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.2497-2504
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• 2013

This study aims to analyze the 'Standard Drawings for School Facilities' issued by Seoul Education Committee in 1975 because it is the early example for middle school architecture. The results of this study are summarized as follows 1) In general trend of single-corridor type block plan, there are also changes in floor plan like no-corridor type block plan, $9.9{\times}6.6m$ classroom unit for the better daylight condition, built-in storage for students. 2) As for elevation design, it is characterized as daylight-oriented, functional exterior for without making full use of design elements. 3) Standardized dimensions are used as a rule in the height of story, ceiling, window sill and etc. Transitional characteristics of the early RC school architecture are found in exposed ceiling, incomplete insulation structure and mixed use of wood framed floor of earlier type. 4) Contrast to main school building, gymnasium shows the intend to express the symbolism of school architecture with diverse elevation design elements and the plasticity of building mass. 5) Separated plan of toilet and night-duty building also show the transitional characteristics. As conclusion, though showing the stereotyped school architecture, on the other hand, 'Standard Drawings for School Facilities' (1975) makes it possible to see the way of coping with the demands for school architecture in that time and the transition of school architecture. This is the main value of it as the material for the studies related to the history of educational facilities.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.131-146
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• 2016

Objectives: This study was performed to determine the correlation between Instrument on Pattern Identification for Depression and Psychological tests by Pearson Correlation Coefficient and Regression analysis.Methods: Two assessors carried out the evaluation using the instrument on pattern identification for depression. They also performed the following psychological tests: Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI), the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI_Total), Self-disclosure Inventory, subjective well-being Inventory, Health perception Inventory, and Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI). A total of 167 participants who got HAM-D score over 12 were targeted for the evaluation. Our research team carried out Pearson correlation coefficient analyses and regression analysis between pattern identification for depression and Psychological tests. We listed the results by descending order and interpreted the results.Results: Pearson correlation analysis revealed the following results: 1) Stagnation of Liver Gi was associated with BDI (0.60) and STAI (0.55); 2) Dual Deficiency of the Heart and Spleen was associated with BDI (0.60), ISI_Total (0.52), and STAI (0.42); 3) Relieving stagnation of Phlegm-Gi was associated with BDI (0.65), STAI (0.54), and Subjective well-being inventory (−0.52); 4) Gi-deficiency Mingled with sputum was associated with BDI (0.50), ISI_Total (0.40), and STAI (0.395); 5) Stagnant Gi transforming into fire was associated with BDI (0.56), STAI_TR (0.51), and Health perception Inventory (−0.458); 6) Yin-Deficiency with Effulgent Fire was associated with BDI (0.55), ISI_total (0.54), and STAI (0.41).Conclusions: Through correlation analysis between Instrument on Pattern Identification for Depression and Psychological tests, we could suggest a System for Oriental Medical Diagnosis for Depression.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.237-242
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• 2007

The chemical formula of indapamide is 3-(aminosulfonyl)-4-chloro-N-(2,3-dihydro-2-methyl-1H-indol-l-yl)-benzamide, Indapamide is an oral antipertensive diuretic agent indicated for the treatment of hypertensive and edema. Indapamide inhibits carbonic anhydrase enzyme. Transdermal drug delivery systems, as compared to their corresponding classical oral or injectable dosage form counterparts, offer many advantages. The most important advantages are improved systemic bioavailability of the pharmaceutical active ingredients (PAI), because the first-pass metabolism by the liver and digestive system are avoided; and the controlled, constant drug delivery profile (that is, controlled zero-order absorption). Also of importance is the reduced dose frequency compared to the conventional oral dosage forms (that is, once-a-day, twice-a-week or once-a-week). Other benefits include longer duration of therapeutic action from a single application, and reversible action. For example, patches can be removed to reverse any adverse effects that may be caused by overdosing. In order to evaluate the effects of vehicles and penetration enhancers on skin permeation of Indapamide, the skin permeation rates of Indapamide from vehicles of different composition were determined using Franz cells fitted with excised hairless skins. Solubility of Indapamide in various solvents was investigated to select a vehicle suitable for the percutaneous absorption of Indapamide, The solvents used were Tween80, Tween20, Labrasol, Lauroglycol90 (LG90) and Peceol. Lauroglycol90 increase the permeability of indapamide approximately 3.75-fold compared with the control. Tween80, Tween20, Labrasol, Lauroglycol90 (LG90) and Peceol showed flux of $0.06ug/cm^2/hr,\;0.4ug/cm^2/hr,\;0.21ug/cm^2/hr,\;0.72ug/cm^2/hr,\;0.29ug/cm^2/hr$, respectively.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.30 no.8 s.114
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• pp.643-648
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• 2006

The primary purpose of this study is to examine empirically the effect of foreign crew's cultural and organizational characteristics on their self-efficacy and organization commitment. Currently, the restrictions on the employment of the foreign crews are being eased in the Korean shipping industry and many problems are occurring consequently. However, specific and empirical studies on the relevancy of cultural characteristics to the crew's self-efficacy and organizational commitment on board the vessels with combined crews have not yet been carried out. To solve these problems, we examined how the cultural characteristics such as acculturation and accommodation of different culture related to the improvement of cultural homogeneity of vessels with combined crews influence on the self-efficacy, job satisfaction and organizational commitment of the foreign crews through SEM analysis. According to the results, hypothesis 1 and 2 were all supported with statistical significance. To conclude, this study suggests that foreign crew's cultural homogeneity and their self-efficacy should be firstly enhanced in order to improve organizational commitment on the vessel with combined crews. Furthermore, a study on self-efficacy of crew organization is urgently needed to enhance the effectiveness of an organization in a vessel with combined crews that has special environment. The result of this study will contribute a lot to the organization management of a vessel with combined crews.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.407-425
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• 1998

We have studied the clinical application of burning acupuncture by examining 18recent-published papers in the journal 'ZHONGGUO ZHENJIU(中國鍼灸)' for the bibliographical study and clinical study and have given medical treatment of burning acupuncture on 21 Patients who suffered 'the body chill symptoms(冷症)' at the oriental hospital of Won-Kwang University, Kwang-Ju. As a result, we have come to some conclusions as below. 1. The diseases for which the modern borning acupuncture is efficacious are widely extended to various kinds of field such as surgery, internal medicine, gynecology, ophthalmology, otolaryngology. etc. as well as numbness, meridian muscle disease(經筋病) mentioned in 'Neijing(內徑)' . 2. The effects of burning acupuncture therapy are wen zhuang yang qi(溫壯陽氣), sheng ji lian chuang(生肌斂瘡), san han chu shi(散寒除濕), qu fens zhi yang(祛風止痒), qu yu chu fu pai nong(祛瘀除腐排膿), san jie xiao zhong(散結消腫), zhi tong huan ji chu ma mu(止痛緩急除麻木), qing re xie hue jie du(淸熱瀉火解毒). 3. The recently reported diseases for which burning acupuncture is good are internal and external humeral epicondylitis, atheroma, menorrhalgia, thecal cyst, tragomaschalia, pruritus, traumatic onychophemia, gout of feet, prostatomegaly, aacne, supprative infection of body surface, snapping finger, backache, numbness, pyocyst etc. 4. The subjective symptoms of 'the body chill symptoms(冷症)' were, most of all, feeling cold accompanied by pain(16 case), while just 4 cases were feeling cold only. 5. In the related diseases of the body chill symptoms(冷症), feeling pain like arthralgia was the most case, and then dysmenorrhea, menorralgia, depression, anemia in order. 6. In the D.I.T.I before and after burning acupuncture treatment, 6 patients had shown 'excellent' effects and 8 patients had turned out 'good', while 7 patients had become'fair'. 7. In the degree of patient-satisfaction, 5 patients announced 'excellence' and 6 patients expressed 'good', 4 expressed 'fair', while the other 6 showed no change. 8. In the correlation of D.I.T.I and patient-satisfaction, the better the result of clinical treatment was, the more satisfied the patient was, however, in the case 'fair', we saw the degree of patient-satisfaction was relatively low, so we could admit the judging significance of D.I.T.I.

• Management & Information Systems Review
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.117-144
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• 2010

This paper planned to review positively the influence of leading variables - Functional benefits, Emotional benefits, Self-expressive benefits over Consumer-brand relationship, and the structural relationship between Consumer-brand relationship and Brand attachment, Word-of-mouse. For it, we verified our hypothesis utilizing Hierarchial chi-square analysis that was available to statistically verify the size between 2 paths out of Structural models As the result of research, Emotional benefits was more influential than Functional benefits in the formation of Consumer-brand relationship. Additionally, the influential difference between Emotional benefits and Self-expressive benefits was not found in the formation of Consumer-brand relationship. In other words, both Emotional benefits and Functional benefits were proved to have a positive influence on forming Consumer-brand relationship. On the other hand, Self expressive benefits played a more influential role than Functional benefit in the formation of Consumer-brand relationship. The fact was also proved that the higher the formation level of Consumer -brand relationship was, the greater positive influence over Brand attachment and Word-of-mouse Through the above results, it is more desirable to establish brand strategy for forming Consumer-brand relationship through Emotional benefits and Self expressive benefits rather than Functional benefits. Additionally, the Consumer-brand relationship formed by Value benefit is expected not only to get the level of attachment, showing like love, toward the brand deeper, but also to achieve the effect of positive, long term communication through voluntary Word-of-mouse.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.223-234
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• 2004

The aim of this study was to investigate intake of health foods and supplements and its associated factors in middle and old-aged adults in order to contribute to health promotion of Korean population by providing a guide for proper use of health foods and supplements. About 69% of the subjects reported that they were currently taking health foods and supplements or had experiences of having them in the past, whereas 31.2 % reported they had never taken them. The most commonly used type of health foods and supplements was vitamin C as reported by 41.8% followed by others such as lactobacillus products, multi-vitamins, tonic medicine and cardiotonic drug, artificially processed Ginseng foods, vitamin B complex, enzyme supplement, calcium, aloe, apricot extract products, chitosan products, loyal honey, squalene, refined fish oil and iron products. The major reason for taking health foods and supplements was 'to protect the weak constitution' with 155 (42.1%) responses, and the motive for the intake was the suggestion from family-relatives with 235 (63.9%) responses, and the place of purchase was pharmacy with 140 (38.0%) responses, the average monthly expense was 20,000-40,000 won with 140 (26.2%) responses, and effects after the intake was 'so and so' with 180 (33.6%) responses as the highest. More health foods and supplements were consumed as age and education were statistically significantly increased (p<0.05). For health and lifestyle and the intake of health foods and supplements, perceived health status, the presence of illness, and the presence of health management were statistically significant (p<0.05). Male subjects than female subjects and the 30s than the 405 and 50s were appeared to have poorer dietary behaviors (p<0.05). For the health locus of control and the intake of health foods and supplements, the health locus of control score was 22.82 for consumers and 22.79 for non-consumers, showing no significant difference. Logistic regression analysis was performed to find out major factors that affect the intake of health foods and supplements, in which gender, education, smoking, perceived health status, the presence of illness, and health management were significant to the intake of health foods and supplements. It is shown that subjects with perception and attitude of 'health foods and supplements are useful in health maintenance and disease prevention' and 'the information and variety for health foods and supplements are great' have higher probability of taking health foods and supplements.