• BMB Reports
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.298-305
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• 2011

Most intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), especially superoxide anion ($O_2^{{\bullet}_-}$) that is converted from oxygen, are overproduced by excessive electron leakage from the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Intracellular oxidative stress that damages cellular components can contribute to lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes and arteriosclerosis, and age-related diseases such as cancer and neuronal degenerative diseases. We have previously demonstrated that the excessive mitochondrial $O_2^{{\bullet}_-}$ production caused by SDHC mutations (G71E in C. elegans, I71E in Drosophila and V69E in mouse) results in premature death in C. elegans and Drosophila, cancer in mouse embryonic fibroblast cells and infertility in transgenic mice. SDHC is a subunit of mitochondrial complex II. In humans, it has been reported that mutations in SDHB, SDHC or SDHD often result in inherited head and neck paragangliomas (PGLs). Recently, we established Tet-mev-1 conditional transgenic mice using our uniquely developed Tet-On/Off system, which equilibrates transgene expression to endogenous levels. These mice experienced mitochondrial respiratory chain dysfunction that resulted in $O_2^{{\bullet}_-}$ overproduction. The mitochondrial oxidative stress caused excessive apoptosis leading to low birth weight and growth retardation in the neonatal developmental phase in Tet-mev-1 mice. Here, we briefly describe the relationships between mitochondrial $O_2^{{\bullet}_-}$ and aging phenomena in mev-1 animal models

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3533-3540
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• 2016

Background: Cigarette smoking is one of the leading global causes of premature and preventable death. In Brunei Darussalam, smoking-related diseases have been a primary cause of mortality for the past three decades. Despite the increasing efforts that have been made in recent years to reduce the consumption of tobacco products in Brunei, the prevalence of adolescent smoking cigarette, however has risen alarmingly, from 8.9% in 2013 to 11.4% in 2014, with a higher prevalence found in males (17.8%) than in females (4.8%). In response to the need for more effective smoking prevention programmes in Brunei, this study sought to explore factors that influence Bruneian male adolescents to start and continue smoking. Materials and Methods: A qualitative study using focus group discussions (FGDs) as the data collection method was conducted from October to November 2015. A total of 43 studentss, comprising 31 smokers and 12 non-smokers, aged 13-17 years, from two government secondary schools in Bandar Seri Begawan, participated in six FGDs. Discussions were recorded and translated. Transcripts were entered into NVivo10, before thematic analysis was conducted. Results: We identified three themes under the core construct of 'factors influencing smoking initiation' ('family as teachers', 'overt pressure from peers' and 'perceived smoking has many advantages') and three themes under the core construct of 'factors influencing smoking continuation' ('craving and addiction', 'smoking as a 'social activity' and 'easy accessibility of cigarettes'). Conclusions: Based on the findings, it is recommended that future prevention activities should be embedded in a comprehensive approach, involving all stakeholders within a community, and should be focused towards bringing a change in smoking and parenting behavior of parents, social norms within the culture towards all population levels, and at strengthening the existing non-smoking policies in schools and other public places where young people congregate.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.5249-5255
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• 2013

Background: The purpose of this study was to develop a single measure of cancer burden (SMCB), which can prioritize cancer sites by considering incidence and mortality. Materials and Methods: Incidence data from 1999 to 2010 were obtained from the Korea Central Cancer Registry. Mortality data from 1999 to 2010 were obtained from Statistics Korea. The SMCB was developed by adding incidence and mortality scores. The respective scores were given such that incidence and mortality were classified by ten ranges of equal intervals. Results: According to the SMCB in 2010, stomach cancer ranked $1^{st}$ in males with 20 points, and colorectal cancer was $2^{nd}$ with 11 points. Breast cancer and thyroid cancer were joint $1^{st}$ with 11 points for females. The SMCB for females was less than that for males. The burden of stomach cancer was $1^{st}$ in males from 1999-2010. The incidences of lung cancer and liver cancer decreased, whereas thyroid cancer and colon cancer increased during the period. Breast cancer and thyroid cancer burden showed tendencies to increase in females. Comparison of SMCB with disability-adjusted life years (DALY) and socioeconomic costs in 2005 showed that the top five cancer sites were similar, but there were differences in the size of the cancer burden. Conclusions: The SMCB indicated that the burdens of stomach cancer in males and thyroid and breast cancers in females were large. The single measure showed an advantage, reflected as the equivalent dimensions of incidence and mortality, whereas DALY and economic costs showed tendencies to reflect premature death.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.221-225
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• 2015

The bacterium causing Johne's disease (JD), Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP), is distributed worldwide and causes progressive intestinal disease, also known as paratuberculosis, in domestic and exotic ruminants, including cattle. The subclinical form of this disease results in progressive weight loss, reduced milk production, lower slaughter value, and premature culling, with possible impacts on fertility and udder health. Eventually, infection can lead to the clinical form that manifests chronic diarrhea, emaciation, debilitation, and eventual death. JD is a major cause of economic loss in cattle industry. In this study, serological testing was conducted by ELISA to determine the prevalence of MAP in Korean native cattle of Jeju during the duration of 2010 to 2013. A total of 5,150 blood sera were collected in 111 farms and the samples were classified into four different age groups for MAP; group 1 (2 years or less), group 2 (2~4 years), group 3 (5~7 years), and group 4 (over 8 years). Overall seroprevalence of MAP was 5.2% (269/5,150), and annually from 2010 to 2013, they were 11.6% (106/915), 2.1% (10/474), 5.5% (89/1,627), and 3.0% (64/2,134), respectively. Also, the prevalence rates was determined by age groups: 48 of group 1 (17.8%), 154 of group 2 (57.3%), 48 of group 3 (17.8%), and 19 of group 4 (7.1%) were seropositive for MAP. Although seropositive samples were found in all age groups, the highest seroprevalence was found in group 2. This study showed that during the investigation the seroprevalence of MAP tended to decrease.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.51-58
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• 2018

This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between drinking, smoking, meat intake, and exercise. The participants were 1,060 males and females who voluntarily responded to the survey by visiting the health promotion booth at the H Festival held in C city in 2014. Research data were collected in interview form using questionnaires on alcohol use, smoking, exercise, and meat intake. The data were analyzed by descriptive analysis, cross tabulation analysis, multinominal logistic regression after stratification of gender using the SPSS 24 program. The results of the study are as follows: Smokers had a significantly higher frequency of drinking ($x^2=163.33$, p<.001) than non-smokers. Meat intake was high when alcohol use was high ($x^2=35.13$, p<.001). The risk rates for smoking, meat consumption, and exercise related to alcohol use are as follows. The smoking was higher as the frequency of drinking increased. For men, smoking OR(odd ratio) was 6.26 (p=.001) and for women, smoking risk OR was 16.82 (p=.002). Meats intake showed a higher OR as the alcohol use increased. The OR of almost daily ingestion of meat at frequent drinking days was 4.40 (p=.002) for males and 4.52(p=.009) for females. As the frequency of drinking increased, the OR of days of exercise tended to decrease. In men, the OR was 0.36 (p=.003), the lowest in the probability of exercising more than 5 days when drinking high. In the case of women drinking less than once a week, the OR was 0.43 (p=.027), which was the lowest for exercise for 5 days or more. In conclusion, the higher the frequency of drinking, the higher the smoking and meat intake, and the less exercise. If drinking, smoking, and meat intake are high but there is a lack of exercise, a chronic disease can occur and cause premature death unless there is a change in the new health behavior. The results of this study suggest researches to understand the motives related to alcohol abstinence, smoking cessation, dietary control and exercise, and to develop programs.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.267-273
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• 1996

Takayasu's arteritis(aortoarteritis) is a chronic inflammatory disease involving the aorta, the arteries arising from the aorta, and the pulmonary arteries also may be involved. The inflammation leads to either stenosis and occlusion of the involved artery or formation of aneurysm or both. The arterial lesions can lead to secondary hypertension, retinopathy, cardiac involvement, cerebrovascular events, and premature death. The course and prognosis of patients with aortoarteritis show wide variation, and few authors have published systematic studies documenting the natural history of this disease. While the etiology of Takayasu's arteritis remains unknown, various modes of treatment including steroids, vascular surgery, and balloon angioplasty have been used for management of these patients. We experienced a case of Takayasu's arteritis with multiple occlusion of pulmonary arteries, which was confirmed by angiography and perfusion scan, so reported it with a review of literature.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.157-161
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• 2001

Mice homozygous for the lethal autosomal recessive anorexia mutation (anx) present with premature death around postnatal day 22. The anorexia mutant mice also present phenotypes such as reduced body weight, decreased food intake, and abnormal behavior characteristics such as body tremors, hyperactivity, uncoordinated gait, and head weaving. In order to investigate the expression of c-Fos in the hippocampus of anorexia mutant mice, the immunohistochemistry was performed in this study. The anorexia mutant mice exhibited lower expression of c-Fos in the hippocampus regions thBn the control group. In the CA3 and dentate gyrus, the number of c-Fos-positive cells in anorexia mutant mice was noticeably lower than that in control mice. However, no significant difference was found in the number of c-Fos-positive cells in CA1 of the two groups. The result suggests that the phenotypic characteristics of anorexia mutant mice may be associated with the hippocampal deficits of c-Fos expression.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.124-132
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• 2021

Purpose: Neonatal near miss (NNM) allows for the detection of risk factors associated with serious newborn complications and death, the prevention of which could reduce neonatal mortality. This study was conducted with the objective of identifying predictors for NNM in a tertiary hospital in Bangalore city. Methods: This was an unmatched case-control study involving 120 NNM cases and 120 controls. NNM was determined using Pileggi-Castro's pragmatic and management criteria. Data was collected from in-patient hospital records and interviews of postpartum mothers. Multiple logistic regression of exposure variables was performed to calculate adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: Significant predictors were maternal age ≥30 years (AOR, 5.32; 95% CI, 1.12 to 9.29; P=0.041), inadequate antenatal care (ANC) (AOR, 8.35; 95% CI, 1.98 to 51.12; P=0.032), <3 ultrasound scans during pregnancy (AOR, 12.5; 95% CI, 1.60 to 97.27; P=0.016), maternal anaemia (AOR, 18.96; 95% CI, 3.10 to 116.02; P=0.001), and any one obstetric complication (hypertensive disorder in pregnancy, diabetes in pregnancy, preterm premature rupture of membranes, prolonged labour, obstructed labour, malpresentation) (AOR, 4.34; 95% CI, 1.26 to 14.95; P=0.02). Conclusion: The predictors of NNM identified has important implications for public health policy and practice whose modifications can improve NNM. These include expanding essential ANC package to include ultrasound scans, ensuring World Health Organization recommendations of eight ANC visits, capacity building at all levels of health care to strengthen routine ANC and obstetric care for effective screening, referral and management of obstetric complications.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.434-440
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• 2009

Background: Surgical closure of a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) can be considered when conservative medical treatment is ineffective or contraindicated. Low weight and earlier gestational age neonates who are treated with conservative medical therapy generally showed a higher failure rate. The morbidity of surgical PDA closure in such extremely low birth weight (ELBW) neonates is also high. Here we present the early results of a new technique for approaching the PDA through a dorsal minithoracotomy. Material and Method: From March 2006 to November 2008, 24 premature neonates underwent surgical PDA closure. The procedures were performed in the newborn intensive care unit via a 2 cm long dorsal minithoracotomy with the baby in the prone position with the left hemithorax elevated 30$^{\circ}$. Bimanual cotton swab blunt dissection completed the extrapleural accesstothe PDA and then two clips were applied. Tube thoracostomy was avoided if there was no meaningful pleural laceration. Result: The infants mean gestational age was 26.5$\pm$2.1 weeks (range: 23 to 30 weeks) and the average age at operation was 11$\pm$11 days. The mean body weight at operation was 933$\pm$271 grams (range: 570 to 1,700 grams). Eight patients expired, but there was no procedure-related death. Postoperative echocardiography revealed two cases of residual shunt but none of these shunts were detected on the follow up echocardiogram that was performed on the post operative 5 and 59 days. Conclusion: We concluded that the technique described here is an effective procedure in view of the satisfactory operative exposure and the low rate of complications.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.51-58
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• 2008

This study was performed to investigate the relation between birth weight and survivability on the production of cloned Hanwoo calves. The 580 cloned embryos were transferred into the 293 recipients. The pregnancy rate of the cloned embryos was 72.3% at 50 days after embryo transfer, and then the rate was dramatically decreased. The mean gestation lengths were 287 days in both clone (range of$279{\sim}295$ days) and artificial insemination (AI, range of $255{\sim}293$ days) calves, respectively. The mean birth weight of cloned calves (30.3kg) was significantly higher compared to that of AI calves (23.7kg) (p<0.05). Among the cloned calves, the birth weight was not different in both normal delivery (n=17, 29.9kg) and caesarean section (n=14, 32.3kg). The weight, however, was significantly higher in the clones (n=18, 32.8kg) dead within 175 days than that of the clones (n=11, 28.3kg) alive more than 175 days after birth (p<0.05). Interestingly, all cloned calves weighed <15kg (n=5) or >35kg (n=9) at birth have been dead within 175 days from the date of birth. The causes of death in the cloned calves were premature birth (n=2, 10.0%), abnormal function of lung and liver (n=2, 10.0%), abnormal function of lung (n=4, 20.0%), malformation (n=4, 20.0%), unknown (n=4, 20.0%), and sudden death syndrome (n=4, 20.0%), respectively. Our findings suggest that normal birth weight is one of the most important factors to survive more than 6 months in cloned calves.