• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6955-6959
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• 2013

The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is relatively high in Southeast Asia. Globally, HCC has a high fatality rate and short survival. The objectives of this retrospective cohort study were to review the epidemiology and survival of HCC patients at a tertiary centre in north-east of Peninsular Malaysia. Subjects were adult HCC patients diagnosed by histopathology or radio-imaging. Secondary liver carcinoma was excluded. Kaplan Meier and multiple Cox proportional hazard survival analyses were used. Only 210 HCC cases from years 1987-2008, were included in the final analysis. The number of cases was increasing annually. The mean age was 55.0 (SD 13.9) years with male:female ratio of 3.7:1. Approximately 57.6% had positive hepatitis B virus, 2.4% hepatitis C virus, 20% liver cirrhosis and 8.1% chronic liver disease. Only 2.9% had family history and 9.0% had frequently consumed alcohol. Most patients presented with abdominal pain or discomfort and had hepatomegaly, 47.9% had an elevated ${\alpha}$-fetoprotein level of 800 IU/ml or more, 51.9% had multiple tumors and 44.8% involved multiple liver lobes. Approximately 63.3% were in stage 3 and 23.4% in stage 4, and 82.9% did not receive any treatment. The overall median survival time was 1.9 months (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.5, 2.3). The 1-month, 6-month, 1-year and 2-year survival rates were 71.8%, 23.3%, 13.0% and 7.3% respectively. Significant prognostic factors were Malay ethnicity [Adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) 1.6; 95%CI: 1.0, 2.5; p=0.030], no chemotherapy [AHR 1.7; 95%CI: 1.1, 2.5; p=0.017] and Child-Pugh class C [AHR 2.6; 95%CI: 1.4, 4.9; p=0.002]. HCC in our study affected a wide age range, mostly male, in advanced stage of disease, with no treatment and very low survival rates. Primary prevention should be advocated in view of late presentation and difficulty of treatment. Vaccination of hepatitis virus and avoidance of liver toxins are to be encouraged.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.821-825
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• 2012

Purpose: Centromere protein H (CENP-H) and Ki67 are overexpressed in some malignancies, but whether they are predictors of survival after primary resection for hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HSCC) remains unknown. Methods: We assessed immunohistochemical expression of CENP-H and Ki67 in 112 HSCC specimens collected between March 2003 and March 2005 for analysis by clinical characteristics. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze relapse-free survival and logistic multivariate regression to determine risk factors of relapse-free survival. Cholecystokinin octapeptide assays and flow cytometry were used to examine cell proliferation and apoptosis after siRNA inhibition of CENP-H in HSCC cells. Results: Overall, 50 (44.6%) HSCC specimens showed upregulated CENP-H expression and 69 (61.6%) upregulated Ki67. An increased CENP-H protein level was associated with advanced cancer stage and alcohol history (P=0.012 and P=0.048, respectively) but an increased Ki67 protein level only with advanced cancer stage (P=0.021). Increased CENP-H or Ki67 were associated with short relapse-free survival (P<0.001 or P=0.009, respectively) and were independent predictors of relapse-free survival (P=0.001 and P=0.018, respectively). siRNA knockdown of CENP-H mRNA inhibited cell proliferation and promoted cancer cell apoptosis in vitro. Conclusions: Upregulated CENP-H and Ki67 levels are significantly associated with short relapse-free survival in HSCC. These factors may be predictors of a relapsing phenotype in HSSC cases.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.57-65
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• 2007

Background: Cordyceps militaris have been reported to modify the immune and inflammatory responses both in vivo and in vitro. Macrophages play important roles in the innate immunity through the phagocytosis of antigens. This study examined the effects of Cordyceps militaris on the activation of murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells and primary macrophages. Methods: The components contained in culture broth of Cordyceps militaris were purified by propyl alcohol extraction and HP 20 column chromatography to CMDB, CMDBW, CMDB5P, and CMDB25P. The amounts of nitric oxide (NO) were determined by using ELISA, Griess reagent respectively. The amounts of some cytokines were determined by using ELISA, western blot, and RT-PCR The expression levels of cell surface molecules (ICAM-1, B7-1 and B7-2) were measured by flow cytometric analysis. Results: All the components of Cordyceps militaris produced significant amounts of NO. In particular, CMDB produced much more NO in RAW 264.7 cells and primary macrophages than other fractions of Cordyceps militaris. CMDB increased significantly the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-1${\beta}$, and IL-6 dose-dependently in RAW 264.7 cells. Examination of the gene expression level also showed that the enhanced production of cytokines was correlated with the up-regulation of i-NOS expression, cycloxygenase (COX)-2 expression, IL-1${\beta}$ and IL-6 expression, and TNF-${\alpha}$ expression on the expression of mRNAs by semi-quantitative RT-PCR Western blot analysis also confirmed that CMDB enhances the expression level of these cytokines. Conclusion: These results show that CMDB stimulates the production of NO and pro-inflammatory cytokines and can also up-regulate the gene expression levels in macrophages.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.306-315
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• 2001

Our study is aimed at proposal of systematic verification method of molecular structure using measuring method of selective ionic determination and spectrometry on 34 kinds of surfactants such as sodium dodecyl sulfate(SDS) which are most widely used today. In the IR spectrum, unsaturated fatty acids reveal themselves by HC= at $3000{\sim}3020cm^{-1}$, and intensity of $720cm^{-1}$ depends on carbon length of alkyl group. Also ethylene oxide(EO) adducts exhibit weak characteristic bands by $-CH_{2}-CH_{2}-O$ at 1350, 1100 and $950cm^{-1}$. Isethionate can be distinguished from diester succinate by intensity ratio of 1740 and $1200cm^{-1}$ spectrums, the ratio of latter is close to 1 due to 2 carboxylate radical in diester succinate. Quaternary ammonium salts exhibit characteristic band of $C_{4}N^{+}$ at $1000-900㎝^{-1}$. In the case of dialkyl dimethyl ammonium salts in quaternary ammonium surfactants, the spectrum of $3000cm^{-1}$ by $N-CH_{3}$ collapses to a very weak band at $3020cm^{-1}$. In ammonium heterocyclic derivatives, pyridinium salts show characteristic bands at 1640 and $1460cm^{-1}$, while imidazolinium salts exhibit characteristic band at $1620-1610cm^{-1}$. In the characteristic spectrum at $1080-1050cm^{-1}$ on OH radicals of the alkyl esters, primary alcohol appears as weak band and the 2 bands show in almost same intensity when primary and secondary alcohols exist together in one molecule. Also, alkyl ester of polyhydric alcohols appears as various broad band.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.29-34
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• 1960

From the view point of phytopathological anatomy, the author has tried to study the effect of the shoot cluster disease virus on the internal structure of vascular tissues of chinese date tree (Ziziphus jujuba var. inermis Rehd.) comparing healthy checks and diseased plants. The materials were collected at the several sites, Kumgock-Ri, Masuc-Ri, Kyungi-Do, and near the campus of Korea University and around the area of Chongam-Dong, Seoul City, from August 15th to September 5th 1959. The leaf materials of healthy and diseased plants are fixed and aspirated in two kinds of killing solutions, formalin-acetic acid alcohol solution and Craf III solution. Sections were cut at 5-10$\mu$ thickness and stained with the double staining reagents of safranin and fast green. In this experiment the author has observed that there are marked structural changes in the infected plants in contrast of healthy checks. As figures 3-7 show that the following characteric changes have taken place on infected plants: 1) the arrangement of irregularly developed sieve elements in phloem, 2) the degeneration of phloem elements, 3) the irregular arrangement of epidermis in mid-vein, 4) more necrosis is observed among the parenchymatous cells, 5) abundant accumulatin of starch grains in parenchymatous cells, . In contrast to the above irregularities caused by the virus disease, the healthy checks appear normal structures as shown in figures 1 and 2. In adding to the all features noted above, the author could also observe an interesting feature that the xylem elements in mid-vein vascular bundle tissues are considerably disorganized to show the unspecialized vessel elements, the irregularly arranged xylem elements. However, this kind of irregularities which occur in xylem under the virus infection has not been reported previously. The features noted on the internal structure of vascular bundle under the condition of infection by the shoot cluster disease on chinese date trees appear to be more or less closely similar to the symptoms of the bunchy-top of banana and the yellow dwarf disease of barley in respect to the fact that whether phloem necrosis takes place as a primary symptom or a secondary symptom. In all these disease, primary histological changes of hypoplasia and hypertrophy are preceeded by the necrosis of phloem.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.341-349
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• 2009

Objective : The purpose of this study was to identify independent predictors of mortality and functional recovery in patients with primary intracerebral hemorrhage (PICH) and to improve functional outcome in these patients. Methods : Data were collected retrospectively on 585 patients with supratentorial PICH admitted to the Stroke Unit at our hospital between 1st January 2004 and the 31st July 2008. Using multivariate logistic regression analysis, the associations between all selected variables and 30-day mortality and 90-day functional recoveries after PICH was evaluated. Results : Ninety-day functional recovery was achieved in 29.1% of the 585 patients and 30-day mortality in 15.9%. Age (OR=7.384, p=0.000), limb weakness (OR=6.927, p=0.000), and hematoma volume (OR=5.293, p=0.000) were found to be powerful predictors of 90-day functional recovery. Furthermore, initial consciousness (OR=3.013, p=0.014) hematoma location (lobar, OR=2.653, p=0.003), ventricular extension of blood (OR=2.077, p=0.013), leukocytosis (OR=2.048, p=0.008), alcohol intake (drinker, OR=1.927, p=0.023), and increased serum aminotransferase (OR=1.892, p=0.035) were found to be independent predictors of 90-day functional recovery after PICH. On the other hand, a pupillary abnormality (OR=4.532, p=0.000) and initial unconsciousness (OR=3.362, p=0.000) were found to be independent predictors of 30-day mortality after PICH. Conclusion : The predictors of mortality and functional recovery after PICH identified during this analysis may assist during clinical decision-making, when advising patients or family members about the prognosis of PICH and when planning intervention trials.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.285-291
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• 1987

The approximate rates, stoichiometries and products of the reaction of potassium triethylborohydride $(KEt_3BH)$ with selected organic compounds containing representative functional groups under the standard condition $(0^{\circ}C,$ THF) were examined in order to explore the reducing characteristics of this reagent as a selective reducing agent. Primary alcohols, phenols and thiols evolve hydrogen rapidly whereas secondary and tertiary alcohols evolve very slowly. n-Hexylamine is inert to this reagent. Aldehydes and ketones are reduced rapidly and quantitatively to the corresponding alcohols. Reduction of noncamphor gives 3% exo- and 97% endo-norboneol. Anthraquinone is cleanly reduced to 9,10-dihydro-9,10-dihydroxyanthracene stage. Carboxylic acids liberate hydrogen rapidly and quantitatively but further reduction does not occur. Anhydrides utilize 2 equiv of hydride to give an equimolar mixture of acid and alcohol. Acid chlorides, esters and lactones are rapidly and quantitatively reduced to the corresponding alcohols. Epoxides are reduced at moderate rates with Markovnikov ring opening to give the more substituted alcohols. Primary amides liberate 1 equiv of hydrogen rapidly. Further reduction of caproamide is slow whereas benzamide is not reduced. Tertiary amides are reduced slowly. Benzonitrile utilizes 2 equiv of hydride in 3 h to go to the amine stage whereas capronitrile takes only 1 equiv. The reaction of nitro compounds undergo rapidly whereas azobenzene and azoxybenzene are reduced slowly. Cyclohexanone oxime rapidly evolves hydrogen without reduction. Phenyl isocyanate utilizes 1 equiv of hydride to proceed to formanilide stage. Pyridine N-oxide and pyridine is reduced rapidly. Disulfides are rapidly reduced to the thiol stage whereas sulfoxide, sulfonic acid are practically inert to this reagent. Sulfones and cyclohexyl tosylate are slowly reduced. Octyl bromide is reduced rapidly but octyl chloride and cyclohexyl bromide are reduced slowly.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.359-363
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• 1987

Sonic waves (50KHz) was accelerated the oxidation reaction of primary, benzyl and secondary alcohol with $BaMnO_4\;and\;KMnO_4-CuSO_4{\cdot}5H_2O$ to give the corresponding aldehyde and ketone at $30^{\circ}C/1$ atm. in high yields compared to stirring or refluxing condition.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.156-168
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to construct a questionnaire to assess male workers' sobriety behavior based on Ajzen's Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Methods: A primary questionnaire with 56 questions was constructed based on literature review and structured interview with male workers. The Content Validity Index (CVI) was evaluated by a group of experts, construct validity was tested by principle component analysis, and reliability was evaluated by Cronbach's ${\alpha}$ and the test-retest reliability test. Results: Fifty two questions showed higher than .8 of CVI. Four factors explained 78.71% of the total variance among items for sobriety intention and direct measure, and six factors explained 67.99% of the total variance among indirect measure items and those factors coincided with the variables of TPB in factor analysis. Cronbach's ${\alpha}$ of this questionnaire was .873 and the result of test-retest reliabilty test was relatively reliable. A total of 41 items with 7-point scale were constructed in the final version. Conclusion: This questionnaire was valid and reliable to measure sobriety behavior based on TPB in male workers. It can be useful to evaluate the result of a sobriety program for male workers.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.125-133
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• 2007

Purpose: To identify the compliance level with therapeutic regimen among patients with hypertension residing in rural communities. Method: A descriptive-retrospective research design was employed. One hundred patients with hypertension using 8 Primary Health Care Posts under W Public Health Center were randomly recruited on the basis of being over 35 years of age. After obtaining written consent, the patients underwent direct interviews with a structured questionnaire carried out by 8 public health practitioners. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were utilized. Results: In a binary logistic regression model adjusted for age, sex, education, income, and occupation, those who were receiving medication (OR=5.34), were undergoing a weight control program (OR=4.45), restricted alcohol (OR=9.93), or smoking cessation (OR=25.59) as recommended by medical or health professionals were more compliant (p<.05) while those under a low salt diet, exercise, and stress management were not significant statistically (p>.05). Conclusions: Further research should be conducted to validate these findings so as to facilitate the development of nursing intervention strategies for improving the compliance of hypertensive patients in respect to medication and life style modification.