• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.19-23
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• 2012

Background: A ring implantation in the tricuspid annulus requires many interrupted mattress sutures for correction of tricuspid regurgitation (TR). In this study, tricuspid ring annuloplasty was performed by 2-0 polypropylene continuous suture instead of multiple interrupted 2-0 polyester mattress sutures, and the efficacy of the method was evaluated. Materials and Methods: This study included 20 patients who underwent tricuspid ring annuloplasty by continuous suture between May 2009 and July 2010. Four of the patients had an isolated TR, and the rest had a left-sided cardiac lesion. The concomitant tricuspid annuloplasty was performed after the left-sided heart surgery was completed and a Duran flexible ring prosthesis was used. Results: There was no perioperative mortality or conduction problem. More than a moderate degree of TR was improved to less than a mild degree after the procedure. After the ring annuloplasty, the right atrial volume decreased from $123.7{\pm}69.2mL$ to $74.5{\pm}37.4mL$, and the mean right atrial pressure was lowered from $18.7{\pm}12.2mmHg$ to $8.9{\pm}5.5mmHg$. Conclusion: The continuous "over and over" suture may be a useful procedure for fixing the ring to the annulus and making an intentional annular placation in performing tricuspid ring annuloplasty.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.469-477
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• 2014

As a kind of intelligent materials, conductive asphalt concrete has a broad application prospect including melting ice and snow on the pavement, closing cracks in asphalt concrete, sensing pavement damage, and so on. Conductive pavement will be suffered from fatigue failure as conventional pavement in the process of service, and this fatigue damage of internal structure can be induced by electrical signal output. The characteristics of electrical signal variation of conductive asphalt concrete in the process of fatigue cracking were researched in this paper. The whole process was clearly divided into three stages according to resistance changes, and the development of fatigue damage wasn't obvious in stage I and stage II, while in stage III, the synchronicity between the resistance and damage began to appear. Thus, fatigue damage variable D and initial damage value $D_0$ represented by the functions of resistance were introduced in stage III. After calculating the initial damage value $D_0$ under different stress levels, it was concluded that the initial damage value $D_0$ had no noticeable change, just ranged between 0.24 and 0.25. This value represented a critical point which could be used to inform the repair time of early fatigue damage in the conductive asphalt pavement.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.21-26
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• 2013

Objectives: Full thickness skin grafts (FTSG) offer several advantages; they are esthetically superb, have less postoperative shrinkage, and offer minimal postoperative pain and scar formation at the donor site. As a donor site of FTSG, the groin offers a relatively large area of skin with high elasticity. The aim of this study was to evaluate FTSG from the groin for reconstruction in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Materials and Methods: In a retrospective study, 50 patients (27 males, 23 females) who received FTSG from the groin were evaluated for their operation records, clinical photography, and medical records. Results: The width of skin from the groin was distributed from 2-8 cm (mean: 5.1 cm) at the donor site, while the long axis length was distributed from 3-13 cm (mean: 7.4 cm). A high number of patients, 47 patients (94%) out of 50, showed good healing at the donor site. Wound impairment was seen in 3 patients (6%), minor wound dehiscence in 2 patients, and severe wound dehiscence in 1 patient. In the recipient site, delayed healing was observed in 2 patients (4%). Conclusion: FTSG from the groin to repair soft tissue defects in reconstruction surgery is a good method due to the relatively big size of the graft, decreasing morbidity at the donor site, and higher graft survival rates.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.18
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• pp.8287-8292
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• 2016

Background: Thymidylate synthase (TS) catalyzes the methylation of deoxyuridylate to deoxythymidylate and is involved in DNA methylation, synthesis and repair. Two common polymorphisms have been reported, tandem repeats in the promoter-enhancer region (TSER), and 6bp ins/del in the 5'UTR, that are implicated in a number of human diseases, including cancer. The association between the two polymorphisms in risk for lung cancer (LC) was here investigated in the Jordanian population. Materials and Methods: An age, gender, and smoking-matched case-control study involving 84 lung cancer cases and 71 controls was conducted. The polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique was used to detect the polymorphism of interest. Results: Individuals bearing the ins/ins genotype were 2.5 times more likely to have lung cancer [(95%CI: 0.98-6.37), p=0.051]. Individuals who were less than or equal to 57 years and carrying ins/ins genotype were 4.6 times more susceptible to lung cancer [OR<57 vs >57years: 4.6 (95%CI: 0.93-22.5), p=0.059)]. Genotypes and alleles of TSER were distributed similarly between cases and controls. Weak linkage disequilibrium existed between the two loci of interest (Lewontin's coefficient [D']) (LC: D' =0.03, r2: 0. 001, p=0.8; Controls: D' =0.29, r2: 0.08, p=0.02). Carriers of the "3 tandem repeats_insertion" haplotype (3R_ins) were 2 times more likely to have lung cancer [2 (95%CI: 1.13-3.48), p=0.061]. Conclusions: Genetic polymorphism of TS at 3 'UTR and its haplotype analysis may modulate the risk of lung cancer in Jordanians. The 6bp ins/del polymorphism of TS at 3 'UTR is more informative than TSER polymorphism in predicting increased risk.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.4153-4158
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• 2014

Background: This study was aimed to establish a novel method to simultaneously detect expression of four genes, ribonucleotide reductase subunit M1(RRM1), X-ray repair cross-complementing gene 1 (XRCC1), thymidylate synthase (TS) and class III ${\beta}$-tubulin (TUBB3), and to assess their application in the clinic for prediction of response of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to chemoradiotherapy. Materials and Methods: We have designed four gene molecular beacon (MB) probes for multiplex quantitative real-time polymerase chain reactions to examine RRM1, XRCC1, TUBB3 and TS mRNA expression in paraffin-embedded specimens from 50 patients with advanced or metastatic carcinomas. Twenty one NSCLC patients receiving cisplatin-based first-line treatment were analyzed. Results: These molecular beacon probes could specially bind to their target genes in homogeneous solutions. Patients with low RRM1 and XRCC1 mRNA levels were found to have apparently higher response rates to chemoradiotherapy compared with those with high levels of RRM1 and XRCC1 expression (p<0.05). The TS gene expression level was not significantly associated with chemotherapy response (p>0.05). Conclusions: A method of simultaneously detecting four molecular markers was successfully established and applied for evaluation of chemoradiotherapy response. It may be a useful tool in personalized cancer therapy.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.4117-4123
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• 2014

Background: To determine prognostic value of excision repair cross-complementation 1 (ERCC1) in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Materials and Methods: The study included 60 patients with MPM who were diagnosed and treated in the Radiation Oncology Department of Kayseri Teaching Hospital and Medical Oncology Department of Erciyes University, Medicine School between 2005 and 2013. By using immunohistochemical methods, ERCC1 expression in biopsy specimens was evaluated. We retrospectively assessed whether there is a correlation between ERCC1 and response to anti-neoplastic therapy or survival. Results: There were 50 men and 10 women with median age of 62 years (range: 39-83). Histological type was epithelial mesothelioma in the majority of the cases (85%), most commonly presenting in stage four. Of the cases, 20 (33%) received radiotherapy, 60 (%100) received first-line chemotherapy and 15 (%25) received second-line chemotherapy. In the assessment after therapy, it was found that there was partial response in 12 cases (20%), stable disease in 19 cases (31.4%) and progression in 25 cases (41.7%). ERCC1 was positive in 43% of the cases. Mean OS was 11.7 months and mean DFS was 9.5 months in ERCC1-positive cases regardless of therapy, while they were 19.2 months and 17.1 months in ERCC1-negative cases, respectively. The difference was found to be significant (p<0.05). In univariate analysis, stage, comorbidity, response to treatment and ERCC1 expression were found to be significantly associated with OS (p=0.083; p=0.043; p=0.041; p=0.050). In multivariate analysis, response to treatment remained to be significant for OS (p=0.005). In univariate and multivariate analyses, response to treatment and ERCC1 were found to be significantly associated with DFS (p=0.049; p=0.041). Conclusions: ERCC1 was identified as poor prognostic factor in patients with MPM.

• Journal of architectural history
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.43-54
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• 2019

The grade of East Asian architecture is generally classified by the size, the shape of the roof, and the type of bracket set. The craftsmanship of columns, beam, purlin, stylobate, column base stone and paintwork is also a contributing factor for such classifications. These classifications can be found not only in historical documents such as 「Oksajo(屋舍條)」 of 『Samguksagi(三國史記)』 but also in 「house details regulations of residential architecture(家舍規制)」 of Joseon Dynasty. However, there are differences in detailed designs among the same grade of architecture regardless of the classification. In this research, the Palace, the Royal Residence(宮家), and the Jaesil(齋室) are considered as the Palatial Buildings and Royal Residences. And the advanced architectural o details which appear only in the Royal Architectures are defined as the 'The Architectural Crafts as a Code of Manners'. The Architectural Crafts as a Code of Manners is detailed design, which can be seen as fabrication of materials and supplementary factors. The Architectural Crafts as a Code of Manners used in the Palatial Buildings and Royal Residences reveal the types and their historical changes. This research will present a basis for the repair and restoration of cultural heritages to be carried out in the future, and also prevent them from further damages, thus help to preserve the cultural heritages.

• Journal of Korean Dental Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.9-18
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• 2016

Purpose: Wnt signaling plays an essential role in the dental epithelium and mesenchyme during tooth morphogenesis. Deletion of the Wntless (Wls) gene in odontoblasts appears to reduce canonical Wnt activity, leading to inhibition of odontoblast maturation. However, it remains unclear if autonomous Wnt ligands are necessary for differentiation of dental pulp cells into odontoblast-like cells to induce reparative dentinogenesis, one of well-known feature of pulp repair to form tertiary dentin. Materials and Methods: To analyze the autonomous role of Wls for differentiation of dental pulp cells into odontoblast-like cells, we used primary dental pulp cells from unerupted molars of Wls-floxed allele mouse after infection with adenovirus for Cre recombinase expression to knockout the floxed Wls gene or control GFP expression. The differentiation of dental pulp cells into odontoblast-like cells was analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Result: Proliferation rate was significantly decreased in dental pulp cells with Cre expression for Wls knockout. The expression levels of Osterix (Osx), runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), and nuclear factor I-C (Nfic) were all significantly decreased by 0.3-fold, 0.2-fold, and 0.3-fold respectively in dental pulp cells with Wls knockout. In addition, the expression levels of Bsp, Col1a1, Opn, and Alpl were significantly decreased by 0.7-fold, 0.3-fold, 0.8-fold, and 0.6-fold respectively in dental pulp cells with Wls knockout. Conclusion: Wnt ligands produced autonomously are necessary for proper proliferation and odontoblastic differentiation of mouse dental pulp cells toward further tertiary dentinogenesis.

• Magazine of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.197-205
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• 1997

The shrinkage of polymer concrete overlays to cement concrete causes interface shear, normal and axial stresses in the overlays. These can lead to deterioration of the polymer concrete overlays due to affection of adhesion polymer concrete and cement concrete. The shrinkage stress in the polymer concrete cause it to shorten and the shorting is measured: With the modulus of elasticity of the polymer concrete and strain known the stresses can be calculated. The purpose of this study is to provide the basic data of application of polymer concrete overlays such as bridge decks, highway and airport pavement repair and overlay materials. From the test results. It has been found that depending on the type polymer. overlay thickness, time after curing and temperature. the shrinkage stresses are eliminated by relaxation in time ranging from a few hours to a few days.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.253-263
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• 2007

Previous researches showed that confined concrete with Fiber-Reinforced Plastic (FRP) sheets significantly improves the strength and ductility of concrete compared with unconfined concrete. However, the retrofit design of concrete with FRP materials requires an accurate estimate of the performance enhancement due to the confinement mechanism. The object of this research is to predict the compressive strength and strain of concrete confined with FRP wraps. For the purpose of this research, 102 test specimens were fabricated and loaded statically under uniaxial compression. Axial load, axial and lateral strains were investigated to predict the ultimate stress and strain. Also, to achieve reliability of proposed strength and strain models for FRP-confined concrete, another series of uniaxial compression test results were used. This paper presents strength and strain models for FRP-confined concrete. The proposed models to estimate the ultimate stresses and failure strains produce satisfactory predictions as compared to current design equations. In conclusion, it is proposed that the modified stress-strain model of concrete cylinders could be effectively used for the repair and retrofit of concrete columns.