• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.149-157
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• 2007

Background: The microsatellites within human leukocyte antigen (HLA) region show considerable polymorphism and strong linkage disequilibrium (LD) with HLA alleles. These microsatellites have been used for genetic analysis including disease mapping to understand susceptibility to autoimmune and infectious diseases. Also, use of microsatellites has recently been proposed as an approach for identifying non-HLA markers within the HLA region that could function as transplantation determinants and for the selection of potential donors for transplantation. Methods: To analyse the frequency of five microsatellites in the Korean population, genotyping for polymorphisms at five microsatellites markers (BAT2, MIB, DQCAR, D6S105 and TNFd) within HLA region was performed on 143 healthy Korean controls. Results: The most frequent genotype shown in healthy Korean controls were BAT2 8 (153 bp, 42.7%), MIB 1 (326 bp, 40.6%), DQCAR 3 (188 bp, 38.5%), D6S105 7 (126 bp, 58.0%) and TNFd 3 (128 bp, 58.0%). And common two-loci haplotypes were found as MIB 1-HLA-B*62 (HF: 10.6%), MIB 6-HLA-B*44 (HF: 7.8%), DQCAR 3-HLA-DRB1*13 (HF: 8.5%), TNFd 5-HLA-B*62 (HF: 7.8%) and D6S105 7-HLA-A*02 (HF: 16.2%). Conclusion: These data might provide useful information on the microsatellites markers with HLA region in Korean population and be helpful in further defining the clinical impact of these microsatellites.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.5917-5935
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• 2012

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes acute and chronic human hepatitis infection and as such is an important global health problem. The virus was discovered in the USA in 1989 and it is now known that three to four million people are infected every year, WHO estimating that 3 percent of the 7 billion people worldwide being chronically infected. Humans are the natural hosts of HCV and this virus can eventually lead to permanent liver damage and carcinoma. HCV is a member of the Flaviviridae family and Hepacivirus genus. The diameter of the virus is about 50-60 nm and the virion contains a single-stranded positive RNA approximately 10,000 nucleotides in length and consisting of one ORF which is encapsulated by an external lipid envelope and icosahedral capsid. HCV is a heterogeneous virus, classified into 6 genotypes and more than 50 subtypes. Because of the genome variability, nucleotide sequences of genotypes differ by approximately 31-34%, and by 20-23% among subtypes. Quasi-species of mixed virus populations provide a survival advantage for the virus to create multiple variant genomes and a high rate of generation of variants to allow rapid selection of mutants for new environmental conditions. Direct contact with infected blood and blood products, sexual relationships and availability of injectable drugs have had remarkable effects on HCV epidemiology. Hundreds of thousands of people die each year from hepatitis and liver cancer caused by HCV virus infection. Approximately 80% of patients with acute hepatitis C progress into a chronic disease state leading to serious hepatic disorders, 10-20% of which develop chronic liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The incubation period of HCV is 6-8 weeks and the infection is often asymptomatic so it is very hard to detect at early stages, making early treatment very difficult. Therefore, hepatitis C is called a "silent disease". Neutralizing antibodies are produced against several HCV proteins during infection but the virus mutates to escape from antibodies. Some patients with chronic hepatitis C may have some symptoms such as fatigue, muscle aches, nausea and pain. Autoimmune and immunecomplex-mediated diseases have also been reported with chronic HCV infection.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.81 no.1
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• pp.21-40
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• 2020

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an essential modality for the diagnosis of musculoskeletal system defects because of its higher soft-tissue contrast and spatial resolution. With the recent development of MRI-related technology, faster imaging and various image plane reconstructions are possible, enabling better assessment of three-dimensional musculoskeletal anatomy and lesions. Furthermore, the image quality, diagnostic accuracy, and acquisition time depend on the MRI protocol used. Moreover, the protocol affects the efficiency of the MRI scanner. Therefore, it is important for a radiologist to optimize the MRI protocol. In this review, we will provide guidance on patient positioning; selection of the radiofrequency coil, pulse sequences, and imaging planes; and control of MRI parameters to help optimize the MRI protocol for the six major joints of the musculoskeletal system.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.1-12
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to examine the state of visiting oral health programs and the opinions of dental hygienists on the programs in a bid to help boost the efficiency of visiting oral health programs, To meet the goals, 341 dental hygienists in public dental clinics across the nation were asked to join a questionaire survey via e-mail in September 2007, After their views were investigated, the following findings were given: 1. In regard to the management of visiting oral health programs, 44,3 percent of the respondents carried out visiting oral health programs, and 48,3 percent of that group did that in association with visiting health care programs, There were differences among the public dental clinics in beneficiaries of visiting oral health programs, beneficiary selection criteria and the details of oral health programs, which indicated the necessity of the development of standardized models. 2. As to difficulties in fulfilling visiting health care programs, a shortage of professional knowledge was viewed as the greatest hurdle, All their scores were above average, which implied that they were not able to perform the programs successfully. 3. As for the necessity and additional expected effects of visiting oral health programs, the largest number of the dental hygienists who carried them out expected that the programs would serve to change the mind-set of locals about themselves, And the others who didn't placed the most emphasis on cooperation from other departments, and the two groups had a statistically significantly different opinion. 4. Concerning the details of visiting health care programs, the dental hygienists who performed the programs found it most necessary to provide oral health education to employees and families to be visited, The others who didn't considered it most necessary to offer oral health education to people to be visited, The necessity of denture and prosthesis was least stressed by both groups, and they took a significantly different view of treatment for dental diseases, denture and prosthesis. 5. Regarding how to bolster visiting health care programs, the dental hygienist group that carried them out put more emphasis on everything suggested in the survey, Specifically, they attached greater importance to securing sufficient budget, establishing legal foundation, setting up an administration system and determining the directions for the programs in a realistic manner, which signified the desperate need for administrative and institutional backing.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Applied Microbiology Conference
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• 2000.04a
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• pp.3-6
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• 2000

Antimicrobial resistance has been a well-recognized problem ever since the introduction of penicillin into clinical use. History of antimicrobial development can be categorized based on the major antibiotics that had been developed against emerging resistant $pathogens^1$. In the first period from 1940 to 1960, penicillin was a dominating antibiotic called as a "magic bullet", although S.aureus armed with penicillinase led antimicrobial era to the second period in 1960s and 1970s. The second stage was characterized by broad-spectrum penicillins and early generation cephalosporins. During this period, nosocomial infections due to gram-negative bacilli became more prevalent, while those caused by S.aureus declined. A variety of new antimicrobial agents with distinct mechanism of action including new generation cephalosporins, monobactams, carbapenems, ${\beta}$-lactamase inhibitors, and quinolones characterized the third period from 1980s to 1990s. However, extensive use of wide variety of antibiotics in the community and hospitals has fueled the crisis in emerging antimicrobial resistance. Newly appeared drug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (DRSP), vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), extended-spectrum ${\beta}$-lactamase-producing Klebsiella, and VRSA have posed a serious threat in many parts of the world. Given the recent epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance and its clinical impact, there is no greater challenge related to emerging infections than the emergence of antibiotic resistance. Problems of antimicrobial resistance can be amplified by the fact that resistant clones or genes can spread within or between the species as well as to geographically distant areas which leads to a global concern$^2$. Antimicrobial resistance is primarily generated and promoted by increased use of antimicrobial agents. Unfortunately, as many as 50 % of prescriptions for antibiotics are reported to be inappropriate$^3$. Injudicious use of antibiotics even for viral upper respiratory infections is a universal phenomenon in every part of the world. The use of large quantities of antibiotics in the animal health industry and farming is another major factor contributing to selection of antibiotic resistance. In addition to these background factors, the tremendous increase in the immunocompromised hosts, popular use of invasive medical interventions, and increase in travel and mixing of human populations are contributing to the resurgence and spread of antimicrobial resistance$^4$. Antimicrobial resistance has critical impact on modem medicine both in clinical and economic aspect. Patients with previously treatable infections may have fatal outcome due to therapeutic failure that is unusual event no more. The potential economic impact of antimicrobial resistance is actually uncountable. With the increase in the problems of resistant organisms in the 21st century, however, additional health care costs for this problem must be enormously increasing.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.11
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• pp.4697-4703
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• 2014

Background: Interleukin-16 (IL-16) is a multifunctional cytokine which plays a key role in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases as well as in cancer. Genetic polymorphisms of IL-16 have been implicated in susceptibility to cancer. However, associations remain inconclusive. The present meta-analysis was therefore carried out to establish a more conclusive association of IL-16 polymorphisms with cancer risk. Materials and Methods: Relevant studies were searched through the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Google Scholar and Wan fang electronic databases updated in October 2013. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were used to assess the association between IL-16 polymorphisms and cancer risk. Results: Eight eligible studies (rs4778889 T/C: 8, rs11556218 T/G: 7, rs4072111 C/T: 6) that met our selection criteria were included. The meta-analysis indicated that rs11556218 T/G was associated with a significant increased risk of cancer (G vs. T, OR=1.321, 95% CI=1.142-1.528, P<0.001; TG vs. TT, OR=1.665, 95% CI=1.448-1.915, P<0.001; GG+TG vs. TT, OR=1.622, 95% CI=1.416-1.858, P<0.001),as well as nasopharyngeal carcinoma and colorectal cancer. Furthermore, in the subgroup of Chinese, significant associations were found between rs11556218 polymorphism and cancer risk. There was no statistically significant association between the other two variants (rs4778889, rs4072111) and risk of cancer. Conclusions: This meta-analysis suggests that the IL-16 rs11556218 polymorphism is associated with increased cancer risk. Large well-designed studies involving various cancer types and different populations are now needed.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.67-73
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• 2010

Purpose : We aimed to compare the clinical features and antibiotic resistance of urinary tract infection (UTI) caused by pathogens other than E. coli (non-E. coli) with UTI caused by E. coli in children. Methods : We enrolled patients with culture-proven UTI, who were admitted to the study hospital from September 2008 to August 2009. We investigated clinical data of patients with UTI and antibiotic resistance of isolated strains. For comparison, patients were divided according by results of the urine culture into E. coli and non-E. coli UTI groups. Results : A total of 84 patients participated in this study. Twenty one cases (25.0%) were caused by non-E. coli pathogens. Frequency of non-E. coli UTI differed according to age and sex: 'male <6 months', 10.5%; 'male ${\geq}$6 months', 50.0%; 'female <6 months', 43.7%; and 'female ${\geq}$6 months', 25.0% (P=0.014). More patients who received previous antibiotic treatment (P=0.017), but fewer patients who showed hematuria (P=0.014) were included in the non-E. coli UTI group than in the E. coli UTI group. Comparison of antibiotic resistance showed that the non-E. coli UTI group possessed more strains that were resistant to cefazolin, cefotaxime, imipenem, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMZ) and tetracycline than the E. coli UTI group (P<0.05). Conclusion : Increased incidence, different distribution by age and sex, and high antibiotic resistance of non-E. coli UTI should be considered in selection of empirical antibiotics for treatment of UTI in children.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.40-44
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• 2003

Soil-borne infectious disease including Pythium aphanidermatum and Rhizoctonia solani causes severe damage to plants, such as cucumber. This soil-borne infectious disease was not controlled effectively by chemical pesticide. Since these diseases spread through the soil, chemical agents are usually ineffective. Instead, biological control, including antagonistic microbe can be used as a preferred control method. An efficient method was developed to select an antagonistic strain to be used as a biological control agent strain. In this new method, surface tension reduction potential of an isolate was included in the ‘decision factor’ in addition to the other factors, such as growth rate, and pathogen inhibition rate. Considering these 3 decision factors by a statistical method, an isolate from soil was selected and was identified as Bacillus sp. GB16. In the pot test, this strain showed the best performance among the isolated strains. The lowest disease incidence rate and fastest seed growth was observed when Bacillus sp. GB16 was used. Therefore this strain was considered as plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). The action of surface tension reducing component was deduced as the enhancement of wetting, spreading, and residing of antagonistic strain in the rhizosphere. This result showed that new selection method was significantly effective in selecting the best antagonistic strain for biological control of soil-borne infectious plant pathogen. The antifungal substances against P. aphanidermatum and R. solani were partially purified from the culture filtrates of Bacillus sp. GB16. In this study, lipopeptide possessing antifungal activity was isolated from Bacillus sp. GB16 cultures by various purification procedures and was identified as a surfactin-like lipopeptide based on the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), high performance liquid chromatography mass spectroscopy (HPLC-MS), and quadrupole time-of-flight (Q-TOF) ESI-MS/MS data. The lipopeptide, named GB16-BS, completely inhibited the growth of Pythium aphanidermatum, Rhizoctonia solani, Penicillium sp., and Botrytis cineria at concentrations of 10 and 50 mg/L, respectively. A novel method to prevent the foaming and to provide oxygen was developed. During the production of surface active agent, such as lipopeptide (surfactin), large amount of foam was produced by aeration. This resulted in the carryover of cells to the outside of the fermentor, which leads to the significant loss of cells. Instead of using cell-toxic antifoaming agents, low amount of hydrogen peroxide was added. Catalase produced by cells converted hydrogen peroxide into oxygen and water. Also addition of corn oil as an oxygen vector as well as antifoaming agent was attempted. In addition, Ca-stearate, a metal soap, was added to enhance the antifoam activity of com oil. These methods could prevent the foaming significantly and maintained high dissolved oxygen in spite of lower aeration and agitation. Using these methods, high cell density, could be achieved with increased lipopeptide productivity. In conclusion to produce an effective biological control agent for soil-borne infectious disease, following strategies were attempted i) effective screening of antagonist by including surface tension as an important decision factor ii) identification of antifungal compound produced from the isolated strain iii) novel oxygenation by $H_2O_2-catalase$ with vegetable oil for antifungal lipopeptide production.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.161-177
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• 1996

This study attempts to propose a priority of national nutrition targets and strategies for health promotion by the year 2000 in Korea, as a part of the task set for national health promotion objectives and strategies. Among all of the important health issues raised, ten were chosen, nutrition was one priority area. In the first part, the current status of the nutrition-related health problems and risk factors are reviewed, in conjunction with the newly arisen health phenomena, such as changes in prevalence of lifestyle disease and causes of death, changes of food consumption patterns in our country. In the second section this study suggests six feasible national nutrition targets, eight implementing strategies and current major tasks on the basis of the assessment of present status and in consideration of the other health promotion goals and strategies, with reference to that of other developed countries. The main targets and strategies are suggested as follows ; Firstly, the national nutrition monitoring and surveillance system should be established for identifying the nutritional problems for our people, and current National Nutrition Survey is a strong need for improvement to a more comprehensive and reliable one. Secondly, effective administrative mechanism should be operation at national level for the development of nutrition policy. Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) as well as local health department must be remarkably renewed and strengthened the nutrition section. And it is recommended that MOHW organize and operate “The Council of Nutrition”, in which all government authorities related with foodstuffs and nutrition would incorporated. The Council of Nutrition would act as an adjustor as well as a coordinator in nutrition related policy-making. Thirdly, healthy eating pattern will be supported by activities of introducing a nutrition labeling for providing consumers with the necessary information and skills for food selection. Fourthly, nutrition education, and nutrition intervention programs will be carried out in various settings such as health centers, schools, and clinical fields and workplace. Fifthly, the current dietary guidelines shall be continuously improved in detail, and publicly circulated to particular levels of people by age group and by health condition. And finally, researches and epidemiological studies particularly in regard to diet for development of chronic diseases are needed for more investigation and up-to-date national health and nutrition data should be collected with the support and cooperation from the various medical professional teams . (Korean J Community Nutrition 1(2) : 161-177, 1996)

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.117-126
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• 2004

In general, the patients who transferred to the hospital by 119 rescue service at night go to the emergency room(ER) of general hospital rather than that of their nearby the 1st(clinic) and 2nd(local hospital) hospital. And the hospital is mainly selected not by 119 EMST but by patients or his/her conservators. Therefore we had studied retrospectively with emergency situation diary and medical chart for 697 patients of being transferred to one emergency medical center for 6 months since January 2004, and results are as follows. 1. The 280 patients(42.5%) of being transferred hospital at night by 119 rescue service were not emergency case and their average staying time in hospital was about $7.15{\pm}10.06$ minutes. 2. Transfer time was distributed in each time intervals of 1819, 2021, 2223, and 2401 and patients ratio in each intervals were 15.1%, 17.8%, 16.4%, and 15.2%. 3. In response of ambulance, the average time from the spot to the hospital was $14.53{\pm}9.27min$. and average distance of that was $7.95{\pm}9.21km$. 4. Diseases rather than traffic accidents or traumatic injury were main causes of ambulance calling and its value was 533(76.5%), and accidents were mainly occurred in patients' house and its value was 479(68.7%). 5. In time of transfer by 119 rescue service, hospital was mainly selected by patient/conservator and its value was 648(93.0%). In result. the hospital was selected not by EMST but by patient/conservator. 6. The case that the 1st grade EMT was rode in ambulance was 161(23.1%), and the case that 2nd EMT and emergency team member who educated for emergency were rode in ambulance were 504(72.3%). So the number of the 1st grade EMT was short in fire station of Kwangju metropolitan city than other city. 7. The first aids for patients before reaching hospital were limited to oxygen inhalation, airway control, and BLS for maintaining limbs and spine. So it seems to be a simple patients transfer. Consequently, to establish an efficient emergency medical system, it has been thought that it should be advanced a moderate education and public information about the appropriate use of emergency medical system toward citizen, and also need the hospital selection by the patients categorizing standards for 119 rescue service member, securing the 1st grade EMT, appropriate first-aids education, and securing professional human power in emergency room of the Ist(clinic) and 2nd(local hospital) hospital at night.