• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권3호
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• pp.1889-1894
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• 2013

Background: Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus (BSCCE) is a rare and distinctive tumor with no standard treatment. This study aimed to explore treatment in relation to prognosis of the disease. Methods: A total of 142 patients with BSCCE that underwent treatment in our hospital from March 1999 to July 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients received surgery, 42 postoperative radiotherapy and 28 patients chemotherapy. Results: There were 26 patients included in stage I, 60 in stage II, 53 in stage III and 3 in stage IV. The clinical symptoms and macroscopic performances of BSCCE did not differ from those of typical esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Among 118 patients receiving endoscopic biopsy, only 12 were diagnosed with BSCCE. The median survival time (MST) of the entire group was 32 months, with 1-, 3- and 5-year overall survival (OS) of 81.4%, 46.8% and 31.0%, respectively. The 5-year OS of stage I and II patients was significantly longer than that of stages III/IV, at 60.3%, 36.1% and 10.9%, respectively (p<0.001, p=0.001). The MST and 5-year OS were 59.0 months and 47.4% in patients with tumors located in the lower thoracic esophagus, and 27.0 months and 18.1% in those with lesions in the upper/middle esophagus (p=0.002). However, the survival was not significantly improved in patients undegoing adjunctive therapy. Multivariate analysis showed TNM stage and tumor location to be independent prognostic factors. Furthermore, distant metastasis was the most frequent failure pattern, with a median recurrence time of 10 months. Conclusion: BSCCE is an aggressive disease with rapid progression and a propensity for distant metastasis. It is difficult to make a definitive diagnosis via preoperative biopsy. Multidisciplinary therapy including radical esophagectomy with extended lymphadenectomy should be recommended, while the effectiveness of radiochemotherapy requires further validation for BSCCE.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.267-276
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• 2008

According to a treatment of internal disease in oriental medicine, we recognize that Lee Dong-won's Eumhwalon has a critical meaning. However, there is no well organized study about that so far even though medical treatments and prescriptions affected by Lee Dong-won's Eumhwalon have been used in clinical medicine. Hence I have studied the effect on a treatment of internal disease of after age affected by Lee Dong-won's Eumhwalon focused on medical treatments and prescriptions. For the comprehensive study on the effect of Lee Dong-won’s(李東垣) Eumwhalon(陰火論) on a treatment of internal disease for after age, I have examined, collected, and summarized the related descriptions from various books and papers in this subject such as <Naek-yung(內經)> which is the bible of oriental medicine. Followings are obtained as a result: Lee dong-won said Eumhwa(陰火) might be happened if there are abnormalities of the spleen and the stomach which exercise going up and coming down(升降). Lee dong-won offered Gamonjeyol(甘溫除熱) and Sengyangsanwha(升陽散火) as treatments of Eumhwa(陰火) Gamonjeyol(甘溫除熱) affected the treatment and the pathological recognition of Daekilon(大氣論) by Jang suk-sun(張錫純). Consequently there are some prescriptions such as Sengham-tang(升陷湯), Wandae-tang(完帶湯), Kerwonjern(擧元煎), and so on affected by Gamonjeyol(甘溫除熱). Sengyangsanwha(升陽散火) affected Yuklumanju(逆流挽舟) by Yu chang(喩昌) a lot. It is a meaning of Sengyangsanwha(升陽散火) that he used Insampaedok-san(人蔘敗毒散) to dysentery. As a representative prescription, there are Insampaedok-san(人蔘敗毒散), Kamisoyo-san(加味逍遙散), Baekchuljakyak-san(白朮芍藥散), and so on.

• 대한한의학원전학회지
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• 제3권
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• pp.218-247
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• 1989

As mentioned above, I got the next conclusion since I had considered the medical contents of the ancient period(上古時代) and the era of the old-Korea(古朝鮮時代) through several bibliographic records. 1. There were Pung-baeg(風伯), Uh-sa(雨師), Un-sa(雲師) that were the names of the governmental officials during the ancient period of Whan-ung(桓雄). Among them, Uh-sa specially managed the treatment for diseases. When we think of the significance of Pung(風)-which means the winds, Uh(雨)-which means the rain, Un(雲)-which means of clouds, we will find out that the human life will be affected by all kinds of phenomena of the nature. So I can infer that ancestries could prevent and treat diseases with adjusting them tn the changes in the weather. 2. There were five government officials(五事) in the ancient period of Whan-ung(桓雄上古時代). They are Uh-ga(牛加), Ma-ga(馬加), Ku-ga(狗加), Cheo-ga(猪加) and Yang-ga(羊加), and had charges of five important duties. Among them, Cheo-ga was set to a charge of treatment for diseases. So we can notice that there existed people who treated for diseases professionally. When we think of the meanings of Uh(牛)-which intends cows or bulls. Ma(馬)-which intends horses, Ku(狗)-which intends dogs, Cheo(猪)-which intends wild boars and Yang(羊)-which intends sheep, we can see that livestocks would be raised at that time, and they came to have more chances to digest meat. Since the digestion of meat became to be a burden on the stomach and the intestines, it might cause a lot of indigestive troubles. 3. When I compared Tan-gun Pal-ga(檀君八加) with the Oh-ga(五加) in the ancient period of Whan-ung(桓雄上古時代), I could tell that the community of Tan-gun's period is more advanced and specialized than one of Whan-ung's. When I think of the next sentence ; "The Prince Imperial, Bu-u(夫虞) become to be a Ro-ga(鷺加), who treat for diseases professionally.", I am sure that the treatment for diseases was more importment than any other things, because he was the third son of Tan-gun(檀君). 4. According to Tan-gun(檀君) mythology, Whan-ung(桓雄) came down from the heaven of the pure Yang(純陽) to the earth and then changed into a man who had had more Yang(陽) than Yin(陰). And a bear came up from the underground(or the cave) to the ground and then changed into a women who had had more Yin(陰) than Yang(陽). So both of them became to hold together. This story implicated that ancestors had taken a serious view of each of them, namely the ancestors didn't give the ascendance to the one side of them, and made much account of the mutual harmony. So I am sure that this fact coincided with the basic theories of oriental medical science. To refer to two proverbs of Tan-gun mythology that are "Ki-Sam-Chil-Il(忌三七日)" which means caring for twenty one days, and "Pul-Gyon-Il-Gwang-Baeg-Il(不見日光百日)" which means keeping indoors for one hundred days, I can tell you that "twenty-one-day" involves the principle of the birth of life, and "one-hundred-day" contains a preparatory period or the period of death to bear another life. 5. From the medical stuff, such as wormwood(艾), garlic(蒜), or wonder-working herbage(靈草), that had been written at the bibliographic papers of the ancient period(上古時代) and the era of the old-Korea(古朝鮮時代), I consider that many people might get a lot of women's diseases, indigestive troubles, and other diseases that were caused by the weakness, but with using various spices, such as the leaves of water pepper(蔘), they could prevent the occurrance of all kinds of diseases previously. So I regard this treatment as the medicine from food. 6. One of the sayings at Nae-gyong(內經) is that "The stone accupuncture(砭石) came from the orient." We can see both "wonder-wor-king wormwood(靈草)" and "dried wormwood(乾艾)" in the several bibliographic papers of the ancient history of the old-Korea(朝鮮上古史). From these records, I can be convinced that ancestors would utilize the acupuncture(針) and the moxa cautery(灸) to cure a patient of a disease. 7. Even though someone claimed that the book, "medical science and chemistry(醫學化學)" and "medical treatment(醫學大方)" had had been written during the ancient period of the old-Korea(上古朝鮮時代), such a fact can't have been ascertained historical evidence. But it has been handed down that there existed the original phonetic alphabet, such as the "Ka-Im-To alphabet(加臨土文字)" at that time. The terms about the diseases, which had been occurred at the community of the old-Korea(古朝鮮地域), were recorded fragmentarily at other records after that time. The origin of confucianism came from the race of the eastern barbarians, and Tae-Ho-Pok-Hi(太嗅伏義) and the king. Sun(舜) came from the eastern barbarians, too. The divination of tortoise shells at the country of Un(殷) is another from which was developed at the eastern barbarians' fortune-telling of animal bones. From these facts, I can infer that, by all means, they might record the medical knowledge which had been stored for thousands of years while contacting with china directly.

• 한국식품과학회지
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• 제35권1호
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• pp.125-131
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• 2003

Instant curry 제품 및 원료로 사용되는 향신료의 열수추출물을 사용하여 생리활성을 실험하였다. Linoleic acid에 향신료 추출물을 첨가하여 자동산화를 측정한 결과 ginger 추출물을 제외한 모든 추출물이 자동산화를 억제하는 것으로 나타났다(p＜0.01). 특히, clove 및 fennel의 경우 ${\alpha}-tocopherol$보다 강한 것으로 나타났다. 향신료를 혼합하여 제조하는 mild pure curry(MPC, p＜0.001)와 spicy pure curry(SPC, p＜0.01)도 항산화 활성이 있었으며, instant curry 제품에서도 linoleic acid의 자동산화를 억제하는 것으로 나타났다(p＜0.05). Instant curry의 열수추출물이 angiotensin converting enzyme(ACE)의 활성억제작용은 없었으나, 원료로 사용되는 red pepper$(52.8{\pm}2.13%)$와 clove$(13.48{\pm}1.00%)$, coriander$(10.32{\pm}1.45%)$의 경우 ACE활성을 저해하였다(p＜0.001). 향신료 열수추출물의 세포독성 실험에서 유방암세포 MCF-7의 증식억제에 black pepper$(29.31{\pm}2.12%)$와 cardamon$(19.41{\pm}3.92%)$이 유의차(p＜0.01)있게 세포증식을 억제하였으며, celery seed$(28.20{\pm}5.98%)$도 억제효과를 나타냈다(p＜0.05). 그러나 SPC는 증식을 촉진하는 것으로 나타났다(p＜0.01). 자궁암세포 HeLa의 경우 clover$(42.92{\pm}5.57%)$는 p＜0.01 수준에서, cassia$(26.14{\pm}7.41%)$는 p＜0.05 수준에서 유의성있게 증식억제 효과가 나타냈다. 그러나 MPC 및 coriander, turmeric, SPC, nutmeg, cardamon, red pepper, celery seed는 증식을 촉진하는 것으로 나타났다. 뇌종양세포 A172의 경우 ginger$(34.21{\pm}1.11%)$ 및 cardamon$(31.89{\pm}3.13%)$, black pepper$(31.35{\pm}3.93%)$가 p＜0.001 수준에서, 그리고 cumin 및 MPC, SPC, turmeric, celery seed에 의해서도 세포증식이 억제되었다(p＜0.05). 그러나 clove 및 fenugreek, cassia에서는 A172세포의 증식을 촉진하는 것으로 나타났다(p＜0.01). 신장암 세포 SN12C에 대해서는 garlic$(82.88{\pm}0.53%)$이 가장 높은 억제효과(p＜0.001)를 나타냈으며, ginger 및 cumin, cardamon이 p＜0.01 수준에서 증식억제를 나타내었다. 그러나 clove의 경우 증식을 촉진하는 것으로 나타났다(p＜0.01). 위암 세포주 SNU-638의 경우 garlic$(71.63{\pm}0.38%)$이 가장 높은 억제효과를 보였으며, red pepper 및 ginger, fenugreek, SPC, cumin, MPC 등에서도 증식억제 효과를 보여주었다(p＜0.001). 그러나 clove 및 nutmeg, turmeric, coriander는 증식을 촉진하는 것으로 나타났다(p＜0.001). 폐암 세포 A549에 대한 세포독성 실험 결과 대부분의 원료에서 세포독성이 없었으나 cassia(82.84 16.92%)가 가장 강한 억제효과를 나타냈으나(p＜0.001), clove 및 nutmeg, fennel, celery seed, fenugreek, black pepper는 증식을 촉진하는 것으로 나타났다(p＜0.001). 또한, 신장암 세포 SN12C의 경우 MPC 열수 추출물의 첨가농도가 높아질수록 cytotoxicity가 증가하였으며, 폐암 세포주 A549의 경우 농도 증가에 따른 cytotoxicity 변화는 거의 없는 것으로 나타났다.

• 복식
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• 제16권
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• pp.221-229
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• 1991

This thesis aims at reviewing the wearing aspect and formation of Chosun ceremonial dresses for meal and finding out the thought reflected by them from the standpoint that dresses themselves should be taken as one of the phenomena in culture. That is men's ceremonial costumes and confucian costumes of the royal family and the gentry family in Chosun is reviewed focused on the formation and the wearing aspect of Po, Which is a kind of them. And in the context of the phase of the times. I also considered the thoughts reflected on the clothes such as confucianism, Ying & Yang Theory, and the symbol and the thoughts of patterns in relation to the clothes. Confucian influence was the main force for the Chosun prohibitions for clothes. The major reasons for the prohibitions for clothes were as follows. First, they reflected confucian Chung myoung chooui(the principle that everything should be where it belongs). That is the prohibitions for clothes were used in the means to maintain feudalistic social order. influenced by social rank system. Second, they reflected confucian ethics in the means to recover social disciplines with the maintenance of traditional customs. This shows well in the restriction of luxurious items in dressing included the prohibitions for clothes. Third, they reflected Chosun's toadysm toward China. With the influx of Chinese style of dressing then government even changed the style of uniforms for public officials into that of Chinese resulting in dual styles of dressing. Ying & Yan Theory greatly affected the colors of Korean clothes and reflected toadysm toward China. too. The theory was embodied by prohibition of such colors for clothes as white, gray, and jade green. I reviewed the twelve patterns on Myunpok, Ten-Longivity patterns and Four-Gracious plants patterns in order to analyze the symbolism and thoughts of patterns for clothes. Nansam, Dopo, and Shimui worn by confucian scholars ensures that those clothes bears confucianism and philosopical factors. As shimui was worn by many people it appears in Chosun scholars' studies and a Chinese book called "Yeki". I reviewed the origin, procession, and ornaments of four ceremonial clothes and tried to find out the confucianism in them. First, In Kwanrei (the coming-of-age ceremony) remained ancestor worship and respect for manners. The clothes for this ceremony granted the rights and responsibilities of and adult to the wearer. The royal Kwanreipok had different dresses for each rank. As Samgapok, the crown prince wore Iksunkwan and Konryongpo for the first ritual, Wonryukwan and Kangsapo for the second, and Myunrukwan and Konpok for the third. The rank of the King's grandson was lower than the crown prince's. This example shows that Chosun people respected manners and thought the basic confucianism "God and people are equal." at the Royal court. Second, as Honreipok(wedding gown), the crown prince wore Myunrukwan and Konpok for Daereipok, Wonyukwan and Kangsapo for Napjing and Tongwoo, and Iksunkwan and Konryongpo for Chekbinui. But common people were allowed to wear an official outfit only for wedding in the means of congratulation on the most important day of their life. Wedding gowns which reflected Ying and Yang Theory emphasized the thought that union of a man and a wife is the most important event in life. Third, Sangrei(funeral) was the last ritual of a human being to send off the deceased. The mourning dresses expressed lamentation of the people left behind. Five-Dress-System for each the relative degree of familarity showed the solemnity and formality, which represented the formality of confucianism and ancestor worship. I reviewed the mourning dresses by dividing them into royal, Yangban's, and commons. They were featured by the fact that there was only one style for every walk of life. It is construed that anyone in mourning can wear the same clothes since he feels the same way regardless of his social rank. Fourth, Chereipok(sacrificial rite dresses) had different styles for each social rank. The King wore Myunpok(Kuryumyun and Kujangpok) were recorded to be worn first in the fourth year of King Taecho's ruling. The crown prince wore Palryumyun and Chiljangpok for sacrificial rite dress which was finally settled when King Sejong was in power. Common people wore Dopo, Shimui for the rite dress in the beginning of the Chosun Era and wore Dopo after Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592. In conclusion, confucianism played the main role in ceremonial dress system of Chosun and that was because it emphasized the ethics of action in life, which was different from other religions. It is true that cause-oriented thoughts and Chung myoung chooui in confucianism drove all ceremonies to extreme manners, discriminating the people who belonged to the lower social rank, and resulting in extremly luxurious life style. However, they also created a unique trend and clothes culture in the Chosun Era. I wish that this thesis provieds important information and direction for furthur studies in the future.

• 철학연구
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• 제145권
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• pp.167-194
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• 2018

청소년기는 과도적 시기로서 건강한 정체성 형성을 위해서 가정이나 사회의 지원이 필수적인 시기이다. 그러나 우리나라 청소년의 사망원인 1위는 9년째 자살이라고 한다. 청소년 자살에 영향을 미치는 요인에 대한 최근 연구는 가족요인, 성격 및 심리적 요인, 정신질환 요인, 자살촉발 요인, 학교 요인, 보호 요인 등을 제시하고 있다. 이와 같은 요인을 관통하는 것은 과도기 청소년들이 겪는 정체성의 혼란과 더불어 감정이나 충동조절의 취약성이다. 이러한 문제를 극복하기 위하여 필요한 것은 약물치료나 심리치료뿐만 아니라 청소년들이 자신의 정체성을 건강하게 형성해 갈 수 있는 가족이나 사회의 지원과 더불어 이와 같은 현상에 대한 철학적 접근이다. 본 연구는 청소년 자살의 실존적 원인들에 속하는 자아정체성의 혼란, 감정이나 충동조절능력의 취약에 대한 이유를 철학적으로 성찰해보고자 한다. 이를 위하여 키에르케고어의 '심미적 실존'을 주목하고자 한다. 일반적으로 많이 알려진 실존의 삼 단계, 즉 '심미적 실존', '윤리적 실존', '종교적 실존'의 관계에 대한 연구가 아니라 이들 중에서 지금까지 그다지 주목되지 않았던 심미적 실존을 중심으로 인간의 실존적 정체성을 주목해보고자 한다. 이를 위하여 20대 후반의 키에르케고어가 자신의 청춘을 기억하며 저술한 심미적 저술인 "이것이냐 / 저것이냐 제1부"를 분석하고자 한다. 특히 이 저서의 2장에서 제시되는 욕망(Begierde)의 3단계, 즉 '꿈꾸고 있는($tr{\ddot{a}}umend$)' 욕망, '찾고 있는(suchend)' 욕망, 그리고 '욕망하고 있는(begehrend)' 욕망을 면밀히 분석하고자 한다. 이로써 키에르케고어의 사상 속에서 욕망의 탄생 과정을 드러내는 동시에 이러한 욕망의 탄생 과정과 자아정체성의 혼란이나 감정, 충동조절의 취약성과의 연관성을 철학적으로 짚어보고자 한다.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.118-124
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• 1984

Congenital Cystic Adenomatiod Malformation (C.C.A.M.) is rare, but one of the most common congenital pulmonary anomalies that cause acute respiratory distress in the newborn infants. It is characterized and differentiated from the diffuse pulmonary cystic disease pathologically, i.e. adenomatoid appearance due to marked proliferation of the terminal respiratory components. An 2/12 year old male patient was suffered from respiratory distress and cyanosis on crying since birth, but no specific therapy was given. With progression of symptoms, he came to Korea University Hospital for further evaluation and then transfered to Dept. of Chest Surgery for operative correction under the impression of Congenital Obstructive Emphysema suggested by a pediatrician. On gestational and family history, there was nothing to be concerned such as congenital anomaly. Physical examinations showed; moderate nourishment and development (Wt. 5.5kg), cyanosis on crying, both intercostal and lower sternal retraction on inspiration, Lt. chest building with tympany, Rt. shifting of cardiac dullness, decreased breathing sound with expiratory wheezing on entire Lt. lung field, decreased breathing sound on Rt. upper lung filed, and tachycardia. The remainders were nonspecific. Laboratory findings were normal except WBC $14000/mm^3$ (lymphocyte 70%), Hgb 9.8m%, Hct 28%, negative Mantaux test, and sinus tachycardia and counter-clockwise rotation on EKG. Preoperative simple Chest PA revealed marked hyperlucent entire Lt. lung, herniation of Lt. upper lobe to Rt., collapsed Rt. upper lobe, tracheal deviation and mediastinal shifting to Rt., and no pleural reaction. At operation, after Lt. posterolateral thoracotomy, 4th rib was resected. Operative findings were severe emphysematous changes limited to both lingular segmentectomy was done. The resected specimen showed slight solidity, measuring $8{\times}4.5{\times}2cm$ in size, and small multiple cystic spaces filled with air. Microscopically, entire tissue structures were glandular in appearance, cyst were lined by ciliated columnar epithelium, and occasional cartilages were noted around the cystic spaces. Bronchial elements were dilated but normal pattern on histologically. The patient had a good postoperative courses clinically and radiologically, and discharged on POD 10th without event. The authors report a case of Cogenital Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation (C.C.A.M.)

• 한국진공학회지
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.64-72
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• 2006

우리는 tris-(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum (Alq3)와 같은 단분자 유기물 박막을 사용하여 유기물 발광 소자(OLEDs)를 제작하였다. OLEDs는 ITO가 증착된 유기 기판 위에서 제조되었고, 수명 측정 이후의 OLEDs에 대한 발광, 축전 용량, 유전 손실 특성 등을 측정하였다. 여기서, 수명 측정을 위하여 사용한 인가 전류는 0.5mA 에서 9mA까지 였고, 수명의 인가 전류 의존성은 약 2 mA 부근에서 다르게 관찰되었다. C-V 특성 곡선에서 나타난 축전 용량의 봉우리들은 유기물 내의 분극과 유기물과 금속의 경계에서 나타난 분극의 영향으로 추측된다. 그리고, 2 mA 보다 낮은 전류 하에서 수명 측정 후 발광특성이 저하된 OLEDs에서는 소자 내의 분극 크기의 감소와 전하 유입 장벽의 낮아짐이 같이 관찰되었다.

• 무역상무연구
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• 제16권
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• pp.7-34
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• 2001

This Study analyzes the fact that whether or not, the applicant, by failing to object promptly to the facial discrepancies of the presented documents and to return those documents to the issuing bank, has waived his right to sue for breach of the Application agreement based on the recent Korea-US Case law. Some commentators claim that an applicant has a duty to notify the issuing bank within a reasonable time after receiving the documents that they do not comply with the letter of credit requirements and to return those documents to the issuing bank, and also suggest that a failure to do so result in a waiver of discrepancies that operates as a matter of law. But such decisions make little sense in letter of credit transaction. Unless otherwise agreed, Applicant agreement does not require that the applicant notify the issuing bank of any facial discrepancies of the documents or return those documents. Moreover there is no support in the body of law, i.e., UCP 500 or the Revised UCC Article 5, for an automatic waiver or preclusion arising from the applicant's failure to object promptly. In addition, beyond the lack of authority to support an automatic waiver arising from the applicant's failure to object and return the documents, in a letter of credit transaction the issuing bank is the only party charged with the duty of scrutinizing documents. Therefore, if there are discrepancies, it is the bank that should have to seek an express waiver from the applicant ; the issuing bank should not avoid responsibility for failing to notice discrepancies because the applicant was slow to scrutinize the documents closely or because the applicant failed to inform the issuing bank of such discrepancies. Requiring that applicants inspect documents independently defeats the purpose of retaining the issuing bank, erodes the bank's responsibility to perform its role diligently, and may result in the bank avoiding liability despite negligent payment. If the bank wants to require an applicant to report discrepancies promptly, he may include a provision in the Application agreement limiting the time limit within which the applicant must give notice of facial discrepancies and return the documents. This approach will ensure the continued wide-spread use of documentary credit as a reliable payment mechanism.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제10권3호
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• pp.149-154
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• 2006

Selective inhibition of phosphodiesterase (PDE) 5 opened a new therapeutic approach for cardiovascular disorders. Therefore, the effect of PDE5 inhibition on the cardiac function should thoroughly be defined. The purpose of the present study was to define the effects of sildenafil, a selective inhibitor of PDE5, on the atrial cGMP efflux, atrial dynamics, and the release of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP). By perfusing rabbit left atria to allow atrial pacing, changes in atrial stroke volume and pulse pressure, transmural extracellular fluid translocation, cGMP efflux, and ANP secretion were measured. SIN-I, an NO donor and soluble (s) guanylyl cyclase (GC) activator, and C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP), an activator of particulate (p) GC activator, were used. Sildenafil increased basal levels of cGMP efflux slightly but not significantly. Sildenafil in a therapeutic dose increased atrial dynamics (for atrial stroke volume, $2.84{\pm}1.71%$, n=12, vs $-0.71{\pm}0.86%$, n=21; p<0.05) and decreased ANP release ($-9.02{\pm}3.36%$, n=14, vs $1.35{\pm}3.25%$, n=23; p < 0.05), however, it had no effect on the SIN-1- or CNP-induced increase of cGMP levels. Furthermore, sildenafil in a therapeutic dose accentuated SIN-1-induced, but not CNP-induced, decrease of atrial pulse pressure and ANP release. These data indicate that PDE5 inhibition with sildenafil has a minor effect on cGMP levels, but has a distinct effect on pGC-cGMP- and sGC-cGMP-induced contractile and secretory function.