• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2005

Purpose : The objective of this study was to determine whether the expressions of the two components of DNA-dependent protein kinase, Ku70 and DNA-PKcs, influence the response to radiotherapy (RT) and outcome of treatment of non-disseminated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in patients who received definitive RT. Materials and Methods : Sixty-six patients with NPC who were treated with radiotherapy alone or with concurrent chemotherapy between June 1995 and December 2001 were divided into groups based on the levels of immunoreactivity for Ku70 and DNA-PKcs in pretreatment biopsy specimens. The over-expression of Ku70 or DNA-PKcs groups Included patients whose biopsy specimens showed at least 50% immunopositive tumor cells; patients in which less than 50% of the tumor cells in the biopsy tissues were immunopositive were placed in the low Ku70 and DNA-PKcs groups. The immunoreactivities for Ku70 and DNA-PKcs were retrospectively compared with the sensitivity of the tumor to radiation and the patterns of therapy failure. Univariate analyses were peformed to determine the prognostic factors that influenced locoregional control of NPC. Results : The five-year locoregional control rate was significantly higher in the low Ku70 group (Ku(-)) (85%) than in the high Ku70 group (Ku(+)) (42%) (p=0.0042). However, there were no differences in the metastases-free survival rates between the two groups (Ku70 (+), 82%; Ku70 (-), 78%; p=0.8672). Univariate analysis indicated that the over-expression of Ku70 surpassed other well-known predictive clinocopathologic parameters as an Independent prognostic factor for locoregionai control. Eighteen of 22 patients who had locoregional recurrences of the tumor displayed an over-expression of Ku70. No significant association was found between the level of DNA-PKcs expression and the clinical outcome. Conclusion : Our data suggest that the level of Ku70 expression can be used as a molecular marker to predict the response to RT and the locoregional control after RT and concurrent chemotherapy in patients with non-disseminated NPC.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2005

Purpose : To prospectively evaluate the use of positron emission tomography with the glucose analog fluoro-deoxyglucose (FDG-PET) to deoxyglucose (FDG-PET) to predict disease-free survival (DFS) after concurrent chemo-radiotherapy (CCRT) in patients with non-disseminated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Materials and Methods : We studied 41 patients with non-disseminated NPC scheduled to undergo platinum-based CCRT were eligible for this study. Patients were studied by FDG-PET prior to the CCRT. FDG uptake of tumors were measured with the maximal standardized uptake value (SUV). Results : Complete response rate was $100\%$. In ten patients who presented with any component of treatment failure, the median $SUV_{max}$ was 8.55 (range: $2.49\~14.81$) in any component of failure and the median $SUV_{max}$ was 5.48 (range: $2.31\~26.07$) In the remaining patients without any such failure. Patients having tumors with high FDG uptake had a significantly lower 3-year DFS ($51\%\;{\nu}91\%$, p=0.0070) compared with patients having low uptake tumors. Conclusion : FDG uptake, as measured by the SUV, has potential value in predicting DFS in NPC treated by CCRT, High FDG uptake may be a useful parameter for Identifying patients requiring more aggressive treatment approaches.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.203-212
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• 2008

Objective: During cryopreservation process, cold shock and cryo-injury affect the fertilizing capacity of the sperm by damaging cell membranes with loss of functional integrity. A longstanding concept for preventing the cryo-damage is to stabilize the plasma membrane by incorporating cholesterol. This study was to determine the effects of cholesterol in freezing media on the motility and functional integrity of human sperm after cryopreservation. Methods: Control group (non-cholesterol treated) and different concentrations of cholesterol-treated sperm (14 healthy males) were frozen and thawed. After freezing and thawing of sperm, the quality of sperm was evaluated by sperm analysis, acrosome reaction test and sperm chromatin structure assay. Results: When human sperm were incubated in sperm freezing medium (SFM) containing $0.5{\mu}g$ cholesterol and then freezing/thawing, the motility of sperm have significantly improved compared to those untreated cholesterol ($33.46{\pm}1.48%$ vs. $30.10{\pm}1.07%$, p<0.05). The rate of calcium ionophore-induced acrosome reactions in post-thawed sperm was significantly higher than that ($53.60{\pm}1.60%$ vs. $47.40{\pm}1.86%$, p<0.05) in SFM containing cholesterol. Sperm chromatin structure assay revealed that DNA damage to the sperm in the cholesterol-treated group was lower than that of non-treated group. Conclusion: These results suggest that increased cholesterol content of sperm plasma membrane by supplementation of cholesterol in SFM improves sperm motility, capacitation status, and DNA integrity. Therefore, addition of cholesterol into SFM could be a useful for protecting human sperm from cold shock and cryo-injury during cryopreservation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.655-661
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• 2015

This study intends to evaluate the effect of nitric acid($HNO_3$) spill accidents on the marine ecosystem, while $HNO_3$ is known as one of the typical HNS. For this purpose, we performed (1) the growth inhibition test by using phytoplankton(Skeletonema costatum), (2) acute and chronic toxicity test by using invertebrate(Brachionus plicatilis and Monocorphium acherusicum), (3) fish(Cyprinodon variegatus) and (4) bacteria(Vibrio fischeri). In these tests, we observed the (1) pH changes induced by the nitric acid spill and (2) changes in nitrate($NO_3$) concentration disassociated from nitric acid after the accident, respectively. The toxicity test result on pH changes induced by $HNO_3$ shows that the no observed effect concentration(NOEC), lowest observed effect concentration(LOEC) and 50 % effect concentration($72h-EC_{50}$) values of M. acherusicum are pH 7 (0.3 mM), pH 5(1.1 mM) and pH 5.2(1.4 mM), respectively, indicating that M. acherusicum is the most sensitive species. The chronic toxicity test (population growth rate test) on $NO_3{^-}$ of B. plicatilis show that the NOEC, LOEC and $96h-EC_{50}$ are 5.9 mM, 11.8 mM and 32.6 mM, respectively, indicating that B. plicatilis is the most sensitive species. In conclusion, toxic effecst on the marine organism caused by the nitric acid spill accident is determined to be so slightly except for the most adjacent area of the ship in pH scale and such concentration of nitrate, to the extent of directly influencing the survival and reproduction of the marine organism, is determined practically not to be applicable in the typical accidents in the sea.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.171-178
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the sperm viability, normal acrosome and mitochondrial activity in the frozen-thawed fowl semen by different cryoprotectants. The experiment was carried out on 10 sexually adult roosters of Ogye. The semen was collected twice a week and pooled semen was diluted 1:1 EK extender containing no cryoprotectant at $5^{\circ}C$. After equilibration for 30 minutes, diluted chicken semen was diluted 1:1 extender containing either 7% dimethylacetamide (DMA), 7% dimethylformamide (DMF) or 7.5% methylacetamide (MA) at final concentration and was put in 0.5 mL plastic straws and frozen for 30 minutes by exposure to liquid nitrogen vapor 4 cm above the surface of liquid nitrogen, followed by plunging into liquid nitrogen. Frozen semen was thawed in water bath at $5^{\circ}C$ for 2 minutes. For cytometric analysis, the frozen-thawed semen was diluted with EK extender to a final concentration of 90 million spermatozoa per mL. Sperm membrane integrity was evaluated as SYBR-14 and propidium iodide (PI). Acrosome integrity was assessed with fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled PSA and PI. The percentage of mitochondrial function was estimated by using Rhodamine123 (R123) and PI. In conclusion, freezing rooster semen by using 7% DMF as cryoprotectant was significantly highest in rates of survival and mitochondrial function while its rate of damage of acrosome was significantly lowest. As a result, DMF is the cryoprotectant that has the lowest influences on sperm membranes and acrosome integrity. Therefore it could be used for freezing method of animal genetic conservation method for poultry diversity.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.24 no.1 s.76
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• pp.38-48
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• 1996

The survival or colonization of beneficial organsisms and suppression of root rot of ginseng (Panax ginseng) by two distinct bacteria, Pseudomonas cepacia, Bacillus cereus and three mycorrhiza in pot soil were investigated and compared with uninoculated root. In separate inoculation, colonization of roots by P. cepacia was maintained at 6.25 (log cfu/g root) during growth for 10 days under pot culture conditions comparing to $5.62{\sim}6.19$ by mixed treatment with other organisms. Colonizations of P. cepacia were gradually decreased from 6.25 (log cfu/g root) in 10 days growth to 3.01 (log cfu/g root) in 270 days incubation period. This reduction was also investgated in combination treatments by B. cereus or F. solani. The numbers of Fusarium spp. were colonized high number in rhizosphere soil from 3.33 to 3.67 (log cfu/g root) in control within $10{\sim}60$days after treatment of pathogen F. solani, but it's numbers were markedly decreased in 270 days cultivation of plant from 3.33 to 1.02 (log cfu/g root) after treatment. In treatment of beneficial strains of P. cepacia and B. cereus, P. cepacia significantly suppressed the development of root rot from 4.3 in control to 1.2 in treatment, whereas B. cereus alone had no effect on the rate of disease suppression. The disease index $(1.8{\sim}2.3)$ in combination of two bacteria was reduced in plants inoculated with both P. cepacia and B. cereus comparing to the index (4.3) of control. As an effect of inoculation with mycorrhiza on disease suppression, suppression of root rot by F. solani was reduced to $1.2{\sim}1.6$ in disease index in treatment of Glomus albidum and Acaulospora longular comparing to 4.3 of control. In the treatment of bacterial strain P. cepacia and mycorrhizal fungus Glomus albidum, the disease suppression was apparent to 1.2 and 1.2 comparing to 4.3 of control in disease index respectively.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.463-468
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• 2000

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Kluyveromyces fragilis, Candida utilis and brewer's yeast as an additive in formulated diets containing different fish meal levels ($55{\%} and 45{\%}$) on growth and body composition of juvenile Korean rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli). Juvenile rockfish (average weight, 2.6 g) were distributed into 24 tanks with 3 replication groups and fed eight isoproteic ($41{\%}$) and isolipidic ($11{\%}$) diets containing each level ($3{\%}$) of K. frayilis, C. utilis and brewer's yeast as an additive. Survival rate of fish was not affected by dietary fish meal level and yeast kind (P > 0.05). Weight gain of fish fed the control and diets containing C. utilis and brewer's yeast was not influenced by fish meal level (P > 0.05), Weight gain of fish fed the $55{\%}$ fish meal diet containing C. utilis and $45{\%}$ fish meal diets containing K. fragilis and C. utilis was lower than that of fish fed the control diet (P < 0.05). Feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio of fish fed the control and diet containing brewer's yeast were not affected by fish meal level, but these value of fish fed the diets containing K, fragilis and C. utilis were lower in $45{\%}$ fish meal diets than in $55{\%}$ fish meal diets. Hepatosomatic index and liver lipid content of fish fed the diet containing C. utilis were decreased regardless of fish meal level (P < 0.05), Hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cell, plasma total protein and plasma total glucose were not affected by dietary fish meal levels and yeast supplements (P > 0.05). From the above results, it can be concluded that yeast supplement in this formulated diet for growth of juvenile rockfish is not necessary.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.131-144
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• 2005

Objective : The aim of this study is to observe the effect of Herbal-acupuncture(HA) with Luffae Fructus Retinervus Herbal-Acupuncture Solution(LFR-HAS) at ST36(Joksamni) on Collagen Ⅱ -induced arthritis(CIA) in mice. Methods : DBA1/J mice were immunized with bovine type Ⅱ collagen(CⅡ) on days 0 and 21 to induce an arthritis. The mice were divided into 5 groups. They were Normal group(wild type), Control group(CIA), Saline group(CIA +saline injection), Needle Prick group(CIA +single Prick with an injection needle) and LFR-HA group(CIA +LFR-HA treatment). The saline injection, needle prick and LFR-HA were made on the right ST36(Joksamni) of mice for 5 weeks, 3 times a week beginning 4 weeks after the booster immunization. Results : 1. The highest synovial rate of lung fibroblasts was measured in the 1% LFR-HAS. 2. TNF-${\alpha}$ expression of survival cells from CIA mouse joint was significantly reduced in the 1% LFR-HAS. 3. The incidence of arthritis and the spleen weight of CIA mouse were significantly reduced by the Luffae Fructus Retinervus Herbal-Acupuncture (LFR-HA) at ST36. 4. The concentrations of IL-6, INF-${\alpha}$, INF-${\alpha}$, IgG, IgM, and anti-collagen Ⅱ in the CIA mouse serum were significantly reduced by the LFR-HA at ST36. 5. The histological examination showed that, in the LFR-HA group, the cartilage destruction and the synoviocyte proliferation in the CIA mouse joint were not significant compared to the control group, and the collagen fiber was similarly expressed as the normal group. 6. In the LFR-HA group, the ratio of CD3e+ to CD19+ cell, and the ratio of CD4+ to CD8+ cell in the lymph node were similarly maintained as those of the normal group. 7. CD69+/CD3e+ and CD11a+/CD19+ cells in the CIA mouse lymph node were significantly reduced by the LFR-HA at ST36. 8. CD11b+/Gr-1+ cells in the CIA mouse joint were significantly reduced by the LFR-HA at ST36. Conclusions : These results indicate that Luffae Fructus Retinervus Herbal-Acupuncture (LFR-HA) at ST36 may regulate the immune system and have a therapeutic effect on Collagen-induced arthritis(CIA) in mice.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2005

Purpose: The debate is still on-going as to whether a transthoracic esophagectomy (TTE) or a transhiatal esophagectomy(THE) is the proper treatment for patients with cardia and esophageal cancers. This study tries to demonstrate and assess the efficacy and the validity of both surgeries. Materials and Methods: In a retrospective study, data from 52 cases of patients with esophageal and/or cardia cancer who received a surgical operation during the last decade were analyzed. Results: A TTE was done in 20 cases and a THE in 32 cases. The average times for the operations were 558.0 min for a TTE and 451.7 min for a THE (P>0.05). The estimated blood loss was 1,825.0 ml in a TTE and 1459.4 ml in a THE (P>0.05). The amounts of transfusion during the operations were 3.9 units in a TTE and 2.6 units in a THE (P<0.05). Post-operative complications occurred in 15 cases of TTE and 23 cases of THE. The average length of stay in the hospital was 25.6 days for a TTE and 20.6 days for a THE. The 5-year survival rate was $10\%$ for TTE patients and $28\%$ for THE patients (P>0.05). Conclusion: For most factors, including morbidity and mortality, there was no statistically significant difference between a TTE and a THE. However, a THE is expected to be more convenient, leading to a shorter operative duration, a shorter post-operative hospitalization and lesser amounts of hemorrhage and transfusion. Hence, the THE may be a more valid or efficient surgical method for those patients with cardia and esophagus cancer who require a resection of the esophagus. (J Korean Gastric Cancer Assoc 2005;5:1-9)

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.11-17
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• 2006

Purpose: The five-year survival rate is over 95% for radically resected early gastric cancer. The development of diagnostic techniques enables early detection of gastric cancer, so the life expectancy of patients with early gastric cancer is prolonged. Therefore, a limited number of surgeries are performed these days for the purpose of increasing the quality of life. The purpose of this study is to assess the postoperative quality of life after a pylorus-preserving gastrectomy (PPG) compared with that after a subtotal gastrectomy with gastroduodenal anastomosis (B-I). Materials and Methods: One hundred seven (107) patients who underwent gastric surgery for early gastric cancer from January 1999 to December 2003 at the Department of Surgery of Chonnam National University Hospital were selected. We compared patients who underwent a PPG with those who underwent a B-I. The clinical results were compared by using the chi-square test and the Student's T-test. The data were considered to be significant when the P value was less than 0.05. Results: Twenty-nine patients (29) underwent a PPG, and the other seventy-eight (78) patients underwent a B-I. There was no significant difference between the two groups on sex, age, and postoperative abdominal symptoms. The patients who underwent a PPG showed shorter operation times and less reflux gastritis and esophagitis on endoscopic evaluation than the patients who underwent a B-I. Conclusion: The pylorus-preserving gastrectomy (PPG) is a more physiologic operation than the subtotal gastrectomy with gastroduodenal anastomosis (B-I) and improves the postoperative quality of life.