• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.123-130
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• 2016

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to determine correlations between grip and lower limb muscle strength and pulmonary function and respiratory muscle in children with cerebral palsy. METHODS: Subjects were 17 children with cerebral palsy. Inclusion criteria for participation were having GMFCS from I to III grade and ability to independently blow into a spirometer. Pulmonary function and respiratory muscle were measured with a spirometer. All subjects performed maximal expiratory flow maneuvers using a spirometer in order to determine their forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), peak expiratory flow (PEF) and FEV1/FVC, and maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximum expiratory pressure (MEP). Muscle strength was measured in terms of grip strength and lower limb muscle strength in terms of knee extension strength with a dynamometer and manual digital muscle tester respectively. Data were analyzed using Person product correlation. RESULTS: Grip strength significantly positively correlated with FVC (r=0.95, p<0.01), FEV1 (r=0.95, p<0.01), PEF (r=0.84, p<0.01), MIP (r=0.65, p<0.01) MEP (r=0.71, p<0.01) and lower limb strength with FVC (r=0.72, p<0.01), FEV1 (r=0.69, p<0.01), PEF (r=0.54, p<0.05), and MEP (r=0.69, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Grip and lower limb muscle strengths of children with cerebral palsy were positively correlated pulmonary function and respiratory muscle.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.115-122
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• 2000

The development of molecular biology has brought many changes in psychiatry. Molecular biology makes us possible to know the cause of mental disorders that provide the way to prevent the disorders, and to develop various accurate diagnostic and treatment methods for mental disorders. The author discusses the concept, cause, and treatment of mental disorders in the aspect of molecular biology. Importing the methods of molecular biology into psychiatry, we can anticipate to get a number of the goals of psychiatric genetics, including identification of specific susceptibility genes, clarification of the pathophysiological processes whereby these genes lead to symptoms, establishment of epigenetic factors that interact with these genes to produce disease, validation of nosological boundaries that more closely reflect the actions of these genes, and development of effective preventive and therapeutic interventions based on genetic counseling, gene therapy, and modification of permissive or protective environmental influences. In addition to their capacity to accelerate the discovery of new molecules participating in the nervous system's response to disease or to self-administered drugs, molecular biological strategies can also be used to determine how critical a particular gene product may be in mediating a cellular event with behavioral importance. Molecular biology probably enables us discover the environmental factors of mental disorders and allow rational drug design and gene therapies for mental disorders, by isolation of gene products that facilitate a basic understanding of the pathogenesis of these disorders. A specific genetic linkage may suggest a novel class of drugs that has not yet been tried. With respect to gene therapy, the hypothetical method would use a gene delivery system, most likely a modified virus, to insert a functional copy of a mutant gene into those brain cells that require the gene for normal function.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.126-135
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• 2012

Purpose: To develop therapeutic duplication criteria for the drugs used for respiratory diseases. Method: Therapeutic duplication was defined as "more than 2 drug ingredient-usage in which each has the same therapeutic effect and combination therapy does not confer additional therapeutic benefit". Respiratory system drugs approved in Korea were examined for the study. The WHO's Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System was used for grouping of the corresponding drug ingredients. The principles and recommendations on combination usage or multiple drug regimens were reviewed by using the clinical practice guidelines, textbooks, product labelings, and clinical articles. Clinical expert group consultation was performed and expert opinions were incorporated into the final criteria. Results: Nine hundred sixty two drug products with Korean Food and Drug Administration classification codes of 141, 149, 222, and 229 were evaluated, of which 87 active ingredients were composed. The drug ingredients were classified into 12 groups (antihistamines, oral nasal decongestants, leukotriene receptor antagonists, inhaled anticholinergics, inhaled corticosteroids, oral ${\beta}2$-agonists, long-acting ${\beta}2$-agonists, short-acting ${\beta}2$-agonists, xanthines, antiallergics, mucolytics and cough suppressants). The use of more than 2 drug ingredients including the same group was therapeutic duplication, and thus combination should be recommended not to be used. Conclusion: Twelve drug groups were identified as therapeutic duplication criteria. Combination therapy within each group should not be used otherwise therapeutic benefits outweigh potential risks.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.40-49
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• 2015

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the ability to self-renew and differentiate into multi-lineage cells, thus highlighting the feasibility of using umbilical cord blood-derived MSCs (UCB-MSCs) for cell-therapy and tissueengineering. However, the low numbers of UCB-MSC derived from clinical samples requires that an ex vivo expansion step be implemented. As most stem cells reside in low oxygen tension environments (i.e., hypoxia), we cultured the UCBMSCs under 3% $O_2$ or 21% $O_2$ and the following parameters were examined: proliferation, senescence, differentiation and stem cell specific gene expression. UCB-MSCs cultured under hypoxic conditions expanded to significantly higher levels and showed less senescence compared to UCB-MSCs cultured under normoxic conditions. In regards to differentiation potential, UCB-MSCs cultured under hypoxic and normoxic conditions both underwent similar levels of osteogenesis as determined by ALP and von Kossa assay. Furthermore, UCB-MSCs cultured under hypoxic conditions exhibited higher expression of OCT4, NANOG and SOX2 genes. Moreover, cells expanded under hypoxia maintained a stem cell immnunophenotype as determined by flow cytometry. These results demonstrate that the expansion of human UCB-MSCs under a low oxygen tension microenvironment significantly improved cell proliferation and differentiation. These results demonstrate that hypoxic culture can be rapidly and easily implemented into the clinical-scale expansion process in order to maximize UCB-MSCs yield for application in clinical settings and at the same time reduce culture time while maintaining cell product quality.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.781-784
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• 2012

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the adenovirus-mediated double suicide gene (CD/TK) for selective killing of gastric cancer cells. Gastric cancer cells SCG7901 and normal gastric epithelial cell lines were infected by adenoviruses Ad-survivin/GFP and Ad-survivin/CD/TK. GFP expression and CD-TK were detected by fluorescence microscopy and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), respectively. After treatment of the infected cells with the pro-drugs ganciclovir (GCV) and/or 5-FC, the cell growth status was evaluated by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay. Cell cycle changes were detected using flow cytometry. In nude mice bearing human gastric cancer, the recombinant adenovirus vector was injected directly into the tumor followed by an intraperitoneal injection of GCV and/or 5-FC. The subsequent tumor growth was then observed. The GFP gene driven by survivin could be expressed within the gastric cancer line SCG7901, but not in normal gastric epithelial cells. RT-PCR demonstrated the presence of the CD/TK gene product in the infected SCG7901 cells, but not in the infected normal gastric epithelial cells. The infected gastric cancer SCG7901, but not the gastric cells, was highly sensitive to the pro-drugs. The CD/TK fusion gene system showed significantly greater efficiency than either of the single suicide genes in killing the target cells (P<0.01). Treatment of the infected cells with the pro-drugs resulted in increased cell percentage in G0-Gl phase and decreased percentage in S phase. In nude mice bearing SCG7901 cells, treatment with the double suicide gene system significantly inhibited tumor growth, showing much stronger effects than either of the single suicide genes (P<0.01). The adenovirus-mediated CD/TK double suicide gene driven by survivin promoter combined with GCV an 5-FC treatment could be an effective therapy against experimental gastric cancer with much greater efficacy than the single suicide gene CD/TK combined with GCV or 5-FC.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.7-18
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• 2012

Purpose : This study was to compare the difference Trunk Control Test(TCT), Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke(PASS-TC), and Trunk Impairment Scale(TIS) and its subscales in relation to the difference MBI(Modified Barthel Index), BBS(Berg Balance Scale), and to establish the association between MBI, BBS, Fugl Meyer-motor function(FM-M), and to predict MBI-subscales from the variables. Methods : 58 stroke patients, attending a rehabilitation programme, participated in the study. Trunk control was measured with the use of the TCT, PASS-TC, TIS, and the performance of Activities daily living was obtained by MBI, and dynamic balance ability(by BBS). Trunk control scores from the difference MBI, BBS were compared using the 1-way ANOVA(Mann Whitney U test) and the data were analyzed using Pearson product correlation. Multiple stepwise regression analyses were performed to identify prognostic factors for ADL subscale. Results : Trunk control scores showed significant differences between MBI(F=2.139~13.737, p<.05~.001), BBS(t=3.491~7.705, p<.01~.001). It was significantly related with value of the MBI(r=.25~.50), BBS(r=.38~.68), FMM( r=.31~.48). Stepwise linear regression analysis showed an additional, significant contribution of the TCT, in addition to the PASS-TC, dynamic sitting balance subscale of the TIS for measures of MBI subscales. Conclusion : Measures of trunk control were significantly related with values of MBI, BBS score, so the management of trunk rehabilitation after stroke should be emphasized. The use of both quantitative and qualitative scales was shown to be a good measuring instrument for the classification of the general performance of the stroke patients. Further study about trunk control is needed using a longitudinal study design.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.72-78
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• 2011

The aim of this study is to evaluate the patient's setup errors in TomoTherapy (Hi-Art II, TomoTherapy, USA) Bodyfix system (Medical Intelligence, Ele-kta, Schwabmuchen, Germany) pressure in the vacuum compression, depending on and were evaluated. Bodyfix immobilization system and vacuum pressure was compression applied to the patients who received Tomotherapy thoracic and abdominal area, 21 patients were selected and TomoTehpay treatment total 477 of MVCT images were obtained. The translational (medial-lateral: ML, anterior-posterior: AP, superior-inferior: SI directions) and rolling were recorded and analyzed statistically. Using Pearson's product-moment coefficient and One-way ANOVA, the degree of correlation depending on the different vacuum pressure levels were statistically analyzed for setup errors from five groups (p<0.05). The largest average and standard deviation of systematic errors were 6.00, 5.95 mm in the AP and SI directions, respectively. The largest average of random errors were 4.72 mm in the SI directions. The correlation coefficients were 0.485, 0.244, and 0.637 for the ML-Roll, AP-Vector, and SI-Vector, respectively. SI-Vector direction showed the best relationship. In the results of the different degree of vacuum pressure in five groups (Pressure range: 30~70 mbar), the setup errors between the ML, SI in both directions and Roll p=0.00 (p<0.05) were shown significant differences. The average errors of SI direction in the vacuum pressure of 40 mbar and 70 mbar group were 4.78 mm and -0.74 mm, respectively. In this study, the correlation between the vacuum pressure and the setup-errors were statistically analyzed. The fact that setup-errors in SI direction is dependent in vacuum pressure considerly setup-errors and movement of interal organs was identified. Finally, setup-errors, and it, based on the movement of internal organs in Bodyfix system we should apply more than 50 mbar vacuum pressure. Based on the results of this study, it is suggested that accuracy of the vacuum pressure and the quantitative analysis of movement of internal organs and the tumor should be studied.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.81-89
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• 2012

This study was conducted to examine the association of dietary behaviors, serum lipid profiles according to the progression of angiographically evaluated atherosclerosis. The subjects were 32 male patients aged 59-80 yrs living in the Daegu area who underwent initial angiography for their lower extremities. We classified the subjects into two groups according to the seriousness of iliac lesions based on angiographic results : Group I (lower lesion group) and Group II (higher lesion group). Dietary habits were evaluated by 10-item questionnaires. Daily food intake of each subject was assessed by the 24-hour recall method. There were no significant differences in serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels between the two groups. The food habit score of Group II was significantly lower than that of Group I (P<0.001). Group II showed significantly lower dietary habit scores in the consumption of fish and bean product (P<0.001), seaweed product (P<0.01), and salt use (P<0.001) than those of Group I. Dietary intake of vitamin C was significantly lower in Group II (P<0.01). Our results indicate that the more serious of atherosclerotic lesions the patients had, the poorer dietary habits they exhibited. Therefore, medical nutrition therapy for atherosclerotic patients should emphasize maintaining a balanced diet by consuming more fishes, beans, and seaweed as well as by reducing salt intake.

• The Journal of the Korean life insurance medical association
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.68-74
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• 2008

Medical verification of cancer diagnosis in insurance claims is a very important procedure in insurance administrations. Claims staffs are in need of medical experts' opinions about claim administration. This procedure is called medical claim review (MCR) and is composed of verification and advice. MCR verification evaluates the insured’s physical condition by medical records and compares it with product coverage. It is divided into assessment of living assurance benefit, verification of cancer, and assessment of the cause of death. Actually cancer verification of MCR is applicable to coding because the risk ratio in product development is usually coded data. There are some confusing neoplastic diseases in assessing the verification of cancer. This article reviews gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue tumors (MALToma) of the stomach. The second most common group of stromal or mesenchymal neoplasms affecting the gastrointestinal tract is GIST. Nowadays there are many articles about the pathophysiology of GIST. However there are few confirmative theories except molecular cell biology of KIT mutation and some tyrosine kinase. Therefore, coding the GIST, which has previously been classified as an intermediate risk group according to NIH2001 criteria, for cancer verification of MCR is suitable for D37.1; neoplasm of uncertain or unknown behavior of digestive organs and the stomach. The gastrointestinal tract is the predominant site of extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. B-cell lymphomas of the MALT type, now called extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of MALT type in the REAL/WHO classification, are the most common primary gastric lymphomas worldwide. Its characteristics are as follows. First, it is different from traditional stomach cancers such as gastric adenocarcinoma. Second, the primary therapy of MALToma is the eradication of H. pylori by antibiotics and the remission rate is over 80%. Third, it has a different clinical course compared to traditional malignant lymphoma. Someone insisted that cancer verification is not possible for the above reasons. However, there have been findings on pathologic mechanism, and according to WHO classification, MALToma is classified into malignant B-cell lymphoma and it must be verified as malignancy in MCR.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.305-311
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• 2008

After successful clinical application, arginine deiminase (ADI) has been proposed to be a new cancer therapeutic. In the present study, we examined the effect of ADI in combination with ionizing radiation (IR) on MCF-7 cell growth and clonogenic cell death. Cell growth was inhibited by IR in a dose-dependent manner and ADI enhanced the radiosensitivity. ADI itself did not suppress the growth of MCF-7 cells due to the high level of expression of argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS), which convert citrulline, a product of arginine degradation by ADI, to arginine. Previously, it was suggested that ammonia, another product of arginine degradation by ADI, is the main cause of the growth inhibition of irradiated hepatoma cells contaminated with ADI-expressing mycoplasma [van Rijn et al. (2003)]. However, we found that ammonia is not the only factor that enhances radiosensitivity, as enhancement was also observed in the absence of ammonia. In order to identify the enhancing effect, levels of ASS and proteins related to the cell cycle were examined. ASS was unchanged by ADI plus IR, but p21 (a CDK inhibitor) was upregulated and c-Myc downregulated. These findings indicate that changes in the expressions of cell cycle proteins are involved in the enhancement of radiosensitivity by ADI. We suggest that ADI is a potential adjunct to cancer therapy.