• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.17
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• pp.7701-7705
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• 2015

Background: Thyroid hormones (TH) are regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, which plays an important role in cell growth, differentiation, development and other aspects of metabolism. It is believed that an active hypothalamic-pituitary axis increases the susceptibility of thyroid dysfunction during systemic chemotherapy. In order to investigate the relation between thyroid function and chemotherapy the present study was designed to investigate TH in breast cancer patients receiving at least three cycles of chemotherapy. The levels of TH were measured at the baseline and before each cycle of chemotherapy. Materials and Methods: Blood samples for estimation of TH levels were collected from 80 (pre-menopausal-40; post-menopausal-40) breast cancer patients just before they were undergoing - $1^{st}$, $2^{nd}$, $3^{rd}$ and $4^{th}$ cycle of chemotherapy. The serum was separated and $T_3$, $T_4$ and TSH levels were determined by chemiluminescence method. Results: $T_3$ and $T_4$ were found significantly decreased and TSH was found significantly increased after $1^{st}$ (p<0.001), $2^{nd}$ (p<0.0001) and $3^{rd}$ cycle of chemotherapy (p<0.0001). The variation of $T_3$ levels (decreased) and TSH levels (increased) was found more in post-menopausal (p<0.0001) women then in pre-menopausal women after $3^{rd}$ cycle of chemotherapy as compared to baseline (p<0.001). Conclusions: TH were remarkably altered after each cycle of chemotherapy leading to decline in thyroid function of breast cancer patients. Further, the results also indicated that post-menopausal women were more prone towards decline in thyroid function then pre-menopausal women. The present study proposes the monitoring of TH after each cycle of chemotherapy in breast cancer patients.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.179-193
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• 2006

Technical efficiency of semiforcing watermelon growers is 0.8248 on average, and distributed between 0.6744 and 0.9268. The result showed that semiforcing watermelon growers had by 18% of technical inefficiency and could be assumed that increasing technical efficiency could induce watermelon production more increase. Consequently, if growers' technical efficiency were improved while other environments were constant, watermelon production could be increased. Following the results from the inefficiency effect model, all assumption coefficient such as growers age etc, are significant at 10% level. Estimate of dispersion parameter ${\gamma}$ is 0.89, which confirms those differences between practical output and frontier output were derived from the technical efficiencies among growers. Differences of production system between high and low level growers in production efficiency were showed at side altitude, ventilation and heat-retaining in section of facilities and automation, soil test and calcium application in section of environment management, transplant preparation and duration of pollination in section of crop management and shipment place, sorting degree and management record analysis in section of business management respectively. As a result of analyzing consulting data by using standard diagnosis table of watermelon cultivation under structure which cultivated on semi-forced watermelon growers, gap between high and low level growers was 7.0 points in facility automation section, 7.1 points in environment section, 8.8 points in crop management section and 13.6 points in business management section, respectively, which were the biggest one among them. In case of excluding information-related items from the evaluation index of business management section, changes of business achievement are to occur. Therefore, it is recommended for us to review the standard diagnostic table of watermelon cultivation under structure by dividing evaluation index of management section into management and information.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.176-185
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• 2016

This research was conducted to evaluate various levels of dolomitic lime incorporated as pre-planting fertilizers on the growth of red-leaf lettuce. To achieve this, three root media were formulated by mixing coir dust with expanded rice hull (CD+ERH, 8:2, v/v), carbonized rice hull (CD+CRH, 6:4, v/v), and ground pine bark (CD+GRPB, 6:4, v/v). During formulation, equal amounts of essential nutrients, except dolomitic lime, were incorporated into all root media and the levels of dolomitic lime were varied from 0 to $7.5g\;L^{-1}$ at 1.5 g increments. Seedlings of red-leaf lettuces at the 3rd leaf stage were transplanted into each medium treatment. Crop growths were measured 5 weeks after transplant and soil solutions were collected every week and analyzed for pH, EC, and nutrient concentrations. The treatments showing the heaviest fresh and dry weights in CD+ERH, CD+CRH, and CD+GRPB were 4.5 g, 4.5 g, and $7.5g\;L^{-1}$ of dolomite, respectively. The pHs of three root media yielding the highest crop growths were in the ranges of 6.4 to 7.1. These ECs in CD+CRH medium were around $1.0dS\;m^{-1}$ higher than those of CD+ERH and CD+GRPB when application rates of dolomitic lime were equal. $K^+$ concentrations were higher than $Ca^{+2}$ and $Mg^{+2}$ concentrations until week 2 in three root media. But $Ca^{+2}$ and $Mg^{+2}$ concentrations were higher than $K^+$ concentrations after week 3 in all root media. The concentrations of $PO_4{^{-3}}$ in all root media got abruptly lower until week 2. These results indicate that appropriate levels of dolomitic lime, as pre-planting nutrient charge fertilizers in CD+ERH and CD+GRPB media, are 4.5 and $7.5g\;L^{-1}$, respectively.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.5-9
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• 1987

In order to investigate the occurrence status of tiller at the upper node of rice, this trial was conducted with different eco-typed and 23 cultivars in 1983 and testified the effect of fertilizer levels with Indica x Japonica cultivars in 1984. In occurring of tiller at the upper nodes, upper 2nd, 3rd node and lower 2nd, 3rd node rose simultaneously. The tillering rates of the upper nodes of Japonica x Indica cultivars were more than Japonica cultivars and early maturing cultivars were more than medium or late maturing cultivars, respectively. Highly negative correlations were found between the tillering rate of upper nodes and days from transplant-ing to heading and bending angle degree of 2nd node. The tilleriiig rate of the upper nodes treated with different levels of fertilizer increased with non-fertilizer than those of standard (N-P-K =15-11-13kg/10a) or heavy (N-P-K =25-15-18kg/10a) levels.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.245-250
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• 2011

Purpose: Composite tissue allotransplantation has emerged as a new therapeutic modality to reconstruct major tissue defects of the head, neck and extremities. A questionnaire-based instrument, the Louisville Instrument for Transplantation (LIFT), has been developed to objectively assess the risk-versus-benefit ratio for composite tissue allotransplantation procedures. The objective of this study is to assess if the LIFT is a useful, reliable and valid tool to apply to the Korean population. Methods: Seventy-three medical students and 60 lay public completed the LIFT questionnaire (translated to Korean) over the period from February 2010 to April 2010. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha. Test-retest reliability was analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient. Construct validity was assessed by comparing Pearson's correlation coefficients between perceived improvements in quality of life and responses to risk tolerance questions concerning organ transplants. Results: Measurements of the test-retest reliability showed that Pearson's correlation coefficients ranged from 0.241 to 0.902, and Cronbach's alphas ranged from 0.52 to 0.80 for medical students and from 0.63 to 0.83 for the lay public. Pearson's correlation coefficients showed significant correlations between perceived improvements in quality of life and responses to risk tolerance questions concerning organ transplants. Hand transplant showed a significant correlation in medical students. Foot, hand, two hands, larynx, partial face transplants showed significant correlations for the lay public. Conclusion: The applicability of the LIFT to the Korean population was found to be reliable and valid. The LIFT may serve as a useful tool for clinical application in the Korean population.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.277-284
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• 2014

Background The most crucial factor in hair transplantation for male pattern baldness (MPB) patients is the efficient utilization of the donor-recipient ratio. However, there is no known factor that scientifically predicts the rate of progression of alopecia or indicates a permanently safe donor area. Methods The study considered 1,008 Korean adult males with MPB; of these, it excluded 56 males with an absence of parietal whorls (PWs). The authors investigated the distance from the vertical bimeatal line (VM) to the PW, from the PW to the upper border of the helical rim (HR), and the distance from the PW to the occipital fringe (OF) in 952 subjects with a PW. Furthermore, we examined the distance from the PW to the OF considering the duration of alopecia and age in 322 subjects with vertex alopecia. Results The distance between the VM and PW varied from 1.5 to 11 cm, with an average distance of 6.25 cm. The PW-HR distance ranged from 3.4 to 17.5 cm, and the average distance was 7.79 cm. The PW-OF distance ranged from 0.5 to 5.5 cm, and the average distance was 2.37 cm. Conclusions For the PW, very large variations existed in the vertical direction. The position of the PW could predict the progression range of the total alopecia of the vertex. Alopecia mostly progresses within 6 cm of the PW toward the occipital side.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.258-263
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• 2016

Background: The advantages of using a homograft in valve replacement surgery are the excellent hemodynamic profile, low risk of thromboembolism, and low risk of prosthetic valve infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term outcomes of homograft implantation in the aortic valve position. Methods: This is a retrospective study of 33 patients (>20 years old) who underwent aortic valve replacement or root replacement with homografts between April 1995 and May 2015. Valves were collected within 24 hours from explanted hearts of heart transplant recipients (<60 years) and organ donors who were not suitable for heart transplantation. The median follow-up duration was 35.6 months (range, 0 to 168 months). Results: Aortic homografts were used in all patients. The 30-day mortality rate was 9.1%. The 1- and 5-year survival rates were $80.0%{\pm}7.3%$ and $60.8%{\pm}10.1%$, respectively. The 1-, 5-, and 10-year freedom from reoperation rates were $92.3%{\pm}5.2%$, $68.9%{\pm}10.2%$, and $50.3%{\pm}13.6%$, respectively. The 1-, 5-, and 10-year freedom from significant aortic dysfunction rates were $91.7%{\pm}8.0%$, $41.7%{\pm}14.2%$, and $25.0%{\pm}12.5%$, respectively. Conclusion: Homografts had the advantages of a good hemodynamic profile and low risk of thromboembolic events, and with good outcomes in cases of aortitis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.66 no.2
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• pp.122-126
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• 2009

Despite the improvements in supportive care, early and late hematopoietic stem cell transplantation-related complications still remain a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Pulmonary complications occur in 40-60% of patients who undergo allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Late-onset noninfectious pulmonary complications can occur months and even years after transplantation. Interstital lung disease has also been reported to be a late post-transplant complication. Exposure to cytotoxic drugs and/or irradiation has been implicated as a cause of pulmonary toxicity including pulmonary fibrosis. We report a case of an 18-year-old female with non-classifiable interstitial pneumonia that manifested eight and a half years after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The condition worsened rapidly and the patient eventually died.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.77 no.5
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• pp.223-226
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• 2014

Aspergillus tracheobronchitis is a form of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in which the Aspergillus infection is limited predominantly to the tracheobronchial tree. It occurs primarily in severely immunocompromised patients such as lung transplant recipients. Here, we report a case of Aspergillus tracheobronchitis in a 42-year-old man with diabetes mellitus, who presented with intractable cough, lack of expectoration of sputum, and chest discomfort. The patient did not respond to conventional treatment with antibiotics and antitussive agents, and he underwent bronchoscopy that showed multiple, discrete, gelatinous whitish plaques mainly involving the trachea and the left bronchus. On the basis of the bronchoscopic and microbiologic findings, we made the diagnosis of Aspergillus tracheobronchitis and initiated antifungal therapy. He showed gradual improvement in his symptoms and continued taking oral itraconazole for 6 months. Physicians should consider Aspergillus tracheobronchitis as a probable diagnosis in immunocompromised patients presenting with atypical respiratory symptoms and should try to establish a prompt diagnosis.

• Journal of architectural history
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.27-37
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• 2014

Early 20th century Singapore was faced with the problem of overcrowding. The attendant problems of a rapid increase in population density, namely the lack of proper housing and sanitation, resulted in the issue of an appropriate residential environment emerging as an important task in urban planning. It was necessary to construct housing estates in order to solve this issue. At that time, the British colonial government attempted to transplant modern technology into the construction process of a residential complex system. However, Singapore's climate and traditional lifestyle made it impossible to apply the British modern system in a straightforward manner, and in the process, a number of transformations emerged. With a specific focus on the Tiong Bahru estate, one of Singapore's representative public housing projects, from the 1930s through the 1950s, this study intends to look at the way in which such residential estates were assimilated into local surroundings, and the effect of the transplantation of British concepts of modern housing theory. Therefore, the study is divided into an examination of the estate both before and after the turning point of World War II. This study confirms that the difference between the pre-war and post-war planning strategies for the Tiong Bahru estate were made according to the concept of 'open space.'