• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.25 no.9
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• pp.788-797
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• 2024

Objective: To investigate the potential association among preoperative breast MRI features, axillary nodal burden (ANB), and disease-free survival (DFS) in patients with early-stage breast cancer. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 297 patients with early-stage breast cancer (cT1-2N0M0) who underwent preoperative MRI between December 2016 and December 2018. Based on the number of positive axillary lymph nodes (LNs) determined by postoperative pathology, the patients were divided into high nodal burden (HNB; ≥3 positive LNs) and non-HNB (<3 positive LNs) groups. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent risk factors associated with ANB. Predictive efficacy was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and area under the curve (AUC). Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were performed to determine preoperative features associated with DFS. Results: We included 47 and 250 patients in the HNB and non-HNB groups, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that multifocality/multicentricity (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 3.905, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.685-9.051, P = 0.001) and peritumoral edema (adjusted OR = 3.734, 95% CI: 1.644-8.479, P = 0.002) were independent risk factors for HNB. Combined peritumoral edema and ultifocality/multicentricity achieved an AUC of 0.760 (95% CI: 0.707-0.807) for predicting HNB, with a sensitivity and specificity of 83.0% and 63.2%, respectively. During the median follow-up period of 45 months (range, 5-61 months), 26 cases (8.75%) of breast cancer recurrence were observed. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis indicated that younger age (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] = 3.166, 95% CI: 1.200-8.352, P = 0.021), larger tumor size (adjusted HR = 4.370, 95% CI: 1.671-11.428, P = 0.002), and multifocality/multicentricity (adjusted HR = 5.059, 95% CI: 2.166-11.818, P < 0.001) were independently associated with DFS. Conclusion: Preoperative breast MRI features may be associated with ANB and DFS in patients with early-stage breast cancer.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.180-185
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• 2009

Fe$_3$O$_4$ particles, prepared by a sol-gel method, were examined for their structural characteristic, particle shapes and sizes, and their magnetic properties. Two different chemical compositions (using a mol rate Fe$^{2+}$/Fe$^{3+}$ = 1/2 and only Fe$^{2+}$) and 2-methoxyethanol were used for making proper solutions. And the solutions were refluxed and dry in a dry oven and the samples were fired at 200$\sim$600$^{\circ}C$ in the N$_2$ atmosphere. The formation of single-phased spinel ferrite powders was identified with the X-ray diffraction measurement as they were fired at above 250$^{\circ}C$. The result of scanning electron microscopy measurement showed the increase of annealing temperature yielded the particle size increased. The magnetic transition was observed using the Mossbaur spectroscopy measurement. As the ferrite, prepared with the chemical composition (Fe$^{2+}$/Fe$^{3+}$ = 1/2), was fired at 250$^{\circ}C$, 78% of the ferrite had a ferrimagnetic property and 22% of the ferrite was non-magnetic. In case of preparing the sample with only Fe$^{2+}$ and annealed at 200$^{\circ}C$, it had a single phased spinel structure but its particle size was too small to be ferrimagnetic. The annealing temperature above 250$^{\circ}C$ made powders a spinel structure regardless of the preparation method. They had a typical soft magnetic property and their saturation magnetization and coercivity became larger as the annealing temperature increased.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.169-176
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• 1996

A scanning electron microscopic study was performed to observe the surface ultrastructures of the third-stage larvae of Gnathostoma hispidun. The early third-stage larvae (EL3) were collected from the viscera of Chinese loaches by the artificial digestion method . The advanced third-stage larvae (AdL3) were recovered from mice experimentally infected with EL3. Both larval worms were fixed with 2.5% glutaraldehyde, dehydrated in graded alcohol. dryad in critical point dryer, and coated with gold. The specimens were observed with a SEM (DS- l30C). On the head bulb of both larval stage, the mouth had a pair of lateral lips of equal size and of half moon shape. Each lip had a couple of labial papillae and a small amphid located between the two papillae. The hooklets on the head bulb had single-pointed tips and curved posteriorly. The cuticular spines of EL3 were larger and more densely distributed in the anterior area (about 1.8 Mm in length) and gradually decreased in size and number posteriorly. The cuticular spines in the anterior area of AdL3 were sharp-pointed and about 4.5 Mm in length, and those in the middle area were about 1.75 Mm. The velvety cuticular folds and dot-like cuticular spines were distributed in the posterior area. A cervical papilla was located between the 7th and 8th transverse striations. A dome-like body papilla was located at the posterior 1/4 of body. An ellipsoidal excretory pore was located between the 17th and 18th striations. From the above results, it is suggested that the characteristic SEM findings obtained from this study may be helpful on the species identification of larval Gncthostomn.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.10
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• pp.711-720
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• 2003

Bakground : Complete resection by the surgery has been selected as the treatment of choice in lung cancer patients, but in cases of recurrence after excision or inoperable cases, the importance of anticancer chemotherapy has been emphasized. If one can select a set of the sensitive chemotherapeutic agents before anticancer chemotherapy, it will give more favourable results. Subrenal capsular assay has been recognized as a useful in-vivo chemosensitivity test of thoracic and abdominal tumors and it can be done in a short time for a rapid interpretation of tumor responsiveness to anticancer chemotherapeutic drugs. It has been reported that various kinds of cancer cells can be implantable to the kidney, but so far there is no comparative study of xenogeneic cell implantation on liver, spleen and kidney. The author implanted the human lung cancer cells under the capsule of S.D rat's liver, spleen and kidney respectively and compared the pattern of growth and histology. Material and Method: After incubation of human lung cancer cell line (SW-900 G IV) in RPMI 1640 (Leibovitz L-15 medium) culture media, 3${\times}$3${\times}$3 mm size fibrin clots which contain 108 cancer cells were made. Thereafter the fibrin clots were implanted at subcapsule area of liver, spleen and kidney of S.D. female rat. For immune suppression, cyclosporin-A (80 mg/Kg) was injected subcutaneously daily from post-implantation first day to sixth day. The body weight was measured at pre and post implantation periods. The growth pattern and the size of tumor mass were observed and the pathologic examination and serum tumor marker tests were performed. Result: Body weight increased in both of control and experimental groups. Serum Cyfra 21-1 was not detected. Serum levels of CEA and NSE revealed no significant change. The SCC-Ag increased significantly in implanted group. The growth rate of human lung cancer cells which was implanted on spleen was higher than on liver or kidney. The surface area, thickness, and volume of tumor mass were predominant at spleen. The success rates of implantation were 80% on kidney, 76.7% on spleen and 43.3% on liver. Pathologic examination of implanted tumors showed characteristic findings according to different organs. Tumors that were implanted on kidney grew in a round shape, small and regular pattern. In the spleen, tumors grew well and microscopic neovascularization and tumor thrombi were also found, but the growth pattern was irregular representing frequent daughter mass. Human lung cancer cells that were implanted in the liver, invaded to the liver parenchyme, and had low success rate of implantation. Microscopically, coagulation necrosis and myxoid fibrous lesion were observed. Conclusion: The success rate of implantation was highest in the kidney. And the mass revealed regular growth that could be measured easily. The SCC-Ag was presented earlier than CEA or Cyfra21-1. The Cyfra21-1 was not detected at early time after implantation. The best model for tumor implantation experiment for chemosensitivity test was subrenal capsular analysis than liver and spleen and the useful serum tumor marker in early period of implantation was the SCC-Ag.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.66-73
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• 2004

As one of the typical farming practices in the sloped upland in Pyeongchang and Hongcheon area, application of piling with coarse saprolite materials has been practiced by farmers for several reasons such as reduction of damage by monocropping, better development of plant roots, and better drainage. However, adverse effect on application of coarse saprolite soil materials to environmental aspects should not be ignored. Therefore, this research was conducted to evaluate the physicochemical properties of coarse saprolite materials in upland fields in Pyeongchang area. According to particle size distribution of coarse saprolite materials, averaged gravel contents for Pyeongchang and Hongcheon county were 16.7 and 25.3%, respectively. There was no significant difference in gravel contents by soil depth, and CV values for each particle size ranged from 20 to 40%, which implied that application of coarse material with similar properties. When we compared CEC values of dressed soil with or without considering gravel content, CEC values decreased as increasing gravel contents. The penetration resistances were 0.04-7.48 MPa at the 0 to 10 cm surface soil, and 0.10 to 8.80 MPa at the depth below 11 cm. The bulk density of the soil was $1.15g\;cm^{-3}$ at the surface soil and 1.29 to $1.35g\;cm^{-3}$ at the soil depth below 10 cm. The organic matter content, cation exchange capacity, and avaliable $P_2O_5$ concentrations of soil in upland where piling with saprolite materials of Pyeongchang area applied were $12.4g\;kg^{-1}$, $7.1cmol_c\;kg^{-1}$, and $526mg\;kg^{-1}$, respectively. Cation exchange capacity was lower than that of averaged Korean upland soil, while available $P_2O_5$ concentration was relatively higher than that of averaged Korean upland, which indicated high input of various fertilizers.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.87-95
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• 2008

Neural stem/precursor derived from pluripotent human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) has considerable therapeutic potential due to their ability to generate various neural cells which can be used in cell-replacement therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. However, production of neural cells from hESCs remains technically very difficult. Understanding neural-tube like rosette characteristic neural precursor cells from hESCs may provide useful information to increase the efficiency of hESC neural differentiation. Generally, neural rosettes were derived from differentiating hEBs in attached culture system, however this is time-consuming and complicated. Here, we examined if neural rosettes could be formed in suspension culture system by bypassing attachment requirement. First, we tested whether the size of hESC clumps affected the formation of human embryonic bodies (hEBs) and neural differentiation. We confirmed that hEBs derived from $500{\times}500\;{\mu}m$ square sized hESC clumps were effectively differentiated into neural lineage than those of the other sizes. To induce the rosette formation, regular size hEBs were derived by incubation of hESC clumps($500{\times}500\;{\mu}m$) in EB medium for 1 wk in a suspended condition on low attachment culture dish and further incubated for additional $1{\sim}2$ wks in neuroectodermal sphere(NES)-culture medium. We observed the neural tube-like rosette structure from hEBs after $7{\sim}10$ days of differentiation. Their identity as a neural precursor cells was assessed by measuring their expressions of neural precursor markers(Vimentin, Nestin, MSI1, MSI2, Prominin-1, Pax6, Sox1, N-cadherin, Otx2, and Tuj1) by RT-PCR and immunofluorescence staining. We also confirmed that neural rosettes could be terminally differentiated into mature neural cell types by additional incubation for $2{\sim}6$ wks with NES medium without growth factors. Neuronal(Tuj1, MAP2, GABA) and glial($S100{\beta}$ and GFAP) markers were highly expressed after $2{\sim}3$ and 4 wks of incubation, respectively. Expression of oligodendrocyte markers O1 and CNPase was significantly increased after $5{\sim}6$ wks of incubation. Our results demonstrate that rosette forming neural precursor cells could be successfully derived from suspension culture system and that will not only help us understand the neural differentiation process of hESCs but also simplify the derivation process of neural precursors from hESCs.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.166-170
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• 2013

BACKGROUND: Persimmon growers have often tried various regimens of K fertilization to improve fruit quality. This experiment was conducted to determine the effects of K rates on concentration of inorganic elements in different tree organs and on fruit characteristics. METHODS AND RESULTS: Six-year-old non-astringent 'Fuyu' persimmons, grown in 50-L pots, were used. Total K amounts of 0 (no-application), 12, 25, 37, and 66 g were fertigated to a pot with KCl solution at 3-to 4-day intervals from July to September. The 0 K trees received no K fertilizer for the two previous years. Leaves, fruits, and shoots were sampled in November. K concentrations in leaves and shoots increased significantly by increasing K rate; leaf K, 0.49% for the 0 K, increased to 3.09% for the 37 g and 3.11% for the 66 g trees. Fruit K was notably lower for the 0 K, but there were no significant differences among the trees as long as they were supplied with more than 12-g K. In the trees with 0 K, leaf necrosis in the margin was apparent in June and the symptom progressed toward the midrib. Some leaves scorch-rolled from the margin in August. The greatest effect of K rates was on fruit size; it significantly increased to 181 g for the 12 g, 203 g for the 37 g, and 206 g for the 66 g compared with 150 g for the 0 K trees. However, K rates did not affect firmness and soluble solids of the fruits. The fruits of the 0 K trees were characterized by better coloration. CONCLUSION(S): The K-rate effect on inorganic elements depended on tree organs and fruit size was the major parameter to be affected by the K rates.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.523-530
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• 2011

This study was carried out to understand the characteristic relations fruit changes caused by adjusting the amount of the fruit load in 'Niitaka' and 'Whangkeumbae'. The average fruit weight of 'Niitaka' was 672.0 g and the amount of fruit in the range of 601-750 g was the highest, accounting for 33.8% of the production and as for 'Whangkeumbae', the average fruit weight was 477.5 g and fruit in the range of 401-600 g accounted for 72.5% of total production. The weight of the 'Niitaka' was evenly distributed in each range from below 300 g to over 1 kg and the percent of the regular shaped fruit in 'Whangkeumbae' was high as the distribution range of the fruit weight was narrow. The brix degree and the soluble solid content (SSC)/acidity ratio of 'Niitaka' had a significantly positive correlation with the fruit weight, the length, and the diameter of the fruit. The brix degree also had a positive correlation with weight and diameter of the fruit for 'Whangkeumbae'. As for the difference in fruit quality according to fruit weight for each variety, the brix degree was low in 'Niitaka' that were below 451 g and the fruit firmness was low in fruits weighing under 400 g. There was no difference according to fruit weight in 'Whangkeumbae'. The fruit size was impacted by the fleshy part and the ratio of fleshy part was higher as the fruit size became larger. The weight of the fruit, brix degree, and the SSC/acidity ratio were low while the firmness was high in light thinning treatment for 'Niitaka' and in the case of 'Whangkeumbae', the fruit weight and brix degree were both low in light thinning treatment. The brix degree was higher in bigger sized fruit in all thinning intensity for 'Niitaka', the case in light thinning treatment especially where the quality was poor due to low brix degree in fruits that weighed less than 450 g, on the other hand, there was no difference in the quality due to the fruit weight among the thinning intensity for 'Whangkeumbae'. Therefore, it is possible to produce smaller sized fruits in 'Niitaka' by controlling the thinning intensity, as it is inevitable to result in lower quality fruits, however, it is projected that we can produce small to mid-sized fruits in 'Whangkeumbae' by controlling the thinning intensity without causing the decline in fruit quality.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.241-249
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• 1972

The characteristic and efficiency of natural shell sand in the coast of Cheju-Do and Jin-Do were studied to apply as agricultural lime for the soil acid adjustment. 1. The alkalinity of shell sand from Cheju coast was higher than that of Jindo and more weathered into fine particles. The particle size distributions of Cheju shell sand were condensed finer particles than 32 mesh in Cheju shell sands and in more coarser particles than 32 mesh in Jindo one. 2. The effect of Cheju shell sand on increasing soil pH value in the upland condition was low at the beginning but more gradually increased after 8 weeks from the treatment than ground lime, and Jindo was very dull during the period of treatment. The commercial lime crushed from Jindo was approximately equal to the ground lime. 3. In the submerged condition, the shell sand of Cheju reacted with soil acid more quickly than ground lime after 2 days, and Jindo was very slow. 4. The relative efficiency of various particle size fraction of the shell sand was superior to the ground lime. The lime particles between 9 to 14 mesh and 20 mesh had more remarkable difference of pH value than other fine particles. The efficiency among finer sizes than 20 mesh particle was approximately equal to each others. 5. The shell sand from the Cheju would be applied directly as agricultural lime without any treatment, and Jindo also can be expected to be effective as agricultural lime with crushing procedure.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.217-223
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• 2013

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide, and the outcomes for patients are still poor. It is important to determine the original type of synchronous multinodular HCC for preoperative assessment and the choice of treatment therapy as well as for the prediction of prognosis after treatment. Aims: To analyze clinicopathologic characteristics and prognoses in patients with multicentric occurrence (MO) and intrahepatic metastasis (IM) of synchronous multinodular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: The study group comprised 42 multinodular HCC patients with a total of 112 nodules. The control group comprised 20 HCC patients with 16 single nodular HCC cases and 4 HCC cases with a portal vein tumor emboli. The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) D-loop region was sequenced, and the patients of the study group were categorized as MO or IM based on the sequence variations. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to determine the important clinicopathologic characteristics in the two groups. Results: In the study group, 20 cases were categorized as MO, and 22 as IM, whereas all 20 cases in the control group were characterized as IM. Several factors significantly differed between the IM and MO patients, including hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), cumulative tumor size, tumor nodule location, cirrhosis, portal vein and/or microvascular tumor embolus and the histological grade of the primary nodule. Multivariate analysis further demonstrated that cirrhosis and portal vein and/or microvascular tumor thrombus were independent factors differentiating between IM and MO patients. The tumor-free survival time of the MO subjects was significantly longer than that of the IM subjects ($25.7{\pm}4.8$ months vs. $8.9{\pm}3.1$ months, p=0.017). Similarly, the overall survival time of the MO subjects was longer ($31.6{\pm}5.3$ months vs. $15.4{\pm}3.4$ months, p=0.024). The multivariate analysis further demonstrated that the original type (p=0.035) and Child-Pugh grade (p<0.001) were independent predictors of tumor-free survival time. Cirrhosis (p=0.011), original type (p=0.034) and Child-Pugh grade (p<0.001) were independent predictors of overall survival time. Conclusions: HBeAg, cumulative tumor size, tumor nodule location, cirrhosis, portal vein and/or microvascular tumor embolus and histological grade of the primary nodule are important factors for differentiating IM and MO. MO HCC patients might have a favorable outcome compared with IM patients.