• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.275-281
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• 2009

Objective: This study was performed to evaluate the effect of oxytocin antagonist on the outcome of IVF/ICSI cycles in infertile patients with repeated failure of IVF/ICSI treatment. Method: Forty patients who had experienced two or more failures of IVF/ICSI treatment without low ovarian reserve, were recruited for this prospective randomized study. All patients received controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) using GnRH antagonist multidose protocol (MDP). For the intervention group, intravenous administration of atosiban (mixed vasopressin $V_{1A}$/oxytocin antagonist) started with a bolus dose 6.75 mg one hour before embryo transfer (ET) and continued at an infusion rate of 18 mg/hour. After ET, administered atosiban was reduced to 6 mg/hour and continued for 2 hours. The main efficacy endpoints were clinical pregnancy rate and implantation rate. Results: Patients' characteristics were comparable in the intervention and control groups. COS parameters and IVF results were also similar. The number of uterine contractions for 3 minutes measured just before ET was significantly lower in the intervention group than control group ($3.5{\pm}1.4$ vs $8.7{\pm}2.2$, p<0.001). While there was no statistically significant difference in the clinical pregnancy rate between control group and intervention group (20.0% and 40.0%, p=0.168), the implantation rate was significantly higher in the intervention group, with 16.9% (11/65) compared with 6.0% (4/67) in the control group (p=0.047). There were no differences in ectopic pregnancy rate and miscarriage rate between the two groups. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that administration of oxytocin antagonist during ET can improve the implantation rate probably by decreasing the frequency of uterine contractions in infertile patients undergoing IVF/ICSI treatment.

• 한국게임학회지
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.70-72
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• 2009

This research is focused on defining interaction within the context of digital media and creating a multi cultural definition of interactivity. The concept of multi digital culture and a definition of interaction in digital media have often been overlooked by other researchers and this has caused the emergence of many different notions on this issue. As a result of these varied notions of the concept, public confusion has arisen regarding interactivity. The main purpose of this research is to find a suitable multi definition of interaction through examining local digital culture. In order to analogise multi digital culture, the video game culture is employed as a metaphor to interpret local digital culture. The reason for this is that a specific national culture can be easily identified within the video game culture. Four countries, South Korea, Japan, the U.S. and the UK have been chosen for comparison purposes. Case study, questionnaire and publicly accessible video game related data, such as, video game charts, are used for formalising and analysing unique local digital culture. The Heyri POP UP IMAGE Festival, S. Korea, was also used as a pilot study, with some of the above research methods being employed to analyse South Korean digital culture. In relation to western cases, interview and questionnaire were primarily used. The data from the case countries was carefully compared and analysed and then it became the basis of a theory of multi definition of interaction in digital media. The case study employed the cultural metaphor for this research and in addition video game culture related questionnaires and interviews with experts of interactive art genre, regarding new notions of digital interaction were utilised. The survey was conducted simultaneously in the four different cultural case nations of this research. Twenty respondents from each case nation participated in the survey, in order to investigate firstly, the existence of 'local digital culture' and secondly, the trends and phenomena of 'digital culture' in these four different 'local digital cultural areas'. In terms of interviews with experts of the interactive art genre, these were focused on obtaining their understanding of contemporary digital culture in their research. Using gathered data from the observation of local digital culture, the basic theory of interaction and the terminology of interaction are reformed. Localised definitions of interaction on digital media, control based interaction and communication based interaction are presented, in order to identify a 'locality' in terms of various contemporary digital cultures. As a result of analysing digital culture, new definitions of 'multi definition of digital interaction' were formulated. As mentioned above, 'control' and 'communication' based interaction were initiated, based on 'user to media' relationships. Based on the degree of physical interaction, 'liminal' and 'transitive' interactions were initiated. Less physical digital interaction is named 'liminal' interaction and more physical digital interaction is named' transitive' interaction. These new definitions of interaction were applied to the real world examples of uses of digital interaction, such as, digital interactive installation artworks and video games. The newly defined meaning of digital interaction can be applied to analysing digital interactive installation artworks and possibly indicate their future development and the prospects of future electronic games. Three leading digital interactive artists were selected for this analysis and their works were studied in terms of the implementation of 'multi definition of digital interaction'. Throughout these processes, the meaning of 'communication' in digital interactive media was emphasised. Many of the selected artists' digital installations were focused on 'communication' or 'interaction between each user through digital media', rather than the concept of 'control' in digital interaction, otherwise termed, 'communication with digital media'. In their artworks, interaction between each audience was digitally engaged within the physical interactive environment which was created by the digital media. Both the audience's action and all the reaction throughout the interaction between the audiences, triggered the digital media' s reaction. This audience-audience-media interaction is the key to understanding the concept of 'communication' in physical digital media and it is the main interactive concept upon which the selected digital interactive installation artists for this research and many other artists from similar fields, are concentrating their efforts. In the case of the video game, a similar trend was noticed to that of digital interactive installations. Based on this research's 'multi definition of digital interaction', the video game has evolved from the early stage of being conventional game, which was focused on control based interaction, to the on-line game which was focused on communication based interaction, to physical interactive games, such as, Nintendo Wii, which are focused on more physical interaction and finally, the ubiquitous interactive game, which is mainly concentrated on the concept of 'communication' in physical digital interaction. It is possible that this evolution of the video game concept of interaction is comparable to the progress of digital interactive artworks. This view is based on the fact that both genres show evidence that they are developing in the direction of the concept of 'communication', in terms of physical digital interaction. The important emphasis of this research's results is 'locality' and 'communication' in physical digital interaction. The existence of different digital culture trends, which were assessed by the 'multi definition of digital interaction', can explain the concept of 'locality' in digital interaction. This meaning of 'locality' may assist in understanding contemporary digital culture and can reduce possible misunderstanding as regards 'local' digital culture. In the application of the concept of digital interaction to the field of either artworks or video games, it is possible to form the opinion that an innovative concept of physical digital interaction is 'communication' within this context. This concept and its applications can improve the potential of both digital interactive culture and technology.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.48 no.8
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• pp.615-620
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• 2010

Purpose: The short dental implant is considered as possible solution in the alveolar bone height deficient cases. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical availability of short implants by measuring the marginal bone loss of short length implants and comparing with that of conventional length implants. Materials and Methods: The groups were composed of patients who had received at least one implant. The samples of this study were selected from patients who with functional loading after prosthetic treatment for 1 year follow up period. The implants with a length of 5.7 mm and 6mm were considered short. (Bicon Dental implants, USA). The experiment group was composed of $4.5{\times}6mm$, $5{\times}6mm$, $6{\times}5.7mm$ implants (total 18 implants were placed in 14 patients, 8 on maxilla, 10 on mandible). The control group was composed of $4.5{\times}8mm$, $5{\times}8mm$, $4.5{\times}11mm$, $5{\times}11mm$. All implants were selected only by implants placed on molar area. We evaluated marginal bone loss in radiographic images at baseline (implant loading) and 3, 6, 12 months after loading. Additionally, crown-to-implant ratio was evaluated, and marginal bone loss according to crown-to-implant ratio after functional loading was analyzed. Results: The short implant group had a mean marginal bone level of $-0.52{\pm}0.69mm$; the 8mm group, $-0.22{\pm}0.82mm$; and the II mm group, $-0.10{\pm}1.09mm$ after I year of functional loading. But significant differences were not detected between three groups at every follow-up period. Crown-to-implant ratio in short implant group was $1.55{\pm}0.23$; 8mm group was $1.15{\pm}0.18$; and 11mm group was $0.92{\pm}0.15$. Additionally, significant differences between three groups were founded. (P<.0001) The greatest marginal bone loss after 1 year follow-up was founded at crown-to-implant ratio 1~1.49 range in short implant. Conclusion: The marginal bone loss of short implants was comparable to that of long implants. So, the short implants can be a clinically acceptable option.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.33 no.10
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• pp.1618-1625
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• 2004

Beans are acknowledged to be food resources, which have more abundant proteins and fats. The constituent parts of beans (i.e. aspartic aid, glycine, arginine) are effective against diabetes, and dietary fiber contained in the beans has an important property to maintain insulin sensitivity. Based on these, using streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats, this study examined how the rat-eye soybean, which is principal products of the Imsil province, is effective to attenuate and/or prevent the development of diabetes mellitus. We divided rats into the non-diabetic and diabetic group, and diabetic group was further subdivided into six experimental groups [DC, diabetic control; DI, diabetes with insulin treatment (4∼6 IU/rat); DB, diabetes with black bean; DY, diabetes with yellow soybean; DS, diabetes with rat-eye soybean; DSS, diabetes with vinegar-fermented rat-eye soybean. All bean treatment (1.5 mg/l g body weight).]. Food efficiency ratio (FER), body weight and insulin sensitivity in diabetic rats were significantly reduced compared to those in normal control animals. These reductions were obviously attenuated by administration of a variety of beans used in this study (20∼30%), and the recovery effects were comparable to the results obtained by insulin treatment. Taken together, this study suggests that all beans used may have an essential property to improve and/or attenuate the development of diabetes mellitus in rats.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.11
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• pp.1187-1192
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• 2005

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of intravenous immunoglobuin (IVIG) administration in fullterm neonates having clinically suspected neonatal sepsis. Methods : Forty full-term neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit with clinically suspected neonatal sepsis, who had at least two positive diagnostic criteria were enrolled. Twenty neonates were enrolled into the IVIG arm and 20 in the placebo arm. Neonates with a gestational age of less than 36 weeks and those with any major congenital malformation were excluded. The neonates were randomized to receive 1 g/kg of IVIG or equivalent amount of normal saline. The treatments including antibiotics and supportive care were administered. Results : The neonates in the therapy and placebo groups were comparable in terms of birth weight, gestational age, sex distribution, duration of antibiotics therapy and admission, elevation of serum IgG level, mortality rate, change of CBC, and serum level of acute phase reactants etc. Conclusion : Serum IgG values increased significantly 5 days after administration of IVIG in the IVIG-treated group and decreased significantly 5 days after administration of normal saline in the placebo group. However, there was no significant difference in the duration of antibiotics therapy and admission, or of mortality between the IVIG-treated and placebo groups. No adverse reactions to the IVIG infusions were noted during the study. Our preliminary observations suggest that the administration of 1 g/kg IVIG to neonates had some effect on augmentation of humural immune status in neonates with clinically suspected sepsis. But further study is needed to verify the benefit of IVIG infusion to neonatal sepsis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.34-40
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• 2009

Background: The principal surgical technique for treating an abdominal aortic aneurysm since the 1960s has been the transperitoneal approach, yet there have been some recent studies that have reported improved surgical results with using the retroperitoneal approach. However, there are only limited clinical Korean studies that have, compared between the transperitoneal and retroperitoneal approaches. Material and Method: This study included 36 patients who had been diagnosed as having an aneurysm of the abdominal aorta and they were surgically treated between January 2001 and July 2007. The patients were subdivided into the retroperitoneal approach group (n=17) and the transperitoneal approach group (n=19), and they were compared in terms of the preoperative risk factors, the postoperative complications and the operative mortality. The risk factors of operative mortality risk and long-term survival for the 36 patients were assessed by the Kaplan-Meier method. Result: There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of gender, age, the underlying disease, a history of smoking, rupture of aneurysm, the preoperative symptoms, the operation time and the incidence of postoperative complications. However, the duration of postoperative fasting, the number of days of having an indwelling nasogastric tube and the length of the stay in the intensive care unit were significantly short for the retroperitoneal approach group (p<0.05). There was a 16.7% rate of operative mortality (6/36) and five of the deaths were attributed to preoperative ruptured aneurysm. On univariate analysis, a higher preoperative serum creatinine level (SCr ${\geq}$1.8 mg/dL, p=0.016) and ruptured aneurysm (p<0.001) were the significant risk factors of operative mortality. As assessed by the Kaplan-Meier method, the long-term survival was comparable between the groups and the five-year survival rate of all the patients was 57.5%. Conclusion: In the present study, a retroperitoneal approach has several advantages such as a shorter intensive care unit stay, a shorter duration of postoperative fasting and a shorter duration of an indwelling nasogastric tube. Therefore, unless there is any contraindication for a retroperitoneal approach, it could be considered as a primary surgical access for repairing an abdominal aortic aneurysm.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.7367-7369
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• 2013

Background: Inoperable and metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is associated with a poor prognosis and low chemotherapeutic efficiency. Sorafenib is an oral multi-kinase inhibitor exerting its effects via the RAF/MEK/ERK pathway, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) and platelet derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGFR-${\beta}$) tyrosine kinases. Randomized studies have shown a significant contribution of sorafenib to life expectancy and quality of life of cancer patients. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the efficacy and side effects of sorafenib therapy in Turkey. Materials and Methods: Data for 103 patients (82 males, 21 females) receiving sorafenib therapy in 13 centers from February 2008 to December 2012 were evaluated. Median age was 61 years and median ECOG performance status was 1 (range: 0-2). 60 patients (58%) had hepatitis B, 15 patients (15%) had hepatitis C infection and 12 patients (12%) had a history of alcohol consumption. All of the patients had Child scores meeting the utilization permit of the drug in our country (Child A). Results: A total of 571 cycles of sorafenib therapy were administered with a median of four per patient. Among the evaluable cases, there was partial response in 15 (15%), stable disease in 52 (50%), and progressive disease in 36 (35%). Median progression-free survival was 18 weeks and median overall survival was 48 weeks. The dose was reduced only in 6 patients and discontinued in 2 patients due to grade 3-4 toxicity, 18 patients (17%) suffering hand-foot syndrome, 7 (7%) diarrhea, and 2 (2%) vomiting. Conclusions: This retrospective study demonstrated better efficacy of sorafenib therapy in patients with advanced HCC compared to the literature while progression-free survival and overall survival findings were comparable. The side effect rates indicate that the drug was tolerated well. In conclusion, among the available treatment options, sorafenib is an efficient and tolerable agent in patients with inoperable or metastatic HCC.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.81-87
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• 2006

Purpose: Few researches have been peformed on the dose distribution of the moving organ for radiotherapy so far. In order to simulate the organ motion caused by respiratory function, multipurpose phantom and moving device was used and dosimetric measurements for dose distribution of the moving organs were conducted in this study. The purpose of our study was to evaluate how dose distributions are changed due to respiratory motion. Materials and Methods: A multipurpose phantom and a moving device were developed for the measurement of the dose distribution of the moving organ due to respiratory function. Acryl chosen design of the phantom was considered the most obvious choice for phantom material. For construction of the phantom, we used acryl and cork with density of $1.14g/cm^3,\;0.32g/cm^3$ respectively. Acryl and cork slab in the phantom were used to simulate the normal organ and lung respectively. The moving phantom system was composed of moving device, moving control system, and acryl and cork phantom. Gafchromic film and EDR2 film were used to measure dose ditrbutions. The moving device system may be driven by two directional step motors and able to perform 2 dimensional movements (x, z axis), but only 1 dimensional movement(z axis) was used for this study. Results: Larger penumbra was shown in the cork phantom than in the acryl phantom. The dose profile and isodose curve of Gafchromic EBT film were not uniform since the film has small optical density responding to the dose. As the organ motion was increased, the blurrings in penumbra, flatness, and symmetry were increased. Most of measurements of dose distrbutions, Gafchromic EBT film has poor flatness and symmetry than EDR2 film, but both penumbra distributions were more or less comparable. Conclusion: The Gafchromic EBT film is more useful as it does not need development and more radiation dose could be exposed than EDR2 film without losing film characteristics. But as response of the optical density of Gafchromic EBT film to dose is low, beam profiles have more fluctuation at Gafchromic EBT. If the multipurpose phantom and moving device are used for treatment Q.A, and its corrections are made, treatment quality should be improved for the moving organs.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.376-384
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• 2002

Background : The mortality from acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS) in the late stage, which is characterized by progressive pulmonary fibroproliferation, is ${\geq}80%$. Although previous prospective trials failed to show a survival benefit of steroid therapy in early ARDS, recently, a few of reports have described the survival benefit of the long-term use of steroid in patients with late ARDS. In this study, we analyzed the effect of steroid therapy on patients with late ARDS retrospectively in a single. Medral intensive care unit (MICU). Methods : Over a 3-year period, the medical records of 48 ARDS patients who had been on mechanical ventilation more than 8 days were reviewed. 14 patients were treated by the long-term use of methylprednisolone and another 34 patients served as a control. Both groups were comparable regarding clinical and physiologic data lung injury score(LIS), multiple organ failure score, APACHE III and SAPS II score. Because steroid was instituted after 8 days of advanced mechanical ventilatory support in average, we arbitrarily defined the $8^{th}$ day of ARDS as first day of the study. Results : Initially, the groups had similar PF($PaO_2/FiO_2$) ratio, LIS, APACHE III and SAPS II score. By 7th day after the start of steroid therapy, there were significant improvements in PF ratio, LIS, APACHE III and SAPS II score. The mortality in the steroid treated group was significantly lower(42.9% vs 73.5%, p<0.05). Conclusion : Although the data of this study was retrospective and was not randomized, in order to improve the patient's outcomes, steroid therapy should be considered in late ARDS patients. However, prospective trials are needed to define the indication and the effect of steroid therapy in late ARDS.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.49-65
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• 2018

Astronomy is the subject that can easily draw students' interest in studying science, therefore plays an important role in developing scientific core competence. However, it is difficult to develop spatial thinking that is required in understanding astronomical concepts through the classroom lessons. Planetarium, along with the science museum, is one of the most representative informal educational institution where astronomical concepts can be taught beyond time and space constraints. In this study, we developed the astronomy education program that is operated in the planetarium and applied the program to the elementary, middle and high-school students to investigate the effects of the planetarium lesson compared to the classroom lesson. The duration of this research was about 8 months, and the number of the students involved is 761, including participants of the 1 night and 2 days camps in the Daegu National Science Museum. The newly developed planetarium lesson is comparable to the previous classroom lesson of which topics are cardinal points, constellation, and the rotation of the earth. Test items were developed to evaluate the understanding of the astronomical concepts. The study was conducted based on the pre- and post-test with non-equivalent groups design comparing classroom and planetarium lessons. The results of this study are as follows. First, planetarium lesson is more effective for understanding astronomical concepts such as the cardinal points, earth's rotation, and the constellation than classroom lesson. Second, planetarium has a positive effect irrespective of gender and previous knowledge. Third, planetarium for high school students has the same effect as additional observation activities followed by the classroom instruction. Therefore, planetarium can be used as an alternative, effective tool when night observation is not available. In summary, planetarium is an effective tool that helps students to understand the astronomical concepts.