• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.105-111
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• 2005

End-stage renal disease is a fatal and devastating disease that is caused by progressive and irreversible loss of functioning nephrons in the kidney. Dialysis and renal transplantation are the common treatments at present, but these treatments have severe limitations. The present study investigated the possibility of reconstructing renal tissues by transplantation of renal precursor cells to replace the current treatments for end-stage renal disease. Embryonic renal precursor cells, freshly isolated from metanephroi of rat fetus at day 15 post-gestation, were seeded on biodegradable polymer scaffolds and transplanted into peritoneal cavities of athymic mice for three weeks. Histologic sections stained with hematoxylin & eosin and periodic acid-Schiff revealed the formation of primitive glomeruli, tubules, and blood vessels, suggesting the potential of embryonic renal precursor cells to reconstitute renal tissues. Immunohistochemical staining for proliferating cell nuclear antigen, a marker of proliferating cells, showed intensive nuclear expression in the regenerated renal structures, suggesting renal tissue reconstitution by transplanted embryonic renal precursor cells. This study demonstrates the reconstitution of renal tissue in vivo by transplanting renal precursor cells with biodegradable polymer scaffolds, which could be utilized as a new method for partial or full restoration of renal structure and function in the treatment of end-stage renal disease.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.39-42
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• 2005

Powdery mildew, caused by Sphaerotheca aphanis var. aphanis, is an economically significant disease of strawberry in Korea. When powdery mildew is not controlled adequately, it often spreads rapidly through strawberry plants and damage is associated with reduced yields. Proper timing of fungicide applications is, therefore, essential for effective disease control. This study evaluated the efficacy by application schedule of fungicides before harvest stage for preventing powdery mildew in 2001-2003. The systemic fungicides, azoxystrobin, kresoxim-methyl, and cupper fungicide DBEDC were applied preventively during the first part of the cultivating season. Preventative applications of DBEDC by dipping treatment before transplanting and kresoxim-methyl by foliar spray before blooming stage were one of the most effective control schedule tested to prevent and manage this disease. This research demonstrated the significance of application time to control of powdery mildew, particularly provided elimination unnecessary sprays of agrochemicals and reduction costs for strawberry growers.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.284-291
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• 2015

This study was performed to investigate the effects of enhanced light transmission on plant growth, photosynthetic ability, and disease tolerance to leaf blight, anthracnose in ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer, Araliacease family) during the early growth stage (April to June). The photosynthetic ratio, stomatal conductance, and stem diameter of plants grown under a shade net with 15% light transmission rate showed an increasing trend compared to the control plants (5% light transmission rate) although the growth of the aerial parts were not influenced significantly. Plant height, stem length, and leaf length of treated plants were not significantly different from those of the control plants. Root parameters, such as root length, diameter, and weight of treated plants increased significantly compared to the control. Yield performance ($187.4kg{\cdot}10a^{-1}$) of treated plants was 55.5% higher than that of the control ($150.4kg{\cdot}10a^{-1}$). Additionally, disease severity scores of treated plants were lower than those of the control plants, revealing higher survival rates. To retain high yield potential and enhance the level of disease tolerance in ginseng, we suggest the increase of light transmission rate during the early growth stage.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.82-89
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• 2010

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine distribution patterns of TOAST subtypes of ischemic stroke patients admitted to oriental hospitals and to get a better understanding of present conditions in oriental medicine by comparing with the Korea stroke registry (KSR), the largest and representative data. Methods: Clinical data were collected from acute ischemic stoke patients. MRI studies including vascular images were performed in all cases. TOAST criteria were used to determine subtypes of ischemic stroke patients. According to the duration from disease onset to hospital admission time, patients were assigned to 3 groups (Group I0 to 3 d, Group II4 to 7 d, Group III8 to 28 d) and the distribution of TOAST subtypes were compared among these three groups. Results: We collected 514 sets of clinical data from 10 oriental hospitals between May 2007 and September 2009. Small vessel occlusion (SVO) subtype was the most common (57.62%), followed by large artery atherosclerosis (LAA, 29.98%). Compared with TOAST distribution of KSR, the proportion of ischemic stroke patients with SVO subtype was higher than that of KSR. On the other hand the proportion of patients with stroke of undetermined etiology (SUE) was lower. Distributions of SVO, LAA and cardioembolism (CE) in group were I 66.4%, 23.8% and 8.9%, respectively; those in group IIIwere 51.03%, 34.71% and 11.57%, respectively. Conclusions: In oriental hospitals, the proportion of ischemic stroke patients diagnosed as SVO type was higher than that of KSR. At early stage (from onset to 2 d) proportion of SVO was very high, however after 7 days from onset it decreased with concomitant increases in proportions of LAA and CE. These phenomena may be due to the facts that 1) at early stage emergency treatments are limited in oriental hospitals, 2) after early stage many patients prefer oriental treatments, including rehabilitation.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.129-136
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• 1996

Purpose : To evaluate the effectiveness and tolerance of patients of external beam radiotherapy for carcinoma of the extrahepatic biliary system (EHBS) including gall bladder (GB) and extrahepatic bile ducts (EHBD) and to define the role of radiotherapy for these tumors. Methods and Materials : We retrospectively analyzed the records of 43 patients with carcinoma of the EHBS treated with external beam radiotherapy at our institution between April, 1986 and Julr, 1994. Twenty three patients had GB cancers and remaining 20 patients did EHBD cancers. Of those 23 GB cancers, 2 had Stage II, 12 did Stage III and 9 did Stage IV disease, respectively. Male to female ratio was 11 to 12. Fifteen patients underwent radical surgery with curative intent and 8 patients did biopsy and bypass surgery alone All of the patients except for 3 patients were treated with 4500 cGy or higher doses postoperatively Follow up periods ranged from 11 to 82 months. Of those 20 EHBD cancers, one had Stage I, 2 did Stage II, 10 did Stage III and 7 did Stage IV disease, respectively. Male to female ratio was 16 to 4 Sixteen patients underwent Whipple's procedure or resection and drainage with curative aim and remaining 4 patients did bypass surgery alone Postoperatively 16 patients were irradiated with 4500 cGy or higher doses and 4 patients with 3180 to 4140 cGy Follow up periods ranged from 8 to 34 months. Results : Overall median survival time of patients with GB cancer was 11 months. Median survival time for Patients with Stage III and IV disease were 14 months and 5 months, respectively. Corresponding two rear survival rates were $36\%$(4/11) and $13\%$(1/8), respectively Those who underwent surgery with curative intent showed significantly better survival at 12 months than those who underwent bypass surgery alone($67\%$ vs $13\%$). None of the patients died of treatment related complications Median survival time for entire group of 20 EHBD patients was 10 months Median survivals of 10 Stage III and 7 Stage IV disease were 10 and 8 months, respectively. Two patients who underwent Whipple's procedure had 11 and 14 month survival and those treated with resection and drainage showed median survival of 10 month. Conclusion : Postoperative external beam radiotherapy for carcinoma of the extrahepatic biliary system is well tolerated and might improve survival of patients, especially those with resectable lesions with microscopic or gross residual disease after surgery.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.59-67
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• 1992

From March 1979 through December 1986, 124 patients with early stage carcinoma of the uterine cervix received curative radiation therapy. According to FIGO classification, 35 patients were stage IB and 89 were stge II A. In stage IB, five year locoregional control, five year disease free survival, and five year overall survival was $79.0\%$, $76.4\%$ and $81.8\%$, respectively. In stage II A, five year locoregional control, five year disease free survival, and five year overall survival were $78.0\%$, $66.8\%$, and $72.1\%$, respectively. To identify prognostic factors, pretreatment parameters including age, ECOG performance status, number of pregnancies, history of diabetes mellitus and hypertension, histology, size and shape of primary tumor, CT findings and blood parameters were retrospectively analyzed in terms of locoregional control, disease free survival and overall survival using univariate analysis and multivariate analysis. In univariate analysis, tumor size on physicai examination and rectal invasion on CT significantly affected locoregional control, disease free survival and overall survival. Parametrial involvement on CT was a significant prognostic factor on locoregional control and disease free survival. Hemoglobin level affected disease free survival and overall survival. Histology and age were significant prognostic factors on locoregional control. In multivariate analysis excluding CT finding, tumor size on physical examination was a significant factor in terms of locoregioal control and overall survival. Hemoglobin level was significant in terms of disease free survival. In multivariate analysis including CT, histology was a prognostic factor on locoregional control and disease free survival. Hemoglobin level and rectal invasion on CT were significant factors on locoregional control.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.586-590
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• 2008

Background: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients histologically proven to have stage N2 disease by media-stinoscope or thoracoscope underwent subsequent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. This study was designed to find out if there were any differences in survival or recurrence rates between N2 positive and N2 negative patients. Material and Method: Between January 1998 and December 2005, we retrospectively analyzed 69 patients who were divided into three groups. Group A consisted of patients whose N stage was downstaged, group B of patients whose N stage was the same, and Group C of patients who could not undergo surgery because of disease progression during neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. We analyzed and compared the mean survival, three-year survival, mean disease-free survival, and three-year disease-free survival rates for the three groups. Result: There were no demographic differences among the groups. The mean survival was 58, 47, and 21 months for groups A, B, and C, respectively. The mean survival was longest in group A, but no statistically significant difference was found on A-B or B-C group comparison (p>0.05). However, a significant difference was noted between group A and group C (p : 0.01). Three-year survival rates were 67%, 41%, and 21.6% for groups A, B, and C, respectively, with a statistical difference similar to that seen in mean survival. The mean disease-free survival was 44 months in group A and 45 months in group B, with no statistically significant difference noted. No significant differences were noted in the three-year disease-free survival rates (55.1%, 46.8%). Conclusion: There were no significant differences in survival or recurrence rates with changes in N stage after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. However, mean survival, three-year survival, and three-year disease-free survival rates tended to be higher in downstaged patients. Nevertheless, the difference was statistically insignificant, and therefore further studies with more patients and longer follow-up are necessary to clarify the positive effects on the survival and prognosis of downstaged patients.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.9
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• pp.686-695
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• 1993

A total of eighty one patients with resected stage II and IIIA non-small cell lung cancer treated with postoperative adjuvant radiation therapy between Jan. 1971 and Dec. 1990 were retrospectively analysed to evaluate whether postoperative radiation therapy improves survival. Patterns of failure and prognostic factors were also analysed. The 5 year overall and disease free survival rate were 40.5%, 43.4% and median survival 30 months. The 5 year actuarial survival rates by stage II and IIIA were 53.9% and 36.2%. Loco-regional failure rate was 14.7% and distant metastasis rate was 33.3% and both 4%. Statistically significant prognostic factor affecting survival was presence of mediastinal lymph node metastasis[N2]. This retrospective study suggests that postoperative radiation therapy in resected stage II and IIIA non-small cell lung cancer can reduce loco-regional recurrence and may improve survival rate as compared with other studies which were treated by surgery alone.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.4157-4160
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• 2015

Treatment of early stage ovarian cancer remains controversial despite advances in chemotherapeutic options. Over the past 30 years, molecular and clinicopathologic studies accelerated and treatment of ovarian cancer has undoubtedly improved although there is a debate as to whether this impacts outcome or not. More recently, the introduction of targeted therapy started a new era. Probably it is because early stage disease comprises a small portion of the epithelial ovarian cancer, studies have mostly ignored this group and still there is no clear consensus regarding systemic treatment of early-stage lesions. However this group of patients has the best chance of cure. In this review, we focus on current developments in the treatment of early stage ovarian cancer and query the options.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.592-601
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• 2005

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in smoking related characteristics and psychological features of coronary artery patients by the stages of change in smoking cessation behaviors. Method: Subjects for this survey were 97 patients who were smoking when doctors diagnosed them to have coronary artery diseases. Result: Subjects were distributed 21.6% in precontemplation stage, 24.7% in contemplation stage, 17.5% in preparation stage, 19.6% in action stage, and 16.5% in maintenance stage respectively. The numbers of previous attempts to quit smoking of subjects in precontemplation stage(mean=3.00, SD=3.71) and contemplation stage(mean=2.63, SD=2.32) were significantly lower than that of subjects in preparation stage(mean=5.82, SD=6.20). Benefit scores of subjects in maintenance stage were significantly greater than those of subjects in precontemplation stage. Self-efficacy, barriers, seriousness, and nicotine dependency were not significantly different by the stages of change. Number of signs and symptoms related to smoking which subjects were experiencing were not significant by the stages of change too. Conclusion: Future intervention programs for smoking cessation should be focused on the strategies to enhance the realization of health benefits that patients might acquire from smoking cessation.