• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.5 no.3 s.19
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• pp.152-157
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• 2005

Purpose: A total gastrectomy is generally peformed for the treatment of upper third gastric cancer. However, the optimal extent of resection for early-stage upper third gastric cancer is still controversial. In this research, we compared the nutritional status and the quality of life in patients who underwent a total gastrectomy with uncut Roux en Y esophagojejunostomy with those in patients who underwent a proximal gastrectomy with esophagogastrostomy for treatment of upper third gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: We reviewed 50 patients with no evidence of recurrent disease following curative surgery for upper third gastric cancer. Among this group, 25 patients underwent a total gastrectomy (TG) and 25 patients a proximal gastrectomy (PG). 8 TG and 4 PG patients were excluded from this study because of death, refusal to interview etc. The nutritional status was assessed by measuring body weight, serum albumin, serum hemoglobin, and serum total protein. The gastrointestinal function and the quality of life were assessed by Cuschieri grading and modified Visick qrading. Results: In analysis of covariance of age and preoperative serum albumin, PG patients demonstrated lower weight loss (P=0.038), elevated serum albumin (P=0.049), and better outcome based on modified Visick grading (P=0.016) than TG, but there were no significant differences in the serum hemoglobin change (P=0.165), serum total protein change (P=0.435), and Cuschieri grading (P=0.064) between the preoperative and the postoperative data. Conclusion: In this study, a proximal gastrectomy led to a better nutritional status and quality of life than a total gastrectomy, as judged from the low weight loss, elevated serum albumin and better modified Visick grade.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.568-578
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• 2001

Background : Lung cancer is frequently cited as an example of a disease caused solely by exposure to environmental carcinogens. However, there is a growing realization that the genetic constitution is also important in determining individual's susceptibility to lung cancer. This genetic susceptibility may result from functional polymorphims of the genes involved in carcinogen metabolism. In this study, the association between GSTM1 and CYP1A1 polymorphisms and the lung cancer risk in Korean males was investigated. Materials and Method : The study population consisted of 153 male lung cancer patients and 143 healthy male controls. The GSTM1 and CYP1A1 genotypes were determined by multiplex PCR and PCR-RFLP analysis. Result : There were no significant differences in the frequency of the GSTM1 null genotype between the cases and the controls. When the cases were categorized by their histologic type, the frequency of the GSTM1 null genotype in the small cell carcinoma group was higher than those of the controls(67.2% vs 55.9%), but the difference was not statistically significant(OR=1.772 ; 95% CI=0.723-4.340). The distribution of the CYP1A1 MspI genotypes among the cases were similar to those among the controls. When the cases were grouped by their histologic type, the ml/m1, ml/m2, m2/m2 genotypes frequencies among the small cell carcinomas(23.0%, 38.5%, and 38.5%, respectively) were significantly different from those of the controls(36.4%, 46.2%, and 7.4%, respectively, p<0.05). When the m1/m1 genotype was used as a reference, the ml/m2 and m2/m2 genotypes were associated with an increased risk for small cell lung cancer(ml/m2 genotype : OR=1.337, 95% CI=0.453-3.947 ; m2/m2 genotype : OR=3.374, 95% CI=1.092-10.421). Conclusion : These results suggest that the GSTM1 and CYP1A1 genotypes may be a genetic determinant of the risk for lung cancer, particlulary small cell carcinoma. Further investigation is needed to confirm these results.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.178-182
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• 2003

Purpose : Brain tumors are the second most common tumor in childhood, and medulloblastomas comprise 15-25% of brain tumors. The well known prognostic factors are age at diagnosis, stage of disease, and extent of surgical excision. In this study, we analysed the prognostic factors in patients who received chemotherapy after excision. Methods : We reviewed the medical records of 61 patients who received chemotherapy among the 94 patients who were diagnosed and treated between Jan 1985 and Sep 2001 in the Department of Pediatrics and Neurosurgery at Severance Hospital. Results : Among the total survival rate of patients who underwent chemotherapy, the 3-yr progression-free survival rate was $66.5{\pm}6.3%$ and the 15-yr progression-free survival rate was $60.3{\pm}6.7%$. The progression-free survival rate for patients with age at diagnosis over 3 yrs old and under 3 yrs old, was $64.5{\pm}7.7%$ and $48.2{\pm}12.9%$ respectively and there was no statistically significant difference. The survival rate of the high vs low risk group by staging was $72.7{\pm}10.5%$ and $54.6{\pm}8.3%$ respectively, and there was no significant difference. The survival rate of patients with total removal vs subtotal removal was $65.8{\pm}11.8%$ and $56.8{\pm}8.2%$ respectively, showing no statistical difference. Conclusion : The reason there is no difference in survival rate according to the traditional prognostic factors is that chemotherapy has improved not only the total survival rate but also the survival rate in patients with poor traditional prognostic factors. So, sufficient removal of tumor followed by proper chemotherapy and radiotherapy is an important factor which influences the survival rate of medulloblastoma patients.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2006

EDTA is known to have bacteriocidal effect on Vibrio vulnificus, pathogen of septicemia by osmotic shock in seafoods. Attempts were made to elucidate the bacteriocidal effect of phytic acid (PA) as a substitute for EDTA against V. vulnificus and its inhibition effect on the septicemia, which induces liver damage of the mice by the pathogen. Viable cells of V. vulnificus with the initial titre of $1.7{\times}10^6$ c.f.u. $ml^{-1}$ decreased by 90.6% after 1 min and 99.6% after 5 min in distilled water. The titre decreased by 65.9% and 94.5% in 2 mM solution of $Mg^{2+}$. In 0.1 mM solution of PA, the rate of decrease in titre was 97.4% after 1 min of incubation and 99.8% after 5 min, compared to 95.7% and 99.8% in 0.1 mM solution of EDTA. The bacteriocidal effect of PA solution at a concentration of 1 mM was marked: the rate of decrease in titre was 99.9% after 1 min. In relation to the bacteriocidal effect, PA was evaluated as a potential therapeutic agent for V. vulnificus septicemia in mouse. When the survival periods of mice were investigated by PA and EDTA treatment after the pathogen injection, the group of mice which infected by a low concentration of the strain survived longer than that inoculated at high concentration; also, the ratio of survival was 1.3 times higher in PA than in EDTA, showing that the fatal rate depended on the inoculation concentration. Although survival periods of mice induced with liver damage by carbon tetrachloride and then inoculated with the strain showed a similar trend, the fatal rate of mice was 2 times faster than those inoculated with only pathogen into normal liver, These results indicate that the infection by V. vulnificus was more fatal to those with liver disease. Also, symptoms of hemorrhage and inflammation on the mice with induced liver damage were reduced in case there was phytic acid treatment at each concentration.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.111-124
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• 2016

Purpose: The current study was conducted for evaluation and comparison of dietary behavior and food intake in different regions of Lao PDR. Methods: The survey was conducted on 979 people aged 40~59 years old living in 25 urban provinces and 25 rural provinces in four districts (VTE Capital-Chanthabuly, Xaysetha, VTE Province-Phonhong, and Thoulakhom) of Laos. General demographic information, health status, and dietary behavior were surveyed using a questionnaire. Results: The literacy ratio (p = 0.000), education level (p = 0.000), asset ownership level (p = 0.000), and government and private employee ratio (p = 0.000) were higher in urban subjects compared with rural subjects. The mean value of weight (p = 0.000), waist circumference (p = 0.000), and diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.009) and alcohol consumption (p = 0.000), self-rated health status (p = 0.001), and the rate of obesity (p = 0.000) were significantly higher in urban subjects compared with rural subjects. However, the rate of current smoker was significantly higher in the rural group (p = 0.023). Meals are becoming more westernized by higher frequency of eating out, consumption of fatty meat and fried or stir-fried food in urban areas compared to rural areas. Urban subjects had relatively better balanced meals compared to rural subjects whereas they consumed insufficient meals per day and consumed meals irregularly compared to rural subjects. Intake of fruit and milk was significantly higher in urban subjects compared with rural subjects. However, the intake of vegetables was significantly higher in rural areas than urban areas. Conclusion: The result of this study showed that the traditional Lao diet is being replaced by an unhealthy western dietary pattern, which may be a risk factor for increasing development of non-communicable disease (NCD) in Lao PDR. Planning of proper personalized nutritional intervention and education in each area is needed to decrease the health risks of NCD.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.299-304
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• 2009

Interleukin 27 (IL-27) was discovered as a heterodimeric cytokine of the IL-12 family, and is composed of two subunits - Epstein-Barr virus induced gene 3 (EBI3) and p28. It acts as a versatile cytokine in the early regulation of Th1 initiation and in the negative regulation of the Th2 factor GATA binding protein 3 (GATA-3). This cytokine is mediated by the IL-27 receptor (WSX-1), which is highly expressed on $CD4^+$ T lymphocytes and NK cells. We previously identified four polymorphisms in the human IL-27p28 gene and suggested that the polymorphism of IL-27p28 is associated with susceptibility to asthma. To determine whether these IL-27p28 SNPs are associated with susceptibility to allergic rhinitis, the genotype and allele frequencies of IL-27p28 SNPs were analyzed between allergic rhinitis patients and healthy controls. Although the genotype and allele frequencies of IL-27p28 SNPs in allergic rhinitis patients were not significantly different from those of the control group, there was a suggestive difference (P=0.037) between these groups in total serum IgE levels in the g.2905T>G SNP of the IL-27p28 gene. Our result implies that the g.2905T>G SNP of the IL-27p28 gene might have an affect on IgE production in allergic rhinitis patients.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.43-48
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• 2005

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of mineral extract from granite on the performance, ammonia production from the litter, components of blood, Newcastle Disease (ND) titer and intestinal microflora in broiler chickens. Nine hundred sixty one-day-old broiler chickens (Ross) were assigned to five treatments: C; control, Zeolite; control + zeolite 1$\%$, AM10: control + active mineral water $10\%$ adsorbed zeolite $1\%$, AM20; control + active mineral water $20\%$ adsorbed zeolite $1\%$ and AM30; control + active mineral water $30\%$ adsorbed zeolite $1\%$. Each treatment consisted of four replicates with 48 broiler chicks for feeding trial. In order to test the effect of ND vaccine on the components of blood, ND titer and intestinal microflora, a separate group of 48 broiler chicks were assigned to the same 5 treatment as the feeding trial plus one negative control (No ND vaccine). Weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion and mortality were not significantly affected by dietary treatments but AM30 tended to be higher than other treatments in weight gain and feed intake, especially during later period (4 to 5 weeks of age). Ammonia production from the litter of AM30 treatment was significantly (P<0.01) lower than the control. Components of blood and ND titer in serum of broiler chickens were not significantly affected by treatments but MCHC (mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration) of blood was significantly lower (P<0.05) in Zeolite treatment compared to others. The colony forming unit (CFU) of Clostridium perfringens in the small intestinal content of all zeolite and AM treated groups was significantly (P<0.01) lower than the control while the CFU of Escherichia coli was not significantly affected. The CFU of Lactobacilli in AM30 treatment was significantly (P<0.05) higher than the control. In conclusion, dietary supplement of active mineral water adsorbed to zeolite at $30\%$ level (AM30) tended to improve growth performance of broiler chickens and significantly reduced ammonia production from the litter. It also significantly increased CFU of intestinal Lactobacilli.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.307-315
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• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this work was to study the differences of cyclooxygenase (COX-2) expression between Korean and Caucasian patients with early-onset breast carcinoma by immunohistochemistry. The test were analyzed to find a correlation between COX-2 and other biomarkers including HER-2/neu amplification, because we previously reported that a significant difference had been found in the expression of HER-2/neu between the two races. Furthermore, we investigated prognostic significance of COX-2 in korean patients. Materials and Methods: Sixty Korean women who were diagnosed breast carcinoma at 45 years old or younger and 60 Caucasian women with breast carcinoma were selected for this study. The median age of both groups was 37 years and tumor sizes were distributed evenly between the two group. Paraffin embedded blocks of primary tumor were processed for immunohistochemical staining of COX-2. The COX-2 expression was evaluated according to the percentage of positive cells and the intensity of staining. And the results were compared with the data of the previous studies to find correlation between COX-2 and other parameters and survival data. Results: Proportion of the COX-2 expression in total patients was $27.6\%$. The percentage of tumors that stained positive for COX-2 in korean and Caucasian women with early-onset breast carcinoma were $37.9\%$ and $20.8\%$, respectively. The difference was statistically not significant(p=0.090). Expression of COX-2 was not associated with several clinicopathologic parameters including HER-2/neu overexpression, but negative estrogen receptor status was correlated with significance (p=0.046). The 5 year disease free survival rate for patients with COX-2 expression was $67.9\%$, compared to $81.9\%$ of the COX-2 negative patients and the result was statistically not significant. Conclusions : A significant difference was not found in the expression of COX-2 between the two groups of patients with early-onset breast carcinoma. And correlation between COX-2 and other parameters was not observed except estrogen receptor negativity. Large scaled further research including radiotherapy factors will be needed to identify COX-2 as a prognostic role in patients with early-onset breast carcinoma.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.65-73
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• 2007

Purpose : Short stature is an important complication that impairs the quality of life in survivors of childhood brain tumors. We studied their final adult height (FAH) to evaluate risk factors for short stature. Methods : We reviewed the medical data of 95 survivors of childhood brain tumors (64 males and 31 females) who had been followed up from 1982 to 2006, reached FAH, and had a more than five year-disease-free survival. Results : Final adult height standard deviation score (FAHTSDS: $mean{\pm}SD$) of the patients was lower than those of general population ($-1.15{\pm}1.72$), HTSDS at diagnosis ($-0.13{\pm}1.57$), and target HTSDS ($-0.49{\pm}0.69$). FAHTSDS of craniopharyngioma patients did not decrease ($0.57{\pm}1.17$), but those of germ cell tumor and medulloblastoma patients were significantly reduced ($-1.20{\pm}1.45$, $-2.70{\pm}1.46$; P<0.05). The patients treated with craniospinal radiation or chemotherapy had lower FAHTSDS ($-1.93{\pm}1.58$, $-2.27{\pm}1.44$; P<0.01). In the spinal irradiation group, the younger the age at diagnosis was, the more the loss of FAH (r=0.442, P<0.01). Growth hormone replacement (GHR) didn't improve FAHTSDS, but starting GHR under 12 years was an independent factor for improving FAH once treatment methods were taken into account (P=0.01). Conclusion : The younger age at diagnosis, spinal radiation and chemotherapy were all important risk factors of height loss, and height gain was expected in patients who received GHR under the age of 12 years. Therefore, regular check-ups of growth and early intervention with growth hormones are needed for high risk groups to improve FAH.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.370-375
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• 2016

The purpose of development new variety 'Miho' (Hordeum vulgare L.) is a favorite with livestock feed and develop varieties resistant to disease and lodging. 'Miho' was carrying out the growth habit of group III with green and mid-wide leaf. Awn that is related to preference of livestock is a semi-smooth awn. This cultivar had 96 cm of culm length, 650 of spikes $per\;m^2$. Heading date of 'Miho' was April 27, and maturing date on May 30, which were later than cultivar 'Youngyang'. It also showed strong winter hardiness, and similar resistance to shattering and bariy yellow mosaic virus (BaYMV) compared with those of check one. The best thing among the traits of a good quality with the plant green at the latter growing period. The average forage dry matter yield in the regional yield trial was about 13.1, 12.1 MT per ha in upland and paddy field, respectively, which were 9%, 2% higher than that of the check cultivar. It's also showed 6.8% crude protein, 27.1% ADF (acid detergent fiber), and 67.5% TDN (total digestible nutrients), including higher silage quality for whole crop barley. This cultivar would be suitable for the area whose average minimum temperature was above $-8^{\circ}C$ January in Korean peninsula.