• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.2447-2451
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• 2015

Background: Human papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is often associated with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT); their coexistence improves PTC prognosis. Osteopontin, a secreted glycoprotein, plays a role in cell survival, immunity, and tumor progression, its expression being associated with a poor prognosis and metastasis in several malignancies. Osteopontin overexpression correlates with aggressive clinicopathological features in PTC. Lymph node metastases and large tumor size positively correlate with osteopontin positivity. This study aimed to: (1) confirm osteopontin overexpression in human PTC samples; (2) compare osteopontin expression levels in PTC cases with and without HT; and (3) identify correlations between tumor aggressiveness and osteopontin expression levels. Materials and Methods: Plasma osteopontin was assessed in 45 patients with PTC, 22 patients with PTC and HT, and 24 healthy controls by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Thyroid tissue osteopontin mRNA and protein levels were analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting, respectively. Results: Plasma osteopontin levels were significantly higher in PTC patients than in healthy controls. Plasma osteopontin, tissue osteopontin mRNA, and tissue osteopontin protein levels were significantly lower in patients with PTC and HT than in those with PTC alone. In advanced disease stage cases, osteopontin mRNA and protein expression levels were lower in patients with PTC and HT than in those with PTC alone. However, the osteopontin expression level was not significantly associated with the TNM stage. Conclusions: Plasma osteopontin, tissue osteopontin mRNA, and tissue osteopontin protein levels were significantly lower in patients with PTC and HT than in those with PTC alone, suggesting that HT attenuates PTC aggressiveness through negative regulation of osteopontin expression.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.620-642
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• 2006

The Moho structure and its deformation in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula were estimated using gravity and topography data. Gravity signals from the upper and lower crust were separated using a filter that was computed from isostacy and elastic thickness. The result of this study shows three characteristic features of the Moho deformation. First, the Moho folding structure is parallel to SKTL (the South Korean Tectonic Line), which indicates positive association with the collision of the Yeongnam and Gyeonggi Massifs and repeated compression afterwards. In contrast, noticeable deformation of the Moho was not observed along the Imjingang Belt, which is interpreted as another continental collisional belt in the Korean Peninsula. Second, the Moho beneath the Gyeongsang Basin has remarkably risen; this seems to be the result from both the collisional compression and buoyancy caused by magmatic underplating. Third, the Moho deformation is shallowest in the east of the Taebaek Mountains and deepens toward the west, consistent with the topographic characteristic of the Korean Peninsula of "high east and low west". It can be interpreted as the results of the opening of the East Sea and Ulleung Basin. A tectonic explanation for this could be the ascent of the mantle induced by continental rifting and horizontal extension at the early stage of the opening of the East Sea. The Moho deformation model computed in this study correlates well with the earthquake distribution and crustal movement measured by GPS. We suggest that the compression along the SKTL is still exerted, consequently, the Moho deformation is active, although it may be weak.

• Information Systems Review
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.149-168
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• 2007

As the need for quantitative qualities of IT investment performance heightens, numerous research organizations are developing various measurement methods for the quantitative evaluation and its currency value conversion. Corporations utilizing these methods to evaluate IT investment performance are gradually increasing. However, working-level staff in the corporations that have introduced the quantitative evaluation can not assure if the evaluation sufficiently reflects the actual effect provided by IT since the results arising from the conversion of currency value can't be visibly confirmed. This study tries to identify whether the quantitative evaluation of IT investment performance can be explained in terms of the level of consumer satisfaction proven by the qualitative evaluation by analyzing the level of consumer satisfaction and quantitative evaluation of a case company and identifying the correlation between them. As the result of the case study, the following points have been concluded. Firstly, the currency value of IT effect correlates with the level of consumer satisfaction. Secondly, in order to come up with a rational currency value of IT effect, developing an indicator as well as managing data on currency conversion that will enable the internal system's efficiency to become more quantitative is essential. Thirdly, IT ROI is not appropriate to compare the performance between systems and is utilized as a measurement standard for each system's performance and efficiency. Lastly, quantitative evaluation is still inadequate in the evaluation of the system's strategic side, and consumer satisfaction can be utilized as a supplementary method.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.53-62
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• 1998

The lysosomal acid hydrolases including lysosomal acid phosphatase (LAP) are believed to play an important role in intracellular and extracellular degradation. LAP was reported to increase its activity in dedifferentiation stage during urodele limb regeneration. In the paresent study, LAP localization in the Mexican axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) limb regenerates was investigated by immunohistochemistry. LAP immunoreactivity with monoclonal antibody against Korean salamander (Hynobius leehii) LAP was observed mainly in the wound epidermis, blastema cells, muscle, and cartilage which were under dedifferentiation process in axolotl limb regenerates. Moreover, LAP immunoreactivity increased gradually during the early phase of lib regeneration and reached the peak level at dedifferentiation stage. However, as redifferentiation begans, LAP immunoreactivity decreased slowly to the basal level. Retinoic acid (RA) which is known to induce skeleton pattern duplication in regenerating urodele limb appears to enhance LAP immunoreactivity. In the RA-treate limg regenerates, LAP immunoreactivity was higher than in the normal regenerates. In addition, the LAP expression period was more extended in the RA treated regenerates than in the normal regenerates. These results suggest that RA is involved in the extension of dedifferentiation state in RA-treated limb regenerate.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.sup3
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• pp.81-85
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• 2016

Globally, the burden of breast cancer (BC) continues to increase. BC related lymphedema (BCRL) is currently non curable and as a life time risk it affects at least 25% of BC patients. Knowing more about BCRL and appropriate control of its modifiable risk factors can improve quality of life (QOL) of the affected patients. In this case control study to detect factors, 400 women with BCRL (as the case group) and 283 patients with BC without lymphedema (as the control group) that were referred to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences affiliated BC clinic center were assessed. The data were analyzed in SPSS. The mean age of the case group was $52.3{\pm}11.0years$ and of the control group was $50.1{\pm}10.9years$. In patients with BCRL, 203(50.7%) had left (Lt) side BC and in non- lymphedema group 151 (53.3%) had Lt side BC. Out of all BCRL patients, 204 (51%) had lymphedema in all parts of their affected upper extremities, 100 (25%) had swelling in the arm and forearm and 23 (5.7%) had edema in both the upper extremity and trunk. Edema, heaviness, concern about changing body image, pain and paresthesia were the most common signs/symptoms among patients with BCRL. In BCRL patients, the difference of circumference between the affected upper limb and non-affected limb was $4.4{\pm}2.5cm$ and the difference in volume displacement was $528.7{\pm}374.4milliliters$. Multiple variable analysis showed that moderate to severe activity (OR; odds ratio =14, 95% CI :2.6-73.3), invasiveness of BC (OR =13.7, 95% CI :7.3-25.6), modified radical mastectomy (OR=4.3, 95% CI :2.3-7.9), BMI =>25 (OR=4.2, 95% CI :2-8.7), radiotherapy (OR=3.9, 95% CI :1.8-8.2), past history of limb damage (OR=1.7, 95% CI :0.9-3.1) and the number of excised lymph nodes (OR=1.06, 95% CI :1.02-1.09) were the significant predictors of lymphedema in women with BC. Modifiable risk factors of BCRL such as non-guided moderate to severe physical activity, high BMI and trauma to the limb should be controlled as early as possible in BC patients to prevent development of BCRL and improve QOL of these patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.999-1003
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• 2014

Objective: To validate the relationship between MACC1 and 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose 2, 6 bisphosphatase (PFKFB2) expression as well as its clinicopathological features and prognostic significance in hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods: By using immunohistochemistry, we investigated the MACC1 and PFKFB2 protein expression in 60 pairs of hepatocellular carcinoma and corresponding non-tumor tissues. Using the Mann-Whitney U test, the Chi-square test, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, Cox proportional hazard regression analysis and Spearman analysis, we studied the relationship between MACC1 and PFKFB2 protein expression and postoperative overall survival (OS) of the HCC patients. Results: MACC1 and PFKFB2 positive staining rates were significantly higher in hepatocellular carcinoma than in the corresponding nontumor tissues (P=0.012 and 0.04, respectively). The clinicopathological features evaluation revealed that positive expression of MACC1 was associated with a high Edmondson classification (P=0.007) and advanced TNM stage (P=0.027). Similar findings were evident for PFKFB2 expression (P=0.002 and P=0.027). MACC1 and PFKFB2 positive expression was associated with a lower OS rate (P=0.004 and 0.03, respectively). Kaplan-Meier survival and Cox proportional hazard regression analyses revealed MACC1 positive expression to be a prognostic factor for postoperative OS, but PFKFB was not. Conclusion: Highly expressed MACC1 and PFKFB2 protein were associated with TNM stage, Edmondson-Steier classification and overall survival. MACC1 may affect tumor metabolism partly through expression and phophorylation of PFKFB2.

• Korean Security Journal
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• no.39
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• pp.131-160
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• 2014

The radicalization of diaspora is a new phenomena that have been begun to emerge in the complex picture of terrorism. The existence of diaspora and its supports for violent terrorist activities have made the whole dynamic of terrorism more complicated and unpredictable. Therefore, this study attempts to understand the relationship between diaspora support and violent terrorist activities in the constellation of other significant correlates of violent terrorist activities discussed in the prior studies. In analyses, the author utilized a step wise regrssion analyses with a set of variable drawn from an emphatical data collected in Arab and Africa region. The data used in this study is called as "MAROB"(the Minorities at Risk Organizational Behavior), which is developed by START and Minority at Risk project and contains information terrorist groups in Middle-East and Africa region. Considering the significance of this new emergence of the link between diaspora and violent terrorist activities, and the challenging nature of conducting empirical studies on this topic, this study have great contributions on the development in the field of criminal justice as well as terrorism. Other contributions of this study, policy implications, and suggestions for future studies are further discussed in the discussion.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.437-442
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• 2015

Accurate volume measurement of the prostate is a significant role in determining the result of diagnosis and treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia. The purpose of this study was to determine, when measuring prostate volume by TRUS, whether location is more accurately determined by transaxial or longitudinal scanning. With reference to the patient's image, it was produced six prostate model. It compares the actual volume and the measurement volume, and find the optimal measurement position of each specific model. Prostate volume measured by TRUS closely correlates with prostate phantom volume. There was no significant difference(p = .156). To measure the accurate volume of prostate with focal protrusion, its length should be measured exclude the protrusions.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.129-141
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• 2007

Objectives : Empathy has been conceptualized as the ability of emotional resonance and perspective-taking. Emotional awareness has been proposed as the basis of empathy. In this study we examined the relationship between empathy and mood awareness and their neural correlates in resting-state activity in normal controls and patients with schizophrenia. Methods : Empathy and mood awareness scale scores were compared between 29 patients with schizophrenia and 21 normal controls by voxel-based t-tests and voxel-based correlation analyses of resting-state $^{18}F$-FDG PET images. Results : Empathy and mood labeling scale scores were significantly decreased in schizophrenic patients. Mood monitoring was positively correlated with empathy score in normal controls, but not in schizophrenic patients. In normal controls, empathy was positively correlated with resting-state activities in the intraparietal sulcus and mood monitoring was positively correlated with the temporal pole, frontopolar cortex, inferior temporal gyrus, entorhinal cortex and the subgenual prefrontal cortex resting activities. The orbitofrontal cortex resting activity was positively correlated with mood monitoring-related subgenual prefrontal cortex activity in the normal controls. Patients with schizophrenia showed decreased orbitofrontal resting activity and loss of its correlations with mood monitoring-related regional activities. Conclusion : This study showed that alteration in the resting-state activity in schizophrenia may reflect dysfunctional empathy and distorted characteristic of emotional awareness. However, the resting-state activity may not reflect the relationship between emotional awareness and empathy.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.129-138
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• 2007

The cases of drunk driving accidents have been steadily increasing every year. The number of accidents was quadrupled from 7,303 cases in 1990 to 25,150 cases in 2004. In addition, the proportion of drunk driving accidents to total traffic accidents was 2.9% in 1990 but it increased to 13.0% in 2003. Studies of drunk driving accidents have been focusing on analyzing psychological decisive factors, classifying drivers' individual characters and types of drunk driving accidents by considering the location of drunk driving accidents. This study assumed that drunk driving accidents would have regular characteristics in respect to spatiality and analyzed its relation with spatial factors such as, accident black spot, the location of bars, the distance of drivers' houses, and spatio-temporal distributional characteristics through drawing density distribution and connecting the time of accidents. In order to achieve the goal of this study, the individual location information was organized and drawn as types of GIS data. From the result of density distribution using Kernel Density Mapping and analysis through the coefficient of areal correspondence, it was understood that drunk driving accidents correlates with some spatial factors.