• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.453-459
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• 2010

Introduction: Ameloblastic carcinoma is a rare malignant lesion, and may arise from either carcinoma ex-ameloblastoma or de novo carcinoma. Aberrant promoter hypermethylation of the tumor-associated genes leading to their inactivation is a common event in many cancer types. The p16/CDKN2/INK4A gene and p16 5 protein are involved directly in regulating the cell cycles. Cadherins are cell adhesion molecules that modulate the epithelial phenotype and regulate tumor invasion. The aim of this study was to evaluate the roles of p16 and E-cadherin methylation and loss of p16 and E-cadherin expression in the malignant transformation of an ameloblastoma. Materials and Methods: Eight cases of ameloblastoma, including 4 benign ameloblastomas without recurrence, 2 benign ameloblastomas with recurrence and 2 carcinoma ex-ameloblastomas, were examined. The promoter hypermethylation profile of the p16 and E-cadherin genes was studied using methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) and immunohistochemical staining for p16 and E-cadherin expression. Results: 1) Aberrant CpG island methylation of the p16 gene was detected in 3 of the 4 benign ameloblastomas without recurrence and 1 of the 2 benign ameloblastomas with recurrence. 2) Aberrant CpG island methylation of the E-cadherin gene was found in 1 of the 4 benign ameloblastomas without recurrence. 3) A loss of p16 expression was noted in 1 of 4 benign ameloblastomas without recurrence and 1 of 2 carcinoma ex-ameloblastomas. 4) A loss of E-cadherin expression was noted in 2 of the 4 benign ameloblastomas without recurrence, 1 of the 2 benign ameloblastomas with recurrence and 2 of the 2 carcinoma ex-ameloblastomas. 5) A loss of p16 expression was observed in 1 of the 4 cases showing aberrant methylation of the p16 gene. 6) A loss of E-cadherin expression was observed in 3 benign ameloblastoma case showing aberrant methylation of the E-cadherin gene. Conclusion: These results suggest that loss of E-cadherin expression related to the other genetic pathway (not methylation) might be an adjuvant indicator predicting the malignant transformation of an ameloblastoma. However, the number of samples in this study was too small and the relationship between the treatment methods and clinical course were not defined. Therefore, further study will be needed.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.736-745
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• 2020

Objective: To identify the initial chest computed tomography (CT) findings and clinical characteristics associated with the course of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia. Materials and Methods: Baseline CT scans and clinical and laboratory data of 72 patients admitted with COVID-19 pneumonia (39 men, 46.2 ± 15.9 years) were retrospectively analyzed. Baseline CT findings including lobar distribution, presence of ground glass opacities, consolidation, linear opacities, and lung severity score were evaluated. The outcome event was recovery with hospital discharge. The time from symptom onset to discharge or the end of follow-up (for those remained hospitalized) was recorded. Data were censored in events such as death or discharge without recovery. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression was used to explore the association between initial CT, clinical or laboratory findings, and discharge with recovery, whereby hazard ratio (HR) values < 1 indicated a lower rate of discharge at four weeks and longer time until discharge. Results: Thirty-two patients recovered and were discharged during the study period with a median length of admission of 16 days (range, 9 to 25 days), while the rest remained hospitalized at the end of this study (median, 17.5 days; range, 4 to 27 days). None died during the study period. After controlling for age, onset time, lesion characteristics, number of lung lobes affected, and bilateral involvement, the lung severity score on baseline CT (> 4 vs. ≤ 4 [reference]: adjusted HR = 0.41 [95% confidence interval, CI = 0.18-0.92], p = 0.031) and initial lymphocyte count (reduced vs. normal or elevated [reference]: adjusted HR = 0.14 [95% CI = 0.03-0.60], p = 0.008) were two significant independent factors that influenced recovery and discharge. Conclusion: Lung severity score > 4 and reduced lymphocyte count at initial evaluation were independently associated with a significantly lower rate of recovery and discharge and extended hospitalization in patients admitted for COVID-19 pneumonia.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to reveal the circumstances under which the cases of harm to health caused by humidifier disinfectant were neglected and show the points where the number of victims and the degree of damage could have been reduced. In addition, it attempts to describe how damage management proceeded immediately after the incident and actually exacerbated the damage. Finally, it explores the unfortunate aspects of the recent trial. By doing so, it attempts to take this as an opportunity to consider whether a tragic event such as the humidifier disinfectant incident could occur in the future. Methods: This study collected and analyzed data on chemical material characteristics related to humidifier disinfectants, data on health effect characteristics, data on related laws and regulations from the Ministry of Environment, data related to the damage investigation by the Korea Environmental Industry and Technology Institute, and current contents. Results: The lack of related systems and laws is the area where the greatest responsibility for the cause of the humidifier disinfectant disaster falls, so it is difficult for the government to escape this responsibility. Establishing a dedicated department to identify the prevalence of certain diseases within the functions of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service to monitor health can greatly contribute to the prevention and management of diseases through early detection and management of group outbreaks caused by harmful factors. Humidifier disinfectant damage relief should have been expanded earlier beyond HDLI (humidifier disinfectant lung injury) to include non-specific diseases such as asthma, pneumonia, and interstitial pneumonia. The scope of relief benefits should have also been expanded earlier to include the payment of disability benefits. Fortunately, with the 2020 revision of the Special Act, the conditions for estimating causal relations were eased and individual screening systems such as health impact assessment were reorganized along with the introduction of a rapid screening system. Conclusions: The management system for chemical substances in a country is clearly of paramount importance, and the ministry in charge must have a response system in case of damage to health effects. Administration that looks at the victims' situation from their point of view is needed, and technical countermeasures are required to quickly recognize the prevalence of certain diseases.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.253-261
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• 2018

Objective: Orthodontic root resorption (ORR) due to orthodontic tooth movement is a difficult treatment-related adverse event. Caspases are important effector molecules for apoptosis. At present, little is known about the mechanisms underlying ORR and apoptosis in the cementum. The aim of the present in vivo study was to investigate the expression of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), caspase 3, caspase 8, and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) in the cementum in response to a heavy or an optimum orthodontic force. Methods: The maxillary molars of male Wistar rats were subjected to an orthodontic force of 10 g or 50 g using a closed coil spring. The rats were sacrificed each experimental period on days 1, 3, 5, and 7 after orthodontic force application. And the rats were subjected to histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses. Results: On day 7 for the 50-g group, hematoxylin and eosin staining revealed numerous root resorption lacunae with odontoclasts on the root, while immunohistochemistry showed increased TRAP- and RANKL-positive cells. Caspase 3- and caspase 8-positive cells were increased on the cementum surfaces in the 50-g group on days 3 and 5. Moreover, the number of caspase 3- and caspase 8-positive cells and RANKL-positive cells was significantly higher in the 50-g group than in the 10-g group. Conclusions: In our rat model, ORR occurred after apoptosis was induced in the cementum by a heavy orthodontic force. These findings suggest that apoptosis of cementoblasts is involved in ORR.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.6311-6318
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• 2012

Background: HER2/neu overexpression due to gene amplification is an important factor in breast cancer, modifying the sensitivity to anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody therapy. The clinical significance of HER2 expression in non small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) is currently under evaluation. The tumor suppressor gene PTEN negatively regulates the HER2/PI3K/Akt signalling pathway. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of simultaneous alteration in HER2 and PTEN protein expression in relation to biological behaviour of NSCLCs. Materials and Methods: Protein expression was determined by immunohistochemistry in sixty-one (n=61) NSCLC cases along with CISH for HER2 gene analysis and detection of chromosome 17 aneuploidy. Patients were followed-up for a period of 34 to 41 months after surgery. Results: HER2 overexpression (2+/3+score) was detected in 17 (27.9%) patients while loss of PTEN expression was observed in 24 (39.3%) cases, low expression in 29 (47.6%) and overexpression in 8 (13.1%). Simultaneous HER2 overexpression and PTEN low/loss of expression were correlated with metastasis (71.4% vs 36.2% p=0.03). Analysis in the subgroup of 22 patients of pTNM stage III with lymph node status N1 or N2 revealed that there was a relationship between the number of positive regional lymph node groups and simultaneous deregulation of the two genes (p=0.04). Multivariate analysis determined that HER2 overexpression was associated with an increasing risk of developing metastases (OR: 4.3; 95%CI: 1.2-15.9; p: 0.03) while PTEN overexpression was associated with lower risk (OR: 0.1; 95%CI: 0.1, 1.0; p: 0.05). Conclusions: Simultaneous HER2/PTEN deregulation is a significant genetic event that leads to a more aggressive phenotype of NSCLC.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.66 no.4
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• pp.446-455
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• 2023

Objective : Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is a common neurosurgical disease and generally treated with burr-hole surgery alone. Tranexamic acid (TXA) is an antifibrinolytic agent that potentially reduces recurrence rates and the residual hematoma volume. However, the role of postoperative TXA medication remains unclear to date. This study aimed to verify the effectiveness of adjunctive TXA in the view of early hematoma resolution. Methods : Between January 2018 and September 2021, patients with CSDH who underwent burr-hole trephination in a single tertiary institute were reviewed. The study population was divided into three groups, TXA, non-TXA, and antithrombotics (AT) groups, according to the medical history of cardio-cerebrovascular disease and TXA administration. The primary endpoint was CSDH recurrence, defined as re-appearance or re-accumulation of CSDH requiring neurosurgical interventions. The secondary outcome was CSDH resolution, defined as complete or near-complete resorption of the CSDH. The CSDH resolution time and serial changes of hematoma thickness were also investigated. Results : A total of 240 patients was included in the analysis consisting of 185 male and 55 female, with a median age of 74 years. During the median imaging follow-up period of 75 days, 222 patients were reached to the primary or secondary endpoint. TXA was administered as an adjunctive therapy in 41 patients (TXA group, 16.9%) while 114 patients were included in the non-TXA group (47.9%) and 85 were in the AT group. The recurrence rate was the lowest in the TXA group (2.4%), followed by non-TXA (7.0%) and AT (8.2%) groups. However, there was no statistical significance due to the small number of patients with recurrence. CSDH resolution was achieved in 206 patients, and the median estimated time to resolution was significantly faster in the TXA group (p<0.001). Adjunctive TXA administration was a significant positive factor for achieving CSDH resolution (p<0.001). The hematoma thickness was comparable among the three groups at the initial time and after surgery. However, CSDH thickness in the TXA group decreased abruptly in a month and showed a significant difference from that in the other groups (p<0.001). There was no TXA-related adverse event. Conclusion : The adjunctive use of TXA after CSDH surgery significantly facilitated the resorption of residual CSDH and resulted in the early CSDH resolution. Adjunctive TXA may be an effective treatment option to reduce recurrence by enhancing CSDH resolution in the selective patients.

• Journal of Arbitration Studies
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.103-127
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• 2008

This paper is to research the powers and interim measures of the arbitral tribunal in the arbitral proceedings of the international commercial arbitration under arbitration legislation and arbitration rules including the UNCITRAL Model Law and Arbitration Rules. The powers of the arbitral tribunal may be found within the arbitration agreement or any arbitration rules chosen by the parties, or the chosen procedural law. The power of the arbitral tribunal to decide its own jurisdiction is one of the fundamental principles of international commercial arbitration. It is a power which is now found in nearly all modern arbitration and rules of arbitration. Where an arbitral tribunal has been appointed then it will usually have the power to proceed with the arbitration in the event that a party fails to appear. It cannot force a party to attend but it may sanction the failure. While the arbitral tribunal can direct the parties to attend and give evidence the arbitral tribunal has no power to compel a party to give evidence. The arbitral tribunal may continue the arbitration in the absence of the party or its failure to submit evidence and make an award on the evidence before it. Under most of arbitration legislation and arbitration rules, the arbitral tribunal has the power to appoint experts and obtain expert evidence. The power to order a party to disclose documents in its possession is a power given to the arbitral tribunal by many national laws and by most arbitration rules. The arbitral tribunal cannot, however, compel disclosure and in the case where a party refuses to disclosure documents then the sanctions that the arbitral tribunal can impose must be ascertained from the applicable rules or the relevant procedural law. A number of arbitration rules and national laws allow for the arbitral tribunal to correct errors within the award. Most of arbitration legislation and arbitration rules permit the arbitral tribunal to grant orders for interim measure of protection. Article 17(1) of the Revised UNCITRAL Model Law of 2006 states: Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, the arbitral tribunal may, at the request of a party, grant interim measures. Interim measures of protection usually take such forms as (1) conservatory measures intended to prevent irreparable damage and maintain the status quo; (2) conservatory measures intended to preserve evidence or assets. Orders for interim measures by the arbitral tribunal are not self-enforcing. However, the arbitral tribunal must have the powers necessary to make interim measures effective. The Article 17 B of the Revised UNCITRAL Model Law of 2006 provides applications for preliminary orders and conditions for granting preliminary orders. And the Article 17 H provides recognition of enforcement of interim measures. In conclusion, the revised articles with regard to interim measures of the UNCITRAL Model Law of 2006 would contribute significantly to the security of the effectiveness of interim measures in international commercial arbitration. Therefore, Korean Arbitration Law and Arbitration Rules would be desirable to admit such revised articles with regard interim measures.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.43-45
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• 2013

Background: The aim of this epidemiological study was to establish the laterality of breast cancer (BC) and its association with size, receptor status of the primary tumor and bone metastasis (BM) in a local population. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included cases of BC from Jan-2009 to Dec-2011 who were referred for metastatic work up or follow up survey with Technetium-99m MDP bone scan (BS) to the Nuclear Medicine Department of Karachi Institute of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine (KIRAN). A total of 384 patients out of 521 were included and all reviewed for age, primary tumor size (PTS), laterality, receptor status like estrogen receptor (ER) progesterone receptor (PR) and Her-2-Neu receptor, presence or absence of BM with sites of involvement and time interval between diagnosis of BC and appearance of BM. Results: The left to right sided BC proportion was significantly higher than unity (59%:41%; p<0.001). The right sided BC was observed in younger age group (46:52 years; p<0.0001) and with a smaller PTS than the left sided (3.43:4.15 cm; p<0.0001). The patients with BM had relatively higher negative receptor status with a significant predominance of right sided BC. The overall incidence of BM on BS was 28% and relatively higher in right than left breast (33%:24% p=0.068). The average number of BM sites was also significantly greater for the right side (6:4, P<0.0001). The % cumulative risk of BM in right breast was noted at significantly smaller PTS than left side with log rank value of 5.579; p<0.05. The Kaplan Meier survival plot for event free survival of BM in left sided BC was significantly higher than for the right side (log rank value=4.155, p<0.05), with an earlier appearance of BM in right BC. Conclusions: 1) A left sided predominance of BC was seen in local population; 2) right sided BC had a more aggressive behavior with extensive and earlier appearance of BM at relatively younger age, smaller PTS and receptor (s) negativity.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.525-530
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• 2017

Weaning is the most stressful event for nursery pigs because they are moved from familiar to unfamiliar environments. In addition, weaned pigs have immature digestive and immune systems. This situation makes weaned pigs susceptible to diseases and makes the absorption of nutrients from diets difficult. A feed approach, such as dietary enzyme supplementation, can be considered a solution. This study investigated the effects of dietary enzyme cocktail on diarrhea and immune responses of weaned pigs. A total 36 weaned pigs ($5.92{\pm}0.48kg\;BW$; 28 d old) were randomly allotted to 2 dietary treatments (3 pigs/pen, 6 replicates/treatment) in a randomized complete block design. The dietary treatments were a typical diet based on corn and soybean meal (CON) and CON with 0.05% enzyme cocktail (Cocktail; combination of xylanase, ${\alpha}-amylase$, protease, ${\beta}-glucanase$, and pectinase). Pigs were fed their respective diets for 6 wk. Incidence of diarrhea, packed cell volume (PCV), white blood cells (WBC) count, and immunoglobulin content were measured. A significantly lower incidence of diarrhea (p < 0.05) was observed in the Cocktail group as compared with the CON group. The Cocktail group also showed a decreased PCV (p < 0.1) on d 3 after weaning than the CON group. However, no differences were observed for number of WBC and contents of immunoglobulin G, M, and A between the Cocktail and CON groups. Consequently, inclusion of an enzyme cocktail in diets for weaned pigs had a positive influence on gut health by reducing the incidence of diarrhea in the present study.

• Knowledge Management Research
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.83-116
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to analyze empirically analyze how the characteristics of participants in educational and social learning forums and the quality of events influence expectations and satisfaction of forums. The study also aims to provide strategic implications for forum organizers and give them suggestions on how to set up target audience, manage forum contents, speakers, and services, improve attendee satisfaction, and ultimately maximize overall outcomes. As exchanges among individuals, enterprises, and organizations, as well as countries are growing rapidly, the convention industry has become a key player in the market. Conventions have also become a venue for people to discuss a specific agenda or topic, exchange information and learn knowledge and insights. Especially, the forum - as part of the convention industry - plays a vital role providing educational and social learning opportunities as scholars and expertise come together to share their knowledge and experience through a variety of discussions. With its role, many of forums are taking place in recent years; however, there have been few empirical studies upon the forum itself. Also, there have been few attempts to research how the quality of forums affect participants' satisfaction along with their characteristics and how much of practical knowledge is provided throughout the events. This study is meaningful in that it is the first practical study that takes a deep understanding of the forum and sees how the quality of the forums influences participants' satisfaction and whether the characteristics of participants have a moderating effect in increasing the level of satisfaction. Forum organizers could also take a strategic approach as their major concerns are to increase the number of participants and raise degree of satisfaction by providing significant information. There are four key elements that determine success or failure of a social learning forum. The four elements are contents, speakers, services, and participants. Content plays an important role in providing rich information and knowledge for participants. Speakers are the main knowledge providers who contribute to the forum's social learning role. Also, the services provided by forum organizers such as simultaneous interpretation services, program brochures, lunch and refreshments, and the overall design of event hall can also influence the level of participants' satisfaction. Lastly, the participants and their characteristics are important since they are the ones who receive knowledge from the providers. The results of this study show that the quality of forum (content, speaker, and services) has a decisive effect on the participants' satisfaction and there are some differences in expectation among the participants in the forum. Also, some groups of participants were more likely to be stimulated by the quality of forum when determining their satisfaction. The study is modeled after MBN Y Forum 2016 and its participants' characteristics. The forum is one of the most representative social learning forums of South Korea and its audiences are mostly young people. It has analyzed how the participants' characteristics influence their satisfaction by grouping them into ${\Delta}participants$ who have invited for free and those who paid for the entrance fee, ${\Delta}first-time$ participants and returning participants, ${\Delta}voluntary$ and involuntary participants, ${\Delta}participants$ who registered through web and those who did through mobile, and ${\Delta}participants$ who registered during pre-sale opens and those who registered during general opens.