• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.331-338
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• 2002

Purpose : To investigate the feature of the range of measles in 2000, we studied epidemics of the measles in western Kyungnam District. Methods : Among 489 patients under 15 years of age who visited or were admitted to in our hospital from January to December in 2000, we selected 344 patients whose measles IgM antibody was positive. We investigated age, monthly incidence, clinical features, vaccination history, and measles IgG antibody. Results : Patients under 12 months of age occupied the largest proportion(36.9%). Patients firstly occurred in May and geometrically increased from October. Fever, cough and rashes were observed in all patients but conjunctivitis in 54.9%, Koplik spot in 23.8%. The first vaccination ratio was 41.8%. Compared with the number of patients and the first vaccination ratio, the first vaccination ratio was the lowest under 12 months of age. After that age group, the number of patients was decreased as the first vaccination ratio was increased. Among 152 patients sampled for measles IgG antibody, 35 patients had received the first vaccination and 6 patients had received the second vaccination. Among 35 patients who received the first vaccination, 22(62.9%) patients were negative of measles IgG antibody. Among 6 patients who received the second vaccination, 3(50%) patients were negative. Conclusions : Measles patients under 12 months still dominated. Therefore, routine vaccination of single measles vaccine, is currently done at 6 month when measles are prevalent, should be considered. High first vaccination failure suggests problems of vaccines itself, transport and storage rather than vaccination methods. Therefore a thorough investigation should be made.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.311-319
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• 2002

Purpose : We have performed this study to obtain reference data for the distribution of chromosomal aberrations in Korea. Methods : We analyzed 1,180 chromosomal study cases from Kwang ju Christian Hospital during the past 25 years. 756 cases suspected of characteristic chromosomal aberration syndromes and 424 cases with hermaphroditism, mild sexual abnormalities, multiple anomalies, or mental & growth retardation were included. Results : The male to female ratio of autosomal aberration syndromes was 1.2 : 1. 78.6% of autosomal aberrations were diagnosed under 1 year of age, whereas 89.8% of sex chromosomal aberrations were diagnosed over 12 years of age. Among 1,180 cases, 612 ones had chromosomal aberrations(51.9%) : 590 of 756 cases suspected of chromosomal aberration syndromes had aberrations( 78.0%), whereas 22 of 424 showing the above other features had aberrations(5.2%). Autosomal aberrations appeared in 514 cases(83.8%) and sex chromosomal aberrations appeared in 98 cases(16.2%). The most frequently observed abberation in autosomal aberrations was Down syndrome, followed by E, D, B, A and C group aberrations. The most common abberation in sex chromosomal aberrations was Turner syndrome, followed by Klinefelter syndrome and Fragile X syndrome. Conclusion : It is of vital importance that patients suspected of chromosomal aberrations undergo chromosomal analysis. Further advanced chromosomal staining and molecular genetic methods will raise the detection rate of chromosomal aberrations.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.40 no.8
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• pp.736-744
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• 2007

Leptin, as an adipocyte-derived hormone, is an important regulator of food intake and energy expenditure. In the cross-sectional study, leptin was shown to be positively related to body adiposity and metabolic disorders in adults. However, there were very few studies which reported the leptin as a predictor of weight gain over time. We examined whether serum leptin can be used as an indicator of the present and 1-year past weight status in very young children. First grade students from elementary schools in Gwacheon City were enrolled in the study since 2005. The study subjects(total 375 students; 195 boys and 180 girls) participated in the investigation of both 2005 and 2006. Physical examinations including height, weight, waist circumference were done. To examine the prevalence of obesity, obesity index was used. Serum leptin was measured, and their nutritional status was also evaluated based on 3-Day dietary records. Serum leptin levels were strongly positively related with the value of the present BMI and with the value of the BMI one year before. We found no association with leptin levels and amount of energy intake and macronutrient intake in this children population. Children were divided into three groups according to leptin tertiles. The highest leptin tertile group showed highest prevalence of obesity in year 2006 as well as in year 2005. Serum leptin levels can reflect the weight status now and as well as 1-year before. Possibly serum leptin levels can predict the weight gain of year later. Without an action against the obesity on children with high leptin level, those children would maintain the excess adiposity growth and progress into the obesity-related metabolic disorders. Further studies are needed to predict the obesity as early as possible and preventive system then after.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.3769-3776
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• 2016

Background: Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among women worldwide. High breast cancer mortality has been attributed to lack of public awareness of the disease. Little is known about the level of knowledge of breast cancer in Central African Republic. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge of health professionals on breast cancer. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 158 health professionals (27 medical; 131 paramedical) in 17 hospitals in Bangui using a self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistical analysis, Person's ${\chi}^2$ test and ANOVA were applied to examine associations between variables with p < 0.05 being considered significant. Results: Data analyzed using SPSS version 20 indicates that average knowledge about breast cancer perception of the entire population was 47.6%, diagnosis method 45.5%, treatment 34.3% and risk factors 23.8%. Most respondents (65.8%) agreed that breast cancer is important in Central African Republic and that family history is a risk factor (44.3%). Clinical assessments and mammography were considered most suitable diagnostic methods, and surgery as the best treatment. The knowledge level was significantly higher among medical than paramedical staff with regard to risk factors, diagnosis and treatment. However the trainee group had very high significant differences of knowledge compared with all other groups. Conclusions: There is a very urgent need to update the various training programs for these professionals, with recommendations of retraining. Health authorities must create suitable structures for the overall management of cancer observed as a serious public health problem.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.38 no.10
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• pp.753-762
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• 1994

Dephosphorylation of diphenyl- or isopropylphenyl-4-nitrophenylphosphinate (DPNPIN or IPNPIN) mediated by $OH^-$ or o-iodosobenzoate ion ($IB^-$) are relatively slow in aqueous solution. The reactions in CTAX micellar solutions are, however, very accelerated, because CTAX micelles can accommodate both reactants in their Stern layer in which they can easily react, while hydrophilic $OH^-$(or $IB^-$) and hydrophobic phosphinates are not mixed in water. Even though the concentrations (> $10^{-3}$ M) of $OH^-$(or $IB^-$) in CTAX solutions are much larger amounts than those ($6{\times}10^{-6}$ M) of phosphinates, the rate constants of the dephosphorylations are largely influenced by change of the concentration of the ions, which means that the reactions are not followed by the pseudo first order kinetics. In comparison to effect of the counter ions of CTAX in the reactions, CTACl is more effective on the dephosphorylation of DPNPIN (or IPNPIN) than CTABr due to easier expelling of $Cl^-$ ion by $OH^-$(or $IB^-$) ion from the micelle, because of easier solvation $Cl^-$ ion by water molecules. The reactivity of IPNPIN with $OH^-$(or $IB^-$) is lower than that of DPNPIN. The reason seems that the 'bulky' isopropyl group of IPNPIN hinders the attack of the nucleophiles. The mechanism of reaction of IPNPIN with IB- ion concluded as 'nucleophilic' instead of 'general basic' by a trapping experiment and a measured kinetic isotope effect.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.100-109
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• 2005

In South America, natural products with unknown drug effects are used as folk remedies and for preventive medicine. Among South American natural products, we directed our attention to Propolis, which have been known as medicinal plants, and examined the mechanisms by which these substances affect antioxidant activity, anti-tumor activity and immunoresponse. When the antioxidant activities of Propolis were examined by the DPPH and Rhoudan iron methods, since Propolis contains high levels of flavonoids, it is thought that flavonoids may be responsible for the antioxidant activity in this study. In the examination of immunoenhancement activity, we measured lymphocyte versus polymorphonuclear leukocyte ratios (L/P activity). The number of lymphocytes was significantly increased in groups treated with Proplolis. Specifically, slightly high levels of $IFN-{\gamma}$ were measured in mice bearing the S-180 carcinoma, after administration of Propolis. This strongly suggests that cellular immunity is especially activated by treatment with Propolis, because production of $IFN-{\alpha}$ is limited to the T cells and NK cells stimulated by mitogen and sensitized antigen. $TNF-{\alpha}$ shows a different extent and mechanism of action depending on the target cells. When $TNF-{\alpha}$ was measured in mice bearing the S-180 carcinoma, mice treated with Propolis showed slightly higher $TNF-{\alpha}$ levels as compared to the control group. This suggests that activated macrophages produce $TNF-{\alpha}$ in mice treated with Prapolis, since activated macrophages and lymphocytes are the source of most $TNF-{\alpha}$. When anti-tumor action was examined using two kinds of sarcoma (Ehrlich solid carcinoma and Sarcoma-180 carcinoma), tumor-suppressive ratios after treatment with Propolis was 29.1%. When Sarcoma-180 solid carcinoma was used, tumor-suppressive ratios were 62%. Thus, Propolis showed strong anti-tumor activity against two kinds of solid carcinoma. Taken altogether, this strongly suggests that Propolis enhances original functions of macrophages and NK cells, and as a result, secondarily enhances the immune reaction and suppresses tumor growth.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.193-201
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• 1998

This study was carried out to investigate the enviromental quality and the growth of transplanted pen shell, Atrinna pectinata japonica. Followings are the results of growth of transplanted pen shell with respect to the shell size groups from the natural habitat (Usando) in May 1995, and cultivated upto November in the transplantated area (Soomoonri). The water depth of transplantated area andnatural habitat were 3m, 20~25m, respectively. The seawater temperature of the two culturing farms were ranged of 10.9~$27.8^{\circ}C.$, 8.5~$30.0^{\circ}C.$, respectively at the lowest in November adn the highest in July. The seawater salinity of the two areas were ranged of 29.54~35.26$^0\prime\infty$, 28.75~36.31$^0\prime\infty$, respectively at the lowest in July and the highest in November. The phosphoric acid ($PO_4$-P) of the two areas were 0.09~$1.14 ^{\mu}$g-at/l, 0.23~$1.33 ^{\mu}$g-at/l, respectively at the lowest in June and the highest in September. The bottom type of the two areas was a silty mud, 85.23% (82.17~87.26%) in natural habitat and 92.12% (90.76~92.94$^0\prime\infty$) in transplanted area. In this study area, phytoplankton were composed of 19 species. Of these 19 species, Skeletonema costatum was dominant species in seawater between natural habitat and transplantatied area, and 157 cells/ml, 165 cells/ml at August respectively. Stock of phytoplankton in transplantated area were more than those of natural habitat except June and November. The growth of shell length, shell height, total weight, soft part weight and posterior adductor muscle weight of pen shell on different size groups (SL 10, 10~15, 15~20, 20cm) were excellent in shell length of 10cm group, and 99.32%, 107.66%, 871.09%, 951.26% and 1,223.76%, respectively. The survival rate of pen shell was 98.10% in the shell length of 10cm groups, 90.35~94.76% in the others groups. The growth of shell length, total weight, soft part weight and posterior adductor muscle weight of pen shell in transplantated area were more 1.3, 2.6, 2.7 and 4.5 times than those of natural habitat.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.52-58
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• 2004

The active principle responsible for lipid lowering in Chinese cabbage kimchi, 3-(4-hydroxyl-3'5'-dimethoxyphenyl)propionic acid, of molecular weight 226, was chemically synthesized and then used for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia in male New Zealand white rabbit. Hypercholesterolemia in rabbits were induced by feeding 0.5% cholesterol added chow diet for 5 weeks. Each experimental group has four rabbits in it. for the 1st experiment,3-(4-hydroxyl-3'5'-dimethoxyphenyl)propionic acid or simvastatin was injected to the ear vein of rabbit every other day for 16 days (2 mg/3 kg/2 days) while normal chow diet was provided. Blood was drawn every 4th day. For the 2nd experiment, all the experimental condition was same as the 1st trial except 0.5% cholesterol diet was provided while 16 days. Plasma cholesterol level was decreased when cholesterol in the diet was removed. Decreased in cholesterol in kimchi and simvastatin groups were 18.65 and 29.67%, respectively compared to the control when the normal diet was given, and cholesterol increase was inhibited by 33.79 and 21.81% for kimchi and simvastatin groups, respectively, when 0.5% cholesterol diet was provided. The drop in LDL-C level by the active principle of kimchi and simvastatin was not significant when normal diet was given, however the changes was significant (p<0.05), approximately 130% decrease, when 0.5% cholesterol diet was given. The 105% and 62% decreased in triglyceride concentration were observed from 0.5% cholesterol diet fed kimchi and simvastatin groups respectively HDL cholesterol levels in experimental groups were not changed significantly from the both trials. The HMG-CoA reductase activity of kimchi and simvastatin groups were found to be higher than that of control to compensate the hypercholesterolemic condition induced by 0.5% cholesterol diet in these groups. In conclusion, diet is an important factor to control the hypercholesterolemia besides drug treatment. 3-(4-hydroxyl-3'5'-dimethoxyphenyl)propionic acid that is the active principle in Chinese cabbage kimchi seems a beneficial to the hypercholesterolemia and its effect is comparable to that of simvastatin.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.439-446
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• 2007

This study was performed to investigate the effect of long-term administration of Saengshik on growth parameters of growing rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed on AIN-93G basal diets for 12 weeks and assigned to the following groups: rats administrated orally with Saengshik at the dose of 1g/kg/day (1xJS ), 2g/kg/day (2xJS), 4g/kg/day (4xJS) and distilled water (Control). Rats were sacrificed at 4, 8, 12 weeks after oral administration. Bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral contents (BMC) were measured by PIXImus densitometry and serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) concentration were determined by using EIA method. Body weight and food intake did not show significant changes within groups for 12 weeks. Physical longitudinal growth indexes, body length and femur length were significantly increased in Saengshik-administered groups at 12 weeks, in which BMD and BMC also significantly increased. Also, in blood IGF-1 level, Saengshik-administered groups were remarkedly higher than control group at 4 week (p<0.001), in which significantly higher at 8 week and 12 week. These results suggest a close relation between administration of Saengshik and increment of longitudingal bone growth. Therefore, as the result of this study, it could be expected that the administration of Saengshik for 12 weeks is helpful to the increase of longitudinal growth and growth factors in rats. Furthermore, we propose that the consumption of Saengshik as dietary supplementation may promote to increase in longitudinal bone growth in growing children.

• The Korean Journal of Financial Management
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.41-79
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• 2007

This study examines the expiration-day effects of stock index futures and options in the Korean stock market. The so-called 'expiration-day effects', which are the abnormal stock price movements on derivatives expiration days, arise mainly from cash settlement. Index arbitragers have to bear the risk of their positions unless they liquidate their index stocks on the expiration day. If many arbitragers execute large buy or sell orders on the expiration day, abnormal trading volumes are likely to be observed. If a lot of arbitragers unwind positions in the same direction, temporary trading imbalances induce abnormal stock market volatility. By contrast, if some information arrives at market, the abnormal trading activity must be considered a normal process of price discovery. Stoll and Whaley(1987) investigated the aggregate price and volume effects of the S&P 500 index on the expiration day. In a related study, Stoll and Whaley(1990) found a similarity between the price behavior of stocks that are subject to program trading and of the stocks that are not. Thus far, there have been few studies about the expiration-day effects in the Korean stock market. While previous Korean studies use the KOSPI 200 index data, we analyze the price and trading volume behavior of individual stocks as well as the index. Analyzing individual stocks is important for two reasons. First, stock index is a market average. Consequently, it cannot reflect the behavior of many individual stocks. For example, if the expiration-day effects are mainly related to a specific group, it cannot be said that the expiration of derivatives itself destabilizes the stock market. Analyzing individual stocks enables us to investigate the scope of the expiration-day effects. Second, we can find the relationship between the firm characteristics and the expiration-day effects. For example, if the expiration-day effects exist in large stocks not belonging to the KOSPI 200 index, program trading may not be related to the expiration-day effects. The examination of individual stocks has led us to the cause of the expiration-day effects. Using the intraday data during the period May 3, 1996 through December 30, 2003, we first examine the price and volume effects of the KOSPI 200 and NON-KOSPI 200 index following the Stoll and Whaley(1987) methodology. We calculate the NON-KOSPI 200 index by using the returns and market capitalization of the KOSPI and KOSPI 200 index. In individual stocks, we divide KOSPI 200 stocks by size into three groups and match NON-KOSPI 200 stocks with KOSPI 200 stocks having the closest firm characteristics. We compare KOSPI 200 stocks with NON-KOSPI 200 stocks. To test whether the expiration-day effects are related to order imbalances or new information, we check price reversals on the next day. Finally, we perform a cross-sectional regression analysis to elaborate on the impact of the firm characteristics on price reversals. The main results seem to support the expiration-day effects, especially on stock index futures expiration days. The price behavior of stocks that are subject to program trading is shown to have price effects, abnormal return volatility, and large volumes during the last half hour of trading on the expiration day. Return reversals are also found in the KOSPI 200 index and stocks. However, there is no evidence of abnormal trading volume, or price reversals in the NON-KOSPI 200 index and stocks. The expiration-day effects are proportional to the size of stocks and the nearness to the settlement time. Since program trading is often said to be concentrated in high capitalization stocks, these results imply that the expiration-day effects seem to be associated with program trading and the settlement price determination procedure. In summary, the expiration-day effects in the Korean stock market do not exist in all stocks, but in large capitalization stocks belonging to the KOSPI 200 index. Additionally, the expiration-day effects in the Korean stock market are generally due, not to information, but to trading imbalances.