• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.472-483
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• 2014

Major cities have strengthened their efforts to improve the environmental function of the urban forest through aspects of quantity and quality. Yet, it is difficult to propose both long-term improvement and management policy direction continuously due to a lack of evaluating method that social needs could be reflected. After all, effective strengthening of the function of an urban forest, composed of social and biotic environments, is essential to create evaluation criteria. Such data reflects a quantity variation and identifies the distribution and habitation of biotic sources as well. An assessment of utilization possibilities presents such values as a green connectivity, an ecological healthiness, and usage and access opportunities. Consequently, this research was executed to create an urban forest sustainability index that proposes a management and policy direction based on the evaluation of quantity and quality aspects. This study was processed by the following steps: a degree of importance of ecological aspect, a sub-classification index choice, and an examination of adequacy. This research was conducted from premises that urban forest had another functions comparisons to a natural forest. As a result, a criteria of sustainability should be considered to evaluate an ecological aspect, as well as the social and management aspects regarding human disturbance. This research is designed to develop an evaluation index for ecological aspect. In order to evaluate the ecological healthiness of an urban forest, a vegetation index considers aspects of related rarity, damage possibility, naturalness, area, and diversity. In a wildbird index-related study, forest duration and area were selected. Finally, a variance analysis is presented, inclusive of stability, naturalness, diversity, potentiality, and possibility of wildlife inhabitation, which is indicative of an urban forest sustainability index.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.187-192
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• 2015

Purpose: Measurement of serum ceruloplasmin level is the first step in screening for Wilson's disease (WD). Despite the rarity of WD in the general population, ceruloplasmin levels are routinely measured through hepatitis screening in both adults and children. Herein, we evaluated the diagnostic value of ceruloplasmin for the diagnosis of WD among children with hepatitis. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data on serum ceruloplasmin levels measured as a serologic marker for patients with hepatitis at Asan Medical Center (Seoul, Korea) between from January 2004 to November 2013. The diagnosis of WD was confirmed by the identification of pathogenic variants in the ATP7B gene. To determine the diagnostic accuracy of ceruloplasmin, receiver operation characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed and the area under curve (AUC) were calculated. Results: Measurements of serum ceruloplasmin were performed in 2,834 children who had hepatitis. Among these, 181 (6.4%) children were diagnosed with WD. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of a ceruloplasmin level of <20 mg/dL in the discrimination of WD were 93.4%, 84.2%, and 84.8%, respectively. In this study, 418 (14.7%) false-positive cases and 12 (0.4%) false-negative cases were noted. Using a ROC curve, a ceruloplasmin level of ${\leq}16.6mg/dL$ showed the highest AUC value (0.956) with a sensitivity of 91.2%, a specificity of 94.9%, and an accuracy of 94.7%. Conclusion: The measurement of serum ceruloplasmin was frequently used for the screening of WD in children, despite a low positive rate. The diagnostic value of ceruloplasmin may be strengthened by adopting a new lower cut-off level.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.17
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• pp.7853-7857
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• 2015

Background: Mortality from breast cancer is high in low- and middle-income countries, in part because most patients have advanced stage disease when first diagnosed. Case-finding may be one approach to changing this situation. Materials and Methods: We conducted a pilot study to explore the feasibility of population-based case finding for breast cancer by community health workers (CHWs) using different data collection methods and approaches to management of women found to have breast abnormalities. After training 8 CHWs in breast problem recognition, manual paper data collection and operation of a cell-phone software platform for reporting demographic, history and physical finding information, these CHWs visited 3150 women >age 18 and over they could find-- from 2356 households in 8 villages in rural Bangladesh. By 4 random assignments of villages, data were collected manually (Group 1), or with the cell-phone program alone (Group 2) or with management algorithms (Groups 3 and 4), and women adjudged to have a serious breast problem were shown a motivational video (Group 3), or navigated/accompanied to a breast problem center for evaluation (Group 4). Results: Only three visited women refused evaluation. The manual data acquisition group (1) had missing data in 80% of cases, and took an average of 5 minutes longer to acquire, versus no missing data in the cell phone-reporting groups (2,3 and 4). One woman was identified with stage III breast cancer, and was appropriately treated. Conclusions: Among very poor rural Bangladeshi women, there was very limited reluctance to undergo breast evaluation. The estimated rarity of clinical breast cancer is supported by these population-based findings. The feasibility and efficient use of mobile technology in this setting is supported. Successor studies may most appropriately be trials focusing on improving the suggested benefits of motivation and navigation, on increasing the numbers of cases found, and on stage of disease at diagnosis as the primary endpoint.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6493-6499
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• 2013

Background: Non-epithelial malignant ovarian tumors and clear cell carcinomas, Brenner tumors, transitional cell tumors, and carcinoid tumors of the ovary are rare ovarian tumors (ROTs). In this study, our aim was to determine the clinicopathological features of ROT patients and prognostic factors associated with survival. Materials and Methods: A total of 167 patients with ROT who underwent initial surgery were retrospectively analyzed. Prognostic factors that may influence the survival of patients were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: Of 167 patients, 75 (44.9%) were diagnosed with germ-cell tumors (GCT) and 68 (40.7%) with sex cord-stromal tumors (SCST); the remaining 24 had other rare ovarian histologies. Significant differences were found between ROT groups with respect to age at diagnosis, tumor localization, initial surgery type, tumor size, tumor grade, and FIGO stage. Three-year progression-free survival (PFS) rates and median PFS intervals for patients with other ROT were worse than those of patients with GCT and SCST (41.8% vs 79.6% vs 77.1% and 30.2 vs 72 vs 150 months, respectively; p=0.01). Moreover, the 3-year overall survival (OS) rates and median OS times for patients with both GCT and SCST were better as compared to patients with other ROT, but these differences were not statistically significant (87.7% vs 88.8% vs 73.9% and 170 vs 122 vs 91 months, respectively; p=0.20). In the univariate analysis, tumor localization (p<0.001), FIGO stage (p<0.001), and tumor grade (p=0.04) were significant prognostic factors for PFS. For OS, the univariate analysis indicated that tumor localization (p=0.01), FIGO stage (p=0.001), and recurrence (p<0.001) were important prognostic indicators. Multivariate analysis showed that FIGO stage for PFS (p=0.001, HR: 0.11) and the presence of recurrence (p=0.02, HR: 0.54) for OS were independent prognostic factors. Conclusions: ROTs should be evaluated separately from epithelial ovarian cancers because of their different biological features and natural history. Due to the rarity of these tumors, determination of relevant prognostic factors as a group may help as a guide for more appropriate adjuvant or recurrent therapies for ROTs.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.181-187
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• 2013

Genetic variation in Asaum misandrum, a woodland herb in Korea, was investigated based on allozyme analysis with starch gel electrophoresis. All of previously reported populations in Korea were sampled and seven loci from six enzymes were analyzed. Overall genetic variation of A. misandrum population showed considerably high levels of genetic variation within the species (A = 2.05, P = 71.4, $H_E$ = 0.294). A positive $F_{IS}$ value of A. misandrum indicated overall deficiency of heterozygotes, and a low $F_{ST}$ value (0.112) meant very little differentiation among populations. Factors contributing to the high levels of genetic diversity found within populations of A. misandrum include population maintenance via wide distribution range from Korea to Japan and primarily outcrossing breeding system. Although it showed moderate genetic diversity level, most habitats of the species were scattered and discontinuous. Besides, low numbers of individuals were found in the most habitats and individuals are collected frequently from the wild due to the unique shape of the flowers as well as the rarity of the species. Thus, there is a need to set up a reasonable conservation strategies including the maintenance mechanism of genetic diversity of A. misandrum.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.173-184
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• 2020

Irrigation ponds, 'dumbeong', which are artificially constructed water resources for traditional farming, serve as a biological shelter connecting seasonally created rice paddy fields to local freshwater ecosystems. This 2018 study surveyed 143 irrigation ponds in the western Civilian Control Zone (CCZ) area from August to September, revealing species diversity and community characteristics of benthic macroinvertebrates. A total of 13,454 individuals of macroinvertebrates were captured and classified into 3 phyla, 5 classes, 17 orders, 59 families, 192 species. Among Insecta, the most frequently recorded order was Odonata, 55 spp.(33.7%), followed by Coleoptera, 52 spp. (31.9%), Hemiptera, 34 spp. (20.8%), Diptera, 17 spp. (9.8%), Ephemeroptera, 3 spp. (2.4%), Trichoptera, 1 spp. (0.6%) and Lepidoptera, 1 spp. (0.6%). Taxon of non-Insecta consisted of Mollusca, 14 spp. (48.2%), Annelida, 11 spp. (37.9%) and Arthropoda, 4 spp. (3.4%). The analysis of Diversity Index (H'), Species Richness Index (RI), Dominance Index (DI) and Evenness Index (J') revealed the general stability of communities in the study sites. A total of 28 rare species were found in 98 study sites, including three endangered species designated by the Ministry of Environment. These results showed that the species diversity and rarity of macroinvertebrates in the study area were greater than those of previous research on lentic wetlands (lake, etc.) and national conserved wetlands(Upo-swamp, etc.) in Korea. A conservation planning of aquatic ecosystems in the western CCZ area, therefore, should focus on conservation of irrigation ponds.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.925-928
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• 2014

Background: Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) is a spectrum of disease with abnormal trophoblastic proliferation. Treatment is based on FIGO stage and WHO risk factor scores. Patients whose score is 12 or more are considered as at extremely high risk with a high likelihood of resistance to first line treatment. Optimal therapy is therefore controversial. Objective: This study was conducted in order to summarize the regimen used for extremely high risk or resistant GTN patients in our institution the in past 10 years. Materials and Methods: All the charts of GTN patients classified as extremely high risk, recurrent or resistant during 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2011 were reviewed. Criteria for diagnosis of GTN were also assessed to confirm the diagnosis. FIGO stage and WHO risk prognostic score were also re-calculated to ensure the accuracy of the information. Patient characteristics were reviewed in the aspects of age, weight, height, BMI, presenting symptoms, metastatic area, lesions, FIGO stage, WHO risk factor score, serum hCG level, treatment regimen, adjuvant treatments, side effects and response to treatment, including disease free survival. Results: Eight patients meeting the criteria of extremely high risk or resistant GTN were included in this review. Mean age was 33.6 years (SD=13.5, range 17-53). Of the total, 3 were stage III (37.5%) and 5 were stage IV (62.5%). Mean duration from previous pregnancies to GTN was 17.6 months (SD 9.9). Mean serum hCG level was 864,589 mIU/ml (SD 98,151). Presenting symptoms of the patients were various such as hemoptysis, abdominal pain, headache, heavy vaginal bleeding and stroke. The most commonly used first line chemotherapeutic regimen in our institution was the VAC regimen which was given to 4 of 8 patients in this study. The most common second line chemotherapy was EMACO. Adjuvant radiation was given to most of the patients who had brain metastasis. Most of the patients have to delay chemotherapy for 1-2 weeks due to grade 2-3 leukopenia and require G-CSF to rescue from neutropenia. Five form 8 patients were still survived. Mean of disease free survival was 20.4 months. Two patients died of the disease, while another one patient died from sepsis of pressure sore wound. None of surviving patients developed recurrence of disease after complete treatment. Conclusions: In extremely high risk GTN patients, main treatment is multi-agent chemotherapy. In our institution, we usually use VAC as a first line treatment of high risk GTN, but since resistance is quite common, this may not suitable for extremely high risk GTN patients. The most commonly used second line multi-agent chemotherapy in our institution is EMA-CO. Adjuvant brain radiation was administered to most of the patients with brain metastasis in our institution. The survival rate is comparable to previous reviews. Our treatment demonstrated differences from other institutions but the survival is comparable. The limitation of this review is the number of cases is small due to rarity of the disease. Further trials or multicenter analyses may be considered.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.16
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• pp.82-95
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• 2015

Old Monk by Yun Duseo is realized to use silver paper which is made of rarity material. This sudy investigates reason why silver, that is easily discoloration in environmental condition, is susceptible in present. The method was the surface treatment materials and the base fiber through direct observation, optical instruments and XRF analysis. Based on these results, reproducing experiment was conducted to research materials in paper of Old Monk and the surface treatment technique. The results, the paper was treated 'Dochim' with a mineral having polygonal crystals for improving smoothness and density. XRF analysis result showed high calcium content, therefore, the paper was not used silver, it guess pulverized shells of abalone or other types of shellfish. Accordingly, the research was narrowed down to shells with shiny, reflective surfaces which at the same time contain high amounts of calcium. A new experiment was conducted using unprocessed abalone shells. Through the reproducing experiment, shellfish has high possibility as used mineral in paper. Notwithstanding, this experiment was unable to precisely reproduce the smoothness and shine of the original paper. Further research may therefore be needed.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.118-128
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• 2009

Objects: This study was conducted to investigate the current educational environment of herbology and to develop a future-oriented curriculum for oriental medicine. The questionnaire used in this research was drawn up based on the current curriculum referring to the current curriculum of herbology and pharmacognosy. Methods: The survey was carried out presenting the questionnaires to a total 12,754 of the students and doctors of oriental medicine through e-mailing five times; of these, 2,074 replied. Results: 1. Among the respondents, about 97% agreed that it was necessary to revise and complement the current curriculum of herbology. 2. The respondents felt that the assigned lecture time of subject was "sufficient" (19%), "insufficient" (39%) and "average" (39%), respectively, and the level of lecture was "insufficient" (37%) or "average" (43%) respectively. According to priority, it showed that the contents which needed complement in lecture were discrimination of medicinal herbs (24%), practical use of action and indications (23%), and correlation with modern disease (21%). In theoretical lectures, 69% of the respondents agreed on the introduction of natural scientific methods 3. In practice, 51% of the respondents replied that the lecture time for practice was insufficient. The contents which needed to be complemented in practice were as follows: audio-visual materials for discrimination of medicinal herbs (22%), concrete exercise for the processing of medicinal herbs (21%), and attempts for the objective discrimination of medicinal herbs using instruments (microscope, analytical instrument, residual pesticide, heavy metal, genetic analysis) (16%). 70% replied that the discrimination of medicinal herbs of high price and rarity was "none or insufficient". 4. 56% replied that it was necessary to introduce and practice physicochemical analysis, and they showed higher requests according to the increase of their educational level. However, 86% replied that they had never experienced concrete attempts for objective discrimination of medicinal herbs, which seemed to indicate that, excepting some schools, practice exercise was rarely performed. Conclusions: According to results, it seems that an urgent review on the current course of herbology and a workshop on the process of experimental practice for professors is needed.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.191-200
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• 1997

Objectives : Periodic limb movements during sleep (PLMS) may cause arousals that may lead to non-restorative sleep. PLMS is characterized by long sleep latency, sleep fragmentation, frequent stage shifts, and rarity of stages 3/4 NREM sleep on polysomnography. However, controversies have existed and it still remains to be elaborated whether PLMS actually causes insomnia, since normal persons happen to have PLMS. Clinically, it would be crucial to know factors which might disturb sleep in PLMS. We became interested in Coleman's theory(1980) that invariant periodic movements disturb patients' sleep less. Though, Coleman's study seems to have been confounded by including PLMS patients with various co-morbid sleep disorders. Therefore, we attempted to study in patients only with PLMS the effects of movement patterns on sleep architecture. Methods : In 27 patients diagnosed as having PLMS only with clinical interview and nocturnal polysomnography, we studied the relationship between the movement patterns such as mean duration and variability of periodic limb movement's interval and the sleep architecture variables. Results : The shorter and the more regular the limb movement intervals were, the fewer arousals followed. The movement intervals of the older patients were shorter and more regular than the younger patients. The probability of the accompanying arousal with each limb movement increased as the duration and variance of the movement intervals increased. It decreased as the age and the frequency of limb movements increased. Among these factors the most significant one was the mean duration of the movement intervals. In other words, the shorter the movement intervals were, the less disturbed sleep was. Conclusion : PLMS frequency increases with aging but the probability of the accompanying arousal with each movement decreases with aging. Sleep-disturbing effects of PLMS depends more on the duration and variability of movement intervals than the PLMS frequency.