• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.19 no.9
• /
• pp.1070-1076
• /
• 2009

Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT), which prolongs the replicative life span of cells, is highly upregulated in 85-90% of human cancers, whereas most normal somatic tissues in humans express limited levels of the telomerase activity. Therefore, TERT has been a potential target for anticancer therapy. Recently, we described a new approach to human cancer gene therapy, which is based on the group I intron of Tetrahymena thermophila. This ribozyme can specifically mediate RNA replacement of human TERT (hTERT) transcript with a new transcript harboring anticancer activity through a trans-splicing reaction, resulting in selective regression of hTERT-positive cancer cells. However, to validate the therapeutic potential of the ribozyme in animal models, ribozymes targeting inherent transcripts of the animal should be developed. In this study, we developed a Tetrahymena-based trans-splicing ribozyme that can specifically target and replace the mouse TERT (mTERT) RNA. This ribozyme can trigger transgene activity not only also in mTERT-expressing cells but hTERT-positive cancer cells. Importantly, the ribozyme could selectively induce activity of the suicide gene, a herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene, in cancer cells expressing the TERT RNA and thereby specifically hamper the survival of these cells when treated with ganciclovir. The mTERT-targeting ribozyme will be useful for evaluation of the RNA replacement approach as a cancer gene therapeutic tool in the mouse model with syngeneic tumors.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.23 no.9
• /
• pp.1339-1346
• /
• 2013

Conventional chemotherapeutic regimens often accompany severe side effects and fail to induce complete regression of chemoresistant or relapsing metastatic cancers. The need for establishing more efficacious anticancer strategies led to the development of a combined modality treatment of chemotherapy in conjunction with immunotherapy or radiotherapy. It has been reported that poly-gamma-glutamate (${\gamma}$-PGA), a natural polymer composed of glutamic acids, increases antitumor activity by activating antigen-presenting cells and natural killer (NK) cells. Here, we investigated the antitumor effect of ${\gamma}$-PGA in combination with cyclophosphamide in a murine melanoma model. Whereas cyclophosphamide alone directly triggered apoptosis of tumor cells in vitro, ${\gamma}$-PGA did not show cytotoxicity in tumor cells. Instead, it activated macrophages, as reflected by the upregulation of surface activation markers and the secretion of proinflammatory factors, such as nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}$. When the antitumor effects were examined in a mouse model, combined treatment with cyclophosphamide and ${\gamma}$-PGA markedly suppressed tumor growth and metastasis. Notably, ${\gamma}$-PGA treatment dramatically increased the NK cell population in lung tissues, coinciding with decreased metastasis and increased survival. These data collectively suggest that ${\gamma}$-PGA can act as an immunotherapeutic agent that exhibits a synergistic antitumor effect in combination with conventional chemotherapy.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.144-153
• /
• 2003

1) Background: The hospitals of modem society, like any other business entities, have to constantly strive to secure their survival from aggressive changes and competition outside. In this unstable environment, effective leadership is one of the most effective strategies for securing organization's growth as well as stability. This study investigated types of leadership (transformational or transactional) that is dominant in medical record departments and compared it's effects on organizational commitment and job satisfaction of their organizational members by types. 2) Method: A questionnaire was developed and mailed to all medical record administrators working at general hospitals throughout the country except department directors (N=450). Of these, 150 useable questionnaires were returned and analyzed by t-test, multiple regression analysis using SPSS. 3) Results: The organizational commitment and job satisfaction were a little bit higher than moderate level, and that of leadership perceived by medical record administrators was also in moderate level throughout types. Significant characteristics (positively) related to organizational commitment and job satisfaction by univariate analysis were marital status (married), position (middle management) and both type of leadership. However transformational leadership was the only significant factor in leadership styles after considering all the factors related to organizational commitment and job satisfaction together by multivariate analysis. 4) Conclusion: The average organizational commitment and job satisfaction of medical record administrators was just in moderate level. Efforts should be made to increase them by improving leadership capacity of medical record directors, primarily by using transformational leadership approach.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.18
• /
• pp.8439-8443
• /
• 2016

Background: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women worldwide and its incidence is generally increasing. In 2012, it was the second most common cancer in the world. It is necessary to obtain information on incidence and mortality for health planning. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the human development index (HDI), and the incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer in the world in 2012. Materials and Methods: This ecologic study concerns incidence rate and standardized mortality rates of the cancer from GLOBOCAN in 2012, and HDI and its components extracted from the global bank site. Data were analyzed using correlation tests and regression with SPSS software (version 15). Results: Among the six regions of WHO, the highest breast cancer incidence rate (67.6) was observed in the PAHO, and the lowest incidence rate was 27.8 for SEARO. There was a direct, strong, and meaningful correlation between the standardized incidence rate and HDI (r=0.725, $p{\leq}0.001$). Pearson correlation test showed that there was a significant correlation between age-specific incidence rate (ASIR) and components of the HDI (life expectancy at birth, mean years of schooling, and GNP). On the other, a non-significant relationship was observed between ASIR and HDI overall (r=0.091, p=0.241). In total, a significant relationship was not found between age-specific mortality rate (ASMR) and components of HDI. Conclusions: Significant positive correlations exist between ASIR and components of the HDI. Socioeconomic status is directly related to the stage of the cancer and patient's survival. With increasing the incidence rate of the cancer, mortality rate from the cancer does not necessariloy increase. This may be due to more early detection and treatment in developed that developing countries. It is necessary to increase awareness of risk factors and early detection in the latter.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.18
• /
• pp.8451-8454
• /
• 2016

Background: Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is a rare but highly invasive malignancy characterized by poor survival. In a national cancer survey, the age-standardized incidence rate of GBC was highest in Jeju Island among the 15 provinces in South Korea. The aim of this descriptive epidemiological study was to suggest the modifiable risk factors for this rare malignant disease in Jeju Island by performing an age-sex-matched case-control study. Materials and Methods: The case group included patients diagnosed with GBC at the Department of Internal Medicine of Cheju Halla General Hospital, Jeju, South Korea, within the 5-year study period. The control group consisted of age-sex-matched subjects selected from among the participants of the health promotion center at the same institute and in the same period. We compared 78 case-control pairs in terms of clinical variables such as histories of hypertension, diabetes, vascular occlusive disorders, alcohol and smoking consumption, obesity, and combined polypoid lesions of the gallbladder (PLG) or gallstone diseases (GSDs). Results: Among the relevant risk factors, alcohol consumption, parity ${\geq}2$, PLG, and GSDs were significant risk factors in the univariate analysis. PLG (p < 0.01; OR, 51.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.98-875.3) and GSD (p < 0.01; OR, 54.9; 95% CI, 3.00-1001.8) were associated risk factors of GBC in the multivariate analysis with the conditional logistic regression model. However, we failed to find any correlation between obesity and GBC. We also found a negative correlation between alcohol consumption history and GBC in the multivariate analysis (p < 0.01; OR, 0.06; 95% CI, 0.01-0.31). Conclusions: These results suggest that combined PLG and GSDs are strongly associated with the GBC in Jeju Island and mild to moderate alcohol consumption may negatively correlate with GBC risk.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2018

Stroke is the second cause of death worldwide, although the survival period is increasing after the occurrence of stroke, severe physical disability is caused with aftereffect. Oral inflammation is not limited to the oral cavity, it can cause malignant changes in other tissues and organs. In previous studies, we confirmed the relationship between tooth loss and stroke due to periodontal inflammation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between oral health and stroke such as oral hygiene behavior, tooth loss and periodontal disease among Korean adults over 40 years of age. This study was analyzed using the 6th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) data. A total of 3,389 adults over 40 years of age were analyzed as final subjects. Socioeconomic statuses and oral health status was analyzed using a complex sample analysis technique. Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship of oral health and stroke, and 95% confidence intervals were computed using SPSS. When the prevalence of stroke according to oral hygiene behavior was checked, the prevalence of strokes was lower in subjects who had a lot of brushings per day and subjects who used oral hygiene products (p<0.05). The risk of stroke was 2.17 times (95% confidence interval, 1.43~3.28) higher in the group with less than 19 remaining teeth, but it was not statistically significant as a result of adjusting for age and sex, income level, education level, drinking and smoking (p>0.05). Loss of teeth was found to be associated with the risk factor of stroke. Therefore, loss of teeth due to periodontal disease is an additional issue that should be considered as a risk factor for stroke.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fashion and Beauty
• /
• v.3 no.3 s.3
• /
• pp.11-23
• /
• 2005

This never-ending changes and everlasting challenges under the industrial circumstances induce us to compete against survival or selection. We accordingly need to take steps in order to survive excessive competitions by the various differentiated strategies in Beauty and Cosmetology markets. The purpose of this study aims for making the best use of this actual proof which enables the effective customer management and managerial things of beauty shop through theoretical contemplation in all aspects of managerial beauty shop and the reason why the customers give the second visit(revisit) or choosing the shop again(coming again) by demographic characteristics. The method of this study was surveying 200 re-visited customers at the same beauty shop in GwangJu Metropolitan city for a whole year by questionnaire regarding the correlation between revisiting of the same beauty shop and demographic characteristics. After surveying, we coded these questionnaires finding out its distribution(range) by SPSS statistical package with Frequency Analysis in response to demographic characteristics and also performed ANOVA and Regression. In brief, there is big difference between men and women which explains the second visiting(revisit) originates in technical fact; hair protection. Most women have paid great attention to their hair protection while men mostly have ignored. However, men attached themselves to the hairdressers' appearances and the distance from their house to the beauty shop which did not mean a lot to women. Beside s, there were many differentiation in accordance with marital status, age, education and their business. With this study, we easily generalize the fact that customers revisit a beauty shop not because of beauty shop facilities but because of human interests.?Beautician's service has certain specialties which show the interaction between customer and beautician in the field. Now we can come to this conclusion that we need to endeavor to develop the service spirit and employees' welfare. Their attitudes towards job satisfaction go well with customer ' s satisfaction in this way.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.147-171
• /
• 2011

The purpose of this study was to examine low-income households' financial problems and the demand for financial counseling. For these purposes, a survey of 500 low-income households was conducted by an on-line survey company. The results were as follows. First, four types of low-income households classified by income and job criteria were: the not-working poorest (16.2%), the working poor (27.0%), the not-working low-income (13.8%), and the working low-income (43.4%). Also, seven areas of financial problems were found through factor analysis. They included difficulty of survival, insufficient funds for special expenditures, defaults on financial obligation, decrease of income, increase of debts, emotional anguish, and difficulty in meeting living expenditures. 61.6% of respondents requested financial counseling, and 44.5% of them preferred internet counseling to counseling by phone or in-person, while 49.5% desired access to public counseling organizations. The five types of financial counseling content for low-income households that were found through factor analysis were financial planning, credit management, asset management/investment, public support, and use of credit cards. The low-income householders demanded financial planning counseling and pubic support counseling more than the other types of financial counseling. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the demand for financial counseling participation was significantly influenced by age and income. The demand for financial counseling content was age, income, and types of financial problems. Therefore, general financial counseling programs for low-income households should be expanded. Furthermore, those counseling programs can be useful if they not only include credit management but also financial planning, economic support information and savings.

• Journal of the Korean Data and Information Science Society
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.327-336
• /
• 2014

Recurrent event data occurs when a subject experiences same type of event repeatedly and is found in various areas such as the social sciences, Economics, medicine and public health. To analyze recurrent event data either a total time or a gap time is adopted according to research interest. In this paper, we analyze recurrent event data with incomplete observation gap using a gap time scale. That is, some subjects leave temporarily from a study and return after a while. But it is not available when the observation gaps terminate. We adopt an interval censoring mechanism for estimating the termination time. Furthermore, to model the association among gap times of a subject, a frailty effect is incorporated into a model. Programs included in Survival package of R program are implemented to estimate the covariate effect as well as the variance of frailty effect. YTOP (Young Traffic Offenders Program) data is analyzed with both proportional hazard model and a weibull regression model.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.10
• /
• pp.5097-5099
• /
• 2012

Objective: To assess associations of Type II DM with hepatocellular carcinoma occurrence in Nepal. Materials and Methods: This case control study was carried out using data retrieved from the register maintained in the Department of Biochemistry of Nepalese Army Institute of Health Sciences between 1st January, 2012, and 31st August, 2012. The variables collected were age, gender, HbA1c. All biochemical parameters were analyzed in the Central Laboratory of our hospital by standard validated methods. One way ANOVA was used to examine the statistical significant difference between groups with the LSD post-hoc test for comparison of means of case groups. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated using simple logistic-regression analysis. Results: Etiological factors for HCC were HBV, HCV, alcohol and cryptogenic cirrhosis. The highest age group belonged to the etiological category of HCV with a mean of $71.9{\pm}3.6$ (CI 69.3, 74.5) years and the lowest age group to the etiological category of HBV with $61.7{\pm}5.3$(CI 57.9, 65.5) years. The main imperative basis of HCC in present study was HCV (39.5%) and second most significant cause of HCC was alcohol (26%). Glycated hemoglobin was found to be more in males with HCC (7.9%) as compared to females (7.3%). The percentage of Type II diabetes mellitus was greater in HCC patients when compared to controls. This difference was statistically significant with an odd ratio of 4.63 (p<0.001). Conclusion: Type II DM influences incidence, risk of recurrence, overall survival, and treatment-related complications in HCC patients.