• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.1589-1595
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• 2014

Objective: Forkhead box C2 (FOXC2) is a member of the winged helix/forkhead box (Fox) family of transcription factors. It has been suggested to regulate tumor vasculature, growth, invasion and metastasis, although it has not been studied in cervical cancer. Here, we analyzed FOXC2 expression in cervical tissues corresponding to different stages of cervical cancer development and examined its correlation with clinicopathological characteristics. In addition, we examined the effects of targeting FOXC2 on the biological behavior of human cervical cancer cells. Methods: The expression of FOXC2 in normal human cervix, CIN I-III and cervical cancer was examined by immunohistochemistry and compared among the three groups and between cervical cancers with different pathological subtypes. Endogenous expression of FOXC2 was transiently knocked down in human Hela and SiHa cervical cells by siRNA, and cell viability and migration were examined by scratch and CCK8 assays, respectively. Results: In normal cervical tissue the frequency of positive staining was 25% (10/40 cases), with a staining intensity (PI) of $0.297{\pm}0.520$, in CIN was 65% (26/40cases), with a PI of $3.00{\pm}3.29$, and in cancer was 91.8% (68/74 cases), with a PI of $5.568 {\pm}3.449$. The frequency was 100% in adenocarcinoma (5/5 cases) and 91.3% in SCCs (63/69 cases). The FOXC2 positive expression rate was 88.5% in patients with cervical SCC stage I and 100% in stage II, showing significant differences compared with normal cervix and CIN. With age, pathologic differentiation degree and tumor size, FOXC2 expression showed no significant variation. On transient transfection of Hela and SiHa cells, FOXC2-siRNA inhibition rates were 76.2% and 75.7%; CCK8 results showed reduced proliferation and relative migration (in Hela cells from $64.5{\pm}3.16$ to $49.5{\pm}9.24$ and in SiHa cells from $60.1{\pm}3.05$ to $44.3{\pm}3.98$) (P < 0.05). Conclusion: FOXC2 gene expression increases with malignancy, especially with blood vessel hyperplasia and invasion degree. Targeted silencing was associated with reduced cell proliferation as well as invasion potential.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.471-478
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• 2011

Ginseng, the root of Panax ginseng, is one of the oldest herbal medicines. It has a variety of physiological and pharmacological effects. Recently, we isolated a subset of glycolipoproteins that we designated gintonin, and demonstrated that it induced transient change in intracellular calcium concentration $([Ca^{2+}]_i)$ in cells via G-protein-coupled receptor signaling pathway(s). The previous method for gintonin isolation included multiple steps using methanol, butanol, and other organic solvents. In the present study, we developed a much simple method for the preparation of gintonin from ginseng root using 80% ethanol extraction. The extracted fraction was designated edible gintonin. This method produced a high yield of gintonin (0.20%). The chemical characteristics of gintonin such as molecular weight and the composition of the extract product were almost identical as the gintonin prepared using the previous extraction regimen involving various organic solvents. We also examined the physiological effects of edible gintonin on endogenous $Ca^{2+}$-activated $Cl^-$ channel activity of Xenopus oocytes. The 50% effective dose was $1.03{\pm}0.3\;{\mu}g$/mL. Finally, since gintonin preparation through ethanol extraction is easily reproducible, gintonin could be commercially applied for ginseng-derived functional health food and/or drug following the confirmations of in vitro and in vivo physiological and pharmacological effects of gintonin.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.29-37
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• 2012

Purpose: To examine the prevalence of $Clostridium$ $difficile$ ($C.$ $difficile$) colonization (CDC) and potential neonatal determinants of CDC in hospitalized preterm infants. Methods: Fecal samples were serially collected within 72 h after birth and at 1, 2, and 4-6 weeks of age from preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) of two different university hospitals. Total bacterial DNA was extracted from each fecal sample from 49 infants, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed with primers for the 16S gene of $C.$ $difficile$ and the toxin A and toxin B genes. The correlation between the results of $C.$ $difficile$ PCR assays and the clinical characteristics of the infants was analyzed. Results: The prevalence rates of CDC were 34.7, 37.2, 41.3, and 53.1% within 72 h after birth and at 1, 2, and 4.6 weeks of age, respectively. The toxin positivity rate was significantly higher in the infants with persistent CDC than in those with transient CDC (8/12 [66.7%] vs. 6/25 [24.5%] ($p$=0.001). Among the various neonatal factors, only the feeding method during the first week after birth was significantly associated with persistent CDC. Exclusive breast-milk feeding (EBMF) significantly decreased the risk of persistent CDC compared to formula or mixed feeding (adjusted odds ratio: 0.133, 95% confidence interval: 0.02-0.898, $p$=0.038). Conclusion: The prevalence of CDC increased with the duration of hospitalization in preterm infants in the NICU. EBMF during the first week after birth in hospitalized preterm infants may protect against persistent CDC.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.6 s.263
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• pp.470-474
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• 2006

Background: Mediastinal lymph node metastasis is an important factor for staging and prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), so accurate diagnosis is essential for treatment. Mediastinoscopy provides histopathological diagnosis of mediastinal lymphnode metastasis in NSCLC. The efficacy of mediastinoscopy was investigated. Material and Method: From Jun, 1999 to Aug, 2005, mediastinoscopic lymph node biopsy was performed to 348 patients with NSCLC. Patients characteristics, radiologic findings, mediastinoscopic results and pathologic stages were evaluated for investigation of safety and efficacy of modiastinoscopy in NSCLC. Result: There was 263 male and 85 female patients and the mean age was $62.1{\pm}8.5$ years. By radiologic study for mediastinal lymph node metastasis, 203 patients were negative and 145 patients were positive. Mean procedure time was $55.5{\pm}16.5$ minutes and biopsy was peformed at $2.2{\pm}1.0$ lymph node stations. There were only transient complications (1.7%) during the procedure, without other complication and mortality. There was 7.8% of false negative result in mediastinoscopy. Sensitivity (77.5% vs 71.9%, p=0.012), specificity (100% vs 74.4%, p=0.00), and accuracy (92.2% vs 73.6%, p=0.00) of mediastinoscopy were more superior than that of radiologic study for the diagnosis of mediastinal lymph node metastasis in NSCLC. Conclusion: Mediastinoscopy is a safe and effective modality for diagnosis of mediastinal lymph node metastasis in NSCLC.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.55 no.7
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• pp.232-237
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• 2012

Purpose: With feasibility in the diagnoses of congenital heart disease (CHD) in the antenatal period, we suspect changes have occurred in its incidence. No data have been reported about the current incidence of simple forms of CHD in Korea. We have attempted to assess the recent incidence and characteristics of CHD in the neonatal care unit of a secondary referral medical center. Methods: Medical records of 497 neonatal care unit patients who underwent echocardiography in the past 5 years were reviewed. Preterm infants with patent ductus arteriosus and other transient, minimal lesions were excluded from this study. Results: Although the number of inpatients remained stable, the incidence of simple forms of CHD showed a gradual decrease over the 5-year study period; a markedly low incidence of complex forms was seen as well. CHD was observed in 3.7% full-term and 6.8% pre-term infants. CHD was observed in 152 infants weighing >2,500 g (3.5% of corresponding birth weight infants); 65 weighing 1,000 to 2,500 g (9.3%); and 6 weighing <1,000 g (8.0%). The incidence of CHD was higher in the pre-term group and the low birth weight group than in each corresponding subgroup (P<0.001); however, the incidence of complex CHD in full-term neonates was high. The number of patients with extracardiac structural anomalies has also shown a gradual decrease every year for the past 5 years. Conclusion: Findings from our study suggest that the recent incidence and disease pattern of CHD might have changed for both complex and simple forms of CHD in Korea.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.499-508
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• 2004

Changwon City first constructed riverbank filtration plants in Book-Myeon and Daesan-Myeon in Korea in the year 2001. This study evaluated hydrogeological characteristics and groundwater flow simulation between the Nakdong River and the fluvial aquifers adjacent to the river in Book-Myeon, Changwon City. The groundwater simulation calculated the influx rate from the Nakdong River and the fluvial aquifers to pumping wells through the riverbank filtration system. The groundwater flow model utilized drilling, grain size analysis, pumping test, groundwater level measurements, river water discharge and rainfall data. Hydraulic heads calculated by the steady-state model closely matched measured heads in pumping and observation wells. According to the transient flow model, using a total pumping amount of 14,000 $m^3$/day, the flux into the pumping wells from the Nakdong River accounts for 8,390 $m^3$/day (60%), 590 $m^3$/day (4%) is from the aquifer in the rectilinea. direction to the Nakdong River, and 5,020 $m^3$/day (36%) is from the aquifer in the parallel direction to the Nakdong River. The particle tracking analysis shows that a particle from the Nakdong River moves toward the pumping wells at a rate of about 1.85 m/day and a particle from the aquifer moves toward the pumping wells at a rate of about 0.75 m/day. This study contributes to surface water/groundwater management modeling, and helps in understanding, how seasonal change affects pumping rates, water quality, and natural recharge.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.08a
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• pp.71-71
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• 2011

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) have drawn great academic attention due to their potential as low-cost renewable energy sources. DSCs contain a nanostructured TiO2 photoanode, which is a key-component for high conversion efficiency. Particularly, one-dimensional (1-D) nanostructured photoanodes can enhance the electron transport for the efficient collection to the conducting substrate in competition with the recombination processes. This is because photoelectron colletion is determined by trapping/detrapping events along the site of the electron traps (defects, surface states, grain boundaries, and self-trapping). Therefore, 1-D nanostructured photoanodes are advantageous for the fast electron transport due to their desirable features of greatly reduced intercrystalline contacts with specified directionality. In particular, anodic TiO2 nanotube (NT) electrodes recently have been intensively explored owing to their ideal structure for application in DSCs. Besides the enhanced electron transport properties resulted from the 1-D structure, highly ordered and vertically oriented nanostructure of anodic TiO2 NT can contribute additional merits, such as enhanced electrolyte diffusion, better interfacial contact with viscous electrolytes. First, to confirm the advantages of 1-D nanostructured material for the photoelectron collection, we compared the electron transport and charge recombination characteristics between nanoparticle (NP)- and nanorod (NR)-based photoanodes in DSCs by the stepped light-induced transient measurements of photocurrent and voltage (SLIM-PCV). We confirmed that the electron lifetime of the NR-based photoanode was much longer than that of the NP-based photoanode. In addition, highly ordered and vertically oriented TiO2 NT photoanodes were prepared by electrochemical anodization method. We compared the photovoltaic properties of DSCs utilizing TiO2 NT photoanodes prepared by one-step anodization and two-step anodization. And, to reduce the charge recombination rate, energy barrier layer (ZnO, Al2O3)-coated TiO2 NTs also applied in DSC. Furthermore, we applied the TiO2 NT photoanode in DSCs using a viscous electrolyte, i.e., cobalt bipyridyl redox electrolyte, and confirmed that the pore structure of NT array can enhance the performances of this viscous electrolyte.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.53-58
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• 1999

The androgenic gland secretes a hormone, androgenic gland hormone, which is believed to act on the differentiation of the primary, secondary, and behavioral sex characteristics in most malacostracan crustaceans. This report presents the ultrastructural morphology of the androgenic gland in the freshwater prawn Macrobrachium nipponense. This gland, located in the coxopodite of the last pair of walking legs, was attached to the subterminal region of the sperm duct. The gland was composed of simple cellular strands, encased by a fibrous sheath. Microvilli were situated in the fibrous sheath, especially at the edge of each cellular strand. The androgenic gland cells had the large and round nucleus and rough endoplasmic reticulum arranged either in spirals or in concentric circles throughout the cytoplasm of the cell. They also had the well-developed Golgi complex and long mitochondria with flat and transverse cristae. The Golgi complex was similar to microvesicular cluster, but usually in the shape of typical dictyosomes, These features of androgenic gland cells coincides well with the protein/peptide secretion in their function. However, despite the apparent ultastructual equipment for protein/peptide secretion, no accumulation of materials secreted were noticed in the cytoplasm. Therefore it is strongly suggested that the transient transportation of the materials into the hemocoel has occurred just after synthesis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.37-41
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• 2010

Background and Objectives : Transient minor voice changes after thyroidectomy are not infrequent complaints even in cases without any evidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve damage. However, clinical course, diagnosis and management of such voice changes are not fully understood. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics of minor voice changes after thyroidectomy. We also tried to assess the significance and feasibility of superior laryngeal nerve monitoring and to find out the optimal evaluation tools for such voice changes after thyroidectomy. Materials and Method : Nine adult patients who received total thyroidectomy without evidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury were enrolled for this prospective study. Voice evaluations were performed preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively ; acoustic analyses including voice range profile, aerodynamic study, stroboscopic evaluation and subjective voice assessment with questionnaires. The external branch of superior laryngeal nerve was monitored by nerve stimulator after ligation of superior thyroidal vessels. Results: Four of nine patients complained their voice change at 3 months after the surgery. Three of them reported complete recovery of their voice at 6 months after the surgery. Acoustic analysis revealed significant decrease in their phonatory range especially with high tone loss. Questionnaires related to singing was more sensitive than previously well-known "voice handicap index". Stimulation of the superior laryngeal nerve was feasible in most of the cases (94.4%), but it failed to show any correlation with minor voice changes after thyroidectomy. Conclusion : Minor voice changes were not rare events during the first 6 month after thyroidectomy. Decrease in phonatory range with high tone loss and therefore, discomfort in singing was the most common finding. Superior laryngeal monitoring was feasible but it was not a sensitive tool for the prediction of minor voice change after thyroidectomy.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 1998

To AC impedance study was performed in this study on the interfacial reaction between organic electrolyte and amorphous tungsten oxides thin film, cathodically coloring oxide, prepared by e-beam evaporation method in the 1 M $LiClO_4/PC$ organic solution. The electrochemical reactions at the interface were analyzed by the transient method and the complex impedance spectroscopy. The impedance spectrums showed that the electro-chemical intercalation of lithium cations was consisted of the following three steps; the first step, the charge transfer reaction of lithium cation at the interface between amorphous tungsten oxides thin film and the organic electrolyte, the second step, the adsorption of lithium atom on the surface of amorphous tungsten oxides thin film, and then the third step, the absorption and the diffusion of lithium atom into amorphous tungsten oxides thin layer. The bleaching and the coloring characteristics of amorphous tungsten oxides thin film were explained in terms of thermodynamic and kinetic variables, the simulated $R_{ct},\;C_{dl},\;D$ and $\sigma_{Li}$ by CNLS fitting method. Especially it was found that the limiting values of electrochromic reaction were the molar ratio of lithium, y=0.167 and the electrode potential, E=2.245 V (vs. Li).