• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.30-37
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• 2017

Background: We investigated the impact of financial compensation on patients' decision of participation in clinical trials and the related factors with patients' attitudes and considerations. Methods: A survey questionnaire was placed from October 31 to November 16, 2017 to the subjects who were enrolled in the trials of chronic diseases. Patients' socio-demographic characteristics were collected and the potential reasons for participating in the trials were assessed using 5-likert scores. Results: Sixty eight of 110 respondents (61.8%) indicated to participate clinical trials regardless of financial compensation. The differences were found between patients who were unwilling to participate without compensation and those who were willing to participate regardless of compensation in mean ages (43.9 years vs. 52.0 years, p<0.05), marital status (married, 47.6% vs 79.4%, p<0.01), religions (yes, 45.2% vs 67.6%, p<0.05) and monthly income (${\geq}3$ million won, 19.0% vs 45.6%, p<0.01). The potential reasons for participation in the trials between two groups were doctor's suggestion (52.4% vs. 77.9%, p<0.01), the expectation of health improvement (54.8% vs. 73.5%, p<0.05), the types and numbers of procedure (33.3% vs. 16.2%, p<0.05) and the duration of clinical trials (59.5% vs. 27.9%, p=0.001). In regression analysis, the monthly income of ${\geq}3$ million won (odd ratio, OR=3.221, p=0.026,) and the duration of trials (OR=0.290, p=0.017) were related to the group with the willingness to participate regardless of compensation. Conclusion: This stady showed that more than half of study subjects would participate in the clinical trials of chronic diseases regardless of financial compensation.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.15-21
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• 2014

In this study, biochemical methane potential test was conducted to estimate ultimate methane and carbon dioxide yield for anaerobic digestion and pretreatment with sewage sludge cake. Two of 0.2 % TS of sewage sludge cakes were treated with 5M NaOH or sonication of 0.51 W/mL during 30 min respectively. Another sample was treated simultaneously with NaOH and sonication in same condition. Then, initial soluble COD increased from 33.1 mg/L to 494 mg/L. After BMP test, methane production ranged from 3.12 and 84.2 mL $CH_4$ per g of Volatile Solid (VS) and 9.2 and 13.5 mL $CO_2$ per g of Volatile Solid (VS) for carbon dioxide. In other tests, injection of nutrient media or sludge supernatant produced 73.1 and 73.8 mL $CH_4$ per g of Volatile Solid (VS) and 11.2 and 13.6 mL $CO_2$ per g of Volatile Solid (VS) respectively. When BMP test finished, 62 % of initial volatile solids decreased to 33.8~45.4 %. Simultaneous pretreatment increased soluble COD, reduction rate of volatile solids and digestion efficiency than those for alkaline and ultrasonic pretreatment.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.21
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• pp.9259-9264
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• 2014

Background: Previous studies concerning the association between the 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T gene polymorphism with lung cancer in Asian populations have provided inconclusive findings. Aim: A meta-analysis was performed to investigate a more reliable association between MTHFR C677T polymorphism and lung cancer in Asians. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted to identify all case-control studies of MTHFR polymorphisms and lung cancer in Asia, using odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to assess the strength of any association. Results: Meta-analysis results suggested that the MTHFR C677T polymorphism contributed to an increased lung cancer risk in Asian populations (for T vs C: OR=1.11, 95%CI=1.0-1.23; for CT vs CC: OR= 1.1, 95%CI= 0.95-1.2 ; for TT+CT vs CC: OR=1.13, 95%CI=1.0-1.30; for TT vs CC: OR=1.25, 95%CI=1.01-1.30; for TT vs CT+CC: OR=1.16, 95%CI=1.0-1.36). Conclusions: MTHFR C677T polymorphism is significantly associated with lung cancer in Asians.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.24-29
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• 1999

This study was conducted of investigate the antioxidant vitamins and serum lipids status of 23 healthy female subjects and 22 female patients suffering from cerebrovascular disease hospitalized at any of three of general hospitals in Taegu. The systolic blood pressure of patients suffering from cerebrovascular disease(151.4$\pm$30.2mmHg) was significantly higher than healthy controls(129.7$\pm$17.8mmHg). The frequency of drinking alcohol and smoking in patients was also higher. Analysis of patient and control dietary intakes revealed that all subjects were consuming the minimed recommended energy-nutrient levels. HDL-cholesterol(26.15 vs 37.74mg/dl), serum vitamin E(12.69 vs 17.74mg/l) and vitamin C(65.59 vs 152.50ug/dl) levels were significantly lower, but triglyceride(221.01 vs 87.30 mg/dl) and total-cholesterol / HDL-cholesterol levels(5.98 vs 4.89)were significantly higher in the patient group. According to the results of this study, it is expercted that refraining from smoking and drinking alcohol, cultivating healthy living habits which can decrease stress, and maintaining suitable levels of serum antioxidant vitamins can prevent the occurrence of cerebrovascular disease.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.325-333
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• 1997

The use of hormonal stimulation in human in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) leads to increased production of embryos for ET. So to avoid high pregnancies and to allow conception in future, unstimulated cycles, cryopreservation of spare embryos is desirable. One of the improvement of cryopreservation methods is vitrification. We cryopreserved mouse day 3 embryos by vitrification using the three different vitrification solution (EFS40, VS11 and VS3a). EFS40 solution is consisted of 40% (v/v) ethylene glycol, Ficol170 30% (w/v) and 0.5M sucrose and VS11 is 6.0M ethylene glycol and 1.8M glycerol. And VS3a is 6.5M glycerol and 6% (w/v) BSA (bovine serum albumin). First we tested the toxicity of three vitrification solution by exposure to these solution during 3 min. After washing by thawing solution, the survival rates of each groups are 95.5%, 90.9% and 84.4% (EFS40, VS11 and VS3a). High percentages of them developed to expanded blastocyst and hatching embryos in culture 48hrs 94.2%, 97.7%, 100% and 97.4% (no treatment group, EFS40, VS11 and VS3a). So there is no significant differences among the each group. Second, after thawing of vitirfied embryos, the survival rates of each groups are 96.8% (slow freeze), 94.1% (EFS40), 85.5% (VS11) and 80.0% (VS3a, P vs. no freeze or EFS40 is 0.01). Vitrified embryos exhibited a high rate of development in vitro after 48hrs culture. The percentages of each group to blastocyst and hatching embryos are 88.7% (no freeze), 91.8% (slow freeze), 93.4% (EFS40), 87.7% (VS11) and 73.0% (VS3a, P vs. other group is 0.01). The results suggest that there is no significant differences in exposure of various vitrification solution and day 3 mouse embryos can be vitrified in solution EFS40 and VS11 by simple procedure.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.93-101
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• 2000

The objective of this study was to evaluate the possibility of co-digestion of food waste and sewage sludge mixture using anaerobic system. The Biochemical methane Potentials of cabbage and food waste were $297ml\;CH_4/g$ VS and $306.7ml\;CH_4/g$ VS, respectively. The biodegradability of food waste was 60%. The concentrations of acetate, propionate, and isobutyrate produced during the aerobic acidogenesis of food waste for 36 hours were 7,000~7,200 ppm, 260~280 ppm, 380~400 ppm, and 40~50 ppm, respectively, of which acetate was over 85%. The concentrations of acetate, propionate, and isobutyrate produced during the anaerobic acidogenesis for 36 hours were 1,400~1,600 ppm, 30~40 ppm, 220~250 ppm, and 260~300 ppm, respectively, of which acetate was over 70%. The biodegradabilities of aerobic and anaerobic acidogenesis were 30% and 25%, respectively. Methanogensis could be activated under 1 % of NaCl and 1,000 ppm of volatile fatty acids at the range of pH 6.8~7.2. The maximum mixture ratio of food waste and sewage sludge in the present study was 2:8 by the result of VS removal rate and Methane production.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.8.1-8.10
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• 2021

The purpose of this retrospective study was to describe cases of feline intermediateto high-grade alimentary lymphoma regarding signalment, clinical presentation, laboratory findings, response to therapy (modified 25-week University of Wisconsin-Madison [UW-25] vs. COP [cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone]), toxicosis, and outcomes and to identify prognostic factors. Sixteen cats were treated with chemotherapy protocols. Response rates and survival did not differ statistically between the two protocols. The progression-free interval (PFI) and median survival time (MST) in cats achieving a response to therapy were longer than in those with no response [NR] (complete remission [CR] vs. partial remission [PR] vs. NR; PFI, 124 vs. 49 vs. 12 days, p < 0.001; MST, 361 vs. 118 vs. 16 days, p < 0.001). Clinical stage was another prognostic factor for PFI and MST. The PFI and MST in cats in stage I were longer than in those in other stages (PFI, 107 days vs. 30 days; MST, 193 days vs. 54 days). Hematologic and gastrointestinal toxicosis was mostly low grade. In comparing the modified UW-25 protocol with the COP protocol, there was not much difference in the number of neutropenic episodes and grade levels.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.197-209
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• 2022

Purpose: This study systematically evaluated the implications of advanced age on post-surgical outcomes following gastrectomy for gastric cancer using a national database. Materials and Methods: The 2011-2017 National Inpatient Sample was used to isolate patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer. From this, the population was stratified into those belonging to the younger age cohort (18-59 years), sexagenarians, septuagenarians, and octogenarians. The younger cohort and each advanced age category were compared in terms of the following endpoints: mortality following surgery, length of hospital stay, charges, and surgical complications. Results: This study included a total of 5,213 patients: 1,366 sexagenarians, 1,490 septuagenarians, 743 octogenarians, and 1,614 under 60 years of age. Between the younger cohort and sexagenarians, there was no difference in mortality (2.27 vs. 1.67%; P=0.30; odds ratio [OR], 1.36; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.81-2.30), length of stay (11.0 vs. 11.1 days; P=0.86), or charges ($123,557 vs. $124,425; P=0.79). Compared to the younger cohort, septuagenarians had higher rates of in-hospital mortality (4.30% vs. 1.67%; P<0.01; OR, 2.64; 95% CI, 1.67-4.16), length of stay (12.1 vs. 11.1 days; P<0.01), and charges ($139,200 vs. $124,425; P<0.01). In the multivariate analysis, septuagenarians had higher mortality (P=0.01; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.01; 95% CI, 1.18-3.43). Similarly, compared to the younger cohort, octogenarians had a higher rate of mortality (7.67% vs. 1.67%; P<0.001; OR, 4.88; 95% CI, 3.06-7.79), length of stay (12.3 vs. 11.1 days; P<0.01), and charges ($131,330 vs. $124,425; P<0.01). In the multivariate analysis, octogenarians had higher mortality (P<0.001; aOR, 4.03; 95% CI, 2.28-7.11). Conclusions: Advanced age (>70 years) is an independent risk factor for postoperative death in patients with gastric cancer undergoing gastrectomy.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.121-126
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• 2007

The objective of this study was to establish the optimal conditions for hypoosmotic swelling (HOS) test to assess the functional integrity of the membranes of boar fresh or frozen/thawed spermatozoa. When pooled semen sample was incubated for 30 min at $37^{\circ}C$ with different test solution of varied osmolarity, the highest percentage of HOS positive spermatozoa was observed in a 150 mOsmol fructose/Na-citrate solution (33.6%). Incubation time did not affect significantly the score of HOS positive spermatozoa observed in a 150 mOsmol fructose/Na-citrate solution at $37^{\circ}C$, but the osmolarity affected the score of HOS positive spermatozoa under the same condition above. Fresh semen was significantly better than frozen/thawed semen in semen parameters evaluated such as motility, viability, membrane integrity and lipid peroxidation (p<005). In the relationships of sperm parameters, motility vs viability, motility vs membrane integrity and viability vs membrane integrity were positively correlated ($0.82{\sim}0.94$) but lipid peroxidation vs other estimated factors was negatively correlated ($- 0.90{\sim}- 0.98$). Among the evaluation methods, motility vs Viability, motility vs membrane integrity and lipid peroxidation vs other estimated factors were significantly correlated (p<0.05). These results of this. study indicate that the optimal condition of HOST in boar spermatozoa is a 150 mOsmol fructose/Na-citrate solution for 30 min incubation at $37^{\circ}C$ and HOST can substitute the examination of motility, viability and lipid peroxidation.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.275-283
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• 2021

Objectives: The workplace is an ideal place for encouraging health-promoting behaviors. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the effect of an empowerment program on the health-promoting behaviors of women workers. Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted with 80 women workers employed at a food packaging facility in 2020. The subjects were selected using convenience sampling and were classified into intervention and control groups using block randomization. An empowerment program for women workers was conducted across 6 sessions based on an empowerment model. Data collection tools included a demographic questionnaire and the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile-II, which participants completed both before the program and 8 weeks after the last session. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 16 using descriptive analysis and inferential statistics. Results: There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in various health-promoting behaviors before the program. However, the intervention group's scores for nutrition (34.92±1.09 vs. 27.87±4.23), physical activity (24.40±2.94 vs. 17.40±5.03), stress management (26.35±2.60 vs. 23.05±4.27), spiritual growth (34.02±3.00 vs. 30.22±5.40), interpersonal relationships (30.82±2.38 vs. 27.60±4.61), and health responsibility (31.60±2.71 vs. 28.22±4.59) were significantly higher than the control group's 8 weeks after the program had ended. Moreover, there was a significant difference in the total score of health-promoting behaviors for the intervention group compared to the control group (179.00±9.22 vs. 151.42±20.25, p=0.001). Conclusions: An empowerment program for women workers led to significant improvements in the health-promoting behaviors of the participants. Similar programs can ultimately improve women's health in the workplace.