• Journal of Korea Foresty Energy
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.65-75
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• 2002

The study was carried out to determine the growth and biomass production of major deciduous trees including Betula platyphylla var. japonica, Betula schmidtii, Zelkova serrata, Acer mono, Prunes sargentii, and Ligustrum obtusifolium subjected to artificial shade treatment in nursery field. The six deciduous trees seedlings grow for 2 years under different light intensity of 100%, 38-62%, 22-28%, 7-20%, and 2-6% of the full sun light intensity. The results were as follows; In the seedling heights and root collar diameters of shade intolerant species like Betula platyphylla var. japonica and Betula schmidtii, the relative growth rates of seedlings grown in full sun showed 2 times as compared with those subjected to the shade treatment of 2-6% light intensities of full sun. In the shade tolerant species like Acer mono ant Ligustrum obtusifolium, the growth performances were better in the seedlings grown in 38-62% light intensities of full sun. Total dry mass including the dry mass of leaves, shoot and root were as a whole decreased with shade treatment. The ratio of the dry mass of leaves and stem increased the dry mass of root. T/R ratio of the seedlings increased by decreasing the relative light intensity. And the T/R ratio of 2-6% light intensities of full sun was ranged from 1.1~5.0 were greater in the full sun light was ranged from 0.6~3.2. Light intensity by artificial shade treatment decreased in deciduous trees when compared on the whole, it showed tendency that SLA increases, increased that seeing resemblant tendency in LAR and LWR and changed of light intensity is strong, it increased that showed difference as statistical. But, LWR of Betula platyphylla var. japonica increased gradually and showed tendency that decreases rapidly in the shade treatment of 2-6% light intensities of full sun. This result is thought that biomass production decreased by shading treatment influenced in physiological characteristics such as leaf area and decrease of the leaf amount.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.31 no.1 s.84
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• pp.39-50
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• 2001

In proceeding with orthodontic treatment, the prediction for the shape, growth rate and growth direction of mandible plays a major role to set up the treatment plan and determine its period and prognosis. Various approaches being made so far have shown that the linear and angular measurement using lateral cephalograms are relatively accurate to estimate them. This study was purposed to find the shape of mandible more clearly by preventing the overlap of the Condyle head area which appears in lateral cephalogram, and to estimate its growth rate by comparing the growth quantity and ratio via lateral area measurement. This experimental was performed against 40 patients total, of which Class I of 14, Class II of 9 and Class III of 17 consist. Wide open lateral cephalograms of 40 patients were taken over average period of 4 Year 3 Months, then the linear and angular measurements were carried out with 11 itemized lists. Autocad Rl4 application program was utilized to draw their appearance, measure and compare their lateral area. As a result of study, conclusions were made as follows; 1. Mandibular body length (gonion-menton) tended to increase in order of CIII, CI and CII, and Mandibular body length of CIII group had a tendency to grow twice faster than that of CII group. 2. In lateral items such as Go-Me, A-Cd, B-Cp, E-F and G-H, CIII showed a significant increase on the year-average quantity and rate of the growth, and especially apparent difference was observed in CIII group rather than CII group. 3. For the 4 Year 3 Months period, the year-average growth quantity of lateral area of the mandible was $1.0cm^2$ for Class I, $0.8cm^2$ for Class II and $1.4cm^2$ for Class III, which corresponds to $11.9\%,\;11.8\%\;and\;20.3\%$ of growth ratio respectively. Thus, growth ratio almost 2 times more than other groups was observed in group CIII while growth ratio between group CI and CII has little difference. 4. Considering the results as above, it can be proposed that the difference in size of the mandible between groups is caused by the difference in the growth rate and growth quantity of the mandible, which generated in the middle of growth, rather than the difference in size of congenital Jaw-bone.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.142-149
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• 2017

This study targeted 123 dental hygienists working at the university and dental hospital as well as the dental clinic in Busan. The study ran for 5 months beginning July 23, 2016. The purpose of the study was to understand the relationship between core competencies and job performance for dental hygienists. The major core competencies of dental hygienists were interpersonal relation competency (3.61) was the highest, followed by management and educational competency (3.59), organizational relation competency (3.57), and basic dental hygiene management competency (3.56). Regarding the subjects' job performance, 'the task requested by a boss could be finished by the deadline' (3.93) was the highest, followed by 'there has been no case where others were harmed owing to carelessness' (3.76). 'The performance exceeding the targets set by the boss' (3.11) was relatively low. The group working for dental hospitals showed higher job performance than the group working for dental clinics (p=0.009) while there were high correlations between core competencies and job performance (p=0.733). Also, analysis for understanding relevant variables of core competencies that affected job performance revealed that the interpersonal relation competency (p=0.25), self-control competency (p=0.32), and basic dental hygiene competency (p=0.15) were significant. In summary, reinforcement of the dental hygienists' core competencies has a positive effect on job performance. Improved job performance in turn should improve patient care as well as the performance of the healthcare organization overall which will be eventually helpful to the provision of high-quality medical service to patients, and helpful for the hospital organization Helpful in making their performance better. Therefore, it would be necessary to establish administrative/educational support to facilitate dental hygiene education to develop major competencies and vocational basic abilities, as well as reinforce diverse competency educational programs for the current dental hygienists.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.1366-1381
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• 1997

Background : Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty(UPPP) has become the most common surgical treatment for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome(OSAS). However, the results of this therapeutic modality have been quite variable with successful results by several authors and poor results by others. Until recently, in Korea, there is only a few reports about the clinical efficacy of UPPP. A prospective study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness and complications of UPPP. Method : Twenty-six OSAS patients who had undergone UPPP with preoperative and postoperative polysomnographic studies were included in this study. Two definitions of surgical success were used. The responder was defined, using a conventional criteria, as a 50% or more reduction in apnea index(AI) or apneahypopnea index(AHI) after UPPP, or a postoperative AI of <10 or AHI of <20. The initial cure was defined, using our own criteria, as a postoperative AI of <5 or AHI of <10. Complications were categorized in two groups : early(disorders during the first 10 postoperative days) and late. Results : Eighteen patients(69.2%) were responders, and ten patients(38.5%) were considered as initial cure. On the other hand, in five patients (19.2%), postoperative polysomnographic data demonstrated deterioration compared with preoperative data. Reduction rate of AI or AHI following UPPP was not significantly related to the preoperative body mass index, AI or AHI. There was no significant change of sleep architecture before and after UPPP in responder and initial cure groups. Early complications such as pain, dyspnea, bleeding, nasal reflux, dysphagia or wound disruption were observed in all patients. Late complications such as nasal reflux, voice change, dysphagia, loss of taste, pharyngeal dryness or foreign body sensation were discovered in 22 patients (84.6%). However, all early and late complications were of minor importance. Conclusion : The response to UPPP was favorable in approximately 70% of OSAS patient. However, the initial Cure rate of UPPP was relatively low. We suggest that selection of more appropriate surgical candidates and adequate surgical protocol is necessary to obtain a more successful result with UPPP.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.61-65
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• 2008

Objective: To reduce urinary side effects in prostate cancer patients receiving radiation, patients were asked to drink certain amount of water to maintain bladder volume constant and the bladder volumes were measured weekly using ultrasound scanner. Materials and Methods: Twenty-six patients with prostate cancer who received radiation between December 2002 and August 2007 were enrolled in this study. Thirteen patients were enrolled in experimental group. These patients were asked to drink 450 cc of water, one hour prior to simulation, CT scan, and treatment. The other thirteen patients were given no information about bladder filing. Bladder, prostate, and rectum were contoured on CT and volumes were calculated. 3D conformal treatment planning was performed and effective volumes of bladder were calculated when a prescription dose of 70.2 Gy was delivered. For the patients in experimental group, bladder volumes were measured weekly using ultrasound scanner for 6-8 weeks and the bladder volume variations were analyzed. Results: Average bladder volumes and standard deviations obtained at CT scanning were $283.5{\pm}114.0\;cc$ (40%) and $181.2{\pm}120.1\;cc$ (66%) in experimental and control groups, respectively. Although it was not statistically significant, there was correlation between the bladder volumes measured from CT and ultrasound. The volumes measured using ultrasound scanner were 62% lower than the volumes using CT images on average. There was significant variations in volumes measured weekly for 6-8 weeks. It ranged between 33 - 75 %. Conclusion: Our results showed that it is possible to obtain larger bladder volume if they are asked to drink certain amount of water prior to CT scan. However, patients were unable to maintain constant bladder volumes over the 6-8 weeks of treatment period although they were asked to drink constant amount of water.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.196-202
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• 2006

Treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) with lamivudine is effective in suppressing virus replication and results in reduced inflammatory activity. However the most troublesome problem of lamivudine treatment is the emergence of lamivudine-resistant strains with amino acid substitution in the YMDD motif of DNA polymerase gene during the treatment. The aim of this study was to determine the mutation of YMDD motif (codon 552) and codon 528 in chronic HBV patients with lamivudine therapy using PCR-direct sequencing and to investigate the relationship between lamivudine mediated HBV mutation and HBeAg. HBV DNA was extracted from serum samples of HBV patients and amplified by nested PCR with two sets of primer pairs selected in HBV DNA polymerase gene. Amplified PCR product was analyzed by 2% agarose gel electrophoresis and direct sequencing. HBV mutation was detected in 124 out of 207 samples (60%). Single mutation was 50.8% for M552I, 43.5% for M552V, 5.7% for M552I/V and the L528M mutation was 67.0%. Double mutation was 43.6% for M552V/L528M, 33.1% for M552I/L528(wild type), 17.7% for M552I/L528M and 5.6% for M552I/V/L528M. Serine mutation at YMDD motif (M552S) was not found and the L528M mutation frequently accompanied M552V type. In this study, the typical difference of frequencies for HBV mutation depending on HBeAg was not found. Moreover, the PCR-direct sequencing method used in this study might be a powerful tool for the mutation study in clinical reference laboratories with high volume.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.67-76
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• 2004

Background : Pulmonary hypertension is a poor prognostic factor in patients with chronic respiratory disease. However, diagnosing pulmonary hypertension is a difficult procedure which often requires an invasive test. Thus new alternative biochemical markers would be useful in clinical field and are in search. We sought to assess the role of plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP) in patients with pulmonary hypertension. Method : We measured plasma NT-proBNP level in twenty nine patients suspected for pulmonary hypertension. Pulmonary hypertension was defined as being right ventricular systolic pressure more than 35 mm Hg estimated by Doppler echocardiography. Plasma NT-proBNP level was measured by electrochemiluminescence sandwich immunoassay. Results : The log-transformed values for plasma NT-proBNP levels showed a linear correlation (correlation coefficiency: 0.783, p-value <0.001) with right ventricular systolic pressure. Plasma NT-proBNP levels closely correlated with right ventricular systolic pressure, right ventricular hypertrophy, interventricular septal flattening and right ventricular dilatation. Conclusion : Our results suggest that the measurement of plasma NT-proBNP level is an useful marker of the presence of pulmonary hypertension.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.485-494
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• 2003

Background : Most previous studies regarding the role of GSTMl and GSTT1 on lung cancer risk have been focused mainly on male smokers. However, epidemiological characteristics, histologic types and risk factors are different in female and male lung cancers, we investigated the association between these genotypes and lung cancer risk in males and females separately. Materials and Methods : The study population consisted of 253 lung cancer (153 males and 100 females) and 243 controls (140 males and 103 females). GSTM1 and GSTT1 genotypes were determined by a multiplex PCR. Results : In the male population, neither GSTM1 nor GSTT1 null genotype showed significant difference between cases and controls. In the female population, the frequencies of GSTM1 null genotype showed no significant difference between cases and controls. However, the frequencies of GSTT1 null genotype was significantly higher in cases (70.3%) than controls (55.3%, odds ratio (OR)=2.18; 95% confidence interval (CI=l.21-3.93). When the female population was stratified by age and smoking status, the ORs for GSTT1 null genotype were significantly higher in subgroups of ${\leq}60$ years (OR=4.82; 95% CI=l.61-14.4) and never-smokers (OR=4.29; 95% CI=1.94-9.48) but not in subgroups of >60 years or smokers. When stratifying the female never-smokers by age, the ORs for GSTT1 null genotype were significantly higher in both age groups of ${\leq}60$ years (OR=7.64; 95% CI=2.00-29.2) and >60 years (OR=2.89; 95% CI=1.05-7.94). Conclusion : We found that GSTT1 null genotype was associated with an increased risk of lung cancer in Korean female never-smokers. This result suggests that GSTT1 null genotype could be used as a biomarker for genetic susceptibility to lung cancer in Korean female never-smokers.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.98 no.1
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• pp.94-105
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• 2009

Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) stand is representative lowland exotic plantation with low ecological quality and arrested succession in South Korea. To facilitate succession and restore natural vegetation, small canopy gaps (${\sim}57m^2$), which can modify minimally structural variables and reduce restoration related disturbances on stand, was established in the black locust stand, and oak (Quercus serrata) seedlings were introduced in the gap. Two types of varying levels were introduced for gap creation; cutting (C) and girdling (G) on canopies. Understory removal (CU and GU) treatment was applied as subtypes of structural modification. Growth (diameter, height and leaf area) of target species and responses (species composition, diversity and coverage) of understory community were monitored during study years (2007~2008). Canopy openness was different significantly among treatments but not for light availability. Based on the result of logistic regression, growth of height and leaf area of seedlings were significant variables on seedling survival. Height and leaf area of seedlings were increased during study years, although radial growth was reduced. During study years, there were no significant differences in species composition and diversity, and total coverage increased about 20%. Increase of resources by gap creation and understory removal likely affect growth of target species. Small gap creation was effective to reduce understory responses in composition and diverstiy. Synthesized, growth of target species and responses of understory community to small canopy gap creation exhibited, in short term, possibility of utilization in alternative forest restoration and management option. Long-term monitoring is necessary to certificate effect of artificial gap creation on forest restoration.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.60 no.6
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• pp.638-644
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• 2006

Backgrounds: This study investigated whether or not a polymorphism in the gene encoding the surfactant protein A(SP-A) has any bearing on the individual susceptibility to the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) in a genetically homogenous Korean population. Methods: The genotypes of 19 COPD patients and 20 healthy neonates as controls were tested using a polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis for the SP-A gene. Results: The specific frequencies of the 6A2 and 6A18 alleles of SP-A1 and the 1A2 allele of SP-A2 were much higher in the COPD group than control group (p<0.05). However, the frequencies of the 6A3 and 6A4 alleles of SP-A1 and the 1A0 allele of SP-A2 in the COPD group were significantly lower than the control group. In the COPD group, the frequencies of the +50 locus genotypes GG of SP-A1 and the +9 locus genotypes CC of SP-A2 were 85.0% and 60.6%, respectively, and 19.7% and 24.8% in the control group, respectively. The frequencies of the polymorphic genotypes or alleles showed a statistically significant difference between the COPD group and the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: A genetic polymorphism in SP-A is associated with the development of COPD in the Korean population.