• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.173-180
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• 2014

Estrogen can promote or inhibit cellular proliferation depending on tissue cell types and physiological condition and acts through the signal transduction pathways mediated primarily by estrogen receptors. This study examined the effects of fulvestrant (Ful), a well-known antagonist for the estrogen receptor, on the action of $17{\beta}$-estradiol (E2) with respect to the proliferation and apoptosis of Chinese hamster ovarian (CHO) cells. We used different concentrations of E2, Ful, and E2 plus Ful during different treatment durations. Treatment with 15-40 ${\mu}M$ E2 significantly inhibited proliferation in a time-dependent manner, although it had no influence in concentrations up to 1 ${\mu}M$. Interestingly, Ful at 10-40 ${\mu}M$ also inhibited cellular proliferation in both a concentration- and time-dependent manner. In addition, Ful enhanced rather than decreased the inhibitory effect on cellular proliferation by E2 in combined treatment for 10 days. Thus, Ful does not appear to have an antagonistic effect on estrogen's anti-proliferative action in CHO cells. In TUNEL assays to confirm DNA fragmentation by E2 and/or Ful, CHO cells treated with 20 ${\mu}M$ E2 showed a TUNEL-positive reaction in most DAPI-stained nuclei, and cells treated with either 40 ${\mu}M$ Ful or 40 ${\mu}M$ Ful plus 20 ${\mu}M$ E2 also exhibited a TUNEL-positive reaction but at a lower rate compared to the E2-treated cells. These results indicate that Ful does not have an antagonistic effect on estrogen's anti-proliferative action in CHO cells, suggesting that the anti-proliferative and apoptosis-related mechanism(s) through DNA fragmentation by E2 and Ful may be mediated by different signal transduction pathways.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.89-94
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• 2016

This study was conducted to determine the optimum nutrient solution, pH, irrigation interval, light intensity and planting density to growth of common ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.) in a closed-type plant production system. Three-band radiation type fluorescent lamps with a 12-h photoperiod were used. Nutrient film technique systems with three layers were used for the plant growth system. Environmental conditions, such as air temperature, relative humidity and $CO_2$ concentration were controlled by an ON/OFF operation. Treatments were comparison of the nutrient solution of Horticultural Experiment Station in Japan (NHES) and the nutrient solution of Jeju National University (NJNU), pH 6.0 and 7.0, irrigation interval 5 min and 10 min, light intensity 90 and $180{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$, and within-row spacing 10 cm, 15 cm, 20 cm and 25 cm with between-row spacing 15 cm. Optimum macronutrients were composed N 7.65, P 0.65, K 4.0, Ca 1.6 and Mg $1.0mM{\cdot}L^{-1}$. There were no significant interactions between pH 6.0 and 7.0 about shoot fresh weight and shoot dry weight of common ice plant. Irrigation interval 5 min and 10 min was also the same result. Shoot fresh weight and shoot dry weight were highest at $180{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$. Shoot fresh weight and shoot dry weight were decreased according to increasing the planting density. From the above results, we concluded that optimum nutrient solution, optimum levels of pH, irrigation interval, light intensity and planting density were 6.0-7.0 and 10 min, $180{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ and $15{\times}15cm$, respectively for growth of common ice plant in a closed-type plant production system.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.217-224
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• 2016

Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) is prevalent in hospital environments and is an important opportunistic pathogen of nosocomial infection. It is known that this pathogen cause herd infection in hospitals, and the mortality rate is remarkably higher for patients infected with this pathogen and already have other underlying diseases. Herein, we investigated the antibiotic resistance rate and the type of resistance genes in 85 isolates of multi-drug resistant A. baumannii from the samples commissioned to laboratory medicine in two university hospitals-in hospital A and hospital B-located in Cheonan and Chungcheong provinces, respectively, in Korea. As a result, $bla_{OXA-23-like}$ and $bla_{OXA-51-like}$ were detected in 82 stains (96.5%). These 82 strains of $bla_{OXA-23-like}$ producing A. baumannii were confirmed with the ISAba1 gene found at the top of the $bla_{OXA-23-like}$ genes by PCR, inducing the resistance against carbapenemase. The armA, AME gene that induces the resistance against aminoglycoside was detected in 34 strains out of 38 strains from Hospital A (89.5%), and in 40 strains out of 47 strains from Hospital B (85.1%), while AMEs were found in 33 strains out of 38 strains from Hospital A (70.2%) and in 44 strains out of 47 strains in Hospital B (93.6%). Therefore, it was found that most multi-drug resistant A. baumannii from the Cheonan area expressed both acethyltransferase and adenyltransferase. This study investigated the multi-drug resistant A. baumannii isolated from Cheonan and Chungcheong provinces in Korea, and it is thought that the results of the study can be utilized as the basic information to cure multi-drug resistant A. baumannii infections and to prevent the spread of drug resistance.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.239-247
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• 2017

Among the commonly known tools to diagnose diabetes are fasting plasma glucose (FPG), HbA1c., and OGTT known as gold standard. However, there can be many disagreements on the ways to diagnose diabetes. In this study, we examined the differences of the types of diabetes according to the applicability of FPG and HbA1c. Moreover, we evaluated the concordance of diagnosis. We excluded subjects with missing glucose and HbA1c data, as well as those previously diagnosed with diabetes, and those who fasted less than 8 hours. The data of 4,502 subjects (1,956 men and 2,546 women) from the 2015 KNHNES were analyzed. We divided these patients into three categories which are normal, prediabetes, and diabetes, based on the FPG and HbA1c. In men, the number of subjects with FPG ranging from 100 to 125 mg/dL and HbA1c ${\geq}6.5%$ was 23 out of 664, and the number of subjects with FPG < 126 mg/dL and HbA1c ${\geq}6.5%$ was 39 out of 86 newly diagnosed diabetes patients. The concordance rate was as follows: Normal 80.3%, prediabetes 44.9%, and diabetes 54.7%. The coefficient of Cohen's Kappa was 0.322 in men and 0.362 in women; this suggests that both gender showed a low concordance rate. However, when we divided them into two categories (nondiabetes and diabetes), Kappa was 0.582 in men and 0.637 in women, showing a relatively high concordance rate. While all subjects with FPG ${\geq}126mg/dL$ showed a significantly high HOMA IR, all subjects with FPG < 126 mg/dL showed a significantly high QUICKI. Considering the low concordance rate for the diagnosis of diabetes and characteristic of diagnostic tests, it is necessary to combine the related tests for diagnosing diabetes.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.387-393
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• 2001

To use as a fundamental data for the sustainable agriculture, which is nowadays a major trend to keep the productivity and conserve the environment, 487 paddy soil samples were collected from 21 regions of the Gyeongnam Province and analyzed the chemical characteristics and microbial population of the soil. The microbial population densities were bacteria $298{\times}10^5$($4{\sim}3000{\times}10^5$ range), fungi $63{\times}10^3$($2{\sim}441{\times}10^3$ range), actinomycetes $19{\times}10^5$($0.2{\sim}1250{\times}10^5$ range), Bacillus sp. $53{\times}10^4$($4{\sim}890{\times}10^4$ range) and Pseudomonas sp. $198{\times}10^4CFU\;g^{-1}$($4{\sim}1724{\times}10^4CFU\;g^{-1}$ range), respectively. The microbial populations of the soil were in general higher in southern area than in the northern area of the Gyeongnam Province. The average ratio of bacteria/fungi population was 473. As soil clay content increased, the populations of aerobic bacteria, actinomycetes and Pseudomonas sp. were remarkably decreased. The ratio of aerobic bacteria and fungi was 1554 in sandy loam and clay loam 1144, while Bacillus sp./fungi ratio was 11 in clay loam and 10 in loam. On the topographical differences, aerobic bacteria and Bacillus sp./fungi ratio were the higher in coastal plains than any other areas. The microbial population densities from different soil types were generally lower in ill-drained paddy field than those of other paddy field. The content of $P_2O_5$, K, Ca, $NO_3-N$ and EC in soil were positively correlated to the population densities of aerobic bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi, Bacillus sp. and Pseudomonas sp.. The soil organic matter and Mg content were also positively correlated to the population densities of aerobic bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi and Bacillus sp.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.81-92
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• 2001

According to analyses of high-resolution seismic profiles (air gun, sparker, and SBP) and a deep-drill core(YSDP 105) in the mid-eastern Yellow Sea, stratigraphic and geoacoustic models have been established and seismo-acoustic modeling has been fulfilled using ray tracing of finite element method. Stratigraphic model reflects seismo-, litho-, and chrono-stratigraphic sequences formed under a significant influence of Quaternary glacio-eustatic sea-level fluctuations. Each sequence consists of terrestrial to very-shallow-marine coarse-grained lowstand systems tract and tidal fine-grained transgressive to highstand systems tract. Based on mean grain-size data (121 samples) of the drill core, bulk density and P-wave velocity of depositional units have been inferred and extrapolated down to a depth of the recovery using the Hamilton's regression equations. As goo-acoustic parameters, the 121 pairs of bulk density and P-wave velocity have been averaged on each unit of the stratigraphic model. As a result of computer ray-tracing simulation of the subsurface strata, we have found that there are complex ray paths and many acoustic-shadow zones owing to the presence of irregular layer boundaries and low-velocity layers.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.110-115
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• 2006

Purpose: This study was performed to determine the prognostic factors influencing relapse pattern, overall and disease-free survival in patients treated with postoperative radiotherapy for endometrial carcinoma. Materials and Methods: The records of 54 patients with endometrial adenocarcinoma treated postoperative radiotherapy at Pusan National University Hospital between April 1992 and May 2003 were reviewed retrospectively. Median age of the patients was 55 (range $35{\sim}76$). The distribution by surgical FIGO stages were 63.0% for 0Stage I, 14.8% for Stage II, 22.2% for Stage III. All patients received postoperative external radiotherapy up to $41.4{\sim}54Gy$ (median: 50.4 Gy). Additional Intravaginal brachytherapy was app led to 20 patients (37.0% of all). Median follow-up time was 35 months ($5{\sim}115$ months). Significant factors of this study: histologic grade, Iymphovascular space invasion and myometrial invasion depth were scored (GLM score) and analyzed. Survival analysis was peformed using Kaplan-Meier method. The log-rank test was used for univariate analysis and the Cox regression model for multivariate analysis. Results: 5-year overall and disease-free survival rates were 87.7% and 871%, respectively. Prognostic factors related with overall and disease-free survival were histologic grade, Iymphovascular space invasion and myometrial invasion according to the univariate analysis. According to the multivariate analysis, Iymphovascular space invasion was associated with decreased disease-free survival. GLM score was a meaningful factor affecting overall and disease-free survival (p=0.0090, p=0.0073, respectively) and distant recurrence (p=0.0132), which was the sum of points of histologic grade, Iymphovascular space Invasion and myometrial invasion. Total failure rate was 11% with 6 patients. Relapse sites were 2 para-aortic Iymph nodes, 2 lungs, a supraclavicular Iymph node and a vagina. Conclusion: The prognosos in patients with endometrial carcinoma treated by postoperative radiotherapy was closely related with surgical histopathology. If further explorations confirm the system of prognostic factors in endometrial carcinoma, it will help us to predict the progression pattern and to manage.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.255-262
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• 2006

$\underline{Purpose}$: To evaluate the pathological prognostic factors related to local recurrence after radical surgery and adjuvant radiation therapy in advanced rectal cancer. $\underline{Materials\;and\;Methods}$: Fifty-four patients with advanced rectal cancer who were treated with radical surgery followed by adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy between February 1993 and December 2001 were enrolled in this study. Among these patients, 14 patients experienced local recurrence. Tissue specimens of the patients were obtained to determine pathologic parameters such as histological grade, depth of invasion, venous invasion, lymphatic invasion, neural invasion and immunohistopathological analysis for expression of p53, Ki-67, c-erb, ezrin, c-met, phosphorylated S6 kinase, S100A4, and HIF-1 alpha. The correlation of these parameters with the tumor response to radiotherapy was statistically analyzed using the chi-square test, multivariate analysis, and the hierarchical clustering method. $\underline{Results}$: In univariate analysis, the histological tumor grade, venous invasion, invasion depth of the tumor and the over expression of c-met and HIF-1 alpha were accompanied with radioresistance that was found to be statistically significant. In multivariate analysis, venous invasion, invasion depth of tumor and over expression of c-met were also accompanied with radioresistance that was found to be statistically significant. By analysis with hierarchical clustering, the invasion depth of the tumor, and the over expression of c-met and HIF-1 alpha were factors found to be related to local recurrence. Whereas 71.4% of patients with local recurrence had 2 or more these factors, only 27.5% of patients without local recurrence had 2 or more of these factors. $\underline{Conclusion}$: In advanced rectal cancer patients treated by radical surgery and adjuvant chemo-radiation therapy, the poor prognostic factors found to be related to local recurrence were HIF-1 alpha positive, c-met positive, and an invasion depth more than 5.5 mm. A prospective study is necessary to confirm whether these factors would be useful clinical parameters to measure and predict a radio-resistance group of patients.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.92-96
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• 2011

Rhodococcus sp. strain DK17 possesses three megaplasmids (380 kb pDK1, 330 kb pDK2, and 750 kb pDK3). The alkylbenzene-degrading genes (akbABCDEF) are present on pDK2 while the phthalate operons which are duplicated are present on both pDK2 (ophA'B'C'R') and pDK3 (ophABCR). DK17 with an optimal temperature of $30^{\circ}C$ showed no growth at $37^{\circ}C$. When transferred to $30^{\circ}C$, however, the $37^{\circ}C$ culture began to grow immediately, indicating that $37^{\circ}C$ is not lethal but stressful for DK17 growth. In addition, when exposed to $37^{\circ}C$ even for a short time, a part of DK17 cells lost the ability to degrade o-xylene (a model compound of alkylbenzenes). When two hundred colonies were randomly selected for colony PCR for pDK2-specific akbC, ophC', or pDK3-specific ophC, a total of 29 colonies were found to have lost at least one of the three genes. PFGE analysis clearly showed that all the mutants have different megaplasmid profiles from that of DK17 wild type, which are divided into five different cases: Type I (10 mutants, pDK2 loss and acquisition of a new ~700 kb plasmid), Type II (9 mutants, pDK2 loss), Type III (8 mutants, pDK3 loss and acquisition of a new ~400 kb plasmid), Type IV (1 mutant, pDK3 loss), and Type V (1 mutant, pDK2 and pDK3 loss and acquisition of the ~400 kb and ~700 kb plasmids). The above results showing that growth temperature changes can induce physical changes in bacterial genomes suggest that environmental changes in habitats including temperature fluctuations affect significantly the evolution of bacteria.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2004

Objectives: We investigated the factors related to health examination behaviors, sociodemographic aspects and lifestyles of elderly persons with different social backgrounds, and compared sexual and regional differences in urban and rural elderlies. Methods: The total study subjects(464 individuals) from urban(236) and rural areas(228), recruited by a stratified cluster random sampling were interviewed and examined about their sociodemographic profiles, daily lifestyles, subjective health status, conditions concerning use of medical resources, hearing acuity, visual acuity and ADL(activity of daily living), and whether they receive health examination or not. For statistical analysis, Chi-square test was used for sexual and regional comparisons among the groups who have been given a health examination and the one who have not. Results: In urban areas, the rate of having underwent health examination was 54.5% in men and 46.9% in women, and in rural areas, it was 59.8% in men and 42.7% in women, showing its higher rate in men than in women in both areas. For regional differences between the group who have taken a health examination and the one who have not, there was a significant difference in terms of age, family pattern, current job, monthly household income, owning a house, drinking status, eating habit, subjective health status, whether they have taken outpatient medical service for the recent 3 months or not, anxiety for the health, and IADL conditions according to whether the community is rural or urban. In multiple regressions, the influential factors on the health examination behaviors were selected such as having their own house, their family doctor, amnesia, urinary incontinence and chronic disease in urban districts. But in rural districts, the variables were selected such as having or not of their family doctor, urinary incontinence, anxiety for the health, educational level, their own house and chronic disease. Conclusions: It is suggested that the approach to the health examination of an older patient requires substantial consideration of highly variable individual sociodemographic characteristics involving regional attributes as well as their daily life styles, subjective health status, status of performing health examination, physical health status and ADL conditions.