• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.3299-3303
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• 2012

Objective: To investigate the association between xeroderma pigmentosum group D (XPD) Asp312Asn polymorphism and esophageal cancer (EC) susceptibility by meta-analysis. Methods: We searched PubMed up to April 9th, 2012, to identify relevant papers, and 8 published case-control studies including 2165 EC patients and 3141 healthy controls were yielded. Odds ratios (ORs) with relevant 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were applied to assess the association between XPD Asp312Asn polymorphism and EC susceptibility with the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software, version 2.2. Results: Overall, the meta-analysis results suggested the XPD Asp312Asn polymorphism to be significantly associated with EC susceptibility [(Asn/Asn+Asp/Asn) vs. Asp/Asp: OR=1.20, 95%CI=1.05-1.36, p=0.01; and Asp/Asn vs. Asp/Asp: OR=1.15, 95%CI =1.01-1.31, p=0.04]. In the subgroup analysis by ethnicity and cancer type, significantly associations were found for Caucasian populations [(Asn/Asn+Asp/Asn) vs. Asp/Asp: OR=1.26, 95%CI =1.08-1.47, p<0.001; Asp/Asn vs. Asp/Asp: OR=1.19, 95%CI =1.02-1.40, p=0.03] and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma [(Asn/Asn+Asp/Asn) vs. Asp/Asp: OR=1.19, 95%CI=1.01-1.41, p=0.04]. There was no heterogeneity and no publication bias existed. Conclusions: This meta-analysis shows that the XPD Asp312Asn polymorphism may be a risk factor for developing EC, especially for Caucasian populations and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.3163-3168
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• 2013

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) plays a central role in folate metabolism. This study with 381 esophageal cancer patients and 432 healthy controls was conducted to examine the association of MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms with susceptibility to esophageal cancer (EC) in a Chinese population. Compared with the CC genotype of MTHFR C677T, subjects carrying homozygote TT and variant genotypes (CT+TT) demonstrated reduced risk of EC with adjusted ORs (95% CI) of 0.44 (0.28-0.71) and 0.57 (0.37-0.88), respectively. However, no association was found between the MTHFR A1298C polymorphism and the risk of EC. Comparing to haplotype CA, haplotypes TA and TC could reduce the susceptibility to EC with adjusted ORs (95% CI) of 0.61(0.47-0.79) and 0.06 (0.01-0.43), respectively. In conclusion, the present study suggested that the MTHFR C677T polymorphism can markedly influence the risk of EC in Chinese.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.567-580
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• 2010

Organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) concentrations were determined for $PM_{10}$, $PM_{2.5}$ and $PM_{1.0}$ aerosols particles collected at Gosan Superstation on Jeju Island from August 2007 to September 2008. Aerosols were collected on quartz filters for 24 hours and then OC and EC were analyzed by TOR/IMPROVED method. Mean concentrations of OC and EC were $4.66\;{\mu}g/m^3$ and $1.69\;{\mu}g/m^3$ for $PM_{10}$, $3.95\;{\mu}g/m^3$ and $1.69\;{\mu}g/m^3$ for $PM_{2.5}$, and $3.16\;{\mu}g/m^3$ and $1.42\;{\mu}g/m^3$ for $PM_{1.0}$, respectively. The concentrations of OC and EC comprised 16.4% and 6.0% of $PM_{10}$, 22.9% and 9.8% of $PM_{2.5}$, and 23.0% and 10.0% of $PM_{1.0}$. OC and EC showed a clear seasonal variation with the highest in winter and the lowest in summer. The correlations between the two were also the best during the winter ($R^2$=0.87, 0.94, and 0.95 for $PM_{10}$, $PM_{2.5}$ and $PM_{1.0}$). The ratio of OC/EC exhibited the maximum (7.24) during an Asian dust event due to an increase of OC, which was possibly derived from soil. The mass fraction of both OC and EC was the highest in fall. When OC and EC concentrations were highly elevated, EC1 (the first EC fraction determined at $550^{\circ}C$) and pyrolyzed OC (POC) were dominant subcomponents in winter and OC3 (the third OC fraction determined at $450^{\circ}C$) and POC in spring.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.4503-4508
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• 2015

Background: The aims of this study were compare the serum visfatin and resistin levels between endometrial cancer (EC) patients and controls and evaluate their power to predict prognosis. Materials and Methods: This prospective study was conducted between March 2013 to June 2014 on the Gynecologic Oncology Department of the University of Selcuk, Konya, Turkey. A total of 42 EC patients and 42 controls were included and assessed for differences in serum visfatin and resistin levels, along with prognostic factors. Results: Endometrial cancer patients had significantly higher visfatin levels than control s (p: 0.011), associated with deep myometrial invasion (p: 0.019). In contrast the serum level of resistin did not significantly differ between EC patients and controls (p: 0.362). However, high resistin level in EC patients was associated with increase lymph node metastasis (p: 0.009). On logistic regression analysis, we found that serum visfatin elevation was associated with risk of myometrial invasion (OR: 1,091; 95%CI: 1.021-1.166; p: 0.010) and serum resistin with risk of lymph node metastasis (OR: 1.018; 95%CI: 1.000-1.035; p: 0.046). For myometrial invasion prediction, a serum visfatin level greater than 26.8 ng/mL demonstrated a sensitivity and specificity of 66.6 % and 96.4%, respectively. For lymph node metastasis prediction, the best cut-off for serum resistin level was 599ng/mL. A serum resistin level greater than this demonstrated a sensitivity and specificity of 87.5% and 77.1%, respectively. Conclusions: Our data suggest that serum visfatin is elevated in patients with EC and serum visfatin and resistin levels could be used to predict the risk of advance stage lesions.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.360-364
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• 1996

Study on germination ratio and growth of lettuce affected by accumulated salt in vinyl house cultivation soils was investigated by pot test with EC 1.65. 3.50, 5.75. 7.15. 9.50 and 13.57 dS/m. (Germination rate of lettuce in different electric conductivity of 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 dS/m controlled with KCl were 96.7, 96.7, 87.8, 82.2, 52.2, and 27.8 % respectively. Standing ratio of lettuce in soil below 6 dS/m was more than 60% and in soils of 7.15, 9.50 and 13.57 dS/m they were 45, 32 and 31%, respectively. Growth and fresh weight of lettuces increased significantly in a low EC content soil. The fresh weight of lettuces in the soil of EC 3.50 dS/m was higher than that of the soil EC 1.65 dS/m by 22%, while another soils(EC: 5.75, 7.15, 9.50 and 13.57 dS/m) were decreased 3, 15, 60 and 62%, respectively. Relationship between soil EC and standing ratio of lettuce showed high correlation coefficient($r=-0.9057^{**}$). Therefore, in the field of vinyl houses concentrated salt, standing ratio of lettuce can be foreseen by soil EC [Y = -4.313x+ 82.95 (Y:standing ratio, x:soil EC)], also standing ratio and fresh weight of lettuce showed high correlation coefficient($r=0.8396^{**}$).

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.3861-3866
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• 2015

Background: The aim of this study was to analyze the patterns of relapse and survival outcomes in Northern Thai women with recurrent endometrial cancer (EC). Materials and Methods: Medical records were abstracted from EC patients who underwent primary surgery from 1999 to 2012. Data on clinicopathologic variables, sites of first recurrence, time to relapse of disease, and overall survival (OS) was analyzed. Associations between the clinicopathological variables and the rates of disease recurrence were determined. Results: Among 1,204 reviewed records, 42 eligible patients were identified with recurrent disease. The median age was 55 years and the median follow-up time was 26.0 months. The median times to recurrence (TTR) after completion of the initial treatment in the group of local relapse (LR) and distant/combined sites of recurrence (DCSR) was 6.6 (95% CI=4.6 to 8.6 months) and 16.9 months (95% CI=5.6 to 28.2 months), respectively (p=0.36). The 2-year survival and 3-year survival probability in the group of LR was 54.2% (95% CI=27.2 to 81.3%) and 34.7% (95% CI=9.2 to 60.2%), compared to 50.4% (95% CI=41.1 to 59.7%) and 42.1% (95%CI= 24.1 to 60.1%) for those with DCSR. Distant recurrence was the most frequent pattern of relapse. Overall survival was not significantly different in patients with local relapse when compared to those with DCSR (p=0.69). Conclusions: Patients with recurrence of EC after primary treatment had a worse prognosis and clinical aggressiveness. LR and DCSR occurred most during the first three years. The common sites of relapses were vaginal cuff, pelvis, and lungs. No significant clinicopathological predictor for survival outcomes was identified.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.221-227
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• 2015

Background: Endotracheal intubation induces clinically adverse cardiovascular changes. Various pharmacological strategies for controlling these responses have been suggested with opioids being widely administered. In this study, the optimal effect-site concentration (Ce) of remifentanil for minimizing hemodynamic responses to fiberoptic nasotracheal intubation was evaluated. Methods: Thirty patients, aged 18-63 years, scheduled for elective surgery were included. Anesthesia was induced with a propofol and remifentanil infusion via target-controlled infusion (TCI). Remifentanil infusion was initiated at 3.0 ng/mL, and the response of each patient determined the Ce of remifentanil for the next patient by the Dixon up-and-down method at an interval of 0.5 ng/mL. Rocuronium was administered after propofol and remifentanil reached their preset Ce; 90 seconds later fiberoptic nasotracheal intubation was initiated. Non-invasive blood pressure and heart rate (HR) were measured at pre-induction, the time Ce was reached, immediately before and after intubation, and at 1 and 3 minutes after intubation. The up-and-down criteria comprised a 20% change in mean blood pressure and HR between just prior to intubation and 1 minute after intubation. Results: The median effective effect-site concentration ($EC_{50}$) of remifentanil was $3.11{\pm}0.38ng/mL$ by the Dixon's up-and-down method. From the probit analysis, the $EC_{50}$ of remifentanil was 3.43 ng/mL (95% confidence interval, 2.90-4.06 ng/mL). In PAVA, the EC50 and EC95 of remifentanil were 3.57 ng/mL (95% CI, 2.95-3.89) and 4.35 ng/mL (95% CI, 3.93-4.45). No remifentanil-related complications were observed. Conclusions: The $EC_{50}$ of remifentanil for minimizing the cardiovascular changes and side effects associated with fiberoptic nasotracheal intubation was 3.11-3.43 ng/mL during propofol TCI anesthesia with a Ce of 4 ug/mL.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.554-559
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• 2004

The objective of the present study was to investigate the accuracy of mastitis diagnostic indicators for different dairy goat breeds. Biweekly milk samples were collected from individual half mammary gland of seven Saanen and seven Alpine dairy goats in the period of 40 to 120 days in milk. With threshold value set at 2.8 and 3.1 for Alpine and Saanen dairy goats, respectively, log (SPC) offered good sensitivity (0.89, 0.93), specificity (0.88, 0.95), positive predictive value (0.75, 0.85) and negative predictive value (0.95, 0.98) as a mastitis diagnostic tool. The correlations of log (SPC) with milk yield, log (SCC), ALP, LDH, $Na^{+}$, $K^{+}$ and EC were significant in Saanen dairy goats (p<0.05), with the highest correlation coefficient (0.653) existing between log (SPC) and log (SCC). The correlations of log (SPC) with milk yield, milk fat, milk protein, log (SCC), $Na^{+}$, $K^{+}$, EC were significant in Alpine dairy goats (p<0.05), with the highest correlation coefficient (0.416) existing between log (SPC) and log (SCC). There were different best-fit regression equations with different multiple diagnostic indicators for Saanen and Alpine dairy goats. In conclusion, different breeds of dairy goats may have to adapt different mastitis diagnostic parameters for a better diagnosis.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.608-617
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyze related factors in relation to usage of illicit substances for Korean adolescents. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, which used data from the Twelfth Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (KYRBWS). A total of 65,528 students in 2016 were included in this study. Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were used for analyzing related factors using illicit substances. Results: Overall, 553 (0.8%) students responded as having ever used illicit substances during their lifetime and 133 (0.2%) students responded as current illicit substance users. It was found that electronic cigarette (EC) use, conventional cigarette smoking, second hand smoking, sad/despair mood, and economic status were significantly associated factors with usage of illicit substances. Comparing 'current EC users' with 'never EC users', the adjusted odds ratios (OR) was 7.76 (95% confidence interval (CI): 5.56-10.82) for life-time use of illicit substances, and 18.74 (95% CI: 8.01-43.87) for current use of illicit substances among adolescents. Additionally, comparing 'students who ever were exposed to second hand smoking during the past week', with 'students who never were exposed to second hand smoking', the adjusted OR was 2.60 (95% CI: 2.13-3.17) for life-time use of illicit substances, and 2.85 (95% CI: 1.68-4.83) for current use of illicit substances among adolescents. Conclusions: Based on the results, electronic cigarette use, second hand smoking, conventional cigarette smoking, sad/despair mood, and economic status were significantly associated with increased odds of substance experience and current substance use. Therefore, the results of this study can provide a useful evidence about adolescent behaviors in predicting substance use.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.128-135
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• 2012

The individual toxicity of lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) has been investigated by using the sea urchin (Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus) germ cell and pluteus-larvae. The gametotoxic and embryotoxic effects of Pb and Zn on H. pulcherrimus were each investigated at 31, 63, 125, 250, 500 ppb and 16, 31, 63, 125, 250 ppb, respectively. Spawning was induced by 0.5 M KCl solution and the fertilization and normal embryogenesis rates test were performed for 10 min and 64 h after fertilization, respectively. In exposure to Pb, the fertilization rate was not significantly changed compared with control but normal embryogenesis rate was significantly decreased with concentration dependent manner. Fertilization and normal embryogenesis rates showed a significant decreased with concentration dependent manner in exposed to Zn. The normal embryogenesis rates were significantly inhibited in exposed to Pb ($EC_{50}$=45.13 ppb, 95% Cl=40.12~50.05 ppb) and Zn ($EC_{50}$=19.82 ppb, 95% Cl=18.26~21.31 ppb). In exposure to Pb and Zn, the NOEC of normal embryogenesis rate was <31.25 and <15.63 ppb, respectively. The LOEC showed each 31.25 and 15.63 ppb in exposed to Pb and Zn. These results suggest that the early embryo development of H. pulcherrimus is highly sensitive to heavy metals such as Pb and Zn, H. pulcherrimus can be used as a test organism for risk assessment in marine ecosystems.