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The Effect of Isoflavone Supplementation on Bone Metabolism in Ovariectomized SD Rats (이소플라본 보충이 난소절제 흰쥐의 골대사에 미치는 영향)

  • Park, Young-Hee;Yoon, Sun;Chung, Soo-Youn;Yang, Seoung-Oh;Yoo, Tae-Moo;Yang, Ji-Sun;Kwon, Dae-Joong
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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    • v.30 no.4
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    • pp.657-661
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    • 2001
  • Osteoporosis that is associated with ovarian hormone deficiency following menopause (postmenopausal osteoporosis) is by far the most common cause of age-related bone loss. Isoflavone has been reported as a natural substance that possibly minimizes bone loss in postmenopausal women. This study was conducted to investigate the preventing, treating effects of isoflavone on bone loss in ovariectomized rats. 120 Sprague Dawley rats of 13 week-old were devided into 2 groups, a treatment group and prevention group. Each group was consisted of six subgroups; control (CON), sham operated (SH) or ovariectomized (OVX) and isoflavone supplemented goups: OVX+0.25mg isoflavone/kg diet (OL), OVX+0.8mg isoflavone/kg diet(OM) and OVX+2.5mg isoflavone/kg diet(OH). to study the preventing effects of isoflavone on bone loss, OL, OM and OH groups were fed with isoflavone from 4 days after ovariectomization. Treating effects of isoflavone on bone metabolism were investigated with OL, OM, OH groups supplemented with isoflavone from 8 weeks after ovariectomization. Isoflavone supplementation continued for 8 weeks. At 8 weeks after ovariectomization significant increase in alkaline phosphatase occurred comparing with CON and SH group. By isoflavone supplementation from 4 days after ovariectomy alkaline phosphatase and urinary hydroxyproline were lowered and bone mineral density, bone strength of the femur and tibia and bone dry weight were slightly enhanced with no significant difference. Isoflavone supplemented group at the level of 0.8mg/kg diet (OM group) had significantly lower serum alkaline phosphatase, urinary hydroxyproline, and higher strength of femur than OVX group. Groups with isoflavone supplementation fro 8 weeks after ovariectomy had lower level of serum alkaline phosphatase, urinary hydroxyproline than OVX group. Bone mineral density, bone dry weight and bone strength of the femur and tibia were slightly enhanced by isoflavone supplementation. However there was no significanct difference between OVS ad isoflavone supplementation groups. The results suggest that isoflavone might have potential role for preventing postmenopausal bone loss. Isoflavone supplementation at early stage of postemenopause may be beneficial to age-related bone health.

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Food Habits and Health Food Consumption Patterns of Adults in the Ulsan Area (울산지역 중.장년층의 식생활 특성과 건강식품 섭취 실태)

  • 유수연;김혜경
    • Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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    • v.8 no.6
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    • pp.889-900
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    • 2003
  • This study was carried out to obtain information regarding eating habits, including health related behavior and health food consumption patterns. The subjects of this study were 149 men and 152 women residing in the Ulsan area. We obtained results by means of a questionnaire and an interview, and these were analyzed using the SPSS package program. The results of this study are summarized as follows The average age of the men was 47.6 $\pm$ 7.3 years and of the women was 47.3 $\pm$ 7.6 years old. The average height and weight of the men were 169.4 $\pm$ 5.5 cm and 67.7 $\pm$ 8.2 kg, respectively. Those of the women were 157.6 $\pm$ 5.0 cm and 58.2 $\pm$ 7.5 kg, respectively. The BMI values of all the subjects ranged from 20.0 to 25.0, all within the normal levels. In the case of dietary patterns, 24.3% of the total population always skipped a meal. In particular, 15.9% of the total population skipped breakfast. No time to eat, no appetite, having no taste, and having poor health were themain reasons for skipping meals. With regard to health care, there was a significant difference between the men and the women with respect to smoking and drinking (p<0.001). Of the total population, 40.5% hardly exercised (less than once a week), 26.2% exercised occasionally, 13.6% frequently exercised, and 19.6% exercised almost every day. A total of 60.7% responded that they were not interested in their health. The mean eating habit score of the subjects was 65.6 $\pm$ 9.9. The women had a higher eating habit score than the men (64.0 $\pm$ 9.6 for the men and 67.2 $\pm$ 9.9 for the women). Except for one group above 60 years, the older group had a higher eating habit score than the younger one. The group having a higher income and a more specialized career had a higher eating habit score than the one having a lower income and a less specialized career. There was also a marital difference. The group of single subjects showed a lower eating habit score than the married group. The group having a higher eating habit score drank, smoked and went out for meals less, and exercised more than the group having lower scores. They also were more concerned about their health. In the older group, there were more diabetic and hypertensive individuals. The subjects who had a higher BMI index were more likely to be patients with hypertension, especially in the men's group. Those who had a higher BMI index and hypertension simultaneously took a variety of medicines and foods for promoting health. Those who worried a lot about their health and had health problems tended to take special foods for their health. Patients usually took tonics. Special foods for health included Chinese medicines, tonic foods, vitamin or mineral supplements and manufactured health food supplements. Preferences for them depended on the sex and age of the subject. In the case of tonic foods, the men liked them more than the women. Foods other than tonic foods were favorites with the women. This study may provide basic information on the eating habits and health related behaviors of middle-aged people. However, further studies are needed to improve the eating habits and to change the nutritional attitudes, so that people can make better choices of health foods.

Studies on the Development of Blood Sausage from By-products -Appreciation of Blood Sausage Qualities from the Animal Experiments- (부산물(副産物)을 이용(利用)한 혈액(血液)소시지 개발(開發)에 관한 연구(硏究) -동물실험(動物實驗)을 통한 제품가치(製品價値) 평가(評價)-)

  • Koh, Jin-Bog;Moon, Yoon-Hee;Kim, Jae-Young;Moon, Yeong-Duck
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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    • v.13 no.3
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    • pp.319-325
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    • 1984
  • This experiment aims to observe the nutritive value of blood sausages by manufacturing three kinds of them in order to utilize various by-products of swine when it is processed. In attempt to do so, five different diets were made: one control diet and four diets in which three kinds of blood sausages(blood sausage-1 was made with sausage meat 10%, fat 40%, blood 20%, skin 20% and liver 2%. blood sausage-2 was made with ham meat 30%, fat 20%, blood 20%, liver 2% and skin 20%. blood sausage-3 was made with smoked ham patch 30%, fat 20%, blood 20%, liver 2% and skin 20%) and mixed sausage(sausage meat 20%, fat 10% and fish meat 35%) were mixed with control diet at the rates of 10% respectively. These diets were fed to growing male and female albino rats for 6 weeks. The results obtained through this study are summarized as follows. In body weight gain of male rats, blood sausage-1 and 2 groups were significantly higher than mixed sausage group during the experimental period, and in that of female rats, control group and blood sausage-1 group were similar, but the other groups were lower than control group. Food intake was different in each group every week, but the amount of that was similar to each one throughout all experimental period. Food efficiency ratio and protein efficiency ratio in male were similar in each group, but slightly different in female during the feeding period. Liver weights of male in mixed sausage group and blood sausage-3 group were lower than those in control group and blood sausage-2 group, but liver weight of female in blood sausage-2 group was lower than that in control group. And all groups were similar in liver weight per 100 g of body weight. Mixed sausage group and blood sausage-1 group were lower than control group in kidney weight of male, and blood sausage-1 group was lower than control group in kidney weight of female. Kidney weight per 100 g of body weight of male showed that blood sausage-1 group was lower than the other groups. Spleen weight was similar in all groups. Hematocrit and hemoglobin contents in blood, total protein, albumin, albumin/globulin ratio, total lipid and total cholesterol contents in serum were showed almost similar in all groups.

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Development of a Home-based Nursing Intervention, Mothering Program for Low-Birth-Weight Infants (저체중출생아를 위한 가정간호형 모성역할중재 프로그램 개발과 그 효과에 대한 연구)

  • Han, Kyung-Ja
    • Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
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    • v.8 no.1
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    • pp.5-24
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    • 2001
  • The purpose of this study was to develop a parenting intervention program and determine the efficacy of the program with low-birth weight infants and their mothers. Nine dyads for the experimental group and twelve dyads for the control group discharged from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of a University Hospital in Seoul were recruited for the study. For the intervention group, programmed education and support which focused on the maternal sensitivity of the infant's behavior. rearing environment. motherinfant interaction and infant care were given to each subject. Individual counseling and home visits were provided at discharge, one week after discharge. and one and three months of corrected age in every infant. Structured questionaires were administered and feeding interactions were videotaped and coded by a blinded certified observer. A Quasi-experimental design was conducted for this study. Postpartum depression, maternal self esteem. infant care burden, HOME. mother-infant interaction, and infant development were measured. Results were in favor of the intervention versus the control group. On the Beck depression inventory, intervention mothers showed decreasing trends in depressive symptom vs control mothers although, there were statistically no significant differences between the two groups at each time. The mean score of experimental group was 11.55(mild depression state) at discharge and became 8,6(normal state) at 1 month of corrected age. On the other hand, the mean score of the control group was 13.92(mild depression state) at discharge and became 14.0. Maternal self esteem in both groups improved over time. Infant care burden in both groups was also shown to increase over time. There was a significant difference between the two groups in HOME(p=.0340) at 3 months of corrected age. HOME scores of the experimental group and the control's were 31.10 and 25.58, respectively. Mothers' emotional and language responses were significantly high in the intervention group compared with the control group(p=.0155). Intervention group (53.33) showed a significantly high quality of motherinfant interaction compared with the in control group (42.80)(p =.0340). Intervention group mothers appeared have a better quality of mother-infant interaction behaviors. On the other hand, there was no statistical difference in the infant part between groups. Intervention group infants had higher trends in a general developmental quotient: although, there was no statistical difference between groups. The general developmental quotient of intervention infants was 102.56 and control's was 91.28. However, the developmental quotient of the domain of 'individuality-sociality' was higher in the intervention group infants compared with the control's(p=.0155). The concerns identified by parents revealed two domains of an infants' health management -knowledge and skills in caregiving of lowbirthweight-infants, characteristics of lowbirthweight infants, identifying a developmental milestone, coping with emergency situations and relaxation strategies of mothers from the infant care burden. Interview data with the mothers of low-birth weight infants can be used to develop intervention program contents. Limited intervention time and frequency due to time and cost limitations of this study should be modified. The intervention should be continuously implemented when low-birth weight infants become three years old. An NNNS demonstration appeared to be a very effective intervention for the mothers to improve the quality of mother-infant interactions. Therefore intervening in the mothers of low-birth weight infants as early after delivery as possible is desirable. This study has shown that home visit interventions are worthwhile for mothers only beyond the approach as an essential factor in ability of facilitating a growth fostering environment. In conclusion. the intervention program of this study was very effective in enhancing the parenting for the mothers of low-birth weight infants, resulting in health promotion of low-birth weight infants. The home-visit outreach intervention program of this study will contribute to the health delivery system in this country where there is a lack of continuous follow-up programs for low-birth weight infants after discharge from NICU, if it is activated as part of the home visit programs in community health systems.

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Effect of Lotus Root(Nelumbo nucifera G.) on Lipid Metabolism in Rats with Diet - Induced Hypercholesterolemia (연근이 고콜레스테롤혈증 흰쥐의 지질대사에 미치는 영향)

  • Lee, Jae-Joon;Park, Se-Young;Lee, Myung-Yul
    • Food Science and Preservation
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    • v.13 no.5
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    • pp.634-642
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    • 2006
  • This study was performed to investigate the effects of lotus root ethanol extinct (LRE) on 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase activity in vitro, and lipid metabolism in the serum and liver of rate fed normal or high cholesterol diet in vivo. LRE (200 mg/kg/day and 400 mg/kg/day) was administered only to rats with fed high cholesterol diet for 6 week. We divided into 6 groups: normal diet group (NC), high cholesterol diet group (1% cholesterol and 0.25% sodium cholate)(HC), LRE 200 mg/kg treated group (NC-LREL), LRE 400 mg/kg teated group (NC-LREH), high cholesterol diet and LRE 200 mg/kg treated group (HC-LREL), and high cholesterol diet and LRE 400 mg/kg teated group (HC-LREH). LRE significantly inhibited the HMG-CoA reductase activity in a concentration-dependent manner in vitro. The body weight gain and liver weight of the high cholesterol diet group were higher than the normal diet group whereas the groups administered LRE were gradually decreased. The high cholesterol diet group increased serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, free cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels, and decreased atherogenic index, HDL-cholesterol and phospholipid levels as compared with the normal diet group. LRE administrated groups were increased in serum HDL-C/T-C, HDL-cholesterol and phospholipid levels, and decreased serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, free cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol levels as compared with the high cholesterol diet group. These effect of LRE within the high cholesterol diet groups were concentration-dependent manners. There were no differences in the levels of serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, phopholipid, HDL-cholesterol and free cholesterol between normal diet groups. The hepatic LRE administrated groups than in the high cholesterol diet group. Teken together, it is suggested that LRE exerts hypocholesterolemic effect by reducing serum cholesterol concentration in rats with high cholesterol diet-induced hypercholesterolemia.

A Studs on Exposure to Organic Dust and Ammonia in Poultry Confinement Buildings (일부 육용 양계 농업인의 유기먼지와 암모니아 노출에 관한 연구)

  • Shin, Cheol-Lim;Lee, Kyung-Suk;Kim, Kyung-Ran;Kang, Tae-Sun;Paik, Nam-Won
    • Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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    • v.29 no.2
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    • pp.303-314
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    • 2004
  • Objectives: This study was carried out to assess exposure levels of organic dusts and ammonia in poultry farms in Korea. Methods: A total of six poultry farms were investigated. The farms were located in Namwon, Chonlabuk-do and in Kae-San, Chungchongbuk-do. This study consisted of a questionnaire and measuring organic dusts and ammonia. The questionnaire included the characteristics of the farms, work patterns and the tasks of the poultry farms. Results and Conclusions: The farmers raised the chickens 45 times a year and the average number of years in the poultry farm were eight years ranging from 2 to 12 years. They worked for seven days per week and the average hours spent caring the chickens are 6.3 hours per day. The duration of staying in the confinement buildings was 3.3 hours per day. The work time in summer was longest. The feed and the water supply systems were automatic and the control of ventilation windows used "winch curtain" was semiautomatic. They used mechanical ventilation system in winter and used dilution ventilation system in the other seasons. The geometric mean concentration of total and respirable dust sampled in the poultry confinement buildings was 4.0 mg/$m^3$and 0.9 mg/$m^3$ respectively. The ratio of respirable to total dusts range from 9 to 49 percent. There was no sample exceeding the criteria 10 mg/$m^3$ for total dust and 3 mg/$m^3$ for respirable dust in farms. The criteria have been recommended by Korean Ministry of Labor and American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienist. The personal respirable dusts measured during a circle work averaged geometric mean concentration 1.4 mg/$m^3$ Two personal samples were exceeded the threshold 3 mg/$m^3$. There was a positive relation between an index and the personal samples of respirable dusts($R^2$=0.98). The index is calculated by multipling the total number of chickens in the farm by the age of the chickens and then dividing by the volume of the confinement building. The geometric mean concentration of area and personal ammonia samples was 23.3 ppm and 22.2 ppm, respectively. Some of the ammonia samples, both area and personal samples, exceeded the short term exposure limit value 35 ppm.

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The Side Effects and Correlates of OROS-Methylphenidate in the Treatment of Children and Adolescents with ADHD (ADHD 환자에 대한 OROS-Methylphenidate 약물치료의 부작용과 관련요인들에 대한 연구)

  • Kim, Jin-Sun;Kim, Bung-Nyun;Cho, Soo-Churl;Shin, Min-Sup;Yoo, Hee-Jeong;Kim, Jae-Won;Song, Dong-Ho;Shin, Dong-Won;Joung, Yoo-Sook;Cheon, Keun-Ah;Shin, Yee-Jin;Kim, Ye-Ni;Ha, Eun-Hye
    • Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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    • v.21 no.2
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    • pp.63-71
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    • 2010
  • Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the clinical and demographic variables such as body weight, dosage, family history of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and psychiatric co-morbidity on the side-effects of OROS-Methylphenidate (OROS-MPH), and to evaluate the relationship between drug response and side effect severity. Methods : A total of 144 children (ages 6-18) with diagnosed ADHD were treated with OROS-MPH. Children were examined at baseline and after 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 weeks of each treatment condition. The stimulant drug side effect rating scale (SERS), pulse rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and electrocardiogram (ECG) were evaluated to assess side effect profiles. Changes in these parameters from baseline were examined and analyzed. Results : Anorexia (30.95%) and insomnia (13.10%) were the most commonly reported side effects during this study. Insomnia and loss of appetite score increased at one week follow-up, but was sustained or decreased as treatment progressed. Small but significant increases in pulse rate and diastolic blood pressure were observed during treatment ; however, no clinically meaningful changes in ECG parameters were noted during the study. Low body weight, high dosage of OROS-MPH, and family history of ADHD were associated with cardiovascular side effect. In contrast, there was no significant relationship between OROS-MPH treatment response and the severity of side effect and no difference resulted between the responder and non-responder groups with respect to OROS-MPH dosage in the 12 weeks of follow-up. Conclusion : To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first Korean study to investigate comprehensive side effect profiles and their correlates in OROS-MPH treatment for ADHD children. OROS-MPH was well tolerated with no clinically significant side effects during the treatment period. In conclusion, low body weight, high dosage of OROSMPH, and family history of ADHD could be used as predictive factors in increasing pulse rate and blood pressure.

Possibility of Repeated Use of Elite Donor Cows for Mass Production of OPU-Derived Embryos (OPU 유래 수정란의 대량생산을 위한 고능력 공란우 반복사용 가능성에 관한 연구)

  • Jin, Jong-In;Choi, Byung-Hyun;Kim, Seong-Su;Park, Bun-Young;Lee, Jung-Gyu;Kong, Il-Keun
    • Journal of Embryo Transfer
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    • v.30 no.3
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    • pp.149-159
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    • 2015
  • This study was designed to know the possibility in repeat uses of elite donor cows for getting mass production of OPU-derived embryo production (OPU-IVP). Ultrasound transvaginal ovum pick-up (OPU) performed in 6 Korean native cows was aged 4 to 10 years old. The aspiration of immature oocytes for OPU derived embryo was carried out 2 times per week, and OPU-IVP of $1^{st}$ period was carried out 22~48 sessions from each donors. And the break time for OPU-IVP of $2^{nd}$ period after $1^{st}$ OPU from each donors were 2~25 months. The OPU-IVP of $2^{nd}$ period each donors conducted total 15~65 times for 2~8 months by an ultrasonographic, was guided follicular aspiration system. The average numbers of collected oocytes, grade 1 + grade 2(G1+G2) oocytes and cleavage embryo from $1^{st}$ period OPU-IVP were significantly differences between donors (p<0.05). Total collected oocytes of donor D were significantly higher compared with donors of A, B, C, E and F (average 17.0 per session vs. 11.2, 10.1, 8.5, 10.2 and 9.6; p<0.05) and also oocytes of G1+G2 were significantly higher compared with r A and D and subsequently to donors of B, C, E and F (average 7.9 and 8.5 per session vs. 5.0, 2.7, 6.0 and 1.6; p<0.05). Cleavage rate of donor D was significantly higher compared with donors of A, B, C, E and F (average 13.1 per session vs. 10.1, 9.1, 6.9, 8.9 and 6.7; p<0.05). The average numbers of OPU-IVP for $1^{st}$ period was significantly higher from donors of B, D and E than those from donors of A, C and F (average 6.5, 7.1 and 6.5 per session vs. 3.5, 4.2 and 2.8; p<0.05). The possibility investigation of $2^{nd}$ OPU-IVP was carried out after 2~25 months rest periods from $1^{st}$ period OPU session. Total average numbers of collected oocytes, cleavages and blastocyst development rates were significantly higher from $1^{st}$ period OPU compared with $2^{nd}$ period one (p<0.05). The OPU-IVP efficiency by break for more embryo production from elite cow was analysis comparing without rest of donor A, under 6 months rest period as B and over 6 months rest period as C and then the average numbers of collected oocytes, cleavages and blastocysts were significantly higher from A group (11.8, 9.5 and 5.2 per session) than those from B and C groups (7.9, 6.2 and 2.6 vs. 9.2, 7.5 and 3.9, p<0.05), and also C group was significantly higher than B group. In conclusion, $1^{st}$ period OPU-IVP was more efficient compared with $2^{nd}$ period repeated uses of donor, and the break times for additional production of embryo on donor were needed more than over 6 months after $1^{st}$ period OPU-IVP. This repeating uses of elite donor cows given more emphasis for getting the opportunity on mass production of elite cow OPU-IVP embryo should be increased G1+G2 possibility of genetic improvement of livestock within short period.

A Study on Seasonal Variation of Water Content under Highway Asphalt Pavements Using Neutron Moisture Meter (중성자 수분측정기를 이용한 고속도로 포장의 계절별 함수량 변화 측정에 관한 연구)

  • Song Kwan-Cheol;Lee Sang-Mo;Yoo Sun-Ho;Ryu Kwan-Sik;Park Moo-Eon
    • Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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    • v.2 no.4
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    • pp.156-166
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    • 2000
  • This study was carried out to provide the information on seasonal variations of water content under highway asphalt pavements which influence on the dynamic behaviour and durability of pavements, and to assess the correlation between water content and soil or meteorological factors. Total eight sites for water content measurement which included fives sites in Kyungbu, two sites in Honam, and one site in Youngdong Highway were selected considering the variations in geology, topology and meteorology factors over all the country. Water contents under asphalt pavements were measured up to 170 cm depth every two week for total 13 months of August 1992 through September 1993 using neutron moisture meter(CPN-503DR). The range of water content ($\theta$$_{w}$) at the upper soils of above 50 cm depth was 7~12% and was not quite different regardless of sites, except for Iseo site. However, soil water contents below 60 or 70 cm depth were significantly different between the measurement sites, that is, the lowest water content was 5% at Kyungsan site and the highest water content was 20% at Iseo site. For all the sites, seasonal variations in water content during the experimental period were little, their range was within only 1 to 4%. Seasonal variations of water content in original or cutting area, which were 4% more or less, were slightly larger than in bedding areas, which were below 2%. Water contents under asphalt pavements had statistically significant positive correlations with silt and clay content in soil, but there were little correlations between water content and meteorological factors such as precipitation, relative humidity, mean air temperature, and wind velocity.

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Effects of Preoperative Radiotherapy for $T_2,\;T_3$ Distal Rectal Cancer ($T_2,\;T_3$ 하부직장암의 수술 전 방사선치료 효과)

  • Kang Ki Mun;Choi Byung Ock;Jang Hong Seok;Kang Young Nam;Chai Gyu Young;Choi Ihl Bohng
    • Radiation Oncology Journal
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    • v.20 no.3
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    • pp.215-220
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    • 2002
  • Purpose : Preoperative radiotherapy has been used to induce tumor regression and allow complete resection of rectal cancer with a sphincter preservation surgery. This study was performed to determine the effectiveness of preoperative radiotherapy for $T_2,\;T_3$ distal rectal carcinoma. Materials and Methods : From November 1995 to June 1997, fifteen patients with invasive distal rectal cancer were treated with preoperative radiotherapy followed by sphincter preservation surgery. Classification by preoperative T stage consisted of 7 $T_2$ and 8 $T_3$ tumors. Radiation therapy was delivered with 6 MV and 15 MV linear accelerator, at 1.8 Gy fractions for 5 days per week. Total radiation doses were 45 Gy to 50.4 Gy (median : 50.4 Gy). Sphincter preservation surgery was peformed $4\~6$ weeks after the completion of radiotherapy. Median follow-up was 22 months (range : $16\~37\;months$). Results : One patient $(6.7\%)$ had a complete pathologic response. Comparing the stage at the diagnostic workup with the pathologic stage, tumor downstaging of T stages occurred in 11 of 15 patients $(73.3\%)$ and $N_1$ stages occurred in 2 of 5 patients $(40\%)$. No patient developed progressive disease undergoing treatment. Two patients suffered local recurrence at 7 and 20 months, and one a distant metastasis at 30 months. No grade 3 or 4 toxicity was observed. Conclusion : Our experience suggests that preoperative radiotherapy followed by sphincter preservation surgery is well tolerated, and can significantly reduce the tumor burden for $T_2\;T_3$ distal rectal cancer.