• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.172-176
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• 2009

Purpose: The rapid urease test is a rapid and reliable method for diagnosing Helicobacter pylori infection. However it requires gastric mucosal biopsies during endoscopy, and the test is not covered by national health insurance for patients with gastric cancer. So, we introduced an alternative method for a rapid urease test using back-table gastric mucosal biopsies from gastrectomy specimen. Materials and Methods: Ninety gastric cancer patients underwent an anti H. pylori IgG ELISA test and gastrectomy. Just after gastrectomy, two gastric mucosal biopsies from the prepyloric antrum and lower body of the gastrectomy specimen were taken from the back table in the operative room, and these were fixed immediately with the rapid urease test kit, and the color change was monitored for up to 24 hours. In this study, H. pylori infection was defined as positive when the serology or rapid urease test showed positive results. Results: The positive rate of the rapid urease test and serology was 91.1% and 77.8%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the rapid urease test and serology were 94.3 and 80.5%, 100 and 100%, 100 and 100%, and 37.5 and 15%, respectively. The accuracy of the rapid urease test was higher than that of serology (94.4 vs. 81.1%, respectively). The rapid urease test showed a higher rate of detecting H. pylori infection than that of serology (McNemar's test, P=0.019). Conclusion: The result of the rapid urease test using back-table gastric mucosal biopsies from a gastrectomy specimen is comparable to the reference data of the conventional rapid urease test using gastric mucosal endoscopic biopsies. Therefore, it can be an alternative diagnostic method for H. pylori infection.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.10
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• pp.1519-1526
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• 2014

This study investigated the biological activities and effects of Korean Zingiber mioga R. (flower buds and rhizome) on memory. The general composition, minerals, anti-oxidative activities, and AChE inhibitory effects were analyzed, and NORT (Novel object recognition test) and Y-Maze test in vivo were performed. The general contents (moisture, crude fat, crude protein, and crude ash; wet basis) of ZB (flower buds) were 91.96%, 0.15%, 1.99%, and 11.90%, respectively. The general contents (moisture, crude fat, crude protein, and crude ash; wet basis) of ZR (rhizome) were 75.21%, 0.53%, 2.20%, and 9.50%, respectively. The macro mineral contents (Ca, P, Na, and K) of ZB were 31.70 mg%, 15.20 mg%, 8.20 mg%, and 258.60 mg%, respectively. Inhibitory effects (IC50 value) of DPPH and ABTS radicals were higher with ZBD (flower buds water extract) than with ZBE (flower buds EtOH extract), ZRD (rhizome water extract) or ZRE (rhizome EtOH extract). AChE inhibitory effect of ZBD was higher and that of ZRD. NORT and Y-Maze test were performed with scopolamine-induced mice treated with ZBD and ZBE. In NORT, effects of ZBD and ZBE were similar to that of donepezil. In the Y-maze test, performances of ZBD and ZBE-treated mice were similar to that of the normal group. These results suggest that Korean Zingiber mioga R. has potential to be developed into a new functional food for cognition enhancement in the global food market.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.251-259
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• 1999

Background: Even though the necessity for premedication has been questioned, some combinations of antisialogogues, sedatives and analgesics are usually employed by most bronchoscopists. The goal of this study was to determine whether fiberoptic bronchoscopy(FOB) could be performed safely and effectively without premedication while using a standardized topical anesthetic. Method: Eighty outpatients were randomized in a double-blind manner into group I(n=20) with 1 ml normal saline, group II(n=20) with 0.5mg of atropine, group III(n=20) with 0.5mg of atropine plus 5mg of midazolam, and group IV(n=20) with 0.5mg of atropine plus 50mg of meperidine, given intramuscularly 30 minutes before FOB as premedication Topical anesthetics administered were same in each group. Each patient was given 5ml(200mg) of 4% nebulized lidocaine and additional intratracheobronchial 2% lidocaine. Oxygen saturation, pulse rate and electrocardiogram were monitored and recorded before, during, just after and 2 minutes after FOB. Immediately after FOB, the bronchoscopists answered four questions such as ease of procedure, extent of coughing, extent of secretion, and overall impression. Before leaving bronchoscopy suite, patients completed similar questions on discomfort during procedure, and willingness to return for a repeat procedure. Results: Age, gender, baseline pulmonary function, dose of 2% lidocaine used for topical anesthesia, and duration of FOB were not significantly different. There was no statistical difference among group I to IV with regard to extent of coughing answered by bronchoscopist. But extent of secretion was significantly different between group I without atropine and group II-IV with atropine. And there was also significant difference in ease of procedure and overall impression among groups. There was no statistical difference in patient's willingness and level of discomfort among the groups. Thirteen patients(16%) showed hypoxemia(arterial oxygen saturation: <90%), and 3 patients(4%) showed significant tachyarrhythmia(heart rate: > l60/min), but the rate of complication was not statistically different among the groups. Conclusion: These results suggest that the value of premedication is questionable for outpatient FOB, although it may be necessary in excessively anxious patient.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.586-597
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• 1999

Background: Many diagnostic tests have developed to diagnose tuberculosis and other mycobacterial diseases but the diagnosis of tuberculosis relies largely on radiological findings and acid-fast staining of sputum and/or culture. Recently, new serologic diagnostic methods, which are safe and easy to use have been introduced into Korea. In this study, the usefulness of serologic diagnosis for tuberculosis and the disease pattern induced variation of the test were evaluated. Methods: Serological assay was performed upon 108 patients with two test kits, the ICT tuberculosis and the BioSign$^{TM}$TB, which are based upon a rapid immunochromatographic assay technique, capable of being interpreted within 15 minutes. The case groups consisted of 61 patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis(36 patients), extrapulmonary tuberculosis(3 patients), or both(22 patients). Control groups consisted of 47 patients with inactive old pulmonary tuberculosis(17 patients), nontuberculous pulmonary disease(16 patients) and nonpulmonary cardiac disease(14 patients). Results : The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value(PPV) and negative predictive value(NPV) of the ICT tuberculosis were 64.3%, 91.5%, 90.0% and 68.3% respectively. The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of the BioSign$^{TM}$TB were 76.5%, 95.3%, 94.1 % and 78.8% respectively. Differences in sensitivity were not significant between patients with previous history of tuberculosis or patients without prior history of tuberculosis. The ICT tuberculosis test showed higher sensitivity in pulmonary tuberculosis patients(76.5%) than extrapulmonary tuberculosis patients(33.3%). There was no difference in sensitivity between patients with or without cavitary lesion by chest X-ray. Conclusion: Considering high specificity and PPV, serologic diagnosis using a rapid immunochromatographic assay device is another helpful diagnostic method in the diagnosis of tuberculosis, when combined with previous diagnostic methods such as chest X-ray, microbiologic study but it has limitation in terms of confirming the diagnosis for tuberculosis as the only diagnostic method because of relatively low sensitivity and NPV.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.88-97
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• 2003

Background : Although smoking is a major cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), only 10-20% of cigarette smokers develop symptomatic COPD, which suggests the presence of genetic susceptibility. This genetic susceptibility to COPD might depend on variations in the activities of the enzyme that detoxify hazardous chemical products, such as microsomal epoxide hydrolase (mEPHX) and glutathione-S transferase M1 subunit (GSTM1) genes. Methods : The genotypes of 58 patients with COPD, and 79 age matched control subjects, were determined by a polymerase chain reaction, followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) for the mEPHX, and multiplex PCR for the GSTM1. Results : GSTM1 was deleted in 53.3% of the subjects. There was no difference in GSTM1 deletion rates between the COPD patients (32/58, 55.2%) and the control subjects (41/79, 51.9%). The combination patterns of two polymorphisms of mEPHX showed slow enzyme activity in 29(21.2%), normal in 73(53.3%) and fast in 32(23.4%). The COPD group (7/57, 12.3%) showed a significantly lower incidence of slow enzyme activity compared to the control subjects (22/77, 28.6%, p<0.05). However, when the COPD and control groups were compared with smokers only, there were no significant differences in the genotypes of GSTM1 and mEPHX. Conclusion : The genotypes of GSTM1 and mEPHX were not significant risk factors of COPD in this cohort of study.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.31-40
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• 2019

We study the internal structure under the artificial mountain of Heumkyeonggak-nu, a Korean water-powered clock in the early Joseon dynasty. All the puppets on the artificial mountain are driven by the rotational force generated by the water wheel at their designated time. We design a model that work with three parts of the artificial mountain. At the upper part of the artificial mountain to the east, west, north and south, there are four puppets called the Four Mystical Animal Divinity and four ladies called the Jade Lady respectively. The former rotates a quarter every double hour and the latter rings the bell every hour. In the middle part of this mountain is the timekeeping platform with four puppets; the Timekeeping Official (Hour Jack), the Bell-, Drum-, and Gong-Warriors. The Hour Jack controls time with three warriors each hitting his own bell, drum, and gong, respectively. In the plain there are 12 Jade Lady puppets (the lower ladies) combined with 12 Oriental Animal Deity puppets. In his own time a lady doll pops out of the hole and her animal doll gets up. Two hours later, the animal deity lies down and his lady hides in the artificial plain. These puppets are regularly moved by the signal such as iron balls, bumps, levers, and so on. We can use balls and bumps to explain the concept of the Jujeon system. Iron balls were used to manipulate puppets of the timekeeping mechanism in Borugak-nu, another Korean water-powered clock in Joseon dynasty, which was developed earlier than Heumgyeonggak-nu. According to the North Korea's previous study (Choi, 1974), it is obvious that bumps were used in the internal structure of Heumgyeonggak-nu. In 1669, The armillary clock made by Song, I-young was also utilized bumps. Finally we presented mock-ups of three timekeeping systems.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.57-71
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• 1998

This study purports to examine sociodemographic characteristics and those factors associated with osteoarthritis in women experiencing the disease in order to make suggestions for the prevention and management of osteoarthritis in women. The subjects were 143 women who were diagnosed to have osteoarthritis and under follow-up care at an outpatient department of a university-affiliated hospital. The data were collected through personal interviews by using the structured questionnaire between October 6 and October 24, 1997. The degree of daily living activities was measured with 24 items, which were made based upon Katz Index, Barthel Index and Functional Status Index. Each item has 4 response categories : (1) being able to do alone with any difficulty, (2) being able to do alone with some difficulty, (3) being able to do alone with the help of a person or an instrument, (4) not being able to do at all. The data was analyzed with correlation analysis, t-test, ANOVA, and regression analysis. The results are summarized as follows : 1. As for the age of the subjects, 59.4% were between 45 and 64 years, while 28% were 65 years and above. The subjects having religion were 71.7% and 44.1% of the subjects were protestants. The educational level was low : 31.5% graduated from elementary school, while 30.1% had no formal education. Those married subjects were 72%. Fifty nine percent of the subjects evaluated their economic status as middle class. 2. Those people from whom the subjects currently receive some help were spouses in 35.8% of the subjects. Likewise, 50% of the subjects indicated spouse as the people from whom they want to receive help. 3. The score of the ability of daily living activities ranged between 48 and 96, with the mean of 78.94. Those means of physical activity, ADL(activities of daily living) and IADL(instrumental activities of daily living) were 14.89, 13.97 and 50.09, respectively. Except for the items of carrying heavy stuff and of washing clothes in the sitting position the subjects showed independence in more than 90% of the items, where Independence is defined as being able to do alone or with the help of a person or an instrument. 4. The increase in age was a significant predictor of the decrease in the ability of daily living activities. Those graduated from middle school and above showed a significantly higher degree in the ability of daily living activities than those with less educational level. The married women revealed significantly higher scores in physical activity, ADL, and IADL than the unmarried ones. The ability of daily living activities was not significantly related to having religion, economic status and living with family. 5. The average duration of experiencing osteoarthritis was 4 years and 7 months. Regarding the site of the onset, 65% of the subjects indicated knees. The women with osteoarthritis for less than 3 years were 65%. The ability of daily living activities was significantly different by the duration of illness : the longer the duration of illness, the less the ability of activities. The above findings suggest the need for developing those programs for prevention disabilities in performing daily living activities and for managing diseases targeting the women of middle and old age, with low educational level, and with unmarried status. In addition, there should be developed an instrument for measuring the ability of daily living activities which reflects daily lives of Korean women with osteoarthritis in order to examine comprehensive effects of osteoarthritis on women's daily lives in this country.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.311-318
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• 2015

Purpose: This study was designed to investigate the prevalence rate of refractive error with gender and age presenting visual acuity of primary student in Jeonnam. Methods: Subjective refraction, objective refraction and visual acuity test were examined on 735 primary school children who ages of 8~13 years lived in Jenman. Presenting visual acuity test was using Han's visual acuity chart and objective refraction was carried out using auto-refractometer. Results: The presenting visual acuity was 0.1 worse in the eye of 54(7.3%) students and 49(7.3%) of them wearing the glasses. The rate of the wearing glasses were 79.3% in 0.125~0.25 visual acuity, 64.2% in 0.3~0.5 visual acuity and 61.6% in 0.6~0.8 visual acuity. It was appeared that 269(36.6%) of them were emmetropia, 321(43.7%) of them were myopia and 56(7.6%) of them were hyperopia, and 89(12.1%) of them were astigmatism. The prevalence rate of myopia was the highest and followed by the prevalence rate of astigmatism. The low degree of myopia occupied the most and the medium degree of myopia showed the tendency of increase as the students get olds. The prevalence rate of the hyperopia showed the tendency of decrease as the students get olds. The prevalence rate of with the rule astigmatism were 50.6% students and against the rule astigmatism were 48.3% of students. Conclusions: The present study reveals the considerable prevalence rates, 466(63.4%) of included subjects, of refractive errors among primary students in Jeonnam province. The rate of the wearing glasses were 313(42.6%). The prevalence of myopia increases as the students get older. Therefore students of visual management is considered necessary through the visual acuity test and refractive examination.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.215-222
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• 2015

The radish (Raphanus sativus L.) is an important Brassicaceae root vegetable crop worldwide. Several studies have been conducted concerning radish breeding. There are major challenges to prevent premature bolting in spring plantings. Here, we performed the characterization of two inbred radish lines which vary in bolting time. "Late bolting radish" (NH-JS1) and "early bolting radish" (NH-JS2) were generated by a conventional breeding approach. The two inbred lines showed different bolting phenotypes depending on vernalization time at $4^{\circ}C$. NH-JS1, the late bolting radish, was less sensitive to cold treatment and the less sensitivity was inversely proportional to the duration of the vernalization. We also measured gene expression levels of the major bolting time related genes in the NH-JS1 and NH-JS2 lines. RsFLC1 plays a central role in the timing of flowering initiation. It is a strong repressor and it's transcript is highly expressed in NH-JS1 compared to NH-JS2 under no treatment and vernalization conditions. RsFRI, a positive regulator of RsFLC, is also highly expressed in NH-JS1 compared to NH-JS2 regardless of vernalization. In contrast, RsSOC1, suppressed by FLC as a floral integrator gene, showed the most difference, a 5-fold increase, between NH-JS1 and NH-JS2 under vernalization conditions. From these results, we conclude that NH-JS1 showed a late flowering phenotype after cold treatment due to the expression differences of flowering time regulator genes rather than difference sensitivity to cold. These results may be useful to understand the control mechanisms of flowering time and may help identify molecular markers for selecting late bolting trait in radish.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.253-258
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• 2004

Purpose: Chitosan has been studied as a non-viral gene delivery vector, drug delivery carrier, metal chelator, food additive, and radiopharmaceutical, among other things. Recently, galactose-graft chitosan was studied as a non-viral gene and drug delivery vector to target hepatocytes. The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of nuclear imaging for in vivo evaluation of targeting the hepatocyte by galactose grafting. Methods and Materials: Galactosyl methylated chitosan (GMC) was produced by methylation to lactobionic acid coupled chitosan. Cytotoxicity of $^{99m}Tc$-GMC was determined by MTT assay. Rabbits were injected via their auricular vein with $^{99m}Tc$-GMC and $^{99m}Tc$-methylated chitosan (MC), the latter of which does not contain a galactose group, and images were acquired with a gamma camera equipped with a parallel hole collimator. The composition of the galactose group in galactosylated chitosan (GC), as well as the tri-, di-, or mono-methylation of GMC, was confirmed by NMR spectroscopy. Results: The results of MTT assay indicated that $^{99m}Tc$-GMC was non-toxic. $^{99m}Tc$-GMC specifically accumulated in the liver within 10 minutes of injection and maintained high hepatic uptake. In contrast, $^{99m}Tc$-MC showed faint liver uptake. $^{99m}Tc$-GMC scintigraphy of rabbits showed that the galactose ligand principally targeted the liver while the chitosan functionalities led to excretion through the urinary system. Conclusion: Bioconjugation with a specific ligand endows some degree of targetability to an administered molecule or drug, as in the case of galactose for hepatocyte in vivo, and evaluating said targetabililty is a clear example of the great benefit proffered by nuclear imaging.