• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.516-523
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• 2015

This study investigated the antimutagenic and anticancer effects of Platycodon grandiflorum extract (PGE) and its fractions against carcinogenic N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) and genotoxicity. The Ames Salmonella mutagenicity test employing histidine mutants of Salmonella Typhimurium TA98 and TA100 was used to examine the mutagenicity of PGE and its fractions. Bacterial reversion assay with S. Typhimurium TA98 and TA100 did not show a significantly increased number of revertant colonies. The same test was used to examine the ability of PGE and its fractions to prevent acquisition of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine- and 4-introquino-line-1-oxide-induced mutations. PGE and its fractions inhibited mutagenesis in a dose-dependent manner. Among the fractions, ethyl acetate fraction from PGE (PGEA) exhibited a higher antimutagenic effect than other fractions. PGE and its fractions suppressed the growth of cancer cell lines, including human cervical adenocarcinoma, human hepatocellular carcinoma, human breast adenocarcinoma, human lung carcinoma, and transformed primary human embryonic kidney cells. In addition, we evaluated the antitumor activity of PGEA and its fractions in sacorma-180 solid tumor-bearing mice. In vivo anticancer activity results showed that PGE and its fractions could more effectively suppress tumor growth than the control. PGEA showed higher in vitro and in vivo anticancer effects than PGE and other fractions, and PGEA inhibited NDMA formation. Thus, we showed that PGEA has antimutagenic and anticancer activities, making it a candidate anticancer material under these experimental conditions.

• BMB Reports
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.625-635
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• 2007

The enzyme squalene synthase (EC 2.5.1.21) catalyzes a reductive dimerization of two farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) molecules into squalene, a key precursor for the sterol and triterpene biosynthesis. A full-length cDNA encoding squalene synthase (designated as TcSqS) was isolated from Taxus cuspidata, a kind of important medicinal plants producing potent anti-cancer drug, taxol. The full-length cDNA of TcSqS was 1765 bp and contained a 1230 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding a polypeptide of 409 amino acids. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that the deduced TcSqS protein had high similarity with other plant squalene synthases and a predicted crystal structure similar to other class I isoprenoid biosynthetic enzymes. Southern blot analysis revealed that there was one copy of TcSqS gene in the genome of T. cuspidata. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis and northern blotting analysis showed that TcSqS expressed constitutively in all tested tissues, with the highest expression in roots. The promoter region of TcSqS was also isolated by genomic walking and analysis showed that several cis-acting elements were present in the promoter region. The results of treatment experiments by different signaling components including methyl-jasmonate, salicylic acid and gibberellin revealed that the TcSqS expression level of treated cells had a prominent diversity to that of control, which was consistent with the prediction results of TcSqS promoter region in the PlantCARE database.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.446-452
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• 2014

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the exposure status of formaldehyde(FA) among the nurses in ambulatory care departments of university hospital. Methods: Two university hospitals were surveyed. The FA concentration in air were measured to target 62 nurses in 8 ambulatory care departments(89 samples). Air sampling and analysis of FA were carried out according to the OSHA Method ID-205. The survey was conducted with questionnaire asking about how to control FA and whether the nurses use the formaldehyde protectors or not. Results: FA was detected in all samples. The maximum concentration of FA was 0.258 ppm and the geometric mean was 0.023 ppm. There was no sample that exceeded any of exposure standards by OSHA-TWA whereas there were 54 samples(60.7%) that exceeded the standards by NOISH-TWA. Among 62 nurses handling FA, 13 nurses(21.0%) used the protective gloves while nobody used a gas mask. It was assessed that any of 8 common ambulatory care departments did not use a safety cabinet for FA in which local exhaust ventilation was fixed. Conclusions: Nurses in ambulatory care departments were exposed to FA. Therefore, the environment management of a workplace, the health management of a nurses, FA handling education and installing a FA cabinet with a local exhaust ventilation were needed because FA as a carcinogen was able to cause any cancer to a human body if it was emitted in air for long time.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.39-46
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• 2012

Electrical impedance tomography(EIT) can produce functional images with conductivity distributions associated with physiological events such as cardiac and respiratory cycles. EIT has been proposed as a clinical imaging tool for the detection of stroke and breast cancer, pulmonary function monitoring, cardiac imaging and other clinical applications. However EIT still suffers from technical challenges such as the electrode interface, hardware limitations, lack of animal or human trials, and interpretation of conductivity variations in reconstructed images. We improved the KHU Mark2 EIT system by introducing an EIT electrode interface consisting of nano-web fabric electrodes and by adding a synchronized biosignal measurement system for gated conductivity imaging. ECG and respiration signals are collected to analyze the relationship between the changes in conductivity images and cardiac activity or respiration. The biosignal measurement system provides a trigger to the EIT system to commence imaging and the EIT system produces an output trigger. This EIT acquisition time trigger signal will also allow us to operate the EIT system synchronously with other clinical devices. This type of biosignal gated conductivity imaging enables capture of fast cardiac events and may also improve images and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) by using signal averaging methods at the same point in cardiac or respiration cycles. As an example we monitored the beat by beat cardiac-related change of conductivity in the EIT images obtained at a common state over multiple respiration cycles. We showed that the gated conductivity imaging method reveals cardiac perfusion changes in the heart region of the EIT images on a canine animal model. These changes appear to have the expected timing relationship to the ECG and ventilator settings that were used to control respiration. As EIT is radiation free and displays high timing resolution its ability to reveal perfusion changes may be of use in intensive care units for continuous monitoring of cardiopulmonary function.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.1455-1466
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to develop the framework of community-based home care nursing delivery system, and to demonstrate and evaluate the efficiency of it. The study was carned out over a period of 3years from September 1996 to August 1999. The researchers developed Standards for operations, this was all aimed toward a home care recording system, and an assessment intervention algorithm for various diseases quality control and standardization. In the center, 185 patients enrolled, and of the enrollments cerebrovascular disorder and cancer were the most prevailment diseases. Also, a home care nursing activity classification was developed in six domains. Those domains were assessment, medication, treatment, education and consultation, emotional care, and referral or follow-up care. Ten sub-domains were divided according to the systematic needs. Among these nursing activities, treatment, assessment, and education and consultation were frequently performed. In sub-domain classification, skin integrity, respiration, circulation, and immobility related care were provided most frequently. The cost of home care nursing per visit was also suggested. The cost include direct and indirect nursing care, management, and transportation cost. Also, the researchers tried to overcome the limitations of hospital-based home care to provide more accessible, efficient, safe, and stable home care nursing. Therefore, clients were referred from other patients, families, public health care centers, industries, and even hospitals. As a result of this study, several limitations of operation were found. First, it was difficult to manage and communicate with doctor in the emergency situations. Second, there was too much time spent for transportation. This was because they are only five nurses, who cover all of the areas of Seoul and nearby cities. Third, preparation for special care of home care nurses was lacking. Fourth, criteria for the termination of care and the frequency of home visits were ambiguous. Finally, interconnection with home care machinery company was so yely needed. New paragraphs' strategies for solving these problems were suggested. This study will be the basis of community-based home care nursing, and the computerized information delivery system for home care nursing in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.1195-1206
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to analyze womens' health problems using Green & Kreuter's 1991 PRECEDE model and to develop a model for a womens' health care center located in the community. The subjects were recruited from Wonju City. 1. The results showed that 23% of the sample population felt there was a need for a womens' health care center. The mean number of health problems was 3.1. The prevalence rate, was 44.4%, and the rate for an artificial abortion, was 36.4%. Also 30.5% did not have a health examination in the past year. Women using the hospital for medical care accounted for 45% of the sample, while 40% used the drugstore. The average score on the HPLP was 2.41, and this was influenced by self-efficacy, family support, sexual role, and health locus of control. There are a few educational programs in the city provided by the Wonju Health Center and by community health nurse practitioners. 2. The nursing center, as defined in North America, is a nurse-anchored system of primary health care delivery or neighborhood health center. Centers offer various services ranging from primary care to the more traditional such as education, health promotion, wellness screening, and coordination of services by advanced practice nurses. For examples in Sweden MCH centers provide total services for childbearing women and their families, sexual counseling and education for adolescents, and screening by midwives for cervical cancer. 3. The developed model combines purpose, target population, organization, and services, and is related to health resources. The purpose is primary health care and promotion of the quality of life. The target population can be grouped according to the life cycle, (premarriaged age group, the childbearing/child rearing age group, and middle aged and elderly women) and focuses on self-help. The organization of the center includes an advisory committee to plan and evaluate, and a health services team that will be multidisciplinary to provide health care, counseling education, and research. The model development suggested that a variety of women's health care centers are needed to insure adequate management of women's health. Follow-up research using PROCEED is needed to analyze health outcomes. Also a health nursing specialist system is required to develop health promotion, and improve the quality of life of women.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.35-57
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• 2016

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to prove the effect and mechanism of Gamikyejakjimogawusul-tang(GKHA) herbal acupuncture on induced rheumatoid arthritis model of DBA/1 mice. Methods : We check effect of GKHA extract on the AST, ALT, Creatinine, BUN of serum and cell viability of GK extract in RAW 264.7 cells to test the stability of this study. In vitro, we measure total phenol contents, total flavonoid contents, DPPH free radical scavenging activity, ABTS cation radical scavenging activity of Gamikyejakjimogawusul-tang, effect of GK extract on ROS(Reactive Ooxygen Species) production to estimate a anti-oxidant capacity, and we also measure effect of GK extract on NO (Nitric Oxid), IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, IL-17, IL-21, TNF-${\alpha}$, MCP-1, GM-CSF production in RAW 264.7 cells to estimate a anti-inflammatory efficacy. In vivo, we compare a rheumatoid arthritis manifestation between control and experimental group and estimate a AI. Then we check effect of GKHA on the level of WBC, neutrophil, lympocyte, monocyte in the blood to see the effect of immune cells in blood. In addition we measure effect of GKHA on the level of hs-CRP, IgM, IgG, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, IL-17, IL-21, TNF-${\alpha}$, MCP-1, GM-CSF in serum. We observe effects of GKHA on imaging of cartilage degeneration using micro CT-arthrography in paw hind. And we calculate effects of GKHA that reduced BV ratio, BS/BV ratio using 3D Micro-CT. Lastly we observe effects of GKHA histopathologic examination analysis. Results : 1. The toxicity on liver and kidney was disregardable and the cytotoxicity against RAW 264.7 cells was also disregardable. 1. Total phenol contents and total flavonoid contents in GK extract were in high level. 2. DPPH free radical scavenging activity and ABTS cation radical scavenging activity were increased according to concentration of GK extract 3. ROS production was significantly decreased in GK extract (at 10, $100{\mu}g/ml$). 4. NO, IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, MCP-1 production were significantly decreased in GK extract(at 10, $100{\mu}g/ml$). IL-17, GM-CSF production were significantly decreased in GK extract(at 1, 10, $100{\mu}g/ml$). IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-21 production were also decreased but there was no statistical significance. 5. 25x observation after H&E and M-T staining, infiltration of immune cells and subsidence of the cartilage and damage to the synovial cells were decreased. Conclusions : This study showed that GKHA extract had anti-oxidant capacity, anti-inflammatory efficacy. GKHA extract also had inhibiting effect on the process of rheumatoid arthritis and can protect joint and cartilage. So we expect that GKHA extract can be a meaningful treatment to rheumatoid arthritis patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.395-401
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• 2016

Upper gastrointestinal series is a diagnostic test that X-ray passes through the stomach after administering contrast media such as barium or gastrografin. Upper gastrointestinal series with an advantage of no side effect except temporary constipation or abdominal pain has been widely used to diagnose diseases of the gastrointestinal system. However, image degradation and diagnostic accuracy frequently occurred when improper movement and breath control were carried out by lack of understanding the overall inspection process for the upper gastrointestinal series. The movie of the upper gastrointestinal series was made for improving inspection accuracy and image quality. The examinees encouraged to see the movie for waiting time before doing upper gastrointestinal series. In this study, image quality and diagnostic accuracy was examined for the effect of the movie about upper gastrointestinal series. 60 patients composed of each 10 people from 30s to 80s were selected randomly among both 2,940 examinees in 2014 and 3,076 examinees in 2015. Image quality was evaluated by the full width at half maximum of profile for each image using the Image J. The measurement of the full width at half maximum showed 0.208 mm and 0.133 mm for after and before seeing the movie. Thus it was verified that the movie education could improve the image quality and diagnostic accuracy for upper gastrointestinal series.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.276-283
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• 2015

Purpose: We evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of repeated high dose 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Materials and Methods: Between 1998 and 2011, 45 patients received hepatic re-irradiation with high dose 3D-CRT in Samsung Medical Center. After excluding two ineligible patients, 43 patients were retrospectively reviewed. RT was delivered with palliative or salvage intent, and equivalent dose of 2 Gy fractions for ${\alpha}/{\beta}=10Gy$ ranged from $31.25Gy_{10}$ to $93.75Gy_{10}$ (median, $44Gy_{10}$). Tumor response and toxicity were evaluated based on the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors criteria and the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) ver. 4.0. Results: The median follow-up duration was 11.2 months (range, 4.1 to 58.3 months). An objective tumor response rate was 62.8%. The tumor response rates were 81.0% and 45.5% in patients receiving ${\geq}45Gy_{10}$ and $<45Gy_{10}$, respectively (p = 0.016). The median overall survival (OS) of all patients was 11.2 months. The OS was significantly affected by the Child-Pugh class as 14.2 months vs. 6.1 months (Child-Pugh A vs. B, p < 0.001), and modified Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) T stage as 15.6 months vs. 8.3 months (T1-3 vs. T4, p = 0.004), respectively. Grade III toxicities were developed in two patients, both of whom received ${\geq}50Gy_{10}$. Conclusion: Hepatic re-irradiation may be an effective and tolerable treatment for patients who are not eligible for further local treatment modalities, especially in patients with Child-Pugh A and T1-3.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.1045-1054
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• 2000

As cost pressures have escalated, policy makers, politicians, health care providers and families have tried to devise ways to reduce health care costs. While originally developed to enhance patient control and to provide better care at the end of life, hospice care has recently received significant attention as a mean of reducing health care costs. As a program providing care for patients who are dying at their homes, hospice has expanded slowly since the opening of the first hospice in Korea in 1963. Therefore, a variety of services that responds to the needs and concerns of many dying people and their families is limited The purpose of this study was to determine the potential cost savings at the end of life among patients who used home hospice compared with the patients who received institutional care in Korea. This study used a retrospective, descriptive design. The sample for this study included 46 patients who died of lung cancer: 25 patients who received home hospice care and 21 patients who received institutional care. Data on patient characteristics, kinds and frequencies of provided treatment and nursing services, and hospice and hospital charges during the last month before death were collected. Cost of care was measured by the average cost per patient per day in the last month of life. The results of the study indicated that there were significant differences in average cost of care between home hospice sample and institutional care sample (t=9.956, p<.001; home hospice sample: M=18,102 won, institutional care sample: M=317,578 won). The cost of the home hospice sample was approximately 6% of the cost of institutional care. The majority of the home hospice nursing services were education (35.7%) and supportive counseling (25.2%), followed by medication management (13.6%), assessment (12.1%), basic nursing (7.2%), treatment (5.5%) and others. In institutional care sample, basic nursing and treatment were more emphasized than education or supportive counseling among the nursing services provided. The results of this study showed the potential for hospice to reduce costs and implications for policymakers and clinicians to incorporate hospice program into the formal health care delivery system in Korea.