• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.199-204
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to examine the population density of the mosquito species, and to provide the basic data related to vector mosquitoes to manage the possible epidemic diseases. During a 4-year investigation (2001, 2002, 2004, and 2006), we collected the specimens of the mosquitoes at pier no. 1, 3 and 5 of Busan port with light traps from sunset until the next day morning from April to October each year. Through the research, we collected 5,985 mosquito specimens in total and found 7 mosquito species belonging to 3 genera. A total of 1,575, 1,473, 1,478 and 1,459 mosquito specimens were collected in 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2006, respectively. Among them, 5,568 (93.0%) specimens were Culex pipiens pallens, the West Nile virus infection vector, which showed the highest density among the specimens. The population densities of the other species were: 295(4.9%) Culex tritaeniorhynchus, 94(1.5%) Aedes togoi, 12(0.3%) Aedes albopictus, 10(0.2%) Anopheles sinensis, 4(0.1%) Aedes vexans nipponii, 2(0.1%) Culex inatomii. The monthly abundance of mosquitoes from July through September showed the highest values. Although it was a general mosquito monitoring study, this study could provide a base for securing the statistical data on spreading epidemic diseases by people infected outside Korea.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.61 no.5
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• pp.160-166
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• 2018

Purpose: This study aimed to analyse laboratory values according to fever duration, and evaluate the relationship across these values during the acute phase of Kawasaki disease (KD) to aid in the early diagnosis for early-presenting KD and incomplete KD patients. Methods: Clinical and laboratory data of patients with KD (n=615) were evaluated according to duration of fever at presentation, and were compared between patients with and without coronary artery lesions (CALs). For evaluation of the relationships across laboratory indices, patients with a fever duration of 5 days or 6 days were used (n=204). Results: The mean fever duration was $6.6{\pm}2.3days$, and the proportions of patients with CALs was 19.3% (n=114). C-reactive proteins (CRPs) and neutrophil differential values were highest and hemoglobin, albumin, and lymphocyte differential values were lowest in the 6-day group. Patients with CALs had longer total fever duration, higher CRP and neutrophil differential values and lower hemoglobin and albumin values compared to patients without CALs. CRP, albumin, neutrophil differential, and hemoglobin values at the peak inflammation stage of KD showed positive or negative correlations each other. Conclusion: The severity of systemic inflammation in KD was reflected in the laboratory values including CRP, neutrophil differential, albumin, and hemoglobin. Observing changes in these laboratory parameters by repeated examinations prior to the peak of inflammation in acute KD may aid in diagnosis of early-presenting KD patients.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.75.1-75.7
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• 2022

Background: Since 2013, the number of requests for diagnosis for horses based on neurological symptoms has increased rapidly in South Korea. The affected horses have commonly exhibited symptoms of acute seasonal hindlimb ataxia. A previous study from 2015-2016 identified Setaria digitata as the causative agent. Objectives: This study is an epidemiological investigation to find out risk factors related to the rapid increase in hindlimb ataxia of horses due to aberrant parasites in South Korea. Methods: An epidemiological investigation was conducted on 155 cohabiting horses in 41 horse ranches where the disease occurred. The surrounding environment was investigated at the disease-causing horse ranches (n = 41) and 20, randomly selected, non-infected ranches. Results: Hindlimb ataxia was confirmed in nine cohabiting horses; this was presumed to be caused by ectopic parasitism. Environments that mosquitoes inhabit, such as paddy fields within 2 km and less than 0.5 km from a river, had the greatest association with disease occurrence. Conclusions: Most horse ranches in South Korea are situated in favorable environments for mosquitoes. Moreover, the number of mosquitoes in the country has increased since 2013 due to climate change. Additional research is required; however, these data show that it is necessary to establish guidelines for the use of anthelmintic agents based on local factors in South Korea and disinfection of the environment to prevent disease outbreaks.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.4641-4646
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• 2013

Objective: To explore clinical experience and propose new ideas for treating children diagnosed with orbital rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data for30 patients (16 males and 14 females, with a median age of 6.2 years) with primary orbital RMS who were enrolled in the Department of Eye Oncology and Pediatrics of our hospital from November 2004 to December 2012. International Rhabdomyosarcoma Organization Staging Standards indicated that among the 30 patients, 4 cases were in phase II, 20 were in phase III, and 6 were in phase IV. All patients underwent a multidisciplinary collaborative model of comprehensive treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, external radiotherapy, $^{125}I$ radioactive particle implantation, and autologous peripheral blood stem-cell transplantation). Results: Follow-up was conducted until March 2013, with a median follow-up time of 47.2 months (5 to 95 months), and 7 deaths occurred. The 2-year estimated survival rate reached 86.1%, the ${\geq}3$-year estimated survival rate was 77%, and the 5-year estimated survival rate was 70.6%. Conclusions: The multidisciplinary collaborative model can be a safe and effective approach to the comprehensive treatment of children with orbital RMS. It has clinical significance in improving the tumor remission rate.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.519-526
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• 2021

In a search for effective PPAR-γ agonists, 110 clinical drugs were screened via molecular docking, and 9 drugs, including parecoxib, were selected for subsequent biological evaluation. Molecular docking of parecoxib to the ligand-binding domain of PPAR-γ showed high binding affinity and relevant binding conformation compared with the PPAR-γ ligand/antidiabetic drug rosiglitazone. Per the docking result, parecoxib showed the best PPAR-γ transactivation in Ac2F rat liver cells. Further docking simulation and a luciferase assay suggested parecoxib would be a selective (and partial) PPAR-γ agonist. PPAR-γ activation by parecoxib induced adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 murine preadipocytes. Parecoxib promoted adipogenesis in a dose-dependent manner and enhanced the expression of adipogenesis transcription factors PPAR-γ, C/EBPα, and C/EBPβ. These data indicated that parecoxib might be utilized as a partial PPAR-γ agonist for drug repositioning study.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.19
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• pp.8311-8317
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• 2014

Background: Evidence supporting an association between the 8q24 rs4242382-A polymorphism and prostate cancer (PCa) risk has been reported in North American and Europe populations, though data from Asian populations remain limited. We therefore investigated this association by clinical detection in China, and meta-analysis in Asian, Caucasian and African-American populations. Materials and Methods: Blood samples and clinical information were collected from ethnically Chinese men from Northern China with histologically-confirmed PCa (n=335) and from age-matched normal controls (n=347). The 8q24 (rs4242382) gene polymorphism was genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-high-resolution melting analysis. We initially analyzed the associations between the risk allele and PCa and clinical covariates. A meta-analysis was then performed using genotyping data from a total of 1,793 PCa cases and 1,864 controls from our study and previously published studies in American and European populations, to determine the association between PCa and risk genotype. Results: The incidence of the risk allele was higher in PCa cases than controls (0.222 vs 0.140, $P=7.3{\times}10^{-5}$), suggesting that the 8q24 rs4242382-A polymorphism was associated with PCa risk in Chinese men. The genotypes in subjects were in accordance with a dominant genetic model (ORadj=2.03, 95%CI: 1.42-2.91, $Padj=1.1{\times}10^{-4}$). Presence of the risk allele rs4242382-A at 8q24 was also associated with clinical covariates including age at diagnosis ${\geq}65$ years, prostate specific antigen >10 ng/ml, Gleason score <8, tumor stage and aggressive PCa, compared with the non-risk genotype ($P=4.6{\times}10^{-5}-3.0{\times}10^{-2}$). Meta-analysis confirmed the association between 8q24 rs4242382-A polymorphism and PCa risk (OR=1.62, 95%CI: 1.39-1.88, $P=1.0{\times}10^{-5}$) across Asian, Caucasian and African American populations. Conclusions: The replicated data suggest that the 8q24 rs4242382-A variation might be associated with increased PCa susceptibility in Asian, Caucasian and African American populations. These results imply that this polymorphism may be a useful risk biomarker for PCa in multi-ethnic populations.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.73-77
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• 2012

Purpose: Fragile X carrier detection before or at early pregnancy through a wide screening program may not only confer a risk of having offspring with Fragile X syndrome (FXS), but may also confer a risk for Fragile X-associated primary ovarian insufficiency and Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome. However, prior to the implementation of such a program, the carrier prevalence in a population and the availability of effective screening test should be evaluated. The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of premutation carriers and to evaluate the feasibility of screening test. Materials and Methods: The blood samples were obtained from 8,641 pregnant women with no family history of mental retardation. We performed a three-primer CGG repeat primed (RP) PCR using the AmplideX$^{TM}$ FMR1 PCR kit (Asuragen, Inc. Austin, TX, USA). Samples showing full mutation alleles were reflexed to Southern blot analysis for methylation status and sizing. Results: Among the 8,641 women, we found 8 premutation carriers (1:1,090, 0.09%) and 46 women with an intermediate allele (1:190, 0.53%). No woman was found to carry the fully mutated allele. All the detected alleles were within the CGG repeat range of 8-117. Among the 8,641 samples, 29 and 30 CGG repeats represent 66.6% of all cases. The CGG RP PCR method provides robust detection of expanded alleles and resolves allele zygosity, thus minimizing the number of samples that require Southern blot analysis. Conclusion: This is the first study that has focused on the prevalence of FXS premutation carriers and FMR1 allele distribution in normal pregnant women. These data have important implications for population-based fragile X carrier screening in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.171-179
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• 2017

This study investigated the influence factors of retirement expectations among medical technologists at medical centers in Seoul and Gyeonggi area, Korea. Subjects were 158 medical technologists. Using a sampling survey method, data was analyzed between July 2015 and December 2016. There was a negative correlation between educational level and economic preparation, but gender and monthly income did not reach retirement expectation level. Conversely, we found no change in the trends with respect to gender, monthly income; nonetheless, we observed that frustration gradually increased with age and working duration. In conclusion, our findings show that there are four factors that significantly influence retirement expectation and preparation: age, level of education, working duration, and family condition. This study contributes to understanding retirement expectations and can be a reference for retirement preparation in medical technologists.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.17
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• pp.7357-7362
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• 2014

Interleukin-6 (IL-6), a central proinflammatory cytokine, maintains immune homeostasis and also plays important roles in cervical cancer. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate any associations of IL-6 gene polymorphisms at positions -174 and -572 with predisposition to cervical cancer in a Chinese population. The present hospital-based case-control study comprised 518 patients with cervical cancer and 518 healthy controls. Polymorphisms of the IL-6 gene were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Patients with cervical cancer had a significantly higher frequency of the IL-6 -174 CC genotype [odds ratio (OR) =1.52, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.06-2.19; p=0.02], IL-6 -572 CC genotype (OR =1.91, 95% CI = 1.16-3.13; p=0.01) and IL-6 -174 C allele (OR =1.21, 95% CI = 1.02-1.44; p=0.03) compared to healthy controls. When stratifying by the FIGO stage, patients with III-IV cervical cancer had a significantly higher frequency of IL-6 -174 CC genotype (OR =1.64, 95% CI =1.04-2.61; p=0.04). The CC genotypes of the IL-6 gene polymorphisms at positions -174 and -572 may confer a high risk of cervical cancer. Additional studies with detailed human papillomavirus (HPV) infection data are warranted to validate our findings.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.189-195
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• 2006

Behcet's disease (BD) is a chronic, multisystemic disorder which is more frequently seen in the Mediterranean basin, Middle East, and Far East. The causes and pathogenesis of BD are unknown although many possibilities are being investigated. The diagnosis of BD is based on clinical manifestations because there are no pathognomonic laboratory tests. So, the purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of HLA-B51 in patients with BD. We used the whole blood of 33 patients diagnosed with BD at Chosun University Hospital from August 2003 to January 2006. For the HLA-B51 test, we extracted the DNA from the whole blood of 33 BD patients, and we investigated it through the nested PCR method. Data were analyzed using the SPSS/PC 10.0. The frequencies of gender of the 33 cases diagnosed as BD were male 13 (39.4%) and female 20 (60.6%). The frequencies of age group of the 33 cases diagnosed as BD were 20 yrs 8 (24.2%), 30 yrs 12 (36.4%), 40 yrs 8 (24.2%), 50 yrs 1 (3.0%), and 60 yrs and 70 yrs 2 (6.1%), respectively. The frequencies of HLA-B51 of the 33 cases diagnosed as BD were HLA-B51-negative 18 (54.5%) and HLA-B51-positive 15 (45.5%). In conclusion, BD occurred more often in women than men (1: 1.53), and the mean age of the BD patients was 39.8 years old. HLA-B51 was positive in 45.5% of patients with BD, and was statistically significant in age (p<0.05).