• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of postoperative radiotherapy for patients with low-grade astrocytomas and to define an optimal radiotherapeutic regimen and prognostic factors. Materials and Methods: A total of 69 patients with low-grade astrocytomas underwent surgery and postoperative radiotherapy immediately following surgery at our institution between October 1989 and September 2006. The median patient age was 36 years. Forty-one patients were 40 years or younger and 28 patients were 41 years or older. Fourteen patients underwent a biopsy alone and the remaining 55 patients underwent a subtotal resection. Thirty-nine patients had a Karnofsky performance status of less than 80% and 30 patients had a Karnofsky performance status greater than 80%. Two patients were treated with whole brain irradiation followed by a coned down boost field to the localized area. The remaining 67 patients were treated with a localized field with an appropriate margin. Most of the patients received a dose of $50\sim55$ Gy and majority of the patients were treated with a dose of 54 Gy. Results: The overall 5-year and 7-year survival rates for all of the 69 patients were 49% and 44%, respectively. Corresponding disease free survival rates were 45% and 40%, respectively. Patients who underwent a subtotal resection showed better survival than patients who underwent a biopsy alone. The overall 5-year survival rates for patients who underwent a subtotal resection and patients who underwent a biopsy alone were 57% and 38%, respectively (p<0.05). Forty-one patients who were 40 years or younger showed a better overall 5-year survival rate as compared with 28 patients who were 41 years or older (56% versus 40%, p<0.05). The overall 5-year survival rates for 30 patients with a Karnofsky performance status greater than 80% and 39 patients with a Karnofsky performance status less than 80% were 51% and 47%, respectively. This finding was not statistically significant. Although one patient was not able to complete the treatment because of neurological deterioration, there were no significant treatment related toxicities. Conclusion: Postoperative radiotherapy following surgery is a safe and effective treatment for patients with low-grade astrocytomas. The extent of surgery and age were noted as significant prognostic factors in this study. However, further effective treatment might be necessary in the future to improve long-term survival rates.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.7
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• pp.672-677
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• 2007

Purpose : To assess the prevalence and characteristics of headache comorbidity with epilepsy in children and adolescents in a specialty epilepsy clinic. Methods : Two hundred twenty nine consecutive patients attending the Chosun University Hospital Pediatric Epilepsy Clinic (mean age $10.0{\pm}4.1\;years$, range 4-17, M:F ratio 1.1:1.0) were interviewed with a standardized headache questionnaire. Headache was classified according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd Edition and epilepsy was classified according to the International League Against Epilepsy. Disability was assessed using pediatric migraine disability assessment (PedMIDAS). Results : Of the 229 epilepsy patients, 86 (37.6%) had co-morbid headache. Of the headache patients, 64 (74.4%) had migraine (65.6%- migraine without aura, 20.3% - migraine with aura, 14.1% - probable migraine). The mean headache frequency was $7.2{\pm}8.4$ per month, mean duration was $2.2{\pm}4.0$ hours, mean severity was $5.2{\pm}2.2$ out of 10, and mean PedMIDAS score was $13.0{\pm}35.4$. The proportion of females was not higher in epilepsy with headache patients (48.8%) compared to epilepsy patients alone (48.0%). In the patients with migraine, 48.4% had complex partial seizures, 17.2% had simple partial seizures, and 34.4% had generalized seizures (P=0.368). A postictal association of migraine was reported in 18.8% with 17.2% reporting a preictal headache, and 7.8% reporting an ictal headache. Conclusion : The prevalence of headache in pediatric epilepsy is higher than that in general pediatric population, suggesting a co-morbidity of headache in epilepsy patients with migraine being the most frequent headache disorder. Altered cerebral excitability resulting in an increased occurrence of spreading depression may explain the headache comorbidity with epilepsy. Further studies are needed to assess the etiology of this co-morbidity as well as assess the frequency, duration, severity and disability response to antiepileptic drugs.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.120-126
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• 2000

Purpose : Tumor hypoxia can be overcome with hypoxic cytotoxin. In mouse tumor, tirapazamine's efficacy of the potentiating radiation effect was tested by the tumor oxygenation status combined with hype facti on ated rad iotherapy .:The control and hypoxic mouse tumors we established by inoculation of RIF-1 tumor cells into the normal or previously irradiated back and thigh of C3H mice. When the tumors reached a proper size, both the control and hypoxic tumors were given hypefractionated treatments (8fractions/4 days) with saline (0.02 ml/g), tirapazamin (0.08 mM/0.02 ml/kg), irradiation (2.5 Gy), irradiation combined with tirapazamine given 30 minutes prior to each irradiation. The response was evaluated by the growth delay assay by measuring tumor size from day 0 (12 hrs prior to the first fractionation) to the day when the volume had 4-fold increase or cross sectional area had 2-fold increase. Results : Overall growth pattern showed that tirapazamine Potentiated radiation effect in back and thigh tumors grew in the normal and preirradiated tumor bed. With growth delay assay using reference point of initial tumor volume or cross sectional area, tirapazamine potentiated radiation effect 1.9 times for the control and 2.4 times for the hypoxic tumors in back, and 1.85 times for the control and 1.6 times for the hypoxic tumors. With reference of 4-fold increase of the initial volume or 2-fold increase of the cross sectional area, tirapazamine potentiated radiation effect 1.48 times for the control and 2.02 times for the hypxic tumors in back, and 1.85 times for the control and 1.6 times for the hypoxic tumors. Conclusions : Present result indicated that radiation response of hypoxic tumors was potentiated by tirapazamine in the back or thigh tumors grew in the control or preirradiated tumor bed, and potentiation of the hypoxic tumors was eDual to or greater than that of the control tumors in the back or thigh.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.133-139
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• 2009

Purpose: In spite of many reports about Helicobacter pylori infection in children with functional gastrointestinal disorders, there are few reports about the influence of H. pylori infection to functional dyspepsia and gastric motility. Therefore, we studied the influence of H. pylori infection on gastric myoelectrical activity in children with functional dyspepsia. Methods: Between August 2006 and December 2008 upper gastrointestinal endoscopies with biopsies, the rapid urease test and/or $^{13}C$ urea breath test, and electrogastrography (EGG) were performed on 63 patients with histologic chronic gastritis; patients with chronic disorders were excluded. Comparisons about gastric myoelectrical activities were made between H. pylori-positive children (n=25) and H. pylorinegative children (n=38). Results: The percentage of pre- and post-prandial normogastria was relatively lower in H. pylori-positive children than H. pylori-negative children (80% vs. 65%, and 80% vs. 68%, respectively). Compared to H. pylori-negative children, H. pylori-positive children had lower postprandial predominant power (8.18${\pm}$22.36 dB and 32.20${\pm}$24.18 dB, respectively; p<0.01) and a lower power ratio (${\delta}P$; -1.28${\pm}$6.18 vs. +4.62${\pm}$5.93, respectively; p<0.01). Conclusion: It was suggested that the gastric myoelectrical activity in children with chronic gastritis can be influenced by H. pylori infection. Thus, this study indicates that H. pylori infection may be predictable in children with functional dyspepsia through analyzing the EGG parameters, and treatment may be considered in H. pylori-positive children with impaired gastric activity, especially in the lower prevalence area.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.113-117
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• 2008

Purpose: To evaluate the long term results(local control, survival, failure, and complications) after radiation therapy for skin cancer in elderly patients. Material and Methods: The study spanned from January 1990 to October 2002. Fifteen elderly patients with skin cancer were treated by radiotherapy at the Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center. The age distribution of the patients surveyed was 72 to 95 years, with a median age of 78.8 years. The pathologic classification of the 15 patients included squamous cell carcinoma(10 patients), basal cell carcinoma(3 patients), verrucous carcinoma(1 patient) and skin adnexal origin carcinoma(1 patient). The most common tumor location was the head(13 patients). The mean tumor diameter was 4.9 cm(range 2 to 9 cm). The radiation dose was delivered via an electron beam of 6 to 15 MeV. The dose range was adjusted to the tumor diameter and depth of tumor invasion. The total radiation dose ranged from $50{\sim}80$ Gy(mean: 66 Gy) with a 2 Gy fractional dose prescribed to the 80% isodose line once a day and 5 times a week. One patient with lymph node metastasis was treated with six MV photon beams boosted with electron beams. The length of the follow-up periods ranged from 10 to 120 months with a median follow-up period of 48 months. Results: The local control rates were 100%(15/15). In addition, the five year disease free survival rate(5YDFS) was 80% and twelve patients(80%) had no recurrence and skin cancer recurrence occurred in 3 patients(20%). Three patients have lived an average of 90 months($68{\sim}120$ months) without recurrence or metastasis. A total of 9 patients who died as a result of other causes had a mean survival time of 55.8 months after radiation therapy. No severe acute or chronic complications were observed after radiation therapy. Only minor complications including radiation dermatitis was treated with supportive care. Conclusion: The results suggest that radiation therapy is an effective and safe treatment method for the treatment of skin cancer in elderly patients who achieved a good survival rate and few minor complications.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.186-192
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• 2007

This study was conducted to survey the hygienic status of chicken meats on the microbial levels, which were collected from poultry processing plants located in the local provinces in nationwide including the JeJu island (n=15) in 1997. In particular, Salmonella spp., Campylobacter jejuni, and Listeria monocytogenes, which were retarded as one of the most important entero-pathogens relating to food home illness from poultry, were investigated on their isolation frequency including the other pathogens related on the food-borne illness. A total of 115 processed chickens were submitted on the present study. In general, the bacterial contamination frequency showed more or less lower $(10{\sim}100 cells)$ than those of sold on the retail and super markets and department stores because of lacking of cross-contamination incidences, depending on the total cells, Coliforms and Staphylococcal cells count. While, Salmonella species, Campylobacter jejuni, Listeria monocytogenes, and coagulase positive Staphylococcus aureus isolation frequency of chicken meats from slaughter houses were 58.3%, 37.4%, 43.5%, and 30.4%, in order. But the present microbial isolation data were a little lower levels than those of sold on the retail and super markets and famous department stores in Seoul and GyeongGi province at the same period. It seemed that the cross-contamination problems (including the human, environmental and instrumental factors) during the marketing stage (after the last processing procedure; rinsing step) had the major roles on the increasing of the microbial contamination frequency on the chicken meats after the slaughter houses.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.558-567
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• 2000

Background : Recently, serologic techniques for tuberculosis have been developed and some of them, which are focusing on detection of serum antibodies mainly directed against specific 38-kDa Mycobacterium tuberculosis, have already been introduced into the markel. In this study, diagnostic significance of a new serologic test(ELISA kit) for pulmonary tuberculosis was evaluated. Method : Serologic test with newly developed ELISA kit was performed upon 474 individuals, who include 333 active pulmonary tuberculosis patients, 80 healthy cases, and 61 tuberculosis contact cases. This serologic test was based on the ELISA technique and designed to detect antibodies to mixed complex antigens including 38-kDa, which were developed by Erume Biotech Co., Seoul. Active pulmonary tuberculosis was diagnosed by sputum AFB smear and culture methods. Results : The seropositivities using this ELISA kit were 82.1% and 73.6% in smear-positive and negative groups among active pulmonary tuberculosis, respectively. And, it also showed that seronegativities were 97.5% and 85.2% in healthy and contact groups, respectively. As a whole, the results of our study using the ELISA kit as a diagnostic method for pulmonary tuberculosis showed 80.0% sensitivity for active pulmonary tuberculosis, 97.5% specificity, 96.1% positive predictive value, and 65.0% negative predictive value when the prevalence of tuberuclosis in the samples was 60.1%. Conclusion : Our results reveal that the detection of antibody its reaction with 38-kDa antigen of M. tuberculosis is not sufficient to be accepted as single diagnostic method for pulmonary tuberculosis. However, they suggest that ELISA kit may be considered as an adjunctive test to standard diagnostic techniques of pulmonary tuberculosis.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.210-217
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• 1997

Purpose: To prevent residual physical disability and chronic infection, prompt diagnosis and adequate treatment are important in the skeletal infections in children. Although radioisotope scanning is knwon as the method of choice for early diagnosis of bone infection, we conducted a study on twenty nine children who had skeletal infections to reevaluate the most appropriate way in diagnosis and management. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on twenty nine children, who were admitted to the departments of Pediatrics and Orthopedic Surgery and who had acute osteomyelitis or septic arthritis, through review of medical records, radiologic & radioisotope study results. Their diagnoses were confirmed by bacteriologic cultures on the aspirated specimens from suspected bony lesions. Results: 1) Among twenty nine patients, there were 6 infants including 5 newborn infants, and 23 children were aged between 1 and 15 years. Male to female ratio was 1.4 to 1. 2) Point tenderness was noted in all cases, and the common physical signs were swelling, limitation of motion, fever and local heat in the order of frequency. 3) Fifty two percents of the patients were diagnosed within a week after onset of symptoms and all cases were within 15 days. 4) Leukocytosis was noted in only 58.6% of cases but erythrocyte sedimentation rate was increased in all cases except only one case. Staphylococcus aureus was revealed as the most common etiologic agent. 5) Radioisotope scans showed hot uptake in five of six cases(83.3%) who had no abnormal finding on plain skeletal radiolograms. Conclusions: Although radioisotope scan and MRI are helpful in early diagnosis before radiologic finding was detected on plain X-ray film, the antimicrobial therapy can be started after bacteriologic study of the aspirated specimens from the suspected skeletal lesions if skeletal infection is highly suspected clinically.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.529-539
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• 2019

Purpose: Sprouts of evening primrose (Oenothera laciniata, OL) were reported to have high contents of flavonoids and potent antioxidant activity. This study examined the antioxidant and antiobesity activities of OL sprouts to determine if they could be a natural health-beneficial resource preventing obesity and oxidative stress. Methods: OL sprouts were extracted with 50% ethanol, evaporated, and lyophilized (OLE). The in vitro antioxidant activity of OLE was examined using four different tests. The antiobesity activity and in vivo antioxidant activity from OLE consumption were examined using high fat diet-induced obese (DIO) C57BL/6 mice. Results: The IC₅₀ for the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activities of OLE were 26.2 ㎍/mL and 327.6 ㎍/mL, respectively. OLE exhibited the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) activity of 56.7 ㎍ ascorbic acid eq./mL at 100 ㎍/mL, and an increased glutathione level by 65.1% at 200 ㎍/mL compared to the control in the hUC-MSC stem cells. In an animal study, oral treatment with 50 mg or 100 mg of OLE/kg body weight for 14 weeks reduced the body weight gain, visceral fat content, fat cell size, blood leptin, and triglyceride levels, as well as the atherogenic index compared to the high fat diet control group (HFC) (p < 0.05). The blood malondialdehyde (MDA) level and the catalase and SOD-1 activities in adipose tissue were reduced significantly by the OLE treatment compared to HFC as well (p < 0.05). In epididymal adipose tissue, the OLE treatment reduced the mRNA expression of leptin, PPAR-γ and FAS significantly (p < 0.05) compared to HFC while it increased adiponectin expression (p < 0.05). Conclusion: OLE consumption has potent antioxidant and antiobesity activities via the suppression of oxidative stress and lipogenesis in DIO mice. Therefore, OLE could be a good candidate as a natural resource to develop functional food products that prevent obesity and oxidative stress.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.4 s.249
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• pp.284-290
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• 2005

We evaluated the early and mid-term results for repair of Ebstein's anomaly. Material and Method: Between January 1989 and June 2004, 29 patients underwent repair of Ebstein's anomaly. The median age was 11.4 years (4 days-50 years). Tricuspid insufficiency equal to or greater than grade 3 was present in 21 $(72.4\%)$ patients. Surgical techniques included tricuspid valve repair with vertical plication of the atrialized ventricle (n=14), Carpentier's technique (n=7), tricuspid valve replacement (n=4), systemic-to-pulmonary arterial shunt (n=2), tricuspid valve repair (n=1), and Fontan operation (n=1). Bi-directional cavopulmonary shunt (BCPS) was required in 5 patients. Among the 2 neonates, one patient underwent successful biventricular repair, and the other patient underwent systemic-to-pulmonary arterial shunt. Follow-up was possible in 21 patients $(75\%)$, and the average follow-up was 37.6 months (3 months-11.3 years). Result: There were $1(3.4\%)$ early and 1 late deaths. Reoperation was required in 4 patients. Two patients underwent tricuspid valve re-replacement, and the other 2 tricuspid valve repair. At recent follow-up, only 2 patients showed tricuspid insufficiency equal to or greater than grade 3, and most patients showed clinical improvement. Excluding the patients who underwent tricuspid valve replacement, the actuarial rate of freedom from reoperation at 1 and 5 years were $94.7\%\;and\;79.0\%$, respectively. Conclusion: Tricuspid valve repair was possible in most patients with good mid-term outcome. Most patients showed clinical and hemodynamic improvement. Indications for the BCPS should be clarified.