• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.3-10
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• 2013

Objectives : Many patients diagnosed with cancer suffer from various psychiatric symptoms such as depression, anxiety and insomnia as well as cancer itself. Patients with cancer are more vulnerable to possible adverse events of psychotropic medications. Although antidepressants are widely used among cancer patients, there is little information about tolerability of antidepressants. This study was conducted to compare tolerability of antidepressants in cancer patients referred for psychiatric consultation. Methods : The participants were cancer patients who had been referred to psychiatrist for their psychiatric symptoms. We retrospectively analyzed the data of patients diagnosed with cancer from 9 general hospitals in Korea. The discontinuation rate for a 6 months period after treatment initiation for three antidepressants(Escitalopram, Mirtazapine, Paroxetine) were compared. Results : Antidepressants were prescribed for 96.3% of subjects and Escitalopram 150(47.2%), Mirtazapine 92(28.9%) and Paroxetine 76(23.9%) were prescribed frequently in order There were no significant differences in discontinuation rates among the three antidepressants during the 6 month period after initiation of pharmacotherapy. But there was a difference in discontinuation rates between inpatients versus outpatients(p<0.0001). Conclusions : In a naturalistic setting for the antidepressant treatment for cancer patients, it seems that there are no differences in discontinuation rates among these three antidepressants. It is therefore essential that such interactions are carefully considered when treating patients of antidepressants who already have cancer.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.279-283
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• 2011

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play an important role in induction of innate immune responses. The activation of TLRs triggers inflammatory responses that are essential for host defense against invading pathogens. Phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) extracted from cruciferous vegetables has an effect on anti-inflammatory therapy. Dysregulated activation of nuclear factor-${\kappa}$B (NF-${\kappa}$B), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) has been shown to play important roles in the development of certain inflammatory disease. To evaluate the therapeutic potential of PEITC, NF-${\kappa}$B activation and COX-2 and iNOS expression induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS, TLR4 agonist), polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (Poly[I:C], TLR3 agonist), 2 kDa macrophageactivating lipopeptide (MALP-2, TLR2 and TLR6 agonist) or oligodeoxynucleotide 1668 (ODN1668, TLR9 agonist) were examined. PEITC inhibits the activation of NF-${\kappa}$B induced by LPS or Poly[I:C] but not by MALP-2 or ODN1668. PEITC also suppressed the iNOS expression induced by LPS or Poly[I:C]. However, PEITC did not suppress COX-2 expression induced by LPS, Poly[I:C], MALP-2, or ODN1668. These results suggest that PEITC has the specific mechanism for antiinflammatory responses.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.135-142
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• 2011

A feather-degrading bacterium Elizabethkingia meningoseptica CS2-1 was isolated from compost in a chicken farm. Cultured on a basal medium containing 2% chicken feather, the bacterium showed 729.7 ${\mu}mol/mL$ of amino acid. Optimal culture conditions for feather degradation by E. meningoseptica CS2-1 were $25^{\circ}C$, pH 7.5, and 180 rpm. The optimal pH and temperature for protease activity were 8.0 and $40^{\circ}C$, respectively. The composition of an optimal medium for amino acid production was 0.05% NH4Cl, 0.05% NaCl, 0.03% $K_2HPO_4$, 0.03% $KH_2PO_4$, 0.01% $MgCl_2{\cdot}6H_2O$, 0.1% urea, and 2% chicken feather. Characteristics of amino acids extracted from the optimal medium under the optimal culture conditions of E. meningoseptica CS2-1 were analyzed. The total amino acid content of strain CS2-1 was 1063 ${\mu}mol/mL$, which was 46% higher compared to the basal condition (729.7 ${\mu}mol/mL$). The essential amino acid content in the total amino acid was 315.9 ${\mu}mol/mL$, which was 44% higher than that of the basal condition. Major amino acids were proline (14%), aspartic acid (12%), glutamic acid (11%), serine (10%), alanine (10%), glycine (9%), and tyrosine (7%) by strain CS2-1. These results suggest that strain CS2-1 can be used as a potential microbial resource for the production of amino acid using chicken feathers.

• Cartoon and Animation Studies
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• s.34
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• pp.317-344
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• 2014

Perspectives on the basis of arts and cultural management, this study intends to suggest improvements in core curriculums that are required in order for South Korea, a country that has initiated into the animation industry through outsourcing from big-budget animation production countries such as America and Japan, to develop its own strong base in creative animation industry. The perspectives of arts management in this context means an integration nexus between human studies, social science and management, and suggestions are as follow: First, it is crucial to understand the current trend of animation industry structure across the globe, as well as to develop the ability of co-production. Animation industry often requires technical skills, capital strength and human resources, each having equal importance. Therefore, thorough analysis of the three components in worldwide animation industry must be preceded for animation production services. To do so, collaboration with major animation creation countries is the best option and is highly encouraged, so that the national animation curriculum shall be enhanced to meet such demands and hence develop various abilities. The second is a good understanding of new-media and new-platforms. Not only the traditional distributor of animation such as television and theater, the distribution system expands its scope to a variety of online sources including pod-casts and the Internet. Under these circumstances, a deep understanding towards animation distribution system and an analysis of the new consumer channel are also of paramount importance for animation production. Third, a possibility of animation supply chain through diversified routes and media have paved the way for a possible animation production services and distribution without a mega-budget. Thus, new curriculum shall need to reinforce marketing and management aspects that will in turn help individuals to establish a self-employed creative business. Last but not least, this study further includes illustration of current curriculum of animation studies in national universities, followed by detailed suggestions for the curriculum improvements based on the above mentioned three factors. It was observed that the current curriculums have been solely focused on practical works and technical skills of animation and art studies; a four-year-course colleges that provide animation courses usually lack components of human studies, social science and management. Thus, this study proposes essential contexts of management studies that are needed for individual business and also curriculum improvements that are derived from the analysis of the current industry and the new media.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.410-416
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• 2006

Purpose : Ciliary abnormalities of the respiratory system usually accompany recurrent or persistent respiratory diseases such as paranasal sinusitis, bronchiectasis, rhinitis, and/or otitis media, since they cause certain derangements in ciliary cleaning activities. This disease is usually inherited by autosomal recessive trait, but may also be found to be acquired or transient in rare cases after heavy exposure to pollutants, cigarette smoking or severe infection. We performed this study in children with frequently recurrent or persistent respiratory diseases to clarify if the ciliary abnormalities are preceding factors. Methods : We enrolled 17 children with suspected respiratory ciliary abnormalities. The indications for evaluation of ciliary ultrastructure were recurrent or persistent respiratory infections. Children with immunologic abnormalities were excluded. From August 2000 to July 2003, we performed a biopsy on nasal mucosa and examined the structure of ciliary status by using an electron microscope. Results : Of the subjects, there were seven males and 10 females, aged 2 to 10 years. Out of the 17 subjects, 12 cases of chronic paranasal sinusitis, nine chronic coughs, nine frequent upper respiratory infections, seven cases of recurrent otitis media, four cases of recurrent pneumonia, and four cases of bronchial asthma were found. Out of the 17 cases on which histologic examinations were conducted, four cases showed pathologic findings, including one case of inner dynein arm defect, one of microtubular transposition, one of supernumerous tubules, and one singlet, respectively. Conclusion : It is essential for differential diagnosis and effective treatment to identify the abnormalities of ultrastructure of nasal cilia in children with symptoms of frequently recurrent or persistent respiratory diseases, if immunodeficiency or respiratory allergy could be excluded.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.429-439
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was assessed to investigate the change of subjective and/or objective symptoms and the light transmissibility of lens caused by over-usage of daily disposable circle contact lenses (circle lens). Methods: Three daily disposable circle lenses made of etafilcon A, hilafilcon B, and nelfilcon A were applied on 20 normal eyes free from any eye diseases by when subjects complained any kind of discomfort. On the first and the last days of lens wearing, subjective discomfort, blinking rate, non-invasive break-up time, lens centration on corneal surface and visible light transmissibility of lens were recorded at every case and compared. Results: The circle lens wearers complained discomfort when they wore the circle lens more than 15 hours, in excess of 8 hours being the recommended wearing time and the most circle lens wearers quit the lens wearing when they wore more than 30 hours. On the last day of lens wearing, the representative subjective discomforts were stiffness, dryness and tiredness. When the subjects wore circle lens more than the recommended time, a tendency of increased blinking rate and decreased NIBUT was observed when it compared with the values right after lens wearing. On the last day of lens wearing, the lens centration was shown to be decentrated from the pupil center compared with the centration right after the wearing. These changes in lens centration and blinking rate were consistently shown in all cases of lens wearing however, the difference in the degree of subjective and/or objective change was present depending on lens materials and subjects. The visible light transmissibility of circle lens has largely been changed. Conclusions: From these results, it was thought that the decreased NIBUT induced dryness and stiffness and decreased visible light transmissibility caused more blinking when daily disposable circle lens was exceedingly used, which provoked lens decentration and subjective discomfort. However, the difference of subjective and/or objective change was largely varied in accordance with the lens material types and individuality and thus it may occur some unexpected problems by the individual base. Therefore, the education about the necessity to comply with the recommended wearing time and the problem will be essential.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.53-58
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• 2008

Purpose: To design and fabricate the small sputter coating system for the Ophthalmic lens. Methods: The design of sputter target was done using macleod program for AR coating and mirror coating of Ophthalmic lens with Si target and then the sputter system was fabricated. Results: The optimum condition of AR coating with Si target was [air|$SiO_2$(81.3)|$Si_3N_4$ (102)|$SiO_2$(19.21)|$Si_3N_4$(15.95)|$SiO_2$(102)|glass], for blue color mirror coating [air|$SiO_2$(56.61)|$Si_3N_4$(135.86)|$SiO_2$(67.64)|$Si_3N_4$(55.4)|$SiO_2$(53.53)|$Si_3N_4$(51.28)|glass], for green color coating [air|$SiO_2$(66.2)|$Si_3N_4$(22.76)|$SiO_2$(56.58)|$Si_3N_4$(140.35)|$SiO_2$(152.35)|$Si_3N_4$(70.16)|$SiO_2$(121.87)|glass], for gold color [air|$SiO_2$(83.59)|$Si_3N_4$(144.86)|$SiO_2$(11.82)|$Si_3N_4$(129.93)|$SiO_2$(90.01)|$Si_3N_4$(88.37)|glass]. Conclusions: In the fabrication of sputtering coating apparatus, Dual cathode with same Ti target were coated at the same time on both sides of Ophthalmic lens to lessen the time of coating on Ophthalmic Lens and save the cost of the lens. The distance of target-substrate of cathode was variable from 12.5 cm to 20 cm. Turbo pump was used to take the whole coating process about 15 min. instead of diffusion pump. The lens holder was made to coat 2 pairs lens every coating and was rotated to get the uniformity of thin film.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.351-357
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• 2003

Purpose : To raise awareness of the clinical importance of, and the need for proper management of acute focal bacterial nephritis(AFBN), we analyzed 22 AFBN patients and 22 other upper urinary tract infection patients by use of comparative studies. Methods : From January 2000 to May 2002, 22 AFBN patients aged from 1 month to 12 months were selected. As a control group, 22 UTI patients with no radiologic abnormalities were selected and matched by age and sex. Results : The incidence of AFBN was more common in boys than in girls. Since both groups had similar symptoms, it was difficult to diagnose AFBN by clinical presentations alone. ESR and CRP were significantly higher in AFBN patients. The most common causative organism was E. coli in both groups. On the sonographic findings, the most lesions were seen on the upper lobe of the kidney; more frequently, on left kidney. The lesions showed globular or wedge-shaped increased echogenecity. $^{99m}Tc-DMSA$ scan showed the complete coincidence of the location, size and shape in all cases compared to the findings of renal sonography. Conclusion : The roles of renal sonography and DMSA scan were very important, and ultrasonography was an excellent initial tool in diagnosing AFBN. Since the degree of infection in AFBN is more severe than other urinary tract infections and evollution into a renal abscess is possible, early diagnosis and appropriate antibiotics therapy is essential.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.250-258
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• 2003

Purpose : The actual clinical examples of co-appliance of catheter intervention with surgical procedures in the treatment of pulmonary atresia with an intact ventricular septum(PA/IVS) which we have experienced in our institution are here shown, and the anatomical and hemodynamical profiles between each method is compared. Methods : Medical records of 33 patients with PA/IVS who underwent various treatment from January, 1995 to December, 2000 were reviewed for a retrograde study. Results : In three out of 10 patients who underwent percutaneous balloon pulmonary valvotomy (PPV), residual pulmonary stenosis were observed in their out patient department(OPD) follow-ups, eventually necessitatig balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty(BPV). One out of three patients exhibited deterioration of tricuspid regurgitation after BPV, requiring surgical tricuspid annuloplasty(TAP). Two out of the seven patients who received primarily surgical right ventricle outlet tract(RVOT) repair without any systemic-pulmonary shunt or intervention needed additional intervention employing cardiac catheterization after operation. Two patients received interventional catheterization before surgical RVOT repair. In five out of 11 cases of Fontan type operation, coil embolization of collateral circulation was done before total cavo-pulmonary connection(TCPC), and in three cases, interventional catheterization was needed after TCPC. Conclusion : Both medical and surgical treatment modalities are widely used in management of PA/IVS patients, and recent results prove that medico-surgical cooperative treatment is essential.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.213-219
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• 2009

Purpose:Iron is a critical nutritional element that is essential for a variety of important biological processes, including cell growth and differentiation, electron transfer reactions, and oxygen transport, activation, and detoxification. Iron is also required for neoplastic cell growth due to its catalytic effects on the formation of hydroxyl radicals, suppression of host defense cell activities, and promotion of cancer cell multiplication. Chronic transfusion-dependent patients receiving chemotherapy may have iron overload, which requires iron-chelating therapy. We performed this study to demonstrate whether the iron chelating agent deferoxamine induces apoptosis in Saos-2 osteosarcoma cells, and to investigate the underlying apoptotic mechanism. Methods:To analyze the apoptotic effects of an iron chelator, cultured Saos-2 cells were treated with deferoxamine. We analyzed cell survival by trypan blue and crystal violet analysis, apoptosis by nuclear condensation, DNA fragmentation, and cell cycle analysis, and the expression of apoptotic related proteins by Western immunoblot analysis. Results:Deferoxamine inhibited the growth of Saos-2 cell in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The major mechanism for growth inhibition with the deferoxamine treatment was by the induction of apoptosis, which was supported by nuclear staining, DNA fragmentation analysis, and flow cytometric analysis. Furthermore, bcl-2 expression decreased, while bax, caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP expression increased in Saos-2 cells treated with deferoxamine. Conclusion:These results demonstrated that the iron chelating agent deferoxamine induced growth inhibition and mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis in osteosarcoma Saos-2 cells, suggesting that iron chelating agents used in controlling neoplastic cell fate can be potentially developed as an adjuvant agent enhancing the anti-tumor effect for the treatment of osteosarcoma.