• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 2014

Purpose: To evaluate the prevalence of esophageal reflux-induced symptoms after gastrectomy owing to gastric cancer and assess the relationship between esophageal reflux-induced symptoms and quality of life. Materials and Methods: From January 2012 to May 2012, 332 patients were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The patients had a history of curative resection for gastric cancer at least 6 months previously without recurrence, other malignancy, or ongoing chemotherapy. Esophageal reflux-induced symptoms were evaluated with the GerdQ questionnaire. The quality of life was evaluated with the European Organization for Research and Treatment QLQ-C30 and STO22 questionnaires. Results: Of the 332 patients, 275 had undergone subtotal gastrectomy and 57 had undergone total gastrectomy. The number of GerdQ(+) patients was 58 (21.1%) after subtotal gastrectomy, and 7 (12.3%) after total gastrectomy (P=0.127). GerdQ(+) patients showed significantly worse scores compared to those for GerdQ(-) patients in nearly all functional and symptom QLQ-C30 scales, with the difference in the mean score of global health status/quality of life and diarrhea symptoms being higher than in the minimal important difference. Additionally, in the QLQ STO22, GerdQ(+) patients had significantly worse scores in every symptom scale. The GerdQ score was negatively correlated with the global quality of life score (r=-0.170, P=0.002). Conclusions: Esophageal reflux-induced symptoms may develop at a similar rate or more frequently after subtotal gastrectomy compared to that after total gastrectomy, and decrease quality of life in gastric cancer patients. To improve quality of life after gastrectomy, new strategies are required to prevent or reduce esophageal reflux.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.529-533
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• 2011

Metallothioneins (MT) are a group of low-molecular weight, cysteine-rich, intracellular proteins that are encoded by a family of genes containing at least 10 functional isoforms in human. The expression and induction of these proteins is associated with protection against DNA damage, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. Many studies have shown increased expression of MT in various human tumors, whereas MT is down-regulated in certain tumors such as hepatocellular carcinoma and liver adenocarcinoma. Hence, the expression of MT is not universal to all human tumors but may depend on the differentiation status and proliferative index of tumors, along with other tissue factors and gene mutations. Using Northern blot analysis, we found that laminin induced expression of MT-1 in HSG and PC12 cells, which can be differentiated by laminin, but had no effect on MB-231, MDA-435, and PC-3 cells, which cannot be differentiated by laminin. In addition, we analyzed the expression level of the MT-1 gene in five prostate cancer cell lines possessing different metastatic potential. The expression of MT-1 in normal and less malignant cells (RWPE-1 and WPE1-NA22) was high and up-regulated by laminin, whereas the expression of MT-1 in WPE1-NB14, WPE1-NB11, and WPE1-NB26 cells (malignant) was extremely low and not elevated by laminin. These results suggest that the MT-1 gene is involved in laminin-mediated differentiation and affects the metastatic potential of tumor cells.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1998.06a
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• pp.322-326
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• 1998

In order to evaluate menopausal syndrome objectively, examinations were performed as follows: 1) Simplified Menopausal Index (SMI Koyama) and QOL questionnaire (Nagata) were examined subjectively. 2) Urine 17-KS-5 (S Nishikaze), 17-OHCS (OH) were examined objectively. 3) A mobile telemedical device with EKG and KSG was lent to Patients. The subjects were 48 menopausal patients who visited our university hospital as outpatients. According to the results of 5, OH, the subjects were divided into 4 Groups; Group I is high S & high OH, Group ll low S & low OH, Group 111 is low S & high OH, Group tl is high S & low OH. Group IH was the largest (64.6%), Group of was none. The subjects showed significantly lower QOL condition and higher score of SMI. In the QOL, questionnaire items of fixation to physical status (psychogenic reaction), sleep (insomnia), pain(chronic pain) were in common. In SMI, functional vascular symptoms were the largest number. On treatment, Group I was considered to have no need for supplementary agents, but anti-Oketsu agents was prescribed. For Group ll and in some supplementary agents such as red ginseng were prescribed, because they showed low 5. In conclusion, all the groups showed a sign- nificant improvement of QOL and SMI. Group I showed a decrease of OH, Group ll showed an increase of 5, Group In showed an increase of S and SIOH and a decrease of OH. These phenomena were considered prohomeostatic. In QOL, the items of chronic pain, insomnia and appetite were improved. In SMI, chillness, dyspnea, palpitation, pain and fatigability were improved. In mobile tole-medical device, abnormal findings were found in 88.2% of patients. General sdaptation syndrome (Selye, H.) is considered to adjust human life. Menopause is the transit period to exhausted stage in it. So its symptoms vary from person to person. In conclusion, 5 and OH are useful both for classification of menopausal syndrome and for determining treatments according to the classification

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.130-142
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• 2014

The Korean government is considering implementation of the marine ecosystem restoration technology program (MERTP) to analyze the current status of the marine ecosystems and causes for the ecosystem deterioration as well as to eventually establish a master strategic plan for restoring ecosystem functions and preventing ecosystem functional loss. In order to determine likelihood of successful implementation, it is essential to perform an analysis of the economic feasibility of the program. The present study assessed economic feasibility of the MERTP. To this end, the dichotomous choice contingent valuation (CV) method is used. In particular, dichotomous choice (DC) format is employed as a method of eliciting willingness-to-pay (WTP) response to incentive-compatible mechanisms. The study also employed the spike model to deal with zero WTP responses from the DC CV survey. This survey of 1,000 randomly selected households in accordance with the guidelines provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (USA) was carried out nationwide in 2013. And, the respondents were asked in person-to-person interviews about their WTP for implementing the MERTP. The results showed that the annual mean WTP was estimated to be 5,414 won per household. Consequently, the annual benefit from the MERTP would be about 98.6 billion won for the next five years. Economic feasibility assessment utilizing the MERTP investment cost and expansion cost of the value provided that net present value, benefit/cost ratio, and internal rate of return are 337.8 billion won, 5.20, and 65.9 %, respectively, which are bigger than 0, 1.0, and 5.5 %, and that the MERTP passes the cost-benefit analysis.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.328-333
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• 2012

Current differential GPS (DGPS) system consists of reference station (RS), integrity monitor (IM), and control station (CS). The RS computes the pseudorange corrections (PRC) and generates the RTCM messages for broadcasting. The IM receives the corrections from the RS broadcasting and verifies that the information is within tolerance. The CS performs realtime system status monitoring and control of the functional and performance parameters. The primary function of a DGPS integrity monitor is to verify the correction information and transmit feedback messages to the reference station. However, the current algorithms for integrity monitoring have the limitations of integrity monitor functions for satellite outage or anomalies. Therefore, this paper focuses on the detection and identification methods of satellite anomalies for maritime DGPS RSIM. Based on the function analysis of current DGPS RSIM, it first addresses the limitation of integrity monitoring functions for DGPS RSIM, and then proposes the detection and identification method of satellite anomalies. In addition, it simulates an actual GPS clock anomaly case using a GPS simulator to analyze the limitations of the integrity monitoring function. It presents the brief test results using the proposed methods for detection and identification of satellite anomalies.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.128-138
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• 1998

Background : There is increased recognition that rigorous approach to functional assessment will complement the assessment of clinical status. This study is to develop the appropriate visual function index in Korean patients with cataracts by the assessment of the reliability, validity of visual function indexes including VF-14. Methods : An prospective study was performed with 92 patients who had undergone either one eye or both eye cataract surgery by 3 ophthalmologists practicing at a university hospital. Patients were interviewed. and clinical data were obtained. Doctors were questioned with self-entered questionnaire forms. Medical record was examined to understand surgery process. The survey was conducted at 1-2 days before cataract surgery. Results : We used following measures : 7 visual function indexes, global measures of patients' trouble and satisfaction with vision, and best-corrected visual acuity(VA) in each eye. 7 visual function indexes showed a high internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alpha coefficients ${\geq}$ 0.86). The better visual acuity(operated eye, better eye), the higher patient satisfaction with vision, the lower symptom score, the lower patient trouble with vision was correlated with preoperative visual function index scores. Among 7 indexes, VF-12 with the exclusion of 2 items drivings from VF-14 is a high Cronbach's alpha coefficient and correlation coefficient and the highest $R^2$. Conclusion : We conclude that VF-12 is reliable and valid in Korea. So we suggest that in Korea, all items of VF-14, the visual function index, which is in use internationally, ought to be surveyed and VF-12 which has been excluded by 2 items of drivings from VF-14 ought to be used for analysis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.855-860
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• 1998

Background: Adequate exposure of the mitral valve is a prerequisite for mitral procedures including the repair. An extended transseptal approach in mitral valvular operations is known to have certain technical advantages in recent years because of the anatomic posterior location of the mitral valve, especially in reoperations and in the presence of the small atrium in spite of the possibility of arrhythmia due to injury of sinus nodal artery. Material and Method: We compared the preoperative status, operative, and postoperative factors among patients in two study groups, transseptal only (Group I, n=10) and extended transseptal approach(Group II, n=25). Result: There were no differences in age, sex, NYHA functional class, left atrial size, and left ventricular function. The incidence of the redo-operation was high and early postoperative arrhythmia, which was improved later, appeared in 3 patients in Group II, but not in Group I. Conclusion: We believe that atrial septal incision could be extended up to the atrial roof whenever exposure of the mitral valve during a transseptal approach is inadequate because the late results were similar.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.507-514
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• 2010

This study was performed to reduce unpleasant taste and flavor of $Gastrodia$ $elata$ Blume as well as to improve utilization as functional food materials using fermentation. The component, antioxidant activity, and taste test were compared between fresh and fermented $Gastrodia$ $elata$ Blume powder (FGP). FGP contained higher level of total fat, protein, mineral, and fiber than raw material. The pH of FGP was higher compared to raw $Gastrodia$ $elata$ Blume powder (RGP), and antioxidant activity was as high as vitamin C regardless material status (raw vs. fermented). This result indicated that its activity was not decreased by fermentation. Dispersiveness and solubility of $Gastrodia$ $elata$ Blume powder was the best in 60-70 mesh. For sensory evaluation, FGP or RGP was mixed with either orange juice or yoghurt. The results showed that overall preference, taste, flavor, texture, and color were better in fermented $Gastrodia$ $elata$ Blume drinks than in raw ones. It is plausible that unpleasant taste and flavor of $Gastrodia$ $elata$ Blume was declined by fermentation. Thus, fermentation can be easily applied to eliminate unpleasant smell in $Gastrodia$ $elata$ Blume, and FGP can be mixed with other beverages to produce healthy food and drinks.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.11 no.11
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• pp.4354-4359
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• 2010

The study performed questionnaire to the patients receiving implant operation, who visited dental clinics and hospitals(2 hospitals and 5 clinics) from Jul. 1, 2009 to Sep. 12, 2009 in order to study the factors giving effects to patient's satisfaction in the selection of implant. 145 questionnaire papers collected from patients were analyzed with SPSS12.0 program. The result revealed that the satisfaction with implant operation was usually normal when implant was operated because of tooth extraction due to dental caries and periodontal disease and it was usually high when implant was operated because of wound(P<0.05). When considering each cause of tooth extraction, the satisfaction with pronunciation function was usually normal(P<0.001), the satisfaction with functional part including foreign body sense was very low when the cause of operation was periodontal disease(P<0.01). The satisfaction with hospital environment depending on the cause of hospital selection was usually high when hospital was selected because of doctor's fame. It was low when hospital was selected because it was close to home(P<0.001). The satisfaction with the number of hospital visits depending on the number of implanted teeth was usually low when many teeth were implanted(P<0.01). The analysis on the satisfaction with tooth shape and color showed that the satisfaction was high when '1~2' teeth and 'more than 6' teeth were implanted(P<0.05). In order to improve patient's satisfaction with implant, it is necessary to recognize individual's oral status and request correctly. It is determined that proposal of operation period, number of hospital visits, function and expected aesthetic satisfaction degree will contribute to the improvement of mutual reliance between doctor and patient and post-operation satisfaction degree.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.411-419
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• 2012

The present study was to investigate the effects of Lycii Cortex Radicis (LCR), the root bark of lycium (Lycium chenese Miller) and ginger (Gin) on body lipid status and serum levels of cytokines. Sprague-Dawley (SD) male rats weighing $193.6{\pm}16.8g$ were divided into five groups, including one low fat (LF) and four high fat groups, i.e. HF-Control, HF-LCR, HF-Gin and HF-LCR + Gin groups. Diets for HF-LCR, HF-Gin and HF-LCR + Gin groups contained purified extracts having 0.2 g LCR tyramine, ginerol and 0.1 g tyramine plus 0.02 g gingerol per kg, respectively. Compared with those of the HF-Control total serum cholesterol level decreased, and HDL-cholesterol level increased in the HF-LCR group and serum triglyceride levels decreased in the three experimental groups fed the purified extracts. Liver cholesterol level was lower in the HF-LCR group than the HF-Control group, but triglyceride levels, which were increased by high fat diets were not changed by significantly by LCR or ginger extracts. Fecal lipid excretion was higher in the HF-LCR and HF-Gin groups, but cholesterol excretion was lower in the HF-Gin group than in the HF-Control group. The activities of liver cytosolic glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and malic enzyme were lower in the HF-LCR + Gin group than in the HF-Control group. Serum adiponectin levels did not differ among the five groups, while leptin level was lower in the HF-Gin group and C-reactive protein levels were lower in the HF-Gin and the HF-LCR + Gin groups than in the HF-Control group. It is concluded that LCR can be utilized as an ingredient for lipid-lowering functional foods in the form of purified extract and addition of small amount of ginger extract would be useful for reducing one of the inflammatory cytokines to help prevent atherosclerosis.