• Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.211-219
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• 2022

Backgrounds/Aims: Historically, incidence and survival analysis and annual traits for primary liver cancer (LC) has not been investigated in a population-based study in Korea. The purpose of the current study is to determine incidence, survival rate of patients with primary LC in Korea. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using Korea Central Cancer Registry based on the Korea National Cancer Incidence Database. Statistical analysis including crude rate and age-standadized rate (ASR) of incidence and mortality was performed for LC patients registered with C22 code in International Classification of Diseases, tenth revision from 1999 to 2019. Subgroup analysis was performed for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, C22.0) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC, C22.1). Results: The crude incidence rate of HCC (21.0 to 22.8 per 100,000) and IHCC (2.3 to 5.6 per 100,000) increased in the observed period from 1999 to 2019. The ASR decreased in HCC (20.7 to 11.9 per 100,000) but remained unchanged in IHCC (2.4 to 2.7 per 100,000). The proportion of HCC patients diagnosed in early stages (localized or regional Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results or SEER stage) increased significantly over time. As expected, 5-yeat survival rate of HCC was greatly improved, reaching 42.4% in the period between 2013 and 2019. This trait was more prominent in localized SEER stage. On the other hand, the proportion of IHCC patients diagnosed in localized stage remained unchanged (22.9% between 2013 and 2019), although ASR and 5-year survival rate showed minor improvements. Conclusions: A great improvement in survival rate was observed in patients with newly diagnosed HCCs. It was estimated to be due to an increase in early detection rate. On the contrary, detection rate of an early IHCC was stagnant with a minor improvement in prognosis.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.133-139
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• 2014

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the most common and severe type of idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIP), and which is currently no method was developed to restore normal structure and function. There are several reports on therapeutic effects of adult stem cell transplantations in animal models of pulmonary fibrosis. However, little is known about how mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) can repair the IPF. In this study, we try to provide the evidence to show that transplanted mesenchymal stem cells directly replace fibrosis with normal lung cells using IPF model mice. As results, transplanted MSC successfully integrated and differentiated into type II lung cell which express surfactant protein. In the other hand, we examine the therapeutic effects of microvesicle treatment, which were released from mesenchymal stem cells. Though the therapeutic effects of MV treatment is less than that of MSC treatment, MV treat-ment meaningfully reduced the symptom of IPF, such as collagen deposition and inflammation. These data suggest that stem cell transplantation may be an effective strategy for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis via replacement and cytoprotective effect of microvesicle released from MSCs.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.111-117
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• 2018

Background Fat grafting, or lipofilling, represent frequent clinically used entities. The fate of these transplants is still not predictable, whereas only few animal models are available for further research. Quantum dots (QDs) are semiconductor nanocrystals which can be conveniently tracked in vivo due to photoluminescence. Methods Fat grafts in cluster form were labeled with cadmium-telluride (CdTe)-QD 770 and transplanted subcutaneously in a murine in vivo model. Photoluminescence levels were serially followed in vivo. Results Tracing of fat grafts was possible for 50 days with CdTe-QD 770. The remaining photoluminescence was $4.9%{\pm}2.5%$ for the QDs marked fat grafts after 30 days and $4.2%{\pm}1.7%$ after 50 days. There was no significant correlation in the relative course of the tracking signal, when vital fat transplants were compared to non-vital graft controls. Conclusions For the first-time fat grafts were tracked in vivo with CdTe-QDs. CdTe-QDs could offer a new option for in vivo tracking of fat grafts for at least 50 days, but do not document vitality of the grafts.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.68-74
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• 1970

In the previous studies, the present author found that high proportion of the follicular oocytes from mouse and rabbit ovaries are able to resume their maturation division in the anterior chamber of the eye in which they have been incubated by auto- or homoplastic transplantation. Especially in the case of the homoplastic transplantation, it was known that no trouble has been detected in the process of resumption of the oval maturation in particular connection with the antigen-antibody reaction between donor and recipient. These findings provide a possibility that the follicular oocytes from various animals would be matured in the eye even after the xenoplastic transplantation. Under such an assumption, the present studies were performed to examine the behavior of the follicular oocytes in the eye chamber of the animals of different species. For the donor of the follicular oocytes, domestic rabbits, albino rats of Sprague-Dowley strain, and albino mice of A-strain bred in our laboratory were used. The oocytes obtained from the ovarian follicules were introduced to the anterior chamber of the eye of different species of animals, with an exception of rabbit in which only the female animals were used as a recipient. The procedures of collection of ova, introduction to the eye, harvest from the eye ball, fixation, and staining were the same as mentioned in the previous reports (Cho, 1967b; Cho and Kim, 1968). The conclusions obtained are summarized as below. 1. The rabbit follicular oocytes are able to mature in the eye chambers of both male mouse and rat, although the proportion of the maturation is lower than when they are incubated autoplastically in the eye. When the ova were incubated in the male mouse eye for 24 hours, 21 per cent of them showed chromosomes at metaphase I and II, whereas the rate was 32 per cent when they were incubated in the eye of the male rat. These are apparently low comparing to the rate of 52 per cent of autoplastic transplantation. 2. When rat follicular oocytes were transferred into the mouse eye chamber and recovered after 24 hours, 43 per cent of them produced the mataphase I and II chromosomes. This proportion was higher than the result of the homoplastic transplantation which yielded 23 per cent of the ova on maturation. 3. The most striking result was found in the experiment with mouse follicular oocytes. Seventy-six per cent of the oocytes resumed their maturation division within 24 hours after they were transferred into the male rat eye chamber, and this figure was significantly high compared to the result o 55 per cent obtained by the homoplastic transplantation. In the rat eye, the induction of the degenerative ova also was low (19%). On the other hand, the proportion of the oval maturation decreased to 45 per cent, while that of degeneration increased 33 per cent when they were incubated in the eye of the female rabbit. 4. It was apparent from the present experiments that the follicular oocytes can reveal their activation to maturation in the eye chamber which contains aqueous humor which is known to be composed of low protein content and of very little gamma-globulin which acts as an antibody(Oser, 1965), and that it shows higher osmolarity than blood serum(Levene, 1958). Taking these properities into consideration the humor may provide unfavourable environment to the cells and tissues incubated in. However, it could be noteworthy finding that only the follicular oocytes in the eye of the different species can grow in healthy condition although the maturation rates are varied with the animal species. The fact that the rabbit follicular oocytes show the lower proportion in maturation may be due to the greater amount of the yolk granules in the egg cytoplasm than those in the mouse and rat oocytes. That the mouse oocytes incubated in the eye of the rat mouse and rat oocytes. That the mouse oocytes incubated in the eye of the rat resumed their maturation process in greater proportion would e explained by the fact that the rat eye chamber particularly provides the better environment to the mouse oocytes than the eye chamber of mouse does.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.649-654
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• 2011

Purpose: Split-or full-thickness skin grafts are used to reconstruct palmar skin and soft tissue defects after trauma or to release burn scar contracture on the hand. Glabrous skin defects should be substituted with similar skin to preserve function and aesthetics. The authors report their experiences with a technique that uses a full-thickness graft taken from glabrous skin on the ulnar edge of the palm for the reconstruction of soft tissue defects of the hand. Methods: During a three-year period from 2007 to 2010, 22 patients with burn scar contracture and 12 patients with post-traumatic skin defects on their hands were treated with full-thickness skin graft operations. The palmar skin and soft tissue defects after release of burn scar contracture or debridement of post-traumatic wounds were reconstructed with full-thickness skin grafts harvested from the ulnar border of their palms. All donor-site wounds were primarily closed. Results: The followup periods ranged from 3 to 25 months. Contractures of the hand were corrected without recurrence, and the grafts showed relatively good contour and color match to the adjacent fields. There were no reported complications such as significant color change or hypertrophic scarring. The grafted skin showed an average 5.9 mm static two-point discrimination obtained in fingertip reconstruction cases, indicating satisfactory reinnervation. Conclusion: Glabrous full-thickness grafts harvested from the palmar ulnar border is a very useful way of reconstructing soft tissue defects on hands, including fingertips, for function restoration, favorable aesthetic results, and low donor-site morbidity.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.427-437
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• 2011

Purpose: Composite tissue allotransplantation is a new therapeutic modality to reconstruct major tissue defects of the head and neck region and extremities. However, there is a serious ethical debate about whether the risks posed by the life-long immunosuppression that a recipient would have to take justify the benefits of receiving this non-life saving procedure. The purpose of this study is to examine differences between expert and non-expert groups in risk acceptance and expectations regarding hand and foot allotransplantations. Methods: The author conducted a survey of 345 subjects in total (lay public n=110; medical students, n=120; doctors, n=115), using a questionnaire-based instrument, the Louisville Instrument for Transplantation (translated to Korean). Results: Of the three groups studied, risk acceptance was found to be lowest in the doctor group and highest in the non-expert group, and the difference was significant (p < 0.05). The expectations of aesthetic and functional improvement from the procedure, however, were found to be highest in the non-expert group and lowest in the doctor group, and the differences were also significant (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study shows that the three populations have noticeable differences in risk acceptance and expectations regarding hand and foot allotransplantations. Therefore, accurate and sufficient information on these procedures should be provided to patients from both medical and ethical perspectives.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.380-389
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• 2012

This study aims to argue fundamental issues on factors associated with revenues of hand injury patients to effectively manage hospitals specialized in hand injuries. The study employes 2,461 patients who entered S hospital from 2008 to 2010 with hand injuries. The followings are the results of the study. First, there is significant difference among occurrence of hand injuries with regard to demographics of patients. That is, it is likely to have longer average length of stay(ALOS) of male over female, of the elderly over infants and toddlers, and vice versa on average daily patient revenues. Also, compared to patients with traffic and labor insurance, patients with health insurance is likely to stay longer at lower daily cost. Fifth, demographics and incidence of hand injuries were significantly associated with average length of stay(ALOS) and average daily patient revenues. That is, male over female, age over 60 over any other age categories, patients with traffic and labor insurances over one with health insurance, cases with laceration, avulsion and bone transplantation over any other types of hand injury patients were factors significantly related to ALOS and average daily patient revenues. In sum, it is needed to focus on education and campaign to raise attentions on preventing various hand injuries. Also, managers at hospitals specialized in hand injuries should pay attention on issues such as reducing ALOS to run the organization effectively.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2008.04c
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• pp.115-118
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• 2008

A field-oriented UHF system for on-line PD monitoring of transformers. is designed, which has been installed inside the oil tank of a transformer by two ways: on-line installing mode through the oil-valve and pre-installing mode through the man hole/hand hole cover. This system has successfully captured long intermittent discharge signals that hadn't been detected through conventional techniques, and solved the problem successfully. The results demonstrate that UHF technique has great advantages for on-line PD monitoring of transformers. By adopting the peak detection technique, it becomes easy and effective for the transplantation of the phase-resolved pattern recognition technique from conventional method to UHF method, and then to realize continuous on-line monitoring, source characterization and trending analysis.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.14-17
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• 2005

Purpose: Authors have performed free tissue transplantation in the upper and lower extremities with sensory flaps and evaluated the sensory function recovery. Materials and methods: Between 1992 through 2004, sensory free flap articles published in the journal of the Korean microsurgical society, were reviewed and recovery of sensory function was assessed by static two-point discrimination test. Results: Static two point discrimination test showed average 6.7 mm in the thumb, average 12 mm in the hand and 7 cm of the dorsalis pedis flap, 20.5 mm of the lateral arm flap and over 8 cm of the forearm flap in the foot. Conclusion: Sensory flaps provide the protective and useful coverage in the upper and lower extremities and have benefit for activities for daily life in free tissue transferred patients.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers P
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.176-180
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• 2008

A field-oriented UHF system for on-line PD monitoring of transformers is designed, which has been installed inside the oil tank of transformer in a substation by two ways: on-line installing mode through the oil-valve and pre-installing mode through the man hole/hand hole cover. This system has successfully captured long intermittent discharge signals that hadn't been detected through conventional techniques, and solved the problem successfully. The results demonstrate that UHF technique has great advantages for on-line PD monitoring of transformers. By adopting the peak detection technique, it becomes easy and effective for the transplantation of the phase-resolved pattern recognition technique from conventional method to UHF method, and then to realize continuous on-line monitoring, source characterization and trending analysis.