• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.75 no.1
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• pp.25-27
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• 2013

Carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) is a widely-used tumor marker in patients with pancreatic cancer. However, some patients with respiratory disease also exhibit elevated serum CA 19-9 levels. We report a case of normalization of elevated serum CA 19-9 levels after treatment of the nodular bronchiectatic form of Mycobacterium abscessus lung disease. A 40-year-old man visited our hospital because of chronic cough and sputum. A computed tomography scan revealed severe bronchiectasis in the right upper and right middle lobes. Nontuberculous mycobacteria were repeatedly isolated and identified as M. abscessus. The serum CA 19-9 level was elevated to 142.35 U/mL (normal range, <37 U/mL). Surgical resection was performed because of failure of sputum conversion after antibiotic treatment. The serum CA 19-9 level returned to the normal range after surgery. This case suggested that serum CA 19-9 levels could be elevated in patients with the nodular bronchiectatic form of M. abscessus lung disease.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.613-620
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• 2012

To evaluate the effects of sleep habits on the powers of beta waves and the sensory motor rhythm of the electroencephalogram (EEG), female college student subjects were divided into four groups, according to their sleep habits, as follows: GSHG (Good Sleep Habit Group), CSHG (Common Sleep Habit Group: late bedtime), CSDG (Cognitive Sleep Disorder-Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome Group), and NSDG (Non-cognitive Sleep Disorder-Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome Group). Brain function was stimulated by reading a book for 3 min in the morning (9~12 am) and the EEG was measured. According to the results, the powers of the beta waves and sensory motor rhythm were not different during the resting period among the four groups. However, during the reading stimulation period, the powers of beta waves and the sensory motor rhythm in the GSHG were significantly greater than in the other groups ($p$ <0.05). Beta powers during stimulation also increased in all brain areas in the GSHG ($p$ <0.05). Interestingly, these were decreased in the frontal and temporal lobes in the CSHG by the reading stimulation ($p$ <0.05). On the other hand, sensory motor rhythm, which represents focusing efficacy, only improved in the GSHG. These results indicate that the brain's focusing function during the reading stimulation was not properly operating in the morning in the female college students who had a delayed bedtime and bad sleep habits.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 1999

An immunohisochemical study on the cerebral ganglion of the African giant snail, Achatina fulica. was conducted by applying the AB/AY staining and the avidin-bovine-peroxidase complex staining methods. The followings are the results obtained throughout the study. The cerebral ganglion of Achatina fulica is an ellipsoidal body of 2 x 1 mm in size, which is connected by the cerebral commissure of 1 mm in diameter. The cross-section through the cerebral ganglion, shaped like a butterfly, is divided into the medio-dorsal parts, the latero-dorsal parts, the caudo-dorsal parts, and the lateral lobes. In the medio-dorsal and latero-dorsal parts, the LG cells and the DG cells are found mixed, although the LG cells are dominant. In lateral lobe, however, the Y cells are quite dominant, while the LG cells and the DG cells are seldom found. The LG cells are 20-70 $\mu\textrm{m}$ in sizes and circular or ellipsoidal in shapes. They are stained light green with the AB/AY. 1 - 3 nucleoli are found in karyolymph, where granular chromantins are evenly distributed. In cytoplasm, it is found that the secretory granules are evenly developed.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 2009

Astilbe (Saxifragaceae) is a genus well known for its disjunctive distribution in Asia and eastern North America. In this study, we reconstructed a molecular phylogeny of the genus using the sequences of ITS regions of nuclear ribosomal DNA. A total of 17 species representing major lineage of Astilbe and closely related taxa were included in the phylogenetic analyses. We obtained a Bayesian phylogenetic tree in which Saxifragopsis was positioned as a sister group to Astilbe. The Japanese endemic species, A.platyphylla was the most basal lineage within the genus. This species is well known for its distinct morphological features such as unisexual flowers, apetaly, and calyx with 7-11 lobes. Two species, A. biternata, a New World representative of the genus, and A. rivularis widely distributed in S. Asia, branched off early in the evolution of Astilbe. The remaining species formed a strongly supported core clade, which diverged into two robust geographical lineages: the first ("Japonica" clade) of species distributed in Japan, Taiwan, and Philippines and the other ("Rubra" clade), of taxa in China and Korea. The ITS phylogeny indicates that the Bering land bridges were the major route for the origin and dispersal of A. biternata. The two Taiwanese taxa and A. philippinensis were found to derive from the Japanese member, as the genus advanced southwards. The ITS phylogeny suggests that apetaly originated independently at least two times within the genus. Our results do not support Engler's classification system of the genus based on the leaf type (simple vs. compound), but reaffirm Hara's taxonomic idea which primarily considered the features of calyx.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.119-128
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• 2019

The morphological characteristics of the bloom-forming dinoflagellate Akashiwo sanguinea isolated from Jangmok Harbour, Geoje in Korea was examined using light and scanning electron microscope (SEM), and its large subunit (LSU) rDNA was sequenced. Additionally, investigation was done on the effects of temperature and salinity on the growth of A. sanguinea. The cells were dorso-ventrally compressed up to 54.7-70.3 ㎛ long and 31.5-48.5 ㎛ wide. The epicone was conical while the hypocone was separated into two lobes. The nucleus was positioned at the center of the cell. The yellow-brown chloroplasts radiated close to the cell center. SEM observation indicated that A. sanguinea has an e-shaped apical groove. Molecular phylogeny based on LSU rDNA gene sequences revealed that the A. sanguinea strains isolated from Jangmok Harbor were classified in the clade of ribotype A. The maximum growth rate (0.50 day^-1) was observed at 20℃ and 20 psu, while the maximum cell density (1,372 cells mL^-1) was observed at 25℃ and 30 psu. This indicates that the blooms of A. sanguinea ribotype A in Korean coastal area are affected by water temperature, rather than the salinity.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.30-35
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• 2008

Purpose : We evaluated clinical presentations of brain abscesses, including predisposing factors, causative organisms, and mortality rate in neonates and children. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of neonates and children with brain abscesses treated at Severance Hospital from January 1997 through December 2006. Results : Among 27 neonates and children with brain abscesses, overall mortality was 22 % and 38% of survivors developed neurologic sequelae. The mortality rate was 38% in 8 infants with brain abscesses. The most common location of brain abscesses were frontal and parietal lobes, followed by temporal lobe. There were 7 cases with multiple brain abscesses. Streptococci (33%), Staphylococci (27%), and Gram-negative enterics (20%) were commonly isolated. The common predisposing conditions were neurosurgical procedure (30 %), cyanotic congenital heart disease (15%), and sinusitis/otitis (7%). Fever (74%), headache (37%), nausea/vomiting (33%), and altered mental status (33%) occurred commonly. Compared with children older than 1 year of age, infants were associated with multiple brain abscesses (63%, P=0.011) and high rates of death or neurologic sequelae (88%, P= 0.033). Conclusion : We should have a high index of suspicion in order to recognize the condition as early as possible, especially in infancy with brain abscesses who presents vague or nonspecific symptoms and signs.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.1861-1864
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• 2016

Although early diagnosis of thyroid nodule type is very important, the diagnostic accuracy of standard tests is a challenging issue. We here aimed to find an optimal combination of factors to improve diagnostic accuracy for distinguishing malignant from benign thyroid nodules before surgery. In a prospective study from 2008 to 2012, 345 patients referred for thyroidectomy were enrolled. The sample size was split into a training set and testing set as a ratio of 7:3. The former was used for estimation and variable selection and obtaining a linear combination of factors. We utilized smoothly clipped absolute deviation (SCAD) logistic regression to achieve the sparse optimal combination of factors. To evaluate the performance of the estimated model in the testing set, a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was utilized. The mean age of the examined patients (66 male and 279 female) was $40.9{\pm}13.4years$ (range 15- 90 years). Some 54.8% of the patients (24.3% male and 75.7% female) had benign and 45.2% (14% male and 86% female) malignant thyroid nodules. In addition to maximum diameters of nodules and lobes, their volumes were considered as related factors for malignancy prediction (a total of 16 factors). However, the SCAD method estimated the coefficients of 8 factors to be zero and eliminated them from the model. Hence a sparse model which combined the effects of 8 factors to distinguish malignant from benign thyroid nodules was generated. An optimal cut off point of the ROC curve for our estimated model was obtained (p=0.44) and the area under the curve (AUC) was equal to 77% (95% CI: 68%-85%). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive values for this model were 70%, 72%, 71% and 76%, respectively. An increase of 10 percent and a greater accuracy rate in early diagnosis of thyroid nodule type by statistical methods (SCAD and ANN methods) compared with the results of FNA testing revealed that the statistical modeling methods are helpful in disease diagnosis. In addition, the factor ranking offered by these methods is valuable in the clinical context.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.12
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• pp.1342-1345
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• 2008

Megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cysts (MLC) is a rare white matter disorder, first described in the early 1990s. The brain in patients with MLC appears swollen on MRI, with diffuse white matter abnormalities; in addition, there is an invariable presence of subcortical cysts, primarily in the anterior temporal region sparing the deep white matter, basal ganglia, thalami, and cerebellum. Patients with MLC present with macrocephaly and neurological abnormalities such as motor deterioration, ataxia, spasticity, and cognitive deficits. We report a twenty-month-old boy who presented with seizures and macrocephaly, delay in development, and abnormal brain MRI findings compatible with the diagnosis of MLC. The brain MRI revealed bilateral hypersignal intense subcortical white matter regions in the frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes on T2-weighted images, which were not yet associated with cystic changes. During follow-up, the frequency of seizures decreased after anticonvulsant medication was started, but the head circumference remained above the 97th percentile, and the patient continued to have developmental delay.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.33-42
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• 1994

From 1982 to 1991, sixteen Patients with primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the central nervous system(CNS) were seen at Kyung Hee University Hospital. The most common subtypes were large, noncleaved cell lymphoma and immunoblastic lymphoma of B cells. Lesions most commonly involved were the parietal lobes and/or deep nuclei. Positive cerebrospinal fluid cytology was rare at initial presentation. Sixteen patients were treated with surgical biopsy or resection followed by whole brain radiotherapy at a median dose of 40 Gy(range=30-50 Gy) with variable boost doses. Of 16 patients who underwent surgery and postoperative radiotherapy, fourteen patients died between 2 and 49 months following treatment, and two are alive with no evidence of disease at 8 and 22 months. The 1-and 2-year survival rates were 55.6$ \% $ and 34.7$ \% $, respectively with 12 months of median survival. Patterns of failure were analyzed in eleven patients of total 16 patients. Failure at the original site of involvement was uncommon after radiotherapy treatment. In contrast, failure in the brain at sites other than those originally invovled was common in spite of the use of whole brain irradiation. Failure occurred in the brain 11/16(68.7$ \% $), in spinal axis 4/16(25.0$ \% $). The age, sex, location of involvement within CNS, numbers of lesion, or radiation dose did not influence on survival. The authors conclude that Primary CNS lymphoma is a locally aggressive disease that is poorly controlled with conventional radiation therapy. The limitation of current therapy for this disease are discussed, and certain promising modality should be made in regarding the management of future patients with this disease.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.70-75
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• 1999

Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate the methods of diagnosis and treatment of thyroid nodules. Materials and Methods : We performed a clinical review of patients with thyroid nodules, who were surgically treated at the Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Chosun University from January 1996 to December 1998. Results: 1) The patients were divided into two groups; 65 patients(80.2%) with benign nodular disease and 16 patients(19.8%) with malignant disease. 2) The sex distribution showed a preponderance of females with a ratio of 5.2:1 in benign nodular disease and 3:1 in malignant disease. Benign nodules were more prevalent in patients in their 40's as compared to malignant nodules in patients in their 50's and 60's. 3) The most common duration of illness was 3 months, occurring in 45.7% of the total cases. 4) The most prominent symptom and sign was a palpable nodule in the anterior aspect of the neck. 5) The location of the nodule was ; 41 cases in the right lobe, 29 cases in the left lobe, and 11 cases in both lobes. 6) Thyroid scanning of 40 patients revealed cold nodules in 90.6% of benign nodules and in all malignant disease. 7) Fine needle aspiration cytology were performed in 32 cases of the 81 patients. Comparing with postoperative pathological findings, the results were the same in 87.5% of 32 cases. 8) Intra-operative frozen section study was performed in 56 cases of the 81 patients. Comparing with postoperative pathological finding, the results were same in 96.4% of the 56 cases. 9) The histopathological classification revealed that adenomatous goiters were the most common benign disease and papillary carcinomas were the most common malignant disease. 10) The most frequently employed operation for benign nodules and malignant disease was unilateral total lobectomy. When the metastasis was confirmed, lymphadenectomy and radical neck dissection was performed in malignant disease. 11) Important postoperative complications were transient hoarseness, transient hypocalcemia, hypothyroidism, wound bleeding, and hoarseness. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that palpable nodules in anterior aspect of neck is revealed cold nodule by thyroid scanning and malignancy by fine needle aspiration cytology, which should be removed surgically. There is no difference in complication and survival rate with type of operation and lymphatic dissection. Therefore, procedure of operation is dependent on the site of nodule and involvement of lymph node.