• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 2014

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of green tea polyphenol (GTP) on anticancer treatment with cisplatin (CP), using both an in vitro cell culture model and an in vivo mouse model of established breast tumor. Mouse breast cancer cells (EMT6) were treated with or without GTP and CP followed by determination of the cell viability using an MTT assay. The relative cell viability of CP treated EMT6 cells was 96% at a 20 ${\mu}g/mL$ concentration of cisplatin; however, in combination with GTP (50 ${\mu}g/mL$), the cell viability decreased to 20% at the same concentration of CP (20 ${\mu}g/mL$). For the in vivo study, EMT6 cells were inoculated into Balb/c mice for the establishment of a tumor-bearing mice model. The tumor-bearing mice were treated with CP (5 mg/kg. i.p.) with or without dietary GTP (0.2% drinking water). Tumor growth was monitored by a measurement of tumor size using a digital caliper, and nephrotoxicity was determined by enzymatic and histological examinations. The levels of p53 and caspase-3 in tumor tissues were examined by a Western blot. In tumor-bearing mice treated with GTP plus CP, the increment of tumor volume showed a significant reduction, compared with CP or GTP alone. The levels of p53 and cleaved caspase-3 (caspase-3/p17) in tumor tissues of tumor-bearing mice were increased by CP and GTP compared to CP alone. In CP treated tumor-bearing mice, ${\gamma}$-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) and alkaline phosphatase (AP) activities were decreased, and marked tubular necrosis and dilatation were observed in the kidney. CP-induced enzymatic and histopathological changes in the kidney of tumor-bearing mice were reduced by combinations of GTP with CP. The results of these experiments demonstrated that dietary GTP has a potentiating effect on CP anti-tumor activity and a protective effect against CP-induced renal dysfunction. Therefore, GTP may be used as a modulator in anticancer treatment with CP.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.29-33
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• 2005

Purpose: To determine the prognostic values of the hematologic parameters checked preoperatively in gastric cancer patients, we evaluated and compared the relationship between hematologic parameters and clinicopathologic factors of gastric cancer patient. Materials and Methods: The medical records of 357 consecutive patients who had undergone surgery for gastric cancer at the Department of Surgery, Hanyang University Hospital, between Dec. 2,000 and Dec. 2003 were reviewed. To exclude any adverse effect of invasive procedures to hematologic parameters, the samples taken immediately at outpatient department was used. The normal range of serum albumin was defined above 3.5 g/dl, serum hemoglobin above 12 g/dl, and serum platelet count under $400\times10^{3}{\mu}l$. Patients were defined as group 1 when any of these parameters was abnormal, and defined as group 2 when all parameters were normal. The relationships between hematologic parameters and survival rate were investigated. Results: The mean values of platelet count increased, but level of serum albumin and serum hemoglobin decreased significantly according to the advancement of the disease stage (P=0.000). The differences of depth of tumor invasion and lymph node metastasis between the group 1 and the group2 was statistically significant (P=0.001). Three-year survival difference between group 1 and group 2 was significant (P=0.037). Conclusion: The hematologic parameters checked preoperatively in patients of gastric cancer are simple and cheap, meanwhile reflect the general condition of the patients. Any presence of anemia, hypoalbuminemia, or thrombocytosis can predict the progression of the disease and poor survival rates.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.5 no.3 s.19
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• pp.174-179
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• 2005

Purpose: The 5-year survival rate is the most useful parameter for evaluating the effect of management on most malignant tumors. Recurrence after a curative resection for gastric cancer occurs mostly within 3 years of the operation, which caused us to evaluate whether a 3-year disease-free survival (3DFS) can be substituted for a 5-year overall survival (5OS). Materials and Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 656 consecutive patients who had undergone a curative resection for gastric cancer To assess whether 3DFS represents 5OS, we used a simple linear regression with survival probability calculated by using the survival function. Results: Recurrence was found in 175 cases during the follow-up periods. The accumulative frequencies of recurrence at postoperative 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years were 46% (81 cases), 89% (156 cases), and 97% (170 cases), respectively. The correlation coefficient (r) and the coefficient of determination $(r^2)$ between 3DFS and 5OS were 0.87 and 0.76, respectively, and the regression equation was $5OS=0.18+(0.80{\times}3DFS)$. The r and $R^2$ according to the type of recurrence were 0.89 and 0.80 in peritoneal seeding, 0.88 and 0.78 in hematogeneous metastasis, and 0.86 and 0.73 in local recurrence, respectively. The r (0.77) and $r^2$ (0.60) were relatively lower in low stages (stage I and II) compared to r (0.88) and $r^2(0.77)$ in high stages (stage III and IV). Conclusion: The 3DFS is an excellent predictor of 5OS. Therefore, if we use the former as the treatment evaluating method, 2-year time reduction in assessing and reporting treatment results is expected.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.257-265
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to establish the appropriate guidelines in the sedation techniques and to organize the continuing education programs for the sedation in future under the direction of Committee on Sedation, Education and Research under the Korean Academy of Pediatric Dentistry(KAPD). The surveys on the sedation technique were performed on 111 organizations which practices the sedation and responded to the survey via online and e-mail by February 2014. The collected survey were analyzed. The purpose of sedation was mainly to manage the children's behavior and its uses were primarily on 3~4 years old children. The most frequent duration of treatment was 1~2 hours to treat both maxillary and mandible. The preferred dosages of sedative drugs were chloral hydrate(CH) 50~70 mg/kg, hydorxyzine(Hx) 1~2 mg/kg, and intramuscular midazolam(Mida IM) 0.1~0.2 mg/kg. The preferred combination of the sedative drugs were CH + Hx + $N_2O/O_2$(67.6%), CH + Hx + Mida submucosal administration (SM) + $N_2O/O_2$(29.7%), and Mida IM + $N_2O/O_2$(23.4%). The administration of additional sedatives was carried out at 48%, mainly using Midazolam. 87.5% of the respondents experienced the adverse effects of the sedation such as vomiting/retching, agitation during recovery, subclinical respiratory depression, staggering, and etc. Among them, only 20% periodically retrain the emergency management protocol. About the discharge criteria for patients after the sedation, the respondents either showed a lack of clear criteria or did not follow the recommended discharge criteria. 86% of the respondents expressed the interests in taking a course on the sedation and they wanted to learn mostly about the sedation-related emergency management, the safe dosage of the sedative drugs, and etc. The use of sedation in pediatric dentistry must be consider a patient's safety as top priority and each dentist must show the evidence of sound practices for the prevention of any possible medical errors. Therefore, KAPD must establish the proper sedation guidelines and it needs to provide the systematic technical training program of sedation-related emergency management for pediatric dentists.

• The Korean Journal of Air & Space Law and Policy
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.115-136
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• 2008

The development of the aviation technology is beyond the people's imagination. For example, with some exaggeration, If the autopilot engage upon take off, You will realize that you are on the centerline of the foggy JFK runway 13R after 15 hours with only once or twice of intervention. But the more aviation technology develops, the more responsible the pilot will be who has the final authority of the aviation safety. In the JAL 706 accident caused by unidentified reason, the pilot increased pitch abruptly and overrode the control from the autopilot. The result of this process made the death of a flight attendant and some injuries of a few passengers. The district court found the pilot not guilty at the first trial on the ground that the control override was not connected to the possibility of foresight and avoidance of the human death. The pilot was proved to be innocent through the analysis of the DFDR and ADAS that the override did not precede the unidentified pitch up motion. The judicial precedent related to aviation accidents in Korea requires pilots' absolute and extended care compared to the ordinarily prudent or reasonably careful behaviors in the vehicle and medical accidents. Although there is some controversy about the standard care, the care required in the actual operation of high tech aircraft by a pilot should include objective and standard care and be judged by analysis of the scientific data. Although the pilot maintained the unusual hi speed that doesn't have safety margin and descended under turbulence in case of the JAL 706 accident, the court negatived its relation to the cause of pitch up. Also, the override of the control after initial pitch up might have caused the possibility of the death and injury, but the court denied it. Because of this complex cause of the aviation accidents, it is important for a court to figure out the core reason of the event and casual relationship with the pilot Now, It is required that the judgement of negligence in the aviation accidents should include an objective care with scientific data from simulated circumstances(or a simulator) as the Japanese court not from the theory of vehicle's negligence.

• The Korean Journal of Air & Space Law and Policy
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.63-96
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• 2013

Recently, U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) expanded the "Enhancing Airline Passenger Protections" on August 23, 2011 and October 24, 2011. The Rule regulates tarmac delays, denied boarding compensation, customer service plans, and fare advertising. The adopted rule is to protect passengers by improving passenger service requirements on U.S. national or domestic carriers and foreign air carriers as well. The major issues are as follows: First, regarding to so called Tarmac Delay, carriers must establish a Tarmac Delay Contingency Plan setting forth the number of hours the carrier will permit an aircraft to remain on the tarmac at U.S. airports before allowing passengers to deplane. Carriers also must provide passengers with food and water in the event the aircraft remains on the tarmac for two or more hours and must provide operable lavatories and medical attention while the aircraft remains on the tarmac, irrespective of the length of the delay. Carriers also must create and retain records regarding tarmac delays lasting more than three hours. Also they need to update passengers every 30 minutes during a tarmac delay of the status of the flight and the reason for the delay, allow passengers to deplane if the aircraft is at the gate or another disembarkation area with the door open. Second, carriers now must adopt a "Customer Service Plan" that addresses offering customers the lowest fares available, notifying customers about delays, cancellations, and diversions; timely delivery of baggage; accommodating passengers' needs during tarmac delays and in "bumping cases"; and ensuring quality customer service. Third, the new regulations also increase minimum denied boarding compensation limits to $650 / $1,300 or 200% / 400% of the fare, whichever is less. Last, the DOT also has modified its policies related to enforcement of Rules pertaining to full fare advertising. The Rule states that the advertised price for air transportation must be the entire price to be paid by the customer. Similarly, Korea revised the passenger protection clauses within Aviation Act. However, it seems to be required to include various more issues such as Tarmac Delay, oversales of air tickets, involuntary denied boarding passengers, advertisements, etc.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.251-255
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• 2008

Cholesterol and cholesterol oxide products (COPs) of Gulbi (Pseudosciaena manchurica) processed and stored at different salting times of 5 hours and 5 days were analyzed. The content of cholesterol was $133.4{\pm}5.20\;mg/100\;g$ in the fresh sample. Cholesterol content was decreased during salting and storage; its contents were $130.3{\pm}2.95\;mg/100\;g$ and $87.2{\pm}3.49\;mg/100\;g$ in 5 hours and 5 days salting samples, respectively. The content of 7-ketocholesterol in 5 hours and 5 days salting samples were $75.2{\pm}2.70\;{\mu}g/100\;g$ and $82.4{\pm}3.30\;{\mu}g/100\;g$. The 7-ketocholesterol content of salting sample for 5 hours had no significantly difference for 2 days sun drying, but it was dramatically increased during 5 days sun drying and then increased during storage days. $7{\alpha}-$ and $7{\beta}-hydroxycholesterol$ were not detected in fresh sample, but increased during Gulbi processing and storage. The $7{\alpha}-hydroxycholesterol$ was increased during Gulbi processing and storage and a higher level of $658.1{\pm}6.20\;{\mu}g/100\;g$ was detected in 5 hours salting sample than in 5 days salting sample after 21 days storage. The $7{\beta}-hydroxycholesterol$ also showed similar tendency with $7{\alpha}-hydroxycholesterol$; it was largely increased between 7 and 14 days storage in 5 days salting sample.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.510-518
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• 2012

This study examined the biological activity and synergistic effects of an extract of Wa-song ($Orostachys$ $japonicus$, OE), a medicinal plant mixture (MPE) and a combination of both at different ratios (1:1, OMPE-1 and 3:1, OMPE-3). Extracts of the medicinal plants mixture were comprised of Baekbokyung, Changchul and Sa-in at the same ratio. The antioxidant activity of the extracts and their complex were tested $in$ $vitro$. The $in$ $vivo$ antioxidant activity was also analyzed by examining the lipid composition in the liver and kidney of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes rats. The nitric oxide radical scavenging activity was more than 50% in OMPE-3 at a 1,000 ${\mu}g$/mL concentration. Regarding metal ions, such as $Fe^{2+}$ and $Cu^{2+}$, the antioxidant activity of OMPE-1 and OMPE-3 was higher than that of OE and MPE. OMPE-1 and 3 had higher activity on $Cu^{2+}$ ions than $Fe^{2+}$ ions. The ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibition activity of the OE extract was higher than that of MPE and OMPE-1 but the relative activity of OMPE-3 was significantly higher than the others. Freeze-dried MPE, OMPE-1 and OMPE-3 were added to the diet at a level of 1% given to STZ induced diabetes rats for 4 weeks. The OMPE-1 and OMPE-3 administered groups showed significant decreases in the total lipid, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the liver and kidney. In these groups, the glycogen accumulation level of the liver was increased significantly. The content of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in the liver and kidney was decreased but the DPPH radical scavenging activity was increased. These results suggest that Wa-song extract exhibits antioxidant and antidiabetic activity, which are enhanced by a complex with a medical plants extract.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.269-275
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• 2008

The avocado is a widely grown and consumed fruit that is high in nutrients and low in calories, sodium, and fats. In this study, antioxidant activities and induction of apoptosis by methanol extracts from sarcocarp, seed and peel of avocado were investigated in vitro. Contents of total polyphenols in methanol extracts from sarcocarp, seed and peel were 13.89, 137.12 and $223.45{\mu}g/mg$ respectively. Radical-scavenging activities of the methanol extracts were examined by using ${\alpha},{\alpha}$-diphenyl-${\beta}$-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assay. The methanol extracts from the peel of avocado showed higher scavenging activities against DPPH, ABTS than those from sarcocarp and seed. Apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells mediated by the methanol extracts of avocado was associated with the increase of activation of caspase-3 and caspase-3 target protein, PARP. Therefore, with more researches on identification and action mechanism of active compounds, the methanol extracts from peel and seed of avocado is expected to be a natural source for the developments of functional food and medical agents to prevent human breast cancer.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.99-128
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• 2008

Nearly all Koreans are insured through National Health Insurance(NHI). While NHI coverage is nearly universal, it is not complete. Coverage is largely limited to minimal level of hospital and physician expenses, and copayments are required in each case. As a result, Korea's public insurance system covers roughly 50% of overall individual health expenditures, and the remaining 50% consists of copayments for basic services, spending on services that are either not covered or poorly covered by the public system. In response to these gaps in the public system, 64% of the Korean population has supplemental private health insurance. Expansion of private health insurance raises negative externality issue. Like public financing schemes in other countries, the Korean system imposes cost-sharing on patients as a strategy for controlling utilization. Because most insurance policies reimburse patients for their out-of-pocket payments, supplemental insurance is likely to negate the impact of the policy, raising both total and public sector health spending. So far, most empirical analysis of supplemental health insurance to date has focused on the US Medigap programme. It is found that those with supplements apparently consume more health care. Two reasons for higher health care consumption by those with supplements suggest themselves. One is the moral hazard effect: by eliminating copayments and deductibles, supplements reduce the marginal price of care and induce additional consumption. The other explanation is that supplements are purchased by those who anticipate high health expenditures - adverse effect. The main issue addressed has been the separation of the moral hazard effect from the adverse selection one. The general conclusion is that the evidence on adverse selection based on observable variables is mixed. This article investigates the extent to which private supplementary insurance affect use of health care services by public health insurance enrollees, using Korean administrative data and private supplements related data collected through all relevant private insurance companies. I applied a multivariate two-part model to analyze the effects of various types of supplements on the likelihood and level of public health insurance spending and estimated marginal effects of supplements. Separate models were estimated for inpatients and outpatients in public insurance spending. The first part of the model estimated the likelihood of positive spending using probit regression, and the second part estimated the log of spending for those with positive spending. Use of a detailed information of individuals' public health insurance from administration data and of private insurance status from insurance companies made it possible to control for health status, the types of supplemental insurance owned by theses individuals, and other factors that explain spending variations across supplemental insurance categories in isolating the effects of supplemental insurance. Data from 2004 to 2006 were used, and this study found that private insurance increased the probability of a physician visit by less than 1 percent and a hospital admission by about 1 percent. However, supplemental insurance was not found to be associated with a bigger health care service utilization. Two-part models of health care utilization and expenditures showed that those without supplemental insurance had higher inpatient and outpatient expenditures than those with supplements, even after controlling for observable differences.