• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.2447-2451
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• 2015

Background: Human papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is often associated with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT); their coexistence improves PTC prognosis. Osteopontin, a secreted glycoprotein, plays a role in cell survival, immunity, and tumor progression, its expression being associated with a poor prognosis and metastasis in several malignancies. Osteopontin overexpression correlates with aggressive clinicopathological features in PTC. Lymph node metastases and large tumor size positively correlate with osteopontin positivity. This study aimed to: (1) confirm osteopontin overexpression in human PTC samples; (2) compare osteopontin expression levels in PTC cases with and without HT; and (3) identify correlations between tumor aggressiveness and osteopontin expression levels. Materials and Methods: Plasma osteopontin was assessed in 45 patients with PTC, 22 patients with PTC and HT, and 24 healthy controls by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Thyroid tissue osteopontin mRNA and protein levels were analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting, respectively. Results: Plasma osteopontin levels were significantly higher in PTC patients than in healthy controls. Plasma osteopontin, tissue osteopontin mRNA, and tissue osteopontin protein levels were significantly lower in patients with PTC and HT than in those with PTC alone. In advanced disease stage cases, osteopontin mRNA and protein expression levels were lower in patients with PTC and HT than in those with PTC alone. However, the osteopontin expression level was not significantly associated with the TNM stage. Conclusions: Plasma osteopontin, tissue osteopontin mRNA, and tissue osteopontin protein levels were significantly lower in patients with PTC and HT than in those with PTC alone, suggesting that HT attenuates PTC aggressiveness through negative regulation of osteopontin expression.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.2629-2633
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• 2012

Background: Raw betel nut (RBN) chewing is an important contributing factor for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), although associated genomic changes remain unclear. One difficulty in assessing the effects of exclusively RBN induced genetic alterations has been that earlier studies were performed with samples of patients commonly using tobacco and alcohol, in addition to betel-quid. Both CDKN2A (at 9p21) and Rb1 gene (at 13q14.2) are regarded as tumor suppressors involved in the development of ESCC. Therefore, the present study aimed to verify the RBN's ability to induce ESCC and assess the involvement of CDKN2A and Rb1 genes. Methods: A panel of dinucelotide polymorphic markers were chosen for loss of heterozygosity studies in 93 samples of which 34 were collected from patients with only RBN-chewing habit. Promoter hypermethylation was also investigated. Results: Loss in microsatellite markers D9S1748 and D9S1749, located close to exon $1{\beta}$ of CDKN2A/ARF gene at 9p21, was noted in 40% ESCC samples with the habit of RBN-chewing alone. Involvement of a novel site in the 9p23 region was also observed. Promoter hypermethylation of CDKN2A gene in the samples with the habit of only RBN-chewing alone was significantly higher (p=0.01) than Rb1 gene, also from the samples having the habit of use both RBN and tobacco (p=0.047). Conclusions: The data indicate that the disruption of 9p21 where CDKN2A gene resides, is the most frequent critical genetic event in RBN-associated carcinogenesis. The involvement of 9p23 as well as 13q14.2 could be required in later stages in RBN-mediated carcinogenesis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.206-210
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• 1999

We report here 2 cases of deep-seated mediastinitis combined with sternal osteomyelitis after tracheal reconstruction which were successfully treated with sternectomy, in-situ or free omental transfer, and pectoralis major myocutaneous flap. In case I, an 8 year-old boy with deep seated mediastinitis and sternal osteomyelitis that developed after anterior tracheoplasty through a standard midline sternotomy. In case II, a 50 year-old female patient with mediastinal abcess and sternal osteomyelitis that developed after resection and end-to-end anastomosis of the trachea through an upper midline sternotomy. Treatments consisted of drainage and irrigation followed by wide resection of the infected sternum, placement of the viable omentum into the anterior mediastinal space, and chest wall reconstruction with a pectoralis major myocutaneous flap. The omentum was transferred as an in-situ pedicled graft in case I and a free graft in case II. Both patients have recovered smoothly wit out any events and have been doing well postoperatively.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SP
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• v.43 no.5 s.311
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• pp.79-87
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• 2006

In this study, we evaluated the performance of a companding strategy as a preprocessing for speech enhancement and noise reduction. The proposed algorithm is based on two tone suppression that is human's hearing characteristics. This algorithm enhances spectral peak of speech signal and reduces background noise, however it has tradeoff characteristics between speech distortion and noise reduction due to limited channel number and nonlinear block. Therefore, we designed two different companding structures that have relative characteristics of noise reduction and speech distortion and found suitable companding structures by difference of individual speech perception ability in noise environment. Thus we proposed speech perception enhancement of cochlear implant user in noise environment with low SNR. The performance of the proposed algorithm was evaluated through 5 normal hearing listeners using noise band simulation. Improvement of speech perception was observed for all subjects and each subject preferred the different type of companding structure.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.407-425
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• 1998

We have studied the clinical application of burning acupuncture by examining 18recent-published papers in the journal 'ZHONGGUO ZHENJIU(中國鍼灸)' for the bibliographical study and clinical study and have given medical treatment of burning acupuncture on 21 Patients who suffered 'the body chill symptoms(冷症)' at the oriental hospital of Won-Kwang University, Kwang-Ju. As a result, we have come to some conclusions as below. 1. The diseases for which the modern borning acupuncture is efficacious are widely extended to various kinds of field such as surgery, internal medicine, gynecology, ophthalmology, otolaryngology. etc. as well as numbness, meridian muscle disease(經筋病) mentioned in 'Neijing(內徑)' . 2. The effects of burning acupuncture therapy are wen zhuang yang qi(溫壯陽氣), sheng ji lian chuang(生肌斂瘡), san han chu shi(散寒除濕), qu fens zhi yang(祛風止痒), qu yu chu fu pai nong(祛瘀除腐排膿), san jie xiao zhong(散結消腫), zhi tong huan ji chu ma mu(止痛緩急除麻木), qing re xie hue jie du(淸熱瀉火解毒). 3. The recently reported diseases for which burning acupuncture is good are internal and external humeral epicondylitis, atheroma, menorrhalgia, thecal cyst, tragomaschalia, pruritus, traumatic onychophemia, gout of feet, prostatomegaly, aacne, supprative infection of body surface, snapping finger, backache, numbness, pyocyst etc. 4. The subjective symptoms of 'the body chill symptoms(冷症)' were, most of all, feeling cold accompanied by pain(16 case), while just 4 cases were feeling cold only. 5. In the related diseases of the body chill symptoms(冷症), feeling pain like arthralgia was the most case, and then dysmenorrhea, menorralgia, depression, anemia in order. 6. In the D.I.T.I before and after burning acupuncture treatment, 6 patients had shown 'excellent' effects and 8 patients had turned out 'good', while 7 patients had become'fair'. 7. In the degree of patient-satisfaction, 5 patients announced 'excellence' and 6 patients expressed 'good', 4 expressed 'fair', while the other 6 showed no change. 8. In the correlation of D.I.T.I and patient-satisfaction, the better the result of clinical treatment was, the more satisfied the patient was, however, in the case 'fair', we saw the degree of patient-satisfaction was relatively low, so we could admit the judging significance of D.I.T.I.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.338-345
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• 2003

Purpose : This study was intended to perform cephalometric comparison between the patients with and without obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The factors influencing the OSA in the lateral cephalogram was also investigated. Patient and Method : Twenty four patients who visited Sleep Disorder Clinic in Dongsan Medical Center, Keimyung University and evaluated with polysomnograph(PSG) and cephalogram were included in the study. The patients had apnea-hypopnea episode(AHI) over 10 times per hour was diagnosed as OSA after overnight PSG. To evaluate hard and soft tissue profile, cephalometric radiogram were taken at maximal intercuspation(P1) and mandibular protruding position(P2). The diffefence between the OSA and normal group were evaluated statistically and the stepwise regression analysis was applied to analyse the cephalometric influencing factors to OSA. Result : The OSA Group(n=14) had significantly higher Body Mass Index(BMI) than control group(n=10). Lower facial height(ANSGn) was longer in OSA group. However statistically significant difference was not detected in other anteroposterior craniofacial measurements. The soft palate lenth (PNS-P), hyoid position (MP-Hyoid) had positive correlation between AHI (r=0.496, r=0.413, respectively, p<0.05). However, the measurements of oropharyngeal airway was not different between the two groups. The hypothesis, the antero-posteriorly narrow oropharyngeal airway might aggravate the airway resistance and can give rise to higher AHI, was not accepted in the study. This can be attributed by inclusion of the patients performed uvulopalatopharyngoplasty because of the tonsilar or soft palate hypertrophy in the present study. The results of regression analysis revealed that PNS-P, upper airway width(Nph1), upper facial heght(N-ANS), and lower facial height(ANS-Gn) could influence the degree of AHI (F value < 0.0001, $R^2$ = 0.829). Conclusion : We suggest lateral cephalogram may utilized as a useful method to evaluate OSA. The patient with long soft palate, narrow upper airway width, long upper & lower facial height can be expected to have high risk of OSA. However, it should be emphasized the comphrehensive intraoral inspection including soft palate and tonsilar hypertrophy because lateral cepahlogram cannot visualize oropharyngeal status completely.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.526-534
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• 2001

Purpose : The objective of this study is to ascertain whether the positive exists among the frenum length, the tongue movement and the speech and to present the normal range of tongue movement and guidelines for the choice of surgery, observation if necessary. Materials and Methods : 180 patients were evaluated. We divided 180 patients into 6 group by age. Each group was separated as follows; the age of 2.5-4, 5-6, 7-9, 10-12, 16-18. We measured the frenal length, the range of tongue motion and evaluated the speech so that we really questioned about the positive relationship between the tongue-tie and speech. We let the patient exercise the protrusive both(right, left) laterotrusive superior movement of the tongue. During these movements, we measured the distance between the vermilion border and the tongue tip. We also measured the distance from the tongue tip to the point contacting the upper lip with dorsum of the tongue during the maximal protrusive movement of the tongue. Three linear measurement of the anterior, inferior segment of the tongue including the lingual frenum, are made. These measurements are as follows: 1. Distance A. Free anterior portion of the tongue from the point of frenular insertion to the tongue tip. 2. Distance B. The distance from the initiating point of the lingual frenum to the point connecting the two sublingual carundcles to the lingual frenum perpendicularly. 3. Distance C. The distance from the point contacting the line crossing the sublingual caruncles with the lingual frenum to the terminating point of the lingual frenum. We transform three linear measures into a statistical ratio, A/(A-B+C), representing the length of the free portion of the tongue compared with the total sublingual dimensions. In addition, we assessed the speech through Picture Consonant Articulation Test(PCAT) and tried to find out the relationship between the length of the lingual frenum and speech. Conclusion : As people are born, they have small and restricted tongue. As people grow old, tongue motions are more liberate, and unrestricted and they can speak so freely. Therefore we suggest that until age 5, oral and maxillofacial surgeons postpone the surgery if not urgent, evaluate the maximal lingual motions and PCAT according to this article and observe their changes.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers
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• v.51 no.9
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• pp.190-199
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• 2014

In this paper, the vestibular hair bundle feature model and integrated vestibular hair cell model were proposed. In conventional modeling studies of vestibular system, only partial mechanisms were modeled, such as the characteristics of the vestibular hair bundles without external forces or the action potential of synapse, and the study about action potential of vestibular afferent considering the characteristics of the vestibular hair bundle was not performed. The proposed integrated vestibular hair cell model reflects external forces considering negative stiffness features of each hair bundles with different regularities of hair cells and our model was compared with conventional model without external forces. As a result, irregular afferent and intermediate afferent with high ratio of firing frequency variations to the changes of external stimulation had small width of negative stiffness section, but the width of the negative stiffness of regular afferent with low ratio was similar to that of conventional negative stiffness features. And the proposed integrated vestibular hair cell model showed almost same results with conventional data with animal experiments in 11 chosen frequency bands. It is verified that our proposed hair bundle feature model is adequately modeled.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.102-116
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to analyze the research trends of randomized controlled trials on herbal medicine treatment for atopic dermatitis in China for the last 5 years. We searched for randomized controlled trials with the intervention of herbal medicine for the treatment of atopic dermatitis in the CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure) from January 2014 to December 2018. For the screening of the paper, we used '特应性皮炎' and '异位性皮炎' which mean atopic dermatitis and search was limited to three areas within Medicine & Public Health: Traditional Chinese Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicinal Herbs, Combination of Traditional Chinese Medicine with Western Medicine. Among the 136 searched studies, we selected a total of 34 studies and analyzed a year of publication, subject characteristics, study design and intervention, prescribed herbal medicine and herbs, pattern identification, evaluation criteria, and outcomes. Longmu decoction (龍牡湯) and Polia Sclerotium (茯笭) was the most frequently prescribed medicine and herb. The most commonly used pattern identification was Blood deficiency and Wind-dryness (血虛風燥), and among them, the most frequently prescribed herb is Rehmanniae Radix (生地黃). In most studies using the total effectiveness and SCORAD index as an outcome measure, the herbal medicine treatment group showed statistically better results than the control group. As a result of the safety assessment, the herbal medicine treatment group was reported having significantly fewer side effects compared to the control group. Hence, it was confirmed that the intervention including herbal medicine had a significant effect on atopic dermatitis. This study would be able to provide the basis of clinical research on atopic dermatitis and applied to the treatment of atopic dermatitis.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.34-40
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• 2013

Purpose: We investigated the positivity rate and the time period to the positive color change of the urease test in children and adults and assessed the correlation of the urease test to histopathologic findings. Methods: From 1995 to 2000, endoscopic biopsies of the antrum and body were collected from 811 children and 224 adults and subjected to urease tests and histopathology. Results: The positivity rate of the urease test was 49.4% for 0-4 years, 48.4% for 5-9 years, 47.3% for 10-15 years, and 62.5% for 20-29 years in the antrum. The positivity rate was 85.1% in 0-4 years, 82.3% in 5-9 years, 74.7% in 10-15 years, and 74.1% in 20-29 years for the body. In the antrum, the highest positivity rate was <1 hour for the group aged 10-29 years and 6-24 hours in the group <10 years old (p<0.0001). In the body, the highest positivity rate was <1 hour in adults and 6-24 hours in children (p<0.0001). The proportions of the positive reactions within 1 hour were similar for the antrum and the body. In the cases of more severe chronic gastritis, active gastritis, and Helicobacter pylori infiltration, a positive urease test reaction occurred more quickly (p<0.0001). Conclusion: There were significant differences in urease tests according to age and sampling site. The discrepancy between the antrum and the body was greater in younger children. These results might be related to the low density and patchy distribution of bacteria in children and in the body.