• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.359-365
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• 2011

This study was conducted to investigate the production, elver stocking, rearing facilities and rearing method of eel culture to determine aquaculture management conditions for optimal rearing of eel Anguilla japonica. The production of eel culture was evaluated by the proportion of eels from the main inland fin fish species production in Korea. Elver stocking was assessed by the elver stocking densities of pond and recirculation culture. Rearing facilities were investigated according to the rearing tank size proportion of the pond and recirculation culture. We selected sample farms by region and by size. We visited sample farms and recorded the number of elvers stock for pond area, size of tanks, feed and feed quantity, and the size and number of harvest eels. The production capacity of Jeollanam-do and Jeollabuk-do were 71.9% and 21.3% respectively. This production quantity represented 93.2% of the total Korean eel production quantity. In Jeollanam-do, there are 236 eel farms, 202 pond farms, and 34 recirculation aquaculture facilities. The elvers' first density data by each aquaculture method revealed that elvers' first density varied more in recirculation system farms, as compared to pond aquaculture. In intensive pond farms, the elvers' first density decreased as the size of farm increased. There was a correlation between the size of tank(x) and the facility of a water wheel for dissolved oxygen in pond culture systems(y=0.022x-0.494; $R^2$=0.860). Another strong correlation was found between the weight of eel(x) and eel density(y) in pond culture systems(y=283.5x-0.27; $R^2$=0.992). Finally, there was a strong correlation between the length of eel(x) and the weight of eel(y) in intensive pond culture(y=0.0005x-3.2783; $R^2$=0.9775). The final survival rate did not differ significantly among pond sizes and culture types.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.876-884
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• 1997

Fourteen patients underwent orthotopic heart transplantation between March 1994 and May 1996 in Seoul National University Hospital. There were 9 male and 5 female patients, and the mean age was 40.8 $\pm$ 12.4 years ranged from 12 to 56 years. All patient were in NYHA Fc III or IV preoperatively. The underlying heart diseases were dilated cardiomyopathy in 11 and restrictive cardiomyopathy in 3. The mean age of donors was 24.9$\pm$ 10.2 years and the causes of the brain death were head trauma by traffic accidents in 8, subarachnoid hemorrhage in 2, 1 asphyxia, 1 fall down injury, 1 brain tumo , and 1 drowning, respectively The blood type was identical in 11, compatible in 2, and incompatible in 1 patient. The direct bicaval anastomosis technique was used in 11 cases, and standard right atrial anastomosis was done in the remaining 3 cases. The graft ischemic time was 158$\pm$44 minutes ranged 94 to 220 minutes. There were two hospital deaths(14.3%). The causes of deaths were 1 right ventricular failure followed by suspected cyclosporine induced hemolytic uremic syndrome and rejection, and 1 delayed massive bleeding, probably from rupture of the anastomotic pseudoaneurysm, respectively. The follow-up duration was 16$\pm$9 months(3 to 28 months). There was one late death(8.3%). All the other patients were in NYHA Fc I except one patient who was in hospital because of the acute rejection. The actuarial survival rates including hospital deaths were 93.7% at 1 month, 86.9% at 6 months, and 77$\pm$12% at 2 years. Conclusively, heart transplantation is the good strategy for the management of end stage heart disease with acceptable operative mortality and early follow-up results.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.383-389
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• 2014

Objective : Neural tissue transplantation has been a promising strategy for the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, transplantation has the disadvantages of low-cell survival and/or development of dyskinesia. Transplantation of cell aggregates has the potential to overcome these problems, because the cells can extend their axons into the host brain and establish synaptic connections with host neurons. In this present study, aggregates of human brain-derived neural stem cells (HB-NSC) were transplanted into a PD animal model and compared to previous report on transplantation of single-cell suspensions. Methods : Rats received an injection of 6-OHDA into the right medial forebrain bundle to generate the PD model and followed by injections of PBS only, or HB-NSC aggregates in PBS into the ipsilateral striatum. Behavioral tests, multitracer (2-deoxy-2-[$^{18}F$]-fluoro-D-glucose ([$^{18}F$]-FDG) and [$^{18}F$]-N-(3-fluoropropyl)-2-carbomethoxy-3-(4-iodophenyl)nortropane ([$^{18}F$]-FP-CIT) microPET scans, as well as immunohistochemical (IHC) and immunofluorescent (IF) staining were conducted to evaluate the results. Results : The stepping test showed significant improvement of contralateral forelimb control in the HB-NSC group from 6-10 weeks compared to the control group (p<0.05). [$^{18}F$]-FP-CIT microPET at 10 weeks posttransplantation demonstrated a significant increase in uptake in the HB-NSC group compared to pretransplantation (p<0.05). In IHC and IF staining, tyrosine hydroxylase and human ${\beta}2$ microglobulin (a human cell marker) positive cells were visualized at the transplant site. Conclusion : These results suggest that the HB-NSC aggregates can survive in the striatum and exert therapeutic effects in a PD model by secreting dopamine.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.52-62
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• 2008

By analyzing specific plant distributions and physicochemical characteristics of topsoil in a reclaimed dredging area, baseline data was found of natural landscape planting sites, and developing dredged fill ground. The reclaimed dredging area is five different stands (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) which were examined in this research. They are located from sea level to 15 meters in altitude and exhibited typical characteristics of the salt marsh in Gwangyang Bay. Species with high constancy in the vegetation on the reclaimed soil were classified into four stages. A total of 12, 15, 22, 27 and 35 different plant species were found and also increased in stands 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, respectively. Moving from stand 1 to 5, halophytes decreased and non-halophytes increased. Desalination at each stage of the reclaimed dredging area was a driving force affecting the performance and distribution of halophytes and non-halophytes. Overall, 35 quadrats of soil were selected and analyzed for specific physicochemical characteristics of topsoil between O${\sim}$20cm. Results of the physicochemical analysis such as altitude, slope, vegetation and kind of reclaimed dredging soil, exhibited irregular increases or decreases. As survey areas moved from stand 1 to 4, desalination areas, soil acidity, electric conductions, content of salinity, available phosphorus, potassium, chlorine, calcium, and magnesium indicated decreasing patterns; however, total nitrogen, silt, and clay content increased. Cluster analysis and PCA by environmental data within the stands clearly showed five distinct vegetation patterns on the tested reclaimed area. These results indicate that the differences of performance and distribution of vegetation are due to the SAR in the reclaimed soil and related to the natural survival strategy at the given hostile habitat.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.263-269
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• 1997

From April 1987 to May 1996, 13 infants underwent a Norwood operation for complex congenital heart diseases including hypoplastic left heart syndrome (n : 7), mitral stenosis with small VSD and subaortic stenosis (n : 1), mitral atresia with ventricular septal defect, coarctation of aorta, and subaortic stenosis (n = 1), interrupted aortic arch with ventricular septal defect and subaortic stenosis (n : 1), tricuspid atresia with transposition of the great arteries (n = 1), and complex double-inlet left ventricle (n : 2). All patients without hypoplastic left heart syndrome were associated wit hypoplasia of ascending aorta and arch. Age at operation ranged from 3 days to 8.7 months (mean 60.6 $\pm$ 71.6 days, median 39 days). The operative mortality( < 30 days) was 46% (6 patients). Late mortality was 15% (2 patients). All operative deaths occured during the Erst 24 hours after the operation as a result of cardiopulmonary bypass weaning failure (5 patients) and sudden hemodynamic instability postoperatively (1 patient). Late death was due to aspiration pneumonia in two cases. There are 5 long-term survivals (39%). Three of them have undergone a two-stage repair with a modified Fontan operation in two and total cavopulmonary shunt in one at 12, 17, 4.5 months after Norwood procedure with no mortality. Two patients have entered a three-stage repair strategy by undergoing a bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt at 3 and 5.5 months after initial operation with 1 operative death. The actuarial survival rate for all patients at the first-stage operation, including hospital deaths and ate death was 30.8% at 1 year. In conclusion, the operative mortality of Norwood operation was relatively high compared to other operation for major cardiac anomalies, continuing experience will lead to an improvement in result.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.799-805
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• 2016

Background: There is no standard treatment for patients with platinum-resistant or refractory epithelial ovarian cancer. Single agent chemotherapies have evidence of more efficacy and less toxicity than combination therapy. Most are very expensive, with appreciable toxicity and minimal survival. Since it is difficult to make comparison between outcomes, economic analysis of single-agent chemotherapy regimens and best supportive care may help to make decisions about an appropriate management for the affected patients. Objective: To evaluate the cost effectiveness of second-line chemotherapy compared with best supportive care for patients with platinum-resistant or refractory epithelial ovarian cancer. Materials and Methods: A Markov model was used to estimate the effectiveness and total costs associated with treatments. The hypothetical patient population comprised women aged 55 with platinum-resistant or refractory epithelial ovarian cancer. Four types of alternative treatment options were evaluated: 1) gemcitabine followed by BSC; 2) pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) followed by BSC; 3) gemcitabine followed by topotecan; and 4) PLD followed by topotecan. Baseline comparator of alternative treatments was BSC. Time horizon of the analysis was 2 years. Health care provider perspective and 3% discount rate were used to determine the costs of medical treatment in this study. Quality-adjusted life-years (QALY) were used to measure the treatment effectiveness. Treatment effectiveness data were derived from the literature. Costs were calculated from unit cost treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer patients at various stages of disease in King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital (KCMH) in the year 2011. Parameter uncertainty was tested in probabilistic sensitivity analysis by using Monte Carlo simulation. One-way sensitivity analysis was used to explore each variable's impact on the uncertainty of the results. Results: Approximated life expectancy of best supportive care was 0.182 years and its total cost was 26,862 Baht. All four alternative treatments increased life expectancy. Life expectancy of gemcitabine followed by BSC, PLD followed by BSC, gemcitabine followed by topotecan and PLD followed by topotecan was 0.510, 0.513, 0.566, and 0.570 years, respectively. The total cost of gemcitabine followed by BSC, PLD followed by BSC, gemcitabine followed by topotecan and PLD followed by topotecan was 113,000, 124,302, 139,788 and 151,135 Baht, respectively. PLD followed by topotecan had the highest expected quality-adjusted life-years but was the most expensive of all the above strategies. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER) of gemcitabine followed by BSC, PLD followed by BSC, gemcitabine followed by topotecan and PLD followed by topotecan was 344,643, 385,322, 385,856, and 420,299 Baht, respectively. Conclusions: All of the second-line chemotherapy strategies showed certain benefits due to an increased life-year gained compared with best supportive care. Moreover, gemcitabine as second-line chemotherapy followed by best supportive care in progressive disease case was likely to be more effective strategy with less cost from health care provider perspective. Gemcitabine was the most cost-effective treatment among all four alternative treatments. ICER is only an economic factor. Treatment decisions should be based on the patient benefit.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.12 no.10
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• pp.123-128
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• 2014

Purpose - The purpose of the study is to reexamine the price fairness as practiced by low cost airlines, as a consumer has to experience such inconveniences as inferior airport transportation, extra fees on in-flight meals, and non-negotiable seats, and consumers evaluate such experiences keeping in mind their total costs. This evaluation includes price fairness and allows a reasonable and overall consideration of factors of low cost airlines. It tries to set up a measurement of the indicators consumers' perceptions of price fairness academically as it adapts price fairness to airline services which are renowned for price volatility. Research design, data, and methodology - The research proposes an alternative pricing strategy for the long term profit of low cost airlines after going over conflicts between the traditional theory of consumers' price perception mechanism and flexible fair policy of low cost airlines. It was meaningful when it relates to the early stage of the business, while it enhances the risks relating to the long term survival of low cost airlines. In addition, it is significant as it highlights the negative influences on consumers' perceptions of price fairness, as low cost airlines run on extremely low cost perspectives. Results - The results of the research provide insight into four perspectives, as consumers' perceptions of price fairness are influenced by the frequency and range of price changes and services. The first perspective is that it would lead to positive price evaluation when a low cost airline cuts prices frequently with little changes than one big change. It also would lead to the same result when it comes to necessary services. The second perspective is that one big increase of price would rather undermine the negative aspects of price changes than those of several smaller ones. The third perspective is that additional services would be good to consumers' perceptions of price fairness as compared to discount benefits with respect to the cost. Finally, a low cost airline should consider that consumers will change airlines or defer their flight schedule if the flight fares increase beyond their limits. Conclusions - Low cost airlines should reconsider their pricing policies for services that were provided free earlier. A consumer would not like discount benefits when made to pay for services that were, for long, free of charge. If a low cost airline can provide services with no charge, it should improve volumes if the costs are standardized and, moreover, should consider the charging fees. Alternatively, a consumer can choose between services and fair discount. Low cost airlines are implementing sales promotion strategies, as the competition is more intense than it used to be. In these days, they should regard services over sales promotion, as consumers may prefer to spend money on good premium services. Some differentiation in services could create a good market position for the airlines and, hence, good financial performance.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.2059-2065
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• 2013

This goal of this research was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the National Cancer Screening Program (NCSP) for breast cancer in the Republic of Korea from a government expenditure perspective. In 2002-2003 (baseline), a total of 8,724,860 women aged 40 years or over were invited to attend breast cancer screening by the NCSP. Those who attended were identified using the NCSP database, and women were divided into two groups, women who attended screening at baseline (screened group) and those who did not (non-screened group). Breast cancer diagnosis in both groups at baseline, and during 5-year follow-up was identified using the Korean Central Cancer Registry. The effectiveness of the NCSP for breast cancer was estimated by comparing 5-year survival and life years saved (LYS) between the screened and the unscreened groups, measured using mortality data from the Korean National Health Insurance Corporation and the National Health Statistical Office. Direct screening costs, indirect screening costs, and productivity costs were considered in different combinations in the model. When all three of these costs were considered together, the incremental cost to save one life year of a breast cancer patient was 42,305,000 Korean Won (KW) (1 USD=1,088 KW) for the screened group compared to the non-screened group. In sensitivity analyses, reducing the false-positive rate of the screening program by half was the most cost-effective (incremental cost-effectiveness ratio, ICER=30,110,852 KW/LYS) strategy. When the upper age limit for screening was set at 70 years, it became more cost-effective (ICER=39,641,823 KW/LYS) than when no upper age limit was set. The NCSP for breast cancer in Korea seems to be accepted as cost-effective as ICER estimates were around the Gross Domestic Product. However, cost-effectiveness could be further improved by increasing the sensitivity of breast cancer screening and by setting appropriate age limits.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.188-200
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• 2003

Background: Immunization of dendritic cells (DCs) pulsed with tumor antigen can activate tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) that are responsible for protection and regression. In this study, we examined whether the uptake of necrotic tumor cells could modulate DC phenotypes and whether the immunization of necrotic tumor cell-loaded DCs could elicit efficient tumor specific immune responses followed by a regression of established tumor burdens. Methods: We prepared necrotic tumor cell-pulsed DCs for the therapeutic vaccination and investigated their phenotypic characteristics, the immune responses induced by these DCs, and therapeutic vaccine efficacy against colon carcinoma in vivo. Several parameters including phagocytosis of tumor cells, surface antigen expression, chemokine receptor expression, IL-12 production, and NK as well as CTL activation were assessed to characterize the immune response. Results: DCs derived from mouse bone marrow efficiently phagocytosed necrotic tumor cells and after the uptake, they produced remarkably increased levels of IL-12. A decreased CCR1 and increased CCR7 expression on DCs was also observed after the tumor uptake, suggesting that antigen uptake could induce DC maturation. Furthermore, co-culturing of DCs with NK cells in vitro enhanced IL-12 production in DCs and IFN-${\gamma}$ production in NK cells, which was significantly dependent on IL-12 production and cell-to-cell contact. Immunization of necrotic tumor cell-loaded DCs induced cytotoxic T lymphocytes as well as NK activation, and protected mice against subsequent tumor challenge. In addition, intratumoral or contra-lateral immunization of these DCs not only inhibited the growth of established tumors, but also eradicated tumors in more than 60% of tumor-bearing mice. Conclusion: Our data indicate that production of IL-12, chemokine receptor expression and NK as well as CTL activation may serve as major parameters in assessing the effect of tumor cell-pulsed DC vaccine. Therefore, DCs loaded with necrotic tumor cells offer a rational strategy to treat tumors and eventually lead to prolonged survival.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.63 no.2
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• pp.179-205
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• 2011

Recently, problems regarding marital adjustment of cancer patients are recognized as serious matter of concern for it had been reported that these issues have severe negative effects on relationship stability within marriage. It is noteworthy how marital adjustment is found to be critical for the cancer patient's mental stability, healing process and chances of survival as reported in the research. Thus, the ultimate goal of this research is to contribute to improvement of the stable relationship and also to formulate the social service related strategy for marriage adjustment for married cancer patient married couples in Korea. Actor and Partner Interdependence Model was formed in order to observe how the communication of the married couple affects marital adjustment and how this has an actor effect as well as partner effect. In order to authenticate this research model, dyadic data which sample the cancer patient and the spouse as a pair. Survey was conducted as the cancer patients who had been diagnosed with cancer and their respective spouses. The survey was taken from 160 married couples which totals to 320 people all together. Results indicated the cancer patient and the spouse have a significant relationship in marital adjustment. Through this, it had been concluded that marital adjustment is not separated but co-dependent with dynamic relationship. And the mutual constructive communication had proven to have a significant positive effect on one's marital adjustment. In demand-withdrawal communication, its negative effect on the self effect was found to be significant in both the patient and the spouse to both of their marital adjustment. Mutual avoidance communication had shown to only cause significant negative effect on self effect to the patient. In verifying the partner effect, significant negative effect was caused by patient's demand-withdrawal communication in partner effect on the spouse's marital adjustment. The results of this study are discussed in term of their implications for clinical interventions for the betterment of marital adjustment among cancer patients and their spouses. The suggestions for future research are discussed also.