• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.209-216
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• 2024

Background/Aims: Endoscopic ultrasonography-guided gastrojejunostomy is a minimally invasive method for the management of gastric outlet obstruction. Conventionally, a lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS) is used to create an anastomosis. However, LAMS is expensive and not widely available. In this report, we described a tubular fully covered self-expandable metallic stent (T-FCSEMS) for this purpose. Methods: Twenty-one patients (15 men [71.4%]; median age, 66 years; range, 40-87 years) were included in this study. A total of 19 malignant (12 pancreatic, 6 gastric, and 1 metastatic rectal cancer) and 2 benign cases were observed. The proximal jejunum was punctured with a 19 G needle. The stomach and jejunum walls were dilated with a 6 F cystotome, and a 20×80 mm polytetrafluoroethylene T-FCSEMS (Hilzo) was deployed. Oral feeding was initiated after 12 to 18 hours and solid foods after 48 hours. Results: The median procedure time was 33 minutes (range, 23-55 minutes). After two weeks, 19 patients tolerated oral feeding. In patients with malignancy, the median survival time was 118 days (range, 41-194 days). No serious complications or deaths occurred. All patients with malignancy tolerated oral food intake until they expired. Conclusions: T-FCSEMS is safe and effective. This stent should be considered as an alternative to LAMS for gastric outlet obstruction.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.805-813
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• 2005

In our previous study, a novel herb mixture (HIM-I) of Angelim gigas radix, Cnidium officinale rhizoma, and Paeonia japonica radix was developed to protect the intestinal and immune systems and promote its recovery against radiation damage. In this study, a new herbal preparation (HemoHIM) with the high immune modulating activity was developed from HIM-I. HIM-I was fractionated into ethanol fraction (HIM-I-E) and polysaccharide fraction (HIM-I-P). And HemoHIM was prepared by adding HIM-I-P to HIM-I. The protective activities against $\gamma$ -irradiation were compared among HemoHIM, HIM-I and the fractions. HemoHIM and HIM-I significantly decreased the radiation-induced DNA damage in vitro, and scavenged hydroxyl radicals in a dose-dependent manner. HemoHIM showed similar activity to HIM-I. In vitro proliferation assay with mouse lymphocytes and bone marrow cells showed that HIM-I-P was remarkably higher than HIM-I and HIM-I-E in cell proliferating activity. HemoHIM showed higher activity than HIM-I and this might be associated with the higher polysaccharide content. The in vivo protective effects of HemoHIM and HIM-I were investigated in $\gamma$-irradiated mice. HemoHIM increased the surviving intestinal crypts to a similar extent compared with HIM-I. In contrast, HemoHIM appeared to be more effective than HIM-I in endogenous spleen colony formation assay. The recovery of white blood cells and lymphocytes in irradiated mice were significantly enhanced by the administration of HemoHIM. Also HemoHIM administration prolonged the survival of irradiated mice. These results showed that the novel herbal preparation, HemoHIM, effectively protected the self-renewal tissues and immune system, and promoted the survival of irradiated mice. Moreover, in comparison with HIM-I, HemoHIM maintained similar activity in the reduction of oxidative damage of self-renewal tissue but exhibited the higher activity in protection and proliferation of immune and hematopoietic cells. These results suggested that HemoHIM might be more effective than HIM-I in immune modulation as well as radioprotection.

• Journal of the Daesoon Academy of Sciences
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• v.38
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• pp.83-114
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• 2021

This paper identifies what the theoretical similarities and differences are in the concept of Sangsaeng held by Zhuxi (1130~1200) and Jeungsan (1871~1909). Human beings cannot live alone. For humans to survive, they must live with others. However, humans have an infinite desire not only for survival but also for material things, honor, and power. In other words, humans, on the one hand, seek harmony and symbiosis for survival, and on the other, constantly confront, conflict and compete with one another to satisfy their infinite desires. Thus, human-to-human interrelationship is not a co-prosperity that creates partnerships for harmony but one of adversaries within competition that must be fought and defeated. At the same time, humans can achieve harmony and cooperation by overcoming their infinite desires and realizing morality. Therefore, various social problems that originate from competitive structure, which are dominated by confrontation and conflict, can be solved through human effort and reflection, so that humans can focus on solving social problems by mobilizing their own wisdom. Jeungsan emphasized Sangsaeng as mutual beneficence and it became one of the creeds of Daesoon Thought. In the Neo-Confucianism of Zhuxi, there is an ideology of Sangsaeng as co-prosperity and this is comparable to mutual beneficence in Daesoon Thought. In Zhuxi's terminology it is called 'In (仁), humanity.' In Neo-Confucianism, a harmonious world is achieved by loving people and caring for and nurturing all things when the principles of humanity are realized. This means that when the principle of co-prosperity is realized in Daesoon Thought, there will be no conflict or grudges, and only an acquired vision of reconciliation and mutual beneficence will be achieved. Zhuxi also emphasizes the realization of humanity (cheonli) by eliminating self-interest. At this time, the relationship between humanity and 'self-interest' is similar to the relationship between the mutual beneficence and grievances in Daesoon Thought. Just as the principle of 'In' fosters love among people and the benefit of things immediately after self-interest is removed, the principle of mutual beneficence is realized immediately after grudges are resolved. This achieves an endless of paradise on earth.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.184-195
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• 2000

It has been believed that cancer is an omnious factor threatening the future and life itself. Patients having the disease experience anxiety, fear, feeling of weakness, depression and feelings of uncertainty and hopelessness. Most cancer patients, however, have expectations of possible recovery and a better future, very different from the patients who feel hopeless. Therefore. hope allows people to respond effectively to the fatal disease they have and prevents them from detoriorating physically and spiritually, positively influencing their survival, response to treatment and sense of security. Studies previously performed showed that hope is positively correlated with social and family supports, self-esteem, spiritual well-being, responsive action, health promotion behavior and quality of life. Thus, the study attempted to provide basic information on nursing cancer patients by investigating their levels of hope and determining predictive factors which influence hope. For the study 200 cancer patients in two university hospitals located in Pusan were sampled as subjects. Data were collected for twenty nine days from Feburary 1, 1999 to March 1. Instrumets for the study included 10 items from the self-esteem scale by Rosenberg (1965), 39 hope measurements by Kim and Lee(1965), 16 of the social support scale by Tae(1986) and 16 of the general characteristics scale, all of which totaled 81 items. The data were analyzed using the SPSS program. General characteristics of the investigated based on numbers and percentage. Hope, self-esteem and social support were analyzed using means, minimum, maximum and standard deviation. Relations among the foregoing three factors were analyzed using Pearson' correlation coefficient. Levels of hope in cancer patients were determined using t-test, ANOVA and Scheffe test. Predictive factors influencing hope were investigated using multiple stepwise regression analysis. Results of the study are summarized as follows: 1. An average level of hope was $185.55{\pm}23.39$ points(96 min. and 234 max.) 2. Levels of hope showed a significant difference among them according to sex (t=-3.69, P=.000), age(F=4.714, P=.000), job(F=3.247, P=.008), monthly income (F=6.113, P=.003), treatment charge (F=3.796, P=.011), supportive resources (F=10.554, P=.000), diagnosis(F=2.287, P=.029), perceived health status(F=22.184, P=.000), level of pain(F=3.334, P=.021), religion (F=4.911, P=.001) and religion's effect in life (F=11.706, P=.000), 3. For the subjects, self-esteem and social support were $38.32{\pm}7.21$(13 min, and 50 max.) and $52.97{\pm}8.49$points(28 min, 80 max.). Concerning social support, average levels of family support and medical support were found $35.95{\pm}6.05$(18 min, and 40 max) and $27.02{\pm}4.99$ points(20 min and 40 max). The hope the cancer patients showed significant correlations with self-esteem (r=.588, P=.000), family support(r=.224, p=.001) and medical support(r=.221, P=.002). 4. The five variables related to hope (self-esteem, religion's effect in life, perceived health status, social support and age) accounted for 54.2 percent of the hope level; especially, self-esteem was the highest at 34.6%. As shown in the above results, predictive factors which most influence hope in cancer patients were self-esteem and religion's effect of life. Therefore, nursing interventions to increase self-esteem should be developed. Regarding religion's effects, studies on spiritual aspects should be carried out in a way that contributes to promotion of hope.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.10
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• pp.845-855
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• 2004

Background: No general consensus has been available regarding the necessity of postoperative radiation therapy (PORT) and its optimal techniques in the patients with chest wall invasion (pT3cw) and node negative (N0) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We did retrospective analyses on the pT3cwN0 NSCLC patients who received PORT because of presumed inadequate resection margin on surgical findings. And we compared them with the pT3cwN0 NSCLC patients who did not received PORT during the same period. Material and Method: From Aug. of 1994 till June of 2002, 22 pT3cwN0 NSCLC patients received PORT-PORT (＋) group- and 16 pT3cwN0 NSCLC patients had no PORT-PORT (-) group. The radiation target volume for PORT (＋) group was confined to the tumor bed plus the immediate adjacent tissue only, and no regional lymphatics were included. The prognostic factors for all patients were analyzed and survival rates, failure patterns were compared with two groups. Result: Age, tumor size, depth of chest wall invasion, postoperative mobidities were greater in PORT (-) group than PORT (＋) group. In PORT (-) group, four patients who were consulted for PORT did not receive the PORT because of self refusal (3 patients) and delay in the wound repair (1 patient). For all patients, overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), loco-regional recurrence-free survival (LRFS), and distant metastases-free survival (DMFS) rates at 5 years were 35.3%, 30.3%, 80.9%, 36.3%. In univariate and multivariate analysis, only PORT significantly affect the survival. The 5 year as rates were 43.3% in the PORT (＋) group and 25.0% in PORT (-) group (p=0.03). DFS, LRFS, DMFS rates were 36.9%, 84.9%, 43.1 % in PORT (＋) group and 18.8%, 79.4%, 21.9% in PORT(-) group respectively. Three patients in PORT (-) group died of intercurrent disease without the evidence of recurrence. Few suffered from acute and late radiation side effects, all of which were RTOG grade 2 or lower. Conclusion: The strategy of adding PORT to surgery to improve the probability not only of local control but also of survival could be justified, considering that local control was the most important component in the successful treatment of pT3cw NSCLC patients, especially when the resection margin was not adequate. Authors were successful in the marked reduction of the incidence as well as the severity of the acute and late side effects of PORT, without taking too high risk of the regional failures by eliminating the regional lymphatics from the radiation target volume.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.121-132
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• 2009

The agency which is responsible for work related to the restoration of vegetation on the quarry in Hong Kong is the Geotechnical Engineering Office of Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD). CEDD's environmental management system was certified as ISO 14001 : 2004 in 2006 and diverse instructions and technical documents about the restoration of the quarry were published and used for the performance of work and the implementation of the project. The restoration of the quarry is being carried out to respond to short-term and long-term goals. The general instructions for the restoration of vegetation says that a plant, when selected, should be self-sustainable with minimum maintenance required, have a high growth and survival rate, be tall enough to cover the rock slope faces, and preferably produce colourful flowers. These instructions prescribe the vegetation introduction technology, planting seasons, structural material of the vegetation works, maintenance and management, tree nursery operation, means of water supply, etc. This report introduced the outline of work on restoring vegetation carried out at Anderson Road, Shek O, Lam Tei, Turret Hill, Lamma, all large-sized quarries. In addition, it additzed Anderson Road's master plan. It is hoped that the Hong Kong examples so introduced are referred to in terms of institutional and technical considerations related to the nation's project for restoring quarries.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.1519-1524
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• 2008

We have investigated the photophysics of the acetone radical cation in the vacuum ultraviolet energy region by multiphoton ionization combined with time-of-flight mass spectrometry in a cluster beam. We have found that the loss of methyl radical from the acetone radical cations is remarkably suppressed at 10.5 eV when they are solvated by a few neutral acetone molecules. The cluster ion mass spectra obtained by nanosecond and picosecond laser pulses reveal that there are intermolecular processes, occurring in several tens of picoseconds, which are responsible for the survival of the acetone cations in clusters. This remarkable solvation effect on the yield of the methyl radical loss from the acetone cation can be rationalized by the intracluster vibrational energy redistribution and the self-catalyzed enolization which compete with the methyl radical loss process.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.371-378
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• 2012

Through sensor nodes it can obtain behavior, condition, location of objects. Generally speaking, sensor nodes are very limited because they have a battery power supply. Therefore, for collecting sensor data, efficient energy management is necessary in order to prolong the entire network survival. In this paper, we propose a method that increases energy efficiency to be self-configuring by distributed sensor nodes per cluster. The proposed method is based on the ANTCLUST. After measuring the similarity between two objects it is method that determine own cluster. It applies a colonial closure model of ant. The result of an experiment, it showed that the number of alive nodes increased 27% than existing clustering methods.

• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.12
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• pp.645-646
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• 2015

The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) or neurotransmitters in the bone marrow microenvironment has been known to regulate hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) functions such as self-renewal, proliferation and differentiation. However, the specific role of neuropeptide Y (NPY) in this process remains relatively unexplored. In this study, we demonstrated that NPY deficient mice have significantly reduced HSC numbers and impaired bone marrow regeneration due to apoptotic destruction of SNS fibers and/or endothelial cells. Moreover, NPY treatment prevented bone marrow impairments in a mouse model of chemotherapy-induced SNS injury, while conditional knockout mice lacking the Y1 receptor in macrophages did not restore bone marrow dysfunction in spite of NPY injection. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) secreted by NPY-mediated Y1 receptor stimulation in macrophages plays a key role in neuroprotection and HSC survival in the bone marrow. Therefore, this study reveals a new role of NPY in bone marrow HSC microenvironment, and provides an insight into the therapeutic application of this neuropeptide.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.4 no.6
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• pp.455-461
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• 2010

The tumor microenvironment, particularly sufficient nutrition and oxygen supply, is important for tumor cell survival. Nutrition deprivation causes cancer cell death. Since apoptosis is a major mechanism of neuronal loss, we explored neuronal apoptosis in various microenvironment conditions employing neuroblastoma (NB) cells. To investigate the effects of tumor malignancy and differentiation on apoptosis, the cells were exposed to poor microenvironments characterized as serum-free, low-glucose, and hypoxia. Incubation of the cells in serum-free and low-glucose environments significantly increased apoptosis in less malignant and more differentiated N-type IMR32 cells, whereas more malignant and less differentiated I-type BE(2)C cells were not affected by those treatments. In contrast, hypoxia (1 % $O_2$) did not affect apoptosis despite cell malignancy. It is suggested that DLK1 constitutes an important stem cell pathway for regulating self-renewal, clonogenicity, and tumorigenicity. This raises questions about the role of DLK1 in the cellular resistance of cancer cells under poor microenvironments, which cancer cells normally encounter. In the present study, DLK1 overexpression resulted in marked protection from apoptosis induced by nutrient deprivation. This in vitro model demonstrated that increasing severity of nutrition deprivation and knock-down of DLK1 caused greater apoptotic death, which could be a useful strategy for targeted therapies in fighting NB as well as for evaluating how nutrient deprived cells respond to therapeutic manipulation.