• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.259-265
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• 2013

The anti-apoptotic effect of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) during unilateral testicular torsion and detorsion (TT/D) was established in our previous study. In mice, the smallest inhibitor of apoptosis, survivin, is alternatively spliced into three variants, each suggested to have a unique function. Here, we assessed how EGCG exerts its protective effect through the expression of the different survivin splice variants and determined its effect on the morphology of the seminiferous tubules during TT/D. Three mouse groups were used: sham, TT/D+vehicle and TT/D treated with EGCG. The expression of the survivin variants (140 and 40) and other apoptosis genes (p53, Bax and Bcl-2) was measured with semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Histological analysis was performed to assess DNA fragmentation, damage to spermatogenesis and morphometric changes in the seminiferous tubules. In the TT/D+vehicle group, survivin 140 expression was markedly decreased, whereas survivin 40 expression was not significantly different. In parallel, there was an increase in the mRNA level of p53 and the Bax to Bcl-2 ratio in support of apoptosis induction. Histological analyses revealed increased DNA fragmentation and increased damage to spermatogenesis associated with decreased seminiferous tubular diameter and decreased germinal epithelial cell thickness in the TT/D+vehicle group. These changes were reversed to almost sham levels upon EGCG treatment. Our data indicate that EGCG protects the testis from TT/D-induced damage by protecting the morphology of the seminiferous tubules and modulating survivin 140 expression.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.2079-2084
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• 2013

Background: Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among Iranian women and mastectomy comprises 81% of surgeries for treatment of breast cancer. Mastectomy may create feelings such as deformation or impairment in patients, cause body-image disorder, and reduce sexuality and sexual activity which in turn may entail mental disorders. The study aimed to elaborate coping processes. Materials and Methods: A grounded theory method was used in conducting this study. Twenty Iranian participants undergoing mastectomy were recruited with purposive sampling. An open, semi-structured questionnaire were developed. Obtaining consent, conversations were recorded and immediately transcribed after each session. Data analysis was carried out with the constant comparative method using the Strauss Corbin approach. Results: Analyzing the collected data, the study came up with seven main categories which affected the coping process in patients with breast cancer, namely: reactions to mastectomy; loss and death contest; reconstruction of evaluation system; consent for undergoing mastectomy; reactions and troubles after loss; confrontation of loss and health; and reorganization and compatibility with changes. Conclusions: The results of the study indicated: when patients become informed of their breast cancer and the necessity of undergoing mastectomy as the treatment, they probably pass through seven categories to adapt after mastectomy. Having insight about them is likely to contribute medical personnel in leading patients to the highest degree of feeling healthy.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.3939-3943
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• 2016

Background: According to recent statistics, the breast cancer rate is growing fast in developing countries. In North West of Iran, the incidence of breast cancer after esophageal and gastric cancers has the highest rate. Previous studies have also indicated that women in this region show reluctance to do breast cancer screening. There is a great need for change to promote breast cancer screening among women. Social marketing is a discipline that uses the systematic application of commercial marketing techniques to promote the adoption of behavior by the target audience. Materials and Methods: In the present qualitative study, thirty-two women with breast cancer were interviewed about their experiences of breast cancer screening. A semi-structured interview guide was designed to elicit information specific to the 4 P's in social marketing. Results: Three main categories emerged from the analysis: price, service and promotion. Subcategories related to these main categories included factors effective in increasing and decreasing cost of screening, current and desirable features of screening services, and weakness of promotion. Conclusions: Screening programs should be designed to be of low cost, to meet patients' needs and should be provided in suitable places. Furthermore, it is essential that the cultural beliefs of society be improved through education. It seems necessary to design an executive protocol for breast cancer screening at different levels of primary health care to increase the women's willingness to undergo screening.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.153-163
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• 2012

The seasonal variations of ozone ($O_3$) concentrations were investigated with regard to the relationship between $O_3$ and wind distributions at two different sites (Jung Ang (JA): a semi-closed topography and Seo Chang (SC): a closed topography) within a valley city (Yangsan) and their comparison between these sites (JA and SC) and two non-valley sites (Dae Jeo (DJ) and Sang Nam (SN)) located downwind from coastal cities (Busan and Ulsan). This analysis was performed using the data sets of hourly $O_3$ concentrations, meteorological factors (especially, wind speed and direction), and those on high $O_3$ days exceeding the 8-h standard (60 ppb) during 2008-2009. In summer and fall (especially in June and October), the monthly mean values of the daily maximum $O_3$ concentrations and the number of high $O_3$ days at JA (and SC) were relatively higher than those at DJ (and SN). The increase in daytime $O_3$ concentrations at JA in June was likely to be primarily impacted by the transport of $O_3$ and its precursors from the coastal emission sources in Busan along the dominant southwesterly winds (about 5 m/s) under the penetration of sea breeze condition, compared to other months and sites. Such a phenomenon at SC in October was likely to be mainly caused by the accumulation of $O_3$ and its precursors due to the relatively weak winds under the localized stagnant weather condition rather than the contribution of regional transport from the emission sources in Busan and Ulsan.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.41-47
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• 2013

Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) have lots of potential in biomedical sciences owing to its potential to differentiate into any kind of cells in the body. However, it is still a challenge to culture PSCs on a large scale for application to regenerative medicine. Herein, we introduce a synthetic polymer that enables large-scale suspension culture of human PSCs. By employing suspension culture, it became unnecessary to use conventional substrata such as mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) or Matrigel$^{TM}$, which are believed to be main causative sources of xenogeneic contamination in cultured human PSCs in vitro. Human PSCs were cultured in the medium in which elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) dissolved. The ELP in the medium became harden as temperature increases by transforming the medium into a semi-solid gel that supported growth of human PSCs in suspension. Gel-sol transition temperature of ELP can be adjusted by modifying the peptide sequence in which 5 amino acids, Val-Pro-Gly-Xaa-Gly, repeated sequentially. We constructed 3D suspension media having transition temperature around $33{\sim}35^{\circ}C$ using an ELP consisted of 40, 60, or 80 repeats of a monomer, which was Val-Pro-Gly-Val-Gly. Among the ELPs, ELP80 was chosen as the best ELP to support growth of human PSCs in suspension culture. This result suggests that the ELP80 can be a medium component for culturing human PSCs in large-scale.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.650-659
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to analyze Hanwoo usage in restaurants and to develop menus of lean cut Hanwoo. Restaurant served customers Hanwoo menus, with the exception of broiled or roasted meat, mainly to provide various menus to customers (4.14), due to customer needs (3.87) and utilizing stocks (3.59). On the other hand, the reason for not providing Hanwoo menus, with the exception of broiled or roasted meat was manpower shortage (3.63), lack of popularity (3.58), low profit (3.29), preservation of Hanwoos' original flavors (3.28) and complex cooking methods (3.22). Concomitantly, the restaurant owners' intentions to apply new menus with lean cut Hanwoo was 73.4%, showing an interest in developing new menus and recipes using lean cut Hanwoo suitable to the changing owner awareness of customer health and trends. This study has established a standard for developing cooking methods and developed menus according to classified recipes for lean cut Hanwoo, based on the survey of restaurants' current status of using Hanwoo and the owners' opinions. 20 menus using lean cut Hanwoo (rump or shank) were developed by $1^{st}$ and $2^{nd}$ cooking experiments, and in-depth interview of experts-groups. Of these, 12 menus suitable for the restaurant were finally selected based on the results of consumer's evaluation using JARS. Structured recipe flow diagram and recipe instructions were developed for future semi-processed or processing foods. Diverse recipe methods using lean cut Hanwoo were obtained from the study, however aggressive public relations work is required for promoting the developed menus.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.3713-3716
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• 2012

Objective: Transmembrane protein 166 (TMEM166) expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and remote normal esophageal tissues was examined to assess any role in tumour biology. Methods: TMEM166 mRNA expression in 36 cases with ESCC (36 tumour samples, 36 remote normal esophageal tissue samples) was detected by RT-PCR. TMEM166 protein expression was analysed in paraffin-embedded tissue samples from the same cases by immunohistochemistry. Results: Semi-quantitative analysis showed TMEM166 mRNA expression in ESCCs to be significantly lower than in remote normal esophageal tissues ($0.759{\pm}0.713$ vs. $2.622{\pm}1.690$, P=0.014). TMEM166 protein expression was also significantly reduced (69.4% vs. 94.4%, P<0.01). Conclusion: TMEM166 mRNA and protein expression demonstrated significant reduction in ESCCs compared with remote esophageal tissues, albeit with no correlation with tumour size, differentiation, stage, and lymph node metastasis, suggesting a role in regulating autophagic and apoptotic processes in the ESCC.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.282-288
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• 2007

그 동안 많은 역학연구를 통해서 금속가공유(metalworking fluid, MWFs) 노출과 여러 조직에서 암 발생 위험과의 관계를 밝혔지만, 금속가공유 종류(비수용성, 수용성, 합성, 준합성)별로 구분된 위험은 아직 완전하게 규명되지 않았다. 역학조사에서 금속가공유 노출을 대체할 수 있는 인자(surrogate)로서 정성적(qualitative), 명목적(ordinal) 혹은 준정량적인(semi-quantitative) 변수들(금속가공유에 대한 노출 유무, 노출 정도: 높음, 낮음 등, 직업 유무, 근무기간 등)을 이용하여 금속가공유 노출을 평가하였다. 이러한 노출평가방법은 기본적으로 금속가공유 노출 강도(intensity)가 고려되지 않을 뿐만 아니라 노출 분류 오류(misclassification)도 항상 존재할 수 있어 금속가공유 노출은 물론이고 종류별 위험을 밝히기 어렵다. 일부 역학연구에서 금속가공유 종류별 누적 노출양(cumulative exposure level)과 암위험과의 관계를 밝혔다. 이러한 연구결과들은 모두 금속가공유 종류별로 과거노출을 추정할 수 있는 자료(정량적인 노출평가자료, 과거직업력, 취급했던 금속가공유 종류 등)가 잘 기록되어 있는 1개의 대규모 자동차공장에서 나온 것들이다. 따라서 금속가공유에 대한 노출자료가 부족하고 사용특성에 대한 기록이 없거나 부족한 일반 인구나 산업을 대상으로 한 역학연구에서는 금속가공유의 종류별 위험을 밝히는것은 불가능하다. 금속가공유 종류별로 과거 노출에 대한 확률(probability)을 추정하는데 일반적으로 활용할 수 있는 노출확률 메트릭스를 개발하는 것이 필요하다.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.14-28
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• 2020

Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze consumer experience with Digestive Enzymes, a digestive enzyme product that includes medicinal herbs (Multi-Zyme^®). The goal was to provide basic data on improvements and marketability of future digestive enzyme products containing medicinal herbs. Methods: Qualitative research was conducted to explore the current participants' experience. In-depth interviews with a semi-structured interview guide were conducted to investigate the experience and perception of the participants. The participants were recruited using snowball sampling and purposive sampling, and a qualitative content analysis method was adopted. Credibility was ensured by adopting a member check, triangulation, and peer debriefing method. Results: In-depth interviews were completed with a total of 8 participants. The collected data were classified into 16 codes and then further divided into the following seven categories: direct buying, indirect buying, effects, questions, recommendations, positive perception, and negative perception. The categories were grouped into three themes: 'Experience of purchasing existing health foods', 'Experience of taking Multi-Zyme', and 'Opinions on selling Multi-Zyme at Korean medicine clinics'. Conclusion: The participants experienced effect of the Multi-Zyme^® and were willing to recommend it around. However, the Korean medicine doctors need to inform consumers about the dose and duration when taking Multi-Zyme^® to prevent abuse. Some consumers may trust Multi-Zyme^® sales from Korean medicine clinics, but some held opinions that those sales were not trustworthy, so promotion and improvement are needed.

• International Journal of Vascular Biomedical Engineering
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.25-30
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• 2006

We intended to measure the IT, MT, and the IMT of carotid artery separately and tried to analyze the clinical significance. Two hundred and fifty consecutive patients (125 males, 125 females) underwent carotid artery scanning using high-resolution ultrasound. The images were off-line analyzed using B-mode ultrasound image processing, devised in our research. We measured the IT, MT, and IMT semi-automatically at the far wall of designated 1cm length of the right common carotid and calculated the average values over the 200 points. The IT (p < 0.05), MT (p < 0.05) as well as IMT (p < 0.01) of patients with atherosclerotic disease were significantly thicker than that of the patients without atherosclerotic disease. Patients with hypertension showed significantly thicker IT (p < 0.05), MT (p < 0.01), and IMT (p < 0.01) than that of the patients without hypertension. However, only IT was thicker in patients with smoking (p < 0.05) than that of the patients without smoking. Smoking was associated only with intima while hypertension was associated with the all three layer's thickness. This result suggests the atherosclerotic process can be different by cardiovascular risk factors.