• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.383-388
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• 2021

Background: Achieving external access to and manual occlusion of the left atrial appendage (LAA) during minimally invasive mitral valve surgery (MIMVS) through a small right thoracotomy is difficult. Occlusion of the LAA using an epicardial closure device seems quite useful compared to other surgical techniques. Methods: Fourteen patients with atrial fibrillation underwent MIMVS with concomitant surgical occlusion of the LAA using double-layered endocardial closure stitches (n=6, endocardial suture group) or the AtriClip Pro closure device (n=8, AtriClip group) at our institution. The primary safety endpoint was any device-related adverse event, and the primary efficacy endpoint was successful complete occlusion of blood flow into the LAA as assessed by transthoracic echocardiography at hospital discharge. The primary efficacy endpoint for stroke reduction was the occurrence of ischemic or hemorrhagic neurologic events. Results: All patients underwent LAA occlusion as scheduled. The cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic cross-clamp times in the endocardial suture group and the AtriClip group were 202±39 and 128±41 minutes, and 213±53 and 136±44 minutes, respectively (p=0.68, p=0.73). No patients in either group experienced any device-related serious adverse events, incomplete LAA occlusion, early postoperative stroke, or neurologic complication. Conclusion: Epicardial LAA occlusion using the AtriClip Pro during MIMVS in patients with mitral valve disease and atrial fibrillation is a simple, safe, and effective adjunctive procedure.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.64-76
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• 2016

The step-wise process of colorectal carcinogenesis from aberrant crypt foci, adenoma to adenocarcinoma, is relatively suitable for chemopreventive intervention. Accumulated evidences have revealed that maintaining an undifferentiated state (stemness), inflammation, and oxidative stress play important roles in this colon carcinogenesis process. However, appropriate molecular targets that are applicable to chemopreventive intervention regarding those three factors are still unclear. In this review, we summarized appropriate molecular targets by identification and validation of the prospective targets from a comprehensive overview of data that showed colon cancer preventive effects in clinical trials, epidemiological studies and basic research. We first selected a study that used aspirin, statins and metformin from FDA approved drugs, and epigallocatechin-gallate and curcumin from natural compounds as potential chemopreventive agents against colon cancer because these agents are considered to be promising chemopreventive agents. Experimental and observational data revealed that there are common target molecules in these potential chemopreventive agents: T-cell factor/lymphoid enhancer factor (TCF/LEF), nuclear factor-&B (NF-κB) and nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2(NRF2). Moreover, these targets, TCF/LEF, NF-κB and NRF2, have been also indicated to suppress maintenance of the undifferentiated state, inflammation and oxidative stress, respectively. In the near future, novel promising candidate agents for colon cancer chemoprevention could be identified by integral evaluation of their effects on these three transcriptional activities.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.253-259
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• 2011

In this studies, contents and activities of antioxidative substances in the fruits of a pear cultivar and five Korean wild pear lines were investigated. The content of total phenolic compounds was highest with Pyrus pyrifolia var. culta "Shingo" (7.68 $mg{\cdot}g^{-1}$, D.W.) while total flavonoids was highest with P. ussuriensis var. acidula (5.66 $mg{\cdot}g^{-1}$, D.W.). The contents of total polyphenols and flavonoids varied according to plant species, but in general pyrifolia lines had higher total polyphenols than total flavonoids whereas in ussuriensis lines total flavonoid contents were higher than total polyphenols. The scavenging effects of DDPH radicals was highest with highest with P. ussuriensis var. seoulensis ($RC_{50}$=1.45 $mg{\cdot}mL^{-1}$) and that of ABTS radicals was highest with P. ussuriensis var. acidula ($RC_{50}$=0.69 $mg{\cdot}mL^{-1}$). A pear cultivar "Shingo" showed highest total polyphenol content, but scavenging activity of DDPH and ABTS radicals was lowest. The fruits of P. ussuriensis var. seoulensis contained low level of phenolic compounds, but their scavenging effects on two radicals was superior. Ferrous ion chelating effect was high in P. pyrifolia var. culta (98.93%), and in P. ussuriensis var. sinensis (68.71%), but two species had low scavenging activity. The content of phenolic compounds in wild pears was not always directly proportional to the radical scavenging activity. Neither radical scavenging activity was to ferrous ion chelating activity. In conclusion the fruits of P. ussuriensis var. acidula, P. ussuriensis var. seoulensis, and P. ussuriensis var. sinensis had great potential for the development of new antioxidative functional food because their antioxidative activity is higher or at least similar to P. pyrifolia var. culta. However, due to their different levels of antioxidative effects, the development of methods of using them jointly, not singly, to obtain maximum level of antioxidants is recommended.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.1523-1528
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• 1999

The consumer's demands for minimally processed fruits and vegetables have been increased rapidly because of its convenient handling, fresh-like quality as well as producing less wastes from the environmental point of view. Asian pears which are one of the main fruits widely produced and consumed in Korea easily lost their characteristics due to browning and softening after cutting. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of various treatments on delaying deterioration of sliced Asian pears. 'Shingo' pear slices were treated with various solutions $(1%\;NaCl,\;0.2%\;L-cysteine,\;1%\;CaCl_2\;or\;1%\;calcium\;lactate)$ and were packaged with low density polyethylene $(LDPE,\;60\;{\mu}m)$, ceramic $(CE,\;60\;{\mu}m)$ or vacuum $(Ny/PE,\;80\;{\mu}m)$ film at $20^{\circ}C\;and\;0^{\circ}C$. In order to evaluate the quality of packaged sliced pears, quality index was determined in terms of color, firmness, soluble solids, titratable acidity. ascorbic acid, changes of gas composition, microbial test, and sensory quality. The results showed that sliced 'Shingo' pears packaged with CE and vacuum film maintained better quality than with LDPE at $0^{\circ}C\;and\;20^{\circ}C$. To retard browning and softening. 0.2% L-cysteine and 1% NaCl solutions applied for 1 minute were effective to reduce surface browning of sliced pears, and 1% $CaCl_2$ was the most effective to prevent softening.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 1989

Investigations were carried out into the time-and dose-related changes in acute skin reaction following graded single dose (20,30 and 40 Gy) of x-ray irradiation in Wistar rats, in order to evaluate the radioprotective effect of Diethon on skin. For the duration of skin response over 1. 5 score in dose of 40 Gy, the Diethone group of 24.7 days was significantly different (p<0.02) from that of control (29.8 days) and vaseline (29.2 days) groups, it was $17.1\%$ diminution of skin response period compared with that of control group. By the averaging daily scores for 10 days during peak skin reaction the mean scores were obtained. Mean score of Diethone group $(2.43\pm0.22)$ was significantly different (p<0.01) from that of control $(2.91\pm0.23)$ and vaseline $(2.81\pm0.18)$ groups of 40Gy dose. By iso-effect dose obtained at level of 2.5 score the dose reduction factor (DRF) was 1.41 which reduced radiation dose of $41\%$ by radioprotective effect of Diethone. From this experimental data, it may be possible to give higer radiation dose to large and/or radioresistant tumor mass rather than conventional treatment doses for improving therapeutic ratio by using topical application of skin radioprotector.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.37-46
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• 2001

To examine the effects of edible coatings on the quality of fresh-cut fruits, Shingo pear was coated with several concentration of albumin, WSF(whole soy flour), dextrin and SPE (sucrose polyester) solution and quality characteristics, sensory evaluation and respiration rate were determined during storage at $4^{\circ}C$ for 10 days. Weight loss rate was reduced in coated fresh-cut pears. 2% dextrin and 1% WSF for pears were more effective in reducing weight loss rate during storage. In preventing the browning of fresh cut fruits, browning was inhibited by coating with 0.5% WSF, 1% albumin, 3% dextrin for pears. Compared with non-coated pears, 0.5% WSF, 1% albumin and 3% dextrin coating were effective in inhibiting the color changes. Even if hardness had a tendency to decrease in coated and no71-coated fruits during storage dextrin coating induced texture softening in fresh-cut pears. The changes in decrease of titratable acidity and vitamin C content and increase of pH and soluble solid were recessed by coatings but there was no differences in accordance with coating materials. Sensory evaluation of coated pears was conducted in according to coating materials and concentrations. Pears coated with 0.5% albumin, 4% dextrin, 1.0% SPE and 0.5% WSF recorded high sensory score. Among the tested coating materials and concentrations, 4% dextrin was the best in all organoleptic quality of coated pears. Respiration rate was repressed by coating with WSF and dextrin in pears.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.195-202
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• 2008

This study was performed to examine the effects of electron beam irradiation on volatile flavor components of Shingo pear (Pyrus pyrifolia cv. Niitaka) and on their changes according to storing period following irradiation. Volatile flavor components in pear were extracted using simultaneous steam distillation and extraction (SDE) apparatus and analyzed by GC/MS. 46 components were identified in control whereas 45, 44, 48 and 51 components were identified in irradiated samples by electron beam at 0.25, 0.5, 1, and 3 kGy, respectively. Hexanal, n-hexanol, and (E)-2-hexenal were identified as the major volatile flavor components of all samples. The characteristic volatile flavor components of irradiated pear by electron beam were similar to those of control, and their effects depending on irradiation source were not different. In addition, there was no noticeable change in volatile flavor components of pear with storage at $4^{\circ}C$ for 30 days or with irradiation. Sensory evaluation indicated that the consumer receptiveness tended to be higher at a low level of radiation dose under 1 kGy than control, albeit not significant. Therefore, electron beam irradiation at low level of radiation dose under 1 kGy could be considered as an effective method to exterminate vermin and thus to improve the shelf-stability of pear without deterioration.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.11
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• pp.1749-1756
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• 2021

Objective: Microminipig (MMP) is a miniature pig with an extra small body size for experimental use. In the present study, the occurrence of stillbirths and their genetic association with swine leukocyte antigen (SLA) class II haplotypes were evaluated in a population of MMPs. Methods: The occurrences of stillbirth and genetic association with SLA class II haplotypes using 483 stillborn and 2,246 live piglets, and their parents were compared among the three groups of newborn piglet litters; an all stillborn (AS) group consisting of only stillborn piglet litters, a partial stillborn (PS) group consisting of stillborn and live piglet litters, and an all alive (AA) group consisting of only live piglet litters. Results: The incidence of stillborn piglets was 483/2,729 (17.7%). Distributions of litter sizes, numbers of stillborn piglets in a litter, parities, and gestation periods were distinct among the three groups. The frequencies of low resolution haplotype (Lr)-0.7 or Lr-0.23 were higher in the AS group than in the PS or AA groups. In sires, the frequency of Lr-0.7 associated with the AS group was significantly higher in the AS group than with the AA group. In dams, the frequency of Lr-0.23 was significantly higher in the AS group than in the PS or AA groups, whereas the frequency of Lr-0.7 was not significantly different. Conclusion: The incidence of stillborn piglets in MMPs appears to be higher than those in other pig breeds. Several traits related with stillbirths such as the number of stillborn piglets and parities of the AS group were different from those of the PS and AA groups. Specific SLA class II haplotypes were associated significantly with a high incidence of stillbirths and could be used as genetic markers to adopt breeding strategies to lower the rate of stillbirth in MMPs.

• Journal of Gynecologic Oncology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.83.1-83.10
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• 2018

Objective: We aimed to propose a set of quality indicators (QIs) based on the clinical guidelines for cervical cancer treatment published by The Japan Society of Gynecologic Oncology, and to assess adherence to standard-of-care as an index of the quality of care for cervical cancer in Japan. Methods: A panel of clinical experts devised the QIs using a modified Delphi method. Adherence to each QI was evaluated using data from a hospital-based cancer registry of patients diagnosed in 2013, and linked with insurance claims data, between October 1, 2012, and December 31, 2014. All patients who received first-line treatment at the participating facility were included. The QI scores were communicated to participating hospitals, and additional data about the reasons for non-adherence were collected. Results: In total, 297 hospitals participated, and the care provided to 15,163 cervical cancer patients was examined using 10 measurable QIs. The adherence rate ranged from 50.0% for 'cystoscope or proctoscope for stage IVA' to 98.8% for 'chemotherapy using platinum for stage IVB'. Despite the variation in care, hospitals reported clinically valid reasons for more than half of the non-adherent cases. Clinically valid reasons accounted for 75%, 90.9%, 73.4%, 44.5%, and 88.1% of presented non-adherent cases respectively. Conclusion: Our study revealed variations in pattern of care as well as an adherence to standards-of-care across Japan. Further assessment of the causes of variation and non-adherence can help identify areas where improvements are needed in patient care.