• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.245-251
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• 2015

Objectives: Intrahepatic recurrence is the major cause of death among patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after curative surgical resection. Several approaches have been reported to decrease the recurrence rate. The objective of our study was to compare the clinical effects of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with interferon-alpha (IFN-${\alpha}$) therapy on recurrence after hepatic resection in patients with HBV-related HCC with that of TACE chemotherapy alone. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data from 228 patients who were diagnosed with HBV-related HCC and underwent curative resection between January 2001 to December 2008. The patients were divided into TACE (n = 126) and TACE-IFN-${\alpha}$ (n = 102) groups for postoperative chemotherapy. The TACE regimen consisted of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), cisplatin (DDP), and the emulsion mixed with mitomycin C (MMC) and lipiodol. The recurrence rates, disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and risk of recurrence were evaluated. Results: The clinicopathological parameters and adverse effects were similar between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). The median OS for the TACE-IFN-${\alpha}$ group (36.3 months) was significantly longer than that of the TACE group (24.5 months, P < 0.05). The 3-and 5-year OS for the TACE-IFN-${\alpha}$ group were significantly longer than those of the TACE group (P < 0.05) and the recurrence rate was significantly lower (P < 0.05). The TACE and IFN-${\alpha}$ combination therapy, active hepatitis HBV infection, the number of tumor nodules, microvascular invasion, liver cirrhosis, and the BCLC stage were independent predictors of OS and DFS. Conclusions: The use of the TACE and IFN-${\alpha}$ combination chemotherapy after curative hepatic resection safely and effectively improves OS and decreases recurrence in patients with HBV-related HCC who are at high risk. Our findings can serve as a guide for the selection of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with HBV-related HCC who are at high risk of recurrence.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.9-16
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• 1969

It is well known that a number of -SH and -SS containing substances afford a certain measure of protection against radiation effects in many biological systems, and it is conceivable that inherent -SH levels in Ehrlich ascites tumour (ELD)cells may be of decisive improtance with respect to the development of cellular radiation injury. So far, little effort has been directed to elucidate the changes in levels of different -SH and -SS groups in ELD cells when the tumour-bearing whole animal was subjected to the sublethal dose of X-irradiation. The present study was designed to bring some lights in the possible changes of and relationship between various sulfhydryl levels, such as P-SH, NP-SH and NP-SS, as well as the content of protein and cell volume of ELD cells, after subjecting the ELD mice to 1,200 r of X-irradiation. The animals used in this experiment were all mixed bred mice of $20{\sim}25\;gm$ in body weight (approximately 2 months old) irrespective of sex. 12 mice in one experiment were inoculated intraperitoneally with 0.2 ml of ascites tumour cells $(2{\times}10^6\;cells)$, and on the 7th day of the tumour growth, they were X-irradiated with 1,200 r, using the conventional X-ray machine under the following conditions: 200 Kv at 15 mA, 0.5 mm Cu filter, target-skin distance: 50 cm. Radiation dose was measured with the the Philip integrating dosimeter. At 24, 36, 48 and 60 hours after the X-irradiation, the mice were killed by cervical dislocation, and the tumours were taken out. Freshly withdrawn ascites tumours were placed in ice, and immediately the cell concentration was measured with the Coulter Cell Counter (Model B), and the hematocrit of the tumour cells were also determined. Cell volume was thus calculated by the cell concentration and hematocrit value. P-SH content of ELD cells was measured potentiometrically according to the method of Calcutt & Doxey, and NP-SH and NP-SS contents were measured spectrophotometrically by the method described by Ellman. Protein content of ELD cells was determined with the Folin phenol reagent by Lowry et al. Altogether, 48 experimental mice were used, and 12 mice with the only exception of X-irradiation were used as the control. Results obtained indicate that the contents of all the cellular sulfhydryl groups as well as cell volume and protein content of the ELD cells increase significantly as time progresses after the sub-lethal X-ray dose of 1,200 r was given and that all the increase is in a lineal fashion. The regression lines of the relative values, (i. e., taking each control value as 1) of all the values obtained, and the regression lines of cell volume, protein and NP-SH are identical, whereas those of NP-SS and P-SH appear to be widely seperated. However, the difference of those two lines (NP-SS & P-SH) were found to be not significant statistically (p>0.05). Therefore, it can be concluded from the above results that all the values examined increase in a lineal fashion with no statistically significant difference among them. Also, with the radiation dose of 1,200 r, the ELD cell becomes enlarged and swollen progressively up to 60 hours post-irradiation and it becomes more than two times of the original normal size at 60 hours after the irradiation, and up to this stage, it seems apparent that the cell division has been slow due to the X-irradiation applied in this experiment. It is well understandable that the contents of NP-SH, NP-SS, P-SH and protein of the ELD cells increase in parallel with the increase of the cell volume by the X-ray does used, but it also seems interesting to note that all the cellular substances tested show no appreciable difference in the pattern of increase.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.10 no.7
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• pp.33-41
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to analyse the state of the energy industry and to determine the efficiency of its functioning on the basis of energy conservation principle and application of innovative technologies aimed at improving the ecological modernisation of agricultural sectors of Kazakhstan. The research methodology is based on an integrated approach of financial and economic evaluation of the effectiveness of the investment project, based on calculation of elasticity, total costs and profitability, as well as on comparative, graphical and system analysis. The current stage is characterised by widely spread restructuring processes of electric power industry in many countries through introduction of new technical installations of energy facilities and increased government regulation in order to enhance the competitive advantage of electricity market. Electric power industry features a considerable value of creating areas. For example, by providing scientific and technical progress, it crucially affects not only the development but also the territorial organisation of productive forces, first of all the industry. In modern life, more than 90% of electricity and heat is obtained by Kazakhstan's economy by consuming non-renewable energy resources: different types of coal, oil shale, oil, natural gas and peat. Therefore, it is significant to ensure energy security, as the country faces a rapid fall back to mono-gas structure of fuel and energy balance. However, energy resources in Kazakhstan are spread very unevenly. Its main supplies are concentrated in northern and central parts of the republic, and the majority of consumers of electrical power live in the southern and western areas of the country. However, energy plays an important role in the economy of industrial production and to a large extent determines the level of competitive advantage, which is a promising condition for implementation of energy-saving and environmentally friendly technologies. In these circumstances, issues of modernisation and reforms of this sector in Kazakhstan gain more and more importance, which can be seen in the example of economically sustainable solutions of a large local monopoly company, significant savings in capital investment and efficiency of implementation of an investment project. A major disadvantage of development of electricity distribution companies is the prevalence of very high moral and physical amortisation of equipment, reaching almost 70-80%, which significantly increases the operating costs. For example, while an investment of 12 billion tenge was planned in 2009 in this branch, in 2012 it is planned to invest more than 17 billion. Obviously, despite the absolute increase, the rate of investment is still quite low, as the total demand in this area is at least more than 250 billion tenge. In addition, industrial infrastructure, including the objects of Kazakhstan electric power industry, have a tangible adverse impact on the environment. Thus, since there is a large number of various power projects that are sources of electromagnetic radiation, the environment is deteriorated. Hence, there is a need to optimise the efficiency of the organisation and management of production activities of energy companies, to create and implement new technologies, to ensure safe production and provide solutions to various environmental aspects. These are key strategic factors to ensure success of the modern energy sector of Kazakhstan. The contribution of authors in developing the scope of this subject is explained by the fact that there was not enough research in the energy sector, especially in the view of ecological modernisation. This work differs from similar works in Kazakhstan in the way that the proposed method of investment project calculation takes into account the time factor, which compares the current and future value of profit from the implementation of innovative equipment that helps to bring it to actual practise. The feasibility of writing this article lies in the need of forming a public policy in the industrial sector, including optimising the structure of energy disbursing rate, which complies with the terms of future modernised development of the domestic energy sector.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.281-290
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• 1996

Purpose : Chest irradiation leads to a significant cardiac injury in a number of patients. To prevent, or to reduce the risk of radiation-induced cardiac injury, pentoxifylline(PTX), a haemorrheologic agent that improves the blood flow through small blood capillaries has been employed. Materials and Methods : One hundred and eighty ICR mice were divided into three study groups: control, radiation alone, and radiation-pentoxifylline. Each group was subdivided into 12 subgroups: 1 3, 6 and 10 days and 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16 and 20 weeks by observation Period after irradiation. The total 15Gy of radiation was delivered in a single fraction through anterior mediastinal port. Pentoxifylline was injected subcutaneously daily 50mg/kg to the back of the mice from the first day of irradiation throughout the observation period. The mice of each group after a certain observation period were sacrificed and sectioned for histopathologic examination of the heart. Result : The findings of acute radiation-induced carditis i.e., heterophilic infiltration and vacuolization and ballooning of endothelial cells were observed upto 6 weeks and reduced sharply afterwards. The late radiation effects including pericarditis with mononuclear cell infiltration, pericardial fibrosis, endothelial cell changes, myocardial degeneration and fibrosis present from 4 weeks onwards after irradiation but with various degree of severity. The overall process of pathologic changes of radiation-pentoxifylline group was similar to those of radiation alone group but the duration of acute stage was relatively short and the severity of late cardiac toxicity was much lesser compared with those of radiation alone group. Conclusion : Pentoxifylline can effectively reduce the late radiation-induced cardiac injury and reslve the acute effects relatively rapidly.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.136-143
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• 2000

Purpose : The hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia thrombocytopenia, and acute renal failure. It is ole of tile most common cause of acute renal failure in children but few reports are available in Korea. Thus we investigated the 23 patients diagnosed as HUS during last 14 years. Method : We retrospectively investigated the etiologic factor, clinical manifestations laboratory findings, treatment modalities, and final outcomes of the patients. Then patients were divided into two groups according to outcome, md comparison was performed. Group A(8) comprised patients who progressed to end-stage renal disease or expired. Group B(15) comprised patients who completely recovered after dialysis treatment. Result The number of patients aged less than 4 years were 17; between 5 and 10 were 4 and more than 10 were 2. The gende ratio was M:F=2 : 1. The etiologic factors were as follows: acute gastroenteritis in 14 patients including 4 bloody diarrhea, upper respiratory tract infection in 7 patients, and 1 patient with herbal mediation. The overall mortality rate was 22$\%$: 2 patients died of US complications, 2 patients died of sepsis, and 1 patient died of pulmonary hemorrhage. Group A (Hb 4.8${\pm}$1.2 g/dL) showed lower value in hemoglobin than group B (Hb 6.3${\pm}$1.7 g/dL) during hospital stay (P< 0.05), And the time interval between tile disease onset and dialysis treatment was significantly longer in group A ($11.9{\pm}9.1\;days\;vs\;2.8{\pm}2.1\;days$) (P< 0.05). Conclusion : Overall mortality rate was 22$\%$. Low hemoglobin value and the prolonged time interval between the disease onset and dialysis treatment were related with poor prognosis. So early diagnosis and appropriate intensive care including dialysis treatment is essential to achieve better outcome in children.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.30-43
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• 1981

On unwedded paddy fields, six cropping patterns of rice cultivation, namely direct broadcast seeding, direct row seeding, machine transplanting, early season hand transplanting, standard season hand transplanting, and late season hand transplanting, were detected with two representative rice cultivars (Milyang 23 and Sadominori) to estimate the comparative fluctuation patterns of weed flora. As a result, number of emerged weed species, most crowding stages, differences of weed growth among cropping patterns, possible tendencies of competition in plant heights among plant groups, variations in Importance Values, and Simpson's Index analysis were discussed, respectively.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.73-79
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• 2012

Purpose: The association of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations, deletions and copy number with progressive changes in patients with some glomerular disease and end-stage renal disease have been reported. In this study, we performed mtDNA mutation analysis in children with IgA nephropathy to investigate its role in progressive clinical course. Methods: Seven children with IgA nephropathy were involved in this study. MtDNA isolated from platelet was amplified by PCR and sequenced entirely. Results: The mean age at renal biopsy was $11.5{\pm}2.2$ year and the mean age at latest evaluation was $17.9{\pm}3.2$ year. The mean follow-up period were $7.8{\pm}3.1$ years. Patients was divided into 2 groups according to the amount of proteinuria at presenting manifestation. Group 2 patients were nephrotic syndrome. Renal function reveals within normal range in all patients. In group 2 patients, the mean serum albumin level was significantly lower than those of group 1 ($3.7{\pm}0.6g/dL$ vs. $4.7{\pm}0.2g/dL$, P=0.0241) and the mean total cholesterol level was significantly higher than those of group 1 ($222.7{\pm}35.7mg/dL$ vs. $148.3{\pm}29.1mg/dL$, P=0.0283). In Group 2 patients, total amount of protein of 24 hour collected urine also significantly higher than those of group 1 ($1,466.0{\pm}742.5mg$ vs. $122.5{\pm}48.1mg$, P=0.0135). Pr/Cr ratio in random urine sample was also higher in group 2 than those of group 1 but the statistical significance was not noted ($1.8{\pm}1.6$ vs. $0.2{\pm}0.2$, P=0.0961). Deletion of mtDNA nt 8272-8281 were observed in two patients, one patient in each groups, respectively. This is noncoding lesion. No patients demonstrated the mtDNA mutations. Conclusions: We have identified a deletion of mtDNA nt 8272-8281 in two children with IgA nephropathy. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of mitochondrial function in the progressive change of IgA nephropathy.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.159-165
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• 1998

Purpose : The best prognosis for hepatocellular carcinoma can be achieved with surgical resection. However, the number of resected cases is limited due to the advanced lesion or associated liver disease. A trial of combined transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE) and local radiotherapy(RT) for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) was prospectively conducted and its efficacy and toxicity were investigated. Materials and Methods : From 1992 to 1994, 30 Patients with unresectable HCC due either to advanced lesion or to associated cirrhosis were entered in the study Exclusion criteria included the presence of extrahepatic metastasis, liver cirrhosis of Child's class C, tumors occupying more than two-thirds of the whole liver, and an ECOG scale of more than 3. Patient cHaracteristics were : mean tumor size $8.95\pm3.4cm$, serum AFP+ in all patients, portal vein thrombosis in all patients, liver cirrhosis in 22 patients, and UICC stage III and IVA in 10 and 20 patients, respectively. TACE was performed with the mixture of Lipiodol(5ml) and Adriamycin(50mg) and Gelfoam embolizatin. RT(mean dose $44.0\pm9.3Gy$) 10 days with conventional fractionation. Results : An objective response was observed in 19 patients($63.3\%$). Survival rates at 1 2, and 3 years were $67\%,\;33.3\%$ and $22.2\%$, respectively. Median survival was 17 months. There were 6 patients surviving more than 3 years. Distant metastasis occurred in 10 patients, with 8 in the lung only and 2 in both lung and bone, Toxicity included transient elevation of liver function test in all patients, fever in 20, thrombocytopenia in 4, and nausea and vomiting in 1. There was no treatment-related death. Conclusion : Combined TACE and RT appear to produce a favorable response and survival results with minimal toxicity.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.11 s.268
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• pp.838-843
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• 2006

Background: The lung is the most common site of metastatic colorectal cancer comprising 10% of all curative resection of colorectal cancer. The reported 5 year survival rate varies among institutions. The purpose of the present study was to present the retrospective analysis of colorectal metastatic lung cancer surgery at our institution. Material and Method: A total of 61 patients undergoing surgery for metastatic colorectal lung cancer between July 1996 and December 2003 were included in the present study. The stage of the primary colorectal cancer, site of pulmonary metastasis, method of lung resection, the number and size of the metastatic nodules, the recurrence rate, and survival were assessed. Result: The 3 and 5 year survival rates were 66% and 41%, respectively. No significant risk factors were identified among the studied variables by either univariate or multivariate analysis. The mean disease free survival rate was 17 months. The most common recurrent site was lung, and among these patients, 3 underwent a second operation and two are still alive. Conclusion: The results of the above data suggest that pulmonary resection of metastatic lung cancer in select patients after curative resection of colon cancer may be a good therapeutic option with the potential for excellent results.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.235-244
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• 2011

A batch experiment of pyrite oxidation was performed and the surfaces of the reacted pyrite were regularly observed with the scanning electron microscope (SEM) together with the chemical compositions of the solution to help understand the oxidation mechanisms of pyrite by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans (Af). The dissolved Fe concentrations clearly indicated that Af experiences the lag and then exponential growth phase. An Af cell was observed to be attached to the surface of pyrite during the lag, implying that a direct leaching by the microbe really happens for the period. It is not certain, however, whether the main mechanism of pyrite oxidation during that time was the direct leaching or not, because there were just a few cells confirmed to be attached and most of the dissolved Fe was Fe(III). The dissolved Fe concentration stayed almost constant from the mid-lag phase to just before the onset of the exponential phase, suggesting that AI needs an adaptation time to switch its oxidation mechanism from one to the other whichever it is during that stage of growth. The moment of Af's cell division was observed by SEM on the surface of pyrite during the lag phase. The corrosion outline around the dividing cell was quite similar to the shape of the cell itself, which implies that the rate of the microbial oxidation is very uneven and the rate when the cell metabolizes should be much faster than that calculated from the concentration variation of the dissolved Fe. The number of etch holes by Af is much higher on the inoculated surfaces, indicating the average rate of pyrite oxidation is also much faster than that of abiotic oxidation. The microbial etch holes on pyrite surface are small and deep, which may influence the transition of the growth phases of Af from lag to exponential.