• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.671-682
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• 2019

Objective: To investigate whether computed tomography (CT) and fluorine-18-labeled fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) may be applied to distinguish thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) from benign cysts in the anterior mediastinum. Materials and Methods: We included 262 consecutive patients with pathologically proven TETs and benign cysts 5 cm or smaller who underwent preoperative CT scans. In addition to conventional morphological and ancillary CT findings, the relationship between the lesion and the adjacent mediastinal pleura was evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively. Mean lesion attenuation was measured on CT images. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) was obtained with FDG-PET scans in 40 patients. CT predictors for TETs were identified with multivariate logistic regression analysis. For validation, we assessed the diagnostic accuracy and inter-observer agreement between four radiologists in a size-matched set of 24 cysts and 24 TETs using a receiver operating characteristic curve before and after being informed of the study findings. Results: The multivariate analysis showed that post-contrast attenuation of 60 Hounsfield unit or higher (odds ratio [OR], 12.734; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.506-64.705; p = 0.002) and the presence of protrusion from the mediastinal pleura (OR, 9.855; 95% CI, 1.749-55.535; p = 0.009) were the strongest CT predictors for TETs. SUVmax was significantly higher in TETs than in cysts (5.3 ± 2.4 vs. 1.1 ± 0.3; p < 0.001). After being informed of the study findings, the readers' area under the curve improved from 0.872-0.955 to 0.949-0.999 (p = 0.066-0.149). Inter-observer kappa values for protrusion were 0.630-0.941. Conclusion: Post-contrast CT attenuation, protrusion from the mediastinal pleura, and SUVmax were useful imaging features for distinguishing TETs from cysts in the anterior mediastinum.

• ETRI Journal
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.548-554
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• 2010

The transcutaneous energy transmission system (TETS) composed of a Class-E amplifier may operate at a state away from the optimum power transmission due to the load variation. By introducing the feedback-loop technique, the TETS can keep the optimum state with constant output voltage by adjusting the important design parameters, that is, the duty ratio and frequency of the driving signal and the supply voltage. The relations between these adjusted parameters and the load are investigated. The effectiveness of the feedback technique is validated through a design example with a variable load parameter. The experimental results show that the Class-E amplifier in the feedback loop can keep operating at the optimum state under the condition of up to 50 percent variation of the load value.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.126-142
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• 2022

Background: Thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) are rare, and information regarding their surgical outcomes and prognostic factors has rapidly changed in the past few decades. We analyzed surgical treatment practices for TETs and outcomes in terms of overall survival (OS) and freedom from recurrence (FFR) during a 13-year period in Korea. Methods: In total, 1,298 patients with surgically resected TETs between 2000 and 2013 were enrolled retrospectively. OS and FFR were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and evaluated with the log-rank test. Prognostic factors for OS and FFR were analyzed with multivariable Cox regression. Results: A total of 1,098 patients were diagnosed with thymoma, and 200 patients were diagnosed with thymic carcinoma. Over the study period, the total number of patients with surgically treated TETs and the proportion of patients who underwent minimally invasive thymic surgery (MITS) increased annually. The 5-year and 10-year survival rates of surgically treated TETs were 91.0% and 82.1%, respectively. The 5-year and 10-year recurrence rates were 86.3% and 80.0%, respectively. The outcomes of surgically treated TETs improved over time. Multivariable Cox hazards analysis for OS, age, tumor size, and Masaoka-Koga stage were independent predictors of prognosis. The World Health Organization classification and tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging were also related to the prognosis of TETs. Conclusion: Surgical treatment of TETs achieved a good prognosis with a recent increase in MITS. The M-K stage was the most important prognostic factor for OS and FFR. The new TNM stage could also be an effective predictor of the outcomes of TETs.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.2745-2748
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• 2012

Aims: To study KIT (CD117) expression in thymic epithelial tumors in China, and investigate diagnostic and clinical significance. Material and Methods: Thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) from 102 patients (3 type A, 29 type AB, 5 type B1, 22 type B2, 29 typeB3 and 16 thymic carcinomas) were examined. Immunohistochemical staining with an antic-kit monoclonal antibody was performed on a tissue microarray. Relationships between KIT positive expression and the TET clinical characteristics (WHO histologic classification and Masaoka stage system) were analysed. Results: The KIT positive expression rate was significantly higher in thymic carcinoma (60%, 9/16) than in thymoma (8%, 7/86), a strong correlation being found with the WHO classification, but not the Masaoka tumor stage. The overall survival for patients with KIT positive lesions was significantly worse. Conclusions: KIT is a good molecule marker to differentially diagnose thymic carcinoma from thymoma, while also serving as a predictor of prognosis for TETs. Further research into KIT mutations in Chinese TETs should be conducted to assess the efficacy of targeted therapy.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1995 no.05
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• pp.149-153
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• 1995

완전이식 모터구동형 인공심장과 같은 전기에너지를 사용하는 인공장기를 이식한 환자에게 감염의 위험이 없이 안정적인 파워를 공급하기 위한 위하여 연구되고 있는 무선 에너지 전송 시스템 (Trancutaneous Energy Transmission System, TETS)을 개발하였다. 본 연구팀에 의해 개발된 모터구동형 인공심장용 TFT System의 경우, 인공심장의 안정적인 구동을 위해 평균 40Watt에서 최대 90Watt를 전송하여야 하는데, 시스템의 전송효율이 20-50Watt 전송시에는 77%이상이지만 출력이 그 이상으로 증가하면 효율이 떨어지는 문제점이 있다. 이를 해결하기 위해서는 실제 전송장치의 구동회로 및 회로를 구성하고 있는 각 소자들의 성능개선 등이 시도되어야 하나, 근본적으로는 에너지 전달코일을 포함한 전체 시스템의 동작에 대한 분석이 선행되어야 한다. 본 연구에서는 개발된 TFT시스템에 대한 전자기적인 모델링과 해석을 통하여 고출력에서의 효율 감소 억제 및 전체 효율증가를 이루기 위한 조건을 제시하고, 실험을 통하여 향상된 성능을 확인하였다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 1999.05a
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• pp.26-29
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• 1999

The I-V characteristics of the n-channel offset gated poly-Si TETs have been systematically investigated in order to analyse the effects of offset region. The on currents are reduced due to the series resistance by the offset length and there is no kink phenomenon in offset devices. The off currents of the offset gated TFTs are remarkably reduced to 10$^{-12}$ A independent of gate and drain voltage because the electric field is weakened by the increase of the depletion region width near the drain region. It is shown that the offset regions behave as a series resistance and reduce lateral and vertical electric field.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.196-203
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• 2006

Purpose: The Purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between leadership styles and empowerment of nursing students. Method: The subjects were 386 nursing students who were in college and university. The data were collected from July 26 to September 18, 2004 by the structured questionnaires. For data analysis, descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient, t-tets and ANOVA with SAS package were used. Results: Transformational leadership showed a significant difference according to school career, present grade, interpersonal relations, admission motive, satisfaction degree for nursing, satisfaction degree for practice, meaning on nursing job and transactional leadership showed a significant difference according to last session study score, satisfaction degree for nursing. Empowerment showed a significant difference according to school career, present grade, interpersonal relations, satisfaction degree for nursing, satisfaction degree for practice, meaning on nursing job. Charisma, intellectual stimulation, individual consideration and contingent reward perceived by nursing students were positively related to empowerment. Management by exception perceived by nursing students was negatively related to empowerment. Conclusion: The result of this study may be helpful in empowerment improvement of nursing students.

• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.157-164
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• 1998

Effects of alloying elements on the pitting behavior of Ti-Al intermetalic compounds in the electrolytic soution containing Cl- were investigated through electrochemical tets and corrosion morphologies. Corrosion potential increased in the case of Cr addition to Ti-48%Al, whereas it decreased in the case of Si and B addition. The simultaneous addition of Cr and Si increased passive current density and decrosion corrosion potential. The passive current density of N addtion was higher than that of B addition in H2SO4 solution. With the addition of alloying elements, The pitting resistance decreased in order of TiAl>TiAlSi>TiAlN>TiAlB>TiAlCr and whin siumultaneous addition, it decreased in order of TiAlCrSi>TiAlCrBN>TiAlCrrN. The surface merohology after pitting test showed that the TiAl coataining Si had for fewer pits than that containing Cr and N simultaneously.

• BMB Reports
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.135-142
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• 2024

DNA methylation is one of the most extensively studied epigenetic regulatory mechanisms, known to play crucial roles in various organisms. It has been implicated in the regulation of gene expression and chromatin changes, ranging from global alterations during cell state transitions to locus-specific modifications. 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) is produced by a major oxidation, from 5-methylcytosine (5mC), catalyzed by the ten-eleven translocation (TET) enzymes, and is gradually being recognized for its significant role in genome regulation. With the development of state-of-the-art experimental techniques, it has become possible to detect and distinguish 5mC and 5hmC at base resolution. Various techniques have evolved, encompassing chemical and enzymatic approaches, as well as third-generation sequencing techniques. These advancements have paved the way for a thorough exploration of the role of 5hmC across a diverse array of cell types, from embryonic stem cells (ESCs) to various differentiated cells. This review aims to comprehensively report on recent techniques and discuss the emerging roles of 5hmC.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.39 no.12
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• pp.888-897
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• 2016

Stable expression of Foxp3 is ensured by demethylation of CpG motifs in the Foxp3 intronic element, the conserved non-coding sequence 2 (CNS2), which persists throughout the lifespan of regulatory T cells (Tregs). However, little is known about the mechanisms on how CNS2 demethylation is sustained. In this study, we found that Ten-Eleven-Translocation (Tet) DNA dioxygenase protects the CpG motifs of CNS2 from re-methylation by DNA methyltransferases (Dnmts) and prevents Tregs from losing Foxp3 expression under inflammatory conditions. Upon stimulation of Tregs by interleukin-6 (IL6), Dnmt1 was recruited to CNS2 and induced methylation, which was inhibited by Tet2 recruited by IL2. Tet2 prevented CNS2 re-methylation by not only the occupancy of the CNS2 locus but also by its enzymatic activity. These results show that the CNS2 methylation status is dynamically regulated by a balance between Tets and Dnmts which influences the expression of Foxp3 in Tregs.