• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권4호
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• pp.1589-1595
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• 2014

Objective: Forkhead box C2 (FOXC2) is a member of the winged helix/forkhead box (Fox) family of transcription factors. It has been suggested to regulate tumor vasculature, growth, invasion and metastasis, although it has not been studied in cervical cancer. Here, we analyzed FOXC2 expression in cervical tissues corresponding to different stages of cervical cancer development and examined its correlation with clinicopathological characteristics. In addition, we examined the effects of targeting FOXC2 on the biological behavior of human cervical cancer cells. Methods: The expression of FOXC2 in normal human cervix, CIN I-III and cervical cancer was examined by immunohistochemistry and compared among the three groups and between cervical cancers with different pathological subtypes. Endogenous expression of FOXC2 was transiently knocked down in human Hela and SiHa cervical cells by siRNA, and cell viability and migration were examined by scratch and CCK8 assays, respectively. Results: In normal cervical tissue the frequency of positive staining was 25% (10/40 cases), with a staining intensity (PI) of $0.297{\pm}0.520$, in CIN was 65% (26/40cases), with a PI of $3.00{\pm}3.29$, and in cancer was 91.8% (68/74 cases), with a PI of $5.568 {\pm}3.449$. The frequency was 100% in adenocarcinoma (5/5 cases) and 91.3% in SCCs (63/69 cases). The FOXC2 positive expression rate was 88.5% in patients with cervical SCC stage I and 100% in stage II, showing significant differences compared with normal cervix and CIN. With age, pathologic differentiation degree and tumor size, FOXC2 expression showed no significant variation. On transient transfection of Hela and SiHa cells, FOXC2-siRNA inhibition rates were 76.2% and 75.7%; CCK8 results showed reduced proliferation and relative migration (in Hela cells from $64.5{\pm}3.16$ to $49.5{\pm}9.24$ and in SiHa cells from $60.1{\pm}3.05$ to $44.3{\pm}3.98$) (P < 0.05). Conclusion: FOXC2 gene expression increases with malignancy, especially with blood vessel hyperplasia and invasion degree. Targeted silencing was associated with reduced cell proliferation as well as invasion potential.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제35권4호
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• pp.471-478
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• 2011

Ginseng, the root of Panax ginseng, is one of the oldest herbal medicines. It has a variety of physiological and pharmacological effects. Recently, we isolated a subset of glycolipoproteins that we designated gintonin, and demonstrated that it induced transient change in intracellular calcium concentration $([Ca^{2+}]_i)$ in cells via G-protein-coupled receptor signaling pathway(s). The previous method for gintonin isolation included multiple steps using methanol, butanol, and other organic solvents. In the present study, we developed a much simple method for the preparation of gintonin from ginseng root using 80% ethanol extraction. The extracted fraction was designated edible gintonin. This method produced a high yield of gintonin (0.20%). The chemical characteristics of gintonin such as molecular weight and the composition of the extract product were almost identical as the gintonin prepared using the previous extraction regimen involving various organic solvents. We also examined the physiological effects of edible gintonin on endogenous $Ca^{2+}$-activated $Cl^-$ channel activity of Xenopus oocytes. The 50% effective dose was $1.03{\pm}0.3\;{\mu}g$/mL. Finally, since gintonin preparation through ethanol extraction is easily reproducible, gintonin could be commercially applied for ginseng-derived functional health food and/or drug following the confirmations of in vitro and in vivo physiological and pharmacological effects of gintonin.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.29-37
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• 2012

Purpose: To examine the prevalence of $Clostridium$ $difficile$ ($C.$ $difficile$) colonization (CDC) and potential neonatal determinants of CDC in hospitalized preterm infants. Methods: Fecal samples were serially collected within 72 h after birth and at 1, 2, and 4-6 weeks of age from preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) of two different university hospitals. Total bacterial DNA was extracted from each fecal sample from 49 infants, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed with primers for the 16S gene of $C.$ $difficile$ and the toxin A and toxin B genes. The correlation between the results of $C.$ $difficile$ PCR assays and the clinical characteristics of the infants was analyzed. Results: The prevalence rates of CDC were 34.7, 37.2, 41.3, and 53.1% within 72 h after birth and at 1, 2, and 4.6 weeks of age, respectively. The toxin positivity rate was significantly higher in the infants with persistent CDC than in those with transient CDC (8/12 [66.7%] vs. 6/25 [24.5%] ($p$=0.001). Among the various neonatal factors, only the feeding method during the first week after birth was significantly associated with persistent CDC. Exclusive breast-milk feeding (EBMF) significantly decreased the risk of persistent CDC compared to formula or mixed feeding (adjusted odds ratio: 0.133, 95% confidence interval: 0.02-0.898, $p$=0.038). Conclusion: The prevalence of CDC increased with the duration of hospitalization in preterm infants in the NICU. EBMF during the first week after birth in hospitalized preterm infants may protect against persistent CDC.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제39권6호
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• pp.470-474
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• 2006

배경: 종격동 림프절 전이 여부는 비소세포폐암의 병기 결정과 예후에 중요한 인자이며, 정확한 진단이 치료 방법결정에 필수적이다. 종격동경검사는 조직병리학적으로 종격동 림프절 전이 여부를 진단할 수 있는 방법으로, 그 유용성에 대해 알아보고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법: 1999년 6월부터 2005년 8월까지 비소세포폐암으로 진단 받고 종격동경검사를 시행하였던 환자 348명을 대상으로 환자의 특성, 방사선학적 검사 결과, 종격동경검사 결과 및 최종 병리학적 병기 등을 후향적으로 조사하여 종격동경검사의 안전성과 유용성을 평가하였다. 결과: 연구대상 환자 348명 중 남자가 263명 여자가 85명이었고 평균 연령은 $62.1{\pm}8.5$세이었다. 203명은 방사선검사에서 종격동 림프절 전이가 없는 것으로 진단되었고 145명에서는 전이가 있는 것으로 진단되었다. 종격동경검사에 걸린 시간은 평균 $55.5{\pm}16.5$분이었고, 평균 $2.2{\pm}1.0$개의 림프절군에서 생검을 하였다. 검사 중 5예(1.7%)의 일시적인 합병증이 발생하였으나, 그 외의 합병증이나 사망은 없었다. 종격동경검사의 위음성률은 7.8%였다. 종격 동경검사는 민감도(77.5% vs 71.9%, p=0.012), 특이도(100% vs 74.4%, p=0.00) 및 정확도(92.2% vs 73.6%, p=0.00) 등이 방사선 검사에 비해 유의하게 높았다. 결론: 종격동경검사는 절제가능한 비소세포폐암에서 치료 전 종격동 림프절 전이 여부에 대해 진단할 수 있는 안전하고 효과적인 방법이다.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제55권7호
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• pp.232-237
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• 2012

Purpose: With feasibility in the diagnoses of congenital heart disease (CHD) in the antenatal period, we suspect changes have occurred in its incidence. No data have been reported about the current incidence of simple forms of CHD in Korea. We have attempted to assess the recent incidence and characteristics of CHD in the neonatal care unit of a secondary referral medical center. Methods: Medical records of 497 neonatal care unit patients who underwent echocardiography in the past 5 years were reviewed. Preterm infants with patent ductus arteriosus and other transient, minimal lesions were excluded from this study. Results: Although the number of inpatients remained stable, the incidence of simple forms of CHD showed a gradual decrease over the 5-year study period; a markedly low incidence of complex forms was seen as well. CHD was observed in 3.7% full-term and 6.8% pre-term infants. CHD was observed in 152 infants weighing >2,500 g (3.5% of corresponding birth weight infants); 65 weighing 1,000 to 2,500 g (9.3%); and 6 weighing <1,000 g (8.0%). The incidence of CHD was higher in the pre-term group and the low birth weight group than in each corresponding subgroup (P<0.001); however, the incidence of complex CHD in full-term neonates was high. The number of patients with extracardiac structural anomalies has also shown a gradual decrease every year for the past 5 years. Conclusion: Findings from our study suggest that the recent incidence and disease pattern of CHD might have changed for both complex and simple forms of CHD in Korea.

• 자원환경지질
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• 제37권5호
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• pp.499-508
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• 2004

창원시는 전국에서 최초로 2001년에 북면과 대산면에 강변여과수 취수장을 건설하여 운영하고 있다. 본 연구는 창원시 북면 낙동강 본류 하안의 강변여과수 취수장 주변에 대해서 수리지질 특성을 평가하고 낙동강과 강변대수층간의 지하수유동 모델링을 수행하였다. 이를 통하여 강변여과수 취수에 따른 낙동강물과 지하수 유입량을 평가하였다. 지하수모델링에서는 시추자료, 입도분석자료, 양수시험분석자료, 지하수위 측정자료, 낙동강 수위 측정자료, 강수량 자료를 이용하였다. 정상류 모델링으로 강변여과수 취수 이전의 자연상태의 지하수위를 잘 모사할 수 있었다. 부정류 상태 모델링에서는 7개 취수정의 최대 양수량인 총 14,000$m^3$/day로 취수시의 지하수위 하강을 모사하였으며, 이때 낙동강으로부터의 유입량, 배후지쪽의 지하수 유입량 그리고 강변대수층의 동측과 서측으로부터 유입량은 전체 유입량의 각각 8,390$m^3$/day(60%), 590$m^3$/day(4%), 5,020$m^3$/day(36%)이다. 입자 추적 모사 결과, 낙동강쪽으로부터 취수정 쪽으로의 유입속도는 약 1.85m/day이고, 배후지로부터 취수정 쪽으로의 유입속도는 약 0.75m/day이다. 본 연구는 지표수/지하수 연계관리 모델링에 공헌하며, 강변여과수 취수량, 수질, 자연적인 함양량이 계절적으로 어떻게 영향을 받는지를 이해하는데 도움을 줄 것이다.

• 한국진공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국진공학회 2011년도 제41회 하계 정기 학술대회 초록집
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• pp.71-71
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• 2011

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) have drawn great academic attention due to their potential as low-cost renewable energy sources. DSCs contain a nanostructured TiO2 photoanode, which is a key-component for high conversion efficiency. Particularly, one-dimensional (1-D) nanostructured photoanodes can enhance the electron transport for the efficient collection to the conducting substrate in competition with the recombination processes. This is because photoelectron colletion is determined by trapping/detrapping events along the site of the electron traps (defects, surface states, grain boundaries, and self-trapping). Therefore, 1-D nanostructured photoanodes are advantageous for the fast electron transport due to their desirable features of greatly reduced intercrystalline contacts with specified directionality. In particular, anodic TiO2 nanotube (NT) electrodes recently have been intensively explored owing to their ideal structure for application in DSCs. Besides the enhanced electron transport properties resulted from the 1-D structure, highly ordered and vertically oriented nanostructure of anodic TiO2 NT can contribute additional merits, such as enhanced electrolyte diffusion, better interfacial contact with viscous electrolytes. First, to confirm the advantages of 1-D nanostructured material for the photoelectron collection, we compared the electron transport and charge recombination characteristics between nanoparticle (NP)- and nanorod (NR)-based photoanodes in DSCs by the stepped light-induced transient measurements of photocurrent and voltage (SLIM-PCV). We confirmed that the electron lifetime of the NR-based photoanode was much longer than that of the NP-based photoanode. In addition, highly ordered and vertically oriented TiO2 NT photoanodes were prepared by electrochemical anodization method. We compared the photovoltaic properties of DSCs utilizing TiO2 NT photoanodes prepared by one-step anodization and two-step anodization. And, to reduce the charge recombination rate, energy barrier layer (ZnO, Al2O3)-coated TiO2 NTs also applied in DSC. Furthermore, we applied the TiO2 NT photoanode in DSCs using a viscous electrolyte, i.e., cobalt bipyridyl redox electrolyte, and confirmed that the pore structure of NT array can enhance the performances of this viscous electrolyte.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제3권1호
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• pp.53-58
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• 1999

대부분의 연갑류에서 androgenic gland (AG)는 수컷의 성 분화와 성징의 발달에 관여하는 호르몬을 분비하는 것으로 알려져 있다. 징거미새우, M. nipponense의 AG는 제5보각 (fifth waking legs)의 저절 (coxopodite)내에 위치한 사정관과 수정관의 말단부 (distat vas deferens)사이에 위치하고 있었다. AG는 단일 세포 가닥 (simple cellular strand)들로 이루어져 있고 이들 세포 가닥의 바깥은 섬유성 외피 (fibrious sheath)로 둘러싸여 있었다. 특히, 각 세포 가닥의 가장자리를 둘러싸고 있는 섬유성 외피에는 미세융모 (microvilli)들이 존재하고 있었다. AG 세포의 핵은 난구형으로 관찰되었고, 핵 내에는 전자밀도가 높은 2∼3개의 핵소체 (nucleolus)와 전자밀도가 다소 낮은 과립상의 염색질 (chromatin)들이 분산되어 존재하였다. 세포질 내에는 매우 잘 발달된 조면소포체와 Golgi 복합체 그리고 횡 방향의 크리스테를 갖는 미토콘드리아가 존재하는 점으로 보아 본 종의 AG 세포는 단백-생산세포 (protein-production cell)로 판단되었다. 하지만, 단백-생산세포의 구조를 가짐에도 불구하고 이들 세포로부터 분비과립과 같은 어떠한 물질도 관찰할 수 없었다. 이러한 분비물질이 관찰되지 않는 점은 생합성된 물질이 세포 내 축적없이 혈강으로 분비되기 때문인 것으로 판단되었다.

• 대한후두음성언어의학회지
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.37-41
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• 2010

Background and Objectives : Transient minor voice changes after thyroidectomy are not infrequent complaints even in cases without any evidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve damage. However, clinical course, diagnosis and management of such voice changes are not fully understood. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics of minor voice changes after thyroidectomy. We also tried to assess the significance and feasibility of superior laryngeal nerve monitoring and to find out the optimal evaluation tools for such voice changes after thyroidectomy. Materials and Method : Nine adult patients who received total thyroidectomy without evidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury were enrolled for this prospective study. Voice evaluations were performed preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively ; acoustic analyses including voice range profile, aerodynamic study, stroboscopic evaluation and subjective voice assessment with questionnaires. The external branch of superior laryngeal nerve was monitored by nerve stimulator after ligation of superior thyroidal vessels. Results: Four of nine patients complained their voice change at 3 months after the surgery. Three of them reported complete recovery of their voice at 6 months after the surgery. Acoustic analysis revealed significant decrease in their phonatory range especially with high tone loss. Questionnaires related to singing was more sensitive than previously well-known "voice handicap index". Stimulation of the superior laryngeal nerve was feasible in most of the cases (94.4%), but it failed to show any correlation with minor voice changes after thyroidectomy. Conclusion : Minor voice changes were not rare events during the first 6 month after thyroidectomy. Decrease in phonatory range with high tone loss and therefore, discomfort in singing was the most common finding. Superior laryngeal monitoring was feasible but it was not a sensitive tool for the prediction of minor voice change after thyroidectomy.

• 전기화학회지
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.33-39
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• 1998

본 연구에서는 전자-선 증발법으로 제조된 비정질의 텅스텐 산화물 박막과 전해질 계면에서 진행되는 전기화학반응을 1 M $LiCLO_4/PC$유기 전해질 계면에서 비정질의 텅스텐 산화물 박막 내부로 삽입된 리튬의 양론 값과 박막 전위의 변화에 대하여 연구하였다. 특히 복소수 임피던스 스펙트럼으로부터 제안된 박막과 전해질 계면의 등가 회로는 리튬의 층간 반응 기구가 텅스텐 산화물 박막/유기 전해질 계면에서 리튬 이온의 전하 전달 현상, 텅스텐 산화물 박막에 리튬의 흡착현상 및 박막 내부로의 리튬의 흡수 및 확산 현상으로 구성되어 있다는 것을 알 수 있었다. 또한 CNLS fitting법에 의하여 시뮬레이션된 $R_{ct},\;C_{dl},\;D$, 및 $\sigma_{Li}$ 등의 열역학 및 속도론적 변수 값 등의 상관 관계로부터,비정질의 텅스텐 산화물 박막의 소. 발색 특성은 이들 변수값과 관련이 있었으며, 특히 $Li_y,WO_3$, 박막 내의 리튬의 몰비 y=0.167및 전극 전위 E=2.25 V(vs. Li)에서 전기 발색의 한계값을 갖는 것으로 조사되었다.