• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.619-627
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• 2004

Background : Corticosteroids in combination with cytotoxic drugs are the mainstays of therapy for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). However, there has been no regimen showing any survival benefit. The aim of this study was to describe a short-term clinical experience on interferon gamma-1b (IFN-${\gamma}1b$) therapy for IPF, as an antifibrotic agent. Methods : Medical records of 27 patients who were treated with IFN-${\gamma}1b$ (2 million IU, 3 times a week, subcutaneous injection) were retrospectively reviewed. Treatment response was assessed using ATS/ERS criteria in 17 patients who received IFN-${\gamma}1b$ for more than 6 months. In addition, we compared the efficacy of IFN-${\gamma}1b$ therapy with that of cyclophosphamide${\pm}$prednisolone therapy (n=26). Results : The median age of IFN-${\gamma}$ treated group (M:F=19:8) was 59 years (44-74 years). Compared to the patients who showed a stable response at 6 months (n=12), the deteriorated group (n=5) had worse baseline lung function (FVC, $55.4{\pm}11.3%$ vs. $70.7{\pm}10.9%$, p=0.019; DLco, $50.3{\pm}7.3%$ vs. $76.9{\pm}19.6%$, p=0.014). Lower baseline $PaO_2$ on room air breathing was observed in the deteriorated group ($68.6{\pm}7.8mmHg$ vs. $91.4{\pm}6.6mmHg$ p=0.001). Subcutaneous IFN-${\gamma}1b$ did not show better efficacy than prednisolone. Five patients discontinued IFN-${\gamma}$ because of severe side effects. ARDS developed in one patient, who eventually died. Conclusion : The administration of IFN-${\gamma}1b$ is not desirable for patients diagnosed with IPF with poor lung function. Long-term and large-scaled clinical studies are needed for its efficacy in IPF.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.181-186
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• 2009

Purpose : Inflammation plays a potential role in the pathogenesis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Strategies for preventing BPD include respiratory management, antioxidants, nutritional treatment, and others such as anti-inflammatory agents. We aimed to assess the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of montelukast (MK), a cysteinyl leukotriene 1 receptor antagonist, as an add-on therapy in BPD. Methods : In addition to currently available standard measures such as oxygen supplementation, bronchodilators, nutritional support, and/or diuretics, montelukast was administered to 15 preterm infants with BPD. MK was given orally (1 mg/kg/d) for a mean period of 12 weeks. We compared safety and efficacy parameters with historical controls. Results : All 15 patients survived, and no differences were found in the incidence of adverse reactions between the 2 groups. The ventilation index was significantly improved after 2 weeks in MK group compared with historical controls. There were no significant differences in other respiratory parameters (MAP, oxygen dependency, and ventilator dependency) between the groups, but the MK group showed trends of greater improvement. Conclusion : Administration of MK 1 mg/kg/d was well tolerated in preterm BPD patients as an add-on therapy. We demonstrated that after 2 weeks of MK administration of 1 mg/kg/d, MK had beneficial therapeutic effects on BPD patients as an add-on to the standard therapy. Further multicenter randomized controlled clinical trials are needed to confirm the efficacy and safety of MK as a useful supplement to standard therapy for BPD patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.66 no.4
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• pp.280-287
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• 2009

Background: The epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs), became an attractive therapeutic option for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Several studies suggested that there might be some different efficacy or response predictors between gefitinib and erlotinib. We compared the efficacy and toxicity of gefitinib and erlotinib in Korean patients with advanced NSCLC and evaluated specific predictors of response for both gefitinib and erlotinib. Methods: We collected the clinical information on patients with advanced NSCLC, who were treated with gefitinib or erlotinib at the Ewha Womans University Hospital, between July 2003 and February 2009. Median survival times were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: Eighty-six patients (52 gefitinib vs. 34 erlotinib) were enrolled. Patient median age was 64 years; 53 (62%) subjects were male. Out of the 86 patients treated, 83 received response evaluation. Of the 83 patients, 35 achieved a response and 12 experienced stable disease while 36 experienced progressive disease, resulting in a response rate of 42% and a disease control rate of 57%. After a median follow-up of 502 days, the median progression-free and overall survival time was 129 and 259 days, respectively. Comparing patients by treatment (gefitinib vs erlotinib), there were no significant differences in the overall response rate (44% vs. 39%, p=0.678), median survival time (301 days vs. 202 days, p=0.151), or time to progression (136 days vs. 92 days, p=0.672). Both EGFR-TKIs showed similar toxicity. In a multivariate analysis using Cox regression model, adenocarcinoma was an independent predictor of survival (p=0.006; hazard ratio [HR], 0.487; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.292-0.811). Analyses of subgroups did not show any difference in response predictors between gefitinib and erlotinib. Conclusion: Comparing gefitinib to erlotinib, there were no differences in the response rate, overall survival, progression-free survival, or toxicity. No specific predictor of response to each EGFR-TKI was identified.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.159-167
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• 2017

This study was conducted to evaluate the control efficacy of the organic farming materials on cucumber scab caused by Cladosporium cucumerinum PT1 (KACC 48094). The antifungal activities in vitro as well as the suppressive effect of 43 organic farming materials on the spore germination and germ tube growth by inoculating spore suspension on cucumber seedlings in vivo were investigated. Thirteen organic farming materials inhibited the mycelial growth of C. cucumerinum and nine of these were microbial agents. In the screening using cucumber seedlings, six organic farming materials were very effective with control efficacy value of 90%. Among them, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens M27 provided suppressive effect on both mycelial growth and spore germination against cucumber scab. Finally, nine organic farming materials were selected to test the protective and curative effects, and all chosen organic farming materials significantly suppressed disease incidence when applied in the preventive action, in comparison with the curative action. Especially, Bordeaux mixture I and III gave excellent protective control efficacy with control values of 96.7% and 73.3%, respectively, whereas its curative control effect was significant low. Among these, only Thymus quinquecostatus+Sophora extract showed curative activity, although the control value was as low as 50%. This study suggests that cucumber scab can be controlled by some organic farming materials in the farmhouses under comparatively cold and wet condition and protective treatment is more important and efficient.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.129-137
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• 2015

This study is conducted with the aim of providing basic data for oral health improvement of pregnant woman and development of oral health education program by analyzing factors influencing the oral health related behavior of pregnant woman applying health belief model which is theoretical model of explaining individual's behavior change. For 217 expectant mothers who visited 8 obstetrics and 1 maternity class located in Seoul, Gyeonggi and Incheon from August 1 to 31, 2014, data analysis was implemented using self-administered questionnaire. Before the completion of self-administered questionnaire, the subjects were fully informed of explanatory note and consented on taking part in the research for the consideration of ethical aspect. Collected materials were treated by PASW Statistics ver. 18.0 program and following results were acquired. Health belief factor which infuences oral health related behavior of pregnant woman resulted that perceived severity influences on oral examination during pregnancy and dental treatment during pregnancy, and perceived benefits influences on oral examination during pregnancy, and perceived barriers on toothbrushing after having a snack, toothbrush with rotation method and oral examination during pregnancy, and self-efficacy influences on use of oral hygiene products after toothbrushing and oral examination during pregnancy. With these research results, I suggest that perceived severity of health belief factor, perceived benefits, perceived barrier and self-efficacy influence oral health related behavior of pregnant woman. And specific oral health education program for pregnant woman is necessary to increase perceived severity of pregnant woman, perceived benefits and self-efficacy and to reduce perceived barriers.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.953-958
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• 2005

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of beverage (beverage HC and beverage PG) using herbs on antimicrobial activity, proliferation of hepatic cancer cell (Hep3B) lines and sarcoma 180 (S-180) and antiallergy, respectively. Beverage PG showed higher antimicrobial activity than beverage HC against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Beverage HC and PG showed the tumor suppressive effect in mice injected with S-180 cells. The growth-inhibitoy ratio against tumor cells were $66\%\;for\;10\%$ beverage HC, $61\%\;for\;10\%$ beverage PG. In an anti-cancer test using Hep3B cells, beverage PG showed higher anti-proliferating effect than beverage HC. Beverage PG showed growth-inhibitory effect of $69.2\%\;at\;100\%$ beverage PG. Beverage PG inhibited histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells (RPMC) activated by compound 48/80. In conclusion, these results suggest that beverage using herbs have an antimicrobial activity, anti-proliferating effect against Hep3B cell and S-180 tumor and will be beneficial in treatment of allergic reaction.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.10
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• pp.1297-1303
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• 2006

This study was conducted to investigate the anticancer (in vitro) and antiallergy effects of rice bran extracts. In an anticancer test using Hep3B cells and HeLa cells, water and 60% ethanol extracts of rice bran inhibited the growth of Hep3B and HeLa cell lines and morphological changes were also observed. In Hep3B cell lines, water extract of rice bran showed a higer antiproliferating effect than 60% ethanol extract. The growth-inhibitory effect against HeLa cells were 30.9% for $1,000{\mu}g/mL$, 88.8% for $3,000{\mu}g/mL$ rice bran water extract. The expressions of $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$ mRNA and c-kit in HMC-1 (human mast cell) were decreased by 60% ethanol treatment but tryptase mRNA was not changed. The extracts of rice bran inhibited histamine release from RPMC (rat peritoneal mast cell) activated by compound 48/80. Rice bran water extract showed inhibitory effect of 87% at $0.01{\mu}g/mL$ concentration and 60% ethanol extract inhibited the release of histamine by 86% at $100{\mu}g/mL$ concentration.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.9
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• pp.1224-1230
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• 2012

Cancer chemotherapy drugs command a large share of the market, and the development of new therapeutics with high efficacy and specificity is an active area of study. Recently, the development of cancer therapeutics from natural products targeting angiogenesis has drawn attention due to conventional chemotherapeutics showing serious side effects and resistance in cancer cells. In this study, we investigated the pharmacological efficacy of Gomisin A, an active ingredient of Schizandra chinensis baillon, on tumor growth and metastasis. Administration of Gomisin A at 10 and 100 ${\mu}g/ml$ reduced tumor growth in vivo by $80.5{\pm}8.1%$ and $96.2{\pm}2%$, respectively, compared with positive tumor controls. Treatment of Gomisin A in normal and various tumor cell lines did not exert significant toxicity. Mice treated with Gomisin A at a concentration of 10 and 100 ${\mu}g$/head showed a significant reduction in tumor-induced angiogenesis of $151{\pm}16.9%$ and $98.5{\pm}29.5%$, respectively. Furthermore, tumor metastasis analysis revealed that the administration of Gomisin A at a concentration of 10 and 100 ${\mu}g$/head inhibited tumor metastasis by $13.5{\pm}8.56%$ and $58.3{\pm}9.12%$, respectively. In addition, Gomisin A significantly decreased cell adhesion of the B16BL6 cells to the extracellular matrix. These results demonstrate that Gomisin A inhibits tumor growth via suppression of angiogenesis and tumor metastasis inhibition, without cellular toxicity. The pharmacological efficacy of Gomisin A suggests that it may be a potential candidate for the development of cancer drugs.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.387-394
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• 2010

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the whitening efficacy and longevity of home bleaching. Materials and Methods: A total of 28 patients were divided into either experimental group (Opalescence F; 15% carbamide peroxide) or control group randomly. The patients in experimental group were instructed to wear individual trays applied with bleaching gel for 2 hours a day for 4 weeks. Any treatments weren't applied to the patients in control group. The color measurements of central incisors, lateral incisors & canines of upper and lower arch were recorded at base line, immediately after the finishment of treatmemt (4 weeks), 8 weeks and 12 weeks using Colorimeter (Chroma Meter, 2600d Konica Minolta co.) and Vitapan classical shade guide (Vita Zahnfabrik). Results: A significantly stronger color change was observed for overall teeth samples in experimental group immediately after treatment (at 4 weeks) compared to ones in control group (p < 0.05). There was also a significant difference between baseline and 8 weeks or 12 weeks separately though color rebouncing phenomenon occurred as time went by (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The clinical effecacy and longevity of home bleaching without combined application of in-office bleaching was observed through this experiment.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.49-57
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• 2021

Objectives : This study evaluated the medical communication skills of trainee doctors and analyzed the relationship between medical communication skills, self-efficacy on clinical performance (SECP) and empathy. Methods : A total of 106 trainee doctors from a university hospital participated. The questionnaire comprised self-evaluated medical communication skills, modified SECP and the Korean version of the Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Health Professionals version. The mean difference in medical communication skills scores according to gender, age, division (intern, internal medicine group or surgery group) and position (intern, first-/second- and third-/fourth-year residents) were analyzed. Pearson correlation coefficients were determined between medical communication skills, modified SECP and empathy. The effects of each variable on medical communication skills were verified using the structural equation model. Results : There were no statistically significant mean differences in self-evaluated medical communication skills according to gender, age, division or position. Medical communication skills had a significant positive correlation with modified SECP (r=0.782, p<0.001) and empathy (r=0.210, p=0.038). Empathy had a direct effect on modified SECP (β=0.30, p<0.01) and modified SECP had a direct effect on medical communication skills (β=0.80, p<0.001). Empathy indirectly influenced medical communication skills, mediating modified SECP (β=0.26, p<0.05). Conclusions : Medical communication skills are an important core curriculum of residency programs, as they have a direct correlation with SECP, which is needed for successful treatment. Moreover, the medical communication needs a new understanding that is out of empathy.