• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.52-55
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• 2007

Purpose : Hyperbilirubinemia, jaundice and gallbladder hydrops are unusual manifestations of Kawasaki disease (KD). In this case, abdominal pain, anorexia and abdominal distension may follow eventfully. We reviewed the clinical and laboratory data to investigate the causative factors of hyperbilirubinemia in patients with KD. Methods : Two-hundred eighty two children diagnosed and hospitalized with KD were identified by searching patients' charts. Cases were included in the study if diagnosed between January 1997 and December 2004. We reviewed clinical data, age, sex, duration from the onset of fever to admission and duration from start of treatment to defervescence. Clinical and laboratory data were compared between normal (A) and hyperbilirubinemia (B) groups. Results : Thirteen patients (4.6 percent) showed hyperbilirubinemia. In the hyperbilirubinemia group, age and initial ALT value were higher than group A (P=0.003, 0.018 respectively). Duration from the onset of fever to admission and age were relative risk factors in hyperbilirubinemia (P=0.007, 0.003 respectively) in patients with KD. Conclusion : Shorter duration from the onset of fever to admission and older age group were relative risk factors of hyperbilirubinemia in patients with KD.

• Journal of KIISE:Software and Applications
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.501-510
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• 2001

Generally, it is essential to estimate exact disparity for the 3D modeling from stereo images. Because existing methods calculate disparities from a whole image, they require too much cimputational time and bring about the mismatching problem. In this article, using the characteristic that the disparity vectors in stereo images are distributed not equally in a whole image but only exist about the background and obhect, we do a wavelet transformation on stereo images and estimate coarse disparity fields from the reduced lowpass field using area-based method at first-step. From these coarse disparity vectors, we generate disparity histogram and then separate object from background area using it. Afterwards, we restore only object area to the original image and estimate dense and accurate disparity by our two-step pixel-based method which does not use pixel brightness but use second gradient. We also extract feature points from the separated object area and estimate depth information by applying disparity vectors and camera parameters. Finally, we generate 3D model using both feature points and their z coordinates. By using our proposed, we can considerably reduce the computation time and estimate the precise disparity through the additional pixel-based method using LOG filter. Furthermore, our proposed foreground/background method can solve the mismatching problem of existing Delaunay triangulation and generate accurate 3D model.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.71 no.6
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• pp.400-407
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• 2011

Background: There were a few studies which were conducted to know about the behavior of the chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) patients. The aims of this study was to explore the behaviour of COPD patients, such as awareness and impact of disease, the pathway of visiting doctors, and the treatment pattern and preference. Methods: A face-to-face interview of 300 subjects with COPD was conducted. Results: The most concerned symptom which made the respondents to visit the hospital was 'breathlessness' (78%). Only 58% of them knew the exact diagnosis. Seventy-three percent of them visited the hospital 'once a month' or 'once every 2 month'. They have made 12.8 prescheduled visits to the hospital in the past 1 year. Unscheduled visits and hospital stay figured to two in the past year. Only 11% of respondents felt they were currently in good health. 'Severe' and 'very severe' COPD patients perceived their health to be in a worse condition than 'mild' and 'moderate' COPD patients. When conditions worsened, 42% of patients were hospitalized. The most common prescription treatment was a fixed combination of inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting ${\beta}2$ agonists (48%), followed by a long acting anticholinergics (38%). Conclusion: Over forty percent of the patients didn't know exactly about their condition. Most of them had a negative attitude toward their current health status. Doctors need to know more about COPD patients in terms of their attitude toward the disease, impact of the disease, interaction with healthcare professionals and treatment related problems.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.765-775
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• 2010

Objectives : 노인 환자들이 제공받고 있는 치과 의료서비스 만족도를 평가하여 노인 환자에게 양질의 구강보건진료 서비스를 제공하고 노인의 구강보건향상에 기여하기 위하여 실시하였다. 이와 같은 연구목적을 달성하기 위하여 노인관련 일반적 특성을 알아보고, 치과 병 의원을 이용하는 노인 환자의 만족도에 미치는 요인 및 병 의원 선택이유를 조사하였다. Methods : 서울특별시와 경기도, 경상도, 전라도 일부지역의 치과병원 및 치과의원을 이용하는 노인 환자 300명을 편의추출 하였으며, 2009년 4월 1일부터 5월 8일까지 면접 및 자기기입법으로 설문조사를 실시하였다. 설문지는 4개영역으로 구분하여 치과 의료서비스 만족도 22문항, 치과위생사의 의료서비스 만족도 14문항, 재이용 권유의사 4문항 및 일반적 특성과 치과이용에 관한 8문항으로 구성하였다. 노인환자의 일반적인 특성에 따른 치과 의료서비스 만족도, 연구대상자의 병원인지경로, 치과선택이유에 따른 치과의료서비스 만족도는 일원배치분산분석(One-way ANOVA)을 실시하였다. 치과의료서비스 만족도 영향인자, 만족도에 미치는 치과위생사 요인 등은 다중회귀분석을 실시하였다. 연구대상자의 성별과 병원내원기간에 따른 치과선택이유는 카이제곱 (${\chi}^2$) 분포를 따르는 정확검정(exact test)을 실시하였다. Results : 1. 노인환자들이 병원을 선택할 때 가족, 친척으로부터 추천을 받는 경우가 가장 많으며 이 경우 다른 인지경로에 비하여 치과에 대한 만족도가 가장 높았다. 2. 치과선택 이유에 따른 만족도를 비교하였을 때 첫째, 의사의 높은 진료수준, 둘째, 친절한 서비스에 만족도가 높았다. 또한 치과선택이유가 의사의 높은 진료수준과 친절함을 포함한 의사요인이 가장 중요한 것으로 나타났다. 3. 치과위생사의 높은 진료수준과 친절도는 치과의료서비스 만족도에 유의한 차이를 나타내었다. 노인환자들의 만족도를 높이기 위해 노인에 대한 치위생교육이 필요하고 노인에 대한 지식뿐만 아니라 태도에 대한 교육도 실시되어야 한다. 4. 동일한 치과를 계속적으로 다니는 이유는 첫 번째 의사의 높은 진료수준, 두 번째 친절도로 의사요인과 관련이 가장 높은 것으로 나타났다. 또한 3-4년 이상의 장기내원환자는 의사의 높은 진료수준 다음으로 친절도를 중요한 이유로 선택하였다. Conclusions : 이상의 결과로 노인 환자가 만족하는 치과는 치과의사와 치과위생사의 진료수준이 높아야 하겠고, 다음으로 친절한 서비스가 중요함을 알 수 있었다. 또한 노인환자들의 만족도를 높이기 위해 노인에 대한 치위생교육이 필요하고 노인에 대한 지식뿐만 아니라 태도에 대한 교육도 실시되어야 한다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.2185-2190
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• 2013

Gallbladder carcinoma, the most frequent malignant neoplasm of the biliary tract system, has always been considered to feature late clinical presentation and diagnosis, limited treatment options and an extremely poor prognosis. In recent years, while the incidence of gallbladder cancer has appeared to be on the increase, the available treatment methods have not greatly improved survival of the affected patients. Thus, exploring new therapeutic targets for this devastating disease is an urgent matter at present. Epidemical studies have demonstrated that the incidence of gallbladder carcinoma exhibits a distinct gender bias, affecting females two to three times more than males, pointing to crucial roles of estrogen. It is well known that estrogen acts on target tissues by binding to estrogen receptors (ERs), which are mainly divided into three subtypes, $ER{\alpha}$, $ER{\beta}$ and $ER{\gamma}$. $ER{\alpha}$ and $ER{\beta}$ appear to have overlapping but also unique even opposite biological effects. As important pathogenic mediators, ERs have been considered to relate to several kinds of tumors. In gallbladder carcinoma tissue, ERs have been shown to be positively expressed, and ERs expression levels are associated with differentiation and prognosis of this cancer. Nevertheless, the exact mechanisms of estrogen inducing growth of gallbladder carcinoma remain poorly understood. On the base of the current investigations, we deduce that estrogen participates in promotion of gallbladder carcinoma by influencing the formation of gallstones, stimulating angiogenesis, and promoting abnormal proliferation. Since ERs mediate the carcinogenic actions of estrogen in gallbladder, and therapy targeting ERs may provide new directions for gallbladder carcinoma. Therefore, it should be stressed that ERs are potential therapeutic targets for gallbladder carcinoma.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.125-135
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was conducted to develop and test the effects of an elder health promotion program and apply strategies for elder health leader training sessions with elders at senior citizen halls. Methods: A nonequivalent control group pretestposttest design was used. Participants were 49 elders at a senior citizen hall (intervention: 27, control: 22). The elder health promotion program consisted of health education and exercise. A professional leader led the program for 4 weeks, and then an elder health leader and research assistant led for 8 weeks (total 12 weeks). Scales for elder health promoting behaviors, perceived health status, life satisfaction and senior citizen hall capability were used and physical fitness levels were measured. Data were collected between April 21 and July 28, 2010 and analyzed using Chi-square, Fisher's exact test, t-test, and repeated measure ANOVA with SPSS/WIN 12.0. Results: Health promoting behaviors, physical fitness, perceived health status, and senior citizen hall capacity were significantly better in the experimental group after the intervention compared to the control group. Conclusion: Study findings indicate that elder health promotion programs applying strategies of elder health leader training are effective and can be recommended as nursing interventions for health promotion of these elders.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.175-181
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• 2011

Background: CM1 (centrocyte/-blast marker 1) was defined by a mAb against concavabalin-A (ConA) activated PBMC. It is expressed in germinal center of human tonsil and on the surface of activated PBMC as well as cancer cells. Recently, increased productions of pro-inflammatory mediators were detected from activated PBMC by CM1 ligation. Methods: However, there is a limitation to explain the exact role of CM1 on inflammation and its related mechanisms, since the identity of CM1 is still not clarified. In our previous study, we have already confirmed that soluble form of CM1 was produced by Raji. Therefore, we performed Q-TOF analysis after immunoprecipitation of concentrated Raji culture supernatant using anti-CM1 mAbs. Results: As a result, we found that CM1 is identical to enolase-1(ENO1), a glycolytic enzyme, and we confirmed that results by silencing ENO1 using siRNA. It was also confirmed through competition assay between anti-CM1 and anti-ENO1 mAbs. Finally, we investigated the possible role of CM1 in inflammatory response and cancer. The ligation of CM1 on Raji cells with anti-CM1 mAbs induces the extensive production of prostaglandin $E_2(PGE_2)$. In addition, the increased activity of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2/9 was shown in NCI-N87, stomach cancer cell line by CM1 stimulation. Conclusion: CM1 is identical to ENO1 and it might be an important role in the regulation of inflammatory responses.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea CI
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.70-78
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• 2009

In this paper, we propose a novel method for eye detection using two texture filters considering textural and structural characteristics of eye regions. The human eyes have two characteristics: 1) the eyes are horizontally long and 2) the pupas are of circular shapes. By considering these two characteristics of human eyes, two texture filters are utilized for the eye detection. One is Gabor filter for detecting eye shapes in horizontal direction. The other is ART descriptor for detecting pupils of circular shape. In order to effectively detect eye regions, the proposed method consists of four steps. The first step is to extract facial regions using AdaBoost method. The second step is to normalize the illumination by considering local information. The third step is to estimate candidate regions for eyes, by merging the results from two texture filters. The final step is to locate exact eye regions by using geometric information of the face. As experimental results, the performance of the proposed method has been improved by 2.9~4.4%, compared to the existing methods.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.16
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• pp.7129-7138
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• 2015

Background: The polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), characterized by hyperandrogenism and chronic anovulation, is a common endocrine disorder in women. PCOS, which is associated with polycystic ovaries, hirsutism, obesity and insulin resistance, is a leading cause of female infertility. In this condition there is an imbalance in female sex hormones. All the sequelae symptoms of PCOS gradually lead to cancer in the course of time. It is heterogeneous disorder of unknown etiology so it is essential to find the exact cause. Materials and Methods: In this study both invasive and non-invasive techniques were employed to establish the etiology. Diagnosis was based on Rotterdam criteria (hyperandrogenism, ovulatory dysfunction, PCOM) and multiparameters using buccal samples and dermatoglypic analysis and cytogenetic study for 10 cases and four age and sex matched controls. Results: In clinical analysis we have observed the mean value of total testosterone level was 23.6nmol/L, total hirsutism score was from 12-24, facial acne was found in in 70% patients with 7-12 subcapsular follicular cysts, each measuring 2-8 mm in diameter. In dermatoglypic analysis we observed increases in mean value ($45.9^{\circ}$) of ATD angle when compared with control group and also found increased frequency (38%) of Ulnar loops on both fingers (UU), (18%) whorls on the right finger and Ulnar loop on left finger (WU) and (16%) arches on right and left fingers (AA) were observed in PCOS patients when compared with control subjects. Features which could be applied as markers for PCOS patients are the presence of Ulnar loops in middle and little fingers of right and left hand. The buccal micronucleus cytome assay in exfoliated buccal cells, we found decrease in frequency of micronuclei and significant increases in frequency of karyolysed nuclei in polycystic ovarian syndrome patients. Chromosome aberration analysis revealed a significant increase in frequency of chromosome aberrations (CAs) in PCOS patients when compared with controls. Conclusions: From this present work it can be concluded that non-invasive technique like dermatoglypics analysis and buccal micronucleus cytome assays with exfoliated buccal cell can also be effective biomarkers for PCOS, along with increased CAs in lymphocytes as a sign of genetic instability. There is a hypothesis that micronuclei and chromosomal aberrations could have a predictive value for cancer. From this present work it can be concluded to some extent that non-invasive technique like dermatoglypics and buccal cell analysis can also be effective for diagnosis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.225-229
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• 2012

Background: Males have a higher prevalence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) than females in general, but the reasons for the sex disparity are still obscure. DNA copy number alteration (CNA) is a major feature of solid tumors including HCC, but whether CNA plays a role in sex-related differences in HCC development has never been evaluated. Methods: High-resolution array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) was used to examine 17 female and 46 male HCC patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in Shanghai, China. Two-tailed Fisher's exact or ${\chi}^2$ tests was used to compare CNAs between females and males. Results: The overall frequencies and patterns of CNAs in female and male cases were similar. However, female HCC tumors presented more copy number gains compared to those in males on 1q21.3-q22 (76.5% vs. 37.0%, P = 0.009), 11q11 (35.3% vs. 0.0%, P = 0.0002) and 19q13.31-q13.32 (23.5% vs. 0.0%, P = 0.004), and loss on 16p11.2 (35.3% vs. 6.5%, P = 0.009). Relative to females, male cases had greater copy number loss on 11q11 (63.0% vs. 17.6%, P = 0.002). Further analyses showed that 11q11 gain correlated with 19q13.31-q13.32 gain (P = 0.042), 11q11 loss (P = 0.011) and 16p11.2 loss (P = 0.033), while 1q21.3-q22 gain correlated with 19q13.31-q13.32 gain (P = 0.046). Conclusions: These findings suggest that CNAs may play a role in sex-related differences in HBVassociated HCC development.