• Ocean and Polar Research
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.87-99
• /
• 2007

This study was conducted to understand the source and behavior of organic matter using the fluorescent technique (excitation-emission matrix) as a part of environmental monitoring program in the Korea manganese nodule mining site in the Northeastern Pacific Ocean. Water samples were collected at $0^{\circ},\;6^{\circ}N$, and $10.5^{\circ}N$ along $131.5^{\circ}W$ in August 2005. The concentration of total organic carbon (TOC) ranged from 58.01 to $171.93\;{\mu}M-C$. The vertical distribution of TOC was characterized as higher in the surface layer and decreased with depth. At $6^{\circ}N$, depth-integrated (from surface to 200 m depth) TOC was $337.1\;gC/m^2$, which was 1.4 times higher value than other stations. The exponential decay curve fit of vertical profile of TOC indicated that 59% of organic carbon produced by primary production in the surface layer could be decomposed by bacteria in the water column. Dissolved organic matter is generally classified into two distinctive groups based on their fluorescence characteristics using three-dimensional excitation/emission (Ex/Em) fluorescence mapping technique. One is known as biomacromolecule (BM; protein-like substance; showing max. at Ex 280/Em 330), mainly originated from biological metabolism. The other is geomacromolecule (GM; humic-like substance; showing max. at Ex 330/Em 430), mainly originated from microbial degradation processes. The concentration of BM and GM was from 0.42 to 7.29 TU (tryptophan unit) and from 0.06 to 1.81 QSU (quinine sulfate unit), respectively. The vertical distribution of BM was similar to that of TOC as high in the surface and decreased with depth. However, the vertical distribution of GM showed the reverse pattern of that of BM. From these results, it appeared that BM occupied a major part of TOC and was rapidly consumed by bacteria in the surface layer. GM was mainly transformed from BM by microbial processes and was a dominant component of TOC in the deep-sea layer.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.79-91
• /
• 2019

Long-term trends and recent variations of upwelling index (UI), which affects significantly ecosystem in southwestern part of the East Sea, were investigated. The UI was calculated with the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data from January 1948 to September 2018. The mean UI has positive value that causes upwelling in April to August with a peak in July. The long-term reducing trend of UI was in statistically significant in June and July, and the sum of UI in May, June and July also showed same result. Through the atmospheric pressure analysis around the Korean peninsula, it was found that the trend of the UI was the influence of the pressure change trend in the northwestern region ($35-50^{\circ}N$, $114-129^{\circ}E$) of the southwestern part of the East Sea. Investigating UI in recent 7 years from 2012 to 2018, it was revealed that the UI was bigger than 3 times of standard deviation in July 2013. This was result from the sea level pressure difference became larger in the southwestern part of the East Sea than normal year due to the lowered air pressure in the northeastern region of China and the strengthened high air pressure of western peripheral of the North Pacific High. On the other hand, the UI in July 2018 was negative when the impact of the North Pacific High and the low air pressure in the northeastern China was weak. Due to the decreasing trend of UI and its large year-to-year variation in southwestern part of the East Sea, continuous monitoring is necessary to know the influence of coastal upwelling on the ecosystem.

• 한국해양학회지
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.24-40
• /
• 1988

In the Korea Ocean Nodule Development (KONOD)-1 area between the Clarion and Clipperton fracture zones of the northeastern equatorial Pacific, the pelagic sediment layer can be divided into two or three units on air-gun seismic profile. The acoustic units can be also correlated with those in the DSDP site 163 core. The topmost unit (unit I) is acoustically transparent and consists of zeolitic clay and radiolarian ooze of late Oligocene to middle Eocene age. Unit IIA is well-stratified and transparent in the lower part. consisting of the radiolarian ooze intercalated with chert beds and zeolitic clay of early Eocene to Paleocene age. Unit IIB is stratified with layers of silicified and compacted flinty-cherty nannofossil chalk (late Cretaceous) on top of the acoustic basement. Units I and IIA form the Line Islands Formation that overlies an unnamed formation of unit lIB. The entire layers and the unit I layer propressively thin northward, except near the Line Islands Ridge. The distribution of sediment layer has been controlled by the equatorial Cenozoic CCD and the northward spreading of the Pacific plate. The change of CCD corresponding to the subsidence and migration of the plate has determined the sediment composition of the DSDP 163 core passed across the equator of high sedimentation suite. The late Cretaceous sedimentary layer (unit IIB) in the 163 core was formed above the CCD south of the equator. The unit IIA resulted from rapid subsidence of the Pacific plate below the CCD in the Paleocene. The unit IIA is seen only in the west of 149 W. Both the units IIA and I were probably formed during the Pacific plate passing and after leaving the equatorial region respectively since early Eocene. In the south of the KONOD-l area, the unit I was redistributed by bottom current, a branch of the Antarctic Bottom Water flowing eastward guided by the Clipperton fracture zone. The activities of bottom currents were prolonged for a long geological time. Turbidite layers occur more than 350 km from the Hawaiian Ridge to near the Clarion fracture zone. They originated directly from the Hawaiian Ridge, filling the topographic lows.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.2333-2336
• /
• 2013

Background: The aim of this paper was to present the incidence rates of leukemia and multiple myeloma (MM) in Golestan province located in northeastern Iran during 2004-2009. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. Data on newly diagnosed (incident) leukemia and MM cases were obtained from collected from Golestan population-based cancer registry. Data was entered into CanReg-4 software. Age standardized incidence rates (ASR) (per 100000 person-years) for leukemia and MM were calculated. Data on Golestan population was obtained from the data of Iranian national census in 2006. Results: Totally, 11036 new cancer cases were registered in GPRC from 2004-2009. Leukemia and MM accounted for 693 and 124 of cases, respectively. The mean age in patients with leukemia and MM was 43.8 and 62.4 years, respectively. The ASRs for leukemia among men and women were 10.4 and 7.8, respectively (p<0.001). The ASRs for MM were 2.1 and 2 in men and women, respectively (p=0.93). The rate of leukemia was significantly higher in rural areas (p=0.02) whereas the incidence of MM was higher in urban areas (p<0.001). Conclusions: Our results showed a high incidence rate of leukemia in Golestan province of Iran. The incidence of leukemia was significantly higher in males and residents of rural areas. High exposure to pesticides and other agricultural related products may be a possible explanation for epidemiological pattern of leukemia in this area. Determining and controlling important risk factors, especially environmental factors, of leukemia may lead to decrease in its burden in Golestan province of Iran.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.11
• /
• pp.5489-5495
• /
• 2012

Cervical cancer is a serious public health problem in Thailand. We investigated possible risk factors for cervical cancer including HPV infection, p53 polymorphism, smoking and reproductive history among women in Northeast Thailand using a case control study with 177 cases and age-matched controls. Among the HPV carriers, a significantly increased risk for cervical cancer with an OR of 36.97(p<0.001) and an adjusted OR of 38.07(p<0.001) were observed. Early age at first sexual exposure, and multiple sexual partners increased the risk of cervical cancer with ORs ranging between 1.73-2.78(p<0.05). The interval between menarche and first sexual intercourse <6 years resulted in a significant increase in the risk for cervical cancer with ORs ranging between 3.32-4.09 and the respective adjusted OR range for the 4-5 and 2-3 year-old groups were 4.09 and 2.92. A higher risk was observed among subjects whose partner had smoking habits, whether currently or formerly; with respective ORs of 3.36(P<0.001) and 2.17(p<0.05); and respective adjusted ORs of 2.90(p<0.05) and 3.55(p<0.05). Other smoking characteristics of the partners including smoking duration ${\geq}20$ years, number of cigarettes smokes ${\geq}20$ pack-years and exposure time of the subject to passive smoking ${\geq}5$ hrs per day were found to be statistically significant risks for cervical cancer with adjusted ORs of 3.75, 4.04 and 11.8, respectively. Our data suggest that the risk of cervical cancer in Thai women is substantially associated with smoking characteristics of the partner(s), the interval between menarche and first sexual intercourse as well as some other aspects of sexual behavior.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.87-90
• /
• 2012

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is the most common cancer in northeastern Thailand. At present, effective diagnosis of CCA either in humans or animals is not available. Monitoring the development and progression of CCA in animal models is essential for research and development of new promising chemotherapeutics. Ultrasonography has been widely used for screening of bile duct obstruction in CCA patients. In this study, we preliminarily investigated the applicability of ultrasonography to monitor the development and progression of CCA in Syrian golden hamsters (n=8) induced by Opisthorchis viverrini (OV)/dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) administration. Ultrasonography and histopathological examination of hamsters was performed at week 0, 20, 24 and 28 of OV infection or at the start of water/Tween-80 administration to controls. The ultrasonographic images of liver parenchyma and gallbladders of OV/DMN-induced CCA hamsters showed sediments in gallbladder, thickening of gallbladder wall, and hypoechogenicity of liver parenchyma cells. The ultrasonographic images of liver tissues were found to correlate well with histopathological examination. Although ultrasonography does not directly detect the occurrence of CCA, it reflects the thickening of bile ducts and abnormality of liver tissues. It may be applied as a reliable tool for monitoring the development and progression of CCA in animal models in research and development of new promising chemotherapeutics for CCA.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.5
• /
• pp.2439-2443
• /
• 2016

Purpose: To determine the risk factors, clinical symptoms and patterns of spread in laryngeal cancer. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out in the Regional Cancer Centre, Imphal, Manipur, India. One hundred and sixteen patients with laryngeal cancer were retrospectively reviewed for epidemiological data and descriptive statistics were reported for various variables. Results: Median age at presentation was 65 years and 32.8% were undernourished at presentation. The male to female ratio was 5.4:1. Heavy smoking and tobacco chewing was associated in 91.4% and 33.6% of patients respectively. Tracheostomy was required in 21.5% leading to diagnosis of laryngeal cancer. Almost all were squamous cell carcinoma with neuroendocrine and verrucous carcinoma accounting for less than 2%. Supraglottic, glottic and trans-glottic tumors were 56.9%, 36.3% and 6.9% respectively. Nodal metastases were seen in 81.8% of supraglottic cancers and 31.6% of glottic cancers with supraglottic involvement. Level II neck nodes were the commonest site followed by level III. Distant metastases (only liver) were apparent in 1.7% at presentation. Including these liver metastases, unresectable cases were limited to 6% of the patients. Conclusions: Tobacco use is implicated in almost all of the cases and the sex ratio has also decreased due to increased female smokers. The supraglottis remains the commonest site and incidence of nodal metastases is higher than in other countries. There is also a higher requirement for tracheostomy at presentation in this region.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.767-770
• /
• 2016

Background: The proportion of aged Thais (${\geq}65$ years old) is expected to be 30% by 2030, leading to an increased number of elderly cancer cases. Older individuals have distinct patterns of cancer and treatment needs. We therefore conducted the present study of new cancer cases and trends to get a perspective on the elderly cancer situation in Northeast Thailand. Materials and Methods: All new elderly cancer cases (${\geq}65$ years) registered in the hospital-based cancer registry at the Faculty of Medicine, Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen University during 1993-2012 were included in the study. Results: Elderly patients accounted for 31.6% of all cancer patients and new cancer cases in the older age group increased 46% from the first to second decades. The absolute number of oldest old (80+ years) doubled. The top three cancers in males were liver and bile duct, lung, and colorectal. In females, the three most common cancers were liver and bile duct, oral cavity, and cervix. Cancers with the highest percentages of increase were thyroid, prostate, and colorectal. Conclusions: Elderly cancer cases are increasing. Treatment modalities and palliative care for older populations are urgently needed.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.23
• /
• pp.10367-10374
• /
• 2015

Background: Cancer and non-communicable diseases are a major issue not only for the developed but also developing countries. Public health and primary care nursing offer great potential for primary and secondary prevention of these diseases through community and family-based approaches. Within Thailand there are related established educational curricula but less is known about how graduate practitioners enact ideas in practice and how these can influence policy at local levels. Aim: The aim of this inquiry was to develop family nursing practice in primary care settings in the Isaan region or Northeastern Thailand and to distill what worked well into a nursing model to guide practice. Materials and Methods: An appreciative inquiry approach involving analysis of written reports, focus group discussions and individual interviews was used to synthesize what worked well for fourteen family nurses involved in primary care delivery and to build the related model. Results: Three main strategies were seen to offer a basis for optimal care delivery, namely: enacting a participatory action approach mobilizing families' social capital; using family nursing process; and implementing action strategies within communities. These were distilled into a new conceptual model. Conclusions: The model has some features in common with related community partnership models and the World Health Organization Europe Family Health Nurse model, but highlights practical strategies for family nursing enactment. The model offers a basis not only for planning and implementing family care to help prevent cancer and other diseases but also for education of nurses and health care providers working in communities. This articulation of what works in this culture also offers possible transference to different contexts internationally, with related potential to inform health and social care policies, and international development of care models.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.6
• /
• pp.2785-2791
• /
• 2014

Aims: To analyze time-dependent changes in female breast cancer (BC) mortality in China, forecast the trend in the ensuing 5 years, and provide recommendations for prevention and management. Materials and Methods: Mortality data of breast cancer in China from 1991 to 2011 was used to describe characteristics and distribution, such as the changes of the standardized mortality rate, urban-rural differences and age differences. Trend-surface analysis was used to study the geographical distribution of mortality. In addition, curve estimation, time series modeling, Gray modeling (GM) and joinpoint regression were performed to estimate and predict future trends. Results: In China, the mortality rate of breast cancer has increased yearly since 1991. In addition, our data predicted that the trend will continue to increase in the ensuing 5 years. Rates in urban areas are higher than those in rural areas. Over the past decade, all peak ages for death by breast cancer have been delayed, with the first death peak occurring at 55 to 65 years of age in urban and rural areas. Geographical analysis indicated that mortality rates increased from Southwest to Northeast and from West to East. Conclusions: The standardized mortality rate of breast cancer in China is rising and the upward trend is predicted to continue for the next 5 years. Since this can cause an enormous health impact in China, much better prevention and management of breast cancer is needed. Consequently, disease control centers in China should place more focus on the northeastern, eastern and southeastern parts of China for breast cancer prevention and management, and the key population should be among women between ages 55 to 65, especially those in urban communities.