• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.9
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• pp.646-650
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• 2003

Many surgical techniques for ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) have been used with their excellent results and advantages. Here, we report our simple posterior annuloplasty techniques using vascular graft strip with their early results. Material and Method: Twenty two patients (13 male) underwent the operations for IMR (excluding the papillary muscle rupture) from December 2001 to January 2003. Preoperative risk factors were low ejection fraction (<35％, n=9), hypertension (n=13), diabetes (n=9), and renal failure (Cr>2.5, n=4). The wide dissection beneath the both vena cavae and interatrial groove after bicaval cannulation enabled the easy exposure of mitral valve even in the small left atrium. After eight or nine interrupted sutures in posterior annulus for anchoring the 6 mm width vascular graft strip, symmetric (n=8) or asymmetric (n=14) annuloplasty were done. Combined surgeries were CABG (n=21), Dor procedures (n=3), tricuspid valve annuloplasty (n=1), Maze operation (n=1), and aorto-right subclavian artery bypass (n=1). Result: Except for one surgical mortality, all the patients were doing well and the mean grade of regurgitation was decreased from 2.95 to 0.88, however the ejection fraction had not changed significantly just before discharge. Post-operative valve function evaluated before discharge revealed no residual regurgitation in 8 (including 1 patient with mild stenosis due to over reduction), minimal in 11, mild in 2, and mild to moderate regurgitation in 1. One patient who had ischemic cardiomyopathy and renal failure died of the arrhythmia during the hemodialysis. Conclusion: These observations suggest that the annuloplasty with vascular graft strip could be a safe and cost effective techniques for ischemic mitral regurgitation. However, the long term evaluation for the mitral valve function should be defined for the final conclusion.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.485-496
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• 2002

Background : Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are useful in the chemoprevention of colon cancers. Continuous NSAID use results in a 40% to 50% reduction in the relative risk of colorectal cancer. The precise mechanism by which NSAIDs prevent and/or cause the regression of colorectal tumors is not known. Some investigators have reported that certain NSAIDs induce apoptosis and alter the expression of the cell cycle regulatory genes in some carcinoma cells when administered at a relatively high concentration. However, the possibility of NSAIDs application as chemopreventive agents in lung cancers remains to be elucidated. To address this question, the human lung cancer cell line NCI-H1299 was used to investigate whether or not NSAIDs might induce the apoptotic death of NCI-H1299 cells. Methods : A viability test was carried out using a MTT assay. Apoptosis was measured by flow cytometric analysis and unclear staining(DAPI). The talytic activity of the caspase family was measured by the fluirigenic cleavage of biosubstrates. To define the mechanical basis of apoptosis, western blot was performed to analyze the expression of the death substrates(PARP and ICAD). Results : NaSaL significantly decreased the viability of the NCI-H1299 cells, which was revealed as apoptosis characterized by an increase in the $subG_0/G_1$ population and unclear fragmentation. The catalytic activity of caspase-3 protease began to increase after 24 Hr and reached a peak 30 Hr after treatment with 10 mM NaSaL. In contrast, caspase-6, 8, and 9 proteases did not have a significantly altered enzymatic activity. Consistent with activation of caspase-3 protease, NaSaL induced the cleavage of the protease biosubstrate. Conclusion : NaSaL induces the apoptotic death of NCI-H1299 human lung cancer cells via the activation of caspase-3 protease.

• Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.71-90
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• 2011

This study was designed to empirically analyze the effect of control activities(physical, managerial and technical securities) of information protection on organizational effectiveness and the mediating effects of information application. The result was summarized as follows. First, the effect of control activities(physical, technical and managerial securities) of information protection on organizational effectiveness showed that the physical, technical and managerial security factors have a significant positive effect on the organizational effectiveness(p < .01). Second, the effect of control activities(physical, technical and managerial securities) of information protection on information application showed that the technical and managerial security factors have a significant positive effect on the information application(p < .01). Third, the explanatory power of models, which additionally put the information protection control activities(physical, technical and managerial securities) and the interaction variables of information application to verify how the information protection control activities( physical, technical and managerial security controls) affecting the organizational effectiveness are mediated by the information application, was 50.6%~4.1% additional increase. And the interaction factor(${\beta}$ = .148, p < .01) of physical security and information application, and interaction factor(${\beta}$ = .196, p < .01) of physical security and information application among additionally-put interaction variables, were statistically significant(p < .01), indicating the information application has mediated the relationship between physical security and managerial security factors of control activities, and organizational effectiveness. As for results stated above, it was proven that physical, technical and managerial factors as internal control activities for information protection are main mechanisms affecting the organizational effectiveness very significantly by information application. In information protection control activities, the more all physical, technical and managerial security factors were efficiently well performed, the higher information application, and the more information application was efficiently controlled and mediated, which it was proven that all these three factors are variables for useful information application. It suggested that they have acted as promotion mechanisms showing a very significant result on the internal customer satisfaction of employees, the efficiency of information management and the reduction of risk in the organizational effectiveness for information protection by the mediating or difficulty of proved information application.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.128-134
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• 2012

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is one of the most notorious and contagious viral diseases afflicting cloven-hoofed animals. In this study, the physicochemical properties of leachate from a FMD landfill site at 773-1, Waryong, Andong, Korea and the ground water from 777, Waryong, Andong, Korea, were analyzed for 1 year from December $10^{th}$ 2010 to November $17^{th}$ 2011. The leachate was collected from the FMD landfill site during March, May, July, September and November, 2011 and changes in pH, brix, water content, insoluble solids, crude proteins, crude lipids, total and reducing sugars and ash content were determined. Considering the annual profiles of temperature and rainfall at the FMD landfill site, the dramatic changes in the physicochemical properties of the leachate from March to July, and especially from May to July, such as increases in pH, and a rapid reduction of brix and organic matter, may be closely linked to the growth of microorganisms in the leachate. The sharp decreases in the concentration of biominerals, such as Mg, Ca, and Fe from 1073, 4311 and 56.2 ppm in March to 151, 78, and 0.1 ppm in November, further suggest that decreases in organic matter in the leachate result from degradation by microorganisms originating from the intestines of the livestock. Analysis of the profiles of the organic materials in the leachate revealed that the properties of the leachate were similar to those of excremental matter-derived water. These results could be applied to a number of fields for the analysis of organic matter behavior, the development of the degradation process, and risk analysis in the environment for hygiene and food industries, of leachate from FMD landfill sites.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.24-34
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• 2008

To mitigate the climate change and global warming, various technologies have been internationally proposed for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Especially, in recent, carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) technology is regarded as one of the most promising emission reduction options that $CO_2$ be captured from major point sources (eg., power plant) and transported for storage into the marine geological structure such as deep sea saline aquifer. The purpose of this paper is to review the latest progress on the development of technologies for $CO_2$ storage in marine geological structure and its perspective in republic of Korea. To develop the technologies for $CO_2$ storage in marine geological structure, we carried out relevant R&D project, which cover the initial survey of potentially suitable marine geological structure fur $CO_2$ storage site and monitoring of the stored $CO_2$ behavior, basic design for $CO_2$ transport and storage process including onshore/offshore plant and assessment of potential environmental risk related to $CO_2$ storage in geological structure in republic of Korea. By using the results of the present researches, we can contribute to understanding not only how commercial scale (about 1 $MtCO_2$) deployment of $CO_2$ storage in the marine geological structure of East Sea, Korea, is realized but also how more reliable and safe CCS is achieved. The present study also suggests that it is possible to reduce environmental cost (about 2 trillion Won per year) with developed technology for $CO_2$ storage in marine geological structure until 2050.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.184-194
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• 1999

Backgrounds : The advent of penicillin has led to the marked reduction in the mortality from pneumococcal bacteremia, however, the mortality is still relatively high in this post-antibiotic era. Actually the prevalence of infection due to penicillin-resistant penumococci is increasing worldwide, and it is especially high in Korea due to irrelevant use of antibiotics. So, the high mortality of pneumococcal sepsis might be related to the emergence of penicillin-resistant strains, however, many other antibiotics, which eradicate pneumococci effectively, are available in these days. This has led us to suspect the role of penicillin-resistance in the high mortality rate. In this study, we evaluated the effect of penicillin resistance on the mortality of patients with penumococcal bacte remia. Methods: The study population consisted of 50 adult patients with penumococcal bacteremia who were admitted between Jan, 1990 and July, 1997. Medical records were analyzed retrospectively. Results: Most of the patients (96%) had underlying diseases. The most common local disease associated with pneumococcal bacteremia was pneumonia (42%), which was followed by spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (14%), cholangitis (10%), meningitis (8%), liver abscess (4%), pharyngotonsillitis (4%), sinusitis (2%) and cellulitis (2%). While the overall case-fatality rate in this study was 24%, it was higher when peumococcal bacteremia was associated with pneumonia (42%) or meningitis (50%). The rate of penicillin resistance was 40%, which was increased rapidly from 1991. The rate of penicillin resistance was significantly higher in patients with the history of recent antibiotics use and hospitalization within 3 months respectively. The clinical manifestations, that is, age, severity of underlying diseases, nosocomial infection, associated local diseases, and the presence of shock or acute renal failure were not statistically different between the patients with penicillin-resistant and -sensitive pneumococcal bacteremia. The mortality of patients infected with penicillin-resistant pneumococci was not statistically different from those with penicillin-sensitive pneumococcal bacteremia. Conclusion: Penicillin resistance is not associated with high mortality in adult patients with pneumococcal bacteremia. As the overall mortality is high, active penumococcal vaccination is recommended in patients with high risk of infection.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.12
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• pp.1716-1726
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• 2012

This study was undertaken to evaluate the antihyperglycemic, antilipid peroxidative, and antioxidant effects of the ethanol extracts of Artemisia iwayomogi (Ai) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats with a single intravenous injection (45 mg/kg b.w.) of STZ. The diabetic rats were then randomized to the diabetic and Ai extract therapy groups which were treated with Ai extract at doses of 1, 2, and 3 g/kg b.w./day, respectively, for 14 days. Oral administration of Ai (2 g/kg b.w.) significantly decreased their intake of food. Dosage of 2 g/kg of the extract significantly decreased blood glucose levels in the glucose level in diabetic rats after 4 day, there was no significant difference observed at 1 and 3 g/kg. A dose of 2 or 3 g/kg of the Ai extract significantly reduced plasma glucose levels in STZ-induced hyperglycemic rats at 7 days. The hypoglycemic effect of Ai at a dose of 2 g/kg was significantly more effective than that of STZ-control. The effect was more pronounced in 2 g/kg than 1 g and 3 g/kg. A significant reduction in triglycerides (TG) and free fatty acids (FFA), and a significant increase in liver glycogen were observed in treated diabetic rats at doses of 2 g/kg after 14 days of treatment. Administration of Ai extracts to diabetic rats showed a significant decrease in liver malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was significantly increased in the 3 g extract-supplemented groups. The activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) and catalase (CAT) were significantly increased in the 1 g and 3 g extract-supplemented groups. Ai extract significantly increased glutathione-S transferase (GST) activity in a dose-dependent manner compared with treatment in STZ-control rats. Our result supports the fact that the administration of Ai extract is able to reduce hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia risk, and also reduce the oxidative stress in diabetic rats.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.207-214
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• 2009

Purpose: Subtotal distal gastrectomy has been accepted as the standard treatment for early gastric cancer that's developed on the gastric body. EMR and ESD have been introduced to minimize the incidence of postgastrectomy syndrome, but these procedures can not detect lymph node metastasis and they have a risk for gastric perforation. Segmental gastrectomy has recently been applied for treating early gastric cancer, but its usefulness has not been clarified. The aim of this study was to compare segmental gastrectomy and distal gastrectomy with Billroth I reconstruction for treating early gastric cancer that's developed on the gastric body. Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective review of all the patients who were diagnosed as having early gastric cancer that developed on the gastric body at Chungnam National University Hospital from January 2004 through July 2007. During this period, 41 patients received segmental gastrectomy and 40 patients underwent subtotal distal gastrectomy. All the patients were studied via a biannual review of the body systems, a physical examination, endoscopy, computed tomography and the laboratory findings. Results: There were no significantly differences of the clinicopathologic characteristics between the two groups. The changes of the nutritional status (Hb, TP, Alb and TC) and the body weight change were not significantly different between the 2 groups. There were significantly more residual food in the SG group than that in the SDG group (RGB classification, Residual>Grade 2), but there were no differences for epigastric discomfort (P>0.05). Esophagitis developed at a similar rate for both two groups (LA classification, >Grade A), and bile reflux was found in only one patient of each group. Conclusion: We expected the reduction of esophagitis and gastritis and the improvement of nutritional status according to the type of procedure. Yet the results of our study showed no significant differences between the two study groups. More patients and a longer follow up time are needed for determining the advantage sand disadvantages of segmental gastrectomy.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.841-848
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• 2020

In the field of radiation therapy using photon beams and electron beams, since each patient has a different sensitivity to radiation, skin side effects may occur even at the same dose. Therefore, if there is a risk of excessive dose to the skin, a dosimeter is attached to verify whether the correct dose is being investigated. However, since the skin dosimeter checks the attachment site visually by measuring a point dose, it is difficult to confirm an accurate dose distribution. As a result, the measurement and simulation errors of the material HgI₂ in the 6 MV photon beam were 3.73% and 5.24%, respectively, at the minimum thickness of 25 ㎛, and the material PbI₂ was 4.73% and 5.65%, respectively. On the other hand, as a result of the 6 MeV electron beam, the measurement and simulation errors of the material HgI₂ were 1.35% and 1.12%, respectively, at a minimum thickness of 25 ㎛, and the material PbI₂ showed relatively low attenuation error, 1.67% and 1.20%, respectively. Therefore, it was evaluated that the thickness of the photon beam within 25 ㎛ and the electron beam within 100 ㎛ is suitable to have a reduction rate error within 5%. This study presents a new research direction for a flexible dosimeter attached to the human body that is required in clinical practice and the construction conditions of a future skin dosimeter.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.160-168
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• 2008

Purpose: This study was designed to characterize the nutritional status and assess obesity to determine the relationship between obesity and serum lipid profiles in 6~7 year old children. Methods: In 2007, we surveyed 483 children (233 boys and 250 girls) aged 6~7 years. The total cholesterol, triglyceride levels and HDL-cholesterol were measured in the fasting state. Dietary information was obtained by a questionnaire. Results: The prevalence of obesity was 9.9%. There was no significant difference between genders. The mean caloric intake was 1,781 kcal in boys and 1,640 kcal in girls. The prevalence of excessive calories was 33% in boys and 30% in girls. The prevalence of a total cholesterol ${\geq}$200 mg/dL was 8.4%, TG ${\geq}$130 mg/dL was 5.0%, LDL-cholesterol ${\geq}$130 mg/dL was 3.1%, and HDL-cholesterol <35 mg/dL was 4.4%. The prevalence of hypertension was 2.1%. There was no significant difference between genders. The systolic blood pressure, triglyceride levels and LDL-cholesterol were significantly related to an increased obesity index (p<0.05). The mean caloric intake and nutritive component were not related to the obesity index. The obesity group was compared to the control group: for triglycerides ${\geq}$130 mg/dL the odds ratio was 4.08; for LDL-cholesterol ${\geq}$130 mg the odds ratio was 2.85; for a TC/HDL-cholesterol ${\geq}$4.0 the odds ratio was 1.16. The BMI and triglyceride levels in the group with hypertension were higher than control group (p<0.05). There were significant positive correlations between the BMI and blood pressure as well as the LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides (p<0.05). The BMI was not correlated with the mean caloric intake or nutrition. Conclusion: The prevalence of hypertension and hyperlipidemia in 6~7 year old children was significantly related to an increased obesity index. The management of obesity in 6~7 year old children should include a reduction in the risk for hyperlipidemia and hypertension.