Surgical technique for single-port laparoscopy in huge ovarian tumors: SW Kim`s technique and comparison to laparotomy

( Jeong Sook Kim ),( In Ok Lee ),( Kyung Jin Eoh ),( Young Shin Chung ),( Inha Lee ),( Jung-yun Lee ),( Eun Ji Nam ),( Sunghoon Kim ),( Young Tae Kim ),( Sang Wun Kim ) 대한산부인과학회 2017 Obstetrics & Gynecology Science Vol.60 No.2

Objective This study aimed to introduce a method to remove huge ovarian tumors (≥15 cm) intact with single-port laparoscopic surgery (SPLS) using SW Kim`s technique and to compare the surgical outcomes with those of laparotomy. Methods Medical records were retrospectively reviewed for patients who underwent either SPLS (n=21) with SW Kim`s technique using a specially designed 30×30-cm2-sized 3XL LapBag or laparotomy (n=22) for a huge ovarian tumor from December 2008 to May 2016. Perioperative surgical outcomes were compared. Results In 19/21 (90.5%) patients, SPLS was successfully performed without any tumor spillage or conversion to multi-port laparoscopy or laparotomy. There was no significant difference in patient characteristics, including tumor diameter and total operation time, between both groups. The postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter for the SPLS group than for the laparotomy group (median, 2 [1 to 5] vs. 4 [3 to 17] days; P<0.001). The number of postoperative general diet build-up days was also significantly shorter for the SPLS group (median, 1 [1 to 4] vs. 3 [2 to 16] days; P<0.001). Immediate post-operative pain score was lower in the SPLS group (median, 2.0 [0 to 8] vs. 4.0 [0 to 8]; P=0.045). Patient-controlled anesthesia was used less in the SPLS group (61.9% vs. 100%). Conclusion SPLS was successful in removing most large ovarian tumors without rupture and showed quicker recovery and less immediate post-operative pain in comparison to laparotomy. SPLS using SW Kim`s technique could be a feasible solution to removing huge ovarian tumors.

Kidney Toxicity Induced by 13 Weeks Exposure to the Fruiting Body of Paecilomyces sinclairii in Rats

Jeong, Mi-Hye,Kim, Young-Won,Min, Jeong-Ran,Kwon, Min,Han, Beom-Suk,Kim, Jeong-Gyu,Jeong, Sang-Hee Korean Society of ToxicologyKorea Environmental Mu 2012 Toxicological Research Vol.28 No.3

Paecilomyces sinclairiis (PS) is known as a functional food or human health supplement. However concerns have been raised about its kidney toxicity. This study was performed to investigate the kidney toxicity of PS by 13 week-oral administration to rats. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine, and kidney damage biomarkers including beta-2-microglobulin (${\beta}2m$), glutathione S-transferase alpha (GST-${\alpha}$), kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM-1), tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), calbindin, clusterin, cystatin C, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and osteopontin were measured during or after the treatment of PS. BUN, creatinine and kidney damage biomarkers in serum were not changed by PS. However, kidney cell karyomegaly and tubular hypertrophy were observed dose-dependently with higher severity in males. KIM-1, TIMP-1 and osteopontin in kidney and urine were increased dose dependently in male or at the highest dose in female rats. Increased urinary osteopontin by PS was not recovered at 2 weeks of post-exposure in both genders. Cystatin C in kidney was decreased at all treatment groups but inversely increased in urine. The changes in kidney damage biomarkers were more remarkable in male than female rats. These data indicate that the PS may provoke renal cell damage and glomerular filtration dysfunction in rats with histopathological lesions and change of kidney damage biomarkers in kidney or urine. Kidney and urinary KIM-1 and cystatin C were the most marked indicators, while kidney weight, BUN and creatinine and kidney damage biomarkers in serum were not influenced.

Do Firms Rebalance Capital Structure? Evidence from Korean Retail Firms

Kim,Sang-Su,Lee,Jeong-Hwan 한국유통과학회 2019 KODISA ICBE (International Conference on Business Vol.2019 No.-

The existence of capital structure adjustment costs affects the test of the trade-off theory of capital structure significantly. We analyze whether there exist economically significant capital adjustment costs for the Korean retail firms. We use the duration model of Leary and Roberts (2005) to estimate the hazard rate of capital structure adjustments. The publicly traded retail firms listed in the KOSPI and KOSDAQ markets are analyzed from 2000 to 2016. Our empirical analysis finds infrequent capital structure adjustments for the Korean retail firms, which is in line with the U.S. evidence. However, our duration analysis argues that the role of fixed adjustment cost is important in the determination of capital structure adjustments, unlike the existing studies emphasizing both of fixed and convex cost components. This paper confirms the existence of capital structure adjustment costs for the Korean retail firms. However, our results argue for the significance of fixed adjustment costs in capital structure adjustments, inconsistent with the existing studies.

Disruption of rsmA Gene of Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum LY34 and Effect on Pathogenicity

Kim, Min Keun,Kang, Tae Ho,Kim, Sung Kyum,Jeong, Yu Seok,Yun, Han Dae,Kim, Hoon The Korean Society for Applied Biological Chemistr 2012 Applied Biological Chemistry (Appl Biol Chem) Vol.55 No.6

The rsmA gene was cloned from soft-rot bacterium Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum LY34 (Pcc LY34), and its role in pathogenicity was investigated by marker exchange mutagenesis. From a cosmid library of Pcc LY34 genomic DNA, a positive clone carrying the rsmA gene was selected, and the gene was cloned by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. The gene is 186 bp in size and encodes a protein of 62 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 6,839 Da. The calculated pI of the RsmA is 8.16. The phylogenetic tree showed that the RsmA of Pcc LY34 appeared genetically identical to the CsrA of Pectobacterium atrosepticum SCRI1043 (100% identity) and similar to the CsrA of Yersinia pestis KIM10+(98.3%). The gene was disrupted by the $Km^r$ gene, and the cells became mutated (i.e., $RsmA^-$ mutant). The pathogenicity test revealed that the disease rating of the $RsmA^-$ mutant only differed slightly from that of the wild type on a slice of potato tuber and a Chinese cabbage stalk. These results suggest that RsmA is not an essential factor for the pathogenicity of Pcc LY34 and that the rsmA gene of Pcc LY34 is not completely derepressed in the $RsmA^-$ mutant for virulence-related genes, contrary to the results of Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora $RsmA^-$ mutant, which proved hypervirulent for celery petioles. These results showed that the microenvironmental conditions of the host and/or strain of pathogen are important for the coordination of virulence gene expression.

Reactive Oxygen Species Generated by 17β-estradiol Play a Role in the Up-regulation of GPX4 Protein in MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells

Sang-Han Lee,Hee Jeong Kim2,Hyo Jin Kang,이윤진,남해선,배인수 한국유방암학회 2009 Journal of breast cancer Vol.12 No.3

Purpose: Estrogen is known to act as both a growth factor and a survival factor for breast cancer. The responsible molecular mechanisms remain, however, to be fully elucidated. We hypothesize that the effect of estrogen relates to its ability to induce the cellular antioxidant defense enzymes. Methods: In the presence study, we examined the ability of 17β-estradiol (E2) to regulate the level of phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (GPX4) protein, which is an anti-oxidative enzyme that can directly reduce both phospholipids and cholesterol-hydroperoxides located in the cell membranes and lipoproteins. Results: E2 elicited a dose- and time-dependent increase in the GPX4 expression in the MCF-7 breast cancer cells, and this up-regulation was blocked by the free radical scavenger N-acetylcysteine (NAC). Additionally, we confirmed that E2 triggered a rapid and transient increase in the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and this E2-induced increase in the ROS levels was inhibited by pretreatment with NAC. Moreover, such ROS inducers as TGF-β, TNF-αand insulin induced an increase in the level of GPX4 protein. However, estrogen receptor (ER)αknockdown by transfection with ERα-siRNA did not significantly change the GPX4 protein level that was induced by E2. Furthermore, pre-incubation with the ER antagonist ICI 182,780 did not inhibit E2-mediated GPX4 induction. Conversely, pretreatment of cells with LY294002, a pharmacological inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor, suppressed the E2-augmented GPX4 expression. Conclusion: Collectively, our data show that E2 may partly provide a survival advantage through the regulation of cellular oxidative homeostasis in MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

Clinical Features of Benign Essential Blepharospasm in Korean Patients

Jeong Min Lee,Ji Sun Baek,Hye Sun Choi,Sung Joo Kim,Jae Woo Jang 대한안과학회 2018 Korean Journal of Ophthalmology Vol.32 No.5

Purpose: To analyze the clinical features of benign essential blepharospasm in Korean patients. Methods: Patients diagnosed with benign essential blepharospasm in Kim’s Eye Hospital from November 2014 to December 2016 were evaluated using a clinical examination and questionnaire. The questionnaire reviewed personal medical history, demographic factors, risk factors for blepharospasm development, and relieving and aggravating factors. Results: Of the 101 patients enrolled, 78 (77.2%) were women. The mean age was 64.9 years old. Hypertension was the most common medical disorder (42.6%), followed by diabetes mellitus. The majority of the patients were non-smokers (83.2%) and drank less than a cup of a caffeinated beverage a day (30.7%). Fifty-seven percent of patients reported no stressful events immediately prior to symptom development. Fatigue and stress were aggravating factors in more than 55% of patients; rest was the most common relieving factor(35.6%). Conclusions: Here, we report the clinical features of benign essential blepharospasm in Korean patients for the first time. The results were consistent with previous reports showing that the majority of benign essential blepharospasm patients are women and non-smokers. In contrast to previous reports though, fatigue and stress were aggravating factors, and the most common relieving factor was rest. No stressful events had immediately preceded the development of blepharospasm in 57.4% of patients. This report may aid in treating and counseling patients with benign essential blepharospasm.

Rapid Consolidation of WC‑ZrSiO4 Hard Materials by Spark Plasma Sintering: Microstructure, Densification, and Mechanical Properties

Jeong‑Han Lee,Ik‑Hyun Oh,Ju‑Hun Kim,Sung‑Kil Hong,Hyun‑Kuk Park 대한금속·재료학회 2021 METALS AND MATERIALS International Vol.27 No.9

Densely consolidated WC-based hard materials with 5–20 vol% ZrSiO4was fabricated by spark plasma sintering at 1400 ℃ ata constant heating rate of 70 ℃/min−1. To achieve mechanical alloying of WC-ZrSiO4, planetary ball milling was carried outfor 12 h, during which the brittle-brittle components (WC-ZrSiO4) became fragmented and their particles became refined. Itwas observed that certain, specific, non-isothermal sintering kinetics, such as apparent activation energy, sintering exponents,and densification strain, affected the densification behavior. The evolution of phase structure from powder to compact wasfound to be related the lattice distortion and micro-strain in the basal planes of WC. By examining the mechanical propertiesof the samples, it was that the added zircon content leads to enhanced fracture toughness (12.9 MPa m1/2) owing to thepresence of WC-ZrSiO4 in the cemented carbide. In fact, the microcrack propagation of the fracture passed through zirconfrom a transgranular to a ductile component (fcc) where the crack tips could be absorbed.

Effect of Mechanical Alloying on the Microstructural Evolution of Al60Cr30Si10 Alloys Processed by Spark Plasma Sintering

Jeong‑Han Lee,Ik‑Hyun Oh,Jun‑Ho Jang,Ju‑Hun Kim,Sung‑Kil Hong,Hyun‑Kuk Park 대한금속·재료학회 2021 METALS AND MATERIALS International Vol.27 No.5

In this study, Al, Cr and Si fine powders were alloyed by planetary ball milling to investigate their microstructural evolution,following their mechanical alloying behavior. The formation of Al(Cr) supersaturated solid solution by the Cr grainsembedded in Al-matrix, which contributed substitutional structure is discussed in relation to their structural evolution inaccordance with the distortion of a crystal lattice. The compacts of Al–Cr–Si alloys were prepared by rapid sintering withina short time by dense consolidation above the density of 99.9% as the formation of intermetallics, except in the case of thedistribution of single-phases induced by the Al-melting. The formation behavior of intermetallics was dominated by dependenceon the structures of the milled-powder and subsequent sintering temperature. To estimate the consolidated behaviorsof compacts, various approaches derived from TEM and XRD analysis were taken to obtain microstructural evidences ofthe inter-diffusion, following the presence of thermally stable intermetallics.

Influence of Phase Composition in TiAlSiN Hard Coatings on the Evolution of Structure and Mechanical Properties

Jeong‑Han Lee,Ik‑Hyun Oh,Jun‑Ho Jang,Ju‑Hun Kim,Sung‑Kil Hong,Hyun‑Kuk Park 대한금속·재료학회 2021 METALS AND MATERIALS International Vol.27 No.3

The aim of this study is to investigate the structural evolution and mechanical properties of TiAlSiN coatings when processedby the arc ion plating method. To form a hard coating, Ti, Al, and Si powders were mechanically alloyed by planetary ballmilling; the powders were then densely compacted during a rapid sintering process into a ternary system coating, i.e. TiAlSi. The evolution of the structural phase from a powder to a compact material is dominated considerably by phase states suchas a supersaturated solid solution or intermetallic compounds. In the case of coating layers, the factors that determine thestructural evolution are associated with the phase stability of the nano-crystalline structure that in turn is associated withthe Ti/Al composition ratio. Motivated by this, we performed experiments to investigate the distribution of microstructures;the material’s binding energy, quantitative properties, transformation of crystal structure, and distribution of amorphous/crystalline were all recorded. In particular, the relationship between the physical and chemical properties during the coatingprocess is considered to be the dominant factor controlling the orientation and morphology of that zone (1, T, and 2). TheTiAlSiN coating layer was found to have hardness above 45 GPa and an adhesion above 100 N. In other words, understandingthe evolution and structure of TiAlSin helped us to produce a material with excellent properties that can be used as a hardcoating. Specifically, these properties were induced by a grain refinement of the nano-crystalline structure that correspondsto an increase in the silicon nitride contents.

Impact of Interferon-Based Treatment on Quality of Life and Work Related Productivity from the Korean Cohort in the MOSAIC Study

( Sang Hoon Ahn ),( Won Hyeok Choe ),( Yoon Jun Kim ),( Jeong Heo ),( Dorota Latarska-smuga ),( Jiho Kang ),( Seung Woon Paik ) 대한간학회 2017 춘·추계 학술대회 (KASL) Vol.2017 No.1

Aims: Chronic Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection increases the risk for progressive liver disease, hepatocellular carcinoma and negatively impacts the patient’s quality of life. HCV treatment is evolving with direct acting antivirals but IFN based therapy has been the standard of care for many years and remains available in some countries. The MOSAIC study aims to characterize patients with chronic HCV infection and assess the impact of IFN-containing treatment on health-related quality of life, work related productivity and health care utilization. Methods: MOSAIC is an international prospective multicenter observational study that has been conducted in 20 countries. Consecutive patients with chronic HCV infection were enrolled and those who initiated an IFN based regimen were prospectively followed for 48 weeks. We report results from the Korean cohort Results: 100 patients were enrolled: 86 were treatment naïve and 14 were treatment experienced. 33 patients initiated an IFN based regimen: 6 patients started IFN + RBV, 26 patients started Peg-IFN + RBV, none started Peg-IFN + RBV + DAA and 1 patient received other treatment. Among the treated cohort, demographic and disease characteristics were the following: the mean age was 54.5 years; 14 patients were male. 14 had minimal or no fibrosis, 2 portal fibrosis, 3 bridging fibrosis and 6 patients suffered from cirrhosis. HCV Genotype distribution was as follows: genotype 1: 11; genotype 2: 19 and genotype 3: 3. Table 1 describes the results at baseline and changes over 4, 12 and 48 weeks and end-of-treatment (EOT) for the quality of life and work productivity outcome measures (EQ-5D-5L, HCV-PRO and WPAI). Conclusions: Results from the Korean cohort of the MOSAIC study show a moderate trend for deterioration of health-related quality of life and work productivity associated with IFN based treatment for patients with chronic HCV infection during treatment period. Acknowledgements: The design, study conduct, analysis, and financial support of MOSAIC study were provided by AbbVie. AbbVie participated in the interpretation of data, review, and approval of the content of the abstract. All authors had access to all relevant data and participated in writing, review, and approval of this abstract. Medical writing support was provided by Olivier Van de Steen of Medeor-consulting, funded by AbbVie. Disclosures: Sang Hoon Ahn: served as an advisor and lecturer for Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead Sciences, F.Hoffmann-La Roche, Merck, AbbVie, and has received unrestricted grants from Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead Sciences, and F. Hoffmann-La Roche for investigator- initiated trials Won Hyeok Choe: Nothing to disclosure Yoon Jun Kim: Nothing to disclosure Jeong Heo: received a grant from GSK; Research support from BMS, and Roche; Advisor for Abbvie, BMS, Gilead Sciences, Pharma Essentia, SillaJen, and Johnson & Johnson. Dorota Latarska-Smuga, Jiho Kang: are employees of AbbVie, Inc. and may hold stock or stock options. Seung Woon Paik: received grant and research support from AbbVie, BMS, Gilead, GSK, Merck, Novartis, and Roche