Original Article : Geographic difference of epidemiological features of HCV infection in Korea

( Kyung Ah Kim ),( Sook Hyang Jeong ),( Eun Sun Jang ),( Young Seok Kim3 ),( Youn Jae Lee ),( Eun Uk Jung ),( In Hee Kim ),( Sung Bum Cho ),( Mee Kyung Kee ),( Chun Kang ) 대한간학회 2014 Clinical and Molecular Hepatology(대한간학회지) Vol.20 No.4

Background/Aims: The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Korea exhibits significant geographic variation, with it being higher in Busan and Jeonam than in other areas. The reason for this intranational geographic difference was investigated in this study by conducting a comparative analysis of the risk factors related to HCV infection among three geographic areas: the capital (Seoul), Busan, and the province of Jeolla. Methods: In total, 990 patients with chronic HCV infection were prospectively enrolled at 5 university hospitals located in Seoul (n=374), Busan (n=264), and Jeolla (n=352). A standardized questionnaire survey on the risk factors for HCV infection was administered to these three groups of patients, and a comparative analysis of the findings was performed. Results: The analysis revealed significant regional differences in exposure to the risk factors of HCV infection. By comparison with patients in Seoul as a control group in the multivariate analysis, patients in Busan had significantly more experience of invasive medical procedures, acupuncture, cosmetic procedures, and multiple sex partners. In contrast, patients in Jeolla were significantly older, and they had a higher prevalence of hepatocellular carcinoma, a lower prevalence of multiple sex partners, and had experienced fewer invasive procedures. Conclusions: There was a significant geographic difference in the exposure to potential risk factors of HCV infection between patients from the three studied regions. This may explain the regional variation of the prevalence of HCV infection in Korea, and should be taken into account when planning strategies for the prevention and management of HCV infection. (Clin Mol Hepatol 2014;20:361-367)

An Improved Speech Processing Strategy for Cochlear Implants Based on an Active Nonlinear Filterbank Model of the Biological Cochlea

Kim $^$, Kyung Hwan,Choi, Sung Jin,Kim, Jin Ho,Kim, Doo Hee IEEE 2009 IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering Vol.56 No.3

<P>The purpose of this study was to improve the speech processing strategy for cochlear implants (CIs) based on a nonlinear time-varying filter model of a biological cochlea. The level-dependent frequency response characteristic of the basilar membrane is known to produce robust formant representation and speech perception in noise. A dual resonance nonlinear (DRNL) model was adopted because it is simpler than other adaptive nonlinear models of the basilar membrane and can be readily incorporated into the CI speech processor. Spectral analysis showed that formant information is more saliently represented at the output of the proposed CI speech processor compared to the conventional strategy in noisy conditions. Acoustic simulation and hearing experiments showed that the DRNL-based nonlinear strategy improves speech performance in a speech-spectrum-shaped noise.</P>

The effect of neuropeptides on secretion of Interleukin-8(IL-8)

Kim, Kyung-Jun,Park, Sang-Hyuk,Choi, Kyoung-Kyu,Park, Sang-Jin 大韓齒科保存學會 2006 Restorative Dentistry & Endodontics Vol.31 No.3

본 연구는 치수조직, 치은, 치주인대로부터 배양된 조직을 SP (Substance P)로 4시간, SP, CGRP (Calcitonin Gene-related Peptide), Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)로 8시간 자극 후 RNase Protection Assay를 시행하고, IL-8의 분비량을 측정해 다음 결과를 얻었다. 1. IL-8 mRNA는 모든세포에서 발현됐다. 2. IL-8 mRNA 발현은 SP (10^(-5)M)와 SP (10^(-8)M)로 4시간 자극 시 증가되지 않았다. 3. IL-8 mRNA 발현은 SP (10^(-4)M)와 CGRP (10^(-6)M)로 8시간 자극 시 증가되지 않았다. 4. TNF-α (2 ng/㎖) 자극 시, IL-8 mRNA 발현이 증가됐다. 5. 치은 세포를 CGRP (10^(-6)M)로 8시간 자극 시, IL-8 분비량이 증가했다 (p < 0.05). 6. 치주인대 세포를 SP (10^(-4)M)로 8시간 자극 시 IL-8 분비량이 증가했다 (p < 0.05). We investigated the secretion of Interleukin-8 (IL-8) from ginviva and periodontal ligament stimulated with Substance P (SP) and Calcitonin Gene-related Peptide (CGRP). Gingiva (GF), periodontal ligament (PDLF) and pulp (PF) tissues were collected from extracted instact 3rd molars. Cultured cells were stimulated with different concentrations of SP for 4 hrs, and stimulated with SP, CGRP and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) for 8 hrs. Then RNase Protection Assay was carried out. ELISA was performed using supernatants of stimulated cells for quantitative analysis of IL-8. Results were assessed using supernatants of stimulated cells for quantitative analysis of IL-8. Results were assessed using student t-test with significance of P < 0.05. According to this study, the results were as follows: 1. IL-8 mRNA was detected in all type of cells studied (PF, GF and PDLF). 2. IL-8 mRNA expression was not increased after stimulating 4 hrs with SP (10^(-5)M) and SP (10^(-8)M) compared with Mock stimulation in all type of cells studied. 3. IL-8 mRNA expression was not increased after stimulating 8 hrs with SP (10^(-4)M) and CGRP (10^(-6)M) compared with Mock stimulation in all type of cells studied. 4. TNF-α (2 ng/㎖) increased the expression of IL-8 mRNA in all kind of cells studied. 5. The secretion of IL-8 from GF was increased 8 hrs after the stimulation with CGRP (10^(-6)M) (p < 0.05). 6. The secretion of IL-8 from PDLF was increased 8 hrs after the stimulation with SP (10^(-4)M) (p < 0.05). Calcitonin Gene-related Peptide (CGRP) increased Interleukin-8 (IL-8) which plays an important role in chemotaxis of neutrophil in Calcitonin Gene-related Peptide (CGRP) gingival tissue, whereas Substance P increased the secretion of IL-8 from periodontal ligament.

Associations of serotonergic genes with poststroke emotional incontinence

Kim, Jae‐,Min,Stewart, Robert,Kang, Hee‐,Ju,Bae, Kyung‐,Yeol,Kim, Sung‐,Wan,Shin, Il‐,Seon,Kim, Joon‐,Tae,Park, Man‐,Seok,Cho, Ki‐,Hyun,Yoon, Jin‐ John Wiley Sons, Ltd 2012 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY Vol.27 No.8

<P><B>Objectives</B></P><P>Poststroke emotional incontinence (PSEI) has been associated with serotonergic dysfunction. Polymorphisms of serotonin transporter (5‐HTT) and serotonin 2a receptor (5‐HTR2a) genes may regulate serotonergic signaling at brain synapses, and this study was to investigate associations with PSEI in an East Asian population.</P><P><B>Methods</B></P><P>In 276 stroke cases, PSEI was diagnosed by Kim's criteria. Covariates included age, gender, education, history of depression or stroke, current depression, and stroke severity and location. Genotypes were ascertained for 5‐HTT gene‐linked promoter region (5‐HTTLPR), serotonin transporter intron 2 variable number tandem repeat, 5‐HTR2a 1438A/G, and 5‐HTR2a 102 T/C. Associations with PSEI were estimated by using logistic regression models, and gene–gene interactions were investigated by using the generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction method.</P><P><B>Results</B></P><P>PSEI was present in 37 (13.4%) patients. The 5‐HTT gene‐linked promoter region <I>s</I>/<I>s</I> genotype was independently associated with PSEI. No associations with STin2 VNTR and 5‐HTR2a genes were found, and no significant gene–gene interactions were identified.</P><P><B>Conclusions</B></P><P>Stroke patients with 5‐HTTLPR <I>s</I> allele had higher susceptibility to PSEI, which underlines the potential role of serotonergic pathways in its etiology. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.</P>

운하-연안 연계용 바아지의 구조 설계 및 해석

김경수(Kyung-Su Kim),손충렬(Choong-Yul Son),김성준(Sung-Joon Kim) 한국해양공학회 1999 韓國海洋工學會誌 Vol.13 No.2

Two types of barge, container and tanker vessels, are designed with specific dimensions for canal-coastal shipping in Kyung-In canal and Yellow Sea region. The principal dimensions of barges are determined by considering the environment of Kyung-In canal and Yellow Sea. The selection of structure type and strength confirmation is conducted by the technical rules of Korean Register of Shipping.<br/> For the structural analysis of designed barges, the semi-direct structural analysis is carried out with using MSC NASTRAN software. Applying identical dimensions to both vessels, the standardization of structural design and analysis procedure are introduced.

자연휴양림 이용자 요구사항 및 만족

서경석 ( Kyung Seok Seo ),윤성훈 ( Sung Hun Yoon ),김갑열 ( Gab Youl Kim ) 한국감정평가학회 2011 감정평가학논집 Vol.10 No.2

The research was studied about measure how each element affect to recreational forest visitors. And I can provide the useful information for the strategic decision-making to make value-up through characterization and differentiation of recreational forest. Those who use recreational forest were studied. Survey area was divided into five regions; Kyung-gi province, Kang-won province, Chung-chong province, Kyung-sang province and Jeon-ra province. And then national and local governments, individuals were classified as operating principals. Empirical analysis were analyzed by applying the Kano model. The questionnaire was analyzed by statistical methods; for data processing, along with a test of reliability in the measuring tools, frequency analysis. Human services and nature management components of recreational forest were classified as one-dimensional quality. Most users are more concerned about these elements. Recreational forest visitors are more concerned about quality associated with software components rather than hardware components. Recreational forest visitors with high interests and a high level of satisfaction about recreational forest has more concerned about the quality.

Protective Effects of N-acetylcystenine and Selenium against Doxorubicin Toxicity in Rats

Yeo-sung Yoon,Sun-don Kim,Min-hye Lee,Heung-shik S.Lee,In-se Lee,Je-kyung Sung,Eun-sung Park 대한수의학회 2003 Journal of Veterinary Science Vol.4 No.2

Effects of N-acetylcysteine and Selenium against Doxorubicin Toxicity in RatsEun-sung Park, Sun-don Kim1, Min-hye Lee, Heung-shik S. Lee, In-se Lee, Je-kyung Sung and Yeo-sung Yoon*

자궁경부암에서 혈관 내피 성장인자 ( VEGF ) 및 VEGF Mrna 의 발현에 대한 연구

이선경(Seon Kyung Lee),김승보(Seung Bo Kim),지성길(Sung Gil Chi),염윤석(Yoon Seok Yum),이주희(Ju Hee Lee) 대한산부인과학회 2002 Obstetrics & Gynecology Science Vol.45 No.1

N/A Objective : Angiogenesis, the formation of blood vessels by sprouting from pre-existing ones, is essential for the growth of solid tumors beyond 2~3mm in diameter and for tumor metastasis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), is known as vascular permeability factor(VPF) and mediates vascularization and tumor-induced angiogenesis. This study examined the potential of growth, invasion, and metastasis of uterine cervical carcinomas associated with neovascularization. Methods : From January 1996 to December 1999, at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kyung-Hee University Hospital, 37 uterine cervical carcinomas and 7 normal cervical tissues were obtained and the samples were immediately frozen and stored at -70℃. Immunohistochemical staining for VEGF was carried out to study VEGF localization, and the levels of VEGF subtype mRNAs were determined by quantitative RT-PCR in specimens. The relation between VEGF subtypes expression of cervical cancers was analysed. Results : The positive staining for VEGF is seen dominantly in the cytoplasm of the cancer cells, and faintly in interstitial cells. The intensity of staining was stronger in squamous carcinomas than in adenocrcinomas, but there was no significant difference (p>0.05). Quantitative RT-PCR analysis demonstrated significantly increased VEGF121/VEGF165 mRNA expression levels (>0.56/>0.72) in 21 (56.8%) and 15 (40.5%) of 37 cervical carcinomas comparing to control groups (mean: 0.28/0.36). There was no obvious relationship between VEGF121/VEGF165 mRNA expression levels and the clinical parameters examined including age, pathology, differentiation, tumor size, lymphovascular space invasion, LN involvement and invasion depth except clinical stage (p<0.05). Conclusions : The overexpression of VEGF mRNA may be an important contributing factor in cervical carcinomas. There is no significant differenece of VEGF mRNAs levels according to clinical parameters, so it seems that the expression of VEGF is involved in the promotion of angiogenesis on cervical cancer and plays an important role in early invasion.

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.

제주도 지하수 질산염 농도의 시·공간적 변화 특성: 장기(1993-2015) 모니터링 자료의 평가

김호림(Ho-Rim Kim),오준섭(Junseop Oh),도현권(Hyun-Kwon Do),이경진(Kyung-Jin Lee),현익현(Ik-Hyun Hyun),오상실(Sang-Sil Oh),감상규(Sang-Kyu Kam),윤성택(Seong-Taek Yun) 대한자원환경지질학회 2018 자원환경지질 Vol.51 No.1

1993년부터 2015년까지 관측된 제주도 지하수 장기모니터링 관측정(N = 4,835)에서 수집된 지하수 수질자료(N = 21,568)를 기반으로 질산성질소의 시공간적 변동 특성을 평가하였다. 제주도 지하수의 질산성질소 농도의 중앙값은 2.5 mg/L로서 다른 국가나 대륙의 조사 결과에 비해 다소 높거나 유사한 것으로 나타났다. 또한 지하수 용도, 행정구역 및 고도 별로 유의한 차이를 보였다. 특히, 산간 지역에 비해 저지대 해안가에 위치한 농업 및 주거지역에서 농도가 높음을 확인하였다. Mann-Kendall 및 Sen’s slope 분석을 활용한 질산성질소 농도의 추세 분석 결과, 하류 저지 대에 비해 중산간지역에서의 질산성질소 농도 증가 경향이 뚜렷하였다. 제주도 내 토지 피복의 시계열 변화 특성과 결부 지어 보면, 중산간지역의 오염 증가 추세는 농업지역의 확장 등 인위적 활동 증가에 기인한 결과로 판단된다. 반면,기지정된 지하수자원특별관리구역에서는 전반적으로 질산성질소 농도의 감소 경향이 나타났는데, 이는 지하수 관리 측면에서 수질관리를 위한 적극적인 정책이 유효함을 시사한다. 본 연구에서는 제주도 지하수의 질산성질소 오염관리를 위한 적정 방안을 제안한다. The spatio-temporal variations of nitrate concentrations in groundwater of Jeju Island were evaluated by an analysis of time series groundwater quality data (N = 21,568) that were collected from regional groundwater monitoring (number of wells = 4,835) for up to 20 years between 1993 and 2015. The median concentration of NO 3 -N is 2.5 mg/L, which is slightly higher than those reported from regional surveys in other countries. Nitrate concentrations of groundwater in wells tend to significantly vary according to different water usage (of the well), administrative districts, and topographic elevations: nitrate level is higher in low-lying agricultural and residential areas than those in high mountainous areas. The Mann-Kendall trend test and Sen’s slope analysis show that nitrate concentration in mid-mountainous areas tends to increase, possibly due to the expansion of agricultural areas toward highland. On the other hand, nitrate concentrations in the Specially Designated Groundwater Quality Protection Zones show the temporally decreasing trend, which implies the efficiency of groundwater management actions in Jeju. Proper measures for sustainable groundwater quality management are suggested in this study.