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Background: Climate change significantly influences the geographical distribution of plant species worldwide. Selecting indicator species allows for better-informed and more effective ecosystem management in response to climate change. The Korean Peninsula is the northernmost distribution zone of warm temperate evergreen broad-leaved (WTEB) species in Northeast Asia. Considering the ecological value of these species, we evaluated the current distribution range and future suitable habitat for 13 WTEB tree species designated as climate-sensitive biological indicator species. Results: Up-to-date and accurate WTEB species distribution maps were constructed using herbarium specimens and citizen science data from the Korea Biodiversity Observation Network. Current northern limits for several species have shifted to higher latitudes compared to previous records. For example, the northern latitude limit for Stauntonia hexaphylla is higher (37° 02' N, Deokjeokdo archipelago) than that reported previously (36° 13' N). The minimum temperature of the coldest month (Bio6) is the major factor influencing species distribution. Under future climate change scenarios, suitable habitats are predicted to expand toward higher latitudes inland and along the western coastal areas. Conclusions: Our results support the suitability of WTEB trees as significant biological indicators of species' responses to warming. The findings also suggest the need for consistent monitoring of species distribution shifts. This study provides an important baseline dataset for future monitoring and management of indicator species' responses to changing climate conditions in South Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors attempt to identify the types of marketing strategies that Korean marketers employ in China and investigate the strategies' relationships with market performance. The authors expect Korean marketing strategies in China to differ from those of Western multinational corporations. Data were collected from surveys of managers of 86 Korean firms. The results identify four groups of firms with distinctive marketing strategies, including firms pursuing a localization strategy, those emphasizing product competitiveness, those pursuing a medium price-quality positioning strategy, and those passively selling quality products at high prices. In addition, the analysis suggests that Korean firms emphasizing product competitiveness have superior market performance, whereas firms pursuing localization show poor performance. Conversely, Korean firms pursuing the medium price--quality positioning strategy with an emphasis on value for money exhibit moderately good performance. Finally, the authors also discuss managerial implications pertaining to appropriate marketing strategies and tactics for Korean marketers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Studies on Clostridium difficile are rare in Korea. We investigated the epidemiological characteristics of C. difficile isolates from patients with C. difficile-associated disease (CDAD) in Korea. Methods: Multiplex polymerase chain reaction was performed to detect the presence of tcdA and tcdB toxin genes. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was carried out by the disk-dilution method. C. difficile strains were subtyped by automated repetitive-element palindromic PCR (rep-PCR). Results: Among patients with CDAD, 73 (25.8%), 32 (11.3%), 32 (11.3%), and 26 (9.2%) suffered from pneumonia, cancer or neoplasm, diabetes, and colitis, respectively. Of all stool samples, 43 samples (15.2%) were positive for C. difficile strains. We observed two expression patterns of toxin genes: tcdA+/tcdB+ (86% isolates) and tcdA-/tcdB+ (14% isolates), with all isolates expressing tcdB. Furthermore, some isolates were resistant to clindamycin (65%), ampicillin (56%), and cefazolin (40%), but all were susceptible to vancomycin and metronidazole. The tested samples were classified into diverse clusters using automated rep-PCR. Conclusion: Our findings revealed the characteristics and antibiotic resistance of C. difficile isolates from patients in Korea. The epidemiological data may provide valuable insight into development of treatment strategies for C. difficile infections in Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of obesity in Korean men with Klinefelter syndrome (KS) and the associated risk factors for obesity and hyperglycemia. Methods: Data were collected retrospectively from medical records from 11 university hospitals in Korea between 1994 and 2014. Subjects aged ≥18 years with newly diagnosed KS were enrolled. The following parameters were recorded at baseline before treatment: chief complaint, height, weight, fasting glucose level, lipid panel, blood pressure, testosterone, luteinizing hormone, folliclestimulating hormone, karyotyping patterns, and history of hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. Results: Data were analyzed from 376 of 544 initially enrolled patients. The rate of the 47 XXY chromosomal pattern was 94.1%. The prevalence of obesity (body mass index ≥25 kg/m2) in Korean men with KS was 42.6%. The testosterone level was an independent risk factor for obesity and hyperglycemia. Conclusion: Obesity is common in Korean men with KS. Hypogonadism in patients with KS was associated with obesity and hyperglycemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: The benefit of oral antiviral therapy in preventing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the general population is not well understood. We used a novel prediction method to estimate the risk of HCC in the Korean population based on various treatment guidelines. Methods: The 5-year risk of HCC following antiviral therapy was calculated using an HCC risk prediction model. A virtual cohort that represented Koreans (>40 years old) with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection was established using the fifth National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The antiviral indications tested were the Korean National Health Insurance (NHI) and European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) guidelines as well as a new extended indication (serum HBV DNA >2,000 IU/mL regardless of serum aminotransferase level). Results: A total of 993,872 subjects were infected with HBV in the general Korean population. Over a 5-year period, 2,725 HCC cases were predicted per 100,000 persons (0.55%/yr). When the cohort was treated based on the Korean NHI, the EASL, and the newly extended indications, HCC risks decreased to 2,531 (–7.1%), 2,089 (–23.3%), and 1,122 (–58.8%) cases per 100,000 persons, respectively (p<0.0001). Conclusions: Simulated risk prediction suggests that extending of oral antiviral indication may reduce the HCC risk in the general population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To test if there is a stepwise difference in neonatal outcomes according to the stage (or grade) of histological inflammatory response in the chorioamniotic membranes and umbilical cords of preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM). Method: This retrospective study included singleton pregnancies diagnosed as PPROM and delivered prior to 34 weeks of gestation (n=339). Acute histological chorioamnionitis and funisitis were subdivided into stages (or grade) as defined by Redline et al. Neonatal composite morbidities and mortality were also monitored. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted. Results: Increasing stage (or grade) of acute histological chorioamnionitis and funisitis was significantly associated with an earlier gestational age at membrane rupture and delivery. Among neonatal outcomes, respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), intraventricular hemorrhage, retinopathy of prematurity, and composite morbidity showed incremental incidence according to increased stage (or grade) of acute chorioamnionitis, while periventricular leukomalacia and necrotizing enterocolitis did not. Only RDS, BPD, and composite morbidity showed similar incremental incidences associated with severity of funisitis stage. However, the incremental trends of each neonatal outcome were found to be nonsignificant by multivariate analysis adjusting confounding variables including gestational age at delivery. Conclusion: Higher incidences of neonatal morbidity according to increased stage (or grade) of either acute histological chorioamnionitis or funisitis were due to an earlier gestational age at delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sarcopenia has been defined as the considerable loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength that results in frailty in the elderly. Because muscle tissue plays diverse important roles in human, sarcopenia presents many negative health-related consequences including impaired energy homeostasis, falls and cardiovascular disease, and subsequently higher mortality. It is becoming evident that sarcopenia has a negative impact on the healthy life of the elderly. The European Working Group on Sarcopenia, the International Working Group on Sarcopenia and the Asian Working Group on Sarcopenia have released position statement regarding sarcopenia, and more recently the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health Sarcopenia Project has provided a new guideline for assessment of sarcopenia. At this time, there have been several data delineating the status of sarcopenia in Korea. This review focuses on largescale cohorts that assessed sarcopenia and highlights the controversies surrounding the clinical definition and prevalence of sarcopenia in Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term measurement of speciated Hg concentrations is the first step toward identifying the seasonal and spatial characteristics of Hg concentrations; however, atmospheric Hg research is scarce in Korea. In this study, total gaseous mercury (TGM), gaseous oxidized mercury (GOM) and particle-bound mercury (PBM) were measured in urban (Seoul) and rural (Chuncheon) areas over a more than 3 year period in order to improve the understanding of speciated Hg transport. The mean concentrations of TGM, GOM and PBM were 3.72 ± 2.96 (0.19-149.84) ng m-3, 11.3 ± 9.5 (0.9-57.3) pg m-3, and 13.4 ± 12.0 (2.1-64.3) pg m-3 at the Seoul site and 2.12 ± 1.47 (0.26-10.75) ng m-3, 2.7 ± 2.7 (0.1-16.9) pg m-3, and 3.7 ± 5.7 (0.1-30.0) pg m-3 in Chuncheon. Both long-range transport and local sources caused high TGM concentration events, while local coal combustion was a main cause of enhancing the GOM and PBM concentrations in Seoul. However, there was no correlation between the pollutants emitted from coal combustion and the speciated Hg concentration in Chuncheon, indicating that other mechanisms were involved in the Hg increase. We found a positive correlation between the GOM and the O3 concentrations and a negative correlation between the GEM and the GOM concentrations, especially on foggy days, suggesting that the oxidation of GEM was an important source for GOM in Chuncheon. In addition, the ratio of PBM/GOM was inversely proportional to the atmospheric temperature and directly proportional to the relative humidity, which suggests that the in-situ formation of PBM through gas-particle partitioning of GOM was important in rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate factors associated with sexual debut among Korean middle school students. Methods: From the database of the Eighth Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (KYRBS), the researchers selected 37,297 middle school students aged 12-15 years. Data were analyzed using x2 test and multiple logistic regression with the SPSS WIN 18.0 program. Results: The proportion of middle school students who had a sexual debut was 2.1% of boys and 1.5% of girls. In multiple regression analysis, economic status, experience of part time work, smoking, drug use and depression were associated with an increased proportion of sexual intercourse for both boys and girls. Living with parents, drinking alcohol and suicidal ideation were associated with sexual debut for boys only. By contrast, formal sexual education was associated with a reduced risk of sexual debut. Conclusion: The results of this study show the factors associated with sexual debut among Korean middle school students. Gender-related interventions should be taken into consideration in school sexual education programmes, because of differences in related factors according to gender. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate: the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Korean women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and the relationship between vitamin D status and clinical or metabolic features in this group. Methods: We recruited 38 women with PCOS using the Rotterdam criteria. A total of 109 premenopausal control women were matched with patients based on age and body mass index. Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D concentrations less than 20 ng/mL were classified as frank vitamin D deficiency. Since vitamin D may play a significant role in metabolic disturbances in women with PCOS, correlations between clinical or metabolic parameters and vitamin D status were analyzed separately in patients and controls. Results: Women with PCOS showed no differences in the level of 25-hydroxy vitamin D (19.6±6.6 ng/mL in patients vs. 20.1±7.4 ng/mL in controls, respectively, p=0.696) or prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (57.9% in patients vs. 56.5% in controls, respectively, p=0.880). In addition, we did not find any correlations between serum vitamin D level and clinical or metabolic profiles in either PCOS patients or controls. Conclusion: Our study found no differences in the absolute level of serum vitamin D between PCOS patients and matched controls. Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was equally common among both patients and controls. Additionally, we did not find any correlations between serum vitamin D level and clinical or metabolic profiles, suggesting that the role of vitamin D in the pathogenesis of PCOS is not yet clear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The "small group support" program was implemented to ensure the visibility and empowerment of women in science, engineering and technology (SET) primarily in the Busan, Ulsan and Gyeongnam region of Korea. The realization of this program was based on studies showing that the contingent type of employment is significantly higher in women in this southeastern region. Moreover, underrepresentation of women in the science and technology sectors has been shown to be more serious in areas further away from the national capital. The major outcomes of this project in 2010 include the formation of two new legal associations of women in SET in the region. In 2011, ten additional "small groups" were funded, resulting in better networking opportunities that contributed to the uplifting of the morale of the participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In order to provide a systematic and standardized treatment course for MVD patients, a critical pathway (CP) program was developed and the results of its long term application were analyzed. Methods: This was a methodological study. The CP was established and applied to 75 (step I) and 1,216 (step II). Another group of 56 with similar features was used as a control group. Results: The application of CP turned out to be useful in many regards: the rate of hearing loss was reduced from 1.8% to 0% (step I) and 0.5% (step II), and low cranial nerve palsy was reduced from 1.8% to 1.3% and 0.7%, respectively. The length of hospitalization decreased by 2.56 days (25.2%) for step I and 3.05 days (30.0%) for step II. Days of ICU stay were reduced by 7.9% and 1.8%. The total cost per patient was reduced by 14.8% (step I). The cost per day was increased by 13.7% and 52.4%. An increase in the patient satisfaction index was noted, as shown in the ICU information guide (p=.002). Conclusion: The development and application of CP was found to improve the quality of medical treatment and the efficacy of hospital management in MVD patients. Well organized and efficient system and multidisciplinary teamwork are the key component of the successful application of CP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background A new controlled-release formulation of sarpogrelate, a 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor subtype 2 antagonist that blocks serotonin-induced platelet aggregation, has been developed for once-daily administration. Objective This study evaluated the effect of food on the pharmacokinetic properties of controlled-release sarpogrelate (sarpogrelate CR) in healthy volunteers. Methods A randomized, open-label, two-period, two-treatment crossover study was performed in healthy male Korean subjects. Following an overnight fast, a single dose of sarpogrelate CR 300 mg was administered either in the fasted condition or immediately after a high-fat breakfast. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using a noncompartmental analysis. Tolerability was determined using clinical laboratory testing and physical examination, including vital sign measurements, electrocardiography, and interviews with the volunteers regarding adverse events (AEs). Results A total of 24 healthy subjects were enrolled, 23 of whom completed the study (mean [range] age, 26 years [21-45]; weight, 68.1 kg [56.0-79.9]; body mass index, 22.1 kg/m² [18.8-25.0]). Sarpogrelate Cmax and AUClast were decreased In the fed condition compared with those in the fasted condition, with geometric mean ratios (90% CI) of 0.4868 (0.4041-0.5864) and 0.7394 (0.6809-0.8028), respectively. Tmax was delayed from 0.75 to 4.0 hours after a high-fat meal, but the fed condition exhibited a similar elimination profile to that of the fasted condition. The most commonly reported AE was headache (n = 2), and other AEs were reported in 1 subject each. All of the AEs were considered mild in intensity, and the participants recovered without treatment. Conclusions Compared with the administration of sarpogrelate CR 300 mg in the fasted condition, administration with food was associated with a decreased rate and extent of absorption, as assessed by Cmax and AUClast, respectively. The drug was well-tolerated by the healthy subjects in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate change in glycosylated hemoglobin (HbAlc),. side effects, and quality of life (QOL) after a 16-week treatment period with Biphasic insulin aspart 30/70 (BIasp3O) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who had been suboptimally controlled with oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs). Methods: The study consisted of a 4-week titration period when concurrent OAD(s) were replaced with BIasp3O and followed by a 12-week maintenance period. All patients completed the Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire at the beginning and the end of the trial. Hypoglycemic episodes were recorded by the patient throughout the trial. Results: Sixty patients were included, of whom 55 patients (92%) completed the full 16-week treatment period. Seven-point blood glucose was significantly improved as compared with the baseline, except for the postlunch blood glucose level. HbAlc at the end of period was significantly improved from 9.2% to 8.2% (P<0.001). Eleven percent (n=6) of patients achieved HbAlc values ≦6.5% and 22% (n= 12) of patients achieved <7.0%. There were 3.4 episodes/patients-year of minor hypoglycemia and 0.05 episodes/patients-year of major hypoglycemia. QOL showed significant changes only in the acceptability of high blood glucose category (P=0.003). Conclusion: Treatment with once or twice daily BIasp3O may be an option for the patients with T2DM suboptimally controlled with OADs in Korea. However, considering the low number of patients achieving the HbAlc target and the high postlunch blood glucose levels, additional management with another modality may be required for optimal control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The treatment of knee osteoarthritis, which is a major cause of disability among the elderly, is typically selected from multidisciplinary options, including complementary and alternative medicine. Moxibustion has been used in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis in Korea to reduce pain and improve physical activity. However, there is no sufficient evidence of its effectiveness, and it cannot therefore be widely recommended for treating knee osteoarthritis. We designed a randomised controlled clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness, safety, cost-effectiveness, and qualitative characteristics of moxibustion treatment of knee osteoarthritis compared to usual care. Methods/designs: This is a protocol for a multicentre, pragmatic, randomised, assessor-blinded, controlled, parallel-group study. A total of 212 participants will be assigned to the moxibustion group (n = 106) and the usual care group (n = 106) at 4 clinical research centres. The participants assigned to the moxibustion group will receive moxibustion treatment of the affected knee(s) at 6 standard acupuncture points (ST36, ST35, ST34, SP9, Ex-LE04, and SP10) 3 times per week for 4 weeks (a total of 12 sessions). Participants in the usual care group will not receive moxibustion treatment during the study period. Follow-up will be performed on the 5th and 13th weeks after random allocation. Both groups will be allowed to use any type of treatment, including surgery, conventional medication, physical treatment, acupuncture, herbal medicine, over-the-counter drugs, and other active treatments. Educational material that explains knee osteoarthritis, the current management options, and self-exercise will be provided to each group. The global scale of the Korean Western Ontario and McMaster Osteoarthritis Index (KWOMAC) will be the primary outcome measurement used in this study. Other subscales (pain, stiffness, and function) of the K-WOMAC, the Short-Form 36v2 Health Survey, the Beck Depression Inventory, the Physical Function test, Patient Global Assessment, and the Pain Numerical Rating Scale will be used as outcome variables to evaluate the effectiveness of moxibustion. Safety will be assessed at every visit. In addition, an economic evaluation and a qualitative study will be conducted as a mixed-methods approach. Discussion: This trial may contribute to developing evidence for the effectiveness and safety of moxibustion for treating knee osteoarthritis. Trial registration: Clinical Research information Service: KCT0000130 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer has been the leading cause of death in Korea for the last 30 years. Cancer patients' 5-year survival rate between 2005 and 2009 was 62.0%, representing a highly advanced standard of care, as much as developed countries in the EU and the US. The Korean government formulated its first 10-year plan for cancer control in 1996 and has been carrying out a second 10-year plan for cancer control since 2006. But despite the Korean government's efforts, the cancer burden in Korea continues to increase. Many separate laws have gone into effect concerning the management of carcinogen exposure. However, there are no integrated regulatory laws or management systems against carcinogen exposure in Korea. Dead zones remain where carcinogen exposure cannot be controlled properly in Korea. In this paper, we suggest the need to establish a national carcinogen list based on international harmonization as a prerequisite for a paradigm shift in cancer control policy from treatment to primary prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to use meta-analysis to evaluate the variables related to depression in patients who have had a stroke. Methods: The materials of this study were based on 16 variables obtained from 26 recent studies over a span of 10 years which were selected from doctoral dissertations, master's thesis and published articles. Results: Related variables were categorized into sixteen variables and six variable groups which included general characteristics of the patients, disease characteristics, psychological state, physical function, basic needs, and social variables. Also, the classification of six defensive and three risk variables group was based on the negative or positive effect of depression. The quality of life (ES= -.79) and acceptance of disability (ES=-.64) were highly correlated with depression in terms of defensive variables. For risk variables, anxiety (ES=.66), stress (ES=.53) showed high correlation effect size among the risk variables. Conclusion: These findings showed that defensive and risk variables were related to depression among stroke patients. Psychological interventions and improvement in physical functions should be effective in decreasing depression among stroke patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Reduced lung function is associated with incident insulin resistance and diabetes. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between lung function and incident type 2 diabetes in Korean men. Methods: This study included 9,220 men (mean age: 41.4 years) without type 2 diabetes at baseline who were followed for five years. Subjects were divided into four groups according to baseline forced vital capacity (FVC) (% predicted) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) (% predicted) quartiles. The incidence of type 2 diabetes at follow-up was compared according to FVC and FEV1 quartiles. Results: The overall incidence of type 2 diabetes was 2.2%. Reduced lung function was significantly associated with the incidence of type 2 diabetes after adjusting for age, BMI, education, smoking, exercise, alcohol, and HOMA-IR. Both FVC and FEV1 were negatively associated with type 2 diabetes (P<0.05). In non-obese subjects with BMI<25, the lowest quartile of FVC and FEV1 had a significantly higher odds ratio for type 2 diabetes compared with the highest quartile after adjusting for age and BMI (2.15 [95% CI 1.02-4.57] and 2.19 [95% CI 1.09-4.42]). Conclusions: Reduced lung function is independently associated with the incidence of type 2 diabetes in Korean men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence of idiopathic precocious puberty is rapidly increasing in Korea. The most common medication used for treatment is a gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist. However, there is some debate regarding the indication and timing of treatment, and the dosage of the medication, because there are many factors that can affect growth in children after delaying puberty. Also, there are new medications that can potentially delay the puberty with children, for example, gonadotropin releasing hormone antagonists and aromatase inhibitors which require extensive further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Fluoroquinolone resistance of Helicobacter pylori is known to be dependent on mutations in the QRDR of gyrA. This study was performed to investigate the distribution of gyrA point mutations and to evaluate the impact of the mutations on second-line H. pylori eradication therapy. Methods: After H. pylori isolation from gastric mucosal specimens, fluoroquinolone resistance was examined using the agar dilution method. DNA sequencing of the QRDR of gyrA was performed in 89 fluoroquinoloneresistant and 27 fluoroquinolone-susceptible isolates. Transformation experiments were performed to confirm mutations in the resistant strains. The eradication rates of moxifloxacin-containing triple therapy were evaluated depending on the resistance of fluoroquinolone. Results: The gyrA mutations were detected in 75.3% (55 of 73 strains) of the primary resistant strains and 100% (16 strains) of the secondary resistant strains. The most common mutations were Asp-91 (36.0%) and Asn-87 (33.7%). The MIC values in the transformed strains differed depending on the gyrA mutations, N87, and D91. Six patients with fluoroquinoloneresistant strains received moxifloxacin-containing triple therapy as the second-line therapy, and two of three patients with Asn-87 mutations (66.7%) failed in the eradication. By contrast, three patients with Asp-91 mutations had successful eradication treatment. Conclusions: Fluoroquinolone resistance of H. pylori was caused by gyrA Asn-87 and Asp-91 point mutations. The Asn-87 mutation seems to be an important determinant of failure of fluoroquinolone-containing triple eradication therapy based on eradication results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Snow crabs, Chionoecetes spp., are among the commercially most important species of Decapoda in the world, and proper stock assessment and management are required for their sustainable use. In the present study, morphological characteristics of three snow crabs, Chionoecetes japonicus, Chionoecetes opilio and a hybrid form exhibiting characteristics intermediate between those of the parent species, Chionoecetes japonicus/opilio, have been compared. The ratio of carapace length including rostral horn (CL(RL)) to carapace width (CW) in C. japonicus, C. opilio, and the C. japonicus/opilio hybrid was 0.973 ± 0.020, 0.983 ± 0.019, and 0.956 ± 0.019, respectively. The only significant difference in regression slope among the three crabs, was between CW and chela height (CH), indicating that at a given size, the hybrid form is the fastest in the growth of chela height in relation to carapace width. In C. japonicus and C. opilio, the relationship between CW and total weight (TW) was significantly negatively allometric, while in the hybrids, it was significantly positively allometric. This indicates that at a given size, the hybrid form is heavier than the others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yun J, Lee J, Jang J, Lee EJ, Jang KT, Kim JH, Kim K-M. KIT amplification and gene mutations in acral/mucosal melanoma in Korea. APMIS 2011; 119: 330-5. Mucosal and acral melanomas have demonstrated different genetic alterations and biological behavior compared with more common cutaneous melanomas. It was recently reported that gain-of-function KIT mutations and/or copy number increases are more common in mucosal and acral melanomas. Thus, we studied the frequency and pattern of KIT aberrations in mucosal and acral melanomas in Korea. We analyzed 97 patients who were pathologically confirmed with mucosal or acral melanoma between 1997 and 2010 at Samsung Medical Center. Of the 97 melanoma patients, 92 were screened for mutations in KIT exons 11, 13, 17, and 18, BRAF and NRAS genes. KIT copy number was assessed by quantitative, real-time PCR. Of the 97 patients, 55 (56.7%) were mucosal, 40 (41.2%) were acral melanoma, and two were of unknown primary origin. Among seven cases with KIT mutation, five (60.0%) occurred in exon 11, one (20.0%) in exon 17, and one (20.0%) in exon 13. Point mutations were the most common, resulting in substitutions in exon 11 (K558R, T574A, L576P, and V559A), exon 13 (N655K), and exon 17 (N822K). A novel Thr574Ala (c.1720A>G) KIT mutation, which has not been reported in melanoma or other tumor types, was identified in one genital melanoma case. Of the 97 mucosal or acral melanoma specimens, 49 were tested for KIT gene copy number changes using quantitative PCR. Increased KIT copy number was identified in 15 patients: seven (40%) of 20 acral melanomas and eight (31%) of 26 mucosal melanomas. Our study implicates that a significant proportion of acral and mucosal melanomas have KIT mutations in Asian population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Varying clinical progress and long-term pulmonary sequelae have been associated with different adenoviral serotypes. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between serotype and clinical profiles of pediatric adenoviral pneumonia cases that occurred in Korea from 1996-1998. Nasopharyngeal aspirate samples from 44 adenovirus-positive patients presenting with acute severe respiratory disease were sent to reference laboratories for serotyping. Clinical course and chest X-rays were analyzed during the acute phase, and HRCTs were performed during the convalescent phase to identify long-term pulmonary complications. Ad-7 was associated with the most severe clinical course and resultant long-term pulmonary sequelae, followed by milder clinical course and lower frequency of sequelae in Ad-3 cases, and even milder outcomes in children infected with Ad-5. In complicated adenoviral pneumonia, certain serotypes prevail with Ad-7 being the most severe. Continued serotyping with the eventual goal of creating a database for the early diagnosis, treatment and prognostication of adenoviral pneumonia is needed. Please cite this paper as: Callaway Z, Kim SH, Kim JY, Kim DW and Kim C-K. Adenovirus infection with serious pulmonary sequelae in Korean children. Clin Respir J 2011; 5: 92-98. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sparganosis is a seldom encountered disease of the breast. Based on the results of previous studies and our own experience, we investigated the clinical characteristics of breast sparganosis. Method: Four patients who were treated for breast sparganosis at Samsung Medical Center were included in the study, and additional data were retrieved from the Index Medicus and the Science Citation Index (SCI). The Korean Medical (KM) database and the Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors (KAMJE) database were searched to include information from Korean journals that is not included in international citation indexes. Results: Among 35 patients, 8 (32%) had a record of oral ingestion of an intermediary host. All patients presented with a breast mass, with migration in 6 cases (25%) and pain or an itching sensation in 6 cases (25%). Elongated tubular structures were found in the subcutaneous layer in 22 cases (88%) during radiologic exam. All patients underwent complete surgical excision. Twenty-seven of 29 (93.1%) patients' spargana was separated and confirmed grossly. Histologically, granulomatous inflammation was the most common feature. A single worm was extracted in 16 cases (76.2%) and 5 cases (23.8%) had multiple worms. Conclusion: Sparganosis tends to present as a suspicious mass in the subcutaneous layer of the breast. Complete surgical excision is the treatment of choice, with careful postoperative surveillance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Donepezil has not been evaluated in Korean patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) for up to 1 year. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the differential efficacy of donepezil in Korean AD patients with and without concomitant cerebrovascular lesions (CVL). This study was a 48-week open-label trial of donepezil in patients with probable AD of mild to moderate severity. CVL were evaluated through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings within 3 months. Efficacy analyses were performed for cognitive, behavioral and functional outcome measures. Concomitant CVL were documented in 35 (30.7%) of the patients on MRI. Seventy-nine (69.3%) of the patients were considered not to have concomitant CVL. The mean Mini-Mental State Examination scores of both patients with and without CVL showed improvement at each evaluation. However, there was no statistical difference in improvement between the groups. The presence of CVL should not deter clinicians from treating AD with donepezil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effluent qualities of five municipal wastewater treatment facilities (MWWTFs) in Ulsan were evaluated to examine their reuse potential. Effluent from Yongyeon (Y) MWWTF, Onsan (O) MWWTF and Bangeojin (B) MWWTFs can be used as cooling water without further treatment. As evident from Langelier saturation index and Ryzner index values, reuse of treated effluent from OMWWTF and BMWWTFs is recommended by controlling the pH to reduce the scale-forming potential of effluent. However, effluents from these MWWTFs need additional treatment to remove residual dissolved constituents before reuse as boiler water. Besides, effluent from Hoiya (H) MWWTF and Unyang (U) MWWTFs can be reused for agricultural irrigation without any additional treatment. Based on the scientific results obtained from this investigation, proper application of technology and promotion of public awareness to change the traditional mindset for treated effluent reuse could immensely contribute towards conserving local water resources and addressing global environmental problems on a regional basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional (2-D) electrical resistivity and three-dimensional (3-D) gravity explorations were undertaken to estimate the 3-D distribution of karst cavities at the area of Yongweol-ri in Korea where ground subsidence has occurred. Although the gravity method is a low-cost way of analyzing a 3-D continuous structure, its vertical resolving power is poor. In contrast, the electrical resistivity method can provide a 2-D and/or 3-D subsurface structure with a much higher lateral and vertical resolution than the gravity method. Accordingly, geostatistical methods and density information were used to enhance the 2-D resistivity structure revealed by the electrical resistivity method into a 3-D structure. The assumptions are, first, that each data set senses the same underlying geological structure in terms of different material properties and, secondly, that two different material properties are correlated locally or globally throughout the entire target area. As a result, the distribution of limestone cavities can be estimated under the assumption that they are mostly filled with groundwater and clayey soils and have abnormally low levels of resistivity and density. The estimated distribution corresponds with the grouting, borehole imaging and monitoring data. In this example, it can be seen that the integration analysis of 2-D electrical resistivity and 3-D gravity methods is a very powerful tool for 3-D subsurface imaging and that the method can provide enhanced imaging capabilities for 3-D cavities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CitationJeon MJ, Choi YM, Hong MA, Lee GH, Ku SY, Kim SH, Kim JG, Moon SY. No Association between the GSTP1 exon 5 polymorphism and susceptibility to advanced stage endometriosis in the Korean population. Am J Reprod Immunol 2010; 63: 222–226 Problem To investigate whether the glutathione- S-transferase P1 ( GSTP1) exon 5 polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to advanced stage endometriosis in Korean women. Method of study Case–control study in a collective of 260 patients and 164 controls. Genotyping of the GSTP1 exon 5 polymorphism was performed by using real-time TaqMan PCR assay. Results The genotype distribution of the GSTP1 exon 5 polymorphism in the endometriosis group was not significantly different from that of the control group (AA/AG/GG rates were 64.2%/32.7%/3.1% and 65.2%/31.7%/3.0% for the endometriosis and control groups, respectively, P = 0.977). Further subgroup analysis according to either stage or bilaterality of ovarian endometrioma also found no significant difference in the genotype distribution between any of the endometriosis subgroups and the control group. Conclusion These findings suggest that the GSTP1 exon 5 polymorphism is not a major determinant of the development of advanced stage endometriosis in the Korean population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential association of the C627T polymorphism in the interleukin-2 receptor β gene (IL-2R β) with the risk of endometriosis in Korean women. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background and Aim: The lowest effective dose of proton pump inhibitors (PPI) for prevention of peptic ulcer rebleeding remains unclear. The objective of the present study was to evaluate whether low-dose PPI has a similar efficacy to high-dose i.v. administration for maintaining intragastric pH above 6. Methods: Sixty-one patients with bleeding ulcers were randomized into one of three groups after endoscopic hemostasis: pantoprazole 80 mg bolus followed by 8 mg/h; 40 mg, 4 mg/h infusion; and bolus injection of 40 mg every 24 h. Intragastric pH values and rebleeding rates were measured. In addition, pharmacokinetic parameters and association with CYP2C19 polymorphisms and H. pylori infection were assessed. Results: Mean percentage of time with intragastric pH > 6, and the proportion of patients with pH > 6 for more than 60% of the time were significantly higher in the 40 mg, 4 mg/h infusion group compared to the 40 mg bolus injection. There was no significant difference between the 80 mg, 8 mg/h and the 40 mg, 4 mg/h groups. In the H. pylori (−) group, only 40% of patients that received continuous infusion reached the target pH > 6 for more than 60% of the time; this was significantly lower than the H. pylori (+) group, 87.5% ( P = 0.026). Conclusions: A continuous infusion, regardless of high or low dose, was more effective for acid suppression than a 40 mg bolus PPI injection in Korea. H. pylori infection was an important factor for the maintenance of an intragastric pH > 6. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 57-year old man who was admitted to an emergency room of a tertiary hospital with hemoptysis developed malarial fever 19 days later and then died from severe falciparum malaria 2 days later. He had not traveled outside of Korea for over 30 years. Through intensive interviews and epidemiological surveys, we found that a foreign patient with a recent history of travel to Africa was transferred to the same hospital with severe falciparum malaria. We confirmed through molecular genotyping of the MSP-1 gene that Plasmodium falciparum genotypes of the 2 patients were identical. It is suggested that a breach of standard infection control precautions resulted in this P. falciparum transmission between 2 patients in a hospital environment. This is the first report of a nosocomial transmission of falciparum malaria in Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incidence and properties of Bacillus cereus strains naturally present in cereals were evaluated by phenotypic characterization, antibiotic susceptibility testing, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Of 293 cereal samples tested, 73 (25%) contained B. cereus strains. Incidence of B. cereus isolates varied with respect to sample; they were found in 15 (37%) of 83 brown rice samples, 23 (37%) of 63 glutinous rice samples, 16 (21%) of 76 barley samples, and 19 (27%) of 71 Job's tears samples. All B. cereus isolates from cereals were positive for diarrheal toxin genes. The isolates were susceptible to most of the antibiotics tested, but they were highly resistant to ampicillin, cefepime, oxacillin, and penicillin. Of the genes assayed by the PCR technique, a high frequency of nheA (99%) and hblDC (84%) was found in the genomic DNA of cereal-associated isolates, whereas cytK was less common (55%). From the strains carrying the hblDC genes, 93% produced enterotoxin HBL. B. cereus isolates did not have significant genetic homology. The genetic diversity and toxic potential differ among the strains isolated from cereals. These results provide important information on toxin gene profiles of cereal-associated B. cereus for population studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Following its recent re-emergence, malaria has gained renewed attention as a serious infectious disease in Korea. Three species of the Hyrcanusgroup, Anopheles lesteri, Anopheles sinensis and Anopheles pullus, have long been suspected malaria vectors. However, opinions about their vector ability are controversial. The present study was designed with the aim of determining the susceptibility of these mosquitoes to a Korean isolate of Plasmodium vivax. Also, An. sinensis is primarily suspected to be vector of malaria in Korea, but in Thailand, the same species is described to have less medical importance. Therefore, comparative susceptibility of Thai and Korean strains of An. sinensis with Thai strain of P. vivax may be helpful to understand whether these geographically different strains exhibit differences in their susceptibility or not. Methods: The comparative susceptibility of An. lesteri, An. sinensis and An. pullus was studied by feeding laboratory-reared mosquitoes on blood from patients carrying gametocytes from Korea and Thailand. Results: In experimental feeding with Korean strain of P. vivax, oocysts developed in An. lesteri, An. sinensis and An. pullus. Salivary gland sporozoites were detected only in An. lesteri and An. sinensis but not in An. pullus. Large differences were found in the number of sporozoites in the salivary glands, with An. lesteri carrying much higher densities, up to 2,105 sporozoites in a single microscope field of 750 × 560 μM, whereas a maximum of 14 sporozoites were found in any individual salivary gland of An. sinensis. Similar results were obtained from a susceptibility test of two different strains of An. sinensis to Thai isolate of P. vivax, and differences in vector susceptibility according to geographical variation were not detected. Conclusion: The high sporozoite rate and sporozoite loads of An. lesteri indicate that this species is highly susceptible to infection with P. vivax. Anopheles sinensis appears to have a markedly reduced ability to develop salivary gland infection, whilst in An. pullus, no sporozoites were found in the salivary glands. Provided that the survival rate of An. lesteri is sufficiently high in the field, it would be a highly competent vector of vivax malaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigations on reproductive aspects of the ridgetail prawn, Exopalaemon carinicauda were made in the Hampyong Bay of Korea from January 2003 to December 2004. Males and females comprised 31.6% and 68.4% of the total sample, respectively. There was a predominance of females in the sex ratio. Females progressively dominated the larger size classes. Female maturity was determined by the size of ovigerous females and of females with maturing ovary. The size at which 50% of females are mature is estimated as 14.97 ± 4.63 mm CL. The main breeding season, from June to August, coincided with higher gonadosomatic indices. A significant difference in ovarian weight between females with non-eyed and with eyed egg stages was found. In this season, ovaries rematured during embryonic development, indicating a potential for multiple ovulations. Based on the incubation time of the embryos, females seemed to have at least two broods per year. Brood size showed a positive allometry to female body size with no apparent egg loss during incubation. The egg volume increased by 91% from 0.78 ± 0.17 mm3 at non-eyed eggs to 1.50 ± 0.34 mm3 at eyed eggs. Based on dry weight, an egg batch averaged 14% of female weight, indicating an investment in egg production similar to that in other marine shrimps, but lower than that of freshwater shrimps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A macrocephalic pterostichine carabid, Pterostichus ishikawai Nemoto, endemic to the Korean Peninsula, is taxonomically revised based mainly on the membranous parts of the genitalia (male endophallus and female vagina). Two species are separated from P. ishikawai (type locality: Mount Taebaegsan) and newly described: P. ishikawaioides (type locality: Mount Sobaeksan) and P. jiricola (type locality: Mount Jirisan). Since comparative male genital morphology does not support monophyly for these three species, the two novel species should be treated as distinct species, not subspecies of P. ishikawai. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and the metabolic syndrome (MetS) are rapidly increasing in Asia including Korea. In 2005, the Third Korea National Health and Nutrition examination survey (KNHANES III) reported that the prevalence of DM and MetS in adults was estimated to be 8.7% and 32.6%, respectively. In our study of 688 type 2 DM patients, MetS prevalence was 46.9 % for males, and 65.1% for females. Patients with T2DM and MetS showed significantly higher insulin resistance than T2DM without MetS, confirming that insulin resistance is an important feature of MetS in T2DM patients. Patients with T2DM and MetS showed higher BMI, waist circumference, blood triglycerides, atherogenic index, C-reactive protein and lower HDL-cholesterol. In recent years, concerns with regard to the association of diet with MetS have grown. In our study with non-DM elderly people, higher % energy from carbohydrate, and lower intakes of antioxidant vitamins were considered to be associated with the risk of MetS. Patients with T2DM and MetS showed significant positive correlations between intakes of energy, carbohydrate, protein and lipids with BMI, weight, as well as waist circumference. These associations were not found in patients with T2DM without MetS. Nutritional risk factors for MetS among middle-aged T2DM subjects would be excessive carbohydrate intake with low intakes of fat, protein, vitamins, and minerals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present article explores the current nature and history of welfare provision for displaced children in Korea. It examines the early examples of care and the perspectives on the issue from scholars, lawmakers, religion and society as a whole. This provides an understanding of the background and, especially, the cultural roots of existing care. A history of what may be considered the first modern displaced child welfare provision is also given with analysis of how Christian and local approaches and perceptions integrated. This was to form the basis for present-day transitional displaced child welfare in Korea. For this reason, the article examines the provision in a paradigm which looks at the provision as responses to Western influences. Features of congregate care, domestic/international adoptions, foster care and youth-headed households are examined. The authors conclude that global forces will continue to be influential and recommends that religious institutions which have thus far provided crucial contributions to the foundation of care should continue to play key roles with the government’s facilitation. The need for wide participation from society and coordination from the government to manage systems, develop strategies and build consensus is highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species composition and abundance of decapod crustaceans were studied in the waters off Geoje Island, located off the southeastern coast of Korea, using a shrimp beam trawl from November 2000 to October 2001. Water temperature above the sea bottom was lowest (<13°C) in March and highest (>25°C) in August. A total of 196,149 individuals of 41 species from 17 families and 3 suborders was observed. Shrimps (Macrura Natantia) accounted for 23 species, hermit crabs (Anomura) and crabs (Brachyura) for 7 and 11 species, respectively. Crangon hakodatei was the most abundant species both in terms of overall number and biomass. Total biomass showed three peaks during the study period. The first peak in January was due to C. hakodatei and Charybdis bimaculata. The second and third peak were due to C. hakodatei and Palaemon gravieri. Cluster analysis, based on monthly abundance data of the 12 dominant species, showed that the species could be separated into three different groups: resident, seasonal, and temporary. The decapod community structure in the study area was predominantly affected by the resident group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is the first nationwide investigation aimed at estimating the patient dose for radiographic examinations in Korea including gastrointestinal studies, computed tomography and mammography. The survey data from 161 hospitals and the dose data from 32 hospitals were analysed. The third quartile entrance surface dose, dose area product (DAP), weighted CT dose index (CTDIw) and mean glandular dose (MCD) were reported. All the estimated doses were less than the stated International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reference levels for radiographic examinations. However, DAPs for the fluoroscopic examinations had higher dose values than the IAEA reference levels. In addition, the CTDIw and MGD were lower than the IAEA reference levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the use of finite-element (FE) analysis to calculate the fatigue strength of a bogie frame, for the development of tilting trains in Korea. A multi-body dynamic analysis was performed to extract the load condition by tilting on curves. Using the results of the multi-body dynamic analysis and the load scenario setout in the UIC standard, FE analysis was performed to obtain the stress distribution and to calculate the fatigue strength. An attempt was made to minimize the weight of the bogie frame using a back-propagation artificial neural network (ANN). The results of this study reveal that the stresses at some nodes are near the fatigue limit in the Goodman diagram and by using back-propagation ANN, the weight of the bogie frame could be reduced by 4.7%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies about the quality of life (QOL) in stomach cancer survivors focused on selected clinical parameters and did not consider the broader implications for overall health and QOL. We evaluated the impact of demographic and treatment-related factors on the QOL of stomach cancer survivors. We asked 391 stage I–III stomach cancer survivors who had been disease-free for at least 1 year after surgery to complete a demographic questionnaire, the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 questionnaire, and its stomach module, QLQ-STO22. Survivors undergoing total gastrectomy reported greater eating restrictions than those undergoing subtotal gastrectomy. Receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy did not significantly affect any QLQ-C30 or QLQ-STO22 scores. Role and emotional functioning improved with increasing age, and stomach-specific symptoms (pain, eating restrictions, and anxiety) lessened. Compared with female survivors, male survivors had better physical and role functioning. Smoking status was also a significant negative predictor of physical functioning and anxiety. Comorbidities and selected demographic characteristics had a greater effect than type of treatment on the QOL of post-operative stomach cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate whether or not genetic polymorphism of IL-1B, IL-1RN, and TNF-Α is an important factor in the different expression of gastroduodenal diseases after Helicobacter pylori infection. Methods: This study consisted of 1360 subjects: control, gastric cancer (GC, intestinal type, and diffuse type), benign gastric ulcer (BGU), duodenal ulcer, and first-degree gastric cancer relative (GCR). IL-1Β-511 and TNF-A-308 biallelic polymorphism were genotyped by 5′ nuclease polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays, and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). IL-1RN penta-allelic variable number of tandem repeats was genotyped by PCR. Results: There was no difference in the genetic polymorphism of IL-1Β-511, IL-1RN and TNF-A in the patients with gastric cancer regardless of H. pylori positivity compared with control. However, the frequencies of IL-1B-511 C/T (OR: 0.5, 95% CI: 0.3–0.7) and T carrier (OR: 0.6, 95% CI: 0.4–0.8) were lower in the H. pylori-positive BGU patients. The IL-1RN 2/2 was higher (OR: 5.5, 95% CI: 1.1–28.5) in the H. pylori-positive GCR. There was no significance in the polymorphism of TNF-Α-308 regardless of H. pylori-induced gastroduodenal diseases. Conclusions: The IL-1Β-511 T-carrier polymorphism has a negative effect on the development of H. pylori-positive BGU, and high frequency of IL-1RN 2/2 was found in the H. pylori-positive relatives of GC patients, which suggest that this genetic polymorphism could play some role in the H. pylori-induced gastroduodenal diseases in Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contents The success of AI technology is based on both semen quality and freezing process. In order to establish the semen freezing techniques in Korean native bucks, factors affecting the success were evaluated in the present study. Semen collected by electro-ejaculation from bucks during four distinct seasons was evaluated for semen volume and pH, sperm motility and survivability. The semen volume, concentration and total cell were higher in spring, summer and less in winter. Yet, there were no seasonal differences in the proportional data of live sperm, motility score and pH of semen among seasons. The percentage of live sperm after thawing was found to increase with increased concentration of lactose in Tris-Egg yolk-glycerol (TY-G), being highest in TY-G supplemented with 180 mm lactose (TYL180-G), but did not differ between TY-G and TYL120-G. Sperm motility was enhanced by employing 2.0 h equilibration time with rapid freezing method. In conclusion, semen could be frozen with high success rates for further use of AI in breeding techniques and to preserve the Korean native bucks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metapenaeopsis dalei occurs widely along the south and west coasts of Korea with a range extending from Kanghwado Island in the northwest down to Goejedo Island in the southeast. This study examined the growth and reproduction of M. dalei captured off the west coast from 1997 to 1999. In this region, the species produces one cohort per year, with ovaries ripening from July to August. The mean gonadosomatic index (GSI) reached a maximum value between July and August. The smallest mature female found was 11.0 mm in carapace length (CL). Size at 50% sexual maturity (CL50), determined from mature females was 12.1 mm CL. Fecundity was directly proportional to the size of the female, with clutch sizes varying from 5,065 eggs in the smallest female (14.0-14.9 mm CL) to 12,981 eggs in the large ones (18.0-19.1 mm CL), with eggs ranging from 60 to 200 μm in diameter. The life span of females appeared to be 15-16 months according to size frequency distributions, while that of males was 14-15 months. Modified Von Bertalanffy growth parameters, incorporating seasonal variation in growth, were K = 1.17 yr-1 and L∞ = 22.5 mm CL for females, and K = 1.15 yr-1 and L∞ = 19.9 mm CL for males. Growth curves showed that females grow faster than males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the distribution of rotavirus strain genotypes in South Korea, rotavirus-positive stool specimens were collected from July 2002 through June 2003 at 8 hospitals in the Korean Rotavirus Strain Surveillance Network, and they were genotyped by means of reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. The globally uncommon G4P[6] type was the most prevalent type identified among strains (27% of strains), the newly emerging G9P[8] strain accounted for 11% of strains, and the globally common genotypes (i.e., G1P[8], G2P[4], G3P[8], and G4P[8]) constituted 55% of the strains characterized. Ninety percent of G4P[6] strains were detected in specimens obtained from neonates. Common genotypes were responsible for the rotavirus epidemic that began in January 2003 and ended in May 2003; however, an early peak in infections with the G4P[6] strain occurred from August through October 2002, and infections with this strain were detected throughout the remaining study period. G4P[6] strains were most commonly identified at 6 urban health care centers, but they were absent from 2 rural health care centers. The newly emerging strain G9P[8] represented a relatively greater proportion of strains identified at a hospital in the central region of Korea and at 2 hospitals in the southern region. The identification of novel rotavirus genotypes in this laboratory-based surveillance study underscores the importance to public health of continued strain surveillance among children for whom prevention of rotavirus infection by vaccination might be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Production dynamics of eelgrass, Zostera marina was examined in two bay systems (Koje Bay and Kosung Bay) on the south coast of the Korean peninsula, where few seagrass studies have been conducted. Dramatically reduced eelgrass biomass and growth have been observed during summer period on the coast of Korea, and we hypothesized that the summer growth reduction is due to increased water temperature and/or reduced light and nutrient availabilities. Shoot density, biomass, morphological characteristics, leaf productivities, and tissue nutrient content of eelgrass were measured monthly from June 2001 to April 2003. Water column and sediment nutrient concentrations were also measured monthly, and water temperature and underwater irradiance were monitored continuously at seagrass canopy level. Eelgrass shoot density, biomass, and leaf productivities exhibited clear seasonal variations, which were strongly correlated with water temperature. Optimal water temperature for eelgrass growth in the present study sites was about 15–20°C during spring period, and eelgrass growths were inhibited at the water temperature above 20°C during summer. Daily maximum underwater photon flux density in the study sites was usually much higher than the light saturation point of Z. marina previously reported. Densities of each terminal, lateral, and reproductive shoot showed their unique seasonal peak. Seasonal trends of shoot densities suggest that new eelgrass shoots were created through formation of lateral shoots during spring and a part of the vegetative shoots was transformed into flowering shoots from March. Senescent reproductive shoots were detached around June, and contributed to reductions of shoot density and biomass during summer period. Ambient nutrient level appeared to provide an adequate reserve of nutrient for eelgrass growth throughout the experimental period. The relationships between eelgrass growth and water temperature suggested that rapid reductions of eelgrass biomass and growth during summer period on the south coast of the Korean peninsula were caused by high temperature inhibition effects on eelgrass growth during this season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the migration to full-PACS of medical image data archived using mini-PACS at two hospitals of the Yonsei University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. A major concern in the migration of medical data is to match the image data from the mini-PACS with the hospital OCS (Ordered Communication System). Prior to carrying out the actual migration process, the principles, methods, and anticipated results for the migration with respect to both cost and effectiveness were evaluated. Migration gateway workstations were established and a migration software tool was developed. The actual migration process was performed based on the results of several migration simulations. Our conclusions were that a migration plan should be carefully prepared and tailored to the individual hospital environment because the server system, archive media, network, OCS, and policy for data management may be unique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]