• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.588-595
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• 1993

We have collected a great Quantity of leeches, comprising five species, from six different ponds and rice paddies in the south-western part of Korea. The leeches were cultured in our laboratory with special interests on the blood-suckers (Himdo nipponial in fresh water supplemented with essential ions. A number of experiments was carried out with biomedical aspects. We have observed traits which can be used as a laboratory animal. The paper reports general features obsenred from leeches with preliminary study results carried in culture systems. The paper also describes study aspects of leeches in biochemistry, neurology and developmental biology.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 1969

General components, free sugars, and free amino acids about Zostera marina which is much distributing and producing along the coastlines of Korea have been separated and identified through Ion exchange resin and Paper chromatography method. So distrigushed are sugars contained that this was quantitated by Bertrand method. 1) The result of the general component analysis of Zostera marina shows that there are much free sugars. 2) According to Bertrand method sugar containment quantitated from terrestrial stem and subterranean stem on Po-hang and Ko-hung areas is much more in terrestrial stem than subterranean stem. 3) Seven kinds of sugars are used in experiments(Table 2) among there glucose, fructose and sucrose which keep the sweetness are very much contained. 4) Shown in Fig. 3 ten kinds of free amino acids inspected from experimental liquid by Paper chromatography are separated, which are known, and one spot which in unknown is additionally separated, and in which four kinds of essential amino acid to nutrient are contained.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.91-98
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• 2009

Objective : The purpose of this case is to show a case of buerger's disease improved by leech therapy. Methods : The patient received Leech Therapy and Oriental medical therapy(acupuncture and herb medicine). Result : We evaluate through visual analog scale(VAS), neuropathic total symptom score(TSS), fontaine grade and picture of patient's foot. Conclusion : Leech therapy and Oriental medical therapy had a good effect on buerger's disease.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.155-162
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• 1976

Forty one samples from thirty three species of algae (19 from 15 species of Rhodophyceae, 18 from 14 species of Phaeophyceae, 3 from 3 species of Chlorophyceae, and 1 of marine Phanerogams) collected from several locations on the east, west and south coast of Korea, were analyzed for their contents of crude protein, fat, cellulose, ash, nitrogen free extract, amino nitrogen, and total amino acids. For the examination of extractability of algal protein with water, 4 species of algae, Sargassum thunberggi, Grateloupia filicina, Phyllospadix japonica, and Sargassum confusum, were analyzed. And the effect of some precipitation treatments for isolation of algal protein was also tested. As a matter of fact, Rhodophyceae showed high content in crude protein and low in crude fat while the case was opposite for Phaeophyceae and Chlorophyceae. Refering to the content of crude protein and total amino acids, the recommendable algae for protein sources were Sargassum thunbergii, Acrosorium flabellata, Phacelocarpus japonicus, Laurencia okamurai, Laurencia intermedia, Grateloupia filicina, Chondrus ocellatus, Gloiopeltis furcata, Gigartina tenella, Dictyota dichotoma, and Scytosiphon lomentaria. Methanol treatment appeared most effective in precipitation isolation of protein from water extracts whereas pH control method did not so beneficial. The precipitation rate of protein was particularity higher in the extract of Sargassum confusum ana the lowest was makted from the extract of Sargassum thunbergii.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.207-217
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• 2023

This study was conducted to investigate the current status of seagrass species in the Nakdong River estuary from May to June 2023. To survey the seagrass habitat area, the Nakdong River estuary was divided into seven zones. Aerial photography using drones was conducted to find seagrass areas, GPS tracking was carried out on foot in the intertidal zone and by boat and SCUBA diving in the subtidal zone. To analyze the seagrass status, we measured the morphological characteristics, shoot density, and biomass of representative seagrass species in each zone. Four seagrass species were found in this area: Zostera japonica, Z. marina, Ruppia maritima, and Phyllospadix japonicus. The distribution areas of each species was 338.2 ha, 92.9 ha, 0.9 ha, and 1.4 ha, respectively, with a total area of 432.5 ha. Z. japonica was widely distributed in most of the tidal flats and mudflats of the Nakdong River estuary, while Z. marina was restricted to Nulcha-do, Jinu-do, and Dadae-dong. R. maritima occurred within the habitat of Z. japonica in Eulsukdo and Myeongji mudflats, and P. japonicus inhabited rocky areas in Dadae-dong. The shoot density of each species was 4,575.8±338.3 shoots m^-2, 244.8±12.0 shoots m^-2, 11,302.1±290.0 shoots m^-2, and 2862.5±153.5 shoots m^-2, respectively. The biomass of each species was 239.7±18.5 gDW m^-2, 362.3±20.5 gDW m^-2, 33.3±1.2 gDW m^-2, and 1,290.0±37.0 gDW m^-2, respectively. The results of this study revealed that Z. japonica was dominant in the Nakdong River estuary. In particular, Z. japonica habitats of Eulsukdo, Daema-deung, and Myeongji mudflats were identified as the largest in Korea. The Nakdong River estuary is an important site of ecological, environmental, and economic value, and will require continuous investigation and management of the native seagrasses.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.34-45
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• 1994

This investigation has been carried out to examine the structure of digestive tract from Korean Leech, Erpobdella lineata, using light and electron microscope. The digestive tract is composed of mouth, pharynx, Oesophagus, six-chambered stomach, three-chambered intestine, rectum and anus. Stomach and intestine have not gastric or intestine ceca and consist of only straight tube. All digestive tracts from pharynx to rectum are covered with simple columnar epithelial cells. While the surfaces of endothelial cell of pharynx and rectum are covered with cuticular layer of about $0.3{\mu}m$ in thickness, stomach and intestine are covered with estimated $0.2-0.3{\mu}m$ and $0.5{\mu}m$ microvilli respectively. Circular folds were found only in first and second chambers of stomach, intestine and rectum, but not in pharynx and the other chambers (third to sixth) of stomach. The granules of $0.3-0.8{\mu}m$ and $0.5-1.0{\mu}m$ in diameter were observed in the cytoplasm of stomach endothelial cell. These granules were demonstrated to contain protein which showed a positive reaction to ninhydrin. It was also found that there are well-developed microvilli in the apical portion of intestine endothelial cell in which endocytosis occurs actively.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.20-25
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• 2000

The medicinal leech, Hirudo medicinalis, has been used for salvage of the venous-congested flap following reconstructive surgery, with increasing frequency during the last two decades. Medicinal leech therapy is a safe, efficacious, economical, and well-tolerated intervention. The flap salvage with leeching occurs in approximately 70% of cases, and leeches need to be used as early as possible. At the time of the bite, evacuation of blood and injection of the leech saliva products, including anticoagulants and inhibitors of platelet aggregation, maintain capillary circulation of the flap, and then venous capillary return is established across the wound by angiogenesis. One of the salivary products, hirudin, represents the first parenteral anticoagulant introduced since the discovery of heparin. We analyzed two cases in which flap salvage with leeching was attempted, and reviewed medicinal leech therapy on the basis of our experiences and literature review. This has not been documented in the head and neck surgery literature in our country.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.73-77
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• 2002

Medical application of leeches, by means of leech's blood suction, has advantages in not only directly removing blood congestion, but also preventing hindrance to venous drainage by inhibiting local thrombus formation and inducing continuous bleeding. Nevertheless, Aeromonas hydrophila infection secondary to such suction is most common and may develop into serious conditions from local inflammatory reaction to total necrosis of replanted parts and enterocolitis as well as sepsis. Once infected, it requires infection treatment, removal of necrotic tissues and reconstruction. Hence, duration and cost of treatment increase while functional recovery falls markedly. Accordingly, we present measures to reduce Aeromonas infections as follows: First, do not manipulate as much as possible while the leeches are sucking or moving. Second, the site which suction plates of the leeches are attached, should be selected away from the surgical wound site or open wound as much as possible. Third, contaminated or blood-wet gauze should be replaced often so that the skin of surgical areas would not swell. Furthermore, bleeding or oozing should be well-drained. Fourth, the areas other than the sites of leech attachment should be covered with sterilized gauzes in order to limit leech movement.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.64-70
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• 1999

Digit that were formerly assessed as non replantable may now be replanted with the help of salvage procedure. In case that, venous repair is either marginal or technically impossible and postoperative venous congestion developed following replantation, are treated with the application of medical leeches. From July 1997 to April 1998, the authors performed arterial anastomosis and venous drainage using medical leeches in 3 children(The age of the patients ranged from 13 months to 6 years.) to have a result of aesthetic and functional success with minimizing the complications. Leech therapy has many advantages, to avoid injuring of finger tip, to decrease focal capillary coagulation, to prevent severe bleeding, and to prevent thromboembolism. The authors conclude that the use of medical leeches shows promise as a safe and effective method of providing temporary venous drainage in replanted digits.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.158-163
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• 2000

Over the past several years, countless patients have benefitted from the use of leeches in microsurgery. As we know, leeches are used to overcome the problem of venous congestion by creating prolonged localized bleeding uniquely characteristics of leech bite. Venous congestion, a common complication of digital replantation, often has been treated through surgical repair like arteriovenous anastomosis. The leech produces a number of important substances which contribute to the special property of the bite, including an anticoagulant, a local vasodilator and local anesthetics. The bite usually bleeds for 1 to 2 hours and under special circumstances may bleed for up to 24 hours. So venous congestion is relieved. However, leeches increase the possibility of infection through their gut content. Infection associated medical leech application is significant risk. Other risk include allergic reaction, adverse psychologic reaction and blood loss requiring transfusion. The 65 cases of medical leech application were performed between August, 1997 and May, 2000 according to an established protocol. The complication were 18 cases ; infection (13 cases), hemorrhage (2 cases), allergic reaction (1 case), psychologic problem (1 case) and hypochromic anemia (1 case). Then our study was performed on the base of indication. As a result, Aeromonas hydrophilia was cultured from gut of medical leech and Klebsiella, Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas were cultured from media. We present the clinical risk-benefit of the medical leech therapy through several cases following digital replantation.