• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.133-153
• /
• 1989

The present study was carried out to investigate the preventive effects of lamprey oil and corn oil on atherosclerotic rats induced by oral administration of cholesterol and vitamin $D_2$. The obtaind results were summarized as fellows; 1. The group, fed only the mixture of cholesterol and vitamin $D_2$ showed the significant increase of total lipid, total cholesterol phospholipid, LDL&HDL-cholesterol in the serum, triglyceride and cholesterol in the heart and the aorta, but the significant decrease of triglyceride in the liver, as comparing with normal control group (p<0.05). The aorta showed the severe damage of disorganization, calcification, necrosis and lipid deposition in the aortic wall. 2. The group, adminstered the mixture of cholesterol and vitamin $D_2$ and fed 15% lamprey oil diet, showed the significant decrease of total lipid, triglyceride, total cholesterol, phospholipid and LDL&VLDL-cholesterol in the serum, triglyceride and cholesterol in the heart and the aorta, but the significant increase of cholesterol in the liver, as comparing with atherogenic control group (p<0.05). The aorta showed slight calcification and no lipid deposition in the aortic wall as comparing with atherogenic control group. 3. The group, administerd the mixture of cholesterol and vitamin $D_2$ and fed 15% corn oil diet, showed the decrease of total lipid, triglyceride and VLDL-cholesterol in the serum, and triglyceride in the heart and the aorta, as comparing with atherogenic control group (p<0.05). The aorta showed calcification and no lipid deposition in the aortic wall. In reviewing above results it was concluded that lamprey oil and corn oil in polyunsaturated fatty acids had the preventive effect on atherosclerotic rats induced by cholesterol and vitamin $D_2$. And the effect of lamprey oil in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids was higher than that of corn oil rich in n-6 polyunsturated fatty acids.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.56 no.2
• /
• pp.187-197
• /
• 2004

Background : Nitric Oxide (NO) is a multi-faceted molecule with dichotomous regulatory roles in many areas of biology. NO can promote apoptosis in some cells, whereas it inhibits apoptosis in other cell types. This study was performed to characterize NO-induced cell death in lung epithelial cells and to investigate the roles of cell death regulators including iron, bcl-2 and p53. Methods : A549 cells were used for lung epithelial cells. SNP (sodium nitroprusside) and SNAP (S-nitroso-N-acetyl- penicillamine) were used for NO donor. Cytoxicity assay was done by MTT assay and crystal violet assay. Apoptotic assay was done by fluorescent microscopy after double staining with propidium iodide and hoecst 33342. Iron inhibition study was done with RBCs and FeSO4. For bcl-2 study, bcl-2 overexpressing cells (A549-bcl-2) were used and for p53 study, Western blot analysis and p53 functionally knock-out cells (A549-E6) were used. Results : SNP and SNAP induced dose-dependent cell death in A549 cells and fluorescent microscopy revealed that SNAP induced apoptosis in low doses but necrosis in high doses while SNP induced exclusively necrotic cell death. Iron inhibition study using RBCs and FeSO4 significantly blocked SNAP-induced cell death. And also SNAP-induced cell death was blocked by bcl-2 overexpression. Finally, we found that SNAP activate p53 by Western blot analysis and that SNAP-induced cell death was decreased in the abscence of p53. Conclusion : In lung epithelial cells, NO can induce cell death, more precisely apoptosis in low doses and necrosis in high doses. And iron, bcl-2, and p53 play important roles in NO-induced cell death.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.66 no.2
• /
• pp.110-115
• /
• 2009

Background: A forceps-biopsy is performed to acquire tissue from patients with an endobronchial carcinoma using a flexible bronchoscope. Recently, a cryo-biopsy has also been used to acquire tissue samples. Cryo-biopsy is the diagnostic application of extreme cold for the local destruction of abnormal living tissue. This technique is safe, with no radiation danger, no risk of electrical accidents, and a little risk of bleeding. This study compared a forceps-biopsy with a cryo-biopsy using a flexible bronchoscope, and examined the chemosensitivity and level of VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) in the specimens obtained from the cryo-biopsy. Methods: We present a prospective study of 30 consecutive patients who underwent a forceps-biopsy between January 2007 and October 2007 with a mean age of 62.1 years and a male:female ratio of 5 : 1. A flexible bronchoscope was inserted to the area of the abnormal lesions, and a cryo-probe was then applied through the working channel of the flexible bronchoscope. A temperature of approximately -h80 was delivered to the tumor site for 8 seconds. The cryo-biopsy was performed after destroying the tumor mass. Results: The mean size of the tissue from the forceps-biopsy and cryo-biopsy were 2.0${\pm}$1.2 mm and 6.0${\pm}$3.0 mm. A chemosensitivity test was performed on 5 specimens obtained using cryo-biopsy and the level of VEGF was examined in 2 specimens obtained from a cryo-biopsy. There were no side effects in either group. Conclusion: Cryo-biopsy using a flexible bronchoscope is a safe and effective technique for acquiring tissue samples.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.39-49
• /
• 1995

This study was attempted to investigate the acceptive status of 428 persons who had taken the vasectomy and the tubal ligation and the intra-uterine device(IUD, copper-T). It defined the complications after the contraceptive procedures and the effects of the supporting of the government for contraception. The target population was identified from the list of the 105 females taken tubal ligation, and 109 males vasectomized, 214 IUD acceptors covered by Gumi Health Center from January 1990 to December 1992. Data was collected from the target population by the questionnaire and medical records between March 1 and April 30, 1993. Among the study subjects, 56.0% of vasectomized males was between 30 and 34 years of age and the highest percentages of tubal ligation and IUD acceptors were between 25 and 29 years of age. The highest percentage of occupation of vasectomized males was officials and that of tubal ligation and IUD acceptors was in no occupational status. 81.2% of respondents were more than high school in educational level, educational level of vasectomized males was more higher than that of females. The percentage contraceptive acceptors with one or two children was 90.8% for vasectomized males, 80.1% for females with tubal ligation, and 93.9% for IUD acceptors. The most people accepted the contraception as they felt the need rather than other's persuasion. The major reasons of contraception were having the wanted children and alleviating the economic burden for the raising and the educating their children. Among the vasectomized males, 11.0% complained the side reaction and the most common symptoms were the inflammation around the wound and sexual declination. Among the tubal ligation females, 46.7% complained the side reaction and the most common symptoms were vaginal discharge, the menorrhagia, back pain and lethargy. The IUD acceptors were similar to them. The regretting rate of tubal ligation and the IUD acceptors was higher than the vasectomized males. The major reason of their regretting was the side reaction in the tubal ligation and the IUD. But the vasectomized males had the insecurity that they couldn't have their own children any more, and sexual declination. The main reason of the females accepted the tubal ligation and the IUD were the fears about toward induced abortion. The most contraceptive acceptors(83.2%) wanted to be offered by the government, but if they pay the expense in their own money, they would accept the contraception in 86.9%.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.157-168
• /
• 2001

Herbicides have been used to control weeds for decades. If detoxification upon exposure to herbicides requires considerable amounts of energy, it could affect the pattern of resource allocation to growth and reproduction of crops. We examined the effects of three levels of a herbicide (Control, Low, and High) on germination, growth and reproductive characters of Glycine max treated twice, i.e., before and after seed germination. Since flowering time of G. max was separated into two groups, flowering time was also considered as a variable in this study. The rate of seed germination tended to be higher at the low level of herbicide compared to other levels. Chlorosis and shape variation of leaves were apparent after the second herbicide treatment, but completely disappeared after six weeks of treatment. The herbicide effects on growth characters were somewhat different between early and late flowering plants, but plants treated with both low and high levels of herbicide reduced their growth compared to those in the control group regardless of flowering time. Plants at the high level of herbicide exhibited the highest growth rate later in the season, suggesting that plants compensated to some extent for reduced growth. However, growth reduction among plants at the high level of herbicide was persistent until the end of growing season. Among plants flowered late in the season, plants in the control level bore a higher number of nodules per plant than those in other levels; such a pattern did not exist among plants flowered early in the season. Plants treated with low and high levels of herbicide produced a lower number of flowers than those in the control. Thus, the herbicide examined affected not only the growth and reproductive characters of non-target crops but also the development and growth of root nodules.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.185-194
• /
• 2002

Purpose: We studied clinical aspects and courses of patients with pulmonary radioactivity on liver scintigraphy and speculated the mechanism of pulmonary uptake of radiocolloids. Materials and Methods: Forty-nine patients with pulmonary radioactivity were classified into 5 disease groups-liver disease, infection, cancer, ischemic necrosis of liver, etc.- and their presence or absence of chronic liver disease (CLD), Child-Pugh class, serum levels of AST and ALT, results of follow-up liver scintigraphy and clinical course were checked. Results: Of total 49 patients 25 had CLD; there were 23 liver disease patients, 16 infection patients, 7 advanced cancer patients, 2 ischemic necrosis of liver patients, and 1 hemolytic anemia patient. Reversible rise of serum levels of AST and ALT was observed in all patients with liver disease and ischemic necrosis of liver; on one-way ANOVA, these rise were statistically significant (p<0.01). Serum level of ALT of liver disease group patients without CLD was significantly higher than that of infection group patients without CLD (p<0.05). Among 17 patients who underwent follow-up liver scintigraphy, 13 showed no pulmonary radioactivity. Total 12 patients died during follow-up and most of them were terminal cancer patients or CLD patients of Child-Pugh class C. Conclusion: Pulmonary radioactivity of radiocolloid liver scintigraphy could be attributed to the mobilization of reticuloendothelial system (RES) cells by the activation of RES cells in severe infection and terminal cancer, and also by the extensive liver destruction in liver diseases.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.55-66
• /
• 1998

Pathophysiological mechanism of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is not fully understood. Major clinical findings of HFRS patients are widespread hemorrhage, acute renal failure and shock. Basic lesion is vascular injury with microvascular hemorrhage and relatively little inflammation. According to autopsy findings, renal medulla shows focal hemorrhage, tubular necrosis and interstitial mononuclear infiltrates. The predominant cell type in the renal and pulmonary interstitium is a fibroblast and it participates in the healing process at the injury site by secreting a large amount of extracellular matrix proteins. Cultured human lung fibroblasts and Mongolian gerbil fibroblasts were known to be good host cells for the hantaan virus. It is possible that not only the endothelial cell but also the fibroblast is a target of Hantaan virus and the fibroblast might be involved in the pathogenesis and the healing process in HFRS. Integrins are adhesion molecules, and act as receptors for many extracellular matrix proteins. Recently, there are many reports that cell surface integrins influence on some viral infections or reversely viruses influence on the expression of integrins. The ${\alpha}_5{\beta}_1$ integrin is a major receptor for the fibronectin which is an important extracellular matrix protein secreted by fibroblasts. In this study, the role of ${\alpha}_5{\beta}_1$ integrin in the infection of Hantaan virus was examined by using anti-${\alpha}_5{\beta}_1$, integrin, anti-${\alpha}_5$ integrin and anti-${\beta}_1$, integrin antibodies in chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEF) and Mongolian gerbil fibroblasts(MGF). The treatment of anti-${\alpha}_5{\beta}_1$, integrin antibody in CEF reduced the virion titers 26.8% and the amount of nucleocapsid N protein 32.6% when compared with control CEF. When MGF were treated with anti-${\alpha}_5$, anti-${\beta}_1$ and anti-${\alpha}_5{\beta}_1$ integrin antibodies, virion titers were reduced by 26.5%, 29.4% and 28.7% and the amount of nucleocapsid N protein were reduced by 65.2%, 59.7% and 72.6%. These results suggested that ${\alpha}_5{\beta}_1$ integrin might act as a receptor for the Hantaan virus or blocking of ${\alpha}_5{\beta}_1$ integrin influences on the viral replication in CEF and MGF. It is also possible that the blocking of only one subunit of integrin represents similar results in that of whole molecule.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.51 no.8
• /
• pp.879-885
• /
• 2008

Purpose : The human lung fibroblast may act as an immunomodulatory cell by providing pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, which are important in airway remodeling. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induces mucosal edema and angiogenesis. Thymus and activation regulated chemokine (TARC) induces selective migration of T helper 2 cells. We investigated whether human lung fibroblasts produced VEGF and TARC, and the effects were augmented with the co-culture of fibroblasts and human bronchial smooth muscle cells (HBSMC), and whether dexamethasone can inhibit the proliferation and the release of VEGF in lung fibroblasts. Methods : Human lung fibroblasts were cultured with and without HBSMC, growth-arrested in serum-deprived medium, and pretreated with dexamethasone for 16 hours. After 24-hour stimulation with platelet derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) and/or transforming growth factor-${\beta}$ (TGF-${\beta}$), culture supernatant was harvested for assays of VEGF and TARC. Cell proliferation was assayed using BrdU cell proliferation ELISA kit. Results : 1) The release of VEGF was significantly increased after stimulation with TGF-${\beta}$, and its release was augmented when co-stimulated with PDGF and TGF-${\beta}$. 2) VEGF release induced by PDGF or TGF-${\beta}$ was inhibited by dexamethasone. 3) There was no synergistic effect on the release of VEGF when human lung fibroblasts were co-cultured with HBSMC. 4) Dexamethasone did not suppress human lung fibroblasts proliferations. 5) Neither TGF-${\beta}$ nor PDGF induced TARC release from lung fibroblasts. Conclusion : Human lung fibroblasts may modulate airway remodeling by release of VEGF, but they have no synergistic effects when co-cultured with HBSMC. Dexamethasone suppresses VEGF release, not proliferation of lung fibroblast.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.197-205
• /
• 2007

Angiogenesis is a essential part for bone formation and bone fracture healing. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), one of the most important molecules among many angiogenic factors, is a specific mitogen for vascular endothelial cells. VEGF-mediated angiogenesis is required for bone formation and repair. However, the effect of VEGF on osteoblastic cells during osteogenesis is still controversial. In recent days, substantial progress have been made toward developing tissue-engineered alternatives to autologous bone grafting for maxillofacial bony defects. Periosteum has received considerable interest as a better source of adult stem cells. Periosteum has the advantage of easy harvest and contains various cell types and progenitor cells that are able to differentiate into a several mesenchymal lineages, including bone. Several studies have reported the bone formation potential of periosteal cells, however, the correlation between VEGF signaling and cultured human periosteal cell-derived osteogenesis has not been fully investigated yet. The purpose of this study was to examine the correlation between VEGF signaling and cultured human periosteal-derived cells osteogenesis. Periosteal tissues of $5\;{\times}\;20\;mm$ were obtained from mandible during surgical extraction of lower impacted third molar from 3 patients. Periosteal-derived cells were introduced into the cell culture and were subcultured once they reached confluence. After passage 3, the periosteal-derived cells were further cultured for 42 days in an osteogenic inductive culture medium containing dexamethasone, ascorbic acid, and ${\beta}-glycerophosphate$. We evaluated the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, the expression of Runx2 and VEGF, alizarin red S staining, and the quantification of osteocalcin and VEGF secretion in the periosteal-derived cells. The ALP activity increased rapidly up to day 14, followed by decrease in activity to day 35. Runx2 was expressed strongly at day 7, followed by decreased expression at day 14, and its expression was not observed thereafter. Both VEGF 165 and VEGF 121 were expressed strongly at day 35 and 42 of culture, particularly during the later stages of differentiation. Alizarin red S-positive nodules were first observed on day 14 and then increased in number during the entire culture period. Osteocalcin and VEGF were first detected in the culture medium on day 14, and their levels increased thereafter in a time-dependent manner. These results suggest that VEGF secretion from cultured human periosteal-derived cells increases along with mineralization process of the extracellular matrix. The level of VEGF secretion from periosteal-derived cells might depend on the extent of osteoblastic differentiation.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.83 no.4
• /
• pp.486-497
• /
• 1994

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of air pollution on Pinus thunbergii forests surrounding Sasang industrial complex in Korea. The injury index, contents of chlorophyll and mineral elements, and concentrations of water soluble sulfur in needles were investigated at sample plots surrounding industrial complex and compared with those of control far from industrial complex. The results obtained are as follows ; 1. Discoloration of Pinus thunbergii needles was severe in the vicinity of industrial complex, and the older needle age classes was the more severe its injury appeared. Injury index was increased in the vicinity of industrial complex. 2. Water-soluble sulfur concentration was high in the vicinity of industrial complex at all of needle age classes, and those of all plots were higher than that of control. 3. Chlorophyll a contents were lower at surrounding industrial complex than that at control. It was supposed that chlorophyll a was destroyed by air pollutants. Total chlorophyll contents and content ratio of chlorophyll a to b were influenced by decrease of chlorophyll a contents. 4. Phosphorus contents in needles were decreased even in remoted regions with the increase of needle age classes. Colcium contents in needles were decreased near industrial complex at all needle ages classes. 5. There were negative correlation, between injury index and chlorophyll contents, injury index and calcium contents, and there were positive correlation between injury index and calcium contents. 6. Cluster analysis was carried out to divide the injured regions on sample plots. As a result of the analysis, there were devided 3 regions, severe regions(1-8 plots), medium regions(9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 17 plot), slight(13, 14, 16, 18, 19 plot and control). 7. The cross section of visible injured needle showed the destruction of mesophyll cell, sclerenchyma cell in the outside of resin duct and endodermis, partially.