• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.348-352
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• 2007

Inflammation is a complex process resulting from a variety of mechanisms. Combined inhibition of the activities of enzymes involved in the process may therefore be considered more important in anti-inflammatory property of plant extracts than any single contribution. In this study, the inhibitory effects of the ethanol extracts of thirty plant foods on the activities of secretory phospholipase $A_{2}$ ($sPLA_{2}$), cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and 12-lipoxygenase (12-LOX) were examined. Several legumes, mungbean sprout and some leaf vegetables inhibited the activity of $sPLA_2$, upstream enzyme of inflammation pathway. Only soybean sprout and mungbean sprout significantly inhibited 12-LOX activity. Although most of extracts inhibited the activities of both COX-1 and COX-2, water dropwort and amaranth showed selectivity for the inhibition of COX-2 over COX-1. Especially, mungbean showed anti-inflammatory property at both upstream and downstream of inflammation pathway with relatively low $IC_{50}$ values for $sPLA_{2}$ and COX-2 enzymes. Mungbean sprout exhibited inhibitory effects on all enzymes related to early and late inflammation and soybean sprout suppressed 12-LOX and COX-2 simultaneously, although the activities of these plants were showed at relatively high concentration. Therefore, mungbean, mungbean sprout, and soybean sprout appear to exhibit anti-inflammatory effects by combined inhibition of inflammatory enzymes.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.534-538
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• 2005

Purpose : Kawasaki disease(KD) is a multisystemic inflammatory vasculitis of unknown etiology. Many complications other than cardiovascular involvement have been recognized in KD. However, there have been few reports published concerning involvement of the lungs in this disease. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between serum TNF-${\alpha}$, the degree of coronary artery dilatation and chest X-ray(CXR) findings. In addition, we have investigated serum anti-Mycoplasma antibody(AMA) titers in patients with KD who have abnormal CXR findings. Methods : Eighty four patients with KD were included in this study(group I; 41 patients with normal CXR fndings, group II; 43 patients with abnormal CXR findings). Serum levels of TNF-${\alpha}$ and AMA titer were measured. Results : We reviewed the CXR findings and clinical courses of 84 patients with Kawasaki disease and found abnormal CXR findings in 43 patients(51.2 percent). Peribronchial cuffing was the most frequent abnormality(22.4 percent). In the group with abnormal CXR findings(group II), a statistical difference was not noted in age, sex, duration of fever, hemoglobin, WBC, platelet, ESR, and CRP levels and incidence of coronary arterial lesions as compared with the group having normal CXR findings(group I). No difference was noted in serum TNF-${\alpha}$ level between group I and group II. 2 patients(12.5 percent) of 16 KD patients with abnormal CXR findings have positive AMA titer(above 1 : 320). Conclusion : Most of the abnormal CXR findings in KD patients were peribronchial cuffing. The abnormal CXR findings in KD patients did not mean severe inflammations. It is difficult to consider that CXR abnormalities are related to coronary arterial lesions. In addition, further study on the relationship between Mycoplasma infection and Kawasaki disease is needed.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.8
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• pp.763-768
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• 2003

Purpose : This study was conducted to investigate the pulmonary cellular profiles and IL-8 levels in patients with post-measles wheezing. Methods : Twelve previously healthy infants with a minimum of three episodes of wheezing after measles pneumonia(Measles wheezing, median age, 1.3 years) were recruited by a retrospective examination of hospital records. They underwent bronchoalveolar lavage(BAL) with flexible bronchoscopy, and high-resolution computed tomography(HRCT) with a mean six(1-15) months interval. Comparisons were made with seven normal controls(Control, median age : 7.4 years). BAL cell counts and differentials were determined. IL-8 levels also were measured by ELISA. Results : The BAL cellular profiles were characterized by a significantly increased percentage of neutrophils in the Measles wheezing group(median 16.0%) compared to the control group(median 3.8 %)(P<0.01). IL-8 levels were markedly increased in the Measles wheezing group($mean{\pm}SD$, $512.7{\pm}324.0pg/mL$) compared to the control group($41.7{\pm}67.7pg/mL$)(P<0.01). Furthermore, IL-8 levels correlated significantly(r=0.816, P=0.001) with neutrophil percentages in BAL fluids in the Measles wheezing group. Abnormal HRCT findings were mosaic perfusion, bronchiectasis, bronchial wall thickening, and decreased vascularity. Conclusion : These results suggest that pulmonary neutrophils and IL-8 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of the post-measles wheezing.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.9
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• pp.1015-1020
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• 2009

Purpose:The aim of this study is to explore the effect of the Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) expressed in plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) that respond to antigen to Th2 immune deviation in allergic patients. Methods:Subjects consisted of 19 allergic patients and 17 healthy volunteers. Skin prick tests and nasal provocation tests were performed for the two groups. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from subjects and analyzed for the Lineage Cocktail (CD3, CD14, CD16, CD19, CD20, CD56) (-), HLA-DR (+), and CD123 (+) using flow cytometry. In addition, we analyzed TLR9 mRNA by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. The level of $interferon-{\alpha}$ ($IFN-{\alpha}$) of the PBMCs following stimulation with the TLR9 ligand CpG-ODN 2216 was also evaluated. Results:Analyses of CD123 (+) revealed a nearly similar distribution for the classical pDC markers in the allergic group ($0.1%{\pm}0.04%$) and in the controls ($0.25%{\pm}0.23%$). The mRNA levels of TLR9 on PBMCs were not different between the allergic group and the controls ($1.29{\pm}0.41$ vs. $1.25{\pm}0.23$, respectively). Additionally, the level of $IFN-{\alpha}$ in PBMCs exposed to stimuli of the TLR9 ligand CpG-ODN 2216 was not significantly different between the two groups ($911{\pm}829$ vs. $1,095{\pm}888pg/mL$, respectively). Conclusion:We found no evidence that TLR9-dependent immune responses in human pDCs are associated with allergic status.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.221-227
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• 2013

The methane oxidation characteristics at the top and bottom layers in up-flow biofilters were investigated. Two biofilters were packed with perlite and tobermolite (biofilter A: respectively top and bottom; biofilter B: respectively bottom and top) and then compared. The methane oxidation rate was analyzed with the packed bed of the biofilter layers. The bacterial population in the biofilter was characterized using quantitative real-time PCR. For the methane oxidation rate of the biofilter A column, the perlite top part ($845.16{\pm}64.78{\mu}mol{\cdot}VS^{-1}{\cdot}h^{-1}$) gave a relatively higher value than the tobermolite bottom part ($381.85{\pm}42.00{\mu}mol{\cdot}VS^{-1}{\cdot}h^{-1}$). For the methane oxidation rate of the biofilter B column, the tobermolite top part ($601.25{\pm}37.78{\mu}mol{\cdot}VS^{-1}{\cdot}h^{-1}$) provided a relatively higher value than the perlite bottom part ($411.07{\pm}53.02{\mu}mol{\cdot}VS^{-1}{\cdot}h^{-1}$). The pmoA gene copy numbers, responsible for methanotrophs, in the top layer of biofilter A (1.27E+13 pmoA gene copy number/mg-VSS) was higher than in the bottom layer (3.33E+13 pmoA gene copy number/mg-VSS). However, the population of methanotrophs in biofilter B was not significantly different between the top and bottom layers. These results suggest that although the methane oxidation rates of perlite and tobermolite in the top parts of biofilter A and B were high, methanotroph populations were higher in the bottom parts of both biofilters, with a rapid decline in methane concentrations within the biofilters.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.250-257
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• 1997

Stem diameter and shoot fresh weight of tomato grown in greenhouse were measured non-destructively at 10 minutes interval from 1 to 16 July, 1996 with displacement detector using strain gauges and with suspension-type load cell, respectively, and simultaneously were measured soil water potential, transpiration and solar radiation. Ample water was irrigated before experiment, and thereafter, irrigations were made on the next morning when visual symptoms of wilting appeared. Shoot fresh weight and stem diameter showed very similar patterns in diurnal changes which are characterized by predawn maximum and afternoon minimum and in long- term evolutions, suggesting that stem diameter shrinkage and expansion are closely related to plant water content and growth, respectively, Shoot weight and stem diameter reached minimum values a little later than the time on which transpiration showed maximum. The daily net gains of fresh weight(DG) and stem diameter(DI) showed significantly Positive correlations with solar radiation in those days on which plants were not water-stressed. However, Dl and DG on those days of water stress showed much lower values than expected from the relationships between solar radiation and them. Transpiration was much lower than the expected potential transpiration on 10 July, implying that plants were water-stressed. In this case water stress was not detected from visual symptom of wilting and/or soil water potential, but was able to be identified by the lower DI and DG than the expected. The maximum contraction of stem diameter(MC) and the maximum loss of fresh weight(ML) during daytime showed significantly positive correlations with solar radiation in those days on which plants were not water-stressed and were observed greater than expected from the relationships on severely water-stressed days. But mild water stress could not be discernable by ML and MC. It would be concluded that the daily net gains of fresh weight and/or stem diameter could be used as criteria for diagnosing the water status of tomato and for triggoring the onset of irrigation in automatic system.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.486-494
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• 2012

Nano-emulsion with phase inversion temperature (PIT) emulsifying system was prepared to use rapeseed oil from originating Jeju in order to apply various cosmetic applications. Natural rape seed oil (NRSO) extraction was extracted using n-hexane as a solvent. NRSO extract showed a light yellowish color of viscous liquid as well as yield was $43{\pm}2.5%$. Acid value was $2.76{\pm}0.5$ and gravity was $0.89{\pm}0.05$. Droplet size of PIT-Yuche-NE with 20wt% of rapeseed oil was 50-120nm (average: $82{\pm}5.8nm$) and zeta potential was -29.5mV. It was thermodynamically good stable emulsion due to $(PEG)_{5-30}$fattyacidether. Some conclusions from the result of characteristic experiment were obtained as follows. First, the anti-oxidative activity was measured by free radical scavenging activity using DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical). Anti-oxidative activity of PIT-Yuche-NE was $37.2{\pm}6.7%$ on 10mg/mL compared with PIT-Toco-NE (Natural tocopherol nano-emulsion, $28.8{\pm}6.5%$ on 10 mg/mL) and PIT-Nokcha-NE (Green tea extract nano-emulsion, $29.6{\pm}7.2%$ on 10mg/mL). Second, the collagen synthesis activity of PIT-Yuche-NE was $148{\pm}15.2%$ compared with PIT-Toco-NE (Natural tocopherol nano-emulsion, $121{\pm}13.5%$ on 10mg/mL) and PIT-Nokcha-NE (Green tea extract nano-emulsion, $95{\pm}12.7%$ on 10mg/mL). Third, the effectiveness of moisturizing activity of Yuche-CRM with Aramo-TS after 6 hours increase $47{\pm}3.9%$ (*p-value￡0.05, n=7) whereas Both Toco-CRM was $30{\pm}5.2%$ (*p-value￡0.05, n=7) and Nokcha-CRM was $35{\pm}4.5%$. Therefore, Yuche-CRM has higher moisturizing effect than other two creams. Finally, Nano-emulsion stabilizing rapeseed oil using PIT emulsifying system of this study can be used to apply cosmetics industry and pharmaceutical industry.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.639-648
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• 2010

The optimal conditions for the analysis of BPA by HPLC-MS/MS was investigated and the ultrasound degradation capacity of the BPA, with the goal to establish the proper directions for analyzing infinitesimal quantities of BPA by HPLC-MS/MS was examined. The MDL and LOQ of BPA analyzed by HPLC-MS/MS were measured 0.13 nM and 1.3 nM respectively, its sensitivity about 620 and 32 times greater than HPLC-UV (MDL: 81.1 nM, LOQ: 811 nM) and FLD (MDL: 4.6 nM, LOQ: 46 nM). In other words, the new method enables the analysis of BPA with the accuracy up to one 1,180th of the amount specified in U.S. EPA guideline for drinking water. Degradation rate of BPA by ultrasound measured over 95% under 580 kHz and 1000 kHz frequency within 30 minutes of treatment, whereas the rate showed some decrease at 28 kHz frequency. At 580 kHz of ultrasound has proven to be the most effective among others at degradation rate and $k_1$ value, so we concluded that this frequency of ultrasound creates hospitable condition for the combined process of degradation by pyrolysis and oxidization. With the addition of 0.01 mM of $CCl_4$, BPA with the initial concentration of 1 ${\mu}M$ was degraded by more than 98% within 30 minutes, the $k_1$ value measured 5 minutes and 30 minutes into the experiment both showed increases by 1.4 and 1.1 times, respectively, compared with BPA without $CCl_4$. It is also found that the main degradation mechanism of BPA by ultrasound is oxidization process by OH radical, based on the fact that the addition of 10 mM of t-BuOH decreased the rate of BPA degradation by around 60%. However, 33% of BPA degradation rate obtained with the addition of t-BuOH implies further degradation done by pyrolysis or other sorts of radical beside OH radical.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.37 no.7
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• pp.432-440
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• 2015

Biochar, a by-product from pyrolysis of biomass, is a promising option to mitigate climate change by increasing soil carbon sequestration. This material is also considered to have potential to remediate a soil with heavy metal pollution by increasing the soil's adsorptive capacity. This study conducted the assessment of two biochars considering the climate change mitigation potential and heavy metal removal capacity at the same time. Two kinds of biochars (BC_Ch, TW_Ch) were prepared by pyrolyzing the biomass of burcucumber (BC_Bm) and tea waste (TW_Bm). The soils polluted with Pb were mixed with biochars or biomass and incubated for 60 d. During the incubation, $CO_2$, $CH_4$, and $N_2O$ were regularly measured and the soil before and after incubation was analyzed for chemical and biological parameters including the acetate extractable Pb. The results showed that only the BC_Ch treatment significantly reduced the amount of Pb after 60 d incubation. During the incubation, the $CO_2$ and $N_2O$ emissions from the BC_Ch and TW_Ch were decreased by 24% and 34% compared to the BC_Bm and TW_Bm, respectively. The $CH_4$ emissions were not significantly affected by biochar treatments. We calculated the GWP considering the production of amendment materials, application to the soils, removal of Pb, and soil carbon storage. The BC_Ch treatment had the most negative value because it had the higher Pb adsorption and soil carbon sequestration. Our results imply that if we apply biochar made from burcucumber, we could expect the pollution reduction and climate change mitigation at the same time.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.389-396
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• 2014

Purpose: The study examined dry eye symptoms of occupants in a newly constructed building and its effects on their work productivity and general activity. Methods: The study subjects were 33 office workers who spent more than eight hours per day on average in a new building constructed in the past three months. The indoor air quality of the new building was evaluated by measuring aldehydes, temperature and humidity. The level of dry eye symptoms was classified into normal, mild, moderate and severe by using the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI). The experience of LASIK surgery, use of eye makeup, daily use time of a computer and smart-phone, and average daily working hours were also examined. The Work Limitation Productivity Questionnaire was used as the questionnaire about work productivity and general activity to measure the impairment level on a ten-point scale. Results: The concentration variation of formaldehyde in the office was $42.42{\pm}6.30{\mu}g/m^3$. The temperature and humidity were $26.2{\pm}0.70^{\circ}C$ and $40{\pm}1%$, respectively. The respondents with normal, mild, moderate and severe dry eye symptoms were 15.2%, 18.2%, 18.2% and 48.5%, respectively. The severity of dry eye symptoms and impairment of work productivity and general activity demonstrated high correlations of 0.599 and 0.655, respectively (p<0.001). Compared to the normal case, severe dry eye symptoms demonstrated significantly high impairment of work productivity and interruption of general activity (p<0.001). The case of serious dry symptoms showed the possibilities of having impairment level of work productivity and interruption of general activity above three points 3.26 times (p=0.032) and 2.25 times (p=0.045), respectively, higher than that of the normal case. Conclusions: It was confirmed that dry eye symptoms among office workers in a newly constructed building affects work productivity and general activity.