• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.3 s.272
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• pp.168-179
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• 2007

Background: The recent trend of an increasing number of patients with acute cardiogenic shock or chronic congestive heart failure following myocardial infarction, as well as the considerable number who can not be weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass after open heart surgery, call for immediate efforts to develop affordable ventricular assist devices that are suitable for the Korean physique. Recently, a pneumatic pulsatile ventricular assist device (VAD), named DKUH-75, has been developed by the Department of Biomedical Engineering, in collaboration with the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery of Dankook University College of Medicine. The feasibility of the DKUH-75 VAD was evaluated on the bases of common hemodynamic variables and echocardiographic measurements in pigs, which are subjected to an acute cardiogenic shock state following myocardial infarction, using a novel coronary artery ligation method employing the ischemic preconditioning concept. Material and Method: Acute cardiogenic shock was induced in 10 Yorkshire Landrace Duroc strain pigs by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery via an ischemic preconditioning process. The hemodynamic variables were monitored, with epicardial echocardiographic measurements performed before and one hour after the ligation. The DKUH-75 VAD was implanted into 5 pigs one hour after the onset of the shock. The hemodynamic variables and echocardiographic measurements were taken one hour after installation of the VAD. Result: The systolic, diastolic and mean systemic arterial pressures were significantly decreased in all the experimental animals one hour after the ligation. The systolic, diastolic and mean pulmonary arterial pressures were increased (Eds note: this completely contradicts the preceding statement? However, if you mean the non-experimental animals this should be stated?). The left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) was increased, but the cardiac index decreased, An increase in the left ventricular end systolic dimension and decreases in the fractional shortening and ejection fraction were observed all animals one hour after the coronary artery ligation. In all 5 of the VAD implanted pigs, the systolic and mean systemic arterial pressures were increased, and the pulmonary arterial pressures decreased one hour after the implantation; the LVEDP decreased, but the cardiac index was significantly increased, In the echocardiographic measurements, the left ventricular end systolic dimension decreased after the implantation of the VAD, but the fractional shortening and ejection fraction significantly increased. Conclusion: Significant improvements in the hemodynamic variables and echocardiographic measurements were observed in the 5 VAD implanted animals one hour after installation, which had been subjected to an acute cardiogenic shock state by ligation of the coronary artery, indicating that the DKUH-75 VAD could help in the recovery of the myocardial function. This suggests that the DKUH-75 VAD is feasible in the short term in relation to an acute cardiogenic shock state due to myocardial infarction.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.3 s.272
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• pp.200-208
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• 2007

Background: The effect of patient-prosthesis mismatch (PPM) on the clinical outcome following aortic valve replacement (AVR) remains controversial. This study compared the surgical outcomes of AVR between patients with a patient-prosthesis mismatch and those having undergone an aortic annular enlargement. Material and Method: Six hundred and twenty seven adult patients, who underwent AVR with stented bioprosthetic or mechanical valves, between January 1996 and February 2006, were evaluated. PPM was defined as an indexed effective orifice area (iEOA) ${\leq}0.85cm^2/m^2$, and Severe if the iEOA${\leq}0.65cm^2/m^2$ PPM was present in 103 (16.4%, PPM group) patients, and severe in 11 (1.8%, SPPM group). During the period of the study, 21 patients underwent an AVR with annular enlargement (AE group). Result: The mean iEOA of the AE group was larger than that of the PPM group ($0.95\;vs.\;0.76cm^2/m^2,\;p=0.00$). The AE group had longer CPB, ACC and operation times than the PPM group, and showed a tendency toward higher operative mortality (14.3% vs. 2.9%, p=0.06). The SPPM group had higher AV pressure gradients (peak/mean) than the AE group (72/45 mmHg vs. 38/25 mmHg, p=0.02/0.06) and suffered more AV related events (AV reoperation or severe aortic stenosis)(45.5% vs. 9.5%, p=0.03). LV masses were not regressed in the patients who experienced an AV related event. Conclusion: During AVR in patients with a small aortic annulus, annular enlargement should be carefully applied taking into account the high risk of operative mortality due to annular enlargement and co-morbidities of patients. Aortic annular enlargement; however, should be considered as an alternative method in patients expected to have a severe PPM after an AVR.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.286-297
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• 2016

Clostridium perfringens is both a ubiquitous environmental bacterium and a major cause of human gastrointestinal disease, and C. perfringens food poisoning ranks among the most common gastrointestinal diseases in developed countries. 120 isolates of C. perfringens were obtained from food-poisoning outbreaks in 2013~2014, Gyeonggi-do. Using PCR, all 120 isolates were identified as C. perfringens type A. Of the tested isolates, 49 isolates carried the cpe gene, 71 isolates carried the cpb2 gene. The outbreak cases of cpb2 and cpe /cpb2 genes were 7 and 7, whereas the outbreak cases of cpe-gene were 2. The epidemiological relationship between C. perfringens isolates has previously been investigated chiefly by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multi-locus sequence typing (MLST). The genetics relatedness of the isolates raged from 53.5-100% and 75 district PFGE type were observed. The PFGE results revealed a wide genetic diversity among the 64 cpb2 carrying isolates (except 7 isolates), while 46 cpe-carrying isolates (except 3 isolates) showed a high genetic similarity. The MLST analysis revealed that 14 cpe isolates (cpe-chromosomal isolates) belong to a distinct cluster that is significantly distant from all the other cpb2 isolates (cpe-plasmid carrying and cpe-negative isolates). The isolates carrying a cpb2 appear to be rarely related, and are more variable than chromosomal cpe isolates. The results suggest that the cpe-positive outbreak isolates showed close genetic relation, whereas the cpb2-positive isolates revealed a wide genetic diversity.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.108-123
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• 2003

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the contribution of $^{18}$ F-FDG brain PET in the differentiating Idiopathic parkinson's diesease (IPD), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), and multiple system atrophy (MSA). We studied 24 patients with parkinsonism : 8 patients (mean age 67.9$\pm$10.7 y: M/F : 3/5) with IPD, 9 patients (57.9$\pm$9.2 y : M/F : 4/5) with MSA and 7 patients (67.6$\pm$4.8 y : M/F 3/4) with PSP. All patients with parkinsonism and 22 age-matched normal controls underwent $^{18}$ F FDG PET in 3D mode after the injection of 370 MBq $^{118}$ F FDG. The patients with IPD, MSh and PSP were compared with a normal control group by a two-sided t-test of SPM99 (uncorrected P<0.001, extent threshold>100 voxel). All three parkinsonism groups, showed significant hypometabolism in the cerebral neocortex compared to the normal control group. However, the three groups displayed different metabolism in the subcortical structure, brain stem, and cerebellum. In IPD, there was no significant hypometabolism in the putamen, brain stem and cerebellum. However, MSA patients showed significant hypometabolism in the striatum, pons, and cerebellum compared to the normal controls and IPD patients. In addition, PSP showed significant hypometabolism in the caudate nuclei, the thalamus, midbrain, and the cingulate gyrus compared to the normal controls, the IPD, and MSA groups (IPD vs Normal sensitivity/specificity : 75%/l00%, MSA vs Normal sensitivity/specificity :100%/87%, PSP vs Normal sensitivity/specificity : 86%/94%). Our results show that the regional metabolism of IPD, MSA, and PSP is different mainly in the striatum, thalamus, brain stem and cerebellum. An assessment of the $^{18}$ F-FDG PET scan images using SPM may be a useful adjunct to a clinical examination in making a differential diagnosis of Parkinsonism.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.396-402
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• 2010

This study was designed to investigate the effects of 4 kinds of plant water extract mixture and garlic extract (PMC) administration on serum lipid metabolism in hypercholestrolemic rats. The normal group was administered a cholesterol free diet, the control group a 1% cholesterol diet, and each experimental group was given a diet of 1% cholesterol, 1% plant mixture and 0.3, 0.5, 0.7% garlic extract (PMC-I, PMC-II, PMC-III), respectively. Each diet was administered orally to SD-male rats for 4 weeks. Total cholesterol content decreased by about 20% with administration of PMC. Triglyceride content also decreased from 9.3 to 15.0% compared to the control group, and phospholipid was similar to triglyceride. There was no significant difference in HDL-cholesterol content between the control and experimental groups. LDL-cholesterol content of the normal group was 9.4 times lower than the control group and its content was significantly lower in the PMC-II ($68.45{\pm}12.83\;mg/dl$) and PMC-III ($66.35{\pm}5.18\;mg/dl$) groups than the PMC-I group. VLDL-cholesterol content of the PMC-II and III groups were similar to the normal group. Atherogenic index (AI) and cardiac risk factor (CRF) were significantly lower in the PMC group. Blood glucose content was the lowest in the PMC-II ($189.37{\pm}12.02\;mg/dl$) group among all groups tested. Total protein content was $9.56{\pm}0.87{\sim}10.05{\pm}2.69\;mg/dl$ in the PMC-I~III groups and was significantly higher than the normal group. CPT activity did not show a significant difference among the experimental groups, while COT activity was effective only in the PMC-I group. Serum TBARS content in the PMC-III group was lower than in the normal group. Serum antioxidant activity by DPPH radical scavenging was $83.75{\pm}2.32%$ in the PMC-III group, which was significantly higher than the control group.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.432-442
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• 2013

In this study, we examined the biological activity and synergistic effects of an extract powder of 1% and 3%, each fresh (FGP) and black garlic (BGP) in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Blood glucose content was significantly lower in FGP and BGP groups than control group. Glycosylated Hb was significantly higher in streptozotocin induced diabetic control group than normal group, but significantly lower in FGP and BGP groups. Total cholesterol content of the FGP and BGP groups were lower than control group, but not shown the significant difference between garlic fed groups. HDL-cholesterol concentrations of the FGP and BGP fed groups were significantly higher than control group, except of 1% BGP group. LDL and VLDL-cholesterol contents were significantly lower in 3% FGP group, and the same tendency atherogenic index and cardiac risk factor. GOT, GPT, and ${\gamma}$-GTP activity of serum were lower in FGP and BGP fed groups than control group. Glycogen contents in liver significantly higher than control group, and has not significantly difference between normal group. TBARS content was no significantly difference in the liver and serum, but in the kidney, 3% FPG and BGP fed groups were significantly lower than other experimental group. DPPH radical scavenging activity of liver has not significant difference among experimental groups, but activity was higher garlic extract powder fed groups in serum and kidney. These results indicate that dietary supplements of fresh and black garlic extract powder was contributed to lower of blood glucose, loss prevention of glycogen in liver and improve of lipid metabolism.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.8
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• pp.767-773
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• 2007

Purpose : Obesity has become a pandemic and especially the prevalence of childhood obesity has increased remarkably over the past years. Childhood obesity is often accompanied by the expected morbidities such as hyperlipidemia, fatty liver and glucose intolerance. We evaluated the pattern of alteration in the body mass index (BMI), serum adiponectin concentration, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and complication rates after one year follow-up. Methods : Forty two obese children (age: 8-15 years, 95th percentile of BMI for age and sex) were examined twice annually on June, 2004 and July, 2005. The body mass index (BMI) and sexual maturityrating (SMR) were determined annually by the same examiner and serum fasting glucose, liver enzyme, lipid profiles, adiponectin, insulin and HOMA-IR were measured and annual results were compared. Upper abdominal sonography was performed to detect fatty liver. Results : BMI ($25.3{\pm}2.9kg/m^2$ vs. $26.0{\pm}2.9kg/m^2$) and HOMA-IR ($3.6{\pm}1.8$ vs. $4.7{\pm}1.9$) have increased significantly after one-year follow-up. The serum adiponectin concentration ($17.2{\pm}5.2g/mL$ vs. $12.6{\pm}5.2g/mL$) has decreased after one year. The prevalence of hyperlipidemia and fatty liver were not changed significantly but that of hyperinsulinemia increased after one-year. HOMA-IR showed a positive correlation with BMI and SMR, but was negatively correlated with serum adiponectin concentration. Conclusion : Obese children in our study showed significant increment of insulin resistance during one year. These results suggest that well-organized and continuous obesity control is required especially for obese adolescent to prevent complication of obesity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.545-551
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• 2017

Curcuma longa L. (CL) is widely used as a spice and coloring agent in several foods, such as curry and mustard, as well as cosmetics and drugs. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of CL extracted with various solvents [methanol (MC), ethanol (EC), acetone (AC)] on $H_2O_2-induced$ DNA damage in human leukocytes along with total polyphenol contents (TPC) and antioxidant properties. The antioxidant effects of CL were determined by measuring 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity (RSA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity. The preventive effect of CL on oxidative stress-induced DNA damage and DNA repair capacities were assessed using comet assay. MC showed the highest TPC (11.17 g gallic acid equivalents/100 g) and antioxidant properties among the solvent extracts. The $SC_{50}$ for DPPH RSA was MC: 35.0 > AC: 45.8 > EC: $57.8{\mu}g/mL$ and SOD-like activity was MC: 46.6 > EC: 141.5 > AC: $296.4{\mu}g/mL$. In the comet assay, the $ED_{50}$ value of MC showed the highest inhibition ($86.7{\mu}g/mL$) of $H_2O_2-induced$ DNA damage, followed by AC ($110.0{\mu}g/mL$) > EC ($115.8{\mu}g/mL$). Analysis of the percentage of damaged cells showed that repair capacity significantly decreased at 4, 8, and 12 h from $H_2O_2-induced$ oxidative stress in each extract. After 12 h, level of DNA damage recovery was similar to the negative control level. These results suggest that CL has potential antioxidant activity and a protective effect against oxidation-induced DNA damage, and the methanol extract of CL was the most effective.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.67-74
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• 2006

Introduction: Excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy are key features of narcolepsy. Modafinil is psychostimulant used in the treatment of narcolepsy. In this study, we evaluated effects of modafinil on nocturnal sleep structure and sleep latency in multiple sleep latency test and clinical features. Methods: Twelve narcoleptic patients (7 male, age: $22.9{\pm}2.6\;yrs$) were participated in the study. All of them had done nocturnal polysomnography (nPSG), multiple sleep latency test (MSLT), clinical symptoms scales and have repeated same procedure after taking 200 mg of modafinil. We have done linear mixed model analysis to describe effects of group, medication and nap time on these measures. Results: Modafinil did not affect clinical scales except PSQI which had been reduced after medication. In this study, Modafinil reduced total sleep time, sleep efficiency and increased wake after sleep onset and percent of arousal during sleep in nocturnal polysomnography and prolonged mean sleep latency in multiple sleep latency tests in both group. Discussion: Modafinil has stimulant effect of central nervous system but its effect on night sleep is less than other psychostimulants such as methylphenidate. We ascertained that modafinil affected total sleep time, sleep efficiency and percent of wake during sleep but did not effect on sleep structure. Modafinil was effective in the management of day time sleepiness. Modafinil can enhance alertness of control group without day time sleepiness.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.1188-1198
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• 1998

Background : The purpose of the present study was to determine the protective effect of antiasthmatic activity of inhaled heparin, cromolyn sodium, budesonide, furosemide in exercise-induced asthma(EIA). The other important considerable point of this study was the mechanism of bronchoconstriction on EIA. Methods : Eight subjects with a history of EIA were studied on 5 different experiment days. After obtaining baseline $FEV_1$ and FVC, subjects performed a standardized exercise challenge. EIA was assessed by measurement of $FEV_1$ before and after exercise. On experiment day 4, the exercise challenge was performed after the subjects inhaled either heparin (1,000 units/kg/day for 5 days), furosemide (1mg/kg for 5 days), cromolyn (4mg/day for 5 days), or budesonide ($400{\mu}g/day$ for 5 days). On experiment day 5, the methacholine bronchial provocation test was performed. On experiment day 3, activated partial thromboplastine time(aPTI) was checked. Results : Maximum decrements of $FEV_1$ (mean${\pm}$SE) among 0 to 120 minutes after exercise were as follows : heparin was $83.1{\pm}4.81%$ (p=0.010), furosemide was $80.5{\pm}6.87%$ (p=0.071), cromolyn was $86.8{\pm}6.53%$ (p=0.340), and budesonide was $79.4{\pm}7.31%$ (p=0.095). Above medications were compared to the control value ($72.5{\pm}18.2%$) by paired t-test. No medications had effect on $PD_{20}$ of methacholine bronchial provocation test The results were control $1.58{\pm}0.49{\mu}mol$), heparin ($4.17{\pm}1.96{\mu}mol$), furosemide ($1.85{\pm}0.86{\mu}mol$), cromolyn ($2.19{\pm}0.89{\mu}mol$), and budesonide ($3.38{\pm}1.77{\mu}mol$), respectively(p>0.05). The inhaled heparin had no effect of anticoagulation. Conclusion : These data demonstrate that inhaled heparin has a protective effect on EIA. The effect of inhaled cromolyn was statistically absent with manufacture's recommended dosage on EIA. So, the dosage of cromolyn should be carefully evaluated in future. Although inhalation of budesonide and furosemide have no statistical significance compared to control, these drugs also have some protective effects on EIA.