• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.83-88
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• 2015

The present study was devised to determine the effects of vitamin E and selenium (Selevit) on body weight, organ weight, hematological values and biochemical parameters in the orchidectomized (Orch) rats. Intact group (n=15) received no treatment and operation. Orch+Selevit received operation and Selevit. The body weights of each group increased, but that of the Orch＋Selevit group were significantly lower than those of all the other groups. There were significantly different decreased (p<0.001) of body weights between Orch＋Selevit group and all the other groups. Also, organ weights such as heart, liver, spleen, kidney, lung and skeletal muscle were measured. The heart and liver weights in the Orch＋Selevit group were significantly different decreased (p<0.001) in comparison with those in the Intact and Sham groups. The kidney weights in the Orch＋Selevit group were significantly different decreased (p<0.01, p<0.001) in comparison with those in all the other groups. The number of white blood cell (WBC) was significantly higher (p<0.05) in the Orch＋Selevit group than in all the other groups. The hematological values of 12 parameters were not significantly different in any of the groups. The concentrations of serum total protein, albumin and alkaline phosphatase only increased significantly (p<0.05, p<0.01) in the Orch＋Selevit group as compared to that in the Orch group. We conclude that Selevit was significantly decreased the body weight in the Orch rats. Our findings suggest that Selevit may influence the process of lipid packaging and absorption in the Orch rats.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.691-695
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• 2008

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of glycoprotein isolated from Morus indica L. (MIL) on plasma cholesterol levels and on the activities of hepatic detoxicant enzymes in ICR mice. MIL glycoprotein evidenced good scavenging activities against lipid peroxyl radicals. When the mice were treated with Triton WR-1339, the levels of total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol in plasma increased significantly by 53.9 and 47.5 mg/dL, respectively, as compared to the controls. However, when pretreated with MIL glycoprotein $(100{\mu}g/mL)$, ICR mice showed marked reductions to 55.4 and 47.0 mg/dL, as compared to Triton WR-1339 treatment alone. Interestingly, high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were unchanged. These results indicate that the MIL glycoprotein is capable of scavenging lipidperoxyl radicals, lowering plasma lipid levels, and increasing the activities of detoxicant enzymes in the mouse liver.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.366-373
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• 2017

Urinalysis is considered to be easier and simpler than other tests. It has been known to cause no burden to patients, while offering important information on diagnosing, treating, and determining the prognoses of kidney and urinary tract diseases. Urinary sediments are usually performed by microscopic examination of centrifuged urine by technologist. The guidelines proposed by the Korean Association of External Quality Assessment Service are actually different from those actually practiced by medical institutions and taught to biomedical students in textbooks. Therefore, we verified whether different sediment preparation methods lead different test results. Specimens that tested positive from the occult blood and leukocyte esterase in the urine dipstick test were randomly selected for a microscopic examination. The differences in the urine sediment preparation affected the sediment concentrations, which influenced the cell grade and cell number per HPF. The first factor in determining the sediment concentration is the centrifugal force. Many medical institutions use 1,500 rpm as the centrifugal speed without considering the radius of the centrifuge; such a value may not be accurate for 400 G. Consequently, there were differences in urine concentrations, which influenced the results. The second factor is the amount of sediment in urine. Different amounts of the remaining supernatant led to different sediment concentration factors, again, causing different results. Furthermore, not only by using a pipette to obtain an accurate amount as stipulated, but also by roughly obtaining a drop, the microscopic examination using such a volume of sediment examined affected the results. Therefore, this study highlights the importance of standardization of urine sediment preparation procedures to promote consistency and accuracy across institutions.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.79-82
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• 2010

A 1-year-old intact male Russian blue cat was admitted with a history of depression, partial anorexia, vomiting and dysuria. Through the blood analysis, ultrasonography and urinalysis, this cat was diagnosed as feline lower urinary tract disease with cystitis. Despite antibiotic therapy the cat showed stranguria and urinary catheterization were repeated several times. One week after, this patient appeared depression, hyperthermia and leukocytosis. Ultrasonography revealed a small amount of hypoechoic fluid around the right kidney and bacteria were found in the urine. The amount of the right subcapsular fluid was increased and bacteria were found in the fluid. On the excretory urography, leakage of contrast media were detected. The right kidney was surgically removed and suppurative fluid between the renal parenchyma and the thickened capsule was identified. After surgery, subcapsular abscess of the right kidney associated with pyelonephritis was confirmed histologically and this cat recovered without complications.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.57-63
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• 2022

Vibrio parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus are known to be infected to human via fisheries products. Therefore, food safety of fisheries products is important for public health and fish industry. This paper was conducted to know how well these human isolates can survive in olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus). The growth of V. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus showed about 50~60% reduced rates at 25℃ than at 37℃ and did not show any differences according to NaCl concentration of media except the increasing in the growth of V. vulnificus in medium containing 3% NaCl. Artificial infection of 1×10⁶ CFU/fish was carried out to confirm the sensitivity of olive flounder against V. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus. After 1 week from injection, no fish was dead. To evaluate nonspecific defense of olive flounder against V. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus, the antibacterial potency of serum and epidermal mucus were tested. The number of the vibrios exposed to serum obtained from olive flounder significantly decreased after 3 hours, and epidermal mucus showed decrease of the bacteria over than 90% until 12 hours from exposure. Phagocytosis of head kidney leucocytes of healthy olive flounder against V. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus showed in over 70% of leucocytes at the 2 hours. Therefore, cultured olive flounder only as vehicle for human pathogen in environmental water is well developed its antibacterial potency against human pathogens, so the viability of V. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus in cultured olive flounder was considered very low.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.404-410
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• 2003

Different treatment options are available according to the stage and duration of the empyema. Stage I empyema (exudate stage) is treated concurrently by the administration of appropriate antibiotics and chest tube drainage. Stage III empyema (organized stage) is considered for decortication through an open thoracotomy. However, the treatment of fibrinopurulent, stage II empyema remains controversial. Recently, debridement with the use of Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) has been proposed for the treatment of stage II empyema. We analyzed and report our initial experience of 5 cases of stage II empyema, treated with the use of VATS. Material and Method: Between June 2001 and February 2002, 5 patients with fibrinopurulent empyema that did not respond to antibiotics, chest tube drainage or Percutaneous Catheter drainage (PCD), and instillation of fibrinolytic agent were treated by debridement and irrigation with the use of VATS. A CT scan was performed in all patients before the operation to confirm the diagnosis of loculated empyema and to detect additional lung parenchymal diseases. Result: All 5 patients underwent successful debridement and irrigation with the use of VATS and the chest tube was inserted properly. And no patients needed conversion to open thoracotomy. The ratio of sex was 4 : 1 (male : female), the mean age was 53 years old (range, 26~73 years), the mean operative time was 73.4 minutes (range, 52~95 minutes), the mean duration of postoperative chest tube placement was 12.4 days (range, 6~19 days), and the mean duration of postoperative hospital stay was 20.8 days (range, 10~36 days). In all patients, clinical symptoms such as pain and fever subsided and simple chest PA view revealed satisfactory lung expansion. No major postoperative complication was observed during the hospital course and no patient suffered from the recurrence of empyema in the follow-up period. Conclusion: We think that early operation with the use of VATS is safe and efficient for stage II empyema which did not respond to medical treatment(antibiotics and chest tube drainage), therefore, it can prevent stage II empyema from advancing to stage III, organized empyema.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.64 no.1
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• pp.8-14
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• 2008

Background: Acinetobacter infections are difficult to treat as they often exhibit multiple resistance to the antibiotics that are currently available for the treatment of pneumonia. Colistin is active against gram-negative bacteria, including the multiple drug resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter species. However, intravenous administration of colistin was abandoned because of its nephrotoxicity and neurotoxicity. The aims of this study were to examine the efficacy and safety of colistin administered by aerosol in the treatment of pneumonia caused by MDR Acinetobacter baumannii. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) from Dec. 2006 to Aug. 2007 who had been diagnosed as suffering from pneumonia due to MDR Acinetobacter baumannii and had been treated with nebulized colistin. Results: 31 patients received aerosolized colistin. The average duration of the treatment was $14{\pm}7$ days and the daily dose of ranged from 225 mg to 300 mg. All patients received concomitant intravenous antimicrobial agents. The average length of the stay in the ICU was $34{\pm}21$ days and in the hospital $58{\pm}52$ days. The overall microbiological eradication was observed in 25 patients (80.6%). 14 of these (56%) were cured, and 11 (44%) were infected with other microorganisms. The overall crude mortality of the ICU was 48%. Nephrotoxicity and significant bronchial constriction did not occur in any patient during neublized colistin treatment. Conclusion: Nebulized colistin may be a safe and effective option in the treatment of pneumonia due to MDR Acinetobacter baumannii. Its role in therapy warrants further investigation in comparative studies.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.135-146
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• 1993

Background: In acute pulmonary embolism it has been postulated that the constriction of bronchi and pulmonary artery secondary to neurohumoral response plays an important role in cardiopulmonary dysfunction in addition to the mechanical obstruction of pulmonary artery. Serotonin is considered as the most important mediator. Positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) stimulates $PGI_2$ secretion from the vascular endothelium, but its role in acute pulmonary embolism is still in controversy. Methods: To study the cardiopulmonary effect and therapeutic role of Ketanserin, selective antagonist of 5-HT2 receptor, and PEEP in acute pulmonary embolism experimental acute pulmonary embolism was induced in dogs with autologous blood clot. The experimental animals were divided into 3 groups, that is control group, Ketanserin injection group and PEEP application group. Results: Thirty minutes after embolization, mean pulmonary arterial pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance increased and cardiac output decreased. $PaO_2,\;P\bar{v}O_2$ and oxygen transport decreased and physiological shunt and $PaCO_2$ increased. After injection of Ketanserin, comparing with control group, mean pulmonary arterial pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance and physiological shunt decreased, while cardiac output, $PaO_2$ and oxygen transport increased. All these changes sustained till 4 hours after embolization. After PEEP application pulmonary vascular resistance, $PaO_2$ and $PaCO_2$ increased, while physiological shunt, cardiac output and oxygen transport decreased. After discontinuation of PEEP, mean pulmonary arterial pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance decreased and were lower than control group, while $PaO_2$ and cardiac output increased and higher than control group. $PaCO_2$ decreased but showed no significant difference comparing with control group. Conclusion: It can be concluded that Ketanserin is effective for the treatment of acute pulmonary embolism. With PEEP hemodynamic status deteriorated, but improved better than control group after discontinuation of PEEP. Thus PEEP may be applied carefully for short period in acute pulmonary embolism if the hemodynamic status is tolerable.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.10 s.267
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• pp.770-774
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• 2006

Background: Continuous air leakage through chest tube after lung surgery may increase pt's hospital stay and lead to many complications including empyema etc. Chemical pleurodesis has frequently been used for prevention of air leakage. Therefore, we performed chemical pleurodesis using diluted fibrin glue in patients with continuous air leak-age and observed the effects and efficiency of treatment. Material and Method: From September, 2001 to August, 2005, 16 patients whose continuous air leakage lasted more than 7 days underwent chemical pleurodesis with diluted fibrin glue. The effects of treatment, complications and recurrences were reviewed. Dissolved fibrinogen 1.0 g and aprotinin 500,000 KIU were mixed in a 50 cc syringe (Mixed solution A). And dissolved thrombin 5,000 IU and Calcium chloride 600 mg were mixed in a 50 cc syringe (Mixed solution B). Cefazolin 1.0 g was mixed in a 50 cc syringe (Mixed solution C). Rubber tube was inserted between the chest tube and the collecting bottle. An inserted rubber tube was positioned 60cm above the patient and forming a loop appearance was done. Mixed solutions A, B and C were injected into the highest rubber tube. Results: Continuous air leakages disappeared in all f6 patients at next day. Chest tubes were removed after 3 days in all patients. Complications were chest pain in 12 patients (75%), leukocytosis in 14 patients (88%), fever and chill in 14 patients (88%). All complications were transient and disappeared without specific treatment. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that diluted fibrin glue chemical pleurodesis was effective in patients with continuous air leakage lasting more than 7 days. Diluted fibrin glue chemical pleurodesis had good results with acceptable complications. long term follow-up is necessary to evaluate the accurate effects of treatment and recurrence in a large number of patients.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2007

Purpose : In spite of medical advances, empyema is a serious complication of pneumonia in children. Vaccination practices and antibiotic prescribing practices promote the change of clinical manifestations of empyema and causative organisms. So we made a nationwide clinical observation of 122 cases of empyema in children from 32 hospitals during the 5 year period from September 1999 to August 2004. Methods : Demographic data, and clinical information on the course and management of empyema patients were collected retrospectively from medical records in secondary and tertiary hospitals in Korea. Results : One hundred twenty two patients were enrolled from 35 hospitals. The most frequent age group was 1-3 years, accounting for 48 percent of all cases. The male to female sex ratio was 1.2:1. The main symptoms were cough, fever, respiratory difficulty, lethargy and chest pain in order of frequency. Hematologic findings on admission revealed decreased hemoglobin levels ($10.4{\pm}1.6g/dL$) and increased leukocyte counts ($16,234.3{\pm}10,601.8/{\mu}L$). Pleural fluid obtained from patients showed high leukocyte counts ($30,365.8{\pm}64,073.0/{\mu}L$), high protein levels ($522.3{\pm}1582.3g/dL$), and low glucose levels ($88.1{\pm}523.5mg/dL$). Findings from pleural fluid cultures were positive in 80 cases(65.6 percent). The most common causative agent was Streptococcus pneumoniae. The majority of patients were treated with antibiotics and closed drainage. Some patients needed open drainage (16.4 percent) or decortication (3.3 percent). The mean duration of hospitalization was $28.6{\pm}15.3days$. Conclusion : We analyzed childhood empyema patients during a period of 5 years in Korean children. The most frequent age group was 1-3 years and the most common causative agent was Streptococcus pneumoniaeiae. The majority of patients were treated with antibiotics and close drainage.