• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.146-151
• /
• 2009

Purpose : To evaluate magnetic resonance (MR) imaging features of non-surgically treated tuberculous spondylitis and to evaluate the relationships between these features and clinical outcomes. Materials and Methods : Data from ten patients (male:female=6:4, mean age=45 years) with clinically proven tuberculous spondylitis who were treated nonsurgically over three months were analyzed retrospectively from 2000 to 2007. MRI was performed at least three times for each patient, at baseline, every three or six months, and at the end of treatment. All images were analyzed by two radiologists. Results : The mean follow-up period for the MR examination was 10.1 months (range, 4-17 months). Six patients had clinically complete resolution of tuberculous spondylitis with medication treatment only. Four patients were treated with surgical management alongside medication. All ten patients were divided into two groups by clinical outcome; six patients with complete treatment and four patients with incomplete treatment. In the complete treatment group, follow-up MR findings showed a loss of subligamentous spread of abscesses, decreased size of abscesses, no interval changes in vertebral body heights, and fatty changes in spinal lesions. MR findings in the incomplete treatment group showed bone marrow edema extension to adjacent vertebra, extension of the abscesses, and decreased height of the vertebral bodies. Conclusion : During the nonsurgical management of tuberculous spondylitis, MR imaging may play a role in predicting patient response to antituberculous drug treatment.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.48 no.6
• /
• pp.527-533
• /
• 2003

This experiment was conducted in 2001 to investigate the effect of four nitrogen levels (0, 5.5, 11, 16.5kg/10a) on the yield and quality of vice especially with respect to eating quality. One early-maturing variety (Daejinbyeo) and two mid-late-maturing varieties (Ilpumbyeo and Chucheongbyeo) were used in this experiment. Rice yields of all varieties were increased by the higher rate of nitrogen application, mainly due to a larger number of panicles per m2. Head rice ratio was reduced significantly with an increased rate of nitrogen, while immature vice ratio was increased significantly. Increasing the nitrogen application rate, a considerable increase of protein content was found in all tested rice varieties. Palatability value of Daejinbyeo and Ilpumbyeo measured by rice taster was not affected by nitrogen application rate ranging from 0 to 11 kg/10a, but it was decreased significantly at the rate of 16.5kg/10a. In contrast, the palatability value of Chucheongbyeo was decreased significantly by increasing nitrogen application at the whole application rate. A positive correlation was found between nitrogen application rate and protein content (r=$0.88^{**}\textrm{-}0.96^{**}$), but head rice (r=$-0.84^{**}$~$-0.91^{**}$) and palatability value (r=$-0.72^{**}$~$-0.85^{**}$) showed a negative correlation with the nitrogen application rate. Regardless of the fact that eleven aroma-active volatile compounds were detected in cooked vice of Chucheongbyeo, it was concluded that the aroma-active volatile compounds of cooked rice was not affected by the different nitrogen application rate. The results of this study showed that the standard nitrogen fertilization rate of 11kg/10a could be appropriate considering both rice yield and palatability.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.133-140
• /
• 2003

In this study, muscle activity was measured using surface EMG (sEMG) during a voluntary maneuver (ankle dorsiflexion) in the supine position was compared pre and post gait training. Nine patients with incomplete spinal cord injury participated in a supported treadmill ambulation training (STAT), twenty minutes a day, five days a week for three months. Two tests, a gait speed test and a voluntary maneuver test, were made the same day, or at least the same week, pre and post gait training. Ten healthy subjects' data recorded using the same voluntary maneuvers were used for the reference. sEMG measured from ten lower limb muscles was used to observe the two features of amplitude and motor control distribution pattern, named response vector. The result showed that the average gait speed of patients increased significantly (p〈0.1) from 0.47$\pm$0.35 m/s to 0.68$\pm$0.52 m/s. In sEMG analysis, six out of nine patients showed a tendency to increase the right tibialis anterior activity during right ankle dorsiflexion from 109.7$\pm$148.5 $mutextrm{V}$ to 145.9$\pm$180.7 $mutextrm{V}$ but it was not significant (p〈0.055). In addition, only two patients showed increase of correlation coefficient and total muscle activity in the left fide during left dorsiflexion. Patients' muscle activity changes after gait training varied individually and generally depended on their muscle control abilities of the pre-STAT status. Response vector being introduced for quantitative analysis showed good Possibility to anticipate. evaluate, and/or guide patients with SCI, before and after gait training.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.58 no.3
• /
• pp.267-276
• /
• 2005

Background : The transforming growth $factor-{\beta}1$ ($TGF-{\beta}1$) plays a key role in lung fibrosis. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in $TGF-{\beta}1$-induced lung fibrosis are unclear. $TGF-{\beta}1$ is the key inducer of myofibroblast transdifferentiation via de novo synthesis of ${\alpha}-smooth$ muscle actin (${\alpha}-SMA$). Since $TGF-{\beta}1$ signals through reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ROS have been shown to induce accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) in various tissues, this study examined if ROS play a role in $TGF-{\beta}1$-induced fibronectin secretion and ${\alpha}-SMA$ expression in human lung fibroblasts, MRC-5 cells. Methods : Growth arrested and synchronized MRC-5 cells were stimulated with $TGF-{\beta}1$ (0.2-10 ng/ml) in the presence or absence of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) or diphenyleneiodonium (DPI) for up to 96 hours. Dichlorofluorescein (DCF)-sensitive cellular ROS were measured by FACScan and secreted fibronectin and cellular ${\alpha}-SMA$ by Western blot analysis. Results : $TGF-{\beta}1$ increased the level of fibronectin secretion and ${\alpha}-SMA$ expression in MRC-5 cells in a dosedependent manner. Both NAC (20 and 30 mM) and DPI (1 and $5{\mu}M$) significantly inhibited $TGF-{\beta}1$-induced fibronectin and ${\alpha}-SMA$ upregulation. The $TGF-{\beta}1$-induced cellular ROS level was also significantly reduced by NAC and DPI. Conclusions : The results suggest that NADPH oxidase-dependent ROS play an important role in $TGF-{\beta}1$-induced fibronectin secretion and ${\alpha}-SMA$ expression in MRC-5 cells, which leads to myofibroblast transdifferentiation and progressive lung fibrosis.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.71-78
• /
• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the characteristic of recurred giant cell tumor after bony curettage and cementation, and to review a way to prevent the recurrence. Materials and Methods : Thirty seven cases were analyzed, which were pathologically diagnosed giant cell tumor after diagnostic biopsy or surgical excision, followed by curative curettage, burring and cementation. Location, character, and time interval to recurrence were reviewed. Results: Thirteen out of thirty seven analyzed cases(35%) showed recurrence after primary curettage and cementation. The mean interval to recurrence was sixteen months(5 months to 43 months). Most of recurrence happened within the first two years except two cases. Among the recurred cases, eleven showed recurrence in the vicinity of window area. Two cases recurred in the depth of bone marrow, where cementation was made. The advantage of curettage and cementation is the immediate stability of the operation site, early rehabilitation, and early detection of recurrence. Furthermore, cementation is beneficial in that the cement-producing heat can eradicate the residual tumor burden. In this study, 85% of cases with insufficient curettage (for example, in cases where too small surgical window was made, or where there were anatomical difficulty in approaching the target tumor burden) showed recurrence. Conclusion: Bony curettage, burring and cementation is widely used as the primary curative modality for giant cell tumor. A few other modalities such as chemical cautery using phenol and $H_2O_2$; cryotherapy; and anhydroalcohol have also been introduced, but the benefit of these are still questionable. For some cases that relatively small surgical window was made due to anatomically complicated structures (such as ligament insertion or origin site) over the target tumor burden, unsatisfactory curettage and burring was made. This study showed high chance of recurrence after unsatisfactory curettage, and 85% of recurrence developed in the vicinity of the small window area. Most of the recurrence occurred within the first two years. It is concluded that sufficient window opening, extensive curettage and eradicative burring are key factors to prevent recurrence. Also, it should be reminded that careful and close observation should be made for at least the first two years after initial treatment for early detection of recurrence.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.205-212
• /
• 2008

The efficient soluble expression of human epidermal growth factor (hEGF) was achieved by using functional fusion partners in cytoplasm and periplasm of Escherichia coli (E. coli). hEGF was over-expressed in inactive inclusion body form in cytoplasm of E. coli due to improper disulfide bond formation and hydrophobic interaction, yielding about 5.9 mg/L in flask culture. Six functional fusion partners were introduced by linking to N-terminal part of hEGF gene for the high-level expression of soluble and active hEGF in cytoplasm and peri plasm region. Three fusion partners for cytoplasmic expression such as acidic tail of synuclein (ATS), thioredoxin (Trx) and lipase, and three fusion partners for periplasmic expression such as periplasmic cystein oxidoreductases (DsbA and DsbC) and maltose binding protein (MBP) were investigated. hEGF fused with ATS and DsbA showed over 90% of solubility in cytoplasm and periplasm, respectively. Especially DsbA was found to be an efficient fusion partner for soluble and high-level expression of hEGF, yielding about 18.1 mg/L and three-fold higher level compared to that of insoluble non-fusion hEGF in cytoplasm. Thus, heterologous proteins containing complex disulfide bond and many hydrophobic amino acids can effectively be produced as an active form in E. coli by introducing a suitable peptide or protein.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.193-204
• /
• 2000

Nowadays, mongolian gerbil is widely utilized in the research of brain and water deprivation because of congenitally incomplete Willis' circle, audiogenic seizure in low noise, and special cholesterol metabolism without water absorption for a long time. In this study, we intended to identify the time lapse changes in the general morphoogy and ultrastructure of the catecholaminergic neurons of mongolian gerbil brain in after long-term water deprivation. Fifteen mongolian gerbils were divided into 3 groups (5, 10, and 20-day water deprivation groups), each with 5 mongolian gerbils. Additional 5 mongolian gerbils which received water without limitation were used as a control. The brain sections were immunostained using tyrosine hysroxylase (TH), $ dopamine-\beta-hydroxylase$ (DBH), and phenylethanolamine-N-methyltrasferase (PMNT) antibodies. And immunoreactive cells were observed by electromicroscopy for the ultrastructural changes . The TH-immunoreactive (TH-IR) nerve cells were observed in the para- and peri-ventricular nucleus of the 3 rd ventricle in the hypothalamus and the substantia nigra. The number of TH-IR neurons in these areas was decreased from the 5th day of the water deprivation to the 10 th day and reincreased until 20 th day water deprivation. The shape and density of the dopamine-secreting cells identified by immunohistochemistry showed changes in the continuous water deprivation. Electron microscopy revealed a round nucleus in the neurons of control group but 5-day water deprivation group showed a dense and irregularly shaped nucleus. Also in the 5-day water-deprived group, mitochondria was decreased in number and junctins were disappered. Endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi complex did not show changes after water-deprivation. In this results, we can conclude that dopamine are involved in the water metabolism in mongolian gerbil, and mongolian gerbil could be used as an animal model for the researches of water deprivation.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.42 no.3
• /
• pp.355-360
• /
• 2010

Vibrio parahaemolyticus (V. parahaemolyticus), which is commonly found in raw seafood, causes gastroenteritis in humans. Rapid and effective methods have been developed as culture methods require up to 5-7 days. In this study, real-time PCR was compared with the standard culture method for detecting V. parahaemolyticus in seafood and radish sprout samples. Five hundred grams of the samples were artificially contaminated with V. parahaemolyticus then divided into 20 samples. The samples were incubated in alkaline peptone water and then streaked onto thiosulfate-citrate-bile saltssucrose agar. Biochemical tests for suspicious colonies were performed using the API 20NE strip. In parallel, real-time PCR was performed targeting the toxR gene using the enrichment broth. The real-time PCR was sensitive in discriminating V. parahaemolyticus from other foodborne pathogens. The detection limit of the real-time PCR was $10^3\;CFU/mL$ in phosphate-buffered saline. Although the real-time PCR detected more positive samples (76 out of 180, 42%) than the culture method (66 out of 180, 37%), there was no significant statistical difference (p>0.05) between the two methods. In conclusion, real-time PCR assays could be an alternative to the standard culture method for detecting V. parahaemolyticus in seafood and radish sprouts, which has many advantages in terms of detection time, labor, and sensitivity.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.43 no.5
• /
• pp.624-630
• /
• 2010

In order to investigate the effects of continual pre-plant application of liquid pig manure (LPM) on growth and quality of rice in double cropping system of rice and malting barley, the liquid pig manure was applied after harvesting rice and malting barley for 3 years. Field experiment was designed with non-fertilizer, chemical fertilizer (CF) 100% recommended by soil testing, rice (LPM 50%+CF 50%)+malting barley (CF 100%), rice (LPM 50%+CF 50%)+malting barley (LPM 50%+CF 50%), rice (LPM 100%)+malting barley (CF 100%) and rice (LPM 100%)+malting barley (LPM 100%). The yield of rice was increased by 13% with increasing culm length and No. of panicle per hill as 482 kg $10a^{-1}$ in rice (LPM 100%)+malting barley (LPM 100%) plot compare with 427 kg $10a^{-1}$ in rice (CF 100%)+malting barley (CF 100%) plot. Whereas, lodging index was high in rice (LPM 100%)+malting barley (LPM 100%) plot by increasing of internodes length from 3rd to 4th and decreasing of breaking strength. When the quality of milled rice was compare with rice (CF 100%)+malting barley (CF 100%) plot, it was decreased by increasing of protein contents and decreasing of rate of perfect grain in rice (LPM 100%)+malting barley (LPM 100%) plot. The content of amylose was not significant by 19.4~22.0%. Toyo-taste value was not different in LPM 100% and CF 100% plot. Rice could be grown with only liquid pig manure 100%, but considering yield and quality of rice and lodging risk, basal fertilization by LPM 50% and top-dressing by CF 50% application was recommended for rice cultivation.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.152-155
• /
• 2014

An 11-year-old castrated Schnauzer presented with paraplegia for the last two weeks, initially developed pelvic limb ataxia 6 months ago and left pelvic limb paresis 3 months ago. On neurological examination, paraplegia and postural reaction deficits were noted in the pelvic limbs with no deep pain sensation, and the dog showed exaggerated spinal reflexes and involuntary urination. Magnetic resonance (MR) images of thoracolumbar spinal cord were obtained with a 0.3 Tesla magnet. A mass with a broad base to the dorsal and left dural margins was identified at the level of L2, causing marked spinal cord compression. The mass showed isointensity to the spinal cord on T1-weighted (T1W) precontrast images, hyperintensity on T2-weighted images, marked homogeneous contrast enhancement with well-defined margins and the "dural tail" sign on T1W postcontrast images. An intradural-extramedullay tumor was considered, most likely, meningioma was highly suggestive. Left-sided hemilaminectomy and dorsal laminectomy were performed. An intradural mass partially adherent to dura mater was compressing the spinal cord, and the mass was completely removed with the attached dura mater. A histopathologic diagnosis of angiomatous subtype meningioma was made.