• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 2006

Objective: Our purpose was to investigate the relationship between the levels of IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ in the peritoneal fluid of women with and without endometriosis and infertile women. Methods: This study is prospective and case-control study in University hospital, enrolled thirty-four women with laparoscopic findings of minimal to severe endometriosis, and thirty-seven women with no visual evidence of pelvic endometriosis and with benign gynecologic disease. IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ levels in peritoneal fluid were determined using commercial ELISA. IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ concentrations were compared among women with and without endometriosis, and with infertile and fertile women, and then also compared according the revised American Fertility Society classification. Results: IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ concentrations were higher than in the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis than in matched normal controls. Cyclic variations in IL-6 concentrations were seen in peritoneal fluid from patients with endometriosis: the concentrations in the secretory phase were significantly higher than those in the proliferative phase. The concentrations were higher than among of infertile women than in fertile women. A significant correlation between IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ concentrations and endometriosis stage III and IV was noted. Conclusion: Increased levels of IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ in patients with endometriosis in the peritoneal fluid may be relate to the pathogenesis of endometriosis suggesting that partially contribute to the disturbed immune regulation observed in patients with endometriosis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.16-22
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• 1993

Background: The Microbicidal and cytotoxic activities of neutrophils are to a large extent dependent on a burst of oxidative metabolism which generates superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, and other reactive products of oxygen. The respiratory burst of PMN is initiated by intracellular calcium mobilization that follows immune or particular stimulation and is very sensitive to modulation by c-AMP or adenosine. Despite its antagonism against adenosine, earlier study has demonstrated potent theophylline inhibition of the PMN respiratory burst at variable ranges of blood concentrations of theophylline in the healthy normal volunteers and in the septic animals pretreated or early post-treated with aminophylline (AMPH) or pentoxifylline. However it is unclear whether theophylline inhibits the superoxide generation or not in the established human sepsis caused by acute pneumonia, as taking into consideration of the fact that full activation of neutrophils have occurred within minutes after the septic insult in the animal experiments. Methods: We measured the $O_2$ generation of peripheral arterial neutrophils obtained from 11 human septic subjects caused by acute pneumonia before and 1 hour after completion of continuous AMPH infusion. Patients were identified and studied within 48 hour of admission. All subjects were administered an intravenous loading and maintenance dose of AMPH. The generation of $O_2$ was measured at a discrete time point (60 min) by the reduction of ferricytochrome c.PMA (10 ${\mu}g/ml$) was used as a stimulating agent. PMNs were isolated at a concentration of $2{\times}10^6$ cells/ml. The arterial oxygen tension, blood pressure and heart rates were also checked to evaluate the systemic effects of AMPH in the acute pneumonia. Results: The mean serum concentration of AMPH at 60 minutes was $8.8{\pm}0.6{\mu}g/ml$. Sixty minutes after AMPH infusion the generatition of $O_2$ was decreased from $0.076{\pm}0.034$ to $0.013{\pm}0.004$(OD) (p<0.05) and from $0.177{\pm}0.044$ to $0.095{\pm}0.042$(OD) (p<0.01) in the resting and stimulated PMNs respectively. $PaO_2$ was not changed after AMPH infusion. Conclusion: AMPH may compromise host defense by significant inhibition of neutrophil release of superoxide anion and it had no effect on improving $PaO_2$ in the acute pneumonia.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.104-111
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• 1993

Background: Gram-negative bacterial endotoxin induced septicemia is known to be a leading cause in the development of adult respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS). The mechanism of endotoxin induced lung injury is mainly due to the activated neutrophils which injure the capillary endothelial cells by releasing oxidant radical and resulted in pulmonary edema. We studied the change of antioxidant enzyme in the case of large or small, intermittant dose of endotoxin infused rat lungs. Methods: Endotoxin was given to the rat through the peritoneal cavity in the dose of 7 mg/kg body weight in the large dose group and 1 mg/kg for 10 days in the small dose group. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was done and rats were killed at 6, 12, 24 hours after single endotoxin injection in the large dose group and 3, 7, 10 days after daily endotoxin injection for 10 days in the small dose group. The lungs were perfused with normal saline through the pulmonary artery to remove the blood and were homogenized in 5 volume of 50 mM potassium phosphate buffer containing 0.1 mM EDTA. After centrifuging at 100,000 g for 60 minute, the supernatent was removed and stored at $-70^{\circ}C$ until measuring for superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and protein. Results: We observed the following results. 1) The lung wet/dry weight ratio and albumin concentration in the BAL fluids were increased to peak at 12 hours and neutrophil number in the BAL fluids were peak at 6 hours after endotoxin injection in the large dose group. 2) Cu, Zn SOD (IU/mg protein) was significantly decreased after 6, 12 hours after endotoxin injection in the large dose group. 3) There were no singnificant change in the level of Mn SOD, catalase, GSH-Px after endotoxin injection in both groups. Conclusion: Endotoxin in the large dose group produced the acute pulmonary edema and decreased the Cu, Zn SOD in the lung tissue after injecting endotoxin at 6 and 12 hours. These phenomenon may be due to the cell membrane damage by endotoxin. Further research would be necessary whther giving SOD by intratracheal route or method to increase the synthesis of SOD may lessen the acute lung injury by endotoxin.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.11
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• pp.1186-1193
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• 2006

Purpose : Enterovirus infection is a type of viral infection that occurs relatively frequently in children during summer. It has clinical symptoms of non-specific fever, aseptic encephalomeningitis, gastrointestinal diseases, skin rash and, hand-foot-mouth disease. However, it can also occcaisionally, result in fatal symptoms like myocarditis, epicardial inflammation, transverse myelitis, quadriplegia and etc. There have been epidemic enterovirus studies, but not in the Chungnam area. Therefore, we undertook this study in order to comprehend the cause viruses in this area. Methods: We enlisted 157 children hospitalized with enteroviral infections at Soonchunhyang University hospital in Cheonan between May and August 2005. Cerebrospinal fluids or feces were collected during the acute phase after hospitalization, and observed the cytopathic effects caused by enterovirus and using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results : The number of children hospitalized due to possible enteroviral infection during the period of study was 157. The number of children who tested positive with the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction totalled 32 cases (20.4 percent). Among the children with entroviral diseases, 20 were male and 12 were female, thus the sex ratio of male to female was 1.67:1. Their clinical symptoms included fever most frequently (93.7 percent), was followed by headaches (90.0 percent), meningeal irritation signs (65.0 percent), and abdominal pain (30.0 percent). As for the type of isolated enterovirus, there were 17 cases of echovirus 18 and 6 cases of coxsackievirus B5. Furthermore, there were 2 cases of echovirus 9, 1 case of coxsackievirus A6 and coxsackievirus B3, respectively. But 5 cases were not determined by genotype. Conclusion : Echovirus 18 is circulating in Korea. We reported on identified enteroviruses, including echovirus 18, using RT-PCR in the Chungnam area during the summer of 2005.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.50-56
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• 2004

The aim of this work was to investigate the purification and characterization dixoygenases isolated from Delftia sp. JK-2, which could utilize aniline, benzoate, and p-hydroxybenoate as sole carbon and energy source. Catechol 1,2-dioxygenase (C1, 2O), catechol 2,3-dioxygenase(C2, 3O), and protocatechuate 4,5-dioxygenase(4,5-PCD) were isolated by benzoate, aniline, and p-hydroxybenzoate. In initial experiments, several characteristics of C1 ,2O, C2, 3O, and 4,5-PCD separated with ammonium sulfate precipitation, DEAE-sepharose, and Q-sepharose were investigated. Specific activity of C1 ,2O, C2, 3O, and 4,5-PCD were approximately 3.3 unit/mg, 4.7 unit/mg, and 2.0 unit/mg. C1 ,2O and C2, 3O demonstrated their enzyme activities to other substrates, catechol and 4-methylcatechol. 4,5-PCD showed the specific activity to the only substrate, protocatechuate, but the substrates(e.g., catechol, 3-methylcatechol, 4-methylcatechol, 4-chlorocatechol, 4-nitrocatechol) did not show any specific activities in this work. The optimum temperature of C1, 2O, C2, 3O, and 4,5-PCD were 30$^{\circ}C$, and the optimal pHs were approximately 8, 8, and 7, respectively. Ag$\^$+/, Hg$\^$+/, Cu$\^$2+/ showed inhibitory effect on the activity of C1, 2O and C2, 3O, but Ag$\^$+/, Hg$\^$+/, Cu$\^$2+/, Fe$\^$3+/ showed inhibitory effect on the activity of 4,5-PCD. Molecular weight of the C1, 2O, C2, 3O, and 4,5-PCD were determined to approximately 60 kDa,35 kDa, and 62 kDa by SDS-PAGE.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.684-696
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• 1995

A mutant for chalky endosperm and genetic male sterility (GMS) was newly developed in rice. The two characters were found to be controlled by single recessive gene which has pleiotropic effect, indicating that chalky seeds should be GMS seeds in segregating populations. Chalky seeds showed the same shape and size as normal seeds. However, starch composition of central part of endosperm was looser and shape of starch granules was rounder compared with normal endosperm, resulting in significantly lower grain weight, absolute density and grain hardness in chalky grains than in normal ones. Amylose content and gel consistency of chalky grains were much lower and harder, respectively. Male sterile plants showed much shorter plant height, poorer panicle exsertion and lesser panicle number compared with normal plants. Microspore abortion stage in pollen developmental process was observed as before meiosis. Male sterility of the mutant was stable regadless of temperature and day length. A system breeding hybrid rice using this mutant was discussed, comp ring with other systems utilizing cytoplasmic-genic male sterility(CGMS) and environment sensitive GMS(EGMS). Separation of GMS seeds in mixed seed bulks by specific gravity (1.14∼1.16g / cm3) was successful about 85∼90%. But some mixed normal plants were seemed to be easily removed by the apparent difference in growth characters at seedling stage. The highest natural outcrossing rate of this GMS line was as 17.3 % in a plot treated with 2-row pollinator, I-row GMS, and GA3 + cutting of flag leaf + pollen-scattering by rope.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.8
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• pp.979-984
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• 2006

Although iron is essential for many physiological processes, excess iron can lead to tissue damage by promoting the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). There is increasing evidence that ROS might play an important role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. However, the effects of iron excess on platelet function and the thrombotic response to vascular injury are not well understood. We examined the effects of iron excess-induced oxidative stress and the antioxidants on platelet aggregation. Oxidative stress was accessed by either free iron $(Fe^{+2})$ or hydrogen peroxide $(H_2O_2)$, as well as their combination on washed rabbit platelets (WPs) in vitro. When WPs were stimulated with either $Fe^{+2}$ alone or a subthreshold concentration of collagen, which gave an aggregatory curve with a little effect, and a dose dependent increase in platelet aggregation was observed by increasing concentrations of $Fe^{+2}$ with $H_2O_2$. This aggregation was associated with the iron-catalyzed formation of hydroxyl radicals from $H_2O_2$, and were inhibited by NAD/NADP (proton acceptor), catalase $(H_2O_2\;scavenger)$, tiron (iron chelator), mannitol (hydroxyl radical scavenger), and indomethacin (cyclooxygenase inhibitor), but not by NADH/NADPH (proton donor), superoxide mutase, and aspirin. However, NADH/NADPH, an essential cofactor for the antioxidant capacity by the supply of reducing potentials, showed the effect of an enhanced radical formation, suggesting a role for NADH/NADPH-dependent oxidase. These results suggest that iron $(Fe^{+2})$ can directly interact with washed rabbit platelets and this aggregation be mediated by OH formation as in the Fenton reaction, inhibited by radical scavengers.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.26 no.4 s.87
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• pp.551-561
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• 1998

Plasma membrane from the fungal cells (Aspergillus phoenicis, Rhizopus acidus, Candida albicans) treated with sodium benzoate (S.B), potassium sorbate (P.S) and calcium propionate (C.P) during the cultivation were separated. The contents and patterns of plasma membrane proteins compared with those of the control. The growth of A. phoenicis was decreased by the average 64.0% in the S.B treatment. That of R. acidus was inhibited by the average 69.0% in the P.S treatment. Also, That of C. albicans was showed the deminution of the average 59.5% in the S.B treatment. The contents of protein involved in the plasma membrane of the each fungal cells were inhibited the average 41.0%, 41.7% and 59.5% in the S.B treatment, respectively. In case of A. phoenicis, the changes in the protein pattern involved in the plasma membraneshowed the aspect similar to the control on the 1st day and 2nd day of cultivation in the treatment group, but $116\;KD{\sim}97\;KD$ band almost disappeared in the 5th day of cultivation, and $45\;KD{\sim}29\;KD$ band was uncleared through the cultivation. In S.B treatment group R. acidus was showed the loss of $116\;KD{\sim}97\;KD$ band from the middle stage of cultivation and P.S, and C.P treatment group were started the loss at the early stage and completely lost at the 36 hours of cultivation. In C. albicans, $116\;KD{\sim}97\;KD$ band were started the loss at the early stage to compare with the control and $66\;KD{\sim}45\;KD$ band were dimmed at the 96 hours of cultivation. Especially, the C.P treatment group were perfectly lost at the 96 hours of cultivation.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.43-52
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• 1981

A series of thermal destruction studies of the most heat resistant yeast strain No. 15 among 61 isolates were conducted in order to establish the optimum pasteurization condition of peach solid pack. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. A survival curve of the selected yeast strain No. 15 at $58^{\circ}C$ consisted of heat labile and heat stable fraction, showing broken curve. 2. The actively growing cell showed less recovery rate than 10 day rested cell after agitation-growing for 90 hr. For heating menstrua, peptone solution gave higher recovery rate than peach juice. For recovery medium, YM agar gave higher recovery rate than peach juice agar. The selected yeast was more resistant to heat at pH 4.0 than at pH 3.5 in both heating menstrua and recovery medium. 3. Z value of TDT curve of the selected yeast (heating : at pH 3.5 in peach juice. recovery: at pH 3.5 in peach juice agar) was $4.8^{\circ}C$. 4. The selected yeast No. 15 was identified as Torulopsis candida. 5. In the inoculated pack test of 4 oz can, it was concluded that the optimum P.U. 70/5 was 168 (center temp; $78.5^{\circ}C$, initial temp; $18^{\circ}C$, processing time; 18 min, initial yeast count; $1.0{\times}10^7$ per can).