• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.367-375
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• 2002

Background : Murine typhus is a flea-borne, worldwide Rickettsial disease caused by Rickettsia typhi. Its symptoms are typically mild but sometimes can be fatal. The major clinical features include fever, rash, and headache. Recently, we experienced 6 cases of ARDS associated with a Rickettsia typhi infection. This study was aimed to analyze the attributing factors for fatal murine typhus and to review the characteristics of the patients who showed acute respiratory distress syndrome as the initial presentation. Methods : The medical records of 15 patients diagnosed as murine typhus were reviewed. The diagnosis was made by single titers of 1:512 or higher, or a 4-fold rise with compatible clinical features. Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) was defined according to the American-European Consensus Conference. The Characteristics between the ARDS group and the non-ARDS group of murine typhus were compared. Results : Six patients developed ARDS as their initial presentation. Two of them were women and three of them had lived urban area. None of Them a showed skin rash. One of them expired during treatment. The time lapse until the commencement of the specific treatment, the lower serum albumin level, the higher serum total bilirubin level, the higher APACHE III score and the higher MOD score were significantly associated with the ARDS group compared to the non-ARDS group. Conclusion : Murine typhus should be considered as one of the etiologies for the ARDS of unknown cause, particularly in an endemic regions. ARDS caused by Murine typhus generally has a good prognosis.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.56-66
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• 2003

Purpose : Human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs) play an important role in regulating blood flow by releasing vasoactive substances. It has been reported that endothelial impairment and dysfunction might be a primary cause of placental vascular disease, which is manifested clinically as preeclampsia in mother and intrauterine growth restriction in fetus. Furthermore, the frequency of apoptotic changes is increased in umbilical and placental tissues from growth-restricted pregnancies. However, the various mechanisms of umbilical endothelial cell apoptosis have not been broadly proposed. We investigate the effects of amiloride derivatives on apoptotic death of HUVECs and identify their ionic mechanism. Methods : HUVECs were purchased from Clonetics, and cultured on endothelial cell growth medium. MTT assay and flow cytometry were used for assessing cytotoxic effect and confirming the apoptosis. Changes in intracellular ion concentrations were measured with specific fluorescent dyes and fluorescence imaging analysis system. Results : Amiloride derivatives elicited cytotoxic effects on HUVECs with dose-dependent manners and the rank order of potency is HMA($IC_{50}\;11.2{\mu}M$), MIA>EIPA>>amiloride. HMA-induced cytotoxicity is dependent on extra- and intracellular pH, that is, increase extra- and intracellular pH augmented the cytotoxic effects of HMA. HMA dose-dependently reduced intracellular major ions, such as $K^+$ and $Cl^-$. Interestingly, the depletion of intracellular ions induced by HMA was also significantly enhanced at alkaline extracellular pH. Conclusion : Amiloride derivatives induce apoptosis of HUVECs with dose and pH dependent manners. They reduce intracellular $K^+$ and $Cl^-$ concentration, which is also extracellular pH dependent.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.334-340
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• 2010

It is well known that smoking as well as drinking is a factor of stomatopathy, however there are few investigations about comparison of oral flora between smokers and non-smokers. In this study, we isolated the oral flora of 30 smokers and 30 non-smokers and cultured them on blood agar plates. The isolated pathogenic microorganisms were tested for antibiotic susceptibility and resistance using the Kirby-Bauer antibiotic testing method. Each colony was stained using the Gram staining method and was identified by an automatic identifier, known as the VITEK system. We isolated 41 colonies from smokers' oral cavity, and they were sorted as 63% of Gram-positive cocci, 29% of Gram-negative cocci, 3% of Gram-positive bacilli, and 5% of Gram-negative bacilli by gram staining, whereas 38 colonies were isolated from non-smoters' oral cavity, and their proportions were 55% of Gram-positive cocci, 26% of Gram-negative cocci, 3% of Gram-positive bacilli, and 16% of Gram-negative bacilli. The VITEK system revealed specific distribution of bacteria species that Streptococcus mutans (6/41), Gemella morillorum (6/41), Streptococcus oralis (2/41), Streptococcus pneumoniae (1/41), Staphylococcus aureus (3/41), Streptococcus anginosus (1/41), Streptococcus intermedius (1/41), Streptococcus uberis (1/41), and Streptococcus sanguinis (1/41) in smokers oral cavity whereas Streptococcus sanguinis (8/38), Staphylococcus aureus (1/38), Staphylococcus auricularis (1/38), Streptococcus uberis (1/38), Streptococcus intermedius (1/38), Streptococcus mutans (1/38), and Streptococcus oralis (1/38) in those of non-smokers'. Three cases of Staphylococcus aureus from smokers produced Beta-lactamase and were identified methicillin-resistance Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). However one case of Staphylococcus aureus from non-smoker did not produce Beta-lactamase and was sensitive to methicillin. In conclusion, the distribution of oral flora was different between smokers' and non-smokers' oral cavity, especially Gemella morillorum and MRSA were predominantly found in smoker's oral cavity. These results are useful in the treatment and prevention of patients with stomatopathy caused by smoking.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Food Science of Animal Resources Conference
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• 1999.06a
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• pp.97-117
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• 1999

This study was performed to investigate the effect of pork on the cadmium detoxification in rats. Ninety male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing $125.3{\pm}1.4g$ were divided into five groups based on cadmium treatment(0, 25, 50, 100, 250ppm) and five levels of Cd in AIN-76 purified diet had been fed for 8 weeks. Cadmium was supplemented with a form of $CdCl_2$.. During following 8 weeks of intoxication, casein was replaced by pork and the effect of pork on cadmium- detoxification was compared with casein. After 8 weeks of Cd intake had resulted in apparent cadmium intoxication; reduced growth rate, enlarged kidney and testis, decreased hematocrit value and hemoglobin content in response to the supplemented Cd levels in the diets. Discontinuing cadmium feeding, the body weights were relieved. Pork-fed groups seemed to have higher body weight than casein-fed groups. Hemoglobin content and hematocrit value became normal range at detoxification stage. The weights of liver, kidney, and testis were decreased along with cadmium intake. However, organ weight ratio was not affected by cadmium. Cadmium accumulation in liver and kidney showed a tendency to increase in the cadmium-exposed groups. The levels of metallothionein were also significantly elevated in the tissues of liver in response to the levels of Cd supplemented(p<0.05). Cadmium concentration in kidney was two times higher than that in liver. Cadmium removal rate of liver was higher than that of kidney. Cadmium accumulation of the pork-fed group was lower than that of casein. Especially, the factors which affected the cadmium contents in kidney were $Cd^{***}$ and $Cd{\times}pork^{***}$. Metallothionein(MT) was increased with cadmium, and MT was not likely to be affected by pork. Based on the findings from gross lesion, rats fed 250ppm of Cd were externally emaciated, had exposed penis and observed atrophies of kidney and testis. Histopathological observation seemed that the liver of groups feeding Cd supplemented diets showed cellular degeneration and accumulation of eosinophilic materials in the capillaries. In kidney, rats fed Cd diets had shown tubular epithelium degeneration and lesions of basophilic materials, while testis were weakened in numbers of spermatid and sporadically enlarged of giant cells. But the rats administered cadmium-detoxified diet supplemented pork for 7 weeks were shown individually decreased lesions compared with the rats supplied with casein diet.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.275-284
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• 2002

Background : Gemcitabine is a new anti-cancer agent for treating non-small cell lung cancer. Functioning as an antimetabolite, it induces anti-cancer effects by suppressing DNA synthesis after being incorporated into the DNA as a cytosine arabinoside analogue. When Gemcitabine is incorporated into the DNA, the p53 gene may be activated by induction of the DNA defect. However, there are a few studies on the molecular mechanisms of Gemcitabine-induced cell death. This study examined the role of p53 in Gemcitabine-induced cell death. Methods : A549 and NCl-H358 lung cancer cells were used in this study. The cell viability test was done using a MTT assay at Gemcitabine concentrations of 10nM, 100nM, 1uM, 10uM and 100uM. A FACScan analysis with propium iodide staining was used for the cell cycle analysis. Western blot analysis was done to investigate the extent of p53 activation. For the functional knock-out of p53, stable A549-E6 cells and H358-E6 cells were transfected pLXSN-16E6SD which is over expresses the human papilloma virus E6 protein that constantly degrades p53 protein. The functional knock out of p53 was confirmed by Western blot analysis after treatment with a DNA damaging agent, doxorubicine. Results : Gemcitabine exhibited cell toxicity in dose-dependent fashion. The cell cycle analysis resulted in an S phase arrest. Western blot analysis significant p53 activation in time-dependent manner. Gemcitabine-induced cytotoxicity was reduced by 20-30% in the A549-E6 cells and the 30-40% in H358-E6 cells when compared with the A549-neo and H358-neo control cells. Conclusion : Gemcitabine induces an S phase arrest, as expected for the anti-metabolite, and activates the p53 gene, Furthermore, p53 might play an important role in Gemcitabine-induced cell death. Further investigation into the molecular mechanisms on how Gemcitabine activates the p53 gene and its signaling pathway are recommended.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.298-303
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• 2014

In this study, we examine the trends and types of incidents frequently occur during radiation therapy by using the data from the radiation oncology safety information system (ROSIS), according to discovery method explores the development direction of future research accident cause factor control method. This study was carried out analysis of incident data in ROSIS nearly 1163 cases in last 11 years from 2003 to 2013. We categorized into treatment methods, found the time, discoverer of occupations and finding ways to analyze the data. Then, we calculate the percentage and the classification for each item. About 1163 cases of incident cases including the near miss cases, external radiation therapy, brachytherapy and other were 97%, 2% and 1%. In the case was improperly planned dose delivery was 44% (497 cases) which 429 cases (86%) was found before 3 fractions and 13 cases were found after 11 fractions. The investigation was found to be distributed in various a found times. Approximately 42% of found time was during treatment and 29% of patients were found the problem during inspection chart. Occupation to discover the most radiation accidents was the radiation therapist (53%) who works in treatment room. Among 1163 incidence cases, 24% cases were found the accident before the treatment, therefore most of accident were found after of during the treatment (70%, 813 cases). This trend is acquired through ROSIS analysis, is expected to be not significantly different in the case of Korea, so it is necessary more diverse and systematic research for the prevention and early detection by using the ROSIS data.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.147-152
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• 1993

Background: There is evidence that platelet is activated in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and activated platelet with injured endothelium contribute to the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension, prognostic factor of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. So, we have investigated platelet function further in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and effect of platelet activation on pulmonary hypertension. Method: We studied platelet aggregation ratio and alpha-granule products such as platelet factor 4(PF4) and beta-thromboglobulin (${\beta}$-TG) in control subjects and COPD without and with pulmonary hypertension subjects. Result: 1) The platelet aggregation ratio (PAR) was $0.99{\pm}0.04$ in control subjects, $0.98{\pm}0.05$ in COPD without pulmonary hypertension subjects and $0.89{\pm}0.08$ in COPD with pulmonary hypertension subjects. The platelet aggregation ratio of COPD subjects was tend to decrease than that of control subjects and the ratio of COPD with pulmonary hypertension subjects was significantly lower than that of control subjects. 2) The platelet factor 4 (PF4, IU/ml) was $4.7{\pm}1.2$ in control subjects, $18.6{\pm}4.9$ in COPD without pulmonary hypertension subjects and $57.2{\pm}12.7$ in COPD with pulmonary hypertension subjects. The level of COPD subjects was significantly higher than that of control subjects and the level of COPD with pulmonary hypertension subjects was significantly higher than that of COPD without pulmonary hypertension subjects. 3) The beta-thromboglobulin (${\beta}$-TG, IU/ml) was $34.4{\pm}5.8$ in control subjects, $80.4{\pm}18.1$ in COPD without pulmonary hypertension subjects and $93.0{\pm}14.0$ in COPD with pulmonary hypertension subjects. The level of COPD subjects was significantly higher than that of conrtrol subjects and the level of COPD with pulmonary hypertension subjects was tend to increase than that of COPD without pulmonary hypertension subjects. 4) There was no correlation between the clinical parameters and PAR, PF4 and ${\beta}$-TG but there was significant correlation among PAR, PF4 and ${\beta}$-TG. Conclusion: The platelet is activated in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and the platelet of COPD with pulmonary hypertension is tend to be activated more than that of COPD without pulmonary hypertension. So, activated platelet may involve in the pathogenesis and maintenance of pulmonary hypertension in COPD subjects and modulation of platelet activity that might reduce pulmonary hypertension needs to be determined.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.636-641
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• 2005

Mulberry leaves, high in dietary fiber and some nutritional materials, are thought to have hypocholesterolemic effect. Therefore, effect of mulberry leaf powder on serum lipid profiles were studied using rats with diet-induced hypercholesterolemia. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed AIN-93 diet (control group), and diets containing high-cholesterol and 0% mulberry leaves powder, high-cholesterol and 5% mulberry leaves powder, and high-cholesterol and 10% mulberry leaves powder for 4 weeks. Hypercholesterolemia was induced by adding 1% cholesterol and 0.5% cholic acid to all diets except in control group. Although no differences were observed in food intake and initial body weight among groups, mulberry leaf treatment resulted in significant decreases in food efficiency ratio and body weight gain. Mulberry leaf treatment decreased serum lipid profiles, atherogenic index, cardiac risk factor, low density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, serum aspartate transaminase, and liver lipid levels. High density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, serum HDL-cholesterol, and fecal lipid levels increased, suggesting mulberry leaves could improve hyperlipidemia and liver action, thereby proventing cardiovascular disease.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.11
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• pp.1533-1543
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• 2016

The anti-stress effects of Punica granatum L. (family Lythraceae, PG) on $H_2O_2$/corticosterone (CORT)-induced stress in cells and sleep-deprived rats were investigated. The PG extract showed neuroprotective effects in SH-SY5Y cells against $H_2O_2$/CORT-induced stress. Sleep deprivation led to behavioral, hormonal, and biochemical alterations in the animal model. The effects of P. granatum on physiological, behavioral, and biochemical parameters aggravated by sleep deprivation were investigated. Sleep deprivation impaired physiological (survival, body weight, and drowsiness scores) and behavioral (rotarod, passive avoidance, hot hyperalgesia, and Y maze) parameters as well as biochemical factors (cortisol, serotonin, dopamine, testosterone, and growth factor I contents in serum). These parameters were significantly recovered by PG extract in a concentration-dependent manner. The PG extract also enhanced catalase, superoxide dismutase, and non-enzymatic antioxidative activities such as glutathione compared to sleep-deprived rats. On the basis of these results, our findings suggest that Punica granatum prevents impairment of body functions induced by sleep deprivation and related oxidative damage.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.3561-3569
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• 2012

This study investigated the effect of mulberry fruit extract(MFE) on antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of middle aged women with rheumatoid factor (RF). Thirty two middle-aged subjects were divided into two groups which were normal middle-aged group (NMG) and abnormal middle-aged group whose serum RF level were > 10 u/mL (AMG). All groups had consumed MFE (100 mL/day) for 4 weeks. Anthropometric measurements, serum inflammatory factors, serum oxidative stress markers analyses were performed at baseline and then at 4 weeks following the study. There were no significant differences in anthropometric measurements, including BMI, WHR and body fat composition between two groups. But after 4 weeks MFE consumption, serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), ferric-reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), serum TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-2, IL-4 had significantly decreased (p<0.05) in AMG. These findings suggested that the MFE consumption as food may be protective against oxidation and inflammation like RA.