• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.222-230
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• 1994

Background: Paraquat, a widely used herbicide, is extremely toxic, causing multiple organ failure in humans. Paraquat especially leads to irreversible progressive pulmonary fibrosis, which is related to oxygen free radicals. However, its biochemical mechanism is not clear. Natural mechanisms that prevent damage from oxygen free radicals include changes in glutathione level, G6PDH, superoxide dismutase(SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. The authors think catalase is closely related to paraquat toxicity in the lungs Method: The effects of 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole(aminotriazole), a catalase inhibitor, on mice administered with paraquat were investigated. We studied the effects of aminotriazole on the survival of mice administered with paraquat, by comparing life spans between the group to which paraquat had been administered and the group to which a combination of paraquat and aminotriazole had been administered. We measured glutathion level, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase(G6PDH), superoxide dismutase(SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase(GPx) in the lung tissue of 4 groups of mice: the control group, group A(aminotriazole injected), group B(paraquat administered), group C(paraquat and aminotriazole administered). Results: The mortality of mice administered with paraquat which were treated with aminotriazole was significantly increased compared with those of mice not treated with aminotriazole. Glutathione level in group B was decreased by 20%, a significant decrease compared with the control group. However, this level was not changed by the administration of aminotriazole(group C). The activity of G6PDH in all groups was not significantly changed compared with the control group. The activities of SOD, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase(GPx) in the lung tissue were significantly decreased by paraquat administration(group B); catalase showed the largest decrease. Catalase and GPX were significantly decreased by aminotriazole treatment in mice administered with paraquat but change in SOD activity was not significant(group C). Conclusion: Decrease in catalase activity by paraquat suggests that paraquat toxicity in the lungs is closely related to catalase activity. Paraquat toxicity in mice is enhanced by aminotriazole administration, and its result is related to the decrease of catalase activity rather than glutathione level in the lungs. Production of hydroxyl radicals, the most reactive oxygen metabolite, is accelerated due to increased hydrogen peroxide by catalase inhibition and the lung damage probably results from nonspecific tissue injury of hydroxyl radicals.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.99-106
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• 1998

Background: Bronchial asthma is a complex disease, which is characterized by spontaneous exacerbations of airway obstruction and persistent bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Animal models have fallen short of reproducing the human disease, particularly in mimicking the spontaneous and persistent airflow obstruction that characterized in asthma. In animals, airflow obstruction is usually assessed by measuring airflow resistance during tidal breathing under such invasive technique as tracheostomy and anesthesia. A noninvasive technique for measuring pulmonary function in small animals is needed to evaluate long-term changes in lung function during the course of experimentally produced disease without sacrificing the animal. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate early bronchoconstrcition after allergen challenge and airway responsiveness (AR) to inhaled methacholine in nonanethetized, unrestrained guinea pigs. Method: Guinea pig model of asthma was sensitized by subcutaneous injection with ovalbumin and challenged by inhalation of aerosolized ovalbumin(1% wt/vol ovlabumin). Airflow obstruction of conscious guinea pig was measured as specific airway resistance (airway resistance $\times$ thoracic gas volume). Airway resistance and thoracic gas volume of conscious guinea pig were assessed by body plethysmography before challenge and at regular intervals for as long as 30 minutes after challenge. AR to aerosolized methacholine of asthma group was compared with that of control group in body plethysmography. Result: Asthma model<> developed in 13 (65%) among 20 guinea pigs, in which early responses occurred in the airways after the exposure to inhalation with ovalbumin. Airway challenge with ovalbumin caused increase in specific airway resistance, which peaked at 6 minutes and amounted to a $231.5{\pm}30.4%$ increase from baseline. AR to aerosolized methacholine of asthma model increased significantly compared with control group. Conclusion: These results have showed a useful animal model to evaluate early bronchoconstrcition after allergen challenge and airway responsiveness in nonanethetized, unrestrained guinea pigs.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.471-477
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• 1999

Background : Smoking and high-risk occupation have been known to be the risk factors of lung cancer. The carcinogen-metabolizing enzymes in human body such as glutathione S-transferase M1, T1 and N-acetyltransferase 1 have also been regarded as risk factors in many cancers, because the activities of those enzymes play a role in metabolizing the carcinogen. A case-control study was conducted to evaluate the genetic polymorphism of GSTM1, T1 and NAT1 in lung carcinogenesis in Korean men. Methods : The histologically proven lung cancer cases were recruited from Seoul National University Hospital. The patients of more than 40-year-old with the nonmalignant urinary tract diseases were recruited as controls from the same hospitals. The informations of demographical characteristics and smoking were obtained by interview or chart review and the genetic polymorphisms of GSTM1, T1 and NAT1 were determined by PCR-based assay. The statistical analyses were performed by linear logistic regression. Results : The number of case-control was 118 and 150, respectively. The smoking history was significantly higher in the lung cancer patients than the controls. The prevalence of GSTM1 null-type was statistically higher(OR=2.25 ; 95% CI=1.12-4.51) in squamous cell carcinoma than other genotypes, but other histologic types were not The prevalence of GSTT1 null-type were not statistically higher than other genotypes in all histologic types. The fast acetylator of NAT1 was more prevalent than normal(OR=2.13 ; 95% CI=1.04-4.40) in all lung cancer patients. Conclusion : The null-type of GSTM1 and fast acetylator of NAT1 are associated with development of lung cancer in Korean men.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.599-606
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• 2001

Background : Since the advent of AIDS, tuberculosis has become a major public health problem in the western society. Therefore, it is essential that pulmonary tuberculosis be rapidly diagnosed. Light microscopic detection of acid-fast organisms in sputum has traditionally been used for rapidly diagnosing tuberculosis. However positive smears are only observed in about one-half to three-quarters of cases. Studies using PCR for diagnosing pulmonary tuberculosis disclosed several shortcomings suggesting an inability to distinguish between active and treated or inactive tuberculosis. In this study, the clinical significance of a PCR-based rapid technique for detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA in peripheral blood was investigated. Materials and Methods : From July 1, 1998 through to August 30, 1999, 59 patients with presumed tuberculosis, who had no previous history of anti-tuberculosis medication use within one year prior to this study were recruited and followed up for more than 3 months. AFB stain and culture in the sputum and/or pleural fluids and biopsies when needed were performed. Blood samples from each of the 59 patients were obtained in order to identify Mycobacterium Tuberculosis DNA by a PCR test. Results : 1) Forty five out of 59 patients had a final diagnosis of tuberculosis ; Twenty eight were confirmed as having active pulmonary tuberculosis by culture or biopsy. Four were clinically diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis. The other 13 patients were diagnosed as having tuberculous pleurisy (9) and extrapulmonary tuberculosis (4). 2) Fourteen patients showed a positive blood PCR test. The PCR assay correctly identified active tuberculosis in 13 out of 14 patients. The overall sensitivity and specificity of this blood peR assay for diagnosing tuberculosis were 29% and 93%, respectively. The positive predictive value was 93%, the negative predictive value was 29% and the diagnostic accuracy was 44%.3) Six out of 14(43%) patients with blood PCR positive tuberculosis were immunologically compromised hosts. 4) A simple chest radiograph in blood PCR positive tuberculosis patients showed variable and inconsistent findings. Conclusion : A peripheral blood PCR assay for Mycobacterium tuberculosis is not recommended as a screening method for diagnosing active tuberculosis. However, it was suggested that the blood PCR assay could contribute to an early diagnostic rate due to its high positive predictive value.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.64 no.3
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• pp.210-214
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• 2008

Chemical pneumonitis is an occupational lung disease that's caused by the inhalation of chemical substances. Its severity depends on the characteristics of the substances, the exposure time and the susceptibility of the patients. Hydrogen sulfide is not only emitted naturally, but it also frequently found in industrial settings where it is either used as a reactant or it is a by-product of manufacturing or industrial processes. Inhalation of hydrogen sulfide causes various respiratory reactions from cough to acute respiratory failure, depending on the severity. Two pharmaceutical factory workers were admitted after being rescued from a waste water disposal site that contained hydrogen sulfide. In spite that they recovered their consciousness, they had excessive cough and mild dyspnea. The simple chest radiographs and high resolution computed tomography showed diffuse interstitial infiltrates, and hypoxemia was present. They were diagnosed as suffering from chemical pneumonitis caused by hydrogen sulfide. After conservative management that included oxygen therapy, their symptoms, hypoxemia and radiographic abnormalities were improved.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.63 no.5
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• pp.412-416
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• 2007

Background: The possibility of developing pulmonary tuberculosis usually increases with increasing age. Therefore, the incidence of endobronchial tuberculosis in older people may increase. We evaluated the clinical characteristics in patients with endobronchial tuberculosis above the age of 70 years. Methods: We enrolled 74 patients (12 males and 62 females; mean age $64.6{\pm}16.2 $years) that were diagnosed with endobronchial tuberculosis from March 2003 to July 2006 at Gyeongsang University Hospital. We retrospectively evaluated the clinical characteristics of endobronchial tuberculosis for patients 70 years or older (older group) and for patients below the age of 70 years (younger group). Results: The number of patients in the older group was 41 (55%). Cough was the most common symptom in the two groups of patients and dyspnea on exertion was more common in the older group of patients than in the younger group of patients (31.7% vs. 12.1%). The actively caesating type of disease was more common in the younger group of patients than in the older group of patients (66.7% vs. 39%). The edematous type of disease was more common in the older group of patients than in the younger group of patients (53.7% vs. 27.2%) (p<0.05). Tracheal and main bronchial involvement of lesions were more common for the younger group of patients than for the older group of patients (30.3% vs. 9.7%) (p<0.05). Conclusion: Endobronchial tuberculosis was commonly observed in patients older than 70 years and this group of patients had some clinical characteristics that were different from the younger group of patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.10
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• pp.1304-1308
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• 2006

The present study describes the preliminary evaluation of the antioxidant activity and the cytotoxic effect of Ceramium kondoi. The antioxidant activities and cytotoxic effect of the water extracts were evaluated by total phenolic contents (TPC), DPPH radical scavenging activity (RSA), reducing power (RP), comet assay, and MTT reduction assay. TPC, DPPH RSA, and RP of the extract at the concentration of $1,000{\mu}g/mL$ was $659.2{\mu}M$, 86.0%, and 1.084, respectively, and those were concentration dependent. The $200{\mu}M\;H_2O_2-induced$DNA damage was inhibited by C. kondoi water extract in a dose dependent manner in human leukocytes. The inhibition was by 62.3, 39.8, 24.8% and 16.4% at the concentration of 5, 10, $25{\mu}g/mL$ and $50{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. Cytotoxic activity on HT-29 cells and MCF-7 cells of the C. kondoi water extract at the concentration of $10{\mu}g/mL$ was 49% and 60%, respectively. These results strongly support the possibility of C. kondoi as a source of natural functional materials.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.94 no.6
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• pp.402-409
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• 2005

This study was undertaken to compare and estimate the severity of pitch canker of individual trees of Pinus rigida and Pinus rigida ${\times}$ P. taeda in two seed orchards in Jeju island, in which the orchards have been damaged by the pitch canker for seven years. Wind-pollinated two-year-old seedlings of P. rigida and P. rigida ${\times}$ P. taeda, in which the seedlings of P. rigida ${\times}$ P. taeda were from seeds of phenotypically selected, uninfected(but untested) trees, were inoculated with the pathogenic fungus, Fusarium circinatum, isolated from P. rigida and P. thunbergii. The virulence of the isolates was also identified. Statistically significant difference was found in 'stem cankers'(SC; ${\chi}^2=7.76$, P=0.05) among 4 plantations of P. rigida ${\times}$ P. taeda of two seed orchards. P. rigida was higher in 'top kill' (TK) and 'branch tip symptoms' (BT) than those of P. rigida ${\times}$ P. taeda. In artificial inoculation tests, mortality of the seedlings from the resistant candidates was 14% higher than that of the seedlings from the susceptible candidates. This result may becaused by unknown pollen trees and/or candidate tree selection based only on phenotype. Two of five fungal isolates, C-6-L(9) and C-6-L(19), showed significantly higher mortality (68% and 60%, respectively) than others, suggesting that these isolates can be used as virulent isolates for a mass artificial inoculation. Resistance candidate seedlings that were selected from this study can be utilized as useful materials for fundamental studies of genetics and biochemistry to breed resistance varieties to pitch canker.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.550-560
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• 2012

This study was performed to investigate the physicochemical properties of sea urchin ($Anthocidaris$ $crassispina$, $Pseudocentrotus$ $depressus$, $Hernicentrotus$ $pulcherrimus$) roe as a processed or canned food by steaming treatment. Proximate compositions of $A.$ $crassispina$ roe and $P.$ $depressus$ roe were similar, but water, crude ash, and carbohydrate contents of $H.$ $pulcherrimus$ roe showed little differences. Proximate compositions of sea urchin roe showed slight differences with steaming time, raw samples showed no differences. Glycine content of the three raw sea urchin roe samples showed the highest concentration among free amino acids, followed by arginine, alanine, and lysine, in order. Total free amino acid contents of raw sea urchin roe were 754.70 mg% ($A.$ $crassispina$), 567.75 mg% ($P.$ $depressus$), and 449.44 mg% ($H.$ $pulcherrimus$). Total free amino acid content of 5 min steaming sample was highest among steaming and canning conditions. ATP, ADP, and AMP contents of raw $P.$ $depressus$ roe sample was higher than those of $A.$ $crassispina$and $H.$ $pulcherrimus$ roe. Major fatty acids of the three raw sea urchin roe samples were myristic acid, palmitic acid, and EPA. S.F.A. content of raw samples of $A.$ $crassispina$and $H.$ $pulcherrimus$ roe was higher than U.F.A content, whereas U.F.A. content of $P.$ $depressus$ roe was highest among the three raw samples. For minerals K, P, Fe, and Zn contents were highest in $A.$ $crassispina$roe while Ca, Mg, Na, and Cu contents were highest in $H.$ $pulcherrimus$ roe. For heavy metals, Cd, Pb and As were detected in all samples in trace amounts under the criteria of the Korea food codex.

• Geotechnical Engineering
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.29-36
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• 1995

Load testis are executed on model reticulated root piles (RRP) to figure out the optimum slanting angle in the piles installation. One set of model RRP consists of 8 slanting piles which are installed in circular patterns forming two concentric circles, each of which is made by 4 piles. Each pile which is a steel bar of 5m in diameter and 300mm in length is coated to become a pile of 6.5mm in diameter. The slanting angle of the model RRP varies from 0$^{\circ}$ to 20$^{\circ}$ Comparing ultimate bearing capacities of the model RRP of different installation angles, it is observed that the ultimate capacities of the RRP increase as the installation angle increases until 15$^{\circ}$, and the optimum slanting angle of the RRP is around 15$^{\circ}$ The ultimate bearing capacity of the 15$^{\circ}$-RRP is found to be 22% bigger than that of the vertical RRP and 120% bigger than that of the circular surface footing whose diameter is same with the circle formed by outer root piles'heads. However, it is noticed that when the slanting angle of the RRP is increased over 15$^{\circ}$, the ultimate capacity starts to be reduced. The ultimate capacity of 20$^{\circ}$-RRP is even smaller than that of the vertical RRP by as much as 5%. From the observation of the load settlement curve obtained during the RRP load tests, it is known that as the slanting angle gets bigger the load -settlement behavior becomes more ductile.