• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.147-152
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• 2010

Exercise-induced anaphylaxis (EIA) is a physical allergy, sometimes severe, triggered by exertion following specific food intake. It was defined for the first time in 1980. EIA is associated with different kinds of exercise. The clinical manifestations progress from itching, erythema and urticaria to some combination of cutaneous angioedema and vascular collapse. Mast cell participation in the pathogenesis of this syndrome has been proved by the findings of an elevated serum histamine level during exhaustive exercise. As predisposing factors of EIA, a specific or even nonspecific sensitivity to food has been reported. Food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis (FDEIA) is a distinct form of food allergy induced by physical exercise. It is typified by the onset of anaphylaxis during exercise which was preceded by the ingestion of the causal food allergens. The diagnosis of FDEIA is heavily dependent on clinical history. Allergy tests may need to be performed using a broad panel of food and food additives. As with food allergies, FDEIA diagnosis is based on interview, biological test and skin test. Prophylaxis aims to prevent a recurrence; the patient should be given an emergency kit to deal with any recurrent episodes. After the food allergen has been identified, it should be avoided for at least 4 to 5 hours before any exercise. Two cases of EIA are presented (EIA to circumstances; FDEIA) in this paper, The diagnosis, pathophysiology and therapy of FDEIA are also reviewed.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.1199-1206
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• 2017

The lymphotoxin ${\beta}$ receptor ($LT{\beta}R$), a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor family, plays an important role in lymphoid tissue's architecture and organogenesis. We found that $LT{\beta}R$ stimulation induced changes in stress fibers (SFs) in fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs). MLCK and ROCK play critical roles in the regulation of SF formation in cells. The present study was performed to investigate the antifibrotic effects on SF regulation of $LT{\beta}R$ signaling, with a focus on MLCK inhibition. The effect of $LT{\beta}R$ on the SF change was analyzed using immunoblot and fluorescence assays and agonistic $anti-LT{\beta}R$ antibody-treated FRCs. In addition, we checked the level of Rho-guanosine diphosphate (GDP)/guanosine triphosphate (GTP) exchange activity with FRC lysate. Phospho-ezrin proteins acting as membrane-cytoskeleton linkers completely de-phosphorylated in agonistic $anti-LT{\beta}R$ antibody-treated FRCs. The actin bundles rearranged into SFs, where phospho-myosin light chain (p-MLC) co-localized in FRCs. ML7-treated FRCs completely blocked SFs and showed retraction and shrinkage processes comparable to those observed in agonistic $anti-LT{\beta}R$ antibody-treated cells. Inhibition of ROCK activity induced changes in the actin cytoskeleton organization; however, some SFs remained in the cells, while they were completely disrupted by MLCK inhibition with ML7. We showed that the phosphorylation of MLC was completely abolished with $LT{\beta}R$ stimulation in FRCs. When $LT{\beta}R$ was stimulated with the agonistic $anti-LT{\beta}R$ antibody, the Rho-GDP/GTP exchange activity was reduced, however, the activity was not completely abolished. Collectively, the results illustrated that MLCK was potently responsible for the SF regulation triggered via $LT{\beta}R$ signaling in FRCs.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.318-322
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• 2014

Chlamydophila pneumonia is a common cause of community-acquired pneumonia throughout the world. It causes mild pneumonia or bronchitis in adolescents and young adults. Older adults may experience more severe disease and repeated infections. To the best of our knowledge, no study has attempted to investigate the prevalence of C. pneumonia in a closed community in Korea. We compared the infection rate of C. pneumonia among university dormitory residents using the miro-immunofluorescence (MIF) method. Antibody titers of IgG (1:32 or more) indicate past infection of C. pneumonia. A recent infection was defined as serum with a high titer of IgG (1:512 or more) or a positive IgM (1:16 or more). The past infection rate of C. pneumonia among the university dormitory residents was 71.7%. The recent infection rate of C. pneumonia according to IgG and IgM titers was 28.3% and 23.3%, respectively. The past infection positive rate according to the number of residence months was 1 month (50%), 7 months (71.4%), 13 months (66.7%), and 35 months (89.5%). The recent infection positive rate according to IgG antibody titers was 1 month (50%), 7 months (28.6%), 13 months (33.3%), and 35 months (10.5%). The recent infection rate of C. pneumonia according to IgM antibody titers was 1 month (41.7%), 7 months (28.6%), 13 months (26.7%), and 35 months (5.3%). The results suggest that the past infection rate of C. pneumonia is increased by the number of residence months in a closed community and that the recent infection rate of C. pneumonia according to IgG and IgM serological tests is decreased by the number of residence months.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.9
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• pp.1333-1339
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• 2011

After mulberry (Morus alba) leaves were fermented with Hericium erinaceum mycelium by solid-state culture to enhance physiological activity, fermented mulberry leaves (MA-HE) was extracted by hot-water (MA-HEHW) and ethanol (MA-HE-E). MA-HE-HW showed enhanced mitogenic and intestinal immune system modulating activities (1.41 and 1.52 fold of saline control, respectively) compared to hot-water extracts of non-fermented mulberry leaves (MA-HW) and H. erinaceum mycelium (HE-HW) at $100\;{\mu}g$/mL. Meanwhile, when we tested the inhibitory effects of extracts on nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, and interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6 production, MA-HE-E significantly inhibited these pro-inflammatory mediators in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells (45.1, 41.3, 70.2, and 55.7% inhibition of LPS control at $1,000\;{\mu}g$/mL). In addition, MA-HE-HW and MA-HE-E did not show any cytotoxicity on RAW 264.7 cells at $1,000\;{\mu}g$/mL whereas HE-E and MA-E indicated cytotoxicity (80.1 and 30.7% cell viability of saline control). These results suggest that mulberry leaves fermented with H. erinaceum by solid-state culture might have enhanced immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects compared to non-fermented mulberry leaves, resulting in ingredients biotransformed for fermentation with H. erinaceum mycelium.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.62-74
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• 2010

This study aims to examine what factors citizens value in urban parks and green spaces in terms of usage and aesthetic value and to find ways to deal with the changing patterns of user satisfaction for these various green elements. To achieve this, the study developed a dynamic model employing a transactional approach to evaluate environmental quality for 1999 and 2007 in Anyang City as well as a conceptual model of parks and greens satisfaction. This study relied on an empirical study method including the 1999 and 2007 green conditional survey and citizen questionnaires totaling 573 in the year 1999 and 982 in the year 2007. As a result, first, the factor 'urban parks' is the most important factor and 'cityscape' is the second most important factor in parks and greens satisfaction(PGS). Second, PGS in turn causes environmental quality satisfaction(EQS), which is related to two items--'urban livability' and 'aesthetic quality'--in the model. This means that PGS is the intervening variable of urban livability. Third, the factor analysis resulted in six factors: cityscape, urban green, linear facilities, urban parks, riverside green, and urban forest. 'Riverside green' emerged as a factor in 2007 as a result of public participation in the 'Anyang River Revitalization Project'. Fourth, through a transactional view, the environmental changes result in either a change in or stability of public attitude. The levels of satisfaction were elevated but patterns of satisfied-unsatisfied items remained unchanged for most factors. The perception of riverside a greenway and linear surface facilities(pedestrian walkways, biking and jogging trails, etc.) have changed positively. PGS changed significantly in 2007, as a result of urban events and development, including parks, rivers and greenways which were built through the joint effort of the local government and civic participation.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.173-181
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• 1996

Background : Several studies have suggested that impaired mucociliary clearance plays a role in the pathophysiology of bronchial asthma. Cough productive of mucoid sputum is common, and mucous plugs in the airways are frequently observed. These clinical features are in keeping with the histologic lesions of asthma, which involve primarily the epithelial and mucous-producing structures of the conducting airways. Some studies have shown that the mucociliary clearance is impaired in adult asthma, but it has not been studied in childhood asthma. The objectives of this study were to examine whether the mucociliary clearance is impaired in childhood asthma and to estimate the degree of impairment in comparison with that of immotile cilia syndrome. Method : Thirteen children with mild stable asthma and eight patients with immotile cilia syndrome completed this study. Ten healthy children were recruited as a normal control group. The whole-lung mucociliary clearance was measured by the radioaerosol technique. Aerosols, tin colloid particles tagged with the radionuclide technetium-99m($^{99m}Tc$), were generated by means of nebulizer, and inhaled via a mouthpiece. The retention of radioactivity was measured at 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes by gamma camera, and mucociliary clearance was calculated as percent retention at each time. Results: 1) In each subject, the percent retention decreased variably with the lapse of time. 2) The percent retention of radionuclide decreased at each time in order of normal control, bronchial asthma and immotile cilia syndrome and the percent retention of immotile cilia syndrome was significantly higher than that of normal control at each time(p<0.05). 3) At two hours, the percent retention of bronchial asthma($65.0{\pm}1.8$(SE)%) was significantly higher than that of the normal control($54.4{\pm}3.5%$, p<0.05), and significantly lower than that of immotile cilia syndrome($73.3{\pm}1.4%$, p<0.01). 4) When the percent retention was analyzed according to $PC_{20}$ in the children with bronchial asthma, they had no relationship with each other. Conclusion: Mucociliary clearance in the children with bronchial asthma was significantly lower than normal control. This finding indicates that impaired mucociliary clearance operates in childhood asthma as well, and suggests that it may be one contributing factor in the pathogenesis of asthma. The degree of impairment, however, was not so severe as immotile cilia syndrome.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.1353-1365
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• 1997

Background : Tumor necrosis factor(TNF) has been considered as an important candidate for cancer gene therapy based on its potent anti-tumor activity. However, since the efficiency of current techniques of gene transfer is not satisfactory, the majority of current protocols is aiming the in vitro gene transfer to cancer cells and re-introducing genetically modified cancer cells to host. In the previous study, it was shown that TNF-sensitive cancer cells transfected with TNF-$\alpha$ cDNA would become highly resistant to TNF, and the probability was shown that the acquired resistance to TNF might be associated with synthesis of some protective protein. Understanding the mechanisms of TNF -resistance in TNF-$\alpha$ cDNA transfected cancer cells would be. an important step for improving the efficacy of cancer gene therapy as well as for better understandings of tumor biology. This study was designed to evaluate the role of MnSOD, an antioxidant enzyme, in the acquired resistance to TNF of TNF-$\alpha$ cDN A transfected cancer cells. Method : We transfected TNF-$\alpha$ c-DNA to WEHI164(murine fibrosarcoma cell line), NCI-H2058(human mesothelioma cell line), A549(human non-small cell lung cancer cell line), ME180(human cervix cancer cell line) cells using retroviral vector(pLT12SN(TNF)) and confirm the expression of TNF with PCR, ELISA, MIT assay. Then we determined the TNF resistance of TNF-$\alpha$ cDNA transfected cells(WEHI164-TNF, NCIH2058-TNF, A549-TNF, ME180-TNF) and the changes of MnSOD mRNA expressions with Northern blot analysis. Results : The MnSOD mRNA expressions of parental cells and genetically modified cells of WEHI164 and ME180 cells(both are naturally TNF sensitive) were not significantly different The MnSOD mRNA expressions of genetically modified cells of NCI-H2058 and A549(both are naturally TNF resistant) were higher than those of the parental cells, while those of parental cells with exogenous TNF were also elevated. Conclusion : The acquired resistance to TNF after TNF-$\alpha$ cDNA transfection may not be associated with the change in the MnSOD expression, but the difference in natural TNF sensitivity of each cell may be associated with the level of the MnSOD expression.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.76-83
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• 2001

Background : Coal workers' pneumoconiosis is a fibrotic lung disease resulting from chronic inhalation of coal dust. The precise mechanism of lung fibrosis in coal workers' pneumoconiosis is uncertain. However, a relationship between the stimulation of fibroblast proliferation and collagen production by mediators released from in flammatory and resident lung cells is thought to be a major factor. The transforming growth factor-$\beta$(TGF-$\beta$), a multifunctional cytokine and growth factor, plays a key role in the scarring and fibrotic processes due to its ability to induce extracellular matrix proteins and modulate the growth and immune function of many cell types. To determine the involvement of TGF-$\beta$ in the development of lung fibrosis in coal workers' pneumoconiosis, the TGF-${\beta}_1$ level in plasma was measured in patients with coal workers' pneumoconiosis. Methods : Plasma was collected from 40 patients with coal workers' pneumoconiosis (20 with simple coal workers' pneumoconiosis and 20 with complicated coal workers' pneumoconiosis) and from 10 normal controls. The ELISA method was used to measure the plasma TGF-${\beta}_1$ concentration. Results : Compared to the control group ($0.63{\pm}01.8$ ng/mL), there was no significant difference in the plasma TGF-${\beta}_1$ level in patients with simple coal workers' pneumoconiosis ($0.64{\pm}0.17$ ng/mL) (p>0.05). However, in patients with complicated coal workers' pneumoconiosis the plasma TGF-${\beta}_1$ level ($0.79{\pm}0.18$ ng/mL) was significantly higher than in patients with simple coal workers' pneumoconiosis and the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion : The data suggests that TGF-${\beta}_1$ has some influence in the development of lung fibrosis in coal workers' pneumoconiosis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.145-155
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• 2002

Background: Inflammation, where vascular endothelial cells are activated by cytokines, recruits circulating leukocytes such as neutrophils into the tissues. Mononuclear phagocytes as well as tissue cells activated by these stimuli produce these chemokines. In this study, thr effects of IL-1 and LPS on the expression of CXC chemokines such as GRO-${\alpha}$, IL-8 and ENA-78 in vascular endothelial cells and the neutrophil adhesion effects of ENA-78 and GRO-${\alpha}$ was investigated. Methods: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were cultured and stimulated with various concentrations of IL-1 and LPS. The concentrations of the GRO-${\alpha}$, IL-8 and ENA-78 secreted were measured using enzymelinked immunosorbent assay. The effects of ENA-78 and GRO-${\alpha}$ on neutrophil adhesion to the endothelial cells were also investigated. Results: The addition of IL-1 and LPS to the vascular endothelial cells induced GRO-${\alpha}$ IL-8 and ENA-78 secretion in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The neutrophil adhesion was also increased by induction of ENA-78 and GRO-${\alpha}$ to the vascular endothelial cells in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: CXC chemokines such as GRO-${\alpha}$, IL-8 and ENA-78 secreted by the vascular endothelial cells play an important role in the acute inflammatory responses by stimulating neutrophil adhesion to the vascular endothelial cells, raising the possibility that the CXC chemokines are one of the targets in the clinical application of acute inflammation.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.122-129
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• 2005

Ammonia is the major limiting factor in intensive aquaculture production systems. Therefore, quantification of ammonia excretion is important for the water quality management in aquaculture systems. Ammonia excretion is known to be affected by many factors such as body weight and dietary protein level (DPL). In this study, experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of body weight and DPLs on the rates of ammonia excretion of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. Three sizes of fishes (mean initial weight; 4.8 g,42.7 g and 176.8 g) were fed each of two dietary protein levels (30.5% and 35.5%). Daily feeding levels for the three fish sizes of 4.8 g, 42.7 g and 176.8 g were 6%, 3%, and 1.5% body weight per day, respectively. Each group of fish was stocked in a 17.1-L aquarium and all treatments were triplicated. Following feeding, the weight-specific ammonia excretion rate of O. niloticus increased, peaked at 4 to 8 h, and returned to pre-feeding levels within 24 h. Total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) excretion.ate per unit weight decreased with the increase of fish weight for each diet (P<0.05). The TAN excretion rate increased with increasing dietary protein content for each fish size (P<0.05). TAN excretion rates (Y) for each diet with different fish weights were described by the following equations: low DPL diet (30.5%): $Y\;(mg\;kg^{-1}\;d^{-1})=955.69-147.12\;lnX\;(r^2=0.95)$, high DPL diet (35.5%): $Y\;(mg\;kg^{-1}\;d^{-1})=1362.41-209.79\;lnX\;(r^2=0.99)$. Where: X=body weight (g wet wt.). The TAN excretion rates ranged 28.5%-37.1% of the total nitrogen ingested for the low DPL diet (30.5%) and 37.4-38.5% for the high DPL diet (35.5%). Total nitrogen losses of fish fed the high DPL diet $(35.5%;\;0.26\sim0.91g\;kg^{-1}\;d^{-1})$ were higher than those fed the low DPL diet $(30.5%;\;0.22\sim0.68g\;kg^{-1}\;d^{-1})$. The losses decreased per kg of fish as fish size increased. Results will provide valuable information fer water quality management and culture of Nile tilapia in recirculating aquaculture systems.