• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.34-45
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• 1998

We provide the reader with a brief introduction to the neurobiology of neuropeptides. Several comprehensive reviews of the distribution and neurochemical, neurophysiological, neuropharmacological and behavioral effects of the major neuropeptides have recently appeared. In reviews of the large number of neuropeptides in brain and their occurance in brain regions thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of major psychiatric disorders, investigators have sought to determine whether alternations in neuropeptide systems are associated with schizophrenia, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, alcoholism and neurodegenerative disease. There is no longer any doubt that neuropeptide-containing neurons are altered in several neuropsychiatric disorders. One of the factors that has hindered neuropeptide research to a considerable extent is the lack of pharmacological agents that specifically alter the synaptic availability of neuropeptides. With the exception of naloxone and naltrexone, the opiate-receptor antagonists, there are few available neuropeptide- receptor antagonists. Two independent classes of neuropeptide-receptor antagonists has been expected to be clinically useful. Naltrexone, a potent ${\mu}$-receptor antagonist, has been used successfully to reduce the need for alcohol consumption. And cholecycstokinin antagonists are now in development as a new class of anxiolytics, which would be expected to be free from tolerance and physical dependence and lack of sedation. In this review, we deal with these two kinds of neuropeptide system, the opioid system and cholesystokinins in the brain. The role of opioid systems in the reinforcement after alcohol consumtion and that of cholesystokinins in the pathogenesis of anxiety will be discussed briefly. As we know, the future for neuropeptides in psychiatry remains bright indeed.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.892-901
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• 2012

The purpose of this research was to analyze fish fauna, distribution patterns, and fish community structures in the Juksan-Weir regions of upper weir(R-UW) and lower weir(R-LW), which was constructed in 2011 on Yeongsan River watershed. Our outcomes will provide valuable information in the impact analysis of weir constructions next decades, even if the current research is limited to distributions and fauna studies of fishes. The fishes observed were 8 family and 30 species in all the sites, and the number of the species in the regions of R-UW and R-LW was 23(938 individuals) and 27(1,680 individuals), respectively, indicating greater abundance in the lower region of Juksan-Weir. Most dominant species was Opsarichthys uncirostris amurensis with relative abundance of 42%, and this species had greater abundance in the R-LW(49%) than in the R-UW(30%). Coilia nasus, was the migratory fish sampled in this region and had no differences of abundance between the two regions. The extic species observed were Carassius cuvieri, Lepomis macrochirus, and Micropterus salmoides. The two formers of Carassius cuvieri(1.2%) and Lepomis macrochirus(3.7%) dominated in the R-UW, whereas Micropterus salmoides had greater dominance in the region of R-LW. According to tolerance guild analysis, the proportion of sensitive species ranged from 0.4 to 0.5%, and that of tolerant species ranged from 65% to 70%, implying a severe pollution of nutrients and organic matters in the water body. In the mean time, according to trophic guild analysis, the proportion of carnivores(57 - 77%) was evidently higher than that of insectivores(10 - 20%), indicating a dominance of the carnivores. Especially, high abundance of the bass, exotic species, may disturb the fish overall food chain, so the efficient ecosystem management may be required for the conservation of endemic species. When we examined fish data files of last 60 years, the species of Culter brevicauda, designated as endangered species, was observed firstly in our research area and the total number was 5 individuals(0.2% of the total). So, this region observed should be conserved as a protection zone and further monitoring studies should be done in the future.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.130-136
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• 2008

Purpose: Lamivudine is known to be effective for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B in adults. However, data on lamivudine therapy in pediatrics is limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and durability of lamivudine therapy for chronic hepatitis B in Korean children. Methods: A total of 44 children (27 males and 17 females, ages 6 months to 14.8 years, mean age 6.7 years) with chronic hepatitis B who received lamivudine (3 mg/kg/day, max 100 mg) for at least 12 months were enrolled. We evaluated the serum AST, ALT and serological HBV markers (HBsAg and anti-HBs, HBeAg and anti HBe, and HBV DNA) periodically. Predictive three year cumulative seroconversion rates were obtained using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: Twenty one (48%) of 44 children achieved seroconversion of HBeAg by three years, while 23 (42%) children did not. HBV DNA was cleared in 34 (77%) children and the serum ALT levels were normalized in 41 children (93%). The three year cumulative seroconversion rates were 60% for HBeAg, and the clearance rates were 76% for HBV DNA. Eighteen children who discontinued lamivudine after HBeAg seroconversion maintained the therapeutic response for three years (treatment duration 13~58 months mean 24 months). Viral breakthrough developed in 12 children (27%) during the therapy and the YMDD mutation was documented in 11 children (25%). The mean duration for the development of a mutation was 22.7 months. Loss of HBsAg occurred in 6 children (14%). The pretreatment ALT levels were higher in responders; however, the differences were not statistically significant (p>0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that lamivudine treatment had a favorable effect and durable therapeutic response in children with chronic hepatitis B. Long term follow-up and alternative therapy are warranted for those patients who do not respond to this treatment.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.23 no.3 s.59
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• pp.293-303
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• 2005

Japanese medaka, Oryzias latipes is widely distributed in the North East Asia including Korea, Japan and east China, and commonly used for freshwater toxicity tests and cytotoxicological studies worldwide. In this study, a series of experiments were conducted to identify the potential of the fish as a standard test species for saltwater toxicity evaluation such as marine receiving waters, ocean-dumped materials and sediment pore waters etc. Hatching, growth and mortality rates of the fish were estimated with the wide ranges of salinity from freshwater to seawater (35 psu). Direct exposure of the fertilized eggs in freshwater to the wide ranges of salinity (from 0 to 35 psu) without pre- acclimation to the saltwater revealed no significant differences in hatching rates by salinities (p =0.24). On the other hand, medaka larvae hatched in freshwater and exposed to saltwater directly showed high mortality at > 25 psu treatment groups (p < 0.0001). However, there was no significant difference in mortality of medaka larvae hatched in 13.8 and 14.2 psu at the wide ranges of salinities ($0\~35$ psu). Growth rates of medaka larvae hatched in the above two salinities showed no differences in body length either from 0 to 35 psu treatment groups (p =0.64 for 13.8 psu group and p=0.32 for 14.2 psu group). The number of gill chloride cell in medaka larvae sharply increased when the larvae were exposed to high salinity. Reference tests with zinc chloride revealed 96h $LC_{50}=8.84(7.19\~10.87)mg\;L^{-1}$ using 7~10 day old medaka larvae. These were comparable or better sensitivity in comparison with the other standard test species such as North American sheepshead minnow Cyprinodon variegatus. Based on the results of these experiments, hatching rates and larvalmortality of medaka must be good toxicity parameters for seawater bioassay and the species seems to be a good standard species for both the freshwater and seawater toxicity test.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.473-483
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• 2001

Background : There are only a few studies regarding the causes of treatment failure for tuberculosis. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the causes of intractable tuberculosis. Methods : M. tuberculosis, differentiated MOTT (Mycobacterium Other Than Tuberculosis) were isolated, and the RFLP (Restriction fragments length polymorphisms) pattern was analyzed from 204 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and 53 suffering from neck tuberculosis. The IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-12, $^*1\;IFN{\gamma}$ and $^*2\;TNF{\alpha}$ blood levels were measured. All patients were regularly followed for 18 months after treatment. Results : There was no correlation between the RFLP patterns of M. tuberculosis treatment failure. From the 204 cases, 31.9% were intractable. The characteristics of patients with intractable tuberculosis were old age, being male and recurrent cases. The causes of treatment failure were identified as follows ; a decrease in the IL-12(59.4%) concentration, drug resistant strain(54.7%), irregular medication(15.4%), MOTT(6.2%) and a heavy infection(4.6%). The causes of all cases of intractable tuberculosis could be investigated. The IL-12 concentration in the blood was significantly lower in the intractable cases, where it disclosed a maximum sensitivity(64.7%) and specificity(75.4%) at 165.0 pg/mL. Most of the 53 cases of neck node tuberculosis were treated successfully. Therefore, we were unable to analyze the cause of treatment failure. Conclusion : A decrease in the blood IL-12 concentration and drug resistant strains were identified as the most significant causes of treatment failure for tuberculosis. In Korea, infection by clusters were prevalent, but no difference in the clinical course between clusters and non-clusters could be found.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.233-238
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• 2007

To assess pollutant loads in Nakdong river from highland agriculture in Kyungbuk province we. analyzed water qualities such as BOD, COD, T-N, T-P and SS in year 2005. BOD values in rainy period (June and July) were relatively higher than those in dry period, and those in 4 sites among 17 sites ranged from 10.71-19.25 mg/L which exceeded water criteria (8 mg/L) for agricultural use. COD values showed similar trends like BOD values. These trends might be caused by outflow of nutrients applied in agricultural lands. T-N content ranged from 0.1 to 14 mg/L. Those in lower reaches of stream were greater in those in upper stream. Compared to T-N contents during non-farming season, T-N content in farming season were higher. These phenomenon could be due to continuous input of nutrients from small watercourses. Averaged T-P content in lower stream during farming season was 0.4 mg/L, which was eight times higher than the limiting level for algae occurrence (0.05 mg/L). BOD, T-P, T-N loads from alpine agricultural practices were 12.25 $kg/km^2{\cdot}day$, 0.55 $kg/km^2{\cdot}day$ and 32.35 $kg/km^2{\cdot}day$, respectively. These values were greater than those from forestry. Therefore, Best management Practices (BMP) for alpine agricultural field are needed to reduce pollutant loads in Nakdong river.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1984.09a
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• pp.83-88
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• 1984

It is now well established that the rodenticide Vacor (N-3-pyridyl-mehtyl-N'-p-nitropheny-lurea) causes a hyperglycemia in human and rats. It is also reported that there are some components (DPG-3) in ginseng radix which cause hypoglycemic effect on alloxan diabetic mice. In the present study, attempts were made to demonstrate in Vacor-poisoned rats the hypo-glycemic activity of red ginseng component(RGC), which was extracted by Kimura's DPG-3 extraction procedure and found to be effective for lowering a hyperglycemia in alloxan-diabetic rats. Vacor in a dose of $LD_{50}$ (10mg/kg) produced a glucose intolerance with a paradoxical moderate increase in blood immunoreactive insulin and derangement in glucose metabolism of epididymal adipocytes in rats. Although RGC (20mg/kg, i.p.) did not exert any significant influence on a hyperglycemia induced by large lethal doses (25mg/kg) of Vacor ingestion, it improved the LDso Vacor-induced glucose intolerance and caused a further increase in blood insulin levels in Vacor-poisoned rats. The administration of RGC (20mg/kg, i.p.) normalized Vacor-induced depression of glucose metabolism and lipogenesis in the epididymal adipocytes with an improvement of reduced responses to insulin of adipocytes from Vacor-poisoned rats. These results suggest that some red ginsneng components contained in RGC fraction normalize the depressed peripheral glucose unitlization and insulin response and eventually lead to an improvement of abnormal glucose tolerance developed in rats poisoned with small doses of Vacor.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.172-183
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• 1976

RNA, DNA and other phosphorus fractions were determined in the leaf and root of soybean plants different in phosphorus sensitivity grown in $NH_4-N,\;NO_3-N$ and urea medium. The phosphorus sensitive cultivars contained higher ASIP (acid soluble inorganic phosphorus) than the tolerant cultivars with all nitrogen sources. ASIP was highest in the urea treated plants and lowest in the nitrate treated plants. Total phosphorus content was mostly affected with increase in ASIP. When ASIP increased, acid solsuble organic phosphorus(ASOP), phospholipids (L-P), RNA-P, residual phosphorus (R-P) tended to increase, while DNA-P showed little change. The percent RNA-P or DNA-P of total phosphorus in the nitrate treated plant was twice that in the ammonium treated plant, which were also higher in tolerant cultivars regardless of nitrogen sources. The percent ASOP in total acid soluble phosphorus $(ASOP/ASP{\times}100)$ decreased as phosphorus sensitivity decreased. Indications are that phosphorus sensitivity depends on the relative sizes of phosphorus metabolic pools. Total dry matter yield was negatively correlated with total phosphorus (r=0.84 significant at 0.01P), ASIP (0.84 significant at 0.01P) and residual phosphorus (0.69 significant at 0.05P). ASOP showed positive correlation with L-P, RNA-P and DNA-P but negative with R-P. RNA-P was significanly correlated only with L-P (0.63 at P=0.01). There was significant interaction (0.01) among nitrogen sources, cultivars and phosphorus metabolic pools. Phosphorus sensitivity and ammonium toxicity appear to be same in view of energy metabolism, that is, the former inhibits the conversion of ATP to ADP (energy releasing) through phosphate potential while the latter inhibits ATP formation (energy storing).

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.845-854
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• 2009

There has been increased concern regarding the release of antibiotics to different environmental compartments due to the possibility of the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria. However, limited information is available regarding the occurrence, fate, and transport of antibiotics in Korea in both the aqueous phase and in solid phases such as sediment and soil. Therefore, this study was conducted to monitor the concentration of released antibiotics in surface water, sediment, and soil adjacent to a cattle manure composting facility in Korea. Specifically, the following six antibiotics were monitored: tetracycline (TC), chlortetracycline (CTC), oxytetracycline (OTC), sulfamethazine (SMT), sulfamethoxazole (SMX), and sulfathiazole (STZ). To extract and quantify the antibiotics from different environmental compartments, solid phase extraction (SPE) and high performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS) techniques were adopted. The concentration of the six antibiotics ranged from below the detection limit (BDL) to 0.71 ${\mu}g$/L in surface water, from BDL to 27.61 ${\mu}g$/L in sediment, and from 0.12 to 157.33 ${\mu}g$/L in soil. In addition, higher concentrations of antibiotics were observed in surface water and sediment at locations closer to the composting facility indicating that composting is the source of the antibiotics found in the environment. Furthermore, higher concentrations of antibiotics were observed in the solid phase (sediment and soil) than the aqueous phase. These findings indicate that the possibility of antibiotic resistant bacteria is increased because such bacteria are more stable in the solid phase. Overall, longterm monitoring of the aqueous phase and solid phase is necessary to gain a better understanding of the impact of antibiotics from source on the environment in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.14-30
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• 2020

This study focuses on the fact that pictorial maps in the late Joseon Dynasty were conceptual diagrams with the place names perceived by the people at the time of their production. In this regard, targeting on five pictorial maps, the humanistic landscape characteristics of Pyongyang, which had cultural identities such as a historically old, commercial, and Pungnyu(appreciation for the arts) city, were derived as follows. First, the historic legitimacy of Pyongyang Castle was represented by ritual and religious facilities. They include 'Dangunjeon' and 'Gijagung' related to the nation founder, 'Munmujeong': the remains of Goguryeo, 'Sajikdan' & 'Pyongyanggangdan': the place of the national rites, Hyanggyo and Seowon: education & rite functions, Buddhism and Taoist facilities, 'Yongsindang', 'Sanshindang', and 'Jesindan': folk religion facilities. Gija-related facilities, which became symbols of Pyongyang due to the importance of Small-Sinocentrism and Gija dignity tendency, were distributed throughout Pyongyang Castle though, the facilities related to King Dongmyeong of Goguryeo and the spaces of religion praying for blessings are spread in Bukseong and on the riverside of Daedonggang each. Second, as a Pyongando Province's economic center, Pyongyang's commercial landscape was represented by logistics and transportation facilities. The Daedonggang River, which was in charge of transportation functions, had many decks such as 'Yangmyeongpo', 'Cheongryongpo' and 'Waeseongjin' and bridges, such as 'Yeongjegyo' and 'Gangdonggyo', which connected major transportation routes. The road network was created in Oeseong area to facilitate logistics transportation and management, and many warehouses named after the jurisdiction of Pyongyangbu were distributed near the roads and Provincial Offices of the main gates. In addition, it was characterized by the urban area systematically divided with hierarchical roads, 'Bukjangnim' of willow trees planted on the main entrance roads of Pyongyang Castle, a linear landscape created by 'Simnijangnim' consisting of mixed forests with elm trees. Third, Pungnyu City is realized by the distribution of amusement facilities. The riverside of Daedonggang adjacent to Naeseong exhibits characteristics of artificial landscape such as a canal leading to the inside of the castle, a docking facility with embankments, and a port with cargo ships anchored. However, Bukseong of the natural surroundings had numerous pavilions and platforms such as 'Bubyeongnu', 'Eulmildae', 'Choeseungdae', 'Jebyeokjeong' and engraved letters such as 'Cheongnyubyeok', 'Jangbangho'. 'Osunjeong', 'Byeogwolji', 'Banwolji' near 'Sachang', and 'Aeryeondang', built on the island of a square pond, created waterscape in Naeseong invisible from the Daedonggang, and for practical purposes, ponds and repeated willow vegetation landscape related to Gija were placed in the western rampart of Jungseong. In addition, 'Seonyeondong', a cemetery of Gisaeng, located near by Chilseongmun, was used as poem titles and themes by literary people, contributing to the creation of the Pungnyu image of Pyongyang.