• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.63 no.3
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• pp.235-241
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• 2007

Background: Airway mucus hypersecretion plays an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma, and is associated with the induction of MUC5AC expression in airway secretion. The MUC5AC gene is highly polymorphic; however, there are few studies about the association between the polymorphisms of the MUC5AC gene and asthma susceptibility or asthma phenotypes. We have investigated the association of MUC5AC promoter polymorphisms with the risk of asthma and asthma phenotypes. Methods: We determined the genotypes of the MUC5AC promoter (-1274G>A) in 78 asthma patients and in 78 age, sex-matched control individuals in the Korean population. Genomic DNAs from blood were analyzed by PCR and RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) determination. We examined $FEV_1$, total eosinophil count, serum IgE level, $PC_{20}$ and the presence of atopy (by a skin test) in asthma patients. Results: The mean age of the patients was $47.7{\pm}16.1$ years and 38.5% were men, and the mean $FEV_1$ was $84.4{\pm}22.3%$ of predicted in the asthma patients. The -1274G>A polymorphism of the MUC5AC promoter in asthma patients was not significantly different as compared with normal individuals (GG 57.7%, AG 34.6% and AA 7.7% in asthma patients vs. GG 56.4%, AG 38.5% and AA 5.1% in control subject, p = 0.752, Cod). Several clinical parameters in asthma patients such as $FEV_1$, total eosinophil count, serum IgE level, $PC_{20}$ and the presence of atopy, were not associated with the -1274G>A polymorphism of the MUC5AC promoter. Conclusion: The -1274G>A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) frequency of the MUC5AC promoter was not associated with asthma in a Korean population.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.199-210
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• 2005

Objective : Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) affects $5-10\%$ of children in Korea, with more boys and girls being diagnosed. Despite seriousness of ADHD, little is known about its causes. From the current genetic epidemiologic studies, ADHD is known as a heritable disorder. Till now, however, there have been very few genetic studies about ADHD in Korea. The aim of the this study is to examine the association between dopamine transporter gone type 1 and ADHD using case-control design in Korean ADHD probands and normal controls. Materials and Method : Child Psychiatric Genetic research team in Seoul National University Hospital, Clinical Research Institute recruited the ADHD probands using clinical interview/observation, diverse rating scales, and neuropsychological tests. For eliminating phenocopy or ADHD, diagnosis of ADHD was based upon clinical data, psychometric data, and parent/teacher reports. Total 85 ADHD-probands were recruited as final study subjects and independent 100 normal adults participated in this study as control group. For all the ADHD probands, and controls, the 3'-UTR-VNTR polymorphism of DAT1 was analyzed. Based on the DAT1 allele and genotype informations, Chi-square test based on case-control design was performed. Results : As for genetic study, total of 85 probands and 100 controls were included for the genetic analysis. Four different alleles, 350bp (7repeat), 440bp (9repeat), 480bp (10repeat) and 520bp (11repeat) were found in DAT1 gene of study subjects. In case-control analysis, ADHD probands and parents have significantly more 9 repeat allele and 9/10 genotype. Also, The probands with 9repeat allele have more commission errors in ADS. Conclusion : The positive association between ADHD and DAT1 gene was replicated in this report like other previous results for caucasian children and Korean children with ADHD. There are ongoing studies on other candidate genes such as DRD4 and DRD5 and it would be required to explore the association of these candidate genes in Korean children with ADHD. These ongoing genetic research will contribute to the understanding of heterogenous genetic and environmental etiologies of ADHD phenotype, which will lead to the development of more comprehensive treatment and preventive interventions for ADHD.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.8
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• pp.919-928
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• 2017

The immuno-enhancing effects of alginate oligosaccharides from Sargassum coreanum were investigated. The alginate oligosaccharides were produced by an alginate-degrading enzyme from S. oneidensis PKA 1008. The degraded alginate oligosaccharides were visualized by thin-layer chromatography developed using a solvent system of 1-butanol/methanol/water, 4:1:2 (v/v/v). Alginate was degraded into dimmers at 60 h. As a result, the levels of Th1 cytokine [interferon $(IFN)-{\gamma}$ and interleukin (IL)-2] and Th2 cytokine (IL-6 and IL-10) increased with increasing incubation time compared to the control in vitro. Enzymatic extract treatment promoted proliferation of splenocytes at concentrations of 100 and 200 mg/kg at 24 h in vivo. Secretion of $IFN-{\gamma}$ and IL-2 significantly increased in a dose-dependent manner at 24 h as well as induced higher production of IgG2a in serum. Natural killer cell activity was measured and tended to increase. In addition, complete blood cell counts increased in a dose-dependent manner. These results indicate that alginate oligosaccharides produced by crude enzyme from S. oneidensis PKA 1008 may have significant immune activities.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.62 no.3
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• pp.203-210
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• 2007

Background: The incidence of adenocarcinoma of the lung has been increasing worldwide, and it has been generally been accepted to be relatively unrelated to smoking with a female preponderance. The aim of this study was to examine the gender-related pathological and survival differences in patients with an adenocarcinoma of the lung. Material and Method: A retrospective review of the clinical information of patients diagnosed with an adenocarcinoma of the lung at Kosin Medical Center from January 1999 to September 2005 was performed. The patient's demographics (age, gender), smoking history, stage, serum tumor marker, pathology classification, EGFR mutation, K-ras mutation, treatment methods, and survival time were analyzed. Result: Of the 438 patients, 179 (40.9%) were female. The median age at the diagnosis was 58 years for females and 59 years for males. However, 25.8% of women and only 17.7% of men were under 50 years of age (p=0.02). The distribution of the disease stage was similar in both men and women. The bronchioloalveolar carcinoma component was diagnosed more often in women (11.2%) than in men (5.0%). The overall survival rate was higher in women than in men (p=0.01), and women had a superior therapeutic response to a combined treatment of surgery and chemotherapy. Conclusion: This study showed significant genders differences in terms of the smoking history, bronchioloalveolar carcinoma component, overall survival, and survival after combined treatment of surgery and chemotherapy. Therefore, gender differences should be considered when diagnosing and treating adenocarcinomas of the lung.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.189-197
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• 2004

This study investigated the effect of belly fat on the plasma lipid concentrations in rats. The results were obtained from the rats that had been fed the experimental purified diets containing 5％ corn oil (C) as the control, 5％ commercial lard (Tl), 5％ belly fat (T2), 10％ belly fat(T3), and those given diet(T4) by feeding either C or T3 alternately every 3 days for 30 days. The food intake and food efficiency were not show any significant difference among the treatments. The body weight gain tended to significantly increased when the feeding of added-belly fat in diets (p＜0.05). The plasma triacylglycerides of T3 was higher than the other treatments, and significantly elevated as the number of feeding days of the diets with the belly fat passed when compared to diet C (p＜0.05). The plasma total cholesterol of T3 showed the highest levels in the treatment groups, and was high in the order of T1, T2, T4, and there was a significant difference between the rats given the diet with belly fat and C (p＜0.05). The plasma HDL-C of T2 and T3 was showed the lowest levels in the treatment groups. The plasma HDL-C of T1, T2, T3 and T4 groups were significantly decreased as the number of feeding days of the diets with the belly fat increased when compared to diet C (p＜0.05). The plasma LDL-C and Al of T3 showed the highest levels in the treatment groups, and the levels were in order of T1, T2, T4. There was a significant difference between the groups of rats given the belly fat and C (p＜0.05). The bleeding times significantly decreased as the number of feeding days of the belly fat diets increased, and T3 showed the lowest levels, there was a significant difference among the treatment groups (p＜0.05). The whole blood clotting times of T3 showed the lowest values, and significantly decreased according to the number of days of the rats were fed the belly fat diet (p＜0.05). These results showed that frequent consumption and high intake of pork belly can elevate the plasma triacylglyceride and cholesterol levels, and also accelerate red thrombus formation because belly fat contains high levels of saturated fatty acids and cholesterol.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.4 s.249
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• pp.277-283
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• 2005

Arterial oxygen saturation $(SaO_2)$ instability frequently takes place after systemic-pulmonary shunt without shunt occlusion. We analyzed actual incidence and risk factors for $SaO_2$ instability after shunt operations, and possible mechanisms were speculated on. Material and Method: Ninety three patients, who underwent modified Blalock-Taussig shunt from January 1996 to December 2000, were enrolled in this study. Adequacy of shunt was verified in all patients, either by ensuing one ventricle or biventricular repair later on or by appropriate pulmonary artery growth on postoperative angiogram. Age, body weight, hemoglobin level at operation were 3 day to 36 years (median: 1.8 months), 2.5kg to 51kg (median: 4.1kg) and $10.7\~24.3$ gm/dL (median: 15.2 gm/dL) respectively. Preoperative diagnoses were functional single ventricle with pulmonary stenosis or atresia in 39, tetralogy of Fallot in 38 and pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum in 16. Pulmonary blood flow (PBF) was maintained pre-operatively by patent ductus or previous shunt in 64 and by forward flow through stenotic right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) in 29. $SaO_2$ instability was defined as $SaO_2$ less than $50\%$ for more than 1 hour with neither anatomic obstruction of shunt nor respiratory problem. Result: 10 patients $(10.7\%)$ showed $SaO_2$ instability after shunt operation. After shunt occlusion was ruled out by echocardiogram, they received measures to lower pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), which worked within a few hours in all patients. Risk factors for $SaO_2$ instability included older age at operation (p=0.039), lower preoperative $SaO_2$ (p=0.0001) and emergency operation (p=0.001). PBF through stenotic RVOT showed marginal statistical significance (p=0.065). Conclusion: $SaO_2$ instability occurs frequently after shunt operation, especially in patients with severe hypoxia pre-operatively or unstable clinical condition necessitating emergency operation. Temporary elevation of pulmonary vascular resistance is a possible mechanism in this specific clinical setting.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.964-972
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• 1998

Background: The purpose of this study was to independently evaluate the beneficial effects of a high dose of transamine administrated prior to CPB on the postoperative hematologic aspect and bleeding. Materials and methods: This study included randomly selected groups of 40 adult patients undergoing OHS with CPB. All patients were divided into 2 groups: transamine group (T-group, n=20) and placebo group(P-group, n=20). The T-group received a high-dose of transamine(10 g) before and during CPB. The P-group received normal saline at the same times and served as a control group. Results: The results of comparative studies between the 2 groups in the same hematologic variables were summarized as follows. \circled1 During CPB, the fibrinogen concentrations and platelet counts were significantly lower in the P-group than in the T-group(p<0.01). \circled2 During CPB, production of D-dimer occurred in 18 patients(90%) in the P-group and did not occur in the T-group(0%) (p<0.0001). \circled3 At CPB-off, the % concentration of fibrinogen(70.2$\pm$3.9%) and the % platelet counts(72.4$\pm$4.5%) of the T-group were significantly higher than those(54.5$\pm$3.8%, 64.3$\pm$2.9%) of the P-group(p<0.01). \circled4 Postoperative values of PT(14.0$\pm$0.03 sec.) and aPTT (27.6$\pm$0.1 sec.) of the T-group were significantly lower than those(16.0$\pm$0.02sec., 30.1$\pm$0.1sec.) of the P-group(p<0.05). \circled5 Postoperative bleeding and requirement of whole blood and other blood products were significantly less in the T-group than in the P-group(p <0.05). \circled6 There were no significant hypercoagulability signs such as cerebral em bolism, myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, or any other neurological prob lems in either group. Conclusions: We concluded that a high dose of transamine administered prior to CPB prevents the activation of fibri nolytic system and has beneficial effects of reducing the postoperative bleeding t endency without apparent hypercoagulability signs.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.616-621
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• 2008

Purpose : This study was undertaken to identify factors that influence 17-OHP levels in preterm infants and to suggest a reasonable follow-up schedule of screening for congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) in preterm infants. Methods : The 17-OHP concentrations in filter paper blood spots of 427 preterm infants were obtained. The effects of gestational age (GA), systemic diseases, and antenatal dexamethasone on screening and follow-up 17-OHP values were investigated. Results : The screening 17-OHP values were markedly variable (range: 0.1-143.3 ng/mL). The screening 17-OHP levels were negatively correlated with GA (r=-0.535, P<0.01). In infants with GA<32 weeks, the screening 17-OHP levels were significantly higher in sick infants or infant with hypotension than in healthy infants. The screening values of prenatal dexamethasone-treated infants had a tendency to be low. In infants with initial 17-OHP values ${\geq}20ng/mL$, the intervals until rescreening 17-OHP <10 ng/mL or serum 17-OHP <20 ng/mL were negatively correlated with GA (r=-0.541, P<0.01) and were prolonged in infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (P<0.01). None of the preterm infants were confirmatively diagnosed with CAH. Conclusion : The 17-OHP values of preterm infants were influenced by GA, prenatal dexamethasone, and postnatal diseases. Because the 17-OHP values of preterm infants were markedly variable, a follow-up schedule should be developed considering both 17-OHP values and clinical status.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.1 s.246
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• pp.13-22
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• 2005

It has been known that pulsatile flow is physiologic and more favorable to tissue perfusion than nonpulsatile flow. The purpose of this study is to directly compare the effect of pulsatile versus nonpulsatile blood flow to renal tissue perfusion in extracorporeal circulation by using a tissue perfusion measurement system. Material and Method: Total cardiopulmonary bypass circuit was constructed to twelve Yorkshire swines, weighing 20$\~ $30 kg. Animals were randomly assigned to group 1 (n=6, non pulsatile centrifugal pump) or group 2 (n=6, pulsatile T-PLS pump). A probe of the tissue perfusion measurement system $(QFlow^{TM}-500)$ was inserted into the renal pa­renchymal tissue. Extracorporeal circulation was maintained for an hour at a pump flow of 2 L/min after aortic cross-clamping. Tissue perfusion flow of the kidney was measured at baseline (before bypass) and every 10 minutes after bypass. Serologic parameters were collected at baseline and 60 minutes after bypass. Result: Baseline parameters were not different between the groups. Renal tissue perfusion flow was substantially higher in the pulsatile group throughout the bypass (ranged 48.5$\~$ 64 in group 1 vs. 65.8$\~$88.3 mL/min/100 g in group 2, p=0.026$\~$ 0.45) The difference was significant at 30 minutes bypass $(47.5{\pm}18.3\;in\;group\;1\;vs.\;83.4{\pm}28.5$ mL/min/100 g in group 2, p=0.026). Serologic parameters including plasma free hemoglobin, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine showed no differences between the groups at 60 minutes after bypass (p=NS). Conclusion: Pulsatile flow is more beneficial to tissue perfusion of the kidney in short-term extracorporeal circulation. Further study is suggested to observe the effects to other vital organs or long-term significance.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.199-210
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• 2003

The effect of feeding a cyclic oligosaccharide, $\beta$-cyclodextrin($\beta$CD) on plasma cholesterol and triacylglyceride concentrations and on antithrombotic activity were investigated in rats fed a control chow diet, or one either high in cholesterol or in saturated fat. The bleeding time of $\beta$CD-fed groups was significantly prolonged by 293%, 157% and 218% in normal, high cholesterol and high fat diet fed groups, respectively, as compared to the control group(p<0.05). The whole blood clotting time was significantly increased by 202%, 168% and 211% in normal, high cholesterol and high fat diet fed groups as compared to control group, respectively(p<0.05). The $\beta$CD diet caused a marked decrease in plasma total lipid(TL), triacylglyceride(TAG), total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein- cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations. The plasma TL concentration was significantly decreased by 70%, 82% and 87% in normal, high cholesterol and high fat diet fed groups as compared to the control group, respectively(p<0.05). The plasma TAG concentration was significantly decreased by 89%, 43% and 59% in normal, high cholesterol and high fat diet fed groups, respectively, as compared to the control group(p<0.05). The plasma TC concentration was significantly decreased by 28%, 62% and 36% in normal, high cholesterol and high fat diet fed groups, respectively, as compared to the control group(p<0.05). The LDL-C concentration was significantly decreased by 39%, 54% and 25% in normal, high cholesterol and high fat diet fed groups as compared to control group, respectively(p<0.05). The plasma total bile acids contents of $\beta$CD group was significantly increased by 66%, 95% and 97% in normal, high cholesterol and high fat diet fed groups as compared to control group, respectively(p<0.05). The hepatic HMG-CoA reductase activity was significantly lowered by 41% in the $\beta$CD-fed group compared to normal diet fed rats(p<0.05). The fecal steroid excretions of the $\beta$CD groups was significantly increased by 167% in normal diet fed rats(p<0.05). These results suggest that the $\beta$CD has a biological active function on antithrombotic activity and is hypolipidemic, hypotriglyceridemic and hypocholesterolimic agents. These are all effects that can help to prevent obesity and coronary heart disease in humans.