• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.60 no.2
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• pp.194-204
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• 2006

Background : Even though tuberculosis (TB) is still a major public concern in Korea, there is little data on the management of TB patients and its outcomes in the private sector. This study evaluated the status of TB treatment in the private sector. Methods : Sixteen-hundred-sixty-six TB patients who were notified in a private university hospital from 2001 to 2002 were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into pulmonary ($TB_P$), extrapulmonary ($TB_E$), and combined ($TB_{P+E}$) groups, and were also divided into initial and retreatment groups. The clinical characteristics, diagnostic methods, treatment regimens, and outcomes were analyzed and compared. Results : The mean age of the 1,666 patients was 48.9 years and the male-to-female ratio was 1.3:1. The number of patients in the initial and retreatment groups of $TB_P$, and those of ($TB_E+TB_{P+E}$) were 809, 276, 480, 101, respectively. A bacteriological study was performed in 92.0% of cases, and a positive culture was confirmed in 58.1% and 31.7% of patients with TBP and ($TB_E+TB_{P+E}$), respectively (p<0.05). The AFB smear was positive in 45.4 % of the $TB_P$ patients. PCR was carried out in 60.4% of the ($TB_E+TB_{P+E}$) group. The MDR was detected in 14.0% of isolates. Overall, the treatment completion, default, and death rates were 70.2%, 13.5% and 1.9%, respectively. Conclusion : Even though the management of TB patients in a private hospital was satisfactory in terms of the national guidelines, the high default rate was is still a problem. Efforts to decrease the default rate either independently or in cooperation with the public sector will be needed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.110-115
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• 2011

Shelf-life of brined baechu cabbage was extended by pasteurization at $65^{\circ}C$ for 30 min. Starters (Leu. citreum and Lab. plantarum) were added to the pasteurized brined cabbage to supply beneficial lactic acid bacteria during kimchi fermentation. Control kimchis made with baechu cabbage without pasteurization and no addition of the starters to the pasteurized cabbage kimchi were also prepared. The fermentation characteristics and health functionalities of DPPH free radical scavenging activities and in vitro anticancer effects in AGS human gastric cancer cells were compared. The pasteurized brined cabbage could not be fermented well and the functionalities were also low; however, the addition of starter(s), especially mixed starters of Leu. citreum and Lab. plantarum to the pasteurized brined cabbage, significantly increased the counts of lactic acid bacteria, hardness (texture) and overall acceptability in sensory evaluation. The free radical scavenging activities and the anticancer effects were also increased. The fermentation patterns of starter added kimchi prepared with pasteurized brined cabbage were similar to those of naturally fermented kimchi. It seemed that growth of lactic acid bacteria during kimchi fermentation contributed to increased taste and health functionality of kimchi.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.723-729
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• 2004

To develop foods using dried persimmon, hot-water extracts of dried persimmons were added into strong wheat flour in the ratio of 10, 20, 30, and 40% and the quality characteristics of baked products were investigated. The proximate compositions of dried persimmons hot-water extracts were 70.37% of moisture, 1.72% of crude protein, 0.18% of crude lipids, 1.99% of crude ash and 4.37% of crude fiber, respectively. With increasing the addition of dried persimmons hot-water extracts, moisture content of the added breads was increased to 47.20% from 41.12% of non-added bread and water activity to 0.576 from 0.495. Water binding capacity of the added dried persimmons hot-water extracts rasied weight of the bread but decreased specific volume. In the hunter's color values the more dried persimmons hot-water extracts was added, the lower L vaules we, and the higher a and b values we. In the texture property, the addition of dried persimmons hot-water extracts increased hardness, gumminess and chewiness, while decreased adhesiveness and fracturability. Judging from texture, taste and overall acceptability of the product, recommended substitution level for hot-water extracts of dried persimmons in bread was 30% or less.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.447-452
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• 2007

This study was peformed to estimate manganese intake and the major food source of manganese in Korean adults. The 354 subjects aged over 20 years were measured anthropometrics and dietary intake using 24-hour recall method. Daily intake and the major food sources of manganese were calculated using manganese database of food composition tables in Korea, USA and Japan. The average age, height, weight and BMI were 54.6years, 165.7cm, 67.2kg and $24.5kg/m^2$ for men and 53.8 years, 153.7cm, 59.1kg and $24.9kg/m^2$ for women, respectively. The daily energy and manganese intake of men were significantly higher than those of women (1740.9 kcal vs. 1432.6 kcal; p<0.001, 3.7mg vs. 3.2mg; p<0.01). However, daily manganese intake per 1000kcal between men and women was not significantly different (2.2mg/1000kcal vs. 2.3mg/1000kcal). Daily manganese intakes from each food group were 1.9mg from cereals, 0.5mg from vegetables, 0.4mg from pulses and 0.2mg from seasonings. The 20 major food sources of dietary manganese were rice, soybean, sorghum, Kimchi, tobu, wheat flour, red pepper powder, small red bean, glutinous millet, soybean paste, potato, Ramyeon, green pepper, noodle, buckwheat Naengmyeon, soybean sprout, laver, watermelon, perilla seeds powder and soy sauce. Manganese intake from these 20 foods was 74.0% of the total dietary manganese intake. In conclusion, daily manganese intake of the subject was 3.4mg (2.2mg/1000 kcal) and met adequate intake of manganese. The mai or food sources of manganese were cereals, pulses, and vegetables such as rice, soybean, sorghum, Kimchi and tobu.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.12
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• pp.1663-1670
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• 2012

The inhibitory effects of rose hip (Rosa canina L.) water extracts from two different manufactures on osteoarthritis was comparatively investigated in primary cultures of rat cartilage cells. To identify the effects of rose hip extracts against $H_2O_2$ (300 ${\mu}M$, 2 hr) treatment, cell survival was measured by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Cell survival increased by rose hip extracts in the range of 100 to 600 ${\mu}g/mL$ of $H_2O_2$ treatment. To determine the anti-inflammatory effects of rose hip extracts, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$), nitric oxide (NO), and Cox-2 expression were measured after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activation. TNF-${\alpha}$ level with rose hip extract treatment was decreased by 27.4% and 31.9% at 600 ${\mu}g/mL$ of $H_2O_2$ treatment. Nitric oxide was inhibited by rose hip extract at 100~600 ${\mu}g/mL$ of $H_2O_2$ treatment in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, Cox-2 protein expression was dose-dependently decreased while Cox-1 had no change in expression level. The severity of osteoarthritis is controlled by a balance between anabolic and catobolic factors in an articulation, therefore the expression of these factors plays a critical role in preventing osteoarthritis. In measuring anabolic factors, the genetic expression of collagen type I increased with rose hip treatment, while the genetic expression of collagen II did not change. In addition, the genetic expression of aggrecan (proteoglycan core protein) was significantly increased. while the genetic expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 3, 7 and 13, known catabolic factors, was significantly inhibited by treatment with rose hip extract. The expression of MMP13 was especially highly influenced. In conclusion, rose hip water extracts show inhibitory effects on cell death by $H_2O_2$ mediated oxidative stress, which is related to inhibitory effects on inflammation due to TNF-${\alpha}$, NO, and Cox-2. The ability of rose hip extracts to ameliorate inflammation in primary cultures of cartilage cells seems to associate with an increased genetic expression of specific anabolic factors, collagen type I and aggrecan, and a decreased expression of catabolic factors, MMPs (3, 7, and 13). However, there were no significant differences between rose hip extracts from the two manufacturers.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.28 no.3 s.68
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• pp.353-370
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• 1998

This study was conducted to investigate the changes in the structural parts of the craniofacial skeleton subsequent to chincap therapy in the juvenile skeletal Class III patients. The subject consisted of 29 Korean children(14 males, 15 females) who had skeletal Class III malocclusion and were undergone chincap therapy from the beginning of the treatment (and an auxilliary upper removable appliance, if necessary). The control group was composed of 21 children(10 males, 11 females) with skeletal Class III malocclusion who had no orthodontic treatment. Cephalometric data at the mean age of 7 and 2 years later were analyized by finite element method, and compared between groups by independent group t-test(p<0.05). The results of the present study were as follows; 1. There were no significant changes in the cranial base, posterior face, upper anterior face, ramus, chin and soft tissues by the chincap therapy. 2. The mandibular body showed significant differences in the minimum extention ratio and the overall shape ratio. This means that the vertical direction of growth was retarded by the chincap therapy. 3. The major direction of the growth in the maxillary basal bone was significantly more horizontal in the experimental group, which suggests that the vertical growth of maxilla was inhibited. 4. There was statistical difference in the major direction of the growth of the anterior face between groups. This may be due to the significant difference in the major direction of growth of the lower anterior face, supposed to be resulted from the mandibular rotation and/or displacement by the chincap therapy. The change in the oral functional space seemed to be caused by the same reason. 5. From the standpoint of these results, the retardation of growth, the changes of the growth direction and the morphological changes could be accepted partly, but the major effect of the chincap seems to be the rotation and the displacement of the mandible.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.229-240
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• 2008

Animal mucins have structural characteristics similar to human salivary mucins. Animal mucins have been regarded as suitable substances for saliva substitutes. Since animal mucin molecules in saliva substitutes and host-derived antimicrobial salivary molecules exist simultaneously in whole saliva and the pellicles of patients with dry mouth, interactions may occur between these molecules. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of animal mucins on peroxidase activity in solution and on the surface of hydroxyapatite(HA) surfaces. The effects of animal mucins on peroxidase activity were examined by incubating porcine gastric mucin(PGM) or bovine submaxillary mucin (BSM) with either bovine lactoperoxidase(bLPO) or saliva samples. For solid-phase assays, immobilized animal mucins or peroxidase on three different HA surfaces(HA beads, HA disc, and bovine tooth) were used. Peroxidase activity was determined with an NbsSCN assay. The obtained results were as follows: 1. PGM enhanced the enzymatic activity of bLPO in solution phase. PGM did not affect the enzymatic activity of peroxidase in saliva sample(POS). 2. BSM did not affect the enzymatic activities of both bLPO and POS in solution phase. 3. HA-adsorbed PGM increased subsequent bLPO adsorption in all three HA phases. The activity of POS was increased on both the HA beads and bovine tooth. 4. The peroxidase activities on the HA beads and disc were increased when the HA surfaces were exposed to a mixture of bLPO and PGM. 5. The binding affinity of bLPO to PGM was greater than that of bLPO to BSM. Collectively, our results suggest that animal mucins affects the enzymatic activity of peroxidase on the HA surfaces as well as in solution. Saliva substitutes containing animal mucins may affect the function of antimicrobial components in natural saliva and saliva substitutes.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.338-345
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• 2002

Background : Coal workers' pneumoconiosis(CWP) is a fibrotic lung disease resulting from the chronic inhalation of coal dust. Various cytokines and growth factors secreted from macrophages and monocytes play a key role in the pathogenesis of pneumoconiosis. The platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB and the insulin-like growth factor(IGF)-1 secreated from the macrophages and monocytes are believed to stimulate the accumulation of mesenchymal cells and fibrosis of the lower respiratory tract that is observed in fibrotic lung disease. The serum concentraion of PDGF-BB and IGF-1 in 30 CWP patients and 10 healthy controls were measured in order to determine if PDGF-BB and IGF-1 can be used as sensitive biomarkers in CWP. Method : Serum was collected from 30 patients with CWP(13 with simple CWP and 17 with complicated CWP) and 10 healthy controls. The serum concentrations of PDGF-BB and IGF-1 were measured using ELISA (R&D system, Minneapolis, MN). Results : The serum PDGF-BB concentration in patients with complicated CWP($10083.76{\pm}639.07pg/mL$) was significantly higher than in the patients with simple CWP ($8493.88{\pm}848.51pg/mL$) and the healthy controls ($3726.17{\pm}292.20pg/mL$) (p<0.05). Compared to the healthy controls ($413.40{\pm}1.94ng/mL$), there was no significant difference in the serum IGF-1 concentration in patients with simple ($366.77{\pm}183.67ng/mL$) and complicated CWP ($403.18{\pm}15.39ng/mL$) (p>0.05). Conclusion : These results show the important role of the PDGF-BB mediated pathways in the pathogenesis of CWP. These data suggests that the PDGF-BB serum concentration is a useful biomarkers of the fibrotic extent in CWP patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.62 no.4
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• pp.270-275
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• 2007

The QuantiFERON-TB Gold assay and tuberculin skin test (TST) have been useful test for diagnosing latent tuberculosis infections (LTBI). However, there are few reports on the efficacy of the QuantiFERON-TB Gold assay and TST in evaluating the response after the treatment of LTBI. This study examined the changes in the TST and QuantiFERON-TB Gold assay before and after a treatment for latent tuberculosis in health care workers (HCWs) at a local tertiary hospital. Methods: A cohort of volunteers working as nurses and doctors who underwent a TST and QuantiFERON-TB Gold assay was established. The volunteers positive for the QuantiFERON-TB Gold assay had been treated with 3 months of isoniazid (INH) and rifampin (RFP). After completing treatment, the TST and QuantiFERON-TB Gold assay were repeated. Results: Of the 48 participants (14 doctors, 34 nurses, M: F=11:37, mean $age=29.9{\pm}5.5$ years, mean employment $period=74.9{\pm}64.3$ months), 19 (39.6%) tested positive to the TST (mean induration=$19.1{\pm}9.7mm$) and 8 (16.7%) were QuantiFERON-TB Gold assay. Among them, one had active pulmonary tuberculosis. Seven volunteers were consistently positive to both the TST and QuantiFERON-TB Gold assay after being medicated with INH and RFP for 3 months. Conclusion: TST and QuantiFERON-TB Gold assay are unsuitable for evaluating the treatment response of LTBI because they were consistently positive both before and after the anti-tuberculosis medication.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.145-153
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• 2013

It is a global trend that the water management policy is shifting from a water quality-oriented assessment to the aquatic ecosystem-based assessment. The majority of aquatic ecosystem assessment systems were developed solely based on physicochemical factors (e.g., water quality and bed structure) and a limited number of organisms (e.g., plankton and benthic organisms). Only a few systems use plants for a health assessment, although plants are sensitive indicators reflecting long-term disturbances and alterations in water regimes. The development of an assessment system is underway to evaluate and manage lakes as ecosystem units in the Korean Ministry of Environment. We reviewed the existing multivariate health assessment methods of other leading countries, and discussed their applicability to Korean lakes. The application of multivariate assessment methods is costly and time consuming, in addition to the correlation problem among variables. However, a single variable is not available at this moment, and the multivariate method is an appropriate system due to its multidimensional evaluation and cumulative data generation. We, therefore, discussed multivariate assessment methods in three steps: selecting metrics, scoring metrics and assessing indices. In the step of selecting metrics, the best available metrics are species-related variables, such as composition and abundance, as well as richness and diversity. Indicator species, such as sensitive species, are the most frequently used in other countries, but their system of classification in Korea is not yet complete. In terms of scoring metrics, the lack of reference lakes with little anthropogenic impact make this step difficult, and therefore, the use of relative scores among the investigated lakes is a suitable alternative. Overall, in spite of several limitations, the development of a plant-based multivariate assessment method in Korea is possible using mostly field research data. Later, it could be improved based on qualitative metrics on plant species, and with the emergence of further survey data.