• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.11
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• pp.1072-1077
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• 2007

Purpose : It has been described that the incidence of breastfeeding jaundice is 13% and that of breast milk jaundice is 2%. The incidence in Korea was believed to be higher, but there were no studies to prove this assumption. The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of jaundice of healthy breastfed full-term infants in Korea. Methods : 839 infants were enrolled who were admitted to the Postpartum Care Center of the Cheil General Hospital between January 1 and December 31, 2005, and were followed up for more than 7 days. Those infants were divided into 3 groups; Exclusive breastfeeding group; Partial breastfeeding group; Formula feeding group. If they became icteric, transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) was measured by research nurses with JM-103 Jaundice meter (Konica Minolta sensing, Inc., Osaka, Japan). Using this method we investigated the incidence of breast milk jaundice of healthy breastfed full-term infants. Results : There were no significant differences in sex, birth weight, Apgar score, or obstetric risk factors among 3 groups but there were higher rates of vaginal delivery in the exclusive breastfeeding group. The incidence of breast milk jaundice was 10.8% in the exclusive breastfeeding group and 4.4% in the partial breastfeeding group. The incidence of breast milk jaundice in the breastfed infants was 6.3%. The incidence was significantly higher in the exclusive breastfeeding group than in the partial breastfeeding group. Conclusion : The incidence of breast milk jaundice of healthy breastfed full-term infants was 6.3%. It was found that the incidence of breast milk jaundice was higher in this study than in other countries. But it was not a population-based study, so further study with the large sample sizes is needed.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.611-618
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• 2004

Background : Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF), a subtype of IIP(idiopathic interstitial pneumonia), is a fatal disease with a 3-5 year median survival. Many attempts at treating this condition have failed to demonstrate a survival benefit in IPF. Recently Ziesche et $al^{12}$ reported the efficacy of IFN-${\gamma}$ for treating IPF but there is still some controversy. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of IFN-${\gamma}$ in patients with advanced IPF who had not been responsive to steroid and cytotoxic agents. Method : Nine patients with advanced IPF(age: $55.4{\pm}15.3$ years, Male: Female=8:1) were enrolled. One year treatment regime with 2 million IU of IFN-${\gamma}$ administered subcutaneously three times a week, and low dose prednisolone(10-30 mg/d) was also used. In the case of a definite aggravation and serious side effects, the IFN-${\gamma}$ was discontinued. During the IFN-${\gamma}$ trial, a pulmonary function test and chest radiography were checked every three month throughout the study. Result : 1) Among 9 patients, only 4 patients were able to complete the 12 month treatment with IFN-${\gamma}$, and 5 patients died during the treatment period. 2) No improvement either in the respiratory symptoms or pulmonary functions were observed any of the patients, even in those who completed the 12 months trial of IFN-${\gamma}$, 3) At the time of IFN-${\gamma}$ trial, the survivors who finished the IFN-${\gamma}$ treatment for 12 months had a higher oxygen level($81.3{\pm}2.8$ vs. $67.4{\pm}8.4$, P=0.024) and a better pulmonary function(FVC: $61.3{\pm}5.1$ % predicted vs. $45.7{\pm}12.3%$, P=0.048, and $D_Lco$: $45.0{\pm}5.0%$ predicted vs. $30.8{\pm}11.2%$, P=0.048) than the non-survivors. Conclusion : Our data suggested that IFN-${\gamma}$ therapy was not effective in the patients with advanced IPF refractory compared with other therapeutic agents. Furthermore, these results suggest that severe impairment of the pulmonary function and hypoxemia during the IFN-${\gamma}$ therapy requires special attention.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.283-289
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• 1986

To establish a suitability grouping system of paddy soils for multiple cropping of rice with other upland crops, the study was carried out after a few basic experiments. In succession to the results on basic experiment prior, the suitability system proposed and the results of application mentioned in this report were summarized as follows; 1. The factors of soil properties in the system were productivities represented by soil texture and drainage class, as well as salinity of surface and sub-soil pH of chemical properties were considered together with slope, warmth index, ground water table, parent materials etc. of soil physical or environmental conditions. The weights of the factors were combined with multiplicatively and additively so as the total marks of ideal soil to be 100. The system was composed with 5 suitability classes; over 91 mark is class I, under 60 mark class V, and each 10 point interval between classes. The limiting factors "P" (in the case that Physical properties or Productivity marks under 24), "S" (Surface slope less than 15) and "C" (Chemical condition below 15) etc. were appended up to two kinds to the classes except a part of soils in class I. 2. The areas where the warmth index exceed 110 in Yeongnam were 19% for class I, 22.7% for class II, 44.7% for class III, 11.5% for class IV, and 2.1% for class V. The rates in class I and II were slightly more than those of the whole country. 3. The points of each soil gained by the system had a positive correlation ($r=.922^{**}$) with the potential productivities.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.256-262
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• 2015

In order to study the effect of the receptor protein (SeaR), which is isolated from Saccharopolyspora erythraea, we introduced the SeaR gene to Streptomyces virginiae as host strains. An effective transformation procedure for S. virginiae was established based on transconjugation by Escherichia coli ET12567/pUZ8002 with a ${\varphi}C31$-derived integration vector, pSET152, which contained int, oriT, attP, and $ermEp^{\ast}$ (erythromycin promotor). Therefore, the pEV615 was introduced into S. virginiae by conjugation and integrated at the attB locus in the chromosome of the recipients by the ${\varphi}C31$ integrase (int) function. Transformants of S. virginiae containing the SeaR gene were confirmed by PCR and transcriptional expression of the SeaR gene in the transformants was analyzed by RT-PCR, respectively. And, we examined the production time of virginiamycins in the culture media of both the transformants and the wild type. The production time of virginiamycins in the wild type and transformants was the same. When 100 ng/ml of synthetic $VB-C_6$ was added to the state of 6 or 8 hour cultivation of wild type and transformants, respectively, the virginiamycins production was induced, meaning that the virginiamycins production in the wild type was detected 2 h early than transformants. From these results, SeaR expression was also affected to virginiamycins production in transformants derived from S. virginiae. In this study, we showed that the SeaR protein worked as a repressor in transformants.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.97-103
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• 2007

Purpose : Lewis antigen has been known to have a role in the attachment of H. pylori to the gastric mucosa, but its expression pattern in children with H. pylori infection is still unclear. The recently described blood group antigen-binding adhesin BabA is known to mediate adherence of H. pylori to Lewis B receptors on gastric epithelium. We investigated the expression of Lewis antigen in gastric mucosa of Korean children with H. pylori infection. Methods : The expression of Lewis A ($Le^a$), B ($Le^b$), X ($Le^x$), and Y ($Le^y$) was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in H. pylori positive biopsy specimens from 35 children (antral gastritis in 30, peptic ulcer in 5) and in H. pylori negative specimens from 19 children. PCR assays for cagA and babA2 gene of H. pylori were performed. Results : We confirmed the expression of $Le^a$ in 60%, $Le^b$ in 97%, $Le^x$ in 100%, and $Le^y$ in 100% of the superficial epithelium of the 35 H. pylori positive children. In H. pylori negative patients, $Le^a$, $Le^b$, $Le^x$, and $Le^y$ expression was 52%, 100%, 89%, and 100%, respectively. The cagA gene was detected in 65% and babA2 gene in 25% of 35 patients. No differences in neutrophil activity and chronic inflammation were found according to the presence of cagA and babA2 genes in H. pylori. Conclusion : $Le^b$, $Le^x$ and $Le^y$ antigen were highly expressed in gastric mucosa of Korean children, but they were not associated with the status of H. pylori infection and the positivity of babA2 gene. Further studies for other mucosal receptors and toxins are needed to define the immune responses to H. pylori infection in gastric mucosa of Korean children.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.33 no.5_2
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• pp.661-676
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• 2017

This study suggests a new method not only to produce the 1 km-resolution seasonal prediction but also to improve the seasonal prediction skill of temperature over South Korea. This method consists of four stages of experiments. The first stage, EXP1, is a low-resolution seasonal prediction of temperature obtained from Pusan National University Coupled General Circulation Model, and EXP2 is to produce 1 km-resolution seasonal prediction of temperature over South Korea by applying statistical downscaling to the results of EXP1. EXP3 is a seasonal prediction which considers the effect of temperature changes according to the altitude on the result of EXP2. Here, we use altitude information from ASTER GDEM, satellite observation. EXP4 is a bias corrected seasonal prediction using genetic algorithm in EXP3. EXP1 and EXP2 show poorer prediction skill than other experiments because the topographical characteristic of South Korea is not considered at all. Especially, the prediction skills of two experiments are lower at the high altitude observation site. On the other hand, EXP3 and EXP4 applying the high resolution elevation data based on remote sensing have higher prediction skill than other experiments by effectively reflecting the topographical characteristics such as temperature decrease as altitude increases. In addition, EXP4 reduced the systematic bias of seasonal prediction using genetic algorithm shows the superior performance for temporal variability such as temporal correlation, normalized standard deviation, hit rate and false alarm rate. It means that the method proposed in this study can produces high-resolution and high-quality seasonal prediction effectively.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.400-413
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• 2018

Purpose: This study examined the association between the antioxidant vitamin intake and obesity in Korean women. Methods: Adult women aged ${\geq}19years$ who completed a health examination and nutrition survey from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2007 ~ 2016 were selected for the study (n = 30,425). A BMI ${\geq}25kg/m^2$ and waist circumference ${\geq}85cm$ were defined as obesity and abdominal obesity, respectively. The individual antioxidant vitamin intake was estimated by linking the antioxidant vitamin composition database of commonly consumed foods and the subjects' 24-hour recall food consumption data. Carotenoids, retinol, vitamin A (retinol activity equivalent), vitamin C, tocopherols, and vitamin E (${\alpha}$-tocopherol equivalent) were included in the analysis. Each vitamin intake was converted to the nutrient density per 1,000 kcal. Odds ratio (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for obesity according to each tertile of the nutrient density was obtained from multiple logistic regression adjusted for age, household income, education level, smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity. Results: The mean intake of ${\alpha}$-carotene, retinol, vitamin E, ${\alpha}$-tocopherol, and ${\gamma}$-tocopherol per 1,000 kcal was significantly lower in the obese group than in the normal group. A higher intake of lycopene was inversely associated with obesity (highest vs. lowest; OR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.83-0.96) and abdominal obesity (highest vs. lowest; OR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.81-0.95). Higher intakes of ${\alpha}$-carotene, total carotenoids, vitamin A, and ${\gamma}$-tocopherol also had a negative relationship with abdominal obesity. The antioxidant vitamin intakes from eggs, milk and dairy products, seasoning, and grains were significantly lower in the obese group than in the normal group. Conclusion: This study showed that the dietary intake of antioxidant vitamins was inversely associated with obesity and abdominal obesity among Korean women. Further study will be needed to examine the causal relationship between the antioxidant vitamin and obesity.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.62 no.3
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• pp.184-191
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• 2007

Background: For the diagnosis of pleural tuberculosis, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of pleural effusion specimens has shown very low sensitivity, which might be due to the small number of bacilli in the samples. The purpose of this investigation is to determine whether the sensitivity of PCR testing can be improved when increasing the amount of pleural effusion specimens. Methods: We prospectively analyzed pleural effusion specimens obtained from 53 patients for whom the exclusion of the possibility of tuberculous pleural effusion was necessary. We performed Mycobacterium tuberculosis PCR testing using the Cobas Amplicor MTB test (Roche Diagnostic Systems) with three different amounts (10ml, 25ml, and 50ml) of pleural effusion specimen in each patient. Pleural tuberculosis was defined as having one of the following: culture-positive pleural fluid sample, histopathologic finding consistent with tuberculosis on pleural biopsy, culture-positive sputum specimen, and/or positive response to anti-tuberculous medication without other possible causes of pleural effusion. Results: Of the 53 patients, 26 received the diagnosis of pleural tuberculosis. The sensitivities of AFB smearing, Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture of pleural effusion specimen, pleural biopsy, and measurement of ADA were 3.8%, 15.4%, 84.6%, and 88.5%, respectively. The results of PCR testing were positive for 3 (11.5%), 4 (15.4%), and 3 (11.5%) of the 26 patients when using 10ml, 25ml, and 50ml of pleural effusion specimens, respectively. These results did not show a statistically significant difference in the sensitivity of PCR testing when increasing the amount of pleural effusion samples (p>0.05, symmetry exact test). Conclusion: For specimens such as pleural effusion, in which the bacillary load is very low, the clinical utility of PCR testing seems highly limited with the kits designed for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. An increased amount of pleural effusion sample does not improve the sensitivity of PCR testing.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.53-64
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• 1995

This study was designed to investigate the morphological alterations of zonula occludens, macula adherences and gap junctions between the hepatocytes in the fasting conditions. Animals (Sprague Dawley, $250{\sim}280g$) were divided into two groups: normal and fasting. The latter were fasted for eight days prior to sampling. Liver tissues were sectioned and replicated after freeze fracturing for the transmission electron microscopy. In the normal rat liver, the interhepatocellular space at the area of some zonula occludens appeared to be widened in thin sections. On the freeze fracture replicas., the zonula occludens appeared as an anastomosing network of $2{\sim}4$ strands or grooves on P or E faces. Free ends and fragments of the strands were observed. In the rat fasted for eight days, the hepatocytes were diminished in size and the organelles were decreased in number and size. The intercellular space was wide at many areas of zonula occludens in thin section. On the freeze fracture replicas, the zonula occludens showed diminution or disappearence of anastomosing network of strands or grooves. Free ends and small fragments of the strands or grooves were frequently encountered. The macula adherens was markedly increased in number in thin sections, although they could not be found on the freeze fracture replicas. The gap junctions were increased in number in thin sections. Small aggregations of the intramembranous particles appeared with larger ones on the freeze fracture replica. The evidences may suggest the followings: (1) The disassembly of zonula occludens in the fasting states is led from the diminished mechanical stress on the luminal surface of bile canaliculus with the impaired secretion of bile components from the hepatocytes. (2) The increase of macula adherens is necessary to maintain the liver parenchyma integrity in the fasting state which leads the hepatocyte to be diminished and finally the intercellular space to be separated. (3) The rise in both number and size of gap junctions is owing to the need of increasing intercellular communication between the hepatocytes during the fasting. (4) The alteration of zonula occludens is easily led by the physiological condition of hepatocytes even in the normal ones.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.38 no.6 s.175
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• pp.663-673
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• 2005

This study investigates the relationship between the geochemical maps and the gold-silver deposit locations. Geochemical maps of 21 elements, which are published by KIGAM, locations of gold-silver deposits, and 1:1,000,000 scale geological map of Korea are utilized far this investigation. Pixel size of the basic geochemical maps is 250m and these data are resampled in 1km spacing for the statistical analyses. Relationship between the mine location and the geochemical data are investigated using bayesian statistics and decision tree algorithms. For the bayesian statistics, each geochemical maps are reclassified by percentile divisions which divides the data by 5, 25, 50, 75, 95, and $100\%$ data groups. Number of mine locations in these divisions are counted and the probabilities are calculated. Posterior probabilities of each pixel are calculated using the probability of 21 geochemical maps and the geological map. A prediction map of the mining locations is made by plotting the posterior probability. The input parameters for the decision tree construction are 21 geochemical elements and lithology, and the output parameters are 5 types of mines (Ag/Au, Cu, Fe, Pb/Zn, W) and absence of the mine. The locations for the absence of the mine are selected by resampling the overall area by 1 km spacing and eliminating my resampled points, which is in 750m distance from mine locations. A prediction map of each mine area is produced by applying the decision tree to every pixels. The prediction by Bayesian method is slightly better than the decision tree. However both prediction maps show reasonable match with the input mine locations. We interpret that such match indicate the rules produced by both methods are reasonable and therefore the geochemical data has strong relations with the mine locations. This implies that the geochemical rules could be used as background values oi mine locations, therefore could be used for evaluation of mine contamination. Bayesian statistics indicated that the probability of Au/Ag deposit increases as CaO, Cu, MgO, MnO, Pb and Li increases, and Zr decreases.