• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.154-162
• /
• 2011

Purpose : The aim of this study was to identify the clinical characteristics of lower respiratory tract infection due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in young children and to provide information for an effective guideline for palivizumab administration in Korea. Methods : We reviewed medical charts of 167 patients under 3 years of age who were hospitalized in Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital for lower respiratory tract infection between January 2007 and February 2011. Diagnosis of the virus was made based on the multiplex real time polymerase chain reaction. Results : There were 113 patients who were infected by respiratory syncytial virus. 90 patients were term infants and 23 patients were preterm infants. No difference was shown between term and preterm infants except the days of admission which was 9.0${\pm}$6.0 days and 12.6${\pm}$21.0 days respectively. In the preterm group their mean age at the time of admission was 5.21${\pm}$4.9 months and the mean gestational age was 33.1${\pm}$4.3 weeks, and the mean birth weight was 2,152${\pm}$950 g. Only 4 patients were born under 28 weeks gestational age and were candidates for palivizumab administration. Conclusion : Most of the patients with severe RSV lower respiratory tract infection were term or near term infants who were not candidates for palivizumab prophylaxis. A nationwide study is needed to make a new risk stratified guideline for RSV prophylaxis for our country.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.22 no.4 s.28
• /
• pp.578-590
• /
• 1989

This study was conducted to assess the equity in the regional insurance scheme through analysis of the computerized data from one regional insurance society and National Federation of Medical Insurance. We analysed the insurance contribution and benefit by the classes based on total and income-related contribution per household. The major findings of this study are as follows : 1. The average proportion of income-related contribution among the total was 39.2% and the upper classes show higher proportion of the income-related contribution. 2. The upper classes show higher health care utilization rate than the lower classes. It suggests that the lower classes have relatively large unmet medical needs. 3. The analysis through the Lorenz curve reveals that there exists transference of contributions from the upper to lower classes. But the cumulative percentage of insurance benefit is smaller than that of the number of the insured. It implies that regional medical insurance scheme in Korea has still some inequity in the context of social security principles.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.17 no.3 s.83
• /
• pp.368-374
• /
• 2007

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of different type of triglycerides (MCT & LCT) on weight, survival time, energy substrate (FFA, TG, pyruvate, lactate), insulin and lipase in the trained rats. Fifty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups: control group (CG, n=18), MCT supplement group (MG, n=18), and LCT supplement group (LG, n=18). They also were divided into 3 periods: trained resting (R, n=6) and trained & exercise load (E, n=6), and survival time test was performed to know the supplemented effects. Body weight of all animals was checked every week, MCT group and LCT group received supplementary MCT and LCT orally and preliminary swimming training for 6 days before the start of main experiment. All animals received 15-minute swimming training 5 times during first week of experiment, and swimming training time was increased 15 minutes every week until it reached 90 minutes at last 9th week. After last swimming training, animals were fasted for 12 hours and blood samples were taken from abdominal aorta in the Department of Animal Medicine at the D university Animal Center. Among the CGE, MGE, and LGE groups, the MGE had the greatest increase in physical performance time. In the FFA levels, there was significant differences(p<.05) in CG, MG and LG groups, and also there was major difference of FFA levels in the MG and LG. In the lipase levels, there was signifi.ant differences (p<.05) in CG, MG and LG groups. MG was the greatest than the other groups. In the insulin hormone levels, there was the great differences (p<.05) in LG compare to CG groups, whereas there was no significant difference in the CG and MG. In conclusion, these results suggest that regular prolonged physical training with MCT supplementation, improves exercise performance time through the increase of energy substrate utilization, lipase activity and FFA levels, irrespective of insulin hormone responses.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.17 no.12
• /
• pp.1641-1648
• /
• 2007

Yippee-like proteins, which have been identified as the homolog of Drosophila yippee protein containing a zinc-finger domain, are known to be highly conserved among eukaryotes. However, their functional roles are still poorly understood. Recently we initiated ordered differential display (ODD)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to isolate genes of which expressions are altered following activation of human T cells. On the ODD-PCR image, one PCR-product detected in unstimulated T cells was not detectable at the time when the activated T cells traversed near $G_1/S$ boundary following activation by immobilized anti-CD3. Cloning and nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that the PCR-product was yippee-like 5 (YPEL5) gene, which was known as a human homolog of the Drosophila yippee gene. Northern blot analysis confirmed the amount of ${\sim}2.2$ kb YPEL5 mRNA expression detectable in unstimulated T cells was sustained until 1.5 hr after activation and then rapidly declined to undetectable level by 5 hr. Ectopic expression of YPEL5 gene in human cervix epitheloid carcinoma HeLa cells caused a significant reduction in cell proliferation to the level of 47% of the control. Expression of GFP-YPEL5 fusion protein in HeLa cells showed its nuclear localization. These results demonstrated that the expression level of human YPEL5 mRNA was negatively regulated in the early stage of T cell activation, and suggested that YPEL5 might exert an inhibitory effect on the cell proliferation as a nuclear protein.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.36 no.6
• /
• pp.357-367
• /
• 2002

Purpose: While cerebral blood flow and cerebrovascular reserve could be evaluated with basal/acetazolamide Tc-99m-HMPAO SPECT in cerebrovascular disease, objective quantification is necessary to assess the efficacy of the revascularization. In this study we adopted the SPM method to quantify basal cerebral blood flow and cerebrovascular reserve on basal/acetazolamide SPECT in assessment of the patients who underwent bypass surgery for linternal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis. Materials and Methods: Twelve patients ($51{\pm}15$ years) with ICA stenosis were enrolled. Tc-99m-HMPAO basal/acetazolamide perfusion SPECT was peformed before and after bypass surgery. After spatia1 and count normalization to cerebellum, basal cerebral blood flow and cerebrovascular reserve were compared with 21 age-matched normal controls and postoperative changes of regional blood flow and reserve were assessed by Statistical Parametric Mapping method. Mean pixel values of each brain region were calculated using probabilistic anatomical map of lobes. Perfusion reserve was defined as the % changes after acetazolamide over basal counts. Results: Preoperative cerebral blood flow and cerebrovascular reserve were significantly decreased in involved ICA territory, comparing with normal control (p<0.05). Postoperative improvement of cerebral blood flow and cerebrovascular reserve was observed in grafted ICA territories, but cerebrovasculr reserve remained with significant difference with normal control. Improvement of the cerebrovascular reserve was most prominent in the superior temporal and the angular gyrus, nearest to the anastomosis sites. Conclusion: Using SPM quantification method on hasal/acetazolamide Tc-99m-HMPAO SPECT, the cerebral blood flow and cerebrovascular reserve could be assessed before revascularization and so could the efficacy of the bypass surgery.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.37 no.3 s.108
• /
• pp.332-343
• /
• 2004

This study was conducted to test a possibility of water quality improvement using a filter-feeding bivalve (Corbicula leana). In mesocosm scale (width ${\times}$ length ${\times}$ depth: 3 m ${\times}$ 3 m ${\times}$ 0.5 m), we investigated the changes of dissolved nutrient and particulate matter including both abiotic and biotic seston. Short term (16 days) mesocosm experiment was conducted in two stages: the first stage for 8 days and consecutive 8 days of the second stage. Both treatment and control mesocosm were switched over by translocating mussels from the treatment mesocosm to the control, at 8th days since the start of the experiment. This design made it possible to compare mussel effect on the water quality change more clearly. The high mortality of mussel was observed in the treatment of the first stage, but it decreased rapidly and stabilized on the 8th day to less than< 4 ind $day^{-1}$. Chl. a concentration in the treatment mesocosm of the first and second stage decreased to 71 and 88% of initial concentration, respectively, and suspended solids decreased to 70 and 77%. At those times, average filtering rate were 0.46 and 0.61 mL AFDW $mg^{-1}$ $hr^{-1}$, respectively. Both $NH_3-N$ and dissolved total phosphorus (DTP) concentrations increased with the mussel mortality. $NH_3-N$ concentration was positively correlated with the mussel mortality, while DTP concentration showed negative correlation with it. After translocating mussel from the treatment to the control, $NH_3-N$ concentration significantly increased compared with that of initial control. Although DTP concentration also increased, there was no significant difference relative to that of initial control. These results suggest that application of this filter-feeding bivalve in a eutrophic reservoir could be a potential tool to improve water quality if mussels could acclimatize successfully in early stage of the introduction.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.40 no.3
• /
• pp.379-386
• /
• 2007

Nonylphenol (NP) has been well known as a major substance of surfactant and/or estrogenic environmental hormone. We tested toxic effects of nonylphenol on the population growth and development of aquatic organism such as algae (Microcystis aeruginosa), heterotrophic nanoflagellate (Diphylleia rotans), micro- (Brachionus calyciflorus) and macro-zooplankton (Daphnia magna) among eutrophic water food-web constituents. Dosage of NP treatment were 4 to 5 grades, according to each organism's tolerance based on pre-experiments; algae (0.01, 0.05, 0.10, 1.00 mg $L^{-1}$) Diphylleia rotans (0.5, 1,2. 5,6, 10 ${\mu}g\;L^{-1})$, Brachionus calyciflorus (0.1, 0.5, 1, 2.5, 5 ${\mu}g\;L^{-1}$), and Daphnia magna (0.5, 1, 5, 10, 50 ${\mu}g\;L^{-1}$), respectively. Toxic effects were measured by the changes of biomass of each organism after NP treatment. All experiments were triplication. As suggested, the higher concentration of NP treatment, the stronger inhibited the population growth of all organisms tested. In view of toxicity, a variety of concentration of NP showed a significant growth inhibition to organism; algae to 0.05 $mg\;L^{-1}$, D. rotans and B. calyciflorus to 1.0 ${\mu}g\;L^{-1}$, and D. magna to 5.0 ${\mu}g\;L^{-1}$, respectively. The $EC_{50}$ of each organism to the nonylphenol are as follows; 3. calyciflorus (2.49 ${\mu}g\;L^{-1}$), D. rotans (3.49 ${\mu}g\;L^{-1}$), D. magna (7.61 ${\mu}g\;L^{-1})$, and M. aeruginosa (47 ${\mu}g\;L^{-1})$. NP toxic effects on the development of zooplankton like egg production showed some differences in treatment concentration between Brachionus calyciflorus ${0.1{\sim}1NP{\mu}g\;L^{-1})$ and Daphnia magna $(0.5{\sim}5NP\;{\mu}g\;L^{-1})$. These results suggest that a strong growth inhibition of predator or grazer by the nonylphenol can stimulate the algal growth, or can play important role in evoking the nuisance algal bloom in eutrophic water with enough nutrients.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.81-88
• /
• 2016

This study was conducted to find out the effects of Improvement of Botanical Composition Technology (IBCT) on the forage production and ecological characteristics in a Rumex acetosella-dominated hilly pasture in Pyeongchang, in a period from August 2013 to the end of growing season in October 2015. $2MT\;ha^{-1}$ limestone was applied in August 2013 and April 2014. Liming significantly increased soil pH from 4.69 to 5.47 and then the soil pH consistently hovered at 4.91~4.98. For every grazing time, plant height was found to be higher with the application of IBCT as compared with the control. After grazing, no significant difference in plant height was found between the IBCT group and the control. Changes in the botanical composition of grassland can be affected by a lot of circumstances, but application of IBCT decreased Rumex acetosella from 12% to 2%, while also increasing the proportion of pasture. In relation to the botanical composition of grass, orchardgrass and timothy showed the highest percentages throughout the whole study period. The proportion of Kentucky bluegrass increased over time while tall fescue steadily decreased. The totals for grazing days were 58 in 2014 and 55 in 2015. Average herbage dry matter intake was $7,848kg\;ha^{-1}$ in 2014 and $6,941kg\;ha^{-1}$ in 2015. Due to the application of IBCT, dry matter productivity showed a significant increase of 59% during the first grazing period in 2014 (3,437 kg ha and 5,460 kg ha in control and IBCT). In 2015, the total dry matter yield of the IBCT group was 51% greater than the control ($5,742kg\;ha^{-1}$ and $8,685kg\;ha^{-1}$ in control and IBCT). Under acidic soil conditions, red sorrel can grow more strongly than grasses because it has better tolerance in dry and acidic conditions. Therefore, constant management is required in order to keep red sorrel from dominating the hilly pasture. In this study, the application of IBCT was able to effectively control weeds at all points. As a result, total management, including improvement of soil, overseeding, and application of selective herbicide and fertilizer, is needed to maintain excellent grassland conditions due to the limiting effects of environmental factors on grassland productivity.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.163-169
• /
• 2001

This experiment was conducted to find out suitable extraction time of available fragrant component in Lilium Oriental Hybrida 'Casa Blanca' based on qualitative and quantitative variation of its fragrant component in its flowering stages. The content of essential oil in its flowering stages increased with the progress of flowering stages except flower bud stage and it had the most oil content in its stage after full bloom. The analysis of the essential oil in Lilium Oriental Hybrida 'Casa Blanca' in its flowering stages shows that its main constituents were farnesol (18.96%), benzyl salicylate (13.81%), butyl-hydroxy toluene (12.87%), geranyl linalool isomer (7.46%), isoeugenol (7.17%) in its each stage. Benzenoids had much content at half bloom stage and full bloom stage while fatty acid derivatives had much content at initial flowering stage and after flowering stage. Most benzenoids such as butyl-hydroxy toluene and isoeugenol, which are some of main constituents of Lilium Oriental Hybrida 'Casa Blanca' had strong antioxidant effect. So they were expected to be used as antioxidant agents for food, feed, vegetable oil. The content of monoterpene compounds like geranyl linalool isomer increased at its later stage. Sesquiterpene such as farnesol, which is main component of lily existed only at full bloom stage. Therefore farnesol and geranyl linalool isomer of Lilium Oriental Hybrida 'Casa Blanca' are expected to be used for important spices with good fragrance. The suitable extraction time for the usable main constituents of Lilium Oriental Hybrida 'Casa Blanca' is as follows; farnesol and benzyl salicylate: at full bloom stage, butyl-hydroxy toluene: at half bloom stage, geranyl linalool isomer and isoeugenol: at stage after full bloom. Finally there was variation in essential oil components and contents of Lilium Oriental Hybrida 'Casa Blanca' in its flowering stages and they are expected to be used usefully for flavor industry, food industry, aromatherapy, when they are extracted at their suitable extraction time.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.154-162
• /
• 2016

The aim of this study was to develop a transgenic petunia with enhanced resistance to sulfur dioxide ($SO_2$) gas by stacking two genes, SOD2 and NDPK2, which are both known to confer resistance to abiotic stresses. The first-generation hybrids ($TF_1$) were obtained through reciprocal crosses between an SOD2-transgenic line SOD2-2-1-1-35($T_4$)[S($T_4$)] and an NDPK2-transgenic line NDPK2-7-1($T_2$)[N7-1($T_2$)]. Approximately 32.1-73.0% of the first-generation hybrids ($TF_1$) carried both SOD2 and NDPK2 genes. These hybrids showed 2.6 and 5.1 times less damage than hybrids carrying only SOD2 or NDPK2 genes, respectively, when they were treated with $SO_2$ gas at 30 ppm. This confirmed that the heterozygous hybrids were more resistant to $SO_2$ than the hybrids carrying either one of the resistance genes. Second-generation hybrids ($TF_2$) were obtained by selfing the $TF_1$ individuals. We confirmed the expression of the stacked genes in the $TF_2$ hybrids by phenotypic observation of their response to $SO_2$ gas at 30 ppm as well as using RT-qPCR and photosynthetic efficiency.