• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.15-21
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• 2003

Background : There are many risk factors for osteoporosis in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD). These include smoking, a low body mass index, insufficient exercise, and the use of glucocortcoids. However, there is lack of data on the incidence of osteoporosis according to the different glucocorticoid administration methods in patients with COPD. This study compared the incidence of osteoporosis according to the different administration methods of glucocorticoid. Methods : A matched case-controlled study (gender, age, cumulative steroid dose and pack-years of smoking) was conducted. Forty-five patients with documented COPD for at least a 3 year duration and a cumulative glucocorticoid dose above 1,000 mg were enrolled in study. The patients were classified into the following three groups. First, fifteen patients received continuous inhaled glucocorticoid with intermittent oral steroids but had no admission history due to an acute exacerbation(Group I). Secondly, fifteen patients received a multiple course of oral steroids with additional inhaled glucocorticoid but had no admission history due to their acute exacerbation(Group II). Lastly, fifteen patients received intermittent oral or inhaled glucocorticoids and had an admission history due to the acute exacerbation with intravenous steroid treatment for at least 2 weeks per year(Group III). The enrolled patients had apulmonary function test and bone densitometry performed at the lumbar spine and femoral neck. Results : The patients from Group III had significantly high incidence of osteoporosis in the lumbar and femoral neck compared to Group I and Group II (p<0.01). Conclusion : The incidence of osteoporosis in patients with COPD appears to be strongly affected by the method of steroid administration. This result suggests that intravenous steroid administration is strongly associated with the risk of osteoporosis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.104-113
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• 2003

Background : Rhinovirus(RV) infections frequently trigger dyspnea and paroxysmal cough in adult patients with asthma and are the most prevalent cause of the common cold. However, the mechanisms of a RV-induced airway inflammation is unclear. Since the RV does not directly destroy the airway epithelium, it is presumed that the immune response to the RV contributes to the pathogenesis of the respiratory symptoms. In order to test this hypothesis, this study characterized the time-sequenced alterations in interleukin(IL)-8 elaboration from the human bronchial epithelial cells and evaluated the role of NF(nuclear factor)-${\kappa}B$ in the RV-induced IL-8 production by pretreating the inhibitors of NF-${\kappa}B$ activation. Methods : The ability of RV-infected human bronchial epithelial cells and BEAS-2B cells to produce the IL-8 was compared with the controls. This study infected BEAS-2B cells with the RV14 obtained from the American Type Culture Collection. The supernatants were harvested from the RV infected BEAS-2B cells and the controls at 2hr, 4hr, 6hr, 12hr, 24hr, 48hr from the inoculation time. This study measured the IL-8 concentration using the ELISA kits. In order to elucidate the role of NF-${\kappa}B$ in the RV-induced IL-8 production, the effect of the NF-${\kappa}B$ inhibitors was evaluated on RV-induced IL-8 production. Results: The BEAS-2B cells produced small amounts of IL-8 that accumulated slowly with time in the culture. The RV was a potent stimulator of the IL-8 proteins production by BEAS-2B human bronchial epithelial cells. Antioxidants, N-acetyl-L-cysteine(NAC),\ and pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate(PDTC), blocked the IL-8 elaboration by the RV-infected BEAS-2B cells, which was dose-dependent, but N-Tosyl-L-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone(TPCK) did not. Conclusion: Some antioxidants inhibited the RV-induced IL-8 production by blocking the NF-${\kappa}B$, which may have a therapeutic potential in asthma.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.63 no.6
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• pp.497-506
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• 2007

Background: The present investigation was performed in rats and isolated human neutrophils in order to confirm the presumptive role of the positive feedback loop of cytosolic phospholipase $A_2$ ($cPLA_2$) activation by plateletactivating factor (PAF). Methods: The possible formation of the positive feedback loop of the $cPLA_2$ activation and neutrophilic respiratory burst was investigated in vivo and in vitro by measurement of the parameters denoting acute lung injury. In addition, morphological examinations and electron microscopic cytochemistry were performed for the detection of free radicals in the lung. Results: Five hours after intratracheal instillation of PAF ($5{\mu}g/rat$), the lung leak index, lung myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, the number of neutrophils and the concentration of cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were increased by PAF as compared with those of control rats. The NBT assay and cytochrome-c reduction assay revealed an increased neutrophilic respiratory burst in isolated human neutrophils following exposure to PAF. Lung and neutrophilic $cPLA_2$ activity were increased following PAF exposure and exposure to hydrogen peroxide increased $cPLA_2$ activity in the lung. Histologically, inflammatory findings of the lung were observed after PAF treatment. Remarkably, as determined by $CeCl_3$ cytochemical electron microscopy, increased production of hydrogen peroxide was identified in the lung after PAF treatment. Conclusion: PAF mediates acute oxidative lung injury by the activation of $cPLA_2$, which may provoke the generation of free radicals in neutrophils.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.5-10
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• 2007

Background: Korean national guidelines for examining contacts with active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) are a tuberculin skin test (TST) and chest radiographs. The treatment of a latent TB infection as performed only in those younger than six years of age who test positive for TST. Although there is a high incidence of active TB in young Korean soldiers, the current national guidelines for controlling contacts with active TB in soldiers are insufficient. This study highlights the problems with the Korean guidelines for controlling a TB outbreak in a small military unit. Material and Methods: In December of 2005, there was a tuberculosis outbreak in a military unit with a total of 464 soldiers in Kyung Gi province. The chest radiographs were taken of all the soldiers, and TST were carried out on 408 candidates. Results: In the first screening of the chest radiographs, two active TB patients were detected. By August of 2006, four additional cases were detected, making a total of six cases after the outbreak. All the patients showed active pulmonary TB or TB pleuritis. When the results of TST in the close contacts and non-close contacts were compared, there was a significant difference in the absolute size of the induration($9.70{\pm}7.50mm$ vs. $6.26{\pm}7.02mm$, p<0.001) as well as the ratio of patients showing an induration > 10mm (50.0% vs. 32.0%, p<0.001) and 15mm (33.2% vs. 20.9%, p= 0.005). Conclusion: Although the national guidelines for managing a TB outbreak in a military unit were followed, there were continuous instances of new active TB cases. This highlights the need for new guidelines to prevent the spread of TB.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.19-26
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• 2007

Background: Toxocariasis is a common cause of eosinophilia and eosinophilic lung disease in Korea. We analyzed the characteristics of eosinophilic lung disease in toxocariasis. Method: One hundred and forty one patients with eosinophilia caused by a toxocara larval infection were evaluated from September 1, 2001 through March 30, 2006. The plain chest x-ray, chest CT(computed tomography), and bronchoalveolar larvage(BAL) were examined. A diagnosis of toxocariasis was made by ELISA using that secretory-excretory antigen from the T. canis larvae. Results: Toxocarial eosinophilic lung diseases was diagnosed in 32 out of 141 patients. Ground glass attenuation was the main feature on the CT scans in 23 out of 141 patients (71.9%). Thirteen patients (40.6%) had a random in zonal distribution on CT. Pleural effusion was observed in 9 patients (28.1%). Twenty eight patients (87.5%) complained of respiratory symptoms. Eleven patients (34.4%) had gastrointestinal symptoms and 12 patients (37.5%) had liver infiltration. Conclusions: The most common findings of the chest CT in patients with toxocariasis was a randomly distributed ground grass attenuation. A toxocara infection should be considered in a differential diagnosis of patients who exhibit pulmonary infiltration with eosinophilia in Korea.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.1-39
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• 2013

Considering the relationship between state-owned enterprise (SOE) CEOs and political circles, this study examines the performance impacts of CEO's succession type, board chair separation, and industry expertise and finance expertise of CEOs and outside directors. I propose the definition of political independence in SOE CEOs based on the independence in appearance that might affect general people's perception. It means that there are no relationships or circumstances that might affect SOE CEO's judgment, activity, and report. The definition is able to overcome the limitations of the prior research that could not discover the CEOs who were affiliated to political circles because the research just distinguished the CEOs following their pre-jobs. This study focused on the performance impacts of political independence impaired CEO as well as the CEO's impacts on the relationship between the performance and other corporate governance variables. I selected as dependent variables the average return on asset as operating income divided by total assets and the average customer satisfaction rate evaluated by Korean government during the first three years following the year of the events of explanatory variables. My theory and evidence from the various CEO's personal background and financial information from SOEs in Lee Myung-bak Administration and Rho Moo-hyun Administration suggest the following important things. First, the analysis based on whether or not a SOE CEO keeps political independence shows that a political independence impaired CEO made a significantly negative impact on customer satisfaction rate. Second, the separation between a board chair and a CEO in SOEs introduced by Korean Act on Management of Public Institutions made a significantly positive impact on customer satisfaction rate. However, the positive impact of the board chair separation was removed in a political independence impaired CEO's SOE. Third, outside director's industry expertise made a significantly positive impact on return on asset. However, the positive impact of the outside director's industry expertise was removed in a political independence impaired CEO's SOE. Fourth, the comparison between Lee Myung-bak Administration and Roh Moo-hyun Administration on the corporate governance and performance of SOEs shows that the ratio of political independence impaired CEO was significantly higher in Lee Administration and the ratio of outside director's industry expertise and finance expertise were respectively significantly higher in Roh Administration. Based on these results, I suggested a few policy alternatives for CEO's improved political independence and requirements for executive's expertise in SOEs.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.55-92
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• 2010

In terms of labor market accomplishments, such as income, size of the company, and the matching quality between one's job and college major (specialization), a very large discrepancy is observed between the graduates from colleges located in Seoul and those outside Seoul. But, when the department average score of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) at the time of college entrance is controlled for, the discrepancy is found to be reduced to a considerable degree. In the case of wage gap, at least two third can be explained by the SAT score gap. The remaining wage gap seems to reflect the characteristics of workplace. In other words, graduates with high SAT scores enter colleges located in Seoul and thus tend to find better jobs leading to earning differences. This result that confirms the importance of aptitude test scores suggests that in the labor market, one of the major reasons behind a lower accomplishment of the graduate from local colleges is due to a lower competitiveness of local colleges in attracting the brightest students. But, this should not be viewed as only an internal problem of local colleges. This is because the growth of local economies tends to haul the advancement of local colleges in that area rather than being the other way around. The agglomeration effect in Seoul where headquarters of large corporations and financial institutions gather is the factor that has elevated the status of colleges located in Seoul since this provides highly preferred job choices of graduates. When the competitiveness of college is significantly influenced by exogenous factors, such as the vicinity to Seoul, the effort being made by colleges alone would not be enough to improve the situation. However, the central government, too, is not in the position to carry out countermeasure policies for such problems. The regional development strategy boosted through supportive policies for local colleges, such as financial support, is not based on the persuasive and empirical grounds. It is true that college education is universal and that the government''s intervention in assisting local colleges to secure basic conditions, such as tenure faculty and adequate facilities is necessary. However, the way of intervention should not be a support-only type. In order to improve the efficiency and effect of financial support, restructuring programs, including the merger and integration of insolvent colleges, should be underway prior to providing support. In addition, when the policy is focused on education recipients-local college students, and not on education providers-local colleges, the importance of regional gap in compulsory education (elementary and junior high schools) turns out to be much important as the gap between metropolitan area colleges and local colleges. Considering the educational gap before college entrance shown from the discrepancies of aptitude test scores among different regions, the imbalance between regions in terms of human resources is apparently derived from compulsory education, and not from college education. Therefore, there is a need to double the policy efforts to reduce the educational gap among different regions. In addition, given the current situation where it is difficult to find appropriate ex post facto policy measures to solve the problem of income gap between the graduates from metropolitan colleges and local colleges, it can be said that improving the environment for compulsory education in local areas is a growing necessity for bridging the educational gap among different regions.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.1 s.37
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• pp.185-196
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• 1999

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of Hwangryeonheadock-Tang and Onchung-Eum on essential hypertension and hyperlipidemia. Rats were orally administered for 30days with Hwangryeonheadock-Tang and Onchung-Eum and the blood was withdrawn at 10, 20 and 30days after an oral administration. The heart rate, tail blood pressure, plasma renin activity, plasma level of aldosterone. catecholamine, sodium and angiotensin II were measured after an oral administration of Hwangryeonheadock-Tang and Onchung-Eum in spontaneously hypertensive rat(SHR). In addition, serum levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol. LDL-cholesterol and total lipid were measured cholesterol-fed rats. The results were summarized as follows ; 1. A significant decrease of tail blood pressure was shown at 10, 20 and 30days after Hwangryeonheadock-Tang and Onchung-Eum treatment in SHRs. compared with saline. 2. Heart rate was significantly decreased at 30days in SHRs after Hwangryeonheadock-Tang treatment and at 20, 30days after Onchung-Eum treatment in SHRs. compared with the effects of saline group. 3, A significant decrease of plasma aldosterone level was elicited at 10, 20days after Hwangryeonheadock-Tang treatment in SHRs, compared with the effects of saline group, 4. Plasma renin activity was significantly decreased at 10days after Onchung-Eum treatment compared with the effects of saline group in SHRs. 5. Plasma norepinephrine level was significantly decreased at 20 and 30clays after Onchung-Eum treatment in SHRs, compared with the effects of saline group. 6. A significant decrease of plasma epinephrine level was induced at 30days after Hwangryeonheadock-Tang treatment and at 10, 20 and 30days after Onchung-Eum treatment, compared with the effects of saline group in SHRs. 7. Plasma sodium level was. significantly decreased at 20days after Hwangryeonheadock-Tang and Onchung-Eum treatment, compared with the effects of saline group in SHRs. 8. Plasma angiotensin II level was significantly decreased at 30days after Onchung-Eum treatment, compared with the effects of saline group in SHRs. 9. A significant decrease of body weight was observed at 20 and 30days after Hwangryeonheadock-Tang treatment and at 10, 20 and 30days after Onchung-Eum treatment. compared with the effects of saline group in hyperlipidemia rats. 10. Hwangryeonheadock-Tang and Onchung-Eum showed a significantly decreasing effect at 30days on serum total cholesterol level in hyperlipidemia rats, compared with the saline treatment. 11. Hwangryeonheadock-Tang and Onchung-Eum saw 20 and 30days respectively on serum triglyceride level in the saline treatment. 12. Hwangryeonheadock-Tang and Onchung-Eum decreased on serum HDL-cholesterol level significantly, compared with the saline treatment in hyperlipidemia rats. 13. A significant decrease of serum LDL-cholesterol was observed at 10 and 30days after Hwangryeonheadock-Tang treatment and at 30days after Onchung-Eum treatment, compared with the effects of saline group in hyperlipidemia rats. 14. Hwangryeonheadock-Tang had a significantly decreasing effect at 10, 20 and 30days on serum total lipid level, compared with the saline treatment in hyperlipidemia rats. 15. Hwangryeonheadock-Tang elicited a significantly decreasing effect on weight of kidneys, spleen and testes respectively and Onchung-Eum induced on weight of liver and spleen respectively in hyperlipidemia rats, compared with saline treatment. These Findings suggest a possible anti-hypertensive and anti-hyperlipidemic effect of Hwangryeonheadock-Tang and Onchung-Eum.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.142-151
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• 2020

This study is designed to deduce an implication for an effective implementation of the Special Act for Conservation, Management and Utilization of World Heritage in Korea which was legislated in February, 2020. To draw an implication, which is regarded as highly valuable for preparing for the implementation of the act, several case studies were performed focusing on four World Natural Heritage sites in Japan, and the result is as follows. First, it is enormously crucial for the central administration agencies and the local government to have a system through which they communicate one another regularly. All the target areas in Japan consist of three national parks and a prefectural park with natural monuments, and the national forest covers a tremendously large proportion of the areas. The Japanese central agencies including Ministry of the Environment, Forestry Agency and Agency for Cultural Affairs have communication with the local government through a system named Regional Liaison Committee in order to manage the sites effectively. Also, in the case of Japan, de facto administrating agencies involving non-profit organizations and the tourism association also participate in the regular conferences to communicate. Second, a specific committee consisting of academic advisers is strongly needed. In the case of Japan, Scientific Committee provides academic grounds for the management plan established by the members of Regional Liaison Committee, and an active system which allows the members to organize consultative committees and subcommittees has been established. Scientific Committee plays an important role in preventing the local government, which tends to manage the world natural heritage in more economically profitable ways, from damaging the environment of the site. The establishment of this type of committee is thought to be extremely desirable because the World Natural Heritage requires comprehensive and sustainable management plans on the ecosystem. Third, establishment of comprehensive management plan based on continuous monitoring on the environment and detailed action plan is exceedingly needed. To sum up, it is vital to establish a management plan considering environmental aspect, and detailed guidelines, which help execute the plan both properly and effectively, are required for systematic and sustainable management.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.39 no.12
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• pp.664-671
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• 2017

Non-point source pollution is the emission source that unspecifically releases pollutants to water system from unspecific places such as cities, agricultural lands, mountains, and construction sites and its discharge path is not easily identified. Also, it is difficult to design and manage the reduction facilities for the emission quantity is primarily affected from weather conditions like rainfall. Since 2006, the significance of non-point source pollution reduction has been grown in Republic of Korea and this reinforces needs for the installation of reduction facilities. However, because the standards for the installation details and reduction efficiency are not clarified by law, people are preferring technologies that do not require particular maintenance and high expenses. The purpose of this study is to examine and maintain the efficiency of non-point source pollutants reduction facility which uses expended polypropylene as a media. The higher the depth of the media, the less range of variations in the reduction efficiency was observed and the final efficiency was also increased. When the media depth was 60 cm, the average reduction efficiency was 94% and 90% where linear velocities were 10 m/hr and 20 m/hr respectively. The results from 180 minutes operation in 10 m/hr and 20 m/hr of linear velocities were slightly different in head loss changes which were caused by media depth variations. The backwash experiments which were conducted in triplicate showed the reduction efficiency decreased as the time went on because of the media clogging. However, it was found that after the backwashing the reduction efficiency was increased as effective as the efficiency of the initial filtration.