• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.62 no.4
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• pp.276-283
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• 2007

Background: A national health care initiative recommends routine spirometry screening of all smokers over age 45 or patients with respiratory symptoms. In response to the recommendation, new, simple, and inexpensive desktop spirometers for the purpose of promoting widespread spirometric screening were marketed. The performance of these spirometers was evaluated in vivo testing with healthy subjects. However, the clinical setting allows spirometric assessment of various pathologic combinations of flow and volume. Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of a desktop spirometer to a standard laboratory spirometer, in a clinical setting with pathologic pulmonary function. Method: In a health check-up center, where screening pulmonary funct test was performed using the HI-801 spirometer. Subjects who revealed the ventilation defect in screening spirometry, performed the spirometry again using the standard Vmax spectra 22d spirometer in a tertiary care hospital pulmonary function laboratory. Pulmonary function test with both spirometer was performed according to the guidelines of the American Thoracic Society. Results: 109 patients were enrolled. Pulmonary function measurements (FVC, $FEV_1$, PEFR, FEF25%-75%) from the HI-801 correlated closely (r=0.94, 0.93, 0.81, 0.84, respectively) with those performed with the Vmax spectra 22d and showed the good limits of agreement and differences between the 2 devices; FVC +0.35 L, $FEV_1$ +0.16 L, PEFR +1.85 L/s, FEF25%-75%-0.13 L/s. With the exception of $FEV_1$, FEF25%-75%, these differences were significant(p<0.05) but small. Conclusion: The HI-801 spirometer is comparable to the standard laboratory spirometer, Vmax spectra 22d, with high accurary for $FEV_1$ and FVC and acceptable differences for clinical use.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.87-94
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• 2008

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is an infectious and highly contagious virus of swine. In order to develop the transgenic tobacco culture cells producing PEDV antigen protein, four vectors expressing PEDV spike protein (SP) gene under the control of a CaMV 35S promoter were constructed. Four fragments of the SP region of PEDV, SP1 (444 bp, 1487-1930 bp), SP2 (1.7 kb, 2300-3987 bp), SP3 (1.4 kb, 1559-2950 bp), and SP4 (2.6 kb, 9-2643 bp) were amplified by PCR and then C-MYC tag was fused to the end of each SP gene, respectively. These cassettes are inserted into the pCAMBIA2300 (named as 35S::SP1-M, 35S::SP2-M 35S::SP3-M, and 35S::SP4-M, respectively). Tobacco (cv. BY-2) cultured cells were transformed by co-cultivation with Agrobacterium tumefaciens harboring expression vector. We selected kanamycin-resistant calli and checked for the presence of the introduced SP gene using PCR, resulting 70% of them showed the foreign gene. We selected the lines with high-level expression of PEDV antigen protein based on dot blot analysis. Southern blot analysis confirmed that the PEDV SP gene was integrated into the genome of the tobacco cultured cells. Northern blot analysis showed that the introduced gene was highly expressed in transgenic cultured cells. Transgenic tobacco cultured cells-derived antigen induced immunogenicity in mice as determined by a plaque reduction neutralization assay. These results suggest that the vectors expressing PEDV spike protein gene in this study will be useful for the development of transgenic plants and cultured cells producing PEDV antigene protein.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.10
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• pp.1519-1524
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• 2010

Apigenin (4', 5, 7-trihydroxyflavone), a common dietary flavonoid abundantly present in fruits and vegetables, has shown remarkable anti-proliferative effects against various malignant cell lines. To observe the anti-proliferative effects, oral cavity cancer cell lines, $6{\times}10^3$ cells/well (96 well plate) of KB oral cavity tumor cells were plated and 24 hr later treated with apigenin for one day, after which MTT assay was performed. Apigenin induced cell death in a dose-dependent manner after incubation. Cell viability was significantly decreased in the group treated with 100 ${\mu}M$ apigenin for 24 hr (p<0.05) compared to the control group. To assess apoptosis, the nuclei of KB cells were stained with DAPI. The presence of chromatin condensation in the apigenin treated cells was detected on a fluorescent microscope (${\times}200$). We investigated the in vivo growth inhibitory effects of apigenin on oral cavity cancer KB tumor xenograft subcutaneously implanted in male nude mice. Apigenin was administered to mice by gavage at doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg/day in 0.2ml of PBS. Tumor volume was significantly decreased in 25 and 50 mg/kg apigenin-administration groups compared to the control group. For apoptosis analysis, TUNEL staining was performed. A significant increase in TUNEL positive cells was found in the 25 mg/kg apigenin administration group compared to the non- apigenin administration group. Histopathological changes were not observed. These results indicate that apigenin inhibits oral cavity cancer cell growth through the induction of apoptosis.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.163-171
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• 2011

Purpose : To evaluate the prevalence of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) according to the timing of voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) in infantile urinary tract infection (UTI). Methods : The data of 134 infants (1-12 months) with renal cortical defect in $^{99m}Tc$-2, 3-dimercaptosuccinic acid ($^{99m}Tc$-DMSA) scan with a diagnosis of UTI in two hospitals from 2000 to 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. The VCUG was performed after 2 weeks from the diagnosis of UTI in Group I (n=68), and the VCUG was performed within 2 weeks from the diagnosis of UTI in Group II (n=66). Results : There were no significant differences between the two groups in the duration of fever, white blood cell count, C-reactive protein levels, and abnormalities in ultrasonography (P>0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the prevelence of VUR, bilateral VUR, and severe VUR. VCUG-induced UTI was detected 16 (23.5%) of patients in whom the procedure was performed 2 weeks after the diagnosis, and none of VCUG-induced UTI occurred in those in whom the procedure was performed 2 weeks within the diagnosis. Conclusion : We conclude that the prevalence of VUR according to the timing of VCUG did not differ between the two groups in infantile UTI with renal cortical defect in DMSA scan. We also found that performing VCUG with antibiotics can decrease risk of VCUG-induced UTI.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.85-99
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• 2008

Avian reovirus (ARV) is a causative agent of viral arthritis/tenosynovitis, and malabsorption syndrome in broiler. The characteristics of malabsorption syndrome caused by ARV are diarrhea, poor feed conversion and stunting. Therefore, ARV infection has been recognized as one of the most important disease in the poultry industry because of economical losses. However, few study of ARV infection in broiler industry has been conducted in Korea. To evaluate the presence of ARV infection in broiler farms, epidemiological survey such as serological test and virus isolation has been conducted. For the serological survey using ELISA method, we selected five broiler farms which were located at different area and had a history of growth retardation, lameness, diarrhea and poor feathering. From these farms serum samples were collected at 1 day, 14 days and market age. All these farms had no history of vaccination against ARV. In addition to serological survey, we tried to isolate ARV from birds of designated farms at market age and collected feces and tissue samples such as cecal tonsil, intestine and liver. We were identified ARV by RT-PCR and transmissible electron microscopy. The samples were inoculated into 9-day-old embryonated eggs via the chorioallantoic membrane to observe the pock formation. For the pathogenicity test of ARV isolates, we inoculated with the isolates to the right footpad of 3-week-old SPF chicks and observed clinical signs and pathological changes for 14 days after challenge. Most broilers sampled for serological survey have maternal antibodies which were widely distributed at 1 day and decreased by 14 days. However, at the market age several broiler farms showed fairly high antibody titer against ARV. This increase of antibody titer at market age means the possible infection of ARV during the grow-out period. Among total 15 samples for the isolation of ARV. 2 samples were positive by RT-PCR and finally identified as a ARV. We inoculated these isolates in the SPF birds and observed that the antibody titer was increased from 7 days after challenge. However, we did not find any clinical signs both control and challenge groups. Based on the above results, it is clear that the ARV infection has been circulated in the broiler industry and caused significant economic losses. Further study is needed to evaluate the virulence of the isolates in the digestive system of broiler and the molecular characteristics of isolates.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.59-66
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• 2013

Purpose: Recently, there is an increase of the number of hospitals using auto dispenser to reduce occupational radiation exposure when drawing up of the $^{18}F-FDG$ dose (5.18 MBq/kg) in a syringe from the dramatic high activity of $^{18}F-FDG$ multidose vial. The aim of this study is to confirm that using auto dispenser actually reduces the radiation exposure for technologists. Also we analyzed the reproducibility of auto dispenser to find optimized dispensing method for the device. Materials and Methods: We conducted three experiments. Comparison of radiation exposure on chest and hands: The chest and hands exposure dose received by technologists during the injection were measured by electronic personal dosimeter (EPD) and ring TLD respectively. Reproducibility of dispensed volume: We draw up the normal saline into 5 and 2 mL syringe using auto dispenser by changing the volume from 1 to 15 mm for 5 times in the same setting of the volume. The weight of 5 normal saline dispensed from the device at same volume was measured using micro balance and calculated standard deviation and coefficient of variation. Reproducibility of dispensed radioactivity: We dispensed 362.6 $MBq{\pm}10%$ of $^{18}F-FDG$ in 5 and 2 mL syringes from the multidose vial of different specific activity. In the same setting of volume, we repeated dispensing for 4 times and compared standard deviation and coefficient of variation of radioactivity between 5 syringes. Results: There was significant difference in the average of chest exposure dose according to the dispensing methods (P<0.05). Also, when dispensing $^{18}F-FDG$ in manual method, exposure dose was 11.5 times higher in right hand and 4.8 times higher in left hand than in auto method. In the result of reproducibility of dispensed volume, standard deviation and coefficient of variation shows decline as the dispensing volume increases. As a result of reproducibility of dispensed radioactivity, standard deviation and coefficient of variation increases as the specific activity increases. Conclusion: We approved that the occupational radiation exposure dose of technologists were reduced when dispensing $^{18}F-FDG$ using auto dose dispenser. Secondly, using small syringes helps to increase reproducibility of auto dose dispense. And also, if you lower the specific activity of $^{18}F-FDG$ in multidose vial below 915-1,020 MBq/mL, you can use auto dispenser more effectively keeping the coefficient of variation lower than 10%.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.632-637
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• 1996

Effects of refrigeration temperature and its fluctuation range on the growth of psychrotrophic microorganisms and the quality of refrigerated foods such as apple, fish and oyster were evaluated to find optimum storage conditions for a domestic refrigerator. Refrigeration temperature was $2^{\circ}C$ or $4^{\circ}C$, and fluctuation ranges were varied: ${\pm}0.3,\;{\pm}1.0,\;{\pm}1.2,\;or\;{\pm}4.0^{\circ}C$. Changes in hardness of apples stored at $2{\pm}0.3^{\circ}C$ were much slower than those of apples stored at $4{\pm}1.2^{\circ}C$. Freshness of fish and oyster also lasted much longer at low temperature such as $2{\pm}0.3^{\circ}C$. The growth of Listeria monocytogenes inoculated on sliced ham was inhibited for 1 month at $2{\pm}0.3^{\circ}C$, but the cells at $4{\pm}1.2^{\circ}C$ began to grows as time elapsed. Therefore, it was expected that shelf-life of certain food stored in a domestic refrigerator could be extended by lowering temperature to $2^{\circ}C$ and by reducing fluctuation range of refrigerator.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2002

Objective: In order to acquire the technique for the establishment of human embryonic stem cells (ESe) derived from the human frozen-thawed embryos produced in IVF-ET program, this study was performed to establish mouse ESC derived from the in vitro fertilized embryos. Materials and Methods: After Fl hybrid (C57BL female $\times$ CBA mael) female mice were superovulated with PMSG and hCG treatment, their oocytes were retrieved and inseminated, and the fertilized embryos were cultured for 96-120 hours until the expected stages of blastocysts were obtained. To isolate the inner cell mass (ICM), either the blastocysts were treated with immunosurgery, or the whole embryos were cultured for 4 days. Isolated ICMs were then cultured onto STO feeder cell layer, and the resultant ICM colonies were subcultured with trypsin-EDTA treatment. During the subculture process, ESC-like cell colonies were observed with phase contrast microscopy. To identify ESC in the subcultured ESC-like cell colonies, alkaline phosphatase activity and Oct-4 (octamer-binding transcription factor-4) expression were examined by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR, respectively. To examine the spontaneous differentiation, ESC-like cell colonies were cultured without STO feeder cell layer and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). Results: Seven ESC-like cell lines were established from ICMs isolated from the in vitro fertilized embryos. According to the developmental stage, the growth of ICMs isolated from the expanded blastocysts was significantly better than that of ICMs isolated from the hatched blastocysts (80.3% vs. 58.7%, p<0.05). ESC-like cell colonies were only obtained from ICMs of expanded blastocysts. However, the ICMs isolated from the embryos treated with immunosurgery were poorly grown and frequently differentiated during the culture process. The established ESC-like cell colonies were positively stained with alkaline phosphatase and expressed Oct-4, and their morphology resembled that observed in the previously reported mouse ESC. In addition, following the extended in vitro culture process, they maintained their expression of cell surface markers characteristic of the pluripotent stem cells such as alkaline phosphatase and Oct-4. When cultured without STO feeder cell layer and LIF, they were spontaneously differentiated into the various types of cells. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that the establishment of mouse ESC can be successfully derived from the in vitro fertilized embryos. The established ESC-like cells expressed the cell surface markers characteristic of the pluripotent stem cells and spontaneously differentiated into the various types of cells.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.765-776
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• 2013

This study was conducted to find out availability of a urban forest (Eudeungsan) as a substitute place of Mudeungsan Provincial Park (MPP) in overuse problem and to identify related factors to place substitutability. During June-August of 2012, 232 samples who have ever visited both of the two places (i.e., MPP and Euduengsan) in Gwang-ju city were selected by using convenient sampling and snowball sampling methods. Self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted, and the valid responses from 225 samples (97.0%) were used for data analysis. 24.2% of respondents had "considerably" or "very much" intention to use the substitute place, and 65.5% of respondents showed "a little" or "somewhat" 10.3% of respondents didn't have any intention to visit Eudeungsan as a substitute place of MPP. Generally, socio-demographic and visiting characteristics were not related with intention to visit Eudeungsan as a substitute place of MPP. It was only found that respondents who largely visit 'alone' to Eudeungsan tended to have higher intention to visit the substitute place than those who visit 'in group.' Three factors of reasons to visit Eudeungsan (i.e.,Challenge/self-development: ${\beta}=0.35$; Accessibility/familiarity: ${\beta}=0.27$; Adventure: ${\beta}=-0.19$) influenced intention to visit the substitute place. Relationship between reasons to visit and intention to visit the substitute place was found. No direct relationship was found between perceived similarity of the places and intention to visit substitute place, and similarity of recreation experiences showed perfect mediating effects between the two variables.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.747-756
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• 1995

To find out the optimum application method of slow-releasing fertilizer(SRF) and conventional fertilizer(CF) with different fertilization rate under two culture methods[l0-day old seedling machine transplanting(MT) and direct-sowing on dry paddy(DS)] in the south-western region(clay loam soil) of Korea, used were Chosun slow-releasing fertilizer(silicate latex coated fertilizer: N-P$_2$O$_{5}$-K$_2$O =18-12-13) and conventional fertilizer. Plant height and number of tillers with different two culture methods were higher at MT than DS in early growth. The ratio of dry weight in heading stage was higher at CF than SRF in MT than DS and especially, SRF 80% + CF 20% than SRF 100% or CF 100%. Leaf area index (LAI) in heading stage was higher at CF in MT but higher at SRF in DS than their counterparts. Chlorophyll content was higher at SRF than in CF expect for heading stage(HS), especially in DS. It was highest at HS in CF without its difference during maximum tillering stage(MTS) and panicle formation stage(PFS), while highest at PFS in SRF with tendency of gradual increase and decrease before and after PFS, respectively. Heading was delayed 2~3 days at SRF in two cultrue methods and 4~5 days at SRF in DS in comparison with CF in MT with delay of 2 days at DS compared with MT. Culm length was longer at CF in MT and at SRF in DS than their counterparts. Panicle number per m was more at SRF and in DS. Filled grain ratio was higher at CF and in MT. Yield was obtained 101 and 100% at 100% and 80% level of SRF in DS respectively, and 96% at 80% level of CF in MT, compared with conventional application method (516kg /l0a), and increased 2~4% at DS and 0~3% at MT in SRF. Yield was high in order of 100%(SRF) =80%(SRF) + 20%(CF) > 100%(SRF) + 20%(CF) > 80%(SRF) at MT and 80%(SRF) + 20%(CF) =100%(SRF) > 80%(SRF) =100%(SRF) + 20%(CF) at DS.