• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.62 no.3
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• pp.102-107
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• 2019

Purpose: This study compared the iron statuses of small for gestational age (SGA) and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) infants at birth. Methods: The clinical data of 904 newborn infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit were reviewed. Blood samples were drawn from the infants within 24 hours after birth. Serum ferritin level was used as a marker of total iron status. Results: In this study, 115 SGA (GA, $36.5{\pm}2.9weeks$; birth weight [BW], $1,975{\pm}594.5g$) and 717 AGA (GA, $35.1{\pm}3.5weeks$; BW, $2,420.3{\pm}768.7g$) infants were included. The SGA infants had higher hematocrit levels ($50.6%{\pm}5.8%$ vs. $47.7%{\pm}5.7%$, P<0.05) than the AGA infants. No difference in serum ferritin level (ng/mL) was found between the groups (mean [95% confidence interval]: SGA vs. AGA infants, 139.0 [70.0-237.0] vs. 141.0 [82.5-228.5]). After adjusting for gestational age, the SGA infants had lower ferritin levels (147.1 ng/mL [116.3-178.0 ng/mL] vs. 189.4 ng/mL [178.0-200.8 ng/mL], P<0.05). Total body iron stores were also lower in the SGA infants than in the AGA infants (185.6 [153.4-211.7] vs 202.2 [168.7-241.9], P<0.05). Conclusion: The SGA infants had lower ferritin and total body iron stores than the AGA infants. The SGA infants affected by maternal hypertension who were born at late preterm had an additional risk of inadequate iron store. Iron deficiency should be monitored in these infants during follow-up.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 2023

In this study, we investigated the efficacy of Celtis choseniana Nakai (C. choseniana) as complementary herbal medicine to ameliorate androgenic alopecia (AGA). The effects of C. choseniana on AGA were evaluated using testosterone propionate-induced AGA mouse model and dihydrotestosterone-treated human hair follicle dermal papilla cells. In vivo, C. choseniana treatment deactivated androgen signaling by reducing the concentration of serum dihydrotestosterone level and expressions of 5α-reductase 2 and androgen receptor. Next, C. choseniana treatment increased the hair regrowth rate. Histological studies demonstrated that C. choseniana induced the anagen phase in testosterone propionate-induced AGA mouse model. Cellular proliferation was promoted by C. choseniana treatment via increasing the expression of proliferation factors, such as proliferating cell nuclear antigen and cyclin D1. Furthermore, C. choseniana treatment increased the expression of proteins related to the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. In addition, dickkopf-1, a Wnt inhibitor, was downregulated with C. choseniana treatment. Likewise, C. choseniana treatment promoted cellular proliferation in vitro. This study demonstrated the inhibitory effect of C. choseniana on androgen-induced AGA. Moreover, C. choseniana induced activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling, resulting in prolonged anagen and cellular proliferation. Therefore, we suggest that C. choseniana can be used as a therapeutic agent to alleviate AGA.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.26
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• pp.55-62
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• 2008

To obtain food materials of high isoflavone content from soy-sprouts, 8 soy-sprout varieties, Aga 1, Aga 2, Aga 3, Aga 4, Pungsannamulkong, Eunhakong, Jangkikong and Bosugkong, were grown into soy-sprouts for 7 days under light condition and stored for 5 days at 6 different temperatures; 3, 6, 9, 20, 30, and $40^{\circ}C$ in the dark. The isoflavone content of 7 days grown sprout varieties were highest in the order of Aga 3>Aga 1>Aga 2>Aga 4>Jangkikong>Bosugkong>Eunhakong>Pungsannamulkong. The highest isoflavone content of Aga 3 was $4,619{\mu}g/g$. The isoflavone content of soy-sprouts showed much varietal differences depending on the storage temperatures. Comparative high isoflavone content was obtained at storage temperatures of $6^{\circ}C$ and $20^{\circ}C$ while most of varieties showed low isoflavone content at $9^{\circ}C$ and $30^{\circ}C$. No constant trend in isoflavone content for the tested varieties along with the days to storage but most of varieties showed the highest isoflavone content in 3 days of storage. On the contrary, Aga 4 and Jangkikong showed high isoflavone content even at 5 days of storage. The comparatively high isoflavone content for 4 varieties including of Aga 3 out of 8 varieties was obtained from the treatment of one day storage at $20^{\circ}C$. Out of all treatments, the highest isoflavone content was obtained from one day storage at $20^{\circ}C$ for Aga 3 and the content was as high as $11,705{\mu}g/g$. In this experiment, soy-sprouts were believed to be made continuous growth during the storage because the sprouts were being dipped in water during the temperature treatment to protect soy-sprouts from drying. Thus, it is inferred that additional researches should be made to establish better method to increase isoflavone content in soy-sprouts during the storage.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.246-252
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• 2011

Purpose: The outcomes of small for gestational age (SGA) infants especially in extremely low birth weight infants (ELBWIs) are controversial. This study evaluated the mortality and morbidity of ELBWIs, focusing on whether or not they were also SGA. Methods: The medical records of 415 ELBWIs (birth weight<1,000 g), who were inborn and admitted to the Samsung Medical Center neonatal intensive care unit from January 2000 to December 2008, were reviewed retrospectively. Mortality and morbidities were compared by body size groups: very SGA (VSGA), birth weight ${\leq}$3rd percentile; SGA, 3rd to 10th percentile; and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) infants, >10th percentile for gestational age. For gestational subgroup analysis, groups were divided into infants with gestational age ${\leq}24^{+6}$ weeks (subgroup I), $25^{+0}$ to $26^{+6}$ weeks (subgroup II), and ${\geq}27^{+0}$ weeks (subgroup III) Results: Gestational age was $29^{+2}{\pm}2^{+6}$ weeks in the VSGA infants (n=49), $27^{+5}{\pm}2^{+2}$weeks in the SGA infants (n=45), and $25^{+4}{\pm}1^{+4}$ weeks in AGA infants (n=321). Birth weight was $692{\pm}186.6$ g, $768{\pm}132.9$ g, and $780{\pm}142.5$ g in the VSGA, SGA, and AGA groups, respectively. Cesarean section rate and maternal pregnancy-induced hypertension were more common in the VSGA and SGA than in AGA pregnancies. However, chorioamnionitis was more common in the AGA group. The mortalities of the lowest gestational group (subgroup I), and also of the lower gestational group (subgroup I+II) were significantly higher in the VSGA group than the SGA or AGA groups (P=0.020 and P=0.012, respectively). VSGA and SGA infants showed lower incidence in respiratory distress syndrome, ductal ligation, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, intraventricular hemorrhage than AGA group did. However, by multiple logistic regression analysis of each gestational subgroup, the differences were not significant. Conclusion: Of ELBWIs, extremely SGA in the lower gestational subgroups, had an impact on mortality, which may provide information useful for prenatal counseling.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.1115-1118
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• 2008

${\alpha}$-Galactosidase gene (aga) from Leuconostoc mesenteroides SY1 was expressed in a heterologous host, Lactobacillus brevis 2.14 using an Escherichia coli-Leuconostoc shuttle vector, pSJE. pSJEaga (pSJE carrying aga) was introduced into Lactobacillus brevis 2.14 by electroporation and transformation efficiency was $1.1{\times}10^3$ per ${\mu}g$ DNA. L. brevis transformants (TFs) showed higher ${\alpha}$-galactosidase (${\alpha}$-Gal) activities than cells containing pSJE. Transcription levels of aga in L. brevis 2.14 grown on different carbon sources (1%, w/v) were examined by slot blot analysis. Aga transcript levels and ${\alpha}$-Gal activities were higher in cells grown on melibiose, raffinose, and galactose than cells on glucose, sucrose, and fructose. Western blot result showed that L. brevis 2.14 harboring pSJEaga produced much more ${\alpha}$-Gal when grown on melibiose than on glucose.

• Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.57-62
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• 2008

Isoflavone content in various parts of six soybean cultivars and soybean sprout during germination was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. The parts analyzed were seed coat, cotyledon, and axis for seeds and whole sprout, root, hypocotyl, and cotyledon for sprout. Two cultivars, Aga3 which is known to have the smallest seed size and the highest isoflavone content among the Korean soybean cultivars and Pungsannamulkong which is the most widely being used as soy-sprout, were selected for sampling from 1 to 10 days after germination. At the same weight, the order of isoflavone content increased from seed coat to cotyledon to axis. The highest total isoflavone(isoflavone$\times$dry weight) content was observed in the cotyledon and the lowest in the seed coat. The cotyledon of the Aga3 variety had the highest total isoflavone content and the lowest was measured in the Pungsannamulkong variety. The highest total isoflavone content, $10,788{\mu}g/g$, was observed in whole sprouts(cotyledon+hypocotyl+root) on day 7 for Aga3. After day 7, there was a decreasing trend in isoflavone content as the germination period increased. Total isoflavone content in the cotyledon of Aga3 significantly increased after seed germination, whereas the isoflavone content in the cotyledon of Pungsannamulkong decreased. However, total isoflavone content in the root of both varieties increased while isoflavone content in the hypocotyls decreased after seed germination.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.59 no.10
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• pp.414-420
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• 2016

Purpose: We investigated behavioral problems, attention problems, and cognitive function in children and adolescents born small for gestational age (SGA). Methods: Forty-six SGA children born at term and 46 appropriate for gestational age (AGA) children born at term were compared. Psychiatric symptoms were examined with reference to the Korean-Child Behavior Checklist, Korean-Youth Self Report, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale (ADHD-RS). Cognitive function was estimated using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale. Sociodemographic data were recorded from interviews. Results: SGA children had high scores on delinquent behavior, aggressive behavior, and the externalizing scale, and they also showed a propensity for anxiety and depression. The SGA group had a higher mean ADHD-RS score than the AGA group ($10.52{\pm}8.10$ vs.$9.93{\pm}7.23$), but the difference was not significant. The SGA group had a significantly lower verbal intelligence quotient (IQ) than the AGA group, but the mean scores of both groups were within normal limits. Conclusion: This study indicates marked behavioral problems, such as delinquency, aggressiveness, and anxiety and depression, as well as low verbal IQ in the SGA group than in the AGA group. Even in cases in which these symptoms are not severe, early detection and proper treatment can help these children adapt to society.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.800-808
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• 2005

Leuconostoc mesenteroides SY1, an isolate from kimchi, was able to ferment $\alpha$-galactosides, such as melibiose and raffinose. $\alpha$-Galactosidase ($\alpha$-Gal) activity was higher in cells grown on melibiose and raffinose than cells grown on galactose, sucrose, and fructose. $\alpha$-Gal activity was not detected in cells grown on glucose, indicating the operation of carbon catabolite repression (CCR). A 6 kb DNA fragment was PCR amplified using a primer set based on the nucleotide sequence of a putative $\alpha$-galactosidase gene (aga) from L. mesenteroides ATCC 8293. Nucleotide sequencing of the 6 kb fragment confirmed the presence of aga and other genes involved in the galactosides utilization, and the gene order was galR (transcriptional regulator)-aga-gaIK (galactokinase)-gaIT (galactose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase). Northern blotting experiment showed that aga, gaIK, and gaIT constituted the same operon, that the transcription was induced by galactosides, such as melibiose and raffinose, whereas gaIR was independently transcribed as a monocistronic gene, and that the level of transcription was fairly constant. The aga was overexpressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3) using pET26b(+) vector, and $\alpha$-Gal was accumulated in E. coli as an inclusion body.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.800-805
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• 1994

Antacid(AM, 600 mg/kg=aluminium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, and simethicone with a ratio of 1 : 1 : 0.1) and aceglutamide aluminium(AGA, 263 mg/kg)-Effect of the combined preparation containing on the gastric mucosal hexosamine, sialic acid, and aluminium contents adhered to the gastric wall of the rat was investigated. Severe ulcers were produced in rats by injecting of $30\;{\mu}l$ acetic acid(30%) into the subserosal layer of one position in the corpus. When given orally for 15 consecutive days, AM(1,200 mg/kg), AGA(525, 1,050 mg/kg), and the combined preparation significantly decreased the ulcer area. AGA(525, 1,050 mg/kg) and the combined preparation also increased the amount of hexosamine and sialic acid in the intact and ulcerated areas. On the other hand, the contents of hexosamine and sialic acid were not affected by AM (600, 1,200 mg/kg). The amount of aluminium adhered to the gastric wall of the rat was higher in the combined preparation when compared to the AM(600 mg/kg) and AGA(263 mg/kg). The aluminium contents adhered may play an important role protecting mucosa from aggresive action of gastric juice and potenting defensive factors through the increase of mucosa-forming components by AGA.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.603-606
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• 2013

Background: Ovarian cancer is the second most common malignancy in Pakistani women, accounting for 4% of all cancers in the female population. The aim of this study was to determine sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and 95% confidence intervals for ultrasound in characterization of ovarian masses in patients presenting at public and private tertiary care hospitals in Karachi, Pakistan. Materials and Methods: We adopted a cross-sectional analytical study design to retrospectively collect data from January 2009-11 from medical records of two tertiary care hospitals. Using a non-probability purposive sampling technique, we recruited a sample of 86 women aged between 15 and 85 years fulfilling inclusion criteria with histopathologically proven ovarian masses presenting for an ultrasound examination in our radiology departments. Results: Our retrospective data depicted sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound to be 90.7%, 95%CI (0.77, 0.97) and 91.4%, 95%CI (0.76, 0.98) respectively. Positive predictive value was 93%, 95%CI (0.79, 0.98) and negative predictive value was 89%, 95%CI (0.73, 0.96). A total of 78 ovarian masses were detected, out of which 42 were malignant and 36 were benign. Conclusions: Results of our study further reinforce the conclusion that ultrasound should be used as an initial modality of choice in the workup of every woman suspected of having an ovarian mass. It not only results in decreasing the mortality but also avoids unnecessary surgical interventions.