• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.397-403
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• 1998

Background: Little information is available concerning the value of bronchoscopy in patients with a lymphocytic exudative pleural effusion in which percutaneous pleural biopsy have been regarded as cornerstone in investigating the etiology. Recently, a few reports suggest that bronchoscopy may be more effective diagnostic method in patients with unexplained pleural effusion accompanied by hemoptysis or other roentgenographic abnormalities, such as mass, infiltrate, atelectasis. Method: Mter initial examinations of sputum and pleural fluid through thoracentesis in 112 patients(male 75 cases, female 37 cases, mean age 53.2 years) who were admitted for evaluation of the cause of pleural effusion, we performed bronchoscopy and closed pleural biology in most patients with undiagnosed lymphocytic exudate and compared the diagnostic yield of both invasive methods according to hemoptysis or other roentgenographic abnormalities, and investigated the sole diagnostic contribution of bronchoscopy. Results: Tuberculosis(57 cases, 51%) was the most common cause of pleural effusion. Percutaneous pleural biopsy showed more diagnostic yield than bronchoscopy regardless of presence or absence of other clinical or radiologic abnormalities. In 25 cases with unknown etiology after pleural biopsy, additional diagnostic yield by bronchoscopy was 36 % (4/11) in patients with associated features and only 7 % (1/14) with lone effusion, and, as the sole mean for diagnsosis in all patients with pleural effusion, was only 4.5%(5/12). Conclusion : In a region of high prevalence of tuberculosis as a cause of pleural effusion, percutaneous pleural biospy is more effective method when invasive method is required for confirmative diagnosis of unexplained lymphocytic exudative pleural effusion, and bronchoscopy is unlikely to aid in the diagnosis of lone pleural effusion.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.84-93
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• 2001

Backgrounds : In the absence of distant metastasis, small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients presenting with supraclavicular lymph node (SCLN) involvement and pleural effusion can benefit from thoracic radiotherapy. But there are some debate as to the prognostic significance of both SCLN involvement and pleural effusion. The purpose of this study was to determine the prognostic significance of SCLN involvement and pleural effusion in SCLC. Methods : Two Hundred and fifteen patients with histologically confirmed small cell lung cancer, who were treated either at the Keimyung university Dongsan hospital and Kyungpook national university hospital from January 1994 to June 1998, were evaluated retrospectively. The patients were classified as having either limited or extensive stage using the Veterans Administration staging system. Results : SCLN was presented in 10.5% of patients(n=21). The median survival was 247 days for patients with SCLN(n=21) and 264 days for patients without(n=194) (p=0.52). After treatment, the median survival was 298 days for patients with SCLN(n=13) and 348 days for patients without(n=115) (p=0.52). SCLN involvement was not correlated with the presence of distant metastases. Median survival was 459 days for patients with a limited stage without SCLN(n=66), 650 days for those with a limited stage with SCLN (n=7) (p=0.96). Pleural effusion was presented in 24.7% of patients(n=52). The median survival was 198 days for patients with pleural effusion(n=52) and 275 days for patients without(n=163) (p<0.05). After treatment, the median survival was 294 days for patients with a pleural effusion(n=25) and 286 days for patients without(n=103) (p=0.39). The presence of pleural effusion was not correlated with that of distant metastases. The median survival was 395 days for patients with a limited stage without a pleural effusion(n=63), 451 days for those with a limited stage with pleural effusion(n=10) (p=0.92). Conclusionsa : In this study, SCLN involvement does not explain the poor survival rate and the relevance to extensive staged disease. Furthermore, the existence of a pleural effusion did not correlated with the presence of distant metastases. However, the presence of a pleural effusion appears to be a minor prognostic factor in our study. Therefore supraclavicular lymph node involvement and the presence of a pleural effusion in SCLC are not poor prognostic factors, which does not justify any amendment to the staging system currently used.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.605-616
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• 2004

Subinhibitory concentrations (sub-MICs) refer to concentrations below minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). The antimicrobial agents may be present at relatively high concentration, at least higher than bacterial MIC and thereafter be deserted off a surface and function at sub-MICs, perhaps by interfering with bacterial metabolism. Consequently, the aim of this study was to determine the effects of growth, in the presence of sub-MICs of antimicrobial agents, on the cell surface properties and virulence factors of mutans streptococci and to investigate the efficacy of a chemical approach in vitro. Streptococcus mutans Ingbritt and Streptococcus sobrinus 6715-7 were used. Eight antimicrobial agents (Sanguinaria extract;SG, Chlorhexidine digluconate;CHX, Fluoride;F, Propolis;PP, Hydrogen peroxide;HP, Triclosan;TC, Sodium dodecyl sulfate;SDS Cetylpyridinium chloride; CC) were diluted serially in broth to determine MICs and to compare the growth rate, acid production, hydrophobicity, adhesion activity to saliva coated hydroxyapatite, glucan synthesis and cellular aggregation of experiment groups (in the presence of sub-MICs) with those of control (in the absence of antimicrobial agents). Sub-MICs of antimicrobial agents affected the growth of cells, hydrophobicity, and adhesion of bacteria to saliva coated hydroxyapatite and glucan synthesis. They also resulted in a significant reduction in pH after 12 hours (p<0.05). By cells pretreated with proteinase K, either the aggregation induced by antimicrobial agents was completely inhibited or the aggregation titers were markedly increased. According to the results of the present study, each antimicrobial agent at sub-MICs could affect similar as its known action mechanism and could continually inhibit cariogenic bacteria at such concentrations. Thus, the use of these antimicrobial agents would be one of the effective methods to prevent dental caries.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.651-658
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• 2004

Runx2 is a transcription factor in homologous with Drosophila runt gene and it is essential for bone formation during embryogenesis and a critical gene for osteoblast differentiation and osteoblast function. Runx2-haploinsufficency causes cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD). CCD is an autosomal-dominant inherited disorder characterized by hypoplastic clevicle and delayed ossification in fontanelles and wormian bones. Dental defects are possibly shown to CCD patients : multiple supernumerary teeth, irregular and compressed permanent tooth crowns, hypoplastic and hypomineralized defects in enamel and dentin, an excess of epithelial root remnants, the absence of cellular cementum, and abnormally shaped roots. In addition, delayed eruption of the secondary dentition is a constant finding. The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of Runx2 in the tooth development and eruption through analyzing the expression pattern of Runx2 by in situ hybridization during crown (late bell stage) and root formation of tooth, using postnatal day 1, 4, 7, 14 and 21 mice mandibular molar teeth. mRNA of Runx2-full length is expressed in dental follicle and surrounding tissue at postnatal day1 and 4. At postnatal day 7, it is expressed in ameloblasts of occlusal surface of enamel and bone area surrounding the tooth. In comparison with previous stage, at postnatal day 14, it is expressed in ameloblasts of proximal surface of enamel. At postnatal day 21 it's expression is observed only in bone area. mRNA of Runx2-typeII is not expressed. At postnatal day 1 and 7. At postnatal day 14 and 21, it's expression is observed in the bone area. In this study, we suggest that Runx2 have a relation of ameloblasts differentiation and an important role to tooth eruption made by dental follicle during intraosseous eruption stage. Also we can confirm that Runx2 has a role to bone formation.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.239-252
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• 2007

Objectives: In the present study, we examined the differentiation potential of human adipose-(HAD) and human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal like stem cells (HUC) into cardiomyocytes. Methods: Cells were initially exposed to 5-azacytidine for 24h cells and then were cultivated in the presence or absence of activin A, TGF-$\beta$1, or Wnt inhibitor with various combinations of BMP and FGF. Assessment of cardiomyogenic differentiation was made upon the expression of cardiomyocyte-specific genes using RT-PCR. Results: HAD that cultivated in control medium for 4 weeks after 5-azacytidine expose showed new expression of TnT gene and increased expression of Cmlc1 and kv4.3 genes. However, HAD cultivated in the presence of combinations of BMP-4/FGF-4 (B4/F4) and BMP-4/FGF-8 (B4/F8) showed new expression of $\beta$-MHC gene and more increased expression of Cmlc1, TnT, TnI, Kv4.3 genes. Significantly enhanced expression of Cmlc1, TnT, and Kv4.3 genes were also observed compared to that cultivated in the control medium. Treatment of HUC with either 5-azacytidine or combinations of BMP and FGF did not affect the expression profile of these genes. However, when activin A or TGF-$\beta$1 was present in addition to the BMP-2/FGF-8 (B2/F8) after 5-azacytidine exposure, HUC exhibited new expression of $\beta$-MHC gene and increased expression of $\alpha$-CA, TnT and Kv4.3 genes. When Wnt inhibitor was present in addition to BMP and FGF, HUC showed new expression of Cmlc1 gene and increased expression of $\alpha$-CA, TnT, TnI and Kv4.3 genes. Conclusions: Based on these observations, it is suggested that HAD and HUC could differentiate into cardiomyocytes which might be used as therapeutic cells for the heart diseases.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.513-518
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• 2008

This paper described the extraction/purification of $\beta$-carotene from recombinant E.coli and evaluation of anti-wrinkle activity of purified $\beta$-carotene. No significant differences in extraction yields were observed when hexane or isobutyl acetate was used. However, extraction from wet-cell cake resulted in 2-fold higher amount of $\beta$-carotene than that from dry cells. Disruption of 5 g-wet cells by ultrasonic homogenizer, acetone dehydration, extraction with isobutyl acetate resulted in 36 mg of $\beta$-carotene corresponding to 61.2% of recovery. The formation and separation of $\beta$-carotene crystal improved the purity. 633 mg of $\beta$-carotene crystal with 93% purity was obtained from 223 g/L of wet-cell cake harvested from 2.5-L fed-batch culture broth. The cultures of normal human primary fibroblast were performed to investigate the effect of $\beta$-carotene on cytotoxicity as MTT assay and anti-wrinkle activity as collagen synthesis assays. $1.7{\mu}M$ of $\beta$-carotene was found to be optimal concentration at which 1.4-fold higher amount of collagen was synthesized than that in absence of $\beta$-carotene. This indicates that highly purified $\beta$-carotene can be obtained from recombinant E.coli by applying simple method with less toxic solvent and can be used in functional cosmetics as anti-wrinkle agent.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.11
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• pp.1278-1285
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• 2017

Accumulation of excess low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the blood can initiate and accelerate atherosclerosis. Statins mediate the transactivation of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), which in turn limits their cholesterol-lowering effects via LDL receptor (LDLR) degradation. The objective of this study was to investigate whether or not Allium tuberosum (AT) regulates LDLR and PCSK9. Mice were fed a low fat control diet (LD) or Western diet (WD) supplemented with AT (1%, w/w). AT significantly attenuated total and LDL cholesterol levels in mice fed WD (P<0.05). AT also significantly inhibited hepatic PCSK9 gene expression (P<0.05) while AT maintained hepatic LDLR gene expression. To further investigate AT-mediated PCSK9 regulation, HepG2 cells were treated with 10% delipidated serum (DLPS) in the presence or absence of AT. Non-toxic level of AT dose-dependently increased the LDLR protein level, and AT at $400{\mu}g/mL$ markedly inhibited PCSK9 protein expression. Similarly, AT significantly increased LDLR gene expression, whereas it significantly down-regulated PCSK9 gene expression. AT-mediated reduction of PCSK9 gene expression is likely due to decreased hepatic nuclear factor $1{\alpha}$ ($HNF1{\alpha}$) expression, but not SREBP2 in HepG2 cells under lipid-depleted conditions. AT-mediated PCSK9 inhibition contributed to LDLR protein stabilization via protection against LDLR lysosomal degradation in HepG2 cells under lipid-depleted conditions. Further investigation is warranted to determine the active components of AT and whether or not these components are effective in reducing hypercholesterolemia.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.33-42
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• 2000

Adsorption onto the surfaces of solid particles is a well known phenomenon that causes the retardation effect of heavy metals in soils. For adequate remediation of soil and groundwater contamination, it is important to investigate the mobility of heavy metals that largely depends on pH conditions in the soil water since adsorption of heavy metals is pH-dependent. In this study, we investigated the transport of Zn ion under various pH conditions in a sandy soil by conducting batch and column tests. The batch test was performed using the standard procedure of equilibrating fine fractions collected from the soil with eleven different initial $ZnCl_2$ concentrations, and analysis of Zn ion in the equilibrated solutions using ICP-AES. The column test consisted of monitoring the concentrations of soil solutions exiting the soil column with time known as a breakthrough curve (BTC). We injected respectively $ZnCl_2$ and KCl solutions with the concentration of 10 g/L as a tracer in a square pulse type under three different pH conditions (7.7, 5.8, 4.1) and monitored the flux concentration at the exit boundary using an EC meter and ICP-AES. The resident concentration was also monitored at the 10cm-depth by Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR). The results of batch test showed that ion exchange process between Zn and other cations (Ca, Mg) was predominant. The retardation coefficients obtained from adsorption isotherms (Linear, Freundlich, Langmuir) resulted in the various values ranging from 1.2 to 614.1. No retardation effect but ion exchange was found for the BTCs under all pH conditions. This can be explained by the absence of other cations to desorb Zn ion from soil exchange sites under the conditions of ETC experiment imposing blank water as leachate in steady-state flow. As pH decreased, the peak concentration of Zn increased due to the competition of Zn with hydrogen ions ($H^+$) and the concentrations of other cations decreased. The peak concentration of Zn was increased by 12.7 times as pH decreased from 7.7 to 4.1.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.165-176
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• 2011

The femoral nerve innervates the quadriceps muscles and its dermatome supplies anteromedial thigh and medial foot. Paralysis of the quadriceps muscles due to the injury of the femoral nerve results in disability of the knee joint extension and loss of sensory of the thigh. A child could walk independently even though he had injured his femoral nerve severely due to the penetrating wound in the medial thigh. We measured and analyzed his gait performance in order to find the mechanisms that enabled him to walk independently. The child was eleven-year-old boy and he could not extend his knee voluntarily at all during a month after the injury. His gait analysis was performed five times (GA1~GA5) for sixteen months. His temporal-spatial parameters were not significantly different after the GA2 or GA3 test, and significant asymmetry was not observed except the single support time in GA1 results. The Lower limb joint angles in affected side had large differences in GA1 compared with the normal normative patterns. There were little knee joint flexion and extension motion during the stance phase in GA1 The maximum ankle plantar/dorsi flexion angles and the maximum knee extension angles were different from the normal values in the sound side. Asymmetries of the joint angles were analyzed by using the peak values. Significant asymmetries were found in GA1with seven parameters (ankle: peak planter flexion angle in stance phase, range of motion; ROM, knee: peak flexion angles during both stance and swing phase, ROM, hip: peak extension angle, ROM) while only two parameters (maximum hip extension angle and ROM of hip joint) had significant differences in GA5. The mid-stance valleys were not observed in both right and left sides of vertical ground reaction force (GRF) in the GA1, GA2. The loading response peak was far larger than the terminal stance peak of vertical ground reaction curve in the affected side of the GA3, GA4, GA5. The measured joint moment curves of the GA1, GA2, GA3 had large deviations and all of kinetic results had differences with the normal patterns. EMG signals described an absence of the rectus femoris muscle activity in the GA1 and GA2 (affected side). The EMG signals were detected in the GA3 and GA4 but their patterns were not normal yet, then their normal patterns were detected in the GA5. Through these following gait analysis of a child who had selective injuries on the knee extensor muscles, we could verify the actual functions of the knee extensor muscles during gait, and we also could observe his recovery and asymmetry with quantitative data during his rehabilitation.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.189-194
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• 1996

The effects of scorpion (Leiurus quinquestriatus hebraeus, Lqh) venom were evaluated on the activities of microsomal $Ca^{2+}-ATPase$ and $Ca^{2+}$ release channel prepared from the epithelial cells of pig airway. Whole venom of Lqh $(120\;{\mu}g/ml)$ increased the activity of microsomal $Ca^{2+}-ATPase$ about 32% in the tight-sealed microsomes and about 28% in the Triton X-100-treated or $Ca^{2+}$ ionophore A23187-treated leaky microsomes. Thapsigargin, a specific antagonist of $Ca^{2+}-ATPase$, inhibited 42% of total ATPase activity and also completely blocked the effects of Lqh venom, suggesting that Lqh venom directly activiates the microsomal $Ca^{2+}-ATPase$. In order to determine if Lqh venom increases the microsomal uptake of $^{45}Ca^{2+}$, Lqh venom was added in the uptake medium. The Lqh venom increased microsomal $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ uptake up to ${\sim}20%$ and the increase was only observed when heparin, an antagonist of $InsP_3$ receptor channel, was added in the uptake medium. Lqh venom in the absence of heparin unexpectedly decreased the rate and the amount of $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ uptake. These results were explained by simultaneous increases in $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ release as well as $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ uptake by Lqh venom. Lqh venom itself increased the release of $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ as much as $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ release by $4\;{\mu}m\;InsP_3$, implying that Lqh venom also activates $InsP_3$ receptor, microsomal $Ca^{2+}$ release channel. Based on these results, we suggest that the Lqh venom consists of at least two components; one activates the $InsP_3$ receptor and the other avates the $Ca^{2+}-ATPase$. Currently we a investigating the chemical and electrophysiological properties of the active components of Lqh venom.