• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.54-60
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• 2016

Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the association between elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and urosepsis in children with acute pyelonephritis (APN). Methods: We retrospectively identified all children who were managed in our hospital with APN during a decade period. In our study a diagnosis of APN was defined as having a positive urine culture and a positive (99m)Tc-dimercaptosuccinic acid scintigraphy. We compared those with elevated ALT and those with normal ALT according to the following variables: age, gender, duration of fever prior to admission, presence of hypotension, C-reactive protein (CRP), creatinine, presence of anemia, white blood cells count, platelet count, blood culture result, and grades of vesicoureteral reflux. In addition, the correlation between elevated ALT and positive blood culture was analyzed in detail. Results: A total of 996 children were diagnosed with APN, of which 883 were included in the study. ALT was elevated in 81 children (9.2%). In the analysis of demographic characteristics, the number of children with elevated ALT was higher in children between 0 to 3 months, boys, and in those with positive blood culture (p=0.002, 0.036, and 0.010, respectively). In multivariate analysis of variables associated with positive blood culture, age younger than 3 months, elevated ALT, elevated CRP, and elevated creatinine showed statistical significance (p=0.004, 0.030, 0.043, and 0.044, respectively). Conclusion: Our study demonstrates the association between elevated ALT and increased prevalence of urosepsis in addition to elevated CRP, elevated creatinine, and age younger than 3 months in children with APN.

• Kosin Medical Journal
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.337-346
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• 2018

Objectives: Serum procalcitonin (PCT) is a specific biomarker that rises after bacterial infection, and levels of PCT are known to correlate with the severity and mortality of patients with pneumonia and sepsis. However, the usefulness of PCT levels in acute pyelonephritis is unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of using the PCT level as a predictive test for bacteremia in acute pyelonephritis. Methods: Between January 2012 and June 2013, 140 patients diagnosed with acute pyelonephritis were admitted to Haeundae Paik Hospital. Serum PCT, C-reactive protein (CRP), and white blood cell (WBC) levels at pre- and post- treatment were measured. Blood and urine cultures were obtained from all patients. The levels of PCT, CRP, and WBCs were each compared between the blood culture-positive and blood culture-negative groups to assess their effectiveness in predicting bacteremia. Results: Pre-treatment PCT level was 0.77 ng/mL (95% CI: 0.42-1.60 ng/mL) in the blood culture-negative group and 4.89 ng/mL (95% CI: 2.88-9.04 ng/mL) in the blood culture-positive group, and the increase between the two groups was statistically significant. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of PCT level for prediction of bacteremia was 0.728. A cut-off value of 1.23 ng/mL indicated a sensitivity of 79.0 % and specificity of 60.0 % for PCT level. Conclusions: Serum PCT level is a useful predictive test for bacteremia in acute pyelonephritis. Through the early detection of bacteremia, serum PCT level can help estimate the prognosis and predict complications such as sepsis.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.207-214
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• 1994

This study was carried out to develop the methodology of chromosome preparation from blood cultures in mammals which included human, mouse, cattle and pig. For karyotyping, 0.5-5.0ml of peripheral blood were collected and cultured. The satisfactory results were obtained from macroculture and microculture in all species. In culture, the patterns of cell growth were no difference among media except serum concentration and mitogen supplement. The presence of mitogen and fetal bovine serum in medium significantly affected the mitotic index. The optimal culture condition was 37$^{\circ}C$ for 3 days. And the concentration of colcemid and reincubation time also affected the chromosome morphology. In harvest, chromosome patterns were mainly affected on hypotonic treatment which included treated time and temperature, dropwise of fixative solution, and drying after slide preparation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.80-85
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• 1993

Synthetic and biosynthetic vascular grafts of small diameter have long been considered to be prone to thrombosis, ultimately leading to the complete graft occlusion. Endothelial cell seeding onto synthetic blood-contacting surfaces has been suggested to be an ideal means to solve this problem. This study described a culture method of bovine endothelial cells and evaluated blood-compatibility and seeding efficiency of cultured endothelial cells. Bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells were harvested enzymatically and grown to confluence on polystyrene culture flask surfaces using established techniques. The identification of endothelial cells was made through the demonstration of expression of factor VIII R:Ag by immunofluorescent technique. To quantitate the effect of improvement in blood-compatibility of viable endothelial cells, endothelial monolayers were exposed to blood containing $\^$111/In-oxine labeled platelets. Viable endothelial monolayers retained less labeled platelets than control surfaces. The Indium-labeled endothelial cells were seeded onto three different blood-contacting surfaces of Dacron vascular graft immobilized in specially equipped wells and incubated for specific time intervals (t=15, 30, 60, 120 minutes). Longer incubation times showed improved cell adherence in collagen-coated and fibrin-coated Dacron vascular graft groups. However in untreated Dacron grafts, no direct relationship was observed between incubation time and endothelial cell seeding efficiency. This may be due to leakage of endothelial cells through porosity of Dacron grafts in this in-vitro experimental condition.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.150-157
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• 2004

As an attempt to develop new functional health beverage by using medicinal herb, green ginger(Zingiber officinale Roscoe), we investigated the effect of Zingiber officinale on blood pressure and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) of rats with Zingiber officinale extracts. Zingiber officinale extract increase rCBF significantly. The drink produced consisted of Zingiber officinale extract 1.825%, maltitol syrup 17.0%, citric aicd 0.06%, ascorbic acid 0.02%, stevioside 0.001%, ginger flavor 0.11% and water. Brix, pH and acidity of product were 13.7, 4.4 and 0.09, respectively. This drink had good score by the sensory evaluation. The above results showed that development of such functional beverage using Zingiber officinale can used as a functional material improving blood circulation in beverage industry.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.818-824
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• 2015

Makgeolli is a health beneficial food for diabetes compared to other alcoholic beverages. We examined the effect of Makgeolli on blood glucose level and survival rate in a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mouse model. We force fed 30 male STZ-induced diabetic ICR mice Makgeolli consisting of 6% alcohol (DM-MAK), 6% ethanol (DM-EtOH), or distilled water (DM-DW) for 4 weeks. In the DM-MAK group, food intake and water intake were higher than those of other groups after 4 weeks. Body weight, however, was not different among the experimental groups. We also found no significant difference in blood glucose level among the experimental groups. In normal ICR mice fed Makgeolli for 1 week, the area of the blood glucose curve was higher than those of other groups fed 6% ethanol, 2% glucose, or distilled water. Survival rates of STZ-induced diabetic mice fed Makgeolli, 6% ethanol, or DW for 4 weeks were 100%, 25%, and 62.5%, respectively. In conclusion, Makgeolli had no beneficial effect on blood glucose in a STZ-induced diabetic mouse model, although their survival rate was high. These results show that Makgeolli has an effect on type 1 diabetes through other mechanisms than blood glucose control.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.249-254
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• 2020

Neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation is an immune response for the invasion of microbes. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of zinc on NET formation of porcine peripheral blood polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs). The NET formation of PMNs was measured by fluorescence microplate reader. The production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in the culture supernatants from zinc-treated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Zinc itself did not have no effect on NET formation. However, the NET formation of PMNs was increased by culture supernatants from PBMCs treated with zinc. Also, the NET formation of PMNs was increased by recombinant porcine (rp) TNF-α. The production of TNF-α in PBMCs culture supernatants was shown to increase upon zinc treatments. These NET formations of PMNs increased by either culture supernatant from PBMCs treated with zinc or rpTNF-α were inhibited by treatment of anti-rpTNF-α polyclonal antibody (pAb). These results suggested that zinc has an immunostimulating effect on the NET formation of PMNs, which is mediated by TNF-α released from zinc-treated PBMCs. Therefore, zinc may play an important role for NET formation in the defense of porcine inflammatory diseases.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.305-311
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• 1987

To evaluate training effect, the step exercise was loaded to three mem for nine weeks. Step score, cardiopulmonary functions and blood constituents were measured before, during and after the test exercise (50 cm-step exercise and treadmill running), and were compared with the pre-tranining values. The results were as follows: 1) By the training, Harvard step score increased remarkably, expecially in the early stage of training. 2) The post-training values of maximal oxygen uptake increased very significantly and it seemed to be due to increases of stroke volume and tissue oxygen extraction. 3) After the training, the degree of increase in expired volume was small during the treadmill exercise. 4) By the training, increasing rate of respiratory quotient lessened during the exercise and it was considered to be caused by the decreases of carbohydrate consumption and anaerobic metabolism. 5) The blood cholesterol concentrations were harldy changed with this degree of training. 6) The blood lactate level decreased during the recovery periods and the values of the recovery 0 and 5 minutes decreased remarkably, in comparison with the pre-trained values. The above results suggest that the 9 week-training of the step exercise brings about the enhancement of circulatory functions and tissue oxygen utilization, and changes of food-stuffs used during the exercise.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.236-242
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• 2004

1,2-benzopyrone can stimulate macrophages to increase the ability of phagocytosis. Peripheral blood polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) and macrophages destroy microbial organisms with reactive oxygen species (ROS), called oxidative burst activity (OBA). This study was undertaken to determine whether 1,2-benzopyrone affects the OBA on the phagocytic response of canine peripheral blood phagocytes. The OBA of phagocytes in the addition or absence of latex beads was analyzed by flow cytometry system using dihydrorhodamine 123 (DHR). The direct treatments of 1,2-benzopyrone have no effect on the OBA of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), PMN and monocyte-rich cells regardless of addition of latex beads. When latex beads are added to PMN, the OBA of PMN was remarkably enhanced by culture supernatant from PBMC but not PMN treated with 1,2-benzopyrone. Similary, it was also enhanced by human recombinant (hr) $TNF-\alpha.$ However, when latex beads were not added to PMN, its OBA was not enhanced by culture supernatant from either PBMC or PMN treated with 1,2-benzopyrone. The OBA of latex beads-phagocytized PBMC and monocyte-rich cells was not enhanced by culture supernatant from either PBMC or PMN treated with 1,2-benzopyrone. These results strongly suggested that 1,2-benzopyrone has an immunoenhancing effect on the OBA of PMN when phagocytic response occurred only. This enhanced OBA may be mediated through active humoral substance(s), such as $TNF-\alpha,$ produced by PBMC stimulated with 1,2-benzopyrone.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2004

1,2-benzopyrone has been shown to affect on the activation and stimulation of macrophage. To examine the immunostimulating effect of 1,2-benzopyrone on the phagocytic response of canine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) as well as polymorphonuclear cells (PMN), the phagocytic activity of phagocytes was analyzed by flow cytometry system using FITC-labelled latex. The 1,2-benzopyrone did not show any direct effect on phagocytic response of PBMC and PMN. But it showed an enhanced effect on the phagocytic response of monocyte-rich cells fractioned by cell size from dot plot profile in flowcytometric cytography of PBMC. The phagocytic activity of these cells was also enhanced by addition of culture supernatant from PBMC treated with 1,2-benzopyrone. Similarly, the phagocytic activity of PMN but not PBMC in the same procedures was enhanced by culture supernatant from PBMC treated with 1,2-benzopyrone. However, the culture supernatant from PMN treated with 1.2-benzopyrone did not show the enhancing effect on phagocytic activity for monocyte-rich cells and PMN. These results, therefore, suggested that enhanced phagocytic activity of canine peripheral blood PMN and monocytes may be mainly mediated by humoral factor(S) released from PBMC treated with 1,2-benzopyrone.