• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.192-197
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• 2006

Purpose : Vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) is a key cytokine for controlling vascular permeability and angiogenesis, which is one of the major findings in airway remodeling. However, it is not well known if it is associated with acute lower respiratory tract disease such as lobar pneumonia. The aim of this study is to compare serum VEGF levels in patients with asthma according to its severity and duration of cough, and to compare its levels with children with lobar pneumonia. Methods : Using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the serum VEGF levels were measured in 16 mild asthmatics, 14 moderate to severe asthmatics, six children with lobar pneumonia, and 22 control subjects. The asthmatics were also classified into three groups according to the duration of cough. Serum VEGF levels were compared in each group. Results : Serum VEGF levels were significantly increased in the children with moderate to severe asthma and lobar pneumonia compared to the children with mild asthma and control subjects. Serum VEGF levels were higher in children with chronic coughs of more than two weeks than in children with coughs lasting less than two weeks. Serum levels of VEGF showed positive correlations with blood platelet and white blood cell counts. Conclusion : VEGF increased according to the severity of asthma and duration of cough in children with asthma. It may play an important role not only in chronic airway inflammation, but also in the acute inflammation in children with lower respiratory tract disease.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.9
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• pp.1178-1184
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• 2006

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of ethanol extract of antler velvet (EAV) on common serum chemistry panels and histopathological change in rats exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Administration of TCDD ($50{\mu}g/kg$ body weight) induced significant decrease in platelet count (p<0.01), creatine phosphokinase (CPK, p<0.01), lactatate dehydrogenase (LDH, p<0.05) and glucose (p<0.05) levels and increase in hemoglobin (p<0.05), aspartate aminotransferase (AST, p<0.01), alanine amino transferase (ALT, p<0.05) and lipase activities (p<0.05), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN, p<0.05), triglyceride (p<0.01) and low density lipoptotein cholesterol (LDL-C, p<0.05) levels. However, pretreatment of EAV at daily dose of 20 mg/kg b.w. from 1 wk before TCDD exposure for 5 wks attenuated the abnormality of the overall serum chemistry panels but statistical difference between TE and TA groups was observed only in testicular weight (p<0.01), LDH activity (p<0.05), glucose (p<0.05) and lipase activity (p<0.01). In addition, TCDD induced significant histopathological changes including swelling, fatty metamorphosis, and vacuolar degeneration in liver; edema in proximal and distal convoluted tubules, and glomerulus in kidney; severe atrophy of red purple and appearance of significant number of macrophage in spleen; prominent atrophy and decrease in immune cells in thymus. On the other hand, administration of EAV attenuated histopathological damage induced by TCDD. These results further suggest that administration of EAV attenuates TCDD induced testicular, liver, pancreatic, hematopoietic and nephrotic toxicities in rats.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.119-125
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• 2024

The purpose of this study is to examine the radioprotection effect of mixtures of selenium and arginine for development of radioprotection agents that can minimize radiation damage to police special operation unit in the event of radioactive terrorism. In this study 72 male rats were classified into 4 groups: normal group(NC Group), selenium and arginine mixtures administration group(SeAr Group), radiation exposure group(IR Group), and selenium and arginine mixture administration group followed by radiation exposure(SeAr+IR Group). The 7Gy of X-ray was irradiated to whole body of SD rats. And selenium and arginine were dministered orally at 3mg/kg and 150mg/kg once a day for 14 days. And then hematological and histological analyzes were performed on days 1, 7, and 21 after radiation exposure. In hemotological analysis, significant radioprotection wes observed in lymphocytes(p<0.05) on day 1, platelet(p<0.01) on day 7, red blood cell(p<0.01) on day 21 of radiation exposure in SeAr+IR group compared to IR group. In histological analysis, it was observed that the border of small crypt cells in the small intestine was less collapsed and the length of small crypts was relatively recovered on day 7 and showed that the number of cells and cell wall thickness were better in the prostate on day 21 in SeAr+IR group compared to IR group. Therefore, it is judged that selenium and arginine mixtures have radioprotection effect on blood and tissues due to radiation exposure. it will be helpful for research on radioprotection agents to reduce radiation damage to police special operation unit.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.177-186
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• 2009

It is well-known that unregulated over-expression of foreign gene may have unwanted physiological or toxic effects in transgenic animals. To circumvent these problems, we constructed retrovirus vector designed to express the foreign gene under the control of the tetracycline-inducible promoter. However, gene expressions in the tetracycline-inducible expression system (Tet system) are not completely regulated but a little leaky due to the inherent defects in conventional Tet-based systems. A more tightly controllable regulatory system can be achieved when the advanced versions ($rtTA2^SM2$) of rtTA and a minimal promoter in responsive components (pTRE-tight) are used in combination therein. In this study, we tried to produce human thrombopoietin (hTPO) from various target cells and transgenic chickens using the retrovirus vector combined with Tet system. hTPO is the primary regulator of platelet production and has an important role in the survival and expansion of hematopoietic stem cells. In a preliminary experiment in vitro, higher hTPO expression and tighter expression control were observed in chicken embryonic fibroblast (CEF) cells. We also measured the biological activity of the hTPO using Mo7e cells whose proliferation is dependant on hTPO. The biological activity of the recombinant hTPO from CEF was higher than both its commercial counterpart and hTPO from other target cells. The recombinant retrovirus was injected beneath the blastoderm of non-incubated chicken embryos (stage X). Out of 138 injected eggs, 15 chicks hatched after 21 days of incubation. Among them, 8 hatched chicks were hTPO positive. When the Go transgenic chicken was fed doxycycline (0.5 mg per 1 gram of feed), a tetracycline derivative, hTPO concentration of the transgenic chicken blood was 200 ng/mL. Germline transmission of the transgene was confirmed in sperm of the Go transgenic roosters. These results are informative to establish transgenic chickens as bioreactors for the mass production of commercially valuable and biological active human cytokine proteins.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.49-56
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• 2011

To investigate the toxicological effects of ${\beta}$-glucan, we performed basic studying on ${\beta}$-glucan in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Standard endpoints in this study included mortality, clinical observations, changes of body weights, analysis on food consumption, ophthalmoscopic examination, hematologic examination, serum biochemistry, analysis of organ weights, gross anatomic pathology and histopathology. No clinical signs and mortality were observed in animals treated with beta-glucan throughout the experimental period. The average body weight of each treatment groups showed similar levels at end of experiment. There were no treatment-related changes in mortality, body weights changes, food consumption, ophthalmoscopic examination. Although there were statistically significant differences between the control and treated groups in some relative and absolute organ weights, and hematological and biochemical analysis, the data were in biologically normal ranges and did not show a dose-dependent manner. In the morphological change, hepatic tissue were not showed ballooning degeneration and irregular arrangement of hepatic cell in ${\beta}$-glucan treatment groups with control group. Also, organs weights (liver, heart, kidney and stomach) and hematological indices (WBC, RBC, Hb, Hct and Platelet) did not show statistically significant differences among the experimental groups. In summary of these results, there were no changes in mortality, mean body weight, clinical signs, food consumption. There were no changes in ophthalmological examination, hematology, blood chemistry, necropsy and histopathology. In conclusion, although further investigation of glucan should be performed in the functions registered in many ancient literatures, ${\beta}$-glucan is physiologically safe and may have potential as candidate food for human health.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.12
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• pp.1247-1251
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• 2007

Purpose : Pathologically, Kawasaki disease (KD) is associated with widespread vascular endothelial damage in the acute phase. The vasculitis induced endothelial injury leads to coagulation abnormalities. Abnormalities of endothelial function, platelet activation, and fibrinolysis are present during acute phase and long after the onset of KD. The aim of study is to evaluate the change of hemostatic markers in the clinical stages of KD and to assess the hemostatic markers to be a useful indicator of the development of coronary artery lesion (CAL). Methods : Seventy four KD patients diagnosed in Chungnam National University Hospital from November 2004 to June 2007. Eleven febrile control and eleven healthy children were selected for healthy control. All blood samples were collected before and after Intravenous gammaglobulin (IVGG), $2^{nd}$ week, and $4^{th}-8^{th}$ week of illness of KD. Results : Initial D-dimer level of Kawasaki disease showed meaningful difference compared to control group (P<0.05). D-dimer and fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) before IVGG increased compared with normal control group and decreased after IVGG administration. It is normalized until 2 weeks later, and continue to decreasing. D-dimer and FDP were significantly different according to the CAL before IVGG. Conclusion : The hemostatic markers may change to the clinical stage of KD, which may suggest the degree of endothelial injury. Increased some hemostatic markers may be the predictors for development of CAL.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.539-544
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• 2005

Purpose : The aim of this study was to investigate the pathophysiologic role of serum E-selectin, vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)-induced cell adhesion mollecule in Kawasaki disease(KD) and to look for the evidence of direct relationship between the plasma levels of soluble E-selectin and the incidence of coronary artery lesion(CAL). Methods : Changes in plasma levels of sE-selectin(n=98) over time were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) in 23 patients with acute KD and 25 age-matched febrile children. Results : Compared with control values, the peak levels of plasma sE-selectin were significantly elevated($mean{\pm}S.E$. : $22.89{\pm}12.53ng/mL$ vs $10.65{\pm}3.42ng/mL$, P=0.01) in KD. 5 patients with CAL, plasma sE-selectin levels before treatment were higher than in 18 patients without CAL($mean{\pm}S.E$. : $39.43{\pm}15.08ng/mL$ and $19.00{\pm}8.32ng/mL$, respectively; P=0.01). Plasma sE-selectin declined rapidly in the majority of KD patients regardless of the presence of CAL. Plasma sE-selectin levels after treatment and convalesent period were similar in KD patients with and without CAL. The plasma levels sE-selectin were correlated with those of white blood cell count(r=0.299, P<0.05), CRP(r=0.430, P<0.05), serum albumin(r=-0.483, P<0.05), serum protein(r=-0.502, P<0.05) and hemoglobin(r=-0.372, P<0.05) not with those of ESR, platelet, or duration of fever. There were significant differences in the initial level of serum sE-selectin between KD with and without CAL($mean{\pm}S.E$. : $39.44{\pm}15.08ng/mL$ vs. $19.00{\pm}17.18ng/mL$) in multivariated linear tests. Conclusion : Plasma sE-selectin levels were significantly higher in KD than in other febrile illness. Higher plamsa levels of sE-selectin may have potential as a predictor of CAL in patients with KD.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.378-386
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• 2016

Anti-atherogenic effects in tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$)-stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) are involved in the suppression of oxidative stress, cell adhesion molecules, and pro-inflammatory factors. This study investigated the vascular inflammation inhibitory activity of traditional Doenjang plays a key role in the pathogenesis and progression of atherosclerosis. The protective effects of Korean Deonjang was investigated on the expression of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$-induced human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs). Deonjang extracts (20, 50, $100{\mu}g/mL$) decreased the expression of 20 ng/mL TNF-${\alpha}$-induced vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 intracellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 proteins, and their corresponding mRNA levels. Nitric oxides (NO) produced by endothlial nitric oxides synthase (eNOS) dilated blood vessels, which had protective effects against platelet and leukocyte adhesion. While TNF-${\alpha}$-induced suppressed the production of nitric oxide in HUVECs, Doenjang restored NO production in HUVECs. In addition, Deonjang reduced the TNF-${\alpha}$-induced expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 mRNA levels. These results suggested that Doenjang can inhibited the production of cell adhesion molecules and inflammatory mediators, which could be a potential candidate for preventing atherosclerosis.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.12 no.10
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• pp.4425-4433
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to explore the relation of BMI, smoking and drinking with biomedical parameters in 20s and 30s men. This was a retrospective exploratory study and the subjects were 603 men who participated in health check-up for clinical trial at a tertiary hospital between October 2006 and June 2011. RBC, hemoglobin(Hb), hematocrit(Hct), triglyceride(TG), uric acid(UA), ALT in obese group were significantly higher than those of normal weight group. WBC and Hb in smokers were significantly higher than those of nonsmokers, protein in smokers was significantly lower than that of nonsmokers. Platelet in moderate smokers who smoke 10~19 cigarettes a day was significantly higher than that of nonsmokers and light smokers who smoke below 10 cigarettes a day, albumin in moderate smokers was significantly lower than that of nonsmokers and light smokers. TG in moderate smokers was significantly higher than that of nonsmokers, and blood glucose(BG) in moderate smokers was significantly lower than that of nonsmokers. AST and ALT in drinkers who drink over 10g a day were significantly higher than those of nondrinkers. In regression, BMI was significant factors of increasing RBC, Hb, Hct, total cholesterol(TC), TG, BG, UA, AST and ALT. Smoking amount was significant factors of increasing WBC, Hb, Hct and TG, and was significant factors of decreasing BG and Ca. Smoking amount was significant factors of increasing TC, AST and ALT, and was significant factors of decreasing WBC. In conclusion, there was significant relations of BMI, smoking, and drinking with biomedical parameters such as Hb, TC, TG, and ALT in young-aged men. Therefore, practice of healthy lifestyle activities to include preventing obesity and heavy drinking, and quitting smoking needs to the 20s and 30s men for preventing lifestyle disease.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.170-177
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• 2008

Purpose : The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the incidence of relapse or nephritis might be influenced by the duration of corticosteroid therapy in children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura(HSP). Methods : We retrospectively analyzed 186 children with a diagnosis of HSP in two major hospitals in Ilsan, Korea from the years 2000 to 2003. To evaluate whether renal involvement or relapse might be influenced by the duration of corticosteroid therapy in children with HSP, one pediatric nephrologist from hospital A, maintained corticosteroid therapy for at least 2 weeks(Group A, n=94). The other from hospital B used only during the symptomatic period(Group B, n=92). Results : There were no significant differences in age, sex, body weight, white blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelet count, serum protein and albumin levels between the two groups. The incidence of abdominal pain or arthralgia also did not differ between two groups. However, the duration of steroid therapy was significantly longer in Group A than in Group B and the cumulative dose of prednisolone was also higher in Group A than in Group B. The development of nephritis was more frequent in Group A. Conclusion : The longer duration of steroid use was not associated with the decreased rate of nephritis. Therefore, corticosteroids should be used carefully in a selected group of HSP children, and be tapered rapidly after control of the acute symptoms.