• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.67 no.2
• /
• pp.237-248
• /
• 2024

Objective : Postoperative data on Cushing's disease (CD) are equivocal in the literature. These discrepancies may be attributed to different series with different criteria for remission and variable follow-up durations. Additional data from experienced centers may address these discrepancies. In this study, we present the results obtained from 96 endoscopic transsphenoidal surgeries (ETSSs) for CD conducted in a well-experienced center. Methods : Pre- and postoperative data of 96 ETSS in 87 patients with CD were included. All cases were handled by the same neurosurgical team between 2014 and 2022. We obtained data on remission status 3-6 months postoperatively (medium-term) and during the latest follow-up (long-term). Additionally, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and pathology results were obtained for each case. Results : The mean follow-up duration was 39.5±3.2 months. Medium and long-term remission rates were 77% and 82%, respectively. When only first-time operations were considered, the medium- and long-term remission rates were 78% and 82%, respectively. The recurrence rate in this series was 2.5%. Patients who showed remission between 3-6 months had higher long-term remission rates than did those without initial remission. Tumors >2 cm and extended tumor invasion of the cavernous sinus (Knosp 4) were associated with lower postoperative remission rates. Conclusion : Adenoma size and the presence/absence of cavernous sinus invasion on preopera-tive MRI may predict long-term postoperative remission. A tumor size of 2 cm may be a supporting criterion for predicting remission in Knosp 4 tumors. Further studies with larger patient populations are necessary to support this finding.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.46-54
• /
• 1997

Sporulation in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe has been regarded as an important model of cellular development and differentiation. S. pombe cells proliferate by mitosis and binary fission on growth medium. Deprivation of nutrients especially nitrogen sources, causes the cessation of mitosis and initiates sexual reproduction by malting between two sexually compatible cell types. Meiosis is then followed in a diploid cell in the absence of nitrogen source. DNA fragment complemented with the mutations of sporulation gene was isolated from the S. pombe gene library constructed in the vector, pDB 248' and designated as pDB (spo 5)1. We futher analyzed six recombinant plasmids, pDB (spo 5)2, pDB(spo 5)3, pDB(spo 5)4, pDB(spo 5)5, pDB(spo 5)6, pDB(spo 5)7, and found each plasmids is able to rescue the spo 5-2, spo 5-3, spo 5-4, spo 5-5, spo 5-6, spo 5-7, mutations, respectively. Mapping of the integrated plasmid into the homologous site of the S. pombe chromosomes demonstrated that pDB (spo 5)1, and pDB (spo 5)R1 contained the spo 5 gene. Transcipts of spo 5 gene were analyzed by Northern hybridization. Two transcripts of 3.2 kb and 25 kb were detected with 5 kb Hind III fragment containing a part of the spo 5 gene as a probe. The small mRNA (2.5 kb) appeared only when a wild-type strain was cultured in the absence of nitrogen source in which condition the large mRNA (3.2 kb) was produced constitutively. Appearance of a 2.5 kb spo 5-mRNA depends upon the function of the mei1, mei2 and mei3 genes.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.3 no.3
• /
• pp.248-254
• /
• 2003

Oral administration of antigen has long been used in the induction of immune tolerance in various animal models of autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Alleveation of arthritogenic symptoms has been reported from RA patients who received oral administration of type II collagen (CII) without side effects, however its rather inconsistent therapeutic efficacy and variation among patients calls for more detailed investigation on the mechanism of oral tolerance to be settled as regular treatment for RA. In an attempt to understand the immunogenic processes underpinning tolerance induction by orally administered CII, we analyzed changes in the expression of costimulatory molecules and STAT/SOCS signaling messengers in the mouse model of collagen induced arthritis (CIA). We found thatin the spleen of CIA mice, that has been undergone repeated oral feeding of CII prior to the induction of arthritis, showed increased promortion of CTLA4 expressing lymphocytes than in the spleen of PBS fed control. On the other hand, cells expressing CD28 or ICOS were decreased in the spleen of tolerized mice. Tolerance induction by oral CII administration also enhanced the expression of STAT6 in both RNA and protein level, while not affecting the expression of STAT3. The expression of SOCS3, which hasbeen known to transmit STAT-mediated signals from Th2 type cytokines, remained unchanged in the spleen of tolerized mice. Interestingly transcript of SOCS1, which has been associated with Th1 related pathways, was only visible in the spleen of tolerized but not of control mice, suggesting that as in the case of IL-6 signaling, it may exert a feed back inhibition toward the Th1 type stimulation.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.45 no.2
• /
• pp.248-252
• /
• 2012

To evaluate the possibility of water plant wastes in composting for agricultural recycling, Phragmites communis (PHRCO), Typha orientalis (TYHOR) and Zizania latifolia (ZIZLA) were used as a compost materials. In composting basin, cumulative oxygen consumptions of the compost used by water plant wastes were rapidly increased at the early stage and slightly decreased in around 15 days. Cumulative oxygen consumptions under different water plant wastes were higher in the order of TYHOR > ZIZLA > PHRCO. Temperature changes during composting process were rapidly increased at the early stage and then slowly decreased to $30{\sim}40^{\circ}C$. The maximum temperatures were higher in the order of ZIZLA ($72.2^{\circ}C$ at 11 days after starting composting) > TYHOR ($70.2^{\circ}C$ at 10 days after starting composting) > PHRCO ($66.5^{\circ}C$ at 7 days after starting composting). Oxygen consumptions at maximum temperature were higher in the order of TYHOR ($12,485mg\;O_2\;kg^{-1}$) > ZIZLA ($12,400mg\;O_2\;kg^{-1}$) > PHRCO ($9,340mg\;O_2\;kg^{-1}$). Organic matter contents, moisture contents and OM/N rates in the compost ranged 39.5~44.8%, 29.6~35.6% and 27.9~32.9, respectively. Considering that water plant waste can supply some of the nutrient requirements of crops and is a valuable fertilizer.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.248-256
• /
• 2021

A total of 120 samples corresponding to 12 categories of dried processed fishery products distributed in Gyeonggi-do were examined for radioactivity contamination (¹³¹I, ¹³⁴Cs, ¹³⁷Cs) and heavy metals (lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury). One natural radioactive material, ⁴⁰K, was detected in all products, while the artificial radioactive materials ¹³¹I, ¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs were not detected at above MDA (minimum detectable activity) values. The detection ranges of heavy metals converted by biological basis were found as follows: Pb (N.D.-0.332 mg/kg), Cd (N.D.-2.941 mg/kg), As (0.371-15.007 mg/kg), Hg (0.0005-0.0621 mg/kg). Heavy metals were detected within standard levels when there was an acceptable standard, but the arsenic content was high in most products, although none of the products had a permitted level of arsenic. In the case of dried processed fishery products, there are products that are consumed by restoring moisture to its original state, but there are also many products that are consumed directly in the dry state, so it will be necessary to set permitted levels for heavy metals considering this situation in the future. In addition, Japan has decided to release contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean, so there is high public concern about radioactivity contamination of food, including fishery products. Therefore, continuous monitoring of various food items will be necessary to ease consumers' anxiety.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.241-248
• /
• 2009

A farming area located near an abandoned copper mine in GuPo-ri, Choongchung province is heavily contaminated with heavy metals such as As, Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn of which concentrations are higher than the values typically detected in Korean soil environment. In this work, laboratory and field studies were conducted to examine feasibility of using Ca-citrate-phosphate solution in stabilizing heavy metals in the polluted soils. In laboratory batch experiments with field soil, the addition of Ca-citrate-phosphate solution resulted in decrease of aqueous phase concentration of phosphate and improvement of heavy metal stabilization, compared to those for sterilized soil samples. This indicates that microbial uptake of phosphate may have provided positive effects on availability of phosphate toward heavy metal stabilization. According to microbial community analysis for the field experiment, the use of Ca-citrate-phosphate led to increased diversity of microbial populations, and strict anaerobic microorganisms such as Anaerofilum and Treponema became the most dominant populations in the solution-amended field experiments. These findings suggest that, when Ca-citrate-phosphate is used for heavy metal stabilization in soils, microbial processes may have important roles in improving the stabilization of heavy metals by providing reducing conditions to the treatment locations or/and by making phosphate available to heavy metal stabilization.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.241-248
• /
• 2008

We studied concentrations of trace elements such as iron, zinc, copper, lead and cadmium in three shorebird species from Saemankeum mudflat, Korea$(1999{\sim}2000)$, and also analysed correlations between elements in livers. Iron(ANOVA, p=0.018), copper(ANOVA, p=0.043), lead(ANOVA, p=<0.001) and cadmium (ANOVA, p=0.016) concentrations significantly differed among shorebird species, but zinc concentrations wasn't different among species. We suggested that iron, zinc, and copper concentrations were within a range for normal and are maintained by normal homeostatic mechanisms for wild birds. Lead concentrations in Great Knots Calidris tenuirostris$(5.76{\pm}2.14{\mu}g/dry\;g)$ were at the background level but Red-necked Stints Calidris ruficollis$(29.4{\pm}10.6{\mu}g/dry\;g)$ and Terek Sandpipers Xenus sinereus$(15.9{\pm}11.9{\mu}g/dry\;g)$ were within the exposed level for wild birds. In particular, Red-necked Stints were nearly poisoned level. Cadmium concentrations in Terek Sandpipers and Great Knots were at the background concentration, but Red-necked Stints were greater than the poisoned level$(3{\mu}g/dry\;g)$. We found significantly correlations between lead and cadmium concentrations, but other elements didn't find.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.15-21
• /
• 1993

This paper describes the design and development of a KrF excimer laser stepper and discusses the detailed system parameters and characterization data obtained from the performance test. We have developed a deep UV step-and-repeat system, operating at 248 nm, by retrofitting a commercial modules such as KrF excimer laser, precision wafer stage and fused silica illumination and 5X projection optics of numerical aperture 0.42. What we have developed, to the basic structure, are wafer alignment optics, reticle alignment system, autofocusing/leveling mechanisms and environment chamber. Finally, all these subsystem were integrated under the control of microprocessor-based controllers and computer. The wafer alignment system comprises the OFF-AXIS and the TTL alignment. The OFF-AXIS alignment system was realized with two kinds of optics. One is the magnification system with the image processing technique and the other is He-Ne laser diffraction type system using the alignment grating on the wafer. 'The TTL alignment system employs a dual beam inteferometric method, which takes advantages of higher diffraction efficiency compared with other TTL type alignment systems. As the results, alignment accuracy for OFF-AXIS and TTL alignment system were obtained within 0.1 $\mu\textrm{m}$/ 3 $\sigma$ for the various substrate on the wafers. The wafer focusing and leveling system is modified version of the conventional systems using position sensitive detectors (PSD). This type of detection method showed focusing and leveling accuracies of about $\pm$ 0.1 $\mu\textrm{m}$ and $\pm$ 0.5 arcsec, respectively. From the CD measurement, we obtained 0.4 $\mu\textrm{m}$ resolution features over the full field with routine use, and 0.3 $\mu\textrm{m}$ resolution was attainable under more strict conditions.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.389-398
• /
• 2010

The present experiment was carried out to compare performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality among three major meat-type duck strains in Korea. Two commercial duck (CD) strains, produced from parent stocks (PS) (Cherry Valley and Grimaud), and $F_1$ strains, self-produced by farmers, were used in an 8-week feeding experiment. Both feed conversion ratio and production index were significantly higher in Cherry Valley strain compared with the other two at the ends of 6 and 8 weeks (p<0.05). However, no differences were found in carcass characteristics and meat quality, with the exception of abdominal fat weight where Grimaud were higher than the others. Overall, the results of the current study show that Cherry Valley CD strain had higher performance among three strains tested.