• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.163-169
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• 2024

Objective: This retrospective study aimed to investigate the prevalence of chronic endometritis, diagnosed using CD138 immunohistochemistry, among infertile women and to assess the association between chronic endometritis and recurrent implantation failure (RIF). Methods: In total, 266 patients who underwent hysteroscopy due to infertility between 2019 and 2020 were included in the analysis. Of these, 136 patients with RIF and 130 non-RIF patients were included in the study. CD138 immunohistochemistry test results, blood biomarkers (including natural killer cells, white blood cells, and the lymphocyte-to-neutrophil ratio), and data on pregnancy outcomes were obtained. If the CD138 test yielded a positive result, the patients received antibiotic treatment. Results: The overall proportion of CD138-positive patients was 32.7% (87/266). The CD138 positivity rate was not related to the number of cycles with implantation failure. In the RIF patient group, no significant associations were found between CD138 positivity and peripheral blood markers. The clinical pregnancy rates were similar between infertile women treated with antibiotics for chronic endometritis and those without chronic endometritis. Conclusion: To improve the pregnancy rate in infertile patients, it may be helpful to combine CD138 testing with other laboratory tests and administer antibiotic treatment if the result is positive.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.137-147
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• 2003

The objective of this experiment was to investigate the possibility on agricultural use of muncipal sewage sludge with respect to heavy metal contents in Korea. Metal contents (mg/kg) in 88 sludge samples were ranged from 0 to 54.3 for As, 1,7 to 197.3 for Cd, 7.3 to 2,854 for Cr, 87.4 to 5,730 for Cu, 129.3 to 10,289 for Mn 20.1 to 2,057 for Ni, 7.6 to 197.5 for Pb, and 523.5 to 6,349 for Zn. Heavy metal contents of sludges were compared with the regulation on raw material for compost. All sludges produced from sewage treatment plane in metropolis (over a million in population) and large cities ($500,00{\sim}1,000,000$) were not compatible with the regulation. In addition, 95% of sludge from small and mid-size cities ($100,00{\sim}500,000$) and 93% from rural area (below 100,000) were not suitable. On the basis of Cd, Cu, Ni and Zn contents, 41, 53, 47, and 89% of sludge samples were not compatible with the regulation on raw material for compost respectively.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.12 no.7
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• pp.817-824
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• 2003

Various kinds of zeolites, such as analcime (ANA), cancrinite (CAN), Na-Pl and sodalite octahydrate (SOD) could be synthesized from Hwangto by hydrothermal reaction in a high-pressure vessel. The adsorption characteristics of Cu(II) and Cd(II) by Hwangto and its synthetic zeolites were investigated using the chemical and electrochemical surface parameters of these adsorbents. The heavy metal adsorptivity among the adsorbents decreased in the following sequences: Na-Pl > SOD > ANA > CAN > Hwangto. This sequence was the same with the values of surface site density (Ns) of these adsorbents and was correlated inversely with the values of pHpzc (pH of the point of zero charge) and the va]ues of K$\_$a2/(int) (intrinsic surface deprotonation constant) of the adsorbents for synthetic zeolites, i.e., the adsorbents with higher values of Ns and with lower values of pHpzc and K$\_$a2/(int) for synthetic zeolites showed higher heavy metal adsorptivity. With increasing pH, the heavy metal adsorptivity increased greatly between pHpzc and pH 6 or 7 because of the steep increase of negatively charged sites for synthetic zeolites, but for Hwangto, it increased broadly because of slow increase of negatively charged sites based on its lower surface sites.

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.53-71
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• 2018

Waste glass disposal causes environmental problems in the cities. To find a suitable green environmental solution for this problem low cost adsorbent in this study was prepared from waste glass. An effective new green adsorbent was synthesized by hydrothermal treatment of waste glass (WG), followed by acidic activation of its surface by HCl (WGP). The prepared adsorbent was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and BET surface measurement. The developed adsorbent was used for the removal of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn) from well water. Batch experiments were conducted to test the ability of the prepared adsorbent for the removal of Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn from well water. The experiments of the heavy metals adsorption by adsorbent (WGP) were performed at different metal ion concentrations, solution pH, adsorbent dosage and contact time. The Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms and kinetic models were used to verify the adsorption performance. The results indicated high removal efficiencies (99-100%) for all the studied heavy metals at pH 7 at constant contact time of 2 h. The data obtained from adsorption isotherms of metal ions at different time fitted well to linear form of the Langmuir sorption equation, and pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Application of the resulted conditions on well water demonstrated that the modified waste glass adsorbent successfully adsorbed heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn) from well water.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.414-419
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• 1997

In order to develop an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for deoxynivalenol (DON) in com, we produced a specific monocl- onal antibody and established ELISA conditions. After the spleen cells from mice immunized with DON-bovine serum albumin conjugate were fused with S$_{p}$2/0 myeloma cells, a hybridoma cell 3G7 producing anti-DON antibody was screened by ELISA. From the standard curve of competitive direct ELISA (cdELISA) using 3G7 monoclonal antibody and DON-HRP conjugate, the detection range of DON showed 3-3,000 ng/ml (ppb). The monoclonal antibody showed some cross-reactivities against DON analogues such as 15 acetyl-DON (110%), nivalenol (5.0%), 3 acetyl-DON (1.7%), fusarenon-x (0.72%), and T-2 (0.59%). When the cdELISA was applied to the spiked coms after extracting with 60% methanol and diluting 5- fold with washing buffer, the assay recoveries of DON were 313, 163, 106, and 88.9% (av., 168%) in the levels of 200, 600, 2,000, and 6,000ng/g, respectively. For the quantitation of DON in coms, 30 samples kept under two different storage conditions of cold and room temperature were assayed by cdELISA. The mean detection concentrations were 595 (detection range, 0-2,750) and 2,448 (detection range, 0-4,500) ppb, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.163-184
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• 2007

Objectives & Methods : The purpose of this study is to observe the effects of Phellodendri Cortex Herbal-acupuncture solution (PC-HAS) at Joksamni (ST36) on collagen II induced arthritis in DBA-1J mice. The author performed several experimental items to analyze arthritis evaluation, change of weight, spleen size and adhesion rate, change of cytokine level, IgG, IgM and anti-collagen II, chang of immunocyte count, histological change of CIA mouse joint. Results : 1. In the PC-HA group, arthritis index, the incidence of arthritis and joint edema were significantly decreased. 2. In the PC-HA group, the change of spleen size, spleen adhesion rate and the knee joint were significantly decreased. 3. The levels of $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and INF- in serum of the CIA mouse were significantly decreased by PC-HA. 4. The levels of IgG, IgM and anti-collagen II in serum of the CIA mouse were significantly decreased by PC-HA. 5. In the CIA mouse spleen cell culture, the levels of IFN- , IFN- / IL-4, IL-10 were significantly decreased by PC-HA, but the level of IL-4 was significantly increased by PC-HA. 6. In the PC-HA group, the ratios of $CD3e^+$ to $CD45R^+$ cell, $CD4^+$ to $CD8^+$ cell and $CD4^+/CD25^+$ cell were similarly maintained as normal group in the CIA mouse spleen cell. 7. In the PC-HA group, $CD4^+CD25^+$ and $CD45R^+/CD69^+$ cell were significantly decreased in the lymph nodes. 8. In the PC-HA group, $CD3^+/CD69^+$ and $CD11b^+/Gr-1^+$ cell were significantly decreased in knee joint. 9. In histology, the cartilage destruction and synovial cell proliferation in the PC-HA group were similar with that of the normal group and the collagen fiber expressions in the PC-HA group were similar with that of the normal group. Conclusions : Form the result above, the results suggest that the PC-HA at ST36 has significant effect on collagen-induced arthritis, and can be put to practical use in the future rheumatoid arthritis clinic.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.25-55
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• 2008

Objectives : The aim of the present study was to observe the effect of Astragali Radix Herbal-Acupuncture Solution(AR-HAS) at $ST_{36}$(jok-samni, $Z\acute{u}s\bar{a}n$ Li) on collagen- II -induced arthritis(CIA) in mice. Methods : DBA/1J mice were immunized with bovine type II collagen(CII) on days 0 and 21 to induce arthritis. The mice were divided into 5 groups : normal group(no CIA), control group(CIA+no treatment), needle prick group(CIA+single prick with an injection needle), saline group(CIA+saline injection) and ARHA group(CIA+ R-HA treatment). The needle prick, saline injection, and AR-HA groups were injected on the right $ST_{36}$(jok-samni) of mice for 9 weeks, 3 times a week, beginning 4 weeks after the booster immunization. Results : 1. The incidence of arthritis, AI(arthritis index), and joint edema decreased in the AR-HA group. 2. Weight gain, hypertrophy of the spleen, adhesion of the tissues, and transformation of the joint were restrained in the AR-HA group. 3. The concentrations of $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$, $IFN-{\gamma}$ in CIA mouse serum and $IFN-{\gamma}$, IL-10 in the CIA mouse spleen cell culture decreased significantly at $ST_{36}$ in the AR-HA group. 4. Total cell counts increased significantly, and the ratio of $CD3e^+$ to $CD45R^+$, $CD4^+$ to $CD8^+$, and $CD4^+$ to $CD25^+$ cells decreased significantly at $ST_{36}$ in the CIA mouse spleen cell culture of the AR-HA group. 5. Total cell counts decreased significantly, and $CD4^+/CD25^+$ and $CD45R^+/CD69^+$ decreased significantly at $ST_{36}$ in the CIA mouse lymph nodes of the AR-HA group. 6. $CD3e^+/CD69^+$ and $CD11b^+/Gr-1^+$ cells decreased significantly at $ST_{36}$ in the CIA mouse joints of the AR-HA group. 7. The histological examination showed that cartilage destruction and synoviocyte proliferation decreased in the CIA mouse joints of the AR-HA group, and collagen fiber was expressed similar to that seen in the normal group. Conclusions : Our experiments show that at $ST_{36}$, an anti-inflammatory mechanism of AR-HA controls synovial cell proliferation and protects against cartilage destruction in rheumatoid arthritis.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.45-61
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• 2007

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to observe the effects of Carthami Flos herbal-acupuncture (CF-HA) at Joksamni($ST_{36}$) on arthritis in mice induced by Collagen II. Methods : The author performed several experimental items, including arthritis evaluation, change in weight, spleen size and stenosis rate, change in cytokine level, IgG, IgM and anti-collagen II, change of immunocyte count and histological change of the CIA mouse joint. Conclusions are as follows: Results : 1. In the CF-HA, the arthritis index and rate and the incidence of arthritis were decreased as the experiment proceeded. 2. In the CF-HA, spleen swell and stenosis, joint edema and change were decreased. 3. In the CF-HA, the level of $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$ and $IFN-{\gamma}$ in blood serum were significantly decreased. 4. In the CF-HA, the level of IgG, IgM and anti-collagen II were decreased. 5. In the CF- HA, $IFN-{\gamma}$, $IFN-{\gamma}/IL-4$, IL-10 of the culture fluid was decreased. 6. In the CF-HA, the cell rate of $CD3e^+$ and $CD45R^+$, $CD4^+$ and $CD8^+$, $CD4^+/CD25^+$ in spleen was similar to the cell rate of the normal group. 7. In the CF-HA, the cell rate of $CD4^+/CD25^+$, $CD45R^+/CD69^+$ in a lymph node was decreased as in the normal group. 8. In the CF-HA, the cell rate of $CD3^+/CD69^+$, $CD11b^+/Gr-1^+$ in joints was decreased as in the normal group. 9. In the CF-HA, the cartilage destruction and the inflammation cell growth in the H&E stain were decreased. The collagen fiber in the M&T stain were less destructed, therefore the result was similar to the normal group. Conclusions : These results suggest that CH-HA at $ST_{36}$ has an effect in controlling immune reaction and suppressing inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis therefore, the continuous flow of the following study is expected.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.157-165
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• 2017

One of the reasons to causing blood coagulation in the tissue of xenografted organs was known to incompatibility of the blood coagulation and anti-coagulation regulatory system between TG pigs and primates. Thus, overexpression of human CD73 (hCD73) in the pig endothelial cells is considered as a method to reduce coagulopathy after pig-to-non-human-primate xenotransplantation. This study was performed to produce and breed transgenic pigs expressing hCD73 for the studies immune rejection responses and could provide a successful application of xenotransplantation. The transgenic cells were constructed an hCD73 expression vector under control porcine Icam2 promoter (pIcam2-hCD73) and established donor cell lines expressing hCD73. The numbers of transferred reconstructed embryos were $127{\pm}18.9$. The pregnancy and delivery rate of surrogates were 8/18 (44%) and 3/18 (16%). The total number of delivered cloned pigs were 10 (2 alive, 7 mummy, and 1 died after birth). Among them, three live hCD73-pigs were successfully delivered by Caesarean section, but one was dead after birth. The two hCD73 TG cloned pigs had normal reproductive ability. They mated with wild type (WT) MGH (Massachusetts General Hospital) female sows and produced totally 16 piglets. Among them, 5 piglets were identified as hCD73 TG pigs. In conclusion, we successfully generated the hCD73 transgenic cloned pigs and produced their litters by natural mating. It can be possible to use a mate for the production of multiple transgenic pigs such as ${\alpha}-1,3-galactosyltransferase$ knock-out /hCD46 for xenotransplantation.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 1987

This study was conducted to find out the effect of several improvers such as triple super phosphate, slaked lime, wollastonite and gypsum for reducing Cd content in brown rice. Several improvers were applied to two different types of soils which are contaminated with copper-zinc mine wasted and sludge.(Soil I contained Cd : 7.88, Cu : 57.9, Zn : 175.0 ppm, Soil II contained Cd : 3.95, Cu : 30.2, Zn :124.0 ppm) In general, effects of improvers on reducing content of Cd, Cu and Zn in brown rice were greater in soil I than soil II. In soil I, the Cd content of brown rice was reduced to 0.4ppm below by application of triple superphosphate, fused phosphate, slaked lime and gypsum, 98, 225, 190 and 276Kg/10a, respectively. Triple superphosphate was more effective than fused phosphate in reducing uptake of Cd, Cu and Zn by applying them as an equal amount of phosphorous, also to equal alkalinity, slaked lime had the highest effect. Negatively linear effect was found between soil pH and Cd and Zn content in brown rice. As to above results, it was no doubt that triple superphosphate, fused phosphate and slaked lime would be applied to reduced heavy metals in brown rice. The slaked lime, triple super phosphate and fused phosphate were available to reduce uptake of Cd, Cu and Zn by rice plant grown in the soil contaminated with mine waste and sludge.