• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.28-35
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• 2008

Purpose: This study was conducted to examine the clinical significance IV-contrasted helical abdomen computed tomography (CT) as a diagnostic screening tool to evaluate hollow viscus injury in blunt abdominal trauma patients. Methods: This is a retrospective study encompassing 108 patients, presenting to Korea University Medical Center (KUMC) Emergency Department (ED) from January 2007 to December 2007, with an initial CT finding suggestive of intra-abdominal injury. An initial non-enhanced abdomen CT was taken, followed by an enhanced CT with intravenous contrast. Patients' demographic data, as well as the mechanisms of injury, were inquired upon and obtained, initial diagnosis, as dictated by specialized radiologists, were added to post-operational (post-OP) findings and to additional CT findings acquired during their hospital stays, and all were combined to arrive at final diagnosis. Initial CT findings were further compared with the final diagnosis, yielding values for sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy, as well as positive and negative predictive values. Patients were further divided into two groups, namely, those that underwent operational intervention and those that did not. The initial CT findings of each group were subsequently compared and analyzed. Results: Initial CT scans revealed abnormal findings in a total of 212 cases - solid organ injuries being the most common finding, as was observed in 97 cases. Free fluid accumulation was evident in another 69 cases. Based on the CT findings, 77 cases (71.3%) were initially diagnosed as having a solid organ injury, 20 cases (18.5%) as having a combined (solid organ + hollow viscus) injury, and 11 cases (10.2%), as having an isolated hollow viscus injury. The final diagnosis however, were somewhat different, with only 67 cases (62.0%) attributed to solid organ injury, 31 cases (28.7%) to combined injury (solid + hollow), and 10 cases (9.3%) to hollow viscus injury. The sensitivity (CI 95%) of the initial helical CT in diagnosing hollow viscus injury was 75.6%, and its specificity was 100%. The accuracy in diagnosing hollow viscus injury was also meaningfully lower compared to that in diagnosis of solid organ injury. Among patients initially diagnosed with solid organ injuries, 10 patients (2 from follow-up CT and 8 from post-OP finding) turned out to have combined injuries. A total of 38 patients underwent an operation, and the proportion of initial CT findings suggesting free air, mesenteric hematoma or bowel wall thickening turned out to be significantly higher in the operation group. Conclusion: Abdominal CT was a meaningful screening test for hollow viscus injury, but the sensitivity of abdominal CT was significantly lower in detecting hollow viscus injury as compared to solid organ injury. This calls for special consideration and careful observation by the ED physicians when dealing with cases of blunt abdominal trauma.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.246-252
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• 2002

Purpose : It has been recognized that interaction of the Fas : Fas ligand plays an important role in radiation-induced apoptosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of Fas mutation in radiation-induced apoptosis in vivo. Materials and Method : Mice with mutations in Fas, $MRL/Mpj-Fas^{Ipr}$, and its normal control, MRL/Mpj, were used in this study. Eight-week old male mice were given whole body radiation. After irradiation, the mice were killed and their spleens were collected at different time intervals. Tissue samples were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and the numbers of apoptotic cells were scored. Regulating molecules of apoptosis including p53, Bcl-2, Bax, $Bcl-X_L,\;and\;Bcl-X_S$ were also analyzed by Western blotting. Results : At 25 Gy irradiation, the level of apoptosis reached the peak value at 8 hr after radiation and recovered to the normal value at 24 hr after radiation in MRL/Mpj mice. In contrast, the peak apoptosis level appeared at 4 hr after radiation in $MRL/Mpj-Fas^{Ipr}$. At 8 hr after radiation, the levels of apoptosis in MRL/Mpj mice and $MRL/Mpj-Fas^{Ipr}$ mice were $52.3{\pm}7.8\%\;and\;8.0{\pm}8.6\%$, respectively (p<0.05). The expression of apoptosis regulating molecules, p53, $Bcl-X_L\;and\;Bcl-X_S$, increased in MRL/Mpj mice in response to radiation; p53 with a peak level of 3-fold at 8 h, $Bcl-X_L$ with a peak level of 3.3-fold at 12 h, and $Bcl-X_S$ with a peak level of 3-fold at 12 h after 25 Gy radiation. Bcl-2 and Bax did not show significant change in MRL/Mpj mice. However in $MRL/Mpj-Fas^{Ipr}$ mice, the expression levels of p53, Bcl-2, Bax, $BCl-X_L\;and\;BCl-X_S$ showed no significant change. Conclusion : The level of radiation-induced apoptosis was lower in Fas mutated mice, Ipr, than in control mice. This seemed to be related to the lack of radiation-induced p53 activation in the Ipr mice. This result suggests that Fas plays an important role in radiation-induced apoptosis in vivo.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.288-295
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• 2009

We report the etch characteristics of GaAs and AlGaAs in the diffusion pump-based capacitively coupled $BCl_3$ plasma. Process variables were chamber pressure ($50{\sim}180$ mTorr), CCP power ($50{\sim}200\;W$) and $BCl_3$ gas flow rate ($2.5{\sim}10$ sccm). Surface profilometry was used for etch rate and surface roughness measurement after etching. Scanning electron microscopy was used to analyze the etched sidewall and surface morphology. Optical emission spectroscopy was used in order to characterize the emission peaks of the $BCl_3$ plasma during etching. We have achieved $0.25{\mu}m$/min of GaAs etch rate with only 5 sccm $BCl_3$ flow rate when the chamber pressure was in the range of 50{\sim}130 mTorr. The etch rates of AlGaAs were a little lower than those of GaAs at the conditions. However, the etch rates of GaAs and AlGaAs decreased significantly when the chamber pressure increased to 180 mTorr. GaAs and AlGaAs were not etched with 50 W CCP power. With $100{\sim}200\;W$ CCP power, etch rates of the materials increased over $0.3{\mu}m$/min. It was found that the etch rates of GaAs and AlGaAs were not always proportional to the increase of CCP power. We also found the interesting result that AlGaAs did not etched at 2.5 sccm $BCl_3$ flow rate at 75 mTorr and 100 W CCP power even though it was etched fast like GaAs with more $BCl_3$ gas flow rates. By contrast, GaAs was etched at ${{\sim}}0.3{\mu}m$/min at the 2.5 sccm $BCl_3$ flow rate condition. A broad molecular peak was noticed in the range of $500{\sim}700\;mm$ wavelength during the $BCl_3$ plasma etching. SEM photos showed that 10 sccm $BCl_3$ plama produced more undercutting on GaAs sidewall than 5 sccm $BCl_3$ plasma.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.469-476
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• 2014

The aims of this study were to explore the effects of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-naïve and LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages and to examine whether these effects affect the regulation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$) production, and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma ($PPAR{\gamma}$) activation. Trans-10, cis-12(t10c12)-CLA increased the production of ROS, as well as TNF-${\alpha}$ in LPS-naïve RAW 264.7 cells. The CLA-induced TNF-${\alpha}$ production was suppressed by treatment of diphenyleneiodonium chloride (DPI), a NADPH oxidase inhibitor. In addition, CLA enhanced the activities of NF-${\kappa}B$ and $PPAR{\gamma}$ in LPS-naïve RAW 264.7 cells, and this effect was abolished with DPI treatment. LPS treatment increased ROS production, whereas CLA reduced LPS-induced ROS production. LPS increased both TNF-${\alpha}$ production and NF-${\kappa}B$ activity, whereas t10c12-CLA reduced TNF-${\alpha}$ production and NF-${\kappa}B$ activity in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. DPI treatment suppressed LPS-induced ROS production and NF-${\kappa}B$ activity. Moreover, DPI enhanced the inhibitory effects of t10c12-CLA on TNF-${\alpha}$ production and NF-${\kappa}B$ activation in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. However, neither t10c12-CLA nor DPI affected $PPAR{\gamma}$ activity in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Taken together, these data indicate that t10c12-CLA induces TNF-${\alpha}$ production by increasing ROS production in LPS-naïve RAW 264.7 cells, which is mediated by the enhancement of NF-${\kappa}B$ activity via $PPAR{\gamma}$ activation. By contrast, t10c12-CLA suppresses TNF-${\alpha}$ production by inhibiting ROS production and NF-${\kappa}B$ activation via a $PPAR{\gamma}$-independent pathway in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. These results suggest that t10c12-CLA can modulate TNF-${\alpha}$ production and NF-${\kappa}B$ activation through formation of ROS in RAW 264.7 macrophages.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.64-70
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• 1988

An experiment was carried out to know the effects of paclobutrazol on the lodging related traits and yield of a japonia (Seomjinbyeo) and an indica (Samgangbyeo) rice variety grown at 3 N levels (10, 20, 30 kg/10a) and 3 N split rates [basal + top dressing 15 days after transplanting (DAT) : top dressing 25 days before heading (DBH) was 100 : 0, 80 : 20, and 60 : 40]. Paclobutrazol (3kg/10a of 0.6% G) was applied 15 DBH and lodging related traits were observed 3, 13, 23, and 33 days after heading (DAH). The results obtained summarized as follows. 1. Culm length was increased as N level increased, but decreased by application of paclobutrazol. Culm length was not affected by N split rates in both varieties. 2. Lodging was not occurred at all plots, but lodging index of Seomingbyeo was much greater than that of Samgangbyeo. In both varieties loding index increased up to 23 DAH due to an increase in fresh weight and a decrease in breaking strength and levelled off thereafter due to a decrease in both fresh weight and breaking strength. 3. Culm length of Seomjinbyeo and fresh weight of shoot and culm length of Samgangbyeo were positively correlated with lodging index, but breaking strength was not correlated with lodging index in both varieties during the most of ripening stages. Direct effect of culm length contributing to lodging index was positive and much greater than that of fresh weight and breaking strength in Seomjinbyeo, but in Samganbyeo direct effect of culm length and fresh weight was positive, but that of breaking strength was negative with similar magnitudes. 4. Yield in brown rice of Seomjinbyeo was not affected by N level, but split application of N increased yield. In contrast, yield of Samgangbyeo was increased as N level increased, but yield was not affected by N split rates. Paclobutrazol did not affect yield of rice in Seomjinbyeo, but decreased yield by 5.2% in Samgangbyeo due to a decrease in the number of spikelets per panicle.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.47-58
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• 2002

Much of the plastic film house soils in the southern part of the Korean peninsula are managed using a upland-paddy rotation culture system (hereafter, RS) to prevent salt accumulation in soil. However, information on the effects of RS on soil properties and environmental conservation is limited. In order to determine the effects of RS on soil properties, 22 fields under RS and 20 fields under a non-rotation system (hereafter, NRS) in plastic film houses were selected in Chinju, in southern Korea, and the P distribution characteristics were investigated, including the chemical properties. The RS contributed to the removal of water-soluble salts in the surface layer and to the redistribution of organic matter evenly in the soil profile. In the AP horizon, available phosphorus levels were $1,611mg\;kg^{-1}$ in RS and $1,789mg\;kg^{-1}$ in NRS, which markedly exceeds the optimum range for plant cultivation. Total P was lower in RS (average $4,593mg\;kg^{-1}$) than in NRS (average $5,440mg\;kg^{-1}$) and this decrease was taken to be an effect of RS. Inorganic P was the predominant form of P in both systems, followed by organic P and residual P. A soil profile showed that total and inorganic P concentrations decreased with depth in both systems. However, organic P increased withdepth in RS, which was in contrast to that noted in NRS. The increase in organic P with depth in RS implied that organically rather than inorganically derived phosphate moved through the soil. The concentrations of water-soluble P, Ca-P and Al-P were higher in NRS than in RS soil profiles, but the Fe-P concentration was higher in RS than in NRS, which might be affected by the anaerobic conditions found in paddy soils. In both systems, the Al-P form of extractable P predominated in the surface layer, followed by Ca-P, Fe-P and water-soluble P. With increasing depth, the composition rate of Ca-P to extractable P decreased to less than 10% in the 60-70cm depth, as Fe-P dominated at this level. The content of water-soluble P, potentially the main source of eutrophication, was higher in NRS than in RS. These results indicated that the RS used in plastic film houses contributed to the removal of water-soluble salts but only slightly decreased the phosphate concentration.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.199-247
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• 2012

According to the review and analysis of medical cases that are assigned to the Supreme Court and all local High Court in 2011 and that are presented in the media, it was found that the following categories were taken seriously, medical and pharmaceutical product liability, the third principle of trust between medical institutions, negligence and causation estimation, responsibility limit, the meaning of medical records and related judgment of disturbed substantiation, Oriental doctors' duties to explain the procedures, IMS events, whether one can claim for each medical care operated by non-physician health care institutions to the nonmedical domain in the National Health Insurance Corporation, and the basis of norms for each claim. In the cases related to medical pharmaceutical product liability, Supreme Court alleviated burden of proof for accidents with medical and pharmaceutical products prior to the practice of Product Liability Law and onset the point of negative prescription as the time of damage strikes to condition feasibility of the specific situation. In the cases related to the 3rd principle of trust between medical institutions, the Supreme Court refused to sentence the doctor who has trusted the judgment of the same third-party doctors the violations of the care duty. With respect to proof of a causal relationship and damages in a medical negligence case, the Supreme Court decided that it is unjust to deny negligence by the materials of causal relationship rejecting the original verdict and clarified that the causal relationship shall not deny the reasons to limit doctors' responsibilities. In order not put burden on patients with disadvantages in which medical records and the description of the practice or the most fundamental and important evidence to prove negligence and causation are being neglected, the Supreme Court admitted in the hospital's responsibility for the case of the neonate death of suffocation without properly listed fetal heart rate and uterine contraction monitor. On the other hand, the Seoul Western District Court has admitted alimony for altering and forging medical records. With respect to doctors' obligations to description, the Supreme Court decided that it is necessary to explain the foreseen risks by the combination of oriental and western medicines emphasizing the right of patient's self-determination. However, questions have arisen whether it is realistically feasible or not. In a case of an unlicensed doctor performing intramuscular stimulation treatment (IMS), the Supreme Court put off its decision if it was an unlicensed medical practice as to put limitation of eastern and western medical practices, but it declared that IMS practice was an acupuncture treatment therefore the plaintiff's conduct being an illegal act. In the future, clear judgment on this matter should be made. With respect to the claim of bills from non-physical health care institutions, the Supreme Court decided to void it for the implementation of the arrangement is contrary to the commitments made in the medical law and therefore, it is invalid to claim. In addition, contrast to the private healthcare professionals, who are subject to redemption according to the National Healthcare Insurance Law, the Seoul High Court explicitly confirmed that the non-professionals who receive the tort operating profit must return the unjust enrichment and have the liability for damages. As mentioned above, a relatively wide range of topics were discussed in medical field of 2011. In Korea's health care environment undergoing complex changes day by day, it is expected to see more diverse and in-depth discussions striding out to the development in the field of health care.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.163-170
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• 2006

Nardostachyos Rhizoma (N. Rhizoma) belonging to the family Valerianaceae has been anti-arrhythmic effect, and sedation to the central nerve and a smooth muscle. We reported that the water extract of N. Rhizoma induced apoptotic cell death and differentiation in human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cells. Cytotoxicity of N. Rhizoma was detected only in HL-60 cells (IC50 is about 200 ${\mu}g/ml$). The cytotoxic activity of N. Rhizoma in HL-60 cells was increased in a dose-dependent manner. We used several measures of apoptosis to determine whether these processes were involved in N. Rhizoma-induced apoptotic cell death. The high-dose (200 ${\mu}g/ml$) treatment of N. Rhizoma to HL-60 cells showed cell shrinkage, cell membrane blobbing, apoptotic bodies, and the fragmentation of DNA, suggesting that these cells underwent apoptosis. Treatment of HL-60 cells with N. Rhizoma time-dependently induced activation of caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9 and proteolytic cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. Also, we investigated the effect of N. Rhizoma on cellular differentiation and proliferation in HL-60 cells. Differentiation and proliferation of HL-60 cells was determined through expression of CD11b and CD14 surface antigens using flow cytometry and nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) assay, and through analysis of cell cycle using propidium iodide assay, respectively. N. Rhizoma induced the differentiation of HL-60 at the low-dose (100 ${\mu}g/ml$) treatment, as shown by increased expression of differentiation surface antigen CD11b, but not CDl4 and increased reducing activity of NBT. When HL-60 cells were treated with N. Rhizoma at concentration of $50{\mu}g/ml\;and\;100{\mu}g/ml$, NBT-reducing activities induced approximately 1.5-fold and 20.0-fold as compared with the control. In contrast, HL-60 cells treated with the N. Rhizoma-ATRA combination showed markedly elevated levels of 26.3-fold at $50{\mu}g/ml$ N. Rhizoma-0.1 ${\mu}M$ ATRA combination and 27.5-fold at 50 ${\mu}g/ml$ N. Rhizoma-0.2 ${\mu}M$ ATRA combination than when treated with N. Rhizoma alone or ATRA alone. It may be that N. Rhizoma plays important roles in synergy with ATRA during differentiation of HL-60 cells. DNA flow-cytometry indicated that N. Rhizoma markedly induced a G1 phase arrest of HL-60 cells. N. Rhizoma-treated HL-60 cells increased the cell population in G1 phase from 32.71% to 42.26%, whereas cell population in G2/M and S phases decreased from 23.61% to 10.33% and from 37.78% to 33.98%, respectively. We examined the change in the $p21^{WAF1/Cip1}\;and\;p27^{Kip1}$ proteins, which are the CKIs related with the G1 phase arrest. The expression of the CDK inhibitor $p27^{Kip1},\;but\;not\;p21^{WAF1/Cip1}$ were markedly increased by N. Rhizoma. Taken together, these results demonstrated that N. Rhizoma induces apoptotic cell death through activation of caspase-3, and potently inhibits the proliferation of HL-60 cells via the G1 phase cell cycle arrest in association with $p27^{Kip1}$ and granulocytic differentiation induction .

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.766-783
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• 2006

This study describes philosophical background regarding '虛' in oriental medicine in an effort to understand the relationships among some of the Eastern philosophy in accordance with differentiated meanings in several resources by analyzing examples of '虛' in Huang Di Nei Jing. The various usages of '虛' used in Huang Di Nei Jing are as follows: naming; condition of pulse; emptiness; '太虛' which was referred universal space by Chinese ; insufficiency, lack or scarcity, deficiency ; and the description of vitality, mental faculties. 外丹修煉(training by external substances) had the attitude do that withdraw the death by taking external materials. The meaning of '虛'in 外丹修煉 is similar to that in oriental medicine in terms of deficiency. That is, both 外丹修煉 and the oriental medicine consider that the death and disease are caused by the deficiency of something. However, there also exists difference between 外丹修煉 and the oriental medicine. 外丹修煉 supplements through withdrawal prohibition due to the characteristic of unchangeability and stern or immortal while oriental medicine provides concrete object of deficiency. 精(essence of life), 氣(ki, functional activity), and fe(vitality) not only have been considered as basic component of human body, but they also have been an important subject of health preservation for longevity with health in Taoism and oriental medicine. In oriental medicine, 精 and 氣 have been perceived as physical basis of human body and 神 as controller. 內丹修煉(Training of internal active substances) 掠nds to return to '虛', the early state of life through individual training, and attempts to withdraw death through continuous recurrence. The oriental medicine and 內丹修煉 held great value of 神 among health preservation of 精, 氣, and 神. They seek theoretical basis from philosophical Taoism. However, '虛' in Taoism is different from that in training by internal substances and oriental medicine: '虛' in philosophical Taoism has metaphysical concept which refers overcome of life and death, but '虛' in 內丹修煉 and oriental medicine have empirical concept. '太虛' is considered as formless space where it is emp Dut filled with 氣. It is conceptualized with the premise of the relevant adaptation of human body to natural environment theory referring that the interaction between the heaven and the earth makes changes; all creation is originated , and human is affected by the interaction of the heaven and the earth. Furthermore, in $\ulcorner$運氣七篇$\lrcorner$ (Seven chapters described about the five circuit phases and the six atmospheric influences), the expression that the earth is in the center of '太虛' and huge amount of 氣 supports it proves that $\ulcorner$運氣七篇$\lrcorner$ adapts '渾天設'(Chaotic universe thee). In Taoism, '虛' is the grounds where all creation is generated in the optimal condition of Tao. As regards the aspect of mentality, it is the condition in which one can free from the dualistic concepts such as right and wrong, beauty and ugliness, life and death, and so on. Although the ultimate goal of oriental medicine, the achievement of longevity without sickness, might contrast with the Taoist belief that perceives life and death as the natural phenomena or the flowing of the 氣, and eliminates all international, the idea of Taoism that one should live substantial life with naivety, and make Harmony with the nature might be influential to the oriental medicine.

• Korean Journal of Plant Tissue Culture
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.257-261
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• 1998

The repeated subcultures of in vitro plant materials in wasabi became highly vitrified and the capacity for multiple shoot formation from the vitrified plant materials was very low. In order to improve the quality of in vitro propagated planting materials, the experiments were carried out using culture vessels capped with membrane filter(MF). When vitrified shoots were cultured on MS medium with 0.2mg/L BA in the vessels with MF or without MF for 60 days, the shoots in the vessels with MF did not vitrified. In contrast, the shoots grown in the vessels without MF vitrified at 65%. The stomates of vitrified leaves were circular and inflated, whereas those of normal leaves acclimatizated in the vessels with MF were ovate in shape. The hardened shoots were also cultured on MS media without sucrose containing 0.01mg/L IBA in vessels with(photoautotrophic culture) or without(control) MF. Sucrose was necessary for survival of the in vitro plantlets in the vessels without MF. After 20 days of culture, the shoots in the vessels without MF on the sucrose-free media turned yellow and died. But the shoots in the vessels with MF in the sucrose-free media produced a lot of roots. When shoots were cultured on MS medium with 2% sucrose containing 0.01mg/L IBA in the vessels with(photomixotrophic culture) or without(heterotrophic culture) MF, best growth occured in photomixotrophic culture.