• Laboraroty Animal Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.133-139
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• 2018

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is becoming common chronic liver disease because of the increasing global prevalence of obesity and consequently Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the mechanism for progression of NAFLD to NASH and then cirrhosis is not completely understood, yet. The triggering of these hepatic diseases is thought from hepatocyte injury caused by over-accumulated lipid toxicity. Injured hepatocytes release damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), which can stimulate the Kupffer cells (KCs), liver-resident macrophages, to release pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, and recruit monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs). The increased activation of KCs and recruitment of MDMs accelerate the progression of NAFLD to NASH and cirrhosis. Therefore, characterization for activation of hepatic macrophages, both KCs and MDMs, is a baseline to figure out the progression of hepatic diseases. The purpose of this review is to discuss the current understanding of mechanisms of NAFLD and NASH, mainly focusing on characterization and function of hepatic macrophages and suggests the regulators of hepatic macrophages as the therapeutic target in hepatic diseases.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.199-206
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• 2005

C. neoformans-associated cryptococcosis is primarily a disease of immunocompromised persons, has a world-wide distribution, and is often spread by pigeons in the urban environment. In contrast, C. gattii causes infection in normal hosts, has only been described in tropical and semi-tropical areas of the world, and has a unique niche in river gum Eucalyptus trees. Cryptococcosis is acquired through inhalation of the yeast propagules from the environment. C. gattii has been identified as the cause of an emerging infectious disease centered on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. No cases of C. gattii-disease were diagnosed prior to 1999; the current incidence rate is 36 cases per million population. A search was initiated in 2001 to find the ecological niche of this basidiomycetous yeast. C. gattii was found in the environment in treed areas of Vancouver Island. The highest percentage of colonized-tree clusters were found around central Vancouver Island, with decreasing rates of colonization to the north and south. Climate, soil and vegetation cover of this area, called the Coastal Douglas fir biogeoclimatic zone, is unique to British Columbia and Canada. The concentration of airborne C. gattii was highest in the dry summer months, and lowest during late fall, winter, and early spring, months which have heavy rainfall. The study of the emerging colonization of this organism and subsequent cases of environmentally acquired disease will be informative in planning public health management of new routes of exposure to exotic agents in areas impacted by changing climate and land use patterns.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.348-351
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to determine the distribution of gram-negative bacteria isolated from companion animals with sepsis, and to investigate the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of the isolates. Bacterial pathogens were isolated from specimens of dogs and cats submitted to National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service between 2008 and 2009. A total of 44 gram-negative pathogens were isolated from necropsied organs. The most common isolates were E. coli (n = 33), K. pneumoniae (n = 4) and B. bronchiseptica (n = 4). Most of gram-negative isolates were susceptible to ceftiofur (68.2%), colistin (84.1%), florfenicol (84.1%) and spectinomycin (61.4%). Most of those were resistant to ampicillin (77.3%), erythromycin (86.4%), flumequine (65.9%), lincomycin (97.7%), oxytetracycline (61.4%), penicillin (100%), streptomycin (63.6%), spiramycin (97.7%), sulfamethoxazole (90.9%), tylosin (97.7%) and tiamulin (100%). In conclusion, colistin and florfenicol could be useful against sepsis due to gram-negative bacteria.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 2011

Purpose: To investigate the healing pattern of the mucous membrane after tooth extraction necessitated by periodontal disease in the maxillary sinus. Methods: One hundred and three patients with 119 maxillary sinuses were investigated. Before implant placement, cone-beam computed tomography (CT) scanning was performed. The causes of extraction, the time elapsed since extraction, smoking, periodontal disease in adjacent teeth, and gender were recorded. In addition, the thickness of the mucous membrane of the maxillary sinus and the height of residual alveolar bone at the extracted area were calculated from CT images. Results: The thickness of the mucous membrane in the periodontal disease group ($3.05{\pm}2.71\;mm$) was greater than that of the pulp disease group ($1.92{\pm}1.78\;mm$) and the tooth fracture group ($1.35{\pm}0.55\;mm$; P<0.05). The causes of extraction, the time elapsed since extraction, and gender had relationships with a thickening of the mucous membrane of the maxillary sinus (P<0.05). In contrast, the height of the residual alveolar bone at the extracted area, periodontal disease in adjacent teeth, and smoking did not show any relation to the thickening of the mucous membrane of the maxillary sinus. Conclusions: The present study revealed distinct differences in healing patterns according to the causes of extraction in the maxillary sinus, especially periodontal disease, which resulted in more severe thickening of the mucous membrane.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.7
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• pp.1038-1044
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• 2012

In the present study, the impact of Salmonella Typhimurium on cell-mediated immunity (CMI) was investigated in 5 week-old immuno divergent broiler lines selected for the high and low response to phytohemagglutinin-P. The immune response was assessed in peripheral-blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) induced with Salmonella Typhimurium at different time intervals (0 h, 0.5 h, 2 h, 4 h, 6 h, 12 h and 24 h). The differential mRNA expression patterns of IFN-${\gamma}$, IL-2 and iNOS were evaluated by quantitative real time PCR. In-vitro production of nitric oxide (NO) was also estimated in the culture supernatant and correlated with iNOS mRNA expression. Present study showed higher production of NO in the high cell-mediated line (HCMI) as compared to the low cell-mediated line (LCMI) upon stimulation with Salmonella Typhimurium. Correspondingly, higher mRNA expression of iNOS and IFN-${\gamma}$ were observed in high response birds (HCMI); but IL-2 was down regulated in this line compared to the low response birds (LCMI). Significantly (p<0.05) higher expression of iNOS, IFN-${\gamma}$ and higher production of NO in high line indicated that the selection for PHA-P response might be employed for increasing the immune competence against Salmonella Typhimurium in chicken flocks.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.385-393
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• 2014

Purpose: The aim of this study is to examine the effects of egg consumption and suggest proper guidelines for consumption of eggs by determining the relationship between eggs and cholesterol. Methods: Literature review was conducted on the relationship between nutritional, functional properties of eggs and serum cholesterol, as well as cardiovascular disease. Results: Eggs, which are a good protein food with complete amino acid composition, contain vitamin A, riboflavin, vitamin $B1_2$, folic acid, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K, calcium, iron, choline, selenium, ${\beta}$-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, etc. However the egg yolk has a high cholesterol content, which is associated with chronic diseases, including heart disease and hypertension. As a result, its intake is subject to regulation. Outbreak of heart disease by yolk intake can show different results depending on the characteristics of the subjects, amount of egg intake, and the implications of other foods eaten. It is difficult to determine whether eggs are beneficial, as they are the main supplying source for other major nutritive elements as well. Several research studies insist that when cholesterol intake increases by 100 mg, the level of serum cholesterol increases by 2.2~4.5 mg/dL and when serum cholesterol increases by 1%, the risk of heart disease increases by 2%. This indicates that a large intake of eggs can increase the risk of heart disease. Although the cholesterol of egg yolk and serum cholesterol are correlated, it is insufficient to conclude that only cholesterol and not other components are related to heart disease. In fact, other components in egg such as various unsaturated fatty acids and phospholipids could be related as well. Rather than concluding egg as a 'good' or 'bad' food according to its cholesterol content, it is important to define egg as a part of dietary patterns. Conclusion: Generalizing an indiscriminate and uniform amount of egg intake for all seems inadequate. However, patients with diabetes or heart disease should pay particular attention to the amount of egg intake. As for the norm, eating egg with vegetables as a substitute for other animal products seems beneficial.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.97-105
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• 2009

We in this paper have constructed herb and formula ontologies. Herb instances and formula instances can be distinguished by nature, used part, effect, disease pattern, symptom, and formula and constituent herb, dosage, effect, disease pattern, symptom, and medical book, respectively. The knowledge for herbs and formulas in ontology is formalized with the distinguishable elements and their relations. Based on the herb and formula ontologies, we propose the three reasoning rules as follows: In herb ontology, the relation between herb and disease can be reasoned if there are the relation between herb and effect, and effect and disease. In formula ontology, there are two reasoning rules. First, if each constituent herb, dosage, effect, disease pattern, and symptom of two formulas is same, it can be reasoned that two formulas are same though the medical books of the formulas are different. Second, if each constituent herb and dosage is same in two formula, it can be reasoned that each formula has all of effects, disease patterns, and symptoms of formulas. In future study, we study other ontologies such as disease ontology with respect to Korean Medicine and define the reasoning rules about the ontologies.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.58 no.11
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• pp.434-439
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• 2015

Purpose: Kawasaki disease involves acute febrile systemic vasculitis that can cause a variety of symptoms by affecting various organs. Here, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence, causes, and prognosis of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) occurring in children with Kawasaki disease. Methods: Patients who were diagnosed with Kawasaki disease and received inpatient treatment in the Pediatrics Department at one of three university hospitals in Daegu city from February 2012 to September 2012 were enrolled in the study. The clinical features, hematological results, echocardiography results, audiometry results, and aspirin and salicylic acid serum levels of the patients were evaluated. Results: Of the 59 children enrolled in the study, three showed mild bilateral SNHL on audiometry tests conducted after 48 hours of defervescence; these patients demonstrated normal patterns of recovery on follow-up tests 8 weeks later. Aspirin serum levels were significantly higher in the SNHL group after 48 hours of afebrile condition with high dose aspirin intake (P=0.034). However, no significant differences were found in other laboratory tests or for fever duration (P>0.05). Upon echocardiography, coronary artery abnormality was observed in 9 cases, but none of these patients showed hearing loss. Conclusion: The results indicate that SNHL in children with Kawasaki disease might occur during treatment of the acute phase; this SNHL usually involves mild bilateral hearing loss and recovers naturally. However, this study suggests that determination of the causes and clinical implications of hearing loss in Kawasaki disease requires long-term follow-up studies with more cases.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.33-45
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• 2015

Objectives : Through the study on Byeokyeoksinbang(辟疫神方), it would be expected to analyze Dokyeok(毒疫)'s characteristic and to comprehend how the changes in viewpoints of epidemic febrile disease were made. Methods : It has been done to analyze the original text of Byeokyeoksinbang(辟疫神方), and to compare the theory of Onbyeongjobyeon(溫病條辨) associated with the signature symptom of Dokyeok(毒疫). Results : Heo Jun(許浚) experienced a specific epidemic disease called 'Dokyeok(毒疫)', on which he made observations and analyzed its features and wrote Byeokyeoksinbang(辟疫神方). In Byeokyeoksinbang(辟疫神方), 'Dokyeok(毒疫)' is characterized by rash[疹], its pathogenesis is warm temperature, thus its treatment principle is removing interior and exterior heat. The book's pragmatic perspective is highly appreciated, as HeoJun improved and solidified existing medical knowledge up to date. In addition, Byeokyeoksinbang(辟疫神方) is significant in that it differentiated between macula[癍疹] and rash[疹], much earlier than the febrile disease school of the Qing dynasty. Conclusions : Between Byeokyeoksinbang(辟疫神方) and Onbyeongjobyeon(溫病條辨), there are differences in treatments and patterns of rash[疹]. Based on this, it will be able to compare each disease that is written in two books. And a study on comparing the development between epidemic febrile disease[瘟疫學] of the Joseon dynasty and febrile disease[溫病學] of the Qing dynasty will be carried out with a follow-up study.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.903-909
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• 2019

Periodontal disease is observed in many adult persons. However we has not clear know the molecular mechanism and how to treat the disease at the molecular levels. Here, we investigated the molecular differences between periodontal disease and normal controls using gene expression data. In particular, we checked whether the periodontal disease and normal tissues would be classified by machine learning algorithms using gene expression data. Moreover, we revealed the differentially expression genes and their function. As a result, we revealed that the periodontal disease and normal control samples were clearly clustered. In addition, by applying several classification algorithms, such as decision trees, random forests, support vector machines, the two samples were classified well with high accuracy, sensitivity and specificity, even though the dataset was imbalanced. Finally, we found that the genes which were related to inflammation and immune response, were usually have distinct patterns between the two classes.