• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.185-192
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• 2022

A compacted bentonite buffer is a major component of engineered barrier systems, which are designed for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste. In most countries, the target temperature required to maintain safe functioning is below 100℃. If the target temperature of the compacted bentonite buffer can be increased above 100℃, the disposal area can be dramatically reduced. To increase the target temperature of the buffer, it is necessary to investigate its properties at temperatures above 100℃. Although some studies have investigated thermal-hydraulic properties above 100℃, few have evaluated the water suction of compacted bentonite. This study addresses that knowledge gap by evaluating the water suction variation for compacted Korean bentonite in the 25-150℃ range, with initial saturations of 0 and 0.22 under constant saturation conditions. We found that water suction decreased by 5-20% for a temperature increase of 100-150℃.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.315-324
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• 2005

Objectives: To compare the efficacy of GnRH antagonist multiple dose protocol (MDP) with that of GnRH agonist long protocol (LP) in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for in vitro fertilization in patients with high basal FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) level or old age, a retrospective analysis was done. Methods: Two hundred ninety four infertile women (328 cycles) who were older than 41 years of age or had elevated basal FSH level (> 8.5 mIU/mL) were enrolled in this study. The patients had undergone IVF-ET after controlled ovarian hyperstimulation using GnRH antagonist multiple dose protocol (n=108, 118 cycles) or GnRH agonist long protocol (n=186, 210 cycles). The main outcome measurements were cycle cancellation rate, consumption of gonadotropins, the number of follicles recruited and total oocytes retrieved. The number of fertilized oocytes and transferred embryos, the clinical pregnancy rates, and the implantation rates were also reviewed. And enrolled patients were divided into three groups according to their age and basal FSH levels; Group A - those who were older than 41 years of age, Group B - those with elevated basal FSH level (> 8.5 mIU/mL) and Group C - those who were older than 41 years of age and with elevated basal FSH level (> 8.5 mIU/mL). Poor responders were classified as patients who had less than 4 retrieved oocytes, or those with $E_2$ level <500 pg/mL on the day of hCG injection or those who required more than 45 ampules of exogenous gonadotropin for stimulation. Results: The cancellation rate was lower in the GnRH antagonist group than in GnRH agonist group, but not statistically significant (6.8% vs. 9.5%, p=NS). The amount of used gonadotropins was significantly lower in GnRH antagonist group than in agonist group ($34.8{\pm}11.3$ ampules vs. $44.1{\pm}13.4$ ampules, p<0.001). The number of follicles > 14 mm in diameter was significantly higher in agonist group than in antagonist group ($6.7{\pm}4.6$ vs. $5.0{\pm}3.4$, p<0.01). But, there were no significant differences in clinical pregnancy rate (24.5% in antagonist group vs. 27.4% in agonist group, p=NS) and implantation rate (11.4% in antagonist group vs. 12.0% in agonist group, p=NS) between two groups. Mean number of retrieved oocytes was significantly higher in GnRH agonist LP group than in GnRH antagonist MDP group ($5.4{\pm}3.5$ vs. $6.6{\pm}5.0$, p<0.0001). But, the number of mature and fertilized oocytes, and the number of good quality (grade I and II) and transferred embryos were not different between two groups. In each group A, B, and C, the rate of poor response did not differ according to stimulation protocols. Conclusions: In conclusion, for infertile women expected poor ovarian response such as who are old age or has elevated basal FSH level, a protocol including a controlled ovarian hyperstimulation using GnRH antagonist appears at least as effective as that using a GnRH agonist, and may offer the advantage of reducing gonadotropin consumption and treatment period. However, much work remains to be done in optimizing the GnRH antagonist protocols and individualizing these to different cycle characteristics.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.273-284
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• 1992

It is well known that phenytoin (PHT), a commonly prescribed anticonvulsant, has teratogenicity in experimental animals and human. The major malformation induced by PHT in mouse is cleft palate. The mechanisms of the embryotoxic effects of PHT are unknown. However, PHT and synthetic glucocorticoids share several features with respect to their teratogenicity, and it was known that PHT increased maternal corticosterone level. Therefore PHT-induced cleft palate may be mediated indirectly by elevated maternal corticosterone. Recently it was reported that secalonic acid Dinduced cleft palate and elevated endogenous corticosterone level, and that such effects were antagonized by DMSO. The purpose of this work was to investigate whether the elevated maternal corticosterone is associated with the teratogenicity of PHT in the ICR mouse fetuses by treatment with PHT or PHT plus DMSO. PHT (74mg/kg, BW) was daily administered intraperitoneally on day 10~12 of gestation with and without DMSO(2ml/kg, BW), and the fetal malformation was observed on day 18. Maternal serum corticosterone and fetal PHT levels were determined by HPLC. The results are summarized as follows. 1)The percentage of cleft palate incidense in fetuses following treatment with PHT on day 10~12 of gestation was 51.7%. 2)There was a significant decrement in the cleft palate incidence in fetuses to 30.8% in the group treated with PHT plus DMSO compared with 51.7% in that with PHT alone. 3) Maternal serum corticosterone levels following treatment with PHT on day 10~12 of gestation increased by 116~343% compared with that of vehicle control. Such effect was antagonized by DMSO. 4)PHT concentration in the fetuses was not affected by DMSO. These results suggest that PHT-induced cleft-palate in fetuses seems to be closely associated with the elevation of maternal corticosterone level.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.447-455
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• 2000

A eight weeks feeding experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different dietary dimethyl-$\beta$-propiothetin (DMPT) levels on growth and chemical components in red sea bream (Pagrus major). The content of DMPT extracted from Ulva pertusa by auroclaving was 32.5mg%. Body weight gain, feed efficiency and feed intake were significantly increased with dietary DMPT level. After eight weeks of feeding trial, moisture content decreased with supplemented DMPT level, while crude protein and lipid contents increased with dietary DMPT level. Amino acid contents of muscle was elevated in the DMPT added groups compared to control group. Amino acid composition of muscle in fish fed the diets supplemented DMPT was not different to that of control group. Fatty acid contents of muscle in fish increased with dietary DMPT level.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.197-204
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• 2001

Endocrine disruption in crucian carp (Carassius auratus) living in the branch of Han River were examined. Vitellogenin level in plasma was measured using ELISA system and aromatase mRNA level in brain was observed using RT-PCR technique. In all female fish, vitellogenin levels were in the range of 20∼40 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml and aromatase mRNA expression could be detected on the agarose gel after RT-PCR. However, in case of males, vitellogenin level was elevated in only one fish, while vitellogenin was hardly detected in others. Aromatase was expressed in all males although the levels were relatively lower than the level in female fish. Testis-ova and any other histological changes of reproductive organ were not shown in both sexes.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.121-132
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• 2000

Background : The level of serum eosinophil cationic protein(ECP) is elevated in Atopic Dermatitis patients. Objective : The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of serum ECP as a tool of evaluate the efficacy of herb medicine for atopic dermatitis. Material and Method : We investigated 20 patients suffering from atopic dermatitis and analyzed the relationship among the serum level of ECP, IgE, Eosinophil count, and clinical disease activity. Result: Significant elevation in the serum level of ECP, IgE, Eosinophil count is observed in Atopic Dermatitis. Conclusion : The serum level of ECP may be considered to be an useful tool in evaluate effect of herb medicine for atopic dermatitis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.548-557
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• 2000

A eight weeks feeding experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different dietary dimethyl-$\beta$-propiothetin (DMPT) levels on growth and chemical components in Korean rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli). The content of DMPT extracted from Enteromorpha intestinalis by autoclaving was 31.1 mg%. Body weight gain and feed efficiency were significantly increased with dietary DMPT level. After eight weeks of feeding trial, moisture content decreased with supplemented DMPT level, while crude protein and lipid contents increased with dietary DMPT level. Amino acid contents of muscle was elevated in the DMPT added groups compared to control group. Amino acid composition of muscle in fish fed the diets supplemented DMPT was not different to that of control group. Fatty acid contents of muscle in fish increased with dietary DMPT level.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.739-745
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• 1998

Sixteen periparturient Holstein cows calving during summer and autumn were fed to meet maintenance plus last 2 month of gestation level of TDN (MP) and 1.2 time of MP level (HMP). Dry matter intake of cows fed at HMP level during summer and autumn decreased by 1 and 2% of the offered feed in 1 week prepartum, respectively, and cows fed at MP level consumed all of the offered feed. Rectal temperatures at 08 : 30 h of cows fed at HMP level were higher than those of cows fed at MP level. Blood hematocrit and hemoglobin of cows increased during summer and were higher for cows fed at HMP level. Plasma total protein and glucose of cows during summer were higher than those during autumn, and the increased feed intake elevated plasma total protein and glucose. Plasma urea-N of cows fed at MP level was higher than that of cows fed at HMP level during autumn. The increased feed intake decreased plasma nonesterified fatty acid of cows during summer and autumn. These results suggest that blood components of periparturient cows are altered by calving season and feeding level.

• Journal of the Korean Burn Society
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.10-14
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• 2019

Purpose: To find progression and prognosis of pancreatitis developed in massive burn patients through retrospective analysis. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 32 patients with abnormal increase of serum lipase level among 2523 acute burn patients admitted to our burn center from January 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018. Pancreatitis in this study was defined as a serum lipase concentration level that is higher than 180 IU/L which is three times more than the normal level (less than 60 IU/L). In this study, a retrospective analysis was performed on patients with serum lipase level higher than 300 IU/L to better understand causality of burns and pancreatitis. Results: 32 patients (1.27%) had serum lipase level higher than 180 IU/L among 2523 acute burn subjects. And 13 patients (0.52%) of these 32 patients had serum lipase level elevated more than 300 IU/L. The study indicated serum lipase level was increased around 7 days after the injury. It returned to normal level early as after 1 to 2 weeks and late as after 4 to 6 weeks of injury. The serum amylase level was increased as similar modality as to the serum lipase level increase. The serum bilirubin, AST, ALT, LD, and GGT were also observed to be elevated when serum lipase was more than 1000 IU/L. Conclusion: The pancreatitis developed in burn patients are mostly as mild symptom. It could due to the ischemic injury and can easily be treated by a temporary fasting, TPN, and Gabexate intravenous injection.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.40-45
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• 2014

Objectives : Mild cognitive impairment(MCI) and dementia of Alzheimer's type(AD) are characterized by progressive decline of cognitive abilities and a wide range of neuropsychiatric symptoms like depression. Among various diagnostic tools of AD, many studies showed that elevated levels of serum total homocysteine are associated with increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders. We investigated whether elevated homocysteine concentrations are associated with depressive symptoms in MCI and AD. Methods : A total of 86 patients diagnosed with MCI or AD participated. Total serum homocysteine levels in fasting blood samples were measured. We examined cognitive symptoms by MMSE-KC, Global Deterioration Scale(GDS), Clinical dementia rating(CDR) and depressive symptoms by Korean version of Geriatric Depression Scale(K-GDS). Results : The total serum homocysteine levels were significantly higher in MCI with depression than in MCI without depression. There was no significant difference in the mean homocysteine levels between AD patients with depression and AD patients without depression. The total homocysteine levels showed a negative correlation with MMSE-KC and a positive correlation with CDR, GDS. Conclusions : These findings suggest that elevated homocysteine level is a risk factor for the decline of cognitive function and depression. We found a significant relationship between elevated serum homocysteine level and depressive symptoms in MCI. But our study had several limitations, thus more research is needed to confirm this finding.