• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.78 no.4
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• pp.463-468
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• 2015

Pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis is an uncommon diffuse cystic lung disease in adults. In rare cases, it can involve extrapulmonary organs and lead to endocrine abnormalities such as central diabetes insipidus. A 42-year-old man presented with polyphagia and polydipsia, as well as a dry cough and dyspnea on exertion. Magnetic resonance imaging of the hypothalamic-pituitary system failed to show the posterior pituitary, which is a typical finding in patients with central diabetes insipidus. This condition was confirmed by a water deprivation test, and the patient was also found to have type 2 diabetes mellitus. Computed tomographic scanning of the lungs revealed multiple, irregularly shaped cystic lesions and small nodules bilaterally, with sparing of the costophrenic angles. Lung biopsy through video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery revealed pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis. On a follow-up visit, only 1 year after the patient had quit smoking, clinical and radiological improvement was significant. Here, we report an uncommon case of pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis that simultaneously presented with diabetes insipidus and diabetes mellitus.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.174-181
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• 2013

Pyrifluquinazon is classified with a quinazoline insecticide that regulates food intake by controling the feeding behavior acting on the endocrine or nervous system of pests such as aphids and white fly. To keep safety on pyrifluquinazon residues in agricultural commodities a simple, accurate and rapid analytical method was developed and validated using high performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC-UVD). The pyrifluquinazon residues acidified with 1% formic acid in samples were extracted with acetonitrile and partitioned with hexane subsequently to dichloromethane then purified with silica solid phase extraction (SPE) cartridge. The purified samples were detected using HPLC-UVD. The method was validated using apple and pear spiked with pyrifluquinazon at 0.02, 0.05 and 0.1 mg/kg and hulled rice, pepper, soybean at 0.05 and 0.1 mg/kg. Average recoveries were 70.5~107.9% with relative standard deviation less than 10%. The result of recoveries and overall coefficient of variation of a laboratory results in Gwangju regional FDA and Daejeon regional FDA was followed with Codex guideline (CODEX CAC/GL 40). This method is appropriated at pyrifluquinazon residues determination and will be used as official method of analysis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.181-189
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• 2016

The aim of this study was to identify the effects of dithiopyr (DTP), a herbicide, on behavior in zebrafish. The toxicity of DTP has rarely been investigated in fish. In the present study, zebrafish were exposed to different concentrations of DTP in the range of 10-20 μM for 48 h in a test container, in order to measure the value of median lethal concentrations (LC₅₀). Behavioral experiments were performed, including the novel tank test (NTT) and the open field test (OFT), to assess stress responses or locomotion. After exposure to the DTP solution at a sublethal concentration of 2.5–10 μM for 6 min, the behavior of the zebrafish was observed for 6 min. In the acute toxicity test, the LC₅₀ value of DTP showed as 14.49 μM in the zebrafish. The NTT showed that the duration of immobility and the velocity were significantly increased by exposure at a concentration of 5 μM of DTP, compared with a control group (p<0.05). However, compared with the control group, DTP significantly decreased the distance moved and the frequency at the top of the tank, and significantly increased the turn angle and duration at the bottom, in a concentration-dependent manner (p<0.05). In addition, in the OFT, exposure to DTP significantly decreased the distance moved and velocity compared with the control group (p<0.05). Exposure to DTP also significantly increased the duration of immobility, the turn angle, and the meandering movement, in a concentration-dependent manner (p<0.05). Further, exposure to DTP at a low concentration elevated whole-body cortisol levels in the zebrafish. The results of this study thus suggest that DTP induces a toxic response and negative effects on behavior and the endocrine system in zebrafish.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.370-379
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• 2018

This study was conducted 1) to investigate the effects of treatment and other factors on the quality of life of thyroid cancer surgical patients and 2) to provide fundamental data for development of an intervention and symptom management program to improve the quality of life of those patients. A total of 76 patients who were diagnosed with thyroid cancer and underwent thyroidectomy from July 2013 to December 2014 participated in this study. To investigate the factors affecting quality of life, a t-test and ANOVA analyses were conducted, after which multiple regression analysis was performed. The results were statistically significant between preoperative and one month after surgery of sex, cancer history, fatigue, and quality of life until 3 months after surgery of stage, cancer history, anxiety, and pain. Multiple regression analysis showed that the most influential factors affecting the quality of life were depression and fatigue at one month prior to and after surgery and anxiety at three months after surgery, while no factors were found to be influential at six months after surgery. Overall, the results of this study suggested that it is imperative to manage depression and fatigue one month prior to and after surgery to reduce the physical and psychological pain experienced by thyroid cancer patients. Moreover, three months after the surgery, anxiety should be closely monitored and controlled to improve the quality of life of the patients. This approach is expected to reduce the burden on the health care system and social costs, which will positively affect public health.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.395-401
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• 2019

Phthalate is a chemical endocrine disrupter and interfere with the action of hormones, estrogens, androgens and thyroid hormones. It also affect cardiovascular, metabolic, immune and reproductive system in the human and animals. Curcumin is antioxidant, anti-inflammatory activity and -cancer properties in the human. We studied whether phthalates damage viability, mitochondrial activity and membrane integrity of sperm in boar semen. We also treated curcumin with/without phthalates in the boar semen. Fresh boar semen was treated with phthalates and/or curcumin for examining sperm characteristics. Sperm characteristics, sperm motility, viability, mitochondrial activity, and membrane integrity were determined during storage of boar semen. Sperm motility and viability in dose-dependent manner decreased by di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP) and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP, p<0.05). Phthalates also decreased mitochondrial activity and membrane integrity of sperm (p<0.05). However, sperm motility and viability were higher than untreated-curcumin when DBP, MBP and DEHP treated with a curcumin in boar semen (p<0.05). Mitochondrial activity and membrane integrity of sperm were higher in DBP- and MBP-treated semen with curcumin (p<0.05). In conclusion, phthalates can damage sperm viability and quality during the boar semen storage, and curcumin may protect the boar sperms from phthalates during storage term.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.72-81
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• 2019

Bisphenol A (BPA), a representative endocrine disrupting chemicals, has adverse effects on growth, development and reproduction in aquatic organisms. The object of this study was to investigate the modulation of antioxidant enzyme-coding genes using quantitative real time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR), enzyme activity and total protein content, to understand oxidative stress responses after exposure to BPA for 48 h in brackish water flea Diaphanosoma celebensis. The BPA ($3mg\;L^{-1}$) significantly upregulated the expression of Cu/Zn-SOD, Mn-SOD, and catalase (CAT) mRNA. Three GST isoforms (GST-kappa, GST-mu, and GST-theta) mRNA levels significantly increased at the rate of $0.12mg\;L^{-1}$ of BPA. In particular, GST-mu showed the highest expression level, indicating its key role in antioxidant response to BPA. SOD activity was induced with a concentration-dependent manner, and total protein contents was reduced. These findings indicate that BPA can induce oxidative stress in this species, and these antioxidants may be involved in cellular protection against BPA exposure. This study will provide a better understanding of molecular mode of action of BPA toxicity in aquatic organisms.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.12 no.11
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• pp.359-369
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• 2021

In this study, a complex sample logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the factors affecting the activity restriction of 2,701 normal elderly and chronically ill elderly aged 65 and over using raw data from the 8th period of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. It was found that the elderly with chronic disease felt more restricted in their activities than the normal elderly. Activity limiting factors in stroke and hypertension patients are subjective health status, economic level, stress perception, and moderate-intensity work and leisure. The factors limiting activity in patients with heart disease were subjective health status and economic level, and factors limiting activity in patients with joint disease were subjective health status and high-intensity work and leisure. Activity limiting factors for lung disease patients are education level, high intensity work and leisure, and endocrine system activity limiting factors include subjective health status, stress perception, high intensity work and leisure, and activity limiting factors for cancer patients. is subjective health status, stress perception, moderate-intensity work and high-intensity leisure. Rehabilitation programs and policy support are needed for the continuous participation of the elderly with chronic diseases.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.1037-1045
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• 2021

The prevalence of obesity is increasing worldwide, and since obesity is associated with dietary factors and sedentary lifestyles, it is a disease that is readily developing in the modern population. Because obesity is accompanied by serious complications such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, prevention and treatment are important. Currently, drugs such as liraglutide and phentermine are used to treat obesity by suppressing appetite and inducing gastrointestinal motility delay. However, various side effects may occur, including thyroid cancer, cardiovascular problems, and central nervous system disorders. Therefore, to explore an obesity treatment method with relatively few side effects, a method known as "fat browning" was introduced to change white adipose tissue into brown adipose tissue to increase energy consumption. Ongoing studies are attempting to find effective natural substances to safely induce browning. Many natural substances have been identified. The induction of browning by treatment with natural substances generally involves three mechanisms: positive control of browning-inducing factors, inhibition of differentiation into white adipose tissue, and the activation of mechanisms related to browning. In this study, we describe plant extracts with known browning-inducing effects, such as strawberry, black raspberry, cinnamomum cassia, and Ecklonia stolonifera extracts. We also summarize the underlying mechanisms of action identified thus far, including the signaling pathway mediated by these extracts to induce browning. Furthermore, the effects of brown adipose tissue generated through browning on heart disease as an endocrine organ disruptor are discussed.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.101-108
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• 2022

Because of their specificity to target insects and relatively low toxicity to non-target organisms, insect growth regulators (IGRs) have been regarded as attractive alternatives to chemical insecticides. Commercially available IGRs are classified into juvenile hormone agonists (JHAs), ecdysone agonists (EAs), and chitin synthesis inhibitors (CSIs) according to their mode of action. Recently, JH-mediated interaction of methoprene-tolerant (Met), which is JH receptor, and its binding partners have been replicated in vitro using yeast cells transformed with the Met and FISC/CYC genes of A. aegypti. Using this in vitro yeast two-hybrid β-galactosidase assay, juvenile hormone antagonists (JHANs) have been identified from various sources including chemical libraries, plants, and microorganisms. As juvenile hormone (JH) is an insect specific hormone and regulates development, reproduction, diapause and other physiological processes, JHANs fatally disrupt the endocrine signals, which result in abnormal development and larval death. These results suggested that JHANs could be efficiently applied as IGR insecticides with a broad insecticidal spectrum. This review discuses JH signaling pathway mediated by Met and future prospects of JHANs as environmentally benign IGR insecticides.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.109-115
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• 2022

Vitellogenesis is the process by which yolk accumulates in developing oocytes. The initiation of vitellogenesis represents an important control point in oogenesis. When females of the model insect Drosophila melanogaster molt to become adults, their ovaries lack mature vitellogenic oocytes, only producing them after reproductive maturation. After maturation, vitellogenesis stops until a mating signal re-activates it. Juvenile hormone (JH) from the endocrine organ known as the corpora allata (CA) is the major insect gonadotropin that stimulates vitellogenesis, and the seminal protein sex peptide (SP) has long been implicated as a mating signal that stimulates JH biosynthesis. In this review, we discuss our new findings that explain how the nervous system gates JH biosynthesis and vitellogenesis associated with reproductive maturation and the SP-induced post-mating response. Mated females exhibit diurnal rhythmicity in oogenesis. A subset of brain circadian pacemaker neurons produce Allatostatin C (AstC) to generate a circadian oogenesis rhythm by indirectly regulating JH and vitellogenesis through the brain insulin-producing cells. We also discuss genetic evidence that supports this model and future research directions.