• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.37-60
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• 1983

The uterus receives adrenergic terminals from the mesenteric ganglia and considerably large amount of catecholamines have been shown to be contained in this organ. On the other hand, the activities of epinephrine, norepinephrine or adrenergic nerve on uterine motility is so complicated that many controversial results have been reporter. Recently, a large number of reports concerning the changes of uterine catecholamines content have appeared, but little is known about the role of uterine catecholamines in their activities on uterine motility. The present experiments were undertaken to determine the significance of the intrinsic uterine catecholamines in the physiology of uterus. Female albino rabbits weighing approximately 2 kg were employed in this experiment. uterine strip3 were prepared and suspended in a constant temperature $bath(38^{\circ}C)$ containing 100 ml of Locke's solution aerated with 95% oxygen and 5% carbon dioxide. Spontaneous motility was recorded on a smoked drum with an isotonic lever. The catecholamines concentration of the uterus was determined according to the Procedure described of Shore and Olin (1958). Human uterus obtained from patients was also used to determine the catecholam ines content of myometrium. Followings are summarized results. 1) On the non-pregnant rabbit uterine strips, epinephrine and norepinephrine significantly elevated the tonus and stimulated the spontaneous motility. Pretreatment with dichloroisoproterenol(DCI), an adrenergic beta-receptor blocker, enhanced the stimulatory activity of epinephrine or norepinephrine. On the other hand, pretreatment with dibenamine, an adrenergic alpha-receptor blocker, rendered the uterine muscle to exhibit inhibition after the administration of epinephrine or norepinephrine. Following the treatment with both DCI and dibenamine, epinephrine or norepinephrine produced no appreciable effects on the spontaneous motility of the uterus. These results suggest there exist both alpha and beta-adrenergic receptors in the uterine muscle and the response to epinephrine of the former is predominant over that of latter in the non-pregnant uterus of rabbits. The total catecholamines concentration of the non-pregnant uterus was $351\;m{\mu}g/g$ and the fractional concentrations of epinephrine and norepinephrine were $125\;m{\mu}g/g(35.7%)$ and $226\;m{\mu}g/g$ respectively. It is interesting to note that the catecholamines content of uterus was characterized by a high fractional corcentration of epinephrine relative to norepinephrine. 2) On the pregnant rabbit uterine strips, the effects of epinephrine and norepinephrine varied according to the period of pregnancy. The response to epinephrine of adrenergic beta receptor of uterus increased during pregnancy, and the effect of catecholamine was inhibitory in the early pregnancy but became stimulatory as the pregnancy progressed. This stimulating action on the uterine motility was found to occur through the action of norepinephrine. The uterine catecholamines concentration was markedly reduced during pregnancy. The catecholamines concentration was started to decrease in the early pregnancy, reached the lowest level in the mid-pregnancy and then started to increaae again in the late pregnancy when the total catecholamines content became the highest level of all. This increase of catefholamines in late pregnancy was chiefly due to the increase of norepinephrine. These results suggest that the uterine motility may be related to the catecholamines content, especially norepinephrine content in the uterus. 3) Bilateral oophorectomy of rabbits results in a marked shrink of the uterus in size. The spontaneous motility of the uterine segment of these animals was very weak and irregular. Norepinephrine produced inhibitory effect, whereas epinephrine was stimulatory or inhibitory effect on the uterine segment. The total catecholamines tontent in whole uterus was markedly reduced. The injection of estrogen into the oophorectornized rabbit increased the weight of uterus to approximately three times of that of oophorectornized animal. The apontaneous motility and the response to epinephrine and norepinephrine of the uterine segment were greatly enhanced. Both epinephrine and norepinephrine produced a marked stimulatory effects of the uterine motility. The uterine content of catecholamines, particularly epinephrine, was markedly increased. The injection of progesterone into the oophorectornized rabbit increaeed the weight of uterus to approximately 2.5 times of that of eophorectornized animal. The spontaneous motility of the uterine segment was weak and irregular. Epinephrine produced stimulatory effect at high concentrations but norepinephrine always prcdnced inhibitory effect on the uterine segment. The uterine content of catecholamines, particularly of norepinephrine, was markedly reduced. These results suggested that ovarian hormones play an important role not only on the growth and spontaneous norepinephrine of uterus but also on the catecholamines content and responee to epinephrine and norepinephrine of the uterus. 4) The intraperitoneal injection of reserpine(3 mg/kg) into the non-pregnant, pregnant and oophorectornieed rabbits markedly decreased the uterine content of catecholamines, particularly of the norepinephrine. The stimulatory response to epinephrine and. norepinephrine of the uterine segment of these reserpinized ratbits was markedly reduced whereas the inhibitory response to these catecholamines was enhanced. This finding further support the close relationship between the uterine catecholamines content and uterine response to epineptrire and norepinephrine. 5) In the human uterus, the concentration of epinephrine was actrally greater than that of norepinephrine and it was significantly greater during the proliferative phase of the menstrtal cycle. In the human pregnant uterus, the concentrations of toth epinephrine and ncrefinephrine were markedly reduced and showed about 45 percent rednction after 6-8 weeks of ectopic Pregnancy. At full term ana during labor, the concentrations of epinephrine and norepinephrine at placental sites were less than those found in the non-pregnant group. Of interest was the finding that the norepinephrine concentration of uterus from toxemic patients was two and half times higher than that of lower uterine segment of the nontoxemic pregnant individuals. Also the epinephrine concentraticn was slightly increaeed.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.1 s.38
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• pp.24-33
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• 1986

To ascertain the existence of various adrenoceptors involved in active transport of sodium in the frog skin and to delineate their physiological roles, the influence of various adrenergic agonists and antagonists on the potential difference (PD), short-circuit current (SCC) and total skin conductance (TSC) of the isolated frog skin of Rana nigromaculata were investigated. PD and SCC were determined with Ussing's technique. Drugs were administered to the serosal side of the skin. Experimental results were summarized as follows: 1. The responses to norepinephrine (NE, $6{\times}10^{-8}-6{\times}10^{-5})M$), phenylephrine (PE, $5{\times}10^{-6}-5{\times}10^{-4}M$) and epinephrine (Epi, $5.5{\times}10^{-7}-5.5{\times}10^{-5}M$) were characterized by marked elevation of PD & SCC in dose-related fashion, but the maximal effect attained by Epi was less than those of NE and PE. 2. These increments of PD & SCC were significantly inhibited by prazosin $(2{\times}10^{-6}M)$, a speciflc ${\alpha}_1$-adrenoceptor blocker. The stimulatory effect on PD & SCC were completely abolished by phenoxybenzamine (PBZ, $3.3{\times}10^{-5}M$), an irreversible ${\alpha}$-adrenoceptor blocking agent. Furthermore, with a larger doses of Epi produced marked decline of PD & SCC after the PBZ pretreatment. 3. Isoproterenol (ISP), a ${\beta}$-adrenoceptor agonist, in concentrations ranging from $5{\times}10^{-7}$ to $5{\times}10^{-6}M$ produced dose-related decrease in PD & SCC, which could be abolished by pretreatment with propranolol $(4{\times}10^{-6}M)$, a specific ${\beta}$-adrenoceptor blocker. It was further noted that the effects of Epi on PD & SCC were markedly potentiated by Propranolol pretreatment. 4. Clonidine as well as guanabenz produced increases in PD & SCC and these effects were inhibited more specifically by prazosin pretreatment than by yohimbine. These results indicated that there exist in the frog skin two distinctive types of adrenoceptors, ${\alpha}$ and ${\beta}$, which roughly corresponds to those in mammals, and that the ${\alpha}$ type of adrenoceptors mediate the stimulation of PD & SCC, whereas ${\beta}$-adrenoceptors mediate the inhibition. However, based on evidence at hand, no conclusion could be drawn on the subtype of ${\alpha}$-adrenoceptors which is involved in the stimulation of sodium transport in the frog skin.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.618-625
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• 2018

With the passing of time, exposed concrete structures are affected by a range of environmental, chemical, and physical factors. These factors seep into the concrete and have a deleterious influence compared to the initial performance. The importance of identifying and preventing further performance degradation due to the occurrence of deterioration has been greatly emphasized. In recent years, evaluations of the target life have attracted increasing interest. During the freezing-melting effect, a part of the concrete undergoes swelling and shrinking repeatedly. At these times, chloride ions present in seawater penetrate into the concrete, and accelerate the deterioration due to the corrosion of reinforced bars in the concrete structures. For that reason, concrete structures located onshore with a freezing-melting effect are more prone to this type of deterioration than inland structures. The aim of this study was to develop a high performance mortar mixed with a mineral admixture for the durability properties of concrete structures near sea water. In addition, experimental studies were carried out on the strength and durability of mortar. The mixing ratio of the silica fume and meta kaolin was 3, 7 and 10 %, respectively. Furthermore, the ultra-fine fly ash was mixed at 5, 10, 15, and 20%. The mortar specimens prepared by mixing the admixtures were subjected to a static strength test on the 1st and 28th days of age and degradation acceleration tests, such as the chloride ion penetration resistance test, sulfuric acid resistance test, and salt resistant test, were carried out at 28 days of age. The chloride diffusion coefficient was calculated from a series of rapid chloride penetration tests, and used to estimate the life time against corrosion due to chloride ion penetration according to the KCI, ACI, and FIB codes. The life time of mortar with 10% meta kaolin was the longest with a service life of approximately 470 years according to the KCI code.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.193-202
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• 2003

Objective: To evaluate the difference of implantation rate (IR) and clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) between two protocols of endometrial preperation in women undergoing frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycles. Methods: This study was performed during the different time periods: A retrospective study from January 2000 to June 2001 (phase I) and a prospective study from July 2001 to March 2002 (phase II). All the patients received estradiol valerate (6 mg p.o. daily) starting from day 1 or 2 of the menstrual cycle without pituitary down regulation. Progesterone was administered around day 14 after sonographic confirmation of endometrial thickness $\geq$7 mm and no growing follicle. In Group A (n=88, 99 cycles) of phase I, progesterone was administered i.m. at a dose of 50 mg daily from one day prior to thawing of pronuclear (PN) stage frozen embryo or three days prior to thawing of 6-8 cell stage frozen embryo and then each stage embryos were trasnsferred 2 days or 1 day later after thawing. In Group B (n=246, 299 cycles) of phase I, patients recieved progesterone 100 mg i.m. from one day earlier than group A; two days prior to PN embryo thawing, four days prior to of 6-8 cell embryo thawing. During the phase II, to exclude any differences in embryo transfer procedures, in Group 1 (n=23, 28 cycles) of phase II embryo was transfered by one who have used the progesterone protocol since the phase I. In Group 2 (n=122, 139 cycles) of phase II embryo was transfered by one who use the progesterone protocol from the phase II. Results: When compared across the phase and group, there were no significant differences in the characteristics. During the phase I, there were significant increase in IR (14.4% vs 5.9%, p=0.001) and CPR (28.3% vs 14.5%, p=0.000) in group A. During the phases II, IR (11.8% vs 10.6%) and CPR (27.6% vs 27.3%) show no differences between two groups. Conclusions: In FET cycles, IR and CPR are increased significantly by the change of dosage and timing of progesterone administraton. And the timing is considered to be more important factor because the dosage of progesterone did not affect implantation window in previous studies. Therefore, we suggest that progesterone administration in FET cycle should begin from one day prior to PN stage embryo thawing and three days prior to 6-8 cell stage embryo thawing.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.69-76
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• 2008

Objective: The purposes of this study were to determine the distribution of follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) genotypes in infertile Korean women and to evaluate the relationship between FSHR genotypes and clinical outcomes of IVF-ET cycles. Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood in 1, 020 of infertile Korean women. Genotypes of FSHR at Thr307Ala (T/A) and Asn680Ser (N/S) were screened by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis. Clinical outcomes related to the genotypes of FSHR were evaluated in IVF-ET cycles (n=302) with controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) of infertile women under 40 years old. Results: In a population of 1, 020 infertile Korean women, the frequency of TT/NN, TA/NS and AA/SS for the major variant Thr307Ala and Asn680Ser was 44.80%, 41.96% and 10.49%, respectively. There was no significant difference in characteristics of ovarian response and clinical pregnancy rate among the major genotypes of FSHR in IVF-ET cycles with COH. However, implantation rate of AA/SS patients was significantly higher than that of TT/NN patients (24.5% vs 15.7%, p<0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that FSHR genotype was not directly associated with ovarian response in IVF-ET cycles with COH. The relationship between clinical outcomes and FSHR genotypes of patients should be substantiated by further studies.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.1007-1018
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• 2009

Hydrocyclone is widely used in industry, because of its simplicity in design, high capacity, low maintenance and operational cost. The separation action of a hydrocyclone treating particulate slurry is a consequence of the swirling flow that produces a centrifugal force on the fluid and suspended particles. In spite of hydrocyclone have many advantage, the application for treatment of urban stormwater case study were rare. We conducted a laboratory scale study on treatable potential of micro particles using hydrocyclone filter (HCF) that was a combined modified hydrocyclone with perlite filter cartridge. Since it was not easy to use actual storm water in the scaled-down hydraulic model investigations, it was necessary to reproduce ranges of particles sizes with synthetic materials. The synthesized storm runoff was made with water and addition of particles; ion exchange resin, road sediment, commercial area manhole sediment, and silica gel particles. Experimental studies have been carried out about the particle separation performance of HCF-open system and HCF-closed system. The principal structural differences of these HCFs are underflow zone structure and vortex finder. HCF was made of acryl resin with 120 mm of diameter hydrocyclone and 250 mm of diameter filter chamber and overall height of 800 mm. To determine the removal efficiency for various influent concentrations of suspended solids (SS) and chemical oxygen demand (COD), tests were performed with different operational conditions. The operated maximum of surface loading rate was about 700 $m^3/m^2$/day for HCF-open system, and 1,200 $m^3/m^2$/day for HCF-closed system. It was found that particle removal efficiency for the HCF-closed system is better than the HCF-open system under same surface loading rate. Results showed that SS removal efficiency with the HCF-closed system improved by about 8~20% compared with HCF-open system. The average removal efficiency difference for HCF-closed system between measurement and CFD particle tracking simulation was about 4%.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.10
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• pp.1116-1120
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• 2005

Purpose : Although the rotavirus-related neonatal death occurred in western part of Kyeonggi Province recently, there were just a few reports about rotavirus gastroentertis in domestic since 2000. We proposed to investigate changes of epidemiology and clinical features of rotavirus gastroenteritis for the last 2 years. Methods : We selected 166 patients diagnosed as gastroenteritis from January, 2002 to July, 2003 and reviewed the admission records retrospectively such as age distribution, sex ratio, seasonal distribution, admission period, laboratory data and dehydration type in the rotavirus group(RVG) and non-RVG. Results : The percentage of patient under 3 years was 77% on RVG. The non-RVG showed even age distribution(P<0.05). In RVG, patients occurred in March frequently and 52% occurred from January to March. In non-RVG, patients occurred highly in February and July(P<0.05). The average of admission period was higher in RVG than non-RVG(P<0.05). The percentage of patient admitted for over 10 days was 8% in the RVG. In dehydration severity, the RVG showed mild(51%), moderate(44%) and severe(5%) respectively, but non-RVG showed only mild dehydration(P<0.05). The laboratory findings' did not have statistic significance between RVG and non-RVG. Conclusion : Compared to the previous studies, seasonal peak prevalence of rotavirus gastroenteritis changed from autumn to spring and patients over 3 years increased. Therefore, we suggest that there are variable serotypes of rotavirus domestically and there is a need for reinvestigation about clinical features and serotypes of rotavirus gastroenteritis.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.10
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• pp.1126-1131
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• 2005

Purpose : Bronchial hyperresponsiveness(BHR) is considered a hallmark of asthma. Increased levels of eosinophil cationic protein(ECP) have been identified in serum of asthma patients. Several studies have examined the relationship between serum ECP and bronchial responsiveness, expressed as methacholine $PC_{20}$ in asthmatic patients, with conflicting results. The aims of this study were to examine the relationship between serum ECP and ${\Delta}FVC$, another index of bronchial responsiveness, which reflects increased maximal airway response. Methods : Six to 8-year-old children with asthma(n=109) underwent methacholine bronchoprovocation testing. The $PC_{20}$ dose of methacholine and ${\Delta}FVC$ were calculated for each individual from the methacholine dose response curves. Serum ECP levels and blood total eosinophil counts were also measured. Results : Serum ECP correlated with ${\Delta}FVC$(r=0.217, P=0.023), as well as $PC_{20}$(r=-0.208, P=0.030). However, blood eosinophil counts failed to show any correlations with ${\Delta}FVC$(r=0.085, P=0.378) or $PC_{20}$(r=-0.148, P=0.125). ${\Delta}FVC$ did not correlate with $PC_{20}$(r=-0.079, P=0.417). Conclusion : Blood eosinophil activation is associated with both components of BHR including increased sensitivity and increased maximal response in 6-8 year old children with asthma.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.76-81
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• 2006

Purpose : This study evaluated the clinical characteristics of brain tumors in children according to their location, the parental delay and the doctor's delay between the onset of symptoms and the diagnosis of a pediatric brain tumor. In addition, this study compared the relationship between the pre-diagnostic symptomatic interval and the tumor location. Methods : A retrospective study was undertaken of 45 children with primary brain tumors admitted to Inha Hospital from July, 1986 to June, 2004. A diagnosis of the tumor location was made using brain MRI. Results : The male to female ratio was 1 : 0.67. The median age at diagnosis was 6.0 years in supratentorial tumors, 7.0 years in infratentorial tumors. Twenty four cases(53.3 percent) were located in the supratentorial area, 21 cases(46.6 percent) were located in the infratentorial area. The distribution of supratentorial tumors were 14(58.3 percent) in the cerebral hemisphere and temporal lobe, seven (29.1 percent) in the suprasellar area, and three(12.5 percent) in the pineal gland and posterial lateral ventricle. The distributions of the infratentorial tumors were 12(57.1 percent) in the cerebellar vermis and fourth ventricle, four(19.1 percent) in the brain stem, and five(23.8 percent) in the cerebellar hemisphere. The most common initial symptom was seizure(37.5 percent) in the supratentorial tumor and headache(38.0 percent) in infratentorial tumors. The median pre-diagnostic symptomatic interval (PSI) was 21 days(range 0-240 days). The median PSI with a parental delay in supratentorial tumor was six days(range 1-240 days), and 30 days(range 1-40 days) in the infratentorial tumor. We immediately diagnosed most cases after visiting the hospital. There was no significant relationship between the tumor location and the pre-diagnostic symptomatic interval. Conclusion : The most common symptom of supratentorial tumors and infratentorial tumors was seizure and headache, respectively. Although, the median pre-diagnostic symptomatic interval was shorter than in previous studies, a detailed medical history and a correctly interpreted neurological examination should lead to an earlier diagnosis of pediatric brain tumors.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.11
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• pp.1186-1193
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• 2006

Purpose : Enterovirus infection is a type of viral infection that occurs relatively frequently in children during summer. It has clinical symptoms of non-specific fever, aseptic encephalomeningitis, gastrointestinal diseases, skin rash and, hand-foot-mouth disease. However, it can also occcaisionally, result in fatal symptoms like myocarditis, epicardial inflammation, transverse myelitis, quadriplegia and etc. There have been epidemic enterovirus studies, but not in the Chungnam area. Therefore, we undertook this study in order to comprehend the cause viruses in this area. Methods: We enlisted 157 children hospitalized with enteroviral infections at Soonchunhyang University hospital in Cheonan between May and August 2005. Cerebrospinal fluids or feces were collected during the acute phase after hospitalization, and observed the cytopathic effects caused by enterovirus and using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results : The number of children hospitalized due to possible enteroviral infection during the period of study was 157. The number of children who tested positive with the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction totalled 32 cases (20.4 percent). Among the children with entroviral diseases, 20 were male and 12 were female, thus the sex ratio of male to female was 1.67:1. Their clinical symptoms included fever most frequently (93.7 percent), was followed by headaches (90.0 percent), meningeal irritation signs (65.0 percent), and abdominal pain (30.0 percent). As for the type of isolated enterovirus, there were 17 cases of echovirus 18 and 6 cases of coxsackievirus B5. Furthermore, there were 2 cases of echovirus 9, 1 case of coxsackievirus A6 and coxsackievirus B3, respectively. But 5 cases were not determined by genotype. Conclusion : Echovirus 18 is circulating in Korea. We reported on identified enteroviruses, including echovirus 18, using RT-PCR in the Chungnam area during the summer of 2005.