• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 2003

Type II collagen (CII), major component of hyaline cartilage, has been considered as an auto-antigen in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the clinical and biological significances with regard to the CII autoimmunity need to be clarified in human RA. The presence of antibodies to CII has been identified in sera, synovial fluid, and cartilage of patients with RA. In our study, the increased titer of IgG anti-CII in sera was well correlated with C-reactive protein, suggesting that this antibody may reflect the inflammatory status of RA. The titer of anti-CII antibodies (anti-CII Abs) tended to be higher in early stages of diseases. In our extending study, among 997 patients with RA, 269 (27.0%) were positive for circulatory IgG antibody to CII, those levels were fluctuated over time. It is hard to assess the significant amount of T cell responses to CII and CII (255~274) in RA. By using a sensitive method of antigen specific mixed lymphocyte culture, we can detect the presence of CII-reactive T cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of RA patients. Sixty seven (46.9%) of 143 patients showed positive CII reactive T cell responses to CII or CII (255~274). The frequencies of CII reactive T cells were more prominent in inflamed synovial fluid (SF) than in peripheral blood. These T cells could be clonally expanded after consecutive stimulation of CII with feeding of autologous irradiated antigen presenting cells (APC). Moreover, the production of Th1-related cytokine, such as IFN-${\gamma}$, was strongly up-regulated by CII reactive T cells. These data suggest that T cells responding to CII, which are probably presenting the IFN-${\gamma}$ producing cells, may play an important role in the perpetuation of inflammatory process in RA. To evaluate the effector function of CII reactive T cells, we investigated the effect of CII reactive T cells and fibroblasts-like synoviocytes (FLS) interaction on the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. When the CII reactive T cells were co-cultured with FLS, the production of IL-15 and TNF-${\alpha}$ from FLS were significantly increased (2 to 3 fold increase) and this increase was clearly presented in accord to the expansion of CII reactive T cells. In addition, the production of IFN-${\gamma}$ and IL-17, T cell derived cytokines, were also increased by the co-incubation of CII reactive T cells with FLS. We also examined the impact of CII reactive T cells on chemokines production. When FLS were co-cultured with CII stimulated T cells, the production of IL-8, MCP-1, and MIP-1${\alpha}$ were significantly enhanced. The increased production of these chemokines was strongly correlated with increase the frequency of CII reactive T cells. Conclusively, immune response to CII was frequently found in RA. Activated T cells in response to CII contributed to increase the production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, which were critical for inflammatory responses in RA. The interaction of CII-reactive T cells with FLS further augmented this phenomenon. Taken together, our recent studies have suggested that autoimmunity to CII could play a crucial role not only in the initiation but amplification/perpetuation of inflammatory process in human RA.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.20 no.12
• /
• pp.1851-1858
• /
• 2010

Estrogen deficiency in peri- and postmenopausal women results in variety of neurovegetative, psychic and somatic symptoms, and may contribute to severe diseases within the aged female population. Ecklonia stolonifera (ES) is an edible brown algae traditionally used in fishery towns in Far East Asia. This study was performed to investigate the effects of ES extracts on blood flow and serum lipid concentration in ovariectomized rats. Weight-matched female Sprague-Dawley strain rats were assigned to four groups. Three groups were surgically ovariectomized (OVX). The fourth group was sham operated. Rats were randomly assigned to the following groups: sham-operated rats (Sham), ovariectomized control rats (OVX-CON), ovariectomized rats supplemented with ES extract at 50 mg/kg bw/day (OVX-ES50) and ovariectomized rats supplemented with ES extract at 200 mg/kg bw/day (OVX-ES200). Serum total cholesterol and triglyceride contents decreased in the sham group compared to the OVX-CON group. Six weeks feeding of ES extract resulted in a significant (p<0.05) lowering of serum triglyceride and a lowering tendency of total cholesterol level. The level of Hdl-cholesterol in serum increased by supplementation of ES extracts at 50 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg bw/day (p<0.05). Blood passage time of the ES extracts-supplemented group was higher than the OVX-CON group. The ability of platelet aggregation of groups treated with ES extracts was less than that of the OVX-CON group. These results suggest that the beneficial effects of ES extract may be used to possibly improve on the metabolic syndrome of menopausal women.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.327-333
• /
• 1997

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of Quercus acutissima CARRUTHERS extracts on lipid metabolism. Sprague-Dawley male rats$(110{\pm}10g)$ were fed on containing normal and high fat diets. They were orally administrated(0.02g/100g B.W.) of Quercus aculissima CARRUTHERS ethylacetate-extract and water-extract at the same time once a day respectively. The rats were sacrificed after 6 weeks of feeding periods. In high fat diet group, liver and heart weight were increased but kidney weight was decreased. Contents of total lipid, triglyceride and phospholipid were increased in high fat diet groups. But the degree of increment was reduced by administration of Quercus acutissima CARRUTHERS extracts and water extract was more effective. Significant decrease in serum total lipid content by administration Quercus acutissima CARRUTHERS extracts was not due to decrease of triglyceride content but total cholesterol content. Whereas HDL-cholesterol content was significantly decreased in high fat diet group and improved by administration of Quercus acutissima CARRUTHERS extracts. Total lipid, triglyceride and total cholesterol contents in liver were also increased in high fat diet group but phospholipid content was significantly decreased. The results indicate that Quercus acutissima CARRUTHERS extracts were effective in preventing hyperlipidemia and water extract was more effective.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.51 no.10
• /
• pp.1065-1070
• /
• 2008

Purpose : This study aims to determine whether early closure (within 7 d) of significant patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) with indomethacin or ligation reduces neonatal morbidity when compared with delayed closure (after 7 d). Methods : Fifty-eight extremely-low-birth-weight infants admitted to the NICU of Seoul National University Hospital from April 2005 to May 2007 with PDA were studied retrospectively. Results : The mean gestational age (GA) was $26{\pm}2weeks$ (range, 23-32 wk), and the birth weight was $782{\pm}146g$ (range, 430-990 g). The delayed closure group was associated with early GA ($25.7{\pm}1.7wk$ vs $27.1{\pm}2.0wk$, P=0.013), in vitro fertilization (IVF) (55% vs 24%, P=0.017), and the absence of preeclampsia (5% vs. 34%, P=0.013). There was no difference in ductal size between the early closure and delayed closure groups. The incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (95% vs 65%, P=0.012) and intraventricular hemorrhage (70% vs. 39%, P=0.027) increased in the delayed closure group. Using regression analysis adjusted for gestational age, delayed closure correlated positively with the duration of ventilator support (P=0.008), hospitalization (P=0.020), time to full enteral feeding (P<0.001), and total parenteral nutrition (P=0.010). Conclusion : Delayed closure of the hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus in extremely-low-birth-weight infants is significantly related to the development of various morbidities. Thus, early closure of PDA is needed within the first week of life.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.124-133
• /
• 1999

Objective : Postpartum depression(PPD) was known to be caused by many factors including various psychosocial risk factors. This study was performed to identify the psychosocial risk factors for ppd, preliminarily in Korea. Methods : A group of 119 postpartum women, each of whom was at 6 to 8 weeks after delivery was identified at the time when they visited to the child health clinic or postnatal check-up clinic. The risk factors were surveyed by the self-reported questionnaire. The items of questionnaire were consisted of known risk factors in other studies and other possible stress-related factors. PPD was assessed by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale(EPDS) and the degree of postpartum depression was determined by its score. Results : 16 women(13.45%) in the high risk group were diagnosed as PPD among the 119 women. Risk factors including past experience of depressive symptoms and low level of marital satisfaction were founded more frequently in women in the high risk group than in the low risk group. The score of EPDS was significantly high in the group who experienced depressive symptoms in the past, anxiety or depression during pregnancy, stressful life event during the period of recent pregnancy and postpartum, and who had low level of marital satisfaction. There was a positive correlation between age and the score of EPDS. However, the postpartum depressive symptoms were not influenced by the level of education, job, retirement due to pregnancy and delivery, wanted or unwanted pregnancy, delivery method, feeding method, the hospitalization of infant, expected and real gender of infant. Conclusion : These results suggest that PPD is quite frequent at postpartum period. Various risk factors contribute to the development of PPD. If clinicians pay attention to the risk factors of PPD and give appropriate psychiatric intervention to the mothers during pregnancy and postpartum, it will be easy for the clinicians to recognize and treat PPD in the early stage.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.238-245
• /
• 2007

This survey was performed to elucidate whether pesticide can cause the non-spinning syndrome of silkworm, Bombyx mori in Yecheon and Sangju 2002. We primarily focused to Insect Growth Regulator Pesticides(IGR) used in that areas. In the result of the survey to the retail pesticide store at Yecheon and Sangju, seven pesticides of the total 12 IGR pesticides sold were used during spring sericuitural season. 7 pesticides might effect on silkworm in consideration of possibility of exposure according to the characteristics of used amount, spray drift, volatility and treatment time. Five chitin synthesis inhibitor involving diflubenzuron of 7 IGR pesticides were known as very toxic to silkwork after exposure by skin and feeding but no non-spinning syndrome was observed from several papers. Methoxyfenozide and tebufenozide also has used at sericultural season, but are ecdysone agonist. One of the most feasible suspect of non IGR pesticide, was molinate in consideration of its volatility property and wide spread use in the sericultural area. But it's symptom after exposure of molinate was not the same as the non-spinning syndrome broke out at the sericultural farm in Yecheon and Sangju.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.50 no.9
• /
• pp.868-874
• /
• 2007

Purpose : We performed this study to investigate the perinatal and developmental features of the patients with congenital myotonic dystrophy (CDM) confirmed by the molecular genetic method and the clinical characteristics of their mother, and to identify the relation between the number of CTG repeats and the clinical severity.Methods : A retrospective review of the medical records and the results of the dystrophia myotonica protein kinase (DMPK) gene test was done for the patients who were confirmed as CDM through gene analysis from January 2001 to September 2006. Results : All of the eight patients (male 2, female 6) showed moderate to severe degree of perinatal distress and feeding difficulty associated with profound hypotonia. Three patients had the history of polyhydramnios and two patients had equinovarus deformity. The developmental milestones were delayed in all patients, which improved gradually with age. All of their mothers demonstrated myotonic symptoms and typical myopathic face. The number of CTG repeats in DMPK gene analysis ranged 1,000-2,083, and there was no significant correlation between the number of CTG repeats and the time of walking alone. Conclusion : All patients with CDM presented with severe hypotonia in perinatal period, and developmental delay thereafter, which were improved with age. All of their mothers manifested myotonic symptoms with typical myopathic face, and the identification of such features greatly contributed to the diagnosis of the patients. The number of CTG repeats had no significant influence on the motor development.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.18 no.11
• /
• pp.282-289
• /
• 2017

Animal Welfare is spreading throughout the world, but remains weak in Korean swine farms. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify the effect of floor type and hanging type environmental enrichment on the behavior of growing pigs under the traditional feeding environment. A total of 45 crossbred pigs (Yorkshire${\times}$Landrace${\times}$Duroc; average weight, $33.35{\pm}5.5kg$) were assigned into three treatments consisting of control, hanging type(T1) and floor type(T2) with three replicates in semi-slurry pen. The hanging enrichment was suspended at shoulder height of the pigs, and the floor enrichment was fixed in the center of the pens. Growth and cortisol were estimated at the end of the experimental period. Behaviour patterns were analyzed on the first and eighth days after starting the experiment. Growth was not differed among control and treatments. However, cortisol was decreased in T2 compared to control(25.28 vs. 46.75 ng/mL; p<0.05). On the first day, movement and aggression were lower in both treatments than in control(p<0.01). On the eighth day, time and frequency of playing action were increased in T2 compared to T1(p<0.01) and both treatment groups showed more active behaviour than control(p<0.01). These results suggested that the enrichment may meet the natural action requirement of pigs. Therefore, our data can be utilized as basic information for welfare with environmental enrichments in farm animals.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.20 no.5
• /
• pp.761-767
• /
• 2007

This study was conducted to determine the effects of exogenous zinc-metallothionein (Zn-MT) on anti-oxidative function and pork quality. After feeding a corn-soybean meal-based diet for two weeks, 48 pigs ($Duroc{\times}Landrace{\times}Chinese\;Black Pig$) were assigned randomly to four groups. Pigs in Group 1 were maintained under non-stress conditions, whereas pigs in Groups 2, 3 and 4 were aggressively handled for 25 min to produce stress. Pigs in Groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 received intramuscular administration of saline (control group; CON), 0 (negative control group; NCON), 0.8 (low dose group; LOW), and 1.6 (high dose group; HIGH) mg rabbit liver Zn-MT per kg body weight, respectively. Pigs were slaughtered at 3 and 6 h post-injection. Zn-MT treatment increased (p<0.05) the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione-peroxidase (GSH-PX) while decreasing the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver. These responses were greater (p<0.05) at 6 h than at 3 h post Zn-MT injection. Zn-MT treatment increased (p<0.05) hepatic SOD mRNA levels in a time and dose-dependent manner and decreased (p<0.05) serum glutamate-pyruvate transaminase and lactate dehydrogenase activities (indicators of tissue integrity). Zn-MT administration decreased (p<0.05) lactate concentration and increased (p<0.05) pH and water-holding capacity in the longissimus thorasis meat. Collectively, our results indicate that intramuscular administration of Zn-MT to pre-slaughter stressed pigs improved tissue anti-oxidative ability and meat quality.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
• /
• v.48 no.2
• /
• pp.123-158
• /
• 2009

An attempt was made to stimulate future research by providing exemplary information, which would integrate published knowledge to solve specific pest problem caused by resistance. This review was directed to find a way for delaying resistance development with consideration of chemical(s) nature, of mixture, rotation, or mosaics, and of insecticide(s) compatible with the biological agents in integrated pest management (IPM). The application frequency, related to the resistance development, was influenced by insecticide activity from potentiation, residual period, and the vulnerability to resistance development of chemical, with secondary pest. Chemical affected feeding, locomotion, flight, mating, and predator avoidance. Insecticides with negative cross-resistance by the difference of target sites and mode of action would be adapted to mixture, rotation and mosaic. Mixtures for delaying resistance depend on each component killing very high percentage of the insects, considering allele dominance, cross-resistance, and immigration and fitness disadvantage. Potential disadvantages associated with mixtures include disruption of biological control, resistance in secondary pests, selecting very resistant population, and extending cross-resistance range. The rotation would use insecticides in high and low doses, or with different metabolic mechanisms. Mosaic apply insecticides to the different sectors of a grid for highly mobile insects, spray unrelated insecticides to sedentary aphids in different areas, or mix plots of insecticide-treated and untreated rows. On the evolution of pest resistance, selectivity and resistance of parasitoids and predator decreased the number of generations in which pesticide treatment is required and they could be complementary to refuges from pesticides To enhance the viability of parasitoids, the terms on the insecticides selectivity and factors affecting to the selectivity in field were examined. For establishment of resistant parasitoid, migration, survivorship, refuge, alternative pesticides were considered. To use parasitoids under the pressure of pesticides, resistant or tolerant parasitoids were tested, collected, and/or selected. A parasitoid parasitized more successfully in the susceptible host than the resistant. Factors affecting to selective toxicity of predator are mixing mineral oil, application method, insecticide contaminated prey, trait of individual insecticide, sub-lethal doses, and the developmental stage of predators. To improve the predator/prey ratio in field, application time, method, and formulation of pesticide, reducing dose rate, using mulches and weeds, multicropping and managing of surroundings are suggested. Plant resistance, predator activity, selective insect growth regulator, and alternative prey positively contributed to the increase of the ratio. Using selective insecticides or insecticide resistant predator controlled its phytophagous prey mites, kept them below an economic level, increased yield, and reduced the spray number and fruits damaged.