• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.24 no.10
• /
• pp.1102-1109
• /
• 2014

Chungkookjang has several functional properties, such as fibrinolytic activity, anticancer effects, and antioxidant effects. However, children do not like Chungkookjang because of its foul odor. A mixed culture of Bacillus subtilis MC31 and Lactobacillus sakei 383 was used to improve the production of GABA in Chungkookjang and its flavor. Most of the foul odor of Chungkookjang was removed. The slime content and viscosity of Chungkookjang fermented in the mixed culture were similar to those of commercial Chungkookjang when B. subtilis MC31 and Lactobacillus sakei 383 were inoculated in a 1:1 ratio. The maximum GABA content was obtained when Chungkookjang was fermented with B. subtilis MC31 and L. sakei 383, which was fermented at $37^{\circ}C$ for 72 hr. During the period of fermentation, the viable cell number of B. subtilis MC31 reached a peak (log 9.13 CFU/g) at six days, and L. sakei 383 reached a peak (log 6.78 CFU/g) at two days. The moisture, crude ash, crude protein, crude fat, and crude fiber contents were 61.71%, 2.05%, 17.54%, 8.36%, and 1.95%, respectively. The amino-type nitrogen content of Chungkookjang fermented by B. subtilis MC31 and L. sakei 383 was less than Chungkookjang fermented by B. subtilis MC31 alone. The ammonia-type nitrogen and reducing sugar content of the Chungkookjang fermented by B. subtilis MC31 and L. sakei 383 were higher than that of steamed soybean. The glutamic acid and GABA content detected with an amino acid analyzer were 1.40 mg/g and 0.47 mg/g, respectively. These results suggest that fermentation with B. subtilis MC31 and L. sakei 383 in a 1:1 ratio removes more of the foul odor and increases the GABA content compared with single fermentation.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.229-236
• /
• 2006

Objective: We investigated the expression of uPA and uPAR in eutopic endometrium of advanced stage endometriosis and control patients. Methods: The 33 endometriosis patients and 32 controls were enrolled. Endometrial samples were obtained from 65 premenopausal women aged 29-44 years, undergoing laparoscopic surgery or hysterectomy for non-malignant lesions. Sufficient samples were collected from 33 patients with endometriosis stage Ill and IV and 32 controls without endometriosis confirmed by laparoscopic surgery. The mRNA expression of uPA and uPAR from eutopic endometrium were analyzed by RT-QC PCR. Results: The mRNAs of uPA and uPAR were expressed in eutopic endometrium from endometriosis and normal controls throughout the menstrual cycle. Uterine endometrium from women with endometriosis expresses significantly (p<0.05) higher levels of u-PA mRNA than endometrium from normal women without endometriosis in the proliferative phase. There were no significant differences in expression of uPAR in eutopic endometrium between controls and endometriosis patients. Conclusion: These results suggest that eutopic endometrium from endometriosis patients may be more invasive and prone to peritoneal implantation because of greater u-PA mRNA expression than endometrium from women without endometriosis. Thus, increased proteolytic activity may be one etiology for the invasive properties of the endometrium resulting in the development of endometriosis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.30 no.7
• /
• pp.677-685
• /
• 1997

Thromboelastography(TEG) is the unique measure that gives rapid information about the whole clotting process. Simplifying the diagnosis of coagulopathy during operations, TEG can provide an adequate therapy for postoperative bleeding. Remarkable improvement in hemostasis after cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB) has been achieved by the treatment with proteinase inhibitor aprotinin, but the hemostatic mechanism of aprotinin during CPB is still unclear. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of aprotinin on coagulation system during CPB by using TEG. Forty patients who underwent CPB were divided into two groups: aprotinin(2u 106 kallikrein inhibition units, as a single dose into the cardiopulmonary bypass priming solution) treatment group(male 14, female 8, mean age=50.Byears) and no aprotinin treatment(control) group(male 10, female 8, mean age=53.4 years). TEG, activated clotting time, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, platelet counts, fibrinogen an (ibrinogen degradation product(FDP) concentrations were checked before and after CPB(30 minutes after neutralization of heparin effect by protamine sulfate). There was no significant difference in other conventional coagulation tests of two groups except postcardiopulmonary bypass FDP concentration in control group, which was significantly increased compared to that in aprotinin group(p<0.05). In TEG variables of both groups, clot formation time(K) and alpha $angle(\alpha^{\circ})$ were significantly increased and decreased, respectively, after CPB(p<0.05), but fibrinolytic index(LYS60) was not changed during CPB. In aprotinin group, reaction time(R) was decreased significantly after CPB(p<0.05) but maximum amplitude(MA) was not changed(p>0.05). On the contrary, R was not changed markedly but MA was decreased significantly in control group after CPB(p<0.05). This result shows that main change in coagulation system during CPB is not hyperfibrinolysis but cecrease in clot strength by platelet dys unction, and the main effect of aprotinin during cardiopulmonary bypass is the maintenance of clot strength to the pre-CPB level by the preservation of platelet function.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.237-244
• /
• 2010

Five mold strains - Mucor racemousus, Rhizopus oryzae, Aspergillus oryzae, Aspergillus kawachii, and Monascus purpureus - were used for the fermentation of both freeze-dried and air-dried silkworm powders. The concentrations of proteins and minerals, electrophoretical protein patterns, fatty acid composition and the activities of fibrinolytic and antioxidation with freeze-dried silkworm (FDSW) or air-dried silkworm powders (ADSW) fermented by the five molds were investigated. The concentrations of major minerals in fermented FDSW and ADSW powders were K by 72.0-76.3 and 77.1-78.9 ppm, Mg by 29.6-49.7 and 44.3-58.7 ppm, Ca by 1.9-14.9 and 9.8-21.6 ppm and Zn by 0.64-0.70 and 4.17-4.52 ppm, respectively. Major fatty acids in fermented FDSW and ADSW powders were linolenic acid, oleic acid, and palmitic acid. There were slightly varietal differences in electrophoretical protein patterns when total protein patterns of fermented FDSW and ADSW powders were analyzed by native-and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). DPPH radical scavenging activity was slightly stronger in fermented ADSW powders than that in fermented FDSW. Fibriolytic activity was only detected in the FDSW fermented by Aspergillus kawachi and Monascus purpureus. These results may provide the basic data to understand the biological activities and chemical characteristics of silkworm fermented by mold, which can be used for the development of functional foods.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.59 no.6
• /
• pp.651-655
• /
• 2005

Background : Diagnosing a pulmonary embolism is difficult because its presenting symptoms are nonspecific and there are limitations with all of the objective tests. The D-dimer is known to be a marker of the lysis of intravascular cross-linked fibrin as a result of the activation of the endogenous fibrinolytic pathways, and the D-dimer assay is these an objective method for diagnosing a pulmonary embolism. This study assessed the benefits of the D-dimer test for diagnosing a pulmonary embolism using semiquantitative latex agglutination. Methods : The latex agglutination results of 185 patients were retrospectively reviewed. The D-dimer test was performed at the time a pulmonary embolism was suspected. Ninety patients(group I) were diagnosis with PE through spiral chest CT or a chest CT angiogram, perfusion/ventilation scans, and/or pulmonary angiogram. Ninety-five patients (group II) were found not to have a pulmonary embolism through the above tests. Results : The male to female ratio and mean age in groups I and II was 37:55, and 57 years old to 50:45 and 52 years old, respectively. When the cut off value for a positive D-dimer assay was set to $500{\mu}g$, the sensitivity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and specificity was 86.7%, 61.4%, 79.3%, and 48.4%, respectively. Conclusion : The semiquantitative latex agglutination method in the D-dimer test has a lower sensitivity and negative predictive value than the well known ELISA test particularly for small emboli. Therefore, this test is not a suitable screening test for excluding a pulmonary embolism.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.41 no.2
• /
• pp.149-155
• /
• 2012

In this study, the functional properties of royal court (RC) soy sauces, Gungjung-kanjang, were analyzed in vitro. RC soy sauces, traditional soy sauce, and commercial soy sauces were fractionated based on an MW cut-off of 1,000. The total phenolic compounds smaller than and larger than 1,000 MW (low and high fraction) in RC soy sauces were determined to be $101.55{\pm}1.49\sim114.00{\pm}0.11$ mg/L and $32.51{\pm}0.32\sim113.47{\pm}0.43$ mg/L, respectively. The low fraction of RC soy sauces showed around 51% superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity, which was higher than other soy sauces. Among RC soy sauces, Cheong-jang showed significantly high activity. Significant differences in fibrinolytic and antibacterial activities were not observed between soy sauces. ${\alpha}$-Glucosidase inhibitory activities in the low and high fractions of RC soy sauces were in the range from $6.34{\pm}1.51\sim8.79{\pm}0.81$% and $5.72{\pm}1.29\sim7.94{\pm}0.34$%, respectively. However, ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activity in the high fraction of Kot-jang soy sauce was 75.88%${\pm}$1.20%. Lipase inhibitory activities in the low fractions of RC soy sauces, especially Cheong-jang, Deot-kangang, Jin-jang, and Euyeuk-kanjang, were also measured.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.50 no.7
• /
• pp.660-664
• /
• 2007

Purpose : Pleural effusion is a common complications of pediatric bacterial pneumonia. Intrapleural administration of fibrinolytic agents such as urokinase have been used in the management of complicated parapneumonic effusions. But the safety and effectiveness of intrapleural urokinase instillations in children has not been confirmed. The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of intraperitoneal urokinase in children. Methods : We reviewed a total of 29 children diagnosed as parapneumonic effusion with septation by chest CT or chest ultrasonography. We divided them into two groups. Fourteen children treated with urokinase after thoracostomy (Group A) were compared with 15 children treated only with thoracostomy (Group B). The urokinase, 3,000 IU/kg/day, was injected into the pleural cavity twice a day. Results : There was no statistical difference in sex and age between the two groups. Total drainage volume during thoracostomy in group A and B was 375.5 mL and 350.0 mL, respectively. It was not statistically significant. But the amounts of pleural fluid of group A on day 1, day 2 and day 3 were 102.5 mL, 100.0 mL, and 70.0 mL respectively and those of group B on day 1, day 2 and say 3 were 120.0 mL, 50.0 mL and 15.0 mL respectively. To compare group A with group B in the amounts of drainage volume on day 1 was not statistically significant, but the amounts of drainage volumes on day 2 and day 3 in group A were statistically more significant than group B (Day 1 P=0.371, Day 2 P=0.049, Day 3 P=0.048, respectively). The duration of fever, antibiotics, thoracostomy and total hospital days. Were not statistically significant between the two groups. But the frequency of complications in Group A was statictically significantly lower than in group B. Conclusion : Intrapleural instillation of urokinase facilitates the drainage of loculated pleural effusions, especially during the first 3 days, and it could reduce complications, such as pleural thickening, surgical managements, re-positioning of tube and re-thoracostomy. So intrapleural urokinase injection was and effective and safe treatment of pleural effusion in children (P=0.014).

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.50 no.2
• /
• pp.205-208
• /
• 2007

Purpose : Vascular endothelial cell damage and alteration of a fibrinolytic system was suggested to play a role in the development of coronary artery abnormalities in Kawasaki disease (KD). D-dimer is one of the markers of endothelial damage and fibrinolysis. We evaluated the clinical usefulness of D-dimer to differentiate KD from other febrile diseases and predict coronary artery abnormalities in KD. Methods : Sixty eight patients diagnosed as KD and twenty eight patients presented with acute febrile illnesses other than KD from September 2005 to July 2006 were included. Blood levels of D-dimer and various inflammatory markers were measured before treatment and the clinical course of KD was followed. Serial echocardiography was performed at the onset of disease and thereafter at a monthly interval for at least 2 months. Results : KD patients showed a higher D-dimer level than febrile controls, but the difference was not significant ($1.21{\pm}0.77{\mu}g/mL$ vs $0.92{\pm}0.71{\mu}g/mL$, P=0.083). Neither was the difference between KD patients who had coronary artery abnormalities and those who had not ($1.49{\pm}0.98{\mu}g/mL$ vs $1.15{\pm}0.71{\mu}g/mL$, P=0.169). D-dimer was significantly correlated with other inflammatory markers, such as C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in both KD patients and febrile controls. Conclusion : D-dimer was not specific for KD. But it may be useful as an inflammatory marker to assess the severity of KD.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.48 no.3
• /
• pp.357-364
• /
• 2000

Background : Complicated exudative pleural fluid collections have traditionally been treated by either closed tube thoracostomy drainage or by open surgical drainage. Complete drainage is important in order to control pleural sepsis, restore pulmonary function, and entrapment. Recently intracavitary fibrinolytic therapy has been advocated as a method to facillitate drainage of complicated exudative pleural effusion and to allow enzymatic debridemant of the restrictive fibrinous sheets covering the pleural surface. The purpose of this study is to prospectively evaluate the effects of image-guided catheter drainage with high dose urokinase(UK) instillation in the treatment of complicated pleural effusions. Patients : Twenty complicated pleural effusion patients that poorly respond to image-guided drainage were allocated to receive UK. There were 8 pneumonia and 12 tuberculosis. Methods : Drugs were diluted in 250 mL normal saline and were infused intrapleurally through the chest tube or pig-tail catheter in a daily dose of 250,000 IU of UK. Response was assessed by clinical outcome, fluid drainage, chest radiography, pleural ultrasound and/or computed tomography. Results : The mean UK instillation time was $1.63{\pm}0.10$. The mean volume drained UK instillation was $381.3{\pm}314.4\;mL$, and post-UK was $321.6{\pm}489.5\;mL$. The follow up duration after UK therapy was mean $212.9{\pm}194.5$ days. We had successful results in 19 cases (95.0%). There were 12 pleural thickenings (60.0%), 2 markedly decreased effusions (10.0%) and 5 cases of no thickening or effusion. There was recurrence after treatment in only one patient(5%) with complicated pleural effusiondue to tuberculosis. Conclusions : Image-guided drainage with high dose UK instillation (250,000 U/day) in complicated pleural effusion is a safe and more effective method than closed thoracostomy drainage. And this management, in turn, can obviate surgery in most cases.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.43 no.5
• /
• pp.683-692
• /
• 1996

Background: Although most of the patients with tuberculous pleural effusions completely reabsorbed their effusions and became asymptomatic within 2 to 4 months, later surgical procedures such as decortication is needed in some patients because of dyspnea caused by pleural loculations and thickening despite anti-tuberculous chemotherapy. It is obligatory to secure adequate drainage to prevent the development of complications. But, the best methods for treating loculated tuberculous pleural effusions remain debatable. Recent several reports revealed that intrapleural instillation of fibrinolytic agents is an effective adjunct in the management of complicated empyema and may reduce the need of surgery. Purpose : The effects of catheterization with intrapleural urokinase instillation were prospectively evaluated in the patients with septated tuberculous pleural effusion, and compared with other therapeutic effects of different modalities of therapy such as repeated thoracentesis and small-bored catheterization. Methods : Forty-eight patients diagnosed with tuberculous pleurisy were randomly separated into three groups; control group(n=13), catheter group(n=12), urokinase group(n=22). In urokinase group, dose of 100.000U urokinase was instilled into the pleural cavity via a percutaneous drainage catheter for complete drainage or total dose of 700,000U of urokinase. After two hours clamping, the catheter was opened and intermittently irrigated. The early and late effectiveness of therapies was assessed by radiographically and by measuring the volume of fluid drained from the catheter. Results : There was statistically significantly better result in the urokinase group in respect of frequency of catheterization, frequency of catheter obstruction and the duration of catheterization in early effectiveness(p < 0.05). There were no difference in radiologic improvement of follow-up in later phase chest X-ray between urokinase group and catheter group in later phase(p > 0.05). But there were more failure rates in control group especially honeycomb septa in pleural effusion sonographically than former two groups. And there were no complications of urokinase such as fever or hemorrhage. Conclusion : In the treatment of septated tuberculous pleurisy, there were better results in urokinase than those of catheterization alone in early effectiveness. And there was no difference in radiographic improvement between urokinase group and catheter group. Intrapleural instillation of urokinase is an effective and safe mode of treatment for septated tuberculous pleural effusions and alleviates the need for thoracotomy.