• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.564-573
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• 1999

Background: With variable symptoms and nonspecific radiographic appearances, pulmonary embolism (PE) is a frequent and often undiagnosed cause of mortality and morbidity. The Prospective Investigation of Pulmonary Embolism Diagnosis (PIOPED) study suggested that the majority of patients undergoing ventilation-perfusion (V-Q) scan would require additional studies to establish or to exclude the diagnosis of PE. Pulmonary angiography has been regarded as gold standard for diagnosis of PE. However, it is an invasive procedure that may be associated with significant notable morbidity and mortality. Thus, availability of an accurate, noninvasive screening examination is highly desirable. Method: From October 1994 to February 1997, twenty patients (male 13, female 7, range 23-91 years, median 58 years) who were suspected as pulmonary embolism on the basis of clinical evidence and underwent the spiral volumetric computed tomography (spiral CT), were studied retrospectively to evaluate the effectiveness of spiral CT as a diagnostic tool in PE. Results: PE could be excluded with spiral CT in 4 patients ; diagnoses of these patients were lung cancer, pneumonia with lung abscess, bilateral pleural effusion due to congestive heart failure, nonspecific pulmonary abnormality retrospectively. One patient who disclosed high probability in V/Q scan, could be diagnosed as pneumonia with lung abscess and underlying emphysema with spiral CT. Among 4 patients who showed intermediate and low probability in V/Q scan, 3 patients could be confirmed as PE with spiral CT. Spiral CT was helpful in 3 patients, in whom V/Q scan could not be performed due to other reasons (e.g. night time, mechanical ventilation) to confirm the diagnosis of PE. Spiral CT could demonstrate embolus above lobar artery level in 11 patients, and up to segmental artery level in 5 patients. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that spiral CT could allow accurate demonstration of thrombotic clots in centrally localized embolism. Spiral CT could be effective, specific, noninvasive and useful diagnostic screening modality for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.506-515
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• 2003

Background : A decreased level of serum arginine vasopressin(AVP) and an increased sensitivity to an exogenous AVP is expected in patients with septic shock who often require a high infusion rate of catecholamines. The goal of the study was to determine whether an exogenous AVP infusion to the patients with septic shock would achieve a significant decrement in infusion rate of catecholamine vasopressors while maintaining hemodynamic stability and adequate urine output. Method : Eight patients with septic shock who require a high infusion rate of norepinephrine had received a trial of 4-hour AVP infusion with simultaneous titration of norepinephrine. Hemodynamic parameters and urine output were monitored during the AVP infusion and the monitoring continued up to 4 hours after the AVP infusion had stopped. Results : Mean arterial pressure showed no significant changes during the study period(p=0.197). Norepinephrine infusion rate significantly decreased with concurrent AVP administration(p=0.001). However, beneficial effects had disappeared after the AVP infusion was stopped. In addition, hourly urine output showed no significant changes throughout the trials(p=0.093). Conclusion : Concurrent AVP infusion achieved the catecholamine vasopressor sparing effect in the septic shock patients, but there was no evidence of the improvement of renal function. Further study may be indicated to determine whether AVP infusion would provide an organ-protective effect to the septic shock patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.18-24
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• 2005

Background : Endobronchial tuberculosis often complicates bronchostenosis, which can cause dyspnea due to an airway obstruction, and can be misdiagnosed as bronchial asthma or lung cancer. This study investigated the possible correlation between the $interferon-{\gamma}$($IFN-{\gamma}$) and transforming growth $factor-{\beta}$($TGF-{\beta}$) levels in the serum and bronchial washing fluid and the treatment results in endobronchial tuberculosis patients. Methods : Sixteen patients, who were diagnosed as endobronchial tuberculosis using bronchoscopy, and 10 healthy control subjects were enrolled in this study. The $IFN-{\gamma}$ and $TGF-{\beta}$ levels were measured in the serum and bronchial washing fluid of 16 endobronchial tuberculosis patients before and after treatment using the ELISA method. The endobronchial tuberculosis patients were divided into those who showed bronchial fibrostenosis after treatment and those who did not. Results : The $IFN-{\gamma}$ and $TGF-{\beta}$ levels in the bronchial washing fluid in endobronchial tuberculosis patients were elevated comparing to the control (p<0.05). After treatment, 7 of the 16 endobronchial tuberculosis patients showed bronchial fibrostenosis and the other 9 cases healed without this sequela. In the patients with fibrostenosis after treatment, the initial serum $TGF-{\beta}$ level was lower than the patients without fibrostenosis after treatment (p<0.05). Moreover, the serum $TGF-{\beta}$ level after treatment further decreased comparing to the patients without fibrostenosis after treatment(p<0.05). Conclusion : Elevated $IFN-{\gamma}$ and $TGF-{\beta}$ levels in the bronchial washing fluid in endobronchial tuberculosis patients are believed to be related to the pathogenesis of endobronchial tuberculosis. The decreased initial serum $TGF-{\beta}$ level and the change in the serum $TGF-{\beta}$ level after treatment are believed to be involved in bronchial fibrostenosis during the course of the disease.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.169-175
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• 1980

These studies were conducted to induce the available mutant strains in acetic acid bacteria by the irradiation of UV-light and the treatment of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N'-nitrosoguanidine. 109 strains which were capable of producing acid in the ethanol containing medium were isolated from vinegar and Kimchi collected from the region of Daejeon city. From the collection T-50 strain was identified to have a strong fermentation power and selected as a mother strain for the study. Two mutants were obtained by treating T-50 strain with UV and NTG, and these mutants had a rapid acid production in the initial stage. The study was then made to compare the basic condition for acetic acid production of the mother strain and two mutant strains. The summarized results were as follows; 1. The isolated strain (T-50) was identified as Acetobacter aceti by Bergey's manual and Acetic acid bacteria (Tokyo Univ. press). 2. The selected strain was died completely when the strain was irradiated with 15 W UV-light at a distance of 45 cm for 160 seconds. 3. The mutants such as U-48 and N-67 were rapid in the acetic acid production at the initial stage compare to the mother strain. 4. Acetic acid formation by the shaking culture method was maximized in 2 days culture, and the optimal temperature for acetic acid production was $30^{\circ}C$. 5. Acetic acid was effectively produced by the addition of 0.1% ammonium sulfate as a nitrogen source and was also produced rapidly by the addition of 0.1% glucose.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.167-172
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• 2012

The antimicrobial activities of $Smilax$ $china$ L. against spoilage bacteria isolated from $Mang-gae$ rice cake were investigated and the storage stability of the $Mang-gae$ rice cake was enhanced. Spoilage bacteria, which cause $Mang-gae$ rice cake to rot, were isolated from commercial $Mang-gae$ rice cake, and most of the isolated strains were identified as $Bacillus$ sp. After the leaves, roots, shoots, and stalks of the $Smilax$ $china$ L. were extracted using 50% ethanol as the solvent, their antimicrobial activities were investigated using the paper disc method by treating them with 50 ${\mu}L$ of $Bacillus$ $cereus$, which is known as a major pathogenic micro-organism in foods that contain starch, as the test organism. The antimicrobial activities of the extracts were compared according to the size of the clear zones around the paper discs. The root extract showed significant antimicrobial activities. When red beans, which are used as stuffing for $Mang-gae$ rice cake, were treated with the root extract of the $Smilax$ $china$ L., the viable cell count of the $Mang-gae$ rice cake was 5.04 Log CFU/g after 48-hr storage, and the cake showed significantly slower growth of bacteria than with commercial products. These results show that treatment of red beans with $Smilax$ $china$ root extract could improve the storage stability of $Mang-gae$ rice cake.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.426-431
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• 2013

With the objective of developing a functional food source, we established optimal processing conditions for the larvae of Allomyrina dichotoma, which have been used in traditional medicine to treat hepatic disorders in Korea. Without suitable processing, the larvae are difficult to consume as a food because of their disgusting taste and smell; moreover, in this form they might be a potential microbial hazard. In this study, we investigated the effect of feeding material, sterilization, and powdering after freeze-drying on the food quality of the larvae of A. dichotoma and on cytotoxicity against Raw 264.7 cells. Three to five days feeding with the sawdust from discarded oak-trees is sufficient for the breeding process. The sawdust was sterilized by vapor for five minutes. Sterilization of the larvae at a high temperature ($115^{\circ}C$ for 5 min, 0.9 $kgf/cm^2$) is necessary to eliminate pathogenic bacteria and fungi. The results of the cytotoxicity assay showed no toxicity in the prepared extract from larvae of A. dichotoma. In addition, to prepare the larvae for human consumption, various feeds were used and the smell, color, and taste were evaluated. Our results suggested that larvae of A. dichotoma could be developed as food source when a suitable processing method is established.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.608-615
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• 2015

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) has been used as both food and medicine in many cultures for thousands of years. Garlic cultivars are completely sterile and propagated through vegetative method. Collection of a large number of fertile accessions of these genus is needed to explore genetic variability. In order to investigate genetic variation among Allium species and its possibilities for direct cultivation in Korea, we characterized 12 accessions of A. longicuspis, flowering wild garlic which had collected from Central Asia, the main center of garlic diversity. Most of A. longicuspis accessions showed higher over-wintering and bolting rate, longer scape length and more number of bulbils than Korean landraces cultivar, Danyang and Euiseong, but A. longicuspis accessions exhibited smaller size of bulbs and bulbils. Most accessions of A. longicuspis had more number of cloves per bulb, except K229596 and K248824 than Korean landraces. All the accessions of A. longicuspis from Central Asia had complete bolters having many flowers and topsets in umbel. Further studies of A. longicuspis should focus on securing true seeds through removal of topsets and crosses among accessions to create the genetic variability.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.103-111
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• 2012

This study was carried out to examine foodborne pathogenic contamination from 1,080 samples of cooked hams and sausages at 10 Korean processing facilities in 2010. The samples were collected from the six primary and additional sterilization products in same lot. To detect Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes and Clostridium perfringens in those products (n=1,080), the domestic standard method for Processing and Ingredients Specification of Livestock Products was used. As a result, Salmonella spp. was not detected in all 636 ham and 444 sausage samples. However, L. monocytogenes was detected in four (0.6%) ham and eight (1.8%) sausage samples from five manufactures. S. aureus was also only detected in 4 (0.6%) ham samples from two manufacturers, and C. perfringens was detected in 3 (0.5%) ham samples from three manufacturers, the contamination levels of these pathogens were less than 100 CFU/g. In conclusion, the results of this study indicate that the additional sterilization step of processing manufacturers could not assist to control the foodborne pathogenic bacteria.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.33-50
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• 1976

As a continuation of series of works on the pharmacological actions of Panax ginseng. three kinds of behavioral experiments were carried out using rats and mice. The occurrence of component Posterns of general behavioral activity in rat was examined by visual scanning using the ting sample method in the ad lib. And he hunger deprivated situation. In normal ad lib. situation, the eating behavior of rat treated with 100mg/kg of ginseng saponin was significantly more frequent than that of saline control at the night and throughout the 24 hr period. But grooming was less frequent than the control at the same period. In the hunger situation followed by 90~120 hrs of feed deprivation, the locomotive activity and rearing awe significantly more often and sleeping was less frequent in the two dosage g roups of ginseng saponin (10 and 100 mg/kg) than in the saline group though out the observation period. Training of avoidance conditioning in rats was done in a two-way shuttle box. The number of conditioned response (CR) in which the animal avoided sucessfully an electric shock by running in to the other compartment of the hex was regarded as an index of learning performance. Ginseng saponin in doses of 2.5 mg/kg Produced a significantly increased CR in total avoidance tria1s compared with the control. Although other dosage groups of ginseng saponin (5.0, 50mg and 100 mg/kg) showed no significant statistical difference from the normal control, it tended to increase in CR in the ginseng groups than in the control. An aggressive behavior in mice was observed in n shock-generating fighting box. The occurrence of reflexive fighting between two animals induced by an electric shock applied to the feet war checked as an index of aggression. The occurrence of reciprocal fighting episode immediately after the onset. Of the shock was significantly decreased in the dosage group of 400 mg/kg ginseng saponin, but it did net differ in the 100 mg/kg group of ginseng saponin from the control group. The dose, 400 mg/kg of ginseng saponin, inhibited fighting behavior in more than 80% of the Pairs. but 100 mg/kg of ginseng did inhibit it in less than 20% of the pairs.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.887-897
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• 2000

Background : Since the exact pathogenesis of sepsis-induced ARDS has not been elucidated, the mechanisms of enhanced neutrophilic respiratory burst were probed in endotoxin primed neutrophils associated with the roles of phospholipase A2(PLA2), platelet activating factor(PAF) and apoptosis. Methods : In isolated fresh human neutrophils, effects of the inhibition of PLA2 and PAF on the apoptosis were examined by the method of Annexin-FITC/dual PIflow cytometry. The roles of PLA2 and PAF on the neutrophilic respiratory burst were also examined by measuring oxidant generation in cytochrome-c reduction assay. Activities of the PLA2 and lysoPAF acetyltransferase (lysoPAF AT) of the neutrophils were determined to understand the effect of endotoxin on these enzymatic activities which may be related to the neutrophilic respiratory burst and apoptosis. In addition, the role roles of PLA2 and PAF in neutrophilic adhesion to bovine endothelial cells were examined in vitro by neutrophil adhesion assay. To investigate the effect of oxidants on pulmonary surfactant, cytochemical ultrastructural microscopy was performed. To inhibit PLA2 and PAF, non-specific PLA2 inhibitor mepacrine (100 nM) and WEB 2086 (100 nM) or ketotifen fumarate (10 ${\mu}g$/ml) were used respectively in all in vitro experimental sets. WEB 2086 is PAF receptor antagonist, and ketotifen fumarate is a lyso PAF AT inhibitor. Results: The mapacrine treatment, provided and the endotoxin (ETX) treatment, resulted in increased apoptosis of neutrophils (p<0.001) while treatments of WEB 2086 and ketotifen did not. The inhibition of PLA2 and PAF decreased (p<0.001) production of oxidants from PMA-stimulated neutrophils. While endotoxin increased the PLA2 activity of neutrophils (p<0.01), mepacrine supressed (p<0.001) the activity, provided after treatment of ETX. The lyso PAF actyltransferase activity (lyso PAF AT) increased (p<0.01) after treatment of ETX. In contrast, mepacrine, WEB 2086 and ketotifen showed a tendency of decreasing the activity after treatment of ETX. The treatment of ETX incresed (p<0.001) neutrophil adhesion to endothelial cells, which was reversed by inhibition of PLA2 and PAF (p<0.01). The binding of oxidants to pu1monary surfactant was identified histologically. Conclusions : The enhanced neutrophilic respiratory burst by ETX plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of ARDS in terms of oxidayive oxidative stress. Increased production of oxidants from neutrophils is mediated by the activations of PLA2 and lyso PAF AT.