• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.49-61
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• 1985

In view of the facts that dopamine (DA) when given directly into a lateral ventricle (i.c.v.) of the rabbit brain induces antidiuresis and that haloperidol, a non-specific antagonist of DA receptors, produces anti-diuresis in smaller doses and diuresis and natriuresis in larger doses, the present study was undertaken to delineate the roles of various DA receptors involved in the center-mediated regulation of renal function. Bromocriptine (BRC), a relatively specific agonist of D-2 receptors and at the same time a D-,1 antagonist, elicited natriuresis and diuresis when given i.c.v. in doses ranging from 20 to 600 {\mu}g/kg$, roughly in dose-related fashion, while the renal perfusion and glomerular filtration progressively decreased with doses, indicating that the diuretic, natriuretic action resides in the tubules, not related to the hemodynamic effects. These diuresis and natriuresis were most marked with 200 ${\mu}g/kg$, with the fractional sodium excretion reaching about 10%. With 600 ${\mu}g/kg$, however, the diuretic, natriuretic action was preceded by a transient oliguria resulting from severe reduction of renal perfusion, concomitant with marked but transient hypertension. When given intravenously, however, BRC produced antidiuresis and antinatriuresis along with decreases in renal hemodynamics associated with systemic hypotension, thus indicating that the renal effects produced by i.c.v. BRC is not caused by a direct renal effects of the agent which might have reached the systemic circulation. In experiments in which DA was given i.c.v. prior to BRC, 150 ${\mu}g/kg$ DA did not affect the effects of BRC (200 ${\mu}g/kg$), while 500 ${\mu}g/kg$ DA abolished the BRC effect. In rabbits treated with reserpine, 1 mg/kg i.v.,24 h prior to the experiment, i.c.v. BRC could unfold its renal effects not only undiminished but rather exaggerated and more promptly. In preparations in which one kidney is deprived of nervous connection, the denervated kidney responded with marked diuresis and natriuresis, whereas the innervated, control kidney exhibited antidiuresis. These observations suggest that i.c.v. BRC influences the renal function through release of some humoral natriuretic factor as well as by increasing sympathetic tone, and that various DA receptors might be involved with differential roles in the center-mediated regulation of the renal function.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.605-611
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• 2012

Sea cucumber, $Stichopus$ $japonicus$, is used not only as an outstanding tonic food but also as a traditional medicine for the treatment of asthma, hypertension, rheumatism, anemia, and sinus congestion. The purpose of this study was to examine sea cucumber as an anti-gastritis and anti-gastric ulcer in HCl-ethanol-induced gastric and $H.$ $pylori$-infected animal models. Thirty 7-week-old SD rats and Mongolian gerbils were divided into normal (Nor, n=6), control (Con, 60% HCl-ethanol+water, n=6), groupI (DSCI, 60% HCl-ethanol+sea cucumber 30 mg/kg, n=6), groupII (DSCII, 60% HCl-ethanol+sea cucumber 100 mg/kg, n=6), and group III (DSCIII, 60% HCl-ethanol+sea cucumber 300 mg/kg, n=6). Sea cucumber significantly suppressed gastric lesions and ulcers in the 60% HCl-ethanol-induced gastric model. Especially, 100 mg/kg of sea cucumber showed significantly inhibitory effects. In histopathological analysis of the $H.$ $pylori$ model, we found that sea cucumber augmented the eradication rates of $H.$ $pylori$ and attenuated gastric ulcer formation. Our results suggest that sea cucumber has inhibitory effects on gastritis and gastric ulcers. In addition, sea cucumber can be applied for the treatment of $H.$ $pylori$.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.36-53
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• 1987

It is utmostly important to establish the efficient fitable way of peoples' active participation in primary health care especially in the areas where the public or governmental service input for the basic health care is insufficient like as in rural areas of Korea. In light of above reason, this study focused mainly on the evaluation of roles and activities of village health workers (VHWs) who were selected from grass- root level of village people in order to derive further motivation for active participation. This is believed to be a sort of feedback mechanisms. Actually, the authors collected the activity reports of VHWs who had been devoting themselves in the primary health care services of Jeomdong Area, of Yeoju Gun one of Korea University Community Health Action Programmes and survey record on the VHWs activity from correspondent people. 1 hose data were analyzed through computer programmed package. The activities performed by VHWs were limited to the performance in 1985 for conveniance. The summarized results were as follows; 1) General characteristics of VHWs. Among a total of 28 VHWs in the area, about 39.3g of them have been replaced up to the date since the implementation in 1983, because of moving out, occupational employment and of others. The age of majority (75.0%) lied between the range of 30-50, and educational background of 67.9% belonged to category of primary school graduation, about 50% of them experienced to be or were also entiled "chief of women club" of corresponding villages. 2) Work-load of VHWs. Each VHW was assigned for tasks of health care for average 55 households of 248 persons. They shared approximately 6 days a month for the activity in average and it covered 17 cases of basic health care in a month. A half of the VHWs performed home visits irregularly without solidified schedule. 3) Work performance analysis. Informations collected through VHWs were compared with data from official vital registration at local administration center "Myon Office" in 1985. VHWs collected 100.8 of new born, 116.2 of death, 58.3 of move in and 74.8 of move out in comparison with 100.0 of official registration each. Pregnant women of 79.8% of mothers among the total pregnancy of 94 which were confirmed as normally delivered or aborted cases by all means afterwards had been detected by VHWs as being pregnant and all of them received some of antenatal cares by VHWs. All(100%) of delivered women were detected by VHWs through home visits and they were cared postnatally. Whereas, according to the records of birth registration, the places of delivery were clinic in 33.7%, and mother's home in 66.3%, VHWs reported them to be clinic in 48.9%, midwifery in 20.2%. It was cleared that most of misinformation was caused by uncautious filling of birth registration at notification. Among the total of 717 eligible women under age 44 years, family planning status of 92.6% was reported by VHWs confirming practice of control to be 70.8% of reported fertile women. 4) Attitude of VHW on the roles and functions. Although 92.0% of VHWs expressed VHWs to be worthwhile, only 52.0% of them had dignity and satisfaction in their activity and 44.0% of them had passive attitude of working saying they followed direction regardlessly. Concerning difficulties in performance as a VHW, 60.7% of them pointed out lacking of medical and health related knowledge by themselves. Still, 64.0% of them thought visiting unfamilier house to be awful and 40.0% complained forms of activity to be difficult and hard. It was also revealed that 56.6% confessed lack of interest on community health service itself. Most of VHWs needed more educational training especially on clinical fields such as cares of gynecological diseases, hypertension, diabetes, and other chronic diseaes of the aged. Regular on-the-job basic trainings were said to be needed twice a year.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2012

This study was carried out to investigate the biological activity and antimicrobial activity of Vaccinium oldhami fruit extracts. ABTS radical cation decolorization and the antioxidant protection factor (PF) of extracts as $92.7{\pm}4.1%$ and $3.6{\pm}1.6$ PF were higher than a BHT of $200{\mu}g/mL$ as $52.4{\pm}1.9%$ and $2.0{\pm}0.8$ PF, and the TBARS of extracts was $74.4{\pm}2.9%$ with $200{\mu}g/mL$. The hypertension inhibitory activity of extracts from Vaccinium oldhami fruit indicated the activities of $28.6{\pm}0.6%$ with $200{\mu}g/mL$, and anti-gout activity was $43.3{\pm}0.8%$ with $200{\mu}g/mL$. Antimicrobial activity was found in Vaccinium oldhami fruit extracts on Helicobacter pylori, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Eschericia coli and Propionebacterium acne. This activity was illustrated as 24 mm, 28 mm, 13 mm, 26 mm and 16 mm clear zones with $200{\mu}g/mL$ respectively, and the elastase inhibitory activity which is related to the wrinkle cause was observed in extracts as $52.7{\pm}0.9%$ with $200{\mu}g/mL$.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.9
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• pp.1075-1082
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• 2002

Purpose : Obesity is known to be associated with hypertension, dyslipidemia, and fatty liver and is thought to be associated with increased levels of free fatty acids. One of the strategies for decreasing free fatty acid levels is stimulation of hepatic lipid oxidation with L-carnitine. Carnitine is an essential cofactor for transport of long-chain fatty acid into mitochondria for oxidation. This study was designed to evaluate the changes of serum fatty acids and carnitine levels after exogenous injection of L-carnitine. Methods : Sprague Dawley rats were divided into two groups. Group A was control. Group B was given intraperitoneal injection with L-carnitine(200 mg/kg) daily for two weeks. Serum lipid (total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol) and fatty acid levels were analyzed on the first day of the first and second weeks after injection of L-carnitine. Total, free, and acyl carnitine levels also were performed by a enzymatic cycling techniques at the same day intervals. Results : There was no significant difference between the two groups in total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol levels before and after the administration of L-carnitine. But triglyceride levels were significantly decreased at the first week in group B compared with group A. Among free fatty acids, linoleic acid showed significant decrement(A group : $131.3{\pm}31.3mg/dL$ vs B group : $90.0{\pm}7.0mg/dL$) at the first week. Total, free, and acyl carnitine levels showed significant increments at all days intervals, but only free carnitine showed significant increments according to cumulative doses of carnitine. Conclusion : Plasma linoleic acid, a long-chain fatty acid, showed significant decrement after administration of L-carnitine in the first week. This may suggest that L-carnitine can be used as an antilipidemic agent for obese patients. A prospective study will investigate obese children in the future.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.21-31
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• 2002

The aim of this study was to analyse and conduct the comprehensive geriatric assessment for the elderly in rural area. The subjects were 388 older people aged 65 years or older living in the community. Data for comprehensive assessment such as physical, mental, functional, social and environmental conditions were collected from January to February, 2001 through a person-to-person interview. Of the total 388 olders, 169(43.6%) were men and 219(56.4%) were women. Mean ages of men and women were $73.5{\pm}6.4$ and $74.0{\pm}6.2$ years respectively. Three common diseases of the elderly were arthralgia(51.6%), chronic back pain(33.2%) and hypertension(18.6%), and higher in women than in men. Impairment rate of vision, hearing and bowel or bladder control was 59.0%, 20.1%, and 28.4% respectively. But that of lover extremities 3.4%. In terms of cognitive function, short term memory loss was found in 33.7% of males and 44.7% of females. The percentage of fully independent in the six ADL items was 72.2% in men and 58.9% in women. In the social supportive system, 49.5% of the elderly were living with spouse, and 22.9% living alone, 26.3% having care giver. These results will provide basic data for the development of community-based health program, which gives appropriate health service for the elderly living in the community.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.343-352
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• 2001

Background : Advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is characterized by progressive pulmonary hypertension leading to right heart dysfunction, which plays a Important role in clinical evaluation but remains difficult and challenging to quantify. The noninvasive doppler echocardiographic value referred to as the Tei index has been suggested as a simple, reproducible and reliable parameter of the right ventricular function. The purpose of this was to assess the right ventricular function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease using the Tei index and to evaluate its relationship with the pulmonary functional status. Methods : The study population comprised of 26 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 10 normal control subjects. The Tei index was obtained by dividing the sum of the isovolumetric contraction and the relaxation times by the ejection time using a pulsed-wave doppler. It was compared with the other available Doppler echocardiographic parameters of systolic or diastolic function and with the pulmonary function of the patients. Results : The Tei indices of the patients with COPD were significantly higher than those of normal subjects($0.45{\pm}0.17$ vs. $0.27{\pm}0.03$, p<0.01). The isovolumetric contraction time/ejection time($0.32{\pm}0.08$ vs. $0.25{\pm}0.05$, p<0.05), the isovolumetric relaxation time/ejection time($0.29{\pm}0.16$ vs. $0.15{\pm}0.08$, p<0.05)and the preejection period/ejection time ($0.46{\pm}0.10$ vs. $0.38{\pm}0.06$, p<0.05) were prolonged and the ejection time ($255.2{\pm}32.6$ vs. $314.2{\pm}16.5$ msec, p<0.05) was significantly shortened in patients with COPD compared to normal subjects. The tei indices were inversely correlated with the $FEV_1$ (r=-0.46, p<0.05) and were prolonged significantly in patients with a severe obstructive ventilatory dysfunction(less than 35% of predicted $FEV_1$) compared to those with a mild and moderate ventilatory dysfunction. The tei indices showed an inverse correlation to with the ejection time (r=-0.469), the isovolumetric contraction time/ejection time(r=0.453), the isovolumetric relaxation time/ejection time(r=0.896) and the preejection period/ejection time(r=0.480). Conclusion : The tei index appeared to be a useful noninvasive means of evaluating the right ventricular function. It revealed a significant correlation with the pulmonary function in patients with COPD.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2008

Purpose: The best treatment for advanced esophageal cancer is chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery. In spite of the advance of multimodality therapy, most patients with esophageal cancer are treated with radiation therapy alone. This study reports the outcome of the use of conventional external beam radiotherapy alone for the treatment of esophageal cancer. Materials and Methods: Between January 1998 and December 2005, 30 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus were treated with external beam radiotherapy using a total dose exceeding 40 Gy. Radiotherapy was delivered with a total dose of 44-60 Gy(median dose, 57.2 Gy) over $36{\sim}115$ days(median time, 45 days). Thirteen patients(43.3%) had a history of disorders such as diabetes, hypertension, tuberculosis, lye stricture, asthma, cerebral infarct, and cancers. Four patients metachronously had double primary cancers. The most common location of a tumor was the mid-thoracic portion of the esophagus(56.7%). Tumor lengths ranged from 2 cm to 11 cm, with a median length of 6 cm. For AJCC staging, stage III was the most common (63.3%). Five patients had metastases at diagnosis. Results: The median overall survival was 8.3 months. The survival rates at 1-year and 2-years were 33.3% and 18.7%, respectively. The complete response rate $1{\sim}3$ months after radiotherapy was 20%(6/30) and the partial response rate was 70%(21/30). Sixteen patients(53.3%) had an improved symptom of dysphagia. Significant prognostic factors were age, tumor length, stage, degree of dysphagia at the time of diagnosis and tumor response. Cox regression analysis revealed the aim of treatment, clinical tumor response and tumor length as independent prognostic factors for overall survival. Twenty-eight patients had local failure and another four patients had metastases. Three patients were detected with double primary cancers in this analysis. A complication of esophageal stricture was observed in three patients(10%), and radiation pneumonitis occurred in two patients(6.7%). Conclusion: The prognosis of esophageal cancer remains poor, in spite of advances in radiotherapy techniques. Radiotherapy is one of the main treatment modalities for the relief of dysphagia and treatment related complications are minimal. It is expected that the addition of chemotherapy or another systemic modality to radiotherapy will improve tumor control and increase the survival rate in advanced esophageal cancer.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.588-595
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• 2002

Purpose : The incidence of obesity has increased in Korea recently. Obesity leads to higher risks of hypertension, hyperlipidemia and insulin resistance. It also leads to risks of respiratory complications. This study was performed to see the effects of obesity on children's pulmonary functions and on developed bronchospasm after exercise loading according to their obesity degrees. Methods : 257 obese children and 150 non-obese children were enrolled. Obese children were divided into 3 groups by the obesity degrees. Pre- and post-exercise loading $FEV_1$(forced expiratory volume at one second), FVC(forced vital capacity) and PEFR(peak expiratory flow rate) were checked in all subjects. The percent predicted values of each parameter was compared according to obesity degrees and the differences between pre-exercise and post-exercise values. Results : The percent predicted value of $FEV_1$, FVC decreased only in the severe obesity group compared with those in the control group. However percent predicted PEFR declined according to obesity degrees. The percent predicted value of $FEV_1$, FVC and PEFR after exercise loading were much lower than those before exercise loading in all groups. Conclusion : As the degree of obesity was higher, the percent predicted value of pulmonary function was lower. And after exercise loading, as the degree of obesity was higher, the reduction of percent predicted value of pulmonary function was larger. Therefore the pulmonary function in obese children must be observed carefully. Further studies on the effects of pulmonary functions in obese children are necessary.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.319-332
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• 2009

The present study was performed to analyze the life style and eating behavior of stroke patients and to find the risk factors related to stroke incidence in Daegu and Gyeongbuk Province, Korea. The case subjects (n=100) were selected from newly diagnosed stroke patients at Kyungpook National University Hospital. The control subjects (n=150) were selected from community inhabitants who did not have stroke history and were sex and age-matched with the case subjects. The survey was conducted by individual interviews using questionnaires on the general characteristics, life-style, eating behavior, food intake frequency and food preference. The high body mass index, preexisting diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, stroke family history, smoking, overeating habit and high preference for sweet, greasy and meat foods appeared to be the risk factors for stroke incidence. On the other hand, the results suggest that life style of regular exercise and nonsmoking, food habits of green tea drinking and enough chewing, preference for Korean meal type, high intake frequency for legumes, vegetables, mushrooms, seaweeds, fishes and shell fishes, soy milk and green tea might be the protective factors for the stroke. Therefore, maintenance of healthy weight, the prevention and management of the deteriorative chronic diseases, change of life style and improvement of eating behaviors are considered to be important for stroke prevention.