• Development and Reproduction
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.373-383
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• 2011

Tributyltin (TBT) is one of endocrine disrupters which are known as having similar function to sex steroid hormone inducing apoptosis in various tissues of rodents. Recently, it has been reported that TBT induces apoptosis in thymus causing the decreased thymic function, but little is known about the mechanism. To elucidate the mechanism, three-week-old SD female rats were orally administrated with TBT 1, 10, and 25 mg per body weight (kg) and sesame oil as a control for 7 days. On day 8, the thymi were obtained and weighed, and then the number of thymocytes was counted. We also performed H&E staining, TUNEL assay, and Annexin V flow cytometric analysis to examine the apoptosis rates and the structure in the thymus. Next, we investigated the adipogenesis and apoptosis-related mRNA expression levels in the thymi by real-time PCR. The thymic weight and the number of thymocytes were decreased by TBT in a dose-dependent manner. As a result of the H&E staining, the boundary between cortical and medullary area was blurred in the thymi of TBT treated rats compared to those of controls. In the results of TUNEL assay and Annexin V flow cytometric analysis, apoptosis rates in the thymus were increased after TBT treatment. The expression levels of thymic epithelial cell marker genes such as EVA, KGF, AIRE, and IL-7 were significantly decreased in the thymi of TBT treated rats, but $PPAR{\gamma}$, aP2, PEPCK, and CD36 were significantly increased. The expression of $TNF{\alpha}$ and TNFR1 as apoptosis-related genes also was significantly increased after TBT treatment. The present study demonstrates that TBT can increase the expression of adipogenesis and apoptosis-related genes leading to apoptosis in the thymus. These results suggest that the increased adipogenesis of thymus by TBT exposure might induce apoptosis in the thymus resulting in a loss in thymic immune function.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.269-273
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• 2012

A confirmatory serological test, the standard tube agglutination test (STAT) is evaluated for the diagnostic efficiency in brucellosis Korea. A total of 345 bovine samples were collected from regional veterinary branch under national brucellosis monitoring program from January 2010 to June 2012 in Korea. These samples were diagnosed as suspected serum and brucellosis positive by the Rose Bengal test (RBT) and the STAT, respectively. The STAT was compared and evaluated with three serological test such as the indirect-enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (I-ELISA), competitive-enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (C-ELISA) and fluorescence polarisation assay (FPA) prescribed for international trade by OIE. Among the 345 bovine serum samples, 302 (87.5%) were diagnosed as positive in the STAT, while 215 (62.3%), 223 (64.6%) and 194 (56.2%) serum samples were diagnosed as positive for brucellosis in the I-ELISA, C-ELISA and FPA, respectively. The STAT showed quite high positive results as compared with three prescribed tests of OIE. FPA, I-ELISA and C-ELISA have shown 60.6%, 64.9% and 67.2% correlation, respectively as compared to the STAT. However correlations of three prescribed tests ranged high 84.1~97.7%. Especially, correlation between I-ELISA and C-ELISA is quite high, 97.7%. These results suggest that the STAT has shown many false-positive reactions. Therefore, additional serological test, such as ELISAs and FPA, would be necessary to adopt as a confirmatory test in the national surveillance program of bovine brucellosis in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.586-591
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• 2001

Objective : Transseptal or sublabial transsphenoidal surgery has been standard teatment for pituitary tumors for decades. However, as an alternative to this surgery endonasal endoscopic technique has been reported with encouraging results. We have started endoscopy-assisted transsphednoidal surgery from May 1998. In this paper we analyzed the methods, outcome, advantage and disadvantage of this surgical approach for the purpose of planning optimal treatment of pituitary tumors. Methods : This study consisits of 13 cases of pituitary tumors who were treated by endoscopy-assisted transsphenoidal surgery using one nostril from May 1998 to July 1999. Mean follow up period was 12.9 months. Results : There was no septal or sublabial incision and little surgical damage to nasal structure. With this technique, rapid surgical approach and short hospital day were possible, being 3-6 days in patients without CSF leakage. Using various angled endoscope, good surgical view was obtained. Initially it was difficult to use various instruments in narrow nasal cavity, but became feasible after several procedures. Among 13 cases, total removal was possible in 11 cases. One of two cases in whom tumor was incompletely removed underwent gamma-knife radiosurgery and second underwent reoperation through subfrontal approach. There were 6 cases of hormone secreting tumors and hormonal remission was achived in all of these cases. Postoperative complications were CSF leakage(6 cases), diabetes insipidus(2 cases) and panhypopituitarysm(1 case). Lumbar drainage was done in all cases of CSF leakage. Conclusion : The advantage of endoscopy-assisted transsphenoidal surgery are rapid surgical approach, low postoperative morbidity, short hospital day and good surgical view. The disadvantage of this appoach are difficulty in manupulating various instruments in narrow nostril and difficulty in distance perception but these problems can be overcome by practice and using stereoscopic endoscope.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.2160-2168
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• 2015

The beneficial effects of probiotics are now widely reported, although there are only a few studies on their anti-aging effects. We have found that Lactobacillus plantarum HY7714 (HY7714) improves skin hydration and has anti-photoaging effects, and in the present study, we have further evaluated the anti-aging effect of HY7714 via a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. The trial included 110 volunteers aged 41 and 59 years who have dry skin and wrinkles. Participants took 1 × 10¹⁰ CFU/day of HY7714 (probiotic group) or a placebo (placebo group) for 12 weeks. Skin hydration, wrinkles, skin gloss, and skin elasticity were measured every 4 weeks during the study period. There were significant increases in the skin water content in the face (p < 0.01) and hands (p < 0.05) at week 12 in the probiotic group. Transepidermal water loss decreased significantly in both groups at weeks 4, 8, and 12 (p < 0.001 compared with baseline), and was suppressed to a greater extent in the face and forearm in the probiotic group at week 12. Volunteers in the probiotic group had a significant reduction in wrinkle depth at week 12, and skin gloss was also significantly improved by week 12. Finally, skin elasticity in the probiotic group improved by 13.17% (p < 0.05 vs. controls) after 4 weeks and by 21.73% (p < 0.01 vs. controls) after 12 weeks. These findings are preliminary confirmation of the anti-aging benefit to the skin of L. plantarum HY7714 as a nutricosmetic agent.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.49-54
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• 2008

Background : This study was to reduce incidence of falls by analyzing actual problem and drawing out improvement plan applicable to the clinical practice through operation of the staff nurses-centered fall peer review group. Method : The fall peer review group was composed of 8 nurses having patient nursing experience for over 5 years, and each of fall cases was reviewed and the root cause was analyzed. As a result, it was found that the patients and their families did not fully understandthe content of the education, and the staff nurses did not completely inspect the risk factors of falls and perform immediate intervention when patient's condition changed. Based on the above-mentioned results, improvement activity was conducted for the purposes of consolidating patients education method and supplementing computerized system to support nurses' decision making as well as devices and facilities. Result : As a result of conducting improvement activity in the aspects of education for patients, support of nurse's decision-making, and devices and facilities through operation of the staff nurses-centered fall peer review group, falls decreased by 9.5% compared to before improvement activity. Conclusion : It is concluded that operation of the clinical nurses-centered fall peer review group played a role of promoter to draw out practical and applicable improvement plan to the clinical practice and apply directions of the field-centered, and increased nurses' interest in falls and ultimately, reduced incidence of falls. Therefore the Center will continue to operate the staff nurses-centered peer review group, and recommends participation of nurses who actually take the charge of nursing patients in further analysis of patients' safety accidents.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.78-85
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• 2009

This study was performed to investigate the effect of extract mixture(IPGE) drink from Inonotus Obliquus, Phellinus Linteus and Ganoderma Lucidum on hematopoietic stem cells and lymphocyte subset[lymphocyte, $CD4^+T$ cell, $CD8^+T$ cell, Natural Killer(NK) cells] of blood in 37 participants who were healthy and about $40{\sim}70$ years old. They were divided into two groups; extract mixture drink administration group(n=27) and placebo administration group(n=12). They were given the test drink daily for 4 weeks. Blood was obtained from the subjects every two week in the beginning of administration day to evaluate the $CD34^+$ hematopoietic stem cells and immune cells. As results, $CD34^+$ hematopoietic stem cells were significantly increased after taking IPGE drink for 4 weeks compared to that before taking the drink (p<0.001). There was no significant changes in number of lymphocytes, $CD4^+T$ cells, $CD8^+T$ cells, NK cells and in the ratio of $CD4^+/CD8^+$ cell after taking the test drink. From these results, it was suggested that IPGE have a good health effect by promoting the proliferation of the hematopoietic stem cells.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.304-309
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• 2016

This study was assessed stability of ethanolic extract from Cirsium setidens Nakai that will be applied for development of functional foods and ingredients. We evaluated pectolinarin content, total phenol content and antioxidant activity (DPPH radical scavenging activity and FRAP assay) of ethanolic extract from C. setidens Nakai against various temperature (4, 25 and $50^{\circ}C$) and pH (4.0, 7.0 and 10.0). Our results show that the pectolinarin and total phenol contents in ethanolic extract from Cirsium setidens Nakai slightly reduced during the storage periods. Moreover, the DPPH radical scavenging activity at $4^{\circ}C$ was higher than those of other temperature. Pectolinarin content, total phenol content and DPPH radical scavenging activity of ethanolic extract from Cirsium setidens Nakai at acidic (pH 4.0) and neutral (pH 7.0) pH ranges were higher than at alkaline pH ranges. These results indicate that the optimum storage condition of C. setidens Nakai ethanol extract are temperature $4^{\circ}C$ and pH 4.0-7.0 ranges.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.26-33
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was performed to investigate the maspin gene expression from osteosarcoma and to determine whether its expression correlates with clinical course of the cancer. Materials and Methods: Between 2001 and 2006, 39 patients who were diagnosed and treated surgically for osteosarcoma were included in the present study. We estimated the maspin gene expression from osteosarcoma tissue samples using RT-PCR. And we examined the correlations between the maspin expression and clinical data (post-chemotherapeutic response, local relapse or metastases). Results: Maspin was over expressed in 21 cases of 39 osteosarcoma tissues. There were significant correlations between maspin expression and the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, distant metastases & metastasis-free survival. In multivariate analysis, maspin low-expression was significant risk factor for distant metastases. Also, there was significant difference in metastasis-free survivals between maspin hi- expression group ($69.0{\pm}10.5%$) and low-expression group ($25.4{\pm}13.0%$). Conclusion: The degree of maspin expression in osteosarcoma was significant risk factor for distant metastases and predictive factor for metastasis-free of overall survivals. Maspin may be a useful biologic marker in evaluating the prognosis in patients with osteosarcoma and could be used as a therapeutic target clinically.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.377-385
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• 2011

This study was carried out to investigate quality characteristics of dry-cured hams in the domestic market. Two kinds of dry-cured hams were processed with pork leg (T1) and pork neck (T2). Five 24-month dry-cured legs (T1, 5.3-6.1 kg) and twenty 4-month dry-cured pork necks (T2, 1.5-1.9 kg) were used in this experiment. They were stored at $4^{\circ}C$ chilling room and quality characteristics were investigated. Moisture content, water activity, cholesterol content, CIE $L^*$, VBN, total plate counts and lactic acid bacteria of T1 were significantly higher (p<0.05) than those of T2, whereas fat content, ${NO_2}^-$, CIE $a^*$, TBARS and Warner-Bratzler shear force values of T2 were significantly higher (p<0.05) than those of T1. In fatty acid compositions, palmitoleic acid and stearic acid in T2 were significantly higher (p<0.05) than T1, however, oleic and linoleic acid in T2 was significantly lower (p<0.05) than T1. In free amino acids, the total content and individual content of asparagin, leucine and phenylalanine in T1 were higher than those of T2 (p<0.05). The aroma score of T2 was higher than that of T1 in sensory evaluation (p<0.05). In conclusion, two kinds of dry-cured hams were different in their final characteristics and could enhance the consumer's appeal of pork meat in Korean market.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.445-456
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• 2009

Colostrum samples were collected from 36 dairy farms in Gyeonggi-do and one dairy farm in the National Institute of Animal Science (NIAS) for testing. Colostrum samples were analyzed for phisycochemicals (specific gravity, pH, titratable acidity), general components (fat, protein, lactose, total solid, solid non-fat (SNF)), fatty acids, amino acids, minerals, microflora, somatic cells, and Ig (Immunoglobulin). The first colostrum revealed the following data: fat contents were $6.16{\pm}2.39%$, proteins were $14.78{\pm}4.30%$, lactose $2.57{\pm}0.77%$, total solid $24.28{\pm}4.36%$, and SNF $18.12{\pm}4.08%$, whereas the 2nd (or $12^{th}$) colostrum revealed $5.56{\pm}1.76%$ fat, $3.46{\pm}0.41%$ proteins, $4.19{\pm}0.43%$ lactose, $13.90{\pm}1.76%$ total solid, and $8.34{\pm}0.81%$ SNF. Also, the first colostrum revealed the contents of major amino acids as 0.89% aspartic acid, 0.71% threonine, 0.86% serine, 1.75% glutamic acid, 0.64% valine, 0.95% leucine, 0.83% lysine, and 0.95% proline, and those in the 10th colostrum were 0.25% aspartic acid, 0.15% threonine, 0.19% serine, 0.59% glutamic acid, 0.19% valine, 0.35% leucine, 0.31% lysine, and 0.34% proine. Major amino acid contents rapidly decreased as milking times increased. In the first colostrum, the following mineral contents were observed: there were 2,168 ppm in Ca, 1,959 ppm in P, 914 ppm in K, 761 ppm in Na, 287 ppm in Mg, 1.7 ppm in Fe, 14.3 ppm in Zn, and 1.0 ppm in Cu; while in the 10th colostrum, the following ppm contents were 1,389 in Ca, 1,323 in P, 838 in K, 427 in Na, 131 in Mg, 1.0 in Fe, 4.7 in Zn, and 1.3 in Cu. The mineral contents in a colostrum rapidly decreased as milking times increased.