• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.276-283
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• 2023

Purpose: We aimed to determine the differences in the levels of serum thyroid hormone (free T4 [FT4]) and thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH]) as biomarkers for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection status, with respect to age and sex. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed serum samples from 200 patients who underwent HBV testing from August 2022 to September 2022. Serum samples were collected from patients suspected of having HBV infection who visited this hospital. Thyroid hormone levels were measured, and patients were grouped according to age and sex. Results: Differences in TSH and FT4 levels in the serum of patients in the HBV-positive and -negative groups were not significant. Among the HBV-positive patients in the younger age group (<60 years), TSH and FT4 levels were 1.78 ± 0.09 µIU/mL (normal: 0.4-5.0 µIU/mL) and 1.24 ± 0.02 ng/mL (normal: 0.8-1.9 ng/mL), respectively, whereas among the HBV-positive patients in the older age group (≥60 years), TSH and FT4 levels were 2.22 ± 0.17 µIU/mL and 1.24 ± 0.07 ng/mL, respectively. Conclusions: The presence of HBV did not markedly affect serum thyroid hormone levels. Our findings shed light on the conflicting evidence on the association between thyroid hormone levels and HBV infection. We, Hyeokjun Yun and Bo Kyeung Jung are co-first authors which made substantial contribution equally to the conception and designed of this work. Jae Kyung Kim, In soo Rheem and Kap No Lee made significant contributions to the acquisition and analysis of the data.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.11
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• pp.1185-1190
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• 2008

Purpose : This study was undertaken to evaluate the immunogenicity and reactogenicity of Td booster immunization in early preadolescents of Korea. Methods : Healthy preadolescents, who had been vaccinated with 4 or 5 doses of DTaP vaccines until 6 years old age, were enrolled in this study from August 2006 to April 2007. Diphtheria and tetanus anti-toxoid antibodies in sera were measured by ELISA just before vaccination and 4 weeks after vaccination to evaluate immunogenicity. Local and systemic adverse reactions observed for 4 weeks after vaccination to access reactogenicity. Results : 183 preadolescents were enrolled and mean age was $11.40{\pm}0.51$ years old. All subjects achieved seroprotective diphtheria and tetanus anti-toxoid antibodies (titers ${\geq}0.1IU/mL$) after Td booster vaccination. Among 183 vaccinees, 73.8% showed local adverse reactions and 37.2% systemic adverse reactions. Pain at injection site (66.1%) was the most common local reaction, and the most commonly shown systemic reaction was myalgia (17.5%). The adverse reactions were spontaneously relieved within three days after vaccination. Conclusion : Td vaccine in this study was high immunogenic and showed an acceptable tolerance in Korean preadolescents. Td booster vaccination at 11-12 years old is the most effective method to increase compliance of the vaccination and to decrease the incidence of diphtheria and tetanus.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.9-30
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• 1985

The study was carried out to find out the changes of the sex hormone levels in the milk of Holstein cows during the reproductive stages such as the estrous cycle, pregnancy and periparturient period. The FSH, LH, estradiol-17$\beta$ and progesterone from the milk samples were assayed by radioimmunoassay methods. The results of this study were summarized as follows: 1. The levels of progesterone and estradiol-17$\beta$ were similar among inter-quarters, but they were higher in after milking than before milking times, with no statistical significance. 2. The milk progesterone levels during the estrous cycles reached a peak mean level of 3.55$\pm$0.26ng/$m\ell$ at 15 days after estrus and they did not show any differences among the length of estrous cycles. The estradiol-17$\beta$ levels during the estrous cycles showed a peak level of 36.40$\pm$2.38pg/$m\ell$ at estrus, and decreased(17.20$\pm$0.46 pg/$m\ell$ to 18.65$\pm$1.26pg/$m\ell$) at luteal phase. 3. The FSH levels during the estrous cycles ranged from 2.25$\pm$0.23mIU/$m\ell$ to 4.35$\pm$0.24mIU/$m\ell$ showing significant changes. The LH levels during the estrous cycles gradually increased and remained a peak level of 10.90$\pm$0.36mIU/$m\ell$ from 20 to 25 days after estrus. 4. The progesterone levels during the pregnancy were decreased from 30 to 60 days after artificial insemination, and therafter continuously increased until 240 days. The estradiol-17$\beta$ levels during the pregnancy were 24.56$\pm$1.19pg/$m\ell$ at day 30 after artificial inseminaton, and increased rapidly until 180 days. The levles were agagin decreased by 26.17$\pm$3.03pg/$m\ell$ until 210 days and markedly increased by 68.00$\pm$8.70pg/$m\ell$ until 240 days. 5. The prolactin levels during the pregnancy were 31.27$\pm$2.31ng/$m\ell$ and 42.60$\pm$2.37ng/$m\ell$ at day 150 and 240 after artificial insemination respectively. The LH levels during the pregnancy reached a peak of 27.47$\pm$7.90mIU/$m\ell$ at day 30 after artificial insemination, and thereafter gradually decreased. 6. The progesterone levels during the periparturient period reached a peak of 4.61$\pm$0.34ng/$m\ell$ at day 3 prepartum, and thereafter gradually decreased, and showed 2.05$\pm$0.60ng/$m\ell$ at day 7 postpartum. The estradiol-17$\beta$ levels during the periparturient period showed high level from 207.23$\pm$6.04pg/$m\ell$ at day 1 prepartum to 239.90$\pm$13.90pg/$m\ell$ at day 2 prepartum, and thereafter began to decline and reached 51.87$\pm$1.72pg/$m\ell$ at by 7 postpartum. 7. The prolactin levels during the periparturient period showed relatively higher level at the time of parturition. The LH levels during the periparturient period rnage from 6.32$\pm$0.32mIU/$m\ell$ to 13.90$\pm$1.37mIU/$m\ell$ showing significant changes. 8. The progesterone levels(4.6$\pm$0.8ng/$m\ell$) of the pregnant cows were significantly higher than those (1.84$\pm$1.4ng/$m\ell$) of nonpregnant cows. The cows of artificial insemination from 61 to 90 days after parturition showed higher progesterone levels. 9. During 20 to 25 days after artificial insemination, the accuracy of pregnancy diagnosis from milk progesterone levels were 94.4% for nonpregnant cows(<2.3ng/$m\ell$), and 75.0% for pregnant cows( 3.2ng/$m\ell$). The average overall accuracy of pregnancy prediction for nonpregnant and pregnant cows 83.3% 10. The results obtained this study suggest that the understanding of the endocrinological mechanisms by means of milk hormone analysis during the estrous cycle, pregnancy and parturition would give the basic information needed for increasing efficiency of reproduction. This study would not only provide an accurate method of the early pregnancy diagnosis by milk progesterone levels but also contribute to the research of providing the method of detecting of FSH levels in milk, which was difficult in blood serum.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.527-533
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• 1992

The optimal conditions for cellulase and xylanase production by Trichoderma reesei 28217 were studied for enzymatic deinking of old newspaper. The amounts of cellulase and xylanase from the strain was varied by initial medium pH, Tween 80, inoculum size of spore suspension, and carbon and nitrogen sources. The optimal conditions for cellulase production were pH 5.0-6.5, 0.02% of Tween 80, 0.5-1.0% of inoculum size of spore suspension ($1{\times}10^{7}$/ml). cottonseed meal as nitrogen source, and corn flour as carbon source. On the other hand, the optimal conditions for xylanase production were pH 6.5, 0.01% of Tween 80, corn steep liquor as nitrogen source, and disintegrated old newspaper as carbon source. The inoculum size for xylanase production was the same as for cellulase production. The concomitant production of cellulase and xylanase in shake flask culture was efficiently induced in the medium containing 0.5% cottonseed meal as nitrogen source and 1.0% old newspaper and 2.0% corn flour as carbon sources. In this case the activities of cellulase and xylanase produced were 6.11-7.22 IU/mJ and 97.7 IU/ml. respectively. However, the cellulase production in $5{\ell}$ fermentor scale was slightly decreased compared with that in flask scale. Moreover, xylanase production was severely reduced in a fermentor scale. The study for the reason of decreased enzyme production in fermentor is further needed.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.827-838
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• 2006

This experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of dietary vitamin E levels on carcass characteristics and vitamin E contents, fatty acid composition and lipid oxidation as indicated by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances(TBARS) of the longissimus muscle in Hanwoo steers. Forty Hanwoo steers were randomly assigned to one of four groups and fed the diet containing 200(control), 1000, 2000 or 2500 IU a(alpha)-tocopherol acetate/head/day for 3 months of last finishing period. Backfat thickness was thinner and beef fat color was whiter(P<0.05) in steers fed the vitamin E supplemented diets than those fed the control diet. But the longissimus muscle area and yield grade did not differ among treatments. Marbling score and quality grade were higher(P<0.05) in steers fed the diets containing 1000 and 2000 IU vitamin E than those fed the other diets. Vitamin E concentration in the longissimus muscle was higher(P<0.05) as the vitamin E content in diet was higher. The levels of oleic and linoleic acids in the longissimus muscle were not affected by dietary vitamin E levels. But linolenic and arachidonic acids were lower in steers fed the vitamin E supplemented diets than those fed the control diet. TBARS in the longissimus muscle was not affected by the vitamin E levels in diet until 5th day of storage but delayed muscle lipid oxidation in steers fed the vitamin E supplemented diets after 7th day of storage. Therefore according to this result, it may be concluded that steers have a higher quality grade and higher vitamin E concentration in muscle and lower in TBARS when diet contains 1000 or 2000 IU vitamin E per kg of diet.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.388-396
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• 1998

Background: Etiologic diagnosis of pleural effusion is usually made by clinical characteristics, pleural fluid analysis and pleural biopsy. But, despite careful diagnostic study, the cause of pleural effusion cannot be found in about 20 percent of patients, especially in loculated pleural effusions. Tuberculous pleurisy is one of the most common cause of pleural effusion in Korea. But, pleural fluid culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis are positive in only 20 to 30 percent of patients and typical pleural biopsy finding in less than 50 percent of patients with this disease. In recent studies, adenosine deaminse(ADA) and its isoenzymes were proposed to be a useful diagnostic tool for differential diagnosis of pleural effusion. We investigated the pattern of ADA and its iscenzyme activities in various cause of pleural effusions to evaluate the diagnostic value of measuring ADA and its isoenzymes. Method: We measured total ADA and its isoenzyme activities in pleural fluid and serum from 54 patients with pleural effusion(25 tuberculous pleural effusion, 10 parapneumonic effusion, 14 malignant pleural effusion, 5 transudative pleural effusion), including 5 loculated tuberculous pleural effusions and 6 loculated parapneumonic effusions. Total ADA activity was measured by the spectrophotometric method and ADA2 isoenzyme activity was measured with same method using EHNA, potent inhibitor of ADA1 isoenzyme activity. Result: Total ADA activity of tuberculous pleural effusion was higher than malignant pleural effusion(p<0.01), but no significant difference was found between tuberculous pleural effusion and parapneumonic effusion(tuberculous pleural effusion: $148.9{\pm}89.9IU/L$, parapneumonic effusion: $129.0{\pm}119.4IU/L$, malignant pleural effusion: $48.7 {\pm}39.7IU/L$). Percentage of ADA2 activity to total ADA activity(ADA2%) of pleural effusion of tuberculous pleurisy was higher than parapneumonic effusion(p<0.05). but no significant difference was found between tuberculous pleural effusion and malignant pleural effusion(tuberculous pleural effusion: $57.2{\pm}10.7%$, parapneumonic effusion: $35.9{\pm}17.8%$, malignant pleural effusion: $60.7{\pm}4.1%$). In loculated pleural effusion, ADA2% of tuberculous pleural effusion was higher than parapneumonic effusion(tuberculous pleural effusion: $53.3{\pm}3.9%$, parapneumonic effusion: $27.8{\pm}7.9%$). Conclusion: Measurement of ADA isoenzyme activity is useful for differentiating tuberculous pleural effusion from parapneumonic effusion, especially in loculated pleural effusion.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2001.03a
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• pp.31-31
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• 2001

This study was to establish in uitro culture system of mouse preantral follicles and to obtain higher in vitro development rates and production of live young. Preantral follicles were obtained from 12-day-old FI mouse (C57BL $\times$ CBA) by enzymatical methods. Oocyte-granulosa cell complexes (OGCs) of preantral follicles were loaded on Transwell-COL insert and cultured in $\alpha$MEM supplemented with 5% FBS, 100 mIU/$m\ell$ FSH and 100 mIU/$m\ell$ hMG for IVG. IVM was performed in $\alpha$MEM supplemented 1.5 IU/$m\ell$ hCG for 18 hrs and IVF was carried out in Ml6 medium. Embryos were cultured in modified Ml6 medium supplemented 10% FBS for 4 days. The effect of the OGCs size on the nuclear/cytoplasmic maturation was significantly higher in 120-150 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ (MII: 33.0%, $\geq$2-cell: 36.7%, $\geq$morula: 20.9%) than in 70-110 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ (MII: 12.2%, $\geq$2-cell: 10.2%, $\geq$morula: 4.8%) (p<0.001). In period of the IVG days, the rate of $\geq$2-cell was significantly higher in 10 days(38.2%) than in 12 days (20.0%) (p<0.01). In period of IVF time, 9 hrs ($\geq$2-cell: 31.5%, $\geq$ morula: 14.3%) indicated significantly higher cytoplasmic maturation rate than 4 hrs ($\geq$2-cell: 17.5%, This study was to establish in vitro culture system of mouse preantral follicles and to obtain higher in vitro development rates and production of live young. Preantral follicles were obtained from 12-day-old FI mouse (C57BL $\times$ CBA) by enzymatical methods. Oocyte-granulosa cell complexes (OGCs) of preantral follicles were loaded on Transwell-COL insert and cultured in $\alpha$MEM supplemented with 5% FBS, 100 mIU/$m\ell$ FSH and 100 mIU/$m\ell$ hMG for IVG. IVM was performed in $\alpha$MEM supplemented 1.5 IU/$m\ell$ hCG for 18 hrs and IVF was carried out in Ml6 medium. Embryos were cultured in modified Ml6 medium supplemented 10% FBS for 4 days. The effect of the OGCs size on the nuclear/cytoplasmic maturation was significantly higher in 120-150 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ (MII: 33.0%, $\geq$2-cell: 36.7%, $\geq$morula: 20.9%) than in 70-110 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ (MII: 12.2%, $\geq$2-cell: 10.2%, $\geq$morula: 4.8%) (p<0.001). In period of the IVG days, the rate of $\geq$2-cell was significantly higher in 10 days(38.2%) than in 12 days (20.0%) (p<0.01). In period of IVF time, 9 hrs ($\geq$2-cell: 31.5%, $\geq$ morula: 14.3%) indicated significantly higher cytoplasmic maturation rate than 4 hrs ($\geq$2-cell: 17.5%, $\geq$morula: 4.8%) and 7 hrs ($\geq$2-cell: 20.4%, $\geq$morula: 6.1%) (p<0.01). However, there was no difference in cytoplasmic maturation between co-cultured preantral follicle ( $\geq$morula: 17.4%) and preantral follicle cultured in Ml6 ( $\geq$morula: 17.4%). 22 morula and blastocysts produced in above optimal condition were transferred to uterus of 2 pseudopregnant recipients, 1 recipient was pregnant and then born 1 live young. This result demonstrates that in vitro culture system of preantral follicles can be used efficiently as another method to supply mouse oocyte.morula: 4.8%) and 7 hrs (2-cell: 20.4%, $\geq$morula: 6.1%) (p<0.01). However, there was no difference in cytoplasmic maturation between co-cultured preantral follicle ( $\geq$morula: 17.4%) and preantral follicle cultured in Ml6 ( $\geq$morula: 17.4%). 22 morula and blastocysts produced in above optimal condition were transferred to uterus of 2 pseudopregnant recipients, 1 recipient was pregnant and then born 1 live young. This result demonstrates that in vitro culture system of preantral follicles can be used efficiently as another method to supply mouse oocyte.

• Journal of applied mathematics & informatics
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• v.27 no.5_6
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• pp.1211-1220
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• 2009

In this paper, we consider the multipoint boundary value problem for the one-dimensional p-Laplacian $({\phi}_p(u'))'$(t)+q(t)f(t,u(t),u'(t))=0, t $\in$ (0, 1), subject to the boundary conditions: $u(0)=\sum\limits_{i=1}^{n-2}{\alpha}_iu({\xi}_i),\;u(1)=\sum\limits_{i=1}^{n-2}{\beta}_iu({\xi}_i)$ where $\phi_p$(s) = $|s|^{n-2}s$, p > 1, $\xi_i$ $\in$ (0, 1) with 0 < $\xi_1$ < $\xi_2$ < $\cdots$ < $\xi{n-2}$ < 1 and ${\alpha}_i,\beta_i{\in}[0,1)$, 0< $\sum{\array}{{n=2}\\{i=1}}{\alpha}_i,\sum{\array}{{n=2}\\{i=1}}{\beta}_i$<1. Using a fixed point theorem due to Bai and Ge, we study the existence of at least three positive solutions to the above boundary value problem. The important point is that the nonlinear term f explicitly involves a first-order derivative.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.4353-4356
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• 2012

Background: Tobacco consumption is one of the leading causes of oral submucous fibrosis, oral cancer and even premature death. The present study was designed to compare the biochemical parameters and non-enzymatic antioxidant status and the lipid peroxidation products in pan masala tobacco users as compared with age-matched non-user controls. Methods: Pan masala and tobacco users of age $33.2{\pm}9.94$ years and age-matched controls ($31.2{\pm}4.73$ years) were enrolled for the study. Plasma levels of vitamin E, vitamin C, albumin, bilirubin, uric acid, glucose, urea, creatinine, aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT) were measured by standard methods. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were estimated as a measure of lipid peroxidation. Results: In the pan masala tobacco users, as compared to the controls, the level of vitamin C ($68.5{\pm}5.9$ vs $97.9{\pm}9.03{\mu}mol/L$, $p{\leq}0.05$) vitamin E ($18.4{\pm}5.3$ vs $97.9{\pm}9.03{\mu}mol/L$, $p{\leq}0.001$), albumin ($37.5{\pm}7.01$ vs $44.3{\pm}9.99g/L$, $p{\leq}0.001$), and malondialdehyde ($10.8{\pm}1.29$ vs $1.72{\pm}1.15nmol/ml$, $p{\leq}0.001$) were found to be significantly altered. Malondialdehyde was significantly correlated with vitamin E (r=1.00, p<0.001) and vitamin C (r=1.00, p<0.001) in pan masala tobacco users. Serum levels of AST ($31.0{\pm}16.77$ IU) and ALT ($36.7{\pm}31.3$ IU) in the pan masala tobacco users were significantly raised as compared to the controls (AST, $25.2{\pm}9.51$ IU, p=0.038; ALT, $26.2{\pm}17.9$ IU, p=0.038). Conclusion: These findings suggest that pan masala tobacco users are in a state of oxidative stress promoting cellular damage. Non-enzymatic antioxidants are depleted in pan masala tobacco users with subsequent alteration in the biochemical parameters. Supplementation of antioxidants may prevent oxidative damage in pan masala tobacco users.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.169-173
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• 2016

Objective: To determine the preferred regimen for women with adenomyosis undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF), we compared the IVF outcomes of fresh embryo transfer (ET) cycles with or without gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist pretreatment and of frozenthawed embryo transfer (FET) cycles following GnRH agonist treatment. Methods: This retrospective study included 241 IVF cycles of women with adenomyosis from January 2006 to January 2012. Fresh ET cycles without (147 cycles, group A) or with (105 cycles, group B) GnRH agonist pretreatment, and FET cycles following GnRH agonist treatment (43 cycles, group C) were compared. Adenomyosis was identified by using transvaginal ultrasound at the initial workup and classified into focal and diffuse types. The IVF outcomes were also subanalyzed according to the adenomyotic region. Results: GnRH agonist pretreatment increased the stimulation duration ($11.5{\pm}2.1days$ vs. $9.9{\pm}2.0days$) and total dose of gonadotropin ($3,421{\pm}1,141IU$ vs. $2,588{\pm}1,192IU$), which resulted in a significantly higher number of retrieved oocytes ($10.0{\pm}8.2$ vs. $7.9{\pm}6.8$, p=0.013) in group B than in group A. Controlled ovarian stimulation for freezing resulted in a significantly higher number of retrieved oocytes ($14.3{\pm}9.2$ vs. $10.0{\pm}8.2$, p=0.022) with a lower dose of gonadotropin ($2,974{\pm}1,112IU$ vs. $3,421{\pm}1,141IU$, p=0.037) in group C than in group B. The clinical pregnancy rate in group C (39.5%) tended to be higher than those in groups B (30.5%) and A (25.2%) but without a significant difference. Conclusion: FET following GnRH agonist pretreatment tended to increase the pregnancy rate in patients with adenomyosis. Further largescale prospective studies are required to confirm this result.