• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2008

The purpose of this study is to characterize the hydrogeochemical characteristics of hot spring waters and to interpret the source of noble gases and the geochemical environment of the hot spring waters distributed along the eastern area of the Korean peninsula. For this purpose, We carried out the chemical, stable isotopic and noble gas isotopic analyses for eleven hot spring water and fourteen hot spring gas samples collected from six hot spring sites. The hot spring waters except the Osaek hot spring water show the pH range of 7.0 to 9.1. However, the Osaek $CO_2$-rich hot spring water shows a weak acid of pH 5.7. The temperature of hot spring waters in the study area ranges from $25.7^{\circ}C$ to $68.3^{\circ}C$. Electrical conductivity of hot spring waters varies widely from 202 to $7,130{\mu}S/cm$. High electrical conductivity (av., $3,890{\mu}S/sm$) by high Na and Cl contents of the Haeundae and the Dongrae hot spring waters indicates that the hot spring waters were mixed with seawater in the subsurface thermal system. The type of hot springs in the viewpoint of dissolved components can be grouped into three types: (1) alkaline Na-$HCO_3$ type including sulfur gas of the Osaek, Baekam, Dukgu and Chuksan hot springs, and (2) saline Na-Cl type of the Haeundae and Dongrae hot springs, and (3) weak acid $CO_2$-rich Na-$HCO_3$ type of Osaek hot spring. Tritium ratios of the Haeundae and the Dongrae hot springs indicate different residence time in their aquifers of older water of $0.0{\sim}0.3$ TU and younger water of $5.9{\sim}8.8$ TU. The ${\delta}^{18}O$ and ${\delta}D$ values of hot spring waters indicate that they originate from the meteoric water, and that the values also reflect a latitude effect according to their locations. $^3He/^4He$ ratios of the hot spring waters except Osaek $CO_2$-rich hot spring water range from $0.1{\times}10^{-6}$ to $1.1{\times}10^{-6}$ which are plotted above the mixing line between air and crustal components. It means that the He gas in hot spring waters was originated mainly from atmosphere and crust sources, and partly from mantle sources. The Osaek $CO_2$-rich hot spring water shows $3.3{\times}10^{-6}$ in $^3He/^4He$ ratio that is 2.4 times higher than those of atmosphere. It provides clearly a helium source from the deep mantle. $^{40}Ar/^{36}Ar$ ratios of hot spring water are in the range of an atmosphere source.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.437-449
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• 2001

Background : In the severe community-acquired pneumonia, it has been known that the immune status is occasionally suppressed. This study was performed to identify the immunologic markers related with the prognostic factors in severe community-acquired pneumonia. Methods : 23 patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia were involved in this study, and divided into survivor (16) and nonsurvivor (7) groups. In this study, the medical history, laboratory tests(complete blood counts, routine chemistry profile, immunoglobulins, complements, lymphocyte subsets, cytokines, sputum and blood culture, urine analysis), and chest radiographs were scrutinized. Results : 1) Both groups had lymphopenia(total lymphocyte count $995.6{\pm}505.7/mm^3$ in the survivor and $624.0{\pm}287.6/mm^3$ in the nonsurvivor group). 2) The T-lymphocyte count of the nonsurvivor group($295.9{\pm}203.0/mm^3$) was lower than the survivor group($723.6{\pm}406.5/mm^3$) (p<0.05). 3) The total serum protein(albumin) was $6.0{\pm}1.0(2.7{\pm}0.7)\;g/d{\ell}$ in the survivor and $5.2{\pm}1.5(2.3{\pm}0.8)g/d{\ell}$ in the nonsurvivor group. The BUN of the nonsurvivor group($41.7{\pm}30.0mg/d{\ell}$) was higher than that of the survivor group($18.9{\pm}9.8mg/d{\ell}$)(p<0.05). The creatinine concentration was higher in the nonsurvivor group($1.8{\pm}1.0mg/d{\ell}$) than that in the survivor group($1.0{\pm}0.3mg/d{\ell}$)(p<0.05). 4) The immunoglobulin G level was higher in the survivor group($1433.0{\pm}729.5mg/d{\ell}$) than in the nonsurvivor group($849.1{\pm}373.1mg/d{\ell}$) (p<0.05). 5) The complement $C_3$ level was $108.0{\pm}37.9mg/d{\ell}$ in the survivor group and $88.0{\pm}32.1mg/d{\ell}$ in the nonsurvivor group. 6) A cytokine study showed an insignificant difference in both groups. 7) Chronic liver disease, DM, and COPD were major underlying diseases in both groups. Conclusion : These results suggest that decreased a T-lymphocyte count and immunoglobulin G level, and an increased BUN and creatinine level may be associated with the poor prognosis of severe community-acquired pneumonia.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.95-100
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• 2013

Purpose: Since 2008, hepatitis A patients was rapidly increasing. So, Most of the health checkup examinees were interested in whether hepatitis A antibody was a lot. thereby The number of tests was increasing. In recent years, Antibody test results in the range of cut-off values were increased. According to the cause analysis, most examinees had a hepatitis A vaccine. This study was conducted to classify hepatitis A antibody as natural antibody and antibody after vaccination and compared the titer for seroconversion rate based on cut-off values. Materials and Methods: For a month in August 2012, First, We surveyed 185 health examinees and classified 119 health examinees who had acquired natural antibody. Second, for employees who were inoculated against hepatitis at our hospital, We classified into 53 primary inoculators and 59 secondary inculators. when the standard of cut-off value was 1, The seroconversion rate was compared the titer divided by 0.90-1.10 (${\pm}$), 0.60-0,89 (1+), 0.30-0.59 (2+), 0.01-0.29 (3+) and we compared the titer for seroconversion rate by each manufacturer after vaccination. Results: When the standard of cut-off value was 1, the titer of 119 health examinees who had acquired natural antibody was 0.90-1.10 (${\pm}$): 0%, 0.60-0.89 (1+): 0%, 0.30-0.59 (2+): 4.2%, 0.01-0.29 (3+): 96% and the titer of <0.60 ($${\geq_-}2+$$) was 100%. The titer of 53 primary inoculators was 0.90-1.10 (${\pm}:59.1%$), 0.60-0.89 (1+): 18.1%, 0.30-0.59 (2+): 18.1%, 0.01-0.29 (3+): 4.6% and the seroconversion rate was 45.3%. The titer of $${\geq_-}0.60$$ ($${\leq_-}1+$$) was 77.3%. The titer of 59 secondary inoculators was 0.90-1.10 (${\pm}:1.9%$), 0.60-0.89 (1+): 15.4%, 0.30-0.59 (2+): 36.54%, 0.01-0.29 (3+): 46.2% and the seroconversion rate was 88.1%. The titer of <0.60 ($${\geq_-}2+$$) was 82.7%. When we compared the titer for seroconversion rate by each manufacturer after vaccination, the seroconversion rate of 53 primary inoculators was BNIBT: 20.8% (${\pm}:24.5%$), GB: 15.7% (${\pm}:7.8%$), RIAKEY: 94.3% (${\pm}:3.8%$), ROCHE: 83% (${\pm}:0%$), ABBOTT: 73.1% (${\pm}:5.8%$) and the seroconversion rate of 59 secondary inoculators was BNIBT : 86.4% (${\pm}:1.7%$), GB: 88.5% (${\pm}:1.9%$), RIAKEY: 100% (${\pm}:0%$), ROCHE: 98.3% (${\pm}:0%$), ABBOTT: 98.2% (${\pm}:0%$). Conclusion: The study show that the titer of natural immune antibodies is higher than the titer of vaccination and the titer of secondary inoculation is mainly higher than the titer of primary inoculation. Consequently, if we know the titer of hepatitis A antibodies, it will help to give resullt reports. And then, when we compared the titer and the seroconversion rate by each manufacturer, There was a very distinct difference. As the test subjects inoculate against hepatitis A (HAV), it is considered BNIBT, GB will occur false negative rate and RIAKEY, ROCHE, ABOTT will occur false positive rate.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.177-186
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• 1986

This study was designed to evaluate the partially purified antigens which were fractionated from crude extract of Paragonimus westermani and to monitor the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in experimental cat paragonimiasis during the course of infection as well as before and after chemotherapy. Crude extract of 6-month-old adult P. westermani was fractionated to 5 antigens by successive applications of ammonium sulfate precipitation, ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration. And the cats, 10 in each group, were infected with 60, 30, 15, and 5 metacercariae, then the half of each group was treated with praziquantel 2 times in one day of 100mg per kilogram of weight on 150 days after the infection. Sera were collected every 10 days. ELISA was performed with the concentration of $2{\mu}g/ml$ antigen, 100 times diluted sera and 1,000 times diluted alkaline phosphatase conjugated anti-cat IgG. The results were as follows: 1. Absorbance by ELISA with proteins precipitated by differential concentration of ammonium sulfate was the highest at $51{\sim}65%$ precipitate (PA2), followed by $0{\sim}50%$ precipitate (PAl), $66{\sim}80%$ precipitate (PA3), and $81{\sim}90%$ precipitate (PA4). Unprecipitated protein over 90% ammonium sulfate (PA5) showed the lowest antigenicity. 2. Fractionation of PA1, PA2, and PA3 through the DEAE-cellulose column did not differentiate the antigenic proteins. 3. By passing through the Sephadex G-200 column, PA1 and PA2 were fractionated to high molecular weight proteins and those of low molecular weight which showed high absorbance by ELISA (PA1-I, II and PA2-I, II). But PA3 was shown to have a fraction of high molecular weight proteins (PA3-I) which showed high antigenicity. 4. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of PA1-I, P A1-II, PA2-I, PA2-II, PA3-I, and crude extract was performed. Fraction PA1-I was composed of proteins which had the molecular weight of 270 kilodaltons(KD) to 196 KD; of them 220KD protein was major band. Fraction PA2-I was composed of $255{\sim}225\;KD$, and PA3-I, $255{\sim}240\;KD$, respectively. Fraction PA1-II and fraction PA2-II consisted of 30 KD proteins. 5. Absorbance by ELISA began to increase within $10{\sim}20$ days after the infection and reached the highest on $140{\sim}180$ days, then made plateau thereafter. 6. Absorbance by ELISA decreased after praziquantel treatment. In 60 metacercariae infection group, the absorbance had been decreasing, but remained within the positive range during observation period, while those of 30, 15, and 5 metacercariae infection groups turned to negative range. 7. Fraction PA1-II showed the highest antigenicity in ELISA, then fraction PA2-I, fraction PA1-I, fraction PA2-II, fraction PA3-I and crude extract followed. In early phase of infection, the absorbance of fraction PA1-II showed more rapid increase than those of the other fractions and it came to positive range at $20{\sim}30$ days after infection.