• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.3
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• pp.174-180
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• 1985

This study is designed to evaluate serum free unsaturated fatty acid, phospholipid, creatinine and prostaglandin concentrations to provide normal values for physiological barometers and preliminary information related to these chemical components on the stages of pregnancy and parturition in female rats. Forty female rats are devided into 8 groups. One control group contains 5 intact, nonpregnant female rats and the other 5 pregnancy groups contains each of 5 pregnant rats which are 9, 12, 15, 18 and 21days after pregnancy. The remaining 2 parturition groups contain each of 5 postparturient rats which are 12 and 36 hours after parturition. The results obtained are as follows ; 1. The mean concentrations of free unsaturated fatty acid in serum of the female rats ranges from 6.47 to 8.22 mg/dl. The level of pregnancy group that is 21 days being lower. 2. The mean concentrations of phospholipid in serum of the female rats ranges from 86 to 105 mg/dl. There is no marked difference between all of these groups, especially the levels of 12 days after pregnancy group and 36 hours after parturition group are lower than those of other groups. 3. The mean concentrations of crecatinine in serum of the female rats ranges from 0.64 to 0.84 mg/dl. There is no marked difference between all of 8 groups and the levels of 21 days after pregnancy group are higher than those of other groups. 4. The mean concentrations of prostaglandin in blood of the female rats rarges from 324 to $1208pg/m{\ell}$ and increases from $736pg/m{\ell}$ (18 days after pregnancy) to maximal levels of $1208pg/m{\ell}$ immediately after parturition. and then decreased progressively. Especially, each mean concentration of prostaglandin on 9, 12, or 15 days after pregnancy and mean concentrations of 5 pregnant groups are lower than those of nonpregnant female rats. 5. It is suggested that serum concentrations of free unsaturated fatty acid, phospholipid and creatinine in female rats are not related to the stages of pregnancy and parturition but prostaglandin concentrations influence the initiation of parturition in this species.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.11
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• pp.1180-1185
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• 2006

Purpose : The aims of this study were to verify the incidence of hypohidrosis and to determine the predictive value of noninvasive indicator test ($Neurocheck^{TM}$) for sweating after administration of topiramate in newly diagnosed pediatric epileptic patients. Methods : A total of 46 epileptic patients (22 boys; 24 girls) on topiramate treatment were evaluated in this study at the Department of Pediatrics, Chonbuk National University Hospital, from October 2004 to July 2005. We measured sweating functions using a noninvasive sweating test ($Neurocheck^{TM}$) before topiramate medication, and after 3 months when topiramate reached its target dosage. We performed a direct questionnaire survey for the hypohidrosis related symptoms during topiramate treatment. Results : The mean age was $7.8{\pm}3.2year$. The mean dosage of topiramate was $4.5{\pm}0.8mg/kg/day$. Among the patients, there were 40 complex partial seizures, one simple partial seizure, two partial seizures with secondarily generalization, two generalized seizures, and one Lennox-Gastaut syndrome case. Of the 46 epileptic patients, 17 patients (37.0 percent) experienced hypohidrosis and hypohidrosis related symptoms, 12 (26.1 percent) had facial flushing, four (8.7 percent) had heat intolerance, one (2.2 percent) had lethargy, but no one had anhidrosis. Among the 17 patients, the mild group numbered 12 and the severe group totalled five. Hypohidrosis by $Neurocheck^{TM}$ was diagnosed in 16 patients. The overall measures of agreement between $Neurocheck^{TM}$ and the survey was 76.5 percent. The specificity of this test was 89.7 percent. Patients who showed a time delay after medication, especially over 3 minutes, were seen only in the severe group. Conclusion : $Neurocheck^{TM}$ could be clinically useful to detect and predict topiramate induced hypohidrosis in pediatric epileptic patients. We recommend that patients who show a delay over 3 minutes in $Neurocheck^{TM}$ test after topiramate initiation should be monitored for hypohydrosis.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.345-350
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• 2003

Purpose : Bacterial meningitis is a serious infection of childhood associated with a significant morbidity and mortality. Repeated cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) examination is a useful prognostic indicator and a delayed sterilization is associated with a higher incidence of neurologic abnormalities. In this study we tried to determine the prognostic value of repeated CSF latex agglutination testing. Methods : We retrospectively evaluated 19 patients admitted to Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital for bacterial meningitis from January 1997 to June 2002. Bacterial meningitis was confirmed by a positive CSF culture and a positive CSF latex agglutination test. Repeated CSF examinations were done at three, seven, 14, 21 and 28 days after antibiotics therapy. Neuroradiologic studies were performed. Results : The mean age was $10.6{\pm}12.3months$(range; two to 33 months). The male to female ratio was 2.8 : 1. The causative organisms were Haemophilus influenzae type b 57.9%, Group B Streptococcus 21.1%, Streptococcus pneumoniae 15.7% and Escherichia coli 5.3%. Three days after the initiation of antibiotics therapy, repeated CSF latex agglutination tests persisted as positive in nine (47.4%) out of 19 cases, but all CSF cultures became negative. In those cases with negative latex agglutination tests three days after antibiotics therapy, neuroradiologic findings were completely normal. But, in cases with positive latex agglutination tests three days after antibiotics therapy, neuroradiologic abnormalities such as cerebral infarction, encephalomalasia occurred in 44.4%. Conclusion : Repeated CSF latex agglutination testing was valuable as a prognostic factor in bacterial meningitis. Neuroradiologic abnormalities may occur in cases with delayed clearance of CSF latex agglutination tests more often than in cases with negative latex agglutination tests three days after antibiotics therapy.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.442-452
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• 2009

Smoking has been known to exacerbate the initiation and propagation of oxidative stresses. Efforts have been made to reduce the smoking-induced oxidative stresses using commercial dietary supplements. Propolis is the resinous substance collected by bees from the leaf buds and bark of trees, especially poplar and conifer trees. In this trial, we examined whether a daily supplementation of 800 mg propolis can protect endogenous lymphocytic DNA damage and modulate antioxidative enzyme activities and the level of antioxidant vitamin in smokers using a placebo-controlled, doubleblinded cross-over trial. After two weeks of running-in period, 29 smokers (mean age 34.38 ${\pm}$ 1.73) received 6 tablets/day of either propolis or placebo pills for 4 weeks. After 2 weeks of washout period the subjects switched they pills for cross-over study. The degree of DNA damage (assessed by tail DNA, tail length and tail moment) was not significantly changed with propolis intake or placebo intake. Similarly, total antioxidant status (TAS) remained at the same level regardless of the treatment. Erythrocyte catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), plasma vitamin C and tocopherol level did not differ before and after propolis treatment, and did not differ between treatments. Putting all these results together, we would suggest that it is still too early to claim that propolis possess antioxidative activities.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.28-37
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• 2013

As a symbolic landscape of Seoul, Namsan has undergone not only physical changes but also changes in its human use and characteristics. At this point, research on Namsan, which holds diverse stories that have accumulated over a long period, as a cultural landscape is necessary. In particular, a concrete understanding of the characteristics of the mountain's use in the period of its initiation as a modern park is an important task in research on the history of urban parks. Consequently, the purpose of the present study lies in grasping the use of Namsan at the time of the establishment of Kyongsungbu Namsan Park Design Proposal in 1917 and examining the characteristics per space. The research process was based on the status of the park design plan. The primary source of information came from the analysis of historical newspaper articles. Additional materials including documents, old maps, photographs, postcard materials were also used. The period of the study was 1883 to 1917. This time was the initial period of Namsan Park soon after the opening up of Korea's ports to the world. The major spaces in which Namsan was used as a park encompassed Hanyang Park, Waeseongdae Park, Noin-jeong, Jangchung-dan, and remaining parts of Namsan in a natural state. When the main ways in which each space is used are examined based on the data analyzed, Namsan has been used for purposes including public events, accidents, religious worship, track and field days, field trips, and strolls. When the nature of each of the spaces is determined in terms of the characteristics of their use, these spaces were characterized as community parks, outdoor community spaces, indoor community spaces, sports arenas, and natural parks, among other things. The present study is significant in terms of research on the history of parks for confirming that Namsan in the initial period already served as a modern park for urban activities and grasping the specific urban activities that were engaged in on Namsan.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.19-27
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• 2013

This paper claims that the One Million-peyong Park(hereafter abbreviated as OMP) project is different from a typical citizen participatory park project by recognizing the exceptional leadership of the Civic Committee for the One Million-pyeong Park Construction(CCOMPC) in promoting and developing the OMP project. Since 2001 the CCOMPC has published a variety of written promotional materials to inform and educate the public about the project. In terms of approaching the promotional materials, this research focuses on the use of language on how the CCOMPC justifies the OMP project, namely the OMP justification discourse, and considers the discourse as a unique form of social document that represents the perspective of the CCOMPC in explaining the local environmental issues and values of urban parks to the public. Using a discourse analysis method, this research analyzes the justification discourses and investigates how they changed over the three main development phases of the OMP: the initiation and preliminary development phase(1999-2001.2), the development phase (2001.2-2008), and the time period after the greenbelt policy release on Dunchi Island(2008-present). In each discourse, the OMP project is rationalized as a citizen participation park project that (1) aims to enhance the quality of public green space in Busan, (2) is accompanied by various community engagement programs that emphasize the value of urban nature and environmental education to expand citizen participation, and (3) has contributed to the National Urban Park Bill. This research emphasizes the role of the discourses in helping the public gain a critical understanding about the local environment and values of urban parks. By analyzing the contents of the discourses, it explains the social learning values of the OMP expressed in the discourses.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.200-222
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• 1992

The results of recent researches for improvement of seedling stand in direct seeded rice on the dry paddy in Korea were summarized as the following ; a variety to be cultivated should be chosen the characteristics of high percentage germination under low temperature, shorter period of shoot emergence, and better growth of the mesocotyl and shoots. Meanwhile, there was 40% increase in seedling stand at the treatment of removal of the seed awn under using the drill seeder. After seeding the rice seed covered with soil of 3cm depth was better seedling emergence and also there was the hightest seedling emergence at the 70% of moisture content of the soil. In addition, the application of the Release containing GA 10% enabled to increase the seedling stand and furthermore it was effective under deep seeding depth. The optimum seeding date should be seeded around May 10 when mean air temperature is above 12-13$^{\circ}C$ so that may establish more less 70% in seedling stand. Based on an appropriate seedling stand of 150/$m^2$, the optimum seeding rate was 5kg/10a. It was the best in seeding method using drill seeder and the most desirable recommended seeding method was the drill seeder in terms of seedling stand. In order to improve seedling stand water management was more effective in canal irrigation and in drainage at 6hr after irrigation following by the seeding process. On the other hand, for the increase of seedling stand under flooded condition a variety might have characters being better germination at low concentration of dissolved oxygen and vertically deeper growing of the crown root. Also, seedling stand was able to increase with the seed coating of $CaO_2$in the flooded soil. It was possible to be seeded on the early part of May being mean air temperature of avove 10$^{\circ}C$ and the optimum seeding rate was 5kg/10a. For an effective water management water would be flooded up to 3cm depth for 2-3 weeks after seeding. The rice plant grown under the direct seeded cultivation might be not so much strong in lodging resistance compared to that grown under the transplanting and moreover direct seeded rice cultivation under flooded condition would be more weak growth of the rice plant than that on dry paddy. Meanwhile, the lodging would be affected by the seeding rate, the soil depth after seeding. and seeding method even in the same variety. In particular, roots in the lodging pattern of direct seeded rice cultivation under flooded condition were largely distributed on the soil surface so that resulted easily in the lodging. In general, the lodging resistance would be greater as seeding rate and amount of N fertilizer application are lower and soil depth after seeding is higher. Among the introduction of different seeding method the high ridged drill seeding method on dry paddy soil resulted in the lowest in the lodging index and also it was lower in the drill seeding method than in the scattering seeding method under flooded condition. In case of more than 150 seedlings per $m^2$ there was a severe lodging due to high lodging index at the 3rd and 4th internodes. The effective lodging prevention was able to at the treatment of the Inabenfide at 45 days before heading and the Uniconazol at 15 days before heading which caused the shortage by 10-15cm in culm length. Also, fertilizer management using split application of nitrogen would be contributed the reduction of lodging at the rate of 20-30-20-20-10%(basal-5th leaf stage-7th leaf stage-panicle initiation stage-heading stage) on the dry paddy soil.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.315-336
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• 2009

We have studied the orientational characteristics of microcrack frequency, it's length and density in Tertiary crystalline tuff from the northeastern part of the Gyeongsang Basin. 134 sets of microcracks on horizontal surfaces of 3 rock samples from Heunghae-eup were distinguished by enlarged photomicrographs of the thin sections. The variability in patterns among microcrack length-frequency histograms for three rock samples from different altitudes were derived. The pattern of histograms changes progressively from negative exponential form to log-normal form in proportion to altitude. The distribution pattern for rock sample no.1 from lower altitude shows the broad length distribution characterized by higher mean and median, and higher standard deviation. Meanwhile, this distribution pattern corresponds with characteristics of joint length distribution in sedimentary rocks of the lower part of the Gyeongsang Supergroup. The occurrence frequency of shorter microcracks increases toward both NW and NE directions from the $N0{\sim}10^{\circ}W$, with the dominant direction of $N80{\sim}90^{\circ}W$ and $N80{\sim}90^{\circ}E$, respectively. This distribution pattern represents the relative differences in formation timing among microcrack sets and the result of the new initiation of shorter microcracks. Meanwhile, the longest microcracks within $N60{\sim}70^{\circ}W$($L_{max}$:1.18 mm) and $N0{\sim}10^{\circ}W$($L_{max}$:0.80 mm) directions are seen, but this kind of microcracks are very limited in number. Whole domain of the directional angle($\theta$)-frequency(N), length(L) and density($\rho$) chart can be divided into five sections in terms of phases of the distribution of related curves. From the distribution chart, density curve shows five distinct peaks in the WNW-ESE($N70{\sim}80^{\circ}W$), NS~NNE-SSW($N0{\sim}10^{\circ}W$, $N10{\sim}20^{\circ}E$), ENE-WSW($N50{\sim}60^{\circ}E$), and nearly EW($N80{\sim}90^{\circ}E$) directions, respectively. Especially, main directions of faults correspond with the directional angle showing high density. Consequently, these distribution patterns of density curve reflect the representative maximum principal stress orientations suggested in previous studies.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.279-286
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• 2001

Objective: To elucidate 1) whether there are any differences in the urine concentrations of steroid hormone metabolites between patients with leiomyoma and normal controls 2) the correlation between urinary profiles of steroid hormones and leiomyomas of the uterus according to their type, location, volume, and weight. Materials of Methods : The study population consisted of 37 premenopausal patients with uterine leiomyoma and the control group consisted of 25 premenopausal normal volunteer women without uterine leiomyoma. Confirmation of the existence of uterine leiomyoma was done by ultrasonography and histopathological examination after surgery. The volume of the leiomyoma was estimated by trans-abdominal and/or trans-vaginal ultrasonography. The Leiomyomas were divided into 3 types (subserosal, intramural and submucosal). Seventeen patients had subserosal type of leiomyoma, 10 with the intramural type and 10 with the submucosal type. The locations of the leiomyoma were also divided into 3 groups (fundus, body and isthmus). Seventeen patients showed a fundus location, 10 in body, and 10 in isthmus. We compared urinary profiles of the endogenous steroids between patients with leiomyomas and normal controls, and also investigated the relationship between urinary profiles of the endogenous steroids and leiomyomas according to their type, location, volume and weight by using highly sensitive Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) system. Results: The mean ages of the patients with leiomyomas and the control group were $43.1{\pm}5.6$ and $40.6{\pm}7.2$ years, the weights were $63.4{\pm}7.3$ and $59.4{\pm}8.1\;kg$, and their heights were $155.4{\pm}4.8$ and $159.3{\pm}4.8\;cm$ respectively. Seventeen patients had subserosal, 10 had intramural, and 10 had submucosal leiomyomas. There were 17 patients with leiomyoma located in fundus, 10 in body and 10 in isthmus. $17{\beta}$-estradiol, 5-AT, 11-keto ET, $11{\beta}$-hydroxy An, $11{\beta}$-hydroxy Et, THS, THA, THE, a-cortolone, a-cortol, $\beta$-cortol, $11{\beta}$-OH Et/$11{\beta}$-OH An and E2/E1 were significantly increased in patients with leiomyoma than in the control group. $17{\beta}$-estradiol was significantly increased in the intramural and the submucosal types than in the subserosal type. There was no significant difference in the concentrations of urinary steroids according to the locations of leiomyomas. There was no significant relationship between the concentration of urinary steroids and the volume of the leiomyomas. $17{\beta}$-estradiol significantly decreased as the weight of uterus increased (r=-0.322, p=0.04). Conclusion: The concentrations of steroid hormone metabolites were generally increased in patients with leiomyoma but were not significantly related to the volume and weight of the leiomyomas. Our study suggests that steroid hormones may be involved in the initiation of leiomyomas but may not be involved in their progression. In addition, the concentrations of steroid hormone metabolites are not related to the leiomyoma type and location.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.175-187
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• 2003

Background : Although corticosteroid and cytotoxic agent such as cyclophosphamide have been used for the treatment idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP), efficacy of these toxic drugs are unclear because previous reports included the patients who did not undergo surgical lung biopsy and none evaluated the response according to histopathologic entities of IIP. To answer this, we retrospectively analyzed the treatment response and side effects of corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide therapy in patients with idiopathic UIP and NSIP. Methods : Among 61 patients with UIP and 26 patients with NSIP diagnosed by surgical lung biopsy at Samsung Medical Center from July 1996 to June 2002, those who received corticosteroid or cyclophosphamide therapy for at least 6 months and were followed for at least one year after the initiation of treatment were enrolled (32 UIP, 23 NSIP). Treatment response of 55 patients was assessed by ATS response criteria (clinical symptoms, pulmonary function test and radiological findings). Adverse reactions to either agent (42 cases of cyclophosphamide${\pm}$low-dose prednisolone, 49 cases of prednisolone alone) were also analyzed. Results : Irrespective of treatment regimen, NSIP showed more favorable response than UIP (6 months: 78.3% vs. 9.4%, 12 months: 69.6% vs. 9.4%, p<0.001). Cyclophosphamide showed comparable response to corticosteroid in NSIP while its efficacy was as poor as those of corticosteroid therapy in UIP. Significant adverse reaction to drug more frequently occurred in corticosteroid group (35.7%) than cyclophosphamide group (14.3%) (p=0.017). Conclusion : Cyclophosphamide is effective and more tolerable than corticosteroids in the treatment of idiopathic nonspecific interstitial pneumonia.