• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.84-90
• /
• 2023

Purpose: Infants aged ≤90 days with fever are susceptible to severe infections. This study aimed to analyze the clinical features of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in this particular age group. Methods: Infants aged ≤90 days who were diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and hospitalized between March 1, 2020, and May 1, 2022 were included. Medical records of patients were retrospectively reviewed. Results: A total of 105 infants with COVID-19 were included; 27 (25.7%) neonates aged <28 days, and 48 (45.7%) and 30 (28.6%) infants aged 28-59 days and 60-90 days, respectively. Five (4.7%) patients remained asymptomatic and 68 (62.8%) were febrile, with a median fever duration of 2 days. The most common symptoms were respiratory including cough (66.6%), nasal stuffiness (51.4%), and rhinorrhea (40.9%). Blood cultures were performed in 10 infants but no organisms were detected. Cultures of bag-collected urine specimens from 8 infants were grown, resulting in positive growth for 2 without pyuria. Nine (8.6%) infants were treated with empirical antibiotics for a median duration of 2.3 days (range, 1-7 days). All 105 infants showed improvement without any complications, and there were no fatal cases. Conclusions: In this study, most infants aged ≤90 days with COVID-19 presented with mild symptoms and none of those evaluated had documented bacterial co-infection. The favorable prognosis among young infants with SARS-CoV-2 may aid clinicians in tailoring their approach to evaluation and management during outbreaks.

• Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.36-47
• /
• 2023

This study was conducted to develop a mass production for a commercial use by germination of 4 kinds of Veronica glabrifolia Kitag., V. pusanensis Y.N.Lee, V. glabrifolia Kitag. × V. Spicata 'Alba' and V. spicata 'Ulster Blue Dwarf × V. longifolia. Veronica L. Effects of dipping time to a disinfecting fluid, light quality, temperature or vermiculite depth on the germination of Veronica L. were examined. Germination percentage in a disinfecting fluid for 120 minutes dipping was the 75.1% for V. pusanensis Y.N.Lee, and was some higher in 60 minutes dipping for all the species, but there was no significant difference according to the dipping time. The germination of the light quality was the best in complex light (red light + blue light) as the germination 92.8%, uniformity 2.3 in Veronica glabrifolia Kitag., or the germination 85.9%, uniformity 3.5 in V. pusanensis Y.N.Lee. And the germination percentage of red light was ranged from 79.1% to 95,5%, the blue light was 83.1% to 100% in the all species. However the germination in the dark condition significantly lowered as a 40.0% to 56.3% or uniformity from 5.2 to 6.5. Like this, the germination of blue light was better compare to the red light. The germination rate according to temperature was higher at 25℃ day/20℃ night ranged from 92.1% to 100%, or at 20℃ day/15℃ night as a 85.5% to 98.9% in the all species, compare to constant temperature 25℃ as a 80.9% in V. pusanensis Y.N.Lee. The germination rate of vermiculite depth was higher in 1 to 2mm ranged from 83.4% to 100%, however when the vermiculite was covered with 4mm, the germination rate significantly decreased from 45.2% to 72.1% and the hypocotyl length became longer above 3cm than that of others.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
• /
• v.54 no.5
• /
• pp.435-439
• /
• 2019

Purpose: This study evaluated the efficacy of blood mixed cement for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures in reducing the complications of percutaneous vertebroplasty using conventional cement. Materials and Methods: This study was performed retrospectively in 80 patients, from January 2016 to January 2017. Porous cement was formed by mixing 2, 4, and 6 ml of blood with 20 g of cement used previously. A tube with a diameter and length of 2.8 mm and 215 mm, respectively, was used and the polymerization temperature, setting time, and optimal passing-time were measured and compared with those using only conventional cement. Radiologically, the results were evaluated and compared. Results: The polymerization temperature was 70.3℃, 55.3℃, 52.7℃, and 45.5℃ in the conventional cement (R), 2 ml (B2), 4 ml (B4), and 6 ml (B6), respectively, and the corresponding setting time decreased from 960 seconds (R) to 558 seconds (B2), 533 seconds (B4), and 500 seconds (B6). The optimal passing-time was 45 seconds (B2), 60 seconds (B4), and 78 seconds (B6) at 73 seconds (R), respectively and as the amount of blood increased, it was similar to the cement passing-time. The radiological results showed that the height restoration rates and the vertebral subsidence rates similar among the groups. Two cases of adjacent vertebral compression fractures in the R group and one in the B2 and B4 groups were encountered, and the leakage rate of the cement was approximately two times higher than that in the conventional cement group. Conclusion: In conventional percutaneous vertebroplasty, the procedure of using autologous blood with cement decreased the polymerization temperature, reduced the setting time, and the incidence of cement leakage was low. These properties may contribute to more favorable mechanical properties that can reduce the complications compared to conventional cements alone.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
• /
• v.50 no.2
• /
• pp.125-138
• /
• 2016

To assess the industrial possibility of mixed-extracts containing Hovenia dulcis Thunberg and 12 different botanical ingredients, a protective effect was confirmed in the chronic ethanol-induced the liver, brain, and blood injury in mouse. Blood glucose levels of the normal control group(NG) and ethanol administration group(EG) were respectively 119.43mg/dL and 305.25mg/dL, and the mixed-extracts administration group(100, 200mg/kg body weight + 25% ethanol 5g/kg body weight respectively; ME100 & ME200) were decreased to 272.76mg/dL and 234.60mg/dL. Blood ethanol contents were decreased in ME100 and ME200(3.85mg/dL, 3.08mg/dL) compared to EG(4.08mg/dL), and blood acetaldehyde contents were also decreased in ME(15.76mg/dL, 15.16mg/dL) compared to EG(18.72mg/dL). The contents of hepatotoxic indicators such as glutamine pyruvic transaminase(GPT) and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), nephrotoxic indicators such as blood urea nitrogen(BUN), and creatine(CRE), and total cholestero(TCHO), and triglyceride(TG) in mouse blood serum were significantly decreased in the ME compared to EG. The acetylcholinesterase(AChE) activity of ME(109.00% and 108.47%, respectively) in mouse brain tissues was decreased in ME compared to EG(116.10%). Finally, ME was remarkable in vivo antioxidant activities in the mouse liver and brain tissues by superoxide dismutase(SOD), oxidized glutathione(GSH)/total GSH ratio and the malondialdehyde (MDA) assay. Therefore, the mixed-extracts was considered to be effective a high value food with protective effect against chronic ethanol traetment-induced cytotoxicity in liver and brain tissues.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.68 no.3
• /
• pp.167-174
• /
• 2023

This study investigated the microstructure and water absorption characteristics of the Korean adzuki bean (Vigna angularis L.) cultivar under accelerated storage. The germination rate, acid value, redness (a^*), and yellowness (b^*) values showed no significant differences after three months of storage compared to pre-storage under low temperatures (4℃). However, a statistically significant difference was observed under accelerated high temperatures (45℃). In particular, after storage for three months, the germination rate and acid value were 0% and 33.63 mg KOH/100g, respectively, under accelerated high temperatures. After storage for three months, the holes, hilum damage, and spaces between the seed coat and cotyledon shortened the time and speed of water absorption under accelerated high temperatures compared to that under low temperatures. Conversely, further research is required to investigate the reason for the low rate of parallel water absorption.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.38-47
• /
• 2024

Background: Korea's population of children and adolescents has decreased by 2.88 million over the past decade and is expected to decline further due to the unprecedented low birth rate. In the fee-for-service compensation system, the decline in the pediatric population relates directly to the profit decrease in the pediatric clinics. This study analyzed whether the worsening profits of pediatric clinics impacted their closure. Methods: We built annual data for pediatric and other department clinics (internal medicine, otolaryngology, and family medicine) using the status of medical institute and health insurance claims data from 2012 to 2022. Then, we analyzed whether institutional variables such as annual profit and regional variables (Herfindahl-Hirschman index, the number of clinics per 100,000, etc.) affected the closure of clinics. The methods used in this study are descriptive statistics and chi-square analysis. Odds ratios for each variable were estimated by generalized estimating equations (GEE). Results: The closure rate of pediatric clinics was 2.66%-7.04% in 2012-2022, which was consistently higher than those of internal medicine, otolaryngology, and family medicine clinics. The profit gap per institution between the pediatric and the other clinics grew from 126 million won in 2012 to 245 million won in 2019. In the GEE analysis, profit decrease compared to the previous year with lower profit was the main factor that increased the closure of pediatric and other department clinics. After adjusting profit-related variables, the decrease in the pediatric population itself did not relate to the closure of pediatric clinics. The number of pediatric clinics or monopolies also did not affect the closure of pediatric clinics. Conclusion: The worsening profit is the crucial factor for the closure of pediatric clinics, while the pediatric population is decreasing. For this reason, it is necessary to actively seek ways to maintain a stable treatment system for children and adolescents.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.45-52
• /
• 2024

In this study, an AI-based algorithm was developed to prevent image quality deterioration and reading errors due to patient movement in PET/CT examinations that use radioisotopes in medical institutions to test cancer and other diseases. Using the Mothion Free software developed using, we checked the degree of correction of movement due to breathing, evaluated its usefulness, and conducted a study for clinical application. The experimental method was to use an RPM Phantom to inject the radioisotope 18F-FDG into a vacuum vial and a sphere of a NEMA IEC body Phantom of different sizes, and to produce images by directing the movement of the radioisotope into a moving lesion during respiration. The vacuum vial had different degrees of movement at different positions, and the spheres of the NEMA IEC body Phantom of different sizes produced different sizes of lesions. Through the acquired images, the lesion volume, maximum SUV, and average SUV were each measured to quantitatively evaluate the degree of motion correction by Motion Free. The average SUV of vacuum vial A, with a large degree of movement, was reduced by 23.36 %, and the error rate of vacuum vial B, with a small degree of movement, was reduced by 29.3 %. The average SUV error rate at the sphere 37mm and 22mm of the NEMA IEC body Phantom was reduced by 29.3 % and 26.51 %, respectively. The average error rate of the four measurements from which the error rate was calculated decreased by 30.03 %, indicating a more accurate average SUV value. In this study, only two-dimensional movements could be produced, so in order to obtain more accurate data, a Phantom that can embody the actual breathing movement of the human body was used, and if the diversity of the range of movement was configured, a more accurate evaluation of usability could be made.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.1095-1106
• /
• 2023

This study investigated the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of Aster glehni (AG) extract in RAW 264.7 cells and Caenorhabditis elegans. The total polyphenol and flavonoid contents were higher in the ethanol extracts than in the hot water extracts. As a result of measuring the moisture contents (%) and extraction yields (%) of AG and drying A. glehni for processing (DAG), 70% ethanol, which has the highest percentage of extraction yield, was selected as the final solvent. DPPH radical scavenging activity showed higher antioxidant activity of ethanol extracts of DAG than AG. The cytotoxicity assay of the AG or DAG ethanol extracts was treated at different concentrations (25, 50, and 100 ㎍/mL), and cell viability rates were higher than 80% at all concentrations. The LPS-stimulated nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 was significantly reduced at all concentrations of AG and DAG groups. As a result of measuring the gene expression of iNOS, which induces NO production, the AG or DAG group decreased by 33% and 32%, compared with the phosphate buffer saline (PBS) group. Under inflammatory stress conditions, the survival rate of C. elegans treated with AG or DAG ethanol extract with LPS showed concentration-dependent improvement in survival rate compared with the PBS group. Considering these results, AG could potentially be developed as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory functional food material.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.315-323
• /
• 2024

This study aims to confirm the anti-inflammatory activities of acemannan and aloesin, which have been studied for various efficacies at various mixed sample ratios. The mixed samples were mixed at a ratio of 1:1 (AA-1), 1:2 (AA-2), 1:3 (AA-3), 2:1 (AA-4), and 3:1 (AA-5). Seven samples were evaluated for their cytotoxic ability on macrophages, and the results showed that all cell viability was over 90% at a concentration of 100 ㎍/mL. First, due to the NO production inhibitory activity, a better inhibitory effect was achieved when using a mixed sample rather than a single material. Afterward, the activity of inhibiting the production of PGE₂, TNF-α, and IL-6 was confirmed using a mixed sample. It was confirmed that AA-2 had the best inhibitory activity on producing PGE2, TNF-α, and IL-6 rather than AA-1, AA-3, AA-4, and AA-5. For this reason, experiments were conducted using AA-2 to determine the protein expression levels of iNOS and COX-2, which are inflammation-related proteins. It was confirmed that AA-2 inhibited iNOS and COX-2 protein expression by 25.01% and 27.27%, respectively, compared to the LPS-alone treatment group. In conclusion, the mixed sample of acemannan and aloesin is judged to have anti-inflammatory activity and can potentially to be used as a functional material.

• Animal Bioscience
• /
• v.37 no.8
• /
• pp.1495-1502
• /
• 2024

Objective: This research investigated the effect of administering chromium (Cr) and meloxicam (MEL) on growth performance, cortisol and blood metabolite, and behaviors in young, regrouped heifers. Methods: Fifty Holstein dairy heifers (body weight [BW] 198±32.7 kg and 6.5±0.82 months of age) were randomly assigned to non-regrouped group or four regrouped groups. Non-regrouped animals were held in the same pen throughout the entire experimental period (NL: non-regrouping and administration of lactose monohydrate [LM; placebo]). For regrouping groups, two or three heifers maintained in four different pens for 2 weeks were regrouped into a new pen and assigned to one of four groups: regrouping and LM administration (RL); regrouping and Cr administration (RC); regrouping and MEL administration (RM), and regrouping and Cr and MEL administration (RCM). LM (1 mg/kg BW), Cr (0.5 mg Cr picolinate/kg dry matter intake), and MEL (1 mg/kg BW) were orally administered immediately before regrouping. Blood was collected before regrouping (0 h) and at 3, 9, and 24 h and 7 and 14 d thereafter. Behaviors were recorded for 7 consecutive days after regrouping. Results: Average daily gain was lower (p<0.05) in RL than NL heifers, but was higher (p<0.05) in RM, RC, and RCM than RL heifers. RL heifers had higher (p<0.05) cortisol than NL heifers on d 1 after regrouping. The cortisol concentrations in RC, RM, and RCM groups were lower (p<0.05) than in RL treatment 1 d after regrouping. Displacement behavior was greater (p<0.05) in RL group than all other groups at 2, 3, and 6 d after regrouping. Conclusion: Regrouping caused temporal stress, reduced growth performance, and increased displacement behavior in heifers. Administering Cr and MEL recovered the retarded growth rate and reduced displacement behavior, thereby alleviating regrouping stress.