• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.105-111
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• 2015

In late December 2013, the Ebola virus emerged from West Africa. The outbreak started in Guinea and rapidly spread to Liberia and Sierra Leone. Initially, the virus is spread to the human population after contact with infected wildlife and then spread person-to-person through direct contact with body fluids such as blood, sweat, urine, semen, and breast milk. The Ebola virus infects endothelial cells, mononuclear phagocytes and hepatocytes. It causes massive damage to internal tissues and organs, such as blood vessels and the liver, and ultimately death. Most tests for the virus RNA rely on a technology called reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). While this method is highly sensitive, it is also expensive, requiring skilled scientists, and delicate power supplies. The strip analytical technique (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or ELISA) detects antigens or antibodies to the Ebola virus. This test is cheap and does not require electricity or refrigeration. Despite ongoing efforts directed at experimental treatments and vaccine development, current medical work on the Ebola viral disease is largely limited to supportive therapy. Thus, rapid and reliable diagnoses of the Ebola virus are critically important for patient management, infections, prevention, and control measures.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.493-502
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• 2013

In this study, we designed to confirm the dietary effect of anti-obesity of fermented soybean curd residue (FSCR; SCR-Meju; Biji-meju) by A. oryzae, which is well known as a Korean traditional meju microbe. We observed that body weight gain, serum and hepatic lipid profile, as well as the activity of ROS generating enzyme and ROS scavenging enzyme in high-fat diet induced obese mice fed experimental diet (SCR and SCR-meju). Body weight gain and epididymal fat weight of HC (high-fat diet control) was markedly higher than that of NC (Normal control). Conversely, body weight gain and epididymal fat weight of the SCR (Biji) and SCR-meju (Biji-meju) group was significantly lower than that of HC; these of the SCR-meju group was lower than that of the SCR group. Furthermore, serum TG and total-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol contents of SCR and SCR-meju groups were lower than that of HC, and HDL-cholesterol level of the SCR-meju group was significantly higher than that of HC. In conclusion, although precise mechanisms of the antiobese effects of SCR-meju in this study are unknown, the present study provides an experimental evidence that SCR-meju may prevent obesity and obesity related metabolic syndromes, such as hyperlipidemia, hypertension and diabetes, and liver disease by high-fat diet. Nevertheless, further study in this filed will be needed.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.89-94
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• 2010

Melatonin is induced by light information through the retina and leads to growth factor activation. Thus, we investigated the effects of melatonin by controlling the photoperiod of growing young rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=6; 4 weeks old) were divided into two experimental groups: the L/D group (normal photoperiod; light/dark: 12/12 h; lights on at 9:00 a.m.) and the L/L group (light/light: 24 h). Rat body weight and food consumption were measured daily for 8 weeks. After 8 weeks, the rats were anesthetized with a mixture of ketamine (50 mg/kg) and xylazine (10 mg/kg) and sacrificed. Tissue was then collected for RNA isolation (from brain, heart, liver, kidney, adrenal gland, testis, tibia, hind limb muscles). Also, serum was isolated from blood using a centrifugal separation. The L/L group had significantly lower body weight than the L/D group from 4 to 6 weeks (p<0.05). The L/D group had increased tissue mass, compared with the L/L group, but the difference was not statistically significant. The L/D group had a significantly higher melatonin concentration than the L/L group between the hours of midnight and 2:00 a.m (p<0.01). These results indicate that photoperiod length may affect the secretion of melatonin from the pineal gland. Also, the reduction of nocturnal melatonin secretion may retard the development of growing young rats. In future studies, we plan to compare exogenous melatonin administration with endogenous melatonin concentration induced by photoperiod control. Moreover, we will confirm whether the effects seen in pathological animal models can be reversed by controlling the photoperiod.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.6.1-6.10
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• 2018

The intention of this study was to identify the bacterial pathogens infecting Oreochromis niloticus (Nile tilapia) and Clarias gariepinus (African catfish), and to establish the antibiotic susceptibility of fish bacteria in Uganda. A total of 288 fish samples from 40 fish farms (ponds, cages, and tanks) and 8 wild water sites were aseptically collected and bacteria isolated from the head kidney, liver, brain and spleen. The isolates were identified by their morphological characteristics, conventional biochemical tests and Analytical Profile Index test kits. Antibiotic susceptibility of selected bacteria was determined by the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. The following well-known fish pathogens were identified at a farm prevalence of; Aeromonas hydrophila (43.8%), Aeromonas sobria (20.8%), Edwardsiella tarda (8.3%), Flavobacterium spp. (4.2%) and Streptococcus spp. (6.3%). Other bacteria with varying significance as fish pathogens were also identified including Plesiomonas shigelloides (25.0%), Chryseobacterium indoligenes (12.5%), Pseudomonas fluorescens (10.4%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (4.2%), Pseudomonas stutzeri (2.1%), Vibrio cholerae (10.4%), Proteus spp. (6.3%), Citrobacter spp. (4.2%), Klebsiella spp. (4.2%) Serratia marcescens (4.2%), Burkholderia cepacia (2.1%), Comamonas testosteroni (8.3%) and Ralstonia picketti (2.1%). Aeromonas spp., Edwardsiella tarda and Streptococcus spp. were commonly isolated from diseased fish. Aeromonas spp. (n = 82) and Plesiomonas shigelloides (n = 73) were evaluated for antibiotic susceptibility. All isolates tested were susceptible to at-least ten (10) of the fourteen antibiotics evaluated. High levels of resistance were however expressed by all isolates to penicillin, oxacillin and ampicillin. This observed resistance is most probably intrinsic to those bacteria, suggesting minimal levels of acquired antibiotic resistance in fish bacteria from the study area. To our knowledge, this is the first study to establish the occurrence of several bacteria species infecting fish; and to determine antibiotic susceptibility of fish bacteria in Uganda. The current study provides baseline information for future reference and fish disease management in the country.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.207-217
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• 2011

Objectives : In a previous study, we have shown that Gagam-Gongjin-Dan(GGD) has an inhibitory effect on the ovalbumin-induced immune responses and a hepatoprotective effect on actaminophen-induced liver injury in Balb/c Mice. However, the possible anti-inflammatory effect of GGD extract for inflammatory mediators was not reported. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate an inhibitory effects of GGD extract against lipopolysaccharides(LPS) induced inflammatory mediators in mouse peritoneal macrophages. Methods : GGD extract was prepared by extracting with methanol for 7 days. The extract was freeze-dried following filtration through vacuum distillation system. Accumulated nitrite, an oxidative product of nitric oxide(NO), was measured in the culture medium by the Griess reaction. The levels of prostaglandin $E_2(PGE_2)$, interleukin-$1{\beta}$(IL-$1{\beta}$), tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$(TNF-${\alpha}$) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) were measured by Western blot analysis. Results : GGD extract (50-$400\;{\mu}g$/ml) per se had no cytotoxic effect in LPS-stimulated peritoneal macrophages. GGD extract dose-dependently reduced NO, $PGE_2$, IL-$1{\beta}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$ production and COX-2 activity caused by stimulation of LPS. The levels of iNOS and COX-2 protein expressions were markedly suppressed by the treatment with GGD extract in a dose dependent manner. Conclusions : These results suggest that GGD extract has an anti-inflammatory effect against LPS-induced inflammatory mediators in peritoneal macrophages, these properties may contribute to inflammation disease care.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.83-88
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• 2005

Leflunomide is a new disease modifying anti rheumatic drug (DMARD) for the treatment of active rheumatoid arthritis. Its mechanism of action differs from other DMARDs in that it inhibits the de novo pyrimidine synthesis by inhibiting dihydroorotate dehydrogenase and therefore prevents the proliferation of activated lymphocytes. As it has been prescribed worldwide, there is a great deal of much concerns regarding its potential adverse effects. Because leflunomide has an active metabolite with a long elimination half-life of approximately 2 weeks, serious adverse reactions may occur even after the leflunomide treatment has been stopped. The profile of serious reactions includes liver dysfunction, hematological disorders, severe skin reactions and respiratory dysfunction. Respiratory dysfunctions with leflunomide therapy are very rare and its incidence is lower than that of methotrexate therapy. However, there are reports in Japan showing that 5 patients died of interstitial pneumonitis and another 11 patients developed serious lung complications associated with leflunomide. This suggests the possibility of fatal respiratory toxicity of leflunomide. There are no reports of interstitial pneumonitis associated with leflunomide in Korea. We report a case of a 62-year old woman who developed interstitial pneumonitis, which might have been induced by leflunomide during the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.804-810
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• 2015

Salvia miltiorrhiza has been used for treating heart and liver disease. In the present study, the influences of temperature on photosynthetical capacity of S. miltiorrhiza under controlled cultivation environment using growth chamber were investigated because of providing information about growth and secondary metabolite synthesis. And effect of harvesting time on growth properties and constituents such as salvianolic acid B, cryptotanshinone, tanshinone I, tanshinone IIA were evaluated. Maximum photosynthesis rate ($5.102{\mu}mol\;CO2/m2/s$) and net apparent quantum yield ($0.147{\mu}mol\;CO2/m2/s$), stomatal conductance (0.035 mmol/m2/s) and water use efficiency ($7.108{\mu}mol\;CO2/mmol\;H2O$) was highest at $20^{\circ}C$. Results of chlorophyll fluorescence showed that elevated temperature had contributed to reduce a quantum yield and electron flux in photosystem. This result demonstrated that favorable temperature condition was determined at $20^{\circ}C$. Contents of salvianolic acid B, cryptotanshinone, tanshinone I and tanshinone IIA was highest in root sample harvested at 20 March, whereas growth and yield of S. miltiorrhiza had no significant differences with harvesting time. Therefore, this study shows that temperature play an important role in photosynthetic activity and harvesting time have influence upon accumulation of constituents in root of S. miltiorrhiza.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.201-207
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• 2019

Temperature is one of the most important criteria considered in species preference for aquaculture. Acute drop in temperature during winter is a cause of disease and mass mortality in farmed fish. This study was carried out the low water temperature tolerance, oxygen consumption, hematologic and histological responses to use as basic data for the management of fish farming which frequently cause death due to winter water temperature drop. Low-lethal water temperature for 4 days of file fish Thamnaconus modestus (4day-LT₅₀) was 6.97℃ (6.69~7.27℃). Oxygen consumption rate decreased with decreasing water temperature, showing a significant difference between water temperatures. SOD activity increased significantly at 6℃ experimental group than control group (10℃) (p<0.05), but CAT did not show any significant difference between experimental temperatures (p>0.05). Cortisol increased with decreasing experimental water temperature compared to control group. Histological changes in the liver include decreased blood vessels in the blood vessels, proliferation of acid cells, condensation of the nucleus, atrophy of pancreatic exocrine gland cells, and enzyme source granules.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.29-33
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• 2001

Background and Objectives： Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is an aggressive, often indolent tumor, with a high incidence of distant metastasis (DM). Relatively little has been written about the factor that influence distant spread and subsequent survival because it is uncommon and has protracted clinical course. We attempted to reemphasize the biologic behavior of ACC by investigating the relationship between the clinical features and prognosis. Materials and Methods : We have retrospectively studied 24 determinate patiens who received definitive treatment in our hospital between 1984 and 1995 for ACC in all salivary sites. Inclusion criteria were no prior treatment elsewhere other than excisional biopsy and eligibility for follow-up of at least 5 years. Variables assessed for their impact on distant metastasis included age, gender, size, node status, stage, histologic pattern, locoregional treatment failure. Results : Treatment failure occurred in a total of 16 of 24 determinate Patients (64%), 12 of whom had DM (50%). This was usually associated with locoregional recurrence (8 patients), but DM was the only indication of failure in 4 whose primary tumor was controlled. Of the 12 patients with known DM, the lung was recored as the only involved site in 7 Patients, lung was involved in addition to other sites in 1, bone and liver metastasis occurred in 2 respectively. Disease-free intervals varied from 3 month to 14 years (median 3 years). The only significant factors influencing survival were the size of the primary tumor, locoregional recurrence. Conclusion : The high incidence of DM with locoregional failure confirms the importance of aggressive initial surgery. combined with irradiation, for high-stage tumors or involved surgical margins. Large tumor size and locoregional recurrence, rather than microscopic appearance, were predictive of DM.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.161-168
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• 1999

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Plantago asiatica var. densiuscula Pilg. water extracts(PWE) on fat metabolism of rats and prevention to cardiovascular disease. Male Spague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups consisting of the control group(N), $CCl_4$(T), Plantago asiatica var. densiuscula Pilg.(P), Plantago asiatica var. densiuscula Pilg. after injection of $CCl_4$(TP) and $CCl_4$ after injection of Plantago asiatica var. densiuscula Pilg.(PT) at the level of 0.5%. After 6 weeks of feeding serum lipid levels were measured for experimental rats and analyzed enzyme activity(EA). Rats were divided into five groups of 6 animals. The enzyme activities of ALT, AST, LDH and ALP increased by administration of $CCl_4$ group and decreased by Plantago asiatica var. densiuscula Pilg. water extracts. Total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol in serum increased by administration of $CCl_4$ group and decreased by Plantago asiatica var. densiuscula Pilg. water extracts. And, HDL-cholesterol decreased by $CCl_4$ group and significantly increased by TP group(p＜0.05) Total lipid, triglyceride and phospholipid in serum decreased by P group as compared to T group(p＜0.05). Considering all results obtained throughout this experiments, it can be concluded that Plantago asiatica var. densiuscula Pilg. water extracts wald improve the liver fuction and enzyme activity.