• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.347-361
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• 2010

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of wormwood (Artemisia sp.) addition on the growth performance, nutrients utilization and abdominal fat deposition of broiler chickens. Two hundred twenty five and two-day old Arboracre strain male commercial broiler chicks were distributed to 5 treatments with wormwood supplementation levels; C(O%), $T_1$ (1%), $T_2$ (3%), $T_3$ (5%), and $T_4$ (10%) and with 3 replications each with 5 birds for five weeks. Body weight gain during the experiment was improved in $T_1$ (1723.0g) compared with that of $T_3$ (1557.7g) and $T_4$ (1450.7g) (P<0.05). Feed intake was significantly (P<0.05) increased as the levels of wormwood addition increased (C: 2653.8g, T1: 2852.0, $T_2$: 2900.3, $T_3$: 2900.7g, T4: 2954.7g). Feed conversion rate (feed/gain) was significantly (P<0.05) increased as the levels of wormwood addition increased (C: 1.55, $T_1$: 1.66, $T_2$: 1.70, $T_3$: 1.86, $T_4$: 2.04). The days reaching to 2.0kg of body weight were expected to be 43.2 days in control, whereas those of group T1 were reduced to 42.6 days by 0.6 day from control. Nutrient utilization and abdominal fat deposition in the experiment were significantly decreased (P<0.05) and small intestine contents in the broilers was significantly increased (P<0.05) as the levels of wormwood addition increased. Therefore, although there was no significant improvement for the performance of broiler chickens with the dietary supplementation of wormwood meal, less than 1% addition of wormwood to broiler diets might have beneficial for human health by reducing the abdominal fat deposition of the broiler chicknens.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.498-506
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• 1999

Background : The causes of solitary pulmonary nodule are many, but the main concern is whether the nodule is benign or malignant. Because a solitary pulmonary nodule is the initial manifestation of the majority of lung cancer, accurate clinical and radiologic interpretation is important. Bayes' theorem is a simple method of combining clinical and radiologic findings to estimate the probability that a nodule in an individual patients is malignant. We estimated the probability of malignancy of solitary pulmonary nodules with a specific combination of features by Bayesian approach. Method : One hundred and eighty patients with solitary pulmonary nodules were identified from multi-center analysis. The hospital records of these patients were reviewed and patient age, smoking history, original radiologic findings, and diagnosis of the solitary pulmonary nodules were recorded. The diagnosis of solitary pulmonary nodule was established pathologically in all patients. We used to Bayes' theorem to devise a simple scheme for estimating the likelihood that a solitary pulmonary nodule is malignant based on radiological and clinical characteristics. Results : In patients characteristics, the probability of malignancy increases with advancing age, peaking in patients older than 66 year of age(LR : 3.64), and higher in patients with smoking history more than 46 pack years(LR : 8.38). In radiological features, the likelihood ratios were increased with increasing size of the nodule and nodule with lobulated or spiculated margin. Conclusion : In conclusion, the likelihood ratios of malignancy may improve the accuracy of the probability of malignancy, and can be a guide of management of solitary pulmonary nodule.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.44-51
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• 2008

Purpose: We performed this study to evaluate reliability on interpretation of three phase bone scintigraphy (TPBS) in patients with post-traumatic complex regional pain syndrome (PT-CRPS). Methods: Based on International Association for the Study of Pain guideline in 1994, 34 patients with PT-CRPS were selected for this study. Two nuclear medicine physicians evaluated identical TPBS according to the uptake pattern, extent and intensity of the lesion, and their agreements (kappa values) were analysed. The final diagnosis based on arbitrary criteria of each physician were compared with those obtained by the criteria for PT-CRPS established in this study, which are hyperactivity on all phases (criteria 1), hyperactivity of whole joints on delayed phase (criteria 2), and hyperactivity of either whole or FDGal joints on delayed phase (criteria 3). Results: Intra-observer agreements were good for uptake pattern, intensity, and extent on TPBS. Inter-observer agreements were also good, except extent on blood pool phase (0.55). The inter-observer agreements on final diagnosis improved when criteria 1-3 were applied (0.77-0.88), compared to when physician's own criteria were used (0.63). Those also improved from 0.29 to 0.47-0.82 for acute stage, and from 0.37 to 1.0 for chronic stage. The sensitivities of chronic stage were relatively lower to those of acute stage. Conclusions: Inter-observer's variations in diagnosis of the patients with PT-CRPS using TPBS were observed. These results were attributed to different criteria set by observers. In order to improve agreement on interpretation of TPBS, common positive criteria should be established, especially considering uptake pattern and clinical stages.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.207-212
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• 2001

Purpose: Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection is relatively common in childhood. Its extrapulmonary manifestations have been reported so much, but hepatitis associated with it has not been studied yet until now in Korea. Methods: We performed the prospective study of 19 cases that had AST and ALT>50 IU/L respectively without evidence of hepatitis A, B, C, cytomegalovirus, and Ebstein-Barr virus infections amongst 143 patients with M. pneumoniae pneumonia who were admitted to the Department of Pediatrics, Seoul Red Cross Hospital from Jan. 1999 to Dec. 2000. Results: 1) Hepatitis occurred in 13.3% of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection, especially in fall and winter times. The average age was 4.86 years and male to female ratio was 2.2:1. 2) Vomiting was developed in 21.1%, diarrhea in 36.8%, and hepatomegaly in 21.1%, respectively. And leukocytosis was noted in 21.1%, eosinophilia in 15.4%, anemia in 10.5%, and thrombocytosis in 5.3%, respectively. The average level of C-reactive protein was $6.34{\pm}4.82$ mg/dl. 3) There was no hyperbilirubinemia, but hypoalbuminemia was detected in 42.1%. The average serum levels of AST and ALT were $214.05{\pm}183.22$ IU/L and $284.16{\pm}286.84$ IU/L, respectively. 4) Chest radiology showed lobar or lobular consolidation in 73.7%, bronchial infiltration in 26.3%, and pleural effusion in 31.6%. 5) The average length of hospitalization was 7.9 days, and the average length of normalization of serum transaminases was 8.8 days. All patients recovered within 2 weeks completely. Conclusion: The prognosis of M. pneumoniae hepatitis is good. However, its incidence is not so low that liver function should be considerately checked in case of M. pneumoniae infection.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.131-135
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• 2006

A commercial ion chamber matrix was examined the characteristics and its performance for radiotherapy qualify assurance. The device was the I'mRT 2D-MatriXX (Scanditronix-Wellhofer, Schwarzenbruck, Germany). The 2D-MatriXX device consists of a 1020 vented ion chamber array, arranged in $24{\times}24cm^2$ matrix. Each ion chamber has a volume of $0.08cm^3$, spacing of 0.762 cm and minimum sampling time of 20 ms. For the investigation of the characteristics, dose linearity, output factor, short-term reproducibility and dose rate dependency were tested. In the testing of dose linearity. It has shown a good signal linearity within 1% in the range of $1{\sim}800$cGy. Dose rate dependency was found to be lower than 0.4% (Range: 100-600 Mu/min) relative to a dose rate of 300 Mu/min as a reference. Output factors matched very well within 0.5% compared with commissioned beam data using a ionization chamber (CC01, Scanditronix-Wellhofer, Schwarzenbruck, Germany) in the range of field sizes $3{\times}3{\sim}24{\times}24cm^2$. Short-term reproducibility (6 times with a interval of 15 minute) was also shown a good agreement within 0.5%, when the temperature and the pressure were corrected by each time of measurement. in addition, we compared enhanced dynamic wedge (EDW, Varian, Palo Alto, USA) profiles from calculated values in the radiation planning system with those from measurements of the MatriXX. Furthermore, anon-uniform IMRT dose fluence was tested. All the comparison studies have shown good agreements. In this study, the MatriXX was evaluated as a reliable dosimeter, and it could be used as a simplistic and convenient tool for radiotherapy qualify assurance.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.58 no.3
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• pp.248-256
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• 2005

Background : Nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections are increasingly being recognized as a cause of chronic pulmonary disease. This study describes the prevalence of NTM species from clinical specimens and the clinical characteristics of NTM pulmonary disease. Material and Methods : The NTM isolated from March 2003 to December 2003 at the Kosin Medical Center were identified using an oligonucleotide chip containing the internal transcribed space (ITS) sequence. The medical records of the patients with the NTM isolates, who fulfilled the 1997 ATS diagnostic criteria for NTM pulmonary disease, were analyzed, retrospectively. Results : Twenty four species (24.2%) of NTM were isolated from 99 cultured AFB specimens. M. avium complex (MAC) (13 isolates), M. szulgai (3), M. kansasii (2), M. malmoense (2), M. abscessus (1), M. chelonae (1), M. scrofulaceum (1), and unclassified (1). Of the 23 patients with isolated NTM, 11 patients were found to be compatible with a NTM pulmonary infection according to the ATS criteria; MAC was found in 6 cases (54.5%), M. szulgai in 2 cases (18.2%), and M. abscessus, M. szulgai, M. kansasii and M. malmoense in 1 case each (9.1%). Ten patients (91%) were male and the median age at diagnosis was 61 years. In the pre-existing diseases, malignant disease was found in 6 cases including 5 patients with lung cancer, and history of old pulmonary tuberculosis was identified in 4 cases. The radiological patterns showed lung destruction lung in 3 cases, a cavitary mass in 3 cases, a nodular pattern in 2 cases, and reticulonodular, consolidation and a bronchiectasis pattern were in 1 case each. Conclusion : Various types of NTM pulmonary diseases were found in a tertiary hospital at Busan, Korea. The NTM pulmonary diseases were caused by MAC, M. szugai, M. kansasii, M. malmoense, M. abscessus, M. chelonae, and M. scrofulaceum in the order of frequency.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.621-626
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• 2018

We introduced the physiological responses of aging, active aging and also suggest the impact of physical exercise on body health status and elderly immunity. In this purpose, we searched the Pub Med data base for the articles (include our experimental papers) and review papers having the terms 'Aging', 'Active aging' and 'Physical activity and elderly' in the title, published from 1999 until 2018. The results were as follows: Exercise training has been extensively studied about the reduction of inflammation, oxidative stress, disease, and aging in syndrome X patients and elderly. Combined and aerobic or resistance exercise training could reduce obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Exercise training has been extensively studied in cancer settings as part of prevention or treatment strategies. From this research, regular exercise has the potential to target tumor growth through regulation of inflammation and immune responses such as lactate clearance, NK cell activation (innate immunity), activation of cytotoxic immune cells, T cell activation (adaptive immunity), and immune surveillance. However, Endurance physical activity not only induces thermogenesis and diverse sports injuries but also elicits mobilization and functional enhancement of monocytes, neutrophils (which is caused by the cytokine changes such as TNF-alpha, IL-1) whereas it suppresses cell mediated immunity causing to increased susceptibility to inflammation and infections like cough and URTIs (upper respiratory track infections) in young and especially in elderly people. Therefore, Strategies to prevent physical fatigue, sports injuries include avoid overtraining, Adequate recovery and various type of rest during and after physical activity and assuring adequate nutrition supplementation such as glutamine, vitamin B, vitamin C, carbohydrate, ion or berry-contain sports beverages is helpful in physically active elderly.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.227-235
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• 1997

Cytogenetic studies were performed in peripheral blood lymphocytes from hospital workers occupationally exposed to low doses of radiation (0.30 - 40.07mSv). The workers were divided into three groups according to their job area : 18 diagnostic radiology, 17 therapeutic radiology, and 16 nuclear medicine. The control group consisted of 49 non-radiation workers with no history of exposure to radiation. A higher percentage of cells with aberration(1.275%) was observed in the workers compared to the controls(0.677%) and the difference was statistically significant(p<0.001). The frequency of chromosomal aberration was $0.706{\times}10^{-2}$/cell in the exposed and $0.344{\times}10^{-2}$/cell in the control(p<0.05). Chromosomal exchange frequency was $0.083{\times}10^{-2}$/cell in the control vs $0.245{\times}10^{-2}$/cell in the workers. There was no evidence of significant increase of chromosome aberration related to age or to the duration of employment. The frequency of chromosomal exchange in workers of nuclear medicine was $0.313{\times}10^{-2}$/cell, which was significantly higher than in the control($0.083{\times}10^{-2}$/cell) or other working groups: therapeutic radiology($0.265{\times}10^{-2}$/cell), and diagnostic radiology($0.167{\times}10^{-2}$/cell). No dose-effect relation was found between chromosome aberration and total cumulative doses, recent 5 yr, recent 2 yr cumulative dose. But in case of last 1 yr cumulative dose, dose-dependant increase was observed when controls were considered(p<0.05). The radiation dose which workers have received was much lower than the maximum permissible dose, but there was a significant difference in the frequency of chromosome aberration between occupationally exposed workers and control. So, it is clear that chromosome aberration is a quite sensitive indicator of radiation exposure and it can be detected at very low dose level of occupational exposure.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.898-904
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• 2005

Although Euonymus alatus (EA) has been used as traditional medicine for cancer treatment, exact substances involved in curing of the disease are not yet known. Free radical scavenging and reactive oxygen species (ROS) removal activities of aqueous extract components isolated from winged stem of EA in animal cell line were investigated. Aqueous extract of EA (AEEA) was fractionated by ultrafiltration. All fractions mainly consisted of polysaccharide (44.8%), protein (2.1%), small amounts of phenol compounds and organic acids. Antioxidant activity of AEEA increased depending on concentration fractions, as determined by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl method. ROS removal activity was visualized in Chinese hamster ovary cell line using laser scanning confocal microscope, and AEEA activity increased in order of F IV>F III>F I>F II. These results suggest AETA has bioactive carbohydrates with potentials as functional foods and antioxidants.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.591-599
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• 2009

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) play important roles in nervous system functions and are involved in a variety of diseases. We previously demonstrated that ginsenosides, the active ingredients of Panax ginseng, inhibit subsets of nAChR channel currents, but not ${\alpha}7$, expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Mutation of the highly conserved Leu247 to Thr247 in the transmembrane domain 2 (TM2) channel pore region of ${\alpha}7$ nAChR induces alterations in channel gating properties and converts ${\alpha}7$ nAChR antagonists into agonists. In the present study, we assessed how point mutations in the Leu247 residue leading to various amino acids affect 20(S)-ginsenoside $Rg_3$ ($Rg_3$) activity against the ${\alpha}7$ nAChR. Mutation of L247 to L247A, L247D, L247E, L247I, L247S, and L247T, but not L247K, rendered mutant receptors sensitive to $Rg_3$. We further characterized $Rg_3$ regulation of L247T receptors. We found that $Rg_3$ inhibition of mutant ${\alpha}7$ nAChR channel currents was reversible and concentration-dependent. $Rg_3$ inhibition was strongly voltage-dependent and noncompetitive manner. These results indicate that the interaction between $Rg_3$ and mutant receptors might differ from its interaction with the wild-type receptor. To identify differences in $Rg_3$ interactions between wild-type and L247T receptors, we utilized docked modeling. This modeling revealed that $Rg_3$ forms hydrogen bonds with amino acids, such as Ser240 of subunit I and Thr244 of subunit II and V at the channel pore, whereas $Rg_3$ localizes at the interface of the two wild-type receptor subunits. These results indicate that mutation of Leu247 to Thr247 induces conformational changes in the wild-type receptor and provides a binding pocket for $Rg_3$ at the channel pore.