• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.197-204
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• 2011

The edible ascidian Halocynthia roretzi is a commercially important fisheries resource in Korea. However, for the last several years, outbreaks of mass mortalities of the species have been occurring along the south and east coasts of Korea, where most ascidians are produced. Although it is known that tunic-softness syndrome is associated with these mortality events, the agent causing the syndrome has not yet been confirmed. To determine the agent causing tunic-softness syndrome, healthy and diseased ascidians were collected in March 2011 from Tongyeong, on the south coast of Korea, and were used for biological and pathological investigations. The results showed that diseased ascidians exhibited remarkably reduced body fluid, fatness index, and tunic index compared with healthy specimens. Interestingly, bi-flagellated protozoans were observed specifically in the tissue imprints and tunic cultures of diseased ascidians at an occurrence rate of 97.5%. Histological observation showed that the thickness of the tunics of diseased ascidians was reduced by half, and irregular structure and breakdown of the tunic fiber bundles were observed. In particular, flagellate-like cells were observed in the diseased ascidians. Our study clearly shows that bi-flagellated protists are present only in the softened ascidians, suggesting that the flagellates are partly or entirely associated with soft-tunic syndrome. Accordingly, further investigations to verify the effects of the flagellates found in the present study on soft-tunic syndrome should be conducted.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.104-111
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• 2012

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are zinc-dependent endopeptidases which degrade extracellular matrix (ECM) during embryogenesis, wound healing, and tissue remodeling. Dysregulation of MMP activity is also associated with various pathological inflammatory conditions. In this study, we examined the expression pattern of MMPs during PMA-induced differentiation of THP-1 monocytic cells into macrophages. We found that MMP1, MMP8, MMP3, MMP10, MMP12, MMP19, MMP9, and MMP7 were upregulated during differentiation whereas MMP2 remained unchanged. Expression of MMPs increased in a time-dependent manner; MMP1, MMP8, MMP3, MMP10, and MMP12 increased beginning at 60 hr post PMA treatment whereas MMP19, MMP9, and MMP7 increased beginning at 24 hr post PMA treatment. To identify signal transduction pathways involved in PMA-induced upregulation of MMPs, we treated PMA-differentiated THP-1 cells with specific inhibitors for PKC, MEK1, NF-${\kappa}B$, PI3K, p38 MAPK and PLC. We found that inhibition of the MEK1 pathway blocked PMA-induced upregulation of all MMPs to varying degrees except for MMP-2. In addition, expression of select MMPs was inhibited by PI3K, p38 MAPK and PLC inhibitors. In conclusion, we show that of the MMPs examined, most MMPs were up-regulated during differentiation of monocyte into macrophage via the MEK1 pathway. These results provide basic information for studying MMPs expression during macrophage differentiation.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.435-441
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• 1998

Alginase$Alginase^{ⓡ}$ (Arginine esterase) is one of the snake venoms which is mainly consisted of arginine esterase and acts as a thrombus -forming inhibitor/thrombus-lysin. These present studies were performed to investigate of the acute and subacute toxicity of the Alginase$Alginase^{ⓡ}$ in rats. In acute toxicity study, rats were single administered intravenously with dosages of 0.001, 0.01. 0.1, 1 and 10U/kg B.W. and examined the number of death, clinical sign, body weight and pathological change for 7days after administration of Alginase$Alginase^{ⓡ}$. At maximum dose level (10U/kg B.W.), Alginase$Alginase^{ⓡ}$ induced symptoms of shock with cyanosis and dyspnea. But these symptoms dissappeared after 30~50 minutes and we could not find any other toxic effect in rats. Therefore, $LD_{50}$ Value of Alginase was over 10U/kg B.W. in rats. In four-week intravenous toxicity study of Alginase$Alginase^{ⓡ}$, rats were administered intravenously seven days per week for 28 days, with dosages of 0, 0.0125, 0.125 and 1.25U/kg B.W./day, respectively. Alginase$Alginase^{ⓡ}$ did not caused any death and showed any clinical signs in rats. No significant Alginase$Alginase^{ⓡ}$ -related changes were found in feed uptake, water consumption, hematology, serum biochemistry, urinalysis, ocular examination, organ weight and histopathological examination. From the results, Alginase$Alginase^{ⓡ}$ seems not to have any toxic effect in rats when it were given daily intravenous injections below the dosage 1.25U/kg B.W./day for four weeks.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.55-63
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• 2007

Diethylnitrosamine (DEN) is a nitrosamine compound that can induce a variety of liver lesions including hepatic carcinoma, forming DNA-carcinogen adducts. In the present study, microarray analyses were performed with Affymetrix Murine Genome 430A Array in order to identify the gene-expression profiles for DEN and to provide valuable information for the evaluation of potential hepatotoxicity. C57BL/6NCrj mice were orally administered once with DEN at doses of 0, 3, 7 and 20 mg/kg. Liver from each animal was removed 2, 4, 8 and 24 hrs after the administration. The histopathological analysis and serum biochemical analysis showed no significant difference in DEN-treated groups compared to control group. Conversely, the principal component analysis (PCA) profiles demonstrated that a specific normal gene expression profile in control groups differed clearly from the expression profiles of DEN-treated groups. Within groups, a little variance was found between individuals. Student's t-test on the results obtained from triplicate hybridizations was performed to identify those genes with statistically significant changes in the expression. Statistical analysis revealed that 11 genes were significantly downregulated and 28 genes were upregulated in all three animals after 2 h treatment at 20 mg/kg. The upregulated group included genes encoding Gdf15, JunD1, and Mdm2, while the genes including Sox6, Shmt2, and SIc6a6 were largely down regulated. Hierarchical clustering of gene expression also allowed the identification of functionally related clusters that encode proteins related to metabolism, and MAPK signaling pathway. Taken together, this study suggests that match with a toxicant signature can assign a putative mechanism of action to the test compound if is established a database containing response patterns to various toxic compounds.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 1985

In order to clarify the taxanomic position of a new microsporidia K79 which was isolated from the silkworm larvae, Bombyx mori L. in Korea in 1979, the following several experiments such as estimation of pathogenicity in different instar, histopathological examination under light and electronic microscope and examination of fine structure of the sporse were carried out and their result obtained are as follows. In the test of pathogenicity by oral inoculation, the new microsporidia K79 was lower than Nosema bombycis and the susceptibility of the new microsporidia to silkworm was getting lower as the silkworm larvae grew. The lesion of Silkworms' tissue which was infected with the new microsporidia K79 was found in the epithelial cells of trachea, fat body and silk gland cells. The developmental process of the new microsporidia K79 in vivo could be divided into the following five stages: sporoplasm, schizont, sporont, sporoblast, and spore. The process was just the same as the of N. bombycis, but its development was slower than that of N. bombycis. Several differences in the fine structure of the spore under electron microscope, which could be important keys for the classification of microsporidia, were obtained. Anchoring disk and polaroplast lamella of the new microsporidian spore were disclosed to be different from those of N. bombycis. An average number of polar filament coils of the new microporidian spore was 16 at an angle of 75$^{\circ}$. On the basis of various keys for the classification of microsporidia, the results obtained from various experiments proved that the newly isolated microsporidia should be classified into the Genus, "Nosema", nut is further classification for species should be conducted in the future. Therefore, it may be reasonable that the new microsporidia is temperally classified as Nosema sp. K79 considering the fact that it was discovered in Korea in 1979.a in 1979.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.3-18
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• 1991

Serotonin was chemically identified as 5-hydrowytryptamin which occurs in plants, animals, and human beings. The end product of metabolism was excreted as 5-HIAA in urine. Many scientists, specially biochemist and psychiatrist reported that the change of serotonin concentration caused mental disorder and pathological condiions such as schizophrenia and carcinoid. This study was carried out to observe the urinary 5-HIAA excretion rates changed by three recipes treatment (Kamisoyosan, Ondamtang, kalgunhaegitang) according to the classification of endogenous, exogenous and non-exo-endogenous, causes of disease. The urinary 5-HIAA excretion rates before and after three recipes treatment on normal groups divided into three groups on the basis of physical constitutional differences and on patients groups, divided into three groups according to the causal factor were measured. The results were as follows; 1. The urinary 5-HIAA volume of patients groups appeared non-exoendogenous, endogenous, exogenous causes of disease in order of three causative classification. 2. The urinary 5-HIAA volume of Normal groups was $2.50{\pm}088mg/24hrs$(range $0.30{\sim}6.90mg/24hrs$) 3. Thr urinary 5-HIAA volume was $3.70{\pm}0.89mg/24hrs$(range $0.90{\sim}6.50mg/24hrs$) before kamisoyosan treatment and $3.20{\pm}0.72mg/24hrs$ (range $0.80{\sim}6.20mg/24hrs$) after the treatment. 4. The value was $2.60{\pm}0.10mg/24hrs$ (range $0.60{\sim}6.50mg/24hrs$) before Ondamtange treatment and $2.00{\pm}0.12mg/24hrs$(range $0.20{\sim}6.10mg/24hrs$) after the treatment. 5. The value was $4.30{\pm}0.75mg/24hrs$(range $0.92{\sim}6.50mg/24hrs$) before kalgunhaegitang treatment and $3.10{\pm}0.10mg/24hrs$(range $0.80{\sim}5.80mg/24hrs$) after the treatment. Considering the above-mentioned the study on the changes of urinary 5-HIAA volume will make a significant contribution to the diagnosis and the evaluation of therapeutic effect successive research and modified application will be in need.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.129-135
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• 2007

Purpose : Kikuchi disease is a subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis characterized by fever, cervical lymphadenopathy and benign self-limiting course in young women especially, but rare in children. Their etiopathology is still unknown, but involved viruses and autoimmune mechanism were proposed. We investigated the clinical and laboratory characteristics of Kikuchi disease in children. Methods : Five patients were diagnosed of Kikuchi disease from January 2001 to June 2006 in Kyunghee University Hospital. We reviewed their medical records retrospectively and analyzed clinical and laboratory findings. Results : The mean age of 5 patients (male to female ratio; 2:3) was 9 yr 9 mon(range: 8 yr 2 mon-12 yr 6 mon). The chief complaints were sustained fever and cervical lymph node that was unilateral, tender and swollen. All patients were treated with antibiotics before diagnosis was made, and rash developed in 2 patients. One patient showed necrotic change in ultrasound with which we suspected Kikuchi disease. Three patients were examined by CT scan additionally. The interval between admission and cervical lymph node excisional biopsy ranged from 6 days to 15 days, and mean period was 9.6 days. All pathological findings were compatible to necrotizing lymphandenitis. Conclusion : Unnecessary laboratory and imaging studies, and treatment with antibiotics tend to be done before making diagnosis, and that caused prolonged hospitalization. Therefore we studied the clinical and laboratory characteristics of Kikuchi disease in children.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.11-16
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• 2018

Purpose: To investigate interobserver variation in target volume delineations for prostate cancer salvage radiotherapy using planning computed tomography (CT) versus combined planning CT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Materials and Methods: Ten radiation oncologists independently delineated a target volume on the planning CT scans of five cases with different pathological status after radical prostatectomy. Two weeks later, this was repeated with the addition of planning MRI. The volumes obtained with CT only and combined CT and MRI were compared, and the effect of the addition of planning MRI on interobserver variability was assessed. Results: There were large differences in clinical target volume (CTV) delineated by each observer, regardless of the addition of planning MRI ($9.44-139.27cm^3$ in CT only and $7.77-122.83cm^3$ in CT plus MRI) and no significant differences in the mean and standard deviation of CTV. However, there were decreases in mean volume and standard deviation as a result of using the planning MRI. Conclusion: This study showed substantial interobserver variation in target volume delineation for salvage radiotherapy. The combination of planning MRI with CT tended to decrease the target volume and the variation.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.127-142
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• 1991

This study was carried out to investigate fatty liver in Korean black goats. Adult female goats were divided into 3 test groups(A, B and C). Group A and B of goats each received 3 test consecutive daily doses of DL-ethionine at 75mg/kg and 150mg/kg body weight, respectively. Group C of goats was given 3 consecutive doses of the compound every 48 hours at 150mg/kg body weight. The clinical symptoms, hematological values, serum chemical values and histopathological study of the liver were investigated in the test animals. The results obtained are as follows ; 1. Fatty liver were observed in every test animal. 2. Some clinical symptoms( anorexia, depression) were appeared from 1st day to 7th day after administration of the compound in every test animal. In addition to these symptoms, diarrhea and salivation were generally observed in test animals which were given the compound at 150mg/kg body weight. The degree of these symptoms was dose dependent. 3. There was no significant variations in total WBC counts and fibrinogen values in the blood of test goats. The PCV values were significantly increased on 5th day of dosing in group A and B of goats. 4. The total lipid value was not changed but the concentration of NEFA was significantly increased on 3rd day of dosing with the compound and returned to normal value after 10 days hereafter. The value of triglycerides was significantly increased on 1st day and returned to normal value on 3rd day of dosing. The value of cholesterol was significantly decreased on 3rd day and returned to normal value on 10th day after treatment. 5. Total protein level was decreased on 10th day of dosing in the groups of B and C, and billirubin level was significantly increased on 7th day of dosing in every test group and returned to normal level after 13th day of administration. 6. The activity of GGT in serum was not changed while the activities of SDH and AST were significantly increased in every test goat and those values were returned to normal after 10~13th day of trestment. 7 The 35K-protein fraction in serum was not detected by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, but this protein fraction was detected by the same method after treating the 21st and 22nd fraction which were obtained by column chromatography with Sephadex G-100. 8. The affected liver was congested and swollen on 3rd day, and yellowish brown in color and mottled appearance on 7th day of treatment. Histopathologically, fat droplets were common in the hepatocytes, this change was intensive on 7th day after treatment in group B and C. Hepatic cell necrosis was observed in some livers but this pathological change was disappeared and returned to normal after 13 days of treatment.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.81-87
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• 2007

The purpose of the present study was to determine the preventive effects of the two antioxidant vitamin E and catechin on DEHP-induced disturbance of spermatogenesis in male rats. Rats at 4 weeks of age were randomly allocated into five groups with 20 animals per group. The first group was not any administrated as control. The second group was administrated DEHP (2 g/kg) daily for 14 days. The third group was administrated vitamin E (500 IU/kg) following DEHP treatment by the same method (daily for 14 days). The fourth group was administrated catechin (200 mg/kg) following DEHP treatment by the same method. The fifth group was co-administrated vitamin E (500 IU/kg) and catechin (200 mg/kg) following DEHP treatment by the same method. In order to determine the preventive effects, we examined pathological changes of testis with apoptotic index, and characteristics of sperm with computer assisted sperm analysis (CASA). Vitamin E and catechin supplementation were significantly prevented the testicular atrophy, apoptosis of germ cells in the seminiferous tubules and abnormal rate of sperm. Moreover, sperm concentration, viability and motility was significantly recovered in groups of alone and along with vitamin E and catechin. The results suggest that preventive effects of alone and along administration of vitamin E and catechin on DEHP-induced testicular atrophy damages have been demonstrated.