• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.105-110
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• 2008

Purpose: Preecalmpsia is a pregnancy-specific disorder that reflects widespread endothelial dysfunction resulting from increases of adhesion molecule expression. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is involved in the pathogenetic mechanisms responsible for preeclampsia, and ICAM-1 plasma levels and/or function is genetically influenced. Therefore, we evaluated the distribution of ICAM-1 gene K469E polymorphism in pregnant Korean women with preeclampsia and evaluated the association between this polymorphism and preeclampsia. Methods: The K469E polymorphism was analyzed in peripheral blood samples from 197 preeclamptic pregnancies and 193 normotensive pregnancies by a SNapShot kit and an ABI Prism 3100 Genetic analyzer. Results: Genotypic and allelic frequencies of ICAM-1 gene polymorphism (K469E) did not differ between preeclamptic and normotensive pregnancies. The distributions of the KK, KE, and EE genotypes were 40.6%, 43.7%, and 15.7%, respectively, in preeclamptic pregnancies and 38.9%, 45.1%, and 16.1%, respectively, in normotensive pregnancies. The frequencies of K and E alleles were 0.62 and 0.38, respectively, in preeclamptic pregnancies and 0.61 and 0.39, respectively, in normotensive pregnancies. By multiple logistic regression analysis, there was no increased risk of preeclampsia in subjects with ICAM-1 KE (OR, 1.08; P=0.74) or EE (OR, 1.07; P=0.88) genotypes. Conclusion: This study suggests that the ICAM-1 gene K469E polymorphism does not associate with an increased risk of preeclampsia in pregnant Korean women.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.155-168
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• 2002

Purpose; Systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) is an autoimmune disease with multi-system involvement and renal damage is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children. Renal involvement is more common and severe in children than in adults. Therefore, renal biopsy plays a crucial role in planning effective therapy. In this study, we investigated the clinical and pathological findings of lupus nephritis in children to aid clinical care of the disease. Methods: The clinical and pathological data of 40 patients who were diagnosed as SLE with renal involvement in Shinchon Severance Hospital from Jan. 1990 to Sep. 2002 were analyzed retrospectively. Results: The ratio of male to female patients was 1:3 and the median age at diagnosis was 12.1(2-18) years old. FANA(95.0%), anti-ds DNA antibody(87.5%), malar rash(80.0%) were the most common findings among the classification criteria by ARA. Microscopic hematuria with proteinuria(75.0%), nephrotic syndrome(55.0%), and microscopic hematuria alone(15.0%) were the most common renal presentations in the respective order at diagnosis. There were 27 cases with WHO class IV lupus nephritis confirmed by renal biopsy and 3 cases with pathological changes of WHO class type. Different treatment modalities were carried out : prednisolone only in 5 cases, prednisol-one+azat-hioprine in 9 cases, prednisolone+azathioprine+intravenous cyclophosphamide in 14 cases, prednisolone+cyclosporine A+intravenous cyclophosphamide in 12 cases, plasma exchange in 9 cases and intravenous gamma-globulin in 2 cases. The average follow-up period was $51.8{\pm}40.5$ months. During $51.8{\pm}40.5$ months. During follow-up, 4 patients expired. The risk factors associated with mortality were male, WHO class IV and acute renal failure at diagnosis. Conclusion: Renal involvement was noted in 63.5% of childhood SLE, and 67.5% of renal lesion was WHO class IV lupus nephritis which is known to be associated with a poor prognosis. Therefore aggressive treatment employing immunosuppressant during the early stages of disease could be helpful in improving long-term prognosis. But careful attention should be given to optimize the treatment due to unique problems associated with growth, psychosocial development and gonadal toxicity, especially in children.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.8
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• pp.827-833
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• 2008

Purpose : Early identification of iron deficiency in young children is essential to prevent damaging long-term consequences. It is often difficult for the pediatrician to know which indices should be used when diagnosing these conditions especially in hospitalized young children. This study investigated the clinical significances of reticulocyte hemoglobin content in young children with acute infection. Methods : We studied 69 young children aged from 6 to 24 months admitted with acute infection in a single center. Venous blood was drawn to determine hemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), hemoglobin content (CH), reticulocyte hemoglobin content (CHr), and red blood cell distribution width (RDW) using ADVIA 120 (Bayer Diagnostics, NY, USA). For evaluating iron status, iron, total iron binding capacity, ferritin and transferrin saturation (Tfsat) were determined. Iron deficiency was defined as Tfsat less than 20%, and iron deficiency anemia as Tfsat less than 20% and Hb level less than 11 g/dL. Results : In all, 47 were iron deficient; 17 of these had iron deficiency anemia. CHr was the only significant predictor of iron deficiency (likelihood ratio test=71.25; odds ratio=0.67; P<0.05). Plasma ferritin level had no predictive value (P=0.519). Subjects with CHr less than 27.4 pg had lower Hb level, MCH, CH, Tfsat, and iron levels than those with CHr 27.4 pg or more (P<0.05 for all). Conclusion : CHr level was a sensitive screening tool and the strongest predictor of iron deficiency in hospitalized infants with acute infection; it was cost saving and avoiding additional sampling. However its reference range should be established.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.553-558
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of premedicated ascorbic acid and hepa-saline irrigation/aspiration on attenuation of ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury and recovery of renal function in canine nephrotomy model. In the canine model, nine mixed dogs were subjected to renal nephrotomy with premedicated ascorbic acid and hepa-saline irrigation-aspiration (treatment group 2), and only hepa-saline irrigation-aspiration (treatment group 1). The level of renal function and antioxidant enzymes after nephrotomy were measured. And the expression pattern of TNF-${\alpha}$ and INF-${\gamma}$ was examined in the renal tissue at $7^{th}$ day after nephrotomy. BUN and creatinine levels significantly decreased in the treatment group 1 and 2 compared to that of control group at the $3^{rd}$, 5th and $7^{th}$ day after reperfusion (p < 0.05). And, there was significant difference between treatment group 1 and 2 at the $3^{rd}$ day after reperfusion (p < 0.05). The activities of antioxidant enzymes in plasma was significantly increased in the treatment group 1 and 2 compared to that of control group at the $3^{rd}$, $5^{th}$ and $7^{th}$ day after reperfusion (p < 0.05). And, there was significant difference between treatment group 1 and 2 at the $3^{rd}$ day after reperfusion (p < 0.05). TNF-${\alpha}$ was decreased and INF-${\gamma}$ was increased in treatment groups. The result of this study suggested that irrigation-aspiration has effects on attenuation of renal ischemia-reperfusion injury, and the exogenous ascorbic acid has a role in the attenuation of renal ischemia-reperfusion injury and recovery of renal function in canine nephrotomy model.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.407-417
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• 1999

Objective: Mammalian follicle cells are the most important somatic cells which help oocytes grow, mature and ovulate and thus are believed to provide oocytes with various functional and structural components. In the present study we have examined whether cumulus or granulosa cells might playa role in establishing the plasma membrane structure of mouse oocytes during meiotic maturation. Design: In particular the differential resistances of mouse oocytes against chymotrypsin treatment were examined following culture with or without cumulus or granulosa cells, or in these cell-conditioned media. Results: When mouse denuded oocytes, freed from their surrounding cumulus cells, were cultured in vitro for $17{\sim}18hr$ and then treated with 1% chymotrypsin, half of the oocytes underwent degeneration within 37.5 min ($t_{50}=37.5{\pm}7.5min$) after the treatment. In contrast cumulus-enclosed oocytes showed $t_{50}=207.0$. Similarly, when oocytes were co-cultured with cumulus cells which were not associated with the oocytes but present in the same medium, the $t_{50}$ of co-cultured oocytes was $177.5{\pm}13.1min$. Furthermore, when oocytes were cultured in the cumulus cell-conditioned medium, $t_{50}$ of these oocytes was $190.0{\pm}10.8min$ whereas $t_{50}$ of the oocytes cultured in M16 alone was $25.5{\pm}2.9min$. Granulosa cell-conditioned medium also increased the resistance of oocytes against chymotrypsin treatment such that $t_{50}$ of oocytes cultured in granulosa cell-conditioned medium was $152.5{\pm}19.0min$ while that of oocytes cultured in M16 alone was $70.0{\pm}8.2min$. To see what molecular components of follicle cell-conditioned medium are involved in the above effects, the granulosa cell-conditioned medium was separated into two fractions by using Microcon-10 membrane filter having a 10 kDa cut-off range. When denuded oocytes were cultured in medium containing the retentate, $t_{50}$ of the oocytes was $70.0{\pm}10.5min$. In contrast, $t_{50}$ of the denuded oocytes cultured in medium containing the filtrate was $142.0{\pm}26.5min$. $T_{50}$ of denuded oocytes cultured in medium containing both retentate and filtrate was $188.0{\pm}13.6min$. However, $t_{50}$ of denuded oocytes cultured in M16 alone was $70.0{\pm}11.0min$ and that of oocytes cultured in whole granulosa cell-conditioned medium was $156.0{\pm}27.9min$. When surface membrane proteins of oocytes were electrophoretically analyzed, no difference was found between the protein profiles of oocytes cultured in M16 alone and of those cultured in the filtrate. Conclusions: Based upon these results, it is concluded that mouse follicle cells secrete a factor(s) which enhance the resistance of mouse oocytes against a proteolytic enzyme treatment. The factor appears to be a small molecules having a molecular weight less than 10 kDa.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.45-55
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• 1981

Clomiphene citrate. antiestrogen, was given to 39 infertile males whose spermatogenesis were disturbed and the efficacy of the drug was evaluated at the Department of Urology in 1980. (Table 1). Patients were divided into 3 clinical observation groups such as group I composed of 19 cases of idiopathic azoospermia, group II consisted of 15 cases of oligospermia following the vasovasostomy, and group III comprised 5 cases of testicular azoospermia. (Table 2). Clinical characteristics of these patients were as follows: Age of the patients ranged from 26 to 43 years old with mean of 34, and that of their wives ranged from 24 to 41 years old with mean of 31. Duration of marital life ranged from 1 to 21 years with mean of 5 years. Sizes of testis ranged from 6 to 25 ml with mean of 16 ml. Coital frequency ranged from 0.5 to 6 per week with mean of 2.4 per week. Levels of plasma FSH ranged from 3.15 to 23.06 lU/1 with mean of 8.15 lU/1, those of LH ranged from 2.98 to 19.89 lU/1 with mean of 8.18 lU/1 and those of testosterone ranged from 3.09 to 9.97 ng/ml with mean of 6.48 ng/ml. (Table 3). Clomiphene citrate was given in dosage of 50 mg per day (in d.) orally to 31 patients for 3 to 9 months and in dosage of 100 mg per day (b.i.d.) orally to 8 patients for 3 to 9 months. (Table 8). Semen samples were analysed monthly on each patient by routine analysis techniques. For the assessment of the efficacy of Clomiphene citrate on faulty spermatogenesis following empirical criteria were used: For semen quality: Improvement (I) represents that semen parameter increased more than 25% from basal level after the treatment, Unchange (U) expresses that semen parameter increased less than 25% of basal level or not changed after the treatment and Deterioration (D) means that semen parameter decreased from basal level after the treatment. For fertility unit (total counts ${\times}$ motility ${\times}$ morphology ${\div}10^6$): Improvement (I) represents that fertility unit increased more than 10 units after the treatment, Unchange (U) expresses that fertility unit increased less than 10 units or not changed after the treatment, and Deterioration (D) means that fertility unit decreased after the treatment. (Table 4). Results obtained from the Clomiphene therapy were as follows: Changes of spermiograme before and after the Oomiphene therapy shown in the Table 5. Sperm counts increased from 23 to 31 ${\times}10^6$/ml in group I, from 17 to 29 ${\times}10^6$/ml in group II. Other parameters of spermiogramme were not changed significantly after the treatment. Fertility units increased from 14 to 18 units after the treatment in group I, and from 16 to 18 units after the treatment in group II. Effectiveness of Clomiphene citrate on spermatogenesis was summarised in the Tables 6 and 7. After the treatment, sperm count increased in 11 patients, motility increased in 6 patients, morphology increased in 4 patients and fertility units increased in 9 patients. No sperm could be produced by Clomiphene citrate in group III of testicular azoospermia. Dosage of 50 mg of Clomiphene citrate per day for 3 to 6 months was proved to be the most effective in the present series. (Table 8). Pregnancy occurred in 2 patients after the treatment. No particular side effects were noted by the treatment. Pharmacologic compounds used for male infertility were shown in the Table 9. Reported results of Clomiphene citrate were shown in the Table 10.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.173-179
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• 2023

Complete DiGeorge syndrome (cDGS) refers to DGS with profound T cell deficiency. Herein, we present the case of an infant with cDGS suffering from refractory cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and who was treated with CD45RA+ depleted lymphocyte infusion. The patient was diagnosed with cDGS by fluorescence in situ hybridization which verified 22q11.2 deletion and as well as by the observed profound T cell deficiency (CD3+ T cells 69/μL, CD4+ T cells 7/μL). On the 45th day of age, CMV viremia was first detected with a plasma viral load (VL) of 120,000 IU/mL. Ganciclovir treatment effectively reduced VL post 56 days of treatment; however, VL subsequently rebounded. A CMV UL97 phosphotransferase M460V mutation conferring ganciclovir resistance emerged and foscarnet was incorporated. Despite this, high titers of CMV viremia (VL 2,820,000 IU/mL) and CMV retinitis were complicated. To restore T cell immunity and treat refractory CMV infection, CD45RA+ depleted CMV-specific lymphocytes from the patient's father were infused twice on the 196th and 207th days after birth. After receiving the second infusion, a decline in CMV VL was observed, with a decrease to 87,100 IU/mL by the tenth day following infusion, despite the failure in maintaining T cell increase. The patient died of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia and Elizabethkingia meningoseptica sepsis on the 222nd day after birth. CD45RA+ depleted lymphocyte infusion may be a therapeutic option for refractory CMV disease in cDGS patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.276-283
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• 2007

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of isoflavone on the atherogenic effect in C57BL/6 mice. C57BL/6 female mice, 5 weeks of age, were fed on chow diets for 2 weeks during adjustment period. Mice weighing approximately $17.9{\pm}0.9\;g$ were divided into 4 groups and were fed on the experimental diets containing isoflavone for 8 weeks. Experimental groups were control (atherogenic diet), IF-10 (atherogenic diet with isoflavone 10 mg/100 g diet), IF-40 (atherogenic diet with isoflavone 40 mg/100 g diet) and IF-100 (atherogenic diet with isoflavone 100 mg/100 g diet). Food efficiency ratio was not different among the experimental groups. Plasma triglyceride (TG) concentrations were lower after 4 weeks in isoflavone supplementation groups than in control group, whereas monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels of plasma were significantly (p<0.05) decreased in the isoflavone supplementation groups in a dose dependent manner. Both hepatic TG and cholesterol levels were significantly lowered in IF-100 than control. Hepatic glutathione concentrations were higher in the IF-100 group than in the other groups. Hepatic antioxidant enzyme activities including glutathione-reductase, glutathione-peroxidase, catalase, and Mn-superoxide dismutase were significantly higher in the isoflavone supplemen-tation groups in a dose dependent manner. From the above results, it is concluded that isoflavone may reduce the risk of atherosclerosis via hypolipidemic, anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.9
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• pp.1126-1135
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• 2008

This study was carried out to investigate the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory actions of genistein in BALB/c mice injected with lopopolysaccharide (LPS), called endotoxin. Mice (10 weeks of age) weighing approximately 20 g were divided into 4 groups. Endotoxin shock was induced by intraperitoneal injection of LPS (100 mg/kg BW). LPS and genistein+LPS groups were injected with LPS 30 min after phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution and genistein (200 mg/kg BW) injections, respectively. Genistein group was injected with genistein, followed by PBS, while PBS group received two injections of PBS. Superoxide anion generation of peritoneal macrophage cells was significantly (p<0.05) lower in the genistein+LPS group than in the LPS injection group at 8 h after intraperitoneal injection, while SOD activity was significantly higher in genistien+LPS group than LPS group. Tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ levels of plasma were significant lower (p<0.05) in the genistein+LPS injection group than LPS group at 8 h after intraperitoneal injection. Plasma TBARS was lower in genistein+LPS group than LPS group, while hepatic TBARS were not different among groups. Hepatic glutathione concentrations and antioxidant enzyme activities were ignificantly higher in the genistein+LPS group than in the LPS group at 1 h and 8 h after intraperitoneal injection. Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$) transactivation was significantly (p<0.05) inhibited in LPS group. These results demonstrate genistein may ameliorate inflammatory diseases through inhibition of NF-${\kappa}B$ transactivation and oxidative stress, which may be mediated partially by anti-oxidative effect of genistein.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.361-374
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• 2009

For successful osteogenesis around the implants, interaction between implant surface and surrounding tissue is important. Biomechanical bonding and biochemical bonding are considered to influence the response of adherent cells. But the focus has shifted surface chemistry. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the MC3T3-E1 osteoblast like cell responses of magnesium (Mg) ion implanted titanium surface produced using a plasma source ion implantation method. Commercially pure titanium disc was used as substrates. The discs were prepared to produce four different surface, A: Machine turned surface, B: Mg implanted surface, C: sandblasted surface, D: sandblasted and Mg implanted surface. MC3T3 El osteoblastic like cells were cultured on the disc specimens. Cell adhesion, proliferation, differentiation, and synthesis of extracellular matrix were evaluated. The cell adhesion morphology was evaluated by SEM. RT PCR assay was used for assessment of cell adhesion, proliferation and differentiation. ALP activity was measured for cell differentiation. The results of this study were as follows: 1. SEM showed that cell on Mg ion groups was more proliferative than that of non Mg ion groups. On the machine turned surface, cell showed some degree of contact guidance in aligning with the machining grooves. 2. In RT PCR analysis, osteonectin and c-fos mRNA were more expressed on sandblasted and Mg ion implanted group. 3. ALP activity was not significantly different among all groups. Within the limitations of this study, the following conclusions were drawn: It might indicate Mg ion implanted titanium surface induce better bone response than non Mg ion groups.