• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.96-105
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• 2001

Objective : Lithium inhibits the action of inositol monophosphatase(IMPase) in phosphoinositide(PI) signal transduction system at therapeutically relevant concentration. The depletion of inositol by lithium itself cannot explain the lithium's therapeutic effect. However, attention has focused on the abnormality of PI signal transduction system as the pathophysiology of bipolar affective disorder(BPD). We investigated whether IMPase mRNA levels of lymphocytes would be different between BPD patients(n=16) and age, sex-matched normal controls(n=16). We also investigated the change of IMPase mRNA level by lithium during 4 weeks to probe the possibility that IMPase mRNA levels could predict the therapeutic response to lithium and clinical course. Method : Relative IMPase mRNA levels in lymphocyte were quantified by reverse transcriptase(RT)-PCR in sixteen drug-free BPD patients and sex, age-matched normal controls. The psychopathology of patients were measured using YMRS (Young Mania Rating Scale) and CGI(Clinical Global Impression). Results : There was no significant difference in IMPase mRNA levels between BPD patients and normal controls. And the IMPase mRNA levels were not significantly changed by 4 week treatment with lithium. However, the basal IMPase mRNA levels were negatively correlated with the changes of CGI after 4 weeks. Furthermore, the patients with relatively high basal IMPase mRNA levels showed much more improvement during 4 weeks. Conclusions : BPD patients and normal controls were not distinguished by lymphocyte IMPase mRNA level. Although we do not support the hypothesis that lymphocyte IMPase activity would be related with the pathogenesis of BPD and the action of lithium, these data raise the possibility that lymphocyte IMPase mRNA levels could function as a predictor of therapeutic response and clinical course of BPD.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.7
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• pp.824-831
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• 2009

Purpose : We aimed to investigate the efficacy of and functional recovery after intracerebral transplantation of different doses of mouse mesenchymal stem cells (mMSCs) in immature rat brain with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Methods : Postnatal 7-days-old Sprague-Dawley rats, which had undergone unilateral HI operation, were given stereotaxic intracerebral injections of either vehicle or mMSCs and then tested for locomotory activity in the 2nd, 4th, 6th, and 8th week of the stem cell injection. In the 8th week, Morris water maze test was performed to evaluate the learning and memory dysfunction for a week. Results : In the open field test, no differences were observed in the total distance/the total duration (F=0.412, P=0.745) among the 4 study groups. In the invisible-platform Morris water maze test, significant differences were observed in escape latency (F=380.319, P<0.01) among the 4 groups. The escape latency in the control group significantly differed from that in the high-dose mMSC and/or sham group on training days 2-5 (Scheffe's test, P<0.05) and became prominent with time progression (F=6.034, P<0.01). In spatial probe trial and visible-platform Morris water maze test, no significant improvement was observed in the rats that had undergone transplantation. Conclusion : Although the rats that received a high dose of mMSCs showed significant recovery in the learning-related behavioral test only, our data support that mMSCs may be used as a valuable source to improve outcome in HIE. Further study is necessary to identify the optimal dose that shows maximal efficacy for HIE treatment.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.60 no.2
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• pp.171-179
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• 2006

Background : Despite the emerging danger of MDR-TB to human beings, there have only been a limited number of drugs developed to treat MDR-TB since 1970. This study investigated the cross-resistance rate between rifampicin (RFP) and rifabutin (RBU) in order to determine the efficacy of rifabutin in treating MDR-TB. In addition, the results of rifabutin were correlated with the rpoB mutations, which are believed to be markers for MDR-TB and RFP resistance. Methods : The MICs of RBU were tested against 126 clinical isolates of MDR-TB submitted to the clinical laboratory of National Masan TB Hospital in 2004. Five different concentrations ($10-160{\mu}g/ml$) were used for the MICs. The detection of the rpoB mutations was performed using a RFP resistance detection kit with a line probe assay(LiPA), which contains the oligonucleotide probes for 5 wide type and 3 specific mutations (513CCA, 516GTC, and 531TTG) The rpoB mutation was determined by direct sequencing. Results : The rate of cross-resistance between RFP and RBU was 70.5%(74/105) at $20{\mu}g/ml$ RBU(ed note: How much RFP?) Most mutations (86.3%) occurred in the 524~534 codons. The His526Gln, His526Leu, Leu533Pro, Gln513Glu, and Leu511Pro mutations(Ed note: Is this correct?) were associated with the susceptibilty to RBU. Conclusion : Based on the cross-resistance rate between RFP and RBU, RBU may be used effectively in some MDR-TB patients. Therefore, a conventional drug susceptibility test for RBU and a determination of the critical concentration are needed. However, rpoB gene mutation test may be have limited clinical applications in detecting RBU resistance.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.37-49
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• 1998

The specimens used were Ag-25 Pd-15 Cu ternary alloy and Au addition alloy. These alloys were melted and casted by induction electric furnace and centrifugal casting machine in Ar atmosphere. These specimens were solution treated for 2hr at $800^{\circ}C$ and were then quenched into iced water, and aged at $350{\sim}550^{\circ}C$ Age- hardening characteristics of the small Au-containing Ag-Pd-Cu dental alloys were investigated by means of hardness testing. X-ray diffraction and electron microscope observations, electrical resistance, ergy dispersed spectra and electron probe microanalysis. Principal results are as follows : Hardening occured in two stages, i.e., stage I in low temperature and stage II in high temperature regions, during continuous aging. The case of hardening in stage I was due to the formation of the $L1_0$ type face-centered tetragonal PdCu-ordered phase in the grain interior and hardening in stage I was affected by the Cu concentration. In stage II, decomposition of the ${\alpha}$ solid solution to a PdCu ordered phase($L1_0$ type) and an Ag-rich ${\alpha}2$ phase occurred and a discontinuous precipitation occurred at the grain boundary. From the electron microscope study, it was conclued that the cause of age-hardening in this alloy is the precipitation of the PdCu ordered phase, which has AuCu I type face-centered tetragonal structure. Precipetation procedure was ${\alpha}{\to}{\alpha}+{\alpha}_2+PdCu {\to}{\alpha}_1+{\alpha}_2+PdCu$ at Pd/Cu = 1.7 Ag-Pd-Cu alloy is more effective dental alloy as ageing treatment and is suitable to isothermal ageing at $450^{\circ}C$.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.427-430
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• 2001

We prepared 10cm-diameter Si(100)/500 $\AA$-Si$_3$N$_4$/Si(100) wafer Pairs adopting 500 $\AA$ -thick Si$_3$N$_4$layer as insulating layer between single crystal Si wafers. Si3N, is superior to conventional SiO$_2$ in insulating. We premated a p-type(100) Si wafer and 500 $\AA$ -thick LPCVD Si$_3$N$_4$∥Si (100) wafer in a class 100 clean room. The cremated wafers are separated in two groups. One group is treated to have hydrophobic surface and the other to have hydrophilic. We employed a FLA(fast linear annealing) bonder to enhance the bond strength of cremated wafers at the scan velocity of 0.1mm/sec with varying the heat input at the range of 400~1125W. We measured bonded area using a infrared camera and bonding strength by the razor blade crack opening method. We used high resolution transmission electron microscopy(HRTEM) to probe cross sectional view of bonded wafers. The bonded area of two groups was about 75%. The bonding strength of samples which have hydrophobic surface increased with heat input up to 1577mJ/$m^2$ However, bonding strength of samples which have hydrophilic surface was above 2000mJ/$m^2$regardless of heat input. The HRTEM results showed that the hydrophilic samples have about 25 $\AA$ -thick SiO layer between Si and Si$_3$N$_4$/Si and that maybe lead to increase of bonding strength.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.27-41
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• 1999

The Ag-Pd-Cu alloys containing a small amount of Au is commonly used for dental purposes, because this alloy cheaper than Au-base alloys for clinical use. However, the most important characteristic of this alloy is age-hardenability, which is not exhibited by other Ag-base dental alloys. The specimens used were Ag-30Pd-10Cu ternary alloy and Au addition alloy. These alloys were melted and casted by induction electric furnace and centrifugal casting machine in Ar atmosphere. These specimens were solution treated for 2hr at $800^{\circ}C$ and were then quenched into iced water, and aged at 350-$550^{\circ}C$ Age-hardening characteristic of the small Au-containing Ag-Pd-Cu dental alloys were investigated by means of hardness testing, X-ray diffraction and electron microscope observations, electrical resistance, differential scanning calorimetric, energy dispersed spectra and electron probe microanalysis. Principal results are as follows ; Maximum hardening occured in two co-phases of ${\alpha}_2$ + PdCu In stage II, decomposition of the $\alpha$ solid solution to a PdCu ordered phase($L1_o$ type) and an Ag-rich ${\alpha}_2$ phase occurred and a discontinuous precipitation occurred at the grain boundary. From the electron microscope study, it was concluded that the cause of age-hardening in this alloy is the precipitation of the PdCu redered phase, which has AuCu I type face-centered tetragonal structure. Precipitation procedure was ${\alpha}{\to}{\alpha}_1+PdCu{\to}{\alpha}_2+PdCu$ at Pd/Cu = 3 Pd element of Ag-Pd-Cu alloy is more effective dental alloy on anti-corrosion and is suitable to isothermal ageing at $450^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.21-35
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• 1997

The Ag-Pd-Cu alloys containing a small amount of Au is commonly used for dental purposes, because this alloy is cheaper than Au-base alloys for clinical use. However, the most important characteristic of this alloy is age-hardenability, which is not exhibited by other Ag-base dental alloys. The specimens used were Ag-20Pd-20Cu ternary alloy and Au addition alloy. These alloys were melted and casted by induction electic furace and centrifugal casting machine in Ar atmoshpere. These specimens were solution treated for 2hr at $800^{\circ}C$ and were then quenched into iced water, and aged at $350{\sim}550^{\circ}C$ Age-hardening characteristics of the small Au-containing Ag-pPd-Cu dental alloys were investigated by means of hardness testing, X-ray diffraction and electron microscope observations, electrical resistance, differential scanning calorimetric, emergy dispersed spectra and electron probe microanalysis. Principal results are as follows : Hardening occured in two stages, I. e., stage I in low temperature and stage II in high temperature regions, during continuous aging. The case of hardening in stage I was due to the formation of the Llo type face centered tetragonal PdCu-ordered phase in the grain interior and hardening in stage I was affedted by the Cu concentration. In stage II, decomposition of the $\alpha$ solid solution to a PdCu ordered phase(L1o type) and an Agrich ${\alpha}2$ phase occurred and a discontiunous precipitation occurred at the grain boundary. Form the electron microscope study, it was concluded that the cause of age-hardening in this alloy is the precipitation of the PdCu ordered phase, which has AuCu I type face-centered tetragonal structure. Precipitation procedure was ${\alpha}\to{\alpha}+{\alpha}2+PdCu\to{\alpha}1+{\alpha}2+PdCu$ at Pd/Cu = 1 Ag-Pd-Cu alloy is more effective dental alloy as ageing treatment and is suitable to isothermal ageing at $450^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.125-137
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• 2006

1. 목적 흡연은 치주질환의 주요한 위험 인자 중의 하나이다. 일반적으로 흡연자는 비흡연자보다 비외과적 및 외과적 치주치료에 대한 반응이 덜 효과적인 것으로 알려져 있다. 이 연구에서는 중등도의 만성 치주염이 존재하는 한국인 흡연자와 비흡연자를 대상으로 하여, 비외과적 치주치료인 치석 제거술과 치근 활택술을 시행한 후 6개윌 동안의 임상적 치유 반응을 비교해 보고자 하였다. 2. 방법 20명의 중등도 만성 치주염 환자(흡연자 10명, 비흡연자 10명)를 대상으로 치주낭 깊이(Probing Pocket Depth, PPD), 치은퇴축(GR), 치주탐침시 출혈유무(BOP), #16, 12, 24, 32, 36, 44의 치태지수(Plaque Index, Silness & $L{\"{o}}e$ 1964)를 임상변수로 측정하였다. 치주낭 깊이 (PD)와 치은퇴축(GR)은 전자 탐침(Florida $Probe^{(R)}$ Co. Gainesville, FL)을 이용하여 각 치아당 6군데를 측정하였다. 임상적 부착 수준(CAL)은 치주낭 깊이(PD)와 치은퇴축(GR)의 합으로 계산하였다. 초진시에 전악 임상 검사를 시행하였고, 초진시의 치주낭 깊이에 따라 조사 대상이 되는 치아 부위를 선정하였다. 치주적으로 건강한 부위 $(PD{\leq}3mm)$를 대조군인 1군으로 하고 치주낭 깊이가 4 mm를 초과하고 5 mm 미만인 부위를 2군, 5 mm 이상의 치주낭 깊이를 가지는 부위를 3군으로 설정하였다. 비외과적 치주치료인 치석 제거술, 치근 활택술과 구강위생 교육을 시행하였고 2개월(T1), 4개윌(T2), 6개윌(T3)에 선정된 해당 치아 부위에 대해 임상 재검사를 시행하였다. 3. 결과 BOP와 Plaque Index는 초진, 2, 4, 6개월에 흡연자와 비흡연자 간에 유의할 만한 차이가 없었으나 전반적으로 감소하는 경향이 나타났다. 대조군인 l군에 서는 흡연자와 비흡연자 간에 모든 시기에서 PD, GR, CAL에 유의할 만한 차이가 없었다. 치주낭 깊이가 4 mm를 초과하고 5 mm 미만인 2군에서는 비흡연자에서 6개월에 유의할 만한 치주낭 깊이 감소가 나타났으며, 4개월과 6개윌에 유의할 만한 부착수준의 증가가 관찰되었다(p<0.05). 치주낭 깊이가 5 mm이상인 3군에서는 비흡연자에서 치주낭 깊이 감소가 일관되게 더 많이 나타났으나 통계학적으로 유의할 만한 차이는 6개월째에서만 관찰되었다. 2군과 유사하게 치주낭 갚이 감소는 흡연자보다 비흡연자에서 0.6 mm 더 크게 나타났다. 부착수준의 획득은 2군에서는 4, 6개월째에, 3군에서는 6개월째에 비흡연자에서 유의하게 더 많이 일어났다. 초진시의 치주낭 깊이와 각 시기별 ${\Delta}PD$ 간의 상관관계에서는 치주낭 갚이가 5mm 이상인 3군에서 비흡연자의 경우 6개월째에 가장 강한 상관성이 나타났다($r_s=0.43$, p<0.05). 흡연자에서는 3군에서 어떠한 유의한 상관관계도 나타나지 않았다. 결론적으로 중등도 만성 치주염 환자를 대상으로 한 6개윌의 단기간 연구에서 비외과적 치주치료 후 흡연자에서 비흡연자보다 치주낭 깊이 감소의 개선과 부착수준의 획득이 더 적게 나타나 임상적 치유반응이 좋지 않음을 확인하였다. 이는 흡연이 숙주의 치유반응 부정적인 영향을 주기 때문으로 생각된다.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.760-765
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• 1998

Background: Glucose uptake has been found to be increased in cancer cells, and FDG-PET imaging is used for diagnosis of cancer using this phenomenon. However, the exact mechanism of increased glucose uptake in cancer cells has not been clarified. Recent studies demonstrated the presence of glucose transporter(GLUT) mRNA expression in gastrointestinal cancer and head and neck cancer, and suggested that GLUT may be associated with glucose uptake in cancer cells. In lung cancer cells, glucose metabolism is also known to be increased. We evaluated GLUT mRNA expression in human lung cancer cell lines in order to find out the mechanism of increased glucose uptake in lung cancer. Method: Total RNA was isolated from 15 human lung cancer cell lines and immortalized bronchial epithelial cell line(BEAS-2B). After electrophoresis of $20{\mu}g$ total RNA, Northern blot analysis was done using GLUT1 cDNA and GLUT3 cDNA as probes. Results: Thirteen of 14 human lung cancer cell lines expressed GLUT1 mRNA and 10 of 14 human lung cancer cell lines expressed GLUT3 mRNA. Eight human lung cancer cell lines expressed both GLUT mRNAs. BEAS-2B expressed GLUT1 mRNA and did not express detectable GLUT3 mRNA. Conclusion: The increase of glucose metabolism in lung cancer may be associated with GLUT1 and GLUT3 expression.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.428-433
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• 2012

Probiotics and their products, such as yogurt and cheese have been widely consumed in many countries with proven health benefits including anti-microbial activity and anti-diarrheal activity. LHFM (Lactobacillus helveticus - fermented milk) is a processed skim milk powder, fermented by a probiotics, L. helveticus IDCC3801. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effects and the cognitive improvements of LHFM. LHFM itself did not show any cytotoxicity to the human neuroblastoma cell line, SH-SY5Y; however, it dose-dependently protected against glutamate-induced neuronal cell death. LHFM also attenuated scopolamine-induced memory deficit in Y-maze and Morris-water maze. In the analysis of hippocampus after a behavior test, LHFM significantly increased the acetylcholine level and also inhibited acetylcholine esterase activity. Therefore, the raised acetylcholine release partially contributes to the improvement of learning and memory by a treatment with LHFM. These results suggest that LHFM is an effective material for prevention or improvement of cognitive impairments caused by neuronal cell damage and central cholinergic dysfunction.