• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.91-97
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• 2020

Purpose: Alport syndrome (AS) is one of the most common inherited renal diseases caused due to mutations of genes encoding specific proteins of the type IV collagen family, and its major clinical manifestations include progressive renal failure, sensorineural deafness, and ocular abnormalities. We investigated the clinical characteristics and long-term prognosis of AS in Korean pediatric and adult populations. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of medical records of 33 children and adults who had been diagnosed or treated with AS from 1985 to 2019. Results: The mean age of the 33 patients diagnosed with AS was 16.2±13.6 years, and the male-to-female ratio was 2:1. At the first visit, recurrent gross hematuria was the most common initial symptom. In 10 of 33 patients (30.3%), sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) was diagnosed, but none had ophthalmic problems. Moreover, 11 of 33 patients (33.3%) had advanced to end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and a significant difference was observed in the age of the patients who progressed to ESRD based on the presence or absence of SNHL (P=0.035). Conclusion: SNHL in AS can be an important prognostic factor for long-term deterioration of renal function. Further investigation is required to confirm the clinical course and the genetic characteristics of AS in Korea through prospective national cohort studies.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.585-592
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• 2021

Cisplatin has been reported to cause side effects such as muscle wasting in humans and rodents. The physiological mechanisms involved in preventing muscle wasting, such as the regulation of AKT, PGC1-α, and autophagy-related factor FOXO3a by MuRF 1 and Atrogin-1, remain unclear following different types of exercise and in various skeletal muscle types. Eight-week-old male Wistar rats (n = 34) were assigned to one of four groups: control (CON, n = 6), cisplatin injection (1 mg/kg) without exercise (CC, n = 8), cisplatin (1 mg/kg) + resistance exercise (CRE, n = 9) group, and cisplatin (1 mg/kg) + aerobic exercise (CAE, n = 11). The CRE group performed progressive ladder exercise (starting with 10% of body weight on a 1-m ladder with 2-cm-interval grids, at 85°) for 8 weeks. The CAE group exercised by treadmill running (20 m/min for 60 min daily, 4 times/week) for 8 weeks. Compared with the CC group, the levels of the autophagy-related factors BNIP3, Beclin 1, LC3-II/I ratio, p62, and FOXO3a in the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles were significantly decreased in the CRE and CAE groups. The CRE and CAE groups further showed significantly decreased MuRF 1 and Atrogin-1 levels and increased phosphorylation of AKT, FOXO3a, and PGC1-α. These results suggest that both ladder and aerobic exercise directly affected muscle wasting by modulating the AKT/PGC1-α/FOXO3a signaling pathways regardless of the skeletal muscle type.

• Korean Journal of Ophthalmology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.470-477
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• 2018

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between the progression of visual field (VF) loss and changes in lamina cribrosa depth (LCD) as determined by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) enhanced depth imaging in patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). Methods: Data from 60 POAG patients (mean follow-up, $3.5{\pm}0.7$ years) were included in this retrospective study. The LCD was measured in the optic disc image using SD-OCT enhanced depth imaging scanning at each visit. Change in the LCD was considered to either 'increase' or 'decrease' when the differences between baseline and the latest two consecutive follow-up visits were greater than the corresponding reproducibility coefficient value ($23.08{\mu}m$, as determined in a preliminary reproducibility study). All participants were divided into three groups: increased LCD (ILCD), decreased LCD (DLCD), and no LCD change (NLCD). The Early Manifest Glaucoma Trial criteria were used to define VF deterioration. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox's proportional hazard models were performed to explore the relationship between VF progression and LCD change. Results: Of the 60 eyes examined, 35.0% (21 eyes), 28.3% (17 eyes), and 36.7% (22 eyes) were classified as the ILCD, DLCD, and NLCD groups, respectively. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed a greater cumulative probability of VF progression in the ILCD group than in the NLCD (p < 0.001) or DLCD groups (p = 0.018). Increased LCD was identified as the only risk factor for VF progression in the Cox proportional hazard models (hazard ratio, 1.008; 95% confidence interval, 1.000 to 1.015; p = 0.047). Conclusions: Increased LCD was associated with a greater possibility of VF progression. The quantitative measurement of LCD changes, determined by SD-OCT, is a potential biomarker for the prediction of VF deterioration in patients with POAG.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.11
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• pp.1666-1674
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• 2022

Objective: Letrozole, a potent aromatase inhibitor, is known to have the potential to modify male reproductive function by altering sex hormone levels. This study aimed to evaluate the semen and testicular characteristics and hormonal profile of aged Mrakhoz bucks (Capra hircus) treated with letrozole. Methods: Twelve Markhoz male goats, aged between 4.5 to 5.5 years with an average body weight (BW) of 61.05±4.97 kg were used for the study. Animals were randomly divided into two equal groups and subcutaneously received either 0.25 mg/kg BW of letrozole or a control every week for 2 months. The semen collections were performed every 10 days, and blood samples and testicular biometric records were collected at 20 days intervals. Results: Letrozole causes increased testosterone and follicle-stimulating hormone levels, testosterone to estradiol ratio, semen index and reaction time during the period from 20th to 60th days (p<0.05). Furthermore, letrozole-treated bucks had higher semen volume, sperm concentration, and total sperm per ejaculate from 30th to 60th days (p<0.05). However, no differences occurred between the groups in scrotal circumference, relative testicular volume, semen pH, abnormality, acrosome integrity, and membrane integrity of sperm during the study (p>0.05). The serum luteinizing hormone levels, sperm viability, motility, and progressive motility increased, and estradiol levels decreased after 40th to 60th days of letrozole treatment (p<0.05). Conclusion: Letrozole application to aged Markhoz bucks provokes reproductive hormonal axis which, in turn, induces enhancement of semen production and quality.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.401-411
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• 2022

To obtain the dynamic mechanical properties, fracture modes, energy and brittleness characteristics of Furong Baijiao coal rock, the dynamic impact compression tests under 0, 4, 8 and 12 MPa confining pressure were carried out using the split Hopkinson pressure bar. The results show that failure mode of coal rock in uniaxial state is axial splitting failure, while it is mainly compression-shear failure with tensile failure in triaxial state. With strain rate and confining pressure increasing, compressive strength and peak strain increase, average fragmentation increases and fractal dimension decreases. Based on energy dissipation theory, the dissipated energy density of coal rock increases gradually with growing confining pressure, but it has little correlation with strain rate. Considering progressive destruction process of coal rock, damage variable was defined as the ratio of dissipated energy density to total absorbed energy density. The maximum damage rate was obtained by deriving damage variable to reflect its maximum failure severity, then a brittleness index BD was established based on the maximum damage rate. BD value declined gradually as confining pressure and strain rate increase, indicating the decrease of brittleness and destruction degree. When confining pressure rises to 12 MPa, brittleness index and average fragmentation gradually stabilize, which shows confining pressure growing cannot cause continuous damage. Finally, integrating dynamic deformation and destruction process of coal rock and according to its final failure characteristics under different confining pressures, BD value is used to classify the brittleness into four grades.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.23 no.10
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• pp.121-131
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• 2007

This study is to investigate the damage assessment of adjacent structures due to excavation in urban environment. Model tests were carried out for 2 story masonry building and frame structures in various shapes and locations. The damage level of adjacent structures were very differently estimated in accordance with the shape ratio (L/h) of structures, construction stages, and various locations. Therefore the most weak part (bay) of structure must be heavily instrumented and monitored in more details at early stage of constructions. The progressive crack development mechanism at various construction stages was revealed through model tests and crack size indicated more conservative side of damage level on the damage level graph.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.287-292
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• 2009

Recently, the consumption of mistletoe[Viscum album var. coloratum(Kom.) Ohwi] is increasing because of its good medical effectiveness with the increased concern on the natural medicines and foods. The result obtained from the investigation on the stem tissues of the mistletoe and the oriental chestnut oak, a host plant species, are as follows. Haustorium from the seeds of the mistletoe after their sticking to the branches of the host plant penetrates into the bark where it forms the endophyte system through the active cell division. The endophyte grown in the cambium of the host plant makes the stems and leaves as the outer tissues in a certain time. Even through lignification of the host wood in the branches the oriental chestnut oak was not progressive, its tylosis coas developed partially assembly due to the formation of the endophyte. The stems of the mistletoe consisted of vascular tracheid, selereid, and ray and axial parenchyma, classified as a hardwood without vessels. The vascular tracheids seemed to take a role instead of the vessels in the mistletoe plant from the result that the pits of the vessels in the host branches are linked to the vessel-form tracheid in the mistletoe stems. The constituent ratio of the sclereid cells in the mistletoe stems increased with aging. Furthermore their ratio of the parenchyma cells was higher, which contained the more cell content, compared with the cells of the general woody plant species.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.110-114
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• 2004

Apolipoprotein E is the major lipid-carrier protein in the brain, and several studies provided evidence that apolipoprotein E(ApoE) epsilon4 allele can be considered a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease(AD). Inheritance of the APOE gene has three alleles: ${\varepsilon}2$, ${\varepsilon}3$ and ${\varepsilon}4$. There are six possible genotypes: ${\varepsilon}2/{\varepsilon}2$, ${\varepsilon}3/{\varepsilon}3$, ${\varepsilon}4/{\varepsilon}4$, ${\varepsilon}2/{\varepsilon}3$, ${\varepsilon}2/{\varepsilon}4$, ${\varepsilon}3/{\varepsilon}4$. AD is characterized by a progressive loss of function and death of nerve cells in several areas of the brain. The ${\varepsilon}4$ allele is associated with a risk for developing AD. People with the ${\varepsilon}4/{\varepsilon}4$ genotype have the highest risk, but people with the ${\varepsilon}2/{\varepsilon}4$ or ${\varepsilon}3/{\varepsilon}4$ genotypes are also likely to develop the disease. 64.3% of people carry the is ${\varepsilon}3/{\varepsilon}3$ genotype, 22.1% carry the second ${\varepsilon}3/{\varepsilon}4$ genotype but, ${\varepsilon}2/{\varepsilon}2$ genotype is not usually found of people carry the 3.6% is ${\varepsilon}4/{\varepsilon}4$ genotype in a total of a test group of 140 people. The ratio of ${\varepsilon}4/{\varepsilon}4$ genotype related directly with AD is less than the ${\varepsilon}3/{\varepsilon}3$ genotype, but the ${\varepsilon}2/{\varepsilon}4$ and ${\varepsilon}3/{\varepsilon}4$ genotype ratio of indirect AD risk is 25.7% in the group of people, regardless. Thus, we have referred to the benefit from the treatment of AD through apoE genotype diagnosis.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.597-608
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• 2011

It has been often noted as a problem that as there are no objective and clear criteria for the repair cost estimate of persistent defects, when a claim arises in relation to an apartment construction, significantly different amounts of compensation may be given for similar defects based on the experience and tendencies of the construction experts asked to make a judgment. For this reason, this research aims to present defect managers with a more reasonable and objective estimation criteria and a system to determine the repair cost of defects based on an analysis of relevant factors. The research findings show that the historical cost system is applied first, and then a standard of estimation is used to estimate the cost for the items that are not included in the historical cost system. The criteria for the repair cost for each defect is as follows: the repair cost for defects arising from a regulation violation is determined by calculating the reconstruction cost of the parts in question after demolishing them; the repair cost for progressive defects is determined based on a contribution ratio proportional to the age of the building; the repair cost for repetitive defects is calculated by considering an alternative to maximize the intended function of the defective parts; and the repair cost for value depreciation defects is determined based on the ratio of the warranty period to the lapsed years. However, repair cost estimation for dual value depreciation defects should be studied in future research.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.113-119
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• 2006

It is now established that more than two types of blended aggregate have beneficial effects on quality and supply of concrete in the long run. However, studies on blended aggregate have not widely been progressive and the evaluation method of its most favorable mixture proportion is still needed. Therefore this study investigated the most favorable mixture proportion through the physical experiment of fresh and hardened state's cement mortar, in response to three types of composite ratio, natural fine aggregate(Ns), crushed fine aggregate(Cs) and recycled fine aggregate(Rs). Test showed that increase of blending ratio of Ns and Cs improved fluidity of mot1ar. For the properties of compressive and flexural strength, mortar blending Ns and Cs properly, exhibited similar value to one using only Cs, while mortar mixing Rs showed lower strength value as less as 6% of control one. Mortar using only Rs exhibited the largest drying shrinkage value. In addition, even thought it is not a clear quantitative analysis, technical-imaging-skill presenting the most favorable mixture proportion 3-dimensionally is proposed in this research, in order to notify the proportion easily.