• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.49-55
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• 1981

Recent studies have demonstrated that histamine could have a modulatory influence on the immune response in vitro and in vivo. However, the effect of histamine on immune response in mice has not been extensivley analyzed. In the present study the regulatory effects of cimetidine, a histamine-2-receptor antagonist(H2 blocker) and histamine on the immune response to sheep red blood cells(SRBC) were evaluated in mice. Mice pretreated with daily intraperitoneal injection of varying concentrations of cimetidine for 14 days were immunized intraperitoneally with various concentrations of SRBC($10^6,\;10^7,\;and\;10^8$ cells) and challenged 4 days post immunization. The cellular immune response was determined by measuring the footpad swelling reaction. Footpad swelling reaction of each mouse was measured at 3hr(Arthus) reaction) and 24 or 48 hr(delayed reactions) after challenge. The humoral immune response was determined by measuring hemagglutinins to SRBC. Histamine in varying concentrations($10^{-1},\;10^{-3}\;and\;10^{-5}M$(was added in SRBC suspension at the time of antigen challenge into footpad, and 24-hr delayed type hypersensitivity(DTH) was measured. Cimetidine in varying concentrations(10, 50, 250, 1250 and 6250${\mu}g$) enhanced 24-hr DTH and this enhancement of DTH was more pronounced at 250${\mu}g$ of cimetidine. However, there were no significant differences between the cimetidine-pretreated groups and controls in Arthus reaction and hemagglutinin titers. Histamine suppressed the DTH in the dose-dependent fashion. This suppression was more pronounced at lower concentration of immunizing antigen($10^7\;and\;10^6$ SRBC). However, histamine did not diminish the DTH at higher concentration of antigen($10^8$ SRBC). These results present the evidences which strongly suggest that cimetidine enhances the cell-mediated immune response but not significantlly influences the humoral immune response and that exogenous and endogenous histamine is involved in the modulation of cellular immune response as well as immediate hypersensitivity.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.27 no.1 s.45
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• pp.11-24
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• 1994

The studies reported here were undertaken to investigate the effects of mercury chloride on immune system of Balb/c mouse employing a flexible tier of in vitro and in vivo assays. Mercury chloride inhibited the proliferative responses of spleen cells to lipopolysaccharide, pokeweed mitogen, and phytohemagglutinin as a dose-dependent manner. This inhibitory effect was observed not only when $HgCl_2$ was added 2nd or 3rd day of 3 days culture period but also when spleen cells was pretreated with $HgCl_2$ for 2 hours. Mercury chloride, however, potentiated the production of IgM and IgG from spleen cells. During the $HgCl_2$ administration by drinking for 3 weeks, the weight gain of mice was significantly blunted than that o control group mice, while no overt signs related to mercury toxicity were noted in any mice of experimental group. There was no change in thymus and spleen weights, and in histological findings of kidney, bone marrow of femur, thymus, spleen, and popliteal lymph node after 3 weeks of mercury exposure. However, $HgCl_2$ induced a significant increase of total serum IgM, IgG including $IgG_1,\;IgG_{2a}\;and\;IgG_{2b}$, and IgE in Balb/c mice. Treatment in vivo with anti-IL-4 monoclonal antibody significantly abrogated the $HgCl_2$-induced increase in total serum IgG1 and IgE. Whereas $HgCl_2$ potentiated total serum IgM and IgG, there was no difference in total serum hemagglutinin to SRBC (Sheep Red Blood Cell) between experimental and control group mice when these mice were immunized with SRBC. All these findings observed in Balb/c mice suggest that mercury perturbates well-orchestrated regulation of immune responses before developing histopathological changes in lymphoid tissues.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.175-181
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• 2002

Purpose : Scrub typhus(tsutsugamushi disease) is a febrile disease characterized by fever, rash, eschar, lymphadenopathy. Therapy with tetracycline(doxycycline) or chloramphenicol is currently recommended for the treatment for scrub typhus. But there are limitations in usage a tetracycline(doxycycline) for scrub typhus in the children. Recently, there was a report that azithromycin, a macrolide antibiotic was used for scrub typhus in pregnant woman successfully. So we evaluated the effectiveness of the Clarithromycin, other a macrolide antibiotic, for scrub typhus. Methods : Seven patients with scrub typhus at department of internal medicine and three patients with scrub typhus at department of pediatrics Masan Fatima Hospital were involved for this study. A serologic diagnosis for scrub typhus were performed by use of passive hemagglutination test. Clarithromycin(Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, IL, USA) was administrated orally in a daily dose of 500 mg for adult patients and 15 mg/kg/bid/day for pediatric patients. Results : There were 7 cases of adult patients, varying from 28 to 76 years of age and 3 cases of pediatirc patients, varying from 4 to 7 years of age with scrub typhus. All of cases had fever, myalgia, headache, rash, eschar. Seven cases had positive passive hemagglutination test and eight cases had abnormal liver function. Mean duration for the removal of fever after medication was 1.3 day(1~2 days) and all cases were recovered without complications. Conclusion : Our results suggest that Clarithromycin therapy may be effective for scrub typhus.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.131-138
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• 2017

In this study, for the efficient use of the byproduct of the omija (Schizandra chinensis Baillon: SC) processing industry, the ethanol extracts of the fruit (F), seed (S), and pomace (P) of SC were prepared, and their useful bioactivities were evaluated. For F-SC, S-SC, and P-SC, the extraction yields were 28.3%, 22.1%, and 7.2%, respectively, and the polyphenol contents were 8.81, 37.22, and 9.20 mg/g, respectively. The total flavonoid content in P-SC (4.31 mg/g) was 3.5-fold higher than that in F-SC (0.76 mg/g). In an antioxidation activity assay, P-SC showed stronger radical scavenging activities against DPPH anion, ABTS cation, and nitrite and stronger reducing power activities than the other extracts. The calculated concentration required for 50% radical scavenging activity, $RC_{50}s$, of P-SC for DPPH anion, ABTS cation, and nitrite was 226.2, 192.5, and $92.5{\mu}g/ml$, respectively. In an antimicrobial activity assay, F-SC, S-SC, and P-SC showed similarly strong growth inhibitions against Bacillus subtilis and P. vulgaris at a concentration of 0.5 mg/disc. F-SC and P-SC showed 15-fold extended time in thrombin, prothrombin, and activated partial thromboplastin time assays at a concentration of 5 mg/ml. The anticoagulation activity of P-SC (2.5 mg/ml) was comparable to that of aspirin (1.5 mg/ml). Furthermore, F-SC and S-SC showed very good platelet aggregation inhibitory activities. F-SC, S-SC, and P-SC did not show significant hemolysis against human red blood cell up to a concentration of 0.5 mg/ml. These results suggest that S-SC and P-SC, both of which are byproducts of the omija processing industry, show strong potential as novel antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antithrombosis agents.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.64 no.6
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• pp.445-450
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• 2008

Background: As the number of older-aged people increases, the number of elderly patients who receive critical care services is expected to increase substantially. The objective of this study was to examine the clinical characteristics and outcomes of elderly patients who receive mechanical ventilation for more than 30 days in the medical intensive care unit (MICU) at a university hospital. Methods: We retrospectively examined forty-one elderly patients (${\geq}65$ years old) who were receiving mechanical ventilation, from April 2004 to March 2007, for periods exceeding 30 days at the MICU at Eulji University Hospital. Results: The MICU and hospitalmortality rate were 60.9% and 65.9%, respectively. The mean length of the ICU stay was 57.5 days and the mean duration of mechanical ventilation was 49.3 days. The most common reason for MICU admission was acute respiratory failure (73.2%), followed by sepsis (12.2%), neurological problems (9.8%), and gastrointestinal bleeding (4.9%). The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II scores were higher for the nonsurvivors than for the survivors (28.0 vs. 25.0, respectively, p=0.03). The nonsurvivors received more red blood cell (RBC) transfusions during their ICU stay than did the survivors (84.0% vs. 43.8%, respectively p=0.007). The factors associated with hospital death were the APACHE II score and if the patient had received a RBC transfusion. Conclusion: The APACHE II score and a RBC transfusion were predictors of increased hospital mortality for the elderly patients who were on prolonged mechanical ventilation. These predictors may assist physicians to make clinical decisions for this patient population.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.463-468
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• 2000

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Kluyveromyces fragilis, Candida utilis and brewer's yeast as an additive in formulated diets containing different fish meal levels ($55{\%} and 45{\%}$) on growth and body composition of juvenile Korean rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli). Juvenile rockfish (average weight, 2.6 g) were distributed into 24 tanks with 3 replication groups and fed eight isoproteic ($41{\%}$) and isolipidic ($11{\%}$) diets containing each level ($3{\%}$) of K. frayilis, C. utilis and brewer's yeast as an additive. Survival rate of fish was not affected by dietary fish meal level and yeast kind (P > 0.05). Weight gain of fish fed the control and diets containing C. utilis and brewer's yeast was not influenced by fish meal level (P > 0.05), Weight gain of fish fed the $55{\%}$ fish meal diet containing C. utilis and $45{\%}$ fish meal diets containing K. fragilis and C. utilis was lower than that of fish fed the control diet (P < 0.05). Feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio of fish fed the control and diet containing brewer's yeast were not affected by fish meal level, but these value of fish fed the diets containing K, fragilis and C. utilis were lower in $45{\%}$ fish meal diets than in $55{\%}$ fish meal diets. Hepatosomatic index and liver lipid content of fish fed the diet containing C. utilis were decreased regardless of fish meal level (P < 0.05), Hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cell, plasma total protein and plasma total glucose were not affected by dietary fish meal levels and yeast supplements (P > 0.05). From the above results, it can be concluded that yeast supplement in this formulated diet for growth of juvenile rockfish is not necessary.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.392-396
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• 2010

Purpose : The association between iron deficiency anemia and febrile convulsion in infants has been examined in several studies with conflicting results. Therefore, the authors aimed to evaluate the precise relationship involved. Methods : In this case-control study, the authors assessed 100 children with a diagnosis of febrile convulsion, aged between 9 months and 2 years, during January 2007 to July 2009. The control group consisted of 100 febrile children without convulsion; controls were closely matched to the cases by age, gender, and underlying disease. Results : The mean ages of the febrile convulsion and control group were $16.3{\pm}7.4$ and $15.8{\pm}6.1$ months, respectively, and the two groups had no differences in clinical features. Iron deficiency anemia (Hb <10.5 gm/dL) was more frequent in the febrile convulsion group than in the control group, although there was no statistical significance. Unexpectably, the RDW (red blood cell distribution width) was significantly lower and the MCNC (mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration) was significantly higher among seizure cases than among the controls (P <0.05). There is no statistical difference between simple and complex febrile groups in the clinical and laboratory profiles. On multiple logistic regression analysis, iron deficiency anemia was more frequent, but the RDW was lower, among the cases with febrile convulsion, compared with the controls. Conclusions : Our study suggests that the iron deficiency anemia is associated with febrile convulsion, and screening for iron deficiency anemia should be considered in children with febrile convulsions.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.28-33
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• 2009

Physiological responses (hematological factors, cortisol, glucose, osmolality, $Na^+$, $K^+$ and $Cl^-$) in starry flounder Platichthys stellatus were investigated during freshwater acclimation in the conditions of different speeds in salinity change with acute-decrease (AD) or stepwise-decrease (SD I and II). In AD of acute-decrease salinity, hematocrit (Ht), red blood cell (RBC) and hemoglobin (Hb) were rapidly increased more than SD I of stepwise-decrease salinity. But in case of SD II, Ht, RBC and Hb were no significant difference from beginning to end of this experiments. In AD, cortisol level significantly increased from $2.1{\pm}1.0{\mu}g/mL$ at the beginning to $13.7{\pm}0.2{\mu}g/mL$ at 6 hours and recovered to the basal levels ($3.1{\mu}g/mL$) at 10 days. In SD I, cortisol level was significantly increased from $2.1{\pm}1.0{\mu}g/mL$ at the beginning to $13.6{\pm}0.6{\mu}g/mL$ at 6 hours and recovered to the basal levels ($3.1{\pm}0.4{\mu}g/mL$) at 10 days. In SD II, cortisol level was a little increased from $2.1{\pm}1.0{\mu}g/mL$ at the beginning to $10.5{\pm}2.5$, $10.8{\pm}5.6{\mu}g/mL$ at 6, 12 hours and recovered to the basal level at 48 hours. Glucose level of AD, SD I, II were no significant difference from beginning to end of this experiments. Osmolality was $286.8{\pm}3.3\;mOsm/kg$ at the beginning. In SD II of stepwise-decrease, osmolality was no significant difference during rearing in freshwater (FW). But AD of stepwise-decrease and SD I of stepwise-decrease, osmolality was a little decreased end of this experiments. In AD of acute-decrease, only $Cl^-$ level was showed no significant difference from beginning to end of experiment and $Na^+$, $K^+$ levels were decreased. In case of SD I, $Cl^-$ level was showed no significant difference from beginning to end of experiment and $Na^+$, $K^+$ levels were decreased.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.601-606
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• 1999

Physiological responses of cultured olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) on lowering seawater temperature sharply and continuously were studied with 4 experiments of temperature changes (Exp.I$\~$IV). In Exp.1, the temperature was decreased from $18^{\circ}C$ to $9^{\circ}C$ by the rate of $1^{\circ}C$/hr, thereafter back to the initial temperature after 5 dars. With the same conditions of temperature rate and 5 days interval, the temperature changes for Exp.II, III and IV were $20^{\circ}C$ to $17^{\circ}C,\;23^{\circ}C$ to $14^{\circ}C$ and $23^{\circ}C$ to $17^{\circ}C$, respectively, Serum cortisol and glucose were measured during whole experiments. Hematocrit (Ht), hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cell (RBC) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were measured in the Exp.I, and osmolality, electrolytes ($Na^+,\;Cl^-,\;K^+,\;Ca^{2+}$), total protein, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) of serum, in Exp.II$\~$IV. Serum cortisol levels were significantly increased by the lowering temperature sharply during whole experiments, while serum glucose levels were increased only in Exp,III and IV. Ht, RBC and Hb were decreased as the water temperature was lowered, but MCHC was increased. The serum osmolality was reduced and the unstable changes of electrolytes were shown by the changes of seawater temperature. No significant changes in total protein, ALT and AST activity were observed.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.1489-1500
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• 2018

Honey is made from flower nectar by honey bees. In this study, 120 honeys from various flowers and across eight different provinces in Korea were collected and their components, antioxidants, and hemolytic activities against red blood cell were evaluated. Our results show that total polyphenol (TP) varied widely across the samples, with chestnut honey showing the highest TP ($77.1{\pm}8.4mg/100g$), protein content ($25.9{\pm}0.9mg/100g$), and absorbance at 400 nm ($A_{400}$ : $0.156{\pm}0.036$). In contrast, the acacia honey and sugar honey had a TP of 9.5~30 mg, 12~15 mg/100g of, and the lowest $A_{400}$ of $0.06{\pm}0.02$. High amounts of total flavonoid were quantified in the jujube and chestnut honeys at $8.73{\pm}7.31$ and $8.39{\pm}3.02mg/100g$, respectively. No samples demonstrated hemolytic activity up to 1 mg/ml. Antioxidant activities determined by DPPH, ABTS, and nitrite scavenging placed the chestnut honey highest, followed by jujube, styrax, multi-floral, citrus, acacia and sugar honey. Analysis of parameter correlations indicated that the components and bioactivity of the honey are dependent on the origin of the flower rather than on bee-farming regions. A positive correlation between TP content and antioxidant activity was identified. The correlation coefficients between $A_{400}$ and the TP, ABTS scavenging, and reducing power values were 0.804, 0.772 and 0.741, respectively. We therefore suggest that $A_{400}$ could be used as a noble, economic and simple factor for honey quality evaluation. Our results can potentially be used to develop functional honey for the food and pharmaceutical industries.