• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.86-93
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• 2010

Objectives : The aim of this research is to determine the effects of depression and anxiety symptoms of schizophrenic psychopathology on the HPA axis. Methods : Twenty patients with schizophrenia were included and divided into the medication non-exposed group(n = 10) and the medication exposed group(n = 10). Evaluated scales were the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS), Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms(SANS), Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms(SAPS), Hamilton Depression Inventory(HAM-D) and Hamilton Anxiety Inventory (HAM-A), and then the combined Dexamethasone/Corticotropin Releasing Hormone(DEX/CRH) test was conducted to determine the basal level, the peak level and the area under the curve(AUC) of cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH). Results : When the correlations between each psychopathology and cortisol level or ACTH AUC value were analyzed, HAM-D showed a negative correlation, whereas HAM-A showed a positive correlation. Also, the non-depression group(HAM-D ${\leq}$ 18) showed higher cortisol and ACTH concentrations than the depression group(HAM-D > 18), and the anxiety group(HAM-A ${\geq}$ 14) showed significantly higher concentrations than the non-anxiety group(HAM-D < 14)(p < 0.05). Also, as for the comparison between the medication non-exposed group and the medication exposed group, the non-exposed group showed significantly higher cortisol and ACTH concentration than exposed group(p < 0.05). Conclusion : This study suggest that anxiety symptoms rather than depression symptoms are related to the increased activity of the HPA axis of schizophrenics.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.377-382
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• 2007

Porous mineral coating have been fabricated and applied for basic research on their slow release action to a fertilizer. Feldspar was selected as raw mineral for the coating and two different particle sizes of powder were prepared. Slow-release action was estimated by using a potassium sulfate fertilizer. Spherical pellets were prepared with a pan-type pelletizer and then screened into sizes ranging 1.4 to 2.35mm. While the fertilizer pellets were rotated in the pelletizer again, the feldspar powder and 0.5% polyvinyl alcohol solution were simultaneously sprayed on the pellets. The fertilizer pellets coated with feldspar powder were fabricated. The pellets were heated to increase their strength and screened to sort by coating thickness. Potassium releasing tests were conducted for 40 days and the performance for slow-release action was estimated as functions of the heating temperature, coating thickness and raw mineral powder size. The Burst effect caused high initial releasing rate. Releasing kinetics was proportional to concentration of potassium in pellets. The pellet that was fabricated with $27.4{\mu}m$-sized feldspar and heated at $1050^{\circ}C$ showed a releasing rate of 43% on the 40th day.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 1985

A strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated from the spoiled product and its characteristics on various formaldehyde-releasing preservatives were investigated. This strain, P. aeruginosa FR, could utilize 1.0% of imidazolidinyl urea and 0.2% of DMDM hydantoin as a sole carbon and nitrogen source in the minimal salts medium. With the growth of the strain in minimal salts medium containing imidazolidinyl urea, formic acid was initially accumulated according to the decrease of formaldehyde concentration. It was suggested that formaldehyde dehydrogenase was involved in this oxidation process and could catalyze formaldehyde, imidazolidinyl urea, DMDM hydantoin and quaternium-15, but not bronopol. MICs of this strain to each preservation were 0.03% in formaldehyde, 1.0% in imidazolidinyl urea, 0.2% in DMDM hydantoin, 0.2% in quaternium-15 and 0.1% of EDTA-2Na. But the MICs were diminished about ten times when 0.01% of EDTA-2Na was added to the preservative systems. In actual challenge test, the eyeliner and the pack which contained paraben and imidazolidinyl urea were not able to be protected from this strain, but when 0.05% EDTA-2Na was added the products were sufficiently preserved.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.1053-1058
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• 2010

Glycyrrhizae radix (GR) is an herbal medicine commonly used in East Asia for treating a variety of diseases, including stomach disorders. In this study, the antidepressant-like activity of GR was investigated using the forced swimming test (FST) in rats. After the FST, the expression of c-Fos and corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF) was assessed by immunochemistry of brain samples from the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN). The results of the FST showed that a high dose (400 mg/kg) of extract was very effective in reducing immobility(P<0.01), and increased climbing. In addition, treatment with GR (400 mg/kg) significantly decreased the expression of c-Fos and CRF in the PVN, compared to controls. In conclusion, the findings of this study demonstrated that GR effectively reduced behavioral and physiological depression responses in an animal model of depression, suggesting that GR might be useful in the treatment of clinical depression.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.379-386
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether berberine (BER) administration could attenuate depression- and anxiety-like behaviors and increase corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression following chronic morphine withdrawal in rats. Male rats were exposed to chronic, intermittent, escalating morphine (10~50 mg/kg) for 10 days. After the last morphine injection, depression- and anxiety-like beahvior associated with morphine discontinuation persisted for at least three days during withdrawal without any change in ambulatory activity. Daily BER administration significantly decreased immobility in the forced swimming test and increased open-arm exploration in the elevated plus maze test. BER administration also significantly blocked the increase in hypothalamic CRF expression and TH expression in the locus coeruleus (LC) and the decrease in hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA expression. Taken together, these findings demonstrated that BER administration significantly reduced morphine withdrawal-associated behaviors following discontinuation of repeated morphine administration in rats, possibly through modulation of hypothalamic CRF and the central noradrenergic system. BER may be a useful agent for treating or alleviating complex withdrawal symptoms and preventing morphine use relapses.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2018

Allergy is conditions when a hypersensitivity reaction happens with a certain element, called as an allergen, which is commonly not reactive to ordinary individuals. Allergic diseases involve various organs or systems in the body. The purpose of allergy tests is to make a diagnosis of allergic diseases and to identify the affecting allergens. In vivo tests, more relevant in clinical situation, include skin test, patch test and provocation test. In in vitro tests, there are specific IgE test, histamine releasing assay, and lymphocyte activation test, safer and more objective than in vivo tests. In the view point of clinical practice, skin test, provocation test, total IgE test and specific IgE test were reviewed in depth.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.90-94
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• 2013

Background: This study was conducted to examine if basal luteinizing hormone (LH) levels could be useful for screening central precocious puberty (CPP) in girls. Methods: A total of 90 girls under the age of 8 years were included in this study. They underwent the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation test at Good Gang-An Hospital from March 2008 to December 2012 for evaluation of premature sexual development. Patients were classified into two groups: the pubertal response group of patients who had 5 IU/L peak LH levels in the GnRH stimulation test, and the prepubertal response group of patients who had LH levels <5 IU/L. Chronological and bone ages, height, weight, body mass index, gonadotropin response to GnRH stimulation, and basal levels of LH, follicle-stimulating hormone, and estradiol were studied in both groups. The relationship between basal LH and peak-stimulated LH was evaluated using Spearman's correlation. To determine the optimal cut-off values of basal LH levels for differentiating between two groups, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were analyzed. Results: When the correlation between basal LH levels and peak LH after GnRH stimulation was analyzed in all subjects (N=90), basal LH levels had a statistically significant positive correlation with peak stimulated LH levels (rs=0.493, p<0.001). The cut-off level of optimal basal LH was 0.1 IU/L, according to the ROC curves. Its sensitivity was 73.3%, and its specificity was 77.8%. Conclusion: The study results showed that serum basal LH levels are useful for screening CPP in girls.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.9
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• pp.1184-1189
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• 2010

This work was conducted to examine the variation of immunoglobulins (Igs) in serum, immune milk, normal milk and colostrum upon implantation of a new Antigen Releasing Device (ARD). The core of each ARD housed an immunostimulating complex (ISCOM) that was made of adjuvant Quil A and type XIII lipase from a Pseudomonas sp. Each ARD was coated with polylactic acid, known as polylactide, that controls antigen release. Twenty lactating Chinese Holstein cows were divided into 2 groups (n = 10): test group and control group. All cows in the test group were implanted with a single injection in the right iliac lymph node with 3 types of ARDs, which were designed to release the antigens at d 0, 14 and 28 post-implantation. Blood and milk samples were collected from both groups, and colostrum samples were also collected from other post-partum cows in the same farm. Concentrations of $IgG_1$, IgA and IgM in whey and serum were measured by sandwich ELISA. The results showed that the $IgG_1$, IgA and IgM concentrations in serum and whey from the test group were higher than from the control group. Among the three Igs measured, the $IgG_1$ concentration in serum was significantly higher at d 40 after ARD implantation, and the $IgG_1$ concentration in whey peaked at d 9, 17 and 30, which corresponded with release of the antigen. Based on Pearson's correlation between Ig concentration and production parameters, IgA concentration in normal milk was positively correlated with lactation period, which reflected IgA changes during the lactation period in immune milk. In colostrum, $IgG_1$, IgA and IgM decreased abruptly from d 0 to 3, and then decreased slightly. In conclusion, serum $IgG_1$ concentration can be affected by controlled release of the ARD, while whey IgA levels are primarily affected by lactation period. These results may be useful in future studies designed to regulate concentrations of Igs in immune milk.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.418-426
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• 2008

The objectives of this study were to examine the properties of fluoride-releasing resin composite restorative materials. Four commercially available compomer materials (Compoglass F: CF, $Dyract^{(R)}$ AP: DA, $Dyract^{(R)}$ flow: DF, F2000: FT) and one fluoride-releasing composite resin ($Tetric^{(R)}$ Ceram: TC) were selected as experimental materials. Rectangular-shaped tensile test specimens were fabricated in a teflon mold giving 5mm in gauge length and 2mm in thickness. Disk-shaped specimens were fabricated in the split teflon mold with diameter of 15mm and thickness of 1mm. After curing for an hour, specimens were immersed in deionized water at $37^{\circ}C{\pm}1^{\circ}C$ for 30 days. All specimens were thermocycled for 10,000 cycles with 15 seconds of dwelling time in each $5^{\circ}C$ and $55^{\circ}C$ water baths. Toothbrush abrasion test was conducted under a load of 1.5 N and the abraded surfaces were examined with surface roughness tester (SV-3000, Mitutoyo Co, Japan) and SEM (JSM-5800, JEOL, Japan). Fluoride recharging was done by toothbrushing for 3 min. using a fluoride toothpaste (Perio Alpine Herb, LG Household & Health Care, Korea). The results obtained were summarized as follows; 1. The highest tensile strength value of 32.3 MPa was observed in TC group and the lowest value of 16.8 MPa was observed in CF group. The tensile strength of TC group was significantly higher than those of CF and DF groups (P<0.05). 2. The lowest Ra value of 0.287 was observed in TC group and the highest value of 1.516 was observed in FT group. The Ra value of FT group was significantly higher than other groups (P<0.05). 3. The abraded surfaces revealed the increase of surface roughness due to the protrusion and missing of filler particles. 4. The release of fluoride of compomers after tooth brushing by Perio Alpine Herb was initially large and then followed by small and continuously. But it remains small and constant in fluoride-releasing composite resin of TC. 5. The highest value of fluoride release after toothbrushing by Perio Alpine Herb was $2.064{\mu}g/cm^2$ in CF group and the lowest value was $0.1119{\mu}g/cm^2$ in TC group. The amount of fluoride release of CF group was significantly higher than other groups (P<0.05).

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.272-275
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• 2019

The 2018 National Guideline for Tuberculosis Control, which was published by the Korea Centers for Diseases Prevention and Control (KCDC), mandates conducting an epidemiological survey among close contacts of active tuberculosis patients at public institutions such as schools. In the procedure for these surveys, the tuberculin skin test (TST) is mandated as the screening test for latent tuberculosis infection in elementary school students. However, several guidelines recommend using the interferon-gamma releasing assay (IGRA) for contacts aged over 5 years with a Bacillus Calmette-$Gu{\acute{e}}rin$ vaccination history. The main reason for this is that IGRA has a higher specificity and lower false positive rate than TST. In addition, IGRA requires only a single visit to draw blood and the results are available within 24 hours. These advantages could promote cooperation from both parents and students in conducting these surveys. Thus, these findings regarding the benefits of IGRA for surveys of close contacts at elementary schools should be incorporated into the KCDC guideline.