• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.173-181
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• 1992

Duck is an important domestic animal, especially in Asia. Eighty five percent of ducks in the world are kept in Asia, especially in the East and South Asia regions. The ancestor of domesticated ducks was mallard (Anas platylhynchos), which are still migrating between north and southern parts in Eurasia. Ducks have been domesticated in China for at least 3000 years ago. Phylogenetic studies on ducks, employing electrophoresis of blood proteins, indicate a marked difference of genetic constitution between duck breeds in southeast Asia and those in northeast Asia. Duck embryonic ovary is much more active in secretion of sex steroid hormones especially estradiol than the embryonic testes. Estradiol secreted by the embryonic left ovary has an important role in female sexual differentiation in ducks. In the female ducks, plasma LH, estradiol and testosterone levels increase and reach peaks shortly before the first egg, while progesterone level reach a peak shortly after the first egg. In laying ducks oviposition mostly occurs in the last 3 hr of darkness and first hr of light ranging 02:00-06:00 under 14 hr light (05:00-19:00) and 10 hr darkness photoperiodic condition. Measurements of plasma hormone levels reveal that onset of darkness is a major signal for LH release from the pituitary and the subsequent release of progesterone from ovary, and for induction of ovulation in the female duck.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.219-226
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• 2012

Gender specificity in muscle growth and development is well known. Genesis of muscle is dependent on proliferation and differentiation potential of resident myogenic satellite cells (MSCs) present in muscle fibers. Multipotential capacity of forming myocyte, osteocyte, and adipocyte like cell makes MSCs a unique stem cell. To understand the molecular mechanism involved in determination of muscle quality due to difference in hormone concentration of different gender of animals, MSCs were isolated from bovine skeletal muscle and cultured in male, female, and castrated serum supplemented media. DNA microarray used consisted of 24,000 spots with 70 mer oligo in each spot. A total of 88 genes were up-regulated and 551 genes were down-regulated by more than two fold. Among up-regulated gene, 33, 34, and 21 genes were found up-regulated in cells grown in male, female, and castrated serum, respectively. Interestingly, male serum showed 4, female 11 and castrated male showed 4 genes expressed highly in each gender. Further study on the highly up-regulated gene may unfold the mystery of gender specificity found in muscle development. Also, the identification of differentially expressed genes in gender-specific serum will add information on infrastructure of bovine genome research.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.14-21
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• 2007

Premenstural dysphoric disorder(PMDD) imposing 4-5% of women is possibly caused by an enhanced responsiveness to the changes of sex steroid hormones and the decrease of serotonin, melatonin and GABA. The common clinical features between PMDD and depression, seasonal affective disorder, panic disorder and anorexia nervosa suggest a relatedness between PMDD and each of them. The diagnostic criteria of DSM-IV-Tr for PMDD requires psychological symptoms, that commonly include irritability, anger, depression, mood swing, affect lability, tension, anxiety, fatigue and food craving. As of today, the best pharmacological treatment for PMDD is the selective serotonin reuptake inhibiter, and leuprolide, danazol, estradiol, spironolactone and bromocriptine are possible alternatives. Nonpharmacological treatments for patients with mild to moderate symptom severity are diet, exercise, light therapy, psychotherapy and keeping a diary.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.167-174
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• 2005

Purpose : Relapses are a major problem in children with steroid responsive nephrotic syndrome(SRNS). This study has been performed to determine the predictive factors for relapse in children with SRNS. Methods : The study group consisted of 7,3 children with SRNS who had been admitted to the Department of Pediatrics, Kyungpook National University Hospital, over 6 years from 1996 to 2001. The medical records were reviewed retrospectively and analyzed to determine significant relationships between selected variables[age at onset, sex, laboratory data, the rapidity of response(days to remission), interval to first relapse] and the frequency of relapse. Results : The age($mean{\pm}SD$) of patients was $4.53{\pm}2.53$ years old. The male to female ratio was 52:21. In 95$\%$, 39 out of the 41 children had a renal biopsy, and the final diagnosis was minimal change nephrotic syndrome. There was no significant correlation between the frequency of relapse and the following variables age at onset, sex, and presence of hematuria. However, the rapidity of response correlated well with the frequency of relapse, especially during the first year after the onset of the disease(P=0.005). Conclusion : The rapidity of response is expected to be one of the predictive (actors for relapse in children with SRNS. (J Korean Soc Pediatr Nephrol 2005;9:167-174)

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.89-98
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• 2010

Sex and its tropic hormones influence the lacrimal system, corneal anatomy and disease, aqueous humor dynamics and glaucoma, crystalline lens and cataract, and retinal disease. Dry eye occurs especially frequently during pregnancy, oral contraceptive use, and after menopause, during which androgen levels decrease. Androgen control development, differentiation, and lipid production of sebaceous glands throughout the body, and androgen deficiency also leads to meibomian gland dysfunction and evaporative dry eye. On the other hand, estrogen causes a reduction in size, activity, and lipid production of sebaceous glands. Sex and its tropic hormones also influence the corneal anatomy and disease, and corneal thickening occurred on the second day of the menstrual cycle and around the time of ovulation and appeared to be related to estrogen levels. Fuchs' dystrophy is more commonly seen in postmenopausal women than men and may be linked to hormonal changes that occur with aging. In addition, overexpression of estrogen and progesterone receptors in the conjunctiva of vernal keratoconjunctivitis patients. Serum progesterone levels also may be associated with intraocular pressure especially in pregnant women, and for the women. For women with cataracts, hormone levels were typical of menopause, and there was a significant negative correlation between estradiol and follicular stimulating hormone levels. In addition, serum testosterone levels are associated with the development of diabetic retinopathy. Although the role of sex hormones on the eye is largely unknown, and the results should be interpreted with caution until replicated, the functions of sex hormones in ocular disease remains to be investigated, because they may be involved in structure and function of the ocular components, which are important in the pathogenesis of ocular disease.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.84-91
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• 2000

Purpose: To improve the recovery of growth deficit after renal transplantation in children, we analysed the factors affecting height growth after renal transplantation. Methods: We reviewed medical records of fifty-six children in whom height data were available for three years after transplantation. All height data were converted into Z-scores. We analyzed the effects of sex, age at transplantation, cumulative mean steroid dose for 3 years, serum creatinine levels, height at transplantation, donor source and history of prior dialysis on patients' z-scores and delta Zs. Results: The Z-scores at transplantation were lower in patients of younger age (P=0.007). When baseline Z-scores were lower, the delta Zs were higher (P<0.01), but the Z-scores after transplantation were still lower (P<0.001). According to the analysis of the partial correlation coefficients, Z-scores and delta Zs at 1 year after transplantation were higher in groups of younger age and of lower steroid dosages (P<0.05). The delta Zs at 6 month and 1 year after transplantation were lower in the group with abnormally higher serum creatinine (P<0.05). There was no difference in Z-scores between groups of different genders, donor sources, and histories of previous dialysis. Conclusion: The children of younger age, on lower steroid dosage, with less growth retardation at transplantation, and with normal graft function had better height growth recoveries after renal transplantation.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.12
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• pp.1217-1224
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• 2007

Purpose : Due to its high potency against leukemic blasts, our institution has opted for the use of dexamethasone during acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) remission induction, but in our most recent treatment protocol, CMCPL-2005, we shortened the length of steroid treatment from 4 to 3 weeks. We compared both the rates of remission induction and significant complications observed during induction with CMCPL-2005, with those noted for our previous protocol, CMCPL-2001. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients diagnosed with ALL from January, 2001 to December, 2006 at the Department of Pediatrics, St. Mary's Hospital, the Catholic University of Korea. Data concerning age, sex, WBC count at diagnosis, immunophenotype, cytogenetic traits, and risk group were collected for each patient. Results of remission induction treatment were compared between the two patient groups. Infection and other major complications resulting from treatment were investigated according to NCI toxicity criteria. Results : A total of 141 and 88 patients received remission induction under CMCPL-2001 and CMCPL-2005 respectively. In the CMCPL-2001 group, 136 (96%) achieved complete remission while 82 (93%) achieved CR in the CMCPL-2005 group. Patients in the CMCPL-2005 group were more likely to undergo remission induction without experiencing major complications. However, with regards to steroid related toxicities such as infection, no significant differences were noted. Conclusion : We shortened the length of steroid administration from four to three weeks, yet found the remission induction rate to be comparable to that of our previous regimen. However, rates of steroid related toxicities such as infectious complications remain unchanged despite shortened exposure to dexamethasone.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.977-985
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• 2016

The captive breeding program of the Reeve's turtle (Mauremys reevesii), which is designated as an endangered category II species by the Korean Ministry of Environment, has developed, but the reproductive physiology of the species is still not fully understood. In this study, we investigated seasonal changes in the sex steroid levels, the number and size of follicles and eggs and male-female interactive behaviors of hibernated and non-hibernated turtles between November 2014 and October 2015. Plasma estradiol level in females increased from July and peaked in the period from August to October. Plasma testosterone level in males peaked between August and September and was the lowest in March, although there were some variations depending on the patterns of hibernation. Hibernated females had fully developed eggs between early May and middle July and laid eggs between early June and late July, but non-hibernated females had eggs between early April and early June and also between middle August and late November, and laid eggs in early June, mid-October, and early February. These results suggest that hibernation could be essential for normal follicular and egg developments. Male-female interactive behaviors including courtship intensified from late August and peaked in October and November. Our findings suggest that mating period of this species is directly related to increased steroid hormone levels, but follicular and egg developments in females are not. Our results could be very useful to the successful operation of captive rearing programs of the endangered Reeve' sturtles.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.61 no.10
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• pp.332-337
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• 2018

Purpose: Bell's palsy is characterized by sudden onset of unilateral facial weakness. The use of corticosteroids for childhood Bell's palsy is controversial. This study aimed to identify clinical characteristics, etiology, and laboratory findings in childhood Bell's palsy, and to evaluate the efficacy of corticosteroid treatment. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of children under 19 years of age treated for Bell's palsy between January 2009 and June 2017, and followed up for over 1 month. Clinical characteristics, neuroimaging data, laboratory findings, treatments, and outcomes were reviewed. Patients with Bell's palsy were divided into groups with (group 1) and without (group 2) corticosteroid treatment. Differences in onset age, sex, laterality, infection and vaccination history, degree of facial nerve palsy, and prognosis after treatment between the groups were analyzed. Results: One hundred patients were included. Mean age at presentation was $7.4{\pm}5.62years$. A total of 73 patients (73%) received corticosteroids with or without intravenous antiviral agents, and 27 (27%) received only supportive treatment. There was no significant difference in the severity, laboratory findings, or neuroimaging findings between the groups. Significant improvement was observed in 68 (93.2%) and 26 patients (96.3%) in groups 1 and 2, respectively; this rate was not significantly different between the groups (P=0.48). Conclusion: Childhood Bell's palsy showed good prognosis with or without corticosteroid treatment; there was no difference in prognosis between treated and untreated groups. Steroid therapy in childhood Bell's palsy may not significantly improve outcomes.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.77 no.5
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• pp.209-214
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• 2014

Background: Bronchiectasis and asthma are different in many respects, but some patients have both conditions. Studies assessing the effect of bronchiectasis on asthma exacerbation are rare. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of bronchiectasis on asthma exacerbation. Methods: We enrolled 2,270 asthma patients who were followed up in our hospital. Fifty patients had bronchiectasis and asthma. We selected fifty age- and sex-matched controls from the 2,220 asthma patients without bronchiectasis, and assessed asthma exacerbation and its severity based on the annual incidence of total asthma exacerbation, annual prevalence of steroid use, and frequency of emergency room visits and hospitalizations due to asthma exacerbation in each group. Results: Fifty patients (2.2%) had bronchiectasis and asthma. The annual incidence of asthma exacerbation was higher in patients with asthma and bronchiectasis than in patients with asthma alone ($1.08{\pm}1.68$ vs. $0.35{\pm}0.42$, p=0.004). The annual prevalence of steroid use ($0.9{\pm}1.54$ vs. $0.26{\pm}0.36$, p=0.006) and the frequency of emergency room visits ($0.46{\pm}0.84$ vs. $0.02{\pm}0.13$, p=0.001) due to asthma exacerbation were also higher in patients with asthma and bronchiectasis than in patients with asthma alone. Conclusion: Bronchiectasis is associated with difficult asthma control.