• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.156-165
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• 2002

Background: A tracheal stenosis is caused by mucosal ischemic injury related to a high cuff pressure ($P_{cuff}$) of the endotracheal tube. In contrast, aspiration of the upper airway secretion and impaired gas exchange due to cuff leakage is related to a low $P_{cuff}$. To prevent these complications, the $P_{cuff}$ should be kept appropriately because the appropriate $P_{cuff}$ appears to change according to the patient's daily respiratory mechanics. However, the constant cuff volume($V_{cuff}$) has frequently been instilled to the cuff balloon on a daily basis to maintain the optimal $P_{cuff}$ instead of monitoring the $P_{cuff}$ directly at the patients' bedside. To address the necessity of continuous $P_{cuff}$ monitoring, the change in the $P_{cuff}$ was evaluated at various $V_{cuff}$ levels on a daily basis in patients with long-term mechanical ventilation. The utility of mercury column sphygmomanometer for the continuous monitoring $P_{cuff}$ was also investigated. Method: The change in $P_{cuff}$ according to the increase in $V_{cuff}$ was observed in 17 patients with prolonged endotracheal intubation for mechanical ventilation for 2 week or more. This maneuver measured the change in $P_{cuff}$ daily during the mechanical ventilation days. In addition, the $P_{cuff}$ measured by mercury column sphygmomanometer was compared with the $P_{cuff}$ measured by an automatic cuff pressure manager. Results : There were no statistically significant changes of $P_{cuff}$ during more than 14 days of intubation for mechanical ventilation. However the $V_{cuff}$ required to maintain the appropriate $P_{cuff}$ varied from 1.9 cc to 9.6 cc. In addition, the intra-individual variation of the $P_{cuff}$ was observed from 10 $cmH_2O$ to 46 $cmH_2O$ at constant 3 cc $V_{cuff}$. The $P_{cuff}$ measured by the bedside mercury column sphygmomanometer is well coincident with that measured by the automatic cuff pressure manager. Conclusion: Continuous monitoring and management of the $P_{cuff}$ to maintain the appropriate $P_{cuff}$ level in order to prevent cuff related problems during long-term mechanical ventilation is recommended. For this purpose, mercury column sphygmomanometer may replace the specific cuff pressure monitoring equipment.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.12-28
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• 2001

Background and Object : Immunostimulatory CpG-oligodeoxynucleotides (ISS CpG-ODN) up-regulate the $T_{H1}$-type immune response and down-regulate the $T_{H2}$-type response. This study was performed to investigate the immune response changes resulting from ISS CpG-ODN on bronchial hyperresponsiveness, eosinophilic inflammation and mucus hypersecretion in rat asthma. Materials and Methods : 10 normal controls(NC) and 26 asthmatic rats, which were generated by ovalbumin(OVA) sensitization and challenge, were studied. The asthmatic rats were randomized into 11 asthma controls(AC) and 15 in the asthma-CpG treatment group(CpG). The CpG group was administered ISS CpG-ODN intramuscularly and the AC group was administered a placebo(0.9% NaCl) on day 15 and 20. After CpG-ODN or placebo administration, we measured the IFN-${\gamma}$($T_{H1}$-type cytokine) and IL-4($T_{H2}$-type cytokine) levels in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF), the specific airway resistance(sRaw), eosinophilic fraction in BALF, eosinophilic infiltration, goblet cell dysplasia and MUC5AC gene expression in the lung tissue. Results : In the BALF of the CpG group, the IFN-${\gamma}$ concentration was significantly high and the IL-4 concentration was significantly low when compared with the AC group. Both the sRaw and eosinophilic fraction, and infiltration into the BALF and lung tissue significantly lower in the CpG group when compared with the AC group. However, little difference in goblet cell dysplasia and MUC5AC gene expression was observed between the CpG group and the AC group. Conclusion : ISS CpG-ODN decreases bronchial hyperresponsiveness and eosinophilic inflammation in the rat asthma model through the up-regulation of the $T_{H1}$-type immune response with the down-regulation of the $T_{H2}$-type response. However, the effect of these immune response changes on mucus hypersecretion was is not remarkable in this study.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.703-714
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• 2000

Background : Surfactant protein A (SP-A) is important in the regulation of surfactant secretion, synthesis and recycling. SP-A has important roles in regulating surfactant metabolism as well as in determining surfactant's physical properties. Since systemic sepsis is one of the common causes of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and abnormalities in surfactant function have been described in ARDS, the authors investigated the effects of endotoxemia on the accumulation of mRNA encoding SP-A and SP-A protein content. Methods : Adult rats were given various doses of intraperitoneal endotoxin from Salmonella enteritidis and sacrificed at different times. SP-A mRNA was measured by filter hybridization method. Lung SP-A protein content was determined by double sandwich ELISA assay using a polyclonal antiserum raised in rabbits against purified rat SP-A. Results : 1) The accumulation of SP-A mRNA in the endotoxin treated group 24 hours after 2mg/kg and 5mg/kg endotoxin treatments was significantly increased 50.9% and 27.3%, respectively, compared to the control group (P<0.001, P<0.025). 2) The accumulation of SP-A mRNA 24 hours in the 5mg/kg endotoxin treated group was significantly increased by 26.5% compared to the control group (P<0.01). 3) Total amount of lung SP-A was not altered at 24 hours by various doses of treatment. Total lung SP-A content 144 hours after endotoxin administration was significantly decreased by 51.4% compared to the control group (P<0.01). Conclusions : The specific regulation of SP-A by various time course in vivo is evident. The late decline in SP-A protein content was unexpected and suggests that SP-A may be differentially regulated during lung inflammation. The functional significance of these alterations remains to be clarified.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.182-206
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• 2003

Statement of problem : Successful osseointegration of endosseous threaded implants is dependent on many factors. These may include the surface characteristics and gross geometry of implants, the quality and quantity of bone where implants are placed, and the magnitude and direction of stress in functional occlusion. Therefore clinical quantitative measurement of primary stability at placement and functional state of implant may play a role in prediction of possible clinical symptoms and the renovation of implant geometry, types and surface characteristic according to each patients conditions. Ultimately, it may increase success rate of implants. Purpose : Many available non-invasive techniques used for the clinical measurement of implant stability and osseointegration include percussion, radiography, the $Periotest^{(R)}$, Dental Fine $Tester^{(R)}$ and so on. There is, however, relatively little research undertaken to standardize quantitative measurement of stability of implant and osseointegration due to the various clinical applications performed by each individual operator. Therefore, in order to develop non-invasive experimental method to measure stability of implant quantitatively, the resonance frequency analyzer to measure the natural frequency of specific substance was developed in the procedure of this study. Material & method : To test the stability of the resonance frequency analyzer developed in this study, following methods and materials were used : 1) In-vitro study: the implant was placed in both epoxy resin of which physical properties are similar to the bone stiffness of human and fresh cow rib bone specimen. Then the resonance frequency values of them were measured and analyzed. In an attempt to test the reliability of the data gathered with the resonance frequency analyzer, comparative analysis with the data from the Periotest was conducted. 2) In-vivo study: the implants were inserted into the tibiae of 10 New Zealand rabbits and the resonance frequency value of them with connected abutments at healing time are measured immediately after insertion and gauged every 4 weeks for 16 weeks. Results : Results from these studies were such as follows : The same length implants placed in Hot Melt showed the repetitive resonance frequency values. As the length of abutment increased, the resonance frequency value changed significantly (p<0.01). As the thickness of transducer increased in order of 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mm, the resonance frequency value significantly increased (p<0.05). The implants placed in PL-2 and epoxy resin with different exposure degree resulted in the increase of resonance frequency value as the exposure degree of implants and the length of abutment decreased. In comparative experiment based on physical properties, as the thickness of transducer increased, the resonance frequency value increased significantly(p<0.01). As the stiffness of substances where implants were placed increased, and the effective length of implants decreased, the resonance frequencies value increased significantly (p<0.05). In the experiment with cow rib bone specimen, the increase of the length of abutment resulted in significant difference between the results from resonance frequency analyzer and the $Periotest^{(R)}$. There was no difference with significant meaning in the comparison based on the direction of measurement between the resonance frequency value and the $Periotest^{(R)}$ value (p<0.05). In-vivo experiment resulted in repetitive patternes of resonance frequency. As the time elapsed, the resonance frequency value increased significantly with the exception of 4th and 8th week (p<0.05). Conclusion : The development of resonance frequency analyzer is an attempt to standardize the quantitative measurement of stability of implant and osseointegration and compensate for the reliability of data from other non-invasive measuring devices It is considered that further research is needed to improve the efficiency of clinical application of resonance frequency analyzer. In addition, further investigation is warranted on the standardized quantitative analysis of the stability of implant.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.565-575
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• 2017

This study analyzes the epistemic considerations and the argumentation level revealed in the discourse of the key concept of natural selection for science-gifted elementary students. The paper analyzes and discusses the results of a three-student focus group, drawn from a cohort of twenty gifted sixth-grade elementary students. Nature, generality, justification, and audience were used to analyze epistemic consideration. Learning progression in scientific argumentation including argument construction and critique was used to analyze students' scientific argumentation level. The findings are as follows: First, Epistemic considerations in discourse varied between key concepts of natural selection discussed. The nature aspect of epistemic considerations is highly expressed in the discourse for all natural selection key concepts. But the level of generality, justification and audience was high or low, and the level was not revealed in the discourse. In the heredity of variation, which is highly expressed in terms of generality of knowledge, the linkage with various phenomena against the acquired character generated a variety of ideas. These ideas were used to facilitate engagement in argumentation, so that all three students showed the level of argumentation of suggestions of counter-critique. Second, students tried to explain the process of speciation by using concepts that were high in practical epistemic considerations level when explaining the concept of speciation, which is the final natural selection key concept. Conversely, the concept of low level of epistemic considerations was not included as an explanation factor. The results of this study suggest that students need to analyze specific factors to understand why epistemological decisions are made by students and how epistemological resources are used according to context through various epistemological resources. Analysis of various factors influencing epistemological decisions can be a mediator of the instructor who can improve the quality and level of the argumentation.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.239-252
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• 2007

Objectives: In the present study, we examined the differentiation potential of human adipose-(HAD) and human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal like stem cells (HUC) into cardiomyocytes. Methods: Cells were initially exposed to 5-azacytidine for 24h cells and then were cultivated in the presence or absence of activin A, TGF-$\beta$1, or Wnt inhibitor with various combinations of BMP and FGF. Assessment of cardiomyogenic differentiation was made upon the expression of cardiomyocyte-specific genes using RT-PCR. Results: HAD that cultivated in control medium for 4 weeks after 5-azacytidine expose showed new expression of TnT gene and increased expression of Cmlc1 and kv4.3 genes. However, HAD cultivated in the presence of combinations of BMP-4/FGF-4 (B4/F4) and BMP-4/FGF-8 (B4/F8) showed new expression of $\beta$-MHC gene and more increased expression of Cmlc1, TnT, TnI, Kv4.3 genes. Significantly enhanced expression of Cmlc1, TnT, and Kv4.3 genes were also observed compared to that cultivated in the control medium. Treatment of HUC with either 5-azacytidine or combinations of BMP and FGF did not affect the expression profile of these genes. However, when activin A or TGF-$\beta$1 was present in addition to the BMP-2/FGF-8 (B2/F8) after 5-azacytidine exposure, HUC exhibited new expression of $\beta$-MHC gene and increased expression of $\alpha$-CA, TnT and Kv4.3 genes. When Wnt inhibitor was present in addition to BMP and FGF, HUC showed new expression of Cmlc1 gene and increased expression of $\alpha$-CA, TnT, TnI and Kv4.3 genes. Conclusions: Based on these observations, it is suggested that HAD and HUC could differentiate into cardiomyocytes which might be used as therapeutic cells for the heart diseases.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.266-271
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• 2009

We designed a thermo-optic switch based on a directional coupler with not only a high extinction ratio but also significantly low power consumption. The switch operates by using the thermo-optic effect of the polymer which the refractive index changes by heating the electrode. If the electrode is not powered (OFF), the input light will be coupled completely to the other waveguide. When the electrode is powered at a certain level (ON), input light launched into the input waveguide will remain in that waveguide due to the lower index adjusted in the other waveguide. The switch based on the directional coupler was designed using the generalized extinction ratio curve and the lateral shift of the input waveguide. The coupling length is 1,610 ${\mu}m$ and the extinction ratios are -28 and -30 dB for ON and OFF states, respectively. The electrode structures were optimized by thermal analysis. The transported heat into the waveguide is increased, as the electrode width (w) is increased and the center distance between the electrode and the waveguide (d) is decreased. Also, because the heat generated in the electrode affects the other waveguide, the temperature difference between two waveguides is varied as the given w and d. There are specific conditions which have the maximum of the temperature difference. That of the temperature difference is increased as the width and the temperature of the electrode are increased. Especially, when the switch is designed using the condition with the maximum of the temperature difference for switching, the temperature of the electrode can be decreased. We expect this condition will be the novel method for the reduction of the power consumption in a thermo-optic switch.

• Journal of Gifted/Talented Education
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.21-42
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• 2006

The object of this research is to analyze the contents and amount of articles on gifted education in major daily newspapers dated January 1990 to December 2003, and to review the trend of social perception of gifted education with the passage of time. Following are the research question : 1. How many articles belonging to the same category appeared in the newspapers within the period of time covered by the study? 2. What kinds of articles appeared in the newspapers within the period of time covered by the study? To arrive at the answers to the problems mentioned above, 714 articles on gifted education. The period from 1990 to 2003 were divided into time frames of 5 years to facilitate the analysis of social consciousness regarding gifted education before and after the enforcement of the Early School Entering Law in 1995 and the Law for Promotion of Gifted Education in 2000. The researcher defined Period I as the years from 1990 to 1994, Period II from 1995 to 1999, and Period III from 2000 to 2003. The articles were classified by content which were significance and trend of gilled education, current policies on gifted education, information on gifted education, and social environment of gifted education. The results of the analysis are as follows: (1) The articles from 1990 to 2003 totalled 714. 130 articles were found within Period I, 213 within Period II, and 371 within Period III. Since the year 2000, when the Law for Promotion of gifted education was enforced, the amount of articles considerably increased. The articles on the trend of gifted education numbered 42 within Period I, 49 within Period II, and 81 within Period III, showing a huge increase in the last period. The articles on current policies numbered 56 within Period I, 77 within Period II, and 143 within Period III, numbering the most in the last period. This means that, even before the Law for Promotion of gifted education was enforced, there has been much interest in and discussion of the appropriate educational system for gifted children in preparation for the legal and institutional foundation of such system. Since the enforcement of the law, many institutions were established and the problem became an important social issue. The articles that most frequently appeared were about current policies on and status of gifted education. This category showed the largest numbers through all the three periods and on all the subjects. This subject represented 43.1% of the articles on gifted children within Period I, 36.2% within Period II, and 38.6% within Period III. As to the significance and trend of gifted education, this subject showed a decrease from 32.3% within Period I, 23% within Period II, and 21.8% within Period III. However, the articles in the category of information on gifted education gradually increased from they represented 5.4% of the articles on brilliant children within Period I, 7.5% within Period II, and 8.4% within Period III. The social environment articles showed an increase from Period I to Period II-- from 19.2% to 33.3%, but it went down to 31.3% within Period III. (2) As to articles on the trend of gifted education, there were many such articles found, mainly on researches and trends in other countries. As greater importance is accorded to gifted children and as the recognition of the necessity of providing specific education for them grows, more related studies are conducted and people try to adopt new trends from other countries. For the articles on the current policies of gifted education, most of them were about institutions. This means that many educational institutions have been established since the Law for Promotion of Gifted Education was enforced. Informative articles on gilled education were mostly about distinctive features of gifted children and how to tell who the brilliant children are. This fact shows the importance of identifying gifted children in order to educate them systemically and effectively.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.571-578
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• 2006

HtrA2/Omi, a mitochondrial trypsin-like serine protease, is pivotal in regulating apoptotic cell death. Several lines of recent evidence suggest that HtrA2 is associated with the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders; however, the physiological function of HtrA2 still remains elusive. For studying physiological function of HtrA2 in depth, it is necessary to develop a suitable expression system in the model animal. We therefore utilized the zebrafish as a model animal to establish expression of human HtrA2 (hHtrA2) in vivo. For expression of mature HtrA2 as GFP fusion in zebrafish embryos, the HtrA2 (WT) or (S306A) cDNAs with the C-terminal GFP tag were inserted into the pCS2+ plasmid. Expression patterns of HtrA2 in HEK293 cells were first monitored by immunofluorescence staining and immunoblot assays, showing approximately 64 kDa of the HtrA2-GFP fusion proteins. Subsequently, the hHtrA2 plasmid DNA or in vitro transcribed mRNA was microinjected into zebrafish embryos. The expression patterns of HtrA2 in Zebrafish embryos were monitored by GFP fluorescence in 24 hours-post-fertilization (hpf). Although expression patterns of HtrA2-GFP in developing embryos were different between the injected DNA and mRNA, both nucleic acids revealed good expression levels to further study the physiological role of HtrA2 in vivo. This study provides a suitable condition for expressing hHtrA2 in the zebrafish embryos as well as a method for generating useful system to investigate physiological properties of the specific human genes.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.1576-1581
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• 2007

Dopamine reward pathway projecting from ventral tegmental area to nucleus accumbens is well known as playing an important role in alcohol dependence. It is supposed that this dopamine pathway is modulated by $5-HT_3$ nervous system, and it was reported that ondansetron (OND), $5-HT_3$ receptor antagonist, reduced drinking amount and increased abstinence rate in alcohol-dependent patients. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of combination of OND and naltrexone (NTX), non-specific opioid receptor antagonist, on alcohol intake in C57BL/6 mice. In 40 C57BL/6 mice in the state of alcohol dependence, vehicle, while OND 0.01 mg/kg, or NTX 1.0 mg/kg administrated respectively, or OND 0.01 mg/kg and NTX 1.0 mg/kg administrated simultaneously for ten days, medication effects on 2-hr alcohol, 22-hr water, 24-hr food intake and body weight were studied. When vehicle group was compared with 3 medication groups respectively, using a repeated measure ANOVA, NTX alone and vehicle groups showed a significant medication by time interaction (p=0.042) in 2-hr alcohol intake, but in the other 2 groups, OND and NTX combination group and OND alone group, there was no significant interaction with vehicle group in 2-hr alcohol intake. From these results, it is suggested that there is no effect on alcohol intake in mice treating with OND, and naltrexone#s suppression effect on alcohol intake in mice is attenuated when treating with OND and NTX simultaneously. It is supposed that a further study looking at the interactions of serotonin, dopamine and opioid nerves systems will be needed.