• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.516-521
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• 2003

The Aspergillus species produces metabolic products that play a significant role in the destructive processes in the lung. We experienced a case of chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis caused by an Aspergillus niger infection, which contained numerous calcium oxalate crystals in the necrotic lung tissue. A 46-year-old man, who had a history of pulmonary tuberculosis, presented with high fever, intermittent hemoptysis and pulmonary infiltrations with a cavity indicated by the chest radiograph. Despite being treated with several antibiotics and anti-tuberculosis regimens, the high fever continued. The sputum cultures yielded A. niger repeatedly, and intravenous amphotericin B was then introduced. The pathological specimen obtained by a transbronchial lung biopsy revealed numerous calcium oxalate crystals in a background of acute inflammatory exudates with no identification of the organism. Intravenous amphotericin B was continued at a total dose of 1600 mg, and at that time he was afebrile, although the intermittent hemoptysis continued. On the $63^{rd}$ hospital day, a massive hemoptysis (about 800 mL) developed, which could not be controlled despite embolizing the left bronchial artery. He died of respiratory failure the next day. It is believed that the oxalic acid produced by A. niger was the main cause of the patient's pulmonary injury and the ensuing massive hemoptysis.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.51-60
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• 1977

In order to determine ecological variations of flowering date and yields under the different seasonal cultures, and to select the higher yielding varieties which were adaptable to Korean climate, 100 mungbean cultivars were sown at the interval of 15 days from April 22 to July 21 in 1976. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. The number of days required to flowering from seeding were decreased by delaying the seeding date. 2. When accumulated temperature at first flowering from seeding were reached $945-1,126^{\circ}C$, the mungbean cultivars started to flower regardless of seeding dates. Especially, when mungbean was planted around standard planting date, the plants flowered for very short duration. 3. There were highly significant correlations between the number of days from seeding to flowering at each seeding date and standard planting date. 4. Yields per plant were tend to decrease with the delay of seeding date but there were no significant difference between seeding dates. Therefore, it appears that mungbean can be planted for longer period of time compared to other crops such as rice and soybean. 5. Highly significant correlations were found between the number of days of first flowering and yields per plant at most seeding dates. 6. It may be feasible to grow high yielding mungbean cultivars such as CES 140, LM 2100, LM 690, L 576 and LM 689 after harvesting of spring vegetables in May and before planting of fall vegetables.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.191-195
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• 2002

In this study, we like to examine whether Panax ginseng water extract (PGWE) exerts antidiabetic activities in prevention and treatment modes in multiple low dose (MLD) streptozotocin (STZ) (20 mg/kg i.p injection for 5 days) induced diabetic SD rats. In the prevention mode,150 mg/kg of GRWE was administered intraperitoneally with STG for 3 weeks, and this group is called CO 150. In the treatment mode, we started to administer the same dose of PGWE on day 8 and for 3 weeks, and this group is called POST150. PGWE exerted significant hypoglycemic activities in both prevention (normal control, 97 ${\pm}$ 6 mg/dl; diabetic control, 331${\pm}$23; CO150, 211${\pm}$37) and treatment groups (normal control, 128${\pm}$4 mg/dl; diabetic control, 392${\pm}$33: POST150, 263${\pm}$44). Of great importance is the fact that plasma insulin levels in both groups were markedly increased as compared to the diabetic control (normal control,428.7${\pm}$62.1 pg/dl; diabetic control, 167.0${\pm}$91.7; CO150, 377.6${\pm}$68.7 in prevention mode, and in treatment mode normal control 417.9${\pm}$84.6 pg/dl; diabetic control, 166.1${\pm}$104.7; POST150, 315.2${\pm}$47.4). Blood glucose levels were closely associated with plasma insulin levels, and this result may suggest that PGWE showed the activity to enhance insulin secretion as well as preventing destruction of pancreatic islet cells. Food and water intakes were also determined at the last week of treatment i n both groups. Characteristic symptoms of diabetes were significantly improved in both groups. In the prevention mode, water intake (ml/rat/day) in normal control was increased from 30.6${\pm}$1.5 to 122.2${\pm}$3.4 in diabetic control rats. In the CO150-treated group, water intake was dramatically reduced to 68.3${\pm}$4.4 (p<0.001 vs. diabetic control). In the treatment mode, POST-treated group also reduced the water intake from 128.9${\pm}$2.2 to 113.3${\pm}$1.7. Taken together, our data suggest that PGWE showed comparable antidiabetic activities in prevention and treatment modes. Therefore, PGWE may have a potential as a prophylactic as well as therapeutic agent fur type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.95 no.6
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• pp.735-742
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• 2006

The objective of this study was to elucidate the tolerance of woody plants to simulated acid rain in relation to mycorrhizal inoculation. Germinating seedlings of Robinia pseudoacacia were planted in 1I pots with autoclaved soil mixture of vermiculite, sand and nursery soil at 1:1:1 ratio. Each pot was inoculated with both crushed root nodules from a wild tree of the same species and commercial arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculum of Glomus intraradices at the time of planting the seedlings. Simulated acid rains at pH 2.6, 3.6, 4.6, and 5.6 were made by mixing sulfuric acid and nitric acid at 3: 1 ratio. Each pot received nutrient solution without N and P, and was also supplied with 180 ml of the one pH level of the acid rains once a week for 50 days. The plants were grown in the green house. At the end of experimental period, plants were harvested to determine contents of chlorophyll, mineral nutrients and net photosynthesis in the tissues, dry weight of the plants, and mycorrhizal infection in the roots. Mycorrhizal infection rate was significantly reduced only at pH 2.6, which meant vitality of G intraradices was inhibited at extremely low pH. Height growth, dry weight production, nodule production and chlorophyll content were increased by mycorrhizal infection in all the pH levels except pH 3.6. Particularly, mycorrhizal inoculation increased root nodule production by 85% in pH 5.6 and 45% in 4.6 treatments. But the stimulatory effect of mycorrhizal inoculation on nodule production was reduced at pH 3.6 and 2.6. Net photosynthesis was increased by mycorrhizal infection in all the pH levels. The phosphorus(P) content in the tissues was increased by 43% in average by mycorrhizal inoculation, which was statistically significant except in pH 2.6. It was concluded that mycorrhizal inoculation of Robinia pseudoacacia would enhance growth and resistance of the plants to acid rain by improving the photosynthesis, phosphorus nutrition, and more nodule production.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.390-397
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• 1992

This study was carried out to analyze the physicochemical properties of bovine milks, which were heated with LTLT, HTST, UHT pasteurization and UHT sterilization methods and to compare the heat intensity among the heating methods and samples. The mean HMF values per liter milk were measured as 0.66~1.62 $\mu$M (LTLT), 0.9~1.78$\mu$M (HTST), 3.53$\mu$M(UHT pasteurized) and 7.43~8.97$\mu$M (UHT sterilized) in samples, re- sportively. The available Iysine contents per 100ml milk showed 293.2 mg (Raw), 289.2~291.2 mg (LTLT), 298.4~292.4mg (HTST), 272.4~261.6mg (UHT pasteurized) and 279.0mg (UHT sterilized), respectively. The rates of whey protein denaturation were 9.5~11.4% (LTLT), 9.5~17.1% (HTST), 89.3~95% (UHT pas-tsterilized) and 62.7% (UHT sterilized), respectively. The contents of SH groups per g protein were determined as 2.86$\mu$M (Raw) and 2.95~3.15$\mu$M (LTLT), 3.08~3.18$\mu$M (HTST), 3.26~3.42$\mu$M (UHT Pasteurized) and 3. 36$\mu$M (UHT sterilized), respectively, The SS groups Contents per g protein were 28.93$\mu$M (Raw), 25.72~26. 51 $\mu$M (LTLT), 26.93~26.79$\mu$M (HTST), 23.65~23.04 $\mu$M (UHT pasteurized) and 24.69$\mu$M (UHT sterilized), respectively. The ascorbic acid contents per liter milk were measured 6.05mg (Raw), 1.47~1.65mg (LTLT), 2.50~3.85mg (HTST), 2.87~3.69mg (UHT pasteurized) and 4.50mg (UHT sterilized). The changes of some in-dices in milk samples depend on the heating temperature and time ; the HMF values, SH groups, whey protein denaturation rates increased, while the available lysine contents and SS groups decreased in LTLT, HTST, UHT pasteurized and UHT sterilized milks. No remarkable differences were found in heating indicators between LTLT and UHT milks.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.96-103
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• 1998

Purpose : To assess the clinical utility of turbo contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography(CE MRA) in the evaluation of the aortic arch and its major branches and to compare the image quality of CE MRA among different coils used. Materials and Methods : Turbo three-phase dynamic CE MRA encompassing aortic arch and its major branches was prospectively performed after manual bolus IV injection of contrast material in 29 patients with suspected cerebrovascular diseases at 1.0T MR unit. the raw data were obtained with 3-D FISH sequence (TR 5.4ms, TE 2.3ms, flip angle 30, slab thickness 80nm, effective slice thickness 4.0mm, matrix size $100{\times}256$, FOV 280mm). Total data acquisition time was 4. to 60 seconds. We subjectively evaluated the imge quality with three-rating scheme : "good" for unequivocal normal finding, "fair" for relatively satisfactory quality to diagnose 'normal' despite intravascular low signal, and "poor" for equivocal diagnosis or non-visualization of the origin or segment of the vessels due to low signal or artifacts which needs catheter angiography. At the level of the carotid bifurcation, it was compared with conventional 2D-TOF MRA image. Overall image quality was also compared visually and quantitatively by measuring signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) of the ascending aorta, the innominate artery and both common carotid arteries among the three different coils used(CP body array(n=12), CP neck array(n=9), and head-and-neck(n=8). Results : Demonstration of the aortic arch and its major branches was rated as "good" in 55% (16/29) and "fair" in 34%(10/29). At the level of the carotid bifurcation, image quality of turbo CE MRA was same as or better than conventional 2D-TOF MRA in 65% (17/26). Overall image quality and SNR were significantlygreater with CP body array coil than with CP neck array or head-and-neck coil. Conclusions : Turbo CE MRA can be used as a screening exam in the evaluation of the major branches of the aortic arch from their origin to the skull base. Overall imagequality appears to be better with CP body array coil than with CP neck array coil or head-and-neck coil.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.1407-1414
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• 2012

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is an effective regimen that has been found to prevent these diseases in postmenopausal women. However, HRT is accompanied by an increased risk of unfavorable outcomes. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Eisenia Bicyclis extract on lipids in ovariectomized rats. Fifty 7-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups: sham-operated rats (SHAM), ovariectomized rats (OVX-CON), and ovariectomized rats that were treated with Eisenia bicyclis extracts. The extract-treated diets were fed to the rats for 6 weeks after operation. Antioxidant effects were measured by DPPH free radical scavenging activity. Antioxidant activity of the ethanol extract increased in a dose-dependent manner and was about 55.9% in a concentration of 100 ${\mu}g/ml$. We measured the total cholesterol content, triglyceride content, HDL-cholesterol content, LDL-cholesterol content, atherosclerotic index, cardiac risk factor in serum, and anti-platelet aggregation and blood rheology. The total cholesterol and triglyceride concentration in serum increased for the OVX-control group, but supplementation with the E. bicyclis extract caused these factors to decrease. Notably, the serum LDL-cholesterol concentration in the OVX-EB200 group was significantly lower than the OVX-CON group. In addition, the blood passage times in rats that received the E. bicyclis extract were more rapid than the times in the untreated group (OVX-CON). Microscopic evaluation revealed that whole blood passed more smoothly through the microchannels in rats in the E. bicyclis extract supplement groups. Our results clarified the effects of E. bicyclis extract on serum lipid content in ovariectomized rats, and consequently we expect positive effects from providing E. bicyclis extract to postmenopausal women with cardiovascular disease.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.1501-1508
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• 2013

This study investigated antioxidant activity and the lipid content of serum for the possible outcome of improving the activity of Ishige okamurae extracts in ovariectomized rats. The antioxidant effects of an Ishige okamurae water extract and an Ishige okamurae ethanol extract were measured by evaluating DPPH free radical scavenging activity and SOD-like activity. Fifty, seven-week old female Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to five groups as follows: sham-operated rats (SHAM), ovariectomized rats (OVX-CON), ovariectomized rats that were treated with 17-beta-estradiol (200 ${\mu}g/kg/day$), and ovariectomized rats that were treated with Ishige okamurae extracts (50 mg/kg/day and 200 mg/kg/day, respectively). The diets were fed to the rats for seven weeks after ovariectomy. The antioxidant activities of the water and ethanol extracts of Ishige okamurae increased in a dose-dependent manner, and the ethanol extract was found to be higher than the water extract. Therefore, we examined the effect of an Ishige okamurae ethanol extract on total serum cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol levels, and anti-platelet aggregation. The total-cholesterol and triglyceride content of the serum increased in the OVX-CON group compared to the SHAM group, but supplementation with the Ishige okamurae ethanol extract caused these factors to decrease. Notably, the serum LDL-cholesterol concentration in the supplemented 200 mg/kg/day Ishige okamurae ethanol extract group was significantly more reduced than it was in the OVX-CON group. In addition, the platelet aggregation ability was lower in the groups treated with Ishige okamurae than it was in the OVX-CON group. According to these results, the effects of Ishige okamurae extract on serum lipid content in ovariectomized rats were illuminated.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.555-564
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• 2010

Remediation process by using the bio-carrier (beads) with dead Bacillus sp. B1 and polysulfone was investigated for heavy metal contaminated groundwater. Sorption batch experiments using the bio-carrier were performed to quantify the heavy metal removal efficiencies from the contaminated solution. The analyses using SEM/EDS and TEM for the structure and the characteristic of precipitates on/inside the beads were also conducted to understand the sorption mechanism by the bio-carrier. Various amounts of freeze-dried dead Bacillus sp. B1 were mixed with polysulfone + DMF(N,N-dimethylformamide) solution to produce the bio-carrier (beads; less than 2mm in diameter) and 5% of Bacillus sp. B1 in the bio-carrier was optimal for Pb removal in the solution. The removal efficiency ratings of the bio-carrier for Pb, Cu and Cd were greater than 80% after adding 2g of bio-carrier in 50ml of aqueous solution (<10mg/L of each heavy metal concentration). Reaction time of the bio-carrier was very fast and most of the sorption reaction for heavy metals were completed within few hours. Batch experiments were duplicated at various pH conditions of aqueous solutions and Cu and Pb removal efficiencies highly maintained at wide pH ranges (pH 2-12), suggesting that the bio-carrier can be useful to clean up the acidic waste water such as AMD. From SEM/EDS and TEM analyses, it was observed that the bio-carrier was spherical shape and was overlapped by many porous layers. During the sorption experiment, Pb was crystallized on the surface of porous layers and also was mainly concentrated at the boundary of Bacillus sp. B1 stroma and polysulfone substrate, showing that the main mechanism of the bio-carrier to remove heavy metals is the sorption on/inside of the bio-carriers and the bio-carriers are excellent biosorbents for the removal of heavy metal ions from groundwater.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2022

Natural products have gained increasing attention due to their advantage of long-term safety and low toxicity for a very long time. Torreya nucifera is widespread in southern Korea and Jeju Island and its seeds are commonly used as edible food. Oriental ingredients have often been reported for their insecticidal, antioxidant and antibacterial properties, but there have not yet been any studies on their antidiabetic effect. In this study, we investigated several biological activities of T. nucifera pericarp (TNP) and seeds (TNS) extracts and proceeded to characterize the antidiabetic compounds of TNS. The initial results suggested that TNS extract at 15 and 10 ㎍/ml concentration has inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase and protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B, that is 14.5 and 4.35 times higher than TNP, respectively. Thus, the stronger antidiabetic TNS was selected for the subsequent experiments to characterize its active compounds. Ultrafiltration was used to determine the apparent molecular weight of the active compounds, showing 300 kDa or more. Finally the mixture was then partially purified using Diaion HP-20 column chromatography by eluting with 50~100% methanol. Therefore we concluded that the active compounds of TNS have potential as therapeutic agents in functional food or supplemental treatment to improve diabetic diseases.