• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.752-759
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• 1995

Background: Bronchial asthma is characterized by noctunal dyspnea, cough and wheezing because of airway hyperresponsiveness to nonspecific stimuli. These symptoms and signs are also observed in patients with congestive heart failure. Therefore, this is so called "cardiac asthma". There are lots of experimental and clinical datas to suggest that airway dysfunctions occur in acute and chronic congestive heart failure. However, it is still controversial whether bronchial hyperresponsiveness is present in patients with congestive heart failure. To assess whether bronchial hyperresponsiveness is present in patients with congestive heart failure and to demonstrate the relationship between bronchial responsiveness and vascular pressure, we performed methacholine provocation test in 11 patients with mitral valvular heart disease. Methods: All patients were in the New York Heart Association functional class II and treated continuously with digoxin and/or dichlozid and/or angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor except one patient. All patients were undergone right and left side heart catheterization for hemodynamic measurements. A 20 percent fall of peak expiratory flow rate were considered as positive response to methacholine provocation test. Results: 1) Only one patient who has normal pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, cardiac index was positive in methacholine provocation test. 2) Their mean pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure were $21.72{\pm}9.70mmHg$, $15.45{\pm}8.69mmHg$ respectively which were significantly higher. Conclusion: It is speculated that in stable congestive heart failure patients, bronchial responsiveness as assessed by methacholine provocation test may not be increased.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.1256-1262
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• 1997

Background : Leukocyte-endothelial adhesion molecules have been implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory disease. ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin are cell surface adhesion molecule on vascular endothelial cells. They are up-regulated by inflammatory cytokines and regulate the adhesion and migration of leukocytes across the endothelium. Tuberculosis, a granulomatous disorder is an infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The clinical manifestations of tuberculosis are dependent on the cellular immune response to tubercule bacilli. Circulating adhesion molecules are probably formed by cleavage and release into the circulation of the extracellular domain of the membrane bound form. The elevated levels of circulating adhesion molecules have been reported in numerous disease state. To evaluate their role as markers of disease activity in tuberculosis, we measured a sE-selectin, sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1 levels in the serum with severities of mild, moderate and far advanced pulmonary tuberculosis. Methods : The control and test groups were divided as follows. Group I : control(n=5), Group II : patients with mild pulmonary tuberculosis(n=12), Group III : pateints with moderate pulmonary tuberculosis(n=20), Group IV : patients with far advanced pulmonary tuberculosis(n=19). Serum sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 and sE-selectin were measured by ELISA kit Results : Serum soluble adhesion molecules are elevated in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, Circulating ICAM-1 levels were significantly elevated in patients with moderate and far advanced pulmonary tuberculosis when compared with control group. When compared with control group, serum sVCAM-1 levels showed significant elevation in patients with mild, moderate and far advanced pulmonary tuberculosis. Serum sE-selectin levels were significantly elevated in patients with far advanced pulmonary tuberculosis when compared with control group. Conclusion : These results suggest that sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, and sE-selectin may be invloved in the pathogenesis of tuberculosis. And, particularly, sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 may be useful markers of the disease activity.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.404-415
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• 1998

Background: Sleep apnea syndrome, which occurs in 1~4 % of the adult population, frequently has different cardiovascular complications such as hypertension, ischemic heart disease, cardiac arrythmia as well as sleep-wake disorder such as excessive daytime hypersomnolence or insomnia. Mortality and vascular morbidity are reported to be significantly higher in sleep apnea syndrome patients than in normal population. According to the recent studies, autonomic dysfunction as well as hypoxemia, hypercapneic acidosis, and increased respiratory effort, may playa role in the high prevalence of cardiovascular complications in patients with sleep apnea syndrome. However the cause and mechanism of autonomic neuropathy in patients with sleep apnea syndrome are not well understood. We studied the existence of autonomic neuropathy in patients with sleep apnea syndrome and factors which influence the pathogenesis of autonomic neuropathy. Method: We used the cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy(CAN) test as a method for evaluation of autonomic neuropathy. The subjects of this study were 20 patients who diagnosed sleep apnea syndrome by polysomnography and 15 persons who were normal by polysomnography. Results: Body mass index and resting systolic blood pressure were higher in sleep apnea group than control group. Apnea index(Al), respiratory disturbance index(RDI) and snoring time percentage were significantly higher in sleep apnea group compared with control group. But there were no significant differences in saturation of oxygen and sleep efficiency in two groups. In the cardiac autonomic neuropathy test, the valsalva ratio was significantly low in sleep apnea group compared with control group but other tests had no differences between two groups. The CAN scores and corrected QT(QTc) interval were calculated significantly higher in sleep apnea group, but there were no significant correlations between CAN scores and QTc interval. There were no significant data of polysomnography to correlate to the CAN score. It meant that the autonomic neuropathy in patients with sleep apnea was affected by other multiple factors. Conclusion: The cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy test was a useful method for the evaluation of autonomic neuropathy in patients with sleep apnea syndrome and abnormalities of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy were observed in patients with sleep apnea syndrome. However, we failed to define the factors that influence the pathogenesis of autonomic neuropathy of sleep apnea syndrome. This study warrants futher investigations in order to define the pathogenesis of autonomic neuropathy in patients with sleep apnea syndrome.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.555-565
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• 2006

The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the biological stability of the zirconia/alumina composite abutment by histologic and radiographic examination in clinical cases. 17 partially edentulous patients (5 men and 12 women, mean age 47) were treated with 37 implants. The implants were placed following the standard two-stage protocol. After a healing period of 3 to 6 months, zirconia/alumina composite abutments were connected. All radiographs were taken using paralleling technique with individually fabricated impression bite block, following insertion of the prosthesis and at the 3-, 6-, 12 month re-examinations. After processing the obtained images, the osseous level was calculated using the digital image in the mesial and distal aspect in each implant. An ANOVA and t-test were used to test for difference between the baseline and 3-, 6-, 12 months re-examinations, and for difference between maxilla and mandible. Differences at P <0.05 were considered statistically significant. For histologic examination, sample was obtained from the palatal gingiva which implant functioned for 12 months. Sections were examined under a light microscope under various magnifications. Clinically, no abutment fracture or crack as well as periimplantitis was observed during the period of study. The mean bone level reduction(${\pm}standard$ deviation) was 0.34 rom(${\pm}\;0.26$) at 3-months, 0.4 2mm(${\pm}\;0.30$) at 6-months, 0.62 mm(${\pm}\;0.28$) at 12-months respectively. No statistically significant difference was found between baseline and 3-, 6-, 12-months re-examinations (p > 0.05). The mean bone level reduction in maxilla was 0.33(${\pm}0.25$) at 3-months, 0.36(${\pm}0.33$) at 6-months, 0.56(${\pm}0.26$) at 12-months. And the mean bone level reduction in mandible was 0.35(${\pm}0.27$) at 3-months, 0,49(${\pm}0.27$) at 6-months, 0.68(${\pm}0.30$) at 12-months. No statistical difference in bone level reduction between implants placed in the maxilla and mandible. Histologically, the height of the junctional epithelium was about 2.09 mm. And the width was about 0.51 mm. Scattered fibroblasts and inflammatory cells, and dense collagen network with few vascular structures characterized the portion of connective tissue. The inflammatory cell infiltration was observed just beneath the apical end of junctional epithelium and the area of direct in contact with zirconia/alumina abutment. These results suggest the zirconia/alumina composite abutment can be used in variable intraoral condition, in posterior segment as well as anterior segment without adverse effects.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.333-342
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• 2003

The pathogenic effort of high glucose, possibly in concert with fatty acids, is mediated to vascular complications of diabetes via increased production of reactive oxygen species(ROS), reactive nitrogen species(RNS), and subsequent oxidative stress. This study was carried out to investigate the suppressive effect of buchu(Allium tuberosum) on oxidative stress in streptozotocin(STZ)-induced diabetes in Sprague Dawley male rats. The effect of buchu supplementation (10%) on lipid peroxidation, and antioxidative defense system in blood and liver was compared among normal rats fed basal diet(normal) and diabetic rats fed basal diet(DM-control) or 10% buchu-supplemented diet(DM-buchu). Diabetes was experimentally induced by the femoral muscle injection of 50 mg STZ per kg of body weight. Animals were sacrificed after 4 wks of experimental diets feeding. The induction of diabetes by STZ elevated the level of lipid peroxidation represented by thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances(TBARS) and conjugated dienes in plasma, LDL, liver, and erythrocytes. 10% buchu-supplemented diet significantly reduced the levels of conjugated dienes in erythrocytes(p<0.05) and lowered TBARS in liver and LDL to the levels of control. Induction of diabetes by STZ elevated Mn-superoxide dismutase(Mn-SOD) activity and lowered activities of glutathionine reductase(GSH-red) and glutathionine peroxidase(GSH-px). Catalase activity was not affected by the induction of diabetes by STZ. However, buchu supplementation to diabetic rats significantly elevated catalase activity(p<0.05) and slightly elevated GSH-px and GSH-red activities in liver. GSH levels of blood and liver were lowered or not changed by induction of diabetes by STZ, respectively, while buchu supplementation to diabetic rats significantly elevated hepatic GSH level (p<0.05). In conclusion, it can be concluded that buchu might be a food source to attenuate oxidative stress in diabetic patients by inhibiting lipid peroxidation, by increasing hepatic GSH level, and by inducing anti-oxidative enzyme systems.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.119-126
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• 2011

There is a growing recognition of the significance of $H_2S$ as a biological signaling molecule involved in vascular and nervous system functions. In mammals, two enzymes in the transsulfuration pathway, cystathionine ${\beta}$-synthase (CBS) and cystathionine ${\gamma}$-lyase (CGL), are believed to be chiefly responsible for $H_2S$ biogenesis. Genetic inborn error of CGL leads to human genetic disease, cystathioninuria, by accumulating cystathionine in the body. This disease is secondarily associated with a wide range of diseases including diabetes insipidus and Down's syndrome. Although the human CGL (hCGL) overexpression is essential for the investigation of its function, structure, reaction specificity, substrate specificity, and protein-protein interactions, there is no clear report concerning optimum overexpression conditions. In this study, we report a detailed analysis of the overexpression conditions of the hCGL using a bacterial system. Maximum overexpression was obtained in conditions of low culture temperature after inducer addition, performing low aeration during overexpression, and using a low concentration inducer (0.1 mM, IPTG) for induction. Expressed hCGL was purified by His-tag affinity column chromatography and confirmed by Western blot using hCGL antibody and enzyme activity analysis. We also report that the His tag with TEV site attached protein exhibits 76% activity for ${\alpha}-{\gamma}$ elimination reaction with L-cystathionine and 88% for ${\alpha}-{\beta}$ elimination reaction with L-cysteine compared to those of wild type hCGL, respectively. His tag with TEV site attached protein also exhibits a 420 nm absorption maximum, which is attributed to the binding cofactor, pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP).

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.9
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• pp.1020-1030
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• 2017

Epidemiology studies have reported a reduced incidence of colon cancer among populations that consume a large quantity of ${\omega}3-polyunsaturated$ fatty acids (${\omega}3-PUFAs$) of marine origin. Herein, we demonstrated a mechanism of anticancer action of ${\omega}3-PUFAs$, showing that they suppressed invasion and tumorigenicity in colon cancer cells. Docosahexaenoic acids (DHA) inhibited the cell growth of HT29 cells. This action likely involved apoptosis, given that the DHA treatment increased the cleaved form of PARP and sub G1 cells. Moreover, the invasiveness of HT29 cells was inhibited following DHA treatment, whereas arachidonic acid (AA) had no effect. The levels of Matrix-metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and MMP-2 mRNA decreased after DHA pretreatment. DHA treatment inhibited MMP-9 and MMP-2 promoter activities and reduced VEGF promoter activity. DHA pretreatment also inhibited the activities of prostaglandin-2 (PGE2)-induced MMPs and the VEGF promoter. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) overexpression increased the activity of MMPs and that of the Vascular endotherial growth factor (VEGF) promoter in HT29 cells, and DHA inhibited NF-kB and COX-2 promoter reporter activities. As shown by in vivo experiments, when mouse colon cancer cells (MCA38) were implanted into Fat-1 and wild-type mice, both the tumoral size and volume were dramatically inhibited in Fat-1 transgenic mice. Furthermore, TUNEL-positive cells increased in tumors from Fat-1 mice compared with wild mice. In immunohistochemistry, the intensity of CD31 in Fat-1 tumors was weaker. These findings suggest that ${\omega}3-PUFAs$ may inhibit tumorigenicity and angiogenesis as well as cancer cell invasion by suppression of COX-2, MMPs and VEGF via the reduction of NF-kB in colon cancer.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.34-43
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• 2009

Purpose: Glomus tumors are rare benign vascular tumors, usually located in the skin or soft tissue of extremities. Approximately 30-50% of glomus tumors occur in subungal area, but glomus tumors have been described in every location even where glomus bodies are not or rarely present. The purpose of this study was to identify clinical, histologic and MRI characteristics of soft tissue glomus tumor. Materials and Methods: Between 1993 and 2008, eight patients underwent surgery of soft tissue Glomus tumor at our institution. Exclusion criteria were patients with Glomus tumors in digits, stomach, trachea and glomus tympanicum. We analyzed medical records, interviews, physical examinations, MR findings and histolocial types retrospectively. Results: There were four men and four women. The mean age was fourty-seven years. The mean prevalence time was eight-point-nine years. In the classic triad of symptoms, all eight patients had pain and tenderness. Two patients complained of cold sensitivity. Two showed skin color changes. After surgery, two showed symptom improvement (VAS $9^{\circ}{\rightarrow}8$, $8^{\circ}{\rightarrow}5$) and?six showed complete disappearance of symptoms. Slightly symptom improvemented (VAS $9^{\circ}{\rightarrow}8$) one had additional surgery two times after first surgery due to relapse/remaining Glomus tumor. The mean size was 13.9 mm. In histology, six were 'solid glomus tumor', one was a mixture of 'solid glomus tumor' and 'lomangioma' and one was 'malignant glomus tumor'. MR findings showed isointense signal on T1 image, high signal on T2 image and strong enhancement on the Gadolinium enhanced image. Conclusion: Glomus tumor has low recurrence rate and malignant change, rapid diagnosis and surgical excision is critical in treatment to prevent unnecessary pain of patient.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.124-131
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• 2007

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify prognostic factors in gastric cancer without lymph node metastasis and to specifiy which prognostic factors can be available in detail according to the depth of invasion. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was based on the medial records of 268 gastric cancer patients who received resectional therapy from 1990 to 1999. The patients who revealed pT2NOMO, pT3NOMO, pT4NOMO on postoperative pathologic reports were enrolled. The survival rate was analyzed according to clinicopathologic and therapeutic factors. Results: According to the depth of invasion, the number of patients with pT2a, pT2b, pT3 and pT4 were 86 (32.1%), 56 (20.9%), 108 (40.3%), and 18 (6.7%) respectively. Age, depth of invasion, histological type, Borrmann type, and Lauren classification were statistically significant in the univariate analysis, and the age, the depth of invasion, and Lauren classification were independent prognostic factors identified by multivariate analysis. On multivariate analysis of subgroups according to the depth of invasion, the independent prognostic factors were age, Borrmann type, and Lauren classification in pT2, and age, Lauren classification, and vascular invasion in pT3. The prognostic factors of pT4 patients could not be analyzed due to limited sample size. Conclusion: In advanced gastric cancer patients without lymph node metastasis, age, the depth of invasion, and Lauren classification should be checked to predict prognosis. In patients with pT2 lesion among the above patients, the Borrmann type should be added in check-list.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.100-114
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• 2018

Nationally designated Cultural Properties 'Scenic site No.12 Maisan Mountain, Jinan' designated areas and some protected areas, and taking into account the dynamics of naturalized plants causing problems, we will restore the original vegetation scenery of Mt. Maisan. The results of this study are as follows. A total of 76 families, 192 genera, 286 taxa, and inland and inhabited areas, 76 and 138 genera and 163 taxa were identified in the areas of Ammaibong. The total number of naturalized plants identified in this study area is 28 taxa total, which corresponds to 7.1% naturalization rate(NR) among the vascular plants of all 395 taxa, and the urbanization index(UI) corresponds to 8.4% of the 333 taxa of Korean naturalized plants. Ecosystem disturbance plants identified in the survey area were Ambrosia artemisiifolia 1 taxa. The naturalized plants controlled and managed by separate anthropogenic vegetation management within the designation and protection area of Maisan scenic place are three species of herbaceous Rumex acetosella, A. artemisiifolia and Festuca arundinacea. It was identified as a breed. Indigofera bungeana and F. arundinacea communities around the stairway and Amorpha fruticosa, I. bungeana, A. artemisiifolia and Amaranthus patulus of the top of Am-Maibong were selected as the first priority sites for exclusion of exotic species in Maisan area and target naturalized plants species to the Ammaibong peak. In addition, R. acetosella community around the temple was suggested to be removed first to preserve endemic species. For the restoration of vegetation, we suggest that Stephanandra incisa, Spiraea blumei, Weigela subsessilis, etc. should be planted after removal of I. bungeana, and F. arundinacea, C. lanceolata, Carex callitrichos var. nana.