• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.38.1-38.24
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• 2020

African swine fever (ASF), caused by the ASF virus, a member of the Asfarviridae family, is one of the most important diseases in the swine industry due to its clinical and economic impacts. Since the first report of ASF a century ago, ample information has become available, but prevention and treatment measures are still inadequate. Two waves of epizootic outbreaks have occurred worldwide. While the first wave of the epizootic outbreak was controlled in most of the infected areas, the second wave is currently active in the European and Asian continents, causing severe economic losses to the pig industry. There are different patterns of spreading in the outbreaks between those in European and Asian countries. Prevention and control of ASF are very difficult due to the lack of available vaccines and effective therapeutic measures. However, recent outbreaks in South Korea have been successfully controlled on swine farms, although feral pigs are periodically being found to be positive for the ASF virus. Therefore, we would like to share our story regarding the preparation and application of control measures. The success in controlling ASF on farms in South Korea is largely due to the awareness and education of swine farmers and practitioners, the early detection of infected animals, the implementation of strict control policies by the government, and widespread sharing of information among stakeholders. Based on the experience gained from the outbreaks in South Korea, this review describes the current understanding of the ASF virus and its pathogenic mechanisms, epidemiology, and control.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 2012

A major concern regarding the collection and storage of biodiversity information is the inefficiency of conventional taxonomic approaches in dealing with a large number of species. This inefficiency has increased the demand for automated, rapid, and reliable molecular identification systems and large-scale biological databases. DNA-based taxonomic approaches are now arguably a necessity in biodiversity studies. In particular, DNA barcoding using short DNA sequences provides an effective molecular tool for species identification. We constructed a large-scale database system that holds a collection of 5531 barcode sequences from 2429 Korean species. The Korea Barcode of Life database (KBOL, http://koreabarcode.org) is a web-based database system that is used for compiling a high volume of DNA barcode data and identifying unknown biological specimens. With the KBOL system, users can not only link DNA barcodes and biological information but can also undertake conservation activities, including environmental management, monitoring, and detecting significant organisms.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.163-182
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• 2012

This study was performed to identify the difference of the area-based deprivation and the educational level on the cerebrovascular mortality in Korea. Data used in this study was obtained from the Death Certificate Data 2000 and the 2000 Census produced by Korean National Statistics(NSO). We classified the whole country into 246 areas based on the administrative districts. Then, the Standardized Mortality Ratio (SMR) in cerebrovascular disease was calculated according to the sex, education level and 246 areas. Its Predicted SMR was calculated by the Empirical Bayes Methods to reduce the variation of the SMR values. The area-based deprivation of 246 areas were measured using the modified Carstairs index in which the 5 indicators consisted of overcrowding, the unemployment ratio of men, the percentage of households classified low social class, the percentage of non home owners, and finally those houses lacking basic amenities. The correlation between the area-based deprivation and the SMR of the whole country and the correlation between the area-based deprivation and the SMR of each metropolitan cities or provinces was analyzed by the Pearson correlation analysis method. After classifying the deprivation of 246 areas into 5 levels, we performed the random intercept Poisson regression analysis after adjusting education level and age using Empirical Bayes Method to investigate the relationship between the 5 deprivation levels and the cerebrovascular mortality. The SMR was increased in lower education level. Each 246 areas had different values in SMR, Predicted SMR and area-based deprivation. The area-based deprivation and the SMR of the whole country was not correlated in both sexes. The education level of an individual was associated the risk of cerebrovascular mortality in men. The risk of cerebrovascular mortality increased with age compared to the reference(<30). The area-based deprivation was not associated with the risk of cerebrovascular in both sexes. The findings of this study suggest that the SMR had positive and negative correlations with area-based deprivation depending on the metropolitan cities or province. It also suggests that the individual education level and age were related with mortality and finally that the area-based deprivation was not associated to the cerebrovascular mortality in Korea.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.4.1-4.16
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• 2023

Background: In vitro culture of preantral follicles is a promising technology for fertility preservation. Objectives: This study aims to investigate an optimized three-dimensional (3D) fetal bovine serum (FBS)-free preantral follicle culture system having a simple and easy operation. Methods: The isolated follicles from mouse ovaries were randomly divided in an ultra-low attachment 96-well plates supplement with FBS or bovine serum albumin (BSA) culture or encapsulated with an alginate supplement with FBS or BSA culture. Meanwhile, estradiol (E₂) concentration was assessed through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of culture supernatants. The diameter of follicular growth was measured, and the lumen of the follicle was photographed. Spindle microtubules of oocytes were detected via immunofluorescence. The ability of oocytes to fertilize was assessed using in vitro fertilization. Results: The diameters were larger for the growing secondary follicles cultured in ultra-low attachment 96-well plates than in the alginate gel on days 6, 8, and 10 (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the E2 concentration in the BSA-supplemented medium was significantly higher in the alginate gel than in the other three groups on days 6 and 8 (p < 0.05), and the oocytes in the FBS-free system could complete meiosis and fertilization in vitro. Conclusions: The present study furnishes insights into the mature oocytes obtained from the 3D culture of the preantral follicle by using ultra-low attachment 96-well plate with an FBS-free system in vitro and supports the clinical practices to achieve competent, mature oocytes for in vitro fertilization.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.15-25
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• 2003

발생학에서 키메라(chimera)는 2개 이상의 다른 유전자형의 세포, 또는 다른 종의 세포로부터 만들어진 1개의 생물개체를 뜻하는 말로, 이는 초기 수정란의 발달과 포유류의 분화를 연구하는데 이용되고 있다. 키메라를 만드는 방법에는 할구와 내세포괴를 응집시키는 방법과 배반포 내에 여러 종류의 세포를 주입하는 방법이 있다 본 실험에서는 서로 다른 두 가지 방법의 활성화 처리법, 즉, ionomycin 처리 후 Cycloheximide (CHX) 또는 6-Dimetylaminopurine (6-DMAP)에 따른 단위 발생란의 분할과 단계적인 발달율을 살펴 보고자 하였으며, 서로 다른 방법에 의해 생산된 단위발생란 유래의 할구와 체외수정란 유래 할구를 응집하여 키메라 수정란(chimeric embryo)를 만든 후 체외수정란과 발달율을 비교해 보았다. 도축장 유래의 난소에서 난자를 채취하여 체외에서 22~24시간 성숙시킨 후 난구세포를 제거하고 metaphase II 단계의 난자를 5 $\mu$M ionomycin에 4분간 처리한 후, 10 $\mu$g/ml CHX/5 $\mu$g/ml cytochalasin B (CCB)에 5시간 또는 1.9 mM 6-DMAP에 4시간 처리하여 분할율과 배반포기 발달율을 비교 조사하였다. 난자 분할율에서는 체외수정란과 6-DMAP처리 단위 발생란에서 각각가 83.7 와 85.5%로 CHX/CCB 처리 단위발생란의 57.9%보다 유의적으로 높게(P<0.05) 나타났으며, 배반포기 발달율에 있어서는 체외수정란의 발달율이 27.8%로 6-DMAP처리 활성란 12.3%와 CHX/CCB 처리 활성란 5.3%보다 유의적으로 높게 (P<0.05) 나타났다. 키메라 수정란(chimeric embryo)은 서로 다른 두 가지 처리에 의해 생산된 단위발생란의 할구 2개와 체외수정란 유래의 할구 2개를 빈 투명대 내에서 응집시켜 제조하였다 빈 투명대 내에 키메라 수정란(chimeric embryos)의 8 세포기까지의 발달율은, 체외 수정란 할구 2개와 CHX/CCB 처리에 의한 할구 2개를 응집한 그룹은 46.1%, 체외 수정란 할구와 6-DMAP 유래 할구 2개를 응집한 그룹은 52.8% 였으며, handled control은 54.7%로 체외 수정란 77.7%에 비해 유의적으로 낮게(P<0.05) 나타났다. 배반포기까지의 발달율은 체외 수정란과 CHX/CCB에 의해 생산된 키메라 수정란(chimeric embryo)은 12.8%, 체외 수정란과 6-DMAP에 의한 키메라 수정란(chimeric embryo)은 18.8%로 handled control의 21.4%에 비해 유의적으로 낮았으며(P<0.05), 이들 키메라 수정란(chimeric embryos)은 체외 수정란의 34.9%에 비해 유의적으로 낮게(P<0.05)나타났다. 6-DMAP 처리 단위발생이 유기된 수정란 할구 2개와 체외수정란의 할구 2개의 응집에 의한 키메라 수정란(chimeric embryos)의 발달율이 CHX/CCB와 체외수정란의 응집에 의한 키메라 수정란(chimeric embryos)에 비해 다소 높게 나타났으나, 유의적인 차이는 없었다. 본 실험의 결과 서로 다른 방법에 의한 단위 발생란 유래의 할구와 체외 수정란 유래의 할구가 응집에 의한 재조합이 가능하였고 이들을 체외에서 배양하여 배반포기의 수정란까지 발달시켰다.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.278-285
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• 2016

Epidemiological studies have shown the association between transportation of live animals and the potential transmission of infectious disease between premises. This finding was also observed in the 2014-2015 foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in Korea. Furthermore, slaughterhouses played a key role in the global spread of the FMD virus during the epidemic. In this context, in-depth knowledge of the structure of direct and indirect contact between slaughterhouses is paramount for understanding the dynamics of FMD transmission. But the social network structure of vehicle movements to slaughterhouses in Korea remains unclear. Hence, the aim of this study was to configure a social network topology of vehicle movements between slaughterhouses for a better understanding of how they are potentially connected, and to explore whether FMD outbreaks can be explained by the network properties constructed in the study. We created five monthly directed networks based on the frequency and chronology of on- and off-slaughterhouse vehicle movements. For the monthly network, a node represented a slaughterhouse, and an edge (or link) denoted vehicle movement between two slaughterhouses. Movement data were retrieved from the national Korean Animal Health Integrated System (KAHIS) database, which tracks the routes of individual vehicle movements using a global positioning system (GPS). Electronic registration of livestock movements has been a mandatory requirement since 2013 to ensure traceability of such movements. For each of the five studied networks, the network structures were characterized by small-world properties, with a short mean distance, a high clustering coefficient, and a short diameter. In addition, a strongly connected component was observed in each of the created networks, and this giant component included 94.4% to 100% of all network nodes. The characteristic hub-and-spoke type of structure was not identified. Such a structural vulnerability in the network suggests that once an infectious disease (such as FMD) is introduced in a random slaughterhouse within the cohesive component, it can spread to every other slaughterhouse in the component. From an epidemiological perspective, for disease management, empirically derived small-world networks could inform decision-makers on the higher potential for a large FMD epidemic within the livestock industry, and could provide insights into the rapid-transmission dynamics of the disease across long distances, despite a standstill of animal movements during the epidemic, given a single incursion of infection in any slaughterhouse in the country.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.133-154
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• 2023

The Korean Peninsula is geographically located in the centre of Far Eastern Asia and has complex and various climate conditions following longitudinal topology, which would expect to be result in high diversity and endemism of millipede. In this study, the millipede fauna of the Korean Peninsula consists of 68 species plus 5 subspecies from 29 genera, 15 families and 7 orders. Of these species/subspecies, 29 and 12 are endemic in South Korea and North Korea, respectively; nine are recorded in both South Korea and North Korea. Each species has been provided comprehensive information including an original report, taxonomic changes, distribution, and remarks if necessary. Moreover, unsolved taxonomic uncertainty of some species included in this checklist should be investigated through further study.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.445-448
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• 2011

A survey was performed to find out the intermediate hosts of Gnathostoma nipponicum in Jeju-do (Province), the Republic of Korea. In August 2009 and 2010, a total of 82 tadpoles, 23 black-spotted pond frogs (Rana nigromaculata), 7 tiger keelback snakes (Rhabdophis tigrinus tigrinus), 6 red-tongue viper snakes (Agkistrodon ussuriensis), and 2 cat snakes (Elaphe dione) were collected in Jeju-do and examined by the pepsin-HCl digestion method. Total 5 gnathostome larvae were detected in 3 (50%) of 6 A. ussuriensis, 70 larvae in 3 of 7 (42.9%) R. tigrinus tigrinus, and 2 larvae in 2 of 82 (8.7%) frogs. No gnathostome larvae were detected in tadpoles and cat snakes. The larvae detected were a single species, and $2.17{\times}0.22mm$ in average size. They had characteristic head bulbs, muscular esophagus, and 4 cervical sacs. Three rows of hooklets were arranged in the head bulbs, and the number of hooklets in each row was 29, 33, and 36 posteriorly. All these characters were consistent with the advanced third-stage larvae of G. nipponicum. It has been first confirmed in Jeju-do that R. nigromaculata, A. ussuriensis, and R. tigrinus tigrinus play a role for intermediate and/or paratenic hosts for G. nipponicum.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.317-321
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• 2011

Adult gnathostomes were discovered in the stomach of the Jeju weasel, Mustela sibilica quelpartis, road-killed in Jeju-do (Province). Their morphological characters were examined to identify the species. Total 50 gnathostome adults were collected from 6 out of 10 weasels examined. In infected weasels, 4-6 worms were grouped and embedded in each granulomatous gastric tumor, except 1 weasel. Male worms were $25.0{\times}1.4$ mm in average size, and had a tail with pedunculate papillae, a spicule, and minute tegumental spines. Females were $40.0{\times}2.5$mm in average size, and had a tail without tegumental spines. Pointed and posteriorly curved hooklets were arranged in 8-10 rows on the head bulb. Tegumental spines were distributed from behind the head bulb to the middle portion of the body. The spines were different in size and shape by the distribution level of the body surface. Fertilized eggs were $65.5{\times}38.9\;{\mu}m$ in average size, and had a mucoid plug at 1 pole. These gnathostomes from Jeju weasels were identified as Gnathostoma nipponicum Yamaguti, 1941. By the present study, it was confirmed for the first time that G. nipponicum is distributed in Jeju-do, the Republic of Korea, and the Jeju weasel, M. sibilica quelpartis, plays a crucial role for its definitive host.

• Korean Medical Education Review
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.41-48
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• 2007

Yonsei University College of Medicine is about to adopt a new admission system in 2009 for postgraduate medical school. in which 4-year college graduates apply to it, instead of applying of high school graduates to undergraduate medical school. For preparing the new system, now, an admission policy is being intensively investigated. In the present admission system in Yonsei College of Medicine, college or university graduates with diverse majors such as pharmacy, biochemistry, engineering, social science and so on other than a medical major can be transferred into the undergraduate medical course when vacancy for enrollment is available. This study was performed to analyze the academic achievement of the transferred students for establishing a new admission system. In this study, the GPAs of 94 medical students transferred for 1998 to 2006 years were analyzed regarding academic and personal background, and compared with those of untrans- ferred medical students. The results showed some features. Particularly, the GPAs of transferred students with t he majors of art and social sciences were not lower than those with the major of natural sciences while transferred students with majors of pharmacy. veterinary science, nursing science, and biotechnology had their high academic achievements during the undergraduate medical courses.