• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.805-812
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• 1998

Background: Among the variety of opportunistic infections, pneumonia comprises the major morbidity in immunocompromised patients. Pneumocystis carnii pneumonia (PCP) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) pneumonia are common infectious illness of immunocompromised hosts. Although there are many reports regarding to the co-infection of PCP and CMV diagnosed by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid examination, the effects of CMV co-infection on the outcome of PCP is still controversial. The purpose of this investigation is to evaluate the effects of CMV detected by BAL fluid examination on the clinical course of PCP in the immunocompromised patients other than human immunodeficiency virus infection. Method: Ten patients with PCP were enrolled and retrospective analysis of their medical records were done. HIV infected persons were excluded. The PCP was diagnosed by BAL fluid examination with Calcofluor-White staining. CMV was detected in BAL fluid by Shell-vial culture system. Chest radiographic findings were reviewed. We used Fisher's exact test and Mann-Whitney U test for statistical analysis of data. Results: The underlying disorders of patients were idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (n=1), renal transplantation (n=4), necrotizing vasculitis (n=l), systemic lupus erythematosus (n=1), brain tumor (n=1), chronic myelogenous leukemia (n=1), unidentified (n=1). There were no difference in clinical course, APACHE III score, arterial blood gas analysis, white blood cell count, lymphocyte count, serum albumin concentration, chest radiographic findings and mortality between patients with PCP alone (n=4) and those with CMV co-infection (n=6). Univariate analysis regarding to the factors that associated with mortality of PCP were revealed that the application of mechanical ventilation (p=0.028), the level of APACHE III score (p=0.018) and serum albumin concentration (p=0.048) were related to the mortality of patients with PCP. Conclusion: The clinical course of PCP patients co-infected by CMV were not different from PCP only patients. Instead, accompanied respiratory failure, high APACHE III score and poor nutritional status were associated with poor outcome of PCP.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.1214-1222
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• 1998

Background : The intrapleural hypofibrinolysis is caused by mainly excessive concentration of pleural plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 antigen(PAI-1 Ag), which binds tissue type plasminogen activator. In pleural inflammation induced by sclerosing agents for pleurodesis, levels of pleural PAI-1 antigen increase in relation to decreasing D-dimer levels. It has been known that the pleural mesothelial cells have the capability of secreting PAI-1 Ag in response to inflammation in vivo. Therefore, we estimated whether pleural inflammation changes the balance between fibrinolytic and coagulative properties in exudative pleural effusions. Method : The thirty cases was included in our study. We determined the pleural levels of glucose, lactic dehydrogenase(LDH), pH and the counts of white blood cell(WBC), polymorpho leukocyte(PMN), lymphocyte as the parameters of pleural inflammation and cellular components of pleural fluid. The plasma level of fibrinogen in fluid and the neutrophil count in blood were determined. The levels of D-dimer, PAI-1 Ag and thrombinantithrombin III complex(TAT) were determined by ELISA(Behring, Marburg, Germany). Result : The causes of pleural effusion were as following : tuberculous in 14 cases, malignant in 10 cases and parapneumonic in 6 cases. The levels of pleural D-dimer, PAI-1 Ag and TAT was significantly higher than that of plasma(p<0..001). The severity of pleural inflammation did not correlated with pleural D-dimer, PAI-1 Ag, TAT and their plasma levels. But the level of pleural TAT correlated with pleural WBC and lymphocyte count. Conclusion : We found that the severity of pleural inflammations did not correlated with pleural D-dimer, PAI-1 Ag, TAT and the possibility of local production of PAI-1 antigen is present.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.480-483
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• 2003

Purpose : We evaluated clinical manifestations and laboratory findings in patients with measles according to C-reactive protein(CRP) concentration. Methods : A retrospective analysis was performed using the medical records of patients with measles at The Catholic University of Korea, Daejeon St. Mary's Hospital from October 1999 to May 2000. We divided the patients with measles into four groups according to CRP level, i.e., those with below 5 mg/L(134 patients, negative group), those with 6-19 mg/L(85 patients), those with 20-49 mg/L(27 patients), and those over 50 mg/L(7 patients). We compared clinical and laboratory characteristics among these four groups. Results : The mean CRP level of all patients was $11.1{\pm}7.5mg/L$. No statistical differences were present between the negative group and the 6-19 mg/L group or the 20-49 mg/L group in the duration of fever, hospitalization days, complications determined with longer hospitalization for more than eight days, white blood cell count, and incidence of hepatitis. Compared with the negative group, the over 50 mg/L group showed a longer duration of fever($4.7{\pm}1.7$ vs $7.2{\pm}3.9days$), duration of hospitalization($5.4{\pm}1.4$ vs $9.4{\pm}4.7days$), incidence of complications(5.2% vs 42.9%) and a higher mean level of WBC count($5,900{\pm}2,700/mm^3$ vs $12,700{\pm}6,700/mm^3$). With an increasing CRP level, there was a tendency for the duration of fever, complications and WBC count to increase. However the levels of liver enzymes(AST/ALT) were not associated with CRP level. Conclusion : A CRP level of over 50 mg/L in measles is associated with severity and complications.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.235-245
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• 2008

Purpose: The HSV1-tk gene has been extensively studied as a type of reporter gene. In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), only a small proportion of patients are eligible for surgical resection and there is limitation in palliative options. Therefore, there is a need for the development of new treatment modalities and gene therapy is a leading candidate. In the present study, we investigated the usefulness of substrate, 2'-fluoro-2'-deoxy-1-${\beta}$-D-arabino-furanosyi-5-[$^{124/125}I$]iodo- uracil ([$I^{124/125}I$]FIAU) as a non-invasive imaging agent for HSV1-tk gene therapy in hepatoma model using small animal PET. Material and Methods: With the Morris hepatoma MCA cell line and MCA-tk cell line which was transduced with the HSV1-tk gene, in vitro uptake and correlation study between [$^{125}I$]FIAU uptake according to increasing numeric count of percentage of MCA-tk cell were performed. The biodistribution data and small animal PET images with [$^{124}I$]FIAU were obtained with Balb/c-nude mice bearing both MCA and MCA-tk tumors. Results:, Specific accumulation of [[$^{125}I$]FIAU was observed in MCA-tk cells but uptake was low in MCA cells. Uptake in MCA-tk cells was 15 times higher than that of MCA cells at 480 min. [$^{125}I$]FIAU uptake was linearly correlated (R2 =0.964, p =0.01) with increasing percentage of MCA-tk numeric cell count. Biodistribution results showed that [$^{125}I$]FIAU was mainly excreted via the renal system in the early phase. Ratios of MCA-tk tumor to blood acting were 10, 41, and 641 at 1 h, 4 h, and 24 h post-injection, respectively. The maximum ratio of MCA-tk to MCA tumor was 192.7 at 24 h. Ratios of MCA-tk tumor to liver were 13.8, 66.8, and 588.3 at 1 h, 4 h, and 24 h, respectively. On small animal PET, [$^{124}I$]FIAU accumulated in substantial higher levels in MCA-tk tumor and liver than MCA tumor. Conclusion: FIAU shows selective accumulation to HSV1-tk expressing hepatoma cell tumors with minimal uptake in normal liver. Therefore, radiolabelled FIAU is expected to be a useful substrate for non-invasive imaging of HSV1-tk gene therapy and therapeutic response monitoring of HCC.

• The Korean Journal of Blood Transfusion
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.115-126
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• 2012

Background: Umbilical cord (UC) is a promising source of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). We compared the characteristics of MSCs from cryopreserved UC with those from fresh tissues, and demonstrated the possibility of UC cryopreservation for acquisition of MSCs from cryopreserved UC. Methods: Each UC was sliced into two types ($1{\sim}2mm^3$ vs. 0.5 cm), and cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen using different media (autologous cord blood plasma, aCBP vs. RPMI 1640). A fresh aliquot of $1{\sim}2mm^3$-sized UC was used as control tissue. After one week, the cryopreserved tissues were thawed and cultured. For the 0.5 cm UC, a slicing step into $1{\sim}2mm^3$ was needed. Cell count, viability, proliferative activity, and surface antigens were determined from harvested MSCs. Several growth factors (EGF, IGF-1, PDGF, TGF-${\beta}$, bFGF, and VEGF), were measured from the culture supernatant. Results: Eleven UC were enrolled in the study. Efficiencies of obtaining MSCs were higher in cryopreserved UC using RPMI 1640, compared with use of aCBP; the same result was observed for 0.5 cm sized UC, compared with $1{\sim}2mm^3$ sized UC. No difference in proliferative activity was observed between MSCs from fresh and cryopreserved UC. The amount of growth factors in culture supernatant using RPMI 1640 was larger than that of fresh tissues. Conclusion: We obtained growth factors from the supernatant as well as MSCs from cryopreserved UC. As with a cord blood bank, in the future, cryopreservation of UC for acquisition of both MSCs and growth factors would be possible in a time of need.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.113-123
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• 2022

The blood and physiological changes of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and crucian carp (Carassius auratus) were analyzed when the water temperature was rapidly increased from 20℃ (control) to 26 and 32℃. The water temperature reached 26℃ and 32℃ within 6 hours from the water temperature of 20℃, and the control was maintained at 20℃ for the duration of the experiment. From each experimental group, blood was collected every 3, 12, 24 and 48 hours after the water temperature rise, and the red blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, Na⁺, K⁺, Cl^-, cortisol, glucose, aspartate amino transferase (AST) and alanine amino transferase (ALT) contents were analyzed. In the case of the crucian carp experimental group where the water temperature was raised to 32℃, the concentrations of plasma cortisol, glucose, AST and ALT increased 3 hours after the water temperature rise, and the concentrations did not decrease until 48 hours (P<0.05). Plasma cortisol, glucose, AST, and ALT in both C. carpio and C. auratus in the control group and the experimental group raised to 26℃ increased at 3 hours after the water temperature rise (P<0.05), and decreased to the value before the water temperature rise at 48 hours (P<0.05). The plasma Na⁺, K⁺ and Cl^- concentrations of C. carpio and C. auratus in the experimental group where the water temperature was raised to 32℃ were higher than in the 20 and 26℃ experimental groups. The blood reaction of all experimental groups including the control group showed a common trend in both C. carpio and C. auratus increasing up to 12 hours after the water temperature rise and then decreasing at 48 hours after the water temperature rise. The results derived from this study would be useful for investigating the physiological response of fish stress in future. In addition, as fish mortality has recently occurred frequently in rivers and lakes, it is judged that it can be used as basic data.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.25-32
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• 2009

This study was conducted to determine the effects of probiotics supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, occurrence of diarrhea and immune response in weaning pigs. Treatments were 1) NC (basal diet), 2) PC (basal diet + 0.12% avilamycin) and 3) A (basal diet + 0.2% Aspergillus oryzae), 4) B (basal diet + 0.2% Lactobacillus casei), 5) C (basal diet + 0.2% Bacillus subtilis), 6) D (basal diet + 0.2% Lactobacillus crispatus). A total of 120 pigs ($7.16\pm0.01$ kg average body weight, weaned at $23\pm3$days of age) were assigned to 6 treatments, 5 replicates and 4 pigs per pen in a randomized complete block (RCB) design. During the whole experimental period, body weight (P<0.01), average daily gain (ADG; P<0.01), and average daily feed intake (ADFI; P<0.05) of treatment PC were higher than other treatments. However, the probiotics treatments tended to increase ADG and G:F ratio compared to treatment NC. The G:F ratio in treatment A (Aspergillus oryzae) was similar to treatment PC during the whole experimental period (P<0.05). The supplementation of probiotics in the diet of weaning pig did not change nutrient digestibility (dry matter, crude protein, crude fat and ash) and nitrogen retention of weaning pigs. In blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration, treatment B had lower value than other treatments at 2 and 4 weeks (P<0.05). Treatments PC and C tended to decrease diarrhea score than other treatments (P=0.18). At 3h after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection, treatments NC and PC had higher count of $CD^{4+}$ T-cells than probiotics treatments, and treatment C showed the lowest value (P<0.01). There were no differences on count of $CD^{8+}$ T-cells and $CD^{4+}:CD^{8+}$ ratio among all treatments (P>0.10). These results suggest that the dietary probiotics are likely able to improve the growth performance, occurrence of diarrhea and immune response although they do not have similar effects like antibiotics in weaning pigs.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.795-804
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• 1998

Background: Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia(CEP) is interstitial lung disease characterized by multiple infiltration on radiographic study, accumulation of eosinophils in the alveolar space and interstitium of the lung, chronic persistent symptoms and possible relapse. Acute eosinophilic pneumonia(AEP) is a recently described illness, characterized by rapid clinical course, acute respiratory insufficiency and no relapse. Method : To better characterize acute and chronic eosinophilic pneumonia, we studied the clinical and laboratory features of 16 patients(AEP : 7 patients, CEP : 9 patients), which were clinico-pathohistologically diagnosed and not to be associated with organic disorders producing peripheral blood eosinophilia. Results: The mean age was higher for patients with CEP than for patients with AEP ($55.4{\pm}15.1$ vs. $24.6{\pm}7.9$ years, p<0.05). High fever(above $38^{\circ}C$) was presented in all patients of AEP and in one patient(11%) of CEP. All patients of AEP and eight patients (89%) of CEP showed bilateral pulmonary infiltrates, and 6 patients(86%) of AEP and 2 patients(22%) of CEP showed pleural effusion in chest radiograph. The mean white blood cell count of AEP and CEP were $17,186/mm^3$ and $12,867/mm^3$, respectively. The mean peripheral blood eosinophil count of AEP and CEP were $939/mm^3$ and $2,104/mm^3$, respectively. The mean eosinophil fraction of BAL fluid of AEP and CEP were 32.4% (range: 18~47%) and 35.8% (range: 15.3~88.2%), respectively. The mean $PaO_2$ was lower for patients with AEP than for patients with CEP ($44.1{\pm}15.5$ vs. $62.7{\pm}6.9$mmHg, p<0.05). All patients of AEP and CEP were initially treated with antibiotics. All patients of CEP and one patients of AEP were finally required systemic steroid therapy. 6 patients of AEP were improved without steroid therapy. Relapse was observed in 3 patients(33%) of CEP. Conclusion : Compair with of chronic eosinophilic pneumonia, acute eosinophilic pneumonia was characterized by relatively young age, acute onset, high fever, severe hypoxemia, diffuse pulmonary infiltrates with pleural effusion, steroid therapy is effective but spontaneous improvement with conservative therapy was frequent.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.525-530
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• 2017

Weaning is the most stressful event for nursery pigs because they are moved from familiar to unfamiliar environments. In addition, weaned pigs have immature digestive and immune systems. This situation makes weaned pigs susceptible to diseases and makes the absorption of nutrients from diets difficult. A feed approach, such as dietary enzyme supplementation, can be considered a solution. This study investigated the effects of dietary enzyme cocktail on diarrhea and immune responses of weaned pigs. A total 36 weaned pigs ($5.92{\pm}0.48kg\;BW$; 28 d old) were randomly allotted to 2 dietary treatments (3 pigs/pen, 6 replicates/treatment) in a randomized complete block design. The dietary treatments were a typical diet based on corn and soybean meal (CON) and CON with 0.05% enzyme cocktail (Cocktail; combination of xylanase, ${\alpha}-amylase$, protease, ${\beta}-glucanase$, and pectinase). Pigs were fed their respective diets for 6 wk. Incidence of diarrhea, packed cell volume (PCV), white blood cells (WBC) count, and immunoglobulin content were measured. A significantly lower incidence of diarrhea (p < 0.05) was observed in the Cocktail group as compared with the CON group. The Cocktail group also showed a decreased PCV (p < 0.1) on d 3 after weaning than the CON group. However, no differences were observed for number of WBC and contents of immunoglobulin G, M, and A between the Cocktail and CON groups. Consequently, inclusion of an enzyme cocktail in diets for weaned pigs had a positive influence on gut health by reducing the incidence of diarrhea in the present study.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 1997

Radiation protection by post-irradiation injection of the ginseng extract in mice was studied. Male ICR mice, 7 weeks old, were orally injected with ginseng extrat(100mg/kg) for 10 days, and with physiologocal saline as the control. Immediately after final injection, mice were whole body irradiated with 5.08Gy(Cs-137 ${\gamma}$-ray, central dose rate : 654Gy/h) which induced Bone marrow death. At 24h after irradiation, micronucleus test and metaphase analysis in bone-marrow were carried, blood cell were counted and the survival rate were carried for 30 days after the irradiation. Stimulated recovery by the extract was observed in thrombocyte count, but that phenomenom was not showed in the erythrocyte and leucocyte counts. The 30-day survival ratio was 5% and 65% for the control and experimental group. Frequencies of micronuclei per 1000 polychromatic erythrocytes were 79.5${\pm}$1.5 in experimental group, 185.9${\pm}$35.8 in control. And Abnormal chromosomes per 50 metaphases were 112 in experimental group and 143 in control.