• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.1047-1057
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• 1998

Background : Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disorder of unknown origin and characterized by accumulation of T cells and macrophages. Various cytokines may play crucial roles in the activation of T cells and macrophages, and thereby in the formation of granulomas. However, little is known about the balance between proinflammatory cytokines and antiinflammatory cytokines in the development of sarcoid granulomas and disease activities. In the present study, we measured IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) from patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis to find out whether there is an imbalance between proinflammatory cytokines and antiinflammatory cytokines in the lung. Methods: Fourteen subjects with the diagnosis of sarcoidosis and six healthy volunteers were included. BALF was concentrated ten-fold by pressure ultrafiltration and each cytokine levels were measured by EUSA method. Active sarcoidosis was defined by major organ involvement or clinically progressive diseases. Results: The mean IL-6 levels in the BALF of the active sarcoidosis group were significantly increased than in controls or inactive sarcoidosis group(p<0.05). Meanwhile, the IL-8 levels were increased and IL-10 levels were decreased in the active sarcoidosis group than in controls or inactive sarcoidosis group without significance(p>0.05). In active pulmonary sarcoidosis patients, the IL-6 levels in BALF correlated with the BALF CD4/CD8 ratio(r=0.768, p<0.05) and IL-8 levels(r=0.564, p<0.05). Conclusions : The data presented showed that pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 is important in the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis and decreased tendency of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 might also be involved in the development of granulomatous inflammation in sarcoidosis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.359-366
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• 2005

Background : IGFBP-3 inhibits the mitogenic and anti-apoptotic activity of IGF by blocking the binding of IGF to its receptor. However, under certain circumstances, IGFBP-3 can enhance the activity of IGF by protecting IGF from its degradation. More than half of the interindividual variations in IGFBP-3 levels are known to be genetically determined by the polymorphism at -202 locus of IGFBP-3 gene. Method : We attempted to ascertain whether A-202C polymorphic variation of IGFBP-3 gene constitutes a risk factor for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Our study included 104 NSCLC patients and 104 age-, gender-, and smoking status-matched control subjects. Result : In the 104 NSCLC subjects, the genotypic frequencies at the -202 site were as follows: AA = 67 (64.4%), AC = 35 (33.7%), and CC = 2 (1.9%). We did detect significant differences in the genotypic distribution between the NSCLC and the control subjects (p<0.05), and the NSCLC risk correlated significantly with AA genotype at the -202 locus (AA>AC>CC). Using CC genotype as a reference, the odds ratio (OR) for the subjects with AC genotype was 2.60 (95% CI: 0.89 - 8.60), and the OR associated with AA genotype was 5.89 (95% CI: 1.92 - 21.16). Conclusion : These results indicate that the dysregulation of IGF axis should now be considered as another important risk factor for NSCLC, and a potential target for novel antineoplastic therapies and/or preventative strategies in high-risk groups.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.398-403
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• 2012

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of irrigation method adopted for reducing nutrient solution drainage on the root zone environment, growth and yield of a tomato crop grown in a rockwool medium. The irrigation control methods used were large quantity irrigation at a long interval controlled by only an integrated solar radiation sensor (standard), medium quantity irrigation at a medium interval (zero drainage 1), and small quantity irrigation at a short interval (zero drainage 2) controlled by both an integrated solar radiation sensor and a zero drainage sensor. The amount of the nutrient solution supplied and the drain percentage per plant of the standard, zero drainage 1, and zero drainage 2 were 1.4, 0.9 and 0.8 L, and 23.8, 8.6 and 3.7%, respectively. The average, minimum, and maximum water contents and EC of the standard, zero drainage 1, and zero drainage 2 were 64.5~88% and $1.5{\sim}3.5dS{\cdot}m^{-2}$, 40.3~76.0% and $2.5{\sim}4.0dS{\cdot}m^{-2}$, and 56.3~69.0% and $2.7{\sim}3.7dS{\cdot}m^{-2}$, respectively. There was no difference in leaf width, number of leaves, and stem diameter among the treatments. However, plant height and leaf length decreased in the zero drainage 1 and 2 treatments as compared to the standard. The fruit marketable yield per 10a in the zero drainage 1 and 2 treatments was about 93 and 88%, respectively, of that in the standard treatment.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.235-244
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• 2003

Purpose: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been known as psychiatric disorder in childhood associated with dopamine dysregulation. In present study, we investigated changes in dopamine transporter (DAT) density of the basal ganglias using I-123 N-(3-iodopropen-2-yl) -2-carbomethoxy-3beta-(4-chlorophenyl) tropane [I-123 IPT] SPECT in children with ADHD before and after methylphenidate treatment. Materials and Method: Nine drug-naive children with ADHD and seven normal children were included in the study. We peformed brain SPECT two hours after the intravenous administration of I-123 IPT and made both quantitative and qualitative analyses using the obtained SPECT data, which were reconstructed for the assessment of soecific/nonspecific DAT binding ratios in the basal ganglia. All children with ADHD reperformed [123I]IPT SPECT after treatment with methylphenidate(0.7mg/kg/d) during about 8 weeks. SPECT data reconstructed for the assessment of specific/nonspecific DAT binding ratio of the basal ganglia were compared between before and after treatment methylphenidate. We investigated correlation between the change of ADHD symptom severity assessed with ADHD rating scale-IV and specific/nonspecific DAT binding ratio of basal ganglia. Results: Children with ADHD had a significantly greater specificinonspecific DAT binding ratio of the basal ganglia comparing to normal children(Right : z = 2.057, p = 0.041 : Left : z : 2.096, p = 0.032). Under treatment with methylphenidate in all children with ADHD, specificinonspecific DAT binding ratio of both basal ganglia decreased significantly greater than before treatment with methylphenidate (Right : t = 3.239, p = 0.018 ; Left : t = 3.133, p = 0.020). However, no significant correlation between the change of ADHD symptom severity scores and specific/nonspecific DAT binding ratio of the basal ganglia were found. Conclusions: These findings support the complex dysregulation of the dopaminergic neurotransmitter system in children with ADHD.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.410-415
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• 2004

Background: In the operation for coronary artery stenosis, the procedures for mitral regurgitation are restricted to cases of more than moderate mitral regurgitation or for the lesions in leaflets. This is based on the belief that the less than mild regurgitation are a form of reversible change results from ischemia with coronary artery stenosis. We studied the changes and prognostic factors of mitral regurgitation in patients with coronary artery stenosis and mitral regurgitation who underwent coronary artery bypass surgery alone. Material and Method: We reviewed the medical records of 90 patients with coronary artery stenosis and mitral regurgitation who underwent coronary artery bypass surgery alone by a single surgeon from Jan. 1995 to Dec. 2002, We grouped the patients according to the postoperative changes of mitral regurgitation, and then we statistically compared the findings of echocardiogram between preoperative and last follow up. Result: There were 24 cases with progression of mitral regurgitation, 12 cases without changes, 54 cases with improvements of mitral regurgitation in total 90 patients. The bypass to LAD was proven as the significant prognostic factor of mitral regurgitation. The preoperative end diastolic left ventricular volume index were higher in aggravated group with 105.38$\pm$38.89 $m\ell$ compared to 71.75$\pm$28,45 $m\ell$ in improvement group, and 84.00$\pm$11.66 $m\ell$ in no change group. The grade of preoperative mitral regurgitation did not show significant differences among the groups. Conclusion: The mitral regurgitation in patient with coronary artery stenosis can be improved after the coronary artery bypass surgery alone. However, the expectation of improvements based on the degree of preparative mitral regurgitation can not be justified, therefore, the procedures for mitral regurgitation should be aggressively considered even in the cases of mild mitral regurgitation. Also, further study should be performed to identify the exact prognostic factors of mitral regurgitation including the left ventricular volume index, and whether the left anterior descending artery has been bypassed.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.416-422
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• 2004

Acute renal failure (ARF) is a common postoperative complication after the cardiac surgery. Postoperative ARF have various causes, and are combined with other complications rather than being the only a complication. It deteriorates the general condition of the patient, and makes it difficult to manage the combined complications by disturbing the adequate medication and fluid therapy. We have planned this study to evaluate the effects of postoperative ARF after the on-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) on the recovery of patients and identify the risk factors. Method and Material: We reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent CABG with cardiopulmonary bypass by a single surgeon from Jan. 2000 to Dec. 2002, We checked the preoperative factors; sex, age, history of previous serum creationism over 2.0 mg/㎗, preoperatively last checked serum creatinine, diabetes, hypertension, left ventricular ejection fraction, intraoperative factors; whether the operation is an emergent case or not, cardiopulmonary bypass time, aortic cross clamp time, the number of distal anastomosis, postoperative factors: IABP. Then we have studied the relations of these factors and the cases of postoperative peak serum creatinine over 2.0 mg/㎗. Result: There were 19 cases with postoperative peak serum creatinine over 2.0 mg/㎗ in a total 97 cases. Dialysis were done in 3 cases for ARF with pulmonary edema and severely reduced urine output. There were 8 cases (42.1%) with combined complications among the 19 patients. This finding showed a significant difference from the 5 cases (6,4%) in the patients whose creatinine level have not increased over 2.0 mg/㎗. The mortalities are different as 1.3% to 10.5%. The risk factors that are related with postoperative serum creatinine increment over 2.0 mg/㎗ are diabetes, the history of previous serum creatinine over 2.0 mg/㎗ and left ventricular ejection fraction. Conclusion: Postoperative ARF after the on-pump CABG is related with preoperative diabetes, the history of previous serum creatinine over 2,0 mg/㎗ and left ventricular ejection fraction. Postoperative ARF could De the reason for increased rate of complications and mortality after on-pump CABG. Therefore, in the patients with these risk factors, the efforts to prevent postoperative ARF like off-pump CABG should be considered.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.68-73
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• 1996

Stem length, main root length and main root diameter showed rapid increasement in two-years-old and three-years-old peony. And there after, the increasement was almost finished. Occurrence of disease was increasing every cultivated year, especially the development of leaf spot was most serious. In propagation by root dividing method, the radix yield (kg/10a) was increasing every cultivated year. However, the difference of radix yield at four and five-years-old peony were not significant. The radix yield of four-years-old peony was higher 26% than three-years-old one. As cultivated year goes by, content of paeoniflorin was increasing then the content was highest at four-years-old peony (4.06%). In 1995, the content, had no certain tendency, was highest at three-years-old peony (3.14%). At hot air drying, browing of peony radix was increasing every cultivated year. If we consider radix yield and color, three-years-old peony was proper object of harvesting.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.30 no.3 s.58
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• pp.508-517
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• 1997

Hepatitis B virus(HBV) infection is one of the major health problems in Korea and HBsAg positive rate was known to be about $5\sim15%$ in general population. This study was conducted to identify the positive rates of serum HBsAg and anti-HBs among community population regarded as having hish HBV vaccination rate than in previous decade, using EIA(Enzyme immunoassay) method, in Seo-Gu, Taegu, Korea. The study subjects were 1,160 who visited Seo-Gu Health Center for check-up serologic markers of hepatitis 3. The data were obtained from the serologic test for hepatitis markers and questionnaire survey was conducted to obtain the general characteristics, vaccination history, past history of hepatitis and other liver disease, and exposure history to risk factors of hepatitis of the study subjects. The positive rates of HBsAg and anti-HBs were 5.2% and 62.4% respectively. The positive rates of HBsAg for male and female were 6.6% and 4.3% respectively. The age was divided into two groups as group I (less than 15 years old), group II (more than 16 years old) according to the hypothesis that these two groups might be different in HBV vaccination rate. HBV vaccination rates for group I and II were 83.1% and 52.3%. The positive rates of HBsAg for group I and II were 2.6% and 6.5%. The positive rates of HBsAg for the vaccinated people of the group I and II were 2.2% and 3.5%, the positive rates of anti-HBs for the vaccinated people of the group I and II were 70.1% and 71.1% respectively. The most significant factor in positive rate of HBsAg was 'hepatitis carrier in family'. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that 'hepatitis history' and 'hepatitis carrier in family' were significant variables for positivity of HBsAg, and 'hepatitis B vaccination' was only a significant variable for positivity of anti-HBs.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.245-256
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• 2021

This study was conducted to identify the applicability of a LiDAR sensor to forest resources inventories by comparing data on a tree's position, height, and DBH obtained by the sensor with those by existing forest inventory methods, for the tree species of Criptomeria japonica in Jeolmul forest in Jeju, South Korea. To this end, a backpack personal LiDAR (Greenvalley International, Model D50) was employed. To facilitate the process of the data collection, patterns of collecting the data by the sensor were divided into seven ones, considering the density of sample plots and the work efficiency. Then, the accuracy of estimating the variables of each tree was assessed. The amount of time spent on acquiring and processing the data by each method was compared to evaluate the efficiency. The findings showed that the rate of detecting standing trees by the LiDAR was 100%. Also, the high statistical accuracy was observed in both Pattern 5 (DBH: RMSE 1.07 cm, Bias -0.79 cm, Height: RMSE 0.95 m, Bias -3.2 m), and Pattern 7 (DBH: RMSE 1.18 cm, Bias -0.82 cm, Height: RMSE 1.13 m, Bias -2.62 m), compared to the results drawn in the typical inventory manner. Concerning the time issue, 115 to 135 minutes per 1ha were taken to process the data by utilizing the LiDAR, while 375 to 1,115 spent in the existing way, proving the higher efficiency of the device. It can thus be concluded that using a backpack personal LiDAR helps increase efficiency in conducting a forest resources inventory in an planted coniferous forest with understory vegetation, implying a need for further research in a variety of forests.

• Food Engineering Progress
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.158-166
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• 2017

Although Semisulcospira libertina is generally regarded as a supplement for the alleviation of alcohol hangover, little is known about its effects on cell metabolism. Therefore, this study was conducted to analyze the constituents of the extracts prepared using different extraction methods and to compare their biochemical properties. The amino acid contents were found to be much higher in acidic and enzymatic hydrolysates than hot water extracts from S. libertina. DPPH radical scavenging activities in acidic and enzymatic hydrolysates were higher than those of hot water extracts. Three types of S. libertina hydrolysate was added to HepG2 cells damaged by acetaminophen (AAP), after which the survival rate of HepG2 cell were measured. In addition, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities in the culture media were evaluated. The survival rates of HepG2 cells were $77.0{\pm}4.3%$ and $81.5{\pm}1.3%$ at 3 h and 5h enzymatic hydrolysates, respectively. These cell survival rates were higher compared to those of the negative control group ($67.8{\pm}4.3%$) treated only with acetaminophen. Cellular toxicities induced by treatment with AAP were also significantly alleviated in response to treatment with the extracts of S. libertina. In addition, the activities of 2 key enzymes that metabolize ethanol, alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase, were upregulated by 4.7- and 2.7-fold respectively in response to treatment with a 3 h enzymatic hydrolysate of S. libertina. Taken together, these results provide biochemical evidence of the method by which S. libertina exerts its biological functions, including the alleviation of alcohol hangover and the protection of liver cells against toxic insults.