• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.83 no.2
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• pp.157-166
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• 2020

Background: Infectious conditions may increase the risk of venous thromboembolism. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk factor for combined infectious disease and its influence on mortality in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE). Methods: Patients with PE diagnosed based on spiral computed tomography findings of the chest were retrospectively analyzed. They were classified into two groups: patients who developed PE in the setting of infectious disease or those with PE without infection based on review of their medical charts. Results: Of 258 patients with PE, 67 (25.9%) were considered as having PE combined with infectious disease. The sites of infections were the respiratory tract in 52 patients (77.6%), genitourinary tract in three patients (4.5%), and hepatobiliary tract in three patients (4.5%). Underlying lung disease (odds ratio [OR], 3.69; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.926-7.081; p<0.001), bed-ridden state (OR, 2.84; 95% CI, 1.390-5.811; p=0.004), and malignant disease (OR, 1.867; 95% CI, 1.017-3.425; p=0.044) were associated with combined infectious disease in patients with PE. In-hospital mortality was higher in patients with PE combined with infectious disease than in those with PE without infection (24.6% vs. 11.0%, p=0.006). In the multivariate analysis, combined infectious disease (OR, 4.189; 95% CI, 1.692-10.372; p=0.002) were associated with non-survivors in patients with PE. Conclusion: A substantial portion of patients with PE has concomitant infectious disease and it may contribute a mortality in patients with PE.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.11
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• pp.1055-1061
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• 1997

In the field of the experimental lung transplantation, we analyzed the CT findings of acute rejection, infection in the left single allotransplanted lung of adult mongrel dogs, and the CT findings were compared with the histological findings obtained by the lung biopsy Twenty two adult mongrel dogs were divided into two groups(Donor and recipient group). Donor lungs were flushed with LPDG(low pota,ilium dextral glucose) solution(n=4) or modified Euro-collins solution(n=7) and preserved over 20 hours with $10^{\circ}C(1$ case preservation for 4hours). After left single lung transplantation, the chest X-ray and sequential computed tomogram were performed with concomitant hemodynamic study and arterial blood gas analysis on immediate postoperative period, postoperative 3rd day and postoperative 7th day. Two of eleven transplanted lungs had acute rejection which was represented as moderate infiltration at immediate or 1st postoperative d y but became extensive infiltration at postoperative 3rd day on CT. There were showed one case of bronchopleural fistula, six cases of pneumonia and two cases of pulmonary infarction. In one rejection cases, the opacity of transplanted lung was improved by injection of methylprednisolone 500mg daily during 3 days. We concluded that CT was a useful noninvasive evaluation parameter after lung transplantation and the serial CT scan enabled early detection of acute rejection.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.323-329
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• 1994

Purpose: In supraglottic cancer, radiation therapy is used to preserve the laryngeal function but combined surgery and radiation therapy is required in advanced stage. The authors Present the results of radiation therapy alone and combined surgery Plus Postoperative radiation therapy for supraglottic cancer. Methods and Materials: A retrospective analysis was done for 43 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the supraglottic larynx who were treated from Feburary 1982 to December 1991, in the Department of Radiation Oncology, Korea University Hospital. Patient distribution according to the AJCC staging system was as follows: I, 3($7.0\%$); II, 7($16.3\%$); III, 17($39.5\%$); IV, 16($37.2\%$). Patients' age ranged from 30 to 72 years(median 62). Follow up durations were from 21 to 137 months(median 27). Seventeen patients($39.5\%$) were treated by radiation therapy alone with radiation doses of 6840-7380 cGy and 26 patients($60.5\%$) were treated with surgery plus postoperative irradiation with doses of 5820-6660 cGy. Results: Overall five-year survival rate for all stage was $51.8\%$, with $100\%$ for Stage I and II, $47.3\%$ for Stage III, and $29.2\%$ for Stage III. The difference of the survival rate by stage was statistically significant(p=0.0152). Five-year survival rates were $100\%$ for locally confined tumor in the supraglottic larynx, $37.5\%$ for transglottic extension, $26.7\%$ for hypopharynx extension, and only two of 5 patients with both transglottic and hypopharynx extension were alive(p=0.0033). Five-year survival rates by neck node status were as follows: $55.0\%$ for NO, $64.3\%$ for N1, $50.0\%$ for N2, and all 2 of N3 were died of disease. Overall survival rate for radiation therapy alone group was $42.8\%$, and it was $56.7\%$ for surgery plus postoperative radiation therapy group with no statistically significant difference(p=0.5215). In Stage I and II, all Patients survived. In Stage III and IV, 5-year survival rate for radiation therapy alone group was $28.5\%$ and $43.4\%$ for surgery plus postoperative irradiation group(p=0.5103). Local control rate was $58.8\%$(10/17) for radiation therapy alone group and $73.1\%$ (19/26) for surgery plus postoperative irradiation group. Three patients from surgery plus postoperative radiation therapy group developed distant metastasis in lungs. Conclusion: Treatment results of radiation therapy alone was excellent in early stage supraglottic cancer. In advanced stage, even the difference was statistically not significant, the result of postoperative radiation therapy group was superior compared with radiation therapy alone group. Since 1992, concomitant chemoradiotherapy with hyperfractionated radiotherapy is being used to improve the result of the treatment and preserve the laryngeal function in advanced stage supraglottic cancer.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.249-255
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• 2015

Schisandrae fructus [Schizandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baillon] is a medicinal herb widely used for treating various inflammatory and immune diseases in East Asian countries. The Schisandrae Semen essential oil (SSeo) from this plant has pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antitumoral activities. Nevertheless, the biological activities and underlying molecular mechanisms of the potential anti-cancer effects of this oil remain unclear. In the present study, we investigated the potential inhibition of apoptosis signaling pathways by SSeo in human leukemia U937 cells and evaluated the underlying molecular mechanism. Exposure to SSeo resulted in a concentration-dependent growth inhibition due to apoptosis, which was verified by DNA fragmentation, the presence of apoptotic bodies, and an increase in the sub-G1 ratio. Induction of apoptotic cell death by SSeo was correlated with the down-regulation of members of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family (including X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP), cIAP-1, and surviving) and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, and with up-regulation of death receptor (DR) 4 and DR5, depending on dosage. SSeo treatment also induced Bid truncation, mitochondrial dysfunction, proteolytic activation of caspase-3, -8 and -9, and concomitant degradation of activated caspase-3 target proteins such as poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. Taken together, these findings suggest that SSeo may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent for use in the control of human leukemia cells. Further studies are needed to identify its active compounds.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.336-343
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• 2008

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) inhibitors have emerged as the accessory therapeutic agents for various human cancers, since they can block the activity of specific HDACs, restore the expression of some tumor suppressor genes and induce cell differentiation, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, we investigated that the effect of trichostatin A (TSA), an HDAC inhibitor, on the cell growth and apoptosis, and its effect on the nuclear factor-kappaB $(NF-{\kappa}B)$ activity in 267B1 human prostate epithelial cells. Exposure of 267B1 cells to TSA resulted in growth inhibition and apoptosis induction in and dose-dependent manners as measured by fluorescence microscopy, agarose gel electrophoresis and flow cytometry analysis. TSA treatment inhibited the levels of IAP family members such as c-IAP-1 and c-IAP-2 and induced the proteolytic activation of caspase-3, -8 and -9, which were associated with concomitant degradation of poly (ADP-ribose)-polymerase, ${\beta}-catenin$ and laminin B proteins. The increase in apoptosis by TSA was connected with the translocation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ from cytosol to nucleus, increase of the DNA binding as well as promoter activity of $NF-{\kappa}B$, and degradation of cytosolic inhibitor of KappaB $(I{\kappa}B)-{\alpha}$ protein. We therefore concluded that TSA demonstrated anti-proliferative and apoptosis-inducing effects on 267B1 cells in vitro, and that the activation of caspases and $NF-{\kappa}B$ may play important roles in its mechanism of action. Although further studies are needed, these findings provided important insights into the possible molecular mechanisms of the anti-cancer activity of TSA.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.406-414
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• 2013

The influence of a gradual increase in salinity on the diversity of aquatic bacterial in rivers was demonstrated. The denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) was used to analyze the bacterial community shift downstream in the Hyeongsan River until it joins the open ocean. Four water samples were taken from the river showing the salinity gradients of 0.02%, 1.48%, 2.63%, and 3.62%. The samples were collected from four arbitrary stations in 2.91 km intervals on average, and a DGGE analysis was performed. Based on the results of this analysis, phylogenetic similarity identification, tree analysis, and a comparison of each station were performed. The results strongly suggested that the response of the bacterial community response was concomitant to gradual changes in salinity, which implies that salt concentration is a major factor in shifting the microbiota in aquatic habitats. The results also imply a huge diversity in a relatively small area upstream from the river mouth, compared to that in open oceans or coastal regions. Therefore, areas downstream towards a river mouth or delta are could be good starting points in the search for new bacterial species and strains ("biotypes").

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.926-932
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• 2013

Glutamine and serum are essential for cell survival and proliferation in vitro, yet the signaling pathways that sense glutamine and serum levels in endothelial cells remain uninvestigated. In this study, we examined the effects of glutamine deprivation and serum starvation on the fate of endothelial cells using a human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) model. Our data indicated that glutamine deprivation and serum starvation trigger a progressive reduction in cell viability through apoptosis induction in HUVECs as determined by DAPI staining and flow cytometry analysis. Although the apoptotic effects were more predominant in the glutamine deprivation condition, both apoptotic actions were associated with an increase in the Bax/Bcl-2 (or Bcl-xL) ratio, down-regulation of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family proteins, activation of caspase activities, and concomitant degradation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerases. Moreover, down-regulation of the expression of Bid or up-regulation of truncated Bid (tBid) were observed in cells grown under the same conditions, indicating that glutamine deprivation and serum starvation induce the apoptosis of HUVECs through a signaling cascade involving death-receptor-mediated extrinsic pathways, as well as mitochondria-mediated intrinsic caspase pathways. However, apoptosis was not induced in cells grown in glutamine- and serum-free media when compared with cells exposed to glutamine deprivation or serum starvation alone. Taken together, our data indicate that glutamine deprivation and serum starvation suppress cell viability without apoptosis induction in HUVECs.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.394-403
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• 1995

Various thermal treatments such as toasting, roasting, drum drying, autoclaving+drum drying, microwaving+drum drying and extrusion were attempted to investigate their effects on chemical composition (proximate composition, Klason lignin, neutral sugar, uronic acid, starch, free sugar, dietary fiber, phytic acid, etc) and functional properties (water solubility index, water absorption index, water holding capacity, oil holding capacity, bulk density, swelling, etc) of wheat bran. Thermal treatments on wheat bran increased soluble dietary fiber (SDF) content from 2.7% (raw sample) to 4.6% (toasted), 4.5% (roasted), 4.6% (drum dried), 5.2% (autoclaved), 3.7% (microwaved), 5.6% (extruded). In contrast, total dietary fiber (TDF) content remained nearly constant regardless of thermal treatments, reflecting the concomitant decrease in insoluble dietary fiber (IDF). It was also found that water holding capacity (WHC) increased $20{\sim}75%$ due to thermal treatments employed in this research. Both bulk density and swelling were not directly relevant to WHC, but thier multiplication exhibited good correlation $(R^2=0.94)$ with WHC. Scanning elctron microscopy (SEM) exhibited that structure of raw wheat bran was significantly modified, whose degree and shape well reflected the types of thermal treatments.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.16 no.1 s.26
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• pp.41-50
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• 1980

Chenodeoxycholic acid(CDCA) has been used as a gallstone dissolving agent since 1972. Recently, ursodeoxycholic acid(UDCA) has been reported to be effective in dissolving gallstones. Both bile acids increased bile flow. The increase in bile flow associated with an increase in cholesterol level in bile after CDCA or UDCA infusion was reported. In this study, using the smooth muscle strips of guinea pig and fowl, responses of the cholates were observed. In addition, the influence of adrenergic blocking agents on the response of the strips to cholates was investigated. Also the effects of cholates on cardiac function were examined by using isolated atria of rabbit and heart of anesthetized frog. The results are as follows: 1) All cholates, such as UDCA, CDCA, and CA produced a marked inhibitory effect on the motility in isolated duodenal strip of guinea pig and fowl, however, only UDCA showed the contraction in the isolated esophagus of fowl. These effects of cholates were blocked by propranolol. 2) In isolated guinea pig stomach strip and gall bladder, cholates exhibited a marked inhibitory effect on the motility and the effects due to UDCA and CA were blocked by phenoxybenzamine while CDCA was not affected. 3) The spontaneous and ouabain induced arrhythmia was partially abolished by cholates. However, concomitant administration of cholates with ouabain or epinephrine caused a marked prolongation in occurrence of atrial arrhythmia in comparison with ouabain or epinephrine alone in isolated rabbit atria. 4) In the heart of anesthetized frog, the epinephrine-induced arrhythmia was partially abolished by cholates. The combined treatment with cholates and ouabain or epinephrine produced a marked prolongation in occurrence of the arrhythmia in comparison with, ouabain or epinephrine alone. From the above results, it can be suggested that the effects of cholates on the smooth muscle of duodenum and esophagus are produced in response to adrenergic ${\beta}$-receptor and the effect or gall bladder and stomach is more likely due to the direct effect on the muscle. In addition, cholates exhibit a slight antiarrhythmic effect on heart, therefore, cholates can be classified as a nonselective antiarrhythmic drug, such as propranolol.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.33-41
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• 1993

Central analgesic effect of capsaicin was assessed by the tail flick reflex (TFR) test, using male Sprague-Dawley rats under anesthesia with pentobarbital sodium (induction with 40 mg/kg and maintenance with $4{\sim}8\;mg/kg/hr$). Level of norepinephrine in the spinal cord was also measured. Capsaicin, $35{\sim}150\;{\mu}g$, was injected intrathecally, and the TFR latency was measured before, 10, 30, and 60 minutes after the drug administration. TFR latency was increased 100% or more immediately by intrathecal capsaicin, from 2.9 seconds to the maximum of 7.0 seconds at 10 minute after the drug; P<0.01. The increase in TFR latency was maintained during the course of experiment of 2 hours. Concomitant reduction of NE content in the spinal cord was observed; from 16 ng/mg protein to 7 ng/mg protein. On the other hand, subcutaneous injection of capsaicin of 50 mg/kg did not change the TFR latency although the NE content reduced similarly to the case of intrathecal injection. Pretreatment of the animal with 0.5 mg/kg of MK-801 reversed the increase of TFR latency and NE reduction induced by intrathecal capsaicin. These results suggest that capsaicin causes analgesia at the spinal cord level by activating the excitatory amino acid-NE-dorsal horn interneurons axis of the descending inhibitory pain modulation pathway.