• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.443-448
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• 2012

This study was conducted to investigate changes of blood metabolites and enzyme activities at different slaughter ages of Hanwoo cattle. Blood samples were taken from six hundred thirty two steers (24~33 months of age) and one hundred twenty eight bulls (17~24 months of age) by venipuncture from caudal vein immediately prior to slaughter. Glucose concentrations were linearly increased (P<0.001) with increases of the slaughter age in steers, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentrations were linearly decreased (P<0.001) with increases of the slaughter age in steers. Likewise, glucose and albumin concentrations in bulls were linearly decreased (P=0.009 and P<0.001, respectively) with increases of the slaughter age. BUN, cholesterol, triglycerides, and total cholesterol concentrations were linearly increased (P<0.001, 0.018 and 0.002, respectively), and creatinine concentrations were quadratically increased (P=0.009) with increases of the slaughter age. Activity of gamma glutamyltransferase (${\gamma}$-GT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was linearly increased (P<0.001) with increases of the slaughter age in both steers and bulls, whereas alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was not affected by increasing slaughter age. In addition, the concentrations of ${\gamma}$-GT and AST were higher (P<0.05) for bulls than those of steers at 24 months of age. Increased levels of ${\gamma}$-GT and AST indicate impaired liver function; it may be associated with increases of concentrate level which is a concomitant of the extended fattening periods in Hanwoo feeding. In conclusion, the results in the present study may be one of the useful information for diagnosis of the metabolic disorder in Hanwoo cattle.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.79-82
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• 1997

The present study was aimed to explore an interaction between endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO) and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) systems in normotensive and hypertensive states. Rats were made two-kidney, one clip (2K1C) hypertensive and supplemented with either $N^G-nitro-L-arginine$ methyl ester (L-NAME, 5 mg/100 ml drinking water) or L-arginine hydrochloride (400 mg/100 ml drinking water). One group supplied with normal tap water served as control. Sham-clipped rats were also divided into the L-NAME, L-arginine, and control groups. The plasma levels and atrial contents of ANP were determined at day 28 following clipping the renal artery. In 2K1C rats, the plasma level of ANP was higher and the atrial content was lower than in the sham-clipped control. L-Arginine increased the atrial content of ANP in association with a decreased plasma ANP, whereas L-NAME significantly affected neither parameter. The increase of blood pressure in 2K1C rats was not affected by L-arginine or L-NAME. In sham-clipped rats, the plasma level of ANP was significantly increased by L-NAME along with an increase in blood pressure. On the contrary, L-arginine did not affect the blood pressure or plasma ANP. The atrial content of ANP was significantly altered neither by L-arginine nor by L-NAME. These results suggest that NO plays a tonic inhibitory role on the ANP release with concomitant increases of the atrial tissue content. In addition, hypertension is suggested to modify the release and tissue storage of ANP.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.265-271
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• 2009

Nitric oxide (NO) has both neuroprotective and neurotoxic effects depending on its concentration and the experimental model. We tested the effects of NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a nonselective nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, and aminoguanidine, a selective inducible NOS (iNOS) inhibitor, on kainic acid (KA)-induced seizures and hippocampal CA3 neuronal death. L-NAME (50 mg/kg, i.p.) and/or aminoguanidine (200 mg/kg, i.p.) were administered 1 h prior to the intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of KA. Pretreatment with L-NAME significantly increased KA-induced CA3 neuronal death, iNOS expression, and activation of microglia. However, pretreatment with aminoguanidine significantly suppressed both the KA-induced and L-NAME-aggravated hippocampal CA3 neuronal death with concomitant decreases in iNOS expression and microglial activation. The protective effect of aminoguanidine was maintained for up to 2 weeks. Furthermore, iNOS knockout mice ($iNOS^{-1-}$) were resistant to KA-induced neuronal death. The present study demonstrates that aminoguanidine attenuates KA-induced neuronal death, whereas L-NAME aggravates neuronal death, in the CA3 region of the hippocampus, suggesting that NOS isoforms play different roles in KA-induced excitotoxicity.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.175-179
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• 2018

Humic substances that can be obtained from coal resources such as leonardite in a bulk scale have been employed as crop stimulators and soil conditioners. The polymeric organics containing a variety of aromatic and aliphatic structures are known to activate plants in a multifunctional way, thus resulting in enhanced germination rate and abiotic stress resistance concomitant with induction of numerous genes and proteins. Although detailed structural-functional relationship of humic substances for plant stimulations has not been deciphered yet, cutting-edge analytical tools have unraveled critical features of humic architectures that could be linked to the action mechanisms of their plant stimulations. In this review article, we introduce key findings of humic structures and related biological functions that boost plant growth and abiotic stress resistance. Oxygen-based functional groups and plant hormone-like structures combined with labile and recalcitrant carbon backbones are believed to be critical moieties to induce plant stimulations. Some proteins such as HIGH-AFFINITY $K^+$ TRANSPORTER 1, phospholipase A2 and $H^+$-ATPase have been also recognized as key players that could be critically involved in humic substance-driven changes in plant physiology.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.43-48
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• 2018

Purpose: Human adenovirus infection mimics Kawasaki disease (KD) but can be detected in KD patients. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical differences between KD with adenovirus infection and only adenoviral infection and to identify biomarkers for prediction of adenovirus-positive KD from isolated adenoviral infection. Methods: A total of 147 patients with isolated adenovirus were identified by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. In addition, 11 patients having KD with adenovirus, who were treated with intravenous immunoglobulin therapy during the acute phase of KD were also evaluated. Results: Compared with the adenoviral infection group, the KD with adenovirus group was significantly associated with frequent lip and tongue changes, skin rash and changes in the extremities. In the laboratory parameters, higher C-reactive protein (CRP) level and presence of hypoalbuminemia and sterile pyuria were significantly associated with the KD group. In the multivariate analysis, lip and tongue changes (odds ratio [OR], 1.416; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.151-1.741; P=0.001), high CRP level (OR, 1.039; 95% CI 1.743-1.454; P= 0.021) and sterile pyuria (OR 1.052; 95% CI 0.861-1.286; P=0.041) were the significant predictive factors of KD. In addition, the cutoff CRP level related to KD with adenoviral detection was 56 mg/L, with a sensitivity of 81.8% and a specificity of 75.9%. Conclusion: Lip and tongue changes, higher serum CRP level and sterile pyuria were significantly correlated with adenovirus-positive KD.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.59-63
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• 2016

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is a rare and severe drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome characterized by hematological abnormalities and multiorgan involvement. Liver involvement is the most common visceral manifestation. However, renal failure has been rarely described. The common culprit drugs are anticonvulsants and allopurinol. We experienced a patient with DRESS syndrome with acute interstitial nephritis caused by concomitant administration of quinolone and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). A 41-year-old man presented with a diffuse erythematous rash and fever which developed after administration of quinolone and NSAIDs for a month due to prostatitis. He was diagnosed with DRESS syndrome. Skin rash, fever, eosinophilia, and elevations of liver enzymes improved with conservative treatment and discontinuation of the causative drugs. However, deterioration of his renal function occurred on day 8 of admission. The levels of blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine increased and oliguria, proteinuria and urinary eosinophils were observed. Ultrasonography showed diffuse renal enlargement. The clinical features were compatible with acute interstitial nephritis. Despite intravenous rehydration and diuretics, renal function did not improve. After hemodialysis, his renal function recovered completely within 2 weeks without administration of systemic corticosteroid.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.135-138
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• 1995

Soybean meal was fermented by Aspergillus usami in order to reduce phytate content. Aflatoxin B1 was not detected in the fermented soybean meal. The contents of crude protein, crude fiber, ether extract and crude ash were slightly increased following fermentation with a concomitant reduction in nitrogen free extract. Though the fermentation partly degraded proteins in the soybean meal, there was small difference in amino acid composition between the soybean meal and the fermented soybean meal. The results showed that the fermentation did not affect nutritional value of protein in soybean meal. Approximately 55% of phosphorus extracted by trichloroacetic acid was inositol hexaphosphate (phytate) in the soybean meal. The content of inositol tetra to hexaphosphates was not detected in the fermented soybean meal. These results indicated that the fermentation almost completely eliminated phytate in soybean meal. Phytase activity was not detected in the unfermented soybean meal. However, the enzyme activity in the fermented soybean meal was 167.7 U/g. When the fermented soybean meal in supplemented in formula feeds, phytase in the fermented soybean meal might partly degrade the phytate in other ingredients in the digestive tract. The fermented soybean meal is possibly used as a phytate-free protein source of feed, which contains high available phosphorus.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.1635-1643
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• 2009

The aim of this study was to provide new insight into the mechanism whereby the housekeeping enzyme glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) locates to cell walls of Lactobacillus plantarum 299v. After purification, cytosolic and cell wall GAPDH (cw-GAPDH) forms were characterized and shown to be identical homotetrameric active enzymes. GAPDH concentration on cell walls was growth-time dependent. Free GAPDH was not observed on the culture supernatant at any time during growth, and provoked cell lysis was not concomitant with any reassociation of GAPDH onto the cell surface. Hence, with the possibility of cw-GAPDH resulting from autolysis being unlikely, entrapment of intracellular GAPDH on the cell wall after a passive efflux through altered plasma membrane was investigated. Flow cytometry was used to assess L. plantarum 299v membrane permeabilization after labeling with propidium iodide (PI). By combining PI uptake and cw-GAPDH activity measurements, we demonstrate here that the increase in cw-GAPDH concentration from the early exponential phase to the late stationary phase is closely related to an increase in plasma membrane permeability during growth. Moreover, we observed that increases in both plasma membrane permeability and cw-GAPDH activity were delayed when glucose was added during L. plantarum 299v growth. Using a double labeling of L. plantarum 299v cells with anti-GAPDH antibodies and propidium iodide, we established unambiguously that cells with impaired membrane manifest five times more cw-GAPDH than unaltered cells. Our results show that plasma membrane permeability appears to be closely related to the efflux of GAPDH on the bacterial cell surface, offering new insight into the understanding of the cell wall location of this enzyme.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.32-43
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• 1994

The 'Pharmacy and Therapeutic Committee' decided to restrict the use of vancomycin which was categorized into restricted antimicrobials, among general, reserved and restricted antimicrobials. The committee also established prescribing guidelines of vancomycin in Seoul National University Hospital, May, 1991. Especially, the restricted antimicrobials should be used after approval by infectious disease specialist physician. A retrospective drug use evaluation (DUE) on vancomycin has been conducted to compare with the previous vancomycin DUE study in 1990. 'Criteria for DUE on vancomycin' was modified from Am J Hosp Pharm. Total 65 charts of patients were retrospectively reviewed from July 1991 to June 1992 in Seoul National University Children's Hospital. The justification of use was improved from 56% to 75% comparing with the previous study. In analyzing process indicators, several criteria including body temperature monitoring, WBC monitoring and use of concomitant antibiotics were well documented, but serum creatinine monitoring, culture and sensitivity test and level monitoring were infrequently performed, while the accepted level has been improved. Accepted level for appropriate initial dosage and duration of therapy were decreased. In outcome analysis, blood culture after discontinuing the drug was relatively well documented compared with the previous study. As the results, the approval vancomycin use was shown to be effective and rational in antibiotic therapy. And it is suggested that the above findings should be communicated to the medical staff, and a active intervention, such as feedback control, also be necessary for rational drug use.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.623-627
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• 2000

Objective : Spontaneous lumbar epidural hematoma is a rare entity, although the precipitating factors such as anticoagulation therapy frequently precede it. The authors report four cases of surgically confirmed spontaneous epidural hematoma mimicking lumbar disc herniation. Methods : Between 1995 and 1998, four patients with spontaneous lumbar epidural hematoma were diagnosed. The clinical findings which are identical to that of acute disc herniation are included in this study. The operative findings and radiological characteristics are also included. Results : The magnetic resonance(MR) image findings demonstrated epidural lesions of intermediate to low signal intensity equivalent to those of normal discs on $T_1$-weighted images, and epidural lesions of high signal intensity higher than these normal discs on a $T_2$-weighted image. The image findings also showed rim enhanced pattern of the gadolinium-enhanced $T_1$-weighted MR images. All of the hematomas was associated with a small concomitant disc herniation or underlying annular tear. Conclusion : The authors speculate that spontaneous lumbar epidural hematoma results from tearing of the fragile penetrating vein caused by underlying disc or annulus disruption between Batson' plexus and vertebral body.