• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.157-164
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• 2016

Background: Heart-lung transplantation (HLT) has provided hope to patients with end-stage lung disease and irreversible heart dysfunction. We reviewed the clinical outcomes of 10 patients who underwent heart-lung transplantation at Asan Medical Center. Methods: Between July 2010 and August 2014, a total of 11 patients underwent HLT at Asan Medical Center. After excluding one patient who underwent concomitant liver transplantation, 10 patients were enrolled in our study. We reviewed the demographics of the donors and the recipients' baseline information, survival rate, cause of death, and postoperative complications. All patients underwent follow-up, with a mean duration of $26.1{\pm}16.7months$. Results: Early death occurred in two patients (20%) due to septic shock. Late death occurred in three patients (38%) due to bronchiolitis obliterans (n=2) and septic shock (n=1), although these patients survived for 22, 28, and 42 months, respectively. The actuarial survival rates at one year, two years, and three years after HLT were 80%, 67%, and 53%, respectively. Conclusion: HLT is a procedure that is rarely performed in Korea, even in medical centers with large heart and lung transplant programs. In order to achieve acceptable clinical outcomes, it is critical to carefully choose the donor and the recipient and to be certain that all aspects of the transplant procedure are planned in advance with the greatest care.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.19-23
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• 2012

Background: A ring implantation in the tricuspid annulus requires many interrupted mattress sutures for correction of tricuspid regurgitation (TR). In this study, tricuspid ring annuloplasty was performed by 2-0 polypropylene continuous suture instead of multiple interrupted 2-0 polyester mattress sutures, and the efficacy of the method was evaluated. Materials and Methods: This study included 20 patients who underwent tricuspid ring annuloplasty by continuous suture between May 2009 and July 2010. Four of the patients had an isolated TR, and the rest had a left-sided cardiac lesion. The concomitant tricuspid annuloplasty was performed after the left-sided heart surgery was completed and a Duran flexible ring prosthesis was used. Results: There was no perioperative mortality or conduction problem. More than a moderate degree of TR was improved to less than a mild degree after the procedure. After the ring annuloplasty, the right atrial volume decreased from $123.7{\pm}69.2mL$ to $74.5{\pm}37.4mL$, and the mean right atrial pressure was lowered from $18.7{\pm}12.2mmHg$ to $8.9{\pm}5.5mmHg$. Conclusion: The continuous "over and over" suture may be a useful procedure for fixing the ring to the annulus and making an intentional annular placation in performing tricuspid ring annuloplasty.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.817-821
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• 2012

Soil samples collected from abounded mines of Boryeong area in South Korea were used in isolating bacterial strains and their capacity to solubilize inorganic phosphates and heavy metal tolerance were assessed in vitro. Three different inorganic phosphate sources (Ca phosphate, Fe phosphate, and Al phosphate) and four different heavy metals (Co, Cd, Pb and Zn) each with three concentrations ($100{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$, $200{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$, and $400{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$) were used. The bacterial isolates PSB-1, PSB-2, PSB-3, and PSB-4 solubilized significantly higher amount of Ca phosphate during the first five days of incubation though subsequent drop in soluble phosphorus level in the medium was observed at the later stage (after 5 days) of the incubation. Solubilization of Ca phosphate and Fe phosphate was concomitant with the acidification of the culture medium compared to the control where it remained constant. Isolated strains could solubilize Fe phosphate to certain extent ($25-45{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$) though solubilization of Al phosphate was found negligible. All the isolates were tolerant to heavy metals (Cd, Pb, and Zn) up to the concentration of $400{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$ except PSB-1 and PSB-8, which were shown to be vulnerable to Co even at $100{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$. Heavy metal tolerant strains should be further evaluated for plant growth promoting activities also under field conditions in order to assess their agricultural and environmental significance.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.788-794
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• 2019

Recently, global climate change caused by greenhouse gases has emerged as a significant air-environmental problem. Technical innovation in response to this phenomenon is ongoing, with an emphasis on the environmental impacts of unusually high temperatures and unexpected heavy rainfall. In this study, we investigated the effects of temperature change on air pollution for a concomitant rapid temperature increase. The test conditions include loading from 0 % to 100 % at 1400 rpm, 1600 rpm, and 1800 rpm for a change in the intake air temperature of a marine diesel engine from 20 ℃ to 50 ℃. The experimental results revealed that CO and HC decreased slightly, whereas the brake specific fuel consumption, NOx, and PM increased slightly when the intake air temperature changed. In addition, it was determined that the combustion temperature did not change significantly.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.182-187
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• 2003

Background: The mushroom Phellinus linteus (PL) has been shown to have the anti-tumor and immunostimulatory effects. We hypothesized that the hot water extract of PL (WEPL) exerts its significant immunostimulatory effect by inducing production of the Th1-derived cytokine interferon-${\gamma}$ (IFN-${\gamma}$) by T lymphocytes. Methods: T lymphocytes were isolated from the mice fed with 200 mg/kg of WEPL once a day for 4 weeks, and then stimulated with the mitogen concanavaline A (Con A). IFN-${\gamma}$ gene and intracellular protein expressions were analyzed by RT-PCR and flow cytometry, respectively. The production of IFN-${\gamma}$ was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: WEPL significantly enhanced the transcription of IFN-${\gamma}$ mRNA. The effect of WEPL on IFN-${\gamma}$ expression was further supported by a concomitant increase in the number of cells with intracellular IFN-${\gamma}$ protein as well as the secretion of IFN-${\gamma}$. However, WEPL did not modulate either gene expression or protein secretion of interleukin-4, a Th2-associated cytokine, by Con A-stimulated T lymphocytes. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that one of the potentially beneficial anti-tumor and immunostimulatory effects of WEPL may be mediated through the enhancement of IFN-${\gamma}$ secretion by T lymphocytes.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.268-275
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• 2003

Background: Hemopoietic cells require the constant presence of growth factors for survival in vitro and in vivo. Caspases have been known as central executors of apoptotic cell death. We have, therefore, investigated the pathways that regulate caspase activity and apoptosis using the $CD34^+$ cell line, TF-1 which requires GM-CSF for survival. Methods: Apoptosis was measured by annexin V staining and mitochondrial membrane potential was measured by DiOC6 labelling. Intracellular pH was measured using pH sensitive fluorochrome, BCECF or SNARF-1, followed by flow cytometry analysis. Caspase activation was analyzed by PARP cleavage using anti-PARP antibody. Results: Removal of GM-CSF induceed PARP cleavage, a hallmark of caspase activity, concomitant with pHi acidification and a drop in mitochondrial potential. Treatment with ZVAD, a competitive inhibitor of caspases, partially rescued cell death without affecting pHi acidification and the reduction of mitochondrial potential, suggesting that both these events act upstream of caspases. Overexpression of Bcl-2 prevented cell death induced by GM-CSF deprivation as well as pHi acidification and the reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential. In parental cells maintained with GM-CSF, EIPA, a competitive inhibitor of $Na^+/H^+$ antiporter induced apoptosis, accompanied by a drastic reduction in mitochondrial potential. In contrast, EIPA induced apoptosis in Bcl-2 transfectants without causing mitochondrial membrane depolarization. Conclusion: Taken together, our results suggest that the regulation of $H^+$fluxes, either through a mitochondriondependent or independent pathway, is central to caspase activation and apoptosis.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.12
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• pp.3681-3689
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• 2013

This study explored a direct SET-photochemical strategy to construct a new family of thioene conjugated-naphthalamide fluorophore based lariat-crown ethers which show strong binding properties towards heavy metal ions. Irradiations of designed nitrogen branched (trimethylsilyl)methylthio-terminated polyethylenoxy-tethered naphthalimides in acidic methanol solutions have led to highly efficient photocyclization reactions to generate naphthalamide based lariat type thiadiazacrown ethers directly in chemo- and regio-selective manners which undergo very facile secondary dehydration reactions during separation processes to produce their corresponding amidoenethio ether cyclic products tethered with electron donating diethyleneoxy- and diethyenethio-side arm chains. Fluorescence and metal cation binding properties of the lariat type enamidothio products were examined. The photocyclized amidoenethio products, thioene conjugated naphthalamide fluorophore containing lariat-thiadiazacrowns exhibited strong fluorescence emissions in region of 330-450 nm along with intramolecular exciplex emissions in region of 450-560 nm with their maxima at 508 nm. Divalent cation $Hg^{2+}$ and $Pb^{2+}$ showed strong binding to sulfur atom(s) in side arm chain and atoms in enethiadiazacrown ether rings which led to significant enhancement of fluorescence from its chromophore singlet excited state and concomitant quenching of exciplex emission. The dual fluorescence emission responses towards divalent cations might provide a new guide for design and development of fluorescence sensors for detecting those metals.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.583-590
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• 1995

The three hundred and sixty nine patients who underwent either isolated or concomitant coronary artery bypass graft surgery since May, 1977 till December, 1993 at the Yonsei University Cardiovascular center were studied with respects to the incidence of operative risk factors, surgical methodology and consequent results. The patients were classified into two periods, according to the time of the surgery in relation to the date of the opening of the Yonsei cardiovascular center. Period I[1977 to 1990 , consisting of the patients who underwent surgery prior to the opening date, harboured a total of 189 patients with the mean age of 55 years, and the second, Period II[1991 to 1993 , those who underwent after the opening, of 180 patients with the mean age of 60 years. The Period II patients were involved in more operative risk factors, compared to the ones in Period I. The anatomy of the coronary arteries of the patients of Period II were more likely to have multilesional and left main disease. The patients in Period I were older, had more prominent left ventricular dysfunction and were more likely to be exposed to the risk factors. The number of implanted grafts were greater period II[average of 2.5 grafts per patient in Period I VS 3.2 in Period II and the frequency which the used left internal mammary artery was also significantly higher in Period II[49 and 104 cases in Period I and Period II . The incidence of perioperative myocardial infarction was 20 patients[10.6% in Period I, 14 patients[7.8% in period II. And the operative mortality was 20 patients[10.6% in period I, 8 patients[4.4% in period II. In conclusion we think that the operative results have improved in Period II, compared to that of Period I, in spite of the higher risks, due to accumulation of surgical experiences, improved surgical techniques and myocardial protection, specialized teamwork, application of the intraoperative TEE and appropriate pharmacological interventions by anesthesiologist.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.9
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• pp.688-691
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• 2002

Takayasu's arteritis is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown cause. It predominantly affects the aortic arch and its branches. Concomitant involvement of coronary and renal arteries is a rare entity. In this report, we described successful treatment of a patient with Takayasu's arteritis associated with coronary and renal arteries stenosis. A 23-year-old woman was presented with chest pain on exertion. Angiographic studies demonstrated left main coronary, bilateral renal, and left subclavian arteries stenosis. She underwent angioplasty and stenting of bilateral renal artery. After one week, coronary artery bypass grafting using greater saphenous veins and aorto-subclavian bypass with PTFE vascular graft were done simultaneously. She was discharged on the 13th postoperative day without any complications.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.102-112
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• 2020

Objective: To analyze the prescription patterns for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) and to investigate factors co-occurring with systemic corticosteroid use. Methods: We used patient-level data from Korean National Health Insurance claims database to identify patients diagnosed with UC (ICD-10 code : K51) and their medications prescribed for UC between January 1 and Decemeber 31, 2017. We found that medications for UC treatment were 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA), immunomodulators, biologics, and corticosteroids. We presented the prescription pattern according to the sex, age group, type of health insurance, site of UC, type of medical institution, and concomitant medication. To evaluate factors associated with prescription of systemic corticosteroids for UC, we used a multivariate logistic regression model to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Of 1,469 UC patients, 74.5% used 5-ASA and 15.2% used systemic corticosteroids. 5-ASA constituted 77.5% of all prescriptions and systemic corticosteroids accounted for 13.1%. The most widely used therapy was 5-ASA monotherapy (54.8%), followed by a double therapy with 5-ASA and immunomodulators (8.2%) or 5-ASA and systemic corticosteroids (7.2%). Systemic corticosteroids were more likely to be prescribed with immunomodulators (aOR=1.88, 95% CI=1.54-2.28) and biologics (aOR=2.82, 95% CI=2.28-3.50) than without them. Conclusions: We found that 15.2% of UC patients were prescribed with a systemic corticosteroid, which is less than reported previously. Systemic corticosteroids were more likely to be prescribed with immunomodulators and biologics.