• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.48-54
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• 2005

Purpose : The pathologic mechanisms of central nervous system(CNS) injuries in human meningitis are not yet completely understood. Recent studies indicate that the host inflammatory responses are as important in brain damage as the infecting organisms and toxins. There have been some reports on the relationship of nitric oxide(NO), macrophage inflammatory protein-$1{\alpha}$(MIP-$1{\alpha}$), and lactoferrin in bacterial meningitis, but few reports in aseptic meningitis. Thus, we investigated the concentrations of NO, MIP-$1{\alpha}$ and lactoferrin in cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) and serum of patients with aseptic meningitis and control subjects and evaluated their relationship with other parameters of meningitis. Methods : CSF and blood were obtained from 25 subjects with aseptic meningitis and 15 control subjects. After centrifugation, supernatants were stored at $-70^{\circ}C$ and we assayed the concentrations of NO, MIP-$1{\alpha}$ and lactoferrin with the ELISA method. There were no patients with neurologic sequelae after being recovered from aseptic meningitis. Results : Concentrations of CSF and serum NO, MIP-$1{\alpha}$ were not increased in aseptic meningitis subjects compared to control subjects. Concentration of CSF lactoferrin was significantly elevated in patients with aseptic meningitis and concentration of serum lactoferrin was significantly decreased in patients with aseptic meningitis compared with those in control subjects(P<0.05). CSF lactoferrin level was positively correlated with CSF WBC counts($r_s=0.449$, P=0.007), especially with neutrophil counts($r_s=0.574$, P<0.001) and CSF protein level($r_s=0.508$, P=0.002). Conclusion : Lactoferrin plays an important role in aseptic meningitis and may be released from neutrophils recruited from blood to the CSF through breakdown of blood-brain barrier. NO and MIP-$1{\alpha}$ may not be important factors in the pathogenesis of aseptic meningitis without neurologic sequelae.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.7
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• pp.772-777
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• 2009

Purpose : We aimed to compare the effectiveness of 2 developmental tests-Korean Infant and Child Development Test (KICDT) and Korean Bayley Scale of Infant Development-II (K-BSID-II)-in the assessment of children with developmental delay. Methods : Twenty-eight children with suspected developmental delay, who visited the Department of Pediatrics in Asan Medical Center from February 2007 to June 2008 were enrolled. They were examined using both KICDT and K-BSID-II. The results of the tests were compared on the basis of 2 parameters: age group of the children and detection of organic brain lesion on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The correlation between the results of the 2 tests was analyzed using SPSS. Further, intraclass correlation coefficient was calculated using SAS to examine consistency between the results of the 2 tests. Results : The mental developmental index of K-BSID-II showed significant correlation with every KICDT score (P<0.01). The psychomotor developmental index of K-BSID-II was also significantly correlated with every KICDT score except the fine motor score (P<0.01). The mental developmental index of K-BSID-II showed significant correlation [Editor20] with the KICDT gross motor, fine motor, and language scores (P<0.05). Further, there was significant correlation between the psychomotor developmental index of K-BSID-II and the KICDT gross motor score (P<0.05). Conclusion : There was significant [Editor21]correlation between the results of KICDT and K-BSID-II for infants and children with developmental delay. Although our results suggest that KICDT is useful in assessing developmental delay, further research would be needed to standardize this test.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.165-178
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• 1988

In this study, the effect of single or repeated (daily for 7 or 14 days) electroconvulsive shock (ECS) on central and peripheral opiate system and modification of the actions of ECS by several psychoactive drugs were investigated in the rat. Repeated ECS caused increase of Met-enkephalin content and decrease of Bmax of specific $[^3H]$imorphine binding in the rat brain. These effects were persisted more than 7 days after the last ECS, but single ECS failed to show these effects. However, ${\beta}-endorphin$ content was decreased in midbrain preparation and increased in plasma by repeated or single ECS. These phenomenon was seen shortly after the last ECS. After ECS-induced seizure was prevented by phenobarbital, ECS-induced increase in Met-enkephalin content was significantly attenuated. Imipramine or pargyline did not affect the action of repeated ECS. On the other hand, reserpine, chlorpromazine or haloperidol which were classified as neuroleptic antipsychotics, augmented the ECS-induced changes of central and peripheral opiate parameters. Furthermore, in groups received repeated ECS, changes of Bmax of specific $[^3H]-morphine binding$ binding was inversely correlated with changes of Met-enkephalin contents, but not with changes of ${\beta}-endorphin$ contents. From these results, it is inferred that the central or peripheral opioidergic system may be involved in the therapeutic and/or adverse effects of ECS which also can be influenced by some psychoactive drugs.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.207-212
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• 2004

Purpose: Invasion and metastasis in solid tumors require the action of tumor-associated proteases. The serine protease urokinase-type plasminogen (uPA) and receptor (uPAR) appear to have a major function in these processes. Expression of the uPAR is elevated in breast and colon carcinomas, and this is often associated with invasiveness and poor prognosis. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the expression of the uPAR gene correlates with clinico-pathological parameters in human gastric carcinomas. Materials and Methods: We examined the expression of uPAR mRNA by using northern blot analysis and RT-PCR in 35 gastric carcinomas and the surrounding normal mucosa. Macroscopic and histopathological tumor findings and survival rates were obtained from the patient records and from endoscopic, surgical, and pathological reports. Results: The expression of uPAR and was higher in most neoplasms than in the corresponding normal mucosal tissue. uPAR mRNA expression in tumors correlated well with lymph-node metastasis (P<0.02) and tumor stage (P<0.01). The survival rate of patients with tumors displaying high uPAR expression levels was significantly lower (P<0.04) than that of patients without uPAR expression, but IL-8 showed only the tendency of survival difference. Conclusion: These results suggest that uPAR may be an important prognostic factor in human gastric carcinomas.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.161-166
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• 2006

Purpose: Recently, the incidence of early gastric cancer (EGC) patients is rapidly increased in Korea. However, they're often not perceptible by surgical palpation or inspection. The aim of this study is 1) to develope a software that can locate the tumor and measure the mucosal distance from an anatomic landmark to the tumor using CT gastrography and 2) to compare the distance measured by the developed software with the distance measured by the pathologic findings. Materials and Methods: Between January 2004 and September 2005, sixty patients (male=45, female=15, mean 57.8 years old) estimated for EGC with preoperative CT scans and undergone gastrectomies in Kyungpook National University Hospital were enrolled in this study. Preoperative CT scans were performed after insufflations of room air via 5 Fr NG tube. The scans included the following parameters: (slice thickness/reconstruction interval: 0.625 mm, kVp: 120, mAs: 200). 3D volume rendering and measurement of the surface distance from the pylorus to the EGC were performed using the developed software. Results: The average difference between the lesion to pylorus distances measured from pathologic specimens and CT gastrography was $5.3{\pm}2.9\;mm(range,\;0{\sim}23\;mm)$. The lesion to pylorus distance measured from CT gastrography was well correlated with that measured from the pathologic specimens (r=0.9843, P<0.001). Conclusion: These results suggest that the surface distance from an anatomic landmark to the EGC can be measured accurately by CT gastrography. This technique could be used for preoperative localization of early gastric carcinomas to determine the optimal extent of surgical resection.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.85-95
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of oral habits on the muscles of mastication and facial expression by means of two parameters: muscle stiffness and elasticity. 10 healthy, fully-dentate male subjects in their twenties were selected for this study; all had normal Class I occlusal relationships. Muscle stiffness and elasticity were measured with a tactile sensor(Venustron, Axiom Co., JAPAN) while subjects were asked to relax and perform various parafunctional activities such unilateral clenching(biting the bite force recorder with a force of 50kg on each subject's preferred side), jaw thrusting and lip bracing. The following muscles were examined: temporalis anterior(Ta), masseter(Mm), frontalis(Fr), inferior orbicularis oculi(OOci), zygomaticus major(Zm), superior and inferior orbularis oris(OOrs and OOri) and mentalis(Mn). Paired t-test, Correlation Coefficients, ANOVA and Multiple Comparison t-tests were used for statistical analysis. Unilateral clenching was highly correlated with bilateral stiffness and elasticity of all the muscles tested. Mm was affected by all three oral habits; Ta was affected by unilateral clenching(p<0.05); Zm was affected by unilateral clenching and OOrs, OOri and Mn were most affected by lip bracing(p<0.05). This study indicates that not only the masticatory muscles but also the muscles of facial expression, mainly circumoral muscles, can be significantly influenced by parafunctional activities such as unilateral clenching and lip bracing.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.32-49
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• 1998

For estimation of regional myocardial blood flow with O-15 water PET, a few modifications considering partial volume effect based on single compartment model have been proposed. In this study, we attempted to quantify the degree of heterogeneity and to show the effect of tissue flow heterogeneity on partition coefficient(${\lambda}$) and to find the relation between perfusable tissue index(PTI) and ${\lambda}$ by computer simulation using two modified models. We simulated tissue curves for the regions with homogeneous and heterogeneous blood flow over a various flow range(0.2-4.0ml/g/min). Simulated heterogeneous tissue composed of 4 subregions of the same or different size of block which have different homogeneous flow and different degree of slope of distribution of blood flow. We measured the index representing heterogeneity of distribution of blood flow for each heterogeneous tissue by the constitution heterogeneity(CH). For model I, we assumed that tissue recovery coefficient ($F_{MME}$) was the product of partial volume effect($F_{MMF}$) and PTI. Using model I, PTI, flow, and $F_{MM}$ were estimated. For model II, we assumed that partition coefficient was another variable which could represent tissue characteristics of heterogeneity of flow distribution. Using model II, PTI, flow and ${\lambda}$ were estimated. For the simulated tissue with homogeneous flow, both models gave exactly the same estimates, of three parameters. For the simulated tissue with heterogeneous flow distribution, in model I, flow and $F_{MM}$ were correctly estimated as CH was increased moderately. In model II, flow and ${\lambda}$ were decreased curvi-linearly as CH was increased. The degree of underestimation of ${\lambda}$ obtained using model II, was correlated with CH. The degree of underestimation of flow was dependent on the degree of underestimation of ${\lambda}$. PTI was somewhat overestimated and did not change according to CH. We conclude that estimated ${\lambda}$ reflect the degree of tissue heterogeneity of flow distribution. We could use the degree of underestimation of ${\lambda}$ to find the characteristic heterogeneity of tissue flow and use ${\lambda}$ to recover the underestimated flow.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.361-361
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• 2017

The NPK are known as macro elements that affect crop growth and yield. In 1989, Cambodia Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) gave a recommendation rate of fertilizer on rice production based on soil types. This recommended rate of NPK seems however relatively low as compared to farmers' practices nowadays and the amount in the neighboring countries. The CARDI recommended rate for Prateah Lang soil type is 50kg N, $25kg\;P_2O_5$, $25kg\;K_2O\;ha^{-1}$ while recent farmers' practice rates are 55 - 64kg N, 24 - 46kg $P_2O_5$, $30kg\;K_2O\;ha^{-1}$. However, the overuse of chemical fertilizer will lead to un-preferable plant growth, insect pest, disease and economic yield. Thus, we examined the effect of different NPK application rates on the growth and yield components in Prateah Lang soil type in Takeo province to investigate appropriate rates for improving rice productivity with economic efficiency. This study was conducted from July to November during wet season in 2013. A multi-locational trial with 6 treatments (T0 - T5) of NPK rates in 5 locations (trial 1 - 5) with 3 replications was conducted. The different combinations of NPK application were employed from 0, 50, 60, 80, 100, $120kg\;N\;ha^{-1}$, 0, 25, 30 45, $60kg\;P_2O_5\;ha^{-1}$ and 0, 15, 25, 30, $45kg\;K_2O\;ha^{-1}$. Urea, DAP and KCl were used for fertilization. Split application was employed [basal: 20% of N, 100% of P and K, top dressing-1st: 40% of N (30DAT), 2nd: 40% of N (PI stage)]. Three-week-old seedlings of var. Phka Rumdoul were transplanted with 2 - 3 seedlings $hill^{-1}$ with $20cm{\times}20cm$ spacing. Plant length, tiller number at the maximum tillering stage and yield components were measured. The different rates of NPK application affected some yield components. The panicle number per hill was the most important key component followed by the spikelet number per panicle. However, the other parameters such as the filled grain percentage and 1000 grains weight had small effect or weak relation with the yield. Although the panicle number per hill had a significantly positive correlation with the stem number per hill, it was not correlated with the percentage of productive culms. The variation in the grain yield among the 5 trials was small and the difference was not significant. Although the yield tended to be higher at higher N and P application, there was no significant difference above 60kg N and $30kg\;P_2O_5$. The yield was the highest at 15, 30 and $45kg\;K_2O$ followed by $25kg\;K_2O$. The relationships between N, P and the stem number per hill were significantly linear positive, though it was not linear between K and the stem number. From these results, to increase rice productivity in the target area, farmers' effort to increase N and P input rather than CARDI recommendation up to 60kg N and $30kg\;P_2O_5$ will be sufficient considering economic efficiency. Besides, the amount of K application should be reconsidered.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.363-363
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• 2017

The NPK are known as macro elements that affect crop growth and yield. In 1989, Cambodia Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) gave a recommendation rate of fertilizer on rice production based on soil types. This recommended rate of NPK seems however relatively low as compared to farmers' practices nowadays and the amount in the neighboring countries. The CARDI recommended rate for Prateah Lang soil type is 50kg N, 25kg P2O5, 25kg K2O ha-1 while recent farmers' practice rates are 55 - 64kg N, 24 - 46kg P2O5, 30kg K2O ha-1. However, the overuse of chemical fertilizer will lead to un-preferable plant growth, insect pest, disease and economic yield. Thus, we examined the effect of different NPK application rates on the growth and yield components in Prateah Lang soil type in Takeo province to investigate appropriate rates for improving rice productivity with economic efficiency. This study was conducted from July to November during wet season in 2013. A multi-locational trial with 6 treatments (T0 - T5) of NPK rates in 5 locations (trial 1 - 5) with 3 replications was conducted. The different combinations of NPK application were employed from 0, 50, 60, 80, 100, 120kg N ha-1, 0, 25, 30 45, 60kg P2O5 ha-1 and 0, 15, 25, 30, 45kg K2O ha-1. Urea, DAP and KCl were used for fertilization. Split application was employed [basal: 20% of N, 100% of P and K, top dressing-1st: 40% of N (30DAT), 2nd: 40% of N (PI stage)]. Three-week-old seedlings of var. Phka Rumdoul were transplanted with 2 - 3 seedlings hill-1 with $20cm{\times}20cm$ spacing. Plant length, tiller number at the maximum tillering stage and yield components were measured. The different rates of NPK application affected some yield components. The panicle number per hill was the most important key component followed by the spikelet number per panicle. However, the other parameters such as the filled grain percentage and 1000 grains weight had small effect or weak relation with the yield. Although the panicle number per hill had a significantly positive correlation with the stem number per hill, it was not correlated with the percentage of productive culms. The variation in the grain yield among the 5 trials was small and the difference was not significant. Although the yield tended to be higher at higher N and P application, there was no significant difference above 60kg N and 30kg P2O5. The yield was the highest at 15, 30 and 45kg K2O followed by 25kg K2O. The relationships between N, P and the stem number per hill were significantly linear positive, though it was not linear between K and the stem number. From these results, to increase rice productivity in the target area, farmers' effort to increase N and P input rather than CARDI recommendation up to 60kg N and 30kg P2O5 will be sufficient considering economic efficiency. Besides, the amount of K application should be reconsidered.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.34 no.4 s.96
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• pp.327-336
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• 2001

Physical, chemical, and biological parameters were measured during the period from July 1993 to August 1994 near the Munui intake tower of Taechung Reservoir to evaluate effects of nutrients and suspended solids on algal chlorophyll-a and water clarity. Large amounts of precipitation during summer 1993 produced minimum conductivity ($88\;{\mu}S/cm$), minimum TN : TP (<40), and maximum total phosphorus (TP;$59\;{\mu}g/L$) and resulted in a chlorophyll-a peak ($79\;{\mu}g/L$) and minimum transparency (<1.5 m) among the seasons. At the same time, ratios of volatile suspended solids (VSS): non-volatile suspended solids (NVSS) were maximum (13.0),indicating that the reduced transparency was mainly attributed to biogenic turbidity in relation to phytoplankton growth. In contrast, severe drought in summer 1994 resulted in greater conductivity (>$120\;{\mu}S/cm$), water clarity (%gt;2 m), and lower TP and chlorophyll- a (<$10\;{\mu}g/L$) relative to those of summer 1993. Total phosphorus ($R^2=0.46$, n=59) accounted more variations of chlorophyll- a compared to total nitrogen ($R^2=0,29$, n=59). The mass ratios of TN : TP ranged from 39 to 222 and were strongly correlated with TP (r = -0.80) but not with concentrations of TN (r = 0.05). Ambient nutrient concentrations and TN : TP mass ratios indicated that seasonality of chlorophyll- a was likely determined by concentrations of phosphorus reflected by the distribution of rainfall. It was concluded that reductions of phosphorus during heavy rainfall may provide better water quality for the drinking water in the intake tower.