• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.15-19
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• 2007

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between body condition score (BCS), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and estrous expression for the purpose of improving reproductive performance. In total, 37 ovulations and 28 estrous detection were observed among 51 Holstein-Friesian dairy cows. The estrous inducement rate and estrous expression rate were significantly lower for cows with BCS below 2.0 than for cows with BCS above 2.0. There was 0% of rate of standing heat in cows with BCS below 2.0 whereas the rate of standing heat was markedly increased in cows with BCS above 2.0 (46.7% and 64.7% for BCS $2.0{\sim}2.49$ and BCS $2.5{\sim}3.0$ cows, respectively). The estrous expression rate was significantly lower for cows with BUN below 10mg/dl than for cows with BUN above 10mg/dl. There was no significant difference among duration time of estrus, estrous behavior patterns and BUN concentration. The rate of estrous expression and concentration of BUN was not significantly different between primiparous and multiparous cows. This result shows that the level of BCS and BUN affect the estrous expression. Considering the situation that estrous expression is decreased in recent years, effective nutritional management should be accompanied to improve reproductive performance.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.59-66
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• 2011

Purpose: We previously reported that concurrent reactivation of latent Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in children with hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection is common and EBV reactivation with HAV infection adversely affects the clinical features of hepatitis. However, the incidence of concurrent reactivation was not accurate because the detection of EBV reactivation was based on serologic methods. Therefore, we studied the effects of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-proven EBV reactivation, thus a more precise concurrence, on acute HAV infection in children. Methods: PCR were conducted in 34 patients, who had enrolled previous study and diagnosed with acute HAV infection between January 2008 and June 2010. Their medical records were reviewed. Results: Among 34 patients with acute HAV infection, 12 patients (35.3%) had EBV reactivation which was proven using serologic and molecular biologic techniques. There were significant differences in the peak levels of AST and ALT between the reactivated and non-reactivated groups (p=0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). The duration of full recovery from hepatitis was more prolonged in the reactivated group (p<0.001). Clinical parameters, such as serum protein (p<0.001) and albumin concentrations (p<0.001), atypical lymphocyte count (p=0.001), prothrombin time-international normalized ratio (PT-INR, p<0.001), and splenomegaly (p<0.001), showed significant differences. The clinical features in the reactivated sub-group >10 years of age revealed more liver dysfunction compared to the non-reactivated sub-group. A comparison with a previous study was performed. Conclusion: PCR-proven reactivation of latent EBV in children with HAV infection is common and EBV reactivation with HAV infection adversely affects the clinical features of hepatitis, especially in older children.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.57-64
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• 2007

Purpose: Clinically, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) occurs within 72 hours after acute exposure of risk factors. Because of its high fatality rate once ARDS progresses, early detection and management are essential to reduce the mortality rate. Accordingly, studies on early changes of ARDS were started, and serum ferritin, as well the as injury severity score (ISS), which has been addressed in previous studies, thought to be an early predictive indicator for ARDSMethods: From March 2003 to March 2005, we investigated 50 trauma patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit in Dongguk University Medical Center, Gyeongju. The patients were characterized according to age, sex, ISS, onset of ARDS, time onset of ARDS, serum ferritin level (posttraumatic $1^{st}\;&\;2^{nd}$ day), amount of transfused blood, and death. Abdominal computed topography was performed as an early diagnostic tool to evaluate the onset of ARDS according to its diagnostic criteria. The serum ferritin was measured by using a $VIDAS^{(R)}$ Ferritin (bioMeriux, Marcy-1' Etoile, France) kit with an enzyme-linked fluorescent assay method. For statistical analysis, Windows SPSS 13.0 and MedCalc were used to confirm the probability of obtaining a predictive measure from the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve. Results: The ISS varied from 14 to 66 (mean: 33.8) whereas the onset of ARDS could be predicted with the score above 30 (sensitivity: 90.0%, specificity: 60.0%, p<0.05). On the posttraumatic $1^{st}$ day, the serum ferritin levels were measured to be from 31 mg/dL to 1,200 mg/dL (mean: 456 mg/dL), and the onset of ARDS could be predicted when the value was over 340 mg/dL (sensitivity: 80.0%, specificity: 65.0%, p<0.05). On the posttraumatic $2^{nd}$ day, the serum ferritin levels were measured to be from 73 mg/dL to 1,200 mg/dL (mean: 404 mg/dL), and the onset of ARDS could be predicted when the value was over 627 mg/dL (sensitivity: 60.0%, specificity: 92.5%, p<0.05). The serum ferritin levels and the ISS were significantly higher on the posttraumatic $1^{st}$ and $2^{nd}$ day in the ARDS group, suggesting that they are suitable indices predicting the onset of ARDS, however relationship between the serum ferritin levels and the ISS was not statistically significant. Conclusion: In this study, we discovered increasing serum ferritin levels in multiple- trauma patients on the posttraumatic $1^{st}$ & $2^{nd}$ day and concluded that both the serum ferritin level and the ISS were good predictors of ARDS. Although they do not show statistically significant relationship to each other, they can be used as independent predictive measures for ARDS. Since ARDS causes high mortality, further studies, including the types of surgery and the methods of anesthesia on a large number of patients are essential to predict the chance of ARDS earlier and to reduce the incidence of death.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.334-342
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• 2001

Background : RpoB gene mutations have been found in about 96-98% of rifampicin (RMP)-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Recent reports confirm that the in laboratory settings a rpoB gene mutation can be used as a surrogate marker for multi-drug resistant tuberculosis. However, its usefulness in clinical applications has not been evaluated. This study was performed to confirm whether mutation analysis of the rpoB gene of M. tuberculosis is useful in clinical settings. Methods : The medical records of 33 patients in whom rpoB gene analysis was conducted using an INNOLiPA Rif. TB assay (LiPA) from June, 1998, to July, 2000, at the Asan Medical Center were retrospectively reviewed in 33 patients. The clinical characteristics in addition to the drug susceptibility and LiPA results were analyzed. The drug susceptibility test was considered as a gold standard method for M. tuberculosis susceptibility and these results were compared with those of the rpoB gene study and sequencing analysis. Sequencing analysis of the rpoB gene was done in cases where there was a discrepancy between the results of the drug susceptibility an d rpoB gene study. Results : The mean age and sex ratio was $42{\pm}18$, and 24:9 (M:F), respectively. There were 19 RMP susceptible (58%) and 14 RMP-resistant cases (42%) according to the rpoB gene study. The mean time from the request to reporting the results of the rpoB gene study was $5.2{\pm}2.6$ days. The mean gap from reporting the rpoB gene study to reporting the susceptibility was $56{\pm}35$ days. Twenty-eight cases (85%) showed identical results compared with the drug susceptibility results, whereas five cases (15%) showed contradictory results. When compared with the sequencing analysis, of the five cases that showed contradictory results, two had LiP A analysis errors and the remaining three were identical to the sequencing results. The rpoB gene study was of assistance in choosing the appropriate drugs in 28 cases (85%). Conclusions : An rpoB gene study using an LiP A assay was useful in rapidly diagnosing RMP-resistant tuberculosis, which enabled a proper choice of the appropriate drugs in clinical practices. However, an LiPA assay always should be performed in conjunction with microscopy, culture, and susceptibility tests.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.65 no.5
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• pp.379-384
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• 2008

Background: Sputum decontamination with NALC-NaOH (N-acetyl-L-cysteine-sodium hydroxide) is known to better detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) by culture than that with using NaOH, which is widely used in Korean hospitals. In this report, sputum samples collected from pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients were treated with either NaOH or NALC-NaOH, and we compared the results of smear and culture positivity to determine whether the NALC-NaOH treatment method improves culture positivity in the sputum samples, and especially for those sputum samples that are smear negative and scanty. Methods: For each decontamination method, 436 sputum samples from pulmonary TB patients in the National Masan Tuberculosis Hospital were collected for this study. Sputum from a patient was collected two times for the first and second day of sampling time, and these samples were employed for the decontamination process by performing the 4% NaOH and NALC-2% NaOH treatment methods, respectively, for detecting M. tb by an AFB (Acid Fast Bacilli) smear and also by culture in solid Ogawa medium. Results: The NaOH and NALC-NaOH treatment methods did not significantly affect the AFB smear positivity of the sputum samples (33.0% vs 39.0%, respectively, p=0.078). However, the culture positive percents of M. tb in the Ogawa medium treated with NALC-NaOH and NaOH were 39.7% and 28.0%, respectively, which was a significantly different (p=0.0003). This difference in culture was more prominent in the sputum samples that were smear negative (the positive percents with NALC-NaOH and NaOH were 15.8% and 7.2%, respectively, p=0.0017) and scanty (NALC-NaOH and NaOH were 60.8% and 42.9%, respectively, p=0.036), but not for a smear that was 1+ or higher (p>0.05). Conclusion: NALC-NaOH treatment is better than NaOH treatment for the detection of M. tb by culture, but not by smear, and especially when the AFB smear is negative and scanty.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.14
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• pp.165-172
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• 1973

The sterile phenomenon is frequently found in the inter-species hybrids of ginseng as in other plants. It is known that among the hybrids between Panax Ginseng (PG) and Panax Quinquefolium (PQ), and between Panax Ginseng and Paxax Japonicus (PI), PG${\times}$PI is fertile only very rarely, while PG ${\times}$ PQ is always sterile. Therefore, in order to clarify the relationship between this sterility phenomenon and the metabolism of free amino acids, the changes of free amino acids through the formation of the flower organs and seeds of two hybrids, PG ${\times}$ PQ and PG ${\times}$ PI were investigated by thin layer chromatography. The results are summarized as follows: 1. Distinct differences in the quantity and number of free amino acids were recognized between PG ${\times}$ PQ, PG ${\times}$ PI and their parent plants. From the hybrid PG ${\times}$ PQ, 19 kinds of ninhyrin sensitive substances were detected in all. They were (1) 17 amino acids: alanine, valine, leucine, phenylalanine, proline, hydroxy-proline, serine, threonine, tyrosine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, lysine, arginine, ${\gamma}$-amino butyric acid, ${\beta}$-alanine, cysteic acid and tryptophan, and (2) two amides: asparagine and glutamine. From the hybrid PG ${\times}$ PI, in addition to the above 19 substances, methionine and one unknown substance were detected. 2. Generally, alanine, as partie acid, glutamic acid, cysteic acid and asparagine were detected in large amounts in the two hybrids as in PG, PG and PJ but it was a noticeable fact concerning these two hybrids that the largest quantity of asparagine was found at microspore satge and pollen mature stage. 3. The decrease of cysteic acid in the two hybrids at the red ripened stage was the same as in PQ and PJ but opposite to the change in PG. The detection of methionine in PG ${\times}$ PJ was worthy of notice. 4. The change of proline was conspicuously different from that in their parent plants. It was detected as a trace of color at the micros pore stage while asparagine was detected in the greatest amount at that time. It is well known that the quantity of proline is closely related to the sterility of plant. This fact was also found true in the formation of ginseng seeds. It was reported as well that asparagine accumulated when proline decreased. 5. The deficiency of proline seemed to be closely related with the sterility of hybrids and with the degradation of pollen in anther. 6. The difference in the changes of free amino acids between the selfed lines of PG, PQ and PJ, and their hybrids seemed to be caused by the transformation of gene-action system by hybridization. On these phenomena along with proline metabolim and its physiological role in seed formation further studies are required.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.178-189
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• 2012

As phthalates classified as toxic to reproduction category 2 and endocrine disrupting chemicals were more strictly regulated as Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) for authorization in under EU REACH and considered as priority substances in RoHS II, standardization of phthalate testing method is now being proposed in IEC 62321 of IEC TC 111 and the 2nd revision of KS M 1991 is also finished. In order to assist standardization activities related to phthalating testing, solvent extraction part of existing national standards were compared and verified. Recovery of DEHP (diethylhexyl phthalate) from PVC (polyvinyl chloride) by Soxhlet extraction increased in the order of methanol, toluene, dichloromethane and hexane from 46.9% to 95.3% as measured by GC-MS. Optimum extraction time was verified to be 6 hours using hexane. Recovery of DBP (dibutyl phthalate), BBP (butylbenzyl phthalate), and DEHP from different matrixes such as PVC, nitro cellulose, ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene). and EPDM(ethylene propylene diene monomer) rubber were evaluated to be more than 90% up to 99%. The detection limits of phthalates in solvent extraction followed by GC-MS analysis were 0.08~0.3 ${\mu}g/mL$ in solution and 8~30 mg/Kg in polymeric samples. GC-MS analyses of phthalates were carried out using different solvent extraction based on the EN 14372, ASTM D 7083, Japanese test method (MHLW 0906-4) and KS M 1991, proving that equivalent recoveries ranging from 98%~99% were obtained. DBP and DEHP were detected in three consumer products such as a child toy, a power cable and manicure with the amount of 22~1,910 mg/kg.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.217-221
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• 2012

This study was carried out to evaluate residual characteristics of tolclofos-methyl in ginseng and elucidate the reason for its high detection rate from fresh ginseng selling at markets. Seeds of ginseng were sowed after seed dressing with tolclofos-methyl and after a year of growth, the young seedlings were transplanted to field. They were then harvested annually until three-years of growth and the pesticide residue was analyzed in them. LOD and LOQ of the pesticide were 0.001 and 0.003 mg/kg, respectively. Recovery test was carried out to validate the analytical method for tolclofos-methyl in ginseng. The ginseng seedlings were fortified with the test pesticide at the level of LOQ, ten times of LOQ and maximum residue concentration of tolclofos-methyl. Its recovery ranged from 77.37 to 100.16%. Residual concentration of tolclofos-methyl in ginseng seedlings just before transplanting and two-year-old ginseng were from 7.58 to 8.05 and from 6.46 to 6.79 mg/kg, respectively. In case of three-year-old ginseng, it was found to be from 4.18 to 4.35 mg/kg. As a result of annual pesticide residue analysis, concentration of the pesticide was found to decrease time-coursely in ginseng. This may be due to decomposition and increasing of fresh weight of the ginseng during the cultivation periods of three years.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.123-134
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• 1998

The study was performed to investigate the differences among various evaluation criteria for noise-induced hearing loss(NIHL). The subjects were 100 workers who had received detailed audiometric examinations after the periodic annual examination for hearing loss. The evaluation criteria included were as follows: The criterion I was NIHL of 50dB or greater at 4,000Hz in either ear which is one of the legal requirements for determining occupational hearing loss in Korea. The criterion II was NIHL of 40dB or greater by 4-divided classification(a+b+c+d/4 at 500Hz(a), 1,000Hz(b), 2,000Hz(c), 4,000Hz(d)) which is also one of the legal requirements for determining occupational hearing loss in Korea. The criterion III was NIHL of 31dB of greater by 6-divided classification(a+2b+2c+d/6) which is the workers' compensation standard. The criterion IV was NIHL of 40dB or greater by 6-divided classification(a+2b+2c+d/6), the criterion used to prohibite workers to be employed in the noisy workplace. The criterion V was NIHL of 40dB or greater by 3-divided classification(a+b+c/3) which is the guideline of the Japanes Labour Department. The results were as follows; 1. The percentage of workers with NIHL by the criterion I was the highest(96%) and covered all workers with NIHL diagnosed by other criteria. Therefore, this criterion was the most sensitive one for early detection of NIHL among various evaluation criteria. 2. The percentage of workers with NIHL by the criterion II was 29% of the subjects, but all of them could be diagnosed as having NIHL by the criterion I and 33.1% of the NIHL by the criterion III could not be covered by the criterion II. Thus, this criterion was not considered suitable as an initial step for determining occupational hearing loss. 3. The percentage of workers with NIHL by the criterion III was 45% of the subjects. This percentage was 46.9% of the NIHL by the criterion I and was estimated to cover 3.6% of all noise exposed workers. 4. The percentage of workers with NIHL by the criterion IV was 28% of the subjects, but 37.8% of the NIHL by the criterion III and 70.8% of the NIHL by the criterion I were not covered by the criterion. Therefore, these workers could have been employed in the noisy workplaces. 5. Employed relocation which was one of the post management methods was an option in the criterion I in Korea and in the criterion V in Japan. The number of NIHL by the criterion I was 6.7times greater than that by the criterion V. Thus, although employee relocation was not used exclusively, many more workers with NIHL could have been relocated. In conclusion, this study revealed that the criteria being used for managing occupational hearing loss showed a lack uniformity among them. In addition, since these criteria are all relied on the total threshold shifts caused by the noise exposure at the time of hearing test with no consideration given to the past noise exposure history nor age, it can be said that they are not an effective tool for occupational hearing loss management. Since legal requirements are usually followed after being diagnosed as having NIHL, it is recommended that a uniform diagnostic criterion should be used to minimize confusion. Pre-employment hearing tests should also be utilized so as to managing occupational hearing loss after employment rather than being used as a legal roadblock of prohibiting workers with mild hearing loss from being employed. Thus, what is needed is an establishment of a rational criterion for occupational hearing loss management rather than for legal requirements.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.199-206
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• 2009

Purpose: To analyze the clinical spectrum of posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) after liver transplantation in children. Methods: From January 1988 to June 2009, we retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 8 PTLD cases among 148 pediatric patients underwent liver transplantation. The age at transplantation, time of presentation after transplantation, clinical manifestations, histologic diagnosis, results of EBV (Epstein-Barr virus) assessments, managements and outcomes of PTLD were investigated. Results: The prevalence of PTLD in liver transplant pediatric recipients was 5.4% (8 of 148). The mean age of patients was 25.4${\pm}$21.3 months (range 10 to 67 months). Seven of 8 patients (87.5%) underwent liver transplantation before 1 year of age. The common clinical presentations were persistent fever (8 of 8, 100%) and bloody diarrhea (6 of 8, 75%). PTLD was diagnosed with gastrointestinal endoscopic biopsies in five patients and surgical biopsies in three. Histologic findings showed early lesion in three patients, polymorphic in two, and monomorphic in three. Burkitt lymphoma and lymphoblastic lymphoma were found in two of 3 monomorphic patients. Seven of 8 patients were found with EBV-positive. Eight patients were treated with dose reduction of immunosuppressants and infusion of ganciclovir. Rituximab was added to four patients. PTLD were successfully managed in all patients except one who died of sepsis during chemotherapy. Conclusion: Major risk factor of PTLD was to undergo liver transplantation before 1 year of age. Continuous monitoring for EBV viral load and gastrointestinal endoscopic biopsy may be useful to early detection of PTLD.