• 대한한의학회지
• /
• 제24권4호
• /
• pp.113-119
• /
• 2003

The association between apolipoprotein E (apo E) gene polymorphism and ischemic cerebrovascular disease (ICVD) has been controversial. These controversies may be due to inaccurate classification of patients and ethnic differences. We investigated the association between apo E genotypes and ICVD patients by case-control study in a Korean population. The association between apo E polymorphism and ICVD was examined in 121 patients with ICVD and 132 controls without ICVD. The E3/E4 phenotype was more frequent in control subjects (23.8％) than in patients (13.0％) (p<0.05). The E2/E3 phenotype was more frequent in patients (14.8％) than in control subjects (10.8％), but the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). These results suggest that the E4 allele may be a protective factor against early vascular morbidity, and the E2 allele may be a risk factor for cerebrovascular morbidity.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• 제59권4호
• /
• pp.403-408
• /
• 2021

Avian coccidiosis has a major economic impact on the poultry industry, it is caused by 7 species of Eimeria, and has been primarily controlled using chemotherapeutic agents. Due to the emergence of drug-resistant strains, alternative control strategies are needed. We assessed anticoccidial effects of berberine-based diets in broiler chickens following oral infection with 5 Eimeria species (E. acervulina, E. maxima, E. tenella, E. mitis, and E. praecox). When 0.2% berberine, a concentration that does not affect weight gain, was added to the diet, the 4 groups infected with E. acervulina, E. tenella, E. mitis, or E. praecox showed significant reductions in fecal oocyst shedding (P<0.05) compared to their respective infected and untreated controls. In chickens treated 0.5% berberine instead of 0.2% and infected with E. maxima, fecal oocyst production was significantly reduced, but body weight deceased, indicating that berberine treatment was not useful for E. maxima infection. Taken together, these results illustrate the applicability of berberine for prophylactic use to control most Eimeria infections except E. maxima. Further studies on the mechanisms underlying the differences in anticoccidial susceptibility to berberine, particularly E. maxima, are remained.

• 대한임상독성학회지
• /
• 제6권1호
• /
• pp.25-31
• /
• 2008

Purpose: Acute organophosphate (OP) poisoning may be monitored by measuring the acetylcholinesterase (AChE). It is important to assess severity and establish prognostic tests in the early stage of OP poisoning. The aim of this study was to look at the relationship between various clinical aspects of the OP poisoning, prognostic indicators of OP poisoning including Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS) 3, and the associated changes in AChE levels. Methods: Clinical data and initial AChE levels from thirty-seven patients with OP poisoning were prospectively reviewed from 12 teaching hospitals in South Korea from August 2005 to July 2006. Clinical manifestations at the time of arrival such as miosis, respiratory abnormality, salivation, urinary incontinence, GCS score, AVPU scale, need for intubation, and mechanical ventilation requirements were recorded. SAPS 3 was calculated using clinical data and laboratory results. Results: The median level of AChE was 9.8 (1.3-53.6) U/gHb. There was no significant difference in AChE levels between the groups with and without cholinergic symptoms. The median level of AChE of the patients who required intubation and those who did not were 3.5 U/gHb and it 19.7 U/gHb respectively (Mann-Whitney test; p<0.001). The AChE levels were also significantly different (p=0.007) in patients who needed mechanical ventilation compared to those who did not with AChE levels found to be 3.1 U/gHb and it was 14.8 U/gHb, respectively. Level of consciousness assessed using the AVPU scale was correlated with AChE levels (Kruskal-Wallis test; p=0.013). GCS score were correlated with AChE levels (p=0.007, Spearman's rho = 0.454). In addition, the lower the level of initial AChE, the longer the ICU stay (p=0.029, Spearman's rho=-0.380). SAPS 3 was inversely correlated with the initial AChE (p<0.001, Spearman's rho=-0.633). Conclusion: In the acute OP poisoning, low AChE levels appear to help indicate the severity of poisoning. The initial AChE level may be a useful prognostic parameter for acute OP poisoning.

• 동의생리병리학회지
• /
• 제18권4호
• /
• pp.1192-1198
• /
• 2004

Sasang Constitutional Medicine is a major branch of Korean Traditional Medicine. The differences of disease susceptibility to be shown in Sasang constitution may be due to genetic factors. Therefore, I examined interrelationship among cerebral infarction (CI), apolipoprotein E (apo E) gene polymorphism, and Sasang constitutional classification. Apo E is a key protein modulating the highly atherogenic apoB containing lipoproteins and is a candidate gene for the development of coronary artery disease (CAD). The ε2 and/or ε4 alleles were the first to be implicated in premature CAD, which resulted in this polymorphism being extensively studied. I investigated the association between apo E genotype and CI by case-control study in a Korean population. I also classified CI patients and control group into groups according to Sasang Constitutional Medicine. 218 CI patients and 379 controls without CI were examined. Apo E genotype was determined by 8% polyacrylamide gel separation after DNA amplification. A frequency of apo E ε3/ε3 in the apo E genotype distribution was higher in the CI patients compared with that in controls. Also, it was widely known that Taeumin was easily attacked with CI, but there was no association between apo E polymorphim and Taeumin. However, the Taeumin constitution did not enhance the relative risk for CI in the subjects with apo E ε2 and/or ε4 alleles. No differences in the apo E genotypes frequencies were observed in the Taeumin compared with that in the other constitutions. In addition, I investigated whether the DD(deletion/deletion) or ID(insertion/deletion) genotype of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene, a candidate gene for CI, was associated with CI, Taeumin constitution, and apo E polymorphism. As a result, the frequency of Taeumin constitution was significantly higher in CI patients with both apo E ε3/ε4 and ACE ID/DD genotypes than in the remaining Sasang constitutions. In summary, it was concluded that the apo E polymorphism is a major risk factor for CI in Koreans and the ACE ID/DD genotype enhanced the relative risk for CI in the subjects with apo E ε3/ε4 genotype and Taeumin constitution.

• 대한수의학회지
• /
• 제60권4호
• /
• pp.203-207
• /
• 2020

This study presents neuronal migration pattern of dopamine (DA) neurons generated in separate regions occupying the ventral mesencephalic territory. A single pulse 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) was administered at embryonic day (E)10-E15. Distribution of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) positive cells was determined at E13-postnatal day 0 (P0) by immunohistochemistry. BrdU positive cells labeled at E10 were spread out uniformly in the mesencephalon from E13 to E15, migrating through dorsal and ventral routes at E17 and P0. TH expression labeled at E10 was observed at E13 in the ventromedial region and clearly formed in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) at E15. At E17, TH expression in the substantia nigra (SN) was observed in the ventrolateral region, spreading more outward of the mesencephalon at P0. Generation of TH-positive cells labeled at E13 was also observed in VTA and SN of the mesencephalon at E17 and P0. The expression of these cells labeled after E15 was markedly decreased. These results demonstrated that an almost complete primary structure of DA neuron was formed at the early embryonic stage in the ventral mesencephalon, showing the most active neuronal migration was occurred at E13-E17.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• 제84권2호
• /
• pp.159-166
• /
• 2021

Background: E-cigarettes are steadily gaining popularity in Korea. However, the characteristics of e-cigarette smokers, especially nicotine dependence and stress susceptibility, have not been evaluated in comparison to those of nonsmokers or combustible cigarette smokers in Korea. Methods: In this study, 28,059 participants from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013-2017) were classified into the following three groups: non-smokers, smokers (current smokers and ex-smokers of combustible cigarettes only), and e-smokers (current smokers and ex-smokers of e-cigarettes regardless of combustible cigarette use). Results: Among the participants, 16,980 (60.5%), 9,247 (33.0%), and 1,832 (6.4%) subjects were non-smokers, smokers, and e-smokers, respectively. E-smokers were younger, more educated, and had a higher household income than non-smokers or smokers. The number of e-smokers who smoked within 5 minutes of waking up (31.5% vs. 19.8%, p<0.001) and who planned to quit smoking within 6 months (39.1% vs. 35.7%, p<0.05) was greater than that of smokers. E-smokers perceived stress as "very much" (7.0% vs. 4.4%, p<0.001) and "a lot" (29.1% vs. 20.5%, p<0.001) compared to non-smokers. Suicidal ideation (6.5% vs. 4.7%, p<0.001), plans (2.4% vs. 1.3%, p<0.001), and attempts (1.1% vs. 0.5%, p<0.001) were higher in e-smokers than in non-smokers. Depressive episodes in 1 year (14.2% vs. 11.4%, p<0.05) and suicidal plans (2.4% vs. 1.8%, p<0.05) were more frequent among e-smokers than among smokers. Conclusion: E-smokers were younger, more educated, and had a higher income, but they were more dependent on nicotine and susceptible to stress than non-smokers and smokers. Smoking cessation counseling should be tailored according to the characteristics of e-smokers.

• Allergy, Asthma & Respiratory Disease
• /
• 제6권6호
• /
• pp.310-314
• /
• 2018

Purpose: Conventional serum IgE assay was costly, required the skills of expert, and relied heavily on expensive equipment. Quantitative measurement of total IgE using Point of Care Test (POCT) device can be the solution for these limitations. This study evaluated and validated the reproducibility of ImmuneCheck IgE. Methods: This study included 120 patients of allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis, asthma, drug allergy, food allergy, atopic dermatitis, or anaphylaxis. The reliability of POCT ImmuneCheck IgE was evaluated by comparing results from the naked eye and from the Q-Reader. Intratest reproducibility and intertest correlation were analyzed using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results: Of the 120 enrolled patients, 51 were males and 69 were females. The ages ranged from 19 to 84 years, with an average age of 51.5 years. The concentration of serum total IgE measured by Phadia ImmunoCAP IgE ranged from 5.95 to 5,000 IU/mL. ICC for Intratest reproducibility of ImmuneCheck IgE by naked eye and by Q-Reader were 0.991 (P< 0.001) and 0.989 (P< 0.001), respectively. In addition, intertest correlation between ImmuneCheck IgE and Phadia ImmunoCAP IgE results of naked eye and Q-Reader were 0.968 (P< 0.001) and 0.948 (P< 0.001), respectively. Conclusion: The ImmuneCheck IgE was reproducible and highly correlated with conventional Phadia ImmunoCAP IgE assay. This result suggests that ImmuneCheck IgE can be a useful tool for rapid and precise detection of total IgE.

• Advances in nano research
• /
• 제12권5호
• /
• pp.501-514
• /
• 2022

This study aimed to investigate the effects and potential mechanisms of Chikusetsusaponin V (CsV) on endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and vascular endothelial cell functions. Different concentrations of CsV were added to animal models, bovine aorta endothelial cells (BAECs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) cultured in vitro. qPCR, Western blotting (WB), and B ultrasound were performed to explore the effects of CsV on mouse endothelial cell functions, vascular stiffness and cellular eNOS mRNA, protein expression and NO release. Bioinformatics analysis, network pharmacology, molecular docking and protein mass spectrometry analysis were conducted to jointly predict the upstream transcription factors of eNOS. Furthermore, pulldown and ChIP and dual luciferase assays were employed for subsequent verification. At the presence or absence of CsV stimulation, either overexpression or knockdown of purine rich element binding protein A (PURA) was conducted, and PCR assay was employed to detect PURA and eNOS mRNA expressions, Western blot was used to detect PURA and eNOS protein expressions, cell NO release and serum NO levels. Tube formation experiment was conducted to detect the tube forming capability of HUVECs cells. The animal vasodilation function test detected the vasodilation functions. Ultrasonic detection was performed to determine the mouse aortic arch pulse wave velocity to identify aortic stiffness. CsV stimulus on bovine aortic cells revealed that CsV could upregulate eNOS protein levels in vascular endothelial cells in a concentration and time dependent manner. The expression levels of eNOS mRNA and phosphorylation sites Ser1177, Ser633 and Thr495 increased significantly after CsV stimulation. Meanwhile, CsV could also enhance the tube forming capability of HUVECs cells. Following the mice were gavaged using CsV, the eNOS protein level of mouse aortic endothelial cells was upregulated in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, and serum NO release and vasodilation ability were simultaneously elevated whereas arterial stiffness was alleviated. The pulldown, ChIP and dual luciferase assays demonstrated that PURA could bind to the eNOS promoter and facilitate the transcription of eNOS. Under the conditions of presence or absence of CsV stimulation, overexpression or knockdown of PURA indicated that the effect of CsV on vascular endothelial function and eNOS was weakened following PURA gene silence, whereas overexpression of PURA gene could enhance the effect of CsV upregulating eNOS expression. CsV could promote NO release from endothelial cells by upregulating the expression of PURA/eNOS pathway, improve endothelial cell functions, enhance vasodilation capability, and alleviate vessel stiffness. The present study plays a role in offering a theoretical basis for the development and application of CsV in vascular function improvement, and it also provides a more comprehensive understanding of the pharmacodynamics of CsV.

• 대한한의진단학회지
• /
• 제10권2호
• /
• pp.31-42
• /
• 2006

Background and Purpose : The concept of $Wux{\'{\i}}ng$(五行) is central to all elements of the Koran traditional medicine. And $Wux{\'{\i}}ng$ is considered to one of the constitution theories in some of oriental medicine fields in South Korea. The aim of this study is to find necessary and concrete estimation factors for distributing patterns of $Wux{\'{\i}}ngr{\'{e}}n$(五行人) respectively. Methods : We translated and summarized the records about distinguishing characteristics and distributing points of Wu-Xing Ren described in <$L{\'{\i}}ngshu$(靈樞)${\cdot}$Yin-Y${\'{a}}$ng ${\`{e}}rsh{\'{\i}}wur{\'{e}}n$(陰陽二十五人)>. Some review articles were identified through searches of KISS and KERIS databases. Results and Conclusion : Concrete distinguishing characteristics and distributing points of Wu-Xing Ren were described in <$Lingshu{\cdot}Yin-Y{\'{a}}ng\;{\`{e}}rsh{\'{\i}}wur{\'{e}}n$>. According to <$Lingshu{\cdot}Yin-Y{\'{a}}ng\;{\`{e}}rsh{\'{\i}}wur{\'{e}}n$>, the most notable characteristics and distributing points are the skin color and shape of face. but the skin color and shape of face are too ambiguous to be used as distributing criteria in a practical manner. In stead size of head, longitudinal length of back, disposition, and width between both shoulders may be used as distributing criteria in practical clinic fields.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• 제79권4호
• /
• pp.295-301
• /
• 2016

Background: Specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) sensitization to staphylococcal enterotoxin (SE) has been recently considered to be related to allergic disease, including asthma. Despite studies on specific IgE (sIgE) to SE and its relationship to asthma diagnosis and severity, the association of sIgE to SE with airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) remains unclear. Methods: We enrolled 81 asthma patients admitted to the Severance Hospital in Korea from March 1, 2013, to February 28, 2015 and retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of the enrolled subjects. The serum levels of sIgE to SE (A/B) of all subjects was measured using the ImmunoCAP 250 (Phadia) system with SE-sIgE positive defined as >0.10 kU/mL. Results: The SE-sIgE level was not significantly correlated with asthma severity (forced expiratory volume in 1 second [$FEV_1$], $FEV_1$/forced vital capacity, sputum eosinophils, and serum eosinophils), whereas the SE-sIgE level in patients with positive AHR ($mean{\pm}standard$ error of the mean, $0.606{\pm}0.273kU/mL$) was significantly higher than that in patients with negative AHR ($0.062{\pm}0.015kU/mL$, p=0.034). In regression analysis, SE sensitization (sIgE to SE ${\geq}0.010kU/mL$) was a significant risk factor for AHR, after adjustment for age, sex, $FEV_1$, and sputum eosinophils (odds ratio, 7.090; 95% confidence interval, 1.180-42.600; p=0.032). Prevalence of SE sensitization was higher in patients with allergic rhinitis and non-atopic asthma patients, as compared to patients without allergic rhinitis and atopic asthma patients, respectively, but without statistical significance. Conclusion: SE sensitization is significantly associated with AHR.