• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.49 no.4
• /
• pp.445-448
• /
• 2011

A survey was performed to find out the intermediate hosts of Gnathostoma nipponicum in Jeju-do (Province), the Republic of Korea. In August 2009 and 2010, a total of 82 tadpoles, 23 black-spotted pond frogs (Rana nigromaculata), 7 tiger keelback snakes (Rhabdophis tigrinus tigrinus), 6 red-tongue viper snakes (Agkistrodon ussuriensis), and 2 cat snakes (Elaphe dione) were collected in Jeju-do and examined by the pepsin-HCl digestion method. Total 5 gnathostome larvae were detected in 3 (50%) of 6 A. ussuriensis, 70 larvae in 3 of 7 (42.9%) R. tigrinus tigrinus, and 2 larvae in 2 of 82 (8.7%) frogs. No gnathostome larvae were detected in tadpoles and cat snakes. The larvae detected were a single species, and $2.17{\times}0.22mm$ in average size. They had characteristic head bulbs, muscular esophagus, and 4 cervical sacs. Three rows of hooklets were arranged in the head bulbs, and the number of hooklets in each row was 29, 33, and 36 posteriorly. All these characters were consistent with the advanced third-stage larvae of G. nipponicum. It has been first confirmed in Jeju-do that R. nigromaculata, A. ussuriensis, and R. tigrinus tigrinus play a role for intermediate and/or paratenic hosts for G. nipponicum.

• Animal cells and systems
• /
• v.2 no.4
• /
• pp.477-481
• /
• 1998

Previous studies have postulated that isometric animals exert similar locomotory capacity (speed, distance) because the amount of energy available for the motion would be the same regardless of body mass (m). To test propriety of this theory, we examined body shape and take-off potential of two frog species, Rana nigromaculata (powerful jumpers) and Bombina orientalis (slow hoppers). Morphological measurements included thigh muscle mass (indicative of total muscle force), hindlimb length (L, determining acceleration distance), and interilial width (shaping take-off motion). To gauge locomotory capacity, take-off speed (v) and take-off angle ($\theta$) were measured from video analyses, and jump distance (R) and take-off Power ($P_{t}$ ) were calculated from equations $R=V^{2}sin2\theta/g$ and ($P_{t}$＝$㎷^{3}/2L$(where g is the gravitational constant). Scaling exponents of morphometric variables for both species were 0.96-1.11 for thigh muscle mass, 0.28-0.29 for hindlimb length, and 0.30-0.36 for interilial width. Scaling exponents of locomotory performance for the two species were -0.01-0.14 for take-off speed, 0.24-0.31 for jump distance, and 0.66-0.84 for take-off power. The results demonstrate that the frogs of this study showed isometric body shape within species, but that take-off response changed allometrically with body mass, indicating that these data did not fully support the previous proposition. An exception was found in take-off speed of B. orientalis, in which the speed changed little with body mass (slope＝-0.01). These findings suggest that the energy availability approach did not properly explain the apparent allometric relations of the take-off response in these animals and that an alternative model such as a power production approach may be worth addressing.

• Animal cells and systems
• /
• v.3 no.4
• /
• pp.385-391
• /
• 1999

Changes in the levels of prostaglandian F$_{2a}$ (PGF$_{2a}$) and E$_2$ (PGE$_2$) in culture medium during in vitro ovulation of Rana dybowskii follicles were examined. The ovulation was induced by frog pituitary homogenate (FPH) or TPA (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, a protein kinase activator) and the levels of PGs were measured by radioimmunoassay. When the ovarian follicles were cultured, only a few oocytes were ovulated by 12 h, but half of them were ovulated by 24 h in response to FPH, whereas around 30% of oocytes were ovulated by 12 h and maximum ovulation (around 50%) occurred by 24 h in response to TPA. Without any stimulation (control), no ovulation occurred. TPA elevated the level of PGF$_{2a}$ to high levels when compared to control (basal levels), but the increase by FPH was less evident. Likewise, the levels of PGE$_2$ increased markedly in response to TPA, but rather decreased by FPH treatment. Interestingly, PGF$_{2a}$ induced ovulation but PGE$_2$ suppressed FPH- or PGF$_{2a}$-induced oocyte ovulation. Basal levels of PGs Increased steadily during culture. When theca/epithelium (THEP) layer and granulosa cell-enclosed oocytes (GCEOs) were separated by microdissection and cultured independently, higher levels of both PGs were secreted by THEP than by GCEOS. Synthesis of PGs by follicle or follicular components was strongly suppressed by exogenous cAMP or indomethacin. These results suggest that: 1) PGF$_{2a}$ plays an important role in Rana ovulation, 2) protein kinase C is involved in PGs production, and 3) thecal epithelium layer is responsible for the PGs production in Rana.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.430-439
• /
• 1994

S-Adenosyl-L-methionine synthetase (ATP: methionine S-Adenosyltransferase, EC 2.5.1.6; AdoMet synthetase) catalyzes the biosynthesis of S-Adenosyl-L-methionine(AdoMet) from methionine in the presence of ATP. To elucidate the role of transmethylation reaction in the pancreatic tissues, we examined AdoMet synthetase and isozyme activities, and AdoMet contents in the various tissues. The activities of AdoMet synthetase marked the highest in the kidney, and the lowest in the testis among the various tissues of rat. Considerable amounts of AdoMet synthetase activities were detected in the pancreatic tissues of various animals except for those of frog. The level of ${\alpha}$ and ${\gamma}$ isozyme activities were present in the pancreatic tissues of various animals, while ${\beta}$ isozyme activities were detected as trace. AdoMet synthetase activities of rat brain, liver, testis were decreased with growth. In the rat pancreatic tissues, AdoMet synthetase activities were increased during 16 days after birth and then decreased between 16 and 47 days of age. Levels of AdoMet contents of rat brain and testis were decreased with growth. However, AdoMet contents of rat pancreas were decreased until 26 days of age, and then increased thereafter. AdoMet synthetase isozyme patterns did not vary with growth in the pancreas and testis. But, in the liver, ${\beta}$ form is strikingly increased with growth.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.209-217
• /
• 2007

The system of wound healing is very complex biological processing that includes inflammatory, reepithelialization, and matrix construction. For identification of the transitional pathway of the keratinocytes, we have employed immunohistochemical analysis using cytokeratin antibody after wounding. Epithelium in skin of the frog(Bombina orientalis) was examined with transmission electron microscopy. Cytokeratin was expressed in normal basal and gland cavity cells. At 3-hour basal layer cells were strong positive, however cells of the upper layer were negative reaction. Day1 and 2 after post-wounding, regenerating epithelial cell layer was positive reaction, especially basal layer cells were strong positive. At day 10 after wounding, the degree of positive reaction to basal cells of regenerating epithelial tissue was equal to day 7 wound tissue. At day of 19th, basal and spinous layer cells were strong positive reaction. Regenerating epithelial cells were positive but some basal cells were strong positive at day 27. From this result, we identified that the migration of the keratinocytes in amphibian skin wounds is initiated from basal layer fells and the keratinocytes migrate into basal and middle of the wound area.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.39 no.6 s.263
• /
• pp.502-504
• /
• 2006

The major cause of Sparganosis is ingestion of raw snake or frog. The most common clinical manifestation of Sparganosis is subcutaneous moving nodule in abdominal wall, chest wall, thigh, and scrotal area. The most accurate method of diagnosis and treatment for Sparganosis is surgical removal of the parasite. We experienced pleural sparganosis in a 70-years-old male patient, and report it with review of literatures.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.35 no.3
• /
• pp.291-296
• /
• 2002

Thanatin, a 21-residue peptide, is an inducible insect peptide with a broad range of activity against bacteria and fungi. It has a C-terminal disulfide loop, like the frog skin secretion antimicrobial peptides of the brevinin family. In this study, we tried to find the effect of a number of amino acids between the disulfide bond. Thanatin showed stronger antibacterial activity to Gram negative bacteria than other mutants, except Th1; whereas, the mutant peptides with deletion had higher activity to Gram positive bacteria than thanatin. An increase in the number of amino acid(s) using the alanine residue decreased the antibacterial activity in all of the bacteria. Th1 with deletion of threonine at position 15 ($Thr^{15}$) showed similar antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacteria, but had higher activity against the Gram positive bacteria. In order to study the structure-function relationship, we measured liposome disruption by the peptides and CD spectra of the peptides. Th1 also showed the highest liposome leaking activity and α-helical propensity in the sodium dodecyl sulfate solution, compared with other peptides. Liposome disruption activity was closely correlated with the anti-Gram positive bacterial activity. All of the peptides showed no hemolytic activity. Th1 was considered to be useful as an antimicrobial peptide with broad spectrum without toxicity.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.73-75
• /
• 1985

Acute transient synovitis of the hip presents clinically pain and limping. But in the majority of the cases, definite positive findings are not manifest in roentgenogram in its early phase. However radionuclide bone imaging combines with the assessment of vascularization and bone tracer uptake is of great value in solving this diagnostic problem. The materials for this study consisted of 29 children with acute transient synovitis of the hip, characterized by symptoms and physical signs of an arthritis, negative X-ray findings and disappearance of all symptoms and signs within a short period of time. They were twenty males and 9 females and age ranged from 1 to 12 years. We took pelvic reontgenogram in AP and frog-leg views. After intravenous bolus injection of 10 to 15 mCi of $^{99m}Tc-methylene$ diphosphonate, 24 sequential image of the pelvis was taken at 2-second interval for blood flow study. The scintigrams were made using a gamma camera with high resolution parallel hole collimator. Blood pool imaging was obtained at 2 minutes after tracer administration. After 3 hours, static images were taken and then closeup image of the hip using pin-hole collimator was followed. The results were as follows: 1) Bone scintigram was much more sensitive than conventional roentgenogram in diagnosis of acute transient synovitis of the hip. 2) Three-phase imagings showed increased vascular activities in blood pool scintigrams in 96%. 3) Pin-hole imaging showed increased tracer uptake in the regional bones of the hip, par ticularly in the medial aspect of femoral head and acetabulum. 4) We confirmed that three-phase imaging reinforced with pin-hole technique were very useful in diagnose of acute transient synovitis of the hip.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.48 no.4
• /
• pp.272-279
• /
• 2015

The aim of this study was to assess the interaction between Daphnia similis and various organisms related to the rice paddy ecosystem. We selected several organisms that are likely to prey on D. similis and evaluate predation rate as well as responses of D. similis to the chemical compounds exuded by these organisms. As a result of predation experiment, larval dragonfly (Anax parthenope) and Triops longicaudatus were clearly shown decreasing abundances of D. similis. Especially, Triops longicaudatus was observed higher feeding rates on D. similis than larval dragonfly. Chemical compounds from the vertebrates such as fish (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus, Pseudorasbora parva, Micropterus salmoides) and tadpole of frog (Rana nigromaculata) did not affect the life history of Daphnia. However, a potential predatory fish P. parva induced significantly longer tail spine in Daphnia. In addition, among the invertebrates (T. longicaudatus, A. Parthenope, Micronecta spp., Palaemon paucidens), chemical compounds exuded by T. longicaudatus induced shorter body and significantly longer tail spine in D. similis.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
• /
• v.28 no.5
• /
• pp.638-647
• /
• 2011

Various approaches directly using vibrations of speakers have been suggested to effectively display the aural information such as the music to the hearing-impaired or the deaf. However, in these approaches, the human can't sense the frequency information over the maximum perceivable vibro-tactile frequency (around 1kHz). Therefore, in this study, an approach via spectral modulation of compressing the high frequency audio information into perceivable vibro-tactile frequency domain and outputting the modulated signals through the designated speakers is proposed. Then it is shown, through simulations of using Short-Time Fourier Transform (STFT) with Hanning windows and through preliminary experiments of using the vibro-tactile display testbed which is built and interfaced with a notebook PC, that the modulated signal of a natural sound composing sounds of a frog, a bird, and a water stream could produce the noise-free signal suitable enough for vibro-tactile speakers without causing Significant interfering disturbances, Lastly, for three different combinations of information provided to the subject, that is, i) with only video image, ii) with video image along with the modulated vibro-tactile stimuli as proposed in this study to the forearm of the subject, and iii) with video image along with full audio information, the effects to the human sense of reality and his emotion to given audio-video clips including various sounds and images are investigated and compared. It is shown from results of those experiments that the proposed method of providing modulated vibro-tactile stimuli along with the video images to the human has very high feasibility to transmit pseudo-aural sense to the human.