• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.157-165
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• 2006

The present study was conducted to confirm that a bivalve Ruditapes philippinarum can be used as a biomarker for the monitoring of the heavy metal pollution in the silt of the marine environment. The clams were collected from the silt of Cheonsu-bay, Buheung-ri, and Tan-island of the West Sea, Korea. To observe the normal structures of the target organs (hepatopancreas and gill), they were dissected out for the immunohistochemical study and the electron microscopy with TEM, SEM, and SEM-EDS. The immunohistochemical study showed that the interdiverticular connective tissues of the hepatopancreas, and the outer epithelium of the gill lamellae was strongly reacted to anti-metallothionein (MT), indicating the presence of MT, a metal-binding protein, involved in metal detoxifying process. According to the examinations under the TEM, the epithelial cells of the hepatopancreas of the clams collected from polluted area (Tan-island) showed certain changes such as swollen rER, swollen nuclear envelope and inclusion bodies in the nulcei. In the SEM-EDS analysis, tissue of the hepatopancreas showed relatively higher concentration of S, Zn, and Cd. These elements are supposed to be concerning with the MT-reaction in the hepatopancreas. Considering that the coastal bivalve R. philippinarum showed immediate subcellular responses to heavy metal pollution in the overall experiments conducted, this species might act as one of efficient biomarkers for the heavy metal contamination in the marine environment.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.67-74
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• 2016

Objectives : The Knee degenerative osteoarthritis patients are not satisfied with the conventional therapies of KDOA, which results in the use of alternative therapies. The miniscalpel acupuncture is effective in treating chronic soft tissue, releasing contractures. However, there is little scientific evidence supporting the use of miniscalpel acupuncture in knee degenerative osteoarthritis. This study was designed to obtain basic data for a further large-scale trial as well as provide information about the feasibility of miniscalpel acupuncture in knee degenerative osteoarthritis patients. Methods : We describe the protocol for a randomized controlled pilot clinical trial of 5 weeks duration. Twenty patients will be recruited and randomly allocated to two treatment groups: miniscalpel acupuncture treatment(experimental group); and acupuncture and electro-acupuncture treatment(control group). Miniscalpel acupuncture will be performed once with a 1-week interval for 3 weeks. Electro-acupuncture will be administered twice per week for a period of 3 weeks. The primary outcomes will be measured by visual analogue scale and range of motion. The secondary outcomes will be short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index. Both primary and secondary outcomes will be measured at baseline and at 1, 2, 3 and 5 weeks(i.e. 2 weeks after treatment completion). Conclusions : This pilot study will provide a basic foundation for a future large-scale trial as well as information about the feasibility of miniscalpel acupuncture in knee degenerative osteoarthritis.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.79-85
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• 1991

In Feb., 1990 an epizootic disease to masu salmon fry, Oncorhynchus masou cultured at the hatchery of rainbow trout in Samchok, Kwangwon-do have broken out and induced high mortality over 70%. Externally, the diseased fish showed dark discoloration, abdominal distension with ascites, slight exophthalmus and fecal casts. Internally, the gill and the liver of diseased fish were edematous and pale, and the stomach of moribund fish contained the milkish fluid. Microscopically there was extensive necrosis of the hematopoietic tissue in kidney and spleen, and scattered necrosis of pancreas, liver and lateral muscle. Especially, the necrosis of lamina propria, muscle layer and tela submucosa in the digestive tract known as the typical signs associated with infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus was seen clearly.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.115-134
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• 2017

A total number of 668 apparently healthy fish were obtained from farm to study the effect of two heavy metals (Copper and Mercury) on histopathology of liver, kidney, spleen, gills and muscles also residues in muscles. The $LC_{50}$/96 hr. of Cu and Hg were estimated and fish exposed to 1/2 $LC_{50}$ for 7 days and for 1/10 $LC_{50}$ for 8 weeks from each product separately. Histopathological findings in acute and chronic mercuric chloride toxicity revealed degeneration and necrosis in the glomeruli, interstitium tissue and epithelium lining renal tubules. The tubular epithelium became necrotic at several places. Eosinophilic hyaline droplets is exist in the cytoplasm of the necrosed cells. Degenerative changes and hyperactivity in melanomachrophage center was seen in the spleen together with some necrotic areas. Necrosis and aggregation of melanomachrophage were seen in the hepatic cells, Hepatic cells showed vacuolar degeneration in the hepatic cells. Gills showed loss in the lamellae of the filaments associated with edema, inflammatory cells infiltration and haemorrhages in the arch. The sarcoplasm of the bundles of the skeletal muscle showed granular degeneration and focal inflammatory cells infiltration between the hyalinized bundles. Mercury residues obtained from these studies in the acute toxicity were 0.22 ppm/gm in the 2nd day, 0.411 ppm/gm in the $5^{th}$ day ended with 0.96 ppm/gm in the $7^{th}$ day. In chronic toxicity it was 1.1320, 1.7140, 2.3620 and 3.5640 ppm/gm respectively from the $2^{nd}$ to the $8^{th}$ week of exposure. In acute and chronic copper toxicity, there was degenerative changes in renal tubules. Melanophores aggregation in the wall of the blood vessels of the spleen and depletion of some of the melanophores in the melanomachrophage were seen together with necrosis in some areas. Congested Mvs (Micro vessels) and vacuolation of hepatocytes were observed. Some areas of hemorrhage and melanophores vacuolar degeneration in the liver were seen. There was mitosis in some areas with displesia of hepatopancreatic cells and eosinophilic granular cells aggregation. Zymogen granules disappeared and there were dyplastic hepatocytes. Congestion in the blood vessels of the gill filaments, associated with massive number of granular eosinophilic cells infiltration were seen in the base of the filaments. There were sever vacuolization and hyalinization in the skeletal muscle bundles. Detection of residues of copper sulfate revealed increase of the amount of copper measured in ppm/gm comparing to the normal control starting from 0.60 ppm/g in the $2^{nd}$ day, 0.67 ppm/g in the $5^{th}$ day and 0.67 ppm/g in the $7^{th}$ day. Result obtained in chronic copper sulfate toxicity revealed gradual increase of the amount of copper which ranged from 0.18 ppm/g at the $2^{nd}$ week to 0.21 ppm/g in the $8^{th}$ week of exposure.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.465-471
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• 2012

To compare the accumulation of paralytic shellfish poison (PSP) in different marine organisms, the occurrence and variation of PSP were surveyed in blue mussel Mytilus edulis, oyster Crassostrea gigas, short neck clam Ruditapes philippinarum, bay scallop Argopecten irradians, and warty sea squirt Styela clava collected from Jinhae Bay, Korea, in 2005 and 2006 year. We also investigated the ability of the blue mussel to detoxify PSP by relaying and depuration (via the water flow or water circulation system). In the marine organisms examined, PSP levels were the highest in blue mussel, followed in order by bay scallop, oyster, short neck clam, and warty sea squirt. Comparing the maximum PSP levels in the bivalve species examined in 2005 and 2006, PSP in blue mussel was 1.6-2.0, 4.0-5.9, and 5.1-6.0 times higher than in bay scallop, oyster, and short neck clam, respectively. Therefore, blue mussel could be useful as a bioindicator for PSP monitoring. With the increasing PSP levels in blue mussel in 2006, the proportion of PSP in its digestive gland increased to 95.1% when the maximum level was detected from the whole tissues of blue mussel on May 29. Subsequently, the PSP proportion in the digestive gland decreased as the PSP level in whole tissue decreased. The detoxification of PSP in blue mussel was greatest with relaying, followed by the water flow, and water circulation systems. Relaying decreased the PSP level below the regulatory limit of $80{\mu}g$/100 g after 2 days in low toxic sample with $124{\mu}g$/100 g, and after 7 days in high toxic sample with $401{\mu}g$/100 g. During depuration in the blue mussel with $401{\mu}g$/100 g via the water flow system, the PSP amounts in the digestive gland decreased by about 50% after 1 day, and about 77% after 7 days. In contrast, the PSP amounts in the soft body, gill, and mantle did not change significantly with depuration.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.79-86
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• 2001

The apicomplexan parasite, Perkinsus sp., has been reported as a causative pathogen responsible for the mass mortality of the Manila clams, Ruditapes philippinarum in European countries as well as in Korea. Prevalence, infection intensity, histopathologic features and zoosporulation of Perkinsus found in the Manila clams distributed along the coast of Cheju Island were investigated in this study. Clams were collected from nine different beaches along the Cheju Island from May to July in 2000. Ray's Fluid Thioglycollate Medium (RFTM) and Choi's NaOH lysis methods were applied in the diagnosis and quantification of the Perkinsus infection. Prevalence, percentage infection of the parasite examined was 100% in Pyosun, 70% in Sungsan, 63% in Kumneong, 33% in Jongdalri, 21% in Iho, 17% in Moslpo, and 14% in Seogwipo. No Perkinsus was found in the clams collected from Kimnyong and Yongmeo-ri. Infection intensity as a number of Perkinsus cells per gram tissue wet weight (twwt), was 98,430 cells/g twwt in Pyosun, 78,553 cells/g twwt in Sungsan, 18,980 cells/g twwt in Kumneong, 4,290 cells/g twwt in Jongdalri, 1,527 cells/g twwt in Iho, 1,069 cells/g twwt in Moslpo, and 853 cells/g twwt in Seogwipo. Histological preparation of the infected tissues revealed trophozoites of Perkinsus sp., ranged from 5 to 10 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$, in diameter mostly distributed in the digestive gland and the gill filaments. Zoospores were discharged from the hypnospore via discharging tube about 2 days after incubated in filtered and aerated seawater. In general, the prevalence and infection intensity of Perkinsus in Cheju Island were much lower than that reported from the western and southern coast of Korea.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.501-508
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• 1987

Gonadal development, the annual reproductive cycle and the first sexual maturity of hen clam, Mactra chinensis were studied histologically. Sexuality of the species was dioecious. The gonads were irregularly arranged from the subregion of mid-intestinal 91an4 in visceral cavity to the reticular connective tissue of the foot. The ripe eggs were about $50-60\;{\mu}m$ in diameter, and they were surrounded by gelatinous membrane. The spawning period was from May to September when the water temperature ranged $18.5-27.0^{\circ}C$, with the peak in June and July. The annual reproductive cycle of Mactra chinensis could be classified into five successive stages; multiplicative, growing, mature, spent, and degenerative and resting. The monthly changes of the fatness coefficient closely correlated with the annual reproductive cycle. Percentages of the first sexual maturity of female and male clams were over $50\%$ among those individuals ranging from 3.5 to 3.9cm, and $100\%$ in those over 5.0cm in shell length.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.8
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• pp.1112-1118
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• 2009

In the present study, the effects of muddy water were compared and examined on the fish inhabiting Imha reservoir, E. erythropterus, H. labeo and Z. platypus in Cypriniformes, S. asotus in Siluriformes and S. scherzeri in Perciformes. In the gills of fish in muddy water, the secondary lamellae of fish in Cypriniformes showed more irregular gaps and more winding than those in Siluriformes and Perciformes. Also, the edema and detachment of epithelial cells was more detected in the gills in Cypriniformes, but clubbing was frequently detected in Perciformes and Siluriformes. Also, we found that muddy debris and minute particles attached to lamellae were frequently detected in Perciformes and Cypriniformes. The glomerulus in the kidney was much more constricted in Z. platypus in Cypriniformes. As a result, it is proposed that fish in Cypriniformes are more affected by muddy water. In the changes of blood components, which might be affected by muddy water, the concentrations of TP, ALB, TG, CHOL and A/G ratio, were high in Cypriniformes, and inorganic matters were abundant in Siluriformes. In addition, AST activity was relatively higher than ALT and both activities were higher in Cypriniformes than in Siluriformes. Taken together, the change in blood plasma may be caused by the reduction in voracity in the wake of muddy water, which results in tissue damage.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.154-159
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• 1983

A Gymnophallid cercaria was found in the gonadal tissue of Tapes philippinarum, and was described as a new species, Cercaria tapes n. sp. The host clams were collected from the intertidal zone of Seo-myon, Seo-chon gun, Korea from September 1980 to August 1981. The size of sporocysts was $380-650{\times}130-160{\mu}m$. The anterior part of the cercaria bears a subterminal opening and pharynx. The sporocyst bears ca. 30 cercariae and germ balls. The cercaria is elliptical in shape. The dimension of body is $160-187{\times}62-77{\mu}m$. the tail stem is $47-52{\times}17{\mu}m$, and the tail furcae is $67-72{\times}12-15{\mu}m$. Excretory bladder is Y-shaped, and the flame cell formula is 2(1)+(1)=4. The infection rate of the cercaria to the host clam was $2.01\%$ (42 infected/2,086 short-necked clams observed). The highest infection rate ($5.74\%$) was found in March, and the lowest one ($0.4\%$) observed in January. No infection was detected in May and June. The infection rates varied with the size of the short-necked clam. It was the clams of host of 2.1-3.0 cm, 3.1-4.0 cm and 4.1-5.0 cm in shell length are $0.38\%,\;15.3\%$ and $0.09\%$ respectively. The cercaria was not observed in the specimens smaller than 2.0 cm in shell length.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.119-125
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• 2008

Background: Cerebral blood vessels are innervated by sympathetic nerves from the superior cervical ganglia (SCG), and these nerves may influence the cerebral blood flow. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of superior cervical sympathetic ganglion block in rats that were subjected to focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. Methods: Eighty male Sprague-Dawley rats (270-320 g) were randomly assigned to one of two groups (the ropivacaine group and a control group). In all the animals, brain injury was induced by middle cerebral artery (MCA) reperfusion that followed MCA occlusion for 2 hours. The animals of the ropivacaine group received $30{\mu}l$ of 0.75% ropivacaine, and their SCG. Neurologic score was assessed at 1, 3, 7 and 14 days after brain injury. Brain tissue samples were then collected. The infarct ratio was measured by 2.3.5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. The terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labeled (TUNEL) reactive cells and the cells showing caspase-3 activity were counted as markers of apoptosis at the caudoputamen and frontoparietal cortex. Results: The death rate, the neurologic score and the infarction ratio were significantly less in the ropivacaine group 24 hr after ischemia/reperfusion injury. The number of TUNEL positive cells in the ropivacaine group was significantly lower than those values of the control group in the frontoparietal cortex at 3 days after injury, but the caspase-3 activity was higher in the ropivacaine group than that in the control group at 1 day after injury. Conclusions: The study data indicated that a superior cervical sympathetic ganglion block may reduce the neuronal injury caused by focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion, but it may not prevent the delayed damage.