• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.80 no.4
• /
• pp.385-391
• /
• 2017

Background: Men with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, have reduced endogenous testosterone levels, but the relationship between pulmonary function and endogenous testosterone levels, is inconsistent. Testicular volume is a known indicator of endogenous testosterone levels, male fertility, and male potency. In the present study, the authors investigated the relationship, between testicular volume and lung function. Methods: One hundred and eighty-one South Korean men age 40-70, hospitalized for urological surgery, were retrospectively enrolled, irrespective of the presence of respiratory disease. Study subjects underwent pulmonary function testing, prior to procedures, and testicular volumes were measured by orchidometry. Testosterone levels of patients in blood samples collected between $7{\small{AM}}$ and $11{\small{AM}}$, were measured by a direct chemiluminescent immunoassay. Results: The 181 study subjects were divided into two groups, by testicular volume (${\geq}35mL$ vs. <35 mL), the larger testes group, had better lung functions (forced vital capacity [FVC]: $3.87{\pm}0.65L$ vs. $3.66{\pm}0.65L$, p=0.037; forced expiratory volume in 1 second [$FEV_1$]: $2.92{\pm}0.57L$ vs. $2.65{\pm}0.61L$, p=0.002; FVC % predicted: $98.2{\pm}15.2%$ vs. $93.8{\pm}13.1%$, p=0.040; $FEV_1$ % predicted: $105.4{\pm}19.5%$ vs. $95.9{\pm}21.2%$, p=0.002). In addition, the proportion of patients with a $FEV_1/FVC$ of <70%, was lower in the larger testes group. Univariate analysis conducted using linear regression models, revealed that testicular volume was correlated with FVC (r=0.162, p=0.029), $FEV_1$ (r=0.218, p=0.003), $FEV_1/FVC$ (r=0.149, p=0.046), and $FEV_1$ % predicted (r=0.178, p=0.017), and multivariate analysis using linear regression models, revealed that testicular volume was a significant predictive factor for $FEV_1$ % predicted (${\beta}=0.159$, p=0.041). Conclusion: Larger testicular volume was independently associated, with favorable indices of lung function. These results suggest that androgens, may contribute to better lung function.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.177-183
• /
• 2007

Objectives:Previous studies have suggested that S100B protein play an important role in the pathogenesis and progress of schizophrenia. In the present study, we evaluate the serum levels of S100B in the patients with schizophrenia, and compare them with those of healthy controls. Method:The serum S100B levels were measured by lectrochemiluminescence immunoassay in 21 schizophrenic patients (8 males, 13 females) and 27 normal controls(11 males, 16 females). The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS) was used to evaluate the symptoms of the patients with schizophrenia, and the correlation between PANSS subscale scores and serum S100B levels was examined. Results:No significant difference was found between the serum S100B levels of the schizophrenic patients($0.074{\pm}0.039$ng/ml) and those of the normal controls($0.072{\pm}0.030$ng/ml)(p=0.925). Correlationships between the high serum S100B level with high negative symptom scores(p=0.065) or with the low positive symptom scores(p=0.080) did not exist. Conclusion:The relation between serum S100B level and schizophrenia was not found in the present study. However, to confirm this result, further studies, such as measurement of S100 protein level in CSF, postmortem study, long-term follow-up study, and studies with other neurotrophic proteins are needed.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.153-158
• /
• 2011

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether anti-M$\ddot{u}$llerian hormone (AMH) levels could be predict ovarian poor/hyper response and IVF cycle outcome. Methods: Between May 2010 and January 2011, serum AMH levels were evaluated with retrospective analysis. Three hundred seventy infertile women undergoing 461 IVF cycles between the ages of 20 and 42 were studied. We defined the poor response as the number of oocytes retrieved was equal or less than 3, and the hyper response as more than 25 oocytes retrieved. Serum AMH was measured by commercial enzymelinked immunoassay. Results: The number of oocytes retrieved was more correlated with the serum AMH level (r=0.781, $p$ <0.01) than serum FSH (r=-0.412, $p$ <0.01). The cut-off value of serum AMH levels for poor response was 1.05 ng/mL (receiver operating characteristic [ROC] curves/area under the curve [AUC], $ROC_{AUC}$=0.85, sensitivity 74%, specificity 87%). Hyper response cut-off value was 3.55 ng/mL $ROC_{AUC}$=0.91, sensitivity 94%, specificity 81%). When the study group was divided according to the serum AMH levels (low: <1.05 ng/mL, middle: 1.05 ng/mL - 3.55 ng/mL, high: >3.55 ng/mL), the groups showed no statistical differences in mature oocyte rates (71.6% vs. 76.5% vs. 74.8%) or fertilization rates (76.9% vs. 76.6% vs. 73.8%), but showed significant differences in clinical pregnancy rates (21.7% vs. 24.1% vs. 40.8%, $p$=0.017). Conclusion: The serum AMH level can be used to predict the number of oocytes retrieved in patients, distinguishing poor and high responders.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.93-97
• /
• 2011

Objective: To determine the age specific serum anti-M$\ddot{u}$llerian hormone (AMH) reference values in Korean women with regular menstruation. Methods: Between May, 2010 and January, 2011, the serum AMH levels were evaluated in a total of 1,298 women who have regular menstrual cycles aged between 20 and 50 years. Women were classified into 6 categories by age: 20-31 years, 32-34 years, 35-37 years, 38-40 years, 41-43 years, above 43 years. Measurement of serum AMH was measured by commercial enzyme-linked immunoassay. Results: The serum AMH levels correlated negatively with age. The median AMH level of each age group was 4.20 ng/mL, 3.70 ng/mL, 2.60 ng/mL, 1.50 ng/mL, 1.30 ng/mL, and 0.60 ng/mL, respectively. The AMH values in the lower 5th percentile of each age group were 1.19 ng/mL, 0.60 ng/mL, 0.42 ng/mL, 0.27 ng/mL, 0.14 ng/mL, and 0.10 ng/mL, respectively. Conclusion: This study determined reference values of serum AMH in Korean women with regular menstruation. These values can be applied to clinical evaluation and treatment of infertile women.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.176-182
• /
• 2006

Sensitive and specific monoclonal antibody (MAb) was produced from hybridoma (1H11-5) obtained by fusion of myeloma cell (V653) and spleen cell isolated from mouse immunized sulfamthazine (SMZ)-HG-KLH. Direct competitive ELISA was developed for rapid detection of SMZ in milk samples using MAb against SMZ with optimized conditions between MAb and SMZ-HG-HRP conjugate, and applicable conditions for analysis of milk samples were established. Detection range of immunoassay was 0.1 to 100 ppb. Recoveries from spiked raw milk and processed milk samples averaged 82.1-120.7 and 82.1-97.1%, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.41 no.4
• /
• pp.167-172
• /
• 2009

Methotrexate (MTX) in one of the antineoplastic drug and it is known to effective to management of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children, management of choriocarcinoma and related trophoblastic tumors in women, management of carcinomas of the breast, tongue, pharynx, and tests, maintenance of remission in leukemia and treatment of serve, debilitating psoriasis. Intermediate to high-dose methotrexate administration followed by leucovorin rescue is effective in treatment of carcinoma of the lung and osteogenic sarcoma. Intrathecal administration is effective in treating meningeal leukemia or lymphoma. There are FPIA (Fluorescence polarization immunoassay) and EMIT (Enzyme multiplied immunotechique) methods that measure for MTX. We evaluated the FPIA and EMIT methods. MTX were measured by Hitachi-7600 P-module using EMIT and FPIA using TDX in the sera 60 patients. The performance characteristics evaluated were, light influence, linearity, comparison with FPIA. Also, precision evaluated were three level controls through put following CLSI evaluation protocols (EP10-A). When the MTX value of $4.16{\pm}5.78{\mu}{\mu}mol/L$ (mean, SD) by the Hitachi-7600 P-module was compared with that of $4.05{\pm}5.47{\mu}{\mu}mol/L$ by FPIA, coefficients of correlation of 0.988 was obtained. The regression equation was Y (Hitachi-7600 P-module) = 0.9408 x (FPIA) + 0.1316 (r=0.9885, n=60). CVs of MTX measured by Hitachi 7600 P-module was 6.78% at $0.33{\mu}{\mu}mol/L$, 0.96% at $1.16{\mu}{\mu}mol/L$, and 0.96% at $8.04{\mu}{\mu}mol/L$. The precision was excellent in each group. The linearity was acceptable. We evaluated that MTX is light-sensitive on prolonged exposure to direct sunlight. Comparing with the FPIA using TDX, the Hitachi-7600 P-module using EMIT showed good coefficient of correlation and precision. Therefore the Hitachi-7600 P-module can replace the FPIA for quantitative analysis of MTX.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.30 no.2 s.57
• /
• pp.279-292
• /
• 1997

The vaccinations of susceptible children and postpubertal females are the major means to prevent congenital rubella syndrome(CRS). Another means for reducing the CRS is therapeutic abortion or fetal monitoring for women who are infected in the first four months of pregnancy. We could not estimate the incidence of CRS in Korea, because there was no surveillance system for rubella and CRS. Nationwide vaccination program for 15months infant had been started early 1980s. So, most women at childbearing age during study period were not received rubella vaccination. We set forth CRS management system for pregnant women in two rural county of Kyonggi province, Korea. In this system, the presence of rubella IgG and IgM antibodies for early pregnant women were examined with MEIA(Microparticle Enzyme Immunoassay) method by IMx automated analyzer $Abbott^(R)$. The infected pregnant women followed up in order to confirm their childrens CRS. This study was carried out from Mu. 1993 to Jun. 1994, and pregnant women examined were 874 persons. The results were summarized as follows. The overall positive .ate of rubella IgG antibody was 94.5%(826/874). The positive rate was significantly increase as the age increased, and reached 100% in pregnant women who were over 35 years old. This results suggest that a meaningful number of women are infected during childbearing years. The geometric mean titer of IgG of sero-positive subjects was significantly declined as the age increased. On the question about history of URI symptoms and rash in pregnancy, 20.7% of respondents checked on URI symptoms with .ash, 13.5% only URI symptoms without .ash, and 65.8% no symptoms. However there was no demonstrable association between the rubella like infection history in pregnancy and the rubella IgG and IgM antibody status. Rubella infection .ate in pregnant women was 0.9%(95% CI 0.4-1.8%). Two of these 8 infected pregnancies were terminated by therapeutic abortion. One of them was not followed. Five babies had no gross anomalies at birth. In Dec. 1996, three of five babies were normal appeared infants. Two of them were not followed. Throughout this study results, we confirmed the need of CRS management system for pregnant women, in Korea.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.253-259
• /
• 2004

Objectives : To investigate the prevalence of hepatitis B and C virus infections and determine the associated risk factors among young adults in Busan, Korea, which is known to have a high incidence of liver cancer. Methods : The study population consisted of volunteer participants in a health survey during 2002, which included 1,350 students (515 males and 835 females) aged between 16 and 24 years, from three different schools in Busan. The participating students were asked to fill in a self-administered questionnaire which included lifestyle habits and risk factors of hepatitis. Sera obtained from the participants were studied for HBsAg, anti-HBs, and Anti-HCV by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) method and for liver function tests. Results : Among the study subjects (N=1,350), the seropositivities of HBsAg 7.9%(95% CI=7.8-8.0), 7.6%(95% CI=7.6-7.7) in male and 8.1%(95% CI=8.0-8.2) in female. And the seropositivity of Anti-HBs was 69.7%(95% CI=69.0-70.4), 70.5%(95% CI=69.8-71.2) in male and 69.2%(95% CI=68.5-69.9) in female. The seropositivity of Anti-HCV was 0.4%, 0.2% in male and 0.5% in female. The seropositivity for HBsAg in the subjects not having a hepatitis B vaccination history was twice(95% CI=1.0-4.4) that of those that did. Also, the seropositivity for HBsAg in subjects having experienced sexual intercourse was 1.7 times (95% CI=0.9-3.0) that of the subjects who had not. Conclusions : The present study confirmed the high prevalence of HBsAg seropositivity and sexual transmission of HBV among adolescents and young adults may occur. Further studies to evaluate the relationship between HBV vaccination and sexual transmission are required for the young population in Korea.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.81-87
• /
• 2012

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to assess the association between the pre-operative plasma fibrinogen level and the adjacent organ involvement in advanced gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: A total of 923 pre-operative plasma samples were obtained from 923 patients diagnosed clinically as having advanced gastric cancer, and fibrinogen levels were measured by immunoassay. Associations between fibrinogen levels and clinicopathologic findings (depth of tumor, adjacent organ involvement, and lymph node metastasis), along with survival were examined by univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: Tumor size, tumor depth, and the presence of lymph node metastasis were found to be positively correlated with the preoperative plasma fibrinogen levels (P<0.001). Fifty (5.4%) patients had adjacent organ involvement. Lymphatic invasion (P<0.001), tumor size (P<0.001), clinical T (depth of invasion) stage (P<0.001), and clinical nodal stage (P=0.018) were found to be associated with adjacent organ involvement. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses showed that a preoperatively elevated plasma fibrinogen level was associated with adjacent organ involvement (P<0.001, 0.028), and Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that it was associated with poorer survival (P<0.001). Conclusions: Plasma fibrinogen was found to be a clinically useful marker of adjacent organ involvement and overall survival. When a high fibrinogen level is encountered, preoperatively, adjacent organ involvement should be suspected in clinically advanced gastric cancer.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.83-88
• /
• 2017

We introduced disposable amperometric immunosensors for the detection of Sildenafil and Vardenafil (SDF/VDF) based on screen printed carbon electrodes. The developed immunosensors were used as a non-competitive sandwich-type enzyme immunoassay with a horseradish peroxidase label. The sensors were constructed on screen printed carbon electrodes by the simple electrochemical deposition of a reduced graphene oxide and chitosan (ErGO-CS) composite. To evaluate the sensing chemistry and optimize the sensor characteristics, a series of electrochemical experiments were carried out including electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and amperometry. The sensors showed a linear response to SDF/VDF concentrations in a range from 100 pg/mL to 300 ng/mL. The lower detection limit was calculated to be 55 pg/mL, the sensitivity was calculated to be $1.02{\mu}Ang/mL/cm^2$, and the sensor performance exhibited good reproducibility with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 7.1%. The proposed sensing chemistry strategy and the sensor format can be used as a simple, cost-effective, and feasible method for the in-field analysis of SDF/VDF in functional or health supplement food samples.