• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.265-270
• /
• 1997

Purpose: Rapid diagnosis and prompt treatment remain the cornerstone of management of patients with meningitis. Examination of cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) for glucose, protein, cells, and organisms is necessary for accurate diagnosis, but in many parts of the world facilities do not exist to do so. We tested CSF samples from 69 children with suspected meningitis with urinary reagent strips and analyzed the results to know the usability of urinary reagent strips in diagnosis of meningitis. Methods: 69 CSF samples obtained from children with suspected meningitis were analysed. Each sample was divided into two; one was sent to the laboratory for routine diagnostic evaluation, and the other was tested with the reagent strip(Combur10 Test M). Laboratory values of CSF glucose, protein, and leucocytes for each CSF sample were plotted against the corresponding reagent-strip category. Results: There was good agreement between the dipstick and laboratory values for CSF protein and cell count but not for glucose. Conclusion: Rapid diagnosis of meningitis could be made with three component of the Combur10 test strip. It is easy to do and would be of particular value to those working in parts of the world where no laboratory facilities exist.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.125-132
• /
• 2003

Purpose : Lipoprotein(a) is a genetically determined risk factor for atherosclerotic vascular disease and is elevated in patients with renal disease. Especially the patients with nephrotic syndrome exhibit excessively high Lp(a) plasma concentrations. Also the patients with end-stage renal disease have elevated Lp(a) levels. But the mechanism underlying this elevation is unclear. Thus, in this study, by measuring the level of serum Lp(a) in common renal diseases in children, we hoped to see whether there would be a change in Lp(a) in renal diseases other than nephrotic syndrome. Then, we figured out its implications, and looked for the factors that affect the Lp(a) concentrations. Methods : A total of 75 patients(34 patients with hematuria of unknown etiology, 10 with hematuria and hypercalciuria, 8 with IgA nephropathy, 8 with poststreptococcal glomerulone phritis, 3 with $Henoch-Sch\"{o}nlein$ nephritis, 7 with urinary tract infection, and 5 with or- thostatic proteinuria) were studied. The control group included 20 patients without renal and liver disease. Serum Lp(a), total protein, and albumin levels, 24-hour urine protein and calcium excretions, creatinine clearance and the number of RBCs and WBCs in the urinary sediment were evaluated. Data analysis was peformed using the Student t-test and a P-value less than 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results : LP(a) was not correlated with 24-hour urine calcium and creatinine. Lp(a) level had a positive correlation with proteinuria and negative correlation with serum albumin and serum protein. Among the common renal diseases in children, Lp(a) was elevated only in orthostatic proteinuria (P<0.05). Conclusion : Lp(a) is correlated with proteinuria, serum protein, and serum albumin, but not with any kind of specific renal disease. Afterward, Lp(a) needs to be assessed in patients with orthostatic proteinuria and its possible role as a prognostic factor could be confirmed.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.174-180
• /
• 2003

Purpose : Unstable bladder has been known to be one of the reasons for the genesis and persistance of primary vesicoureteral reflux(VUR) in children. And treatment of unstable bladder by anticholinergic agent may contribute to the resolution of primary VUR. We evaluated the effect of an anticholinergic agent(oxybutynin) on the resolution of primary VUR in children with different toilet training and voiding functions. Methods : 152 children with persistant primary VUR after one year of follow up were randomly assigned to the oxybutynin group(n=59, oxybutynin 0.2 mg/kg twice daily) and the control group(n=93, no oxybutynin) at Ewha Womans University Mok-Dong Hospital from October 1996 to April 2002. The resolution rate of the VUR and the difference according to the status of toilet training and voiding dysfunction were analyzed. Statistical analysis was done by the Chi-square test and a P-value of less than 0.05 was considered as significant. Results : VUR was resolved in 49.2%, improved in 20.3% and not changed in 30.5% in the oxybutynin group(n=59) which was not significantly different to 45.2%, 16.1%, 38.7% in the control group(n=93), respectively. In the non-toilet trained young children, VUR was resolved in 50.0%, improved in 23.5% and not changed in 26.5% in the oxybutynin group(n=34) which was not significantly different to 44.2%, 19.2%, 36.6% in the control group(n=52), respectively. In the toilet trained older children, VUR was resolved in 48.0%, improved in 16.0% and not changed in 36.0% in the oxybutynin group(n=25) which was not significantly different to 46.3%, 12.2%, 41.5% in the control group(n=41), respectively. In the toilet trained older children with no voiding dysfunction, VUR was resolved in 33.3%, improved in 11.1% and not changed in 55.5% in the of oxybutynin group(n=9) which was not significantly different to 53.6 %, 10.7%, 35.7% in the control group(n=28), respectively. In the toilet trained older children with voiding dysfunction, VUR was resolved in 56.3%, improved in 18.7% and not changed in 25.0% in the oxybutynin group(n=16), which looked higher than 30.7%, 15.4%, 53.9% in the control group(n=13), respectively, but these were not significantly different either. Conclusion : Oxybutynin was not effective in the resolution of primary VUR in non-toilet trained young children and toilet trained older children. Oxybutynin showed slightly higher tendency of reflux resolution in toilet-trained older children with voiding dysfunction but the difference was not statistically significant. Judicious use of oxybutynin is required in selected older children with VUR and voiding dysfunction.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.110-116
• /
• 2013

Purpose: The $^{99m}Tc$-Dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) renal scan is used primarily for the diagnosis of renal scarring and acute pyelonephritis in children with urinary tract infections (UTI). This study aimed to evaluate clinical differences based on the positive or negative results of DMSA scans and kidney ultrasonography (US) in pediatric UTI. Method: We retrospectively reviewed 142 pediatric patients with UTI who were admitted to Myongji Hospital from January 2004 to December 2012. We performed a comparative analysis of clinical parameters such as age, sex, white blood cell (WBC) count, neutrophil count, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level, creatinine (Cr) level, C-reactive protein (CRP) level, and durations of hospitalization and fever, grouped by the results of the DMSA scans and kidney US. Results: The mean age of the patients was $33.8{\pm}48.3$ months, and 78 (55%) were male. Fifty-two patients had abnormal DMSA findings, and 71 patients had abormal kidney US findings (test positive groups). In the DMSA scan positive group, there were significant differences in age, WBC counts, neutrophil counts, CRP level, BUN level, Cr level, hospitalization duration, number of abnormal findings on kidney US, and incidence of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) compared with the scan negative group. The kidney US positive group had significant differences in age, neutrophil count, CRP level, BUN level, Cr level, hospitalization duration, number of abnormal findings on the DMSA scans, and more frequent VUR compared with the US negative group. Conclusion: Our data suggest that there were no major differences in clinical parameters based on the results of the DMSA scans compared with kidney US in pediatric UTI. However, as kidney US and DMSA scan were performed to predict VUR, the sensitivity and negative predictive value was increased.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.275-284
• /
• 2008

Purpose: We intended to evaluate myocardial oxygen consumption ($MVO_2)$ by applying recirculation correction and modified one-compartment model to have a reference range of $MVO_2$ in normal young population and to reveal the effect of recirculation on time-activity curve (TAC). Materials and Methods: In nine normal male volunteers with mean age of $26.3{\pm}4.0$, $MVO_2$ was estimated with 925 MBq (25mCi) of $^{11}C$-Acetate (Neuroscience Research Institute, Gachon University of Medicine and Science, Incheon, Korea) and PET/CT (Biograph 6, Siemens Medical Solution, Germany). Analysis software such as $MATLAB^{(R)}$ v7.1 (Mathworks, Inc., United States), $Excel^{(R)}$ 2007 (Microsoft, United States), and $SPSS^{(R)}$ v12.0 (Apache Software Foundation, United States) were used. Twenty three frames were of $12{\times}10$, $5{\times}60$, $3{\times}120$, $2{\times}300's$ duration, respectively. The modified one-compartmental model and the recirculation correction method were applied. Statistical analysis was performed by using Test of Normality, ANOVA and Post-Hoc (Scheffe's) analysis, and p-value less than 0.05 was considered as significant. Results: The normal reference ranges of $MVO_2$ were presented as $3.18-4.64\;{\times}\;10^{-4}\;ml/g/sec$, $1.91-3.94\;{\times}\;10^{-4}\;ml/g/sec$, $4.31-6.40\;{\times}\;10^{-4}\;ml/g/sec$, $2.84-4.53\;{\times}\;10^{-4}\;ml/g/sec$ and $3.42-5.00\;{\times}\;10^{-4}\;ml/g/sec$ in the septum, the inferior wall, the lateral wall, the anterior wall and the entire wall, respectively. In addition, it was noted that the dual exponentiality of the clearance curve is due to the recirculation effect and that the characteristic of the curve is essentially mono-exponential. Conclusion: $^{11}C$-Acetate is a radiotracer worthwhile to assess $MVO_2$. Re-circulated $^{11}C$ can influence TAC of $^{11}C$ in myocadia and so the recirculation correction must be considered when measuring $MVO_2$.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.353-362
• /
• 2010

The contents of functional and nutritional components of 13 cultivars of Chinese cabbage (CC, $Brassica$ $rapa$ subspecies $campestris$) were analyzed to compare the effects of soil pH of the greenhouse (pH 6.2) and outdoor (pH 7.6). The CC cultivated on pH 6.2 (CC-6.2) soil contained significantly increased amounts (2-9 fold) of pectin, crude protein, vitamin C and vitamin E compared to the counterpart (CC-7.6). The contents of ash and the minerals (Ca, Fe, Na, and Mn) were also significantly increased in CC-6.2. However, CC-6.2 contained 40-50% lower contents of reducing sugars, cellulose and crude fat than CC-7.6. CC-7.6 contained more glucosinolates, gluconasturtiin (18.33 vs. $1.16nmol{\cdot}g^{-1}$ wet weight) and gluconapin (145 vs. $2nmol{\cdot}g^{-1}$ wet wt), than CC-6.2. In conclusion, CC-6.2 had an improved texture (high pectin and low cellulose) and nutritional value (high in protein, Ca, Fe, vitamin C, and E), whereas the CC-7.6 had better taste (high in reducing sugars) and anticancer functionality (high in glucosinolates).

• Horticultural Science & Technology
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.32-37
• /
• 2013

Relationships among climate changes, early frost, and fruit growth were studied during the final month to harvest of late-maturing 'Fuyu' persimmon (Diospyros kaki) to assess the changes in fruit characteristics during this critical period. The heavy frost on Nov. 16 defoliated more than 70% of the leaves, but with little damage on the fruits. However, all the leaves were defoliated by the heavy frost on Nov. 20, and all the fruits were cold-damaged by $-3.3^{\circ}C$ on Nov. 21. Fruit weight increased by 8-25 g per week from Oct. 25 (142 days after full bloom) to Nov. 15, reaching to 250 g, but it decreased by 3-4 g per week after the frost. Hunter a value of fruit skin gradually increased until the last harvest on Nov. 29 with a temporary halt in early Nov. when temperature was high, whereas fruit firmness rapidly decreased after the frost on Nov. 21. Fruit soluble solids were $15.7-16.1^{\circ}Brix$ for the final month. When some branches were covered with non-woven fabrics to avoid direct contact with frost, the fruits on the branches were not visually damaged by the low temperature although 40-60% of their leaves were defoliated on Nov. 16. However, low temperature on Nov. 20 and 21 defoliated all the leaves, causing cold damage on the fruits. There was a highly significant correlation between the fruit diameter and its weight ($R^2$ = 0.73-0.91). So, the regression equations could be used to estimate weight from diameter of the fruits sampled from the branches with the non-woven fabrics. The calculated fruit weight reached to a maximum of 240 g on Nov. 15. Daily increases in fruit weight were 1.1-2.5 g from Oct. 25 to 31, 1.9-3.5 g from Oct. 31 to Nov. 7, and 1.4-1.6 g from Nov. 7 to 12. However, fruit weight decreased by 0.3-1 g per day after the cold damage on Nov. 21. The results indicate that the most appropriate harvest time could be dependent on relationship of fruit growth to climate.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.115-124
• /
• 2020

Sustainable plastics can be mainly categorized into (1) biodegradable plastics decomposed into water and carbon dioxide after use, and (2) biomass-derived plastics possessing the carbon neutrality by utilizing raw materials converted from atmospheric carbon dioxide to biomass. Recently, biomass-derived engineering plastics (EP) and natural nanofiber-reinforced nanocomposites are emerging as a new direction of the industry. In addition to the eco-friendliness of natural resources, these materials are competitive over petroleum-based plastics in the high value-added plastics market. Polyesters and polycarbonates synthesized from isosorbide and 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid, which are representative biomass-derived monomers, are at the forefront of industrialization due to their higher transparency, mechanical properties, thermal stability, and gas barrier properties. Moreover, isosorbide has potential to be applied to super EP material with continuous service temperature over 150 ℃. In situ polymerization utilizing surface hydrophilicity and multi-functionality of natural nanofibers such as nanocellulose and nanochitin achieves remarkable improvements of mechanical properties with the minimal dose of nanofillers. Biomass-derived tough-plastics covered in this review are expected to replace petroleum-based plastics by satisfying the carbon neutrality required by the environment, the high functionality by the consumer, and the accessibility by the industry.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.461-471
• /
• 2016

This study was conducted to establish an in vitro propagation system for sea-milkwort (Glaux maritima L.), which is an endangered coastal plant species with high horticultural value. Two phenotypes, 'Red type (RT)' and 'Pistachio type (PT)' based on the colors of stem and flower, were obtained from a personal horticulturist in 2009 and used for this study as plant materials. The stock plants showed typical morphologies in flower, capsule, and seed appearances as previously reported. Low temperature treatment at $4^{\circ}C$ for four or more weeks after in vitro sowing maximized seed germination percentage, indicating that imbibition of seed and subsequent low temperature treatment are crucial for its germination. The in vitro seedlings had phenotypic variation, falling into 'RT' and 'PT' classes like the stock plants. Although slight differences depending on genotype and medium were recognized, the fourth or fifth nodes detached from the in vitro seedlings revealed the best multiplication efficacy when estimated on the basis of total number of nodes of newly developed axillary shoots. In addition, the nodes from 'RT' and 'PT' regenerated the most shoots on medium supplemented with $0.5mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ BA alone and $0.5mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ BA plus $0.5mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ IAA, respectively. The node culture-derived plantlets were well acclimatized in a culture room ex vitro and completed the pseudo-annual life cycle coincident with that in the natural salt march habitat with the current cultivation method of applying fresh water-irrigation under an inland environment. This work represents the first report of in vitro propagation of sea-milkwort. Thus, our study will contribute to exo-habitat conservation and natural habitat restoration of this endangered species in addition to development of a horticultural product.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
• /
• v.33 no.5
• /
• pp.687-696
• /
• 2015

Black mini tomato 'Hei-G' fruits were harvested at different stages of maturity (immature-mature green and mature-black red) and stored at different temperatures (8, 12, and $20^{\circ}C$) to investigate the quality and lycopene content during storage. Weight loss increased dramatically at higher temperature for both harvesting stages without significant differences. Firmness of immature fruits decreased below the initial level of mature fruit (8.1N) after 5, 8, and 19 days storage, when they were stored at 20, 12, and $8^{\circ}C$, respectively. Soluble solid contents of mature fruit increased at initial storage, and were higher as compared to immature fruits before deterioration at each storage temperature. Decrease in titratable acid of mature fruits depended on storage time and temperature. However, titratable acid of immature fruits showed little change during storage, and so it did not affect flavor. Hunter a value changed greatly in immature fruit stored at high temperature. Unlike ripe tomatoes, there was no significant difference in black tomato Hunter b values of immature and mature fruit at initial and 12 days storage. However, immature fruits stored at $8^{\circ}C$ did not reach full maturity and color development and ripening. High storage temperature increased lycopene production while low storage temperature blocked lycopene development. Shelf life of the immature fruits, which was evaluated by elapsed days to conventional mature stage, was 12 and 15 days when they were stored at 20 and $12^{\circ}C$, respectively. The optimum storage temperature to maintain the quality and lycopene content of mature fruits was $12^{\circ}C$. Moreover, the shelf life of mature fruits stored at $20^{\circ}C$ could reach up to 5 days.