• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.213-217
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• 2006

The halophilic bacterium Vibrio vulnificus is known to be a foodborne pathogen that causes septicemia in human. V. vulnificus infection is characterized by the high fatality rates and the primary attack against a person who have underlying diseases such as liver cirrhosis. However, there is no effective treatment for V. vulnificus septicemia except for classical treatments such as antibiotics. Recently, it has been known that lipoprotein (LDL) plays a major role in the protection against infection and inflammation. Consequently in this paper we analyzed the effects of LDL on V. vulnificus septicemia. We purified V. vulnificus cytolysin, a major virulent factor of V. vulnificus infection and measured inhibitory effects of mouse serum, cholesterol, and LDL on its hemolytic activity. Next experiments were performed to investigate whether LDL has a protective role against septicemia induced by V. vulnificus in mice. Intraperitoneal injection of LDL (1mg as protein) into mice 3hr before V. vulnificus $(1\times10^6\;CFU)$ injection, and V. vulnificus -induced lethality was determined. For the determination the relationship between LDL or cholesterol and prognosis, we determined serum levels of cholesterol and lipoprotein from V. vulnificus septicemia patients (n=15) who had visited the Chonbuk National University Hospital in Chonju. V. vulnificus cytolysin -induced hemolysis of mice erythrocytes was completely inhibited by serum, cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein. V. vulnificus- induced lethality of mice injected with LDL showed only 40% compared to 100% of control. In survival groups (n=4) of V. vulnificus septicemia patients (n=15), their serum LDL and cholesterol revealed normal levels ($153.3{\pm}40.7,\;LDL;\;190.8{\pm}16.3$, Total cholesterol). However, in death groups (n=11) showed very low levels ($35.6{\pm}13.9,\;LDL;\;59.2{\pm}15.1$, Total cholesterol). Our study indicates that cholesterol and LDL are a prognosis indicator of V. vulnificus septicemia as well as an inhibitor of virulent action of V. vulnificus cytolysin. We suggested that the serum levels of cholesterol or LDL would be major index in the treatment and prevention of V. vulnificus septicemia.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.64-76
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• 1970

This report will present a clinical and statistical analysis of 210 case of Ectopic pregnancies who were treated at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Chung Nam Medical Center from January, 1966 to March, 1970. The results obtained are as follows; 1. The total number of Ectopic pregnancies was 8.22%. 2. The occurrence of Ectopic pregnancy was high in June(13.81%), low in October(2.98%). There was a higher occurrence of Ectopic pregnancy in the summer than in the winter. 3. The average age of all patients was 33.25 years. The most frequent age for this type of pregnancy was 31-35 years (32.86%) . The youngest patient was 18 years old and the oldest was 50. 4. Multipara occurred in 82.38% of the cases; Mulipara in 17. 62% and the occurrence of primipara was especially high, 20.95%. 5. 48.09% of the women had previously experienced normal deliveries; 42.8% had received artificial abortions and 5.23% had experienced spontaneous abortions. 3.8% had a previous history of Ectopic pregnancy. It was found that the occurrence of Ectopic pregnancy was more frequent in those women who had a D & C in the Past. 6. The average length of infertility was 21.7 months. The shortest length was 60 days; longest period of infertility was 19 years. 7. The occurrence of Ectopic pregnancy is higher (29.27%) in patient who have experienced only one previous D & C. The total number of patients who received a D & C was 58.57%. 3. Ectopic symptoms appeared during the first 4.7 weeks (mean) and most frequently occurred between the 5th and 6th weeks (48.57%) of pregnancy. The Symptoms were: -99.04% complained of lower abdominal pains. -80.95% experienced abnormal uttering bleeding. -42.38% experienced bleeding before the occurrence of pain. -18.57% experienced pain before the occurrence of bleeding. -8.57% experienced both pain and bleeding. -7.62% experienced only bleeding. -22.86% experienced only pain. 9. In-77.62% of the cases the annexal mass palpated. 91.42% complained of abdominal tenderness. 42.38% complained of pain when the cervix was examined. 10. Culdocentesis was performed in 86.19% of the cases. In 92.82% of the cases the presence of an Ectopic pregnancy was accurately diagnosed 11. 71.90% of the Ectopic pregnancies occurred in the ampule portion of the ovarian tube, of the total number of gestations, 40.95% were tubal abortions and 59.05% were ruptured. The ruptured group occurred more frequently in the islamic portion and interstitial portion of the tube than the aborted group. The aborted group occurred more frequently in the fimbrial extremities of the tube. 12. The blood pressure (systolic) was noted at 119-80mmHg in 81.89% of the total cases. Hemoglobin value was noted at over 8gm/㎗ in 58.57% of the cases. The average blood transfusion was 2.3 pints. 13. In 52.86% of the Ectopic pregnancies the right side of the ovarian tube was affected. The left side of the tube was affected in 47.14% of the cases. 14. 3.33% of the patients were not given an accurate diagnosis. 15. The kinds of operation performed were as follows; Salpingectomy, 41.43%; Adnectomy, 38.57% and Adnectomy with total hysterectomy, 19.05%. 16. The patient mortality rate was significantly small; only 1 case out of 210 died. This patient most likely had a profuse hemorrhage because of a ruptured tube before her admission to the hospital. 17. The patients personal feelings and attitudes must be treated with care. Particularly patients who are concerned about vaginal bleeding or the impossibility of another pregnancy.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.27-31
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• 1994

There are a number of reports suggesting that there may be a correlation between the clinical response to radiotherapy in various tumors and the clonogenic survival of cell lines derived from these tumors following exposure to 2 Gy(SF2). Authors conducted this study to determine SF2 for cells in primary culture from surgical specimens. The tumor tissues with squamous cell carcinoma of uterine cervix and head and neck were obtained. The tumor tissues were disaggregated to single cells by incubating with collagenase type w for 2 hours with constant stirring. Single cell suspensions were inoculated in four 24-well plates precoated with cell adhesive matrix. After 24 hours of incubation at 37$ ^{\circ}C $, rows of four wells were then irradiated, consisting of control set and five other sets each receiving doses of 1,2,3,4, and 6 Gy. After incubation for a total of 13 days, the cultures were stained with crystal violet and survival at each dose was determined by quantitative image analysis system, To determine whether cell growth was of epithelial origin, immunocytochemical staining with a mixture of cytokeratin and epithelial monoclonal antibodies were performed on cell cultures. During the period of this study, we received 5 squamous cell carcinoma specimens of head and neck and 20 of uterine cervical carcinoma. Of these, 15 yielded enough cells for radiosensitivity testing. This resulted an overall success rate of 60$ \% $. The mean SF2 value for 15 tumours was 0.55$\pm$0.17 ranging from 0.20 to 0.79. These results indicate that there is a broad range of sensitivities to radiation in same histologic type. So with a large patient population, we plan to determine whether a different SF2 value is associated with tumours that are controlled with radiotherapy than those that are not.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.134-141
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• 2017

This study examined 191 pregnant women before delivery in an obstetrics and gynecology clinic in North Gyeongsang Province from May to September 2016 by using a questionnaire after obtaining informed consent for voluntary participation in the study. The study was performed to investigate the association of depression with sociodemographic characteristics, pregnancy-related characteristics, social support, sleep quality and Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP) in pregnant women. The prevalence of depression among the pregnant women was 25.1% in the healthy group and 74.9% in the depression group. The depression level was significantly higher in women in the depression group who were unsatisfied with their marriage life, had no occupation, had lower social support, had poor sleep quality and had higher OHIP scores. The results of the logistic regression analysis indicated that, the risk ratio for more severe depression was significantly higher in the group with no experience of miscarriage and induced childbirth than in the group with childbirth experience. Conversely, the risk ratio for more severe depression was significantly lower in the group with high social support than in the group with low social support. Depression in the respondents significantly positively correlated with sleep quality and OHIP score but significantly negatively correlated with social support. The multiple regression analysis revealed that the depression level was significantly higher by 22.3% among pregnant women with lower marital satisfaction, no childbirth experience, lower social support and higher OHIP scores. In summary, depression was related to marital satisfaction, childbirth experience, social support, and OHIP score, among others, in pregnant women in this study. Therefore, further investigation is warranted to construct programs and measures that will help build positive thinking by designing and verifying a three-dimensional study model by taking into consideration various variables to reduce the incidence of depression in pregnant women.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.217-229
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• 2010

Objective: Apoptosis plays an important role for the maintenance of the normal pregnancy. Expression of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) is able to effectively prevent apoptosis and controls trophoblast cells death throughout placental development, but it is still unknown in the function of XIAP in trophoblast cells exposed to hypoxic condition, which is one of the factors causing preeclampsia. Therefore, we conducted to compare XIAP expression in normal and pre-eclamptic placenta tissues and analyzed the function of XIAP in HTR-8/SVneo trophoblast cell line exposed to hypoxic condition. Methods: The expression of XIAP was analyzed in placental tissues from the following groups of patients (none underwent labor): 1) term normal placenta (n=15); 2) term with pre-eclamptic placeneta (n=15); and 3) pre-term with pre-eclamptic placenta (n=11) using semi-quantitative RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot. In order to evaluate the function of XIAP in HTR-8/SVneo trophoblast cells under hypoxic condition, HIF-$1{\alpha}$ plasmids, and hypoxic condtion were transfected and treated into HTR-8/SVneo trophoblast cells for 24 hours, respectively. Results: We observed that XIAP are expressed in the syncytiotrophoblasts and syncytial knot of placental villi. The expression of XIAP was significantly decreased in preeclamptic placenta tissues than in normal placenta tissues without labor (p<0.05). Furthermore, we confirmed the XIAP expression in HTR-8/SVneo trophbolast cells exposed to hypoxia was translocated from cytoplasm into nucleus and decreased XIAP by hypoxic condition induced apoptosis in HTR-8/SVneo trophoblast cells through up-regulation of pro-apoptotic proteins. Conclusion: These results suggest that the expression of XIAP is involved in placental development as well as decreased expression of XIAP by hypoxia is associated with pre-eclampsia through inducing trophoblast cells apoptosis.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.289-296
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• 2008

BPES (Blepharophimosis/Ptosis/Epicanthus inversus Syndrome) is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by mutations in FOXL2. Affected individuals have premature ovarian failure (POF) in addition to small palpebral fissures, drooping eyelids, and broad nasal bridge. FOXL2 is a member of the forkhead family transcription factors. In FOXL2-deficient ovaries, granulosa cell differentiation dose not progress, leading to arrest of folliculogenesis and oocytes atresia. Using yeast two-hybrid screening of rat ovarian cDNA library with FOXL2 as bait, we found that small ubiquitin-related modifier (SUMO)-conjugating E2 enzyme UBE2I protein interacted with FOXL2 protein. UBE2I also known as UBC9 is an essential protein for processing SUMO modification. Sumoylation is a form of post-translational modification involved in diverse signaling pathways including the regulation of transcriptional activities of many transcriptional factors. In the present study, we confirmed the protein-protein interaction between FOXL2 and UBE2I in human cells, 293T, by in vivo immunoprecipitation. In addition, we generated truncated FOXL2 mutants and identified the region of FOXL2 required for its association with UBE2I using yeast-two hybrid system. Therefore, the identification of UBE2I as an interacting protein of FOXL2 further suggests a presence of novel regulatory mechanism of FOXL2 by sumoylation.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.10
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• pp.1073-1078
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• 2006

Purpose : This study was performed to assess how a fetal diagnosis of congenital heart disease affects parents, as regards pregnancy management and care of infants after birth. Methods : Database search to find out abnormal fetal echocardiography performed at Seoul National University Children's Hospital from July 1988 to June 2003 revealed 370 examinations. After excluding both arrhythmias without structural cardiac disease and multiple pregnancies, 299 pregnancies remained and this data formed the basis of this analysis. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records with special attention to pregnancy outcomes and also tried to find out factors influencing parental decisions on whether to continue or terminate pregnancy. Results : In this study, the mean gestation age at diagnosis was $28{\pm}6.0weeks$. The mean age of mothers was $30{\pm}3.9$ years old. Younger gestational ages at diagnosis(P=0.000), more severe grades of fetal heart disease(P=0.002) and younger mothers(P=0.014) correlated with terminations of pregnanies. But the grades of fetal status, the grades of associated anomaly, whether in-vitro-fertilization was carried out or not and numbers of previous children were not significant. Conclusion : This study found that the earlier gestational ages at diagnosis, younger maternal age and higher grades of fetal heart disease tended to lead parent to select abortions. Fetal echocardiographies were performed too late. Moreover Koreans have a biased view that malformation is a something incurable and a tragedy not only to oneself, but also to a family. So parents select terminations of pregnancy, even in curable cases. This is very unethical.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.9
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• pp.966-971
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• 2006

Purpose : 'Programming' describes the process that stimulus at a critical period of development has lifelong effects. The fact that low birth weight links to the risk of elevated blood pressures in adult life is well known. This study aims to examine whether this link is evident in the newborn by investigating the relationship of the intrauterine growth indices and neonatal blood pressure(BP). Methods : We studied 127 neonates who were born at Ewha Womans' Hospital and their mothers enrolled our cohort study during pregnancy. Data on the mothers and details of the birth records were tracked and collected from medical charts. Neonatal BP was measured within 24 hours after birth. Results : Neonatal SBP was positively correlated to intrauterine growth indices; birth weight(BW)(r=0.4), head circumference(HC)(r=0.4), and birth height(r=0.3). However, an inverse relationship existed, between HC/BW ratio and neonatal SBP(r=-0.4). After adjusting for the baby's sex, maternal BP, and gestational age, neonatal SBP still associated with intrauterine growth indices. SBP was 7 mmHg higher in the highest BW group(${\geq}90percentiles$) compared to the lowest group(<10 percentiles). On the other hand, SBP was 17 mmHg lower in the highest HC/BW group(${\geq}90percentiles$) compared in the lowest group(<10 percentiles). Conclusion : This study could not find the evidence that intrauterine growth retardation affect on elevated neonatal BP. It suggests that the initiating events of BP programming may occur during postnatal growth period. To identify the critical starting period that intrauterine growth retardation leads to elevated BP, a study tracking BP changes from birth to childhood is required.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.9
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• pp.1350-1356
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• 2005

Osteoporosis that is associated with estrogen deficiency in menopause is by far the most common cause of age-related bone loss. Since isoflavone had been reported as a natural substance that minimizes bone loss, we have begun this study to examine the effect of the substance on bone metabolism in ovariectomized rats. Five week-old (n=22) and 25 week-old (n=22) Sprage-Dawley female rats were classified into young (Y) and adult (A) groups. Each group consisted of three subgroups : sham operated group (SH), ovariectomized group (OVX), and isoflavone supplemented group (OVX+ISO 80 mg/kg B.W.). They were fed chow for 9 weeks. The result showed that body weight gain was increased in YOVX in comparison to YSH group, (p<0.05) serum osteocalcin concentration and urinal deoxypyridinoline (DPD) excretion had significantly increased in YOVX more than in YSH group, and significantly decrease in OVX+ISO than in YOVX group (p<0.05). We concluded that soy isoflavones may decrease bone turnover in young rats. However, isoflavone supplement didn't show significant influence on bone metabolism of adult rats.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.231-238
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• 2008

The second family member of tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases, TIMP-2, is a 21kDa protein which inhibits matrix metalloproteinases 2 (MMP-2). Expression of mammalian proteins in E. coli often forms inclusion bodies that are made up of mis-folded or insoluble protein aggregates. The requirement for the formation of 6 disulfide bonds in the process of the TIMP-2 folding is likely to be incompatible with the reducing environment of E. coli. However, this incompatibility can be often overcome by introducing a mutagenesis that could lead to enhancement of the protein solubility. In this reason, we have attempted to express the soluble TIMP-2 in E. coli by applying a modified staggered extension process (StEP), one of the in vitro PCR-based recombinant mutagenesis methods, and error-prone PCR. C-terminally located CAT fusion protein with respect to mutated TIMP-2 proteins enables us to differentiate the soluble TIMP-2 from the insoluble in E. coli by virtue of chloramphenicol resistance. According to this scheme, E. coli harboring properly-folded CAT fused to TIMP-2 protein was selected, and some of the resulting colonies exhibited an enhanced, soluble expression of TIMP-2 compared to the wild type, implying (i) the StEP technique is successfully employed to enhance the proper folding thereby increasing the solubility of TIMP-2, and (ii) the CAT dependent screening may be a simple and effective method to differentiate the soluble protein expression in E. coli.