• Journal of fish pathology
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.263-273
• /
• 2009

There is an increasing number of reports describing Streptococcus parauberis as an important pathogen of cultured olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus and starry flounder Platichthys stellatus in Korea. We tried to determine the effects of water temperature (14${^{\circ}C}$ and 21${^{\circ}C}$) on the pathogenicity in Streptococcal disease caused by S. parauberis. We have challenged 180 olive flounder by i.p injection to $2.0{\times}10^{7}$ live cells/fish. Mortality was monitored for 21 days post challenge. And histopathological characterizations as infection degree, tissue degeneration and/or bacterial distribution were investigated with H&E stain and in situ hybridization technique. Fifty percent and 16.7% of mortality occurred within 21 days at 21${^{\circ}C}$ and 14${^{\circ}C}$ water temperature, respectively. In most cases, the typical symptoms of olive flounder infected with S. parauberis were darkness of the skin, lethargy, mild abdominal distension cause by ascites, splenomegaly, congested liver and internal organs paleness. The pericardial sac contained large amounts of cloudy fluid. Numerous whitish nodules, which were variable in size and often confluent, were randomly scattered throughout the myocardium. Especially, pericarditis and/or myocarditis was observed in all tested fishes after death. Positive in reaction with S. parauberis were found in all tissues in situ hybridization analysis. The relative numbers of S. parauberis in heart were much more than in liver, spleen, kidney and stomach. We evaluated that S. parauberis strain causes serious damage in the pericardium, shortness of breath and the blood disorder. Therefore, pericarditis and myocarditis caused by S. parauberis were closely related to mortality of olive flounder.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.238-244
• /
• 2009

Food allergy is a serious nutritional problem in both children and adults. Therefore, food allergenicity reduction methods are greatly needed. The allergenicity is altered by various manufacturing processes, and the digestibility of food proteins can be affected by food processing. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of in-vitro digestibility on the allergenicity of autoclaved market pork sausages using pepsin (30min) and trypsin (5, 30, 60, 90, and 120min). The binding ability of the porcine serum albumin (PSA) from sausages A and B significantly decreased by about 30 and 23%, respectively, after autoclave treatment (121; 5, 10, and 30 min). After the pepsin and trypsin treatments, the binding ability of products A and B at 30 min decreased. These competitive indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ci-ELISA) results corresponded well with the sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and immunoblotting results. The results demonstrated that the allergenicity of pork sausages considerably decreased after autoclave treatment, and were also maintained or decreased after enzyme treatment. Accordingly, autoclave treatment represents a promising processing technology for the reduction of the allergenicity of diverse food products.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
• /
• v.9 no.4
• /
• pp.207-217
• /
• 2011

In this study the complex formation reactions between uranium(VI) and 2,6-dihydroxybenzoate (DHB) as a model ligand of humic acid were investigated by using UV-Vis spectrophotometry and time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS). The analysis of the spectrophotometric data, i.e., absorbance changes at the characteristic charge-transfer bands of the U(VI)-DHB complex, indicates that both 1:1 and 1:2 (U(VI):DHB) complexes occur as a result of dual equilibria and their distribution varies in a pH-dependent manner. The stepwise stability constants determined (log $K_1$ and log $K_2$) are $12.4{\pm}0.1$ and $11.4{\pm}0.1$. Further, the TRLFS study shows that DHB plays a role as a fluorescence quencher of U(VI) species. The presence of both a dynamic and static quenching process was identified for all U(VI) species examined, i.e., ${UO_2}^{2+}$, $(UO_2)_2{(OH)_2}^{2+}$, and $(UO_2)_3{(OH)_5}^+$. The fluorescence intensity and lifetimes of each species were measured from the time-resolved spectra at various ligand concentrations, and then analyzed based on Stern-Volmer equations. The static quenching constants (log $K_s$) obtained are $4.2{\pm}0.1$, $4.3{\pm}0.1$, and $4.34{\pm}0.08$ for ${UO_2}^{2+}$, $(UO_2)_2{(OH)_2}^{2+}$, and $(UO_2)_3{(OH)_5}^+$, respectively. The results of Stern-Volmer analysis suggest that both mono- and bi-dentate U(VI)-DHB complexes serve as groundstate complexes inducing static quenching.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.142-149
• /
• 2009

Purpose : The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic value of serum procalcitonin (PCT) compared with that of C-reactive protein (CRP) and the total white blood cell count (WBC) in predicting bacterial infections in febrile infants<6 months of age. Methods : A prospective study was performed with infants <6 months of age who were admitted to the Department of Pediatrics with a fever of uncertain source between July and September 2008. Spinal taps were performed according to clinical symptoms and physical examination. Serum PCT levels were measured using an enzyme-linked fluorescent assay. Results : Seventy-one infants (mean age, 2.62 months) were studied. Twenty-six infants (36.6%) had urinary tract infections (UTIs), and 22 infants (31.0%) had viral meningitis. The remaining infants had acute pharyngitis (n=1), herpangina (n=1), upper respiratory tract infections (n=7), acute bronchiolitis (n=8), acute gastroenteritis (n=4), and bacteremia (n=2). The median WBC and CRP levels were significantly higher in infants with UTIs than in infants with viral meningitis. However, there were no differences in the median PCT levels between the groups (0.14 ng/mL vs. 0.11 ng/mL, P=0.419). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.792 (95% CI, 0.65-0.896) for WBC, 0.77 (95% CI, 0.626-0.879) for CRP, and 0.568 (95% CI, 0.417-0.710) for PCT. An elevated WBC count (>11,920/${\mu}L$) and an increased CRP level (>1.06mg/dL) were significant predictors of UTIs based on multiple logistic regression analysis. Conclusion : Serum PCT concentrations should be interpreted with caution in infants <6 months of age with a fever of uncertain source.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.82-90
• /
• 2018

Purpose: Survival after liver transplantation (LT) has improved over the years, but infection is still a major complication. We aimed to identify the characteristics of bacterial infections in pediatric LT recipients. Methods: This study is a retrospective review of 189 consecutive children undergoing LT between 2000 and 2015 at a single center. In this study, the incidence of infection was determined for the following periods: within 1 month, between 1-5 months, and between 6-12 months. Patients who underwent liver transplants more than once or multiple organ transplants were excluded. Results: All patients had received postoperative antibiotic for 3 days. Only the maintenance immunosuppression with oral tacrolimus and steroids were performed. As a result, 132 bacterial infections developed in 87 (46.0%) patients (0.70 events per person-year). Bacterial infections occurred most frequently within the first month (n=84, 63.6%) after LT. In the pathogens, Staphylococcus aureus (15.2%), Enterococcus species (15.2%), and Klebsiella species (13.6%) were most common. Regarding the organ infected, bloodstream was most common (n=39, 29.5%), followed by peritoneum (n=28, 21.2%), urinary tract (n=25, 18.9%), and lungs (n=20, 15.2%). We changed prophylactic antibiotics from ampicillin-sulbactam to piperacillin-tazobactam at 2011, October, there were no significant effects in the prevalence of antibiotics resistant bacterial infections. The 1-year mortality was 9.0% (n=17), in which 41.2% (n=7) was attributable to bacterial infection; septicemia (n=4), pneumonia (n=2), and peritonitis (n=1). Conclusions: The incidence and type of bacterial infectious complications after LT in pediatric patients were similar to those of previous studies. Bacterial complications affecting mortality occur within 6 months after transplantation, so proper prophylaxis and treatment in this period may improve the prognosis of LT.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.11-16
• /
• 2004

Classification of esophageal motility disorders not yet finalized and is still ongoing as the new disorders are reported, and the existing classification is changed or removed. In terms of radiology, the primary peristalsis does not exist, and the lower end of the esophagus show the smooth, tapered, beak-like appearance. The esophageal motility disorder, which mostly occurs in the smooth muscle area, show the symptoms of reduction or loss (hypomotility) or abnormal increase (hypermotility) of peristalsis of the esophagus. It is important to understand the anatomy and physiology of the esophagus for the appropriate radiological method and diagnosis. Furthermore, the symptom of the patient and the manometry finding must be closely referred for the radiological diagnosis. The lower esophageal sphincter can be normally functioning and open completely as the food moves lower. Sperandio M et al. argues that the name diffuse esophageal spasm must be changed to distal esophageal spasm (DES) as most of the spasm occurs in the distal esophagus, composed of the smooth muscle. According to Ott et al., usefulness of barium method for diagnosing the esophageal motility disorder is Achalasia 95%, DES 71% and NEMD 46%, with the overall sensitivity of 56%. However, excluding the nutcracker esophagus or nonspecific disorder which cannot be diagnosed with the radiological methods, the sensitivity increases to 89%. Using videofluoroscopy and 5 time swallows, the average sensitivity was over 90%. In conclusion, the barium method is a simple primary testing method for esophageal motility test. Using not only the image but also the videofluoroscopy with good knowledge of the anatomy and physiology, it is believed that the method will yield the accurate diagnosis.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.312-317
• /
• 1985

Growth response and nutrients uptake of tobacco grown on mulched and non mulched plots were investigated during the growing period. 1. The whole growing time was about 25 days shorter and relative growth rate was faster in the mulched plot than in the non mulched plot. 2. Nitrate content of leaf in the latter stage of tobacco grown on the non mulched plot was more continuously increased compared with mulched plot. As a result in the latter stage of tobacco leaf nitrate form of nitrogen level was much higher on non mulched plot than on mulched plot. 3. Reducing sugar content in cured leaves of tobacco grown on the non mulched plot was lower that of the mulched plot. This difference in reducing sugar content was remarkable in the bottom leaves that nitrate content was highest. 4. Tobacco growing on nonmulched soil may cause to be low quality owing to increasing of nitrogen compound and decreasing of reducing sugar content in cured leaves. 5. As distributions of nitrate and potassium content in leaves at different stalk position was similar each other, nitrate and potassium ion considered to be counter ion in absorption and translocation through the tobacco plant.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.30 no.11
• /
• pp.1062-1068
• /
• 1997

From August 1989 to January 1996, a total of 105 cases of bidirectional Glean operations have been done as the interim stage for the patien s with some risk of univentricular correction at Sejong General Hospital. From December 1992, we started the conversion to Fontal operations for them, and 42 cases underwent Fontal-stage operation till February 1996. Their diagnoses were univentricular heart in 19(right ventricular type : 14), tricuspid atresia 11, double outlet of right ventricle 9, and others in 3 cases. The median age of bidirectional Glerln-stage operation was 12.5 months(range 2 months to 8 years) and Fontan-stage operation was at 59.6 months of median age(range 1 year 5 months to ,9 year 7 months). The mean waiting interval between the two operations was 33.88 $\pm$ 17.85 months with a range of 10 months to 6 years 3 months. During the waiting periods, 18 patients developed significant systemic-pulmonary collaterals andfor systemic verso-veno collateral channels. There were 5 hospital deaths after operations due to low cardiac output in 4 and sepsis in one. Most of the Fontal-stage operations were done by the late al tunneling with Core-Tex tube graft patch and fenestrated with the size of 2.5 ~6 mm. All the patients were followed-up(7 months to 4 years 2 months, mean 21.97$\pm$10.82 months) and there were 5 late deaths(postoperatively 6 months to 2 years) due to thromboembolism in 1, after heart transplantation 1, plastic bronchitis 1, protein loosing enteropathy 1, and pneumonia in 1. Dividing the patients by the waiting interval of 2 years, the early correction to Fontal group (N=16) showed the better results(hospital mortality 1116, late mortality 1116, significant collateral development 2/16) compared to the other group(N=26) (4/26, 4/26, 16/26). In conclusion, after the bidirectional Glean-stage operation successfully got rid of the previous risk factors, we recommand to do the Fontan-stage operation no later than 2 years of interval.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.343-349
• /
• 1994

The study was taken to analyze the laboratory findings of the 161 patients with autoimmune thyroiditis treated at Kyungpook University Hospital from January 1992 to July 1993. They were all female and mean age was 33 years ranging from 10 to 73 years. Mean radioactive iodine uptake(RAIU) of the thyroid was $30.90{\pm}21.80(mean{\pm}SD)%$ at 6 hours and $37.97{\pm}23.25%$ at 24 hours. Mean serum levels of thyroid hormones were $1.41{\pm}0.48$(ng/ml) of T3, $7.26{\pm}3.23$(ug/dl) of T4, and $1.11{\pm}0.66$(ng/dl) of free T4, while mean serum level of TSH was $17.99{\pm}30.72$(uIU/ml). Mean levels of serum autoantibodies were 24. $43{\pm}31.91$(U/ml) of antithyroglobulin antibody and $55.32{\pm}41.97$(U/ml) of antimicrosomal antibody. The correlation between RAIU and serum thyroid hormone levels was significantly negative, but the positive correlation between RAIU and serum TSH was noted. The correlation between thyroid hormones and TSH was significantly negative, but the positive correlation between RAIU and serum TSH was noted. The correlation between thyroid hormones and TSH was significantly negative, while antimicrosomal antibody titer revealed significantly positive correlation with TSH. The RAIU and free T4 showed negatively correlated with the increasing age. The Initial clinical findings of the patients with autoimmune thyroiditis revealed euthyroidism in 83.2%, hypothyroidism in 14.9%, and hyperthyroidism in 1.9%. The incidence of abnormally increased serum thyroglobulin, antithyroglobulin antibody, and antimicrosomal antibody were 21.3%, 97.5%, and 87.6%, respectively and these abnormalities were more frequent in the patients with documented clinical thyroid functional disturbances.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.317-325
• /
• 1994

The accuracy of dipyridamole stress/rest $^{99m}Tc$-MIBI myocardial imaging for detection of ischemia depends on reproducible image interpretation. To evaluate the reproducibility of visual assessment, agreement in interpretation among two independent observers, blind-ed to clinical data, was evaluated in SPECT images of 131 patients (94 males, 38 females; mean age $58{\pm}7yr$) with suspected coronary artery disease who underwent both dipyridamole stress/rest $^{99m}Tc$-MIBI myocardial SPECT and coronary angiography. The left ventricle was divided into twenty-nine segments in stress and rest SPECT images and each segment was visually graded according to a five-point scale (segmental score : 0=normal, 1=equivocal, 2=mild decrease, 3=severe decrease and 4=absent uptake). Overall concordance of segmental scoring between the two observers was 80%. The Pear-son's correlation coefficient (r) of the segmental scores for stress and rest images were 0.67 and 0.65, respectively, while the difference in score between the two images showed a correlation of 0.45 (all p<0.001). Agreement between two observers in final SPECT diagnosis as absence or presence of disease was 93%. The degree of agreement in segmental scoring showed no difference between patients with or without agreement as to the presence of disease. Therefore it appeared that cases with inconcordant diagnosis between the 2 observers were mainly due to a difference in individual threshold for interpretating the significance of a particular decreased uptake area rather than to a difference in perceiving the degree of the hypoactivity Thus, establishment of individual optimum thresholds in visual interpretation of myocardial SPECT may be helpful to improve reproducibility and accuracy of scan diagnosis.