• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.193-201
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• 2001

This study was designed to examine the factors affecting in fertilization and development of embryos in vitro, and to examine whether zone drilling by laser irradiation can improve the hatching rate of IVF embryos from DNA marker-proved Hanwoo. DNA markers related to marbling score were identified using DNA fingerprinting with Ml3 probe and restriction enzyme Hae III. Oocytes were aspirated from immature ovarian follicles using a combined method of rectal ovarian-palpation and transvaginal ultrasound-guidance(6.5MHz) under local anesthesia. The aspirated oocytes were washed twice with fresh D-PBS containing 5% FBS and were rewashed 4 to 5 times with TCM-199 containing 5% FBS. A morphological grade of I to IV was assigned to each oocyte. Data were analyzed using the GLM procedure of SAS. Sperm separation methods did not have any significant effect on cleavage or developmental abilities of IVF embryos. Significantly(P<0.05) higher cleavage rate was observed in embryos from GI(60.0%, 3/5), GII(69.2%, 18/26) and GIII(62.1%, 59/95) compared to embryos from GIV oocytes(36.2%, 25/69). And the developmental rate to blastocyst stage was higher(P<0.05) in embryos from GI(33.3%, 1/3) and GII oocytes(38.9%, 7/18) than those from GIII(16.9%,10/59) and GIV oocytes(4.0%, 1/25). There was no significant difference in development of IVF embryos to blastocyst by media for in vitro culture. Proportion of hatched blastocyst was significantly(P<0.05) higher in embryos received zona drilling by laser than those of non-drilled.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.265-275
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• 2006

Objectives : Electrical acupoint stimulation(EAS) has been used to treat motor dysfunction of stroke patients with reportedly effective results. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of the EAS with different frequencies in treating motor dysfunction of ischemic stroke patients. Methods : The subject of this study were forty-two ischemic stroke patients with motor dysfunction in Kyunghee oriental medicine hospital who were hospitalized for one week to one month from onset. They were treated with 2Hz or 120Hz EAS for two weeks, and motor evoked potentials(MEP) were measured before and after EAS treatment. To compare the effect of 2Hz EAS with 120Hz, the number of patients who showed MEP responses after two weeks among those who had no previous response was checked. Also measured were latency, central motor conduction time(CMCT), amplitude of MEP before and after EAS treatment. Results : After two weeks of treatment, 4 out of 15 patients(27%) in the 2Hz EAS group and lout of 19 patients(5%) in the 120Hz group showed potential responses. Yet there was no significant difference between the two groups. When MEP data of the affected side between the 2Hz group and the 120Hz group was compared, the former showed more significant improvement than the latter in latency, CMCT and amplitude(P=0.040, 0.019,0.021). When the proportion of the affected side and unaffected side in MEP data was examined, the 2Hz group showed improvement on only latency and CMCT with significant differences(P=0.040, 0.014). Conclusions : These results show that EAS with low frequency is more helpful for motor recovery after ischemic stroke than that with high frequency. This suggests that low frequency EAS activates the central motor conduction system better than high frequency EAS.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.3 s.248
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• pp.191-196
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• 2005

We analysed the characteristics of anastomotic sites after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) using coronary angiographies (CAGs) performed at one and five years postoperatively in the same patient population. Material and Method: Among the 219 patients who underwent isolated CABGs between January 1995 and December 1997, follow-up coronary angiograms were performed in 149 ($75.3\%$) patients at one year and in 115 ($58.1\%$) patients at five years postoperatively. FitzGibbon grading system was used to evaluate the anastomotic sites. Result: The patency rates of arterial grafts at one- and five-year were $96.5\%$ (192/199) and $93.1\%$ (134/144), which were higher than those of saphenous vein grafts (SVGs) ($82.9\%$ (224/270) and $77.5\%$ (141/182), respectively) (p=0.01). Although there were significant decreases in the patency rates between one- and five-year CAGs of both arterial and venous grafts, the proportion of FitzGibbon grade B among the SVGs was increased from $5.2\%$ (one-year) to $8.2\%$ (five-year), suggesting the progression of vein graft disease (p < 0.01). Conclusion: The patency rate of the arterial graft was higher than that of SVG in both one- and five-year CAGs. The attrition rate of saphenous vein graft was higher than arterial grafts.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.952-963
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• 1998

Background: Cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB)-induced hemostatic defects may result increased possibility of excessive hemorrhage and additional multiple transfusion reactions or reoperation. Particularly, fibrinolytic activation and decreased platelet count and function by CPB were proposed as a predictor of hemorrhage during postoperative periods in several reports. Materials and methods: Present study, which was conducted in 20 adult patients undergoing CPB, was prospectively designed to examine the hematologic changes, including fibrinolytic activation during and after CPB and to clarify the relationships between these changes and the magnitude of the postoperative nonsurgical blood loss. The serial blood samples for measurment of hematologic parameters were taken during operation and postoperative periods. Blood loss was respectively counted via thoracic catheter drainage at postoperative 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 hours and total period. Results: The results were obtained as follows:Platelet count rapidly declined following CPB(p<0.01), which its decreasing rate was an inverse proportion to total bypass time(TBT, r=0.55, p=0.01), And platelet count in postoperative 7th day was barely near to its control value. Fibrinogen degradating product(FDP) and D-dimer level significantly increased during CPB(p<0.0001, p<0.0001, respectively), and both of fibrinogen and plasminogen concentration correlatively decreased during CPB(r=0.57, p<0.01), implying activation of fibrinolytic system. Postoperative bleeding time (BT), postoperative activated partial thromboplastin time(aPTT) and postoperative prothrombin time (PT) were significantly prolonged as compare with each control value (p=0.05, p<0.0001, p<0.0001, respectively). Total blood loss was positively correlated with patient's age, aortic clamping time (ACT) and TBT, while there was negative correlation between platelet count and blood loss at pre-CPB, CPB-off and the 1st postoperative day, and in some periods. Postoperative aPTT and postoperative PTwere positively related to postoperative 6 hr and 48 hr blood loss(r=0.53, p=0.02; r=0.43, p=0.05) but not to total blood loss, whereas there was no relationship between postoperative BT and blood loss at any period. Conclusions: These observations suggest that CPB results various hematologic changes, including fibrinolytic activation and severe reduction in platelet count. Diverse factors such as age, platelet count, ACT, TBT and postoperative aPTT and PT may magnify the postoperative bleeding. This study will be a basic reference in understanding CPB-induced hemostatic injuries and in decreasing the postoperative hemorrhage

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.53-88
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• 2006

The major aim of this paper is to develop a hypothetical set of age-specific fertility rates which are logically derived and reasonably accurate in the projection of future population. The first procedure is to select a generalized log-gamma distribution model, which includes Coale-McNeil nuptiality model, in order to estimate and project a set of age-specific fertility rates by birth cohort and birth order. The second is to apply the log-gamma model with an empirical adjustment to the actual data to estimate and project the future fertility rates for relatively young birth cohorts who did not complete their reproductive career. This study reconstructs or translates a set of cohort age-specific fertility rates into a set of period age-specific fertility rates which must be hypothesized in order to establish the broader framework of future population projection. For example, the fertility at age 20 in the year of 2020 is the fertility at age 20 for the cohort born in 1990, while the fertility at age 21 in the year of 2020 is the fertility at 21 for the cohort born in 1989. In turn, once a set of age-specific fertility rates for the cohorts who were born up to the year of 2010, it is possible for one to establish an hypothetical set of period age-specific fertility rates which will be needed to project the future population until the year of 2055. The difference in the hypothetical system of age-specific fertility rates between this study and the 2005 special population projection comes from the fact that the fertility estimation/projection model used in this study was skillfully exploited to reflect better actual trend of fertility decline caused by rise in marriage age and increasing proportion of those who remain single until their end of reproduction. In this regard, this paper argues that the set of age-specific fertility rates derived from this study is more logical and reasonably accurate than the set of those used for the 2005 special projection. In the population projection, however, the fundamental issue of the hypothetical setting of age-specific fertility rates in relation to the fertility estimation/projection model is about how skillfully one can handle the period effects. It is not easy for one to completely cope with the problem of period effects except for the a minor period adjustment based on recent actual data, along with the given framework of a cohort-based fertility estimation/projection model.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.36 no.9
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• pp.898-907
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• 2003

Antioxidative function of uncooked powdered food (Sangsik) was evaluated in rats consuming nutritionally unbalanced diet including 1％ cholesterol, high proportion of animal lipids (lard : soybean oil : 8 . 2) , sub-optimal levels of vitamin and mineral mixture along with 0.5% ethanol in drinking water. The uncooked powdered food tested in the present study was a mixture composed of 42 kinds of plant foods (cereals, legumes, seaweeds, vegetables, and fruits) supplemented with vitamins and minerals, and dietary fiber. Control rats were fed the semi-purified diet based on the AIN-93G composition, and nutritionally unbalanced rats were divided into 3 groups, and fed one of the following diets with 0.5% ethanol in drinking water for 5 weeks : unbalanced control diet (UC) ,20% Sangsik powder supplemented diet (S20), and 40% Sangsik powder supplemented diet (S40) . Food efficiency ratio was significantly higher in rats fed S40 compared to the value for rats fed UC (p < 0.05). Hepatic level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) was significantly lower in rats fed UC compared to that for control rats (p < 0.05) , and was not influenced by dietary supplementation of the Sangsik powder. Hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was significantly higher in rats fed UC compared to that for control rats (p < 0.05) , and significantly reduced in rats fed S20 or S40 compared to the value for unbalanced control rats. Feeding unbalanced control diet significantly reduced the ratio of hepatic GSH-Px ＋ catalase/SOD activities compared to the value for control rats, and this decrease in the ratio of antioxidant enzyme activities was reversed by adding the Sangsik powder to the diet at 20% (p <0.05) . Based on the results of antioxidant enzyme activities, feeding uncooked powdered diet appears to provide a favorable environment for body's antioxidative defense mechanism. Serum levels of Fe and Cu were significantly lower in rats fed the Sangsik powder supplemented diets compared to the value for unbalanced control rats (p < 0.05) , and levels of Se, Mn, and Zn were also tended to be decreased by dietary supplementation of the Sangsik powder. These results postulate the possibility that ingredients used in the uncooked powdered food may decrease the bioavailability of trace elements in rats.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.1-18
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• 2003

The Theory for Monarch, Minister, Adjuvant and Dispatcher (or the Theory of Principal, Assistant, Adjuvant and Guiding Korean Oriental Herbal Medicines) has served as a standard principle for newly developed prescription formulas as well as established ones. Despite its significance, however, this theory hasn't been thoroughly studied and covered in the academic journals of Korean Oriental Herbal Medicines (KOHM) yet. This paper inquires into the origin of the theory while presenting the definitions and functions of Principal, Assistant, Adjuvant, and Guiding KOHM. In the end, the recommended doses and number of the KOHM comprising each of Principal, Assistant, Adjuvant, and Guiding KOHM are suggested. The compatibility theory of Principal, Assistant, Adjuvant, and Guiding KOHM can be traced back to the Warring States Period during which it was recorded in the treatise of the various schools of thoughts and their exponents. The theory was firmly established as a full system in ${\ulcorner}Shinnong's\;Pharmacopoeia{\lrcorner}\;and\;{\ulcorner}Yellow\;Emperor's\;Cannon\;of\;Internal\;Medicine{\lrcorner}$. While ${\ulcorner}Shinnong's\;Pharmacopoeia{\lrcorner}$ focuses on the classification of the properties of KOHM, ${\ulcorner}Yellow\;Emperor's\;Cannon\;of\;Internal\;Medicine{\lrcorner}$ mainly deals with the principles for writing prescriptions. In this regard, it is ${\ulcorner}Yellow\;Emperor's\;Cannon\;of\;Internal\;Medicine{\lrcorner}$ that systemized the Theory of Principal, Assistant, Adjuvant, and Guiding KOHM in a real sense. Principal KOHM aims at the causes of diseases and treat main symptoms. The doses are greater than Assistant, Adjuvant and Guiding KOHM. With their comprehensive effects, Principal KOHM is a leading ingredient of any prescription formula. Assistant KOHM are similar to Principal KOHM in its natures and flavors. Although its natures, flavors as well as efficacies may slightly differ from those of Principal KOHM, Assistant KOHM strengthens the therapeutic effects, jointly working with Principal KOHM. They mainly treat accompanying diseases and symptoms. Adjuvant KOHM is divided into two types: facilitator and inhibitor. Facilitators with the similar properties to those of Principal and Assistant KOHM help strengthen the therapeutic effects. Since they usually treat accompanying symptoms or secondary accompanying symptoms (minor accompanying symptoms), there are two kinds of facilitators. (1) The first kind of facilitators assists Principal KOHM, targeting accompanying symptoms. (2) The second ones supporting Assistant KOHM are for accompanying or secondary accompanying symptoms (or minor accompanying symptoms). Inhibitors counteract and thereby complement Principal and Assistant KOHM. Some of them inhibit the side effects or toxicity of Principal KOHM for the sake of the safety of the whole prescription formula while the others generate induced interactions. Guiding KOHM can be used for two purposes: guiding and mediating. The Guiding KOHM for the former purpose leads the other KOHM in a prescription formula to the lesion. But, the Guiding KOHM for mediating coodinate and harmonize all the ingredients in a prescription formula. The number of KOHM for those Principal, Assistant, Adjuvant and Guiding KOHM and their doses are different, depending on the types of prescriptions: classical prescriptions, prescriptions after ${\ulcorner}$Treatise of Cold-Induced Diseases${\lrcorner}$ and prescriptions of Sasang Constitutions Medicines. In the case of the prescriptions after ${\ulcorner}$Treatise of Cold-Induced Diseases${\lrcorner}$, it is highly recommended to follow the view of ${\ulcorner}$Thesaurus of Korean Oriental Medicine Doctors in Chosun Dynasty${\lrcorner}$ for the number of KOHM to be used. For the doses, however, ${\ulcorner}$Elementary Course for Medicine${\lrcorner}$, is found to be more accurate. The most appropriate number of KOHM per prescription is 11-13. To be more specific, for one prescription formula, it is recommended to administer one kind of KOHM for Principal KOHM, 2-3 for Assistant KOHM, 3-4 for Adjuvant KOHM and 5 for Guiding KOHM. As for the proportion of the doses, when 10 units are to be administered for Principal KOHM in a formula, the doses for the other three should be 7-8 units for Assistant KOHM, 5-6 for Adjuvant KOHM and 3-4 for Guiding KOHM. The doses of the KOHM added to or taken out of the prescription correspond to those of Adjuvant and Guiding KOHM.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.558-564
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• 2006

Purpose : Transcranial electromagnetic stimulation(TMS) is a noninvasive method which stimulates the central nervous system through pulsed magnetic fields without direct effect on the neurons. Although the neurobiologic mechanisms of magnetic stimulation are unknown, the effects on the brain are variable according to the diverse stimulation protocols. This study aims to observe the effect of the magnetic stimulation with two different stimulation methods on the cultured hippocampal slices. Methods : We obtained brains from 8-days-old Spague-Dawley rats and dissected the hippocampal tissue under the microscope. Then we chopped the tissue into 450 µm thickness slices and cultured the hippocampal tissue by Stoppini's method. We divided the inserts, which contained five healthy cultured hippocampal slices respectively, into magnetic stimulation groups and a control group. To compare the different effects according to the frequency of magnetic stimulation, stimulation was done every three days from five days in vitro at 0.67 Hz in the low stimulation group and at 50 Hz in the high stimulation group. After N-methyl-D-aspartate exposure to the hippocampal slices at 14 days in vitro, magnetic stimulation was done every three days in one and was not done in another group. To evaluate the neuronal activity after magnetic stimulation, the $NeuN/{\beta}$-actin ratio was calculated after western blotting in each group. Results : The expression of NeuN in the magnetic stimulation group was stronger than that of the control group, especially in the high frequency stimulation group. After N-methyl-D-aspartate exposure to hippocampal slices, the expression of NeuN in the magnetic stimulation group was similar to that of the control group, whereas the expression in the magnetic non-stimulation group was lower than that of the control group. Conclusion : We suggest that magnetic stimulation increases the neuronal activity in cultured hippocamal slices, in proportion to the stimulating frequency, and has a neuroprotective effect on neuronal damage.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.243-251
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• 2015

This study aimed to determine the effects of root zone cooling using air duct on air temperature distribution and root zone and leaf temperatures of sweet pepper (Capsicum annum L. 'Veyron') grown on coir substrate hydroponic system in a greenhouse. When the air duct was laid at the passage adjacent the slab, the direction of air blowing was upstream at $45^{\circ}$. The cooling temperature was set at $20^{\circ}C$ for day and $18^{\circ}C$ for night. For cooing timing treatments, the cooling air was applied at all day (All-day), only night time (5 p.m. to 1 a.m.; Night), or no cooling (Control). The air temperature inside the greenhouse at a height of 40 and 80cm above the floor, and substrate and leaf temperatures, fruit characteristics, and fruit ratio were measured. Under the All-day treatment, the air temperature was decreased about $4.4{\sim}5.1^{\circ}C$ at the height of 40cm and $2.1{\sim}3.1^{\circ}C$ at the height of 80cm. Under the Night treatment, the air temperature was decreased about $3.4{\sim}3.8^{\circ}C$ at the height of 40cm and $2.2{\sim}2.7^{\circ}C$ at the height of 80cm. The daily average temperature in the substrate was in the order of the Control ($27.7^{\circ}C$) > Night ($24.1^{\circ}C$) > All-day ($22.8^{\circ}C$) treatment. Cooling the passage with either upstream blowing at $45^{\circ}$ or horizontal blowing at $180^{\circ}$ was effective in lowering the air temperature at a height of 50cm; however, no difference at a height of 100cm. Cooling the passage with perpendicular direction at $90^{\circ}$ was effective in lowering the air temperature at the height between 100 and 200cm above the floor; however, no effect on the temperature at the height of 50cm. A greater decrease in leaf temperature was found at 7 p.m. than that at 9. a.m. under both All-day and Night treatments. Fresh weight partitioning of fruit was in the order of the All-day (48.6%) > Night (45.6%) > Control (24.4%) treatment. A higher fruit production was observed under the All-day treatment, in which the accumulated average temperature was the lowest, and it may have been led to a higher proportion of photosynthate distributed to fruit than other treatments.

• Journal of Korea Technology Innovation Society
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.284-309
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• 2007

Technology transfer (TT) consortium is an affiliation of two or more public research institutions (PRIs) that participate in a common technology transfer activity or pool their resources together, with the objective of facilitating technology transfer. Based on empirical analysis of five regional TT consortia (2002-2006) operating in Korea, this paper suggests their effectiveness by employing a TT performance index (TTPI) and identifies possible characteristics involved, such as motivations, facilitators, barriers, and challenges. TTPI devised in the paper is a new composite TT performance index to measure how much the TT performance of a PH changed in a designated year compared to a base year. All the performance indicators of TTPI are well-structured based on the unique TT process that is prevalent in Korea. Further, TTPI can bring different size and focus of PRIs to the same scale for comparison by double-normalizing. The paper tests the effectiveness of TT consortium for the escalation of TT performances in member PRIs by highlighting the differences of TTPI's between 2005 and 2001. As a result, the paper found that the escalation of TTPI for member PRIs was greater than that for non-member PRIs. As for the characteristics of TT consortia, their respective factors obtained by TT expert survey were computed with proportion tests of differences (Z tests) to compare two perspectives between intramural and extramural groups. One of key findings is that there is general homogeneity in stakeholder perspectives regarding motivations, facilitators, barriers, and challenges. Some notable responses are as follow; the most probable motivation to join TT consortium is to share or exchange TT competences for enhanced performance. Second, the most probable facilitator is professional capability of consortium-hired personnel. Third, the foremost probable barriers to effective TT consortium are frequent change of consortium director and passive participation of member PRIs. Lastly, both publicizing TT consortia and developing performance metrics are the most important for the improvement of TT consortia. The understanding of the characteristics of TT consortia increases the likelihood of accelerated success, because TT consortia path from formation to termination encompasses many concepts, processes, principles, and factors. Finally, an analysis of the survey data combined with expert interview and observation data led the authors to derive five conditions as being critical to viable TT consortia in Korea at early stage of technology transfer systems. These conditions include policy infrastructure, proactive participation, excellent professionals, personal motivation, and teaming mechanisms. It is expected that the Korean evidence is a starting point to develop and refine the theory of TT consortia and for additional studies in other countries.