• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.46 no.2
• /
• pp.122-127
• /
• 2003

Purpose : Baby-walkers are used by many parents because of the convenience they provide in keeping children occupied, quiet, happy, and in stimulating ambulation. But, these devices have more risks than benefits. Therefore, we performed a study to evaluate the effects of baby-walkers on motor development of human infants according to the hours used in a day, total duration(months), and types of injuries associated with the walkers, and to establish effective methods. Methods : 1,045 questionnaires were filled out by parents who had a baby whose aged between 8 months and 15 months that visited local pediatric clinics and medical centers in Chonju and Iksan from May 1, 2002 to July 31, 2002. They were analyzed in a control group that didn't use babywalkers, a low-user group that used baby-walkers less than 2 hours a day and a high-user group that used them more than 2 hours a day. Results : The mean age of the 1,045 babies whose parents responded to the question investigation was $12.6{\pm}2.4$ months. The number of babies who used the baby-walkers were 811(77.6%). Crawling and walking alone were delayed in the high-user group. The parents who knew the side effects of the baby-walkers totalled 392(48.3%). Conclusion : The findings of this study revealed that many parents didn't know the effects of baby-walkers on motor development in their infants and the risks associated with baby-walkers. Therefore, we should educate parents on the risks of baby-walkers and recommend reducing the use of baby-walkers.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.46 no.2
• /
• pp.143-153
• /
• 2003

Purpose : Infection with Shiga-like toxin (SLT)-producing Escherichia coli, an emerging human pathogen found particularly in young children under 5 years of age, causes a spectrum of illnesses with high morbidity and mortality, ranging from diarrhea to hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome. Host mediators play an important role in the pathogenesis of SLT-I toxicity. The experiments described here were designed to investigate the effect of SLT-I on TNF-${\alpha}$ production and to understand the effect of TNF-${\alpha}$ on GB3 expression. We also further examine the relationship between the Gb3 level and the differential susceptibility of cells to the cytotoxic action of SLT-I. Methods : The effect of purified SLT-1 from E. coli O157 : H7 (ATCC 43890) on tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) production in Raw264.7 cells was investigated. Many mediators regulate endothelial cell membrane expression of the glycolipid globotriaosyleramide (Gb3), which serves as the toxin receptor, suggesting that the host response to the toxin or other bacterial products may contribute to pathogenesis by regulating target cell sensitivity to the toxins. Therefore, the relationships between Gb3 expression and cytotoxicity against SLT-I on three types of cells were evaluated. Results : Detectable levels of TNF-${\alpha}$ were produced as early as six hours after induction and continued to increase during 48 hours by SLT-I. It was also found that Vero cells and dendritic cells (DC2.4 cells) expressed high levels of Gb3, 83% and 68%, respectively, and that Raw264.7 cells had a low level of Gb3 (29%) and appeared refractory to cytotoxicity against SLT-I. Vero cells and DC2.4 cells expressing high levels of Gb3 were highly susceptible to SLT-I. Furthermore, macrophages showed a resistance to SLT-I cytotoxicity, despite the fact that Gb3 expression was enhanced. Conclusion : These results strongly suggest that the expression of Gb3 is necessary but not sufficient to confer sensitivity of macrophages to SLT-I and further underpin the important role of SLT-I and its Gb3 receptors in the pathogenesis of E. coli O157 infection.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.59 no.2
• /
• pp.151-156
• /
• 2005

Background : Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an important pathogen in hospital-acquired infection, and is prevalent in intensive care units (ICU). The MRSA colonization rates of the nares and throat were examined in both the ICU and general ward. This study was performed to investigate the MRSA rate and necessity for MRSA screening cultures in patients admitted to ICU. Methods : Between June and September 2004, those patients admitted to both the medical ICU and general ward participated in this study. Bacterial cultures were performed on swabs of the nares and throat taken within 24 hours of admission. Clinical data were also collected. Results : One hundred and twenty one patients and 84 patients, admitted to the medical ICU and medical general ward, respectively, were investigated. The numbers of nasal MRSA colonization in the ICU and general ward were 3 (2.5%) and 3 (3.6%), respectively. There were 2 (1.7%) cases of throat MRSA colonization in the ICU, but none in the general ward. The MRSA colonization rates of the nares and throat were no different between the ICU and general ward. There were no significant differences in the previous admission, operation history and admission route between the ICU and general ward groups. Conclusion : The MRSA colonization rates of the nares and throat were 3.3 and 3.6% in the ICU and the general ward, respectively. The MRSA screening test does not appear to be required in all patients admitted to the ICU, but further studies, including high-risk patients, are recommended.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.60 no.5
• /
• pp.548-553
• /
• 2006

Background : Alcoholic ketoacidosis(AKA) is a metabolic disturbance that is caused by prolonged and excessive alcohol consumption. Though the prognosis is reportedly good, its outcome is unclear in some cases that are combined with multi-organ failure. There are few reports of an analysis of cases admitted to an intensive care unit(ICU) Method: Cases of AKA admitted to the ICU over the last 5 years were retrospectively analyzed. Severe AKA was characterized by multi-organ failure that required treatment in an ICU Results : All patients were males with a history of excessive alcohol consumption. Five of them (50%) mainly complained of gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea), showing metabolic acidosis with an increased asmolar and anion gap. Rhabdomyolysis with acute renal failure was the most common combined organ failure. Mechanical ventilation was performed in 80%. Six patients died and 4 patients survived. In the surviving patients, the arterial blood gas analysis(ABGA) was normalized within 12 hours after admission. Conclusion : In severe AKA patients, rhabdomyolysis with acute renal failure was the most common complication. The mortality rate was high and death from shock occurred within 3 days.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.63 no.4
• /
• pp.331-336
• /
• 2007

Background: Although pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is a respiratory disease, the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) DNA or Mtb itself has been reported in the peripheral blood (PB) of several patients with pulmonary TB. Additionally, it was recently announced that active pulmonary TB patients donated PB, and that this blood was then transfused to other individuals in Korea. Methods: Sixty-nine patients with bacteriologically-confirmed pulmonary TB (35), non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lung disease (6), and other lung diseases (28) were enrolled in this study, which was conducted to determine if Mtb DNA could be detected in the PB by PCR. In addition, 10 pulmonary TB patients with high-burden bacilli were also enrolled in this study for the culture of Mtb in PB. Results: PCR detected the presence of Mtb in 22.8% (8/35) of the pulmonary TB patients, in 16.7% (1/6) of the patients with NTM lung disease, and in none of the patients with other diseases (0%). In addition, no Mtb was cultured from the PB of the 10 pulmonary TB patients. Conclusion: Although Mtb DNA was detected in the PB of some patients with pulmonary TB, viable Mtb was not isolated from the PB of those patients, which indicates that patients that viable Mth may not be transmitted via trasfusion of blood of pulmonary TB patients.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.11-23
• /
• 2016

An ecological study on subtidal macrobenthic fauna was conducted off the Namhaedo Island, south coast of Korea from July 2012 to April 2013. A total of 247 species of macrobenthos occurred with a mean density of $1,027ind./m^2$ and a mean biomass of $148.7g/m^2$. Polychaetes was the richest and most abundant faunal group that comprised 37% in both total species number and density whereas echinoderms were biomass-dominant faunal group that accounted for 44% of the mean biomass. There was a seasonal variation in the species richness and abundance of macrobenthos with more species in winter and higher density in spring. Mean faunal density was relatively high at the stations near Namhaedo Island, but gradually decreased toward offshore stations. The most dominant species in terms of density was an amphipod species, Eriopisella sechellensis which occurred as a top ranker during three seasons except spring recorded the fourth rank. E. sechellensis showed its high density at the near shore stations of Namhaedo Island, but this species did not occur around the entrance of Gwangyang and Saryang Bays where Theora fragilis and Lumbrineris longifolia showed high densities. In particular, Tharyx sp., recorded high density between Gwangyang Bay entrance and offshore after Sea Prince oil spill, did not occur in the same area during this study period. The bottom temperature and sorting value of the surface sediments were highly correlated to the spatial distribution of macrobenthic fauna from the Bio-Env analysis. From the cluster analysis, the study area has five station groups with more similar faunal affinities from inner area toward offshore area. Based on the SIMPER analysis T. fragilis, Magelona japonica, E. sechellensis, L. longifolia and Paraprionospio cordifolia were mainly contributed to the classification of station groups. From the BPI, benthic communities in the entrance of Gwangyang Bay and Saryang Bay were considered to be in a slightly polluted condition in contrast to the normal healthy community at the offshore of Namhaedo Island. These results suggested that the benthic community of this area should be regularly monitored to assess the health status of this benthic ecosystem.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.45 no.2
• /
• pp.167-173
• /
• 2016

This study investigated the effects of green tea polyphenol and vitamin C on type 2 diabetes mellitus by administering polyphenon 60 (P60) and sodium ascorbate (SA) to diabetic rats induced by high fat diet/low-dose streptozotocin. The experimental group was divided into five different groups: non-diabetic control group (NC), diabetes control group (DC), diabetes+P60 group (DM+P60), diabetes+SA group (DM+SA), and diabetes+P60+SA group (DM+P60+SA). P60 and SA were dissolved in 0.1% drinking water. After P60 and SA were administered for 16 weeks, fasting blood glucose, plasma insulin, serum triglyceride, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine levels as well as kidney alkaline phosphatase (AP) and ${\gamma}$-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) activities were measured. Fasting blood glucose level increased 5-fold in the DC group compared to the NC group. In the DM+P60 group, fasting blood glucose level decreased by 14%. In the DM+P60+SA group, fasting blood glucose level decreased by 28% compared to the DC group, whereas the DM+SA group did not show any significant difference. The homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance index increased in the DC group and decreased in the DM+P60+SA group compared to the DC group. Serum creatinine level increased in the DC group, but decreased by 17% in the DM+P60 group and by 43% in the DM+P60+SA group compared to the DC group. The serum BUN level increased in the DC group, but decreased by 41% in the DM+P60+SA group compared to the DC group. Kidney GGT and AP activities decreased in the DC group compared to the NC group; however, they were reversed by DM+P60+SA group. These results show that combined administration of both green tea polyphenol and vitamin C had better effects on improving blood glucose level, insulin resistance, serum triglyceride level, and protecting kidneys than administration of either green tea polyphenol or vitamin C alone in the context of type 2 diabetes.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.113-117
• /
• 2001

Purpose : To evaluate effect of postoperative radiotherapy on survival and local control for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Materials and Methods : Ninety two NSCLC patients with N1or N2 involvement who were treated with postoperative radiotherapy following surgery with curative intent from May 1987 to October 1999 were retrospectively analyzed. Age of the patients was ranged from 32 to 78 years. According to TNM Stage, 35 patients had Stage II and 57 had Stage III disease. There were 49 patients with N1 involvement and 43 patients with N2 involvement. Fifty six patients were noted to have $T1\~2$ tumors and 36 patients to have $T3\~4$ tumors. Delivered total dose was ranged from 40 to 60 Gy. Majority of patients received 50 Gy or 50.4 Gy. Follow-up period was ranged from 9 month to 7 years with median follow-up of 26 months. Results : Overall survival rates at 3 and 5 years for entire group of patients were $46\%\;and\;38\%$, respectively. Corresponding disease free survival rates were $44\%\;and\;36\%$. There was significant difference in survival between patients with Stage II and Stage III disease ($50\%\;vs\;28\%$ at 5-year). Five year survival rates for N1 and N2 patients were $52\%\;and\;20\%$, respectively (p<0.05). These were $40\%\;and\;34\%$ for patients with $T1\~2$ tumors and $T3\~4$ tumors. There were documented local relapses in $13\%$ of the patients. For patients with N1 and N2 Stage, local relapse rates were $8\%\;and\;18\%$, respectively. Conclusion : Our study confirms that postoperative radiotherapy for patients with non-small cell lung cancer improves local control. However, influence of postoperative radiotherapy on long-term survival is less clear. More effective systemic treatment to prevent distant metastasis should be investigated in future study to improve long-term survival.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.515-526
• /
• 1993

In order to study the ecotypic variation of Rohinia pseudo-acacia L. distributed in southern area of Korean peninsula, 15 local populations(Daejin, Sokcho, Kangneung, Mt. Surak, Hongcheon, Kwangneung, Namhansanseong, Chungju, Yesan, Andong, Jeonju, Dalseong, Changweon, Mokpo and Wando), located from $34^{\circ}18'N\;to\;38^{\circ}36'N$, were selected based on the latitudes and geographical distances. Seeds of these populations were collected and protein contents of seeds and their band patterns were investigated. The seed proteins of all populations were electrophoresed on SDS-polyacrylamide gel. Total number of protein bands were 35, whose molecular weights ranged from 17, 258 daltons to 142, 232 daltons. The number of bands of seed proteins was 23 in Dalseong and Hongcheon and was 32 in Daejin and Sokcho, showing an increasing tendency in the number of bands as the latitude goes high. The local populations were classified into 3 local types based on protein analysis: the middle north east coastal type(Daejin, Sokcho. Kangneung), the central type (Mt. Surak, Hongcheon, Kwangneung, Namhansanseong, Chungju) and the southern type(Yesan, Andong, Jeonju, Dalseong, Changweon, Mokpo, Wando). According to the results of cluster analysis by UPGMA based on the similarity index(c0efficient of Jaccard) of the patterns, 3 local types were subdivided further into 6 types: the middle north east coastal type(Sokcho, Kangneung), the north central type I (Mt. Surak, Hongcheon), the north central type II (Narnhansanseong, Chungju, Daejin), the north central type III (Kwangneung), the south central type (Yesan, Dalseong, Jeonju) and the southern type(Andong, Changweon, Mokpo, Dalseong, Wando). The No. 12 band of the separated seed proteins showed the highest colored density in the preparations from all the populations. The No. 11~13 and No. 23~28 bands also showed high densities. As a whole, southern type populations (Changweon, Mokpo, Wando) showed high protein contents and high colored density. Total protein contents of the seeds in each population were variable from 9. 68mg / g (Mt. Surak) to 17.30mg/g (Jeonju), showing an increasing trends toward low latitudes.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
• /
• v.25 no.5
• /
• pp.341-348
• /
• 2002

Correlations among the island area, distance to mainland, latitude, longitude, human impacts, diversity and composition of vascular plants were investigated by analyzing data on 261 islands(10.3% of total number of islands in Korea) selected from the annual reports for 'the natural evironment survey of the uninhabited islands in Korea' published by 'Ministry of Environment' during three years from 1999. The area of surveyed 261 islands ranged 1,100 to 961,000㎡(average of 75,000㎡), and the distance to mainland ranged 0.15 to 51.5km (average of 14.9km). Total number of plant species recorded in those islands was 1,109 species throughout 30 families, and mean mumber of plant species of each island was 98.7 species. Native species were 1,003 species (90.4%), and exotic species were 106 species(9.6%). The families with the largest number of species was the Compositae with 114 species, and followed in the order of Gramineae(90), Leguminosae(54), and Rosaceae(53). The result of multi-dimensional scaling analysis based on the plant species composition showed that 261 islands were distinctly divided into two groups, western sea group(131 islands) and southern sea group(130 islands). The islands of western sea group(average area of 93,000㎡) had greatly larger area than them of southern sea group(average area of 57,000㎡), but the average number of species (average species of 192) per island were less than in southern sea group (average species of 233). And, the partitioning into two groups was responsible for the species restricted to southern than to western sea group. Therefore, this results suggest that the distribution pattern and the composition of plant species could be also affected by the latitude of the island. When the species-area model was applied to total island and plant species, these results indicate that the island area was the most significant predictor of plant species diversity, and the distance to mainland and the human impacts were also shown to be significant predictors of plant species richness. But when applied to both groups of islands by the stepwise selection method, the result showed that islands of southern sea group were greatly affected by the factors such as human impacts, distance to mainland and longitude than western sea group. For the purpose of conservation of natural ecosystem on the uninhabited islands in Korea, we will also examine how the human impacts and the invasion of exotic plant species will disturb the native species diversity.