• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제6권1호
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• pp.33-42
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• 2006

Background: Calcineurin plays a crucial role in T cell activation, cell growth, apoptosis, and angiogenesis, and its over-expression has been implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiomyopathy and stroke. However, the expression and function of calcineurin in the pathologic lesion of chronic inflammatory diseases, like rheumatoid synovium, remain to be defined. This study was aimed to determine the role of calcineurin in inflammatory arthritis and investigate the expression and function of calcineurin in the rheumatoid synovium and synoviocytes, the actual site of chronic inflammation. Methods: Immuno-histochemical staining using specific antibody to calcineurin was perfomed in the synovium of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) from RA and osteoarthritis (OA) patients were isolated from RA and OA patients, and cultured with IL-1${\beta}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$ in the presence or absence of cyclosporin A, a calcineurin inhibitor. The calcineurin expression was assessed by phosphatase assay and Western blotting analysis. IL-6, -10, -17, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, -2, -3, and -9 released into the culture supernatants were measured by ELISA. After transfection with GFP-Cabin 1 gene into synoviocytes, the levels of IL-6 and MMPs were measured by ELISA. Results: Calcineurin was highly expressed in the lining layer of synovium and cultured synoviocytes of RA patients. The elevated calcineurin activity in the rheumatoid synoviocytes was triggered by proin flammatory cytokines such as IL-1${\beta}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$. In contrast, IL-10, an anti-inflammatory cytokine, failed to increase the calcineurin activity. The targeted inhibition of calcineurin by the over-expression of Cabin 1, a natural calcineurin antagonist, inhibited the production of IL-6 and MMP-2 by rheumatoid synoviocytes in a similar manner to the calcineurin inhibitor, cyclosporin A. Conclusion: These data suggest that abnormal activation of calcineurin in the synoviocytes may contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic arthritis, and thus provide a potential target for controlling inflammatory arthritis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제48권3호
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• pp.237-243
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• 2010

Comprehensive quarterly serosurveillance on scrub typhus in small mammals collected from military training sites located near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), northern Gyeonggi-do (Province), ROK was conducted to determine the potential rodent-borne and associated ectoparasite disease risks to military personnel. A total of 1,196 rodents and insectivores representing 8 species, Apodemus agrarius (87.3%, n = 1,044), Mus musculus (5.4%, n = 65), Crocidura lasiura (3.3%, n = 40), Microtus fortis (2.6%, n = 31), Micromys minutus (0.3%, n = 4), Tscherskia triton (0.3%, n = 4), Rattus norvegicus (0.3%, n = 4), and Myodes regulus (0.3%, n = 4) were assayed for the presence of antibodies to Orientia tsutsugamushi. O. tsutsugamushi antibodies were detected in 6 of 8 species and seroprevalence determined; A. agrarius (45.6%), M. musculus (23.1%), M. fortis (48.4%), M. minutus (50.0%), T. triton (50.0%), and R. norvegicus (25.0%). A total of 31,184 chigger mites collected from 508 rodents and insectivores were slide-mounted and 10 species belonging to 4 genera were identified. Leptotrombidium pallidum (53.4%) was the most frequently collected, followed by L. pal pale (15.7%), Neotrombicula tam/yai (14.3%), L. orientate (10.7%), L. zetum (3.1%), Walchia fragilis (2.1%), and L. gemiticutum (0.8%), while the remaining 3 species, L subintennedium, N. gardellai, and Euschoengastia koreaensis were rarely observed (prevalence < 10%). In contrast to previous surveys, higher chigger indices of the primary scrub typhus vectors, L. pallidum (165.4), L. orientale (45.0), and L. palpate (21.4), were observed during the spring season.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• 제28권1호
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• pp.79-90
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• 1994

The objective of the present study is to assess the contribution of bulk flow to the regulatory mechanism of amniotic fluid volume and its ionic concentration in the membranes surrounding the amniotic fluid. For quantitative assessment, we prepared 4 kinds of artificial amniotic fIuids (isotonic isovolumetric, hypotonic isovolumetric, isotonic hypervolumetric and hypotonic hypervolumetric ones) by replacing 70% of amniotic fluid of pregnant rabbits with water or normal Tyrode solutions. Isoosmotic saline of 0.5 ml volume containing 0.05% Censored and 15 mM/l LiCl was administered initially into amniotic sacs of all subject animals. Samples of amniotic fluid were collected in after 30 and 90 minute intervals; the concentrations of Censored, $Na^+\;and\;Li^+$ were determined and compared. Followings are the results obtained. 1. from isovolumetric and increased Congcord group, we couldn't find significant change in $Li^+\;and\;Na^+$ concentration in isotonic amniotic fluid. However, $Na^+$ concentration increased significantly as well as a striking increase in Censored concentration in hypotonic amniotic fluid. 2. In isovoIumetric and decreased Censored group, the rate of $[Li^+]$ decrement and the rate of $[Na^+]$ increment were much higher in hypotonic amniotic fluid than in isotonic. 3. In hypervolumetric and increased Censored group, the rate of $Na^+$ efflux increased proportionately with the increment of Censored concentration up to 0.98, which was higher than the rate of $Li^+$ efflux in isotonic amniotic fluid. However, the increment of $Na^+$ concentration was rather related with the initial $Na^+$ concentration in hypotonic amniotic fluid, showing inverse relationship. $Li^+$ concentration increased only when there was a marked increase in Censored concentration and approached near a maximum value or 1. 4. For hypervolumetric and decreased Censored group, the observations were identical to isovolumetric and decreased Censored group. From these results the following conclusions could be made: 1) There is no net movement of water or monovalent cations across the membranes surrounding amniotic fIuid in isotonic isovolumetric condition. In contrast, there is a net efflux of amniotic fluid by osmotic bulk flow, resulting in elevation of $Na^+$ concentration in hypotonic isovolumetric condition. 2) In hypervolumetric conditions, there is a massive efflux of amniotic fluid or solvent drag through the surrounding membranes by fiItrative bulk flow, where the rate of $Na^+$ efflux has a linear relationship with that of water efflux. This is assumed to be carried out through enlarged and newly opened intercellular spaces resulting from increased intraamniotic pressure. 3) Once increasing intraamniotic pressure reaches a point allowing $Li^+$ to pass through during osmotic bulk flow in hypotonic amniotic fIuid, $Na^+$ influx seems to occur by diffusion simultaneously or immediately thereafter, too.

• 한국균학회지
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.103-108
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• 2000

느타리버섯 재배용 볏짚배지의 살균과 관련하여 균사생장에 미치는 영향을 실내에서 시험한 결과, 느타리버섯의 균사생장은 $60^{\circ}C$에서 살균한 것이 가장 우수하였고 살균온도가 높아질수록 감소되었으며, 병원균의 생장은 $121^{\circ}C$에서 가장 양호하고 온도가 낮을수록 감소되었다. 볏짚배지의 살균시간은 8, 12시간에서 느타리버섯의 균사생장이 가장 양호하였고 24시간 처리에서는 오히려 균사생장이 감소되었다. 살균시간과 침수시간에 따른 배지 pH의 변화는 침수시간이 길어지면 산도가 낮아지고 살균과 후발효후 종균접종시에는 전반적으로 균형을 이루었다. 느타리버섯 볏짚배지의 살균시간에 상관없이 균사생장정도는 $25{\sim}30^{\circ}C$에서 가장 양호하였다. 느타리버섯의 볏짚배지는 2회 살균보다는 1회 살균시 균사생장이 양호하였다. 미리 균상 내에서 전발효를 하는 경우는 오히려 정상적인 것보다는 균사생장이 불량하였다.

• 대한족부족관절학회지
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• 제7권2호
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• pp.208-217
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• 2003

Introduction: Soft-tissue impingement syndrome is now increasingly recognized as a significant cause of the chronic ankle pain. As a method to detect soft-tissue ankle impingement, a characteristic history and physical examination, routine MR imaging, and direct MR arthrography were used. The efficacy of routine MR imaging has been controversial for usefulness because of low sensitivity and specificity. Direct MR artrhography was recommaned for diagnosis because of the highest sensitivity, specificity and accuracy, but it requires an invasive procedure. The purpose of this study is to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of Fat suppressed, contrast enhanced, three-dimensional fast gradient recalled acquisition in the steady state with rediofrequency spoiling magnetic resonance imaging(CE 3D-FSPGR MRI) and to evaluate the clinical outcome of the arthroscopic treatment in assessing soft-tissue impingement associated with trauma of the ankle. Materials and Methods: We reviewed 38 patients who had arthroscopic evaluations and preoperative magnetic resonance imaging studies(3D-FSPGR MRI) for post-traumatic chronic ankle pain between January 2000 and August 2002. Among them, 24 patients had osteochondral lesion, lateral instability, loose body, malunion of lateral malleoli, and peroneal tendon dislocation. The patient group consisted of 23 men and 15 women with the average age of 34 years(16-81 years). The mean time interval from the initial trauma to the operation was 15.5 months(3 to 40 months), The mean follow-up duration of the assessment was 15.6months(12-48 months). MRI was simultaneously reviewed by two radiologists blinded to the clinical diagnosis. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of MRI was obtained from radiologic and arthroscopic finding. Arthroscopic debridement and additional operation for associated disease were performed. We used a standard protocol to evaluate patients before the operation and at follow-up which includes American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society Ankle-Hindfoot Score. Results: For the assessment of the synovitis and soft tissue impingement, fat suppressed CE 3D-FSPGR MR imaging had the sensitivity of 91.9%, the specificity of 84.4 and the accuracy of 87.5%. AOFAS Ankle-Hindfoot Score of preoperative state was 69.2, and the mean score of the last follow-up was 89.1. These were assessed as having 50% excellent(90-100) and 50% good(75-89). The presence of other associated disease didn't show the statistically significant difference(>0.05). Conclusion: Fat suppressed CE 3D-FSPGR MR imaging is useful method comparable to MR arthrography for diagnosis of synovitis or soft-tissue impingement, and arthroscopic debridement results in good clinical outcome.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.83-92
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this research was to develop the magnetic acupuncture system which used solenoid coil for magnetizing acupuncture needle. The system could generate the meridian electric potential (MEP) similar to the potential by manual acupuncture. Thus, we tried to confirm the therapeutic effect that is caused by the MEP generation. Methods : To confirm the MEP, we stimulated the magnetic acupuncture with at 2Hz, $92.7{\pm}2mT$, PEMFs (Pulsed Electro-Magnetic Fields) at ST37 and measured the evoked potential between ST36 and ST41. Also, we conducted a fatigue recovery test using isokinetic exercise in order to identify the therapeutic effect on musculoskeletal disorders. We chose LR9 as a stimulation point. To observe the state of fatigue, we measured the EMG and analyzed median frequency and peak torque for 20minutes. Results : We observed that MEP which incurred from magnetic acupuncture was higher than he reported MEP induced by manual acupuncture. Moreover, its modes were divided into two types by the direction of magnetic flux. When generating magnetic flux in the direction of acupoint, the positive peak voltage of the MEP was generated. In contrast, negative peak voltage of the MEP was generated whenever meganetic flux generated in the outward direction. As a result of fatigue recovery, the median frequency (MF) of the magnetic acupuncture group were recovered faster than that of the non-stimulation group. However, the peak torques of both groups were not restored until after 20 minutes. Conclusions : We confirmed that the magnetic acupuncture system can lead to the MEP similar to manual acupuncture. Moreover, the MEP had a therapeutic effect on the musculoskeletal disorders.

• 여성건강간호학회지
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• 제6권1호
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• pp.166-180
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• 2000

This study sought to find out the level of perception of the effect on women's physical, mental, socio-culture health of the artificial abortion. The research design was a descriptive correlational study and selected by convenient sampling. The subjects were 510 female and male adults who live in Seoul, Korea. Data were collected from 20th September, 1999 to 28th October, 1999. The data were analyzed through the SPSS program by use of frequency, percentage, t-test, ANOVA and Scheffe test as a post hoc contrast, $x^2$-test, Pearson correlation coefficient and stepwise multiple regression. The results of the study are as follows. 1. The subject who experienced artificial abortion was 24.3% and 468% of these had experienced repeated artificial abortion. 54.4% was using the contraceptives and there was a significant difference in the contraceptives between that women wish to use and that women are really using. 2. For the opinion on the artificial abortion, 77.3% of respondents was pro-abortionists and the most acceptable reasons of pro-choice were" In case of unmarried" and "For the women's health". 3. On the whole, the subjects perceived that artificial abortion had a negative effect on the women's health, especially, on the women's mental health. Among the items, 'guilty feeling about the baby' was the highest. 4. The related factors to the level of perception of the effect on women's health of the artificial abortion were in sex, age, occupational status, marital status, educational level, the number of children, abortion history, contraceptives women use, the frequency of the consideration on the problem of artificial abortion and the position toward abortion such as pro or anti. The main influencing factors on the level o0f perception were artificial abortion history, occupational status and the frequency of the consideration on the problem of artificial abortion. Theses factors explained 35% of total variance of the level of perception 5. The variables related to the experience of artificial abortion were age, occupational status, marital status, religion, educational level, the number of children and whether women practice contraceptives or not.

• 한국컴퓨터그래픽스학회논문지
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.43-54
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• 2019

이 연구는 디스플레이 장비와 사용자를 분리하여 현실 공간 전체, 또는 현실 공간 속 허공에 이미지를 디스플레이하는 '공간증강현실(Spatial Augmented Reality)' 구현에 적합한 포그 스크린의 활용 방안에 대하여 전체적으로 조망 하였다. 세 번의 전시와 한 번의 공연을 통하여 통과가 가능한 포그 스크린이 공간증강현실을 구현하는데 있어 적합한 소재라는 것과 포그 스크린을 이용한 공간증강현실 구현을 통하여 무대나 전시에서 홀로그램 연출이 이전보다 쉬워졌다는 것에 대해서도 증명 하였다. 전시와 함께 공연계 종사자들을 상대로 실시한 설문조사를 통하여 포그 스크린을 알고 있는 사람들이 절반에 불과하다는 것과 실제로 포그 스크린을 관람한 사람의 비율이 전체 응답자 중에서 10% 정도로 매우 낮다는 것을 확인 하였다. 또한, 포그 스크린이 주변 공간에 어떠한 영향을 미치는가를 알아보기 위하여 국립아시아문화전당 어린이문화원에서 처음 실시한 시간과 거리 변화에 따른 습도 변화 관찰 실험을 통하여 포그 스크린을 중심으로 반경 5m 이내의 습도가 2~3%($6,400m^3$ 기준) 정도 증가할 수 있다는 것을 확인 하였다. 이를 통하여 전시장에서 물감이나 종이, 나무와 같이 습기에 취약한 소재를 사용하는 전시물과 함께 전시할 경우, 포그 스크린과의 설치 유격에 참고할 수 있는 최소한의 근거를 마련하였다.

• BMB Reports
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• 제52권4호
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• pp.289-294
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• 2019

The present study evaluated the role of AHNAK in Bartonella henselae infection. Mice were intraperitoneally inoculated with $2{\times}10^8$ colony-forming units of B. henselae Houston-1 on day 0 and subsequently on day 10. Blood and tissue samples of the mice were collected 8 days after the final B. henselae injection. B. henselae infection in the liver of Ahnak-knockout and wild-type mice was confirmed by performing polymerase chain reaction, with Bartonella adhesion A as a marker. The proportion of B. henselae-infected cells increased in the liver of the Ahnak-knockout mice. Granulomatous lesions, inflammatory cytokine levels, and liver enzyme levels were also higher in the liver of the Ahnak-knockout mice than in the liver of the wild-type mice, indicating that Ahnak deletion accelerated B. henselae infection. The proportion of CD4+interferon-${\gamma}$ ($IFN-{\gamma}^+$) and $CD4^+$ interleukin $(IL)-4^+$ cells was significantly lower in the B. henselae-infected Ahnak-knockout mice than in the B. henselae-infected wild-type mice. In vitro stimulation with B. henselae significantly increased $IFN-{\gamma}$ and IL-4 secretion in the splenocytes obtained from the B. henselae-infected wild-type mice, but did not increase $IFN-{\gamma}$ and IL-4 secretion in the splenocytes obtained from the B. henselae-infected Ahnak-KO mice. In contrast, $IL-1{\alpha}$, $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, IL-10, RANTES, and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ secretion was significantly elevated in the splenocytes obtained from both B. henselae-infected wild-type and Ahnak-knockout mice. These results indicate that Ahnak deletion promotes B. henselae infection. Impaired $IFN-{\gamma}$ and IL-4 secretion in the Ahnak-knockout mice suggests the impairment of Th1 and Th2 immunity in these mice.

• 한국자원식물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국자원식물학회 2023년도 임시총회 및 춘계학술대회
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• pp.17-17
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• 2023

Chrysanthemum zawadskii (C. zawadskii) is used in traditional East Asian medicine for the treatment of various diseases, including inflammatory disease. However, it has remained unclear whether extracts of C. zawadskii inhibit inflammasome activation in macrophages. The present study assessed the inhibitory effect of an ethanol extract of C. zawadskii (CZE) on the activation of the inflammasome in macrophages and the underlying mechanism. Bone marrow[-derived macrophages (BMDMs) were obtained from wild-type C57BL/6 mice. The release of IL-1β and lactate dehydrogenase in response to nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor (NLR) family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activators, such as ATP, nigericin and monosodium urate (MSU) crystals, was significantly decreased by CZE in lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-primed BMDMs. Western blotting revealed that CZE inhibited ATP-induced caspase-1 cleavage and IL-1β maturation. To investigate whether CZE inhibits the priming step of the NLRP3 inflammasome, we confirmed the role of CZE at the gene level using RT-qPCR. CZE also downregulated the gene expression of NLRP3 and pro-IL-1β as well as NF-κB activation in BMDMs in response to LPS. Apoptosis associated speck-like protein containing a caspase-recruitment domain (CARD) oligomerization and speck formation by NLRP3 inflammasome activators were suppressed by CZE. By contrast, CZE did not affect NLR family CARD domain containing protein 4 (NLRC4) or absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) inflammasome activation in response to Salmonella typhimurium and poly(dA:dT) in LPS-primed BMDMs, respectively. The results revealed that three key components of CZE, namely linarin, 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid and chlorogenic acid, decreased IL-1β secretion in response to ATP, nigericin and MSU. These findings suggest that CZE effectively inhibited activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome.