• Hwankyungkyoyuk
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.12-30
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• 2009

The relationship between marine environmental improvement and environmental perception of the inhabitants was investigated. For this purpose, the seawater and bottom materials were analysed. Apart from this, the questionnaire surveys were also conducted around the Sun-so coastal area. In order to examine the improvement in the marine environment, 12 monitoring sites, which are located around Sun-so coast and can be divided into two parts such as inland (GW1-GW6) and outland (GW7-GW12) sea, were chosen. All the collected samples were analyzed to find out the quality of seawater (temperature, pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen: DO, chemical oxygen demand: COD and suspend solid: SS), nutrients (total nitrogen: TN and phosphate: $PO_4-P$) and bottom materials (COD, volatile solids: VS) as per the standard analytical procedures. In addition, the questionnaire mainly focused on the following three factors: 1) social economy, 2) dependent environmental awareness and 3) independent environmental awareness related with the environmental education. The monitoring studies indicated that the marine environment of the Sun-so coast showed various trends for analyzing parameter. No significant temporal changes in temperature, pH and salinity were observed. However, the other parameters showed decreasing (COD, SS, TN, $PO_4-P$ and VS) and increasing (DO) trends according to the quality of seawater and bottom materials. The questionnaire survey clearly showed that most of the residents in Sun-so recognized the improvement of marine environment as compared with the situation experienced in the past. The dredging project which is closely related with economic and living conditions of the local residents led to alter the environmental perceptions and attitudes. The survey also indicated that the inhabitants perceived the necessity of the environmental education (87% of respondents) and preferred regular schooling (55% of respondents) as effective and practical education methods.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.345-352
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• 1990

To determine the role of sulfhydryl group in transport of organic ions across the basolateral membrane of renal proximal tubules, effect of p-chloromercuribenzoic acid (PCMB) on the transport of tetraethylammonium (TEA) and p-aminohippurate (PAH) was studied in rabbit renal cortical slices. PCMB caused irreversible inhibition of TEA and PAH uptake in a dose-dependent manner, with $I_{50}$ value (concentration for 50% inhibition) of $30\;{\mu}M$ for TEA and $75\;{\mu}M$ for PAH. Kinetic analysis of TEA and PAH uptakes showed that PCMB decreased Vmax $(62.35\;vs.\;28.32\;n\;mole/g{\cdot}min\;fur\;TEA:\;385.24\;vs.\;170.36\;n\;mole/g{\cdot}min\;for\;PAH)$ without changing Km. The inhibitory action of PCMB on TEA and PAH uptakes was independent of pH of the pretreatment medium. The inhibitory effect of PCMB on the uptake of TEA or PAH was prevented by dithiothreitol, but not by the substrate. PCMB inhibited Na-K-ATPase activity in a dose-dependent manner with $I_{50}$ value of $50\;{\mu}M$, which is similar to those for TEA and PAH uptake. These results suggest that PCMB inhibits the transport of organic cations and anions in the renal basolateral membrane by directly affecting the SH-group in the transporter molecules or secondly by altering the Na-K-ATPase activity.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.145-151
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• 2014

Background: The physician's hands are close to the X-ray field in C-arm fluoroscopy-guided pain interventions. We prospectively investigated the radiation attenuation of Proguard RR-2 gloves. Methods: In 100 cases, the effective doses (EDs) of two dosimeters without a radiation-reducing glove were collected. EDs from the two dosimeters-one dosimeter wrapped with a glove and the other dosimeter without a glove-were also measured at the side of the table (Group 1, 140 cases) and at a location 20 cm away from the side of the table (Group 2, 120 cases). Mean differences such as age, height, weight, radiation absorbed dose (RAD), exposure time, ED, and ratio of EDs were analyzed. Results: In the EDs of two dosimeters without gloves, there were no significant differences ($39.0{\pm}36.3{\mu}Sv$ vs. $38.8{\pm}36.4{\mu}Sv$) (P = 0.578). The RAD ($192.0{\pm}182.0radcm^2$) in Group 2 was higher than that ($132.3{\pm}103.5radcm^2$) in Group 1 (P = 0.002). The ED ($33.3{\pm}30.9{\mu}Sv$) of the dosimeter without a glove in Group 1 was higher than that ($12.3{\pm}8.8{\mu}Sv$) in Group 2 (P < 0.001). The ED ($24.4{\pm}22.4{\mu}Sv$) of the dosimeter wrapped with a glove in Group 1 was higher than that ($9.2{\pm}6.8{\mu}Sv$) in Group 2 (P < 0.001). No significant differences were noted in the ratio of EDs ($73.5{\pm}6.7%$ vs. $74.2{\pm}9.3%$, P = 0.469) between Group 1 and Group 2. Conclusions: Proguard RR-2 gloves have a radiation attenuation effect of 25.8-26.5%. The radiation attenuation is not significantly different by intensity of scatter radiation or the different RADs of C-arm fluoroscopy.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.189-194
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• 2006

Sperm-mediated gene transfer(SMGT) can be used to transfer exogenous DNA into the oocyte at fertilization. The main objective of this study was to assess efficiency of transferring mitochondrial DNA(mtDNA) fragment into boar spermatozoa in either presence or absence of liposome and quality of transfected spermatozoa. The mtDNA of chicken liver was isolated and purified by phenol and alkaline lysis extraction, and it was inserted to plasmid. The genome of transfected spermatozoa treated with DNase I was purified by alkaline lysis, and then amplified by the PCR analysis. After electrophoresis, DNA quantitation of each well was calculated by comparison of the band intensity with standard. As a result, exogenous DNA was composed of mtDNA fragment(1.2 kb) and plasmid(2.7 kb). On the other hand, efficiency of transfection by liposome($9.0{\pm}0.34ng/{\mu}l$) in SMGT was higher than that by DNA solution($6.9{\pm}0.53ng/{\mu}l$). However, there was no significant difference. Transfering exogenous DNA into spermatozoa was completed within 90 min of incubation. In another experiment, there were significant (p<0.05) differences between transfected spermatozoa using both DNA solution and DNA/liposome completes with unheated spermatozoa for viability ($70.8{\pm}1.80$ and $68.0{\pm}2.16%$ vs. $83.3{\pm}1.69%$, respectively) and motility($78.7{\pm}1.59$ and $79.3{\pm}2.14%$ vs. $86.7{\pm}1.59%$, respectively). This study indicates that exogenous mtDNA can be efficiently transferred into boar spermatozoa regardless of the presence of liposome, and transfected spermatozoa can also use insemination and in vitro fertilization to generate transgenic pig.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.104-116
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• 1996

Anaerobic digestion is generally used for the treatment of volatile organic solids such as manure and sludge from waste water treatment plants. However, the reaction rate of anaerobic process is slow, and thus it requires a large reactor volume. To minimize such a disadvantage, physical and chemical pre-treatment is generally considered. Another method to reduce the reactor size is to adopt different reactor system other than CSTR. In this paper, the effects of heat pre-treatment and reactor configurations on the anaerobic treatability of volatile solids was studied. Carrot, kale, primary sludge, and waste activated sludge was chosen as the test materials, and the BMP method was used to evaluate the maximum methane production and first order rate constants from each sample. After the heat treatment at $130^{\circ}C$ for 30min., the measured increase in SCOD per gram VS was up to 394 mg/L for the waste activated sludge. However, the methane production potential per gram VS was increased for only primary and waste activated sludge by 17-23%, remaining the same for carrot and kale. The overall methane production process for the tested solids can be described by first order reactions. The increased in reaction constant after heat pre-treatment was also more significant for the primary and waste activated sludge than that for carrot and kale. therefore, the heat pre-treatment appeared to be effective for the solids with high protein contents rather than for the solids with high carbohydrate contents. Among the four reactor systems studied, CSTR, PFR, CSTR followed by PFR, and PFR with recycle, CSTR followed by PFR appeared to be the best choice considering methane conversion rate and the operational stability.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.845-854
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• 1998

Background: S-2-(3 aminoprophlamino) ethylphosphorothioic acid(WR-2721) is one of the radical scavenging thiols. We tested its protective effects in the reperfused heart. Material and Method: The experimental setup was the constant pressure Langendorffs perfusion system. We investigated the radical scavenging properties of this compound in isolated rat hearts which were exposed to 20 minutes ischemia and 20 minutes reperfusion. Four experimental groups were used:group I, control, Amifostine 50 mg(1 mL) peritoneal injection 30 minutes before ischemia(group II), Amifostine 10 mg(0.2 mL) injection during ischemia through coronary artery(group III),and Amifostine 50 mg(1 mL) peritoneal injection 2 hrs before ischemia(group IV). The experimental parameters were the levels of latate, CK-MB, and adenosine deaminase(ADA) in frozen myocardium, the quantity of coronary flow,and left ventricular developed pressure, and it's dp/dt. Statistical analysis was performed using repeated measured analysis of variance and student t-test. Result: The coronary flow of group II and IV were less than group I and III at equilibrium state but recovery of coronary flow at reperfusion state of group II, III, and IV were more increased compared with group I. The change of systolic left ventricular devoloping pressure of group II and IV were less than control group at equilibrium state, which seemed to be the influence of the pharmacological hypotensive effect of amifostine. But it was higher compared with group I at reperfusion state. The lactic acid contents of group II were less than control group in frozen myocardium.(Group I was 0.20 0.29 mM/g vs Group II, which was 0.10 0.11 mM/g). The quantity of CK-MB in myocardial tissue was highest in group IV (P=0.026 I: 120.0 97.8 U/L vs IV: 242.2 79.15 U/L). The adenosine deaminase contents in the coronary flow and frozen myocardium were not significantly different among each group. Conclusion: Amifostine seemed to have significant cardioprotective effect during ischemia and reperfusion injuries of myocardium.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.13-20
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• 2006

Objectives: To propose a risk-adjustment model with using insurance claims data and to analyze whether or not the outcomes of non-emergent and isolated coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) differed between the low- and high-volume hospitals for the patients who are at different levels of surgical risk. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that used the 2002 data of the national health insurance claims. The study data set included the patient level data as well as all the ICD-10 diagnosis and procedure codes that were recorded in the claims. The patient's biological, admission and comorbidity information were used in the risk-adjustment model. The risk factors were adjusted with the logistic regression model. The subjects were classified into five groups based on the predicted surgical risk: minimal (<0.5%), low (0.5% to 2%), moderate (2% to 5%), high (5% to 20%), and severe (=20%). The differences between the low- and high-volume hospitals were assessed in each of the five risk groups. Results: The final risk-adjustment model consisted of ten risk factors and these factors were found to have statistically significant effects on patient mortality. The C-statistic (0.83) and Hosmer-Lemeshow test ($x^2=6.92$, p=0.55) showed that the model's performance was good. A total of 30 low-volume hospitals (971 patients) and 4 high-volume hospitals (1,087 patients) were identified. Significant differences for the in-hospital mortality were found between the low- and high-volume hospitals for the high (21.6% vs. 7.2%, p=0.00) and severe (44.4% vs. 11.8%, p=0.00) risk patient groups. Conclusions: Good model performance showed that insurance claims data can be used for comparing hospital mortality after adjusting for the patients' risk. Negative correlation was existed between surgery volume and in-hospital mortality. However, only patients in high and severe risk groups had such a relationship.

• Journal of Pathology and Translational Medicine
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.404-410
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• 2018

Background: Fine-needle aspiration cytology serves as a safe, economical tool in evaluating thyroid nodules. However, about 30% of the samples are categorized as indeterminate. Hence, many immunocytochemistry markers have been studied, but there has not been a single outstanding marker. We studied the efficacy of CD56 with human bone marrow endothelial cell marker-1 (HBME-1) in diagnosis in the Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (TBSRTC) category III. Methods: We reviewed ThinPrep liquid-based cytology (LBC) samples with Papanicolaou stain from July 1 to December 31, 2016 (2,195 cases) and selected TBSRTC category III cases (n=363). Twenty-six cases were histologically confirmed as benign (six cases, 23%) or malignant (20 cases, 77%); we stained 26 LBC slides with HBME-1 and CD56 through the cell transfer method. For evaluation of reactivity of immunocytochemistry, we chose atypical follicular cell clusters. Results: CD56 was not reactive in 18 of 20 cases (90%) of malignant nodules and showed cytoplasmic positivity in five of six cases (83%) of benign nodules. CD56 showed high sensitivity (90.0%) and relatively low specificity (83.3%) in detecting malignancy (p=.004). HBME-1 was reactive in 17 of 20 cases (85%) of malignant nodules and was not reactive in five of six cases (83%) of benign nodules. HBME-1 showed slightly lower sensitivity (85.0%) than CD56. The specificity in detecting malignancy by HBME-1 was similar to that of CD56 (83.3%, p=.008). CD56 and HBME-1 tests combined showed lower sensitivity (75.0% vs 90%) and higher specificity (93.8% vs 83.3%) in detecting malignancy compared to using CD56 alone. Conclusions: Using CD56 alone showed relatively low specificity despite high sensitivity for detecting malignancy. Combining CD56 with HBME-1 could increase the specificity. Thus, we suggest that CD56 could be a useful preoperative marker for differential diagnosis of TBSRTC category III samples.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.255-261
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• 2021

Objective: This study aimed to investigate sperm motility and its changes after preparation as predictors of pregnancy in intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycles. Methods: In total, 297 IUI cycles from January 2012 to December 2017 at a single tertiary hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Patient and cycle characteristics, and sperm motility characteristics before and after processing were compared according to clinical pregnancy or live birth as outcomes. Results: The overall clinical pregnancy rate per cycle was 14.5% (43/297) and the live birth rate was 10.4% (30/289). Patient and cycle characteristics were similar between pregnant and non-pregnant groups. Sperm motility after preparation and the total motile sperm count before and after processing were comparable in terms of pregnancy outcomes. Pre-preparation sperm motility was significantly higher in groups with clinical pregnancy and live birth than in cycles not resulting in pregnancy (71.4%±10.9% vs. 67.2%±11.7%, p=0.020 and 71.6% ±12.6% vs. 67.3%±11.7%, p=0.030, respectively). The change in sperm motility after processing was significantly fewer in the non-pregnant cycles, both when the comparison was conducted by subtraction (post-pre) and division (post/pre). These relationships remained significant after adjusting for the female partner's age, anti-Müllerian hormone level, and number of pre-ovulatory follicles. According to a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, an initial sperm motility of ≥72.5% was the optimal threshold value for predicting live birth after IUI. Conclusion: Initial sperm motility, rather than the motility of processed sperm or the degree of change after preparation, predicted live birth after IUI procedures.

• International Neurourology Journal
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.268-274
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• 2018

Purpose: To describe a technique for urodynamic diagnosis of detrusor sphincter dyssynergia (DSD) using urethral pressure measurements and examine potential associations between urethral pressure and bladder physiology among patients with DSD. Methods: Multiple sclerosis (MS) and spinal cord injured (SCI) patients with known DSD diagnosed on videourodynamics (via electromyography or voiding cystourethrography) were retrospectively identified. Data from SCI and MS patients with detrusor overactivity (DO) without DSD were abstracted as control group. Urodynamics tracings were reviewed and urethral pressure DSD was defined based on comparison of DSD and control groups. Results: Seventy-two patients with DSD were identified. Sixty-two (86%) had >20 cm $H_2O$ urethral pressure amplitude during detrusor contraction. By comparison, 5 of 23 (22%) of control group had amplitude of >20 cm $H_2O$ during episode of DO. Mean duration of urethral pressure DSD episode was 66 seconds (range, 10-500 seconds) and mean urethral pressure amplitude was 73 cm $H_2O$ (range, 1-256 cm $H_2O$). Longer (>30 seconds) DSD episodes were significantly associated with male sex (81% vs. 50%, P=0.013) and higher bladder capacity (389 mL vs. 219 mL, P=0.0004). Urethral pressure amplitude measurements during DSD were not associated with significant urodynamic variables or neurologic pathology. Conclusions: Urethral pressure amplitude of >20 cm $H_2O$ during detrusor contraction occurred in 86% of patients with known DSD. Longer DSD episodes were associated with larger bladder capacity. Further studies exploring the relationship between urethral pressure measurements and bladder physiology could phenotype DSD as a measurable variable rather than a categorical observation.