• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.9
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• pp.961-969
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• 2015

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the main catechin in green tea, has been shown to have some beneficial effects against various human diseases, including diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, cardiovascular disease and obesity. To investigate the mechanism of the suppressive effects of EGCG on inflammatory response in macrophages, alterations on the levels of nitric oxide (NO) regulatory factors and inflammatory cytokines were measured in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW264.7 cells. No significant toxicity was detected in RAW264.7 cells treated with 100–400 μM EGCG. Moreover, the optimal concentration of LPS was determined to be 1 μg/ml based on the results of cell viability assay, NO assay and IL-6 enzyme-linked immunsorbent assay (ELISA). Furthermore, NO levels decreased significantly by 68.2% in the 400 μM EGCG/LPS treated group, while the level of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression decreased by 12-17% in the 200 and 400 μM EGCG/LPS treated group. A significant decrease in transcription of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF- α and IL-1β) and anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) was also detected in the EGCG/LPS treated group. However, IL-6 transcript and protein was maintained at a constant level when in the LPS treated group relative to the EGCG/LPS treated group. Overall, these results suggest that the differential regulation of inflammatory cytokines is an important factor influencing the suppressive effects of EGCG against LPS-activated inflammatory response in RAW264.7 cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.467-475
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• 2014

Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) is a well-known and rich source of biologically active compounds, such as flavonoids, carotenoids, steroids, vitamins, tannins, and oleic acid. The effects of sea buckthorn fruit extract (SBFE) on ultraviolet (UV)-induced cell death was investigated in SK-MEL-2 cells cotreated with UV and a low concentration (LoC), medium concentration (MeC), or high concentration (HiC) of SBFE. Cell viability gradually decreased in accordance with an increase in the UV dose. The cell viability of the UV+SBFE cotreated cells increased significantly compared to that of UV+vehicle-treated cells during the application of an appropriate UV radiation dose (400 mJ). In addition, the number of 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI), propidium iodine (PI)-, and annexin V-stained apoptotic cells was higher in the UV+vehicle-treated cells than in the UV untreated cells. The decrease of apoptotic cell numbers varied in each treated group, but it was most significant in the SBFE-treated group. The number of PI-stained cells dramatically decreased in accordance with the concentration of SBFE, and the maximum decrease was detected in the UV+HiC-treated group. In addition, Bax expression increased and Bcl-2 expression decreased in the SBFE-treated group compared with the UV-only treated group. The level of caspase-3 remained constant in all the groups. These results suggest that SBFE may contribute to a recovery from UV-induced cell death through the regulation of apoptotic protein expression and that it may have potential therapeutic utility in ameliorating UV-induced skin ageing.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.216-224
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• 2015

This study aims to identify the prevalence of sleep related disease in those who experienced car accidents caused by drowsy driving. To this end, a survey of usual sleep habits, polysomnography, and multiple sleep latency tests were conducted in 34 persons who experienced an accident after normal sleep (Group 1), 22 persons who experienced an accident after abnormal sleep (Group 2), and 17 persons who was proven to be normal as a result of polysomnography and had no accident (Group 3). In all, 192 persons responded to the preliminary survey and the results were compared and analyzed. Crossover analysis was conducted to test the homogeneity of statistical characteristics, and the physical characteristics by age were analyzed. In the survey of sleeping habits, there was a significance between groups in how often they woke up while asleep (p<0.01), how difficult it was to go back to sleep again after waking up from sleep (p<0.05), how early they woke up in the morning (p<0.05), how difficult it was to get up in the morning (p<0.05), how sleepy they felt in the daytime (p<0.01), and how tired they felt in the daytime (p<0.01). Furthermore, among 56 subjects who had an accident during drowsy driving, 94.6% (53 persons) were found to have sleep related diseases. This suggests that car accidents during drowsy driving is not simply caused by temporary lack of sleep but by sleep related diseases even when sleep is adequate, leading to car accidents. Therefore, this study is significant identifying the association between car accidents during drowsy driving and sleep related disorders. Furthermore, the data would be considered basic to prepare social measures against drowsy driving related to such sleep related disorders.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.286-293
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• 1993

This study was carried out to determine the effects of the fertilization levels and oversowing treatment on liveweight gain of glazing cattle, changs of botanical composition, and dry matter(DM) yield in tall fescue dominant mixed pasture during the grazing period. The treatments were T$_1$(low fertilizing; 120-100-100 kg/ha), T$_2$(medium fertilizing; 280-200-200 kg/ha) and T$_3$(medium fertilizing+oversowing). The botanical composition of tail festuce was increased in T$_1$ and that of tall fescue, orchardgrass and pernnial ryegrass in T$_3$ was 30.5%, 23.8% and 24.1%, respectively. The total forage DM yield was the highest in T$_3$, and the average stocking rate (animal unit; AU) per day during the grazing period in T$_1$, T$_2$ and T$_3$ was 2.4 AU. 3.0 Au and 3.3 AU, respectively. The total grazing days (animal unit day; AUD) in T$_3$(664 AUD) was higher than that of T$_1$, and T$_2$. There is no significant difference in average daily liveweight gain per head among the treatments but daily liveweight gain per ha in T$_3$ was higher than that of T$_1$, and T$_2$. The total liveweight gain per ha during the grazing period in T$_1$, T$_2$ and T$_3$ was 601kg. 762kg and 877kg, respectively. The herbage consumption per day per 100kg LW was similer among the treatments but crude protein, P, K and Ca contents in herbage were increased with medium fertilization levels(T$_2$) and with oversowing(T$_3$).

• 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.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.153-160
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• 1999

Purpose : Present study was undertaken to find out significance of clinical presentation, initial laboratory data and renal biopsy findings on subsequent clinical course of IgA nephropathy in children. Methods : Clinical and laboratory data were analysed retrospectively from 60 children who have been admitted to the Pediatric Department of Kyungpook National University Hospital for the past 11 years and diagnosed as IgA nephropathy. Renal biopsy findings were graded according to the pathologic subclass proposed by Haas. Results : Pathologic grading according to Haas subclassification showed 10 cases in subclass I, 36 in II, 12 in IV and 2 in V and none in subclass II. Sex distribution showed male predominance (male to female ratio = 3 : 1) and mean age at onset of disease was $10.4{\pm}2.8$ years. Episodes of gross hematuria was seen in 71.7% and IgA level increased in 28.3% of children and these were not associated with pathologic grading nor clinical outcomes. With increasing subclass grading, serum protein and albumin decreased and 24 hours urinary protein excretion increased. Normalization of urinalysis (disappearance of hematuria) was seen in 14% at 1-2 years and 37.1% at 3-4 years of follow up period. In 3 cases, renal function deteriorated progressively and they belonged one each to the Haas subclass III, IV and V. Conclusion : In children with IgA nephropathy, progression to chronic renal failure appears to be quite high and pathologic grading according to Haas' subclassification seems to predict patient's outcome faily well. However, firm conclusion cannot be drawn from present study due to the small numbers of patients and short follow-up period. Therefore further multicenter study involving larger numbers of patients and longer periods of follow-up over 10 years was to be undertaken.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.89-99
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• 2016

Objectives: This cross-sectional study aims to investigate the prevalence and factors relating to handwashing with soap among Korean adults. Methods: Study subjects consist of 755 adults who have been contacted in September 2013 via telephone surveys. The data collected has been analyzed using descriptive statistics, a chi-square test and a logistic regression analysis. A primary purpose is to understand the prevalence of handwashing with soap more than 8 times daily and for 30 seconds per wash among adults. Independent variables include socioeconomic levels, the participants' perception and knowledge of handwashing and their educational experiences relating to handwashing. Results: The overall percentile of people who wash their hands with soap 8 time per day for 30 seconds or more per wash was 16.0%, which is 121 people out of 755 study subjects. In univariate analysis, age, education levels, monthly average income, handwashing habits, perceptions relate to the importance of handwashing, self-assessment of handwashing, environment of public toilet, and the completion of handwashing education shows significant result. Significant differences also appear (p<0.05) in logistic regression analysis on binary variables. There is a strong correlation between daily frequency of handwashing and willingness to wash hands while outside. For example, people who wash their hands very often while outside are 2.24 times (95% C.I. 1.29-3.87) more likely to practice handwashing with soap 8 times per day for 30 seconds or more per wash than those people who only intermittently wash their hands while outside. Furthermore, people with general unwillingness to wash their hands while outside are 4.61 times (95% C.I. 1.22-3.28) less likely to practice handwashing with soap 8 times per day for 30 seconds or more per wash than those with general willingness. Conclusions: This study has been carried out to identify the decision factors in practicing handwashing with soap for Korean adults. In univariate analysis, age, education level, monthly average income, handwashing habits, handwashing self-assessment, public toilet environment, completion of handwashing education and so forth have been identified to be the decision factors. This study result shows that the overall level of cleanliness of public toilet perceives to be poor and it suggests that the environment of public toilet needs to be enhanced. As the handwashing habits and handwashing-self assessment have been identified to be the significant decision factors for handwashing, there search and approach in these factors need to be developed further.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.71-77
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• 2013

This study was carried out to investigate the characteristics of Chungkookjang depending on different soybeans and fermentation temperatures using Bacillus amyloliquefaciens C2 isolated from homemade Chungkookjang. The highest protease activity was 854 U/g in yellow soybean Chungkookjang and 847 U/g in black soybean Chungkookjang at $35^{\circ}C$. The highest amylase activity was 3.87 U/g at $40^{\circ}C$ in yellow soybean Chungkookjang and 4.96 U/g at $45^{\circ}C$ in black soybean Chungkookjang. The highest reducing sugar content was 16.11 mg/g at $40^{\circ}C$ in yellow soybean Chungkookjang and 19.08 mg/g at $45^{\circ}C$ in black soybean Chungkookjang. The highest amino type nitrogen content was 420 mg%/g in yellow soybean Chungkookjang and 194 mg%/g in black soybean Chungkookjang at $40^{\circ}C$. The highest pH was 7.92 at $40^{\circ}C$ in yellow soybean Chungkookjang and 7.59 at $45^{\circ}C$ in black soybean Chungkookjang. The highest number of viable cell was 9.3 log CFU/g at $40^{\circ}C$ in yellow soybean Chungkookjang and at $35^{\circ}C$ in black soybean Chungkookjang. On the other hand, the lowest ammonia type nitrogen content was 225 mg%/g at $45^{\circ}C$ in yellow soybean Chungkookjang and 80 mg%/g at $40^{\circ}C$ in black soybean Chungkookjang. Yellow soybean Chungkookjang showed high protease activity, pH and amino type nitrogen, whereas black soybean Chungkookjang showed high amylase activity and reducing sugar.

• Sijohaknonchong
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• v.21
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• pp.77-110
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• 2004

This study is an exploration of a Korean-American writer, Hong-Eun's Mong-yu siga. Hong-Eun immigrated to the United States during the colonial rule of the Japanese government. He was a publisher of The New Korea Times, and contributed various literary works to it. The purpose of this study is to analyze his two Mong-yu sigas published in 1935 and 1947 and elucidate their meanings. Using dream as a primary motif, the intention of Mong-yu mode is to achieve desire which is impossible to reach in reality. While his staying in the United States, Hong-Eun could not return his home country for two reasons, that is, political and financial ones. To return Korea desperately, he wrote sigas by adopting Mong-yu mode. His first attempt was reflected as eight pieces of consecutive poetries titled This Mountain In My Dream, I am Home. This Mountain was published on the 25th of April, 1935 and In My Dream, I am Home was contributed from May the 9th of 1935 to July the fourth of the same year. These works were published in the The New Korea Times' poetry column under the pen name of Donghae-soboo , Representing gasa of the enlightenment era, this poetry depicts historical identity of Chosun dynasty, especially focusing on before and after the 1900s. As a result of it, the poetry sketches the ideology of the Middle Ages. His second attempt was A Country and Hometown written as a form of prelude on the 25th of September, 1947. In addition, A Country in My Dream was published as a form of six pieces of consecutive poetry from October the second to November the sixth of 1947. He chose sijo as a major form of poetry, and the image of the poetry seemed to be the continuation of his first attempt. Confronting the reality of the his own country which is divided, the writer expresses his antagonism toward America and Russia. Although he could eventually return his country later, he rationalized himself by saying that his it is not the ideal place to go. Mong-yu mode is a traditional poetic technique which the intellectuals of the Middle Age used to use as one pattern of allegory. In addition to this, in the period of the enlightenment of Korea, Mong-yu was used to avoid the Japanese censorship and experiment on the diverse ways of writing. In terms of literary history, the significance of Hong-Eun's creation of Mong-yu sigas is that Hong-Eun shares the same intention with Korean intellectuals of the enlightenment period.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.79-85
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of bST treatment on embryo recovery and pregnancy rate following embryo transfer. Donor cows were superovulated with Folltropin-V and PGF$_2$$\alpha$ combination method and then inseminated with frozen semen 3 times 12 hrs interval. Donor and recipient cows were assigned to control and bST group, of which was given a single injection of bST (500 mg, im) at insemination or estrus detection. Embryo collection of superovulated cows were flushed nonsurgical method at 7 to 8 days after artificial insemination. The percentare and Mean$\pm$S.E. of transferable embryo was not significantly different between control and bST treatment (72.8%/5.9$\pm$4.5 vs. 83.7%15.1 $\pm$ 1.6). The percentage and Mean$\pm$S.E. of transferable embryo in non-summer season was significantly higher than in summer (81.8%/5.4$\pm$2.1 vs. 68.7%14.774.6; P<0.05). The pregnancy rate after embryo transfer in bST treatment was significantly higher than in control (64.0 vs. 47.1%; P<0.05). There was no significant difference in pregnancy rate between summer and non-summer (51.6 vs. 61.5%; P>0.05). The results indicated that InST treatment in recipient cows could improve the efficiency of transferable embryo production and pregnancy rate after embryo transfer, and non-summer season may be better far superovulation treatment and embryo transfer.