• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.1151-1156
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• 2014

Traditional medicinal plants are widely used to treat many diseases, such as inflammation, infections, and even cancer. Ulmus macrocarpa Hance, a Chinese elm species, is distributed in Korea, China, and Japan. The stem bark is widely employed in Korean traditional medicine to treat dermatitis, mastitis, and edema. The aim of this study was to investigate whether water extract of U. macrocarpa Hance bark (Ulmus cortex) has a immune-modulating function in a mouse model. Three different concentrations (30 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, and 300 mg/kg) of Ulmus cortex water extract (UCWE) were orally administered to mice for 14 days, and their immune responses were analyzed. Cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-2, IL-12, and IFN-${\gamma}$, increased in the blood of UCWE-fed groups when compared with a control group. In contrast, the IL-4 level did not change in any of the UCWE-fed groups Cell-mediated cytotoxicity was also assayed using lymphokine-activated killer cells (LAK). LAK showed greater cytotoxicity in the UCWE-fed groups than LAK in the control group. Internal organ indices, such as liver, kidney, spleen, and thymus, were similar in all the groups, including the control group, indicating that UCWE may have been nontoxic in the experimental animals. These data suggest that UCWE has an immune-modulating function in a mouse model.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.373-379
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• 2002

This paper was the design of aerosol generator for inhalation toxicology study of lead and evaluation with real time monitoring, and applied several engineering methodology to classical aerosol generator to cope with it's disadvantages. According to the testing conditions, source temperature 50℃ and inlet-duct band heater temperature 150℃, aerosol generation results for sodium chloride and lead acetate were as followings: CPM(Count Per Minute) for Sodium chloride that used for the testing material in aerosol generation and inhalation system was decreased in the 2nd and the 3rd hour's serial trials, but CVs(coefficient of variation) were maintained within 10%. CPMs for 5 and 2.5 gram of lead acetate that used for aerosol generation and inhalation exposure of lead showed similar results because of the sedimentation of lead acetate on piezoelectric crystal with time. For that reason, heating and mixing of nebulizing solution will be needed to generate lead aerosol with stable profile and maximum generation efficiency. Fluctuations of 10 and 5 gram lead acetate were low but 2.5gram was high. However, CVs for 10, 5, and 2.5gram lead acetate were within 10%. Considering the theoretical efficiencies for sodium chloride and lead acetate, 5gram sodium chloride and 2.5gram lead acetate were appropriate choice. Aerosol generation characteristics for two materials with 1 hour interval were different with respect to the fluctuation of CPM and the decrease to 10gram in it's material. For that reason, sodium chloride can not be used to estimate the aerosol generation and it's related parts for lead acetate. According to the testing conditions, source temperature 20, 50, 70℃, and inlet-duct band heater temperature 20, 50, 100, 150, 200℃, aerosol generation results for sodium chloride and lead acetate were as followings: Excluding inlet-duct band temperature 200℃, maximum CPM for sodium chloride was manifested in source temperature 70℃ with each inlet-duct band temperature conditions. We suggest that this condition was the optimum in the design of aerosol generator, inhalation system, and the testing. Maximum CPMs for 10, 5, and 2.5gram sodium chloride were from source temperature 70℃ and inlet-duct band temperature 20℃. Excluding inlet-duct band temperature 50, 200℃, maximum CPMs for lead acetate were indicated in source temperature 50℃ with each inlet-duct band temperature conditions. We suggest that this condition was the optimum in the design of aerosol generator, inhalation system, and the testing for lead inhalation study. Source and inlet-duct band temperatures for 10, 5, 2.5gram lead acetate were 50 and 100℃, 50 and 100℃, 50 and 150℃, respectively. In conclusion, considering above 2 paragraphs of results for aerosol generation, 5gram efficiencies for sodium chloride, lead acetate were higher than 2.5gram's. If inlet-duct band temperature was same, aerosol generation was increased with increase of source temperature. To get maximum aerosol generation will be the conditions that set the appropriate inlet-duel band temperature for each materials and increase the source temperature.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.241-245
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• 1983

PraziquantEI ($Distocide^{\circledR}$), the KcrEan product, was tEstEd for its safety and Efficacy in treatmEnt of Clonorchis sinensiJ infccticn during the period from April to SeptembEr, 1983 in Korea. A total of 55 egg positive cases were selected and treated with the regimen of 25 mg/kg t.i.d. for 1 day (total 75 mg/kg). The follow-up stool examination was done in 47 cases by cellophane thir;k smear and Stoll's egg counting techniques. The 8 uncured cases were treated again with the same regimen. The laboratory tests for blood picture and liver function were done in 27 cases and compared before and after the treatment. The results obtainEd are as follows: 1. After single course treatment, the cure and egg reduction rates were 83.0 and 99.1% respectively. With the second treatment, excellent results of 100% in both rates were obtained. 2. Several kinds of side effects such as dizziness, headache, etc. were complained by 29 cases (61.7 %), however, those were so mild and transient that no special treatment was necessary. 3. No significant change in laboratory findings was recognizable before and after the treatment. From the above results, it is concluded that $Distocide^{\circledR}$ is as effective and safe as $Biltricide^{\circledR}$ and highly recommendable in treatment of C. sinensis infection.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.12
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• pp.894-903
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• 2003

Protection against ischemia-reperfusion injury is crucial for successful transplantation of the lung. It has been known that nitric oxide has many favorable effects on the donor lungs but at the same time, has some potential side effects of cytotoxicity. In this regards, we investigated whether the administration of nitroglycerin could decrease ischemia-reperfusion injury in isolated rat lung reperfusion model for the confirmation of the effect of nitroglycerin, a donor of nitric oxide, on lung transplantation. Material and Method: 35 Sprague-Dawley species male white rats were used for this experiment. For nitroglycerin group (n=18), nitroglycerin was administered intravenously followed by mixed in flushing solution for preservation. As a control group (n=17), we used the same amount of normal saline. To evaluate the effect of nitroglycerin on the lung, heart-lung block was obtained, weighed and stored in University of Wisconsin Solution at 1$0^{\circ}C$ for 24 hours. In each group of the isolated lungs, reperfusion was carried out with Krebs-Hensleit-diluted human blood for 60 minutes. As parameters of the state of the isolated lung, peak inspiratory and pulmonary arterial pressures were continuously recorded. Oxygen and carbon dioxide tension of reperfusing blood were measured before and after 30, 60 minutes of reperfusion. After sixty minutes of reperfusion, protein content in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was measured also for the evaluation of the degree of alveolar flooding. Lung myeloperoxidase activity was determined to verify the accumulation of neutrophils. Results: Although statistically significant differences were not noted in peak inspiratory and pulmonary arterial pressure between control and nitroglycerin group, latter group showed lowering tendency of pulmonary arterial pressure during the entire reperfusion period. Oxygen tension was higher (p<0.05) in nitroglycerin group compared with that of the control group, in contrast, there were no differences in carbon dioxide tension, protein content in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and myeloperoxidase activity between the groups. In the examination of ultrastructural changes, nitroglycerin denoted the protective effect on the pulmonary architecture compared with that of control group. Conclusion: Collectively, on the bases of these experimental results, prior treatment of donor lung with nitroglycerin could result in better preservation of the lung. Consequently, these nitroglycerin preserved lungs are thought to be more suitable for successful transplantation of the lung.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.195-199
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• 2002

This article is to report a new technique for reconstruction of the anteromedial and posterolateral bundles of anterior cruciate ligament by separate tensioning and fixation of the each bundle. Method : Tibial and femoral tunnels were made with conventional technique of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Tibial tunnel was enlarged $5\~7$ mm in anterior-posterior direction to make oval it in cross section. When preparing the Achilles tendon allograft, bone plug portion was trimmed as the conventional technique. The tendinous portion was trimmed as two separate bundles by dividing the tendinous portion longitudinally, so the graft is shaped like 'Y'. The bone plug portion of allograft was inserted into the femoral tunnel and fixed with absorbable cross pins. Two ligamentous portionss of the distal part of the grafts were tensioned separately at the external orifice. Anteromedial bundle was fastened under maximum tension with the knee flexed 90 degrees by post-tie method. The posterolateral bundle was fixed by the same technique with the knee in full extension. Then, an absorbable interference screw was inserted between the two bundles upto the upper end of the tibial tunnel, to get more initial rigidity of the reconstructed graft as well as to locate the two bundles in more anatomic position.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.195-204
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• 2018

Pesticide residue in the eggs in the market has become a significant problem in Korea. In particular, the detection of fipronil indicated that unregulated pesticide residue can be present in livestock products, including eggs. Institutionally unregulated pesticides are a risk to human health and the ecosystem. In this study, we analyzed the system of agricultural pesticide management in Korea, the European Union, and the United States of America (USA) and discussed the problems of the Korean management system and the possible improvement directions. Based on the analysis, we considered three tasks: registration of pesticides, pesticide residue levels in food, and pesticide residue levels in environmental media. The registration of pesticides was conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs in Korea; the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety in the European Commission (EC); and the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) in the USA. The work regarding pesticide residue levels in food was conducted by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in Korea, the Directorate-General for the Health and Food Safety in the EC, and the USEPA and Food and Drug Administration in the USA. The work regarding pesticide residue levels in environmental media was conducted by the Ministry of Environment in Korea, the Directorate-General for Environment in the EC, and the USEPA in the USA. Therefore, Korea should review the extension of pesticide residue standards in the environmental media for strengthening the system of management of unregulated agricultural pesticides.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.307-314
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• 2008

Purpose : Capsaicin, the major pungent ingredient in red pepper, has long been used in spices and food additives. It has been recently shown to induce apoptosis in several cell lines through a not well known mechanism. The aim of this study was to investigate the apoptosis-inducing effect of capsaicin on gastric cancer cells, and to provide valuable information concerning the application of capsaicin for therapeutic purposes. Methods : Cultured SNU-668 cells were treated with capsaicin. We analyzed cell survival by trypan blue and crystal violet analysis, cell cytotoxicity by MTT assay, apoptosis by nuclear condensation and DNA fragmentation, bcl-2 and bax mRNA expression by RT-PCR, and the expression of apoptosis related proteins by Western immunoblot analysis. In order to assess whether the growth inhibitory effect of anticancer drugs is enhanced by capsaicin, we investigated the effects of cell cytotoxicity and the expression of apoptosis related proteins of etoposide and adriamycin treated with capsaicin in cells. Results : Capsaicin inhibited growth of SNU-668 cells in a dose-dependent manner. This inhibitory effect of capsaicin on cell growth was mainly due to the induction of apoptosis as evidenced by DNA fragmentation, nuclear condensation and the expression of apoptosis related proteins. Furthermore, capsaicin prominently reduced the ratio of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 to pro-apoptotic Bax and consequently increased caspase-3 activity. The cells treated with capsaicin were more sensitive to death induced by etoposide and adriamycin than the cells without capsaicin. Conclusion : These results demonstrate that capsaicin efficiently induced apoptosis in SNU-668 cells through a caspase-3-dependent mechanism and sensitizes cancer cells to anticancer drugs toward apoptotic cell death, which may contribute to its anticancer effect and chemosensitizer function against gastric cancer.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.439-448
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• 2002

Purpose : The aim of this study is to determine and compare the effects of adjunctive therapy with different doses of recombinant human granulocyte-colony stimulating factor(rhG-CSF) on reversing sepsis-associated neonatal neutropenia, and their survival rate in a group I/II-type trial. Methods : RhG-CSF was injected subcutaneously to 10 septic-neutropenic neonates with doses of $10{\mu}g/kg$ from Oct. 1995 to Sep. 1996, and was administered to another 12 septic-neutropenic neonates with doses of $5{\mu}g/kg$ from Oct. 1996 to Sep. 1997. Neutrophilic responses and the outcomes of both groups were compared. Results : In the rhG-CSF $10{\mu}g/kg$ treated group and in the $5{\mu}g/kg$ treated group, the absolute neutrophil count(ANC) was $1,065{\pm}89$($mean{\pm}SEM$) and $1,053{\pm}131$, respectively. The only difference between the two groups was the peak ANC at 48 hours. Eight patients from the remaining nine of rhG-CSF $10{\mu}g/kg$ treated group(88.9％) and ten in $5{\mu}g/kg$ treated group(83.3％) survived the sepsis and were discharged without any problems. Conclusions : RhG-CSF can increase the neutrophil count in critically ill septic neutropenic neonats. The survival rate of both groups were up to 90％. This finding suggests that both doses of rhG-CSF may be effective in a therapeutically useful time frame to treat septic neonates with neonatal neutropenia attributable to bone marrow supression or neutrophil consumption.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.298-305
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• 2005

Background : Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is believed to have multifactorial causes. The major risk factors for OSAS are obesity, narrowed upper airways, and abnormal cranial-facial structures. A genetic basis for OSAS has been also suggested by reports of families with many members affected. This study analyzed the HLA typing in patients with OSAS to determine the possible role of genetics in OSAS. Methods : Twenty-five Korean patients with OSAS (1 woman and 24 men; age range 30-66 years) were enrolled in this study. A diagnosis of OSAS was made using full-night polysomnography. The control group consisted of 200 healthy Korean people. Serologic typing of the HLA-A and B alleles was performed in all patients using a standard lymphocyte microcytotoxicity test. Analysis of the polymorphic second exons of the HLA-DRB1 gene was performed using a polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific oligonucleotide probe. Results : The allele frequency of HLA-A11 was significantly lower in patients with OSAS compared with the controls (p<0.05). The HLA-B allele frequencies in the patients and controls had a similar distribution. Analysis of the HLADRB1 gene polymorphisms showed an increased frequency of DRB1*09 in the OSA patients compared with the controls (p<0.05). When the analysis was performed after dividing the OSAS patients according to the severity of apnea, the allele frequency of HLA-DRB1*08 was significantly higher in the severe OSA patients (apnea index >45) than in the controls (p<0.05). Conclusion : This study revealed an association between OSAS and the HLA-A11 and DRB1*09 alleles as well as association between the disease severity and the HLA-DRB1*08 allele in Korean patients. These results suggest that genetics plays an important role in both the development and the disease severity of OSAS.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.16-23
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• 2004

Purpose: In this study, we tried to evaluate the clinical characteristics or circumstances that lead to unintentionally the delay in the diagnosis of intussusception or to the wrong direction that prevent the proper management early. Methods: All the patients of intussusception with delayed diagnosis in the department of pediatrics or emergency room at Gyeongsang National University Hospital from 1990 to 2003 were enrolled and reviewed retrospectively. Results: There were 8 boys and 6 girls and their median age was 8 months (range 2 months to 10 years). Their initial symptoms and signs were vomiting, seizure, diarrhea, lethargy, irritability, bloody stool, palpable abdominal mass, foul odor of urine and tachycardia. Clinical diagnosis or impressions at admission consisted of acute gastroenteritis, shigellosis and toxic encephalopathy, convulsive disorders, urinary tract infections, sepsis, abdominal mass and intestinal obstruction. Eight patients were luckily diagnosed due to the delayed manifestations of cyclic irritability or currant jelly stool. Six patients were not paid attentions for the possibilities of intussusception and diagnosed serendipitiously by the abdominal sonography or CT during the evaluation of the abdominal mass or distension. Only five of 14 cases (35.7%) were successfully managed by barium or air reductions. The other 9 cases needed surgical operations. Conclusion: Delayed diagnosis of intussusception arise when doctors initially diagnose the patients incorrectly due to the unusual presentations or when they overlook the newly arising symptoms or signs suggestive intussusception after the admission because they are ardently attached to the first impressions or initial clinical diagnosis.