• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
• /
• v.6 no.4
• /
• pp.250-256
• /
• 2002

The objective was to know if chinese cabbage growers in Gangwon alpine farmland control agricultural pests including weeds effectively and use pesticide properly. Examiners visited 185 farmers at Taebaek, Pyongchang, and Jeongseon and surveyed 33 questions on pest control methods pesticide use. Chinese cabbage farmers have noxious plant diseases such as clubroot, bacterial soft rot, downy mildew, anthracnose, and mosaic disease, and also noxious insects such as diamondback moth, aphid, beet armyworm, common cabbage worm, and Japanese native slug. In addition, farmers have noxious weeds such as common chickweed, marsh pepper, hairy crabgrass, common purslane, and horseweed. To control diseases and insects, 51.3% of farmers used many chemical agents, while 20.7% of farmers used chemical agents with too much emphasis on paraquat and glyphosate to control weeds: 87.2% of the answered farmers have a preference of the both non-selective herbicides. Farmers in the survey area selected pesticides on the basis of their own experience and sales managers' recommendation (84.2%) which results in the use of inappropriate pesticides such diniconazole. Many farmers have experienced phytotoxicities (46.7%) and pesticide poisoning (51.2%). We conclude that a systematic educational program for the proper selection and use of pesticides should be conducted for chinese cabbage growers in Gangwon alpine farmland.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.49 no.2
• /
• pp.63-71
• /
• 2016

Purpose: Skin pH, an indicator of skin health, is maintained by various organic factors, which include lactate, free amino acid (FAA), and free fatty acid (FFA). As skin ages or with illness, skin pH becomes less acidic, and functional food has been developed to maintain the acidic pH of skin. In this study, we determined the dietary effect of green tea extract (GTE) on skin pH of photo-aged mice, as measured by epidermal levels of lactate, FAA, and FFA. The protein expression and activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), an enzyme of pyruvate reduction for lactate generation, was further determined. Methods: Albino hairless mice were fed a control diet (group UV+) or a diet with 1% GTE (group GTE) in parallel with UV irradiation for 10 weeks. A normal control group was fed a control diet without UV irradiation for 10 weeks (group UV-). Results: Skin pH was higher (less acidic) in group UV+ than in group UV-. In parallel, epidermal levels of lactate and FFA, as well as of LDH protein expression and activity, were reduced in group UV+. Dietary supplementation of GTE (group GTE) reduced skin pH to similar to the level of group UV-, and inversely increased epidermal levels of lactate, LDH protein expression and activity, but not of FFA. Although epidermal levels of FAA were similar in groups UV- and UV+, it was increased in group GTE to a level higher than in group UV-. In further analysis of major FFA, epidermal levels of palmitic acid [16:0], oleic acid [18:1(n-9)], and linoleic acid [18:2(n-6), but not of stearic acid [18:0] in group GTE were similar to or lower than those in group UV+. Conclusion: Dietary GTE normalized skin pH with increased levels of lactate and FAA, as well as with increased protein expression and activity of LDH in the epidermis of UVB irradiated hairless mice.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.40 no.7
• /
• pp.616-623
• /
• 2007

This study was carried out to investigate the Ca and Mg supplementation on the serum and liver lipid parameters in ovariectomized and Ca deficiency rats. Total 50 Sprague Dawley female rats (6 weeks) were divided into 5 groups and bred for 12 weeks: sham operated control group (SNCa), OVX Ca deficiency poop (OLCa) with Ca deficiency diet (0.1% Ca modified AIN-93N diet), OVX Ca deficiency & Mg supplement group (OLCaMg), OVX adequate Ca group (OACa; 0.5% Ca AIN-93N diet) and OVX adequate Ca & Mg supplement group (OACaMg). There were no significant difference among the five groups in serum total cholesterol, triglyceride and HDL-cholesterol levels. LDL-cholesterol of OVX groups was significantly higher than that of SNCa group (p < 0.01). AI (Atherogenic index), TPH (Total cholesterol/HDL-C) and LPH (LDL-C/HDL-C) of OACa group were significantly lower than those of OLCa groups. OACaMg group had significantly lower levels LDL, AI and TPH than OLCa group. There was no significant difference in lever cholesterol level. However, liver total fat content of OACa was significantly lower than that of OLCa. From the above the results, it is concluded that the accumulation level of calcium shows how the supplement of magnesium affects hyperlipidemia. Therefore, in order to prevent women#s hyperlipidemia after menopause, and to keep healthy, it is encourage able to consider how the supplement of magnesium relates calcium intake.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.247-265
• /
• 2008

Objectives: Many types of liver diseases can damage regenerative potential of mature hepatocytes, hepatic progenitor cells or oval cells. In such cases, a stem cell-based therapy can be an alternative therapeutic option. We examined whether human amnion-derived mesenchymal stem cells (HAM) and human umbilical cord-derived stem cells (HUC) could differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells as therapeutic cells for the liver diseases. Methods: HAM and HUC were isolated from the amnion and umbilical cord of the volunteers after a caesarean section with informed consent. In order to differentiate these cells into hepatocyte-like cells, cells were cultivated in hepatogenic medium using culture plates coated with fibronectin. Effects of hepatocyte growth factor, L-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate, insulin premixture fibroblast growth gactor 4, dimethylsulfoxide, oncostatin M and/or dexamethasone were examined on the hepatic differentiation. After differentiation, the cells were analyzed by RT-PCR, immunocytochemistry, immunoblotting, albumin ELISA, urea assay and periodic acid-schiffs staining. Results: Initial fibroblast-like appearance of HAM and HUC changed to a round shape during culture in the hepatogenic medium. However, in all hepatogenic conditions examined, HUC secreted more amounts of albumin or urea into medium than HAM. Expression of some of hepatocyte-specific genes increased and expression of new genes were observed in HUC following cultivation in hepatogenic medium. Results of immunocytochemistry and immunoblotting analyses demonstrated that HUC secreted albumin into the culture medium. PAS staining further demonstrated that HUC could store glycogen inside of the cells. Conclusions: Both HUC and HAM could differentiate into albumin-secreting, hepatocyte-like cells. Under the same hepatogenic conditions examined, HUC more efficiently differentiated into hepatocyte-like cells compared with the HAM. The results suggest that HUC and HAM could be used as sources of stem cells for the cell-based therapeutics such as in liver diseases.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.267-274
• /
• 2008

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between advanced stage endometriosis and polymorphisms in $\alpha$2-Heremans Schmidt glycoprotein (AHSG) gene in Korean women. Methods: One-hundred thirty women with endometriosis stage III and IV, and 224 women without endometriosis were enrolled. In these patients, we determined AHSG gene polymorphisms by PCR and RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) analysis. Results: The genotype distribution of the AHSG gene polymorphism in the endometriosis group was not different from that of the control group (AHSG 1*1/AHSG 1*2/AHSG 2*2 frequencies were 56.2%/37.7%/6.2% and 55.8%/39.3%/4.9% for the endometriosis and control groups, respectively, p=.864). Also, the frequency of AHSG 2 haplotype was not different between endometriosis patients and controls (AHSG 1 haplotype /AHSG 2 haplotype rates were 75.0%/25.0% and 75.4%/24.6% for the endometriosis and control groups, respectively, p=0.894). Conclusion: AHSG gene polymorphism was not associated with the risk of advanced stage endometriosis in the Korean population.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.293-301
• /
• 2008

Objective: To evaluate outcomes of patients with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) undergoing the testicular sperm extraction (TESE) combined with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with different histopathologic subgroups. Method: A total of 122 embryo-transferred TESE/ICSI cycles were compared among NOA subgroups; Germ-cell aplasia (GA, 40 cycles), Maturation arrest (MA, 32 cycles) and severe hypospermatogenesis (S-HS, 50 cycles). Obstructive azoospermia (OA, 667 cycles) patients were served as a control. TESE/ICSI outcomes such as fertilization rate (FR), clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) and live birth rate (LBR) were evaluated. Results: The 2PN FR of embryo-transferred TESE/ICSI cycle was 58.1% in GA, 42.2% in MA and 48.0% in S-HS, which was significantly lower than that of OA (72.9 %, p<0.001). For ICSI-spermatozoa cycles, there were no significant differences in CPR (22.6%, 29.4% and 26.1%) and LBR (16.1%, 29.4% and 19.6%) among NOA subgroups. The CPR of ICSI-spermatid cycles was 0.0%, 9.1% and 0.0% without a live birth. For ICSI-spermatocyte cycles, no clinical pregnancies occurred in any group. Conclusion: There was no significant difference in the FR of embryo-transferred TESE/ICSI cycles among NOA subgroups. The FR among all NOA subgroups was significantly lower than that of OA. Testicular histopathology in NOA did not affect successful pregnancy if spermatozoa extraction from the testis is successful and embryo transfer is possible.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.73-80
• /
• 2008

Numerous morphological studies on N. samarangae have been well conducted over the last ten years. In this context, we have attemtped to do molecular phylogenetic analysis by using metallothionein (MT) gene from N. samarangae. To this end, we cloned the full length cDNA of MT from cDNA library of N. samarangae. The complete cDNA sequences were obtained from the expressed sequence tag (EST) sequencing project of N. samarangae, The coding region of 195 bp gives an amino acid sequence of 65 residues including methionine. There are 5' (61 bp) and 3' (48 bp) untranslated region at both ends of the Ns-MT cDNA sequence. The combined results from BLAST analyses, multiple sequence alignment and molecular phylogenetic study of Ns-MT cDNA indicate that N. samarangae has similarity to land snails such as Helix pomatia, Helix aspersa and Arianta arbustorum.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
• /
• v.23 no.5
• /
• pp.488-496
• /
• 2017

Emissions of pollutants from ship-based sources are controlled by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Since pollutants emitted from ship may be dispersed to the land, controlling emissions from ships is necessary for efficient air quality management in Incheon, where exposure to ship-based pollution is frequent. It has been noted that the ratios of air pollutant emissions from coastal areas to inland areas are about 14% for NOx and 10% for SOx. The air quality of coastal urban areas is influenced by the number of ships present and the dispersion pattern of the pollutants released depending on the local circulation system. In this study, the dispersion of pollutants from ship-based sources was analyzed using the numerical California Puff Model (CALPUFF) based on a meteorological field established using the Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF). Air pollutant dispersion modeling around coastal urban regions such as Incheon should consider point and line sources emitted from both anchored and running ships, respectively. The total average NOx emissions from 82-84 ships were 6.2 g/s and 6.8 g/s, entering and leaving, respectively. The total average SOx emissions from 82-84 ships, entering and leaving, were 3.6 g/s and 5.1 g/s, respectively. The total average emissions for NOx and SOx from anchored ships were 0.77 g/s and 1.93 g/s, respectively. Due to the influence of breezes from over land, the transport of pollutants from Incheon Port to inland areas was suppressed, and the concentration of NOx and SOx inland were temporarily reduced. NOx and SOx were diffused inland by the sea breeze, and the concentration of NOx and SOx gradually increased inland. The concentration of pollutants in the area adjacent to Incheon Port was more influenced by anchored ship in the port than sea breezes. We expect this study to be useful for setting emission standards and devising air quality policies in coastal urban regions.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.223-239
• /
• 1989

To observe the change in the status of stresses according to three different postural angulation of an intervertebral disc with or without nucleus pulposus, 6 specimens of a 3-dimensional photoelastic model of the s pine were made of epoxy. The nucleus pulposus portion was replaced with silicon in three models, and the three were made without silicon. Through axial application of a vertical compressive load of 8kg, the peculiar patterns of the isochromatic fringes were observed. Stresses on the intervertebral disc were analyzed according to three different postural angulations of the intervertebral disc with the nucleus pulposus and without the nucleus pulposus. The results of these study are as follow : 1. In an erect neutral posture with the nucleus pulposus, the stress concentration was much increased at the posterior portion rather than at the anterior portion. Also, the high stress was concentrated at the medial and central portion. In an erect neutral posture without the nucleus pulposus, the stress concentration was much increased at the anterior portion rather than at the posterior portion and the stress distribution seemed to be locally concentrated. 2. In a maximal flexed posture, the stress concentration was much increased at the posterior portion rather than at the anterior portion. Comparing the presence of the nucleus pulposus with the absence of the nucleus pulposus, the stress concentration was lower at the anterior portion in the presence of the nucleus pulposus than in the absence of the nucleus pulposus. However, the stress distribution at the posterior portion was nearly same in the two groups. According to the analysis of the stress distribution diagram, as a whole, the stress pattern around the disc was evenly distributed. 3. In a maximal extended posture, the higher concentration of the stress distribution at the anterior and medial portion rather than in the posterior and lateral portion was observed. The stress concentration was higher in the presence of the nucleus pulposus than in the absence of the nucleus pulposus. 4. Comparing the maximal flexed posture with the erect neutral posture, the stress concentration in the flexed posture was much decreased in the posterior portion rather than in the erect neutral posture, and an even distribution of the stress pattern in the flexed posture was observed. 5. In the presence of the nucleus pulposus, at the anterior and posterior portion, the stress concentration in the flexed posture was much decreased compared with the extended posture. In the absence of the nucleus pulposus, at the anterior and posterior portion, the stress concentration in the extended posture was much decreased compared with the flexed posture.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.293-299
• /
• 1986

Obstetric problems concerning macrosomia were evaluated by retrospective review of 91 pregancies that resulted in the delivery of an infant weighing 4,000gm or more at the Yeungnam University Hospital during 3 1/2 years from Jun. 1983 to Oct. 1986. The results obtained were as follows. 1. Macrosomic infants weighing 4.000gm or more occured in 2.8% of the deliveries. 2. 65.9% of macrosomic infants and 53.5% of total infants were male. The ratio of male was statistically higher in the macrosomic infants than in the total infants(P<0.05). 3. The incidence of macrosomia was higher with increasing qestational age, and deliveries at 42 weeks or more gestation were more common in the macrosomic infants than in the total infants(P<0.01). 4. The incidence of macrosomia was highter with increasing parity, and stastically higher in the multipara than in the primipara(P<0.01). 5. There was no difference in the incidence of macrosomia between the mothers aged 24 or less and that of 30 or more. 6. The cesarean section rate of macrosomia(30.8%) was stastically higher than that of the total infants(15.7%)(P<0.01) 7. With the pregnacy and delivery of macrosomic infants, 22 antepartum anemia(24.2%), 10 postpartum hemorrhage(11.0%), 9 birth canal injury(10.0%), 7 prolonged second stage of labor (7.7%), 4 breech presentation, and 3 pregancy induced hypertension occured in the mothers, and 10 asphyxia(or Apgar score 6 or less), 2 shoulder dystocia, 1 intrauterine fetal death, and 1 sacrococcygeal teratoma occured in the infants.