• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.58 no.3
• /
• pp.276-284
• /
• 2005

Backgraound : There have been many reports on the pathogenesis of sepsis-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS) but, the precise mechanism has not been elucidated. This study examined the protective effect of an inhibition of platelet activating factor(PAF) remodeling and the adhesion molecule on the oxidative stress of the lungs in rats with an endotoxin induced acute lung injury(ALI). Methods : ALI was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by instilling an E-coli endotoxin into the trachea. Ketotifen and fucoidan were used respectively to inhibit PAF remodeling and adhesion molecule. The lung leak index, lung myeloperoxidase(MPO) activity, bronchoalveolar lavage(BAL) fluid neutrophil count and lyso PAF acetyltransferase activity(AT), were measured and an ultrastructural study and cytochemical electron microscopy were performed. Results : The lung leak index, lung MPO activity, BAL fluid neutrophil count and lyso PAF AT activity was higher in the endotoxin-treated rats. In addition, severe destruction of the pulmonary architecture and increased hydrogen peroxide production were identified. These changes were reversed by ketotifen. However, fucoidan did not appear to have any protective effects. Conclusion : The inhibition of PAF remodeling appeared to be effective in decreasing the endotoxin-induced ALI. In addition, this effect might be derived from the inhibition of neutrophilic oxidative stress. However, the inhibition of the adhesion molecules by fucoidan appeared to be ineffective in decreasing the endotoxin-induced ALI.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.50 no.9
• /
• pp.848-854
• /
• 2007

Purpose : The present study examined the etiology and risk factors of the early breast-feeding jaundice and the usefulness of auditory brainstem response test as early predictor of kernicterus. Methods : Medical records of neonatal jaundice in newborn admitted to Daegu Fatima Hospital between September 2005 and May 2006 were analyzed prospectively. Infants were grouped according to feeding method : breast feeding group (breast feeding only, n=23), mixed feeding group (breast feeding mainly plus addition of fomula feeding, n=13). Results : There were no significant differences in gestational age, birth weight, sex, duration of phototherapy, serum bilirubin and hemolytic evidence between the two study groups. First visiting day of life at out patient department was significantly delayed in breast feeding group ($8.7{\pm}3.6day$) compared to mixed feeding group ($6.0{\pm}1.9$) (P=0.009). Weight loss was significantly severe in breast feeding group compared to mixed feeding group (P<0.05). In auditory brainstem response test, loss of Wave V in 3 cases was observed and recoverd after blood exchange transfusion in follow up test.Wave III latency had significant correlation to serum bilirubin in auditory brainstem response test (70 dB) (P=0.002). Conclusion : Our study suggest that further education about breast feeding and follow up within the first postnatal week would be necessary for early detection and prevention of early breast-feeding jaundice. Test of serum bilirubin and auditory brainstem response would be helpful in determination of blood exchange transfusion.

• Korean Journal of Cognitive Science
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.1-15
• /
• 2004

The structure of sensibility from motion was developed for the purpose of understanding relationship between sensibilities and physical factors to apply it to dynamic visual display. Seventy adjectives were collected by assessing adequacy to express sensibilities from motion and reporting sensibilities recalled from dynamic displays with achromatic color. Various motion displays with a moving single dot were rated according to the degree of sensibility corresponding to each adjective, on the basis of the Semantic Differential (SD) method. The results of assessment were analyzed by means of the factor analysis to reduce 70 words into 19 fundamental sensibilities from motion. The Multidimensional Scaling (MDS) technique constructed the sensibility space in motion, in which 19 sensibilities were scattered with two dimensions, active-passive and bright-dark Motion types systemically varied in kinematic factors were placed on the two-dimensional space of motion sensibility, in order to analyze important variables affecting sensibility from motion. Patterns of placement indicate that speed and both of cycle and amplitude in trajectories tend to partially determine sensibility. Although color and motion affected sensibility according to the in dimensions, it seemed that combination of motion and color made each have dominant effect individually in a certain sensibility dimension, motion to active-passive and color to bright-dark.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.49 no.10
• /
• pp.1056-1060
• /
• 2006

Purpose : As hearing ability affects language and cognitive development, early detection and intervention of congenital hearing defects is very important. We analyzed the result of newborn hearing screening using automated auditory brainstem response and estimated the incidence of congenital hearing defects in newborn infants in Korea. Methods : Hearing screening tests were done on 7,218 newborn infants who were delivered at Cheil General Hospital from July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2005. The first screening test was done on the second day of life with automated auditory brainstem response(AABR) using $ALGO{\bigcirc}^{(3)}$ Newborn hearing screener($Natus^{(R)}$ Medical Incorporated, San Carlos, USA) with 35 dB sound level. The newborn infants who did not pass the initial screening test took the second screening AABR test before discharge from the nursery. Infants who did not pass these screenings at the nursery were followed up at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Samsung Seoul Hospital. Results : Total 7,218 infants(83.3 percent of total 8,664 live births of the Cheil General Hospital) were screened in the nursery, and 55 of them failed to pass the newborn screening. Among 55 infants who were referred, six were lost during follow-up, and 14 were confirmed as hearing impaired. Six of them(42.8 percent) do not have any risk factors for hearing impairment. We can estimate that the incidence of hearing defects is about 1.9-2.8 per 1,000 live births. Conclusion : Automated auditory brainstem response is an effective tool to screen the hearing of newborn infants. Congenital hearing loss is more frequent than metabolic diseases on which screening tests are available in the newborn period. About 40 percent of infants who have hearing defects do not have any risk factors for hearing impairment. Therefore, universal newborn hearing screening must be recommended to all neonates.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.60 no.3
• /
• pp.304-313
• /
• 2006

Background : Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is an inducible enzyme that catalyzes the oxidative degradation of heme to form biliverdin, carbon monoxide (CO), and free iron. The current evidence has indicated a critical role of HO-1 in cytoprotection and also in other, more diverse biological functions. It is known that the high expression of HO-1 occurs in various tumors, and that HO-1 has an important role in rapid tumor growth because of its antioxidative and antiapoptotic effects. Therefore, the role of HO-1 was analyzed in human lung cancer cell lines, and especially in the A549 cell line. Material and Methods : Human lung cancer cell lines, i.e., A549, NCI-H23, NCI-H157 and NCI-H460, were used for this study. The expression of HO-1 in the untreated state was defined by Western blotting. ZnPP, which is the specific HO inhibitor we used, and the viability of cells were tested for by conducting MTT assaysy. The HO enzymatic activity, as determined via the bilirubin level, was also indirectly measured. Moreover, the generation of intracellular hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was monitored fluorimetrically with using a scopoletin-horse radish peroxidase (HRP) assay and 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA). We have also transfected small HO-1 interfering RNA (siRNA) into A549 cells, and the apoptotic effects were evaluated by flow cytometric analysis and Western blotting. Results : The A549 cells had a greater expression of HO-1 than the other cell lines, whereas ZnPP significantly decreased the viability of the A549 cells more than the viability of the other lung cancer cells in a dose-dependant fashion. Consistent with the viability, the HO enzymatic activity also was decreased. Moreover, intracellular H2O2 generation via ZnPP was induced in a dose-dependent manner. Apoptotic events were, then induced in the HO-1 siRNA transfected A549 cells. Conclusion : HO-1 provides new important insights into the possible molecular mechanism of the antitumor therapy in lung cancer.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.52-58
• /
• 2008

Purpose : Whole blood interferon-$\gamma$ assay was developed and many studies showed its usefulness in diagnosing tuberculosis (TB) including latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). However, assessment in children has been limited. This study was undertaken to evaluate the usefulness of QuantiFERON-TB Gold for the diagnosis of LTBI in children exposed to pulmonary TB. Methods : Children who visited Seoul National University Bundang Hospital with a history of TB exposure were enrolled from January 2006 to December 2007. They were evaluated with chest x-rays, tuberculin skin test (TST) and QuantiFERON-TB Gold test. TST was retested 3 months later for those with initial negative reactivity. Definition of LTBI was made on the basis of the TST reactivity. Results : Among the 103 children with a history of TB exposure, 49 children were tested with chest x-ray, TST, and QuantiFERON-TB Gold. Twenty-two were males. Median age was 7.5 years (range; 3 months to 14.7 years). According to TST reactivity, LTBI was in 8 (19%), no infection was in 21 (50%), possible LTBI was in 13 (31%). QuantiFERON-TB Gold test was positive in 5 of the 49 subjects (10%); 3 of the 13 subjects (23.1%) in unknown status, 1 of the 8 subjects (13%) in LTBI, and 1 of the 21 subjects (5%) without infection. The agreement between the QuantiFERON-TB Gold and the TST was poor (${\kappa}=0.101$). Conclusion : QuantiFERON-TB Gold showed poor sensitivity for the diagnosis of LTBI in children with exposure to TB. QuantiFERON-TB Gold alone does not seem to be useful in the diagnosis of LTBI in children.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.79-89
• /
• 2001

Steroid hormones control the expression of many cellular regulators, and a role thor estrogen in mouse oocytes has been well documented. The preovulatory $E_2$increment is generally accepted as the endocrine process regulating induction of in vivo oocyte maturation To address whether the activity of the T-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel is altered by 17 beta-estradiol ( $E_2$), we examined the actions of $E_2$on the calcium channel of mouse oocytes and early embryos. Oocrtes were collected from the oviduct of mice treated with pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (PMSG) and human choronic gonadotropin (hCG). Whole cell voltage clamp technique and confocal microscopy were used to examine that $E_2$increase intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration ([C $a^{2+}$]$_{i}$ ) via voltage dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channel (VDC) and estrogen receptor (FSR), and $E_2$concentration by the use of radioimmunoassay (RIA) were examined in mouse. The results obtained were as follows: The peak of $Ca^{2+}$ current induced by $E_2$increased 122% to 1.50$\pm$0.03 nA from 1.23$\pm$0.21 nA (n=15) in the presence of 5 mM extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration ([C $a^{2+}$]$_{o}$ ). The increased $Ca^{2+}$ current was temporally associated with $Ca^{2+}$ transients. The intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ level increased 207%~30 s following the addition of 1${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ $E_2$(relative fluorescence intensity: 836.4$\pm$131.2 for control, n=10, 1736.4$\pm$192.0 in the presence of $E_2$, n=10). $E_2$increased amplitude of $Ca^{2+}$ current and [C $a^{2+}$]$_{i}$ . $E_2$-induced $Ca^{2+}$ current and $E_2$concentration in blood were showed difference on the stage of embryo. These results suggest that $E_2$modulate $Ca^{2+}$ channel to increase $Ca^{2+}$ influx.$Ca^{2+}$ influx.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.47-53
• /
• 2011

Hair is an appendage of skin which protects the body from outer physical and chemical stimuli. Hair is generated from the hair follicle lying on a sunken basal layer of epidermis. Hair cycling, which regenerates hair follicles throughout the life time of the organism. Numerous kinds of factors which exist at the hair follicle have been reported to regulate hair cycling, Human growth hormone secreted from pituitary gland, initially demonstrated to accelerate organ's growth, has been reported to play a role in the biology of organ size determination. We investigated the effect of 6-histidines residues tagged at amino-terminus of human growth hormone using light and electronmicroscopic methods. Human growth hormone encapsulated in nano-liposome (LhGH) was used to find how LhGH affects hair follicle cycling of mouse (C57BL6/CrN). Distilled water as a negative control, 3% Minoxidil as a positive control, and LhGH were applied to mouse for weeks. LhGH increased the number of exposed hairs per given areas ($1mm^2$). This result was also confirmed using a different breed of mice which show natural hair loss in an old age (about 17 months after birth). When LhGH was applied for 3 weeks after natural hair loss, natural hair loss on these mice was prevented, However, the control group mice on which LhGH was not applied showed further hair loss. This result indicates that LhGH may stimulate hair cycling of mouse. In clusion, it is cleat that the LhGH increased the number of hair on mice and help the depilated skin to grow new hair follicles again.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.65 no.4
• /
• pp.301-307
• /
• 2008

Background: The triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (TREM-1) is an activating receptor that is expressed on the surface of neutrophils and mature monocytes when stimulated with several microbial components, which can amplify the inflammatory response. This study analyzed the prognostic value of the sTREM-1 levels in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Methods: The bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and blood was collected prospectively from 32 patients with ARDS, 15 survivors and 17 nonsurvivors. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to measure the sTREM-1. The following data was obtained: APACHE II score, Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score (CPIS), BAL fluid analysis, C-reative protein. Mortality in the ICU was defined as the end point. Results: The serum sTREM-1 level was significantly higher in the nonsurvivors than survivors ($54.3{\pm}10.3pg/ml$ vs. $22.7{\pm}2.3pg/ml$, p<0.05). The sTREM-1 level in the serum, but not in the BAL fluid, was an independent predictor of the ICU mortality (OR: 22.051, 95% CI: 1.780~273.148, p<0.016), and a cut-off value of ${\geq}33pg/ml$ yielded a diagnostic sensitivity of 71% and specificity of 93%. Conclusion: The serum sTREM-1 level may be a useful predictor of the outcome of ARDS patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.57 no.1
• /
• pp.37-46
• /
• 2004

Background : Lung pericytes are important constituent cells of blood-air barrier in pulmonary microvasculature. These cells take part in the control of vascular contractility and permeability. In this study, it was hypothesized that change of lung pericytes might be attributable to pathologic change in microvasculature in acute lung injury. The purpose of this study was how hypoxia change proliferation and genetic expression in lung pericytes. Methods : From the lungs of several Sprague-Dawley rats, performed the primary culture of lung pericytes and subculture. Characteristics of lung pericytes were confirmed with stellate shape in light microscopy and immunocytochemistry. 2% concentration of oxygen and $200{\mu}M$ $CoCl_2$ were treated to cells. Tryphan blue method and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction were done. Results : 1. We established methodology for primary culture of lung pericytes. 2. Hypoxia inhibited cellular proliferation in pericytes. 3. Hypoxia could markedly induce vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and smad-2. 4. Hypoxia-inducible factor-$1{\alpha}$(HIF-$1{\alpha}$) was also induced by 2% oxygen. Conclusion : Viability of lung pericytes are inhibited by hypoxia. Hypoxia can stimulate expression of hypoxia-responsive genes. Pericytic change may be contributed to dysfunction of alveolar-capillary barrier in various pulmonary disorders.