• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.500-506
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• 2006

Purpose : We evaluated an outbreak of Serratia marcescens infections in 24 neonates in a neonatal intensive care unit(NICU). Methods : From January to August, 2004 a nosocomial outbreak of S. marcescens occurred in our NICU. We describe the clinical characteristics of the outbreak and analyse the risk factors for infections with S. marcescens. After the outbreak stopped, 7 isolates from blood were typed using rapid amplified polymorphic DNA analysis(RAPD). Results : S. marcescens was isolated from 24 neonates, 19 infected and 5 colonized. Seven out of nineteen neonates had bacteremia, 4 had ventilator associated pneumonia, 4 had purulent conjunctivitis, 2 had UTI, 1 had meningitis and 1 had a wound infection. Three neonates died due to S. marcescens infection, 2 of 3 had ventilator associated pneumonia, 1 had meningitis complicated with abscess. The mortality rate of S. marcescens infection was 15.8%. Factors associated with S. marcescens infections were previous antibiotic therapy, indwelling catheter and use of ventilators. The isolated strains were resistant to most antibiotics, but frequently sensitive to imipenem, bactrim and amikacin. RAPD typing results show that at least 3 epidemic strains were related with this outbreak. But one genotype was predominant type in this outbreak. The control measures were instituted and the outbreak stopped within 2 months. Conclusion : S. marcescens can cause rapidly spreading outbreaks associated with fatal infections in neonates. If S. marcescens is isolated from clinical specimens, meticulous infection control measures and epidemiologic investigations should be done at an early stage of the outbreak.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.10
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• pp.1102-1111
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• 2008

Purpose : Resveratrol, extracted from red wine and grapes, has an anti-cancer effect, an antiinflammatory effect, and an antioxidative effect mainly in heart disease and also has neuroprotective effects in the adult animal model. No studies for neuroprotective effects during the neonatal periods have been reported. Therefore, we studied the neuroprotective effect of resveratrol on hypoxic-ischemic brain damage in neonatal rats via anti-apoptosis. Methods : Embryonic cortical neuronal cell culture of rat brain was performed using pregnant Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats at 18 days of gestation (E18) for the in vitro approach. We injured the cells with hypoxia and administered resveratrol (1, 10, and $30{\mu}g/mL$) to the cells at 30 minutes before hypoxic insults. In addition, unilateral carotid artery ligation with hypoxia was induced in 7-day-old neonatal rats for the in vivo approach. We injected resveratrol (30 mg/kg) intraperitoneally into animal models. Real-time PCR and Western blotting were performed to identify the neuroprotective effects of resveratrol through anti-apoptosis. Results : In the in vitro approach of hypoxia, the expression of Bax, caspase-3, and the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2, indicators of the level of apoptosis, were significantly increased in the hypoxia group compared to the normoxia group. In the case of the resveratrol-treated group, expression was significantly decreased compared to the hypoxia group. And the results in the in vivo approach were the same as in the in vitro approach. Conclusion : The present study demonstrates that resveratrol plays neuroprotective role in hypoxic-ischemic brain damage during neonatal periods through the mechanism of anti-apoptosis.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.91-108
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• 1996

The present study was designed to examine effect of short term treadmill and weight-training on aging arophy in the rat skeletal muscle. Male rats of 24 months old were used. Each groups included control, treadmill and weight-training for 4 weeks by using treadmill apparatus and body press apparatus. The histo and cytochemical, ultrastructural and stereological changes in senile skeletal muscles of the rat were observed in the present study. During the training period the body weight and muscular weight in all groups remained constant. The volume density of muscle fiber type IIC and IIB were increased, that of type IIA was decreased, but type I remained constant in treadmill-training group. In weight-training rat, the density of type IIA and IIB were increased, both those of type IIC was decreased. But, all changes of muscle fiber type is not significant. Senile control group some usual formation of mild contraction band, liposuscin pigment and muscular splitting were observed. After treadmill-training, histological and ultrastructural changes occurred in the muscle fiber, such as irregularity of the sarcolemma, interfibrillar vacuolization, longitudinal splitting, and widened I-bond. After weight-training, the changes occurred in the trained muscle fiber, such as appearances of many lysosomes and autophagic vacuoles, severe contraction band, and breakup of myofibrils. Histo and cytochemical studies showed that the activities of succinic dehydrogenase and acid phosphatase remained constant, activities of $Mg^{++}$-ATPase decrease with training. Stereological changes were not observed in the volume and numerical density of all subject component, but the surface density of mitochondrial inner membrane was increased with treadmill-training. These experimental results suggested that endurance training during short-term may result in the adaptible response in senile skeletal muscles. On the other side, weight-training is bad for senile skeletal muscle.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.142-150
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• 1994

To investigate differences in Cd and Zn contents of paddy soils and rice plants polluted by the municipal and industrial waste water in the Mangyeong River Area, soil and plant samples were collected at several distances from the main inlet and at different depths of the soil. Soil samples were extracted with $4M-HNO_3$ and plant samples were digested with a mixture of $HNO_3$and $HClO_4$for analyzing heavy metals by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The contents of Cd and Zn in soils ranged from 0.38 to 1.17 and from 33.8 to 464.6mg kg^{-1}, respectively. The average Cd level in 1990 was less than that in 1982, but the Zn level in 1990 was higher than that in 1982 in general. No variation in Cd contents was observed in soils at the different distances from the source of waste water, but Zn contents in soils were lower with the increasing distances from the source of waste water. A significant correlation was observed among Cd content, OM, available silicate, CEC and $Ca^{++}$. Similar results existed among Zn content of 1982, OM and $Ca^{++}$. The Cd content in subsurface soils of 1992 was significantly correlated with Zn, Cu, and Pb in soils, and the Zn content in soils was significantly correlated with the Cu and Pb in soils, regardless of years. The Cd content in leaf blades of rice was more than seven times higher than that in brown rice. The Zn content in rice was higher than that in leaf blades and in panicle axis. The Cd content in panicle axis and the Zn content in all parts of rice were correlated with Zn, Cu and Pb contents in soils. The Cd and Zn contents in brown rice ranged from 0.10 to 0.90mg $kg^{-1}$ and from 4.2 to 95.9mg $kg^{-1}$ in the Mangyeong River Area, respectively.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.7
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• pp.745-752
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• 2005

Purpose : Adolescent obesity is known to be associated with complications such as hypertension, coronary artery disease and insulin resistance. We measured the common carotid artery by ultrasound as a predictor of atherosclerosis, and investigated the relationship between carotid artery parameters and serum cytokines in obese adolescents. Methods : Twenty-nine obese adolescents(16-17 years old, obesity index>130 percent) and twentyseven normal controls were included. Obesity index and body mass index were calculated from their height and weight. Skin fold thickness was measured at the triceps, and fat mass and fat distribution by bioelectrical impedence analysis. Blood pressure was measured at resting state and serum lipid, insulin, and homocysteine levels after a 12-hour fasting period. Intimal wall thickness, systolic and diastolic diameters of the common carotid artery were measured by ultrasound, and compliance and distensibility calculated by equation. Results : Systolic and diastolic diameters of the carotid artery significantly correlated with arm circumference, body mass index, fat distribution and fat mass. The higher systolic blood pressure was, the larger systolic and diastolic diameter. The higher diastolic blood pressure was, the larger carotid intimal thickness. Insulin levels had positive correlations with systolic, diastolic diameters and serum homocysteine level with intimal thickness. Conclusion : The carotid artery diameter significantly increased with the degree of obesity and blood pressure. The carotid intimal wall thickness significantly correlated with diastolic blood pressure. Measurement of carotid artery thickness, insulin and homocysteine levels might be useful to predict the development of coronary artery disease.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.92-100
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• 2002

Objectives : As medical science develops, survival rate of cancer patients rises. Therefore, psychologic understanding and improving quality of life in cancer patients is getting greater significance. The Object of this study is to investigate sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, psychopathology, self esteem and quality of life in cancer patients and to provide useful information for therapeutic approach to cancer patients. Methods : The subjects were 41 patents who had been treated by radiotherapy and 20 normal people. Sociodemographic information and clinical characteristics of cancer patients were investigated, and SCL-90R for psychopathology, Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale for self esteem, WHOQOL-BREF for quality of life were administered to subjects. The results of both groups were compared and analysed, and correlation between variables were evaluated. Results : 1) The tendency of Somatization, obsession-compulsion, depression, anxiety, hostility, phobia, psychosis in cancer group were higher than normal group. Especially, somatization and anxiety in cancer group were significantly higher than normal group. 2) Self esteem and quality of life in cancer group were significantly lower than normal group. 3) No significance were found in comparison of psychopathology, self esteem and quality of life according to sociodemographic variables. Among clinical characteristics, higher somatization was shown in case of more weight loss, and higher somatization and lower quality of life was shown in the presence of pain. 4) Higher anxiety was significantly associated with lower self esteem, and Higher somatization and anxiety was significantly associated with lower quality of life. Conclusion : Cancer patients had various kinds of psychopathology, low self esteem and low quality of life. In particular, somatization and anxiety, self esteem and pain were found to be important factors to quality of life of cancer patients. Therefore, management of psychopathology, improving self esteem, pain control is necessary to improve quality of life in cancer patients.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.9
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• pp.854-857
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• 2003

Purpose : It is known that single umbilical artery is frequently associated with gastrointestinal or urogenital anomaly, however, routine renal sonography has been debated in healthy neonate with isolated single umbilical artery. This study is designed to determine the usefulness of routine renal sonography in apparently healthy infants with an isolated single umbilical artery. Methods : Thirty healthy neonates with a single umbilical artery without a major anomaly from January 1995 to July 2002 were enrolled. The authors investigated the clinical background of babies and their mothers after renal sonography after 72 hours of age. When the abnormalities were found at the first renal sonography, the severity of hydronephrosis and degree of obstruction and renal function were analyzed by follow up renal sonography, voiding cystourethrography(VCUG) and technetium-99m-dimercaptosuccinic acid(DMSA) scan or technetium-99m-mercaptoacetyl-triglycerine (MAG3) scan. Results : Among the 30 healthy patients with isolated single umbilical artery, five patients(16.7%) showed abnormalities on first renal sonography with one major(3.3%) and four(13.4%) minor renal anomaly(minimal or mild hydroneohrosis). One major renal anomaly(severe hydronephrosis) showed severe decreased renal function on MAG3 scan without reflux, and the other four minor regressed spontaneously on follow up study. Conclusion : The value of routine early renal sonograpy for detecting renal anomaly in healthy infants with an isolated single umbilical artery remained unclear because most of the anomalies would regress spontaneously in the follow up study.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.194-198
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• 2009

Purpose : Active perioperative intervention and improvement on surgical technique has decreased the mortality rate of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC); however, when complicated with pulmonary venous obstruction, operative mortality is still high. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical course of TAPVC. Methods : Twenty-seven patients who were diagnosed with TAPVC (without other complex heart anomalies) by echocardiogram at Kyungpook National University Hospital from January 1994 to February 2008 were included. Results : Mean age at diagnosis was $28.1{\pm}33.4$ days (1-126 days). Sites of drainage were supracardiac type (15), cardiac (6), infracardiac (5), and mixed (1). Seven patients had pulmonary venous obstruction: 5 with supracardiac type, 1 with cardiac, and 1 with infracardiac. Intraoperative trans-esophageal echocardiograms were performed in 14 patients (58.3%). The operative mortality was 16.7% (4 of 24) and overall hospital mortality (including deaths without operation) was 22.2% (6 of 27). There were 5 postoperative pulmonary venous obstructions. The sites of obstruction were anastomotic in 3 of 5 (60%) patients, and ostial pulmonary vein in the other 2 (40%) patients. Three patients who presented with anastomotic pulmonary venous obstruction underwent reoperation, but all the patients were found to have pulmonary venous anastomotic obstruction. The other 2 patients with ostial pulmonary vein obstruction who had no significant symptoms were diagnosed by routine echocardiographic examination during follow-up. Conclusion : In TAPVC patients, early diagnosis and aggressive surgical management will improve prognosis, and we must pay attention to early and late pulmonary vein restenosis through intraoperative trans-esophageal echocardiogram and peri- and post-operative echocardiographic follow-up examinations.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.69-79
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• 1992

The muscle extracts of the ascidian, Halocynthia roretzi cultured for two and three years old on the southern coast near Chungmu and the eastern coast near Pohang of Korea, were analyzed for extractive nitrogen (EN), free amino acids (FAA), combined amino acids (CAA), nucleotides and related compounds (NRC), quaternary ammonium bases and guanidino compounds using specimens collected in February 1989 and in April 1989, and compared for those contents with each other. As for the amount of EN, no remarkable difference was found between two- and three-year-old samples collected at St. 1 in the spring and winter seasons, while at St. 2 in the spring season the two-year-old sample was distinctly lower than the three-year-old one. Taurine, proline, glutamic acid, glycine and alanine were the major FAA in every sample. The amount of taurine, the most prominent FAA, was higher in three-year-old sample than in two-year-old one regardless of sampling station and season. Most of the other major FAA showed a similar tendency to EN at both sampling stations in both seasons. Adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP), adenosine 5'-diphosphate (ADP), adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP), inosine 5'-monophosphate (IMP), inosine (Ino) and hypoxanthine (Hyp) were detected in all the samples and ATP, ADP and AMP were the major ingredients. The amounts of total NRC were in parallel with those of EN and total FAA. As for the contents of betaines, two- and three-year-old samples collected in the winter season exhibited a great discrepancy each other, the former being clearly lower than the latter, but no remarkable difference was observed between two samples of two groups in the spring season. In proximate composition of the muscles, the two-year-old sample was considerably higher in moisture content and lower in protein and glycogen contents than the three-year-old one at St. 2 in the spring season. The large discrepancies observed between two- and three-year-old samples from St. 2 seems to be attributable to the difference in size of samples rather than to the difference in age.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.9
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• pp.1187-1194
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• 2009

This study was performed to estimate the prevalence and the risk factors of arthritis in Andong rural area in 2003. The subjects were 1,462 people (544 males, 818 females) aged 45 years and over. The arthritis group was composed of 322 people (72 males, 250 females), diagnosed by doctor or self-diagnosed by the symptoms. Prevalence of arthritis was higher in female (27.2%) compared to male (13.2%). Mean age of arthritis group was significantly higher than that of normal group (male 66.2 vs 62.8, female 62.6 vs 60.1, p<0.001). The anthropometric measurements, such as % body fat, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference, and the biochemical measurements, such as plasma triglyceride and total cholesterol level, were significantly higher only in female (not in male) arthritis group than those in normal group. Health related lifestyle factors, such as smoking, alcohol drinking, and exercise, were not different between both groups. The risk factors for arthritis were analyzed using the multiple logistic regression method and expressed as odds ratio (OR). The results showed that female compared to male (OR=1.983), over 65 years compared to 45$\sim$64 years (male OR=2.769 and female OR=1.461), and obese female subjects (not for male) by % body fat ($\geq$32% OR=2.035) or BMI ($\geq$25 kg/$m^2$ OR=1.556) showed significantly higher risk factors for arthritis. Regarding nutrient intakes, higher intakes of fat (OR=1.443), calcium (OR=1.503), iron (OR=1.518) and vitamin A (OR=1.390) in female seemed to be risk factors. In contrast to female, higher intakes of vitamin A (OR=0.526) and riboflavin (OR=0.582) seemed to decrease the risk for arthritis in male. This study revealed that the prevalence of arthritis was significantly higher in female and aged individuals. Also, in order to decrease the prevalence and/or prevention of arthritis, female should prevent overfatness and decrease some nutrient intakes, while male should increase their intakes.