• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.107-115
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• 1998

Background: Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia(CEP) presents with profound systemic symptoms, including fever, malaise, night sweats, weight loss, and anorexia together with localized pulmonary manifestations such as cough, wheeze, and sputum. It is an illness occurring predominantly in women. The chest radiogragh shows fluffy opacities that often have a characteristic peripheral configuration. The hallmark of CEP is the peripheral blood eosinophilia and a prompt response to oral corticosteroid therapy. We investigated characteristics of eleven patients of chronic eosinophilic pneumonia, reported in Korea. Method: There were eleven reports of CEP from 1980 to 1996, including three cases experienced in our hospital. The journals were analysed in respects of clinical history, laboratory, and radiographic findings. Results: 1) Male vs. female ratio is 3 : 8. The peak incidence occurred in forty and fifty decades. The atopic diseases were present in 6 cases. Asthma was the commonest manifestation 2) The presenting symptoms were as follows: cough, dyspnea, sputum, weight loss, fever, general weakness, night sweats, urticaria with the descending incidence. 3) Peripheral blood eosinophilia was present in all patients(mean ; 38.4%) and serum IgE level was elevated in nine patients(mean ; 880IU/ml). Conclusion: The diagnosis of chronic eosinophilic pneumonia is based on classic symptoms, including fever, night sweats, weight loss with a typical roentgenogram of peripheral pulmonary infiltrates and peripheral blood eosinophilia, and that is confimed by lung biopsy and/or bronchoalveolar lavage. Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia is responsive to corticosteroid promptly and recommended at least 6 months of therapy to prevent relapse.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.45-54
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• 1987

Dowex 1-X8 resin ion exchanged with calcon carboxylic acid (CCA-Dowex 1-X8) and 2-methyl-8-hydroxyquinoline(MHQ) impregnated-Amberlite XAD-4 resin (MHQ-XAD-4) were examined for the separation and preconcentration of ferric ion from the various matrices. The stabilities of these resins were investigated, and their capacities on ferric ion were also measured. The effect of pH on the adsorption of ferric ion and matrix ions, such as Al(Ⅲ) and Ca(Ⅱ), was investigated to determine the optimun pH ranges. Separation and preconcentration of iron in aluminium foil and mineral water samples were studied by elution method with these resin columns. The recovered ions by 10ml of 2F nitric acid was determined by flame atomic spectrophotometry. SP-Sephadex C-25 column was used to separate ferrous and ferric ion in mineral water by stepwise elution with ferrozine and 1 % ascorbic acid-ferrozine solution. The concentrated and separated each ion could be determined spectrophotometrically at the analytical wavelenth of Fe(Ⅱ)-ferrozine complex (562nm).

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.954-964
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• 1996

Background : The type of the infiltrating cells in al veolitis may be determined by the chemokines in the lesion. MIP-1 ${\alpha}$, a C-C type chemokine, stimulates proliferation and cytokine secretion from macrophages and induces early neutrophilic and later monocytic inflammation in vi vo. IL-8, a C-X-C type chemokine is known to attract neutrophils and T-lymphocytes. This study is performed to find out the relative role of two different chemokines in diffuse interstitial lung disease. Subject and Method : We measured the secretion of MIP- 1 ${\alpha}$ and IL-8 from alveolar macrophages(AM), and their level in BAL fluid of 26 patients with DILD (10 IPF, 4 collagen disease, 10 sarcoidosis, and 2 hypersensitivity pneumonitis) and 7 normal control. Result: IL-8 secretion was significantly increased in patients with DILD ($8.15{\pm}4.58$ ng/ml) than in normal ($1.10{\pm}0.93$ ng/ml, p=0.0003). Significant correlation was found between IL-8 secretion and total cell number in BAL fluid (r=0.484, p=0.0068), %(r=0.592, p=0.0004) and No. (r=0.516, p=0.0042) of lymphocyte, and % of AM (r=-0.505, 0.0032). MIP- 1 ${\alpha}$ secretion was also increased in DILD ($2.41{\pm}1.45$ ng/ml) compared to control ($0.63{\pm}0.30$ ng/ml, p=0.0031), and showed a tendency of correlation with total cell number (r=0.368, p=0.0456) and No. of alveolar macrophages (r=0.356, p=0.0579) in BAL fluid. The concentration of IL-8 in BAL fluid was significantly increased in the patients with DILD ($40.4{\pm}34.5$ pg/ml) compared to control ($3.90{\pm}2.47$ pg/ml, p=0.0094) and it showed a significant correlation with the total cell number (r=0.484, p=0.0068), %(r=-0.505, p=0.0032) of AM, and % (r=0.592, p=0.0004) and No. (r=0.516, p=0.0042) of lymphocyte in BAL fluid. But there was a no significant difference in MIP- 1 ${\alpha}$ concentration in BAL fluid between normal control group and the patients with DILD. Conclusion : From the above results, we concluded that AM of DILD releases increased amount of both IL-8 and MIP- 1 ${\alpha}$ but IL-8 has better correlation with the type of alveolitis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.8
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• pp.691-701
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• 2004

Background: Tissue hypoxia is a characteristic of many human malignant neoplasms, and hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) plays a pivotal role in essential adaptive response to hypoxia, and activates a signal pathway for the expression of the hypoxia-regulated genes, resulting in increased oxygen delivery or facilitating metabolic adaptation to hypoxia. Increased level of HIF-1 a has been reported in many human malignancies, but in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, the influence of HIF-1 a on tumor biology, including neovascularization, is not still defined. Material and Method: The influence of HIF-1 a expression on angiogenic factors, correlation between the tumor proliferation and HIF-1 a expression, interaction of HIF-1 a expression and p53, and correlation between HIF-1 a expression and clinicopathological prognostic parameters were investigated, using immunohistochemical stains for HIF-1 a, VEGF, CD34, p53, and Ki-67 on 77 cases of resected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Result: HIF-1 a expression in cancer cells was found in 33 of 77 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cases. The 33 cases (42.9%) showed positive stain for HIF-1 a. High HIF-1 a expression was significantly associated with several pathological parameters, such as histologic grade (p=0.032), pathological TMN stage (p=0.002), the depth of tumor invasion (p=0.022), regional lymph node metastasis (p=0.002), distant metastasis (p=0.049), and lymphatic invasion (p=0.004). High HIF-1 a expression had significant VEGF immunoreactivity (p=0.008) and Ki-67 labeling index (p<0.001), but was not correlated with microvascular density within tumors (p=0.088). The high HIF-1 a expression was correlated with aberrant p53 accumulation with a marginal significance (p=0.056). The overall 5-year survival rate was 34.9%. The survival rate of patients with a high HIF-1 a expression was worse than that of patients with low-expression tumors (log-rank test, p=0.0001). High HIF-1 a expression was independent unfavorable factors although statistical significance is marginal in multivariate analysis. Conclusion: It is suggested that (1) high HIF-1 a expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is associated with tumor hypoxia, or with genetic alteration in early carcinogenesis and progressive stages, (2) high HIF-1 a expression may be associated with intratumoral neovascularization through HIF-VEGF pathway, and (3) high HIF-1 a expression is associated with poor prognosis in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and may playa role as biomarker for regional lymph node metastasis.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.293-306
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• 2008

The essential factor of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), an acute lung injury accompanied commonly by sepsis syndrome is accumulation of neutrophils in lung tissue. The study attempted to confirm whether a lung injury would be decreased with the anti-inflammatory effect of germanium by the treated germanium prior to the development of ARDS and whether nitric oxide influence in suppressing a lung injury. Test groups were divided in the following structure for experiment; CON that has been administered with sodium chloride to airway, LPS administered with endotoxin for 5 hours in the same amount and 5 hours of endotoxin administered Ge+LPS following 1 hours of pre-treated germanium. The result of a test using experimental animals, infilteration of neutrophils (p<0.001) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was significantly decreased, the structure of lung tissue was preserved relatively well, and much neutrophils with distinct positive were observed on tunel staining which showed increase of apoptotic neutrophils in the pre-treated germanium group compare to the endotoxin administrated group. In observation of ultrastructural changes of cell in BALF, phagocytic alveolar macrophage was increased in alveolar space, the nucleus of most engulfed neutrophils were condensed, and some apoptosis neutrophils appears to be DNA fragmentation and effacement of cellular organelles were found in intercellular matrix in the pre-treated germanium group. However, the nitric oxide showed increase in all the groups excluding CON, and the nitric oxide effect such as degranulation diminishing of mast cells and apoptosis increase of neutrophils in the pre-treated group only. The situation appears that there was change in internal environment of the experimental animal by the pre-treated germanium before the nitric oxide is produced and the anti-inflammatory effect activated the pre-processed germanium by nitric oxide which activated following the change. Therefore, the nitric oxide created from macrophage in accordance with the pre-treated germanium appears to influence in alleviating a lung injury. Accordingly, acute lung injury is alleviated by the anti-inflammatory effect of germanium such as inhibition of neutrophils migration, induction of neutrophil apoptosis and increase of phagocytic function of phagocyte, and the nitric oxide produced from activated macrophage by germanium would influence in suppressing a lung injury.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.150-157
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• 2015

This study was intended to evaluate the anti-atopic effect of Sargassum fulvellum water extract (SFWE). Atopic dermatitis (AD) was induced in BALB/c mice by spreading 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) to the dorsal skin area. The production of IL-4 and total IgE of the SFWE treated group was significantly less than the DNCB only group. On the other hand, the production of the IFN-γ of SFWE treated group was greater than that of the DNCB only group. In addition, SFWE alleviated the AD symptoms when compared to the DNCB only group and reduced the epidermal thickness and the number of mast cells in histological analysis. In conclusion, these results suggest that the application of SFWE has an anti-atopic activity through the modulation of IL-4 and IFN-γ cytokines, and the total IgE in DNCB-induced BALB/c mice. Therefore, SFWE can be utilized with atopic disease therapies.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.790-795
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• 2012

In this study, the general components and minerals of fermented Curcuma longa L. (FC) by Aspergillus oryzae were examined as well as the hepatoprotective effects of FC on acute hepatotoxicity induced by a single dose of galactosamine (GalN, 650 mg/kg body weight (b.w.)). The FC was found to consist of 0.15% moisture, 4.68% crude fat, 4.35% crude protein, 6.92% crude fiber, and 6.83% crude ash. The P, Ca, and Mg levels in FC were also quantitatively analyzed. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into six groups; nontreated control, GalN, 150 mg/kg b.w. of silymarin plus GalN, 30 mg/kg b.w. of FC plus GalN, 100 mg/kg b.w. of FC plus GalN, and 300 mg/kg b.w. of FC plus GalN. Pretreatment 300 mg/kg b.w. of FC during 14 days significantly decreased the increased in aspartate aminotransferase, alanine amino transferase, and triglyceride (TG) induced by GalN. Severe liver damage, hepatocellular necrosis, infiltration of inflammatory cells, and councilman body necrosis on histopathological liver tissues were observed in GalN treated rats. Administration of 300 mg/kg b.w. of FC significantly decreased the degree of live damage. These results suggest that FC displays hepatoprotective activity and FC was able to lower the TG levels in serum; thus, FC may serve as a useful material for health food and clinical conditions associated with liver disease.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.254-259
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• 2003

$^{99m}Tc-galactosyl$ human serum albumin (Tc-GSA) is a radiopharmaceutical that binds to asialoglycoprotein receptors, which are specifically present in the hepatocyte membrane. Because these receptors are decreased in hepatic parenchymal damage, the degree of Tc-GSA accumulation in the liver correlates with findings of liver function test. Hepatic images were performed with Tc-GSA in patients with acute hepatic dysfunction by Amantia Subjunquillea poisoning, and compared with these of liver ultrasonography (USG). Tc-GSA (185 MBq, 3 mg of GSA) was injected intravenously, and dynamic images were recorded for 30 minutes. Time-activity curves for the heart and liver were generated from regions of interest for the whole liver and precordium. Degree of hepatic uptake and clearance rate of Tc-GSA were generated by visual interpretation and semiquantitative analysis parameters (receptor index : LHL15 and index of blood clearance : HH15). Visual assessment of GSA scintigraphy revealed mildly decreased liver uptake in all of subjects. The mean LHL15 and HH15 were 0.886 and 0.621, graded as mild dysfunction in 2, and mild to moderate dysfunction in 1 subject. In contrast, liver USG showed no remarkable changes of hepatic parenchyme. Tc-GSA scintigraphy was considered as a useful imaging modality in the assessment of the hepatic dysfunction.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.1168-1175
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• 2017

Probiotics are usually defined as intestinal bacteria that provide healthy benefit to the host and may offer new therapeutic materials for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Enterococcus are known as typical probiotics. But, these bacteria have mostly a weak viability and thus decreased probiotics-mediated effects in the intestinal tract. Asthma is an inflammatory airway disease, which is characterized by the releases of inflammatory mediators including cytokine and IgE. They are mainly associated with the recruitment, activation and disregulation of specific inflammatory cells, especially mast cells, monocytes, T cells, eosinophils and neutrophils in asthma. We performed these studies as in vitro and in vivo test the human inflammatory cell lines and ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma mouse model. And then the inhibitory effects of Enterococcus faecalis whole extract on inflammatory responses were examined. For our examinations, the E. faecalis whole extract (Ef extract) was acquired from whole bacteria of E. faecalis using freeze/thawing after ultrasonication method. As results, OVA-mediated THP-1 cell viability was decreased by the treatment of Ef extract. In the asthmatic mouse model, Ef extract inhibited the infiltration of inflammatory cells into the inflammatory sites and blood. This whole extract may have anti-asthmatic effects associated with the regulation of IL-5 and IgE expression. It may also be a promising candidate in anti-allergic medicine for the treatment of asthma.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.281-286
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• 1999

Background: The purpose of this study is to analyze the types of complications, the incidences of complications, and preoperative and postoperative risk factors affecting the incidence of the complication. Material and Method: Between August 1990 and August 1997 in Asan Medical Center, 42 patients(24 men and 18 women) underwent surgical resection for pulmonary aspergilloma. The mean age was 46.6${\pm}$11.5 years(range 29 to 69 years). Hemoptysis(90%) was the most common presentation. Pulmonary tuberculosis was the most common predisposing cause(81%). The associated diseases were bronchiectasis(n=11), active puolmonary tuberculosis(n=9), diabetes mellitus(n=8), lung carcinoid(n=1), and acute myeloblastic leukemia(n=1). Lobectomy was done in 32 cases(76%), segmentectomy or wedge resection in 4, pneumonectomy in 2, and lobectomy combined with segmentectomy in 4. Result: Operative mortality was 2%. The most common postoperative complication was persistent air leakage(n=6). The variables such as age, sex, pulmonary function test, amount and duration of hemoptysis, associated diseases(diabetes mellitus, active pulmonary tuberculosis), mode of preoperative management(steroid, antifungal agent, bronchial arterial embolization), and modes of operative procedures were statistically insignificant. The radiologic extent of infiltration to normal lung parenchyme was statistically significant(p=0.04). Conclusion: We conclude that the extent of the infiltration to normal lung parenchyme in preoperative radiologic studies should be carefully evaluated to reduce the postoperative complications in surgery for pulmonary aspergilloma.