• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.95-106
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• 1996

The infestation rates and abundances of human infecting metacercariae (Clonorchis sinensis, Metcgonimus spry. , Centrocestus crmatus, Echinostoma hortense, Echinochusnus japonicw, Clinostomum complanctum) in freshwater fish were investigated at the three river areas - Taewhagang (river), Hyongsangang (river), Nakdonggang (river) - in Kyongsang-do and at four streams - Yonpungchon, Munsanchon, Kyonganchon, and Konjiamchon- in Kyonggi-do, Korea in 1994-1995. The fish caught at Taewhagang were heavily infested with metacercariae of Clonorchis sinensis and Centrocestw armctus. At Hyongsangang, Zncco platypus and Z. temmincki were moderately infested with metacercariae of C. crmctus. Chomanpo, at the basin of Nakdonggang, was still endemic for C. sinensis. In the fish caught at four streams of Kyonggi-do, metacercariae of C. sinensis exhibited the highest infestation rate and intensity out of 6 species of metacercariae. The infestation intensity of C. sinensis metacercariae in fish flesh was markedly different according to each division of flesh. The cause of this difference was conjectured as a result of larval behavior. The metacercariae of C. omnt5 were found in almost all parts, except scales and fins, of fish. The infestation rates and intensities of C. sinensis and C. armntus metacercariae in Taewhagang greatly increased as compared with those of previous reports . RhinoBobius bmnneus and Aconthorhone5 macropterus are newly recorded intermediate hosts of Echinostonn hortense. The reason of large differences from previous data was discussed and the standard method of metacercaria examination was proposed.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.4517-4525
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• 2016

Background: Sperm DNA damage is underlying aetiology of poor implantation and pregnancy rates but also affects health of offspring and may also result in denovo mutations in germ line and post fertilization. This may result in complex diseases, polygenic disorders and childhood cancers. Childhood cancer like retinoblastoma (RB) is more prevalent in developing countries and the incidence of RB has increased more than three fold in India in the last decade. Recent studies have documented increased incidence of cancers in children born to fathers who consume alcohol in excess and tobacco or who were conceived by assisted conception. The aetiology of childhood cancer and increased disease burden in these children is lin ked to oxidative stress (OS) and oxidative DNA damage( ODD) in sperm of their fathers. Though several antioxidants are in use to combat oxidative stress, the effect of majority of these formulations on DNA is not known. Yoga and meditation cause significant decline in OS and ODD and aid in regulating OS levels such that reactive oxygen speues meditated signal transduction, gene expression and several other physiological functions are not disrupted. Thus, this study aimed to analyze sperm ODD as a possible etiological factor in childhood cancer and role of simple life style interventions like yoga and meditation in significantly decreasing seminal oxidative stress and oxidative DNA damage and thereby decreasing incidence of childhood cancers. Materials and Methods: A total of 131 fathers of children with RB (non-familial sporadic heritable) and 50 controls (fathers of healthy children) were recruited at a tertiary center in India. Sperm parameters as per WHO 2010 guidelines and reactive oxygen species (ROS), DNA fragmentation index (DFI), 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxy guanosine (8-OHdG) and telomere length were estimated at day 0, and after 3 and 6 months of intervention. We also examined the compliance with yoga and meditation practice and smoking status at each follow-up. Results: The seminal mean ROS levels (p<0.05), sperm DFI (p<0.001), 8-OHdG (p<0.01) levels were significantly higher in fathers of children with RB, as compared to controls and the relative mean telomere length in the sperm was shorter. Levels of ROS were significantly reduced in tobacco users (p<0.05) as well as in alcoholics (p<0.05) after intervention. DFI reduced significantly (p<0.05) after 6 months of yoga and meditation practice in all groups. The levels of oxidative DNA damage marker 8-OHdG were reduced significantly after 3 months (p<0.05) and 6 months (p<0.05) of practice. Conclusions: Our results suggest that OS and ODD DNA may contribute to the development of childhood cancer. This may be due to accumulation of oxidized mutagenic base 8OHdG, and elevated MDA levels which results in MDA dimers which are also mutagenic, aberrant methylation pattern, altered gene expression which affect cell proliferation and survival through activation of transcription factors. Increased mt DNA mutations and aberrant repair of mt and nuclear DNA due to highly truncatred DNA repair mechanisms all contribute to sperm genome hypermutability and persistant oxidative DNA damage. Oxidative stress is also associated with genome wide hypomethylation, telomere shortening and mitochondrial dysfunction leading to genome hypermutability and instability. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report decline in OS and ODD and improvement in sperm DNA integrity following adoption of meditation and yoga based life style modification.This may reduce disease burden in next generation and reduce incidence of childhood cancers.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.47-57
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• 2015

Sodium is an essential nutrient with very important functions, including regulation of the extracellular fluid volume and active transport of molecules across the cell membranes. Since high levels of dietary sodium are associated with a high prevalence of hypertension, prehypertension, and other adverse effects on health, many national and international health organizations (WHO, FAO, etc.) recommend that sodium intake should be significantly decreased. In developed nations, cheese products, from among many processed foods, can cause high salt intake. Hence, there is an urgent need to reduce the content of salt in cheese processing, using various substitutes of sodium chloride (NaCl). In general, salt (NaCl) has been used as a food preservative to limit and (or) kill the growth of foodborne pathogens and spoilage organisms by decreasing the water activity, and to improve texture and flavor. To maintain public health, the salt content in cheese should be decreased without influencing the physicochemical properties of cheese. Therefore, the objective of this review is to outline the upcoming technologies used to reduce the salt content in different types of cheese using various substitutes.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.81-86
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• 2012

Purpose : Combined MR/PET scanners that use the MRI for PET AC face the challenge of absent surface coils in MR images and thus cannot directly account for attenuation in the coils. To make up for the weak point of MR attenuation correction, Three Modality System (PET/CT +MR) were used in Severance hospital. The goal of this work was to investigate the effects of MR Torso Coil on CT attenuation correction for PET. Materials and Methods : PET artifacts were evaluated when the MR Torso Coil was present of CTAC data with changing various kV and mA in uniformity water phantom and 1994 NEMA cylinderical phantom. They evaluated and compared the following two scenarios: (1) The uniform cylinder phantom and the MR Torso Coil scanned and reconstructed using CT-AC; (2) 1994 NEMA cylinderical phantom and the MR Torso Coil scanned and reconstructed using CT-AC. Results : Streak artifacts were present in CT images containing the MR Torso Coil due to metal components. These artifacts persisted after the CT images were converted for PET-AC. CT scans tended to over-estimate the linear attenuation coefficient when the kV and mA is increasing of the metal components when using conventional methods for converting from CT number. Conclusion : The presence of MR coils during PET/CT scanning can cause subtle artifacts and potentially important quantification errors. Alternative CT techniques that mitigate artifacts should be used to improve AC accuracy. When possible, removing segments of an MR coil prior to the PET/CT exam is recommended. Further, MR coils could be redesigned to reduce artifacts by rearranging placement of the most attenuating materials.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.200-207
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• 2003

Purpose : Malaria is known to have been eradicated for a few decades through persistent national health program in South Korea. However, malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax has started to reappear incidiously among military personnel near to DMZ since 1993. After then, the number of malarial cases have been increased abruptly year by year. We analyzed the children of indigenous malaria who were diagnosed by peripheral blood smear and malarial antibody test with regards to epidemiologic and clinical manifestations. Methods : The study 13 cases below 15 years of age, who were confirmed as vivax malaria during from January 2000 to August 2003. We retrospectively analyzed epidemiologic data, clinical manifestations, laboratory findings and therapeutic responses. Results : All of 13 cases were indigenous and tested positive for Plasmodium vivax. Of 13 patients, 9 were male and 4 were female. Mean age of onset was $9.5{\pm}3.6$ years old. Ilsan(n=9) was the most prevalent area, the most patients(n=11) were presented in summer (from June to August). A characteristic feature of periodic 3 day fever in patients with P.vivax infection was reported in only 2 among 13 cases. Thrombocytopenia was most prominent findings, which was accompanied by 12 of 13 patients and pancytopenia was appeared in 3 patients on this study. The therapeutic responses of hydroxycholoquine were very good in all cases, and abnormal laboratory findings were recovered and no relapse during follow-up period. Conclusion : Vivax malaria is indigenous in Korea near to DMZ, but recently endemic area seemed to be extended southward. Plasmodium vivax is the cause of indigenous malaria of children. As for children with high fever accompanying thrombocytopenia in endemic area of Korea, malaria must be included in differential diagnosis whether the type of fewer is periodic 3 day fever or not. Malaria antibody test is helpful as a screening test for malaria.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.745-757
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• 1994

Superovulatory treatment with exogenous gonadotropins adversely affects the uterus through the disruption of the delicate balance of ovarian steroids (estrogens, progestins, androgens). To examine the uterine effects of this treatment, 189 rats were given 4IU, 20IU or 40IU pregnant mare',s serum gonadotropin(PMSG) at 28 days of age and sacrificed every 24h until day 10(D10) post injection. Long term uterine effects were examined in 12 rats treated with 4IU or 40IU PMSG and killed on D30. Adult rat uteri were examined to provide a reference for comparisons. Morphological and histological changes of control (4IU) uteri mimicked those of the adult on a comparable time-course form D2 to D5. Administration of superovulatory doses(20IU, 40IU) of PMSG produced stromal hypertrophy by D2 and focal papillary hyperplasia of the luminal epithelia by D3. Levels of $17{\beta}$-estradiol following 20IU and 40IU PMSG treatment were significantly(p<0.05, p<0.005) elevated above those of controls after D1. Androgen levels of both groups(20IU, 40IU) significantly p<0.05, p<005 increased from baseline on D1 and were maximum between D2 and D3. In the 20IU PMSG group, the hyperplasia gradually regressed after D3 and was absent by D10. The hyperplasia in the 40IU PMSG group, however, had become extensive by D6. It is suspected that preceding elevated levels of estrogen may be responsible for this progressive change. On D 4, the levels of $17{\beta}$-estradiol reached a maximum, which was significantly(p<0.001) greater than both the controls and 20IU PMSG-treated rats. Between D6 and D10, the hyperplasia in 40IU PMSG-treated rats partially regressed. Examination of uteri from D30 revealed no evidence of the hyperplasia. It is suggested that previous exposure to high levels of estrogen and androgens, secondary to superovulation, is possible cause for the observed hyperplasia.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.24-30
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• 1981

A pot Experiment and a field investigation were carried out in order to obtain some information on the ammonia volatilization and nitrogen absorption by paday rice plants in relation to the potassium application and roots growth. Results obtained were as follows ; 1. Urea application to the polt where potassium was added and rice plant was grown increased the ammonia volatilization at the beginning, but in the latter stage, the volatilization gradually decreased below that of no potassium plot. 2. Total nitrogen absorbed by rice plant, however, was much greater from the potassium added plot than no potassium and pH of the wet soil was lower in the former treatment than in the latter. 3. The application of urea presumably caused greater raise of soil pH and higher ammonia valatilization from the potassium added plot than the no potassium at the beginning, but the active growth of plants and raveneous absorption of N by the plants at the later stage of plant growth resulted in lower ammonia volatilization and lower pH in the potassium added plot than no potassium plot. 4. When the penetration of rice roots was restricted, pH of the wet soil was lower in the plot where potassium added than no potassium, and so was the ammonia volatilization. 5. Under high pH condition of paddy soil, a heavier basal application of potassium chloride or potassium sulfate may reduce the ammonia volatilization particulary in the early growth period of paddy rice when the nutrient absorption by plant is insignificant. However, under an acid normal soil, it may cause ammonia loss through raise of soil pH at the early growth of paddy rice.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.9 s.266
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• pp.659-667
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• 2006

Background: Experimental studies of vascular remodeling in the pulmonary arteries have been performed actively. These models required a persistent vascular insult for intimal injury induced by chronic hypoxia, monocrotaline intoxication or chronic air embolism and characterized medial hypertrophy and neointimal formation by active synthesis of the extracellular matrix protein. The purpose of this study was to determine the pattern of pulmonary vascular remodeling after obstruction of the pulmonary vein. Material and Method: Obstruction of the right pulmonary vein with a metal clip was performed in Sprague-Dawley rats $(352{\pm}18g,\;n=10)$ to cause pulmonary vascular disease. Fifteen days later, experimental studies were done and finally the both lungs and hearts were extirpated for experimental measurement. Pulmonary arterial pressure, weight ratio of right ventricle (RV) to left ventricle (LV) and ventricular septum (S) (RV/LV +S weight ratio), and pulmonary artery morphology (percent wall thickness, %WT) were evaluated and compared with normal control groups. Result: Pulmonary hypertension $(38{\pm}12mmHg\;vs\;13{\pm}4mmHg;\;p<0.05)$ and right ventricular hypertrophy (right ventricular/left ventricular and septal weight ratio, $0.52{\pm}0.07\;vs\;0.35{\pm}0.04;\;p<0.05$) with hypertrophy of the muscular layer of the pulmonary arterial wall (percent wall thickness, $22.4{\pm}6.7%\;vs\;6.7{\pm}3.4%;\;p<0.05$) were developed by 15 days after obstruction of the pulmonary vein. Conclusion: Obstruction of the pulmonary vein developed elevation of pulmonary blood pressure and medial hypertrophy of the pulmonary artery. These results are a part of the characteristic vascular remodeling. Theses results demonstrate that obstruction of the pulmonary vein can develope not only high pulmoanry blood flow of contralateral lung but also intima injury inducing vascular remodeling.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.246-253
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• 2010

Background: Our objective was to review the long-term prognosis of patients with preoperative mild to moderate ischemic mitral regurgitation who underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. Material and Method: We prospectively followed 1,000 consecutive and systematic off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting patients who were operated on between September 1996 and March 2004; follow-up was achieved for 97%. Sixty-seven patients (6.7%) had mild to moderate ischemic mitral regurgitation at the time of surgery. Operative mortality, actuarial survival and major adverse cardiac event free survival were compared to assess the effect of ischemic mitral regurgitation. Result: Average follow-up was $66{\pm}22$ months. Patients with ischemic mitral regurgitation were older (p<0.001), had lower ejection fractions (p<0.001) and more comorbidities. Significantly more female patients presented with ischemic mitral regurgitation (p=0.002). There was no significant difference in operative mortality and perioperative myocardial infarction in ischemic mitral regurgitation patients (p=0.25). Eight-year survival was decreased in ischemic mitral regurgitation patients ($39.6{\pm}11.8%$ vs $76.7{\pm}2.2$, p<0.001). However, after correcting for risk factors, mild to moderate ischemic mitral regurgitation was not found to be a significant independent risk factor for long-term mortality (p=0.42). Major adverse cardiac event free survival at 8 years was significantly lower in ischemic mitral regurgitation patients ($53.12{\pm}12%$ vs $77{\pm}2%$, p<0.001). After correction for risk factors, ischemic mitral regurgitation remained a significant independent cause of major adverse cardiac events (HR: 2.31), especially congestive heart failure and recurrent myocardial infarction. Conclusion: In our series, patients with preoperative mild to moderate ischemic mitral regurgitation had a higher prevalence of preoperative risk factors than patients without ischemic mitral regurgitation. They had comparable perioperative mortality and morbidity, but, in the long term, were found to be at elevated risk for recurrent cardiac events.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.71 no.5
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• pp.328-334
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• 2011

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of chronic morbidity and mortality throughout the world and is the only major disease that is continuing to increase in both prevalence and mortality. The second Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey revealed that the prevalence of COPD in Korean subjects aged ${\geq}45$ years was 17.2% in 2001. Further surveys on the prevalence of COPD were not available until 2007. Here, we report the prevalence of spirometrically detected COPD in Korea, using data from the fourth Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey (KNHANES IV) which was conducted in 2007~2009. Methods: Based on the Korean Statistical Office census that used nationwide stratified random sampling, 10,523 subjects aged ${\geq}40$ years underwent spirometry. Place of residence, levels of education, income, and smoking status, as well as other results from a COPD survey questionnaire were also assessed. Results: The prevalence of COPD (defined as forced expiratory volume in 1 sec/forced vital capacity <0.7 in subjects aged ${\geq}40$ years) was 12.9% (men, 18.7%; women, 7.5%). In total, 96.5% of patients with COPD had mild-to-moderate disease; only 2.5% had been diagnosed by physicians, and only 1.7% had been treated. The independent risk factors for COPD were smoking, advanced age, and male gender. Conclusion: The prevalence of COPD was 12.9% in the KNHANES IV data. Most patients with COPD were undiagnosed and untreated. Based on these results, a strategy for early COPD intervention is warranted in high risk subjects.