• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.103-107
• /
• 1984

The present study was carried out to invest igate on changing phases of the concentrations of serum LH, FSH, prolactin, testosterone, GOT and CPT in male pigs at various body weight. Six Duroc ${\times}$ Large White ${\times}$ Landrace boars were used to obtain serial blood samples at approximately 20kg body weight intervals from birth to 130kg body weight. The results obtained in this study were as follows: 1. Serum LH concentrations ranged between 2.89 and 4.25 mIU/ml from birth to 130kg body weight. FSH concentrations were below 1.25 mIU/ml under the limit of detection of the assay. 2. Serum prolactin concentrations were 8.05ng/ml at birth, between 3.07 and 4.25ng/ml from 15 to 50kg body weight, between 7.30 and 6.89 ng/ml from 70 to 90kg body weight and then declined to 4.10 ng/ml at 110kg body weight. 3. Serum testosterone concentrations were 0.42 ng/ml at birth, between 0.11 and 0.09 ng/ml from 15to 30kg body weight, and then increased to 1.15ng/ml at 50kg body weight and remained fairly constant thereafter. 4. Serum GOT concentrations were highest (130.75 karmen units/ml) at birth, and rapidly declined between 58.56 and 65.25 karmen units/ml from 15 to 70kg body weight and then increased 83.60 karmen units/ml at 90kg body weight. 5. Serum GOT concentrations were highest (63.25 karmen ullits/ml) at birth and rapidly declined between 27.25 and 30.75 karmen units/ml from 15 to 70kg body weight and then increased to 41.62 karmen units/ml at 90kg body weight.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.233-243
• /
• 1984

The present study was carried out to determine the changes of the sex hormone levels in serum throughout the estrous cycle and the gestation period on the Landrace gilts. The blood samples were taken from the vein of six gilts. LH, FSH, prolactin, progesterone, $estradiol-17{\beta}$ and cortisol in serum were analyzed by the radioimmunoassay methods. The results obtained on this study were summarized as follows; 1. The age at puberal estrus was 179.5 days, the weight at puberal estrus was 88.2kg, the length of estrous cycle was 21.3days, the gestation length was 114days and the litter size was 9.5 head in the Landrace gilts. 2. During the estrous cycle, the serum LH and prolactin concentrations were below 1.56mIU/ml and 2.4ng/ml, respectively, under the limit of detection of the assay. The FSH concentrations ranged from 1.50 to 2.20mIU/ml for day 6~15 after the estrus and they were below 1.25mIU/ml from day 3 to day + 3, with day 0 being the first day of the estrus. 3. Progesterone concentrations were 1.90ng/ml at day 0 of the estrus and increased about 13.1ng/ml at day 3 of the estrus, and reached peak levels at day 9. $Estradiol-17{\beta}$ concentrations were below 27.2pg/ml throughout the luteal phase, and reached about 27.2pg/ml at day 0 and day 18. Cortisol concentrations reached peak levels at dey 0 and ranged from 24.65 to 28.57ng/ml throughout the luteal phase. 4. During the gestation period, the concentrations of LH, FSH and prolactin ranged of 3.10~4.37mIU/ml, 1.30~1.80mIU/ml and 2.60~6.70ng/ml, respectively. 5. Progesterone concentrations declined from 38.90~16.85ng/ml throughout the pregnancy to 1.90ng/ml at the time of parturition. $Estradiol-17{\beta}$ concentrations increased from 27.20pg/ml at 15 days after the pregnancy to 620.17pg/ml at the time of parturition. Cortisol concentrations reached peak levels at the time of parturition and ranged from 13.58 to 22.31ng/ml throughout the pregnancy.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.57-64
• /
• 2007

Purpose: Clinically, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) occurs within 72 hours after acute exposure of risk factors. Because of its high fatality rate once ARDS progresses, early detection and management are essential to reduce the mortality rate. Accordingly, studies on early changes of ARDS were started, and serum ferritin, as well the as injury severity score (ISS), which has been addressed in previous studies, thought to be an early predictive indicator for ARDSMethods: From March 2003 to March 2005, we investigated 50 trauma patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit in Dongguk University Medical Center, Gyeongju. The patients were characterized according to age, sex, ISS, onset of ARDS, time onset of ARDS, serum ferritin level (posttraumatic $1^{st}\;&\;2^{nd}$ day), amount of transfused blood, and death. Abdominal computed topography was performed as an early diagnostic tool to evaluate the onset of ARDS according to its diagnostic criteria. The serum ferritin was measured by using a $VIDAS^{(R)}$ Ferritin (bioMeriux, Marcy-1' Etoile, France) kit with an enzyme-linked fluorescent assay method. For statistical analysis, Windows SPSS 13.0 and MedCalc were used to confirm the probability of obtaining a predictive measure from the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve. Results: The ISS varied from 14 to 66 (mean: 33.8) whereas the onset of ARDS could be predicted with the score above 30 (sensitivity: 90.0%, specificity: 60.0%, p<0.05). On the posttraumatic $1^{st}$ day, the serum ferritin levels were measured to be from 31 mg/dL to 1,200 mg/dL (mean: 456 mg/dL), and the onset of ARDS could be predicted when the value was over 340 mg/dL (sensitivity: 80.0%, specificity: 65.0%, p<0.05). On the posttraumatic $2^{nd}$ day, the serum ferritin levels were measured to be from 73 mg/dL to 1,200 mg/dL (mean: 404 mg/dL), and the onset of ARDS could be predicted when the value was over 627 mg/dL (sensitivity: 60.0%, specificity: 92.5%, p<0.05). The serum ferritin levels and the ISS were significantly higher on the posttraumatic $1^{st}$ and $2^{nd}$ day in the ARDS group, suggesting that they are suitable indices predicting the onset of ARDS, however relationship between the serum ferritin levels and the ISS was not statistically significant. Conclusion: In this study, we discovered increasing serum ferritin levels in multiple- trauma patients on the posttraumatic $1^{st}$ & $2^{nd}$ day and concluded that both the serum ferritin level and the ISS were good predictors of ARDS. Although they do not show statistically significant relationship to each other, they can be used as independent predictive measures for ARDS. Since ARDS causes high mortality, further studies, including the types of surgery and the methods of anesthesia on a large number of patients are essential to predict the chance of ARDS earlier and to reduce the incidence of death.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.221-229
• /
• 2000

Background: Thromboxane A2 and endothelin-1 are the potent vasoconstrictors affecting pulmonary pathophysiology in response to whole body inflammatin following CPB. Aprotinin, as an antiiflammatory agent, may decrease the release of such vasoactive substance from pulmonary tissues, preventing pulmonary hypertension after cardiopulmonary bypass. Material and Method: Ten mongrel dogs(Bwt. ac. 20kg) were subjected to cardioupulmonary bypass for 2 hours and postbypass pulmonary vascular resistance(0, 1, 2, 3 hours) were compared with prebypass level. The dogs were divided into 2 groups; control group(n-5) and aprotinin group(n=5). In the aprotinin group, aprotinin was administered as follows; 50,000 KIU/kg mixed in pump priming solution, 50,000 KIU/kg prebypass intravenous infusion over 30 minutes, 10,000 KIU/kg/hour postbypass continuous infusion. Prebypass and postbypass 0, 1, 2, 3 hour pulmonary vascular resistance were measured. At prebypass and postbypass 0, 90, 180 minutes, blood samples were obtained from pulmonary arterial and left atrial catherers for the assay of plasma thromboxane B2 a stable metabolite of thromboxane A2, and endothelin-1 concentrations. Result: The ratios of pustbypass over prebypass pulmonary vascular at postbypass 0, 1, 2, 3 hours were 1.28$\pm$0.20, 1.82$\pm$0.23, 1.90$\pm$0.19, 2.14$\pm$0.18 in control group, 1.58$\pm$0.18, 1.73$\pm$0.01, 1.66$\pm$0.10, 1.50$\pm$0.08 in aprotinin group ; the ratios gradually increased in control group while decreased or fluctuated after postbypass 1 hour in aprotinin group. There was statistically significant difference between control group and aprotinin group at postbypass 3 hours(P=0.014). Pulmonary arterial plasma concentration of thromboxane B2(pg/ml) at prebypass, postbypass 0, 90, 180 minutes were 346.4$\pm$61.9, 529.3$\pm$197.6, 578.3$\pm$255.8, 493.3$\pm$171.3 in control group, 323.8$\pm$118.0, 422.6$\pm$75.6, 412.3$\pm$59.9, 394.5$\pm$154.0 in aprotinin group. Left atrial concentrations were 339.3$\pm$89.2, 667.0$\pm$65.7, 731.2$\pm$192.7, 607.5$\pm$165.9 in control group, 330.0$\pm$111.2, 468.4$\pm$190.3, 425.4$\pm$193.6, 4.7.3$\pm$142.8 in aprotinin group. These results showed decrement of pulmonary thromboxane A2 generation in aprotinin group. Pulmonary arterial concentrations of endothelin-1(fmol/ml) at the same time sequence were 7.84$\pm$0.31, 13.2$\pm$0.51, 15.0$\pm$1.22, 16.3$\pm$1.73 in control group, 7.76$\pm$0.12, 15.3$\pm$0.71, 22.6$\pm$6.62, 14.9$\pm$1.11 in aprotinin group. Left atrial concentrations were 7.61$\pm$17.2, 57.1$\pm$28.4, 18.9$\pm$18.2, 31.5$\pm$20.5 in control group, 5.61$\pm$7.61, 37.0$\pm$26.2, 28.6$\pm$21.7, 37.8$\pm$30.6 in aprotinin group. These results showed that aprotinin had no effect on plasma endothelin-1 concentration after cardiopulmonary bypass. Conclusion: Administration of aprotinin during cardiopulmonary bypass could attenuate the increase in pulmonary vascular resistance after bypass. Inhibition of pulmonary thromboxane A2 generation was thought to be one of the mechanism of this effect. Aprotinin had no effect on postbypass endothelin-1 concentration.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.66 no.3
• /
• pp.178-185
• /
• 2009

Background: Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is the major catechin in green tea, and has shown antiproliferative, antiangiogenic, antimetastatic and cell cycle pertubation activity in various tumor models. Hypoxia can be induced because angiogenesis is insufficient for highly proliferating cancer. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1$\alpha$ (HIF-1$\alpha$) and its downstream target, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), are important for angiogenesis, tumor growth and metastasis. The aim of this study was to determine how hypoxia could cause changes in the cellular phenomena and microenvironment in a non-small cell culture system and to examine the effects of EGCG on a HIF-1$\alpha$ and VEGF in A549 cell line. Methods: A549 cells, a non-small cell lung cancer cell line, were cultured with DMEM and 10% fetal bovine serum. A decrease in oxygen tension was induced using a hypoxia microchamber and a $CO_2-N_2$ gas mixture. Gas analysis and a MTT assay were performed. The A549 cells were treated with EGCG (0, 12.5, 25, 50 ${\mu}mol/L$), and then examined by real-time-PCR analysis of HIF-1$\alpha$, VEGF, and $\beta$-actin mRNA. Results: Hypoxia reduced the proliferation of A549 cells from normoxic conditions. EGCG inhibited HIF-1$\alpha$ transcription in A549 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Compared to HIF-1$\alpha$, VEGF was not inhibited by EGCG. Conclusion: HIF-1$\alpha$ can be inhibited by EGCG. This suggests that targeting HIF-1$\alpha$ with a EGCG treatment may have therapeutic potential in non-small cell lung cancers.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.45 no.9
• /
• pp.1249-1256
• /
• 2016

Black ginseng (BG) obtained by a 9-fold steaming process of Panax ginseng has been reported to have anti-oxidative, anti-obesity, and anti-diabetes effects. The current study evaluated the protective effect of BG by steaming time in an HCl/ethanol-induced acute gastritis model. BG was divided into four samples according to steaming-drying processing (Gin1, Gin3, Gin6, and BG). High performance liquid chromatography analysis, free radical scavenging activity, and total phenol and flavonoid contents were examined in ginseng and four BG samples. Compared with ginseng, BG showed a stronger radical scavenging effect and higher contents of total phenol and flavonoids. To evaluate the anti-gastritic effect of BG, mice were distributed into five groups: normal mice (N), acute gastritic mice with distilled water (CON), acute gastritic mice with 100 mg/kg of ginseng (Gin0), acute gastritic mice with 100 mg/kg of BG (BG), and acute gastritic mice with 10 mg/kg of sucralfate (SC). After 1 hour of pre-treatment with water, extracts (Gin0 and BG), or drug (SC), experimental groups except for N were orally administered 0.5 mL of 150 mM HCl/60% ethanol (v/v) mixture. Blood was collected 1 hour later from the heart, and gastric tissue was harvested. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were measured in serum, and related protein expression was examined by Western blot assay. In HCl/ethanol-induced acute gastritic mice, treatment with ginseng or BG improved mucosal damage in the histological evaluation. The serum ROS level significantly decreased in the BG-treated group compared with the CON group. Furthermore, expression of inflammatory cytokines significantly decreased in the BG-treated group compared with the CON group. Based on these results, antioxidant and anti-gastritic activities of ginseng were enhanced by streaming-drying processing, in part due to an increase in biological active compounds.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.46 no.1
• /
• pp.56-66
• /
• 2003

Purpose : Human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs) play an important role in regulating blood flow by releasing vasoactive substances. It has been reported that endothelial impairment and dysfunction might be a primary cause of placental vascular disease, which is manifested clinically as preeclampsia in mother and intrauterine growth restriction in fetus. Furthermore, the frequency of apoptotic changes is increased in umbilical and placental tissues from growth-restricted pregnancies. However, the various mechanisms of umbilical endothelial cell apoptosis have not been broadly proposed. We investigate the effects of amiloride derivatives on apoptotic death of HUVECs and identify their ionic mechanism. Methods : HUVECs were purchased from Clonetics, and cultured on endothelial cell growth medium. MTT assay and flow cytometry were used for assessing cytotoxic effect and confirming the apoptosis. Changes in intracellular ion concentrations were measured with specific fluorescent dyes and fluorescence imaging analysis system. Results : Amiloride derivatives elicited cytotoxic effects on HUVECs with dose-dependent manners and the rank order of potency is HMA($IC_{50}\;11.2{\mu}M$), MIA>EIPA>>amiloride. HMA-induced cytotoxicity is dependent on extra- and intracellular pH, that is, increase extra- and intracellular pH augmented the cytotoxic effects of HMA. HMA dose-dependently reduced intracellular major ions, such as $K^+$ and $Cl^-$. Interestingly, the depletion of intracellular ions induced by HMA was also significantly enhanced at alkaline extracellular pH. Conclusion : Amiloride derivatives induce apoptosis of HUVECs with dose and pH dependent manners. They reduce intracellular $K^+$ and $Cl^-$ concentration, which is also extracellular pH dependent.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
• /
• v.27 no.5
• /
• pp.463-472
• /
• 2002

Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) plays a major role in stimulating the synthesis and release of the principal osteoclast-activating cytokines, namely, interleukin 1 and tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ from immune cells. Although rnonocytes/macrophages are the main producers of these cytokines, recent evidence has indicated that polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) have the ability to release IL-1 and TNF-$\alpha$. Calcium hydroxide has been shown to be an effective medicament in root canal infections, reducing the microbial titre within the canal. It has been proposed that the therapeutic effect of Ca(OH)$_2$ may also be the result of direct inactivation of LPS. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether treatment of Porphyromonas endodontalis LPS with calcium hydroxide alters its biological action as measured by human PMN secretion of IL-1 and TNF-$\alpha$, and it was compared with Escherichia coli LPS. P. endodontalis ATCC 35406 was cultured in anaerobic condition, and LPS was extracted using the hot-phenol water extraction method and purified. Purchased E. coli LPS was also purified. 100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml of each LPS in pyrogen free water were incubated with 25mg/ml Ca(OH)$_2$ at 37$^{\circ}C$ for 7 days. The supernatants were subjected to ultrafiltration, and the isolates were lyophilized and weighed. PMNs were obtained from peripheral blood by centrifugation layered over Lymphoprep. The cells were resuspended (4$\times$10$^6$ cells/ml) in RPMI 1640 followed by treatment with various concentrations of LPS (0, 0.1, 1, 10$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml) for 24 hours at 37$^{\circ}C$ in 5% $CO_2$ incubator. The supernatants of cells were collected and the levels of IL-1$\alpha$, IL=1$\beta$ and TNF-$\alpha$ were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results were as follows ; 1. The levels of IL-1$\alpha$, IL-1$\beta$, TNF-$\alpha$ from PMN treated with each LPS were significantly higher than those released from unstimulated PMN of the control group (p<0.05). 2. The levels of all three cytokines released from PMN stimulated with each calcium hydroxide treated LPS were significantly lower than those released from PMN stimulated with each untreated LPS (p<0.05), while they were not significantly different from those released from unstimulated PMN of the control group (p>0.05) 3. The levels of secretion for all three cytokines were affected in a dose-dependent manner in PMN stimulated with each LPS (p<0.05), but not in PMN stimulated with each calcium hydroxide treated LPS (p>0.05). 4. The levels of all three cytokines released from PMN stimulated with p. endodontalis LPS were significantly lower than those released from PMN stimulated with E coli LPS (p<0.05).

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.53 no.4
• /
• pp.519-524
• /
• 2010

Purpose : To determine the efficacy of the N-terminal fragment of B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) as a useful diagnostic method in children with incomplete Kawasaki disease (KD). Methods : Ninety-six patients who were diagnosed as having KD between January 2008 and June 2009 were enrolled in the study. American Heart Association recommendations for diagnosis were used, and patients were divided into the complete KD and incomplete KD groups. Blood tests including NT-proBNP were performed on admission day. Nineteen patients who had other febrile diseases other than KD were enrolled as control. Results : Thirty-three patients (34%) had incomplete KD. Change in the lips and oral cavity and conjunctivitis were the most common clinical features, but their frequency was lower than complete KD (76% vs 98%, 76% vs 90%). Patients with incomplete KD exhibited significantly higher NT-proBNP level than that of control ($1,407.7{\pm}1633.5pg/mL$ vs $126.2{\pm}135.5pg/mL$, $P$<0.001). An NT-proBNP cutoff value of 158 pg/mL provided a sensitivity of 81% and a specificity of 74% for diagnosis of incomplete KD. Conclusion : NT-proBNP assay can be clinically useful for the diagnosis of incomplete KD, if the patient has persistent fever, change in the lips and oral cavity, and conjunctivitis, and if the patient with those symptoms is suspected to have incomplete KD.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.204-210
• /
• 2011

The presence of the tick-borne pathogens Ehrlichia and Borrelia in German Shepherd dogs in Korea was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A total of 291 dogs were randomly selected from five Korean provinces from October 2005 through September 2006. The seroprevalence of antibodies to canine Ehrlichia and Borrelia agents detected by ELISA (Snap$^{(R)}$ 3Dx$^{(R)}$ Test, IDEXX Laboratories) was 7.56% (22 dogs) and 1.72% (5 dogs) respectively, throughout the country. Positive antibodies against both pathogens were detected in two dogs (0.69%). The provincial distribution of seroprevalence against Ehrlichia was 1.28% (1 of 78) in Gyeonggi-do, 12.64% (11 of 87) in Gangwon-do, 9.76% (4 of 41) in Chungcheong-do, 8.93% (5 of 56) in Gyeongsang-do, and 3.45% (1 of 29) in Jeolla-do. According to PCR analysis, Ehrlichia chaffeensis target DNA was amplified in 3.09% (9 of 291 dogs) of blood samples, 2.41% (7 of 291) from Gangwon-do and 0.69% (2 of 291) from Chungcheong-do. The oligonucleotide sequences (SNU-EC3 and SNU-EC5) from the PCR fragment examined in Korea were closely related to E. chaffeensis isolated from the tick Haemaphysalis longicornis, in China and the state of Arkansas in the US. Based on these results, the presence of E. chaffeensis infection was identified in German Shepherds being bred in Korea. These results bring to light the importance of paying close attention to tick-borne infections such as Lyme disease during clinical diagnosis. This infectious disease should be included as a differential diagnosis for patients who participate in outdoor activity from spring to fall or who have thrombocytopenia or leucopenia.