• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.578-588
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• 2017

Background: Elevated testicular temperature disrupts spermatogenesis and causes infertility. In the present study, the protective effect of enzymatically biotransformed Panax ginseng Meyer by pectinase (GINST) against chronic intermittent heat stress-induced testicular damage in rats was investigated. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (4 wk old, 60-70 g) were divided into four groups: normal control (NC), heat-stress control (HC), heat-stress plus GINST-100 mg/kg (HG100), and heat-stress plus GINST-200 mg/kg (HG200) treatment groups. Each dose of GINST (100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg) was mixed separately with a regular pellet diet and was administered orally for 24 wk. For inducing heat stress, rats in the NC group were maintained at $25^{\circ}C$, whereas rats in the HC, HG100, and HG200 groups were exposed to $32{\pm}1^{\circ}C$ for 2 h daily for 6 mo. At week 25, the testes and serum from each animal were analyzed for various parameters. Results: Significant (p < 0.01) changes in the sperm kinematic values and blood chemistry panels were observed in the HC group. Furthermore, spermatogenesis-related molecules, sex hormone receptors, and selected antioxidant enzyme expression levels were also altered in the HC group compared to those in the NC group. GINST (HS100 and HS200) administration significantly (p < 0.05) restored these changes when compared with the HC group. For most of the parameters tested, the HG200 group exhibited potent effects compared with those exhibited by the HG100 group. Conclusion: GINST may be categorized as an important medicinal herb and a potential therapeutic for the treatment of male subfertility or infertility caused by hyperthermia.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.191-202
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• 2000

This study was conducted for 39 patients who are recipients of allogeneic hemopoietic stem cell transplantation at BMT ward of St. Mary's hospital affiliated to Catholic University of Korea from April to September 1999. The subjects were devided into two groups; those who received both TEl and chemo therapy as conditioning regimen (TEl group). and those who used chemo agents as singular conditioning regimen (chemo group). The oral intake status of the two groups were compared through physical assessment and blood chemistry exam of the subjects, and factors influencing their nutritional change and oral intake were explored in each stage of the transplantation (six stages: admission, conditional stage, date of transplantation, one week after transplantation, two weeks after transplantation, and three weeks after transplantation). The prior aim of the study was to provide baseline data to minimize delayed treatment from nutritional deficiency of the subjects. The results were as follows: 1. TBI group was significantly decreased of oral calorie intake in two weeks after transplantation compared to admission and conditioning stage while that of chemo group was significantly decreased on the date of transplantation. 2. TBI group was significantly decreased of protein intake in two weeks after transplantation compared to admission and conditioning stage. In chemo group, protein intake was significantly decreased on the date of transplantation compared to admission. It was remarkable that TBI group showed lesser protein intake than chemo group. 3. Both group were significantly decreased of BMI in one week and three weeks after transplantation compared to admission. TBI group showed significantly higher BMI than chemo group. 4. Both group were significantly decreased of Triceps Skinfold Thickness (TST)on the date of transplantation compared to admission stage. 5. TBI group was significantly decreased of mid-arm muscle circumference (MAMC) in two weeks after transplantation compared to admission, conditioning, date of transplantation. 6. TBI group was significantly decreased of albumin level in two weeks after transplantation compared admission stage. In chemo group, it was significantly decreased on the date of transplantation compared to admission, three weeks after the transplantation. 7. TBI group was significantly decreased of transferrin level in two weeks after transplantation compared admission, conditioning, date of transplantation and one week after transplantation. In chemo group, it was decreased of transferrin level in 3 weeks after transplantation. 8. Oral intake of TEl group was impacted by vomiting before transplantation and gingivitis after transplantation. In chemo group, it was impacted by vomiting before transplantation and by two factors, gingivitis and nausea, after transplantation. The results showed oral calorie intake was not different between the two groups while protein intake was significantly lower in TBI group than chemo group. Oral intake was significantly impacted by vomiting before transplantation in both groups, but affected by oral gingivitis in TBI group and gingivitis and nausea in chemo group after transplantation. This findings present that standardized strategies to manage nutrition and gingivitis more effectively are desperately needed to enhance oral intake and protein intake of patients who receive TBI as conditioning regimen.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.74 no.1
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• pp.7-14
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• 2013

Background: Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) can be measured easily, rapidly, and noninvasively for the assessment of airway inflammation, particularly mediated by eosinophil, such as asthma. In bronchiectasis (BE), the pathogenesis has been known as chronic airway inflammation and infection with abnormal airway dilatation; however, there are little studies to evaluate the role of FeNO in BE. Methods: From March 2010 to February 2012, 47 patients with BE, diagnosed by high resolution computed tomography (HRCT), performed FeNO, compared with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). All patients carried out a complete blood count including eosinophil count, chemistry, sputum examination, and spirometry, if indicated. A retrospective analysis was performed to elucidate the clinical role of FeNO in BE patients. Results: The mean FeNO levels in patients with BE was $18.8{\pm}1.5$ part per billion (ppb), compared to $48.0{\pm}6.4$ and $31.0{\pm}4.3$ in those with asthma and COPD, respectively (p<0.001). The FeNO levels tended to increase along with the disease severity scores by HRCT; however, it was statistically not significant. FeNO in BE with a co-infection of nontuberculous mycobacteria was the lowest at $17.0{\pm}3.5$ ppb among the study population. Conclusion: FeNO in BE was lower than other chronic inflammatory airway diseases, particularly compared with asthma. For clinical application of FeNO in BE, more large-scaled, prospective studies should be considered.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.57-68
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• 2002

In order to elucidate the effect of phenobarbital sodium (PB) and 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) on metabolism of insecticide carbofuran in rat. Carbofuran metabolites and its formation rates were determined when orally administered $^{14}C$-carbofuran alone and its combination with PB or 3-MC to rat. $^{14}C$-carbofuran administered orally, alone or in combination with PB or 3-MC, was secreted rapidly within 48 hrs. That is, 79.9 to 81.1% of the original radioactivity was secreted into the urine and 5.7 to 6.5% into the feces. The secretion rate was faster in the combined administration than that in carbofuran alone. Metabolites of carbofuran in main organs, urine, feces and blood of rat were largely 3-hydroxycarbofuran, 3-ketocarbofuran, 3-hydroxycarbofuran phenol, 3-ketocarbofuran phenol, and carbofuran phenol, the major ones being 3-hydroxycarbofuran and 3-ketocarbofuran, respectively, in all administrations of carbofuran alone, carbofuran+PB and carbofuran+3-MC. In addition, formation rate of the two major metabolites detected in the urine was 17.4% and 12.8%, respectively, when carbofuran alone was administered. Meanwhile, when carbofuran was administered with PB or 3-MC, they were 8.6% and 23.5, repectively. These results indicate that the oral administration of PB or 3-MC can reduce carbofuran toxicity by fastening and stimulating the carbofuran metabolism in rat.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.519-522
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• 2015

A 6-year-old castrated male Shih-Tzu was admitted to the Gyeongsang Animal Medical Center with hematuria and vomiting. Serum chemistry indicated increases in blood urea nitrogen and creatinine values. Radiography showed radiopaque materials attached to the ventralis of the inner bladder wall. Penile urethra also was filled with radiopaque materials. Ultrasonography revealed bilateral perineal effusion in the kidney, thinned bladder wall, and materials with acoustic shadowing at the caudal extremity of the os penis. Because urination was not identified by urinary obstruction, cystocentesis was performed. Hematuria was diagnosed by urinalysis, but clear crystals were not identified. Owing to failure of securing patency to the bladder using retrohydropropulsion, cystotomy and urethrotomy with retrohydropropulsion were performed. In this report, we describe the clinical and radiographic findings of urethral plugs in a male Shih-Tzu dog, wherein the urethral plugs were treated successfully with hydropropulsion, cystotomy, and urethrotomy. It provides an option for the treatment of urethral plugs in a dog.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.115-118
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• 2013

An 8-year-old spayed female domestic shorthair cat was presented with a chief complaint of chronic nasal discharge and dyspnea. Physical examination revealed pyohemorrhagic nasal discharge, inspiratory dyspnea and stertor, and an enlarged right mandibular lymph node. Abnormalities of blood works and serum chemistry included mildly increased hematocrit, and globulin concentration. Serologic tests for FeLV and FIV, and a panel of polymerase chain reaction tests for Chlamydophila felis, Feline Calicivirus, Herpesvirus, Bordetella, Mycoplasma felis, and H1N1 influenza was all negative. Only radiographic finding showed increasing soft tissue density in the right nasal cavity and computed tomography disclosed soft tissue/fluid opacification in the right nasal cavity, paranasal sinus, and pharyinx along with slight deviation to the right of the osseous nasal septum. Focal lysis of ventral nasal septum was also suspected in CT scan. Cytological evaluation of fine needle aspirate smears of the enlarged mandibular lymph nodes revealed numerous fungal yeasts having variably thick capsule both extracellularly and intracellularly with low numbers of macrophages. Some yeasts showed narrow based budding, which was a consistent finding with Cryptococcus organisms. Serum protein electrophoresis was a polyclonal consistent with chronic infection and serum was submitted for a fungal serology panel test. In serologic tests Cryptococcus antigen titer was 1 : 32,768. In vitro culture was unsuccessful. Treatment was initiated with administration of fluconazole, clindamycin, and tocopherol. Clinical signs resolved within 3 days after the initial treatment. The cat was discharged and scheduled for periodic evaluation and continued therapy, but was lost to follow-up thereafter.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.77-84
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• 2014

Purpose: Carbamate insecticides are potent cholinesterase inhibitors capable of causing severe cholinergic toxicity. Use of carbamate rather than organophosphate insecticides has been increasing. Compared with organophosphate poisoning, relatively few studies have investigated carbamate-associated acute pancreatitis. We investigated general characteristics and pancreatitis of carbamate poisoning and the predictors, among those readily assessed in the emergency department. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of consecutive patients, aged over 18 years, who were admitted between January 2008 and April 2012 to an emergency department (ED) of an academic tertiary care center for treatment of carbamate poisoning. Patients who exhibited poisoning by any other material, except alcohol, were excluded. After application of exclusion criteria, patients were divided according to carbamate-induced pancreatitis and non-pancreatitis groups. Results: A total of 41 patients were included in this study. Among these 41 patients, the prevalence of acute pancreatitis was 36.6% (15 patients). Initial blood chemistry tests showed a statistically higher glucose level in the pancreatitis group, compared with the non-pancreatitis group (222, IQR 189-284 vs. 137, IQR 122-175 mg/dL, P<0.05). Regarding clinical courses and outcomes, a significantly higher proportion of patients developed pneumonia [10 (66.7%) vs. 6 (23.1%), P<0.05] and had a longer hospital stay (7 days, IQR 6-12 vs. 5 days, IQR 2-11, P<0.05), but no difference in mortality, in the pancreatitis group vs. the non-pancreatitis group. In multivariate analysis, the initial glucose was showing significant association with the presentation of carbamate-induced acute pancreatitis (odds ratio 1.018, 95% confidence interval 1.001-1.035, P<0.05). Conclusion: Carbamate-induced acute pancreatitis is common, but not fatal. Initial serum glucose level is associated with acute pancreatitis.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.94-101
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• 2016

Objectives : Anemia is a common problem in the management of elderly patients. Recent studies reported that anemia was associated with cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease. This study was aimed to analyze the differences of hemoglobin levels in Korean patients with Alzheimer's disease(AD) dementia, mild cognitive impairment(MCI), and healthy controls. Furthermore, the study also examined if any association between hemoglobin levels and cognitive functions existed. Methods : A total of 116 Korean elderly adults were participated in this study(mean age 74.67 years ; 60.3% female). The Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination(MMSE-K), Clinical Dementia Rating(CDR) and Global Deterioration Scale(GDS) were applied to all subjects. Hematological and related blood chemistry values were investigated. Results : We found that patients with AD dementia had significantly lower hemoglobin and hematocrit levels than MCI subjects and healthy control group. The hemoglobin levels showed a positive correlation with MMSE-K and negative correlation with CDR, GDS. Conclusions : Among Korean elderly, low hemoglobin level is associated with a cognitive impairment. This study indicates that AD is associated with anemia, and low hemoglobin levels may contribute to potentially useful clinical markers of AD. The risk factor for dementia needs to be confirmed by prospective longitudinal studies in a larger group of patients.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.242-249
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• 2022

Objectives: The aim of this work is to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant, hypoglycemic, and antiobesity effects of Euphorbia resinifera extracts and investigate the phenolic constituents and the toxicity of these extracts. Methods: Phytochemical screening was performed to detect polyphenols and flavonoids. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by four methods (DPPH, ABTS, H₂O₂, and xanthine oxidase inhibition). The hypoglycemic effect was determined by the inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes in vitro and via a starch tolerance study in normal rats. The antiobesity effect was estimated by in vitro inhibition of lipase. Results: Phytochemical screening revealed that the ethanolic extract was rich in polyphenols (99 ± 0.56 mg GEA/g extract) and tannins (55.22 ± 0.17 mg RE/g extract). Moreover, this extract showed higher antioxidant activity in different tests: the DPPH assay (IC₅₀ = 53.81 ± 1.83 ㎍/mL), ABTS assay (111.4 ± 2.64 mg TE/g extract), H₂O₂ (IC₅₀ = 98.15 ± 0.68 ㎍/mL), and xanthine oxidase (IC₅₀ = 10.26 ± 0.6 ㎍/mL). With respect to hypoglycemic effect, the aqueous and ethanolic extracts showed IC₅₀ values of 119.7 ± 2.15 ㎍/mL and 102 ± 3.63 ㎍/mL for α-amylase and 121.4 ± 1.88 and 56.6 ± 1.12 ㎍/mL for α-glucosidase, respectively, and the extracts lowered blood glucose levels in normal starch-loaded rats. Additionally, lipase inhibition was observed with aqueous (IC₅₀ = 25.3 ± 1.53 ㎍/mL) and ethanolic (IC₅₀ = 13.7 ± 3.03 ㎍/mL) extracts. Conclusion: These findings show the antioxidant, hypoglycemic, and hyperlipidemic effects of E. resinifera extracts, which should be investigated further to validate their medicinal uses and their pharmaceutical applications.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.336-340
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• 2023

A dog (2-year old, female, Shih-Tzu) presented with hyperthermia and right-sided facial paralysis characterized by the inability to close the right eye and drooling from the right side of the mouth after H3N2 influenza vaccination [A/Canine/Korea/01/07(H3N2) strain; Caniflu-Max, Bionote, Hwaseong, Gyeonggi-do, ROK]. To determine the cause of the fever and neurological symptoms, physical examination, ophthalmic examination, thoracic and abdominal radiography, abdominal ultrasonography, complete blood counts, serum chemistry values, and electrolyte levels were determined. In addition, Cerebrospinal fluid analysis, antinuclear antibody test, fever of unknown origin polymerase chain reaction (PCR) panel, tick-borne pathogen PCR panel were performed. As a result, hyperthermia, leukocytosis, and elevated C-reactive protein were confirmed. In addition, neurological examination revealed decreased right eyelid reflexes, corneal reflexes, threat response, and facial sensation, it was possible to suspect problems with the trigeminal and facial nerves of the cranial nerve. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a lesion suggestive of myositis in the right muscular lesion at atlanto-occipital junction level on site of vaccine injection. Therefore, right-sided facial paralysis was tentatively determined to be a secondary cause of nerve damage caused by myositis. The patient was treated with immunosuppressants such as prednisolone and mycophenolate mofetil. After 3 months of immunosuppressant therapy, the patient's symptoms improved.