• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.1031-1038
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• 1998

Background: Most of malignant pleural effusions are serous but 8-33% of them are bloody. We wanted to evaluate the relationships between gross appearance and pleural CEA level or results of histocytology in malignancy associated pleural effusions. We also tried to reevaluate the meaning of CEA measurement in histocytologically proved or unproved malignancy associated pleural effusions. Methods: We studied 98 cases of malignancy associated pleural effusions, 50 cases of histocytologically proven malignant effusions and 48 cases of histocytologically unproven paramalignant effusions. We had observed gross appearance and conventional laboratory values and CEA levels for pleural effusions. Results: 44.9% of malignancy associated effusions were bloody(63.6% of bloody effusions were histocytologically proven malignant effusion). 65.0% of malignancy associated pleural effusions which have RBCs numbers over $100,000/mm^3$ were cytologically proven malignant effusions. 72.7% of cytologically proven malignant effusions had increased pleural fluid CEA level over 10 ng/ml. 58.2% of cases with pleural CEA over 10 ng/ml had positive results in pleural bistocytology. There was no definable relationships between pleural fluid CEA elevation and RBCs numbers and results of pleural fluid cytology. Conclusion: About half of the cases with malignancy associated pleural effusions were bloody. Histocytologically proven malignant effusions were more common in bloody effusion than non-bloody effusion(63.6% Vs 38.9%). But increased red blood cell numbers was not associated with positivity of pleural histocytology. Pleural fluid CEA elevation(over 10 ng/ml) was not correlated with positive pleural histocytology. But pleural fluid CEA elevation was rare in nonmalignant pleural effusions, and than pleural CEA measurement in uncertain pleural effusions maybe helpful to distinguishes its origin.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.385-391
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• 2005

Background : The incidence of nontuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) infections in Korea is increasing. This retrospective study was performed to examine the recovery rate of NTM from respiratory specimens as well as the isolated NTM colony characteristics, and to assess the clinical significance of a NTM isolation. Methods : The results of the respiratory specimens requested for an acid-fast bacilli (AFB) examination during 2002 at Asan Medical Center, along with the patients clinical characteristics were analyzed. Results : A total 26,820 respiratory specimens were requested for the acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear and culture during the study period. The proportion of M. tuberculosis and NTM isolation was 5.7% and 2.2%, respectively. Among the AFB smear and culture positive specimens, 12.2% were found to be NTM. The scotochromogen showing a low colony count < 20, which appeared to be contaminants, were isolated in 31.8% of the 584 NTM isolates. Excluding the low-colony scotochromogens, the M. avium-intracellulare complex was the most common NTM isolates (42.1%), and was also the most common causative organism for NTM pulmonary diseases. 8.4% (23/275) and 17.8% (49/275) of patients with NTM isolates met the American and British Thoracic Society diagnostic criteria for NTM pulmonary disease, respectively. Conclusion : In case of a positive AFB-smear or culture result, the possibility of NTM being a causative organism should always be considered, even in Korea, which has an intermediate incidence of tuberculosis.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.80-88
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• 2014

This study was carried out to understand the effect of sowing date on growth characteristics, flower duration of a total of 6 domestic rapeseed cultivars, "Sunmang", "Tammiyuchae", "Tamlayuchae", "Naehanyuchae", "Yongsanyuchae" and "Hallayuchae" with different sowing dates (25 Sept., 5 Oct., 15 Oct., 25 Oct., 5 Nov.) in Muan, Jeollanamdo, Republic of Korea. The results obtained were summarized as the follows: The number of seedling stand after overwintering was decreased in all 6 cultivars. It changed little until 5 Oct., and then showed continuously largely decrease as the sowing date being delayed. As the sowing date was being delayed, plant height was decreased while Silique length and thousand seed weight were increased. Seed yield in all 6 cultivars decreased almost linearly with late sowing date. In correlation analysis between the delaying sowing date and growth characteristics, it was inversely correlated with plant height ($r=-0.769^{**}$), No. of branches/plant ($r=-0.760^{**}$), No. of siliqua/panicle ($r=-0.631^{**}$) and seed yield ($r=-0.946^{**}$), while showed a positive correlation with silique length (r=0.635), seed diameter ($r=0.629^{**}$) and thousand grain weight ($r=0.422^*$). No. of seeds/silique and seed set percentage were not significantly correlated with the delaying sowing date. The flower duration was long in order of Sunmang, Tammiyuchae, Yongsanyuchae, Naehanyuchae, Hallayuchae and Tamlayuchae. Varietal variation of flowering date was larger with early sowing date than with delaying sowing date. The range of flower duration across all cultivars was from 1 day of Tamlayuchae to 14 days of Sunmang according to the sowing date, and the end flowering date was able to be extended from 2 to 9 days, compared to normal date of end flowering.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.576-585
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• 2003

An improved method in place of a conventional vanillin spectroscopic method (CVSM) was developed for determination of catechin and its derivatives in extract and oil of grape seeds. For the CVSM, grape seed extracts had relatively high catechin content in the range of $17{\sim}43%$ (g/100g of extract), while grape seed oils had relatively smaller catechin content in the range of $30{\sim}40mg%$ (mg/100g of oil). For the improved vanillin spectroscopic method (IVSM) using a polyamide cartridge, catechin content of grape seed extracts was in the range of $4.0{\sim}7.5%$, while that of grape seed oils was below 5 ppm. Meanwhile, the quantities of catechin and its derivatives were determined by HPLC in the grape seed extracts and oils. Four major catechins [(+)-catechin, procyanidin B2, (-)-epicatechin, and epicatechin gallate] were detected from grape seed extracts, and the ranges of concentrations were as follows: (+)-catechin, $1.35{\sim}2.60%$; procyanidin $B_2$, $0.77{\sim}1.36%$; (-)-epicatechin, $2.35{\sim}4.59%$; (-)-epicatechin gallate, $0.06{\sim}0.30%$. In contrast, four catechins were barely detectable in the grape seed oils. The reproducibility of four major catechins in grape seed extracts, given as coefficient of variation, was below 5%, and the recovery close to above 95%. The achieved detection level of four catechins was $1{\sim}5\;ppm$. Additionally, the contents of catechin compositions in grape seed extract were also determined by HPLC in relation to different cultivars and producing areas. Thus, HPLC method and IVSM using polyamide cartridge can be used as alternative to CVSM for determination of catechin and its derivatives in extract and oil of grape seeds.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.193-202
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• 2012

'Joseong', a winter forage triticale cultivar (X Triticosecale Wittmack), was developed by the breeding team at the Department of Rice and Winter Cereal Crop, NICS, RDA in 2010. The cultivar 'Joseong' was selected from the cross FAHAD_5/RHINO1R.1D 5+10 5D'5B'//FAHAD_5 by CIMMYT (Mexico) in 1992. Subsequent generations were handled in pedigree selection program at Mexico from 1993 to 1998, and a line 'CTSS92Y-A-4Y-0M-5Y-0B' was selected for earliness and good agronomic characteristics. After preliminary and advance yield test in Korea for 2 years, the line designated as a line name of 'Iksan26'. The 'Iksan26' was subsequently evaluated for earliness and forage yield in 7 different locations such as Jeju, Iksan, Cheongwon, Yesan, Naju, Daegu, and Jinju from 2008 to 2010 and finally named as 'Joseong'. The cultivar 'Joseong' has characteristics of dark green leaf, yellow culm and spike, and large grain of yellowish brown color. The heading date of cultivar 'Joseong' was April 24, which was 5 days earlier than that of check cultivar 'Shinyoung'. It showed better tolerance or resistance to lodging, wet injury, powdery mildew, and leaf rust than those of the check cultivar 'Shinyoung'. The average forage dry matter yield of cultivar 'Joseong' at milk-ripe stage was 14.5 MT $ha^{-1}$, which was lower than 16.5 MT $ha^{-1}$ of the check cultivar 'Shinyoung'. The silage quality of 'Joseong' (5.3%) was lower to the check cultivar 'Shinyoung' (6.0%) in crude protein content, while was 2.1% superior to the check cultivar 'Shinyoung' (61.9%) in TDN (total digestible nutrients). It showed 5.1 MT $ha^{-1}$ of grain yield, which was 40% higher than that of the check cultivar 'Shinyoung' (3.65 MT $ha^{-1}$). This cultivar is recommended for fall sowing crop in the area where daily minimum mean temperatures are averaged higher than $-10^{\circ}C$ in January, and as a winter crop using whole crop forage before planting rice in around Korea.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.1392-1398
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• 2012

This study investigated the effects of diet of different forages on growth performance and carcass characteristics of Hanwoo steers. Twenty-one Hanwoo steers were randomly allocated to three groups (fed hay, reed, and reed with rice straw) of seven steers each. Initial and final body weights of control, T1, and T2 groups were 125.5, 128.3, 128.3 kg and 697.4, 614.6, 706.7 kg, respectively. Average daily gain tended to increase in controls (0.70 kg/d) and the T2 group (0.71 kg/d) but not as much in the T1 group (0.60 kg/d); however, there was no significant difference. DMI was not significantly different among the treatment groups, but T1 was relatively lower than the other groups. For the yield traits, carcass weight was not significantly different between controls and the T2 group but was greater in the T2 group compared to the T1 group (p<0.05). Back fat thickness and rib eye area were higher in controls and T2 compared to T1; yield grade (A:B:C, %) was greater in T1 (43:57:0) compared to the other groups (control 0:71:29; T2 29:42:29). For the quality traits, fat color and texture were not significantly different among groups. However, meat color and maturity were significantly greater in T1 compared to T2 (p<0.05). Marbling score and appearance rate of over 1st meat quality grade were greater in the control and T2 groups compared to the T1 group. Based on the results, growth performance, feed utilization, and carcass traits appeared to improve when roughage containing rice straw plus reed was offered. Therefore, reed is worth considering as a roughage source for fattening Hanwoo steers.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.7
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• pp.994-1002
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• 2009

A bacteriocin-producing bacterium identified as Bacillus licheniformis was isolated from soybean sauce. Antibacterial activity was confirmed by paper disc diffusion method, using Micrococcus luteus as a test organism. The bacteriocin also showed antibacterial activities against Bacillus sphaericus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus planiarum, Paenibacillus polymyxa, and Pediococcus dextrinicus. Optimal culture conditions for the production of bacteriocin was attained by growing the cells in an MRS medium at a pH of 6.5~ 7.0 and a temperature of 37$^\circ$C for 36$\sim$48 hr. Solvents such as chloroform, ethanol, acetone, and acetonitrile had little effect on bacteriocin activity. However, about 50% of bacteriocin activity diminished with treatment of methanol and isopropanol at the final concentration of 50% at 25$^\circ$C for 1 hr. It was stable against a pH variation range from 3.0 and 7.0, but the activity reduced to 50% at a pH range from 9.0 to 11.0. It's activity was not affected by heat treatment at 100$^\circ$C for 30 min and 50% of activity was retained after heat treatment at 100$^\circ$C for 60 min, showing high thermostability. The bacteriocin was purified to a homogeneity through ammonium sulfate precipitation, SP-Sepharose ion-exchange chromatography, and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The entire purification protocol led to a 75-fold increase in specific activity and a 13.5% yield of bacteriocin activity. The molecular weight of purified bacteriocin was estimated to be about 2.5 kDa by tricine-SDS-PAGE.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.12
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• pp.1421-1429
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• 2017

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of dietary provision of lactic acid bacteria (LB) and sea tangle (ST) on the obesity-associated intestinal microbiota in rats with obesity induced by a high-fat diet. Forty-eight 8-wk-old Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a basal diet (CON), a high fat diet (HFD; CON supplemented with 10% lard), HF supplemented with LB [HFL; $5{\times}10^8cfu$ of each of Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus johnsonii, Bifidobacterium longum and Bifidobacterium lactis], or HFL containing 10% ST (HFLS), with 4 replicates (cages) of 3 rats per dietary treatment, for 6 wk, and the intestinal microbiota were determined by pyrosequencing. The HFL and HFLS groups exhibited reduced rates of weight gain than the HF group, and the former groups had smaller ratios of Firmicutes and greater ratios of Bacteriodetes, with decreased Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratios, than the latter at the level of the phylum. Compared with the results for the HF group, HFL and HFLS had reduced ratios of the families of Roseburia, Mollicute, Erysipelotrichi, and Oscillibacter within Firmicutes associated with obesity and increased ratios of the families of Prevotella, Alistipes and Bacteroides within the Bacterioidetes phylum known to have an anti-obesity effect. The content of butyric acid in feces was greater in the HFLS group vs. HF and HFL. In conclusion, the present results suggest that dietary provision of LB plus ST has an anti-obesity effect and induced changes in intestinal microorganisms, and enhanced the content of butyric acid, which is an intestinal metabolite.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.415-422
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• 2009

We previously demonstrated that zinc plus arachidonic acid (ZA) treatment lowered blood glucose levels in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, genetically diabetic obese (ob/ob) mice, and genetically diabetic, non-obese Goto-Kakizaki rats. However, plasma insulin levels did not increase with ZA treatment, suggesting that ZA lowers blood glucose levels not by stimulating pancreatic insulin secretion. However, it is unclear whether these agents lower blood glucose levels by decreasing hepatic glucose output (HGO) or by increasing glucose utilization in peripheral tissues, or both. In order to determine ZA target organ of insulin action, we divided 18 Sprague-Dawley rats weighing ${\sim}130g$ into 3 groups (6 rats per group) and treated them for four weeks with: (1) Control diet (regular rat chow), (2) High fructose (60.0%) diet only, and (3) the same fructose diet plus zinc (10 mg/L) and arachidonic acid (50 mg/L) containing drinking water. After 4 weeks, insulin action was assessed using the hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp technique. Food intake and body weights were comparable in all three groups of rats throughout the study period. Plasma glucose and insulin concentrations, glucose uptake, and HGO in the basal state were all the same in these three rat groups. During the clamp study, fructose-treated and fructose+ZA treated rat groups did not exhibit any detectable change on insulin-mediated glucose uptake compared to controls. High fructose feeding impaired insulin mediated suppression of HGO, compared to controls during clamp (4.39 vs. 2.35 mg/kg/min; p<0.05). However, ZA treatment in high fructose-fed rats showed a remarkable increase in hepatic insulin sensitivity compared to high fructose-fed rats, reflected by a complete recovery in suppression of HGO during the clamp (4.39 vs. 2.18 mg/kg/min; p<0.05). This data suggests that ZA increases insulin sensitivity in liver but not glucose utilization of peripheral tissues in high fructose-fed rats.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.105-112
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• 2011

Purpose: Sharing genetic information with family members is important for cancer awareness and prevention. The purpose of this study is to examine disclosure patterns of positive BRCA genetic test results to patients' relatives. Materials and Methods: A total of 106 probands who had positive BRCA genetic test results from the Korean Hereditary Breast Cancer Study participated in our study. Subjects were asked whether they had disclosed their genetic test results to first-, second-, and third-degree relatives. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify factors associated with positive result sharing with close and distant relatives. Results: In total, 99 respondents (93.4%) informed at least one at-risk relative of the test result, and they all reported that they had disclosed their genetic test result to a first-degree relative. Communication of test results to other relatives occurred significantly less often, with only 31 of 99 subjects (31.3%) sharing their results with second- or third-degree relatives. In the results of univariate analyses, disclosure of genetic test results to more distant relatives was associated with marital status and months since post-test counseling. The reasons for communication were to provide information about the BRCArelated cancer risk and to recommend the genetic test. Conclusion: Most individuals with the BRCA mutation share their test results with first-degree family members; however, these results reach more distant relatives significantly less often. Therefore, it is necessary to encourage patients' communication with extended family members through systematic genetic counseling.