• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.22-27
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• 2020

Tuberculosis is airborne disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). Host genetic factors of these tuberculosis play an important role in determining individual difference in susceptibility or resistance to infectious diseases including tuberculosis. CD247 is named CD3zeta chain or CD3ζ. CD247 gene is a protein-coding gene involved in phagocytosis and signal transduction of the T cell receptor (TCR). Also, downregulation of the CD3ζ chain has been associated to chronic inflammation. The aim of this study was to research association of the genetic polymorphisms for CD247 gene and tuberculosis. We analyzed association of CD247 and Mycobacterium tuberculosis using 149 imputed single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with Korean population. And the results of this study show that seven SNPs of CD247 were identified to associate with tuberculosis. The most significant SNP was rs858545 (OR=1.22, CI: 1.05~1.42, P=0.009481). This study suggests that polymorphisms of CD247 may affect the T cell receptor signaling pathway, which may associate the infection of tuberculosis.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.6-17
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• 2008

From the total 116,429 clinical specimens submitted to "C" hospital from January 2005 to December 2006, 2,195 strains of streptococci were isolated. Twenty four species of Streptococcus were identified with 0.1~19.8% isolation frequencies, of which S. pneumoniae was 19.8%, S. agalactiae 16.2%, S. anginosus 9.8%, S. constellatus 5.0%, S. oralis 3.9%, S. mitis 3.3%, S. pyogenes 2.7%, S. salivarius subsp. salivarius 2.2%, S. sanguinis 1.9%. For S. pneumoniae, clinical specimens showing over 9.0% isolation rate were 82.8% in sputum, 9.2% in blood, and for Streptococcus species other than S. pneumoniae, 18.0% in sputum, 16.0% in urine and 9.7% in blood. The antimicrobial agents that showed over 90.0% susceptibility were cefotaxime, gatilfloxacin, imipenem, levofloxacin, linezolid, moxifloxacin, rifampin and sporfloxacin in S. pneumoniae, ampicillin, cefotaxime, cetriaxone, levofloxacin, linezolid, penicillin, quinupristin/dalfopristin and vancomycin in S. agalactiae, chloramphenicol, clindamycin, levofloxacin and vancomycin in S. anginosus, levofloxacin, vancomycin in S. constellatus subsp. constellatus, vancomycin in S. oralis, vancomycin in S. mitis, chloramphenicol, clindamycin, levofloxacin, quinupristin/dalfopristin and vancomycin in S. pyogenes, chloramphenicol, levofloxacin and vancomycin in S. salivarius subsp. salivarius, chloramphenicol, levofloxacin and vancomycin in S. bovis II, chloramphenicol, levofloxacin, quinupristin/dalfopristin and vancomycin in S. dysgalactiae subsp. dysgalactiae, levofloxacin, chloramphenicol and vancomycin in the whole group of 10 Streptococcus spp. other than Streptococcus pneumoniae.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 2009

The exposure of human beings to toxic trace metals (Cu, Zn) continues to be an important public health issue and concern. This study was conducted to assess the exposure to trace metals (Cu, Zn) in the general Korean population by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and Atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Serum samples were obtained from 40 healthy volunteers. Specimens were collected in special container and we applied sample processing to minimize contamination. We used ICP-MS and AAS to analyze simultaneously the concentration of metals including copper, zinc. Distribution of trace metal levels in the general healthy population showed lower values. The results in this study can provide background data for clinical studies associated with trace metal exposure in the korean population.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.397-405
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• 2005

Noise may cause damage of the auditory system, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. However, we haven't the data enough to be available for understanding various effects of noise on the human body. The current study was prospectively designed to investigate the changes of the cardiac factors and cerebral hemodynamics following a transient exposure to noise in young people. 80 subjects (mean aged $23.45\pm2.40$ years) participated in this experiment and were exposed to excavator-noise with 90 decibels for 15 minutes using ear-phone. Cardiac factors such as heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP) and heart rate-systolic pressure product (RPP), and cerebral hemodynamics such as mean blood flow velocities (Vm), pulsatility indexes (PI), resistance indexes (RI) and mean blood flow velocities at breathing-hold (Vh) in the middle (MCA), anterior (ACA) and posterior cerebral arteries (PCA) were measured before (baseline) and during the noise-exposure. Although there were individual differences in above mentioned parameters, HR, systolic and diastolic BP, RPP, MCA-Vm, MCA-PI, MCA-RI, ACA-Vm, ACA-PI, ACA-RI, PCA-Vm, PCA-PI, and PCA-RI during the noise-exposure decreased compared with the baselines (P<0.05 or P<0.01), The findings of the present study suggest that a transient exposure to excavator-noise at rest causes changes in the cardiac factors and cerebral hemodynamics with individual differences. Further studies need to be carried out for clarifying the effects of longer exposure and combined mental activity with noise exposure.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.384-390
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• 2012

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is considered to be a serious metabolic disease which may cause systemic complications. The present study was designed to clarify a difference on stress, physiological variables and their correlation between diabetic (DM group) and nondiabetic adults (control group). The levels of body weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, body mass index, body fat mass, total cholesterol (TcH), triglyceride (TG), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), total bilirubin (TB), autonomic balance (AB), stress index (SI), fatigue index (FI), and heart rate (HR) were all significantly higher in the DM group than in the control group. However, the levels of autonomic activity (AA), stress resistance (SR), and electrocardiac stability (ES) were significantly lower in the DM group than in the control group. The percentages of persons with abnormal levels in the Tch, high density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein, TG, AST, ALT and GGT were significantly greater in the DM group than in the control group. In the correlation of glucose and hemoglobin A1c (HBA1c) to stress indices, the DM group had a significant relationship with AB, SR, SI, FI, ES, and HR, whereas the control group had no significant relationship with these, excepting AB. These results suggest that DM was harmfully associated with body, biochemical and stress indices and that blood glucose and HBA1c levels must be exhaustively regulated.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.83-91
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• 2019

This study was undertaken to investigate the therapeutic effect of Angelica acutiloba on allergic dermatitis, which Angelica acutiloba is traditionally known to have antiinflammatory effects. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into five groups: normal control group, experimental allergic dermatitis group (vehicle group), low dose of Angelica acutiloba extract (low-dose group), high dose of Angelica acutiloba extract (high-dose group), and antihistamine treated group with experimental dermatitis (antihistamine group). Total leukocyte, neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte and eosinophil counts were significantly higher in the vehicle group than in the control group, but these variables were significantly lower in the low- and high-dose groups than in the vehicle group. The platelet/lymphocyte ratio in the red blood cell index was significantly lower in the low- and high-dose groups than in the vehicle group. Low and high doses of the Angelica acutiloba extract did not have toxic effects on liver and kidney. Serum NO, iNOS and levels were highest in the vehicle group but significantly lower in the low- and high-dose groups, especially in the high-dose group. The results of this study suggested that the Angelica acutiloba extract had the effect of alleviating or treating the experimental allergic dermatitis, and it was concluded that the high dose was more effective.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.81-85
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• 2012

This study was undertaken to evaluate phenotypic and genotypic methods for detection of Metallo-Beta-Lactamases (MBLs) among nosocomial Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Of the 50 P. aeruginosa isolates from clinical specimens, 20 were evaluated for carbapenem resistance and screened for MBL by double-disk synergy test and combined-disk test. Nineteen strains (95%) were found to be MBL producers among the 20 P. aeruginosa. MBL positives were further confirmed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). For the IMP and VIM types of MBLs, PCR analysis was performed on 19 of the 20, and 10 were positive for VIM MBL type. This study reports the validation of a simple and accurate MBL detection method that can be easily incorporated into the daily routine of a clinical laboratory. Early detection of MBL-carrying organisms, including those with susceptibility to carbapenems, is of paramount clinical importance, as it allows rapid initiation of strict infection control practices as well as therapeutic guidance for confirmed infection.Key Words : Hepatitis A virus (HAV), Anti-HAV, Hospital workers, Prevalence, Vaccination

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.380-387
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• 2017

Berchemia berchemiaefolia (BB) are climbing plants or small to medium-sized trees that live in Africa, Asia and America. We performed the present study to investigate whether oral administration of Berchemia berchemiaefolia extract (BBE) protects SD rats from pain. The SD rat experimental groups were divided into four groups. Two of the animal model groups were fed on BBE (200 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg). We performed oral acute toxicity test to determine the optimal oral dose of BBE. To explore if BBE alleviated pain in the SD rat, we undertook the tail flick latency test and formalin test. Additionally, we conducted the anti-oxidative test. The findings of the present study suggest that Berchemia berchemiaefolia extract exhibits strong antioxidant and analgesic activities.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.54-59
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• 2019

Hepatitis refers to inflammation of hepatocytes and liver tissue, and is mainly caused by viruses, alcohol, and drugs. Forsythiae Fructus has traditionally been used as a diuretic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic. Research on rengyolone, a bioactive substance extracted from Forsythiae Fructus, is rarely found in Korea and abroad. First, an acute animal toxicity test for rengyolone was conducted for the animal experiment. 4 week-old SD rats were injected intraperitoneally with acetaminophen for 2 weeks to induce chronic liver inflammation. Rengyolone was orally administered into two groups during 4 weeks: pre-inflammatory group and post-inflammatory group. Oral doses were also divided into 1 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg. Liver function tests (ALT, AST, ALP), western blot analysis of liver tissue, and level of inflammatory cytokine were performed to evaluate the improvement of hepatitis. Experimental results showed that rengyolone inhibited the development of acute inflammation and thus could reduce hepatitis symptoms.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.4243-4247
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• 2013

The relationship between the X-ray repair cross-complementing group 3 (XRCC3) Thr241Met polymorphism and gliomas remains inclusive or controversial. For better understanding of the effect of XRCC3 Thr241Met polymorphism on glioma risk, a meta-analysis was performed. All eligible studies were identified through a search of PubMed, Elsevier Science Direct, Excerpta Medica Database (Embase) and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM) before May 2013. The association between the XRCC3 Thr241Met polymorphism and gliomas risk was conducted by odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). A total of nine case-control studies including 3,533 cases and 4,696 controls were eventually collected. Overall, we found that XRCC3 Thr241Met polymorphism was significantly associated with the risk of gliomas (T vs. C: OR=1.10, 95%CI=1.01-1.20, P=0.034; TT vs. CC: OR=1.30, 95%CI=1.03-1.65, P=0.027; TT vs. TC/CC: OR=1.29, 95%CI=1.01-1.64, P=0.039). In the subgroup analysis based on ethnicity, the significant association was found in Asian under four models (T vs. C: OR=1.17, 95%CI=1.07-1.28, P=0.00; TT vs. CC: OR=1.79, 95%CI=1.36-2.36, P=0.00; TT vs. TC/CC: OR=1.75, 95%CI=1.32-2.32, P=0.00; TT/TC vs. CC: OR=1.11,95% CI=1.02-1.20). This meta-analysis suggested that the XRCC3 Thr241Met polymorphism is a risk factor for gliomas, especially for Asians. Considering the limited sample size and ethnicities included in the meta-analysis, further large scale and well-designed studies are needed to confirm our results.