• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.59 no.2
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• pp.142-150
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• 2005

Background : Continuous growth stimulation by various factors, as well as chronic oxidative stress, may co-exist in many solid tumors, such as lung cancer. A new family of antioxidant proteins, the peroxiredoxins (Prxs), have been implicated in the regulation of many cellular processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. However, a real pathophysiological significance of Prx proteins, especially in lung disease, has not been sufficiently defined. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the distribution and expression of various Prx isoforms in lung cancer and other pulmonary conditions. Method : Patients diagnosed with lung cancer, and who underwent surgery at the Ajou Medical Center, were enrolled. The expressions of Prxs, Thioredoxin (Trx) and Thioredoxin reductase (TR) were analyzed using proteomic techniques and the subcellular localization of Prx proteins was studied using immunohistochemistry on normal mouse lung tissue. Result : Immunohistochemical staining has shown the isoforms of Prx I, II, III and V are predominantly expressed in bronchial and alveolar lining epithelia, as well as in the alveolar macrophages of the normal mouse lung. The isoforms of Prx I and III, and thioredoxin were also found to be over-expressed in the lung cancer tissues compared to their paired normal lung controls. There was also an increased amount of the oxidized form of Prx I, as well as a putative truncated form of Prx III, in the lung cancer samples when analyzed using 2-dimensional electrophoresis. In addition, a 43 kDa intermediate molecular weight protein band, and other high molecular weight bands of over 20 kDa, recognized by the anti-Prx I antibody, were present in the tissue extracts of lung cancer patients on 1-Dimensional electrophoresis, which require further investigation. Conclusion : The over-expressions of Prx I and III, and Trx in human lung cancer tissue, as well as their possible chaperoning function, may represent an attempt by tumor cells to adjust to their microenvironment in a manner advantageous to their survival and proliferation, while maintaining their malignant potential.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.59 no.2
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• pp.170-178
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• 2005

Background : Idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) are rare but significantly imperative in inducing chronic pulmonary hypertension. Clinically, it is difficult to distinguish between IPAH and CTEPH. However, the treatment of pulmonary hypertension is different depending on the disease. The present study was performed to analyze the similarities and differences in clinical features between IPAH and CTEPH. Methods : During a nine-year period, thirty-three patients with IPAH and twenty-two patients with CTEPH were enrolled. Symptoms, physical findings, chest radiograph, electrocardiograph, pulmonary function test, echocardiograph, perfusion lung scan, right heart catheterization results were analyzed between both the groups. Results : The median age of IPAH group was 33 (6~70) years that was lower than that (52(27~80) years) of CTEPH group. Amongst the IPAH patients, there was female predominance (76 %) and there was no sex difference between the patients with CTEPH. Both the groups exhibited similarity in the results of chest radiograph, electrocardiograph, pulmonary function test, and echocardiograph. In the perfusion lung scan, all IPAH patients exhibited findings with normal (28%) or low probability (72%) of pulmonary embolism and all CTEPH patients exhibited findings with high probability of pulmonary embolism. Conclusion : Although IPAH and CTEPH bear similarities in terms of symptoms, physical signs and general investigation results, there were differences in age distribution, sex predominance and results of perfusion lung scan.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.62 no.3
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• pp.203-210
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• 2007

Background: The incidence of adenocarcinoma of the lung has been increasing worldwide, and it has been generally been accepted to be relatively unrelated to smoking with a female preponderance. The aim of this study was to examine the gender-related pathological and survival differences in patients with an adenocarcinoma of the lung. Material and Method: A retrospective review of the clinical information of patients diagnosed with an adenocarcinoma of the lung at Kosin Medical Center from January 1999 to September 2005 was performed. The patient's demographics (age, gender), smoking history, stage, serum tumor marker, pathology classification, EGFR mutation, K-ras mutation, treatment methods, and survival time were analyzed. Result: Of the 438 patients, 179 (40.9%) were female. The median age at the diagnosis was 58 years for females and 59 years for males. However, 25.8% of women and only 17.7% of men were under 50 years of age (p=0.02). The distribution of the disease stage was similar in both men and women. The bronchioloalveolar carcinoma component was diagnosed more often in women (11.2%) than in men (5.0%). The overall survival rate was higher in women than in men (p=0.01), and women had a superior therapeutic response to a combined treatment of surgery and chemotherapy. Conclusion: This study showed significant genders differences in terms of the smoking history, bronchioloalveolar carcinoma component, overall survival, and survival after combined treatment of surgery and chemotherapy. Therefore, gender differences should be considered when diagnosing and treating adenocarcinomas of the lung.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.453-459
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• 2015

Split-flow thin cell fractionation (SPLITT fractionation, SF) is a particle separation technique that allows continuous (and thus a preparative scale) separation into two subpopulations based on the particle size or the density. In SF, there are two basic performance parameters. One is the throughput (TP), which was defined as the amount of sample that can be processed in a unit time period. Another is the fractionation efficiency (FE), which was defined as the number % of particles that have the size predicted by theory. Full-feed depletion mode (FFD-SF) have only one inlet for the sample feed, and the channel is equipped with a flow stream splitter only at the outlet in SF mode. In conventional FFD-mode, it was difficult to extend channel due to splitter in channel. So, we use large scale splitter-less FFD-SF to increase TP from increase channel scale. In this study, a FFD-SF channel was developed for a large-scale fractionation, which has no flow stream splitters (‘splitter less’), and then was tested for optimum TP and FE by varying the sample concentration and the flow rates at the inlet and outlet of the channel. Polyurethane (PU) latex beads having two different size distribution (about 3~7 µm, and about 2~30 µm) were used for the test. The sample concentration was varied from 0.2 to 0.8% (wt/vol). The channel flow rate was varied from 70, 100, 120 and 160 mL/min. The fractionated particles were monitored by optical microscopy (OM). The sample recovery was determined by collecting the particles on a 0.1 µm membrane filter. Accumulation of relatively large micron sized particles in channel could be prevented by feeding carrier liquid. It was found that, in order to achieve effective TP, the concentration of sample should be at higher than 0.4%.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2005

Telomeres consisting of (TTAGGG)n tandem repeat DNA sequences and associated proteins are essential for chromosome stability and related with cell senescence, apoptosis and cancer. The telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein which act as a template for the synthesis of telomeric DNA. This study was carried out to identify the distribution of telomeres on mouse chromosomes and also to analyze the amount of telomeres and telomerase activity of mouse embryos at early embryonic stages. Germ cells and early embryos from 1 cell to blastocyst stage were analyzed. The amount of telomeres was analyzed by quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization technique(Q-FISH) using a human telomeric DNA probe, and telomerase activity was measured by telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay(TRAP). In results, the telomeres on mouse chromosomes were distributed at the ends of all autosomes and sex chromosomes. Although the quantity of telomeres varied among chromosomes, most of chromosomes had higher amount in q-arm telomeres than in p-arm telomeres. The results of Q-FISH indicated that the relative amount of telomeres of mouse embryos in each embryonic stage was approximately the same except the higher amount in blastocysts. Using TRAP assay on mouse embryos, telomerase activity was detected in all preimplantation stages from mature oocytes to blastocysts. Especially the telomerase activity was significantly increased at the morula and blastocyst stage. In conclusion, there may be a close association between the amount of telomeres and telomerase activity in early embryonic stages, and analysis of telomere quantity and telomerase activity on early development will be helpful for the investigation of embryogenesis and embryonic cell differentiation in mice.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.38 no.6 s.175
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• pp.689-697
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• 2005

Mineralogical composition, $^{137}Cs$ activity, total organic carbon (TOC), and particle size of marine sediments near Wuljin Nuclear Powerplant were analyzed and the relationships among those components were investigated. The particle sizes of sediments were equivalent to sand size and in the range of $-0.48\~3.6\;Md\phi$. TOC contents and $^{137}Cs$ activities were in the range of $0.06\~1.75\%$ and minimum detectable activity (MDA) $\~4.0Bq/kg-dry$ with the average value of $1.15{\pm}0.62$ Bq/kg-dry, respectively. The sediments in study area were characterized by large particle size and small TOC contents, and $^{137}Cs$ activity compared with other marine sediments. The main mineral components were quartz and feldspar (albite, microcline, and small amount of orthoclase) with small amount of pyroxene, calcite, hornblende. Minerals with $10{\AA}$ XRD peak (mainly biotite) and chlorite were also identified. Among those minerals, biotite shows the linear relationship with $^{137}Cs$ content probably due to the frayed edge site (FES) on biotite or small amount of mixed illite. However, TOC content shows most linear relationship with $^{137}Cs$ content because no significant amount of clay minerals, which can adsorb significant amount of Cs, were observed in the study area, indicating that the distribution of $^{137}Cs$ in this study area was more significantly affected by the TOC content than mineral composition.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.38 no.6 s.175
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• pp.607-622
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• 2005

This study was carried out in order to evaluate where the soil loss was mainly occurred, .and to verify how riverbed sediments in the tributaries of the Seomjin River were related to their source rocks distributed in Sunchang area. The study area including the Seomjin River with 4 tributaries of Kyeongcheon, Okgwacheon, Changjeong-cheon and Ipcheon was divided into 10 watershed. The RUSLE (Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation) was estimated for all the grids (10 m cells) in the corresponding watershed. The amount of soil loss per unit area was calculated as follows: dry fold (53,140.94 tons/ha/year), orchard (25,063.38 tons/ha/year), paddy field (6,506.7 tons/ha/year) and Idlest (6,074.36 tons/ha/year). The differences of soil loss per unit area appear to be depends on areas described earlier. Soil erosion hazard zones were generally distributed within dry fields. Several thematic maps such as land use maps, topographical maps and soil maps were used as a data to generate the RUSLE factors. The amount of soil loss, computed by using the RUSLE, showed that soil loss mainly occurred at the regions where possible source rocks were distributed along the stream. Based on the this study on soil loss and soil erosion hazard zone together with chondrite-normalized REE patterns that were previously analyzed in same study area, a closed relationship between riverbed sediments and possible source rocks is formed. Especially in the Okgwacheon that are widely distributed by various rocks, chondrite-normalized REE pattern derived from the riverbed sediments, source rock and soil is expected to have a closed relationship with the distribution of soil loss.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.50-59
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• 1998

Purpose : Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has been involved in several forms of immune-related glomerulopathy but the pathogenic role of HBV infection is not clear. To evaluate the clinicopathological features of HBV-associated glomerulopathy, a clinicopathological analysis and immunohistochemical stain for HBs Ag and HBe Ag were done. Methods : Clinicopathological features of HBV-associated glomerulopathy were analyzed with renal biopsies in 28 HBsAg seropositive patients from April 1990 to February 1997 at Pusan Paik Hospital, and immunohistochemical evaluation for HBsAg and HBeAg was done in renal tissues. Light microscopic, immunofluorescent and electron microscopic examination and immunohistochemical staining for HBsAg (DAKO) and HBeAg (BIONIKE) of renal tissue were performed. Result ; 1. The age distribution was 6 to 73 years old, and eight were children and 20 were adults. Male : female ratio was 3:1. Nineteen (67.9%) and 21 (75.0%) of 28 cases showed hematuria and proteinuria, respectively at the time of biopsy. Sixteen (57.2%) of them had nephrotic syndrome. 2. Liver function test was performed in 11 patients and seven (63.6%) of them showed increased AST and ALT levels. Liver biopsy was done in three patients and revealed findings of chronic active hepatitis. 3. HBV-associated glomerulopathy was membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN) in 10 (35.7%), mesangiopathy in 8 (28.6%), membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) in 7 (25.0%) and minimal change disease in 3 (10.7%) out of 28 cases. 4. Ultrastructurally HBV-associated MGN showed conspicuous subepithelial deposits with intramembranous, mesangial and subendothelial deposits and proliferation of mesangial cells and matrix, which were suggestive of MPGN. In HBV-associated MPGN, intramembranous and subepithelial deposits were scattered. 5. Immunohistochemical staining revealed no expression for HBsAg, but positive reaction for HBeAg along capillary wall in 8 cases (28.6%), of which 3 cases were checked for serum HBeAg, all showed positivity. Conclusion : HBV-associated glomerulopathy showed a wide morphologic spectrum and overlapping ultrastructural features in MGN and MPGN, and the activity of hepatitis B virus may be related to the development of HBV-associated glomerulopathy but further studies are recommended to confirm this relationship.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.149-161
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• 1995

The first national survey on esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula was conducted to access the current status of its incidence, clinical manifestation, preoperative diagnosis and management, type of its anomaly, associated anomalies, and surgical results and course. The 43 members of the Korea Association of Pediatric Surgeons received questionnaires and registration forms to be filled out on each patient who were born during the three years from January 1, 1992 through December 31, 1994. Questionnaires composed of six broad areas which include 1) preoperative diagnosis and management, 2) surgical technic, 3) long gap, 4) postoperative management, and 5) complications and courses. A total of 148 cases was returned by 28 members working at 23 institutions and 27 members returned questionnaires. We obtained the following results by analysis of the 148 cases of tracheoesophageal anomalies. The incidence of tracheoesophageal anomaly was about 1/10,000-11,000 in 1994, which is one third of that of anorectal malformations in Korea and the distribution of the patients was almost proportionate to the size of each province. Both sexes are about equally affected. Majority of the members make diagnosis of tracheoesophageal anomaly by taking a simple infantogram with a radiopaque tube in upper pouch and a little under half(46%) prefers to perform echocardiography as a part of preoperative management to identify congenital heart disease and lateralize the aorta. Esophageal atresia with distal TEF(87.5%) was by far the most common and there were pure esophageal atresia(5.6%), H-type TEF(2.1%), and so on. About half(49%) of the patients had one or more associated anomalies in addition to tracheoesophageal anomalies. Congenital heart disease was associated in 46 cases(31%), anorectral malfomations in 19 cases(13%), musculoskeletal anomalies in 15 cases(10%), genitourinary anomalies in 10 cases(7%) and gastrointestinal anomalies in 7 cases(5%). Postoperatively, parenteral nutrition and assisted ventilation were given in 66% and 52% of patients respectively. Ninety three(74%) of 126 cases who underwent sugical procedure, experienced one or more complications such as respiratory complication(65%), leak(22%), stricture(21%) and so on. The survival rates related to the Waterston risk categories were 90.2% in group A, 71.4-75% in $B_1$, $B_2$, and $C_1$, groups, and 28% in group $C_2$, and the overall survival rate was 71.4%. Thirty six(28.6%) of 126 cases died of pneumonia/sepsis(12 cases), respiratory failure(12 cases), and congenital heart disease(4 cases). With short term follow-up, 69% of patients have been excellent whereas remainders of the cases have suffered from some sort of morbidity related to gastroesophageal reflux, recurrent respiratory infection, and esophageal stricture.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.806-814
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• 1997

The incidence, type and distribution of polyneuropathy in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were assessed and also analyzed the causative factors. Forty-four patients, mean age 66.1 years (42 male, 2 female), have been investigated with arterial gas analysis, pulmonary function test, clinical and electrodiagnostic studies. None of them had conditions known to affect the peripheral nervous system such as metabolic disorders or drugs. In a selected group of 44 patients, electrophysiological findings of polyneuropathy were found in 22 patients(50%), clinical polyneuropathy were diagnosed in 13 patients(9 patients were diagnosed by electrophysiological studies, 4 patients were normal by electrophysiological studies). These findings indicate that subclinical polyneuropathy(13 patients, 30%) more commonly occurs than clinical polyneuropathy(9 patients, 20%) in associated with COPD. In the patients with polyneuropathy, the lesions were predominant axonal degeneration, the changes were more involved in leg than arm, more frequently affected sensory fibers. We could not find etiologic factor to cause polyneuropathy in COPD patients.