• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.269-275
• /
• 2018

$Na^+/H^+$ exchangers (NHEs) have been shown to be involved in regulating cell volume and maintaining fluid and electrolyte homeostasis. Pooled evidences have suggested that loss of $Na^+/H^+$ exchanger isoform 8 (NHE8) impairs intestinal mucosa. Whether NHE8 participates in the pathology of infectious colitis is still unknown. Our previous study demonstrated that somatostatin (SST) could stimulate the expression of intestinal NHE8 so as to facilitate $Na^+$ absorption under normal condition. This study further explored whether NHE8 participates in the pathological processes of infectious colitis and the effects of SST on intestinal NHE8 expression in the setting of infectious colitis. Our data showed that NHE8 expression was reduced in Citrobacter rodentium (CR) infected mice. Up-regulation of NHE8 improved diarrhea symptom and mucosal damage induced by CR. In vitro, a similar observation was also seen in Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) infected Caco-2 cells. Seglitide, a SST receptor (SSTR) 2 agonist, partly reversed the inhibiting action of EPEC on NHE8 expression, but SSTR5 agonist (L-817,818) had no effect on the expression of NHE8. Moreover, SST blocked the phosphorylation of p38 in EPEC-infected Caco-2 cells. Taken together, these results suggest that enhancement of intestinal NHE8 expression by SST could ameliorate the symptoms of mice with infectious colitis.

• Magazine of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.122-134
• /
• 1994

The objective of this study is to provide with the hydrometeological and probabilistic characteristics of the storms and winds of typhoons that have been passed through the Korea peninsula during the last twenty-three years since 1961. The paths and intensities of the typhoons were analyzed. Fifty weather stations were selected and the rainfall and wind data during typhoon periods were collected. Rainfall data were analyzed for the patterns and probabilistic distributions. The results were presented to describe the areal distributions of probabilistic characteristics. Wind data were also analysed for their probabilistic distributions. The results obtained from this study can be summarized as follows: 1. The most frequent typhoon path that have passed through the Korean peninsula was type E, which was followed by types CWE, W, WE, and S. The most frequent typhoon intensity was type B, that was followed by A, super A, and C types, respectively. 2. The third quartile typhoon rainfall patterns appear most frequently followed by the second, first, and quartiles, respectively, in Seoul, Pusan, Taegu, Kwangju and Taejon. The single typhoon rainfalls with long rainfall durations tended to show delayed type rainfall patterns predominantly compared to the single rainfalls with short rainfall durations. 3. The most frequent probabilistic distribution for typhoon rainfall event is Pearson type-III, followed by Two-parameter lognormal distribution, and Type-I extremal distribution. 4. The most frequent probability distribution model of seashore location was Pearson type-III distribution. The most frequent probability distribution model of inland location was two parameter lognormal distribution. 5. The most frequent probabilistic distribution for typhoon wind events was Type-I xtremal distribution, followed by Two-parameter lognormal distribution, and Normal distribution.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.65-67
• /
• 2003

Flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) fish goes through metamorphosis in the larvae phase. In this phase, it secretes much thyroid hormone to control metamorphosis. Sharp change in the environment and nutrition deficiency may cause stress in the metamorphosis phase. It leads to interfering with the development of thyroid hormone and finally inhibits the normal growth of larvae. In this study, the correlation between the change in thyroid hormones and the albinism appearance was examined by growing them with low temperature ($13^{\circ}C$) stress over the premetamorphosis stages (stage $D\~F$) of flounder metamorphosis. Albinism rate was $15\%$ in the low temperature group and $25\%$ in the control goup. $T_{4}\;and\;T_{3}$ of the control group tended to increase from stage F as larvae grew. $T_{4}$ increased 2 times compared to the control group as 72 ng/g at stage H, the increasing phae of water temperature, in the low temperature group. $T_{3}$ increased 8 times compared to the control group as 2.9 ng/g at stage E, the decreasing phase of water temperature. Therefore, it is judged that the albinism appearance of flouner is caused from the sharp increase in $T_{3}$ by the inappropriate secretion of thyroid hormone.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.48 no.6
• /
• pp.1368-1375
• /
• 2016

A radiological safety assessment study was performed for the transportation of low level radioactive wastes which are temporarily stored in Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), Daejeon, Korea. We considered two kinds of wastes: (1) operation wastes generated from the routine operation of facilities; and (2) decommissioning wastes generated from the decommissioning of a research reactor in KAERI. The important part of the radiological safety assessment is related to the exposure dose assessment for the incidentfree (normal) transportation of wastes, i.e., the radiation exposure of transport personnel, radiation workers for loading and unloading of radioactive waste drums, and the general public. The effective doses were estimated based on the detailed information on the transportation plan and on the radiological characteristics of waste packages. We also estimated radiological risks and the effective doses for the general public resulting from accidents such as an impact and a fire caused by the impact during the transportation. According to the results, the effective doses for transport personnel, radiation workers, and the general public are far below the regulatory limits. Therefore, we can secure safety from the viewpoint of radiological safety for all situations during the transportation of radioactive wastes which have been stored temporarily in KAERI.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.149-155
• /
• 2007

Purpose: This study was to investigate how the heparin, which has been known to induce neovascularization by MMP in the infarcted tissue of the myocardium, had influence on the expression of mRNA of MMP 1,2,9 of the skin wound of rat. Methods: Full depth skin wounds were created on the dorsum of Sprague-Dawley 60 rats. The experimental rats were divided into two groups according to the concentration of heparin($100{\mu}g/ml$ in 20, $300{\mu}g/ml$ in 20). Heparin soaked gelatin sponges in different concentration were inserted into the pocket of experimental rats and the wounds were closed. Normal saline soaked gelatin sponges were used in control rats. Wounds were harvested at 48 and 72 hours after closure. We performed histologic study in H-E stain. RNA was isolated from the harvested tissue and then real time polymerase chain reaction was performed to determine the gene expression of MMP-1,2,9. Results: We observed that inflammatory cell decreased in heparin soaked group and heparin increased the expression of MMP-1,9 mRNA of dorsal wound of rat at 72 hours (p < 0.05). Conclusion: This result suggest that heparin may be used inducing another factor inducing scarless wound healing by increasing MMP.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.127-135
• /
• 2007

Precocious metamorphosis was induced in two popular bivoltine breeds i.e. YB and $NB_4D_2$ by an imidazole compound having anti-juvenile hormone activity. The chemical was administered by feeding treatment with mulberry leaf to freshly moulted (0-6 hrs) IV instar larvae. The dose of the chemical was found to be breed specific being 650 ppm for YB and 500 ppm for $NB_4D_2$. The chemical caused complete skipping up of the fifth instar larvae which is most susceptible to diseases. But IV instar was somewhat prolonged. As a result the total larval period was reduced by 4-5 days. However, some of the rearing and reeling parameters like cocoon yield, cocoon weight, shell weight, shell %, filament length and fecundity were reduced for that particular generation only. The effective rate of rearing (ERR %) was significantly increased in trimoulters during the most unfavourable August - September seed crop season. Number of cocoons / kg and number of male moth were significantly higher in trimoulters. These may be useful for preparation of $multi{\times}bi$ hybrid seed. Fine denier was also found in trimoulter cocoon which is the cause of getting fine silk filament from trimoulter cocoons. Normal mating behaviour and emergence pattern was recorded in trimoulters. Bivoltine trimoulter males also showed competence for mating with multivoltine females. These results suggest the possibility of getting trimoulter males during hot and humid seasons when rearing of bivoltine is almost impossible particularly in Eastern and North Eastern India.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.357-370
• /
• 2012

Radiation therapy, the most commonly used for the treatment of brain tumors, has been shown to be of major significance in tumor control and survival rate of brain tumor patients. About 200,000 patients with brain tumor are treated with either partial large field or whole brain radiation every year in the United States. The use of radiation therapy for treatment of brain tumors, however, may lead to devastating functional deficits in brain several months to years after treatment. In particular, whole brain radiation therapy results in a significant reduction in learning and memory in brain tumor patients as long-term consequences of treatment. Although a number of in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated the pathogenesis of radiation-mediated brain injury, the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which radiation induces damage to normal tissue in brain remain largely unknown. Therefore, this review focuses on the pathophysiological mechanisms of whole brain radiation-induced cognitive impairment and the identification of novel therapeutic targets. Specifically, we review the current knowledge about the effects of whole brain radiation on pro-oxidative and pro-inflammatory pathways, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)/tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) system and extracellular matrix (ECM), and physiological angiogenesis in brain. These studies may provide a foundation for defining a new cellular and molecular basis related to the etiology of cognitive impairment that occurs among patients in response to whole brain radiation therapy. It may also lead to new opportunities for therapeutic interventions for brain tumor patients who are undergoing whole brain radiation therapy.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.53 no.5
• /
• pp.545-551
• /
• 2015

Schistosomiasis is one of the important neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in Tanzania, particularly in Lake Victoria zone. This baseline survey was a part of the main study of integrated control of schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) aimed at describing morbidity patterns due to intestinal schistosomiasis among adults living on Kome Island, Sengerema District, Tanzania. Total 388 adults from Kome Islands (about 50 people from each village) aged between 12 and 85 years, were examined by abdominal ultrasound according to the Niamey protocol. Liver image patterns (LIPs) A and B were considered normal, and C-F as distinct periportal fibrosis (PPF). The overall prevalence of PPF was 42.2%; much higher in males than in females (47.0% in male vs 34.4% in females, P=0.007). Abnormal increase of segmental branch wall thickness (SBWT) and dilated portal vein diameter (PVD) were also more common in males than in females. Hepatosplenomegaly was frequently encountered; 68.1% had left liver lobe hepatomegaly and 55.2% had splenomegaly. Schistosoma mansoni-related morbidity is quite high among adults in this community justifying the implementation of integrated control strategies through mass drug administration, improved water supply (pumped wells), and health education that had already started in the study area.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.26 no.2 s.42
• /
• pp.192-201
• /
• 1993

Epidemiologic investigation was conducted on January, 1993 in Seoul to identify the cause of an infant methemoglobinemia. Field investigation of the area of outbreak, survey of household and family members, analysis of ground water, and blood tests of involved family members were performed. Following results were obtained On analyzing the quality of the ground water on patient's household high levels of nitrate was found indicating contamination of water as the cause of a methemoglobinemia outbreak. On analysing the quality of the ground waters on seven other places within the neighborhood five were contaminated by nitrate in concentration that exceeded the permissible limit implying presence nearby source of contamination. Sources of contamination were thought to be originating from human waste in conventional bathroom facilities, chicken manure used in nearby orchards and plant fields or fertilizers. But the results of water analysis with presence of bacteria or E.coli, concentration of potassium, phosphate and the past history of diarrhea among family members, chicken manure suggested the most possible source of contamination. To evaluate the health status of members in the neighborhood past history was reviewed revealing no prior existence of patient with cyanosis and 65 people in the neighborhood had normal levels of methemoglobin concentration in their blood. Conclusively, the ground water on patient's household was contaminated with nitrate and despite provision of adequate water supply, family members of the patient along with their distrust in the water supply system had used ground water as their source of drinking water resulting of methemoglobinemia. Many suburban area of Seoul and country side thought to be having similar problems concerning contaminated ground water supply and dormant outbreak of patients as a result of the drinking of the contaminated water. Epidemiologic investigation and water analysis of ground waters are advised.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.251-261
• /
• 2006

The objective of this work is to apply artificial neural networks for solving inverse problems in the structural optimization of a fiber optic pressure sensor. For the sensor under investigation to achieve a desired accuracy, the change in the distance between the tips of the two fibers due to the applied pressure should not interfere with the phase change due to the change in the density of the air between the two fibers. Therefore, accurate dynamic analysis and structural optimization of the sensor is essential to ensure the accuracy of the measurements provided by the sensor. To this end, a normal mode analysis and a transient response analysis of the sensor were performed by combining commercial finite element analysis package, MSC/NASTRAN, and MATLAB. Furthermore, a parametric study on the design of the sensor was performed to minimize the size of the sensor while fulfilling a number of constraints. In performing the parametric study, the need for a relationship between the design parameters and the response of the sensor was fulfilled by using a neural network. The whole process of the dynamic analysis using commercial finite element analysis package and the parameter optimization of the sensor were automated within the MATLAB environment.