• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.213-218
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• 2017

Most men infected with Trichomonas vaginalis are asymptomatic and can remain undiagnosed and untreated. This has been hypothesized to result in chronic persistent prostatic infection. Adhesion of the protozoan organisms to mucosal cells is considered a first and prerequisite step for T. vaginalis infection. Adhesion of T. vaginalis to prostate epithelial cells has not yet been observed; however, there are several reports about inflammation of prostate epithelial cells induced by T. vaginalis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether adhesion and cytotoxicity of T. vaginalis are involved in inflammation of prostate epithelial cells. When RWPE-1 cells were infected with T. vaginalis (1:0.4 or 1:4), adhesion of T. vaginalis continuously increased for 24 hr or 3 hr, respectively. The cytotoxicity of prostate epithelial cells infected with T. vaginalis (RWPE-1: T. vaginalis=1:0.4) increased at 9 hr; at an infection ratio of 1:4, cytotoxicity increased after 3 hr. When the RWPE-1 to T. vaginalis ratio was 1:0.4 or 1:4, production of IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, CCL2, and CXCL8 also increased. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was verified by measuring decreased E-cadherin and increased vimentin expression at 24 hr and 48 hr. Taken together, the results indicate that T. vaginalis adhered to prostate epithelial cells, causing cytotoxicity, pro-inflammatory cytokine production, and EMT. Our findings suggest for the first time that T. vaginalis may induce inflammation via adhesion to normal prostate epithelial cells.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.345-360
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• 2011

Objectives : This study was examined to investigate the effects of Cheonmagudeng-um gagam (CGG) extract on spontaneous hypertension. Methods : For the study of CGG, we divided rats into three groups. The normal group was Wister Kyoto rats (WKY). The control group was spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). The treatment group was SHR which were administered CGG extract (SHR-CGG). SHR-CGG were orally administered CGG extract that was diluted in distilled water at the various concentrations for 4 weeks (234.5 mg/kg) and SHR were orally administered the same dosage of plain distilled water as SHR-CGG. Then we measured anti-oxygen effects, ACE inhibitory activity, weight of heart and kidney, blood pressure, heart rate, plasma aldosterone, electrolyte, creatinine, uric acid, BUN, and observed the cortex of the cardiac muscle, kidney, and adrenal gland. Results : CGG increased DPPH scavenging activity and SOD similar activity depending on the concentration. CGG significantly decreased ROS, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6, IL-$1{\beta}$, heart weight, blood pressure, heart rate, aldosterone, and BUN in SHR. CGG increased ACE inhibition activity depending on the concentration. CGG inhibited the heart, kidney and adrenal gland tissue injury that is caused by hypertension. Conclusions : These results suggest that CGG is effective in treatment and prevention of hypertension.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.345-349
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• 2011

The bacterial growth and pH of Pleuropterus cilinervis extracts and animal milk, fermented with Lactobacillus rhamnosus during the fermentation process, were evaluated. The results indicated that the bacterial count after fermentation always remained higher than 6 log CFU/mL, with a constant pH of approximately 4. In order to evaluate the effects of Pleuropterus cilinervis extracts and animal milk, fermented with Lactobacillus rhamnosus, on hair growth promotion, C57BL/6 mice were chosen as experimental subjects. Six week old males with similar body weights were divided into four groups; a normal group (saline), a negative control group (essence base), a positive control group and an experimental group (Pleuropterus cilinervis extracts and animal milk, fermented with Lactobacillus rhamnosus, mixed with negative control). The substances and test materials were applied topically on the back skin of the mice for 8 days. Other external conditions and variables such as food intake were kept at the same as the four groups. At the end of the experiment it was noted that hair re-growth in the experimental group, using gross and histological examinations, was higher than that in the positive control group. This study therefore provides an empirical evidence that Pleuropterus cilinervis extracts and animal milk fermented with Lactobacillus rhamnosus promotes hair growth, and suggests that applications could be found in hair loss treatments.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.92-100
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• 2017

Acetoin (AC) is a volatile platform compound with various potential industrial applications. AC contains two stereoisomeric forms: (3S)-AC and (3R)-AC. Optically pure AC is an important potential intermediate and widely used as a precursor to synthesize novel optically active materials. In this study, chiral (3R)-AC production from meso-2,3-butanediol (meso-2,3-BD) was obtained using recombinant Escherichia coli cells co-expressing meso-2,3-butanediol dehydrogenase (meso-2,3-BDH), NADH oxidase (NOX), and hemoglobin protein (VHB) from Serratia sp. T241, Lactobacillus brevis, and Vitreoscilla, respectively. The new biocatalyst of E. coli/pET-mbdh-nox-vgb was developed and the bioconversion conditions were optimized. Under the optimal conditions, 86.74 g/l of (3R)-AC with the productivity of 3.61 g/l/h and the stereoisomeric purity of 97.89% was achieved from 93.73 g/l meso-2,3-BD using the whole-cell biocatalyst. The yield and productivity were new records for (3R)-AC production. The results exhibit the industrial potential for (3R)-AC production via whole-cell biocatalysis.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.50-58
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• 2013

This study was carried out to evaluate the geospatial characteristics of blooming date migration in three major spring flowers across North and South Korea as influenced by climate change. A thermal time-based phenology model driven by daily maximum and minimum temperature was adjusted for the key parameters (i.e., reference temperature, chilling requirement, heating requirement) used for predicting blooming of forsythia, azaleas, and Japanese cherry. The model was run by the RCP 8.5 projected temperature outlook over the Korean Peninsula and produced the mean booming dates for the three climatological normal years in the future (2011-2040, 2041-2070, and 2071-2100) at a 12.5 km grid spacing. Comparison against the observed blooming date patterns in the baseline climate (1971-2000) showed that there will be a substantial acceleration in blooming dates of the three species, resulting in cherry booming in February and flowers of azaleas and forsythia found at the top of mountain Baikdu by the 2071-2100 period. Flowering dates of the three species in the near future (2011-2040) may be accelerated by 3-5 days at minimum and 10-11 days at maximum compared with that in the baseline period (1971-2000). Those values corresponding to the middle future (2041-2070) can be from a minimum of 9-11 days to a maximum of 23-24 days. Blooming date of Japanese cherry can be accelerated by 26 days on average for the far future (2071-2100). The acceleration seems more prominent at islands and coastal plain areas than over inland mountainous areas.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.49-67
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• 2020

This study was conducted to compare and analyze forest vegetation distributed in Geumosanseong-inside in Geumosan Provincial Park from 2017.10 to 2019.6. The vegetation structure was classified by the phytosociological method and TWINSPAN and the correlation between the community structure and the environmental factors was analyzed using DCCA ordination analydsis. The vegetation structures are Quercus mongolica, Fraxinus mandshurica, Q. acutissima, Larix leptolepis, Prunus padus and Morus alba community by the phytosociological method and 16 communities under TWINSPAN. The importance value of Q. mongolica(64.5) was the highest, and followed by F. mandshurica, L. leptolepis, Acer pseudosieboldianum, M. alba, P. padus, Q. acutissima, Sorbus alnifolia, P. serrulata var. pubescens, F. sieboldiana, Rhododendron schlippenbachii and Castanea crenata which is consistent with species having the dominance status by analysis of the vegetation structure. As the results of DBH analysis for taxon with high importance values, Q. mongolica and M. alba represented normal distribution, and thus, the dominance status of these species is likely to continue. L. leptolepis will maintain the dominance status due to high density of large individuals as compared with species above medium size. However, it will decrease because of high mortality after increase in age class. F. mandshurica and P. padus continue to show dominance status due to high density of young individuals as compared with species above medium size. Q. acutissima have high density of individuals above intermediate size and low density of young individuals, and thus, will maintain the dominance status. A. pseudosieboldianum, F. sieboldiana and R.schlippenbachii which are arborescent will present continuously high dominance status because of high density of young individuals. Soil analysis shows that whereas pH, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ in the research area were lower than the average values of overall forest soil and O.M, T-N, C.E.C and P₂O₅ were higher. We expected that these results were due to agricultures until 50 years ago in Geumosanseong-inside. As a result of DCCA ordination analysis using eleven environmental factors and communities classified by the phytosociological method analysis showed that Q. mongolica was distributed in the environment with higher elevation and O.M and steep slope, and lower P₂O₅, Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺. In contrast to F. mandshurica, Q. acutissima was distributed in higher K⁺ and lower pH. L. leptolepsis was distributed in various environment.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.9
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• pp.896-900
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• 2007

Purpose : The aim of this study was to investigate the speech problems in benign rolandic epilepsy (BRE) according to the seizure focus in EEG and semiology. Methods : Twenty three patients [right origin (13 patients) or left side (10 patients)] who met the BRE criteria by International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) were prospectively enrolled. We excluded the patients who had abnormal MRI or showed both side spikes in EEG. Computerized Speech Lab was used to assess the speech characteristics of the patients. Results : The error pattern of laryngeal articulation in BRE was exclusively substitution of stop consonants, these errors showed more frequent in the left group (16.0% vs 25.5%). Voice onset time (VOT) of stop consonants and Total duration (TD) of word in both groups were prolonged than normal control group, especially in left group (P<0.05). The first formant of vowel /o/ and second formant of /e/ were significantly decreased in left group (P<0.05). The right group scored wider on pitch range ($192.9{\pm}54.0Hz$) and energy range in spontaneous speech ($14.2{\pm}6.4db$) than the left group ($233.3{\pm}12.5Hz$, $19.4{\pm}9.3db$, respectively, P>0.05). Duration of counting (5 to 9) in left group slower than right group ($8.6{\pm}1.7$ vs $7.9{\pm}1.8sec$). Conclusion : Our data suggested that interictal spikes and seizures in either centrotemporal sides, especially left side group, may induce speech problems. We recommend the logopedic and phoniatric evaluations of speech in BRE patients.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.345-357
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• 2002

The purpose of this study is to find out how the Father Class, which is being practiced at a hospital located in Seoul, influences on fathers' level of knowledge and confidence of postpartal mother and newborn care. Research design was quasi-experimental study using non equivalent experiment and control group. The data, questionaires, were collected from Sep. 13, 2001 to Oct. 31, 2001 through e-mail, telephone and mail, after discharge from S hospital located in Seoul, where the experimental group was educated at the Father Class and control group didn't take part in the class. The objects were the fathers who have the first baby through normal delivery or C-sec delivery including experimental group 48 persons and control group 52 persons. Four instruments were the revised ones of Lee Mi Kyoung's(1990) and Kwak Yon Hee's tool based on the resources of direct interviews of fathers and one expert, professor. The reliability of four instruments were Cronbach's $\alpha$ scores .85 -93. Data were analyzed by SPSS 10.0 program using $x^2$-test, and t-test and, One- way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation, etc. The results of this study are as follows; 1.The two groups were confirmed as a homogeneous group by showing no significant difference statistically at the level of 5%. 2.The results of proving the hypothesis are followings: 1)The first hypothesis, "the fathers who participated in the Father Class will have the higher level of knowledge about postpartal mother care than the fathers who didn't" was accepted by significant difference statistically (p=0.000). 2)The second hypothesis, "the fathers who took part in the class will have the higher confidence in postpartal mother care than the fathers who didn't", was supported by significant difference statistically (p=0.000). 3) The third hypothesis, "the fathers who attended the class will have the better knowledge about taking care of newborn than the others", was accepted by significant difference statistically (p=0.000). 4)The fourth hypothesis, "the fathers who participated in the class will have the higher confidence in newborn care than others," was supported by significant difference statistically (p=0.000). 3.The further analysis showed whether they participated in Prenatal Birth Preparing Class influenced on the father's level of knowledge and confidence in postpartal mother and newborn care. In conclusion, the Father Class is the effective nursing intervention strategy that can help new fathers attain father and husband roles by enhancing the level of confidence in and knowledge of the postpartal mother and newborn care.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.312-320
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• 1992

Radiotherapeutically, nasopharyngeal cancer is an important disease in korea. Because of its blind anatomic location, early detection is relatively uncommon. Clinically, most of cases are locally advanced and nodal involvement are common. Recently better understanding of nature of the disease and improvement of radio-therapy technique permit better treatment results, including locoregional control and survival rate, and minimal normal tissue damages comparing with previously published data. We analyzed 31 patients of pathologically proven and previously untreated naso-pharyngeal carcinoma with different treatment techniques, retrospectively. Minimal and maximal follow up period of the survuor is 6 months and 68 months, respectively. Thirteen patients with squamous cell carcinoma are included in this analysis. The median age is 49 years(range from 20 to 64 years). Twenty two patients are stage III. Eleven patients are treated with radiotherapy alone and 20 are treated with comblined modalities treatment. The degree of responses after radiotherapy are categorized by 3-classes, i.e. complete response, partial response. In spite of simioarities of complete response rate and 1-year survival rate between two different treatment techniques, those patients with undifferentiated carcinoma appear to benefit from the adjuvant chemotherapy. In addition, systemic failure is more prominant in radiotherapy alone group than in combined modalities treatment group. These results suggest that adjuvant therapy in the radiotherapeutic management of nasopharyngeal cancers needs additional research according to histologic types and future extensive clinical trials.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.958-965
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• 2015

Lycopene, a red non-provitamin A carotenoid, mainly presenting in tomato and tomato byproducts, has the highest antioxidant activity among carotenoids because of its high number of conjugated double bonds. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of lycopene supplementation in the diet on plasma lipid profile, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant defense system in feedlot lamb. Twenty-eight Bamei male lambs (90 days old) were divided into four groups and fed a basal diet (LP0, 40:60 roughage: concentrate) or the basal diet supplemented with 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg lycopene. After 120 days of feeding, all lambs were slaughtered and sampled. Dietary lycopene supplementation significantly reduced the levels of plasma total cholesterol (p<0.05, linearly), total triglycerides (TG, p<0.05) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C, p<0.05), as well as atherogenic index (p<0.001), whereas no change was observed in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p>0.05). The levels of TG (p<0.001) and LDL-C (p<0.001) were decreased with the feeding time extension, and both showed a linear trend (p<0.01). Malondialdehyde level in plasma and liver decreased linearly with the increase of lycopene inclusion levels (p<0.01). Dietary lycopene intake linearly increased the plasma antioxidant vitamin E level (p<0.001), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC, p<0.05), and activities of catalase (CAT, p<0.01), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px, p<0.05) and superoxide dismutase (SOD, p<0.05). The plasma T-AOC and activities of GSH-Px and SOD decreased with the extension of the feeding time. In liver, dietary lycopene inclusion showed similar antioxidant effects with respect to activities of CAT (p<0.05, linearly) and SOD (p<0.001, linearly). Therefore, it was concluded that lycopene supplementation improved the antioxidant status of the lamb and optimized the plasma lipid profile, the dosage of 200 mg lycopene/kg feed might be desirable for growing lambs to prevent environment stress and maintain normal physiological metabolism.