• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.353-358
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• 2016

Thiolase is an enzyme that catalyzes condensation reactions between two acetyl-CoA molecules to produce acetoacetyl-CoA. As thiolase catalyzes is the first reaction in the production of n-butanol, knowledge of the molecular and regulatory mechanism of the enzyme is crucial for synthesizing high-value biofuel. Thiolase from Clostridium butyricum (CbTHL) was expressed, purified, and crystallized. X-ray diffraction data were collected from the crystals, and the 3-dimentional structure of the enzyme was determined at 2.0 Å. The overall structure of thiolase was similar to that of type II biosynthetic thiolases, such as thiolase from C. acetobutylicum (CaTHL). The superposition of this structure with that of CaTHL complexed with CoA revealed the residues that comprise the catalytic and substrate binding sites of CbTHL. The catalytic site of CbTHL contains three conserved residues, Cys88, His349, and Cys379, which may function as a covalent nucleophile, general base, and second nucleophile, respectively. For substrate binding, the way in which CbTHL stabilized the ADP moiety of CoA was unlike that of other thiolases, whereas the stabilization of β-mercaptoethyamine and pantothenic acid moieties of CoA was quite similar to that of other enzymes. The most interesting observation in the CbTHL structure was that the enzyme was regulated through redox-switch modulation, using a reversible disulfide bond.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.379-385
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• 2005

This study was conducted to find out a useful bioremediation technology for heavy metal contaminated soil and water. We isolated strain CPB from heavy metal contaminated soil and evaluated the tolerance level and adsorption capacity of strain CPB to heavy metals (Strain is not determined yet). Strain CPB showed variable tolerance limit to different kinds heavy metal or concentrations of heavy metals. The growth of strain CPB was significantly inhibited by mixed heavy metals (Cd+Cu+Pb+Zn) than that of by single heavy metal. Strain CPB showed high binding capacity with Pb (Pb>Cd>Cu>Zn). In general, strain CPB showed high uptake of heavy metals such as Pb, Cd and Cu. It was observed that the capacity of heavy metal uptake from mixture of heavy metals was reduced in comparison with single heavy metal treatment. But total contents of heavy metal bound with cell in mixed heavy metal showed higher than in single heavy metal treatment. Heavy metal adsorption in cells was affected by several external factors, such as temperature and pH etc.. The optimum temperature and pH of the adsorption of heavy metal into cells were ca. $25{\sim}35^{\circ}C$ and pH ca. $5{\sim}7$, respectively. A large number of the electron dense particles were found mainly on the cell wall and cell membrane fractions, which was determined by transmission electron microscope. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy revealed that the electron dense particles were the heavy metal complexes the substances binding with heavy metals.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.67-79
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• 1993

This study was designed to identify the general health conditions and high risk factors of the male & female environmental workers. Thereby. the results of this study were to provide useful data as a contribution to knowledge for health protection and promotion. The data used for this study were environmental workers' physical examination cards; the male environmental workers were 52 persons. and the female environmental workers 52 persons. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, Pearson correlation, and distinction analysis, using the SPSS program. The results of this study can be summarized as follows; 1. Thers was a significant statistical difference between the two groups as to height. eyesight. serum GPT, hematocrit. The variables having little difference between two groups were weight. systolic blood pressure. total cholesterol. creatinine. 2. The rate of revealed in significant health examination was extra-health discrimination rate $28.8\%$, significant result of illness rate $12.5\%$. injury-inflicting rate $7\%$. second-time urine test $5.7\%$. antigen positive 3.8%. hearing impairment $2.8\%$, urine protein positive $1.9\%$. and urine sugar positive $1.9%$. 3. The workers diagnosed as extra-health discrimination were 30 persons or $28.8\%$. There was a difference between two groups on the prevalence. In the male environmental workers. ten times live problems and six times pulmonary tuberculosis and three times circulatory problems were revealed the higher than thoes of the female environmental workers. 4. In the male environmental workers, the relationship between age and systolic blood pressure revealed a significant correlation (r=0.22. p<0.05). In the female environmental workers. there was a negative correlation between age and weight (r= 0.25, p<0.05). the relationship between age and total cholesterol correlated positively (r=0.30, p<'0.05). 5. In the male environmental workers, there was a negative correlation between working career and creatinine(r=-0. 22, p<0.05) In the female environmental workers, there was a positive correlation between working career and total cholesterol (r= 0.58, p<0.01). 6. There were significant differences on working career and creatinine accdording to the male and female environmental workers who had any problems through x-ray inspection. 7. There were significant differences on height. eyesight. serum GPT according to the male and female environmental workers who were diagnosed as extra-health discrimination. 8. The female environmental workers who were diagnosed as 'care' were positively correlated with weight (r= 0.26. p<0.05)' and systolic blood pressure (r= 0.30. p<0. 05). on the other hand. the left and right eyesight correlated nagatively(r=-0.15. r=-0.33. p<0.01). 9. The most influential variables on the male and female environmental workers' health condition were working career, height. and weight. And these three variables could help determine the two groups at the level of 81. 8 percentage.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.51-60
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• 1995

Lithium Fluoride (LiF; TLD-100) crystal chips are normally used as thermolu minescence dosimeters (abbreviated as NC-100) for estimating the absorbed dose to the skin of a patient or in a solid water phantom undergoing radiotherapy with megavoltage photon (6 and 15MV) beams. In general, investigation has revealed a reduction in the sensitivity of NC-100 chips after many runs through heating cycles. A TLD-100 chip laminated with gold plate (140${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$) on the upper surface layer of its face toward the photon beam (abbreviated as GC-100) has properties different from that of a NC-100 chip activated by incident photons and contaminant electrons with various lower energies coming from the gantry head and air. Activation of the valence band electrons of GC-100 chips by incident photons, positrons and electrons-which come from the gold plate by mainly pair production process and partly from Compton scattering-results in more enhanced signal intensity, higher response per monitor unit, as well as a good linearity with monitor units and independence of dose rate. Since the electron beams (6 and 15 MeV) do not have the probability of pair production process with gold plate, there is only a small difference (about a 3.3％ increase for 15 MeV) in the signal gaps in the TL readout for electron beams between GC- and NC-100 chips. The 3.3％ increase is entirely due to the buildup caused by the 140 m gold plate. The sensitivity of GC-100 chips is much more susceptible to high energy photon beams than electron one because of pair production. The interaction of high energy photon with a material of high atomic number, such as the good plate in this case, results in a considerably significant probability of pair production. The gold plate on the NC-100 chips acts as not only an intensifier of their signals but also acts as a filter of contaminant electrons in therapeutic high energy X-ray beams.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.213-222
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• 2013

Few studies investigated the effects of nutrition education and exercises in women with osteopenia. This study examined the relationship between changes in dietary intakes and changes in indicators related to bone health in postmenopausal women with osteopenia (-2.5 ${\leq}$ T-score ${\leq}$ 1) after a 12-week intervention. Thirty-one postmenopausal women aged > 50 years residing in Seoul were recruited and participated in nutritional education regarding bone health and general nutrition practices and aerobic exercises (three times a week; 60 min per session). Twenty-five subjects completed the study and were eligible for the analysis. Bone mineral density (BMD) at femoral neck was measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Serum calcium, osteocalcin, and intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) were also measured. Dietary intake was estimated by using a one-day 24 recall by a clinical dietitian. After 12 weeks, meat consumption increased (P = 0.028) but vegetable intake decreased (P = 0.005). Intakes of animal protein (P = 0.024), vitamin B1 (P = 0.012) and vitamin $B_2$ (P = 0.047) increased, and sodium intake decreased (P = 0.033). Intact PTH (P = 0.002) decreased and osteocalcin (P = 0.000) increased, however, BMD decreased (P = 0.000). Changes in mushroom consumption were positively correlated with femoral neck BMD (r = 0.673, P = 0.003). Changes in animal iron intake were negatively correlated with intact PTH (r = -0.488, P = 0.013) but were positively correlated with osteocalcin (r = 0.541, P = 0.005). These results suggested that the association between animal iron intake and biochemical markers of bone turnover may play an important role in bone metabolism. Further studies are needed to shed light on complicated mechanisms of diet, hormonal levels of bone metabolism, and bone density.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.55-60
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• 2007

Contents of scorched particles in infant formula were studied to provide a scientific evidence for standardization of Food Regulation in Korea. The specification of scorched particles in infant formula in Korea was satisfied with CODEX, USDA and so on. But food regulations for scorched particles in baby food are not mentioned in Korea. Nowadays social interests of scorched particles in infant formula are being increased in the respect of safety for baby food. The composition and contents of scorched particles were analyzed with Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometer(SEM-EDS) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer(ICP-MS). The results indicate that the scorched particles consist Ca, Na, Fe, Mg and trace elements derived from the ingredient of infant formula. Infant formula are composed of milk, skimmed milk, whey, mixed vegetable oils, minerals and vitamins. These results also show that the contents of scorched particles of infant formula in Korea are little or similar level to those reported in other countries. In general, heavy metals derived from scorched particle are originally used as a source of minerals in infant formula. And it has been thought that they doesn't effect on Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake set by FAO/WHO for contents and composition of scorched particles.

• Proceedings of the Korean Journal of Food and Nutrition Conference
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• 2003.07a
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• pp.76-76
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• 2003

This study was conducted to investigate dietary and other factors affecting bone mineral density (BMD) in Korean premenopausal women. Seventy-eight premenopausal women who visited health promotion center for health examinations volunteered to participate in this study and they were divided into two groups according to the bone status by T-score : normal or osteopenic group and osteoporotic group. The demographic and general characteristics, and dietary intake were surveyed using the questionnaire. BMDs of the lumbar spine and femoral neck of subjects were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Serum samples were measured for Lipid concentration, and calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase as bone formation indicators. Urine was analysed for creatinine as bone resolution indicators. The results are as follows:The mean BMDs of the lumbar spine and femoral neck were 1.21 0.02g/cm$^2$ and 0.97 0.04g/cm$^2$, respectively and the BMD levels of osteoporotic group were significantly lower than that of normal or osteopenic group (p<0.001, respectively). Height in osteoporotic group was significantly lower than that of normal or osteopenic group (p<0.01), and bodyweight did not show any significant difference but had a lower tendency. Mean daily intake of energy was 1720 52ka1. When nutrient intake was compared with recommended dietary allowances (RDA) of subjects, calcium, Fe, vitamin A and riboflavin intakes showed means lower than RDA. The nutrient intake did not show any significant difference between normal or osteopenic group and osteoporotic group except intakes of protein fat and niacin. Serum and urine levels did not show any significant differences between normal or osteopenic group and osteoporotic group and all were within normal range, however, serum alkaline phosphatase level of osteoporotic group was significantly higher than that of normal or osteopenic group (p<0.001). Height showed positive correlations with lumbar spine bone mineral density (LBMD, r=0.332, p<0.01), no correlation was found with femoral neck bone mineral density (NBMD). Age, age at menarche, bodyweight, body mass index (BMI) and obesity showed no correlation with BMD. The BMD of the lumbar spine was significantly and positively related to the intake of niacin and vitamin C (r=0.236, p<0.05; r=0.274, p<0.05). Serum levels of calcium and phosphorus showed a negative correlation with LBMD (r=-0.698, p=0.0001; r=-0.503, p=0.0001, respectively). The results suggested that the BMDs of the lumbar spine was positively related to the intake of niacin and vitamin C in premenopausal women. Therefore, this study confirmed that one of the most effective way to minimize bone loss would be higher intake of niacin and vitamin C rich foods and habitual physical activity may have a beneficial effect on BMD in premenopausal period.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.63 no.5
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• pp.623-630
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• 2020

Objective : A primary degenerative sagittal imbalance has been considered because of unique lifestyles such as the prolonged crouched posture during agricultural work and performing activities of daily living on the floor. Previous papers have reported that sagittal imbalance disease is often seen distinctly in the farming districts of "oriental" countries such as Korea and Japan. However, this finding was only evaluated with the use of X-ray, and other factors such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), muscle volume, compression fracture, and laboratory results were not considered. Thus, using these, we evaluate the agricultural work-associated factors for Korean elderly spinal sagittal imbalance. Methods : We recruited 103 Korean participants who had a sagittal vertical axis (SVA) of >5 cm in this Korean Elderly Sagittal Imbalance Cohort Study. The following were evaluated : radiological parameters, MRI, compression fracture, vitamin D, parathyroid hormone, C-terminal telopeptide, osteocalcin, bone mineral density and muscle fatty change, muscle volume, and health-related quality of life from patients' survey. Moreover, in this survey, the farmers' annual working hours were investigated. Subsequently, we analyzed the associated factors for spinal sagittal imbalance depending on occupation. Results : A total of 46 participants were farmers, and the others were housewives, sellers, and office workers. The farmer group had more SVA (141 vs. 99 mm, p=0.001) and pelvic tilt (31° vs. 24°, p=0.004) and lesser lumbar lordosis (20° vs. 30°, p=0.009) and thoracic kyphosis (24° vs. 33°, p=0.03) than non-farmer group. A significantly positive correlation was noted between the working hour and SVA in the farmer group (p=0.014). The visual analogue scale score for back pain (8.26 vs. 6.96, p=0.008) and Oswestry Disability Index (23.5 vs. 19.1, p=0.003) in the farmer group were higher than that in the non-farmer group, but the Short Form-36 score was not significantly different between the two groups. The Mini-Mental State Exam score was significantly lower in the farmer group than in the non-farmer group (24.85 vs. 26.98, p=0.002). Conclusion : The farmer group had more sagittal imbalance and back pain in proportion to the working hours even though the muscle and bone factors and general laboratory condition were not significantly different between the two groups. These results supported that the long hours spent in the crouched posture while performing agricultural work were a risk factor for severe sagittal imbalance.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.60-72
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• 1995

Temporomandibular joint ankylosis is the movemental obstacle of mandible which depend on proliferation of bony or fibrous tissue in temporomandibular joint structure by various causes. In order to treat this, various surgical methods have been performed, but no operative methods have been produced consistently successful results. This research has been performed to the patients who had been operated due to temporomandibular joint ankylosis by studying classification, cause, onset, duration, anesthesia and treatment method, symptom, change of mouth opening, complication through medical record, X-ray, follow-up for being a help to proper selection of treatment method and evaluation of prognosis. The author obtained the following results by analyzing 44 cases among patients who had been operated due to temporomandibular joint ankylosis during 8 year hospitalization from 1986 to 1993 in Dept. of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery of Seoul National University Hospital. 1. The occurrence was in the order of below 10, 20's, 10's, 30's. The average of occurrence was 12.95. Illness period was 50.0% within 10 years and 50% beyond 10 years. The average period of illness was 13.33 years. 2. Trauma occupied 54.5% of causes and inflammation occupied 45.5%. Men had more occurrences due to trauma and there was no difference in case of inflammation. 3. In nasotracheal intubations for general anesthesia, the cases of using fiberoptic laryngoscope occupied 40.9%, direct or blind nasotracheal intubation occupied 40.9% and the cases of using tracheostomy occupied 18.2%. 4. In operative approaching methods, submandibular & preauricular approach were mainly applied, and in operative methods, high condylectomy(Group I) occupied 11.4%, arthroplasty without interpositional material following condylectomy or gap ostectomy(Group II) occupied 11.4%, with interpositional material following high condylectomy (Group III) occupied 40.9%, and using condylar reconstruction following condylectomy or gap ostectomy(Group IV) occupied 36.6%. 5. In change of mouth opening reformed after surgery, Group III showed the best result of average 23.5mm, Group IV showed 16.3mm, Group I showed 14.9mm and Group II showed 10.2mm of reformation. Summarizing the results as written above, it is considered that early treatment is important as soon as possible in Temporomandibular joint ankylosis. It is recommended in surgical method what can lead to postoperative early movement maintaining anatomaical & functional form, and then the development of various surgical methods will be requested.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.65 no.3
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• pp.230-234
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• 2008

The incidence of appendiceal metastatic cancer is quite low. In particular, in small cell lung cancer, there is a very low incidence of a metastasis to the appendix. A 75-years old man with right lower quadrant pain, cough and sputum was transferred to our hospital. Abdominal CT revealed acute appendicitis with a perforation. The patient underwent surgery. The frozen sections of the tissue obtained during surgery, indicated a malignancy, but a right hemicolectomy was not performed due to the patient's poor general condition. The histology findings of the appendix were identified as a small cell carcinoma. The abdominal CT scan and chest x-ray at admission day showed a mass in the right lower lobe, and a further evaluation of the lesion was performed including positron emission tomography and flexible bronchoscopy with a biopsy. The pathology findings of the lung mass were also small cell lung cancer. The specimens from both sites stained positive for cytokeratin, cluster designation 56, synaptophysin, chromogranin-A and thyroid transcription factor 1. It was concluded that the appendiceal small cell cancer originated from the lung.