• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.40-47
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• 2000

Purpose: Renal involvement is the most important prognostic factor of HSP. Therefore, the pathogenesis and prognostic factors in renal involvement have been studied by many researchers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical risk factors and the role of TNF-$\alpha$ in renal involvement of HS purpura. Methods: The subjects of this study were 12 patients of HS purpura, 7 patients of HS nephritis, and 5 age-matched controls. We have analysed the rist factors for renal involvement in clinical symptoms and collected the sera and urines of all subjects in acute and convalescent stage. The concentration of TNF-$\alpha$ in the collected sera and urines were measured by sandwich ELISA and compared with that of age-matched controls. Results: Statistical analysis showed that persistent purpura increased the risk of developing renal involvement (P=0.0018). and serum TNF-$\alpha$ levels in the acute stage of patients with renal involvement($11.45{\pm}7.01$ pg/ml) were significantly higher than those of without renal involvement($6.32{\pm}1.31$pg/m1) and of age-matched controls($5.99{\pm}1.34$pg/m1)(P=0.012, 0.027, respectively). However, urine TNF-$\alpha$ levels have no correlation with renal involvement. On investigation of serum TNF-$\alpha$ levels in acute stage of HS purpura, persistent purpura had a significantly higher increase(P=0.038). Conclusion: Serum concentration of TNF-$\alpha$ is a risk factor and has a predictable value along with clinical risk factors, such as, persistent purpura for renal involvement in HS purpura. Also, the effectiveness of the specific treatment fur antagonizing TNF-$\alpha$ in HS nephritis may need further study.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.425-432
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• 1998

Purpose: For the purpose of using Re-188 as a therapeutic radionuclide, we performed the quality control of the W-188/Re-188 generator system. Materials and Methods: Several quality control tests of the Re-188 eluate from generator were carried out for about 300 days. After elution of Re-188 with normal saline (20 ml), chromatogram and gamma-ray spectrum of Re-188 eluate were obtained. The presence of aluminum which was derived from the alumina bed of the generator was detected by using aluminum ion indicator kit. Re-188 eluate was allowed to decay for several days, and then W-188 breakthrough in the Re-188 eluate was measured by detecting gamma-ray at 227 keY and 290 keV. The pH and the pyrogenicity of the eluate were checked. The Re-188 bolus was concentrated with ion exchange columns. Results: The radioactivity of Re-188 eluate from the generator was $67.4{\pm}7.0%$ of W-188 during 270 days, and it was highest at third day after previous elution. Radiochemical purity of Re-188 eluate obtained from chromatogram was higher than 99%. Gamma-ray spectrum of Re-188 eluate showed a peak at 155 keV. Aluminum ion and W-188 contamination were not detected. The PH of Re-188 eluate was 3 and the concentration yield was 85%. Conclusion: Our experiments and results on quality control tests of Re-188 eluate from W-188/Re-188 generator may be useful for setting W-188/Re-188 generator in hospitals.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.31 no.6 s.89
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• pp.589-600
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• 2001

Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) has the local tissue regulating actions. In bone, IGF-I increases the replication of osteoblastic lineage, probably preosteoblasts, and enhances osteoblastic collagen synthesis and matrix composition rates. The purpose of this study was to investigate the local regulatory effect of IGF-I on periodontium totally, both in an autocrine and paracrine manner. To examine the effect of IGF-I directly on osteoblast (OB) of test rats, and indirectlv on OB via periodontal ligament fibroblast (PDLF), and the effect of gingival fibroblast (GF) on OB via cellular paracrine manner for the understanding of humoral action of adjacent tissue, GF and PDLF were obtained from male Sprague-Dawley rats of six to eight weeks of age. OB was obtained iron frontal and parietal calvarial bone of Sprague-Dawley 21day-old-fetus. After each tell was Incubated 24 hours, for collecting conditioned medium, different concentrations of IGF-I (1,10,100 ng/ml,1ml/well) was adding in the GF, PDLF cells, and the supernatant from these cultures was put into the primary OB culture with $1{\times}10^4$cell/ml/well. The experimental group was divided into six groups control OB, IGF-I treated OB, OB culture with conditioned medium from PDLF, OB culture with conditioned medium from IGF-I treated PDLF, OB culture with conditioned medium from GF, OB culture with conditioned medium from IGF-I treated GF. After final IGF-I treatment, OB was Incubated for 24 hours, and alkaline phosphatase activity assay, BMP expression, cell proliferation measurement using MTT assay, total protein measurement, Collagen synthesis assay using western blot, and examination of bone nodule synthesis were done. Alkaline phosphatase expressions were increased in the group of PDLF-IGF-I supernatant treatment. Direct IGF-I treatment with concentrations of 100ng/m1 showed increased viable tell number measured by MTT assay. And IGF-I treatment did not increase total protein amount. The entire experimental group showed BMP2, 4 expression in western blot, and there was no significant difference between control and experimental groups. These results suggested that supernatant from PDLF effects on increasing cellular activities of OB regardless of IGF-I, and at high concentration, IGF-I increases OB tell proliferation.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.50-56
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• 1999

Background : Pleural effusion is a common clinical problem and many clinical and laboratory evaluations, such as tumor marks, have been studied to discriminate malignant pleural fluid from benign pleural fluid. However their usefulness in the diagnosis of pleural effusion is still not established fully. We studied the diagnostic value of cyfra 21-1 in diagnosis of malignant pleural effusion. Methods: Pleural fluid was obtained from 45 patients with malignant diseases(32 lung cancer patients, 13 metastatic malignant diseases) and 47 patients with benign diseases. The level of cyfra 21-1 in the pleural fluid and serum were determined using a CYFRA 21-1 enzyme immunoassay kit(Cis-Bio International Co.). The t-test was used for comparison between two diseases groups and receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curves were constructed by calculating the sensitivities and specificities of the cyfra 21-1 at several points to determine the diagnostic accuracy of the cyfra 21-1. Results: In patients with primary lung cancer, the level of cyfra 21-1 in the pleural fluid was significantly higher than those of patients with benign diseases and had positive correlations between the level of cyfra 21-1 in the pleural fluid and serum levels. In the ROC curve analysis of the pleural fluid, the curve for primary lung cancer group was located closer to the left upper comer and the cut off value, sensitivity and specificity of the cyfra 21-1 of the primary lung cancer group was determined as 22.25ng/ml, 81.8% and 78.7% respectively. Conclusions: Our data indicates that the measurement of cyfra 21-1 level in pleural effusion has useful diagnostic value to discriminate malignant pleural effusion in primary lung cancer from benign pleural effusion.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.156-158
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• 2009

Purpose: Since radiopharmaceuticals are intended for human administration, it is imperative that we should undergo quality control very strictly. Now almost all the PET laboratories have adopted Bacterial Endotoxin Test as the stand quality control method to monitor whether pyrogen is free or not in the product vial containing crude solution. The aim of this study is to find out the reason why false positive result is observed when using commercially available test vial. Materials and Methods: For this experiment, we used commercially available single test kit (Associates of Cape Code. Inc. USA) and we made pH samples by mixing each buffer whose pH ranges are 1.0 to 12.0. Otherwise we made Ethanol samples diluted with distilled water. After making test samples, it added 0.2 mL to the test vial. Assay mixture in the test vial was incubated in a water bath (Chang Shin Co. KOR) for 60 min at $35{\pm}2^{\circ}C$. Results: After incubation period ($60{\pm}1^{\circ}C$), we inverted the test vial about $180^{\circ}$ To know what pH and how many percentage of Ethanol (Fisher Scientific Korea. Ltd) will affect the reaction. With pH buffer, false positive result was observed at pH 1.0 to 5.0 and 7.7 to 12.6 but at pH 5.2 to.7.5, the test results show negative. It's very strange that we couldn't observe negative test result with Tris buffer at pH 8.4, 8.6, 8.8, 9.0. in other case Ethanol, the test result was seen with 5 to 10% Ethanol. But to my surprise we could see very thick gel formation with 100% Ethanol. Conclusions: In this study, we could notice that pH which is too much acidic or alkalic or high concentrated Ethanol would affect Bacterial Endotoxin Test result. As you know, LAL test is sensitive and very reliable method. Therefore, we are needed to elicit the accurate test result as possible as we can.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.667-673
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• 2009

Purpose : Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) is critical in the immune response to mycobacterial infections. The purpose of this study was to analyze TLR2 surface expressions and TLR2-mediated tumor necrosis factor-alpha ($TNF-{\alpha}$) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) production in patients with BCG vaccine-associated suppurative lymphadenitis. Methods : Peripheral monocytes were separated from 16 patients with BCG vaccine-associated suppurative lymphadenitis and 10 healthy controls using a magnet cell isolation kit. Monocytes ($1{\times}10^6$ cells/well) were incubated with a constant amount of $Pam_3CSK_4$ ($100{\mu}g/mL$) for 24 hours. TLR2 surface expression on monocytes was analyzed by FACS analysis and TLR-2 mRNA expression was determined by RT-PCR. TLR2-mediated $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-6 production were measured by ELISA. Results : In patients with BCG vaccine-associated suppurative lymphadenitis, low TLR2 expression on monocytes ($3.39{\pm}$1.2% versus $4.64{\pm}2.6%$) together with significantly lower TLR2 mRNA expression than in the healthy controls was seen after $Pam_3CSK_4$ stimulation. TLR2-mediated $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-6 production in patients with BCG vaccine-associated suppurative lymphadenitis ($TNF-{\alpha}$, $775.5{\pm}60.8pg/mL$; IL-6, $4,645.8{\pm}583.9pg/mL$) were also lesser than that in healthy controls ($TNF-{\alpha}$, $1,098.5{\pm}94.3pg/mL$; IL-6, $6,696.3{\pm}544.3pg/mL$). Conclusion : These findings suggest that low TLR2 expression on monocytes might be associated with increased susceptibility to BCG vaccine-associated suppurative lymphadenitis.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.10
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• pp.1096-1101
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• 2008

Purpose : Patients with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) have genetic mutations in a component of the NADPH oxidase enzyme that is necessary for the generation of the superoxide anion. The profound defect in innate immunity is reflected by the patients susceptibility to catalase-positive bacteria and fungi. In addition, CGD patients display signs of persistent inflammation, which is not associated only with deficient superoxide anion production. The aim of this study was to elucidate the cytokine responses in CGD patients after $TNF-{\alpha}$ stimulation. Methods : Heparinized blood samples were collected from 8 CGD patients and 10 healthy volunteers. Monocytes ($1{\times}10^6cell/well$) isolated by the magnet cell isolation system were incubated with a constant amount of $TNF-{\alpha}$ (10 ng/mL) at $37^{\circ}C$ for 6 h. Incubated cells were harvested at 60-min intervals for IL-8 and IL-10 mRNA analysis, and the supernatant was collected at the same intervals to determine IL-8 and IL-10 expression. Monocytes from healthy volunteers were also incubated with antioxidants followed by $TNF-{\alpha}$ stimulation for IL-8 and IL-10 expression. Results : In CGD patients, a high expression of IL-8 together with a significantly higher IL-10 expression than in the healthy controls was seen after $TNF-{\alpha}$ stimulation. Moreover, normal monocytes treated with antioxidants exhibited increased IL-8 responses. Conclusion : The absence of phagocyte-derived reactive oxidants in CGD might be associated with a dysregulated production of pro- and antiinflammatory cytokines. Additional research related to reactive oxidants is needed to clarify the role of cytokines in CGD patients.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.13-23
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• 1979

A study was carried out from October 1977 to September 1978 in order to develope health care delively system which will meet to rural area in Korea. For the study objective a model of health care delivery system of Myun (township) area was developed which is adopted the net-work of village health voluntary worker who will play the role of bridge for communication related with health and illness between families or village people and health subcenter, and :he model health care delivery system net-work was set in the area of Soodong Myun, Yangju Gun. which is the rural health demonstration area of Ewha Womans University since 1972. The activities and attitude of 22 village health voluntary workers were observed and analized. during the study period. The results are as follows; 1. For the field activities of village health voluntary workers. a guide line which is described with specific behavioral objectives was developed and used for not only training of the workers but also evaluation of their field activities. 2. During the study period, the number of 971 village people were served primary health care service by village health voluntary worker and the service was classified largely into symptomatic medications (92%) and preventive measures (8%). 3. Comparative percentage of the number of 894 symptomatic cases cared by village health voluntary workers to 5,695 cases of patient treated by Soodong Health Subcenter during the same period was 15.7%. 4. Annual utility rate of village health voluntary worker by Myun total people was 16.1% but utility rate by Rie was varied from 38.2% to 2.8% which shown there were considerable differences in each Rie. In order to settle the village health care service, the obstructive factors of utility should be detected and their counter measure must be taken. 5. As the health need of village people increases, it is expected that the supplement of drug excluding present sit basic drugs is inevitable, but considering the ability of village health voluntary worker, the selection of additional drugs and education, plan should be carefully studied. 6. It is desirable that a financial resource for supplementary purchase of first aid kit, drugs and materials whould be alloted from village public fund like Saemaeul Women's Club fund, which has already practiced in a few villages in the study area. 7. As pointed out by village health voluntary workers, in order to improve the village health, village leaders should be in the center of it and the cooperation of whole village people is a core of healthful village development, and it is reasonable that the health subcenter backs up these voluntary health activities by village people in techniques. 8. It seems effective that a supplementary education for village health voluntary worker be accomplished by a planned education through regular meetings like worker's monthly meeting and irregular post guide when Myun Health Workers can handle the problems found during the round trip of villages. 9. It is desirable that village health voluntary workers, who are recommended by a civil voluntary organization like Saemael Woman's Club, are charged by natural villagc unit, are given a function of village health care service and used through basic education at health subcenter. 10. It is advisable that the village health voluntary worker's service is compensated not by a form of money, but by other way such as an exemption of medical fee of worker herself or her families in health subcenter can be one method. 11. Daily health activities of each village health voluntary worker should be reported to health subcenter by biweekly or monthly in order to get not only for basic data of the program but also for evaluation the program. It is recomandable that the report form should be simple and clear enough for village health voluntary worker to fill it effectively. 12. Village health care service should be developed into a Saemaeul Movement in which village people actively participate. For this, the appointed function of village health voluntary worker should be absorbed into those of living Environment Betterment Section or Family Planning Section of Saemaeul Women's Club or it is desirable that establish a new section, Village Health Promoting Section and make it involve the appointed functions of those sections mentioned above.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.297-306
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• 2010

Tributyltin (TBT), an endocrine disrupting chemical, has been reported to decrease testicular function by causing apoptosis in the testis, but this mechanism is not fully understood. Thus, in this study we examined whether TBT induces adipogenesis of the Leydig cells to find out the correlation between adipogenesis and apoptosis in the testis. Three week old SD male rats were orally administrated with sesame oil, 1 mg/kg of TBT, or 10 mg/kg of TBT daily for 1 week and weighed after administration. The testes obtained on day 8 were weighed and stained with BODIPY and TUNEL kit. Using total RNA extracted from the isolated Leydig cells, adipogenesis and apoptosis-related genes were analyzed by real-time PCR. The testicular weights of the rats treated with 10 mg/kg TBT were significantly decreased compared to those in the control rats treated with sesame oil. As a result of BODIPY staining, the number of Leydig cells stained with BODIPY was increased in the rats treated with 10 mg/kg TBT compared with the control rats. Similar to BODIPY staining results, the TUNEL assay showed that the apoptosis of Leydig cells was increased in TBT treated rats. The results of the gene expression analysis in the Leydig cells showed that the expression of adipogenesis-related genes (PPAR${\gamma}$, aP2, Perilipin, CD36) and apoptosis-related genes (TNFRSF1A, TNFSF10) was increased after TBT administration. The present study demonstrates that TBT induces the expression of adipogenesis-related and apoptosis-related genes in the Leydig cells leading to adipogenesis and apoptosis in the testes. These results suggest that the dysfunction of Leydig cells by TBT exposure may cause a loss in testicular function.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.315-322
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• 2006

This study was performed to investigate the physiological effects of bovine follicular fluid (bFF) or anti-inhibin serum (AI) on follicular development in Hanwoo. Saline (0.95%), bFF or AI (total of 40 ml) were administered into the jugular vein in 9 Hanwoo cows. The plasma inhibin, estradiol-17 $\beta$ (E2), and progesterone (P4) levels were measured using RIA or ELISA kit and the number of ovarian follicles was observed by ultrasonography at 72 hr after ovulation. The plasma inhibin level in bFF treatment group was significantly increased and maintained higher level from 102 hr after ovulation compared to that of saline and AI groups (p<0.05). In plasma E2 level, AI treatment group showed significantly higher level from 36 hr to 108 hr after ovulation than that of saline and bFF groups (p<0.05). After that it showed decreasing tendency. The plasma P4 level was increased in control and AI treatment groups at 68 hr after ovulation. However, it was maintained significantly lower level in bFF group from 84 hr to 180 hr compared to that of saline and AI group (p<0.05). As a result of ultrasonography at 72 hr after ovulation, higher number of follicles was shown in AI treatment group compared to bFF groups, although the difference was not statistically significant. Taken together, it can be postulated that a treatment of synthesized AI inhibits the secretion of inhibin, stimulates FSH secretion inhibited by inhibin, and induces follicular development and estrogen secretion. According to these results, a development of ovarian follicle immediately after ovulation is associated closely with inhibin in Hanwoo heifers.