• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.12
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• pp.1362-1369
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• 2005

Purpose : This study aimed to investigate the correlation between the plasma level of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide(pro-BNP) and several known risk factors influencing outcomes after Fontan operations, and to assess whether pro-BNP levels can be used as predictive risk factors in Fontan operations. Methods : Plasma pro-BNP concentrations were measured in 35 patients with complex cardiac anomalies before catheterization. Cardiac catheterization was performed in all subjects. Mean right atrium pressure, mean pulmonary artery pressure(PAP), and ventricular end-diastolic pressure(EDP) were obtained. Cardiac output and pulmonary vascular resistance were calculated by Fick method. Results : Plasma pro-BNP levels exhibited statistically significant positive correlations with mean PAP(r=0.70, P<0.001), pulmonary vascular resistance(r=0.57, P<0.001), RVEDP(r=0.63, P<0.001), LVEDP(r=0.74, P<0.001), and cardiothoracic ratio(r=0.71, P<0.001). The area under the ROC curve using pro-BNP level to differentiate risk groups in Fontan operations was high : 0.868(95 percent CI, 0.712-1.023, P<0.01). The cutoff value of pro-BNP concentrations for the detection of risk groups in Fontan operations was determined to be 332.4 pg/mL(sensitivity 83.3 percent, specificity 82.7 percent). Conclusion : These data suggest that plasma pro-BNP levels may be used as a predictive risk factor in Fontan operations, and as a guide to determine the mode of therapy during follow-up after Fontan operations.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.35-42
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• 2017

This research was conducted to investigate the influence of post-planting fertilizer concentrations on the growth of seedlings and changes of nutrient concentrations of media in tomato seedling production through sub-irrigation. Two root media such as peat moss (grade of 0 to 6 mm, PM06) plus perlite (grade of 1 to 2 mm (PE2)(7:3, v/v) and peat moss (grade of 5 to 15 mm, PM515) plus PE2 (7:3, v/v) were formulated and filled into 72-cell plug trays. After seeds of 'Dotaerang Dia' tomato were sown and germinated at $28^{\circ}C$, the trays were moved to greenhouse and seedlings were raised 35 days. When the cotyledons were emerged, post-planting fertilizers of 13-2-13, 15-0-15 and 20-9-20 ($N-P_2O_5-K_2O$) were applied in a sequence. The fertilizer concentrations based on N in each plug stage were differed with $25mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ in three treatments. The fertilizer solutions were supplied when the weight of plug trays decreased to 40 to 50% compared to container capacity. The root media were collected in 1, 2, 4, and 5 weeks after sowing and were divided into top, middle, and bottom parts, then were analysed for pH, EC and macro-nutrient concentrations. The seedling growth was investigated 5 weeks after sowing. The pH and EC in PM06+PE2 was higher than those of PM515+PE2. The bottom and mid-part had higher pH and lower EC compared to upper part in each medium. The differences of EC between upper and bottom parts were around 2 times in each medium. The $NH_4-N$ and K concentrations in program 3 of PM06+PE2 showed the highest concentrations among all treatments. The $NO_3-N$ concentrations in PM06+PE2 increased gradually and this rising tendency become severe as post-planting fertilizer concentrations were elevated. The seedling growth in terms of fresh and dry weights was the highest in the treatment of program 2 in PM06+PE2 among all treatments tested. Above results indicate that the gradual increases of fertilizer concentrations from 25 to $125mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ in plug stages 2, 3, and 4 plug stages are desirable for

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.296-302
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• 2007

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of slow release fertilizers (SRF), crotonylidene diurea (CDU) and latex coated urea (LCU), on nitrogen (N) use efficiency (NUE) and nitrate-N leaching in a silty clay loam soil under polyethylene film mulching (PFM) for sesame cultivation. In PFM plot, concentrations of $NO_3-N$ and $NH_4-N$ in SRF applied soils were less than that in the urea plot during the whole growing period. However, $NO_3-N$ and $NH_4-N$ in all the non-mulched plots (NM) were not significantly different. Urea-N in soil treated with SRF was higher than urea plot until 50 days after application and was comparable in all the treatments after 50 days. $NO_3-N$ concentrations in leached solution in 21 days after urea fertilization in PFM and NM were 26 mg $L^{-1}$ and 83 mg $L^{-1}$, respectively. However, $NO_3-N$ in leached solution at applied CDU and LCU was less than that of urea similar to nitrate concentration in soil. $NO_3-N$ in leached solution in applied CDU and LCU in 44 days after application was about 25% lower than that urea plot and PFM, while the $NO_3-N$ concentration of CDU and LCU treatment in NM did not changed. Application of SRF increased the yield of sesame and N recovery compared to urea and there was a little difference between SRF and N levels. In conclusion, application of 80% N level with SRF increased N recovery and reduced nitrate leaching without reduction of yields compared with urea application.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.292-298
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• 2007

Zinc plays indispensable roles in metabolism, including cell growth, apoptosis, proliferation and differentiation. Kidneys are target organs for various regulators of mineral metabolism, and play a key role in zinc balance. To investigate the zinc uptake efficiency, we examined the zinc uptake and accumulation level in vivo and in vitro study. Plasma zinc concentration was peaked out at 1 hr after oral zinc administration. The renal zinc level was peaked out at 12 hr after oral zinc administration, and it was the highest in 40 mg/kg Zn-Asp administrated group in comparison with other groups. In addition, the m-RNA expression level of zinc transporter-1 (ZnT-1), zinc transporter-2 (ZnT-2) and high-affinity L-aspartate transporter (EAAT-3) in Zn-Asp administered group were increased compared with control groups and $ZnSO_4$ group. In order to investigate the intracellular zinc uptake mechanism, we performed the in vitro study by using human embryonic kidney cell line, HEK 293. Intracellular zinc level was peaked out at 3 hr after zinc treatment. In the same way, the mRNA expression level of ZnT-1 and EAAT-3 were increased compared with control group. This study showed that Zn-Asp is effective the zinc uptake into the kidney by increasing the zinc transporter expression.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.515-521
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• 2009

Objective : The purpose of this study was to compare clinical and radiological outcomes of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) and open lumbar microdiscectomy (OLM) for recurrent disc herniation. Methods : Fifty-four patients, who underwent surgery, either PELD (25 patients) or repeated OLM (29 patients), due to recurrent disc herniation at L4-5 level, were divided into two groups according to the surgical methods. Excluded were patients with sequestrated disc, calcified disc, severe neurological deficit, or instability. Clinical outcomes were assessed using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Radiological variables were assessed using plain radiography and/or magnetic resonance imaging. Results : Mean operating time and hospital stay were significantly shorter in PELD group (45.8 minutes and 0.9 day, respectively) than OLM group (73.8 minutes and 3.8 days, respectively) (p < 0.001). Complications occurred in 4% in PELD group and 10.3% in OLM group in the perioperative period. At a mean follow-up duration of 34.2 months, the mean improvements of back pain, leg pain, and functional improvement were 4.0, 5.5, and 40.9% for PELD group and 2.3, 5.1, and 45.0% for OLM group, respectively. Second recurrence occurred in 4% after PELD and 10.3% after OLM. Disc height did not change after PELD, but significantly decreased after OLM (p = 0.0001). Neither sagittal rotation angle nor volume of multifidus muscle changed significantly in both groups. Conclusion : Both PELD and repeated OLM showed favorable outcomes for recurrent disc herniation, but PELD had advantages in terms of shorter operating time, hospital stay, and disc height preservation.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.289-294
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• 2011

A rapid and specific high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass (LC/MS/MS) method for the analysis of montelukast in human plasma has been developed and validated. After cold acetonitrile-induced precipitation of the plasma samples, montelukast and glipizide (internal standard, IS) were eluted on a reverse-phase $C_{18}$ column by isocratic mobile phase consisted of 10 mM ammonium formate buffer (adjusted to pH 3.5 with formic acid) and acetonitrile (3:97, v/v). Acquisition was performed with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode by monitoring the transitions: m/z 587.2${\rightarrow}$ 423.2 for montelukast and m/z 446.0${\rightarrow}$321.2 for IS. Ranges of concentration for calibration curves (10-1000 ng/mL) showed correlation coefficients ($r^2$) were better than 0.9948. Precision of intra- and inter-day ranged from 3.70 to 11.68% and from 3.04 to 12.95%, accuracy of intra-day and inter-day ranged from 93.34 to 102.75% and from 100.79 to 107.63%, respectively. The described method provides a fast and sensitive analytical tool for determining montelukast levels in plasma, and was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study in 16 healthy human subjects after oral administration of 10mg tablet formulation of montelukast sodium under fasting conditions.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.83-92
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• 2005

Natural environment of the Wolgokri stream watershed, located in Chuncheon, Gangwon province, Korea, has been well preserved as a traditional agricultural watershed. To analyze characteristics of NPS pollution generated from an mountainous agricultural watershed, the flow and water qualities of the study watershed were monitored and were analyzed to estimate pollution loads. Annual runoff volume ratio was $70.4\%$. Concentrations of T-N, T-p, COD, and TOC were higher when monthly rainfall was between $0\~30mm$ than those when monthly rainfall was between $30\~70mm$. However, the concentrations varied considerably when monthly rainfall was higher than 100mm. The flow weighted mean concentrations(mg/L) of BOD, COD, TOC, $NO_3-N$, T-N, T-P and SS were 1.96, 2.72, 3.32, 1.41, 4.70, 0.187 and 13.36, respectively. The BOD, SS, T-N and T-P loads of July, 2004 were $48\%,\;17\%,\;51\%\;and\;32\%$ of annual load, respectively. The BOD, COD, TOC, $NO_3-N$, T-N, T-p, and SS loads (kg/ha) from Mar. 2004 to Apr. 2005 were 19.09, 26.55, 32.39, 13.85, 45.92, 1.887 and 130.18, respectively. The highest concentrations of BOD, NO3-N, T-N, T-p, SS, COD and TOC were found before the flow reached the peak runoff, possibly due to the first flushing effect. Generally, pollution loads of the Wolgokri watershed were not that significant. Phosphorus load, however, was higher enough to cause eutrophication in the receiving water body It was recommended that best management practices need to be implemented to reduce phosphorus sources.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.357-368
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• 1996

The in vitro antibacterial activity of a novel fluoroquinolone, DWP20373(1-Cyclopropyl-6-fluoro-8-methoxy-7-(2,7-diazabicyclo[3,3,0]oct-4-ene-7-yl)-1,4-dihydro-4 oxoquino line-3carboxylic acid) was compared with those of ciprofloxacin (CPFX), sparfloxacin (SPFX) and ofloxacin (OFLX). DWP20373 was more active than SPFX and OFLX but was less potent than CPFX against gram-negative bacteria. DWP20373 showed an excellent activity against L-MRSA and H-MRSA ($MlC_{90}=0.781{\sim}1.563{\mu}g/ml$).The activity of DWP20373 decreased moderately in the presence of 5mM $Mg^{2+}$. However, pH and serum had no effect on the activity of DWP20373. DWP20373 possessed a rapid bactericidal activity against gram-positive and gram-negative strains.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.59-67
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• 2006

Biodegradable amphiphilic polymer was synthesized for removing hydrophobic pollutants(phenol, 4-nitrophenol, benzene, and toluene) and metal ions ($Cs^{+},\;Mg^{2+},\;Cu^{2+},\;Ni^{2+}$, and $Cr^{3}$). The methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)s with different molecular weights (1,100 and 5,000) were used as a hydrophilic segment. The rejection ratio improved in the relatively high molecular weight of MPEG. The rejection ratio of biodegradable nanoparticles without pollutants was over 98%. In removal of hydrophobic pollutants, the rejection ratio increased with the hydrophobic properties. The electron valence affects the rejection ratio of metal ions, indicating rejection ratio was ordered as $3^{+}>2^{+}>1^{+}$.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.11-20
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• 2021

Objectives The purpose of the study is to evaluate the safety of the Allium Fistulosum extract in children and its effectiveness in height growth. Methods This study is randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The participants are children between the 3rd and 25th percentiles in height, and between the ages of 5 and 12 years. They are randomly assigned to treatment group or control group. The treatment group will take 5 g (1 g as Allium Fistulosum extract) for 24 weeks, 1 time a day. The control group will take the 5 g (0 g as Allium Fistulosum extract) of placebo for 24 weeks, 1 time a day. The primary outcome is change in height, and the secondary outcomes are growth rate, height standard deviations, Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), IGF1-1/IGFBP-3 ratio, growth hormone, bone age, osteocalcin, and Z-score for growth. Results This protocol has been approved by the institutional review board (IRB) of Daejeon Korean Medicine Hospital of Daejeon University (IRB No. DJDSKH-20-BM-15), and registered in the Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS) (Registry No. KCT0005981). Conclusions This study will provide clinical information about the effectiveness and safety of Allium Fistulosum extract in children for their growth.