• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.640-646
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• 2010

Neosporosis is a widespread parasitic disease caused by Neospora caninum, an intracellular protozoan parasite. It causes economic losses due to reproductive failure. The potential relationship between pregnancy outcomes and levels of IFN${\gamma}$, hormones, and antibodies in naturally N. caninum-infected cows was examined in the blood samples collected every 2 or 4 weeks in 26 pregnant cows from 4 different farms. The mean S/P value of seropositive nonaborting animals (n = 14) reached peak levels 15 weeks prior to parturition, and declined thereafter to parturition. The S/P value 13 weeks prior to abortion in seropositive aborting cows (n=3) remained at high levels, and abortions occurred at 20 (142 days), 26 (185 days), and 28 weeks (199 days) after artificial insemination. IFN${\gamma}$ levels in the seropositive non-aborting group varied by individuals and gestational periods; IFN${\gamma}$ levels stayed at elevated levels or increased abruptly close to abortion in seropositive aborting cows. IFN${\gamma}$ level patterns in the seronegative group (n = 9) were similar to the seropositive non-aborting group, although IFN${\gamma}$ amounts were lower than the seropositive group. The mean progesterone levels in the seropositive non-aborting and seronegative groups decreased markedly 7 weeks prior to parturition. The mean progesterone levels 5 and 7 weeks prior to abortion were lower than the other groups 5 and 7 weeks prior to parturition. The mean 17${\beta}$-estradiol levels in the seropositive aborting cows increased close to abortion; the produced amounts were lower than those of seropositive non-aborting and seronegative groups close to parturition. These results suggested that lower levels of progesterone and ${\beta}$-estradiol in Neospora-infected cows may lead to increases in IFN${\gamma}$ production and in turn may result in abortion.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.561-577
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• 2015

The heavy metal accumulations of avian eggshells were studied in order to test a feral pigeon (Columba livia)'s eggshell as an indicator for the environmental monitoring of pollutants. The reviews on the eggs of the different 19 avian species showed that it is the eggshell rather than the egg content that can better reflect the heavy metals in the environment; in most cases the CVs (coefficients of variations) of the heavy metal concentrations in the eggshells were higher than those in the egg contents. This can indicate that the heavy metal accumulations are homeostatically controlled in the egg contents, but the accumulations in the eggshells are varied according to the environmental conditions. To test the reviews, the feral pigeon eggs from the two different sites, one representing urban and the other rural environment, were analyzed for lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd). The result showed that the eggshells of the urban pigeons (Hangang) had the higher metal concentrations than those of the rural pigeons (Hampyeong). The same difference can also be found in the internal organs (liver, bone) and blood. However, the analyses of the egg contents between the two sites did not reveal the differences. In other words, the result suggests that the feral pigeons, like the other avian species, are able to control the heavy metals into the egg contents homeostatically. Therefore, it is more useful to use the feral pigeon eggshell rather than the egg content in case of monitoring heavy metals in different habitats.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.157-163
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• 2005

Purpose: Dietary protein induced proctocolitis (DPIPC) can be considered as a cause of rectal bleeding or blood streaked stool in otherwise healthy-looking infants in the first several months of life. Failure to appreciate this entity may lead to inappropriate diagnostic or therapeutic intervention. This study aimed to ascertain the clinical features, treatment and prognosis of DPIPC. Methods: We reviewed 13 infants retrospectively, presented with bloody stool in early infancy. They were diagnosed as DPIPC clinically in Pusan National University Hospital from May 2002 to June 2004. Results: Seven males and six females were included. The mean age at onset of bleeding was $96.8{\pm}58.8days$. The mean frequency of hematochezia was $2.6{\pm}2.5$ times a day. Duration from onset of symptom to diagnosis was $35.5{\pm}55.0days$ and duration from onset of symptom to resolution of bleeding was $58.7{\pm}67.0days$. Nine (69.2%) were exclusively breast-fed infants and two (15.4%) were formula-fed infants. All but one infant did not have family history of other allergic diseases. A dietary history of ingestion of cow's milk, nut or shellfish was present in three mothers. Peripheral eosinophil count was normal to slightly elevated (total WBC count $10,555{\pm}3,145/mm^3$, relative eosinophil count $6.3{\pm}3.0%$, absolute eosinophil count $659.0{\pm}532.2/mm^3$). Sigmoidoscopy revealed lymphonodular hyperplasia with surrounding hemorrhagic spots in the rectosigmoid colon in 6 infants. Histopathologic finding of colonic biopsies in 5 infants showed chronic inflammation with lymphoid follicular hyperplasia (5 infants), crypt abscess (3 infants), or mild infiltration of eosinophils (less than 20/high power field) in the lamina propria. Spontaneous resolution of rectal bleeding occurred in all infants without dietary change or medicine. Conclusion: Most infants with DPIPC experience a very benign course and have spontaneous resolution of rectal bleeding without changes in the mother's diet. In the case of strong evidence for DPIPC we suggest deferring further invasive investigation and continuing breast feeding.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.11-28
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• 2017

Objectives : The contents of aconitine in aconiti radix lateralis preparata, purified hot water extract of Aconiti Radix lateralis preparata, and purified hot water extract of Sambutang-P that contains Aconiti Radix lateralis preparata was analyzed to compare toxicity. Toxicity of Sambutang-P that contains Aconiti Radix lateralis preparata was assessed with a single oral toxicity test on 6-week-old male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods : 1. The contents of aconitine in Aconiti Radix lateralis preparata, purified hot water extract of Aconiti Radix lateralis preparata, and purified hot water extract of Sambutang-P that contains Aconiti Radix lateralis preparata was analyzed using the purity test according to the "Korean Herbal Pharmacopoeia". 2. 2,000mg/kg was injected for the single oral toxicity test of purified hot water extract of Sambutang-P that contains Aconiti Radix lateralis preparata, and the test was done for a test group (injection) and a control group, each with 5 male and 5 female rats. For 14 days after injection, rats were observed for general symptoms and changes in weight. Afterwards, blood biochemical test, autopsy, and histophathological exam of the liver was conducted. Results : 1. The contents of aconitine was 0.0785% for Aconiti Radix lateralis preparata, 0.1510% for purified hot water extract of Aconiti Radix lateralis preparata, and 0.1248% for purified hot water extract of Sambutang-P that contains Aconiti Radix lateralis preparata. 2. There was no death of either male or female rats in both the control group and the test group (injection of 2,000mg/kg). 3. No unusual symptom was observed in both the control group and the test group (injection of 2,000mg/kg). 4. No significant change in weight was observed for both male and female rats in the test group (2,000mg/kg). 5. The histopathological exam of ALT, AST, ALP, GGT and LDH showed no significant changes for both male and female rats in the test group (2,000mg/kg). 6. According to the autopsy results, no visible abnormality of organs or tissues was found in both the control group and the test group (2,000mg/kg). 7. According to the histopathological exam of the liver, the effect of the injected material was not observed for either male or female rats in the test group (2,000mg/kg). Conclusions : The contents of aconitine in Aconiti Radix lateralis preparata was lower for decoction of Sambutang-P with ginseng radix alba than for decoction of only Aconiti Radix lateralis preparata. This suggests that ginseng radix alba can dilute toxicity of Aconiti Radix lateralis preparata. As for a single oral toxicity test of Sambutang-P that contains Aconiti Radix lateralis preparata, no abnormal reaction was observed even when the injection amount far exceeded a toxic dose or a lethal dose. Thus, it is deemed that using Sambutang-P at a clinically prescribed dose would not lead to hepatoxicity.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.55-62
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• 2009

Milk is called an almost complete food in terms of nutrition, especially for the younger generations because it contains a number of nutrients required for growth and development. Lactose intolerance is defined as a malabsorption of lactose in the intestine with some typical symptoms of abdominal pains and bloating, and occurred at 75% of global populations, which hampers milk consumption worldwide. Lacks of milk consumption in the underdeveloped countries frequently lead to many nutrients deficiencies, so that diseases including osteoporosis, hypertension, and colon cancer are more prevalent in the recent days. Lactose in foods needs to be hydrolyzed prior to intestinal absorption. The hydrolytic enzyme responsible for splitting lactose into its monomeric forms, glucose and galactose, is called as lactase or $\beta$-galactosidase. The former is primarily used as blood sugar and energy source and the latter used in glycolipid synthesis of brain tissues in infants. Lactose is clinically diagnosed with the breath hydrogen production test as well as intestinal biopsy. Reportedly, symptoms of lactose intolerance are widely prevalent at 25% of Europeans, 50 to 80% of Hispanics, South Indians, Africans, and Jews, almost 100% of Asians and native Americans. For the adults, phenotype of lactase persistence, which is able to hydrolyse lactose, is more common in the northern Europeans, but in the other area lactase non-persistence or adult-type hypolactasia is dominant. Genetic analysis on human lactase gene continued that lactase persistence was closely related to the err site of 1390 single nucleotide polymorphism from the 5'-end. To alleviate severity of lactose intolerance symptoms, some eating patterns including drinking milk a single cup or less, consumption along with other foods, whole milk rather than skimmed milk, and drink with live yogurt cultures, are highly recommended for the lactose maldigesters. Also, delay of gastric emptying is effective to avoid the symptoms from lactose intolerance. Frequency of lactose intolerance with conventional diagnosis is thought overestimated mainly because the subjects are exposed to too much lactose of 50 g rather than a single serving amount. Thus simple and accurate diagnostic method for lactose intolerance need to be established. It is thought that fermented milk products and low- or free lactose milks help improve currently stagnant milk consumption due to lactose intolerance which contributes to major barrier in milk marketing especially in Asian countries.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.105-110
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• 2004

Objectives: Despite severe oligospermia, males with Y chromosome microdeletion can achieve conception through ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection). However, ICSI may not only result in the transmission of microdeletions but also the expansion of deletion to the offspring. The purpose of this study was to screen vertical transmission, expansion of microdeletions and de novo deletion in male fetuses conceived by ICSI. Materials and Methods: A total of 32 ICSI treated patients with their 33 (a case of twin) male fetuses conceived by ICSI were used to make this study group. Sequence-tagged sites (STSs)-based PCR analyses were performed on genomic DNA isolated from peripheral blood of fathers and from the amniocytes of male fetuses. Ten primer pairs namely, sY134, sY138, MK5, sY152, sY147, sY254, sY255, SPGY1, sY269 and sY158 were used. The samples with deletions were verified at least three times. Results: We detected a frequency of 12.5% (4 of the 32 patients) of microdeletions in ICSI patients. In 4 patients with detected deletions, two patients have proven deletions on single STS marker and their male fetuses have the identical deletion in this region. Another two patients have two and three deletions, but their male fetuses have more than 3 deletions which include deletions to their father's. Meanwhile, seven male fetuses, whose fathers were analyzed to have all 10 STS markers present, have deletions present in at least one or more of the markers. Conclusions: Although the majority of deletions on the Y chromosome are believed to arise de novo, in some cases a deletion has been transmitted from the fertile father to the infertile patient. In other cases the deletion was transmitted through ICSI treatment, it is likely that one sperm cell is injected through the oocyte's cytoplasm and fertilization can be obtained from spermatozoa. Our tests for deletion were determined by PCR and our results show that the ICSI treatment may lead to vertical transmission, expansion and de novo Y chromosome microdeletions in male fetuses. Because the sample group was relatively small, one should be cautious in analyzing these data. However, it is important to counsel infertile couples contemplating ICSI if the male carries Y chromosomal microdeletions.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.6 s.275
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• pp.407-413
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• 2007

Background: The brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level has been reported in some studies to be associated with the occurrence of atrial fbrillation (AF). The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential usefulness of the BNP level as a predictor of the occurrence of postoperative (postop) AF and to assess the relationship of the BNP level with the onset of AF and the restoration of sinus rhythm. Material and Method: From January 1, 2005 to February 28, 2006, 82 patients without a history of atrial arrhythmia that had undergone cardiac surgery were enrolled in the study. Blood samples for plasma BNP were drawn daily for all these patients from the preoperative (preop) day to the 7th postop day. The patient records were reviewed and postop EKGs were checked daily for AF until the time of discharge. Result: Patients were divided into two groups based on development of postop AF. Postoperative AF developed in 26 patients (31.7%). There was no significant statistical difference in age, sex distribution, preop left ventricle ejection fraction, hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, or the use of beta blockers between the non-postop AF and postop AF group. More patients in the AF group had undergone valve surgery (39.3% versus 76.9%, p=0.002). The preop left atrium size was significantly larger in the AF patients ($43.8{\pm}10.3 mm$ versus $49.8{\pm}11.5 mm$, p=0.029). The preop plasma BNP levels were higher in the postop AF patients ($144.1{\pm}20.8 pg/mL$ versus $267.5{\pm}68 pg/mL$, p=0.034). In the postop AF group, the plasma BNP level was the highest on the 3rd postop day. Postop AF developed in most patients by the 3rd postop day; restored sinus rhythm developed by the 7th postop day. Conclusion: Elevated plasma BNP levels may lead to the occurrence of postop AF in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Patients who have a high risk of postop AF should be considered for aggressive prophylactic antiarrhythmic therapy.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.82-87
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• 2007

This research was performed to investigate chemical and microbiological hazards of Ready-to-eat(RTE) compound foods which uses the by-product of meat. For this experiment, 51 samples of RTE compound foods in by-product of meat distributed in Incheon from January to December 2006 were tested. The contents of heavy metals in the main ingredient of RTE compound foods were in the range of $0.073{\sim}0.112ppm$ for lead (Pb), $0.006{\sim}0.013ppm$ for cadmium (Cd) and $0.746{\sim}0.978ppb$ for mercury (Hg). The concentrations of residual ABS(alkyl benzene sulfate) in the small intestine which is a main ingredient of Gopchang-casserole were $$0.8ppm{\sim}57.6ppm$ (Ave. 10.3ppm). Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 11 samples (21.6%) among 51 main ingredients of RTE compound foods. The isolation rates of Salmonella spp. and Clostridium perfringens were 2.0% (1/51) and 5.9% (2/51), respectively. By types of main ingredient, the small intestine was showed the highest isolation rate as 35.3% (12/34), ham and the sausage which are main ingredients of the Budae-pot stew were 25% (2/8) and other meat products were 20% (1/5). Food poisoning bacteria was not found in the blood of pig which is a main ingredient of the Sunji-pot stew. 28.4% (27/95) of sauce included in each RTE compound foods were coliform bacteria positive. Pesticide residues were found in four of 45 vegetables which are the additional ingredient of RTE compound foods. The concentrations of pesticide were chlorothalonil 2.8 ppm, EPN 10.3 ppm, chlorpyrifos 0.4ppm and indoxacarb 0.7ppm. In 33 bean sprout samples, captan and carbendazim were not detected.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.36-41
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• 2014

Purpose: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common source of bacterial infections in infants and young children. Accurate diagnosis and treatment is important because of their association with renal scarring, which can lead to complications. Urine endothelin-1 (ET-1) is the major renal isoform produced and released by renal mesangial cells in response to glomerular injury. This study aimed to investigate whether urinary levels of ET-1 can be used as a biomarker for UTI diagnosis. Method: We conducted a prospective study using medical records of 70 patients below the age of 18 years, who visited Chung-Ang University Hospital from July 2012 to July 2013. We classified the patients into the UTI and control groups based on urine culture studies. The UTI group was further divided into upper and lower UTI groups using 99m-Technetium dimercaptosuccinic acid scintigraphy. Urine ET-1 was measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay with 0.3 mL urine. Results: The UTI and control groups were comprised of 45 and 25 patients, respectively. Mean urine ET-1 levels were significantly higher in the UTI group than in the control group ($1.41{\pm}0.35$ pg/mL vs. $0.33{\pm}0.07$ pg/mL, P =0.04). There was no significance difference in the quantitative value between the upper and lower UTI groups (P =0.552). There was no correlation between urine ET-1 and serum C-reactive protein (Pearson correlation [R]=0.24), urine ET-1 and serum white blood cell count (R=0.19). Conclusion: Our study suggests that urine ET-1 can be used for early diagnosis of UTI in children.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.456-458
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• 2013

The aim of this study is to evaluate the reference value for electrocardiogram in healthy captive raccoon dogs. Forty-one free-ranging adult raccoon dogs rescued from Wildlife rescue centre, Kangwon National University were enrolled in this study. The 6-lead electrocardiogram was obtained in all raccoon dogs without any chemical restraints. The mean heart rate was $146.10{\pm}43.31$ beats/min (95% confidence interval 132.84~159.36 beats/min). The mean respiration rate was $35.73{\pm}11.56$ breaths/min (95% confidence interval 32.19~39.27 breaths/min). The mean systolic blood pressure was $136{\pm}29.26$ mmHg (95% confidence interval 127.99~145.91 mmHg). Electrocardiographical features were also evaluated in all raccoon dogs. The mean duration and amplitude of P-wave were $38.2{\pm}4.0$ ms (range 28-40 ms) and $0.128{\pm}0.039$ mV (range 0.09~0.20). The mean duration and amplitude of QRS complexes were $48.5{\pm}7.2ms$ (range 36-60 ms) and $1.330{\pm}0.650$ mV (range 0.15~2.30). The range of the mean electrical (QRS) axis was $-91^{\circ}{\sim}+96^{\circ}$ ($10^{\circ}{\sim}60^{\circ}$; 95% of confidence interval). The mean corrected QT (QTc) interval was $273.7{\pm}32.7ms$ (range 212-333 ms), while the mean PR interval was $76.1{\pm}10.0ms$ (range 50-82 ms). To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to provide references in electrocardiogram (ECG) in healthy captive raccoon dogs.