• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.80-90
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• 2003

Background : Goblet cell hyperplasia is a critical pathological feature in hypersecretory diseases of the airways. A bacterial infection of the lung is also known to induce inflammatory responses, which can lead to the overproduction of mucus. Recently, mucin synthesis in the airways has been reported to be regulated by neutrophilic inflammation-induced epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression and activation. In addition, it was reported that migration of the activated neutrophils is dependent on the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), especially MMP-9. In this study, bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced goblet cell hyperplasia and mucus hypersecretion by EGFR cascade, resulting from the MMPs-dependent neutrophilic inflammation were investigated in the rat airways. Methods : Pathogen-free Sprague-Dawley rats were studied in vivo. Various concentrations of LPS were instilled into the trachea in $300{\mu}{\ell}$ PBS (LPS group). Sterile PBS ($300{\mu}{\ell}$) was instilled into the trachea of the control animals (control group). The airways were examined on different days after instilling LPS. For an examination of the relationship between the LPS-induced goblet cell hyperplasia and MMPs, the animals were pretreated 3 days prior to the LPS instillation and daily thereafter with the matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor (MMPI; 20 mg/Kg/day of CMT-3; Collagenex Pharmaceuticals, USA). The neutrophilic infiltration was quantified as a number in five high power fields (HPF). The alcian blue/periodic acid-Schiff (AB/PAS) stain were performed for the mucus glycoconjugates and the immunohistochemical stains were performed for MUC5AC, EGFR and MMP-9. Their expressions were quantified by an image analysis program and were expressed by the percentage of the total bronchial epithelial area. Results : The instillation of LPS induced AB/PAS and MUC5AC staining in the airway epithelium in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Treatment with the MMPI prevented the LPS-induced goblet cell hyperplasia significantly. The instillation of LPS into the trachea induced also EGFR expression in the airway epithelium. The control airway epithelium contained few leukocytes, but the intratracheal instillation of LPS resulted in a neutrophilic recruitment. A pretreatment with MMPI prevented neutrophilic recruitment, EGFR expression, and goblet cell hyperplasia in the LPS-instilled airway epithelium. Conclusion : Matrix metalloproteinase is involved in LPS-induced mucus hypersecretion, resulting from a neutrophilic inflammation and EGFR cascade. These results suggest a potential therapeutic role of MMPI in the treatment of mucus hypersecretion that were associated with a bacterial infection of the airways.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.457-465
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• 1999

Objective: The presence of Y chromosome in patients with gonadal dysgenesis is related to the risk of gonadoblastoma. Since the patients with abnormal sexual differentiation may have cryptic Y mosaicism, it is important to detect the presence of Y material in these patients. But sometimes it is difficult to detect Y material only with karyotyping. This study was performed to evaluate the usefulness of the SRY gene screening in blood and gonad by using PCR in detecting the presence of Y material and possible tissue mosaicism in patients with gonadal dysgenesis as Turner syndrome and 46,XY pure gonadal dysgenesis (PGD, Swyer syndrome). Method: In 26 patients with gonadal dysgenesis, we screened for Y material by using PCR for SRY gene in peripheral leukocytes and in gonadal tissues of some patients. They were 22 cases of Turner syndrome (7 45,XO, 2 46,Xi(Xq), 3 45,XO/46,XX, 5 45,XO/46,Xi(Xq), 1 45, XO/46,XY, 1 45,XO/46,Xi(Yq), 1 45,XO/47,XYY, 1 46,XX,del(X)(q24) and 1 46,X,+mar) and 4 cases of 46,XY pure gonadal dysgenesis. PCR for SRY gene in the gonadal tissue was performed in 5 Turner syndrome and 2 PGD to determine the cryptic Y mosaicism between blood and gonad. Results: By using PCR analysis for SRY, Y chromosome material was detected in the blood of 4 of 22 Turner syndrome patients (45,XO/46,Xi(Xq), 45,XO/46,Xi(Yq), 45,XO/46,XY, and 45, XO/47,XYY), 3 of 4 46,XY pure gonadal dysgenesis. Discrepancy between karyotyping and blood PCR for SRY was noted in 1 Turner syndrome (45,XO/46,Xi(Xq)) and 1 PGD. Laparoscopic gonadectomy was performed in Y containing or SRY positive cases. In addition, PCR analysis for SRY in the gonads of 5 Turner syndrome and 2 PGD showed discrepancy between blood and gonad or between both gonads in 3 Turner syndrome (45,XO/46,Xi(Xq), 45,XO/46,Xi(Y q), 45,XO/46,XY) and 2 PGD patients. Conclusion: In gonadal dysgenesis, PCR analysis for SRY gene is useful to detect the cryptic Y mosaicism that is sometimes undetected by karyotyping. And since there may be tissue mosaicism, it is necessary to evaluate Y mosaicism in various tissues even in the case without Y chromosome on karyotyping.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.37-45
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• 2002

Background: Diffuse panbronchiolitis(DPB) is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that presents as coughing, copious sputum, exertional dyspnea, which progresses to bronchiectasis. The pathogenesis of bronchiectasis is controlled by inflammatory mediators, which are closely related to mucus hypersecretion, goblet cell dysplasia. In recent studies, the epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR) system was reported to be associated with this process. It was hypothesized that a relationship exists between goblet cell dysplasia, EGFR expression, and inflammatory mediators produced by neutrophil. Method: Alcian blue/periodic acid -Schiff(AB/PAS) stain, MUC5AC, EGFR, CD16 immunohistochemical stain were examined to investigate a role for the EGFR system in a mucus hypersecretion in DPB using the lung biopsy specimens from 13 DPB patients and 6 controls. Results : In the DPB group, the AB/PAS and MUC5AC -stained areas were $8.31{\pm}3.36%$, $11.46{\pm}4.68%$, respectively. In the control group, the AB/PAS- and MUC5AC-stained areas were $50.5{\pm}5.77%$, $53.3%{\pm}6.67%$, which was significantly larger than in the DPB group (each comparison, p<0.05). The percentage of EGFR expression was $9.54{\pm}4.95%$ in the DPB group, but zero in of the control group. The extent of neutrophilic infiltration was $71.92{\pm}3.71$/5HPF in the DPB group and $45.0{\pm}5.73$/5HPF in the control group, which was statistically significant(p=0.002). Conclusion: The EGFR system is highly related to goblet cell dysplasia, mucus hypersecretion and neutrophilic inflammation in DPB.

• Korean Journal of Cleft Lip And Palate
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.85-92
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• 2006

Korean Cleft Lip and Palate Association (KCLPA) was founded in 1996. The first overseas charity operation was in Karachi, Pakistan, 2002 and our association has visited fourteen times in six countries for the free cleft surgery: Pakistan, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Jordan and Vietnam. The cumulated number of operated patients reaches to 280. Before our association, many Korean oral and maxillofacial surgeons have performed charity operations individually since 1964. It was started from Vietnam but the activity is now carried on in Africa, middle-east Asia, south-east Asia, China, and Korea as an official team. LG electronics, a Korean company helped to propagate our team's activity to middle-east Asia to Africa. This paper is a report concerning about the results of our association's charity activities especially in Kenya, east Africa. We provided free cleft surgery for 30 patients in 2004 and 27 patients in 2005, in Nairobi. As the blood test for HIV of the cleft patients was not allowed before and during surgery, our surgeons and nurses were cautious about every movement during the surgeries. Thus the operation time for each patient was longer than any other time. The attitude of the local hospital and the doctors seemed to be accustomed to this situation. They helped us in case of needle injuries. Safety of medical staff and patients is more important than the number of the patients operated in charity operation. This belief should be approached being parallel and multidisciplinary as an international cooperation, focusing on international funding for medical support and continuous education for local doctors who are willing to devote to their people.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.248-257
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• 2009

The inhibitors against Vibrio harveyi quorum sensing (QS) signaling were developed by modifying the molecular structure of the major signal, N-3-hydroxybutanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (3-OH-$C_4$-HSL). A series of structural derivatives, N-(3-hydroxysulfonyl)-L-homoserine lactones (HSHLs) were synthesized by the solid-phase organic synthesis method. The in vivo QS inhibition by these compounds was measured by a bioassay system using the V. harveyi bioluminescence, and all showed significant inhibitory effects. To analyze the interaction between these compounds and LuxN, a 3-OH-$C_4$-HSL receptor protein of V. harveyi, we tentatively determined the putative signal binding domain of LuxN based on the sequence homology with other acyl-HSL binding proteins, and predicted the partial 3-D structure of the putative signal binding domain of LuxN by using ORCHESTRA program, and further estimated the binding poses and energies (docking scores) of 3-OH-$C_4$-HSL and HSHLs within the domain. In comparison of the result from this modeling study with that of in vivo bioassay, we suggest that the in silica interpretation of the interaction between ligands and their receptor proteins can be a valuable way to develop better competitive inhibitors, especially in the case that the structural information of the protein is limited.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.34 no.11
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• pp.720-728
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• 2012

In general, nonpoint pollutant of a watershed is drained out in the form of storm water runoff during rainfall events. As the bulk of the nonpoint pollutant is in adsorbed form on particulate matters, in order to understand the behavior of nonpoint pollutant it is essential to grasp the characteristics of particulate matters in rainfall runoff. Though, previous studies for the relationship between the runoff characteristics of pollutants and the size distribution of particulate matters are very rare. In this study, a small non-urbanized area (basin area of 52.8 ha) with various landuse types including paddy, dry fields and forest was selected and investigated in detail for the runoff properties of each pollutant during several rainfall events. The correlation and effects between particulate matters and nonpoint pollutant were analyzed quantitatively. As a result, the significant first flush was observed on each event and it became clear that fine particulate matters ($80{\mu}m$ or less) has contributed in the runoff process of nutrients and heavy metals. Organic matters ($BOD_5$, TOC), nutrients (TN, TP) and several heavy metals (Al, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg and Zn) represented high correlations with SS (total), VSS, SS (d < $20{\mu}m$) and SS ($20{\mu}m$ $$\leq_-$$ d < $80{\mu}m$). On the other hand, $COD_{cr}$, Cd, Mn and Pb did not show clear correlations with the behavior of particulate matters. Therefore, we have to examine the introduction of nonpoint pollution mitigation facilities considering the facts that nonpoint pollutant runoff process has high correlation with the behavior of particulate matters and is changeable based on the target pollutants.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.361-367
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• 2017

Production cost as well as environmental contamination can be reduced by reuse of drained nutrient solution in hydroponic. This research was conducted to obtain the information in changes in inorganic elements concentration of supplied and drained nutrient solution as well as of plant leaves. To achieve the objective, the samples of supplied and drained solution and cherry tomato leaf tissues were periodically collected and analyzed during the hydroponic cultivation. The electrical conductivity (EC) of supplied and drained nutrient solution in early growth stage of cherry tomato were measured as around $2.0dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$, but those values move up with the passage of time reaching to $2.0dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ at flowering stage of 9th fruiting node. The pHs of drained solution in early growth stage were 6.4 to 6.7, however those showed a tendency to get lowered to 5.9 to 6.1 as time passed during the crop cultivation. The concentration differences of $NO_3-N$, P, K, Ca, and Mg between supplied and drained solution were not distinctive until flowering stages of 4th fruiting nodes, while those in drained solution moved up after the stage. The tissue N contents of leaves decrease gradually and those of K and Ca increased as crops grew. However, Tissue P and Mg contents were maintained similarly from transplant to end-crop. The above results would be used in correction of drained nutrient solution when element compositions are varied compared to supplied solution in hydroponic cultivation of tomatoes.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.130-137
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• 2004

Purpose : In radiotherapy for cervix cancer, both 3-dimensioal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) could reduce the dose to the small bowel (SB), while the small bowel displacement system (SBDS) could reduce the SB volume in the pelvic cavity. To evaluate the effect of the SBDS on the dose to the SB in 3D-CRT and IMRT plans, 3D-CRT and IMRT plans, with or without SBDS, were compared. Materials and Methods : Ten consecutive uterine cervix cancer patients, receiving curative radiotherapy, were accrued. Ten pairs of computerized tomography (CT) scans were obtained in the prone position, with or without SBDS, which consisted of a Styrofoam compression device and an individualized custom-made abdominal immobilization device. Both 3D-CRT, using the 4-field box technique, and IMRT plans, with 7 portals of 15 MV X-ray, were generated for each CT image, and proscribed 50 Gy (25 fractions) to the isocenter. For the SB, the volume change due to the SBDS and the DVHs of the four different plans were analyzed using palled t-tests. Results : The SBDS significantly reduced the mean SB volume from 522 to 262 cm$^{3}$ (49.8$\%$ reduction). The SB volumes that received a dose of 10$\~$50 Gy were significantly reduced in 3D-CRT (65$\~$80$\%$ reduction) and IMRT plans (54$\~$67$\%$ reduction) using the SBDS. When the SB volumes that received 20$\~$50 Gy were compared between the 3D-CRT and IMRT plans, those of the IMRT without the SBDS were significantly less, by 6$\~$7$\%$, than those for the 3D-CRT without the SBDS, but the volume difference was less than 1$\%$ when using the SBDS. Conclusion : The SBDS reduced the radiation dose to the SB in both the 3D-CRT and IMRT plans, so could reduce the radiation injury of the SB.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.247-258
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• 2023

This study aims to investigate the enhancement of water resistance and improvement in adhesion to the skin by combining dextrin palmitate and isopropyl titanium triisostearate coating materials with titanium dioxide. Due to the recent increase in consumers who enjoy outdoor activities, the demand for sunscreen with excellent water resistance is increasing. Prior research was conducted with O/W, Pickering, and W/O/W multiple formulations, but there was a limit to water resistance. The purpose of this study is to develop a complex inorganic powder that can improve water resistance and increase adhesion to the skin to solve this problem. First, we combined dextrin palmitate and isopropyl titanium triisostearate coating materials to form a composite with titanium dioxide. The coating of the inorganic powder was confirmed using FE-SEM and FT-IR analysis. The composite exhibited significantly higher in vitro water resistance compared to other formulations. The hydrophobicity of the coated inorganic powder was compared by measuring the contact angles. When the coated inorganic powder was applied to the W/O sunscreen formulation and the non-coated inorganic powder was applied to the W/O sunscreen formulation as a control, the SPF of the sunscreen containing the coated inorganic powder was higher. These results were the same when observed with a UV camera. Finally the adhesion of the coated inorganic powder to the skin was assessed by applying it to a foundation product. In vivo study, it was observed that the product formulated with the coated powder exhibited less smudging compared to the foundation product formulated with the non-coated powder. The developed inorganic powder in this study demonstrated excellent adhesion to the skin, providing a superior sensory experience, as well as enhanced hydrophobicity and remarkable water resistance effects. In the future, the result of this study is expected to help develop various sunscreen products to improve water resistance.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.464-476
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• 2022

In recent years, macroalgal bloom occurs frequently in coastal oceans worldwide. It might be attributed to accelerating climate change. "Green tide" events caused by proliferation of green macroalgae (Ulva spp.) not only damage the local economy, but also harm coastal environments. These nuisance events have become common across several coastal regions of continents. In Korea, green tide incidences are readily seen throughout the year along the coastlines of Jeju Island, particularly the northeastern coast, since the 2000s. Ulva species are notorious to be difficult for morphology-based species identification due to their high degrees of phenotypic plasticity. In this study, to investigate temporal variation in Ulva community structure on Jeju Island between 2015 and 2020, chloroplast barcode tufA gene was sequenced and phylogenetically analyzed for 152 specimens from 24 sites. We found that Ulva ohnoi and Ulva pertusa known to be originated from subtropical regions were the most predominant all year round, suggesting that these two species contributed the most to local green tides in this region. While U. pertusa was relatively stable in frequency during 2015 to 2020, U. ohnoi increased 16% in frequency in 2020 (36.84%), which might be associated with rising sea surface temperature from which U. ohnoi could benefit. Two species (Ulva flexuosa, Ulva procera) of origins of Europe should be continuously monitored. The findings of this study provide valuable information and molecular genetic data of genus Ulva occurring in southern coasts of Korea, which will help mitigate negative influences of green tide events on Korea coast.