• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.118-124
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• 2018

In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with fruiting body of Agaricus brasiliensis (AB) mushroom on the lipid profiles of serum and histological patterns of liver of high cholesterol-fed rats. Five-week-old, female Sprague-Dawley albino rats were divided into three groups of 8 rats each, including a normal control-diet (NC) group, a high-cholesterol diet (HC) group, and a group fed high-cholesterol diet supplemented with 5 % powder of Agaricus brasiliensis fruiting bodies (HC+AB). Total serum cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglyceride (TG) concentrations in the HC+AB group were significantly reduced when compared with those in the HC group. Body weight in the HC+AB group was significantly lower than that in the HC group, whereas no adverse effects were observed on the levels of plasma albumin, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, uric acid, glucose, and total protein. In the HC+AB group, liver enzyme activities related to liver function, such as GOT and GPT, presented values lower than those in the HC group and were very similar to the ones in the NC group. Excretion of total lipid and cholesterol in feces in the HC+AB group was significantly higher than that in the NC and HC groups, indicating that mushroom feeding inhibits the absorption of lipid cholesterol in the intestine. Liver histopathological analyses revealed that rats fed with HC diet developed fat liver disease, whereas only small amounts of fat were deposited in the livers of the HC+AB group. In conclusion, the results suggest that fruiting body powder of A. brasiliensis provides health benefits to high-cholesterol-fed rats by lowering body weight and the risk of atherogenic lipid profile.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.114-124
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• 1999

Purpose : To clarify the relation between psychosocial variables and cancer in Korea. Methods : Case-control study. Participants: 239 subjects in 2 university hospitals in Seoul completed a series of psychometric instruments(the Olson's FACES III and the Lee's 98-items life event scale). Results : In bivariable analysis, there were statistically significant difference in age and economic status(income): marginal significance in education status and marital status between the cases and controls. The family function type and stress score were not significantly different. The result of multivariable logistic regression, analysis showed that the risk of cancer was associated with economic status and marital status, but neither the family function nor the life event stress. Conclusion : In this study, we cannot prove the statistical association between the family function, life event stress and cancer. It is necessary to persevere in our efforts to clarify the relation between stress and disease and to develop the useful tools to measure the Korean family function and life event stress.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.199-205
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• 2001

Purpose : Since the first report of vancomycin-resistant enterococci(VRE) in 1986, the resistance to vancomycin in enterococci has been increasingly rapidly. In this study, we investigated the clinical manifestations of pediatric patients with VRE and the pattern of the antibiotic use with increasing the rate of VRE in pediatrics Methods : We studied retrospectively 36 pediatric patients who were isolated VRE from January 1998 to December 2000. We classified patients into ICU and non ICU groups and reviewed species of VRE, specimens in which VRE were first detected and procedures performed before VRE detected. Results : We have found that the number of pediatric patients isolated VRE is increasingly annually in this study. In addition, the number of VRE-isolation in the ICU group and in patients who were operated or who underwent active procedures is much higher than that of in the non ICU group and in patients who were taken medication only. Enterococcus faecium is the main species of VRE. VRE showed high resistance to almost all antibiotics except tetracycline, and resistance was closely related to the duration of hospitalization and history of the antibiotic use. The proportion of the cephalosporin use was higher than any other antibiotic before VRE detection. In contrast, that of teicoplanin was higher than any other antibiotic after VRE detection(P<0.05). The cases of superinfection is higher in the ICU group than in non ICU group. Conclusion : In the hospital level, prevention of nosocomial infection through proper administrative policies, through surveillance of high risk VRE regions and prudent antibiotic use can prevent VRE outbreaks and corresponding side effects.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.205-212
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• 1992

Ninety five patients of rectal cancer treated with surgery with or without adjuvant radiation therapy since January 1982 to December 1990 at the Chonnam University Hospital were analysed retrospectively regarding local failure. Of these 95 patients 72 patients were treated with surgery alone and remaining 23 patients received postoperative radiation therapy to pelvis. There were 45 men and 50 women with 53 years of median age. Minimum follow-up period was 19 months and median was47 months (range, 19-125 months). Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate actuarial risk of local recurrence and survival rate. Comparison between two groups was evaluated by Log rank test. Of total 95 patients twenty seven patients ($28.4\%$) developed local recurrence and 13 patients ($17.3\%$) developed local and distant metastasis concomitantly. Eighty nine percent (24/27) of patients developed local recurrence within 24 months. Pelvic organ adjacent to the primary tumor area was the most common site of initial local recurrence. Of 72 patients treated with surgery alone local recurrence developed in 24 patients. Of 17 patients with stage A and 81 (Gunderson-Sosin modification of Dukes' staging system) 6 patients experienced local recurrence ($31.2\%$). The local recurrence rate of B2 and B3 group was $29.9\%$ (7/33) and that of C2 and C3 was $54.7\%$ (11/19), respectively. There was statistically significant difference between two groups (p<0.05). Of 23 patients treated with definitive surgery and radiation therapy $10\%$ (1/10) recurred in B2 and B3 patients. This was slightly lower than C2 and C3 patients ($22.2\%$, 2/10) of similar policy, but revealed no statistically significant difference (p>0.05). In the patients of B2+3 local failure rate decreased when radiation therapy was added ($29.9\%$ vs $10\%$, p>0.05) and also similar results in C2+3 group ($34.7\%$ vs $22.2\%$, p<0.05). The local failure rate in relation to distance from the anal verge had no statistically significant difference.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.1311-1319
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to compare the serum lipid level, blood sugar and blood pressure in vegetarians and non-vegetarians. The subjects of the study were 127 Buddhist nuns (age: 23∼79 y) from Oonmoon Temple in Choungdo district Gyeongsang Bookdo province and 118 Buddhist nuns practicing Zen meditation at Soodeok Temple in Yeosan district Chongcheong Namdo province. For control subjects, 235 healthy female adults (age: 23∼79 y) were selected. They were the nurses in the Gyeongsang National University Hospital, teachers and housekeepers living in Jinju, Gyeongsang Namdo province. The period of this study was from October 1996 to February 1997. The contents were consisted of food consumption survey, anthropometric measurement, estimated amount of energy expenditure, physical activity and clinical examination. The mean ages of the subjects were 44.2 y for vegetarians and 40.5 y for non-vegetarians, respectively. Average body mass index (BMI) of vegetarians and non-vegetarians were 22.47 and 21.08, WHR 0.85 and 0.84, percentage of body fat 28.79 and 26.55 respectively. The average duration of vegetarian diet of the vegetarians was 13.16 y. Levels of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, atherogenic index (AI), diastolic blood pressure, blood sugar and HDL-cholesterol were significantly higher (p<0.01) in non-vegetarians than those of vegetarians. In both of subjects, levels of TG, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, atherogenic index (AI) and systolic blood pressure were significantly higher (p<0.01) with an increment of age and the vegetarians showed a lower ratio of rise than the non-vegetarians. Levels of serum TG, LDL-cholesterol and AI were utmost in the 60 s and declined in the 70 s. Consequently, vegetarian diet can be considerably effective in reducing the level of the risk factors causing cardiovascular disease.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.27-35
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• 1995

Several studies showed that the immunological factors such as CD4+ cell number, CD4%, CD8+ cell number and CD4/CD8 ratio and the serological factors such as, ${\beta}^2$-microglobulin(${\beta}^2$-MG), neopterin, soluble CD4, and soluble CD8 are related to the risk of development of AIDS. Especially, the CD4+ cell counts have been used to monitor progresson of HIV disease, to stratify, and to follow patients in clinical trials. Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDCP) in USA has made the CD4+ cell count as a part of the classification of HIV disease. It is composed of 3 categories such as 1, 2, and 3 which asr $\geq$ 500/$mm^3$, 200/$mm^{3} $\geq$ and < 500/$mm^3$, and < 200/$mm^3$, respectively. In this study, to estimate the differences of immunological factors between HIV-infected and normal human groups in Korea, CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells, and the CD4/CD8 ratio were measured in 185 HIV-infected subjects and 140 healthy adult subjects. The lymphocyte subsets such as CD4+ T and CD8+ T were analysed by flow cytometer(FACStar) with two-color immunofluorescent stain using monoclonal antibodies such as anti-CD4 and anti-CD8 antibodies. The absolute numbers and percentages of CD4+ T and CD8+ T and the CD4/CD8 ratio of HIV infected persons were $462\pm{277}/mm^3$, $18.2\pm7.7%$, $1,170\pm{534}/mm^3$, $47.0\pm10.6%$ and $0,43\pm0.26 whereas those of uninfected persons were $886\pm{299}mm^3$, $32.9\pm{7.0%}, 730{\pm}259/mm^3$, $26.8\pm6.4%$ and $1.31\pm0.46$(P<0.01). In addition, estimating the reference values of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets of Korean, the absolute numbers and percentages of CD4+ T and CD8+ T and the CD4/CD8 ratio of 140 healthy adults persons were measured and compared with those of foreigners. The reference ranges of CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, CD4％, CD8%, and the CD4/CD8 ratio and 1.31$\pm$0.46, respectively. The significant differences were not observed when compared with those of foreigners. However a little difference was observed in the percentages of CD4+ T and the absolute numbers of CD8+ T between the normal values of Korean and those of foreigners were $43.6\pm8.9%$, $560\pm{230}/mm^3$. This result can also be useful as a basic data for the treatment and surveillance of HIV-infected patients in Korea.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.90-96
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• 1999

Background : Osteoporosis has been reported in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but this association is not well established. This study was undertaken to determine whether the prevalence of osteoporosis was increased in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and we examined the relationship of corticosteroid administration with osteoporosis. Method: Subjects were 23 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 20 control patients. We reviewed hospital records and measured bone mineral density using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry(Lunar. USA). Results: Mean bone mineral density(BMD) of spine in COPD group was $0.683{\pm}0.154 g/cm^2$ and $0.971{\pm}0.212g/cm^2$ in controls(p<0.01). But there was no significant difference in femoral neck BMD. There were seventeen cases of osteoporosis and six cases of osteopenia in COPD group and three patients of osteoporosis and one case of osteopenia in controls. But, there was no significant correlation between disease duration of COPD and spinal T score(r=-0.395, p>0.05). Ten patients were received corticosteroid in COPD group. Spinal T score in steroid receiving patients were $-3.82{\pm}0.94(SD)$ and $-2.82{\pm}0.97(SD)$ in not having steroid patients(p<0.01). Cumulative dose of corticosteroid was associated with spinal T score(r=-0.424, p<0.05) and duration of corticosteroid administration also associated with spinal T score(r=-0.457. p<0.05). Spinal BMD of patients not having corticosteroid in COPD group(n=13) were significantly lower than that of controls($0.71{\pm}0.13 g/cm^2$ and $0.97{\pm}0.21 g/cm^2$, p<0.01). Conclusion : Prevalence of osteoporosis is increased in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Especially patients who are receiving corticosteroid have high risk of osteoporosis or osteopenia and need for preventive management.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.475-481
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• 2006

Purpose : As the prevalence of childhood obesity is increasing, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus have become problems. High homocysteine levels and low vitamin $B_{12}$ supplementation are acknowledged to have a role in coronary artery disease, but there are few studies on homocysteine, insulin and vitamin $B_{12}$ levels in obese children. We aimed to study whether homocysteine, insulin, vitamin $B_{12}$, folic acid levels could have any difference and relation in obese children. Methods : The disease group consisted of 27 children from 8 to 11 years old, whose obesity index was over 130. The control group consisted of 30 healthy children of the same age group. Obesity index and body mass index were calculated by height and body weight of the children, and their systolic and diastolic blood pressures at resting state were checked. Total cholesterol, triglyceride, homocysteine, insulin, vitamin $B_{12}$, folic acid levels were studied after 10 hours of fasting. Intracellular fluid, extracellular fluid, protein, mineral, muscle mass, lean body fat, fat mass and fat percentages were checked by bioelectrical impedance. Results : Homocysteine levels were higher in obese children($8.1{\pm}2.1{\mu}mol/mL$ vs. $4.9{\pm}1.0{\mu}mol/mL$). Insulin levels were also higher in obese children($26.8{\pm}11.2{\mu}IU/mL$ vs. $12.5{\pm}5.24{\mu}IUl/mL$). Vitamin $B_{12}$ was lower in obese children($798.6{\pm}174.3pg/mL$ vs. $967.8{\pm}405.0pg/mL$). But there was not a difference in the folic acid levels between the two groups. In obese children, systolic blood pressure (r=0.535), triglyceride(r=0.517), total cholesterol(r=0.408), folic acid(r=0.408), vitamin $B_{12}$(r=0.338) and abdomoanl fat %(r=0.306) had a positive correlation. Conclusion : We found definite differences of insulin, homocysteine, and vitamin $B_{12}$ plasma levels in obese children, but we need more study to use those parameters as risk factors of metabolic syndrome in pediatric obese patients.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.68-74
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• 2005

Purpose : There is growing use of continuous renal replacement therapy(CRRT) for pediatric patients, but reports about the use and outcome of CRRT in children is rare in Korea. We report our experiences of CRRT in critically ill pediatric patients. Methods : We reviewed the medical records of 23 pediatric patients who underwent CRRT at Asan Medical Center between May 2001 and May 2004. We evaluated underlying diseases, clinical features, treatment courses, CRRT modalities and outcomes. Results : Ages ranged from three days to 16 years with a median of five years. Patients weighed 2.4 to 63.9 kg(median 23.0 kg; 10 patients ${\leq}20kg$). The underlying diseases were malignancy(nine cases), multiple organ dysfunction syndrome(five cases), hyperammonemia(four cases), acute renal failure associated with liver failure(three cases), dilated cardiomyopathy(one case) and congenital nephrotic syndrome(one case). Pediatric Risk of Mortality(PRISM) III score was $17.6{\pm}7.6$ and the mean number of failing organs was $3.0{\pm}1.7$. Duration of CRRT was one to 27 days(median : nine days). Eleven patients(47.8%) survived. Chronic renal failure developed in two cases, intracranial hemorrhage in one case, and chylothorax in one case among the survivors. PRISM III score and the number of vasopressor before the start of CRRT was significantly lower in the survivors($12.7{\pm}4.2$ and $0.9{\pm}1.1$) compared with nonsurvivors($22.1{\pm}7.8$ and $2.4{\pm}1.4$)(P<0.05). Conclusion : CRRT driven in venovenous mode is an effective and safe method of renal support for critically-ill infants and children to control fluid balance and metabolic derangement. Survival is affected by PRISM III score and the number of vasopressors at the initiation of CRRT.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.617-622
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• 2006

Purpose : High-Sensitivity C-reactive protein(hs-CRP) has been recognized as a very useful and sensitive predictor of the future risk of myocardial infarction. But the clinical significance of hs-CRP in children remains uncertain. To confirm the existence of obesity-induced vascular inflammation and the association between metabolic syndromes and elevation of CRP in children, we investigated the relationship among CRP, obesity, blood pressure(BP), and serum lipids in schoolboys. Methods : Twenty-eight obese(BMI $29.61{\pm}3.29kg/m^2$) and 93 non-obese(BMI $18.99{\pm}2.21kg/m^2$) boys aged 14 years were examined. Serum CRP levels was measured by the high sensitive latex turbidimetric immunoassay and subjects with CRP levels below 0.3 mg/dL were adopted to avoid the influence of acute infection. Results : Obese children had significantly higher hs-CRP levels than their non-obese group($0.104{\pm}0.075$ vs. $0.054{\pm}0.005mg/dL$). In the obese group, BMI, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, apolipoprotein B, atherogenic index, and triglyceride were significantly higher than in nonobese. The BMI, diastolic blood pressure, apolipoprotein E, atherognic index, and triglyceride showed positive correlation with log CRP by simple regression. Multiple regression analysis indicated that BMI and apolipoprotein E were strongly related to CRP. Conclusion : This study revealed that obese children tended to have higher levels of serum hsCRP, BP elevation and dyslipidemia than the control group and that BMI and apolipoprotein E were strongly related to CRP. These results indicate that obesity related metabolic syndrome can be developed in children.