• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• 제48권10호
• /
• pp.1082-1089
• /
• 2005

Purpose : Abdominal obesity is encountered as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. However, the anthropometric cut-off value to estimate the cardiovascular risk, has not been suggested. This study was designed to find the relationship between the abdominal fat and various parameters of obesity to find the cardiovascular risk factors related to abdominal obesity and to establish practical methods to measure them. Methods : Twenty seven obese Korean adolescents of moderate to severe degree and 22 healthy adolescents were enrolled. The body mass index(BMI), arm circumference and skinfold thickness were measured. Furthermore, blood lipid, sugar, insulin and four different cytokines' levels were checked and the distribution of body composition was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis. The subcutaneous and intra-abdominal fat thickness by abdominal ultrasonography(US) and the total and intra-abdominal fat area by abdominal computerized tomography(CT) were measured in the obese group. Results : The most accurate method to measure abdominal fat in children is abdominal CT and the fat mass measured by bioelectrical impedance was strongly correlated with it(r=0.954). It was also correlated with arm circumference, fat thickness measured by abdominal US, BMI, aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT) and triglyceride level. Conclusion : Abdominal CT is the most accurate method to measure intra-abdominal fat, and it can be replaced by abdominal US for cost effectiveness. The screening methods that can be used at school or in outpatient basis include bioelectrical impedance, waist/hip ratio, and arm circumference. The cardiovascular risk factors include leptin, triglyceride and insulin level.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• 제48권3호
• /
• pp.344-357
• /
• 2020

Strain improvement and bioprocess development were undertaken to enhance hyaluronic acid(HA) production by Streptococcus zooepidemicus cells. Using a high-yielding mutant strain, statistical medium optimization was carried out in shake flask cultures, resulting in 52% increase in HA production (5.38 g/l) at the optimal medium composition relative to the parallel control cultures. For sufficient supply of dissolved oxygen (DO), which turned out to be crucial for enhanced production of HA, agitation system and speed were intensively investigated in 5 L bioreactor cultures. Increase in oxygen mass transfer coefficient (k_La) through increment of agitation speed (rpm) and 35% expansion of diameter of the newly-designed impellers showed significantly positive effects on HA production. By installing an expanded Rushton-turbine impeller for efficient break-down of sparged air, and an extended marine impeller above the Rushton-turbine impeller for efficient mixing of the air-born viscous fermentation broth, maximum amount of HA (9.79 g/l) was obtained at 450 rpm, 1.8 times higher level than that of the corresponding flask culture. Subsequently, the possibility of bioprocess scale-up to a 50 L bioreactor was investigated. Despite almost identical maximum HA production (9.11 vs 9.25 g/l), the average HA volumetric productivity (r_p) of the 50 L culture turned out only 74% compared to the corresponding 5 L culture during the exponential phase, possibly caused by shear damages imposed on the producing cells at the high stirring in the 50 L culture. The scale-up process could be successfully achieved if a scale-up criterion of constant oxygen mass transfer coefficient (k_La) is applied to the 50 L pilot-scale bioreactor system.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• /
• 제11권1호
• /
• pp.79-90
• /
• 2000

Objective：This study was performed in order to develop a measuring instrument for assessing and predicting delinquent behavior of the adolescents in Korea. Methods：This study was methodological research for developing a questionnaire for measuring delinquent behavior. Through the relevant literature review and personal interview using open-ended question with 12 adolescents in schools, outpatient basis and the juvenile corrective institutions, the author developed a pre-questionnaire with 31 items for assessing delinquent behavior among delinquentprone adolescents. Statistical method employed were test-retest reliability and Cronbach's alpha coefficient for testing reliability and factor analysis for testing validity of this questionnaire, and t-test for mean difference between student adolescents and delinquent adolescents, using SAS program. Subject served for this study consisted of 2,177 adolescents including 1,206 students and 971 delinquent adolescents by proportional stratified random sampling method. Results：1) Three stable factors were emerged and these contributed 52.2% of the variance in the total score. All 31 items loaded above .40 on each factor. 2) Factor I was named as antisocial delinquent behavior(17 items), factor II was named as aggressive delinquent behavior(8 items), and factor III was named as psychopathic delinquent behavior(6 items). 3) Comparison of these 3 factors between student adolescents and delinquent adolescents showed that there was a significant difference in factor Ⅰ(t=-42.91(student), -41.71(delinquent), p=.0001), factor II(t=-34.10(student), -35.72(delinquent), p=.0001), factor III(t=-14.24(student), -14.26 (delinquent), p=.0000), and total score(t=37.02(student), -36.38(delinquent), p=.0001). 4) Internal consistency reliability was tested by Cronbach's ${\alpha}$. Cronbach's ${\alpha}$ was .952 for total 31 items and .950, .866 and .721 for each 3 factors related to delinquent behavior. Conclusions：The author confirmed that this scale can use for measuring delinquent behavior, and hope to make a contribution to screening test and prevention of juvenile delinquency in Korea.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
• /
• 제24권1호
• /
• pp.39-44
• /
• 1985

This study was undertaken to select a suitable Korean tissue paper for Baermann funnel method. Ten kinds of five manufacturers were evaluated as to nematode extraction efficiency in Baermann funnel. 'Crown Hankie'(Korea Special Paper Co., Ltd.) had suitable properties in nematode permeability and strength regardless of three soil types, loamy sand, sandy loam and clay loam. The number of nematodes extracted using 'Crown Hankie' 4 ply was 198, while that of 'Cottonwool Nematode Filter' was 227. Un-perfumed tissue papers showed higher nematode extraction efficiencies than perfumed tissue papers by 53 and 23% in 'Kleenex New Softness' and 'Monaliza Finely Soft Tissue', respectively. Among the nematode extraction efficiencies by temperatures, $15^{\circ},\;25^{\circ}\;and\;35^{\circ}C$, it was highest at $35^{\circ}C$. In experiment of evaluating nematode extraction using Baermann funnel at 12 hours interval to 92 hours, 35.3 and 40.3% of nematodes were extracted after 12 and 24 hours, respectively.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• 제25권2호
• /
• pp.155-166
• /
• 2010

Studies on the production of cell-wall bound innerpolysaccharides (IPS) (soluble ${\beta}$-D-glucan) have been performed by use of suspended myelial cultures of Inonotus obliquus. This product has promising potentials as an effective antidiabetic as well as an immunostimulating agents. As a first step to enhanced production of IPS, Intensive strain improvement programs were carried out by obtaining a large amounts of protoplasts for the isolation of single cell colonies. Rapid and large screening of high-yielding producers was possible because about fivefold higher amount of protoplasts ($2.3{\times}10^6$ protoplasts/mL) could be recovered with relatively high regeneration rates of $10^{-2}{\sim}10^{-3}$ by applying a modified filtration method, as compared to the previously used trapping method. A basic protocol necessary for UV-mutation of the protoplasts was also developed, resulting in several overproducing variants with good fermentation properties. Since the amount of IPS extracted from the mycelial cell walls of I. obliquus turned out to be almost constant per g DCW, increase in cell mass was considered the most important factor for the enhancement in IPS production. Therefore, attempts were made to screen mutant cells showing rapid mycelial growth rate in the final suspended cultures. Notably, the mutant strains showing an active cellgrowth in the preceding solid growth cultures were observed to produce higher amount of IPS in the suspended fermentations as well. A striking mutant, OBLQ756-15-5 strain, obtained from the survivors of a harsh UV-treated condition (97% death rate) was found to stably produce as high cell mass as 22 g DCW/L in the final fermentations. Currently, this strain is being tested for development of a scaled-up fermentation process for mass production of IPS.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• 제47권2호
• /
• pp.220-229
• /
• 2009

Strain improvement and morphology investigation in bioreactor cultures were undertaken in suspended cultures of Phellinus linteus mycelia for mass production of protein-bound polysaccharides(soluble ${\beta}$-D-glucan), a powerful immuno-stimulating agent. Phellineus sp. screened for this research was identified as Phellinus linteues through ITS rDNA sequencing method and blast search, demonstrating 99.7% similarity to other Phellinus linteus strains. Intensive strain improvement program was carried out by obtaining large amounts of protoplasts for the isolation of single cell colonies. Rapid and large screening of high-yielding producers was possible because large numbers of protoplasts ($1{\times}10^5{\sim}10^6\;protoplasts/ml$) formed using the banding filtration method with the cell wall-disrupting enzymes could be regenerated in relatively high regeneration frequency($10^{-2}{\sim}10^{-3}$) in the newly developed regeneration medium. It was demonstrated that the strains showing high performances in the protoplast regeneration and solid growth medium were able to produce 5.8~6.4%(w/w) of ${\beta}$-D-glucan and 13~15 g/L of biomass in stable manners in suspended shake-flask cultures of P. linteus mycelia. In addition, cell mass increase was observed to be the most important in order to enhance ${\beta}$-D-glucan productivity during the course of strain improvement program, since the amount of ${\beta}$-D-glucan extracted from the cell wall of P. linteus mycelia was almost constant on the unit biomass basis. Therefore we fully investigated the fungal cell morphology, generally known as one of the key factors affecting cell growth extent in the bioreactor cultures of mycelial fungal cells. It was found that, in order to obtain as high cell mass as possible in the final production bioreactor cultures, the producing cells should be proliferated in condensed filamentous forms in the growth cultures, and optimum amounts of these filamentous cells should be transferred as active inoculums to the production bioreactor. In this case, ideal morphologies consisting of compacted pellets less than 0.5mm in diameter were successfully induced in the production cultures, resulting in shorter period of lag phase, 1.5 fold higher specific cell growth rate and 3.3 fold increase in the final biomass production as compared to the parallel bioreactor cultures of different morphological forms. It was concluded that not only the high-yielding but also the good morphological characteristics led to the significantly higher biomass production and ${\beta}$-D-glucan productivity in the final production cultures.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
• /
• 제14권2호
• /
• pp.86-91
• /
• 2007

Background: Actigraphy is a reliable and valid method for assessing sleep in normal, healthy populations, but it may be less reliable and valid for detecting disturbed sleep in patients. In this study, we attempted to assess the utility of actigraphy in the estimation of sleep quality in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), a major sleep disorder. Method: We analyzed the data of patients who underwent polysomnography (PSG) and actigraphy simultaneously for one night at the Center for Sleep and Chronobiology, Seoul National University Hospital from November 2004 to March 2006. Eighty-nine subjects with OSAS alone and 21 subjects with OSAS and periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) were included for final data analyses between groups. Polysomnographic and actigraphic data were also compared. Results: In subjects with mild OSAS (RDI<15), modretae ($15{\leq}RDI$<30), and OSAS with PLMD, PSG and actigraphy did not show significant difference in total sleep time and sleep efficiency. However in severe ($30{\leq}RDI$) OSAS subjects, PSG and actigraphy showed significant difference in total sleep time and sleep efficiency. In all patients, no correlations were found between sleep parameters from PSG and from those using actigraphy. Conclusions: We suggest that in severe OSAS patients, PSG is the diagnostic tool. In mild and moderate cases, actigraphy might be used as a screening tool.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• 제17권2호
• /
• pp.74-82
• /
• 2010

Purpose : The Dipslide culture test is a rapid method for diagnosis of urinary tract infection (UTI). The aim of this study is to determine the diagnostic availability of a urine Dipslide test for evaluation of UTI in febrile children. Methods : Urine specimens from 151 febrile infants were inoculated by a routine blood agar urine culture method and the Dipslide test at the same time. Following incubation for 16-24 hours, the results of the Dipslide test were read at the next visit. Both results of Dipslide and those of routine culture were compared. Results : The mean age of subjects was 15${\pm}$10.6 months. There were 150 infants (99.3%) who had fever with a mean duration of 2.6${\pm}$2.6 days. Thirty two infants (21.2%) were diagnosed as having UTI. Sensitivity and specificity of Uricult Trio CLED medium were 59.4% and 84.8%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of Uricult Trio E. coli medium were 60.0% and 96.2%, respectively. The Pearson correlation coefficient between results of Uricult Trio CLED medium and urine culture was 0.438 (P=0.01). Correlation between results of Uricult Trio E. coli medium and urine culture was 0.617 (P=0.01). Conclusion : The Dipslide test requires only 16-24 hours with high specificity in terms of UTI caused by E. coli without the problems associated with specimen delay. This test seems to be helpful for exclusion of UTI in febrile infants and it may reduce unnecessary hospitalization and antibiotic use. However, further studies are required before the product can be recommended as a routine diagnostic tool.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• 제3권1호
• /
• pp.72-79
• /
• 1999

Renal scarring associated with vesico-ureteral reflux(VUR) is one of the major causes of end stage renal failure and renal hypertension in children. Urinary ${\beta}_2$-microglobulin(MG) has been suggested as a potential marker for presence of renal tubular damage. This study was designed to evaluate the significance of random urine ${\beta}_2$-MG as a predictor of presence of vesico-ureteral reflux in children with urinary tract infection(UTI). 57 children with urinary tract infection were studied. Patients were devided into two groups; 35($78.9\%$) children have UTI without VUR and 12($21.1\%$) children have UTI and VUR. Beta2-MG and creatinine in random urine sample was measured to decide the excretion ratio(${\beta}_2$-MG/creatinine). Among the 57 children with UTI, 44 children were confirmed by urine culture study and 13 children suspected by compatible clinical feature. Random urine ${\beta}_2$-MG of VUR group ($2.2{\pm}5.91$ mg/L) were significantly higher than that of simple UTI group($0.19{\pm}0.16mg/L$)(P=0.03). The ${\beta}_2$-MG/creatinine ratio of VUR group($32.41{\pm}25.7$) were significantly higher than that of simple UTI group($3.93{\pm}3.44$)(P=0.007). In conclusion, random urine ${\beta}_2$-MG and excretion ratio deserved early predictor of presence of VUR in children with UTI. And this method was more simple and inexpensive than the method of measuring ${\beta}_2$-MG with 24 hour urine collection, so might be a useful screening test for VUR in children with UTI.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• 제37권11호
• /
• pp.1529-1533
• /
• 2008

The detection characteristics of gamma-irradiated ($0{\sim}10.0\;kGy$) medicinal herbs (Platycodon grandiflorum, Acanthopanax chiisanensis) were investigated by photostimulated luminescence (PSL), thermoluminescence (TL), and electron spin resonance (ESR). The results of the PSL, a first screening method in comparison with the TL, showed photon counts greater than 5,000 counts/60 s (positive) in the irradiated samples, while the non-irradiated samples yielded photon counts less than 700 counts/60 s (negative). The TL was also applied for the detection method of irradiated medicinal herbs and showed that the non-irradiated sample revealed a glow curve with a low intensity, while the irradiated samples showed a higher intensity. These results were normalized by re-irradiating the mineral grains with a irradiation dose of 1.0 kGy, and a second glow curve was recorded. The ratio of the intensity of the first glow curve ($TL_1$) to that after the normalization dose ($TL_2$) was determined and compared with the recommended threshold values. TL ratio ($TL_1/TL_2$) was below 0.007 for the non-irradiated sample and higher than 0.1 for all irradiated samples (above 1.0 kGy). ESR spectroscopy revealed specific signals (6.065 mT) derived from free radicals in cellulose containing irradiated medicinal herbs. The P. grandiflorum showed clearer signals than A. chiisanensis. From the results of our studies, the PSL, TL, and ESR determinations were found to be suitable for the detection of irradiated medicinal herbs such as P. grandiflorum and A. chiisanensis.