• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.38 no.2 s.247
• /
• pp.132-138
• /
• 2005

Background: Mitral valve repair (MVP) is the optimal procedure for mitral regurgitation (MR), however, failure and subsequent reoperations are the limitations. The current study assessed the procedure in relation to the primary valve related causes of recurrent MR. Material and Method: MR was treated in 493 patients undergoing MVP from January of 1994 to January of 2002. The causes of MR were degenerative $(n=252,\;51.5\%),$ rheumatic $(n=156,\; 31.6\%),$ and others $(n=85,\; 16.9\%).$ Surgery comprised 446 ring annuloplasties $(90.5\%),$ 227 new chordae formations $(46\%),$ 125 quadriangular resections $(25.3\%),$ 28 chordae transfers $(5.7\%),$ and 8 Alfieri's stitches $(1.6\%).$ The mean follow up was $29.04\pm22.81$ months. Result: There were 5 early $(1.01\%)$, and 5 late deaths $(1.01\%).$ The reoperation rate was $1.42\%$. There were 45 $(9.1\%)$ recurrent MR (grade III or IV). Of these, 24 were procedure related including incomplete repair (n=14), discordant new chordae length (n=8) and others (n=2). In 21 patients, the cause was valve related including rheumatic disease progression (n=10), recurrent chordae elongation or prolapse (n=5) and others (n=6). Severe MR was higher after incomplete repair (p < 0.001), and valve related failure strongly correlated with rheumatic progression (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Since completeness of operation is the prime risk factor that determine the repair durability, intra-operative assessment of the initial repair with trans-esophageal echocardiography is essential.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.35 no.6
• /
• pp.439-448
• /
• 2002

Pulmonary artery banding (PAB) in the functional univentricular heart (UVH) is a palliative procedure for staging toward the Fontan procedure; however, it is known to be a risk factor. Material and method： The records of all 37 patients with functional UVHs who underwent surgical palliation using PAB between September 1989 and August 1999 were reviewed retrospectively. We investigated the aortic arch obstruction, the development and progression of subaortic stenosis after PAB, and risk factor of mortality according to surgical method. Result： In 37 neonates and infants with single ventricular physiology, aortic arch obstruction was combined in 7. There were 6 early deaths (16.2%) after PAB and 3 late deaths (8.1%) after Fontan operation. The actuarial overall survival including early mortality at 3 and 5 years were 80.7$\pm$6.6%, 72.2$\pm$8.2% respectively. Among 31 patients who survived PAB, 27 patients (87.1 %) could become candidates for Fontan operation； 22 patients (71.0%) completed Fontan operation with 3 deaths and 5 were waiting bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt(BCPS) or Fontan operation (follow-up mean 4.5 year, minimal 2 year). Subaortic stenosis developed in 8 patients after PAB (8/29, 27.6%)； 3 cases in the patients without arch anomaly (3/22, 13.6%) and 5 in those with arch anomaly (5/7, 71.4%). The subaortic stenosis was managed with Damus-Kaye-Stansel procedure (DKS) in 6 patients without operative mortality and conal septum resection in 2 without long-term survivor. Analysis of risk factors established that aortic arch obstruction was strongly associated with subaortic stenosis (p＜0.001). The only risk factor of late mortality was Fontan procedure without staged palliation by BCPS (p=0.001). Conclusion： PAB is effective as an initial palliative step in functional UVH. And the high risk group of patients with aortic obstruction can undergo effective short-term PAB as an initial palliative step, with subsequent DKS for subaortic stenosis. This strategy, initial PAB and careful surveillance, and early relief of subaortic stenosis can maintain acceptable anatomy and hemodynamics for later Fontan procedures.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.392-399
• /
• 1998

Nitrogen fertilizers such as urea are readily hydrolyzed in soils to produce ammonium ions which pass through nitrification and denitrification processes. These serial processes have drawn attention due to nitrogen losses, eutrophication, blue baby syndrome, and ozone depletion problems. The purpose of this study was to test the inhibitory effects of hot-water extract and organic solvent fractions of Artemisia asiatica leaves on soil urea hydrolysis and nitrification. In addition, the effects of organic solvent fractions on urease activity and ureolytic bacterial population were also investigated. First, hot-water extract of Artemisia asiatica leaves inhibited soil nitrification substantially with a marginal stimulatory effect on soil urea hydrolysis. Soils treated with hot-water extract of Artemisia asiatica leaves showed significant decreases in the accumulation of soil $NO_3-N$ (~68% decrease) compared with the control soil without the treatment of hot-water extract. In contrast, $CHCl_3$/MeOH fraction and basic aqueous layer of Artemisia asiatica leaves inhibited soil urea hydrolysis very strongly, causing 5.8 and 4.3-fold higher accumulation in amounts of remaining urea-N compared with the non-treated soil. Meanwhile, non of the organic solvent fractions showed any significant effects on soil nitrification inhibition. The inhibition of ureolytic bacterial activity by $CHCl_3$/MeOH fraction and aqueous basic layer of Artemisia asiatica leaves without any effects on urease activity itself led us to conclude that the inhibitions of soil urea hydrolysis were caused by the antagonistic effects on ureolytic bacterial activity.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.53-64
• /
• 2006

A study on the restoration process of a stream ecosystem and the water quality renovation technique by removing algae, vegetation and fish monitoring as evaluating the removal of the algae by dietetic characteristics of fishes were performed on Sangdong stream in the B city after stream restoration it to the artificial stream as the cases, restoring urban stream into close-to-nature stream are being increased domestically with the aim of ecological city. As a result, restoration and rehabilitation of the fundamental stream ecosystem was well maintained 4 years later the reclamation at the moment and total 93 diagnosis which were all vascular plant phylum including 44 families, 73 genuses, 79 species and 14 varieties in flora and vegetation community were observed. 3 families, 8 species and 354 populations in total among Fishes were found and Pseudorasbora Parva, Cyprinus Carpic and Carassius Auratus strongly resistant to water pollution were dominantly appeared in order of 50.5% of Pseudorasbora Parva 21.2% of Cyprinus Carpic, 20.9% of Carassius Auratus, 7.1% of Macropodus chinensis and 0.3% of Misqurnus anguillicaudatus according to relative richness index. It turned out to be that Cyprinus Carpic ingests algae over 90% and Carassius Auratus takes it over 30% according to the analysis about the alimentary object of the fishes as a consequences of algae's excrescent from characteristics of the tested experimental stream. It is reported that a Cyprinus Carpic, about 34 cm in length, ingested wet-weight 43.2g algae on the rough analysis toward the sample which makes us recognize how effective a macro community Cyprinus Carpic is for removing algae.As a consequence of this research, the effect of stream ecosystem characteristics and water quality purification could not be expected by aquatic plants and trees which were eliminated at experimental stream. From now on, a close-to-nature stream should be formed of ecological hydraulic and hydrologic engineered modeling from the beginning so that it can perform the water quality purifying function. It is determined that the structure of food chain will be abundantly influenced by the induction of oversized macro community like Cyprinus Carpic because a biomass of a consumer of higher order is increased. It is estimated that the removal algae by fishes is not effective despite in some cases of dietetic characteristics so much more studies should be executed in the future.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.1-17
• /
• 2005

Objective : This empirical research is performed to recognize diagnostic concept, pattern identification, and clinical features of Hwa-byung. In other words, the aims of this research are to examine the differences of the diagnosis between Hwa-Byung and the other psychiatric disorders, and to find out pattern identification, and clinical characteristics of Hwa-Byung for prescriptions of this syndrome. Method : In the experiment, there were participated 30 patients who were met for our criterions according to HBDIS (Hwa-Byung Diagnostic interview Schedule). These patients were diagnosed as Axis1 according to criterions of DSM-IV with administering SCID-I. OMS-prime was utilized for finding out pattern identification of oriental medicine. Symptom Check List-90-Revision(SCL-90-R), Hemilton rating Scale for Depression(HRSD), Heart Rate Variability(HRV), and Digital Infrared Thermographic imaging(D.I.T.I.) were also utilized to discover clinical characteristics of Hwa-Byung Patients. Results : 1. Regarding Sex-ratio, male subjects were 3(10%), and female subjects are 27(90%). The age of subjects ranged from 22 year old to 75 $(51.87{\pm}11.04;\:Mean{\pm}SD)$ 2. In the results of diagnosis on the basis of DSM-IV, the 17(56.67%) patients were MOD (Major Depressive Disorder), the 5(16.67%) patients were USD (Undifferentiated Somatoform Disorder), the 4(13.33%) patients were Dysthymic Disorder, the 3(10%) patients were GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder), and the 1(3.33%) was Panic Disorder. Two of the patients who diagnosed as MOD were diagnosed as Panic Disorder too, and one of them was diagnosed as Pain Disorder too. 3. Regarding pattern identification, Hwa-Byung is positively correlated to deficiency of Heart(心). and then to stagnancy of Liver-Gall bladder. Hwa-Byung is correlated deficiency symptom-complex rather than excessiveness symptom-complex. That is also correlated positively to Pathological heat and fire. 4. In SCL90-R, the mean of PSDI was $(75.3{\pm}10.7;\:Mean{\pm}SD)$. The each mean of the other 11 factors was distributed between50-70. 5. The mean of HRSD was $(17.9{\pm}5.6;\:Mean{\pm}SD)$ in the entire subject's group. Then the group of MDD was $20.9{\pm}4.4$ and the group of USD was $12.0{\pm}4.8$ 6. In the results of HRV. the mean of TP is $972.4{\pm}1174(Mean{\pm}SD)$, this is lower than normal range 1000-200. The other factors were within normal range. Then, there were no significant differences between them (p<0.05). 7. The temperatures of each acupoint have significant differences between HNl(印堂) and PC6(內關), between CV17(顫中) and PC6(內關), between HN1(印堂) and CV8(神闕), between CV17(顫中) and CV8(神闕) in comparison with the average of body temperature in the use of D.I.T.I. (p<0.01) 8. In the analysis of correlation between SCL-90-R, HRSD, HRV. and D.I.T.I. there were no significant results. According to results that the correlation was analyzed with only the MDD group as subjects, there was negative correlation between RMSSD of HRV and HRSD, between LF of HRV and PDSIof SCL-90-R, and between LF/HF of HRV and ANX, PSY, and PDSI of SCL-90-R. Conclusion : In the observation of clinical features of 30 cases of Hwa-Byung patients by using diverse structured tests, there could make diverse diagnosis as depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and Somatoform Disorder. Particularly. MDD was highly distributed. Considering oriental medicine's pattern identification of Hwa-Byung, this syndrome is related strongly to Heart, and there were demonstrated deficiency symptom-complex, and Pathological heat and fire. One of the limits of this study is lack of control subject's group, therefore, in the future study, it requires reexamination through a comparative research with these data to complete this study.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.844-852
• /
• 2006

This study was to evaluate the effect of Yeongyupaedog-san (YGPDS) on mouse Thl and Th2 cells' differentiation and ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic inflammation. The proliferation of mouse CD4 T cells and the secretion of Th1/Th2 cytokines under the influence of YGPDS extract were measured as well as the amount of ${\beta}-hexosaminidase$ in RBL-2H3 cells and the levels of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and 1L-6 secretion in Raw264.7 cells. BALB/c mice were orally administered with YGPDS extract and simultaneously inoculated with OVA to induce allergic reaction and measure the level of total IgE, OVA-specific IgE and the production of IFN- g, IL-4, IL-5 by the spleen cells. When mouse CD4 T cell were stimulated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 for 48 hours in various concentrations of YGPDS extract, it increased proliferation of CD4 cells by 11% in $100\;{\mu}g/^{ml}$ concentration but it showed an inhibition by 37% at $200\;{\mu}g/^{ml}$ CD4 T cells under Th1/Th2 polarizing conditions for 3 days with YGPDS resulted in mild decrease of IFN- g in Thl cells and significant decrease of IL-4 in Th2 cells at $500\;{\mu}g/^{ml}\;and\;100\;{\mu}g/^{ml}$ by 18% and 21%, respectively. YGPDS extract had a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on antigen-induced release of ${\beta}-hexosaminidase$ in RBL-2H3 cells. Treatment of YGPDS extract on LPS stimulated Raw 264.7 cells showed dose-dependent decrease in TNF-n production. Oral administration of YGPDS extract on OVA-induced allergic mice showed an inhibitory effect on the levels of total serum IgE and OVA-specific IgE by 25% and 34% , respectively. Culture of spleen cells with OVA resulted in significant increase of IFN- g by 44% and significant decrease of IL-4 and IL-5 by 56%, and 24%, respectively. The results show that YGPDS does not strongly induce mouse T cells to transform into Thl or Th2 but it has an anti-allergic effect in vitro, and that it also corrects the unbalance between the reactions of Th cells in allergic diseases.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.20 no.6
• /
• pp.1467-1476
• /
• 2006

This study was to evaluate the effect of Bulhwangeumjeonggi-san (BS) on mouse Th1 and Th2 cells' differentiation and ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic inflammation. The proliferation of mouse CD4 T cells and the secretion of Th1/Th2 cytokines under the influence of BS extract were measured as well as the amount ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase in RBL-wH3 cells and the levels of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6 secretion in Raw264.7 cells. BALB/c mice were orally administered with BS extract and simultaneously inoculated with OVA to induce allergic reaction and measure the level of total lgE, OVA-specific lgE and the production of IFN- g, IL-4, IL-5 by the spleen cells. When mouse CD4- T cell were stimulated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 for 48 hours in various concentrations of BS extract, it increased proliferation of CD4 cells by 14% in 50 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$ concentration but it showed an inhibition in higher concentrations. CD4 T cells under Th1/Th2 polarizing conditions for 3 days with BS resulted in mild decrease of IFN- g in Th1 cells and mild increase of IL-4 in Th2 cell at 50 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$ but the level of IL-4 decreased by 18% at 100 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$. BS extract had a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on antigen-induced release of ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase in RBL-2H3 cells. Treatment of BS extract on LPS stimulated Raw 264.7 cells showed dose-dependent decrease in TNF-${\alpha}$ production. Oral administration of BS extract on OVA-induced allergic mice showed an inhibitory effect on the levels of total serum lgE and OVA-specific lgE by 50% and 55%, respectively. Culture of spleen cells with OVA resulted in significant increase of IFN- g by 25% and significant decrease of IL-4 and IL-5 by 53%, and 38%, respectively. The results show that BS does not strongly induce mouse T cells to transform into Th1 or Th2 but it has an anti-allergic effect in vitro, and that it also corrects the unbalance between the reactions of Th cells in allergic diseases.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.201-210
• /
• 1995

This study aims to assess the possible strain-dependent variations in detection of ToxopLosmn antigens and antibodies. The virulent RH strain or avirulent Beverley strain of T gondii were injected into mice, intraperitoneally, and their antigens, antibodies and parasites were identified from the blood or tissues: liver, brain and spleen by ELISA, Western blot and PCR. In mice infected with RH strain, circulating antigens and parasitemia were first detected from 2 days after infection, and ToxopIasma DNA were found in the blood, liver, brain and spleen from 3 days after infection. It was impossible to detect specific IgM and IgG antibodies to T gondij and any specific band was not found by Western blot. In mice infected with Beverley strain, circulating antigens were detected between day 10 and day 35. The Toxoplusma DNA was found in the blood and liver from day 15 until day 60, and in the brain from day 20. But Toxoplosma DNA in the spleen were mainly detected between day 10 and day 30. The IgM antibodies were first appeared on day 10 post-infection, and were noted obviously increased between day 15 and 25. The IgG antibodies were first detected on day 15, and showed progressively increased titers. The antibody binding bands were specific according to infection period. Sera from mice infected with Beverley strain reacted mainly with the antigen of 27.5-kDa and 32.5-kDa. In conclusion, mice infected with RH strain revealed Toxoplosma antigens strongly, but not antibodies. However. mice infected with Beverley strain revealed both the Toxoplasma antigens and antibodies. The present results showed that immune responses are different between avirulent and virulent T gonnii.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.48-57
• /
• 2006

Purpose: To investigate the correlation of the serum leptin, adiponectin, and leptin/adiponectin ratio with metabolic disorders in the childhood obesity. Methods: Fifty children (25 obese and 25 non-obese) were recruited in the pediatric outpatient clinic of Chosun University Hospital from January 1st to June 30th 2005. Adiponectin, leptin, anthropometric parameters, glucose, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and insulin levels were measured. The correlations of leptin and adiponectin levels with anthropometric parameters, glucose, insulin and lipids were analyzed by Pearson's correlation coefficients. Results: Insulin and leptin levels of the obese group were significantly higher than those of the non-obese group (p<0.05, p<0.001 respectively). HDL-cholesterol and adiponectin levels of the obese group were significantly lower than those of the non-obese group (p<0.005, p<0.05 respectively). In the obese group, leptin level was positively correlated with BMI and the percentage of body fat, but negatively correlated with adiponectin level. Moreover, adiponectin level of the obese group was negatively correlated with BMI and the percentage of body fat, but positively correlated with leptin level. In the non-obese group, only insulin level was positively correlated with adiponectin. In the obese group, leptin/adiponectin ratio was positively correlated with the percentage of body fat and leptin level. Also, leptin/adiponectin ratio was positively correlated with BMI and the percentage of body fat in the non-obese group. Conclusion: Leptin, adiponectin, and leptin/adiponectin ratio did not appear to have a major role linking various metabolic disorders in the childhood obesity, even though they were strongly associated with obesity indices. Also, leptin/adiponectin ratio was associated with obesity indices even in non-obese children.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.11-18
• /
• 2002

Purpose: It is known that lactoferrin serves as a source of iron for H. pylori in gastric mucosa. This study was undertaken to investigate the relationship between lactoferrin and H. pylori infection coexistent with iron-deficiency anemia by determining the lactoferrin levels in gastric biopsy specimens, and by locating the major sites of lactoferrin expression, according to the presence or absence of iron-deficiency anemia. Methods: Fifty-five adolescents that underwent gastroduodenoscopy were divided into three groups: NL (n=19) for normal controls, HP (n=15) for patients with H. pylori, and IDA (n=21) for patients with H. pylori gastritis and coexisting iron-deficiency anemia. Histopathologic features were graded from to marked on the basis of the Updated Sydney System. The gastric mucosal levels of lactoferrin were measured by immunoassay. Immunohistochemical technique was used to allow identification of the location and quantification of the lactoferrin expression. Results: Lactoferrin levels in the antrum increased significantly, in proportion to, H. pylori density, polymorphonuclear cell infiltration, and chronic inflammation in the histologic specimens. Patients in the HP and IDA groups showed significantly increased mucosal levels of lactoferrin compared with that observed in the normal group (p=0.0001). The lactoferrin level in IDA group tended to be higher than that in the HP group (p=0.2614). The major sites of lactoferrin expression by immunohistochemistry were in glands and neutrophils within epithelium. Lactoferrin was stained weakly in NL, and strongly in HP and IDA. Conclusion: The lactoferrin sequestration in the gastric mucosa of IDA was remarkable, and this finding seems to give a clue that leads to the clarification of the mechanism by which H. pylori infection contributes to iron-deficiency anemia.