• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.109-117
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• 2001

Cordyceps militaris is a parasitic fungus that has been used as a Chinese medicine for the treatment of fatigue, debility, kidney disease, tuberculosis, asthma and cardiac insufficiency etc. This study was carried out to determine the antioxidative and antimutagenic effects of Cordyceps militaris using DPPH free radical donating method and Ames test, respectively. They were extracted with ethanol and then further fractionated to n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, butanol and water, stepwise. Among five fractions, the EtOAc and BuOH fractions showed the highest electron donating activities, about 2-fold higher than other fractions. In Ames test, most of the extracts had strong antimutagenic effects against the mutagenesis induced by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine(MNNG), 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide(4NQO), benzo($\alpha$)pyrene(B($\alpha$)P) and 3-amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indol (Trp-P-1). The EtOH extracts of C. militaris (200 $\mu\textrm{g}$/plate) showed 62.8%, 74.4% and 67.2% inhibitory effects on the mutagenesis induced by 4NQO, B($\alpha$)P and Trp-P-1, respectively, against TA98 strain, whereas 78.1%, 78.6%, 78.6% and 82.7% inhibition were observed on the mutagenesis induced by MNNG, 4NQO, B($\alpha$)P and Trp-P-1, respectively, against TA100 strain. Especially, the BuOH fraction showed the highest antimutagenic effects against mutation induced by MNNG.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.57-61
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• 2008

Tuberculous arthritis on the sternoclavicular joint is an uncommon disease and a delayed diagnosis can be due to the obscure clinical symptoms. We should suspect tuberculous arthritis in patients with slowly progressive pain, swelling, mild fever and a previous history of tuberculosis. Early diagnosis is important through conducting a thorough physical examination and performing laboratory tests and radiologic study. Tuberculous arthritis on the sternoclavicular joint should be treated with a combination of systemic antituberculous agents and thorough surgical debridement in marked damaged joints. When performing this operation, it is important not only to minimized the injury of the costoclavicular ligament, but also to avoid injury to the surrounding the vital structures such as the mediastinum and pleura after aggressive resection or radical debridement. We describe here 2 cases of the tuberculous arthritis on the sternoclavicular joint: one case had a good result after surgical debridement with using an anti-tuberculous agent, and the other had fatal complications such as mediastinal abscess and pleural effusion after the operation.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.3-15
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• 1977

In order to find out health problems among inhabitants in slum areas in Kwanak-Ku, Seoul, a series of health survey was conducted upon 510 households by interview from March to December, 1976. The results obtained were as follows: 1. Employments of householders were unstable; Out of 508 householders, 164(32.3%) were unemployed and 184 (36.2%) were daily or temporary employees. 2. Average number of households per house was 2.0 and average area of residential room per person was $4.0m^2$. 3. 476(93.3%) out of 510 households were supplied with tap water and rest of them made use of ground water as a source of drinking water. 4. Only 279(18.3%) out of 1527 live births were delivered at medical facilities, 496(32.7%) were at home attended by doctors or midwives and 358(25.1%) took prenatal care. The above findings were worse in urban slum area than in other urban area of relatively high economic level, but were better than in rural area of less medical facilities. 5. Initiation of treatment were delayed until their illnesses were advanced in most of the households, 472(92.5%) out 510. In the early stage of the illness, 131(25.6%) of the house-holds sought physicians in their clinics or general hospitals and 250 (40.9%) visited chemists, to toy drugs at first hand. Frequency of visits to physician increased to 52.8% as the disease aggravated in later stages. 6. Cost of medical expenditure per household amounted to 815 won, and was paid to, in the order of chemists, physicians, chinese herb stores, chinese herb doctors. 7. Concerning the health knowledge of the inhabitants, 273(53.9%) out of 506 respondents were aware of the infectivity of pulmonary tuberculosis, and 68(13.4%) of them checked regularly their chest findings by X-ray at least once every two years. 8. As for the family planning, although 448(87.3%) out of 510 respondents were in favor of it, 215 (41.8%) of them were actually practicing contraception. 9. About 40.6% (125 respondents) of them obtained information and knowledge concerning contraception through personal contact with family planning workers. 10. Nutritional status of housewives was generally poor: 49(38.3%) out of 128 housewives were found to be anemic and average serum protein level was $7.5{\pm}0.82g/dl$.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.71-79
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• 2015

Background: Recent studies have shown that the nontuberculosis mycobacterium (NTM) recovery rate in clinical cultures has increased within Korea. However, another study conducted by a secondary hospital within Daegu reported different results. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to understand and evaluate the microbiological distribution and clinical features of NTM in Daegu. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 11,672 respiratory specimens undergoing acid fast bacilli (AFB) culture from 6,685 subjects who visited Yeungnam University Respiratory Center from January 2012 to December 2013. Results: Of the 11,672 specimens undergoing AFB culture, 1,310 specimens (11.2%) showed positive results. Of these specimens, NTM was recovered from 587 specimens, showing a recovery rate of 44.8%. Identification test for NTM was performed on 191 subjects; the results were as follows: M. avium-intracellulare complex (MAC) 123 (64.4%), M. abscessus 20 (10.5%), M. kansasii 12 (6.3%), and 33 other NTM germ strains. Of the 382 subjects with NTM, 167 were diagnosed with pulmonary NTM disease (43.7%), however virulence differed depending on NTM strain. Multivariate analysis showed that nodular bronchiectasis, the nodules, and finding consistent with cavity under imaging study were statistically significant for triggering pulmonary NTM disease. AFB culture showing MAC and M. abscessus was statistically significant as well. Positive predictive value for NTM polymerase chain reaction (NTM-PCR) was 88.6%. Conclusion: Results for NTM recovery rate within the Daegu area were similar to those for the Seoul metropolitan area. We can assume that NTM infection is increasing in our community, therefore AFB-positive subjects (1) should undergo NTM-PCR, (2) should have their culture results checked for differentiation of mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTB) from NTM, and (3) undergo NTM identification test to confirm its type. Administration of treatment with the above results should be helpful in improving the patients' prognosis.

• The Journal of the Korean life insurance medical association
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.29-32
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• 2010

Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a progressive occlusive disease of the cerebral vasculature with particular involvement of the circle of Willis and the arteries that feed it. MMD is one of cerebrovacular accident,which is treated with sugical maeuver in pediatic neurosurgery. Moyamoya (ie, Japanese for "puff of smoke") characterizes the appearance on angiography of abnormal vascular collateral networks that develop adjacent to the stenotic vessels. The steno-occlusive areas are usually bilateral, but unilateral involvement does not exclude the diagnosis. The exact etiology of moyamoya disease is unknown. Some genetic predisposition is apparent because it is familial 10% of the time. The disease may be hereditary and multifactorial. It may occur by itself in a previously healthy individual. However, many disease states have been reported in association with moyamoya disease, including the following: 1) Immunological - Graves disease/thyrotoxicosis 2) Infections - Leptospirosis and tuberculosis 3) Hematologic disorders - Aplastic anemia, Fanconi anemia, sickle cell anemia, and lupus 4) Congenital syndromes - Apert syndrome, Down syndrome, Marfan syndrome, tuberous sclerosis, Turner syndrome, von Recklinghausen disease, and Hirschsprung disease 5) Vascular diseases - Atherosclerotic disease, coarctation of the aorta and fibromuscular dysplasia, 6)cranial trauma, radiation injury, parasellar tumors, and hypertension etc. These associations may not necessarily be causative but do warrant consideration due to impact on treatment.(Mainly neurosurgical operation.) The incidence of moyamoya disease is highest in Japan. The prevalence of MMD is 1 person per 100,000 population. The prevalence and incidence of moyamoya disease in Japan has been reported to be 3.16 cases and 0.35 case per 100,000 people, respectively. With regard to sex, the female-to-male ratio is 1.4:1. A bimodal peak of incidence is noted, with symptoms occurring either in the first decade(5-10yr) or in the third and fourth decades (30-40yr)of life. Mortality rates of moyamoya disease are approximately 10% in adults and 4.3% in children. Death is usually from hemorrhage. In aspect of life insurance, MR is 1700%, EDR is 16 per 1000 persons. Children and adults with moyamoya disease (MMD) may have different clinical presentations. The symptoms and clinical course vary widely from asymptomatic to transient events to severe neurologic deficits. Adults experience hemorrhage more commonly; cerebral ischemic events are more common in children. Children may have hemiparesis, monoparesis, sensory impairment, involuntary movements, headaches, dizziness, or seizures. Mental retardation or persistent neurologic deficits may be present. Adults may have symptoms and signs similar to those in children, but intraventricular, subarachnoid, or intracerebral hemorrhage of sudden onset is more common in adults. Recently increasing diagnosis of MMD with MRI, followed by surgical operation is noted. MMD needs to be considered as the "CI" state now in life insurance fields.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.138-148
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• 2018

Objective: Fusarium mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEN), common contaminants in the feed of farm animals, cause immune function impairment and organ inflammation. Consequently, the main objective of this study was to elucidate DON and ZEN effects on the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and other immune related genes in the kidneys of piglets. Methods: Fifteen 6-week-old piglets were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments for 4 weeks: control diet, and diets contaminated with either 8 mg DON/kg feed or 0.8 mg ZEN/kg feed. Kidney samples were collected after treatment, and RNA-seq was used to investigate the effects on immune-related genes and gene networks. Results: A total of 186 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened (120 upregulated and 66 downregulated). Gene ontology analysis revealed that the immune response, and cellular and metabolic processes were significantly controlled by these DEGs. The inflammatory stimulation might be an effect of the following enriched Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathway analysis found related to immune and disease responses: cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, chemokine signaling pathway, toll-like receptor signaling pathway, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), tuberculosis, Epstein-Barr virus infection, and chemical carcinogenesis. The effects of DON and ZEN on genome-wide expression were assessed, and it was found that the DEGs associated with inflammatory cytokines (interleukin 10 receptor, beta, chemokine [C-X-C motif] ligand 9, CXCL10, chemokine [C-C motif] ligand 4), proliferation (insulin like growth factor binding protein 4, IgG heavy chain, receptor-type tyrosine-protein phosphatase C, cytochrome P450 1A1, ATP-binding cassette sub-family 8), and other immune response networks (lysozyme, complement component 4 binding protein alpha, oligoadenylate synthetase 2, signaling lymphocytic activation molecule-9, ${\alpha}$-aminoadipic semialdehyde dehydrogenase, Ig lambda chain c region, pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase, isozyme 4, carboxylesterase 1), were suppressed by DON and ZEN. Conclusion: In summary, our results indicate that high concentrations of DON and ZEN suppress the inflammatory response in kidneys, leading to potential effects on immune homeostasis.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 2014

Objective : Infectious spinal disease is regarded as an infection by a specific organism that affects the vertebral body, intervertebral disc and adjacent perivertebral soft tissue. Its incidence seems to be increasing as a result of larger proportion of the older patients with chronic debilitating disease, the rise of intravenous drug abuser, and the increase in spinal procedure and surgery. In Korea, studies assessing infectious spinal disease are rare and have not been addressed in recent times. The objectives of this study are to describe the epidemiology of all kind of spinal infectious disease and their clinical and microbiological characteristics as well as to assess the diagnostic methodology and the parameters related to the outcomes. Methods : A retrospective study was performed in all infectious spinal disease cases presenting from January 2005 to April 2010 to three tertiary teaching hospitals within a city of 1.5 million in Korea. Patient demographics, risk factors, clinical features, and outcomes were assessed. Risk factors entailed the presence of diabetes, chronic renal failure, liver cirrhosis, immunosuppressants, remote infection, underlying malignancy and previous spinal surgery or procedure. We comparatively analyzed the results between the groups of pyogenic and tuberculous spinal infection. SPSS version 14 statistical software was used to perform the analyses of the data. The threshold for statistical significance was established at p<0.05. Results : Ninety-two cases fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were reviewed. Overall, patients of tuberculous spinal infection (TSI) and pyogenic spinal infection (PSI) entailed 20 (21.7%) and 72 (78.3%) cases, respectively. A previous spinal surgery or procedure was the most commonly noted risk factor (39.1%), followed by diabetes (15.2%). The occurrence of both pyogenic and tuberculous spondylitis was predominant in the lumbar spine. Discs are more easily invaded in PSI. At initial presentation, white cell blood count and C-reactive protein levels were higher in PSI compared to TSI (p<0.05). Etiological agents were identified in 53.3%, and the most effective method for identification of etiological agents was tissue culture (50.0%). Staphyococcus aureus was the most commonly isolated infective agent associated with pyogenic spondylitis, followed by E. coli. Surgical treatment was performed in 31.5% of pyogenic spondylitis and in 35.0% of tuberculous spondylitis cases. Conclusion : Many previous studies in Korea usually reported that tuberculous spondylitis is the predominant infection. However, in our study, the number of pyogenic infection was 3 times greater than that of tuberculous spinal disease. Etiological agents were identified in a half of all infectious spinal disease. For better outcomes, we should try to identify the causative microorganism before antibiotic therapy and make every effort to improve the result of culture and biopsy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.316-325
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• 1988

Author made a clinical study of 248 cases of pleural effusion patients who were diagnosed and treated at departments of chest surgery and internal medicine, Pusan National University Hospital, during the period from Jan. 1983 to Dec. 1985. The age distribution ranged from 1 to 76 years old and the ratio of male to female was 1.38:1. The cardinal symptoms were chest pain[69.4%], dyspnea[66.1%], cough[57.7%], fever[37.1%], sputum[26.2%], general malais[13.7%] and cyanosis[1.6%] in this order. The causes of pleural effusion were pulmonary tuberculosis[42.4%], pneumonia[23.0%], malignancy[16.5%], congestive heart failure[9.3%], liver cirrhosis[2.8%] and nephrosis[2.0%] in this order. The protein in the pleural effusions was 1.61*0.90[mean*SD] gm% in transudate and 5.05*1.10[Mean*SD] gm% in exudate. In 34 cases[89.5%]out of 38 transudates, the protein was under 3 gm% and in 201 cases [95.7%] out of 210 exudates, the protein was over 3 gm%. The protein ratio of pleural effusion to serum was 0.2650.11[Mean LSD] in transudates and 0.73*0.12[Mean LSD] in exudate. The ratio under 0.5 was in 36 cases[94.8%] out of 38 transudates and over 0.5 was in 206 cases[98.1%] out of 210 exudates. The LDH in the pleural effusion was 114.7550.3[mean*SD] units / ml in transudate and 627.05325.9[mean*SD] units / ml in exudate. The LDH less than 200 units / ml was in 36 cases[94.6%] out of 38 transudates and more than 200 units / ml was in 199 cases[94.7%] out of 210 exudates. The LDH ratio of pleural effusion to serum was 0.34k 0.11[mean*SD] in transudate and 1.15*1.12[mean*SD] in exudate. The LDH ratio of pleural effusion to serum was less than 0.6 in 36 cases[94.8%]out of 38 transudates and more than 0.6 in 200 cases[95.2%] out of 210 exudates. Etiologic organisms were confirmed in 78 cases[48.1%] among the requested 162 cases. In the 78 cases of etiologic organisms, staphylococcus was 33 cases[20.3%], streptococcus 24 cases[14.8%], Klebsiella pneumonia 7 cases[4.3%], pseudomonas 6 cases[3.7%], E. coli[3.1%], enterobacter 3 cases[1.9%]. 43 patient of pleural effusion from malignancy were undergone three or more thoracenteses. In 13 cases[31.7%], three specimen were negative and in 7 cases[17.1%], three specimens were positive for malignancy. In the remaining of 21 cases[51.2%], malignant cells were found in one or more of the specimens but not in all. Methods of treatment of pleural effusion by closed thoracotomy was 188 cases[75.8%], thoracentesis 27 cases[10.9%], decortication 16 cases[6.5%], thoracoplasty 6 cases[2.4%] and decortication with thoracoplasty 3 cases[1.2%].

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.19-28
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• 1975

The thoracoscopic study was reported on 21 cases of spontaneous pneumothorax requiring surgical management, and clinical values of thoracoscopic examination on spontaneous pneumothorax were also discussed. patients were treated in the Department of .Thoracic Surgery, Hanyang University Hospital for the period of two Years from May 1972 to April 1974. For exact detection of etiologic factors on spontaneous pneumothorax, the thoracoscopic examination in the intrapleural space was performed in parallel with X-ray study. this study, the difference of diagnostic and therapeutic significance between radiological and thoracoscopic findings were observed and compared simultaneously. The results are summerized as follows: Patients age was distributed between 3 and 70 years old with highest incidence in the age group of sixty decade [33. 3%], and sex ratio of male to female was 5:2. The tuberculous processes which developed superficial subpleural layer in the lung parenchyme, on the pulmonary surface could be observed by thoracoscopic examination in a characteristic picture. detection ratio of pulmonary tuberculosis by the radiologic study to that by thoracoscopy was 8:2. The adhesion between the visceral and the parietal pleura which could possibly make a rupture of the alveola and the visceral pleura was found to be localized in a small area of the lung surface. The other part of the lung surface was free of the adhesion and, therefore, the movement of the lung took place completely without any difficulty. The ruptured orifice of the pleura and pathological changes surrounding the orifice can be detected by thoracoscopy, but not by other means such as radiologic examination. A single tuberculous bleb and multiple emphysematous blebs were found on 6 cases out of 21 cases of spontaneous pneumothorax. Among these cases, radiologic Study revealed the bleb only in one patient. On the other hand, the blebs were found in all the six patients by means of thoracoscopic examination. It gives the detection ratio of bleb by radiologic study to that by thoracoscopy was 1:6. By thoracoscopy, the rupture on the lung surface were visualized on the 10 patients out of a total of 21 patients [10 patients of visual rupture]. However, the rupture of the pleura was not observed on the rest of 11 patients even by thoracoscopic examination [11 patients of non visual rupture]. Five patients [50%] out of ten who had the visual rupture on the lung surface was required a surgical operation to remove pneumothorax. For the patients who were detected to have the visual rupture of the pleura by thoracoscopy, be considered in the early stage of closed thoracostomy. of 21 patients, 16 patients [11 patients of non visual rupture of the pleura and 5 patients of visual rupture of the pleura] who received no surgical management, were treated with closed thoracostomy with continuous suction, and the` pneumothorax was healed completely up in each cases. Therapeutic measures for the remaining 5 patients of visual rupture of the pleura who were subjected to surgical approach for radical treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax were accordingly complicated, and the following different procedures were properly indicated case by case, that is, rib resection thoracostomy, simple closure of ruptured visceral pleura, wedged resection of the lung, and lobectomy.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.341-347
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• 2020

Objectives: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most common types of head and neck cancer. MicroRNAs, as new biomarkers, are recommended for diagnosis and treatment of different types of cancers. Bevacizumab, sold under the trade name Avastin, is a humanized whole monoclonal antibody that targets and blocks VEGF-A (vascular endothelial growth factor A; angiogenesis) and oncogenic signaling pathways. Materials and Methods: This study comprised 50 cases suffering from OSCC and 50 healthy participants. Peripheral blood samples were collected in glass test tubes, and RNA extraction was started immediately. Expression levels of miR-155, miR-191, and miR-494 biomarkers in the peripheral blood of OSCC-affected individuals and healthy volunteers in vivo were evaluated using real-time PCR. The influence of Avastin on the expression levels of the aforementioned biomarkers in vitro and in the HN5 cell line was also investigated. Results: Expression levels of miR-155, miR-191, and miR-494 in the peripheral blood of individuals affected by OSCC were higher than in those who were healthy. Moreover, Avastin at a concentration of 400 μM caused a decrease in the expression levels of the three biomarkers and a 1.5-fold, 3.5-fold, and 4-fold increase in apoptosis in the test samples compared to the controls in the HN5 cell line after 24, 48, and 72 hours, respectively. Conclusion: The findings of this study demonstrate that overexpression of miR-155, miR-191, and miR-494 is associated with OSCC, and Avastin is able to regulate and downregulate the expression of those biomarkers and increase apoptosis in cancerous cells in the HN5 cell line.