• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.241-250
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• 1994

This research was carried out to investigate how the growth of corn was affected by the heavy metal contents in soils near the old zinc-mining sites, by analyzing correlation between the growth of corn and heavy metal contents in soils collected from Yonghari Ilwoulmyun YongyangGun in Kyeongpook province in 1993. The results obtained were summarized as follows. 1. The contents of heavy metals such as Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, and as in the Youngyang area were very high compared with those in a normal area. Heavy metal contents in soils collected from $2.0{\sim}2.5Km$ distance from the mining area were the highest, and those from 3.0 Km than those from 1.5 Km were even higher. 2. For heavy metal contents in leaves of all surveyed crops, Zn, Pb, Cu and As were the highest in soybean, followed by corn and rice. 3. Growth parameters of corn in polluted fields were comparatively poor and heavy metal contents in soils of the respective sites were higher than those in fields where rice was cultivated 8 years ago and irrigation was not done previously. 4. Heavy metal contents in the leaf part of corn plant showed a similar tendency to those in soils, being the highest among the different parts of corn plant, and they were in the decreasing order of Zn > Cu > As > Cd > Pb in each part. But the differences of metal contents in each part varied. 5. Generally, a negative relationship existed between the growth of corn and heavy metal contents in soil, of which Cu and Pb were significantly correlated with plant height, ear height, diameter of stem, ear length and yield of corn. 6. There existed a positive correlation between the contents of Pb,Cd and As in soils and those in the different parts of corn plant. The higher contents of Pb, Cd, and As in soil, the more those in corn plant incressed. The contents of Pb and As in corn grains showed a highly significant positive correlation with Cd and As contents in soils.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.150-154
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• 2010

Purpose: Ejection fraction (EF) is one of the most important factors that evaluate heart function. Recently, according to echocardiography and myocardial perfusion SPECT, the number of gated blood pool scan (planar GBP) is declining. Measurement of left ventricular ejection fraction using gated blood pool SPECT (GBPS) is known as relatively correspond with echocardiography. We compared EF derived from plnar GBP, GBPS and echocadiography using modified simpson method to determine the accuracy. Materials and Methods: From January 2007 to June 2010, planar GBP and GBPS were performed on 34 patients who admitted to Pusan National University Hospital (men 23, women 11, mean age $52.6{\pm}27.2$). Each patient was injected with $^{99m}{TcO_4}^-$ of 20 mCi after pyrophosphate injection and then scanned using both planar GBP and GBPS techniques. For image analysis, we use ADAC Laboratories, Ver. 4.20 software. The result analyzed was processed by SPSS 17.0 Win statistic program and statistical method applied in data analysis is one-way anova, Tukey's post hoc test, pearson correlation test. Results: One-way anova test show no significant difference (planar GBP $56.3{\pm}13.9%$; GBPS $60.4{\pm}16.0%$; echocardiography $59.1{\pm}14.4%$, p=0.486, p>0.05). Tukey's post hoc test show no significant difference (planar GBP-echocardiography p=0.697; GBPS-echocardiography p=0.928; planar GBP-GBPS p=0.469, p>0.05). Values for EF obtained with planar GBP and GBPS correlated well with those obtained with echocardiography (planar-echocardiography r=0.697; GBPS-echocardiography r=0.928; planar GBP-GBPS r=0.469). Conclusion: The problems of accuracy and reproducibility for planar GBP still remain. But planar GBP is a safe and non-invasive method. In addition, planar GBP is useful to evaluate patient with low resolution echocardiography images. GBPS is not appicated clinically. but GBPS can be obtain various left ventricular functional parameters. planar GBP, GBPS and echocardiography show a good correlation between each other. Therefore, planar GBP and GBPS are useful for evaluating left ventricular ejection fraction.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.283-291
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• 2009

Background: Tracheal reconstruction after extended tracheal resection still remains as a major surgical challenge because good clinical outcomes are usually correlated with limited tracheal resection. Recent investigations with a using cryopreserved trachea for the reconstruction of a trachea have been carried out to overcome this problem. In this study, we analyzed viability of tracheas, which is an important determining factor for the success of transplanting a cryopreserved trachea and the development of post-transplantation tracheal stenosis, according to three different experimental factors: 1) the warm-ischemic time, 2) the cryopreservation solution and 3) the preserving temperature, to determine a better cryopreservation protocol and a better composition of the cryopreservation solution. Material and Method: Rats tracheas were harvested for different warm-ischemic times (0 hr, 12 hrs, 24 hrs). The tracheas were treated with recombinant insulin growth factor-1 (IGF) and they were stored at three different temperatures $(4^{\circ}C,\;-80^{\circ}C,\;-196^{\circ}C)$ for two weeks. After two weeks, we thawed the stored trachea and isolated the cells of the tracheas with using type II collagenase. We cultured the cells for seven days and then we compared the cellular viability by the MTT reduction assay. Result: Though cryopreservation is required to preserve a trachea for a longer time period, the viability of the tracheas stored at $-80^{\circ}C$ and $-196^{\circ}C$ was significantly reduced compared to that of the tracheas stored at $4^{\circ}C$. The viability of the tracheas with warm-ischemic times of 12 hrs and 24 hrs was also reduced in comparison to the tracheas with a warm-ischemic time of 0 hrs. Our data showed that the warm ischemic time and the parameters of crypreservation negatively affect on trachea viability. However, a cryopresrvation solution containing IGF-1 improved the cellular viability better than the existing cryopreservation solution. For the warm ischemic time group of a 0 hr, the addition of IGF-1 improved the viability of trachea at all the preserving temperatures. Conclusion: These experiments demonstrate that the viability of cryopreserved trachea can improved by modifying the components of the crypreservation solution with the addition of IGF-1 and reducing the warm-ischemic time.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.952-963
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• 1998

Background: Cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB)-induced hemostatic defects may result increased possibility of excessive hemorrhage and additional multiple transfusion reactions or reoperation. Particularly, fibrinolytic activation and decreased platelet count and function by CPB were proposed as a predictor of hemorrhage during postoperative periods in several reports. Materials and methods: Present study, which was conducted in 20 adult patients undergoing CPB, was prospectively designed to examine the hematologic changes, including fibrinolytic activation during and after CPB and to clarify the relationships between these changes and the magnitude of the postoperative nonsurgical blood loss. The serial blood samples for measurment of hematologic parameters were taken during operation and postoperative periods. Blood loss was respectively counted via thoracic catheter drainage at postoperative 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 hours and total period. Results: The results were obtained as follows:Platelet count rapidly declined following CPB(p<0.01), which its decreasing rate was an inverse proportion to total bypass time(TBT, r=0.55, p=0.01), And platelet count in postoperative 7th day was barely near to its control value. Fibrinogen degradating product(FDP) and D-dimer level significantly increased during CPB(p<0.0001, p<0.0001, respectively), and both of fibrinogen and plasminogen concentration correlatively decreased during CPB(r=0.57, p<0.01), implying activation of fibrinolytic system. Postoperative bleeding time (BT), postoperative activated partial thromboplastin time(aPTT) and postoperative prothrombin time (PT) were significantly prolonged as compare with each control value (p=0.05, p<0.0001, p<0.0001, respectively). Total blood loss was positively correlated with patient's age, aortic clamping time (ACT) and TBT, while there was negative correlation between platelet count and blood loss at pre-CPB, CPB-off and the 1st postoperative day, and in some periods. Postoperative aPTT and postoperative PTwere positively related to postoperative 6 hr and 48 hr blood loss(r=0.53, p=0.02; r=0.43, p=0.05) but not to total blood loss, whereas there was no relationship between postoperative BT and blood loss at any period. Conclusions: These observations suggest that CPB results various hematologic changes, including fibrinolytic activation and severe reduction in platelet count. Diverse factors such as age, platelet count, ACT, TBT and postoperative aPTT and PT may magnify the postoperative bleeding. This study will be a basic reference in understanding CPB-induced hemostatic injuries and in decreasing the postoperative hemorrhage

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.48-54
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• 2005

Purpose : The pathologic mechanisms of central nervous system(CNS) injuries in human meningitis are not yet completely understood. Recent studies indicate that the host inflammatory responses are as important in brain damage as the infecting organisms and toxins. There have been some reports on the relationship of nitric oxide(NO), macrophage inflammatory protein-$1{\alpha}$(MIP-$1{\alpha}$), and lactoferrin in bacterial meningitis, but few reports in aseptic meningitis. Thus, we investigated the concentrations of NO, MIP-$1{\alpha}$ and lactoferrin in cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) and serum of patients with aseptic meningitis and control subjects and evaluated their relationship with other parameters of meningitis. Methods : CSF and blood were obtained from 25 subjects with aseptic meningitis and 15 control subjects. After centrifugation, supernatants were stored at $-70^{\circ}C$ and we assayed the concentrations of NO, MIP-$1{\alpha}$ and lactoferrin with the ELISA method. There were no patients with neurologic sequelae after being recovered from aseptic meningitis. Results : Concentrations of CSF and serum NO, MIP-$1{\alpha}$ were not increased in aseptic meningitis subjects compared to control subjects. Concentration of CSF lactoferrin was significantly elevated in patients with aseptic meningitis and concentration of serum lactoferrin was significantly decreased in patients with aseptic meningitis compared with those in control subjects(P<0.05). CSF lactoferrin level was positively correlated with CSF WBC counts($r_s=0.449$, P=0.007), especially with neutrophil counts($r_s=0.574$, P<0.001) and CSF protein level($r_s=0.508$, P=0.002). Conclusion : Lactoferrin plays an important role in aseptic meningitis and may be released from neutrophils recruited from blood to the CSF through breakdown of blood-brain barrier. NO and MIP-$1{\alpha}$ may not be important factors in the pathogenesis of aseptic meningitis without neurologic sequelae.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.7
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• pp.772-777
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• 2009

Purpose : We aimed to compare the effectiveness of 2 developmental tests-Korean Infant and Child Development Test (KICDT) and Korean Bayley Scale of Infant Development-II (K-BSID-II)-in the assessment of children with developmental delay. Methods : Twenty-eight children with suspected developmental delay, who visited the Department of Pediatrics in Asan Medical Center from February 2007 to June 2008 were enrolled. They were examined using both KICDT and K-BSID-II. The results of the tests were compared on the basis of 2 parameters: age group of the children and detection of organic brain lesion on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The correlation between the results of the 2 tests was analyzed using SPSS. Further, intraclass correlation coefficient was calculated using SAS to examine consistency between the results of the 2 tests. Results : The mental developmental index of K-BSID-II showed significant correlation with every KICDT score (P<0.01). The psychomotor developmental index of K-BSID-II was also significantly correlated with every KICDT score except the fine motor score (P<0.01). The mental developmental index of K-BSID-II showed significant correlation [Editor20] with the KICDT gross motor, fine motor, and language scores (P<0.05). Further, there was significant correlation between the psychomotor developmental index of K-BSID-II and the KICDT gross motor score (P<0.05). Conclusion : There was significant [Editor21]correlation between the results of KICDT and K-BSID-II for infants and children with developmental delay. Although our results suggest that KICDT is useful in assessing developmental delay, further research would be needed to standardize this test.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.165-178
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• 1988

In this study, the effect of single or repeated (daily for 7 or 14 days) electroconvulsive shock (ECS) on central and peripheral opiate system and modification of the actions of ECS by several psychoactive drugs were investigated in the rat. Repeated ECS caused increase of Met-enkephalin content and decrease of Bmax of specific $[^3H]$imorphine binding in the rat brain. These effects were persisted more than 7 days after the last ECS, but single ECS failed to show these effects. However, ${\beta}-endorphin$ content was decreased in midbrain preparation and increased in plasma by repeated or single ECS. These phenomenon was seen shortly after the last ECS. After ECS-induced seizure was prevented by phenobarbital, ECS-induced increase in Met-enkephalin content was significantly attenuated. Imipramine or pargyline did not affect the action of repeated ECS. On the other hand, reserpine, chlorpromazine or haloperidol which were classified as neuroleptic antipsychotics, augmented the ECS-induced changes of central and peripheral opiate parameters. Furthermore, in groups received repeated ECS, changes of Bmax of specific $[^3H]-morphine binding$ binding was inversely correlated with changes of Met-enkephalin contents, but not with changes of ${\beta}-endorphin$ contents. From these results, it is inferred that the central or peripheral opioidergic system may be involved in the therapeutic and/or adverse effects of ECS which also can be influenced by some psychoactive drugs.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.207-212
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• 2004

Purpose: Invasion and metastasis in solid tumors require the action of tumor-associated proteases. The serine protease urokinase-type plasminogen (uPA) and receptor (uPAR) appear to have a major function in these processes. Expression of the uPAR is elevated in breast and colon carcinomas, and this is often associated with invasiveness and poor prognosis. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the expression of the uPAR gene correlates with clinico-pathological parameters in human gastric carcinomas. Materials and Methods: We examined the expression of uPAR mRNA by using northern blot analysis and RT-PCR in 35 gastric carcinomas and the surrounding normal mucosa. Macroscopic and histopathological tumor findings and survival rates were obtained from the patient records and from endoscopic, surgical, and pathological reports. Results: The expression of uPAR and was higher in most neoplasms than in the corresponding normal mucosal tissue. uPAR mRNA expression in tumors correlated well with lymph-node metastasis (P<0.02) and tumor stage (P<0.01). The survival rate of patients with tumors displaying high uPAR expression levels was significantly lower (P<0.04) than that of patients without uPAR expression, but IL-8 showed only the tendency of survival difference. Conclusion: These results suggest that uPAR may be an important prognostic factor in human gastric carcinomas.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.161-166
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• 2006

Purpose: Recently, the incidence of early gastric cancer (EGC) patients is rapidly increased in Korea. However, they're often not perceptible by surgical palpation or inspection. The aim of this study is 1) to develope a software that can locate the tumor and measure the mucosal distance from an anatomic landmark to the tumor using CT gastrography and 2) to compare the distance measured by the developed software with the distance measured by the pathologic findings. Materials and Methods: Between January 2004 and September 2005, sixty patients (male=45, female=15, mean 57.8 years old) estimated for EGC with preoperative CT scans and undergone gastrectomies in Kyungpook National University Hospital were enrolled in this study. Preoperative CT scans were performed after insufflations of room air via 5 Fr NG tube. The scans included the following parameters: (slice thickness/reconstruction interval: 0.625 mm, kVp: 120, mAs: 200). 3D volume rendering and measurement of the surface distance from the pylorus to the EGC were performed using the developed software. Results: The average difference between the lesion to pylorus distances measured from pathologic specimens and CT gastrography was $5.3{\pm}2.9\;mm(range,\;0{\sim}23\;mm)$. The lesion to pylorus distance measured from CT gastrography was well correlated with that measured from the pathologic specimens (r=0.9843, P<0.001). Conclusion: These results suggest that the surface distance from an anatomic landmark to the EGC can be measured accurately by CT gastrography. This technique could be used for preoperative localization of early gastric carcinomas to determine the optimal extent of surgical resection.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.85-95
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of oral habits on the muscles of mastication and facial expression by means of two parameters: muscle stiffness and elasticity. 10 healthy, fully-dentate male subjects in their twenties were selected for this study; all had normal Class I occlusal relationships. Muscle stiffness and elasticity were measured with a tactile sensor(Venustron, Axiom Co., JAPAN) while subjects were asked to relax and perform various parafunctional activities such unilateral clenching(biting the bite force recorder with a force of 50kg on each subject's preferred side), jaw thrusting and lip bracing. The following muscles were examined: temporalis anterior(Ta), masseter(Mm), frontalis(Fr), inferior orbicularis oculi(OOci), zygomaticus major(Zm), superior and inferior orbularis oris(OOrs and OOri) and mentalis(Mn). Paired t-test, Correlation Coefficients, ANOVA and Multiple Comparison t-tests were used for statistical analysis. Unilateral clenching was highly correlated with bilateral stiffness and elasticity of all the muscles tested. Mm was affected by all three oral habits; Ta was affected by unilateral clenching(p<0.05); Zm was affected by unilateral clenching and OOrs, OOri and Mn were most affected by lip bracing(p<0.05). This study indicates that not only the masticatory muscles but also the muscles of facial expression, mainly circumoral muscles, can be significantly influenced by parafunctional activities such as unilateral clenching and lip bracing.