• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.855-864
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• 1996

The purpose of this study is to evaluate nutritional status of tube feeding patients, and to investigate the effects of giving enteral nutritional support to them. 83 in-patients have been examined for their nutritional status. The mean caloric density was 0.77kca1/m1. 36.1% to 75.9% of them were malnourished in terms of biochemical assessment. The energy intake showed the significant and positive correlation in all biochemical parameters. And the protein intake showed the significant and positive correlation in total protein, serum albumin, serum iron, hemoglobin, hematocrit and TLC. But age was correlated negatively to serum albumin and transferrin. The amount of energy and protein intake has been significantly increased as the tube feeding duration became longer. Also the effect of enteral nutritional support for 6 weeks has been investigated. Case group(n=8) was administered 250kca1 of polymeric formula in addition to their usual diet, while control group(n=8) kept the amount of their original intake. When comparing the biochemical changes of the case group and those of control group at week 0 and week 6 respectively, it showed significant differences in total protein, serum transferrin and TLC. This study suggests that the malnourished status of tube feeding patients can be improved and even prevented if nutritional support is properly administered.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.81-87
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• 2009

Purpose : We sought to evaluate enhancement of plaque with gadolinium-based contrast agent by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in comparison with histopathology, namely lipid-rich and macrophage-rich components that were two representative characteristics of plaque vulnerability using atherosclerotic rabbit aorta in order to determine which histopathologic component is relevant to the enhancement. Materials and Methods : New Zealand white rabbit (n=4, weight 3.0 to 3.5 kg, all male) was used for animal model of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerotic aortic lesions were induced by high-cholesterol diet and double balloon injury. T1-weight axial images were acquired before and after gadolinium-based contrast agent using a 3-T MRI. MR images and the matched histopathological sections (n=35) were divided into 4 quadrants or 3 (n=130). Enhancement ratio (ER, ER=SIpost/SIpre) on MRI was calculated for each quadrant and compared with histopathology in regard to lipid-rich and macrophage-rich areas. Results : Lipid-rich quadrants were 72 and fibrous quadrants were 58. The number of quadrants which had macrophage-rich areas was 105 and that of quadrants which did not have macrophage-rich areas was 25. ER was significantly higher in lipid-rich quadrants than in fibrous quadrants (mean ER 2.25c$\pm$0.41 vs. 2.72$\pm$0.65, p=0.013). ER poorly correlated with macrophage-rich areas when lipid-component was controlled (correlation coefficient -0.203, p=0.236). Conclusion : Lipid-rich plaques showed stronger enhancement than fibrous plaques using a standard gadolinium-based extracellular contrast agent. Macrophage infiltration did not correlate with degree of enhancement. Further study is warranted that account for optimal time of imaging after contrast injection using various plaque models from early to advanced stages and all possible parameters associated with contrast enhancement.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.22-31
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• 2010

Purpose : This study was performed to evaluate the relationship between glomerular basement membrane (GBM) alterations to epithelial cell (EpC) structure and renal function in Alport Syndrome (AS) patients. Methods : Fifteen patients diagnosed with AS (4-26yrs) were examined. The GBM in AS was categorized as : C1) normal, C2) minor alterations (widening of lamina rara interna or externa without lamina densa change), C3) nonspecific splitting of lamina densa, C4) basket-weaving pattern of lamina densa splitting. The length of each GBM portion along the epithelial side was measured on the systematically obtained electron microscopic photographs. Furthermore to obtain an objective assessment of the degree of glomerular EpC foot process change, the number of slit pores along $10\;{\mu}m$ of peripheral GBM in each category was obtained. Results : The percentage of normal GBM portion (C1) correlated inversely with daily protein excretion (g/day/$m^2$, P<0.05) and sum of the percentage of abnormal GBM portion (C2+C3+C4) had direct correlation with daily protein excretion (g/day/$m^2$, P<0.05). There were no significant relationships between the percentages of other categories of GBM alterations and creatinine clearance or protein excretion. There were no significant relationships between of creatinine clearance in relation to normal GBM(C1) portion as well as that in relation to sum of the percentage of abnormal GBM portion (C2+C3+C4). GBM abnormality did not correlate with age at biopsy. Conclusion : The extent of GBM structural abnormality is related to proteinuria in AS but the epithelial response is uniform even though the GBM ultrastructural lesions are not.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.11
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• pp.1397-1403
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• 2013

Fructus Sophorae, the dried ripe fruit of Styphnolobium japonicum (L.), is an herbal ingredient used in traditional Oriental medicine. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of Fructus Sophorae extracts (FSE) on immune modulation in a murine RAW 264.7 macrophage model. As immune response parameters, the production of prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) and tumor necrotic $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$) were evaluated. Our data revealed that FSE increased the macrophage activation and the production of $PGE_2$ and $TNF-{\alpha}$, which was consistently correlated with upregulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and $TNF-{\alpha}$ expression at both transcriptional and translational levels. On comparative cytokine protein array, FSE significantly increased several cytokines, which was associated with phosphorylation of mitogen- activated protein kinases (MAPKs), including extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p38 MAPK and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and Akt in RAW 264.7 cells. However, each inhibitor of these molecules attenuated the FSE-induced $PGE_2$ production. These results indicate that FSE activated macrophages through the activation of MAPKs and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathways in RAW 264.7 macrophages. These findings suggest that FSE may provide a promising source of an immunoenhancing agent.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.3279-3285
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• 2014

This study aimed to understand seasonal and geographical characteristic of chlorophyll-${\alpha}$ (chl-${\alpha}$), COD (chemical oxygen demand) and Escherichia coli at Gwangyang Bay during the period from February 2010 to November 2012. The bay is divided into three different zones based on the pollutant levels and geographical characteristics. During the study periods, water temperature, salinity, Chl. ${\alpha}$, and chemical oxygen demand (COD) varied in the range of $4.68-28.63^{\circ}C$, 1.94-33.84 psu, 0.31-35.10 ${\mu}gL^{-1}$, and 0.70-13.35 $mgL^{-1}$, respectively. Total chl-a concentration were high at the zone I, which can be characterized as a semi-enclosed eutrophic area, and it were low at the zone III, which is influenced by low nutrients of surface warm water current from offshore of the bay. The high concentration of COD was observed at inner bay during the four seasons and the water quality level was kept to be bad condition during spring season at the zone II, which is influenced by Seomjin River water. The highest colony form of E. coli was recorded to be 3550 $cfuL^{-1}$ during summer at station 1 (zone I), whereas it was relatively kept low level during all seasons at the zone III. As a result, the E. coli was correlated with water temperature (r=0.31 p<0.05) and salinity (r=-0.55 p<0.05), implying that those parameters have play an important crucial role in proliferation of E. coli. Consequently, our results indicated that the E. coli can be significantly promoted within pollutant sources including the high nutrients supplied by rive discharge during spring and summer rainy seasons in semi-enclosed area of Gwangyang Bay.

• Journal of The Korean Ophthalmological Society
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• v.59 no.12
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• pp.1142-1151
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• 2018

Purpose: We assessed the visual and anatomical outcomes, and the safety profile of long-term intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections (aflibercept, ranibizumab, and bevacizumab) given to treat neovascular age-related macular degeneration (NAMD). Methods: We analyzed medical records collected over 7 years of treatment-naive NAMD patients who received outpatient clinic-based intravitreal anti-VEGF injections. All were treated employing either "treat-and-extend" or "as needed" protocols at the discretion of the retinal specialist. The number of injections, adverse events associated with injection, and measures of visual acuity (VA), central foveal thickness (CFT), and intraocular pressure (IOP) were recorded. Results: Overall, we assessed 196 eyes of 196 patients (average age $68.6{\pm}9.6years$; 77 females). Patients received an average of $17.3{\pm}13.5$ injections over $78.0{\pm}16.5months$ of clinical follow-up. The initial mean VA (logMAR) was $0.75{\pm}0.58$ and the CFT was $349.7{\pm}152.6{\mu}m$. Both parameters exhibited maximal improvements at the 6-month visit (p < 0.05). However, the clinical outcomes worsened over the 7-year clinical course; the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was $0.91{\pm}0.78$ and the CFT was $284.5{\pm}105.8{\mu}m$ at 7 years. The BCVA at 7 years was significantly correlated with the initial BCVA. IOP-related events increased 11-fold and anterior chamber reactions increased 3-fold over the years, but no significant complications such as endophthalmitis were recorded. Conclusions: The use of intravitreal anti-VEGF agents was associated with initial visual improvements over 6 months but did not prevent the worsening of NAMD over 5 years. The BCVA at the initial visit was a strong predictor of the final BCVA. A more intensive injection schedule might improve long-term outcomes.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.37 no.6_2
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• pp.1849-1858
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• 2021

We analyzed the monthly and annual trends of the meteorological factors(wind speeds and directions and air temperatures) measured at an automated synoptic observation system (ASOS) and fine particle (PM₁₀ and PM_2.5) concentrations measured at the air quality monitoring systems(AQMSs) in Suwon. In addition, we investigated how the fine particle concentrations were related to the meteorological factors as well as urban morphological parameters (fractions of building volume and road area). We calculated the total volume of buildings and the total area of the roads in the area of 2 km × 2 km centered at each AQMS using the geographic information system and environmental geographic information system. The analysis of the meteorological factors showed that the dominant wind directions at the ASOS were westerly and northwesterly and that the average wind speed was strong in Spring. The measured fine particle concentrations were low in Summer and early Autumn (July to September) and high in Spring and Winter. In 2020, the annual mean fine particle concentration was lowest at most AQMSs. The fine particle concentrations were negatively and weakly correlated with the measured wind speeds and air temperatures (the correlation between PM_2.5 concentrations and air temperatures was relatively strong). In Suwon city, at least for 6 AQMSs except for the RAQMS 131116 and AQMS 131118, the PM₁₀ concentrations were affected mainly by the transport from outside rather than primary emission from mobile sources or wind speed decrease caused by buildings and, in the case of PM_2.5, vise versa.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.117-126
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• 2017

Hanwoo young bulls are selected based on performance test using the weight at 12 months and pedigree index comprising marbling score. Pedigree index was not based on the progeny tested data but the breeding value of the proven bulls; resulting a lower accuracy. The progeny testing of the young bulls was categorized into testing at farm and at the test station. The farm tested data was difficult to compare with those from test station data. Farm tested bulls had different slaughter ages than those for test station bulls. Therefore, this study had considered a different age at slaughter for respective records on ultrasound traits. Records on body weight at 12 months, ultrasound measures at 12 and 24 months(uIMF, uEMA, uBFT, and uRFT), and carcass traits(CWT, EMA, BFT, and MS) were collected from steers and bulls of Hanwoo national improvement scheme between 2008 and 2013. Fixed effects of batch, test date, test station, personnel for measurement, personnel for judging, and a linear covariate of weight at measurement were fitted in the animal models for ultrasound traits. The ranges of heritability estimates of the ultrasound traits at 12 and 24 months were 0.21-0.43 and 0.32-0.47, respectively. Ultrasound traits at 12 and 24 months between similar carcass traits was genetically correlated at 0.52-0.75 and 0.86-0.89, respectively.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.1110-1119
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the inflammatory response in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW 264.7 macrophages could be promoted by particulate matter 2.5 (PM_2.5) stimulation. To this end, the levels of inflammatory parameters, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammation-regulating genes were investigated in RAW 264.7 cells treated with PM_2.5 in the presence or absence of LPS. Our results showed that the production levels of pro-inflammatory mediators (nitric oxide and prostaglandin E₂) and cytokines (interleukin-6 and -1β) were significantly increased by PM_2.5 stimulation in LPS-treated RAW 264.7 cells, which was correlated with increased expression genes involved in their production. In addition, when LPS-treated RAW 264.7 cells were exposed to PM_2.5, nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) expression was further increased in the nucleus, and the expression of inhibitor of NF-κB as well as NF-κB in the cytoplasm was decreased. These results suggest that the co-treatment of PM_2.5 and LPS further increases the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway compared to each treatment alone, thereby contributing to the promotion of transcriptional activity of inflammatory genes. Furthermore, although the generation of ROS was greatly increased by PM_2.5 in LPS-treated RAW 264.7 cells, the NF-κB inhibitor did not reduce the generation of ROS. In addition, when the generation of ROS was artificially suppressed, the production of inflammatory mediators and the activation of NF-κB were both abolished. Therefore, our results suggest that the increase in the NF-κB-mediated inflammatory response induced by PM_2.5 in LPS-treated RAW 264.7 macrophages was a ROS generation-dependent phenomenon.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.580-586
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• 1995

Soil temperatures at depths of 1~5cm are important to the germination and emergence of dry seeded-rice. An automated weather station was used to monitor the hourly weather parameters at Experiment Farm, Kyung Hee University from April 21 to May 30 in 1994. The data was analyzed to figure out the 24-hour temporal changes in air 1.5m above ground and soil temperatures under ground of 0, 2.5, 5, 10 and 20cm. The fluctuations of soil temperature were greatest at the soil surface and decreased with increasing depth. Mean soil temperatures at depth of 2.5cm were about 3$^{\circ}C$ higher than mean air temperatures during the observation period. Although mean soil temperatures at depth of 2.5cm during 10 or 15 days after April 21, May 1 and May 11 showed almost same temperatures, the distribution patterns of temperature regime were different from each other. Rice cultivars, Hwasung, Seohae, Nampung, IR60 and CR155, were seeded at depth of 2.5cm on April 21, May 1 and May 11, respectively. The periods of seedling emergence(PSE) varied in accordance with cultivars and seeding dates. PSE was correlated with accumulated daily mean air temperatures and accumulated hours classified by temperature regimes.