• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.293-297
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• 1997

Malaria, caused by any of four species of protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium, is charaterized by high fever, anemia and splenomegaly. Although malaria is a cause of significant morbidity and mortality worldwide, in Korea indigenous malaria has been believed to be eradicated by 1984. However, since the case report of native malaria in 1993, reported cases have been increased annually, reaching more than 300 cases in 1996. We experienced a 2 years-old male with fever, severe anemia and splenomegaly who resided in Inchon city. He had the history of travelling to the area (Yunchon) near western Demilitarized Zone for 1 month this summer. After more than 2 weeks without special attention, he was presented with pallor, anemia and splenomegaly. He was diagnosed to have malaria by Plasmodium vivax with the help of peripheral blood smears which showed various forms of malaria, i.e., ring form, trophozoites, shizonts and gametocytes. He was treated successfully with hydroxychloroquine and primaquine. We report this case with brief review of related literature.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.32-39
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• 2019

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine which factors contribute to the surgical treatment outcomes of acetabular fractures. Simultaneously, we aim to report on the treatment results after our hospital was designated as the focused training center for trauma. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of all patients who experienced acetabular fractures from January 1, 2014 to May 1, 2017 and visited our hospital. Patients who had associated pelvic ring fractures or were lost to the one-year follow-up were excluded; a total of 37 fractures were evaluated. We evaluated the clinical results using the scoring system of Merle $d^{\prime}Aubign\acute{e}$ (MDA) and grade of Brooker for heterotopic ossification. Results: Thirty-seven patients (31 men and 6 women) were identified. The mean injury severity score (ISS) was 8.7, with 32.4% of patients having a score >15. The average blood transfusion in the first 24 hours was 0.54 pints. Falling was the most common injury mechanism (32.4%). Chest injury was the most common associated injury (16.2%), followed by head injury (13.5%). The posterior wall and both column fracture were the most common (37.8%) fracture patterns. Excellent and good clinical grades of MDA included 28 patients (75.6%) and fair and poor grades included nine (24.3%), respectively. Four patients were diagnosed with a post-operative infection (10.8%); one out of four patients who had co-morbidity died (2.7%), and another patient underwent a replacement surgery (2.7%). Multivariate analysis showed that age and operation time were associated with MDA. In addition, operation time and ISS were significant co-factors of the Brooker grade. Conclusions: Korea University Guro Hospital showed similar treatment results of acetabular fractures compared to other publications. The age and operation time were co-factors of the clinical outcome of this fracture. Additionally, increased operation time and injury severity score were suggested to increase the Brooker grade.

• Journal of the Architectural Institute of Korea Planning & Design
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.3-12
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• 2019

Current risk assessment methods typically determine accident risks embedded in construction projects by combining severity and frequency; however, they do not reflect the characteristics of construction projects. To solve the problem, this study aims to develop a novel risk assessment method that combines severity, frequency, and disaster influence factors (i.e., weather conditions and worker's characteristics) for assessing risks of activities occurring on a construction site actually. In this study, a severity was estimated by death against victims, and a frequency was estimated by the victim rate. The frequency was then converted to probability taking disaster influence factors into account. Thus, instead of considering severity and frequency for assessing the original risks (RO), the proposed method uses severity and probability to yield adjusted risks (RA) for each activity. A case study was conducted to determine if the proposed method works as intended in a real setting. The results show that RA is more sensitive to disaster influence factors than RO and, therefore, is able to assess the actual risks reflecting the working environment and conditions of a construction site. This study contributes to risk management of construction projects by offering a risk assessment method that measures a possibility of potential disasters from the probabilistic perspective. This method would help project managers assess accident risks in a more systematic and quantitative manner.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.623-635
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• 2021

The effect of deer antler extract on muscle differentiation and muscle atrophy were evaluated to minimize muscle loss following aging. Various deer antler extracts (HWE, hot water extract of deer antler; FE, HWE of fermented deer antler; ET, enzyme-assisted extract of deer antler; UE, extract prepared by ultrasonication of deer antler) were evaluated for their effect on muscle differentiation and inhibition of 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleoside (AICAR)-induced muscle atrophy in C2C12 cells. Morphological changes according to the effect of antler extracts on muscle differentiation were confirmed by Jenner-Giemsa staining. In addition, the expression levels of genes related to muscle differentiation and atrophy were confirmed through qRT-PCR. In the presence of antler extracts, the length and thickness of myotubes and myogenin differentiation 1 (MyoD1) and myogenic factor 5 (Myf5) gene expression were increased compared to those in the control group (CON). Gene expression of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), MyoD1, and myogenin, along with the muscle atrophy factors muscle RING finger-1 (MuRF-1) and forkhead box O3a (FoxO3a) upon addition of deer antler extracts to muscle-atrophied C2C12 cells was determined by qRT-PCR after treatment with AICAR. The expression of MuRF-1 and FoxO3a decreased in the groups treated with antler extracts compared to that in the group treated with AICAR alone. In addition, gene expression of MyoD1 and myogenin in the muscle atrophy cell model was significantly increased compared that into the CON. Therefore, our findings indicate that antler extract can increase the expression of MyoD1, Myf5 and myogenin, inhibit muscle atrophy, and promote muscle differentiation.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.195-204
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• 2021

Cereblon (CRBN), a substrate receptor of cullin 4-RING E3 ligase (CRL4) regulates the ubiquitination and degradation of c-Jun, mediating the lipopolysaccharide-induced cellular response. However, the upstream signaling pathway that regulates this process is unknown. In this study, we describe how endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress reversely regulates sequestosome-1 (p62)and c-Jun protein levels. Furthermore, our study reveals that expression of p62 attenuates c-Jun protein levels through the ubiquitinproteasome system. Conversely, siRNA knockdown of p62 elevates c-Jun protein levels. Immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting experiments demonstrate that p62 interacts with c-Jun and CRBN to form a ternary protein complex. Moreover, we find that CRBN knockdown completely abolishes the inhibitory effect of p62 on c-Jun. Using brefeldin A as an inducer of ER stress, we demonstrate that the p62/c-Jun axis participates in the regulation of ER stress-induced apoptosis, and that CRBN is required for this regulation. In summary, we have identified an upstream signaling pathway, which regulates p62-mediated c-Jun degradation. Our findings elucidate the underlying molecular mechanism by which p62/c-Jun axis regulates the ER stress-induced apoptosis, and provide a new molecular connection between ER stress and apoptosis.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.771-779
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• 2022

Background: As a kind of common complication of the surgery of perianal diseases, perianal ulcer is known as a nuisance. This study aims to develop a kind of 20(S)-ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3)-loaded hydrogel to treat perianal ulcers in a rat model. Methods: The copolymers PLGA₁₆₀₀-PEG₁₀₀₀-PLGA₁₆₀₀ were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization process and Rg3-loaded hydrogel was then developed. The perianal ulcer rat model was established to analyze the treatment efficacy of Rg3-loaded hydrogel for ulceration healing for 15 days. The animals were divided into control group, hydrogel group, free Rg3 group, Rg3-loaded hydrogel group, and Lidocaine Gel® group. The residual wound area rate was calculated and the blood concentrations of interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were recorded. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, Masson's Trichrome (MT) staining, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), Ki-67, CD31, ERK1/2, and NF-κB immunohistochemical staining were performed. Results: The biodegradable and biocompatible hydrogel carries a homogenous interactive porous structure with 10 ㎛ pore size and five weeks in vivo degradation time. The loaded Rg3 can be released sustainably. The in vitro cytotoxicity study showed that the hydrogel had no effect on survival rate of murine skin fibroblasts L929. The Rg3-loaded hydrogel can facilitate perianal ulcer healing by inhibiting local and systematic inflammatory responses, swelling the proliferation of nuclear cells, collagen deposition, and vascularization, and activating ERK signal pathway. Conclusion: The Rg3-loaded hydrogel shows the best treatment efficacy of perianal ulcer and may be a candidate for perianal ulcer treatment.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.51-56
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• 2022

In this study, finite element analyses were performed by applying a stress ring and split die design to relieve the tensile stress acting on the die due to high surface pressure during warm-closed forging. The applied material was a yield-ratio-control-steel (YRCS). It was used without quenching or tempering after forging. In the case of stress rings design, the number of stress rings and the tolerance for shrink fit were different. Vertical and horizontal splits were applied for insert die split design. Case 5 die with three stress rings, 0.2 % shrink fit tolerance, and vertical split was selected as an effective die design for tensile stress reduction. Based on die stress reduction analyses, Case 5 die for warm-closed forging was produced and smooth forgeability was secured, making it possible to manufacture forging product of yoke with the required geometry. In addition, controlled cooling using warm forging heat was applied to secure mechanical properties of yokes. When oil cooling was used for direct controlled cooling after warm-closed forging, a relatively uniform Rockwell hardness distribution and high mechanical properties could be obtained.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.339-346
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• 2007

To search the ninhydrin derivatives that have high chromogenic and fluorogenic properties, molecular holographic quantitative structure property relationship (HQSPR) models on the reactivity between glycine and ninhydrin analogues as latent fingerprint detector were derived and investigated quantitatively. The ${\varepsilon}LUMO$ (e.v.) energy of ninhydrin molecule was an important factor to reactivity of ninhydrin. And, it is suggested that the nucleophilic reaction by orbital-controlled reaction from the frontier molecular orbital (FMO) interaction between glycine and ninhydrin derivatives was more superior than that of electrophilic reaction by charged controlled reaction. The analytical results in atomic contribution maps also shows that the reactivity of ninhydrin was increased by meta-substituents as strong electron withdrawing groups on the benzo ring. Therefore, it is sugested by HQSPR and QSPR model that the 5,6-dinitroninhydrin molecule would increase the reactivity as much as three times as compared to none substituted ninhydrin molecule.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.69.1-69.11
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• 2023

Background: Kalkitoxin (KT) is an active lipopeptide isolated from the cyanobacterium Lyngbya majuscula found in the bed of the coral reef. Although KT suppresses cell division and inflammation, KT's mechanism of action in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is unidentified. Therefore, our main aim was to investigate the impact of KT on vascular calcification for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. Objectives: Using diverse calcification media, we studied the effect of KT on VSMC calcification and the underlying mechanism of this effect. Methods: VSMC was isolated from the 6 weeks ICR mice. Then VSMCs were treated with different concentrations of KT to check the cell viability. Alizarin red and von Kossa staining were carried out to examine the calcium deposition on VSMC. Thoracic aorta of 6 weeks mice were taken and treated with different concentrations of KT, and H and E staining was performed. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot were performed to examine KT's effect on VSMC mineralization. Calcium deposition on VSMC was examined with a calcium deposition quantification kit. Results: Calcium deposition, Alizarin red, and von Kossa staining revealed that KT reduced inorganic phosphate-induced calcification phenotypes. KT also reduced Ca⁺⁺-induced calcification by inhibiting genes that regulate osteoblast differentiation, such as runtrelated transcription factor 2 (RUNX-2), SMAD family member 4, osterix, collagen 1α, and osteopontin. Also, KT repressed Ca²⁺-induced bone morphogenetic protein 2, RUNX-2, collagen 1α, osteoprotegerin, and smooth muscle actin protein expression. Likewise, Alizarin red and von Kossa staining showed that KT markedly decreased the calcification of ex vivo ring formation in the mouse thoracic aorta. Conclusions: This experiment demonstrated that KT decreases vascular calcification and may be developed as a new therapeutic treatment for vascular calcification and arteriosclerosis.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.132-145
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• 2024

Sarcopenia, the age-related muscle atrophy, is a serious concern as it is associated with frailty, reduced physical functions, and increased mortality risk. Protein supplementation is essential for preserving muscle mass, and horse meat can be an excellent source of proteins. Since sarcopenia occurs under conditions of oxidative stress, this study aimed to investigate the potential anti-muscle atrophy effect of horse meat hydrolysate using C2C12 cells. A horse meat hydrolysate less than 3 kDa (A4<3kDa) significantly increased the viability of C2C12 myoblasts against H₂O₂-induced cytotoxicity. Exposure of C2C12 myoblasts to lipopolysaccharide led to an elevation of cellular reactive oxygen species levels and mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin 6, and these effects were attenuated by A4<3kDa treatment. Additionally, A4<3kDa activated protein synthesis-related proteins through the protein kinase B/mechanistic target of rapamycin pathway, while decreasing the expression of activity and degradation-related proteins, such as Forkhead box O3, muscle RING finger protein-1, and Atrogin-1 in dexamethasone-treated C2C12 myotubes. Therefore, the natural material A4<3kDa has the potential of protecting against muscle atrophy, while further in vivo study is needed.