• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.1046-1054
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• 2001

Bioleaching is the process in which insoluble metal sulfide is oxidized by specialized iron- and/or sulfur-oxidizing lithotrophic bacteria in acidic, metal-rich environments. Most of these processes are carried out by the genus Thiobacillus. Three novel Thiobacillus strains (Thiobacillus thiooxidans AZ11, Thiobacillus thiooxidans MET, and thiobacillus thiooxidans TAS) associated with bioleaching have been isolated from soil and sludge (Korean patent No. 1999-0073060 for T. thiooxidans AZ11, Korean patent No. 1999-0005798 for T. thiooxidans MET, and Korean patent No. 1999-0073059 for T. thiooxidans TAS). A partial sequence of 16S ribosomal RNA gene (16S rDNA) and the entire sequence of 16S/23S intergenic spacer region (ISR) were determined in the three above novel strains and in Thiobacillus ferrooxidans ATCC19859 as a reference strain. When phylogenetic analysis was performed based on G+C contents and sequence alignments, T. ferroxidans ATCC19859 was found to be closely related to previously registered T. ferrooxidans strains in a monophyletic manner, while the three novel T. thiooxidans strains were classified in a paraphyletic manner. Close examination on the base composition of 16S/23S ISR revealed that the 5\` part (nucleotide residues 21-200) was specific for the genus Thiobacillus. On the other end, the 3\` part (nucleotide residues 201-520) showed specificity in T. ferrooxidans strains, but not in T. thiooxidans strains. These results suggest that the proximal and distal halves of 16S/23S could be used as a genetic marker for the identification of the genus Thiobacillus and the species T. ferrooxidans, respectively.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.10 no.10
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• pp.237-245
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• 2010

Nerve conduction studies (NCS) are the most objective measure of nerve function and essential for the diagnosis of sub-clinical neuropathy in diabetes mellitus and diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN). This study evaluates the characteristic of electrophysiological abnormalities in DPN. Electrodiagnostic data from 120 patients with diabetic polyneuropathies and 77 control subjects were reviewed. Motor nerve conduction velocities (MNCV), distal motor latencies (DML), compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitudes, No potential frequency and conduction block were analyzed. Data were normalized based on normative reference values, and the proportion of nerves with abnormal values in the lower and upper limbs were evaluated. DPN was systemic demyelinating peripheral polyneuropathy and more severe abnormal nerve conduction was found in lower limbs than in upper limbs. The abnormal degree was more severe in peroneal nerve. It was no statistically significant difference of conduction block in control and DPN group. Our findings suggest that DPN had more common and severe peroneal nerve involvement in the motor nerve conduction studies (MNCS). These findings have important implications for the electrophysiological evaluation of DPN.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.250-257
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• 1987

The electrical conductances for the thorium (IV) complexes with crown ethers have been measured in DMSO, and water solvents, and the oxidation-reduction reaction mechanisms, electron number and diffusion coefficients in the reversible reduction process have been examined by polarography and cyclic voltammography. The dissociation mole ratio of $Th^{4+}$ and nitrate ion are 1:1 and in aprotic solvent, and 1:4 in protic solvent like as water. The limiting molar conductances of all complexes in aprotic solvent have been found to be in the range of $92.2{\times}159$ $ohm^{-1}cm^2mol^{-1}$. In aprotic solvent, DMSO, the reduction of each complex is reversible by one electron reduction of one step, and the range of diffusion coefficients is obserbed to be $5.83\;10^{-6}{\sim}6.90{\times}10^{-6}$. The complexes which have reduction step were hydrolyzed above at 1.8volt with reference saturated calomel electrode, generating the hydrogen gas. The reaction mechanisms of thorium (IV)-crown ether complexes appear as follows. ${Th_m(IV)L_n(H_2O)_x(NO_3)_{4y}}_=^{DMSO} {\overline{{Th_m(IV)L_n(H_2O)_x(NO_3)_{4y-1}}}^+ + NO_3-$

• Toxicological Research
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.363-371
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• 2007

Isaria sinelairii (IS) was orally administered at doses of 0, 0.04, 0.2, and 1 g/kg/day over a 13-week period. There were no observed clinical signs or deaths related to treatment in all the groups tested. Therefore, the approximate lethal oral dose of I. sinclairii was considered to be higher than 1 g/kg in rats. Throughout the administration periods, no significant changes in diet consumption, ophthalmologic findings, organ weight, clinical pathology (hematology, clinical chemistry, coagulation, and urinalysis) or gross pathology were detected. Minor changes were found in hematological parameters for the 0.04 g/kg/day and 0.2 g/kg/day IS treated groups (triglyceride reductions of $20.1{\sim}46.6%$ and platelet increases), but all changes were within physiological range. Microscopic examination failed to identify any treatment-related histopathologic changes in the organs of the IS-treated rats other than nuclear enlargement (cellular atypia) of the tubular regions in the medulla of the kidney in the high dose group. From these results, one can conclude that the no-observed effect level (NOAEL) of I. sinclairii is less than 0.04 g/kg/day in rats.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.172-188
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• 2001

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to test the effectiveness of the nursing intervention, mutual goal setting, for patients who have had a mastectomy. Special reference was given to King's goal attainment theory and a theoretical framework for establishing an effective nursing strategy to enhance patient recovery is suggested. Method: This research employed a quasi-experimental design which consisted of pretest-posttest non-equivalent control and experimental groups. Data were collected from 37 patients who had a mastectomy and were hospitalized in the Department of Surgery of Y Medical Center from January 2001 to May 2001. The experimental group received the nursing intervention, mutual goal setting four times from the day before the operation to the fifth day after the operation while the control group received only routine nursing care. As postoperative recovery indicators, ROM of arm joints, arm circumference, pain, physical symptoms, oxygen saturation stress, anxiety and body image were measured. Result: The test results are as follows : 1) there were statistically significant differences between the experimental and control groups in extension and internal rotation of the shoulder Joint and flexion of the wrist joint. 2) there was no significant difference between the two groups in arm circumference. 3) there were no significant differences between the two groups in pain, physical symptoms, or oxygen saturation. 4) there were no significant differences between the two groups in stress, anxiety, or body Image. On the basis of research results, the following are recommended : 1) The effectiveness of nursing intervention in the acute recovery period as well as long term effects need to be investigated. 2) There is a need to develop an instrument to measure perception which facilitates goal attainment in the interactive setting between patients and nurses.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.27-35
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• 1992

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the size of the temporomandibular joint space by the increase of the occlusal force on the working side and the non-working side during unilateral biting. For the study, 22 normal adults, age from 23 to 25, who had normal or class I molar relationship and had no symptoms on TMJ area and masticatory muscles were selected. Transcranial TMJ radiograph was taken during unilateral biting with the sensor of occlusal load measuring device (MPM-3000 ; Nihon Kohden Kogyo Co. Ltd., Japan) on 1st molar teeth of right and left side given to force of 0kg, 10kg, 20kg and 30kg respectively with Accurad-200(Denar Corperation's product). The radiographs were traced on the screen, with enlaged as 5 times. The size of temporomandibular joint space at anterior, superior and posterior compartment were measured with Dumas's method (reference line between squamotympanic fissure and the lowest point of articular eminence). The following results were obtained by this study. 1. The size of anterior TMJ space showed a tendency to decrease on the working side and increase on the non-working side by the increase of the occlusal force, but had no statistical significancy (P>0.05). 2. The size of superior TMJ space showed a tendency to increase on the working side and decrease on the non-working side by the increase of the occlusal force (P<0.05). 3. The size of posterior TMJ space showed a tendency to decrease on both working and nonworking side, but had no statistical significancy (P>0.05)

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.12-21
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• 2018

Purpose: The goal of this study was to develop and validate a standardized in vitro pathogenic biofilm attached onto saliva-coated surfaces. Methods: Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) and Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) strains were grown under anaerobic conditions as single species and in dual-species cultures. Initially, the bacterial biomass was evaluated at 24 and 48 hours to determine the optimal timing for the adhesion phase onto saliva-coated polystyrene surfaces. Thereafter, biofilm development was assessed over time by crystal violet staining and scanning electron microscopy. Results: The data showed no significant difference in the overall biomass after 48 hours for P. gingivalis in single- and dual-species conditions. After adhesion, P. gingivalis in single- and dual-species biofilms accumulated a substantially higher biomass after 7 days of incubation than after 3 days, but no significant difference was found between 5 and 7 days. Although the biomass of the F. nucleatum biofilm was higher at 3 days, no difference was found at 3, 5, or 7 days of incubation. Conclusions: Polystyrene substrates from well plates work as a standard surface and provide reproducible results for in vitro biofilm models. Our biofilm model could serve as a reference point for studies investigating biofilms on different surfaces.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.76-80
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• 2010

Although autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been thought to have a substantial genetic background, major contributing genes have yet to be identified or successfully replicated. Immunological dysfunction has been suggested to be associated with ASD, and T cell-mediated immunity was considered important for the development of ASD. In this study, we analyzed 163 ASD subjects and 97 normal controls by genomic quantitative PCR to evaluate the association between the copy number variation of the 7q34 locus, harboring the TCRB gene, and ASDs. As a result, there was no significant difference of the frequency distribution of TCRB copy numbers between ASD cases and normal controls. TCRB gene copy numbers ranged from 0 to 5 copies, and the frequency distribution of each copy number was similar between the two groups. The proportion of the individuals with <2 copies of TCRB was 52.8% (86/163) in ASD cases and 57.1% (52/91) in the control group (p=0.44). The proportion of individuals with >2 copies of TCRB was 11.7% (19/163) in ASD cases and 12.1% (11/91) in the control group (p=0.68). After the effects of sex were adjusted by logistic regression, ORs for individuals with <2 copies or >2 copies showed no significant difference compared with the diploid copy number as reference (n=2). Although we could not see the positive association, our results will be valuable information for mining ASD-associated genes and for exploring the role of T cell immunity further in the pathogenesis of ASD.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.3-12
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• 2020

Neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury (SCI) has a significant negative impact on the patients' quality of life. The objective of this systematic review is to examine the safety and efficacy of pregabalin (PGB) and gabapentin (GBP) in the treatment of neuropathic pain due to SCI. PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Embase, Scopus, and the Web of Science were searched up to December 2018. The reference lists of key and review studies were reviewed for additional citations. The quality of the studies was evaluated using the Cochrane Collaboration's tools for assessing the risk of bias. A meta-analysis was performed for primary and secondary outcomes. Eight studies were eligible for inclusion. Meta-analysis of PGB vs. placebo showed that PGB was effective for neuropathic pain (standardized mean difference [SMD] = -0.40; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.78, -0.01), anxiety (MD = -0.68; 95% CI: -0.77, -0.59), depression (mean difference [MD] = -0.99; 95% CI: -1.08, -0.89), and sleep interference (MD = -1.08; 95% CI: -1.13, -1.02). Also, GBP was more effective than a placebo for reducing pain. No significant difference was observed between the efficacy of the two drugs (MD = -0.37; 95% CI: -1.67, 0.93). There was no significant difference between the two drugs for discontinuation due to adverse events (risk ratio = 3.00; 95% CI: 0.81, 11.15). PGB and GBP were effective vs. placebos in decreasing neuropathic pain after SCI. Also, there was no significant difference between the two drugs for decreasing pain and adverse events.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.104-112
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• 2021

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the effects of consecutive whole body vibration through heel raise posture on the center of pressure and electromyography of anterior tibial muscle, lateral gastrocnemius and soleus muscles during single-leg stance. Method: The subjects of this study included 30 healthy males in their 20's, with the following inclusion criteria: no history of orthopaedic medical history, no participation in regular exercises, no history of whole body vibration exercise, and right leg being the dominant leg. The experimental procedure involved pretreatment measurement of eye open single-leg stance, application of whole body vibration for 30 seconds, post-treatment measurement (3 measurements in total). Static and dynamic movements have been measured over 2 separate experiments, with 72 hours gap between the experiments. Static movement involved maintaining single-leg heel raise posture for 30 seconds while applying whole body vibration, and dynamic movement involved heel raise (15 repetitions over 30 seconds) while applying whole body vibration. The strength of applied whole body vibration was 35 Hz frequency and 2~4 mm amplitude. Results: As the single-leg posture after static heel raise posture, mediolateral velocity of the center of pressure at post 2 and post 3 were significantly reduced compared to the pre-treatment measurement. In addition, the percentage for reference voluntary contraction in anterior tibial muscle and soleus and median frequency at anterior tibial muscle and lateral gastrocnemius muscle at post 3 were significantly decreased compared to the pre-treatment value. As the single-leg posture after dynamic heel raise posture, the mediolateral 95% edge frequency of the center of pressure and median frequency at anterior tibial muscle, lateral gastrocnemius muscle, and soleus muscle at post 3 were significantly reduced compared to the pre-treatment value. Conclusion: Acute whole body vibration via static and dynamic heel raise posture have positive effect on mediolateral posture control during single-leg stance.