• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.351-355
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• 1996

Objective: To analyze the direct effect of nitre oxide, generated from sodium nitroprusside, on sperm motility and reactive oxygen species. Design: Human sperm samples were treated to allow swim-up and washing. And the samples were devided into four aliquots. Each aliquot was incubated with either concentration at 0, 100nM, $10{\mu}M$, 1mM of nitroprusside. Intervention: Samples were measured chemiluminosence for reactive oxygen species of each aliquot with concentrations at 0, 100nM, $10{\mu}M$, 1mM of nitroprusside at allowing swim-up and washing of sperm. Main Outcome Measures: Percent motion parameters and viability were asse-ssed at 0, 3, 6, 12, 24 hours incubation. Results: The percent viablity was lower slightly in control group (50.2%) than that in sperm treated with 100nM of nitroprusside(57.5%) at 24 hours after incubation, while was reduced significantly in sperm with concentra-tion of $10{\mu}M(42.1%)$ and 1mM(21.3%)of nitroprusside at 6 hours after incubation. And the sperm treated with 1mM of nitroprusside was immotile totally at 6 hours after incubation. The straight line$(35.3{\pm}5.6%)$, the rapid forward$(37.2{\pm}6.4%)$ and the weak curvilinear velocity$(9.6{\pm}2.4%)$were more favorable comparing with those ($32.4{\pm}4.2%$, $30.0{\pm}7.8%$ and $18.0{\pm}4.6%$ respectively) in control group at 3 hours after incubation, but reduced significantly in sperm treated with $10{\mu}M$ and 1mM of nitroprusside. The levels of reactive oxygen species in control(700 c.p.m.) is lower significantly than that in each experimental groups of sperm treated with nitroprusside. And the levels of reactive oxygen species were 2200 c.p.m. in 100nM, 6200c.p.m. in $1{\mu}M$ and 12800c.p.m. in 1mM respectively. Conclusion: These results suggested that the concentration of 100nM of nitroprusside on sperm is beneficial to the maintanance of viablity and motile velocity, but detriment in high concentration of $10{\mu}M$ or 1mM of nitroprusside.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.126-132
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• 2016

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify useful clinical factors for the identification of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) who would benefit from in vitro maturation (IVM) treatment without exhibiting compromised pregnancy outcomes. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed of 186 consecutive patients with PCOS who underwent human chorionic gonadotropin-primed IVM treatment between March 2010 and March 2014. Only the first IVM cycle of each patient was included in this study. A retrospective case-control study was subsequently conducted to compare pregnancy outcomes between IVM and conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles. Results: Through logistic regression analyses, we arrived at the novel finding that serum $anti-M{\ddot{u}}llerian$ hormone (AMH) levels and the number of fertilized oocytes in IVM were independent predictive factors for live birth with unstandardized coefficients of 0.078 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.005-1.164; p=0.037) and 0.113 (95% CI, 1.038-1.208; p=0.003), respectively. Furthermore, these two parameters were able to discriminate patients who experienced live births from non-pregnant IVM patients using cut-off levels of 8.5 ng/mL and five fertilized oocytes, respectively. A subsequent retrospective case-control study of patients with PCOS who had serum AMH levels ${\geq}8.5ng/mL$ showed that IVM had pregnancy outcomes comparable to conventional IVF, and that no cases of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome were observed. Conclusion: Serum AMH levels are a useful factor for predicting pregnancy outcomes in PCOS patients before the beginning of an IVM cycle. IVM may be an alternative to conventional IVF for PCOS patients if the patients are properly selected according to predictive factors such as serum AMH levels.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.209-214
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• 2017

Background: Both ginsenoside Re and B-complex vitamins are widely used as nutritional supplements. They are often taken together so as to fully utilize their antifatigue and refreshing effects, respectively. Whether actually a drug-nutrient interaction exists between ginsenoside Re and B-complex vitamins is still unknown. The objective of this study was to simultaneously investigate the effect of B-complex vitamins on the antifatigue activity and bioavailability of ginsenoside Re after their oral administration. The study results will provide valuable theoretical guidance for the combined utilization of ginseng and B-complex vitamins. Methods: Ginsenoside Re with or without B-complex vitamins was orally administered to mice to evaluate its antifatigue effects and to rats to evaluate its bioavailability. The antifatigue activity was evaluated by the weight-loaded swimming test and biochemical parameters, including hepatic glycogen, plasma urea nitrogen, and blood lactic acid. The concentration of ginsenoside Re in plasma was determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Results: No antifatigue effect of ginsenoside Re was noted when ginsenoside Re in combination with B-complex vitamins was orally administered to mice. B-complex vitamins caused to a reduction in the bioavailability of ginsenoside Re with the area under the concentration-time curve from zero to infinity markedly decreasing from $11,830.85{\pm}2,366.47h{\cdot}ng/mL$ to $890.55{\pm}372.94h{\cdot}ng/mL$. Conclusion: The results suggested that there were pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic drug-nutrient interactions between ginsenoside Re and B-complex vitamins. B-complex vitamins can significantly weaken the antifatigue effect and decrease the bioavailability of ginsenoside Re when simultaneously administered orally.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.118-124
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• 2020

Background: The poultry industry in Pakistan has flourished since the 1960s; however, there are scarce data regarding the impact of occupational exposure on the pulmonary health of farm workers in terms of years working in the industry. The objective of the present study was to assess the effect of poultry environment on the health of occupationally exposed poultry farmers in countries of warm climatic regions, such as Pakistan. This study will also show the effect of exposure to poultry facilities on the health of poultry farmers in the context of low-income countries with a relatively inadequate occupational exposure risk management. Materials and methods: The lung function capacity of 79 poultry workers was measured using a spirometer. Along with spirometry, a structured questionnaire was also administrated to obtain information about age, height, weight, smokers/nonsmokers, years of working experience, and pulmonary health of farm workers. The workers who were directly involved in the care and handling of birds in these intensive facilities were considered and divided into four groups based on their years of working experience: Group I (3-10 months), Group II (1-5 years), Group III (6-10 years), and Group IV (more than 11 years). The forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and the FEV1/FVC ratio were considered to identify lung function abnormalities. Statistical analysis was carried out using independent sample t test, Chi-square test, Pearson's correlation, and linear regression. Results: Based on the performed spirometry, 68 (86 %) of workers were found normal and healthy, whereas 11 (14 %) had a mild obstruction. Of the 11 workers with mild obstruction, the highest number with respect to the total was in Group IV (more than 11 years of working experience) followed by Group III and Group II. Most of the workers were found healthy, which seems to be because of the healthy survivor effect. For the independent sample t test, a significant difference was noticed between healthy and nonhealthy farmers, whereas Chi-square test showed a significant association with height, drugs, and working experience. Linear regression that was stratified by respiratory symptoms showed for workers with symptoms, regression models for all spirometric parameters (FVC, FEV1, and FEV1/FVC) have better predictive power or R square value than those of workers without symptoms. Conclusion: These findings suggest that lung function capacity was directly related to years of working experience. With increasing number of working years, symptoms of various respiratory problems enhanced in the poultry workers. It should be noted that most of the poultry workers were healthy and young, the rationale being that there is a high turnover rate in this profession. The mobility in this job and our finding of 86% of the healthy workers in the present study also proposed healthy worker survivor effect.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.129-135
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• 2013

The objective of this research was to investigate physicochemical properties of waxy sorghum flours by different milling methods (pin mill and ultra fine mill). Four different sorghum flours were used for the experiments ; PWS (pin milled whole sorghum flour), PS (pin milled sorghum flour without bran), UFWS (ultra fine milled whole sorghum flour), UFS (ultra fine milled sorghum flour without bran). The contents of crude ash and total dietary fiber were the highest in PWS. Amylose content of pin milled sorghum flour was higher than that of ultra fine milled flour. The mean particle size of pin milled flours was six times lager than ultra fine milled flours. The L values of UFS and UFWS were higher than those of PS and PWS, whereas a and b values were higher in PWS. The water binding capacity was highest in UFWS, and solubility was higher in PS and UFS. Swelling power of flours was highest in UFS. The damaged starch content was higher in PS and UFS, which means damaged starch of sorghum flours significantly affected by polishing than milling method. The pasting properties were higher in the pin milled flours. Initial pasting temperature of pin milled flour was ranging from 70.5 to $73.1^{\circ}C$, which are higher than ultra fine milled flour ($68.6^{\circ}C$). The contents of total polyphenol were higher in PWS and UFWS than those of PS and UFS, there was no difference between the two milling methods. The results of this study indicate that physicochemical properties of sorghum flour were affected by milling methods as well as bran.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.752-759
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• 2016

The objective of this study was to describe the growth patterns of Staphylococcus aureus in combinations of NaCl and $NaNO_2$, using a probabilistic model. A mixture of S. aureus strains (NCCP10826, ATCC13565, ATCC14458, ATCC23235, and ATCC27664) was inoculated into nutrient broth plus NaCl (0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25, 1.5, and 1.75%) and $NaNO_2$ (0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105, and 120 ppm). The samples were then incubated at 4, 7, 10, 12 and $15^{\circ}C$ for up to 60 d under aerobic or vacuum conditions. Growth responses [growth (1) or no growth (0)] were then determined every 24 h by turbidity, and analyzed to select significant parameters (p<0.05) by a stepwise selection method, resulting in a probabilistic model. The developed models were then validated with observed growth responses. S. aureus growth was observed only under aerobic storage at $10-15^{\circ}C$. At $10-15^{\circ}C$, NaCl and $NaNO_2$ did not inhibit S. aureus growth at less than 1.25% NaCl. Concentration dependency was observed for NaCl at more than 1.25%, but not for $NaNO_2$. The concordance percentage between observed and predicted growth data was approximately 93.86%. This result indicates that S. aureus growth can be inhibited in vacuum packaging and even aerobic storage below $10^{\circ}C$. Furthermore, $NaNO_2$ does not effectively inhibit S. aureus growth.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.83-94
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• 2010

The objective of this study was to determine the best probability distributions of annual, seasonal and monthly precipitation in Korea. Data observed at 32 stations in Korea were analyzed using the L-moment ratio diagram and the average weighted distance (AWD) to identify the best probability distributions of each precipitation. The probability distribution was best represented by 3-parameter Weibull distribution (W3) for the annual precipitation, 3-parameter lognormal distribution (LN3) for spring and autumn seasons, and generalized extreme value distribution (GEV) for summer and winter seasons. The best probability distribution models for monthly precipitation were LN3 for January, W3 for February and July, 2-parameter Weibull distribution (W2) for March, generalized Pareto distribution (GPA) for April, September, October and November, GEV for May and June, and log-Pearson type III (LP3) for August and December. However, from the goodness-of-fit test for the best probability distributions of the best fit, GPA for April, September, October and November, and LN3 for January showed considerably high reject rates due to computational errors in estimation of the probability distribution parameters and relatively higher AWD values. Meanwhile, analyses using data from 55 stations including additional 23 stations indicated insignificant differences to those using original data. Further studies using more long-term data are needed to identify more optimal probability distributions for each precipitation.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.116-124
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• 2015

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of the replacement levels of grinded fly-ash on the repaired mortar based on a polymer. The main parameters are the curing temperature and replacement levels of grinded fly-ash. The curing temperature and the replacement levels of grinded fly-ash are varied at $40^{\circ}C$, $20^{\circ}C$ and $5^{\circ}C$, and between 0% and 35% of the total binder by weight, respectively. The flow in fresh mortar and compressive strengths according to ages, the relationship of stress-strain, elastic modulus and modulus rupture in hardened mortar, as well as scanning the electron microscopy and the X-ray diffraction of mortar, were measured, respectively. The test results showed that the flow, elastic modulus and modulus rupture are great in mortar specimens with 20~30% of the replacement levels of grinded fly-ash. In addition, compressive strengths according to ages were affected by the replacement levels of grinded fly-ash and the curing temperature indicated that the strength development ratio of mortar with 20% of the replacement levels of grinded fly-ash was greater than others. In the prediction of the compressive strength specified by the ACI 209 code, the strength development at an early and late age can be generalized by the functions of the replacement levels of grinded fly-ash and the curing temperature. In the analysis of scanning the electron microscopy and the X-ray diffraction, the number and intensity of peaks increased and the form of CSH gels on the surface of the particle of grinded fly-ash was observed.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.29 no.2 s.43
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• pp.67-77
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• 2003

Two categories of cosmetic products, cosmetics and quasi-drugs, have been established by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) in Japan. Japanese pharmaceutical law has defined that products categorized as cosmetics do not exhibit any effects on human skin. In fact, cosmetic products are not permitted to claim any efficacy. On the other hand, products in the quasi-drug category can claim several efficacies such as anti-inflammatory effects, whitening/lightning effects, hair growth effects and so on. Unfortunately, the Japanese MHLW has not yet approved the efficacy of anti-aging/anti-wrinkle effects as a claim point. However, the population is aging, and the demand for anti-aging/anti-wrinkle products is increasing year by year. Japanese cosmetic companies have proposed to the MHLW that anti-aging/anti-wrinkle agents be approved as a claim concept of a quasi-drug. However, unified evaluation methods for anti-aging/anti-wrinkle effects have not been established. Currently, each company evaluates the efficacy of products/materials using their own original methods. Thus, to request approval of the MHLW, the establishment of a unified evaluation method is needed. Consequently, the Japan Cosmetic Industry Association (JCIA) has established a task force to develop guidelines for evaluating anti-wrinkle effects in 1998. In conclusion, the JCIA would like to adopt visual and image analysis scales to evaluate the anti-wrinkle effects objectively. Generally, wrinkles are roughly classified into three groups as fine wrinkles, linear deep wrinkles and crow's feet. However, academic societies of dermatology or cosmetics have not yet established a definition of wrinkles in Japan. Thus, in advance of setting up an evaluation method, the definition of wrinkles f3r evaluation must be decided. Wrinkles are defined by the task force of the JCIA as follows; furrows that people can recognize visually and that appear on the forehead, the corners of the eyes and the backs of the neck with aging. In addition, furrows are emphasized by exposure to solar light and by dry conditions. Visual evaluation is the most sensitive method and can be applied to most types of wrinkles. However, visual evaluation is hard to express digitally as results. Besides, in the case of image analysis, comparisons of data obtained from distinct examinations can not be done, because data from image analysis are relative values. Thus, to enhance the reliability of the evaluations, the adoption of an objective scale was required. The principle of the evaluation method is to analyze images taken from silicone replicas of wrinkle areas using several parameters, such as the proportion of the wrinkle $area({\%})$, the mean depth of the wrinkles (mm), the mean depth of the deepest wrinkle (m) and the deepest point on the deepest wrinkle. Lights are shown on the skin replica from an orthogonal direction of the main orientation of the wrinkle, and the resulting shadow images are quantified by the image analysis method. To increase the precision of the data or to allow comparisons of independent examinations, a scale with furrows of several depths, 200, 400, 600, 800, and $1000{\mu}m$, is adapted in the evaluation system. I will explain the guidelines established by the JCIA in the presentation.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.184-192
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• 2020

This study presents a gait analysis method (including time series analysis) using a smart insole as an objective and quantitative evaluating method after lumbar scoliosis surgery. The participant is a degenerative lumbar scoliosis patient. She took 3-min-gait-test four times(before and 8, 16, and 204-days after surgery) and 6-min-gait-test once(204-days after surgery) with smart-insoles in her shoes. Each insole has 8-pressure sensors, an accelerometer, and a gyroscope. The measured values were used to compare the characteristics of gait before and after surgery. The analysis showed that all of the patient's gait parameters improved after surgery. And after 6 months, the gait was more stable. However, after long walk, the swing duration of one leg was slightly shorter than that of the other again. It was a preclinical problem that could not be found in the visual examination by the practitioner. With this analysis method we could evaluate the improvement of patient quantitatively and objectively. And we could find a preclinical problem. This analysis method will lead to the studies that define and distinguish gait patterns of certain diseases, helping to determine appropriate treatments.