• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.123-134
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• 1993

Background: Tissue-type plasminogen activator is a physiologic activator, which has high affinity for fibrin and is activated by fibrin. Because of these properties, t-PA has the potential to induce effective thrombolysis without producing a systemic lytic state. In practice, however, therapeutically efficacious doses of t-PA has been associated with the development of a systemic lytic state. As experience with t-PA has accumulated, it has suggested that the fibrin selectivity is influenced by the dose and duration of t-PA infusion, and many studies have performed in an attempt to optimize the duration of t-PA regimen. Methods: This study was designed to assess the thrombolytic efficacy of t-PA and the differences of two dosing regimens of t-PA (infusion of 1 mg/kg t-PA over 15 or 180 minutes) in a canine model of pulmonary embolism, induced by injection of radioactive autologous blood clots. By continuously counting over both lung fields with a external gamma counter, we correlated rate and extent of pulmonary thrombolysis with corresponding pulmonary hemodynamics in addition to the gas analyses of arterial and mixed venous blood. Results: 1) While total clot lysis was similar ($36.2{\pm}3.3%$ and $39.6{\pm}2.3%$ respectively, p>0.05) when t-PA was infused over 15 or 180 minutes, the rate of lysis during infusion was markedly increased with the shorter infusion ($81.4{\pm}16.8%/hr$ vs $37.3{\pm}2.4%/hr$, p<0.05). 2) The duration of thrombolysis was $63.3{\pm}22.2$ minutes although t-PA was administered over 15 minutes, and it was only $148.5{\pm}14.0$ minutes in case of the infusion over 180 minutes (p<0.05). 3) The increased rate of thrombolysis with the shorter infusion was accompanied by a faster amelioration of cardiopulmonary impairment from pulmonary embolism (p<0.05). Conclusion: It is concluded that the shorter (15 minutes) infusion of t-PA is superior to the longer (180 minutes) infusion when the dose is equal, in consideration of the faster improvement in cardiopulmonary impairment from pulmonary embolism.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.61 no.5
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• pp.440-446
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• 2006

Background: Post-transplant tuberculosis (TB) is a serious complication in solid organ transplant recipients worldwide, However there is little or no data on TB in liver or heart transplant recipients in Korea. Methods: The incidence and clinical characteristics of TB of 730 patients who had undergone a liver transplant in a university hospital in Korea between 1992 and 2004, and 110 heart transplant recipients in the same period, were reviewed retrospectively. Results: The incidence of TB was 1.5%(11/730) and 2.7%(3/110) in the liver and heart transplantation, respectively. The median time from the transplant to the development of TB was 8.4 months(1.0-30.8). and the mean time from the symptoms to the diagnosis of TB was $2.1{\pm}3.6$ months(0.3-13.2). Nine patients (65%) had pulmonary TB and five (35%) had extrapulmonary TB. The leukopenia and positive HbeAg at the baseline, post-transplant diabetes mellitus, and chronic rejection were associated with the development of TB in the liver transplant recipients. Ten patients were treated with a 4-drug standard regimen for a mean duration of $7.8{\pm}3.5$ months. One patients died of TB. Conclusion: The incidence of TB in liver or heart transplant recipients was similar to that reported in other countries with a similar TB-burden.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.7 s.80
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• pp.1071-1079
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to observe the effects of the feeding physiological activity substance in feral peach(Prunus Persica Batsch var. davidiana Max.) extract intake on the improvement of the lipid compositions, apolipoprotein and blood pressure level in spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHR, Wistar strain, male) fed the experimental diets for 33 days. Concentrations of total cholesterol, triglyceride(TG), LDL-cholesterol, free cholesterol and atherosclerotic index in serum were significantly lower in the feral peach extract intake groups[groups 5g% Ex.(basal diet+feral peach 5.0g% extract), 10g% Ex.(basal diet+feral peach 10.0g% extract)] than those in the group Control(basal diet+water). In the ratio of HDL-cholesterol concentration to total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol concentration, feral peach 5.0g%, 10.0g% extract intake groups(group 5g% Ex. and 10g% Ex.) were higher percentage than in the group Control. However, concentrations of total cholesterol and TC in liver and brain were significantly lower in the groups 5g% Ex. and 10g% Ex. than those in the group Control. But the concentrations of apolipoprotein (Apo) A-I and Apo A-II in serum were significantly higher in the feral peach 5.0g% and 10.0g% extract intake groups(5g% Ex. and 10g% Ex.) than in the control group. However, concentrations of Apo C-II, Apo C-III, Apo E and ratio of Apo B to Apo A-I in serum were fairly reduced in the groups 5g% Ex. and 10g% Ex. than in the control group. The levels of systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly lower in feral peach 5g% Ex. and 10g% Ex. groups than control group. However, no significance was found in the effect of among the groups(groups 5g% Ex. and 10g% Ex.). From these results, physiological activity substance in feral peach(Prunus persica Batsch var. davidiana Max.) extracts were effective on the improvement of the lipid compositions and cardiovascular heart disease, hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats. And particularly, feral peach extracts were more effective as a therapeutic regimen for the control of blood pressure in hypertension.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.1407-1414
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• 2012

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is an effective regimen that has been found to prevent these diseases in postmenopausal women. However, HRT is accompanied by an increased risk of unfavorable outcomes. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Eisenia Bicyclis extract on lipids in ovariectomized rats. Fifty 7-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups: sham-operated rats (SHAM), ovariectomized rats (OVX-CON), and ovariectomized rats that were treated with Eisenia bicyclis extracts. The extract-treated diets were fed to the rats for 6 weeks after operation. Antioxidant effects were measured by DPPH free radical scavenging activity. Antioxidant activity of the ethanol extract increased in a dose-dependent manner and was about 55.9% in a concentration of 100 ${\mu}g/ml$. We measured the total cholesterol content, triglyceride content, HDL-cholesterol content, LDL-cholesterol content, atherosclerotic index, cardiac risk factor in serum, and anti-platelet aggregation and blood rheology. The total cholesterol and triglyceride concentration in serum increased for the OVX-control group, but supplementation with the E. bicyclis extract caused these factors to decrease. Notably, the serum LDL-cholesterol concentration in the OVX-EB200 group was significantly lower than the OVX-CON group. In addition, the blood passage times in rats that received the E. bicyclis extract were more rapid than the times in the untreated group (OVX-CON). Microscopic evaluation revealed that whole blood passed more smoothly through the microchannels in rats in the E. bicyclis extract supplement groups. Our results clarified the effects of E. bicyclis extract on serum lipid content in ovariectomized rats, and consequently we expect positive effects from providing E. bicyclis extract to postmenopausal women with cardiovascular disease.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.167-173
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• 2007

Purpose: Mistletoe (Viscum album L.) extract is one of the most widely used agents in alternative cancer therapeutic regimens in Europe. This study was conducted to determine the effect of mistletoe extract on immune function in gastric cancer patients. Materials and Methods: Ten patients that had undergone a curative gastrectomy were enrolled in the prospective study. ABNOBAviscum $Q^{(R)}$ was injected subcutaneously three times a week from postoperative-day 7 to week 16 with an increasing dose. All of the patients simultaneously received chemotheraphy with mitomycin, oral 5-FU and a cisplatin regimen. The WBC count, differential count, lymphocyte/WBC ratio and the level of cytokines (IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-2, IL-6, IFN-$\gamma$, TNF-$\alpha$) were checked in the peripheral blood preoperatively, at postoperative week 8 and at postoperative week 16. Results: The WBC and neutrophil counts significantly decreased after treatment on week 8 and week 16 (P=0.001), but the total eosinophil count was slightly increased (P=0.15). The total lymphocyte count also decreased during treatment but the lymphocyte/WBC ratio was slightly increased without statistical significance (P=0.91). The cytokine levels did not significantly change during treatment. Conclusion: It is somewhat difficult to determine the direct effect of mistletoe therapy on immune function as the effect may be compromised by the concurrent chemotherapy. It can be assumed that the slightly increased lymphocyte/WBC ratio and eosinophil count may be a result of the immunomodulatory effect of the mistletoe extract.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.255-261
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• 2006

Although some phytoes rogens might have beneficiary rather than adverse effects, most endocrine disrupting compounds(EDCs) are considered to be harmful to human and wildlife health through interfering the endocrine system. Previously we found that prepubertal exposure to genistein(GS), a well-known isoflavone phytoestrogen, could activate the reproductive system of immature female rats resulting precocious puberty. Interestingly, di(2-ethyl hexyl) phthalate(DEHP) exposure brought inverse result, a delayed puberty, in the same experimental regimen. In this study, we examined whether prepubertal exposure to GS or DEHP affect the gene expressions of estrogen receptors($ER\;{\alpha}$ and $ER\;{\beta}$) and LH receptor(LHR) which represent the maturational status of ovary and uterus in immature rats. GS (100 mg/kg/day) was administered daily from postnatal day 25 to the day when the first vaginal opening(VO) was observed, and the animals were sacrificed on the next day(day 32). Similarly, DEHP(l00 mg/kg/day) was administered daily from postnatal day 25 through the day when the first V.O. in control group was observed, and the animals were sacrificed on the next day(day 36). To determine the transcriptional changes in the hormone receptors, total RNAs were extracted from ovary and uterus and were applied to semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). In the GS group, the transcriptional activities of $ER\;{\alpha}$, $ER\;{\beta}$ and LHR in uterus and LHR in ovary were significantly increased when compared to those of control group. In the DEHP group, the transcriptional activities of all the hormone receptors measured were significantly lowered when compared to those of control group. These alteration of the reproductive hormone receptor expressions in ovary and uterus might be represent the phenotypic aspects(secondary sexual characteristics) such as tissue weights and reproductive hormone levels during perinatal period in immature female rats.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.481-490
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• 2007

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of MOS, lectin and organic acid mixture(Organic acid F, Organic acid G) on the egg production, egg quality, profile of leukocytes and erythrocytes, small intestinal microflora and immune response in laying hens. A total of 900 Hy-line BrownⓇ laying hens of 48 wks old were assigned to one of the following 6 dietary treatments:control(C), C+AvillamycinⓇ 6ppm, C+MOS 250ppm, C+lectin 12.5ppm, C+Organic acid F(formic acid 35.4%, formate 34.6%, potassium 30.0%) 0.3% and C+0rgarnic acid G(fumaric acid 23%, calcium formate 14%, potassium sorbate 5%, calcium propionate 7%) 0.06%. Each treatment was replicated five times with thirty birds per replicate, housed in 2 bird cages. Feeding trial lasted for 6 wks under 16 hours lighting regimen. All supplemental groups were higher than the control in 6 wks hen-day and hen-housed egg production showing the highest with MOS treatment(P<0.05). Soft & broken egg productions were lower in supplemental groups than in the control except lectin treatment(P<0.05). Eggyolk color of supplemental groups was higher than that of the control except Organic acid G treatment(P<0.05). The values of RBC, HB, MCHC were highest in lectin treatment and lowest in MOS treatment(P<0.05). The numbers of intestinal microflora were not significantly different among the treatments. Serum IgG levels of all supplemental groups were higher than those of the control(P<0.05). In conclusion, for supplementation of antibiotics, immune modulators and organic acid mixture improved production parameters in general. Among the supplements, MOS showed the best performance in egg production and eggyolk color.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.255-261
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• 1999

Background: Atrial fibrillation is one of the most prevalent of all arrhythmias and in up to 79% of the patients with mitral valve disease. This study examined whether the atrial fibrillation that occur in patients with mitral valve operation could be eliminated by a concommitant maze operation without cryoablation. Material and Method: From May 1997 to April 1998, 14 patients with atrial fibrillation associated with mitral valve disease underwent Maze III operation without cryoablation. Preoperatively there were 6 men and 8 women with an average age of 46.2${\pm}$10.7 years. Eleven patients had mitral stenosis, and three had mitral insufficiency. The associated heart diseases were aortic valve disease in 4, tricuspid valve regurgitation in 1 and ASD in 2. Using transthoracic echocardiography, the mean left atrial diameters was 54.7${\pm}$5.3 mm and thrombi were found in the left atrium of 2 patients. Postoperatively the ratio between the peak speed of the early filling wave and that of the atrial contraction wave (A/E ratio) was determined from transmitral flow measurement. Operations were mitral valve replacement in 13 including 4 aortic valve replacements, 1 DeVega annuloplasty and 2 ASD closures. Maze III operation was performed in 1 patient. Result: Five patients (38%) had recurred atrial fibrillation, which was reversed with flecainide or amiodarone at the average time of postoperative 38.8${\pm}$23.5 days. Postoperative complications were postoperative transient junctional rhythm in 6, transient atrial fibrillation in 5, reoperation for bleeding in 3, postpericardiotomy syndrome(1), unilateral vocal cord palsy(1), postoperative psychosis(1), and myocardial infarction(1). Postoperatively A/E ratio was 0.43${\pm}$0.22 and A wave found in 9(64%) patients. 3 to 14 months postoperatively (average follow- up, 8.1 months), all of patients had normal sinus rhythm and 9(64%) patients had left atrial contraction and 11(79%) patients were not on a regimen of antiarrhythmic medication. Conclusion: We conclude that Maze III operation without cryoablation is an effective surgical treatment in atrial fibrillation associated with the mitral valve disease.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.205-213
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• 1991

In order to determine the value of induction chemotherapy (CT) for inoperable head and neck cancer, the authors conducted a retrospective study. Fifty-five patients were treated with CT and radiotherapy (R-T)(CT+RT group). This group was compared with a group of 54 patients treated RT alone (RT alone group). The CT regimen used were CF (cis-platine+5-FU), CVB (cyclophos-phamide+vincristine+bleomycin), CAP (cyclophosphamide+adriamycin+prednisolone) or PVBM(cis-platine+vincristine+bleomycin+methotrexate). Toxicity from induction chemo-therapy was minimal, and toxicity was limited primarily to nausea and vomiting, mucositis and myelosuppression. The complete response (CR) rate to CT was $14.5\%$ and the partial response (PR) rate was $47.3\%$ for an overall major response rate of $61.8\%$. The major response rate at the completion of loco-regional therapy was $87.3\%$(48/55) with 32 CR ($58.2\%$) and 16 PR ($29.1\%$) for CT-RT group and $81.5\%$(44/55) with 27 CR ($50.0\%$) and 17 PR ($31.5\%$) for RT alone group (p=0.57). Median follow-up of CT-RT group was 17 months and 11 months for RT alone group. Median survival was 30 months for CT-RT group and 24 months for RT alone group (p=0.3). The overall survival rate at 2 years, 3 years and 5 years, respectively was $60.9\%,\;48.6\%\;and\;42.5\%$, for CT-RT group, and $54.9\%,\;49.9\%\;and\;49.9\%$ for RT alone group (p=0.33). Comparision between patients in both groups, stratified by overall stage, T and N stage, site, and pathology, all failed to show any significant difference in survival rates. We conclude that this retrospective study failed to demonstrate an advantage for induction chemotherapy in inoperable head and neck cancer.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.311-317
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• 1991

Ten patients with deep muscle-invading bladder carcinoma (clinical stages T3a to T4b) who were not candidates for cystectomy were treated with combined modality treatment with transurethral resection, cisplatin chemotherapy and pelvic irradiation from 1989 through 1990, and were analyzed retrospectively. All patients were not candidates for cystectomy because the tumors were judged unresectable or they were not fit for a radical cystectomy. Of the patients 5 had clinical stage T3a, 3 stage T3b and 2 stage T4b disease. The minimum follow-up was 16 months. The complete response rate is 60$\%$ for all patients. The complete responses were achieved in 4 of 5(80$\%$) with stage cT3a, in 2 of 3(67$\%$)with stage cT3b and in none of 2(0$\%$) with stage cT4b. The partial responses were achieved in 2, so an overall response rate was 80$\%$. All six patients with grade I or II transitional cell carcinoma showed complete responses. Four patients with higher grade tumors showed partial responses in 2 and no response in 2, and all died of their bladder cancer. Six patients who showed complete responses after treatment are alive and only one of them showed a local recurrence 10 months after treatment. Distant metastases developed in 3 patients: lungs in 2(cT4b) of those who were never locally free of disease and spine in 1 patient (cT3b) among those with a partial response. Two patients died of metastases to lungs. During the follow-up diarrhea occurred in one which was improved after conservative treatment. On the basis of this analysis it is suggested that combined modality treatment seems to be a tolerable regimen and can be offered with a relatively high probability of success and conservation of bladder function in those with less advanced tumors by clinical stage and low grade.