• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.12
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• pp.1348-1353
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• 2005

Purpose : Influenza is a respiratory disease which prevails widely every year and shows high morbidity and mortality among not only chronic invalids and the old, but also among infants and young children. To prevent community-acquired influenza infection, to facilitate prompt antiviral therapy and to avoid unnecessary use of antibiotics, an easy, rapid diagnostic method for the influenza virus is needed. We evaluated a lateral-flow immunoassay(QuickVue Influenza Test), compared to viral culture. Methods : During two consecutive years from Jan. 2004 to June 2004 and from Feb. 2005 to Jan. 2005, 408 patients who were suffering from fever, cough and/or sore throat and myalgia were enrolled in our study. A total of 408 patients were tested with $QuickVue^{(R)}$(Quidel Co., San Diego, USA) influenza rapid antigen test and virus cultures at the same time. Results : Of the 408 patients tested, children who showed positive results at the virus culture numbered 77; among them, 55(71.4 percent) were type A/H3N2 and 22(28.5 percent) were type B. QuickVue influenza test had a sensitivity of 71.4 percent and a specificity of 95.8 percent. The positive and negative predictive values were 79.7 percent and 93.5 percent, respectively. Conclusion : In our study, this test had comparable high sensitivity and high specificity and many advantages, such as being easy to perform and simple to interpret, and showing rapid results. If rapid influenza antigen tests are widely applied in the clinic, we can begin treatment more rapidly and reduce influenza complications and the abuse of antibiotics.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.91-98
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• 2006

A filtrate powder, designated as KNF2022, produced from culture broth of Acinetobacter sp. KTB3 was tested for their inhibitory effects on Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) infection to Nicotiana glutinosa or N. tabacum cv. Xanthi nc. When 1/100 dilution with distilled water was treated to the plants and PMMoV was inoculated, the inhibition was estimated to be 94.3 and 95.6%, respectively. The same concentrations of KNF2022 inhibited infections of Pepper mottle virus (PepMoV) and Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) on Chenopodium amaranticolor by 97.1 and 92.5%, respectively. Duration of inhibitory activity of the filtrate powder from Acinetobacter sp. culture broth against PMMoV infection on N. glutinosa was maintained for 2 days at 80% inhibition level, however, the inhibitory effect was diminished from 4 days after treatment to 50% levels. To evaluate inhibitory effects on systemic host plants of the antiviral agent, symptom developments of PMMoV, PepMoV and CMV on KNF2022-treated pepper plants were investigated. Delayed symptom developments until 10 days after inoculation (DAI) were observed for all the three viruses when the viruses were inoculated individually, and these delayed symptom development effects were maintained until 30 DAI in case of PepMoV. Moreover, PepMoV was not detected by RT-PCR and ELISA until 30 DAI. These delayed symptom development effects were diminished in all combinations of three virus co-inoculations due to synergism of three viruses on symptom developments. Inhibitory effect of KNF2022 was verified under electron microscopic examinations using purified virus preparations. Particles of PMMoV and PepMoV were observed on specimens from 5 min after KNF2022 treatment, and the particle sizes were reached in the range of 200-250 nm and 400-600 nm, respectively. Furthermore, the viral particles were destructed and particle sizes were reached in the range of 100-150 nm and 300-500 nm, respectively, on 60 min after treatments. Reduction of local lesion numbers on N. tabacum cv. Xanthi nc and C. amaranticolor were accompanied with reduction of virus particle sizes. In the case of CMV destructed particle numbers were also increased according to incubation period after KNF2022 treatment and local lesions on C. amaranticolor were reduced.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.277-283
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• 1995

Purpose : This study was performed to measure dose alteration at the air-tissue interface resulting from rebuild-up to the loss of charged particle equilibrium in the tissues around the air-tissue interfaces. Materials and Methods : The 6 and 10-MV photon beam in dual energy linear accelerator were used to measure the surface dose at the air-tissue interface The polystyrene phantom sized $25{\times}25{\times}5\;cm^3$ and a water phantom sized $29{\times}29{\times}48\;cm^3$ which incorporates a parallel-plate ionization chamber in the distal side of air gap were used in this study. The treatment field sizes were $5{\times}5\;cm^2,\;10{\times}10\;cm^2\;and\;20{\times}20\;cm^2$. Air cavity thickness was variable from 10 mm to 50 mm. The observed-expected ratio (OER) was defined as the ratio of dose measured at the distal junction that is air-tissue interface to the dose measured at the same point in a homogeneous phantom. Results : In this experiment, the result of OER was close or slightly over than 1.0 for the large field size but much less (about 0.565) than 1.0 for the small field size in both photon energy. The factors to affect the dose distribution at the air-tissue interface were the field size, the thickness of air cavity. and the photon energy. Conclusion : Thus, the radiation oncologist should take into account dose reduction at the air-tissue interface when planning the head and neck cancer especially pharynx and laryngeal lesions, because the dose can be less nearly $29{\%}$ than predicted value.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 2006

Purpose: The estimation of fluid deficit is crucial to the proper management of dehydrated children. Without well-documented serial weights on the same scale, the estimation of any given child's fluid deficit is imprecise and dependent largely on subjective clinical criteria. Despite the abundance of literature on clinical and laboratory evaluation of dehydration, few studies have focused on serum uric acid. So, we examined the usefulness of scrum uric acid in gastroenteritis patients with dehydration. Methods: Medical records of 90 gastroenteritis patients were retrospectively reviewed. By the body weight loss, we classified patients with mild, moderate, and severe dehydration groups. We studied the relevance of laboratory data (BUN, creatinine, serum bicarbonate, glucose, urine specific gravity, and uric acid) with dehydration. Results: 54 children (60%) were dehydrated mildly, 24 (26%) dehydrated and moderately, and 12 (14%) dehydrated severely. Statistically significant differences in BUN, creatinine, serum bicarbonate, glucose, and urine specific gravity could not be observed. But there was significant relationship between uric acid and the degree of dehydration. Data analysis suggested that the level of 7.0 mg/dL is the best cut-off value for predicting the development of moderate or severe dehydration. At this cut-off value, the sensitivity and specificity were 66.6% and 87.1%. Conclusion: Our study supports that the measurement of serum uric acid with traditional scale is useful for predicting the development of dehydration. But, in order 10 be used as the indicator for proper treatment at an earlier stage, further validation about serum uric acid is necessary.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.79-84
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• 2002

Purpose : About 41% of obtained group A streptococci in the 1998 was reported as erythromycin-resistant streptococci in Seoul, Korea. The most common T serotype was T12, followed by T4 and T28. We'd like to monitor the serological changes and antibiotic sensitivity test of Streptococcus pyogenes obtained from the patients with pharyngotonsillitis and invasive diseases from 1999 through 2001. Also, it could be proposed to choose the proper antibiotic selection in the area where the rate of erythromycin-resistant streptococci is high. Methods : From Jan. 1999 to Oct. 2001, 208 isolates of group A streptococci were collected from inpatients and outpatients with pharyngotonsillitis, scarlet fever, and invasive infections in Seoul and Southern part of peninsula. All isolates were serotyped by T-agglutination, minimum inhibitory concentrations(MICs) which were determined by agar dilution methods, according to the guidelines of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS). Results : The most common T serotype was T12(29.8%), followed by T1(23.1%), T4 (14.9%). T1 was prominent serotype compared with previous year. T serotyping, among 25 isolates obtained from the patients with scarlet fever in Southern part of peninsula mostly, was T12, T1, and T4 in order of frequency. All the isolates tested were susceptible to penicillin, cefprozil, vancomycin, ceftriaxone, and chloramphenicol. However, 23 isolates(14.2%) was resistant to erythromycin and 18 isolates(11.1%) was resistant to clarithromycin. Serotype T12 was found to be the most resistant serotype to erythromycin and/or clarithromycin. Conclusion : High rate of erythromycin-resistant streptococci which surveyed in 1998 were reduced to 14.2% in this study. We should have to further evaluate the reason of decreased resistant strains and consider the resistant strains of streptococci in choosing the antibiotics. There was no serological characteristics according to the types of disease entities. Between the serologic distributions in Seoul and the Southern part of peninsula area are same, we could presume that the serological typing of strains obtained over the country may be not different.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.22 no.3 s.27
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• pp.368-379
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• 1989

The relationship between mercury level of hair and mental retardation was investigated. The 297 subjects with mental retardation were drawn from two schools providing special educational services, one, consisted of children living in an orphan home, another, children with parents. The 117 centre] subjects were drawn from whom had got average or above average academic achivement in a regular elementary school. Hair sample were taken from the nape of the neck and the mercury analysis was carried out on an atomic absorption spectrophotometer(IL 551). There was no relationship between mercury contents and age, and there was a statistically significant difference in mercury contents between male and female in the mentally retarded children living with parents. Children in the retarded group had significantly higher mercury contents compared with control group except the female group with parents. Also, the mercury levels in the retarded group living in an orphan home were significantly higher than that of the retarded group with parents. The concomitant diseases were Down's syndrome, epilepsy, cerebral palsy and autism. There were statistically significant differences in hair mercury levels in the cases of accompanying Down's syndrome and cerebral palsy in male and Down's syndrome and autism in female compared with the control group of the same sex. The most accompanying handicap was speech disturbance(40.7%) and the others were crippled, emotional disturbance etc. The percentages of double handicap were 66.7% among 6 persons exceeding 6ppm of their hair mercury contents. 10.4% among $3{\sim}6$ ppm and 15.7% among the group of 3ppm or less. The findings of this study suggest that the more opportunities of exposure to mercury in mentally retarded children may have occurred, so it can not be excluded the possibility of mercury as a contributing factor to mental retardation. Therefore, the causal relationship between mercury levels and mental retardation should be established through the examinations about their living environments, dietary pattern, eating habit etc.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.62-70
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• 2010

Purpose : The voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) is the investigation of choice in detecting the vesicoureteral reflux in urinary tract infections in children. As it is a potentially distressing and invasive test, most of the parents are so concerned about the child's stress. In this study, we compared the difference of the state of anxiety of parents before and after the VCUG. Methods : We divided 68 parents whose children underwent VCUG into 2 groups; who have given an explanation about VCUG in detail using pictures (group 1) Vs. who have given an oral explanation only (group 2). All the parents submitted the same questionnaire 2 times before and after the VCUG, which consisted of State-Trait-Anxiety-Inventory X-I (STAI-X-I) and visual analog scale (VAS) on the perception of worry, anxiety, confusion and pain. Results : Before VCUG, the perception of pain was higher in group 1 (P<0.05). After VCUG, the anxiety and confusion were significantly higher in group 2 than group 1 (P<0.05). In group 1, STAI-X-I scores, the perception of worry and anxiety were significantly decreased after the VCUG (P<0.05). In group 2, the confusion and pain were increased after VCUG (P<0.05). Conclusion : It showed that doctor's explanation on the procedure in advance may raise the perception of pain and the possibility of refusal by parents. But the STAI-X-I, worry, anxiety after VCUG were significantly decreased in group 1, while the confusion and pain were increased in group 2. Therefore we suggest that prior and sufficient explanation about invasive procedure like VCUG can be helpful in ameliorating the anxiety of the parents.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.147-154
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• 2016

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common and malignant bone tumors. Although many types of resection surgery and experimental agents were developed, median survival and clinical prognosis are poorly investigated. Recently, several researches have reported that Eucheuma cottonii has potent as protective effects of coal dust-induced lung damage via inhibition of malondialdehyde (MDA) and oxidative stress in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF). However, anti-cancer effects and specific molecular mechanism of extract from Eucheuma cottonii (EE) has not been clearly studied yet. This study evaluated that anti-cancer potential of EE in human osteosarcoma Saos-2 cells. EE indicated cytotoxicity on Saos-2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Morphological degradation and nucleic condensation were also observed under the EE treatment. However, it did not significantly affect on non-cancerous kidney HEK-293 cells under the same concentration which is shown cytotoxicity on Saos-2 cells. The phosphorylation of Fas-Associated Death Domain (FADD) and expression of cleaved caspase-8, -7 and -3 were upregulated in a dose-dependent manner. In immunofluorescence staining, expression level of Fas and cleaved PARP were upregulated by EE treatment. Furthermore, treatment of EE induces upregulation of sub G1 phase by flow cytometry analysis. The results demonstrated that EE has a therapeutic potential against osteosarcoma via FADD mediated caspase cascade apoptosis signal pathway.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.257-269
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• 2010

To investigate the possibility of discrimination between organic and non-organic rice using stable isotope nitrogen of natural abundance, organic rice of 17 samples and non-organic rice of 13 samples grown at adjoining organic rice field were collected in 2008. Rice was grinded into brown rice, milled rice and hull, and samples were analysed for nitrogen and $\delta^{15}N$ at NICEM. Authors also made inquiries about N source for both farmers who conduct organic- and non-organic rice cultivation. In order to know whether the $\delta^{15}N$ can be used in discrimination between organic and non-organic rice, discriminant analysis were made with SPSS and logistic method. 1. Organic farmers used manure, rice bran, used mushroom culture, fermented fertilizer (company products), and oil cake, but non-organic farmers applied compound fertilizer. Rice straws were remained in organic rice field while moved out in non-organic field. 2. There were difference in $\delta^{15}N$ among organic rice and its byproduct(7.760????% in hull, 6.720????% in rice), but significant difference was not found between them. And the trend was same between province. Non-organic rice showed similar results. 3. Significant difference of $\delta^{15}N$ were found between organic rice and non-organic rice (p<0.01) and between hull of organic rice and that of non-organic rice hull (p<0.05). $\delta^{15}N$ seemed to be useful criteria for discrimination of organic and non-organic rice. 4. When applied discrimination analysis of SPSS and logistic, there were significant difference between organic rice, non-organic rice and its byproducts except brown rice and hull in SPSS method. Hull can be used as the most useful component for unknown sample prediction with 83.3% probability.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.50-55
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• 2013

The objective of this research was to investigate the impact of Ca fertilizer on the growth of mother plants, physiological disorders, and occurrence of daughter plants in propagation of 'Seolhyang' strawberry through plastic bag cultivation. To achieve this, chemicals of 1.125 mM $Ca(OH)_2$, 0.375 mM $MgCl_2$, 1.250 mM KCl were blended and designated to combined fertilizer (CF). Then, the effect was compared to the treatment of no Ca application (control) and a commercial fertilizer, CalMag (13-0-1.9-16-6:N-$P_2O_5$-$K_2O$-CaO-MgO), when those were applied every two weeks with controlled electrical conductivity (EC) of solution such as 0.6 or 1.0 $dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$. The number of plants showing Ca deficiency symptoms was the highest in control treatment, but those decreased significantly in CF or CalMag treatments. The differences between CF and CalMag in appearance of Ca deficient plants were not significant when two fertilizers were applied with same EC. The fresh and dry weights of mother plants were the greater in the treatments of CF or CalMag than those of control treatment. The treatments of 1.0 $dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ of CF or CalMag were more effective than those of 0.6 $dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ on the fresh and dry weight of the mother plants. The runner lengths in the treatment of 1.0 $dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ of CF were the longest among the all treatments tested. The treatments of 1.0 $dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ were more effective than those of 0.6 $dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ of CF or CalMag in lengths and fresh and dry weight of runners. The fresh and dry weights of daughter plants were heavier in the treatments of CF than those of CalMag. Based on the above results, we concluded that the Ca deficiency in raising 'Seolhyang' strawberry can be lessened by the application of Ca containing fertilizers, but combined application of Ca, K and Mg was more effective than that of Ca alone for seedling production.