• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.319-328
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• 2020

Purpose: To examine the prevalence and clinical manifestations of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) in Korea children. Methods: The study was designed as a 1:2 matching case-control study. Using information from the endoscopic database of a tertiary center, we retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients aged 18 years or younger who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy between January 2014 and December 2017. A total of 21 patients were diagnosed with EoE based on current diagnostic criteria. In addition, 42 controls with normal esophageal biopsy findings matched to each EoE case by sex, age (±1 months), and season were randomly selected during the study period. Results: The mean age of EoE diagnosis was 12.1±4.0 years and the male-to-female ratio was 2:1. The proportion of allergic diseases in patients with EoE (28.6%) was higher than that in the controls (6.8%) (p=0.04). Most EoE patients tested for allergy were positive for at least one antigen, which was significantly different to the controls (88.2% vs. 47.4%, p=0.01). Characteristic endoscopic findings of EoE were noted in 19 patients (90.5%), but 2 patients (9.5%) showed normal esophageal mucosa. The clinical symptoms of EoE were improved by a proton-pump inhibitor in 10 patients (50.0%), and by an H₂ blocker in 9 patients (45.0%). Only one patient (5.0%) required inhaled steroids. Conclusion: While EoE is rare in the Korean pediatric population, the results of this study will improve our understanding of the clinical manifestations of the disease.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.267-274
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• 2006

To understand the changes in plasma levels of sex steroids in the wild Japanese eel Anguilla japonica during artificially maturing process, eels received weekly intraperitoneal injections of a water-in-oil (W/O) type emulsion with Freund`s incomplete adjuvant containing salmon pituitary extract (SPE; 20 mg pituitary powder/fish) were examined. In the weekly Eel's Ringer-treated control wild eels, the body weight (BW) changes of fish decreased slowly during the experiment period. Plasma testosterone (T), $estradiol-17{\beta}\;(E_2)$ and $17a,20{\beta}-dihydroxyprogesterone$ (DHP) levels did not change significantly at the end of the experiment. In the weekly SPE-treated silver eels, however, rapid increase in BW changes occurred after 6 to 10 weeks, and the oocytes of all fish were observed to be in the migratory nucleus stage. Furthermore, significant increase in sex steroid hormones (T and $E_2$) levels occurred from 6 weeks. In the weekly SPE-treated yellow eels, the BW changes of fish increased slowly at 6 weeks and then increased. In these fish, the oocytes were at the tertiary yolk globule stage even at the end of the experiment. Plasma sex steroid hormones profiles revealed individual variability in SPE-treated yellow eels. Plasma T and $E_2$ levels significantly increased at 8 weeks and after 6 weeks, respectively, in SPE-treated yellow eels. In the weekly SPE-treated wild eels (silver and yellow eels), however, plasma DHP levels did not change significantly during the experiment period. In silver eel, final maturation could be induced by weekly administration of SPE using W/O type emulsion.

• Proceedings of the KAIS Fall Conference
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• 2000.10a
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• pp.226-229
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• 2000

일반적으로 안경집은 일회적으로 사용하고 버리는 것이라 생각하는 사람이 많다. 안경집을 주로 생산하고 있는 대동사출금형과의 공동 노력으로 다기능성 안경집을 개발한 것을 소개한다. 일상적인 고정관념을 버리면 편리하고 기능성이 높은 제품을 만들 수 있다는 신념으로 개발한 결과 어린이나 젊은이들이 졸아할 문방구 겸용 안경집을 개발할 수 있었다. 완구는 소비자가 일상적으로 많이 접촉하기 때문에 곰팡이나 세균이 서식하지 않도록 항균 세라믹을 이용하여 항균처리하였다. 또한 상온에서 인체에 이로운 원적외선이 방출될 수 있도록 고안하였다. 단순한 색상의 무료함을 줄이기 위하여 어린이나 젊은이들이 좋아하는 상용화된 캐릭터를 사용하여 제품의 다양화를 꾀하였고, 4개의 조각으로 만들어 어린이들이나 젊은이들이 조립할 수 있도록 하여 흥미를 더할 수 있도록 하였다. 또한 소비자들이 선호하는 색을 알아보기 위하여 기존의 안경집을 활용하여 색상성호도 조사를 실시하였다. 젊은층은 자극적이고 화려한 색깔을 선호하는 한편 기성세대는 무난한 색깔을 선호하였다. 또한 콘택트 렌즈를 착용하는 경우에도 안경을 사용하는 경우가 많다. 이 경우 콘택트 렌즈와 안경을 따로 가지고 다녀야 하는 불편이 있다. 이에 착안하여 안경과 콘택트 렌즈를 겸용으로 사용하는 소비자를 위하여 안경과 콘택트 렌즈를 동시에 담을 수 있는 안경집을 개발(실용신안 출원번호:8928)하였다. 이 고안은 콘택트 렌즈를 안경집에 보관하기 위한 것으로 콘택트렌즈가 식염수에 잠겨 보관된 렌즈캡을 안경집내에 별도로 삽입되는 케이스에 수납하도록 구성하여 안경과 함께 콘택트 렌즈를 보관해 휴대하는 안경집 보관용 콘택트 렌즈 케이스에 관한 것으로 이것의 특징은 뚜껑이 열리고 닫히도록 구성된 안경집에 있어서 뚜껑 안쪽에 거울이 마련되고 뚜껑이 연결되는 선단부 안쪽에 끼움홈과 체결홈이 형성된 체결부를 갖는 안경집과 이것에 결합되는 체결구가 마련되어 개폐되는 커버가 형성된 케이스로 구성된다.로 금형설계 및 제작기간을 단축하고자 한다.ere demonstrated in rats after i.c.v., intraperitoneally and orally administration, respectively. The antiepileptical effects by the combination of compounds from ginseng; were compared with the iuluence of Rg1, Rb1, Rc and with the well known antiepileptical drugs such as carbamazepine, valproic acid. The base for the research is obtained by using the WAG/Rij strain (Luijtelaar, Coenen, Kuznetcova), an excellent genetic model for human generalized absence epilepsy. The improving action of gensinosides was effectively demonstrated on the model of electrical kindling of amygdala of WAG/Rij rats with genetically determined absences, and the influences of ginsenosides on the slow wave discharges have also been being investigated. The different characteristics of a kindling process exerted in the sex-different region of the amygdala and demonstrated that the level of sex steroids and content of neurosteroids in amygdaloid tissue ca

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.624-628
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• 1999

Annual plasma levels of vitellogenin and sex steroids were investigated in relation to the gonadal development for understanding the endocrine control of reproduction in spotted flounder, Verasper variegatus. The plasma vitellogenin level was highest, 6.36 mg/ml, in November when vitellogenesis was most active. The level, thereafter, decreased to 3.81 mg/ml in December with the initiation of spawning. On the other hand, estradiol-17 $\beta$ was highest, 2.7 ng/ml, in December, and rapidly decreased in January when spawning occurred. The decreased level of estradiol-17$\beta$, around 0.2 ng/ml, remained unchanged until May. The profiles of plasma testosterone were similar to those of estradiol-17$\beta$ in the fish, The plasma 17 $\alpha$-hydroxyprogesterone level was relatively low throughout the spawning period, but increased slightly with the initiation of ovarian development, In males, the plasma testosterone and 11-ketotestosterone were highest in December when spermiation actively proceeded, but rapidly decreased during the spawning period (January).

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2015

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical manifestations and laboratory characteristics of eosinophilic meningitis in Severance Children's Hospital. Methods: We examined 6,335 children under the age of 18 years old who had visited the tertiary hospital in Seoul, Korea, and had received cerebrospinal study results between January 2007 and July 2012. The medical records of the patients identified as eosinophilic meningitis were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Eosinophilic meningitis was diagnosed in 39 patients (0.6%). The mean age was 6 years (range 0-18 years) and the sex ratio was 1.3:1 (22 males and 17 females). The underlying diseases and past history were neurologic disease (n=36, 92%). Eosinophilic meningitis was diagnosed in thirty-five patients who had undergone postoperation neurosurgery (90%). The most common symptoms were fever (50%), headache (20%), vomiting (15%), seizure (10%), and dizziness (5%). The average duration for recovery was five days, and intravenous antibiotics or steroids were used. Conclusions: Manifestations of eosinophilic meningitis are similar to other types of meningitis. The most common cause of eosinophilic meningitis in children was neurosurgery. Eosinophilic meningitis should be considered for patients showing fever and headache after neurosurgery. Through careful investigation, use of improper antibiotics could be avoided.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.163-172
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• 2009

Some organotin compounds such as butyltins and phenyltins are known to induce impo-sex in various marine animals and are considered to be endocrine disruptors. In this study, the effect of organotins on follicular steroidogenesis in amphibians was examined using ovarian follicles of Rana dybowskii and Rana catesbeiana. Isolated follicles were cultured for 6 or 18 h in the presence and absence of frog pituitary homogenate (FPH) or various steroid precursors, and the levels of product steroids in the culture media oassay. Among the butyltin compounds, tributyltin (TBT) strongly and dose-dependently inhibited the FPH-induced synthesis of pregnenolone ($P_5$) and progesterone ($P_4$) by the follicles. TBT also strongly suppressed the conversion of cholesterol to $P_5$ and partially suppressed the conversion of $P_5$ to $P_4$. A high concentration of dibutyltin (DBT) also inhibited steroidogenesis by the follicles while monobutyltin and tetrabutyltin had negligible effects. The toxic effect of TBT or DBT was irreversible and a short time of exposure (30 min) was enough to suppress steroidogenesis. All the phenyltin compounds significantly inhibited FPH-induced $P_5$ synthesis by the follicles. The effective dose of 50% inhibition by diphenyltin was $0.04\;{\mu}M$ and those of monophenyltin and triphenyltin were $0.24\;{\mu}M$ and $0.3\;{\mu}M$, respectively. However, none of the phenyltin compounds significantly suppressed the conversion of $P_4$ to $17{\alpha}$-hydroxyprogesterone ($17{\alpha}$-OHP) (by $17{\alpha}$-hydroxylase), $17{\alpha}$-OHP to androstenedione (AD) (by $C_{17-20}$ lyase), or AD to testosterone by the follicles. Taken together, the data show that among the steroidogenic enzymes, P450scc in the follicles is the most sensitive to organotin compounds and that an amphibian follicle culture system can be a useful screening model for endocrine disruptors.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.105-110
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• 2002

Numerous hormones are involved in the regulation of reproduction. Among them, estrogen and progesterone are the most important ovarian steroid hormones regulating female fertility. On the other hand, diverse stressors impede female receptivity and fertility. Since norepinephrine(NE) and epinephrine(E) are released from the adrenal during stress, it might play a role in stress-induced disruptions of fEmale reproductive parameters. The present study was performed to analyze the changes in adrenal catecholaminergic activities in cycling rats. The tissue content and secretion level of catecholamines were determined by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrochemical detector(HPLC-ECD). Adrenomedullary content of norepinephrine(NE) was increased on proestrus stage (59.47 $\pm$ 6.86 ug/gland), peaked on diestrus I stage(65.22 $\pm$ 5.99 ug/gland), and was nadir on diestrus II stage(41.63 $\pm$ 1.33 ug/gland). The highest E content was observed on proestrus stage(361.86 $\pm$ 15.58 ug/gland) while the lowest level was on diestrus II stage(285.58 $\pm$ 12.25 ug/gland). In addition to these observations, a significant reduction of the NE : E ratio was observed (1 : 4.81 on diestrus I vs 1 : 6.13～7.02 on other stages). In vitro secretion of adrenal NE and E was increased on proestrus stage, peaked on estrus stage, and decreased on diestrus II stage. Interestingly, the NE : E ratio in conditioned media was significantly increased on estrus stage (1 : 3.32 vs 1 : 2.34～2.65 on other stages. The biosynthesis of NE and E is mediated by tyrosine hydroxylase(TH) and phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase(PNMT) which acts conversion of tyrosine into DOPA and NE into E, respectively. These finding demonstrated that sex steroids, during setrous cycle, seem to be able to modify the adrenal catecholamines biosynthesis and secretion with stage-specific manner by modulation of the enzyme activities.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.424-430
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• 2006

Purpose : Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis(JRA) is one of the most common rheumatic diseases of childhood and is an important cause of short- and long-term disability. The purpose of this study was to determine the disease course and outcome in childhood patients with JRA. Methods : Fifty nine patients with JRA who were diagnosed and treated in the Department of Pediatrics, Asan Medical Center from August 1990 to November 2004 were enrolled in this study. Sex, age, type, affected joints, extra-articular manifestations, laboratory and radiologic findings, treatments, and outcomes of JRA patients were reviewed retrospectively. Results : Among JRA patients, 32.2 percent had pauciarticular type, 30.5 percent had polyarticular type and 37.3 percent had systemic type. The ratio of boys to girls was 1.7 : 1 and the mean age at onset was $9.3{\pm}3.7$(1.3-15.9) years. The most commonly affected joints were knee, ankle and wrist. The extra-articular manifestations observed were fever, rash, myalgia and lymph node enlargement, etc. The main laboratory findings observed were leukocytosis, anemia, thrombocytosis, elevated ESR, and elevated CRP. Rheumatoid factor and antinuclear antibody(ANA) were positive in 5.3 percent and 18.0 percent. Nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAID) were used most frequently and methotrexate with or without steroids was added in 27.1 percent of patients unresponsive to NSAID. 88.1 percent of patients were cured without functional disability and only one patient was in functional status IV. One patient, who had pulmonary involvement, died. Conclusion : Our results showed an even distribution in type of onset, male predominance, older age of onset, low incidence of iridocyclitis, and low positivity of ANA in JRA patients; this differs from occidental data. This study may suggest regional differences and variability in disease groups of JRA among different racies, but further multi-center trials and large scale epidemiological studies are needed to confirm our conclusion.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.35-43
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• 2001

Background : The eosinophil chemotactic and activating effects of eotaxin and the known association of eosinophils with asthma suggest that eotaxin expression is increased during an asthma attack. This study was aimed to determine whether the plasma eotaxin levels are higher in patients during an asthma attack and to correlate the eotaxin levels with the disease activity, severity and response to therapy. Method : A case-control study of the plasma eotaxin levels was performed in 100 patients with exacerbated asthma and 48 age- and sex-matched subjects with stable asthma. Results : The plasma eotaxin levels were significantly higher in the 100 patients with exacerbated asthma($233{\pm}175\;pg/mL$) than in the 48 subjects with stable asthma($169{\pm}74\;pg/mL$). A trend toward higher eotaxin levels was observed in asthmatic subjects who were taking oral steroids ($332{\pm}225\;pg/mL$) than in those who were not ($214{\pm}159\;pg/mL$) and higher levels were found in those admitted to the hospital ($275{\pm}212\;pg/mL$) than in those discharged after receiving only emergency treatment ($190{\pm}115\;pg/mL$). The eotaxin levels inversely correlated with the $FEV_$ (r=-0.25, p<0.01). The eotaxin levels were higher in moderate persistent ($323{\pm}256\;pg/mL$) and severe persistent asthmatics ($276{\pm}170\;pg/mL$) than in mild intermittent asthmatics ($l60{\pm}60\;pg/mL$). Conclusion : Eotaxin expression is directly associated with asthma exacerbation, impaired pulmonary function and the disease severity.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.475-485
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• 1998

To clarify annual reproductive cycle of Koran dark sleeper, odontobutis platycephala, we examined the seasonal changes of gonadosomatic index(GSI), testicular development stages and sex steroid hormones in blood from December 1995 to November 1997. Testis was podlike shape from July to October, and tadpole-like shape from November because of its expanded posterior part. GSI was 0.14~0.18 from July to September and increased to $0.43{\pm}0.04$ in October and then was not changed significantly until February. GSI was reincreased to $0.52{\pm}0.09$ from March and then was kept at similer levels until May, but fell down to $0.28{\pm}0.05$ in June. As results of histological observation, testis was divided into 3 parts(anterior, boundary, posterior) in the development progress of germ cells. In July, the testis was composed of only spermatogonia without seminiferous tubules in most fishes. In the anterior part of testis, the ferquency of spermatogenesis stage seminiferous tubules appearing in August was more than 80% from September to December. decreased gradually from January to March and drastically in April, and then disappeared in June. The frequency of spermiogenesis stage seminiferous tubules appearing in December, increased gradually from January to March and drastically to 80% in April, and reached to 90% the highest levels of the year in June. Post-spawning stage seminiferous tubules did not appear throughout the year. The frequency of spermatogonia was 100% and 65% in July and August, and less than 20% in the rest period of the year. In the boundary part, the frequency of spermatogenesis stage seminiferous tubules appearing in August increased from September and reached to 82% in November, decreased from December, adn disappeared in March. The frequency of spermiogenesis stage seminiferous tubules appearing in November was less than 18% until February, and increased to 29%~57% from March to June. The frequency of post-spawning stage seminiferous tubules appeared 12%~25% only from March to June. The frequency of spermatogonia was 100% in July, decreased to 85% in August and 10% in November, and increased gradually from December to 50% in April, and decreased again from May to June. In the posterior part, seminiferous tubules with some seminiferous tubules increased drastically 80%~85% in August and September, decreased drastically from October to November and remained below 10% until February, and disappeared after March. The frequency of spermiogenesis stage seminiferous tubules appearing in August increased sharply from October and reached to 75% in November. decreased to 15% in December and no significant changes until March, and disappeared after April. The frequency of post-spawning stage seminiferous tubules appearing very early in November increased to 82% in December and 85%~95% until June. The frequency of spermatogonia was 100% in July, decreased drastically to 15% in August, disappeared from October to Mrch, but reappeared from April and kept at less than 10% until June. The blood level of testosterone (T) increrased gradually from August was $0.61{\pm}0.09 ng/m\ell$ in November, increrased drastically to $3.99{\pm}1.22 ng/m\ell$ in December and maintained at in similar level until March, and decreased to $0.25{\pm}0.14 ng/m{\ell} ~ 0.17{\pm}0.13ng/m{\ell}$ in April and May and no significant changes until July (P<0.05). The blood level of 17, 20 -dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one $ng/m{\ell}$in the rest of year without significant changes(P<0.05). Taken together these results, the germ cell development of testis progressed in the order of posterior, boundary, anterior part during annual reproductive cycle in Korean dark sleeper. The testicular cycle of Korean dark sleeper was as follows. The anterior part of testis : i.e. spermatogonial proliferation period (July), early maturation period (from August to November), mid maturation period (from December to March), late maturation period (from April to May) and functional maturation period (June) were elucidated. The boundary of testis, i.e. spermatogonial proliferation period (July), early maturation period (from August to October), mid maturation period (from November to February) and the coexistence period of late maturation, functional maturation and post-spawn (from March to June) were elucidated. The posterior of testis, i.e. spermatogonial proliferation period (July), mid maturation period (from August ot September), late maturation period (October), functional maturation period (November) and post-spawn period (from December to June) were elucidated. It was showed that the changes of sex steroid hormone in blood played a important roles in the annual reproductive cycle of Korean dark sleeper.