• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2016

Xenotransplantation involves multiple steps of immune rejection. The present study was designed to produce nuclear transfer embryos, prior to the production of transgenic pigs, using fibroblasts carrying transgenes human complement regulatory protein hCD59 and interleukin-18 binding protein (hIL-18BP) to reduce hyperacute rejection (HAR) and cellular rejection in pig-to-human xenotransplantation. In addition to the hCD59-mediated reduction of HAR, hIL-18BP may prevent cellular rejection by inhibiting the activation of natural killer cells, activated T-cell proliferation, and induction of $IFN-{\gamma}$. Transgene construct including hCD59 and ILI-18BP was introduced into miniature pig fetal fibroblasts. After antibiotic selection of double transgenic fibroblasts, integration of the transgene was screened by PCR, and the transgene expression was confirmed by RT-PCR. Treatment of human serum did not affect the survival of double-transgenic fibroblasts, whereas the treatment significantly reduced the survival of non-transgenic fibroblasts (p<0.01), suggesting alleviation of HAR. Among 337 reconstituted oocytes produced by nuclear transfer using the double transgenic fibroblasts, 28 (15.3%) developed to the blastocyst stage. Analysis of individual embryos indicated that 53.6% (15/28) of embryos contained the transgene. The result of the present study demonstrates the resistance of hCD59 and IL-18BP double-transgenic fibroblasts against HAR, and the usefulness of the transgenic approach may be predicted by RT-PCR and cytolytic assessment prior to actual production of transgenic pigs. Further study on the transfer of these embryos to surrogates may produce transgenic clone miniature pigs expressing hCD59 and hIL-18BP for xenotransplantation.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.383-392
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• 2013

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of N:P ratio on primary productivity measured as chlorophyll-a (CHL) using the approach of In Situ Nutrient Enrichment Bioassays (NEBs) in Daechung Reservoir. The effects of NEBs on the N:P mass ratios were compared with the field data obtained from monthly-chemical monitoring during 2009~2012. The short-term NEBs showed that the response of primary productivity in the phosphorus spiked treatments (5, 15, 20 and 30 N:P ratios) were greater than the responses in the control (C) and nitrogen spiked treatment (N:P ratio=150, $T_{VI}$). The response in the nitrogen treatment (N:P ratio=150, $T_{VI}$) was less compared to control and all five treatments ($T_I{\sim}T_{VI}$). The outcomes of the NEBs suggest that phosphorus limited the phytoplankton growth and nitrogen addition inhibited the algal growth. In the analysis of nutrients and CHL from the ambient epilimnetic water in Daechung Reservoir, minimum N:P ratios resulted in maximum concentrations of CHL. Overall, our results suggest that the N:P ratio was the key factor in regulating the phytoplankton growth in NEB experiments.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.155-164
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• 2004

This involves identifying and cloning trapped genes from cultured cells carrying the gene-trap constructs and generating cloned zebrafish using these cells for functional study. Gene-trapping studies in gene-trapped cells were carried out in initial and cloned zebrafish carrying gene-trap events were successfully produced based on the nuclear transplantation technique. Two kind of retroviral gene-trap constructs were adopted. The first one(SA/GFP-TP), constructed in my laboratory, carries a GFP reporter gene containing a splicing acceptor and an internal neo gene. The second one(Neo-TP), obtained from Dr. Hicks (Hicks et al., 1997), contains a promoter-less neo gene located in the LTR sequence of a retroviral vector. The infected cells were subjected to drug selection(neomycin treatment) because the two constructs carry the neomycin resistant gene. All those cells survived the neomycin treatment should carry the proviral insertions. For Neo-TP, Isolated DNA from the neomycin-resistant fibroblast cells infected by Neo-TP, was digested with EcoR1 restriction enzyme and transformed into bacteria after ligation. This procedure led to the isolation of seven clones carrying flanking cellular DNA with a typical retroviral integration signature sequence. These clones contained genomic DNA ranging from 1kb to 7kb and sequences of 300-600 bp were obtained from each of the rescued plasmids. Database searching showed that all of them share high homology to zebrafish sequences. For fish cloning using tagged cells, initially, nucleus donors directly selected from a mixture of cells(Neo-TP cells) were used. A total of 44 embryos(3.7%) out of 1179 transplants were reached blastula stage; 8 of these embryos(0.8%) hatched and 3(0.3%) of them survived to adulthood. One out of three lived cloned zebrafish has an amplified fragment and was labeled with 32P.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.374-379
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• 1998

From March 1985 to June 1997, 451 patients of spontaneous pneumothorax treated at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital were reviewed retrospectively. Most of the patients were male (male to female ratio, 8.2:1). The mean age of the primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) was 26.8 years, and that of secondary spontaneous pneumothorax(SSP) was 53.1 years. 330 out of 451 patients(73%) were PSP. The causes of the SSP were mostly pulmonary tuberculosis and COPD: 87 patients(72%), and 24 patients(19.2%), respectively. All the patient were treated by one of the following modalities: 1)rest and oxygen therapy in 42 patients, 2) closed thoracostomy in 208 patients, 3) thoracotomy in 156 patients, 4) VATS bullectomy in 45 patients. The mean duration of postoperative chest tube drainage was as following: thoracotomy 8.3 days, VATS bullectomy 4.7 days. For recent 3 consecutive years, VATS bullectomy has become the more frequently applied operative procedure than thoracotomy in the treatment of surgically indicated PSP, from 33% in 1994 to 78% in 1996. With the minimally invasive thoracoscopic surgery being more prevalent, VATS bullectomy will be able to be the 1st choice of treatment not only for the recurrent pneumothoracies but also for the some selected cases of the 1st episode pneumothoracies. To verify this approach as clinically acceptable one in terms of cost-effectiveness, recurrence rate, etc, a large scale of multi-institutional clinical study will be needed in a sooner time.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.1636-1648
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• 2006

There are detailed descriptions of the clinical experiences and prescriptions of asthma in traditional Korean medicine. Zedoariae rhizoma is one of the Korean herbal medicines used to treat bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis for centuries. However, the therapeutic mechanisms of this medication are still far from clear, In this study, a house-dust-mite (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus [Der p])-sensitized murine model of asthma was used to evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of Zedoariae rhizoma on the allergen-induced airway inflammation in asthma. Three different protocols were designed to evaluate the treatment and/or long-term prophylacitic effect of Zedoariae rhizoma in Der p-sensitized mice. Cellular infiltration and T-cell subsets in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF)of allergen-challenged mice were analyzed. Intrapulmonary lymphocytes were also isolated to evaluate their response to allergen stimulation. When Zedoariae rhizoma was administered to the sensitized mice before AC (groups A and C), it suppressed airway inflammation by decreasing the number of total cells and eosinophil infiltration in the BALF, and downregulated the allergen- or mitogen-induced intrapulmonary lymphocyte response of sensitized mice as compared to those of controls. This immunomodulatory effect of Zedoariae rhizoma may be exerted through the regulation of T-cell subsets by elevation or activation of the CD8+ and double-negative T-cell population in the lung. However, the administration of Zedoariae rhizoma to sensitized mice 24 h after AC (group B) did not have the same inhibitory effect on the airway inflammation as Zedoariae rhizoma given before AC. Thus, the administration of Zedoariae rhizoma before AC has the immunomodulatory effect of reducing bronchial inflammation in the allergen-sensitized mice. On the other hand, to determine the potentiality of prophylactic and/or therapeutic approaches using a traditional herbal medicine, Zedoariae rhizoma, for the control of allergic disease, we examined the effects of oral administration of Zedoariae rhizoma on a murine model of asthma allergic responses. When oral administration of Zedoariae rhizoma was begun at the induction phase immediately after OVA sensitization, eosinophilia and Th2-type cytokine production in the airway were reduced in OVA-sensitized mice following OVA inhalation. These results suggest that the oral administration of Zedoariae rhizoma dichotomously modulates allergic inflammation in murine model for asthma, thus offering a different approach for the treatment of allergic disorders.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.89-105
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• 2012

Objectives : This study was carried out to know the status of clinical utilization of Korean medical knowledge and the Korean medical knowledge system which Korean medical doctors want. Methods : Questionnaires were distributed to Korean medical doctors registered for the Association of Korean medicine via the email and 249 answered questionnaires were analyzed. Results : 50.6 % of Korean medical doctors utilized the textbooks for Korean medicine when they treated their patients. The reason why they did not utilize the textbooks for Korean medicine was mostly that 'it could not be applied directly into clinical application with only contents of textbook because clinical approach (diagnosis and treatment methods) was not clearly described in the textbook'. 48.6 % of Korean medical doctors utilized the EBM materials when they treated their patients. EBM materials that they referred included domestic articles, other EBM materials excluding papers and international academic papers based on PubMed in order. The reasons why they did not utilize the EBM materials were mostly that 'it was difficult to find the evidence' and 'EBM materials were not actually helpful for the clinical practice.' It was found that Korean medical doctors approached the disease in aspects of Korean and Western Medicine concurrently upon the diagnosis of patients and performed the diagnosis and treatment of Korean medicine on the diseases which seemed to be effective with Korean medicine. It was also found that they thought that they needed to know the Western medical knowledge as much as general doctors who have a doctor's license or family medicine specialists who comprehensively treat the general diseases know. Korean medical doctors wanted to have the systematic summary of modern research performance in fields of acupoint, acupuncture, herbal drugs and formula. They thought that constitutional medicine and Sa-am acupuncture therapy were representative characteristics in Korean medicine differentiated from Traditional Chinese medicine and Kampo medicine. Conclusions : Korean medical doctors wanted to establish the Korean medical knowledge system based on evidence focusing on clinical and practical contents. New Korean medical knowledge system should be established based on these requirements in the future.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.101-129
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• 2018

This study examined the overall effect size of the batterer intervention programs aimed at reducing violent behavior. This study calculated the 18 results and the 115 effect sizes of 11 theses published from 2000 to 2017 in Korea. It was demonstrated that the effect of an offender's program on the change in violent behavior was significant at both the practical and treatment level. The effect size was high in the order of control behavior, emotional violence, and physical violence. The effects of dependent variables other than violence were also researched. The batterer program positively changed the participant's attitudes in terms of sex-role and partner violence. Furthermore, it decreased the level of anger and depression, and enhanced self-esteem and communication skills thus increasing satisfaction in marital relationships. In addition, this study examined the factors that influence the effect of the offender's program in terms of the decrease of violent behavior. Upon analysis, it was examined that the moderating effect was great in the approach model and counsel form. More specifically, it was revealed that the feminist-cognitive behavioral models had a greater effect than the compromise model or single model. In terms of counsel forms, group counseling formed only of male offenders had greater effect than couples treatment group. Based on these findings, this study discussed the practical means for increasing the effect of batterer intervention programs.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.546-554
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• 2021

Background: Diabetes mellitus and hypertension often occur together, amplifying cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and emphasizing the need for a multitargeted treatment approach. American ginseng (AG) and Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) species could improve glycemic control via complementary mechanisms. Additionally, a KRG-inherent component, ginsenoside Rg3, may moderate blood pressure (BP). Our objective was to investigate the therapeutic potential of coadministration of Rg3-enriched Korean Red Ginseng (Rg3-KRG) and AG, added to standard of care therapy, in the management of hypertension and cardiometabolic risk factors in type-2 diabetes. Methods: Within a randomized controlled, parallel design of 80 participants with type-2 diabetes (HbA1c: 6.5-8%) and hypertension (systolic BP: 140-160 mmHg or treated), supplementation with either 2.25 g/day of combined Rg3-KRG + AG or wheat-bran control was assessed over a 12-wk intervention period. The primary endpoint was ambulatory 24-h systolic BP. Additional endpoints included further hemodynamic assessment, glycemic control, plasma lipids and safety monitoring. Results: Combined ginseng intervention generated a mean ± SE decrease in primary endpoint of 24-h systolic BP (-3.98 ± 2.0 mmHg, p = 0.04). Additionally, there was a greater reduction in HbA1c (-0.35 ± 0.1% [-3.8 ± 1.1 mmol/mol], p = 0.02), and change in blood lipids: total cholesterol (-0.50 ± 0.2 mmol/l, p = 0.01), non-HDL-C (-0.54 ± 0.2 mmol/l, p = 0.01), triglycerides (-0.40 ± 0.2 mmol/l, p = 0.02) and LDL-C (-0.35 ± 0.2 mmol/l, p = 0.06) at 12 wks, relative to control. No adverse safety outcomes were observed. Conclusion: Coadministration of Rg3-KRG + AG is an effective addon for improving BP along with attaining favorable cardiometabolic outcomes in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Ginseng derivatives may offer clinical utility when included in the polypharmacy and lifestyle treatment of diabetes. Clinical trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov identifier, NCT01578837;

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.3-33
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• 2020

Until recently the German and the South Korean medical associations reacted cautiously to the introduction of telemedicine between doctor and patient which is exclusively on the platform conducted. But the General Assembly of German Physicians voted to lift the ban on remote treatment with the amendment to Section 7 (4) MBO-Ä(Medical Association's Professional Code of Conduct) in 2018 and the situation has been fundamentally changed in Germany. From then until now 16 of 17 rural medical associations have changed their professional code to allow telemedicine. In addition the legislature started to prepare the basis for the introduction of the electronic health card (eGK) and the telematics infrastructure. So far, various laws such as Medicinal Products Act, Drug Advertisement Act and Social Code have been changed to support legalization of telemedicine and digitalization of health care. Unlike in Germany, the social circumstances such as excessive centralization of the big hospitals in Seoul and the resulting concern of small medical practices for profitability are the main obstacles to the introduction of telemedicine. However the German approach how to legalise the telemedicine and to prepare for legal and technical infrastructure is also interesting in South Korea. The discussions for and against the changes in the law and the telematics infrastructure attempted by the German government for several years indicate that not only lifting the ban on remote treatment, but also harmonization of all the related legal system could guarantee successful implementation of telemedicine.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.64 no.1
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• pp.18-24
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• 2019

Isoflavones, a group of secondary metabolites present in plants and especially abundant in soybeans, are garnering increasing interest because of their medicinal properties. Numerous environmental factors influence isoflavone accumulation in plants. Successful attempts to increase isoflavone contents in soybean seeds have not been widely reported. In this report, we examined an effective method for producing a high amount of isoflavones during soybean seed germination, by treating the seed with 4 abiotic factors. Soybean seeds were exposed to ultrasound (50 Hz) and heat ($40^{\circ}C$) for 30minutes, then germinated for 5 days in darkness. Another sample was subjected to water deficit during germination in darkness, and the other sample was subjected to light conditions during the germination period. The results showed that the ultrasound treatment increased isoflavone content during soybean germination. Three days after germination, the ultrasound-treated seeds presented the highest isoflavone content (6,042.1 ug/g dry weight) compared to the other treatments, which was also 1.3-fold increases over the content of the raw seed's before germination. With respect to each type of isoflavone group, aglycone (partially genistein) content was markedly higher, whereas glucoside was lower than that of the untreated samples. In other experiment, total isoflavone content after heat, water deficit, and light treatments was 5,600.0, 4,740.1, and 5,631.4 ug/g, respectively. These present work suggests that ultrasound treatment is a novel approach for improving the production of isoflavones in soybean seeds during germination.