• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.411-418
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• 2014

Vascular remodelling is an adaptive mechanism, which counteracts pressure changes in blood circulation. Nicotine content in cigarette increases the risk of hypertension. The exact relationship between nicotine and vascular remodelling still remain unknown. Current study was aimed to determine the effect of clinically relevant dosage of nicotine (equivalent to light smoker) on aortic reactivity, oxidative stress markers and histomorphological changes. Twelve age-matched male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups, i.e.: normal saline as control or 0.6 mg/kg nicotine for 28 days (i.p., n=6 per group). On day-29, the rats were sacrificed and the thoracic aorta was dissected immediately for further studies. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) and pulse pressure (PP) of nicotine-treated vs. control were significantly increased (p<0.05). Nicotine-treated group showed significant (p<0.05) increase tunica media thickness, and decrease in lumen diameter, suggesting vascular remodelling which lead to prior hypertension state. The phenylephrine (PE)-induced contractile response in nicotine group was significantly higher than control group ($ED_{50}=1.44{\times}10^5M$ vs. $4.9{\times}10^6M$) (p<0.05~0.001). However, nicotine-treated rat showed significantly lower endothelium-dependent relaxation response to acetylcholine (ACh) than in control group ($ED_{50}=6.17{\times}10^7M$ vs. $2.82{\times}10^7M$) (p<0.05), indicating loss of primary vascular function. Malondialdehyde (MDA), a lipid peroxidation marker was significantly higher in nicotine group. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymatic activity and glutathione (GSH) were all reduced in nicotine group (p<0.05) vs. control, suggesting nicotine induces oxidative imbalance. In short, chronic nicotine administration impaired aortic reactivity, probably via redox imbalance and vascular remodelling mechanism.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.41-48
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• 1986

It is known that radiation therapy is a kind of treatment choices of the maxillofacial tumors. This study is designed to investigate the irradiation effects on rat's periodontal tissues as functional tissues which relate to tooth-support, hard tissue formation and destruction. 20 rats (Sprague-Dowley branch, male) were devided into control group of 4 and experimental groupe of 16. Experimental group was singly exposed to Co-60 irradiation with 10 Gy in the head and neck region. Animals were sacrificed on 2 days, 1 week, 2 weeks and 3 weeks after the irradiation. The specimens were observed by histopathological examination employing H-E stain, van-Gieson stain and PA-ACH fluorescent stain. The results were as follows: 1. Cementoblasts and osteoblasts were gradually lost and rearranged along the external surfaces of the cementum and alveolar bone, but osteoclasts were almost not affected. 2. The cell numbers of the periodontal ligament were decreased due to the cellular atrophy and degeneration, but recovered almost normally on the 3rd week after irradiation. 3. The collagen fibers within the periodontal ligament were irregularly oriented, became finer and decreased in number. 4. The vessels of the periodontal ligament were decreased at the initial stage but increased again on the 2nd week after irradiation, and the hemorrhagic appearances, occurred within the tissues, due to the arterial destruction, were lasted until 3 weeks after irradiation. 5. The glycogen within the periodontal ligament was gradually increased and stored in the matrices of the cemental side on the 1st week after irradiation, but recovered almost normally on the 3rd week after irradiation.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.49-58
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• 1986

This study was designed to investigate the irradiation effects on the rat parotid gland, applied to the head and neck region. For this experiment, twenty-four rats, feeded under the even condition, were used as experimental animals. Twenty rats were used for experimental group and the rest were assigned to the control group. The experimental group was singly irradiated with 10Gray through Cobalt-60 radiotherapy device, Picker model 4M 60 (Field size; l2×5㎝, SSD; 50㎝, Depth; 1㎝). The experimental animals of both group were sacrificed each four animals in 2 days, 1week, 2weeks, 3weeks and 4weeks after irradiation. The specimens were examined through the light microscope using the H-E stain and H stain by routin procedure. The other specimens were observed under the fluorescence microscope using the B-O dichroic mirror and Y455 barrier filter after PA-ACH stain. 1. The results of this study were obtained as follows, The parotid acini were severely degenerated and the intraacinar spaces were widened. Within the acini, retained secretory granules and increased fibrosis were observed. Also the shape and the size of the acini showed very irregular atrophic degenerations. 2. The nuclei showed severe pyknosis, displacement and irregular aggregated appearance. 3. The tissue changes of the parotid acini were initiated after 2 days of irradiation and most severely appeared at the second week of irradiation, but almost returned to normal. 4. The salivary ducts of the parotid gland were severely atrophied, discontinued but initiated to regenerated after 3 weeks of irradiation.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.50-56
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• 2003

This research was done to make the effective prescription and cope with various senile dementia. So Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with ibotenate to make a damage on learning and memory functions. At first acquisition test and retention rest were done in the Morris water maze. And to evaluate the effects of the sample drug(TBM) on choline acetyltranferase and acetylcholine esterase, immunoreactive measurement and enzymatic activity measuring were carried out. The ibotenic acid were injected to hippocampus CA1 and CA3 area. The results were as following. TBM improved the learning ability in the acquisition test and memory function in the retention test significantly. And TBM increased the level of ChAT which is synthesizing acetylcholine in CA3 area, and at the same time it increased the level of AChE which is resolving acetylcholine. These results show that T8M improved the cholinergic catabolism and anabolism, and the increment of metabolic activity of cholinergic system. In other words, it contributes to the recovery of damaged learning and memory function by ibotenic acid. So it can be concluded that TBM will be helpful to cholinergic brain damage induced by primary or senile reduction of acetylcholine secretive activity.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.319-326
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• 2012

Han-green building is one of the modernized Korean traditional buildings developed by Korea Forest Research Institute. This building was developed to increase the competitiveness of Korean traditional building using state-of-art technologies; hence Han-green building has the inherent characteristics of traditional building such as exposed wood frame in wall. Because of discontinuity in wall by the exposed wood frame, there is a concern on heat-air leaking in terms of energy performance. In this study, air-tightness of Han-green building was evaluated to investigate the influence of gaps between frames and in-fill walls. Blower door test was carried out to evaluate the air-tightness, and air-change rate (ACH50) was evaluated by averaging four set of pressurization and depressurization test. The air-change rate of Han-green house was 5.91 $h^{-1}$. To improve energy performance of Han-green house, thermal infrared images of Han-green house were taken in winter with heating to find out where the heat loss occurred. It was found that the building lost more heat through gaps between frames and in-fill walls rather than through other parts of this building. After covering all the gaps by taping, the blower door test was performed again, and the air-change rate was improved to 5.25 $h^{-1}$. From this analysis, it was concluded that the heated air can leak through the gaps between frames and walls. Therefore, when one designs the post and beam building with exposed frame, the detail design between frame and wall needs to be carefully dealt. However, Han-green building showed relatively high air-tightness comparing with other country research results.

• KIEAE Journal
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.81-86
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• 2015

Purpose: Condensation in the apartment housing is one of the most significant defects and complaints for condensation are rapidly increasing according to the growing interest in residential environment. Korea government established a regulation for reducing condensation in the apartment housing and TDR is adapted as a standard. However prevention of condensation depend on improving the performance of building envelop has limitation because of the increase of the cost. Centralized Hybrid ventilation system is suggested to prevent condensation. Method: Field measurement was conducted to verify the ventilation rate of the ventilation system. Based on the measurement, air network and CFD simulation was conducted to analyze ventilation rate for each room. Surface temperature was calculated by regulated TDR according to the regions and surfaces. The performance of condensation prevention was evaluated by the ventilation rate and surface temperature. Result: In the results, it was found that condensation was prevented in more than 90% of households by the centralized hybrid ventilation system which provided 0.19 ~ 0.81ACH for each room.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.51-59
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• 1990

Effects of altering hepatic mixed-function oxidase (MFO) enzyme activities on the metabolism and acute toxicity of parathio were investigated in adult female rats. In vitro hepatic metabolism of parathion to paraoxon was increased by phenobarbital pretreatment (50 mg/kg/day, ip, for 4 consecutive days) and SKF 525-A (50 mg/kg, ip, 1 hr prior to sacrifice) decreased paraoxon formation indicating that phenobarbital induces that form(s) of cytochrome P-450 catalyzing conversion of parathion to paraoxon. Degradation of paraoxon to p-nitrophenol was increased by phenobarbital pretreatment, but not affected by SKF 525-A suggesting that MFO activities play only a minor role in the detoxification of the active metabolite of this insecticide. The phenobarbital-induced increase in paraoxon formation was partially antagonized by SKF 525-A. Significant activity for both parathion activation and paraoxon degradation was also observed in the lung preparation, however, this extrahepatic parathion and paraoxon metabolizing activity was not induced by phenobarbital or inhibited by SKF 525-A pretreatment. Phenobarbital pretreatment increased paraoxon level in livers of rats when measured 3 hr following parathion injection (2 mg/kg, ip). SKF 525-A did not alter parathion or paraoxon levels in brain, blood and liver. Phenobarbital pretreatment decreased the toxicity of parathion (4mg/kg, ip) or paraoxon (1.5 mg/kg, ip) as determined by decreases in lethality and inhibition of brain and lung acetylcholinesterases. An additional SKF 525-A treatment failed to decrease the protective effects of phenobarbital against parathion or paraoxon toxicity. These results suggest that some unknown factors other than hepatic MFO induction are involved in the protective action of phenobarbital against parathion and paraoxon toxicity.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.6
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• pp.809-816
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• 1997

The present study was designed to investigate whether endogenous nitric oxide(EDNO) is involved in submandibular vasodilation and salivation induced by parasympathetic nerve stimulation. Effects of $N^w$-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME) which blocks the synthesis of EDNO from L-arginine on the submandibular vasodilation and salivation induced by chords stimulation or administration of various vasodilators were examined in anesthetized cats. Effect of L-NAME on $K^+$ efflux induced by carbachol was also examined using the excised submandibular slice in vitro. In the submandibular slices, acetylcholine$(10^{-5}\;mol/L)$ or vasoactive intestinal polypeptide$(VIP,\;10^{-5}\;mol/L)$ increased $NO_2$ contents, which was Prevented by pretreatment with L-NAME. Salivary secretion in response to the chords stimulation$(3\;V,\;1\;msec,\;10{\sim}20\;Hz)$ was completely blocked by treatment with atropine(1 mg/kg). Increased blood flow response to the low frequency(1, 2, 5 Hz) stimulation was significantly reduced, whereas the blood flow induced by the higher frequency(10,20 Hz) stimulation was not affected. Lingual-arterial infusion of L-NAME(100 mg/kg) significantly diminished the vasodilatory and salivary responses to the chorda stimulation at all stimuli frequencies used. Intra-arterial infusion of L-NAME(100 mg/kg markedly diminished the vasodilatory responses to acetylcholine$(5\;{\mu}g/kg)$, VIP$(5\;{\mu}g/kg)$ or bradykinin$(5\;{\mu}g/kg)$. In the excised submandibular slice, $K^+$ efflux in response to carbachol$(10^{-5}\;mol/L)$ was significantly decrease by pretreatment with L-NAME$(10^{-5}\;mol/L)$. In the isolated submandibular artery precontracted with phenylephrine$(10^{-5}\;mol/L)$, the vasorelaxation induced by ACh$(10^{-7}\;mol/L)$ was reversed into a contraction by methylene blue$(10^{-4}\;mol/L)$. These results suggest that EDNO may play an important role in vasodilation and secretion of the submandibular gland.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.62-70
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• 2001

Alzheimer's disease(AD) is associated with a characteristic neuropathology. The major hallmarks of AD are senile plaques (SPs) and neurofibrillary tangles(NFTs). ${\beta}$-amyloid protein($A{\beta}$) is derived from the proteolysis of amyloid precursor protein(APP) and then converted to SPs. Mature SPs produce cytotoxicity through direct toxic effects and activation of microglia and complement. NFTs are composed of paired helical filaments(PHFs) including abnormally phosphorylated form of the microtubule-associated protein(MAP) tau and increased tau level in cerebrospinal fluid may be observed in most AD. The aggregation of $A{\beta}$ and tau formation are thought to be a final common pathway of AD. Acetylcholine, dopamine, serotonin, GABA and their receptors are associated with AD. Especially, decreased nicotinic acetylcholine receptors(nAChRs) in AD are reported. Genetic lesions associated with AD are mutations in the structural genes for the APP located on chromosome 21, presenilin(PSN)1 located on chromosome 14 and PSN2 located on chromosome 1. Also, trisomy 21, Apo-E gene located on chromosome 19, PMF locus, low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein and ${\alpha}$-macroglobulin increase risk of AD. In this article, we will review about the neurobiology of AD and some newly developed research areas.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.485-488
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• 2013

The performance values of available techniques used in serodiagnosis of toxoplasmosis are satisfactory but they raise problems of equivocal and discordant results for very low IgG titers. Recently marketed, LDBio-Toxo II IgG Western blot (IB) showed an excellent correlation with the dye test. We estimated the proportion of equivocal and discordant results between the enzyme immunoassay Platelia Toxo IgG (EIA-IgG) and fluorescent antibody test (FAT) and assessed the usefulness of the IB as a confirmatory test. Out of 2,136 sera collected from pregnant women, 1,644 (77.0%) tested unequivocally positive and 407 (19.0%) were negative in both EIA-IgG and FAT. The remaining 85 (4%) sera showed equivocal or discordant results. Among them, 73 (85.9%) were positive and 12 (14.1%) were negative in IB. Forty-one (89.1%) equivocal sera in EIA-IgG and 46 (86.8%) equivocal sera in FAT were positive in IB. Reducing the cut-off values of both screening techniques improved significantly their sensitivity in detecting very low IgG titers at the expense of their specificity. In conclusion, equivocal results in routine-used techniques and their discordance in determination of the immune status in pregnancy women were not uncommon. IB test appeard to be highly useful in these situations as a confirmatory technique.