• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.37 no.9
• /
• pp.781-786
• /
• 2004

None of the currently available strategies for diagnosis and management of the pleural effusion are ideal. We tried to evaluate the validity of VEGF in differential diagnosis of the pleural effusion and find out if VEGF were correlated with the established markers. Material and Method: 35 patients with pleural effusion were divided into malignant effusion (n=10), benign effusion (n=5), infectious effusion (n=10), and pneumothorax (n=10), respectively. The pleural fluids from each group were examined for differential cell count, chemistry (glucose, protein, LDH, and ADA), and VEGF. Result: Glucose level was lower in infectious effusion compared with benign effusion (60.5$\pm$36.09 mg/dL vs. 162.0$\pm$19.80 mg/dL, p=0.011). ADA level in infectious effusion was higher compared with malignant effusion (87.9$\pm$42.62 IU/L vs. 27.7$\pm$31.04 IU/L, p=0.024). Malignant effusion (p=0.026) and infectious effusion (p=0.048) showed significantly higher level of VEGF than that of pneumothorax. VEGF level was substantially higher in malignant effusion compared with benign effusion (364.38$\pm$433.83 pg/dL vs. 53.3$\pm$22.20 pg/dL, p=NS). The pleural VEGF level did not correlate with the other markers. Conclusion: The measuring pleural VEGF may be helpful in diagnosing malignant and infectious pleural effusion that increase angiogenesis and vascular permeability, but it can not discriminate between the two. The pleural VEGF may not be correlated with the established markers. The measurement of pleural VEGF might discriminate between malignant and benign effusion.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.345-355
• /
• 2010

Background: Extracellular and intracellular pH ($pH_o$ and $pH_i$), which can be changed in various pathological conditions such as hypoxia, affects vascular contractility. To elucidate the mechanism to alter vascular contractility by pH, the effects of pH on reactivity to vasocontracting agents, intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ influx, and $Ca^{2+}$ sensitivity in vascular smooth muscle were examined. Material and Method: Isometric contractions in rat superior mesenteric arteries (SMA) were observed. Intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) was recorded by microfluorometer using Fura-2/acetoxylmethyl ester in muscle cells. $pH_o$ was increased from 7.4 to 7.8 or decreased to 6.9 or 6.4. $pH_i$ was decreased by applying $NH_4^+$ or propionic acid or modulated by changing $pH_o$ after increasing membrane permeability using $\beta$-escin. Result: Decreases in $pH_o$ from 7.4 to 6.9 or 6.4 shifted concentration-response curve by norepinephrine (NE) or serotonin (SE) to the right and significantly increased half maximal effective concentration (EC50) to NE or SE. Increase in $pH_o$ from 7.4 to 7.8 shifted concentration-response curve by norepinephrine (NE) or serotonin (SE) to the left and significantly reduced EC50 to NE or SE. NE increased $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ in cultured smooth muscle cells from SMA and the increased $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ was reduced by decreases in $pH_o$. NE-induced contraction was inhibited by $NH_4^+$, whereas the resting tension was increased by $NH_4^+$ or propionic acid. When the cell membrane of SMA was permeabilized using ${\beta}$-escin, SMA was contracted by increasing extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration from 0 to $10{\mu}M$ and the magnitude of contraction was decreased by a decrease in $pH_o$ and vice versa. Conclusion: From these results, it can be concluded that a decrease in $pH_o$ might inhibit vascular contraction by reducing the reactivity of vascular smooth muscle to vasoactive agents, $Ca^{2+}$ influx and the sensitivity of vascular smooth muscle to $Ca^{2+}$.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.52 no.3
• /
• pp.219-229
• /
• 2002

Background : Sepsis-induced acute lung injury (ALI) is caused by many cellular and humoral mediators induced by an endotoxin. Histamine, which is widely distributed in the lungs and has been considered as an important mediator of sepsis. It increases P-selectin expression on the endothelial cell surfaces and induces IL-8 secretion. Therefore, an endotoxin-induced histamine may be related to neutrophil-mediated ALI by inducing the migration and activation of neutrophils in the lung tissue. However, the role of endogenous histamine in endotoxin ALI has not been clarified. The purpose of this study was to investigate how endotoxin-induced ALI is influenced by endogenous histamine and to identify the possible mechanism of action. Materials and Methods : The study consisted of 4 groups using Sprague-Dawley rats : 1) control group, where the rats were infused intratracheally by normal saline, 2) an endotoxin group, where lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was administered intratracheally 3) the $H_2$ receptor antagonist-treated group ($H_2$ group) and 4) the $H_1$ receptor antagonist-treated group ($H_1$ group), where $H_2$-receptor blocker (ranitidine) and $H_1$-receptor blocker(pyrilamine) were co-treated intravenously with the intratracheal administration of an endotoxin. The lung leak index using $I^{125}$-BSA, the total protein and LDH concentration in the lung lavage fluid, myeloperoxidase(MPO) activity in the lung tissue, the pathologic score and the total number of neutrophils, TNF-$\alpha$, IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-10 in lung lavage (BAL) fluid were measured in each group as the indices of lung injury. Results : Compared to the control group, the endotoxin group exhibited significant increases in all lung injury indices. Significant reductions in the endotoxin-mediated increases in lung leak index (p<0.05) were observed in both the $H_1$ and $H_2$ groups. In addition the total protein (p<0.05) and LDH concentration (p<0.05) in the BAL fluid were also lower in the $H_2$ group compared to the endotoxin group. However, there was no change in the MPO activity in the lung tissue, the pathologic score and the total number of neutrophils in the BAL fluid in both the $H_2$ and $H_1$ groups compared to the endotoxin group. The increases in TNF-$\alpha$ IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-10 concentrations in the BAL fluid observed in the endotoxin group were not reduced in the $H_2$ and $H_1$ groups. Conclusion : Antihistamine attenuated the enhanced alveolar-capillary permeability induced by the endotoxin via the $H_2$ receptor. However the attenuating mechanism may not be related to the pathogenesis of neutrophil dependent lung injury.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.65-75
• /
• 1996

Sulfate reduction and the precipitation of metal sulfides may have great potential to improve water quality of mine effluents in wetland treatment systems. Laboratory experiments using sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) and limestone to treat effluents from the abandoned Dalsung tungsten-copper mine show that encouraging results, that have been attributed to sulfate reduction. Fe, Al, Cd, Cu and Zn are reduced to below detection limits with $99{\sim}100%$ metal removal rates, Mn is reduced by at least 90% to below 8.0 mg/l, and the pH is raised from 5.12 to 7.60 after 53 days of experiments. In the staged design, laboratory experiments are initiated to determine what would be reasonable substrate materials for remediation of the mine effluents. A substrate mixture containing 70% oak compost and 30% mushroom compost maintains $0.03{\sim}0.04mM$ of lactate, which provides good condition for the SRB granule. A downflow SRB wetland system is proposed as follows : 1) The lower part of the treatment system consists with a 25 cm thick layer of high quality (above 95% of $CaCO_3$) of limestone; 2) The geotextile (geonet) is recommended to be spread on the limestone bed to prevent clogging the limestones with the substrates; 3) The mixture of substrates with 70% oak and 30% spent mushroom composts, and SRB granules overlain on top of the geonet with 25 cm height. The sizes of the passive treatment systems are calculated according to metal loading and permeability criteria : 1) $220m^3$ ($15{\times}15{\times}1m$) for -1 level effluents; 2) $28m^3$ ($5.3{\times}5.3{\times}1m$) for -2 level; and 3) $2700m^3$ ($52{\times}52{\times}1m$) for the -3 level. The -3 level system needs to be broken down into 5 to 15 cells.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.49 no.2
• /
• pp.192-197
• /
• 2006

Purpose : Vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) is a key cytokine for controlling vascular permeability and angiogenesis, which is one of the major findings in airway remodeling. However, it is not well known if it is associated with acute lower respiratory tract disease such as lobar pneumonia. The aim of this study is to compare serum VEGF levels in patients with asthma according to its severity and duration of cough, and to compare its levels with children with lobar pneumonia. Methods : Using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the serum VEGF levels were measured in 16 mild asthmatics, 14 moderate to severe asthmatics, six children with lobar pneumonia, and 22 control subjects. The asthmatics were also classified into three groups according to the duration of cough. Serum VEGF levels were compared in each group. Results : Serum VEGF levels were significantly increased in the children with moderate to severe asthma and lobar pneumonia compared to the children with mild asthma and control subjects. Serum VEGF levels were higher in children with chronic coughs of more than two weeks than in children with coughs lasting less than two weeks. Serum levels of VEGF showed positive correlations with blood platelet and white blood cell counts. Conclusion : VEGF increased according to the severity of asthma and duration of cough in children with asthma. It may play an important role not only in chronic airway inflammation, but also in the acute inflammation in children with lower respiratory tract disease.

• Proceedings of the Membrane Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 1999.07a
• /
• pp.39-42
• /
• 1999

Perfluoropolymers represent the ultimate resistance to hostile chemical environments and high service temperature, attributed to the presence of fluorine in the polymer backbone, i.e. to the high bond energy of C-F and C-C bonds of fluorocarbons. Copolymers of Tetrafluoroethylene (TEE) and 2, 2, 4Trifluoro-5Trifluorometoxy- 1, 3Dioxole (TTD), commercially known as HYFLON AD, are amorphous perfluoropolymers with glass transition temperature (Tg)higher than room temperature, showing a thermal decomposition temperature exceeding 40$0^{\circ}C$. These polymer systems are highly soluble in fluorinated solvents, with low solution viscosities. This property allows the preparation of self-supported and composite membranes with desired membrane thickness. Symmetric and asymmetric perfluoropolymer membranes, made with HYFLON AD, have been prepared and evaluated. Porous and not porous symmetric membranes have been obtained by solvent evaporation with various processing conditions. Asymmetric membranes have been prepared by th wet phase inversion method. Measure of contact angle to distilled water have been carried out. Figure 1 compares experimental results with those of other commercial membranes. Contact angles of about 120$^{\circ}$for our amorphous perfluoropolymer membranes demonstrate that they posses a high hydrophobic character. Measure of contact angles to hexandecane have been also carried out to evaluate the organophobic character. Rsults are reported in Figure 2. The observed strong organophobicity leads to excellent fouling resistance and inertness. Porous membranes with pore size between 30 and 80 nanometers have shown no permeation to water at pressures as high as 10 bars. However high permeation to gases, such as O2, N2 and CO2, and no selectivities were observed. Considering the porous structure of the membrane, this behavior was expected. In consideration of the above properties, possible useful uses in th field of gas- liquid separations are envisaged for these membranes. A particularly promising application is in the field of membrane contactors, equipments in which membranes are used to improve mass transfer coefficients in respect to traditional extraction and absorption processes. Gas permeation properties have been evaluated for asymmetric membranes and composite symmetric ones. Experimental permselectivity values, obtained at different pressure differences, to various single gases are reported in Tab. 1, 2 and 3. Experimental data have been compared with literature data obtained with membranes made with different amorphous perfluoropolymer systems, such as copolymers of Perfluoro2, 2dimethyl dioxole (PDD) and Tetrafluorethylene, commercialized by the Du Pont Company with the trade name of Teflon AF. An interesting linear relationship between permeability and the glass transition temperature of the polymer constituting the membrane has been observed. Results are descussed in terms of polymer chain structure, which affects the presence of voids at molecular scale and their size distribution. Molecular Dyanmics studies are in progress in order to support the understanding of these results. A modified Theodoru- Suter method provided by the Amorphous Cell module of InsightII/Discover was used to determine the chain packing. A completely amorphous polymer box of about 3.5 nm was considered. Last but not least the use of amorphous perfluoropolymer membranes appears to be ideal when separation processes have to be performed in hostile environments, i.e. high temperatures and aggressive non-aqueous media, such as chemicals and solvents. In these cases Hyflon AD membranes can exploit the outstanding resistance of perfluoropolymers.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.853-865
• /
• 2019

In this study, the skin permeability was measured by adding skin penetrating peptides, arginine oligomers R4(tetra-D-arginine), R6(hexa-D-arginine) to little skin-permeable wrinkle improvement peptides GHK, GHK-Cu, and Pal-GHK liposomes, and the results were analyzed by the following six cases. (1) In cases where only wrinkle improvement peptides GHK, GHK-Cu, and Pal-GHK were contained liposomes; the final cumulative permeations in 24 hours were 6.05%, 7.4%, and 8.83% respectively. (2) In cases where arginine oligomers R4, R6 were added to GHK liposomes; the final cumulative permeations in 24 hours were 13.63% and 7.68%. (3) In cases where R4, R6 were added to GHK-Cu liposomes; the final cumulative permeations in 24 hours were 15.46% and 8.64%. (4) In cases where R4, R6 were added to Pal-GHK liposomes; the final cumulative permeations in 24 hours were 16.9% and 10.67%. (5) In cases where R4 were added to GHK, GHK-Cu, and Pal-GHK liposomes; the final cumulative permeations in 24 hours were 13.63%, 15.46%, and 16.9% respectively. (6) In cases where R6 were added to GHK, GHK-Cu, and Pal-GHK liposomes; the final cumulative permeations in 24 hours were 7.68%, 8.64%, and 10.67% respectively. This experiment showed that skin absorption of GHK was increased by copper ion (Cu2+) and palmitic acid and skin absorption of wrinkle improvement peptides was enhanced by cell penetrating peptides, and R4 showed higher effect than R6 in GHK, GHK-Cu and Pal-GHK. Through this process, we propose broad use and application in wrinkle improvement functional cosmetics by presenting the optimal conditions for increasing skin absorption of GHK, GHK-Cu, thus maximizing its efficacy.