• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.436-440
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• 2009

This study demonstrates the use of a chemical lung containing potassium superoxide to convert carbon dioxide in air to oxygen. In order to reduce its extremely high reactivity, potassium superoxide was first mixed with calcium hydroxide and then combined at various ratios with polysiloxane. Silicone polymer used here served as both a water repellent and the polymer matrix. In general, the amount of carbon dioxide captured as well as that of oxygen produced increased as the proportion of potassium superoxide in the chemical lung increased. FT-IR spectroscopy revealed that the Si-O bond in chemical lung appeared at $1,050cm^{-1}$ and absorbance of chemical lung containing higher amounts of silicone was higher than that of chemical lung containing lower amounts. These results indicate that such a chemical lung may also be a useful sorbent for other acid gases, such as sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.1737-1740
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• 2011

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.319-321
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• 2014

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.1293-1295
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• 2013

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.12
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• pp.3782-3786
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• 2013

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer and that accounts for 85% of lung cancer patients. Although several EGFR-targeted drugs have been developed in the treatment of NSCLC, the clinical efficacy of EGFR-targeted drugs in NSCLC is limited by the occurrence of drug resistance. In this regard, Hsp90 represents great promise as a therapeutic target of cancer due to its potential to simultaneously disable multiple signaling pathways. In this study, we discovered that a natural product, flavokawain B disrupted Hsp90 chaperoning function and impaired the growth of gefitinib-resistant non-small cell lung cancer (H1975). The result suggested that flavokawain B could serve as a potential lead compound to overcome the drug resistance in cancer chemotherapy.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.61-69
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• 2023

The technical importance of membrane-based artificial lung technology has been re-emphasized after the recent breakout of COVID-19 to treat acute lung-failure patients. The world population, particularly in Korea, is aging at an unprecedented rate, which can increase the demand for better artificial organs (AO) in the near future. Membrane technology plays a key role in artificial organ markets. Among them, membrane-based artificial lung (AL) technology has improved significantly in the past 50 years, but the survival rate of lung-failure patients is still very low. Most AL works focus on the clinical application of the AL device, not on the development of the AL membrane itself. This review summarizes the challenges and recent progress of membrane-based AL technology.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.224-234
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• 2012

Objectives: To assess the hazard of Korea chrysotile and anthophylite, fibers were analyzed for their physicochemical properties by transmission electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (TEM-EDS). Methods: To evaluate the biopersistence of 2 domestic asbestos, Sprague-Dawely rats were exposed to 2 mg asbestos by intratracheal instillation. Each asbestos (chrysotile ; $8,814,244{\times}10^6$ fibers/mg, average size $0.08{\mu}m{\times}4.39{\mu}m$, anthophyllite ; $5,182{\times}10^6$ fibers/mg, average size $0.95{\mu}m{\times}7.29{\mu}m$) were evaluated after a single intratracheal instillation. At times from 1 week to 4 weeks after exposure, the numbers of asbestos fivers in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and in the lung were calculated. Results: Anthophyllite fivers continuously have retained for 4 weeks but chrysotile fivers were rarely found at 4 weeks after exposure in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Chrysotile fivers at 4 weeks after treatment were not observed but anthophyllite was easily observed in the lung with phase contrast microscopy. According to electron microscopic observation of asbestos in the lung, within 1 week after the administration of chrysotile fivers were decreased rapidly but anthophyllite fivers were very little change for 4 weeks. When chrysotile fivers have been lost Fe in 1 week, there were no significant changes in anthophyllite fivers in the lung. Conclusions: These findings indicate that after a long time exposure to chrysotile, asbestos bodies can not be found in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.1294-1298
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• 2014

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer representing 85% of lung cancer patients. Despite several EGFR-targeted drugs have been developed in the treatment of NSCLC, the clinical efficacy of these EGFR-targeted therapies is being challenged by the occurrence of drug resistance. In this regard, Hsp90 represents great promise as a therapeutic target of cancerous diseases due to its role in modulating and stabilizing numerous oncogenic proteins. Accordingly, inhibition of single Hsp90 protein simultaneously disables multiple signaling networks so as to overcome drug resistance in cancer. In this study, we synthesized a series of 11 butein analogues and evaluated their biological activities against gefitinibresistant NSCLC cells (H1975). Our study indicated that analogue 1h inhibited the proliferation of H1975 cells, down-regulated the expression of Hsp90 client proteins, including EGFR, Met, Her2, Akt and Cdk4, and upregulated the expression of Hsp70. The result suggested that compound 1h disrupted Hsp90 chaperoning function and could serve a potential lead compound to overcome the drug resistance in cancer chemotherapy.

• Yonsei Medical Journal
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• v.59 no.9
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• pp.1123-1130
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• 2018

Purpose: Exposure to indoor radon is associated with lung cancer. This study aimed to estimate the number of lung cancer deaths attributable to indoor radon exposure, its burden of disease, and the effects of radon mitigation in Korea in 2010. Materials and Methods: Lung cancer deaths due to indoor radon exposure were estimated using exposure-response relations reported in previous studies. Years of life lost (YLLs) were calculated to quantify disease burden in relation to premature deaths. Mitigation effects were examined under scenarios in which all homes with indoor radon concentrations above a specified level were remediated below the level. Results: The estimated number of lung cancer deaths attributable to indoor radon exposure ranged from 1946 to 3863, accounting for 12.5-24.7% of 15623 total lung cancer deaths in 2010. YLLs due to premature deaths were estimated at 43140-101855 years (90-212 years per 100000 population). If all homes with radon levels above $148Bq/m^3$ are effectively remediated, 502-732 lung cancer deaths and 10972-18479 YLLs could be prevented. Conclusion: These findings suggest that indoor radon exposure contributes considerably to lung cancer, and that reducing indoor radon concentration would be helpful for decreasing the disease burden from lung cancer deaths.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.5179-5183
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• 2016

Background: Prior series investigated the expression of prepro-gastrin releasing peptide (prepro-GRP) in the peripheral blood of lung cancer patients. Our aim was to assess any prepro-GRP role as a prognostic factor for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and NSCLC and correlations with clinical presentation and treatment outcome. Methods: A prospective study was conducted during the time period from the beginning of January 2012 till the end of January 2014. Prepro-GRP expression was analysed using a nested RT-PCR assay in peripheral blood of 62 untreated lung cancer patients attending the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Cairo University, and 30 age and sex matched healthy volunteers. Results: Among the 62 lung cancer cases, there were 24 (38.7%) SCLC, and 38 (61.3%) NSCLC (10 squamous cell carcinomas, 12 adenocarcinomas, 11 large cell carcinomas, 4 undifferentiated carcinomas, and 1 adenosquamous carcinoma). Twenty six patients (41.9%) were prepro-GRP positive. Prepro-GRP expression was higher (58.3%) among SCLC patients compared to NSCLC (squamous cell carcinoma (15.4%), large cell carcinoma (36.4%), and adenocarcinoma (25%)). Mean OS among prepro-GRP negative cases was longer than that among preprogastrin positive cases (17.6 vs 14.9 months). The mean PFS durations among preprogastrin negative versus positive cases were 7.7 vs 4.6 months (p= 0.041). No difference in response to chemotherapy was identified between the groups (p=0.983). Conclusion: Prepro-GRP is suggested to be a useful prognostic marker for lung cancer patients, especially with the fast- growing, bad prognostic SCLC type. More studies should aim at detailed understanding of the mechanisms of prepro-GRP action and its use in monitoring the response to treatment in a larger cohort.