• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.316-319
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• 2021

Restriction endonucleases play an important role in molecular cloning, clinical diagnosis, and pharmacological drug studies. In this study, DNA-templated copper nanoclusters (DNA-CuNCs) were used to detect AluI endonuclease activity due to their high fluorescence emission and rapid synthesis of DNA-CuNCs under ambient conditions. Results showed that AluI activity was detected in a highly sensitive manner at low concentrations of AluI endonuclease by the fluorescence intensity of DNA-CuNCs. Additionally, its inhibition was monitored in the presence of daidzein under optimal conditions.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Near Infrared Spectroscopy Conference
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• 2001.06a
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• pp.4103-4103
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• 2001

The aim of this study was to examine whether near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is an acceptable tool to determine cholesterol and collagen in human atherosclerotic plaque without destruction of the analyzed areas and without danger the endothelial cells - three preconditions for the development of a NIR-heart-catheter. The questions were: Can the cholesterol and collagen content of the arterial intima be estimated with acceptable precision in vitro by NIRS despite the matrix inhomogeneity of the plaques and their anatomic variability\ulcorner How deep can such NIR radiation penetrate into arterial tissue without danger for endothelial cells\ulcorner Is this penetration sufficient for information on the lipid and collagen accumulation\ulcorner Using NIRS, cholesterol and collagen can be determined with acceptable precision in model mixtures and human aortic specimens (r=0,896 to 0,957). The chemical reference method was HPLC. The energy dose was 71 mW/$cm^{-2}$ using a fiber optic strand with a length of 1.5m and an optical window of d=4mm. This dose appears to be not dangerous for endothelial cells, It will be attenuated to 50% by a arterial tissue of about 170-$200\mu\textrm{m}$ thickness. The results are also acceptable using a thin coronary catheter-like fiber optic strand (d=1mm).

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.123-143
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• 2005

Objective : This study was carried out to evaluate the liver toxicities of Wild Aconiti Tuber decoction. Methods : The amounts of aconitine in the methanol extract of Wild Aconiti Tuber was measured by HPLC. Safeties was studied by LD50 in mice. Liver toxicities were evaluated histologically and by CBC, blood chemistry after 2 weeks of 0.4g/kg/day clinical dosage oral administrations in rat. Results : 1. The amounts of aconitine in the methanol extract of Wild Aconiti Tuber is $1.697{\pm}0.052mg/g$. But aconitine was not detected in the water decoction of Wild Aconiti Tuber. 2. To evaluate LD50 and safeties of Wild Aconiti Tuber decoction, ICR mice were given high dose of 2, 5, 10g/kg for single time and were observed for 2 weeks. There were no dead animal and abnormal clinical sign and no abnormalities at the autopsy. So, LD50 was admitted to higher than 10g/kg. 3. After 2 weeks of 0.4g/kg/day clinical dosage oral administrations in rat, there was no significant change in the CBC and blood chemistry. 4. In the liver tissues of clinical dosage, mitotic figures, apoptosis and individual cell death were observed, but clear liver toxicities like fatty liver or necrosis were not observed. the liver tissues of high dose in mice, hydropic changes were getting severe as dose grows. Conclusions : According to the results, though aconitine was not detected in the Wild Aconiti Tuber decoction, 0.4g/kg/day 2 weeks p. o (clinical dosage) group showed weak changes in the liver tissues and high dose group showed liver toxicities like hydropic changes.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.301-309
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• 2011

Purpose: Point-of-care tests (POCTs) have the potential to significantly influence management of neonates. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical usefulness of the POCT chemistry analyzer in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Methods: Blood samples of neonates admitted to the NICU were tested using a POCT chemistry analyzer (Piccolo Xpress Chemistry Analyzer, Abaxis, Union City, CA, USA) and a central laboratory chemical analyzer (Chemistry analyzer 7600-110, Hitachi Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) from March to September, 2010. Correlation of 15 analytes between the POCT and the central laboratory machine was evaluated. For consistency of the POCT, three consecutive samplings were performed. Differences among the three tests were recorded. The causes of performance errors were checked through log files. Results: One hundred of 112 pairs of tests for accuracy performed in 54 neonates showed a high correlation between the two machines. Twelve performance errors occurred during the 112 tests. The most common error was insufficient sample error. Eighteen triplet tests performed in 18 patients for consistency revealed a difference range of 3-10%, which was considered to be acceptable. No error occurred during the 54 tests. Conclusion: The POCT is capable of analyzing multiple analytes with a minimal amount of whole blood in a short time. The few performance errors noted presently are likely preventable. This POCT is concluded to be suitable for use as a simple and rapid diagnostic method in the NICU with a minimal amount of blood collected in a less invasive manner.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.353-362
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• 2007

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a common food borne mycotoxin and occurs predominantly in grains such as wheat, barley, oats, etc. DON induces systemic health problems such as loss of appetite, emesis and diarrhea in both human and farm animals. Reliable diagnostic parameters for DON intoxication are needed to prevent deep health impact. In order to establish useful diagnostic parameters, we investigated clinical signs, hematological values, serum biochemical values, gross-, histo- and toxico-pathological findings in B6C3F1 male mice after oral administration of DON (0.83, 2.5 and 7.5 mg/kg) for 8 days. Body weight gain was significantly decreased at the highest dose of DON. Anorexia, ataxia, for crudness and lack of vigor were observed at the highest dose DON group. In hematological values, the numbers of WBC and platelets and hemoglobin content were reduced with decreased neutrophil and monocytes by 7.5 mg/kg DON. Prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) were prolonged in a dose-dependent manner and the content of fibrinogen was elevated at high dose of DON. Of serum biochemical values, total protein, globulin, BUN, cholesterol and test-osterone were reduced but total bilirubin and albumin/globulin ratio increased. The enzyme activity of alkaline phosphatase was decreased while that of alanine aminotransferase was elevated. Relative organ weights of thymus, seminal vesicle/prostate and testes were dose-dependently reduced but those of liver and left adrenal gland increased with dose dependency. As for pathological findings, atrophy of thymus, seminal vesicle/prostate and testes and submucosal edema and ulceration in stomach and depletion of lymphocytes in thymus cortex were observed. In conclusion, these clinical, hematological, blood biochemical and patholgical parameters obtained in the present studies can be used for diagnosis of DON-mycotoxicosis, especially, low WBC, platelets, protein, BUN and testosterone and delayed prothrombin time can be available as for reliable diagnostic parameters.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.66-70
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• 2010

Reference interval is critical for interpreting laboratory results, monitoring response to therapy and predicting the prognosis of the patients in clinical settings. The aim of the present study was to update established reference intervals for routine hematologic and serum chemistry values for a population of clinically healthy dogs (range, 1-8 years) seen in an animal hospital. Blood was obtained by venipuncture while animals were physically restrained, and samples were analyzed for 9 chemistries on MS9-5H (Melot Schloesing Lab, France) and 6 hematology on Vet Test 8008 (IDEXX, USA). Data from 105 dogs (52 males and 53 females) for hematology and 113 dogs (37 males and 76 females) for chemistry were used to determine reference intervals using the parametric, nonparametric and bootstrap methods. Prior to analysis, all parameters were tested for normal distribution using Anderson-Darling criterion. Of the 9 biochemical analytes, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine, total protein, and glucose concentrations did not fit normal distribution for both original and transformed data. All but eosinophil count satisfied normal distribution for either original or transformed data. Parametric method can be used for original cholesterol concentrations, RBC, WBC, and neutrophil counts. This technique can also be used for power-transformed values of blood urea nitrogen concentrations and for logarithm of lymphocyte and monocyte counts. Non-parametric or bootstrap method was the preferred choice for the remaining 7 biochemical parameters and eosinophil count as they did not follow normal distributions. All three statistical techniques performed in similar reference intervals. When establishing reference intervals for clinical laboratory data, it is essential to assess the distribution of the original data to increase the accuracy of the interval, and non-parametric or bootstrap methods are of alternative for the data that do not fit normal distribution.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.397-402
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• 2007

Restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) continues to be a serious problem in clinical cardiology. To solve this problem, drug eluting stents (DES) with antiproliferative agents have been developed. Variable local drug delivery systems in the context of stenting require the development of stent manufacture, drug pharmacology and coating technology. We have worked on a system that integrates electrophoretic deposition (EPD) technology with the polymeric nanoparticles in DES for local drug delivery and a controlled release system. The surface morphology and drug loading amount of DES by EPD have been investigated under different operational conditions, such as operation time, voltage and the composition of media. We prepared poly-D,L-lactide-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles embedded with curcumin, which was done by a modified spontaneous emulsification method and used polyacrylic acid (PAA) as a surfactant because its carboxylic group contribute negative charge to the surface of CPNPs (?53.5 ± 5.8 mV). In the process of ‘trial and error' endeavors, we found that it is easy to control the drug loading amount deposited onto the stent while keeping uniform surface morphology. Accordingly, stent coating by EPD has a wide application to the modification of DES using various kinds of nanoparticles and drugs.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.87-92
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• 2014

The work is directed toward the synthesis of a series of DO3A conjugates of tranexamates (1c-e) and their Gd complexes (2c-e) for use as a liver-specific MRI CA. All these complexes show thermodynamic and kinetic stabilities comparable to those of structurally related clinical agents such as Dotarem$^{(R)}$. Their $R_1$ relaxivities also compare well with those of commercial agent, ranging 3.68-4.84 $mM^{-1}s^{-1}$. In vivo MR images of mice with 2a-e reveal that only 2a exhibits liver-specificity. Although 2b and 2c show strong enhancement in liver, yet no bile-excretion is observed to be termed as a liver-specific agent. The rest behaves much like ordinary ECF CAs like Dotarem$^{(R)}$. The new series possess no toxicity to be employed in vivo.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.31-39
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• 2014

Objectives: This study was performed to analyze the toxicity and to find the lethal dose of the test substance Water-soluble Carthami-flos pharmacopuncture (WCF) when used as a single intravenous-dose in 6-week-old, male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods: The experiment was conducted at Biotoxtech according to Good Laboratory Practices. 20 female and 20 male Spague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups of 5 female and 5 male animals per group. The rats in the three experimental groups received single intravenous injections with 0.125-mL, 0.25-mL and 0.5-mL/animal doses of WCF, Groups 2, 3, and 4, respectively, and the control group, Group 1, received a single intravenous injection with a 0.5-mL dose of normal saline. Clinical signs were observed and body weight measurements were carried out for 14 days following the injections. At the end of the observation period, hematology, clinical chemistry, histopathological tests and necropsy were performed on the injected parts. Results: No deaths occurred in any of the groups. Also, no significant changes in body weight, hematological parameters or clinical chemistry test results between the control group and the experimental groups were observed. Visual inspection after necropsy showed no abnormalities. Histopathological tests on the injected parts showed no significant differences, except for Group 1 females; however, the result was spontaneous generation and had no toxicological meaning because it was not dose-dependent. Therefore, this study showed that WCF had no effect on the injected parts in terms of clinical signs, body weight, hematology, clinical chemistry, and necropsy. Conclusion: As a result of single intravenous-dose tests of the test substance WCF in 4 groups of rats, the lethal dose for both males and females exceeded 0.5 mL/animal. Therefore, WCF is a relatively safe pharmacopuncture that can be used for treatment, but further studies should be performed.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.163-172
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• 2000

Recently, there is a worldwide concern that a great number of man-made chemicals have a hormone-like action both in humans and in animals. DECD is developing screening programs using validated test systems to determine whether certain substances may have an effect in humans. In the present study. the establishment oj repeated-dose toxicity test method was tried. Flutamide. an anti-androgenic agent. was administered by gavage to Sprague-Dawley rats for 28 days at dose levels of 0. 0.5. 3 and 18 mg/kg body weight (10-15 rats/sex/group) to examine the effects on general findings. especially reproductive and endocrine parameters. Clinical signs. body weights, food consumption, and sexual cycle were checked and measured. For the gross and microscopic examinations. 10 rats/sex/group were sacrificed at the end of dosing period and the remaining animals of control and high dose groups (5 each) were sacrificed after 14 days recovery. Examinations for hematology and clinical chemistry were carried out at necropsy. There were no treatment-related changes in clinical signs. body weights, food consumption. gross necropsy. hematology and clinical chemistry at all doses of both sexes. The period and regularity of sexual cycle were not adversely affected at all doses by the test agent. At 18 mg/kg. both decreased weights of prostate, seminal vesicle and epididymis in males and increased weights of spleen and thymus in females were observed. In addition, decreased number of spermatids and sperms. increased serum testosterone concentration and increased incidence (100%) of interstitial cell hyperplasia were seen in males. At 18 mg/kg of the recovery group. decreased prostate weight. reduced sperm count and increased incidence (20%) of interstitial cell hyperplasia in males and increased thymus weight in females were observed. At 3 mg/kg. reduced sperm count was found. There were no adverse effects on parameters examined at 0.5 mg/kg of both sexes. The results suggested that the potential target organs of flutamide may be accessory sexual glands including testes for males and spleen and thymus for females. Taken together. this test method was found to be a useful screening test system for endocrine disrupting chemicals.