• Annals of Surgical Treatment and Research
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• v.95 no.5
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• pp.240-248
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• 2018

Purpose: This study aimed to validate the synergistic effect of ABT-737 on docetaxel using MDA-MB-231, a triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell line overexpressing B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2). Methods: Western blot analysis was performed to assess expression levels of Bcl-2 family proteins and caspase-related molecules. Cell viability was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Cell cycle distribution was determined by flow cytometry analysis. Benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp(OMe)-fluoromethylketone (z-VAD-fmk) was used for pretreatment to assess the role of caspases. Results: Cell viability of MDA-MB-231 after combination treatment with ABT-737 and docetaxel was significantly lower than that after docetaxel or ABT-737 monotherapy based on MTT assay (both P < 0.001), with a combination index of 0.41. The proportion of sub-G1 population after combination treatment was significantly higher than that after docetaxel or ABT-737 monotherapy (P = 0.001, P = 0.003, respectively). Pretreatment with z-VAD-fmk completely restored cell viability of MDA-MB-231 from apoptotic cell death induced by combination therapy (P = 0.001). Although pro-caspase-8 or Bid did not show significant change in expression level, pro-casepase-9 showed significantly decreased expression after combination treatment. Cleaved caspase-3 showed increased expression while poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage was induced after combination treatment. However, hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha and aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 totally lost their expression after combination treatment. Conclusion: Combination of ABT-737 with docetaxel elicits synergistic therapeutic effect on MDA-MB-231, a TNBC cell line overexpressing Bcl-2, mainly by activating the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis. Therefore, adjunct of ABT-737 to docetaxel might be a new therapeutic option to overcome docetaxel resistance of TNBCs overexpressing Bcl-2.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.141-151
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• 2019

Purpose : Hypochlorous acid (HOCl), a major inorganic bactericidal compound of innate immunity, is effective against a broad range of microorganisms. In particular, HOCl is well-known as a non-antibiotic antimicrobial substance. However, effects of HOCl as an antimicrobial agent are still needed to study these functions against various specific type of microorganisms. In this study, we investigated the antimicrobial effect of hypochlorous acid (HOCl) in S. mutans and A. actinomycetemcomitans to cause dental caries and periodontal disease. Experiments were conducted to observe whether HOCl become effective replacement of disinfectant. Methods : To observe antimicrobial effect of HOCl, stabilized HOCl is prepared in the form of a physiologically balanced solution in pre-conditioned and post-conditioned HOCl solution. As a control, commercially available disinfectant MAXCLEAN was used as positive control. Moreover, S. mutans and A. actinomycetemcomitans distribution in gagrin, filtered tap water, and culture media. Cell viability were measured by viable cell count methods and disk diffusion test. Results : Our results showed that treatment of HOCl have no effect against antimicrobial effect compare to control group especially gagrin in disk diffusion test. HOCl tended to reduced viability against S. mutans in group of post-conditioned than pre-conditioned of HOCl solution however, there was no significant difference as well as no effect in A. actinomycetemcomitans. Conclusion : HOCl showed tendency to reduce viability against S. mutans in group of post-conditioned of HOCl solution and no effect of antimicrobial effect. Although HOCl is well known as effective against a broad range of microorganisms, HOCl seems to have diversity following type of species to be used as antimicrobial drug following our results. Therefore, it is necessary to be rigidly controlled and regulated in using HOCl solution clinically.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.19-26
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• 2019

The objective of this study was to analyze bacteriological and chemical hazards in minimally processed commercial fish products, including Hwangtae (freeze-dried pollock), dried anchovy, fermented anchovy sauce, and salted and dried yellow croaker. Escherichia coli counts from all samples were below the regulation limits of the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety Standards on Quality of Seafood and Seafood Products (Food Code). However, the food poisoning bacterium Staphylococcus aureus was detected at levels above $1.0{\times}10^2$ colony forming units (CFU)/g in Hwangtae, dried anchovy, and salted and dried yellow croaker, which are commonly ingested without heating and pose bacteriological hazards. The detection of S. aureus, an organism indicative of poor personal hygiene, which can be introduced by employees and multiply during distribution, indicates the necessity of improving the sanitary control of minimally processed commercial fish products. Histamine was not detected from dried anchovy or salted and dried yellow croaker, but was detected at some of the highest levels in fermented anchovy sauces. This result suggests that efforts to reduce the amount of histamine in fermented anchovy sauces are required.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.29-43
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• 2018

Objectives : Araliae Continentalis Radix(AC) is a medicinal herb belonging to the drug efficacy group treating musculoskeletal disorders(MSD) with anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic action. However, due to morphologic and onomastic similarity, adulterants(Angelicae Pubescentis Radix: AP, Gypsophilae Oldhamianae Radix: GO, Levistici Officinalis Radix: LO) have been included or replaced the standard. Methods : Multilateral methods were carried out on the identification of AC and its adulterants. Macroscopic and microscopic characteristics were observed by using stereoscope and microscope. For the comparison of chromatogram pattern, standard compounds were analyzed simultaneously using high performance liquid chromatography. Results : 1. The macroscopic identification of original plants was determined by the phyllotaxis type, the inflorescence type, the leaf margin and the color of flowers. The macroscopic identification of herbal materials was examined by oil spots, the cambium, heteromorphic vascular bundles, and the pholem. 2. For the microscopic identification, the fact whether its xylem ray is proliferated or not was first determined. Then medicinal herbs were secondly divided by cellular inclusions, fiber bundles, the distribution of secretary canals and the shape of cambium. 3. AC and its adulterants showed different chromatographic fingerprints. AC was containing continentalic acid and kaurenoic acid. AP was containing osthole and columbianadin. LO was containing osthole and falcarindiol. None of the compounds were found in GO. Conclusions : This recent identification keys of might be helpful to discriminate the pharmacopoeia standard and its adulterants for the right usage in clinics.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.49-62
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• 2022

Objectives This study aimed to provide evidence for the use of Korean medicine in underweight patients by analyzing the medical records of underweight children and adolescents. Methods Children and adolescents who visited Korean pediatrics at Kyung Hee University Hospital from June 1, 2019 to May 31, 2022, who had an age-specific weight percentile which was less than 5 and diagnosed with E639.005 or R628.001 were selected for the study. A retrospective chart review was conducted by examining the medical records of subjects who received Korean medical treatment. The treatment effect was analyzed in all subjects and subgroups by comparing changes in height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) percentiles before and after Korean medicine treatment. Results A total of 55 underweight subjects were included in the study. General characteristics such as distribution by sex, age, number of visits, and weight percentile, and clinical characteristics such as diagnosis, past history, family history, drug history, current or past symptoms, and symptom differentiation were collected. The composition of herbal medicines and the contents of other Korean medical treatments were analyzed. In the case of treatment effect, the weight and BMI percentile of all subjects increased significantly. Conclusions This study was conducted to suggest Korean medicine as a method of proper weight management in children and adolescents. In the future, follow-up studies with a large number of subjects and controlled variables, such as the period of taking herbal medicine, are needed.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.195-201
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• 2023

Background: Hematocrit is usually measured from venous blood collected by invasive venipuncture. This study was performed to determine hematocrit accurately and precisely using minimally invasive volumetric absorptive microsampling (VAMS) technique. Such technique is to be applied to determining hematocrit in various clinical settings for the care, including therapeutic drug monitoring, of neonatal or epileptic patients, or patients with high risk of infection or bleeding. Methods: The study was performed using 31 VAMS samples obtained from 21 pancreatic cancer patients. Hematocrit was determined using the values of potassium concentrations obtained from blood in VAMS tips (Hct_VAMS). Hct_VAMS was compared with hematocrit measured from blood collected by venipuncture (Hct_VP). The accuracy and precision of Hct_VAMS in comparison to Hct_VP were evaluated using Bland-Altman plot, Deming regression and mountain plot. Results: Bland-Altman plot displayed a random scattering pattern of the differences between Hct_VAMS and Hct_VP with the mean bias of -0.010 and the 95% limit of agreement ranging from -0.063 to 0.044. Deming regression for Hct_VAMS and Hct_VP line demonstrated very small proportional and constant biases of 1.04 and -0.003, respectively. Mountain plot exhibited a narrow and symmetrical distribution of the differences with their median of -0.011 and central 95% range from -0.049 to 0.033. Conclusion: Hematocrit was accurately and precisely determined using less invasive VAMS technique. Such technique appears to be applicable to determining hematocrit in situations that venipuncture is not favorable or possible.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.86 no.1
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• pp.47-56
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• 2023

Background: There is a global increase in isolation of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). The aim of the study was to analyze longitudinal trends of NTM identification and pattern of antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Methods: NTM recovery rates, distribution of NTM species identification, and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of NTM at Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital between January 2016 and December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Results: A total of 52,456 specimens from 21,264 patients were submitted for mycobacterial culture, of which 2,521 from 1,410 patients were NTM positive over five years (January 2016 to December 2020). NTM isolation showed an increasing trend from 2016 to 2020 (p<0.001, test for trend) mainly caused by Mycobacterium avium complex. The vast majority of M. avium complex were susceptible to key agents clarithromycin and amikacin. For Mycobacterium kansasii, resistance to rifampin and clarithromycin is rare. Amikacin was the most effective drug against Mycobacterium abscessus subspecies abscessus and Mycobacterium subspecies massiliense. Most of M. subspecies massiliense were susceptible to clarithromycin, while the majority of M. abscessus subspecies abscessus were resistant to clarithromycin (p<0.001). Conclusion: There was an increasing trend of NTM isolation in our hospital. Resistance to key drugs was uncommon for most NTM species except for M. abscessus subspecies abscessus against clarithromycin.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.154-162
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• 2023

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is caused by X-linked recessive disorderliness. It induces severe anemia when a patient with G6PD deficiency is exposed to oxidative stress that occurs with administration of an antimalarial drug, primaquine. The distribution of G6PD deficiency remains unknown while primaquine has been used for malaria treatment in Myanmar. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of G6PD deficiency and its variants in Chin State, Myanmar. Among 322 participants, 18 (11 males and 7 females) demonstrated a G6PD deficiency. Orissa variant was dominant in the molecular analysis. This would be related to neighboring Indian and Bangladeshi population, in which Orissa variant was also reported as the main mutation type. The screening test for G6PD deficiency before primaquine treatment appears to be important in Myanmar.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.6-14
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• 2023

Fabry disease (FD), a rare X-linked lysosomal storage disorder, is caused by mutations in the α-galactosidase A gene gene encoding α-galactosidase A (α-Gal A). The functional deficiency of α-Gal A results in progressive accumulation of neutral glycosphingolipids, causing multi-organ damages including cardiac, renal, cerebrovascular systems. The current treatment is comprised of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), oral pharmacological chaperone therapy and adjunctive supportive therapy. ERT has been introduced 20 years ago, changing the outcome of FD patients with proven effectiveness. However, FD patients have many unmet needs. ERT needs a life-long intravenous therapy, inefficient bio-distribution, and generation of anti-drug antibodies. Migalastat, a pharmacological chaperone, augmenting α-Gal A enzyme activity only in patients with mutations amenable to the therapy, is now available for clinical practice. Furthermore, these therapies should be initiated before the organ damage becomes irreversible. Development of novel drugs aim at improving the clinical effectiveness and convenience of therapy. Clinical trial of next generation ERT is underway. Polyethylene glycolylated enzyme has a longer half-life and potentially reduced antigenicity, compared with standard preparations with longer dosing interval. Moss-derived enzyme has a higher affinity for mannose receptors, and seems to have more efficient access to podocytes of kidney which is relatively resistant to reach by conventional ERT. Substrate reduction therapy is currently under clinical trial. Gene therapy has now been started in several clinical trials using in vivo and ex vivo technologies. Early results are emerging. Other strategic approaches at preclinical research level are stem cell-based therapy with genome editing and systemic mRNA therapy.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.315-323
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• 2023

The objective of this study is to identify the selective application targets for reporting on details of supply of class 1 and 2 medical devices as part of the improvement of the reports on details of supply of medical device system, and to analyze its effectiveness. Therapeutic materials covered by health insurance and secondhand medical devices were chosen based on the transparency of health insurance coverage and the management of medical device distribution. As a result, approximately 85% of groups can be excluded from the reporting requirements compared to reporting all items under Class 1 and 2 medical devices. This is expected to enhance the efficiency of supply reporting tasks. Additionally, the information on supply details managed by the regulatory authority can be utilized for statistical analysis and periodic monitoring, serving as fundamental data for the development of medical device-related policies and research in the field of medical devices.