• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.299-310
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• 2023

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a complex disorder characterized by the accumulation of fat in the liver in the absence of excessive alcohol consumption. It is one of the most common liver diseases worldwide, affecting approximately 25% of the global population. It is closely associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. Moreover, NAFLD can progress to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, which can cause liver cirrhosis, liver failure, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Currently, there are no approved drugs for the treatment of NAFLD. Therefore, the development of effective drugs is essential for NAFLD treatment. In this article, we discuss the experimental models and novel therapeutic targets for NAFLD. Additionally, we propose new strategies for the development of drugs for NAFLD.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.64 no.6
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• pp.414-421
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• 2008

Background: Recently, in addition to multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) has become rapidly growing public health threat. This study examined the clinical differences between pulmonary TB patients with extensively drug resistance (XDR) and multi-drug resistance (MDR) at the National Medical Center in Korea in order to determine the clinical characteristics associated more with XDR-TB than MDR-TB. Methods: Patients who received a diagnosis of culture-confirmed pulmonary TB and a drug sensitivity test (DST) for anti-TB drugs at the National Medical Center between January 2000 and August 2007 were enrolled in this study. The patients were identified into the XDR-TB or MDR-TB group according to the DST results. The clinical characteristics were reviewed retrospectively from the medical records. Statistical analysis for the comparisons was performed using a ${\chi}^2$-test, independent samples t-test or binary logistic regression where appropriate. Results: A total 314 patients with culture-confirmed pulmonary TB were included. Among them, 18 patients (5.7%) had XDR-TB and 69 patients (22%) had MDR-TB excluding XDR-TB. A comparison of the clinical characteristics, revealed the XDR-TB group to have a higher frequency of a prior pulmonary resection for the treatment of TB (odds ratio [OR], 3.974; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.052~15.011; P value 0.032) and longer average previous treatment duration with anti-TB drugs, including a treatment interruption period prior to the diagnosis of XDR, than the MDR-TB group (XDR-TB group, 72.67 months; MDR-TB group, 13.09 months; average treatment duration difference between two groups, 59.582 months; 95% CI, 31.743~87.420; P value, 0.000). In addition, a longer previous treatment duration with anti-TB drugs was significantly associated with XDR-TB (OR, 1.076; 95% CI, 1.038~1.117; P value, 0.000). A comparison of the other clinical characteristics revealed the XDR-TB group to have a higher frequency of male gender, diabetes mellitus (DM), age under 45, treatment interruption history, cavitations on simple chest radiograph and positive result of sputum AFB staining at the time of diagnosis of XDR. However, the association was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Pulmonary TB patients with XDR have a higher frequency of a prior pulmonary resection and longer previous treatment duration with anti-TB drugs than those with MDR. In addition, a longer previous treatment duration with anti-TB drugs is significantly associated with XDR-TB.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.258-269
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• 2010

As people are easy to access the National Health Insurance, medical health service has been increased. It contributed to extend human's average life expectancy and to get better health care. But also increased unnecessary health service or inappropriate drug use. Therefore, DUR (Drug Use Review) is needed to induce appropriate drug use. The purpose of this study is to evaluate outpatient prescriptions by General Practitioner (GP) and Specialized Practitioner, especially indication for ENT referral including common cold which is the frequent indications that have patient see doctor. This study was reviewed retrospectively prescriptions for ENT referral collected at the A pharmacy for ENT Clinic in Cheong-Ju, B pharmacy for GP Clinic in BoEun from Feb 2nd, 2009 to Feb 28th, 2009. Each pharmacy located closed to the each enrolled clinic. The numbers of collected prescriptions were each A pharmacy (n=2501), B pharmacy (n=1343). This study was classified Drug Related Problems (DRPs) those prescriptions had as total 6 groups according to following 6 categories; 1) Unnecessary Drug, 2) Wrong Drug, 3) Low Dose, 4) Overdose, 5) Wrong Instruction, 6) Wrong Combination. In results, Specialized Practitioner's prescriptions had more DRPs than General Practitioner's prescriptions (ENT 155.34% vs GP 130.01%). In detail, Specialized Practitioner's prescriptions had more DRPs in Low Dose (ENT 16.95% vs GP 4.77%), Overdose (ENT 6.72% vs G.P 5.51%), Wrong Instruction (ENT 7.91% vs GP 5.81%), Wrong Combination (ENT 29.31% vs GP 25.09%). These DRPs would be caused from lack of consideration for dosage and drug interaction. General Practitioner's prescriptions had more DRPs in Unnecessary Drug (ENT 70.37% vs GP 78.85%), Wrong drug (ENT 4.12% vs GP 9.98%). These DRPs would be associated with drug selection. This study was assumed that Specialized Practitioner is better prescriber than General Practitioner because Specialized Practitioner complete additional intern and residency training. But, Specialized Practitioner is not always better prescriber than General Practitioner. Furthermore, prescriptions of both Specialized Practitioner and General Practitioner had many problems. In conclusion, It could be cut down the excessive medical expense and expected more efficient medical care by reducing DRPs, thus contributing to the improvement of national health. In order to pharmacist must have good professional ability of pharmacotherapy to help the physician for the drug selection.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.219-227
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• 2023

Lettuce is one of the most consumed vegetables worldwide. However, it has potential risks associated with pathogenic bacterial contamination because it is usually consumed raw. In this study, we investigated the changes in the bacterial community on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) in Chungcheong-do, South Korea, and the prevalence of foodborne pathogens on lettuce in different seasons using 16S rRNA gene-based sequencing. Our data revealed that the Shannon diversity index showed the same tendency in term of the number of OTUs, with the index being greatest for summer samples in comparison to other seasons. Moreover, the microbial communities were significantly different between the four seasons. The relative abundance of Actinobacteriota varied according to the season. Family Micrococcaceae was most dominant in all samples except summer, and Rhizobiaceae was predominant in the microbiome of the summer sample. At the genus level, the relative abundance of Bacillus was greatest in spring samples, whereas Pseudomonas was greatest in winter samples. Potential pathogens, such as Staphylococcus and Clostridium, were detected with low relative abundance in all lettuce samples. We also performed metagenome shotgun sequencing analysis on the selected summer and winter samples, which were expected to be contaminated with foodborne pathogens, to support 16S rRNA gene-based sequencing dataset. Moreover, we could detect seasonal biomarkers and microbial association networks of microbiota on lettuce samples. Our results suggest that seasonal characteristics of lettuce microbial communities, which include diverse potential pathogens, can be used as basic data for food safety management to predict and prevent future outbreaks.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.549-565
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• 2000

Comprehensive review of the literature was conducted to determine 1) selected risk factors and its impact that affect pregnancy outcome such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and substance abuse 2) these factors can facilitate future strategies for health promotion and prevention for both pregnant women and fetus. Review of literature were extracted from searching MEDLINE(1966 - Oct. 2000). CINAHL (1982 - Oct. 2000) and the domestic literature. The following factors were identified: 1. The effects of risk behaviors on pregnancy. ${\cdot}$Maternal smoking was associated with the occurrence of premature or LBW delivery, fetal growth retardation, extremities defects, heart defects and sudden infant death syndrome. ${\cdot}$Maternal alcohol consumption was associated with spontaneous abortion, premature or LBW delivery, morphologic/neurologic problems, especially fetal alcohol syndrome. ${\cdot}$Heroin was associated with withdrawal after birth in which were born to heroine addicts for gestational age and lung maturation in animal studies. ${\cdot}$Cocaine was associated with spontaneous abortion, abruptio placenta and a poor response to environmental stimuli. ${\cdot}$So far, the effects of caffeine on pregnancy was controversial, but severe caffeine consumption was associated with premature or LBW delivery, spontaneous abortion, still birth and dystocia. 2. Intervention methods and its effects identified were as follows ${\cdot}$Conducted intervention for smoking, alcohol and drug consumption were single or combined. ${\cdot}$Intervention methods were counseling, phone contact, mailing, use of educational videotape, booklet, support person and alternatives such as nicotine patch. ${\cdot}$The interventions increased the rates of smoking cessation during pregnancy and awareness of the risk of drug consumption, and decreased amount of alcohol consumption. ${\cdot}$The intervention outcome found positive effect on birth weight and length. 3. Our recommendations were as follows ${\cdot}$The personal and social cognition should be enhanced through education and the mass media. ${\cdot}$It's necessary to educate and give information of preconceptional care, planned pregnancy and early prenatal care for optimal pregnancy outcome. ${\cdot}$It's necessary to develop comprehensive assessment tool which is reliable and valid on smoking, alcohol consumption and substance abuse to identify supportive or interventional program.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.33 no.1 s.60
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• pp.1-6
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• 2007

It has been generally known that liposomes become unstable when they contain cyclodextrins (CDs). Our present studies demonstrate that these liposomes can be stable by association of amphiphilic polyelectrolytes. Transmission electron microscopy and photocorrelation spectroscopy results showed that polymer-associated liposomes containing CDs (${\beta}-CD$(${\beta}CD$) and hydroxypropyl-${\beta}CD$ ($HP{\beta}CD$)) were more stable than phosphatidylcholine (PC)-cholesterol (Chol) liposomes containing these CDs. We also compared the stability of PC-Chol liposomes with polymer-associated liposomes containing $HP{\beta}CD$ complexed with water-insoluble drug, rhaponticin (Rh). Two liposomes were relatively stable when $HP{\beta}CD$ did not contain Rh, but Rh-$HP{\beta}CD$ complexes triggered the disruption of PC-Chol liposomes. In contrast, polymer-associated Liposomes containing Rh-$HP{\beta}CD$ complexes maintained its stability over 6 months. The skin permeation test demonstrated that drugs solubilized by CDs were delivered better into the skin of guinea pig by using polymer-associated liposomes than by using PC-Chol liposomes. Above results showed that polymer-associated liposomes gave an effective way to stabilize the liposomes containing drug-loaded CDs, which gives an application of liposomes in drug delivery systems.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.129-135
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• 2006

Two Antihistamines, terfenadine and astemizole have been withdrawn from major markets for the reason that these durgs have been reported to induce QT interval prolongation associated with the onset of Torsades do Pointes (TdP), resulting in a life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia. In this study, we investigated effects of diphenhydramine on electrocardiograms and hemodynamic parameters in conscious telemetered dogs. We validated and defined the sensitivity of the test system by monitoring basal parameters and using positive control substance, terfenadine. Single administration effects were tested during 24 hours for each test drug at dose 1 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg, 30 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg. We monitored QT, QTc, heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature after administering test drugs. In conscious telemetered dogs, diphenhydramine significantly prolonged $QT\;(6.8\%\;of\;basal)\;and\;QTc\;(7.8\%\;of\;basal)$ at 100 mg/kg. Other parameters were not affected significantly. These findings suggest that antihistamines could induce important clinical relevance for patients taking excessive dosages of conventional antihistamines and those at risk of developing cardiac arrhythmias. Future studies that include other antihistamines and other classes will be necessary to predict the torsadogenic risk of drugs in humans.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.174-180
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• 2011

Experiments were carried out to determine the role of Raf-1 kinase in the development of drug resistance to paclitaxel in v-H-ras transformed NIH 3T3 fibroblasts (Ras-NIH 3T3). We established a multidrug-resistant cell line (Ras-NIH 3T3/Mdr) from Ras-NIH 3T3 cells by stepwise increases in paclitaxel. Drug sensitivity assays indicated that the $IC_{50}$ value for drug-resistant Ras-NIH 3T3/Mdr cells was more than 1 ${\mu}M$ paclitaxel, 10- or more-fold higher than for the parental Ras-NIH 3T3 cells. Western blot and RT-PCR analysis showed that the drug efflux pump a P-glycoprotein were highly expressed in Ras-NIH 3T3/Mdr cells, while not being detectable in Ras-NIH 3T3 cells. Additionally, verapamil, which appears to inhibit drug efflux by acting as a substrate for P-glycoprotein, completely reversed resistance to paclitaxel in Ras-NIH 3T3/Mdr cell line, indicating that resistance to paclitaxel is associated with overexpression of the multidrug resistance gene. Interestingly, Ras-NIH 3T3/Mdr cells have higher basal Raf-1 activity compared to Ras-NIH 3T3 cells. Unexpectedly, however, the colocalization of Raf-1 and its negative regulator Spry2 was less observed in cytoplasm of Ras-NIH 3T3/Mdr cells due to translocation of Spry2 around the nucleus in the perinuclear zone, implying that Raf-1 may be released from negative feedback inhibition by interacting with Spry2. We also showed that shRNA-mediated knockdown of Raf-1 caused a moderate increase in cell susceptibility to paclitaxel. Thus, the results presented here suggest that a Raf-1-dependent pathway plays an important role in the development of acquired drug-resistance.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.172-175
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• 2009

Zipeprol dihydrochloride is a non-opioid mucolytic, antitussive agent and it is frequently prescribed for respiratory symptoms such as cough and sputum. The main pharmacologic mechanisms of zipeprol are inhibition of superior laryngeal nerve stimulation and direct antagonism for stimulation of the bronchial receptors, which might have an effect for the drug's mucolytic action. Many cases of drug abuse with zipeprol have occurred world-wide due to the hallucinogenic effect of the drug. In Korea, zipeprol was reported to be the most commonly abused drug among young people for the 1990s. Zipeprol associated death was first reported since 1991 and 69 cases of death related to zipeprol abuse were further reported during 8 years (between 1991 and 1998). In addition to the hallucinogenic effect, dyspnea, extrapyramidal symptoms, seizure, cerebral edema have been reported as the signs and symptoms of toxic zipeprol overdose. However, zipeprol abuse is not common for old age people and non drug abusers. We report here on a fatal case of acute zipeprol poisoning in an eighty five year old drug addicted woman.

• CELLMED
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.6.1-6.4
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• 2019

Background: Hypertension is one of the major risk factors for stroke, heart attack, heart failure and kidney failure, thereby causing deaths and disability world-wide. The most predominant type of HTN is essential hypertension (HTN). Unani scholars have mentioned about the clinical manifestations and management of the hypertension and documented it in the context of 'Imtila'. The drug Sankhaholi (Evolvulus alsinoides Linn.) is one of the widely prescribed medicines for the management of essential hypertension in Unani medicine. Material and Methods: The present clinical study was carried out to evaluate the safety of Sankhaholi (Evolvulus alsinoides Linn.) in the management of stage-1 essential hypertension. Newly diagnosed 41 patients of Essential Hypertension (22 patients were in the test group and 19 patients in the control group) were enrolled for the study. All the patients in the test group were given with the test drug 3 g powder of Sankhaholi twice a day for 6 weeks orally. Patients in the control group were given standard drug Ramipril 5 mg once a day for the same duration. Clinical as well as hematological parameters were recorded before and after the treatment. Results: No significant changes are recorded in safety parameters viz. CBC, Haemogram, LFT and KFT. Clinically no adverse effect of the drug has been reported during the course of treatment. Also, significant effect on the systolic blood pressure (p<0.001) were recorded in test group. The drug Sankhaholi was also found effective on the symptoms associated with hypertension. Conclusion: The finding of the study revealed that the test drug Sankhaholi (Evolvulus alsinoides Linn.) is safe and has substantial efficacy as an antihypertensive drug.