• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.35-39
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• 2016

To conduct a kinetic study of paraquat (PQ), we investigated 9 patients with acute PQ intoxication. All of them ingested more than 20 ml of undiluted PQ herbicide to commit suicide and arrived at our hospital early, not later than 7 h after PQ ingestion. The urine dithionite test for PQ in all of the nine patients was strongly positive at emergency room. Blood samples were obtained every 30 min for the first 2~3 h and then every 1 or 2 h, as long as the clinical progression was stable among the patients for 30 h after PQ ingestion. The area under the plasma concentration-time curve ($AUC_{inf}$), which was extrapolated to infinity, was calculated using the trapezoidal rule. Toxicokinetic parameters, such as the terminal elimination half-life, apparent oral clearance, and apparent volume of distribution ($V_d/F$) were calculated. The maximum PQ concentration ($C_{max}$) and the time to reach maximum PQ concentration ($T_{max}$) were also obtained. Plasma PQ concentrations in nine patients were well described by a bi-exponential curve with a mean terminal elimination half-life of $13.1{\pm}6.8h$. $C_{max}$ and $AUC_{inf}$ were $20.8{\pm}25.7mg/l$ and $172.5{\pm}160.3h{\cdot}mg/l$, respectively. Apparent volume of distribution and apparent oral clearance were $50.9{\pm}61.3l/kg$ and $173.4{\pm}111.2l/h$, respectively. There were a significant correlation (r=0.84; p<0.05) between the PQ amount ingested and $C_{max}$. $AUC_{inf}$ also showed a significant correlation (r=0.83; p<0.05) with the PQ amount ingested. These correlations provide evidence that PQ has dose-linear toxicokinetic characteristics.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.258-261
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• 2011

An 8-year-old spayed female, Yorkshire terrier dog was presented with a urinary incontinence. Unaware urine dribbling during sleeping was observed eight months after spaying. Polyuria and polydipsia were also reported. Physical examination revealed obesity and hypertension. Characteristic laboratory findings in this dog were polycythemia, hyperlipidemia and elevated hepatic enzyme. Other causes of the urinary incontinence were ruled out through further diagnostic tests and spay-related urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence (USMI) was made as a presumptive diagnosis. In addition, the dog was also diagnosed with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism. Both conditions can cause urinary incontinence in dogs; therefore, definite diagnosis was made through a therapeutic approach. The synthetic estrogen, diethylstilbesterol, was initially administered and successfully managed the urinary incontinence in this dog. To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first case report describing the clinical and laboratory features of spay-related USMI concurrent with hyperadrenocorticism and treatment outcomes in our country.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.180-185
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• 2006

Invasive Pseudomonas infections most often occur in the immunocompromised patients and are associated with high mortality rate. Rarely this disease may develop in healthy infants and children. We report two cases of invasive Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections that were diagnosed in otherwise healthy infants. The first case was a previously healthy 5-month-old infant with ecthyma gangrenosum and septicemia. She presented with fever, swelling of left periorbital area and multiple erythronodular skin lesions. Each skin lesion formed a black eschar surrounded by an erythematous areola over time. Cultures of blood, urine and discharge from skin lesions grew P. aeruginosa. On the day of visit, she showed pancytopenia which was normalized after 10 days. The patient responded well to the management with ceftazidime and tobramycin. The other case was a previously healthy 9-month-old infant with community-acquired pneumonia. He was referred from an outside hospital with fever and cough. Chest x-ray revealed pneumonic infiltrations on both lower lungs with pleural effusion on the right side. Cultures of blood and pleural fluid grew P. aeruginosa. Chest CT performed on the ninth day demonstrated pneumatoceles, lung abscess and necrosis of lung parenchyma. He was managed with ceftazidime and amikacin for 50 days. No residual pulmonary complications were noted during the three month follow-up. Laboratory results to evaluate immunologic defects of phagocytic cells, complement components and T- and B-lymphocytes were all within normal range in both patients. It should be kept in mind that Pseudomonas can be, though uncommon, a cause of community-acquired invasive infections in the previously healthy infants.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.433-452
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• 1997

Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) has been as an animal model for studing the neurological diseases such as stroke and epilepsy because of the congenital incompleteries in Willis circle, as well as the investigation of water metabolism because of the long time-survival in the condition of water-deprived desert condition, compared with other species animals. In order to accomplish the this research, first of all another divided the laboratory animals 5 groups of which each group include the 5 animals. In this study were investigated the histological structure in the kidney, measured the plasma osmolalities at the time of sacrifice of indivisual animals, and the body weights every day during water-deprived. The results obtained in this study were summarized as followings: 1. The body weights and decreasing rates of the body weight in water-deprived mongolian gerbil groups were continuosly decreased. 2. The plasma osmolalities were increased from the 5th water-deprived day, after then the gradually increasing reached nearly its equilibrium state at the 10th water-deprived day. 3. The urine volumes were abruptly decreased from the 2th water-deprived day, after then the gradually decreasing patterns were reached nearly its equilibrium state at the 10th day, and stopped the 11th day. 4. In the light microscopical observation of the kidney, glomerular capillary loop thickening, mesangial matrix increasing, sclerosis, glomerular cystic atrophy, interstitial fibrosis, tubular dilatation, mononuclear interstitial inflammation, interstitial mineralization, and hyperplasia of the collecting duct epithelium in the cortex area, were observed from the 10th water deprived day, and the lesions were gradually severe changed as the time lapse. 5. In the electron microscopical findings of the kidney, the degenerative changes of endothelial cell, podocyte and mesangial cell in glomeruli were initially observed on the 10th water-deprived day as well as the degeneration of microvilli and intracellular organelle in the renal tubules.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.72 no.4
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• pp.360-366
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• 2012

Background: Carbapenem-resistance is rapidly evolving among the pathogenic microbes in intensive care units (ICUs). This study aimed to determine annual trend of carbapenem-resistance in the ICU for 4 years, since the opening of a university-affiliated hospital in South Korea. Methods: From 2005 to 2008, microbial samples from consecutive 6,772 patients were screened in the ICU. Three hundred and ninety-seven patients (5.9%) and their first isolates of carbapenem-resistant pathogens were analyzed. Results: The percentage of patients infected with carbapenem-resistant organisms increased constantly during the initial three years (2.3% in 2005, 6.2% in 2006, 7.8% in 2007), then it declined to 6.5% in 2008. Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) III score at admission was $58.0{\pm}23.5$, the median length of the ICU stay was 37 days, and the mortality rate was 37.5%. The sampling sites were endotracheal suction (67%), catheterized urine (17%), wound (6%) and others (10%). Bacteria with carbapenem-resistance were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (247 isolates, 62%), Acinetobacter baumannii (117 isolates, 30%), Enterobacteriaceae (12 isolates, 3%), and others (21, 5%). Of note, peak isolation of carbapenem-resistant microorganisms in medical ICU was followed by the same epidemic at surgical ICU. Conclusion: Taken together, carbapenem-resistant pathogens are of growing concern in the ICU.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.85-98
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• 2009

1. Objective The object of this study was to understand the clinical characteristics of the Taeeumin Symptomatic Pattem. 2. Methods The patients visiting the department of Sasang Constitution of Traditional Korean Medicine clinic from June to November of 2008 were used in this study. Those who showed a favorable turn after over ten days of medication and who showed up for at least two follow-up sessions were chosen among first-time visitors. Of these, 75 patients identified and verified to be of the TE type were chosen for the study sample. The Taeeumin were verified into two groups according to clinical symptoms into Exterior Cold Disease and Interior Heat Disease groups, of which the Interior Heat Disease group was further subdivided into the Galgeun-medicament group and the Cheongshimyeonja-tang group, based on questionnaire results. The Exterior Cold Disease group was set as the control group in order to contrast and compare it with the study group, the Interior Heat Disease group. 3. Results and Conclusions The questionnaire items shown to differentiate the Exterior Cold Symptomatic Patterm and the Interior Heat Symptomaic Pattern (indicating Heat-affceted Liver Symptomatic Pattern) were related to "dryness of stool," "dark urine colorm," "dryness of nose," and "dryness of lips." The items shown to differentiate the Galgeun-medicament group and the Cheongshimyeonja-tang group (of the Dry - Heat Symptomatic Pattern) were related to "nausea," "stifling sensations and palptation," "disturbed sleep," and "dizziness." Therefore, the sleep pattern, palpitation, dizziness, and nausea can be said to be indicators of the Interior Heat Symptomatic Pattern, and Dry-Heat symptoms are better distinctions between the Chongshimyeonja-tang group and the Galgeun-medicament group than Heat-affected Liver symptoms.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.185-189
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• 2015

In this study, the clinical safety and toxicology of oral ingestion of supplement capsules containing ginseng radix was investigated in healthy young volunteers. This study was a pilot randomized, double blinded, placebo controlled trial. The healthy volunteers were divided into 6 groups of 20 each (10 males and 10 females). They took the ginseng powder for 35 days (3g/day) for safety evaluation. There were measured general healthy levels such as hematological, biochemical and electrocardiographic parameters. After the first week, besides Korean white ginseng the other treatments led to an significant increase of white blood cells. Korean red ginseng increased UREA (blood urea nitrogen) in healthy volunteers, but it didn't exceed the range of normal values, and in the subsequent process of treatment there is no effect of elevating UREA. After the three weeks, Korean white ginseng showed relatively low the content of blood glucose and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. After the five weeks, compared with the other treatments, Korean red ginseng increased white blood cells, platelet distribution width and average volume of platelet. Korean white ginseng decreased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. American ginseng decreased blood creatinine in healthy volunteers. In conclusion, through test the blood routine, urine routine, liver function, renal function, blood glucose, blood lipid and electrocardiogram, the healthy volunteers continuous taking ginseng for 35 days (3 g/day) is safe and reliable, and have no obvious adverse reactions and side effects.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.1756-1765
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• 2018

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of body condition score (BCS) at calving on the metabolic status of female Murrah buffaloes in the transition period. Methods: Thirty-seven pregnant buffaloes (multiparous) were selected and monitored during the transition period based on their body condition score and on the estimated calving date. Two groups were formed: i) buffaloes with a BCS>3.5 (n = 17); this group was classified and named 'high BCS at calving' (HBCS); and ii) buffaloes with a $BCS{\leq}3.5$ (n = 20); this group was classified and named 'low BCS at calving' (LBCS). All animals were monitored during the last 30 days of pregnancy and the first 70 days post-calving and kept in the same environment and under the same feeding and management conditions. Mean values for BCS at calving were $2.98{\pm}0.9$ (mean${\pm}$standard error of the mean [SEM]) and $4.21{\pm}0.9$ (mean${\pm}$SEM) for the HBCS and LBCS groups, respectively. Results: The HBCS group showed higher milk fat content (p = 0.007) and milk fat yield (p = 0.027) and a higher concentration of milk urea nitrogen (p = 0.001) than LBCS buffaloes, which in turn had a lower urine pH value (p = 0.033) than HBCS buffaloes in the pre-calving period (7.86 for HBCS vs 7.76 for LBCS). The HBCS animals had a higher concentration of erythrocytes (p = 0.001) and hematocrit (p = 0.012) post-calving and a higher hemoglobin concentration (p = 0.004) pre-calving. Conclusion: Buffaloes during the transition period exhibited some variations in the oxidative stress related to their metabolic status. After calving, buffaloes with a high BCS at calving and greater lipid mobilization have a more marked alteration in oxidative status, but improved production performance.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.31 no.2 s.51
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• pp.189-196
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• 2005

Motherwort (Leonurus sibiricus L), a hemp nettle (Labiatae) plant, grows about 1.5${\~}$2 m high spontaneously to wildness in Korea, China, Japan, and other Asian place. Its medical applications includes women's uterine disease, urination, bloody stool, bloody urine, and hemorrhoids. It's also effective for high blood pressure, heart stimulation, and anti-cancer activity. We first prepared chlroform and methanol extracts of motherwort and then they were fractionated using water, $30\%$ methanol, $60\%$ methanol, and $100\%$ methanol, respectively. Each fractionates is assayed for free radical scavenging activities against DPPH and anti-oxidant activity by TBARS assay measuring lipid peroxidation using LDL. The $30\%$ and $60\%$ methanol fractionates of methanol extracts showed strong anti-oxidant activity compared to vitamin C. They also had more Potent SOD activity using pyrogallol at 250 ppm than that of vitamin C. These results suggest that anti-oxidant activities of motherwort may be applicable to development of natural anti-oxidant cosmetics. Possibility of nature anti-oxidation ability cosmetics is seen possibility low official.

• Journal of the Health Care and Life Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.161-167
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• 2021

The present study was conducted to assess the association between serum ferritin and 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Korean women. The data of a total of 9,256 adults (4,196 premenopausal women and 4,340 postmenopausal women) aged ≥ 20 years from the Fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V) (2010-2012) were analyzed. The key study results were as follows: First, in women without MetS, after adjusting for related variables (age, smoking, alcohol consumption, regular exercise, SBP, DBP, WM, TC, TGs, HDL-C, FPG, Hb, Hct, and Fe), vitamin D status was positively associated with serum ferritin levels (premenopausal, p < 0.001; postmenopausal, p = 0.027). Second, in women with MetS, after adjusting for related variables, vitamin D status was not associated with serum ferritin levels (premenopausal, p = 0.739; postmenopausal, p = 0.278). In conclusions, vitamin D status was positively associated with serum ferritin levels in women without MetS but not in women with MetS.