• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.364-370
• /
• 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of curcumin on the pharmacokinetics of loratadine in rats. The effect of curcumin on P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 activity was evaluated. Pharmacokinetic parameters of loratadine were also determined after oral and intravenous administration in the presence or absence of curcumin. Curcumin inhibited CYP3A4 activity with an IC50 value of 2.71 ${\mu}M$ and the relative cellular uptake of rhodamine-123 was comparable. Compared to the oral control group, curcumin significantly increased the area under the plasma concentration-time curve and the peak plasma concentration by 39.4-66.7% and 34.2-61.5%. Curcumin also significantly increased the absolute bioavailability of loratadine by 40.0-66.1% compared to the oral control group. Consequently, the relative bioavailability of loratadine was increased by 1.39- to 1.67-fold. In contrast, curcumin had no effect on any pharmacokinetic parameters of loratadine given intravenously, implying that the enhanced oral bioavailability may be mainly due to increased intestinal absorption caused via P-gp and CYP3A4 inhibition by curcumin rather than to reduced renal and hepatic elimination of loratadine. Curcumin enhanced the oral bioavailability of loratadine in this study. The enhanced bioavailability of loratadine might be mainly attributed to enhanced absorption in the gastrointestinal tract via the inhibition of P-gp and reduced fi rst-pass metabolism of loratadine via the inhibition of the CYP3A subfamily in the small intestine and/or in the liver by curcumin.

• Journal of Advanced Navigation Technology
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.29-36
• /
• 2016

Accuracy of GPS (global positioning system) deteriorates dramatically or positioning is impossible in urban area occasionally since high-rise buildings and elevated roads make the reception of navigation signal very difficult so that number of visible satellites decreases. In these cases, vertical error usually becomes much larger than the horizontal error due to the intrinsic geometry of GPS satellites. To obtain more accurate and reliable height information, this paper proposes a hybrid method that combines GPS and a low-cost barometric altimeter. In the proposed method, the sea-level pressure and the sea-surface temperature are applied to the output of the altimeter. Next, the difference between the ellipsoid and the geoid is compensated. Finally, a simple Kalman filter combines the compensated barometric altitude and the GPS height. By static and car experiments, performance of the proposed method is evaluated. By the experiment results, it can be seen that the proposed method improves the altitude accuracy considerably.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
• /
• v.18 no.5
• /
• pp.99-107
• /
• 2000

Path-based assignment(PBA) is valuable to dynamic traffic control and routing in integrated ITS framework. As one of widely studied PBA a1gorithms, Gradient Projection(GP) a1gorithm typically fields rapid convergence to a neighborhood of an optimal solution. But once it comes near a solution, it tends to slow down. To overcome this problem, we develop more efficient path-based assignment algorithm by combining Conjugate Gradient method with GP algorithm. It determines more accurate moving direction near a solution in order to gain a significant advantage in speed of convergence. Also this algorithm is applied to the Sioux-Falls network and verified its efficiency. Then we demonstrate that this type of method is very useful in improving speed of convergence in the case of user equilibrium problem.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
• /
• v.47 no.4
• /
• pp.233-239
• /
• 2017

Purpose: This study was performed to quantify the repeat rate of imaging acquisitions based on different clinical examinations, and to assess the prevalence of error types in intraoral bitewing and periapical imaging using a digital complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor(CMOS) intraoral sensor. Materials and Methods: A total of 8,030 intraoral images were retrospectively collected from 3 groups of undergraduate clinical dental students. The type of examination, stage of the procedure, and reasons for repetition were analysed and recorded. The repeat rate was calculated as the total number of repeated images divided by the total number of examinations. The weighted Cohen's kappa for inter- and intra-observer agreement was used after calibration and prior to image analysis. Results: The overall repeat rate on intraoral periapical images was 34.4%. A total of 1,978 repeated periapical images were from endodontic assessment, which included working length estimation (WLE), trial gutta-percha (tGP), obturation, and removal of gutta-percha (rGP). In the endodontic imaging, the highest repeat rate was from WLE (51.9%) followed by tGP (48.5%), obturation (42.2%), and rGP (35.6%). In bitewing images, the repeat rate was 15.1% and poor angulation was identified as the most common cause of error. A substantial level of intra- and inter-observer agreement was achieved. Conclusion: The repeat rates in this study were relatively high, especially for certain clinical procedures, warranting training in optimization techniques and radiation protection. Repeat analysis should be performed from time to time to enhance quality assurance and hence deliver high-quality health services to patients

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.40 no.4
• /
• pp.375-381
• /
• 2016

Background: We evaluated the drug interaction profile of Red Ginseng (RG) with respect to the activities of major cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes and the drug transporter P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in healthy Korean volunteers. Methods: This article describes an open-label, crossover study. CYP probe cocktail drugs, caffeine, losartan, dextromethorphan, omeprazole, midazolam, and fexofenadine were administered before and after RG supplementation for 2 wk. Plasma samples were collected, and tolerability was assessed. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated, and 90% confidence intervals (CIs) of the geometric mean ratios of the parameters were determined from logarithmically transformed data using analysis of variance after RG administration versus before RG administration. Results: Fourteen healthy male participants were evaluated, none of whom were genetically defined as poor CYP2C9, 2C19, and CYP2D6 metabolizers based on genotyping. Before and after RG administration, the geometric least-square mean metabolic ratio (90% CI) was 0.870 (0.805-0.940) for caffeine to paraxanthine (CYP1A2), 0.871 (0.800-0.947) for losartan (CYP2C9) to EXP3174, 1.027 (0.938-1.123) for omeprazole (CYP2C19) to 5-hydroxyomeprazole, 1.373 (0.864-2.180) for dextromethorphan to dextrorphan (CYP2D6), and 0.824 (0.658-1.032) for midazolam (CYP3A4) to 1-hydroxymidazolam. The geometric mean ratio of the area under the curve of the last sampling time ($AUC_{last}$) for fexofenadine (P-gp) was 0.963 (0.845-1.098). Administration of concentrated RG for 2 wk weakly inhibited CYP2C9 and CYP3A4 and weakly induced CYP2D6. However, no clinically significant drug interactions were observed between RG and CYP and P-gp probe substrates. Conclusion: RG has no relevant potential to cause CYP enzyme- or P-gp-related interactions.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
• /
• v.41 no.2
• /
• pp.114-120
• /
• 2016

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the push-out bond strength and dentinal tubule penetration of root canal sealers used with coated core materials and conventional gutta-percha. Materials and Methods: A total of 72 single-rooted human mandibular incisors were instrumented with NiTi rotary files with irrigation of 2.5% NaOCl. The smear layer was removed with 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). Specimens were assigned into four groups according to the obturation system: Group 1, EndoRez (Ultradent Product Inc.); Group 2, Activ GP (Brasseler); Group 3, SmartSeal (DFRP Ltd. Villa Farm); Group 4, AH 26 (Dentsply de Trey)/gutta-percha (GP). For push-out bond strength measurement, two horizontal slices were obtained from each specimen (n = 20). To compare dentinal tubule penetration, remaining 32 roots assigned to 4 groups as above were obturated with 0.1% Rhodamine B labeled sealers. One horizontal slice was obtained from the middle third of each specimen (n = 8) and scanned under confocal laser scanning electron microscope. Tubule penetration area, depth, and percentage were measured. Kruskall-Wallis test was used for statistical analysis. Results: EndoRez showed significantly lower push-out bond strength than the others (p < 0.05). No significant difference was found amongst the groups in terms of percentage of sealer penetration. SmartSeal showed the least penetration than the others (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The bond strength and sealer penetration of resin-and glass ionomer-based sealers used with coated core was not superior to resin-based sealer used with conventional GP. Dentinal tubule penetration has limited effect on bond strength. The use of conventional GP with sealer seems to be sufficient in terms of push-out bond strength.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.42 no.3
• /
• pp.504-516
• /
• 2022

This study aimed to investigate the effect on the chemical quality of whey and Ricotta obtained from ewes fed a red grape pomace (GP) dietary supplementation. The analyses were performed on whey, before and post Ricotta cheese-making, and in Ricotta after 1 (T1) and 5 (T5) d of ripening at 4℃. Moreover, fatty acid profile of whey before ricotta (WBR) cheese-making and Ricotta T1 of ripening and volatile profile of Ricotta T1 and T5 were investigated. The diet did not affect whey and Ricotta lipid content, conversely, significant variations were instead observed with regard to color. A lower amount of total phenolic compounds was found in WBR cheese-making, on the contrary, an opposite trend was highlighted in Ricotta T1 although no variations in antioxidant properties were detected. Moreover, GP modified fatty acid profile of whey and Ricotta but did not have any effect on protein profile of the main whey protein. The reduction of hexanal in Ricotta during the ripening suggest a better oxidative stability. The obtained results therefore suggested that the GP inclusion in the ewes diet, while modifying some chemical parameters, did not induce negative effects on the characteristics and quality of dairy by-products.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.492-504
• /
• 2018

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of seaweed peeling (SP), glycolic acid peeling (GP) and general scrub (GS), which are widely known as cures for acne in both medicine and esthetics on the keratosis pilaris skin and provide basic data for a keratosis pilaris improvement program. For the experiment, subjects were categorized into control (GS) and experimental (GP and SP) groups, and tests were performed on arms and legs with relatively high keratosis pilaris symptoms (5 parts for each group) for 6 weeks. The keratin quantity, sebum content, moisture level and pigmentation were measured before and after (2, 4 and 6 weeks) the experiment and comparatively analyzed. The GP group showed an increase in moisture level (t=-4.064, p<0.01) but a decrease in pigmentation (t=3.536, p<0.01), while a decrease in keratin quantity (t=2.370, p<0.05) and pigmentation (t=4.017, p<0.01) was observed in the SP group and a decrease in keratin quantity (t=2.834, p<0.05) and an increase in moisture level (t=-7.589, p<0.001) was observed in the control group (GS). Additionally, the skin irritation reaction was lowest in the GS group. The SP group had the highest satisfaction with the improvement in response to keratosis pilaris care. When asked if they were willing to get the treatment with the same product, both SP and GP groups were high. In other words, keratosis pilaris care was needed in both experimental and control groups. Overall, the results of this study indicate that SP, GP and GS, which are commonly used in remedying acne, normalize turnover cycle by removing the dead cells from around the pores and improve keratosis pilaris symptoms by increasing moisture in the skin. Therefore, to improve keratosis pilaris skin, it is important to keep removing keratin and using a moisturizer that provides a skin barrier on a regular basis. The results presented herein will be useful as basic data for a keratosis pilaris improvement program.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.27 no.8
• /
• pp.930-936
• /
• 2017

The flocculating properties of bioflocculant Biopol32 produced by Pseudomonas sp. GP32 were investigated for application in industrial wastewater treatment. The major flocculating substance of bioflocculant Biopol32 was identified as polysaccharide. Many anionic flocculants need a counter ion to induce higher flocculating activity. The flocculating activity of bioflocculant Biopol32 was markedly increased by the addition of cationic ions ($Ca^{2+}$, $Al^{3+}$). The flocculating activity of bioflocculant Biopol32 was the most effective when 7.0 mM $CaCl_2{\cdot}2H_2O$ as coflocculant was added. The flocculating activity on the effect of pH and the temperature of the bioflocculant Biopol32 was compared with anionic commercial flocculant (polyacrylamide) and bioflocculant (zooglan from Zoogloea ramigera). In kaolin suspension, the highest flocculating activity was obtained at the bioflocculant Biopol32 concentration of 1.5 mg/l. A high flocculating activity was observed in the pH range of 5.0 to 8.0. The flocculating activity of bioflocculant Biopol32 was sustained up to $60^{\circ}C$, but decreased rapidly at over $70^{\circ}C$. In the batch culture, the charge density of bioflocculant Biopol32 was compared with flocculating activity. The larger the anionic charge density and apparent viscosity of bioflocculant Biopol32, the higher the flocculating activity. Therefore, we confirmed that the flocculating activity and apparent viscosity of bioflocculant Biopol32 was closely related to the charge density of bioflocculant Biopol32.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.29 no.9
• /
• pp.757-761
• /
• 2006

Six protoberberine alkaloids were isolated from the chloroform layer of the rhizome of Coptis japonica Makino (Ranunculaceae). The structures of the isolated compounds were determined to be 6-([1,3]dioxolo[4,5-g]isoquinoline-5-carbonyl)-2,3-dimethoxy-benzoic acid methyl ester (1), oxyberberine (2), 8-oxo-epiberberine (3), 8-oxocoptisine (4), berberine (5) and palmatine (6) by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods. The compound 3 (8-oxo-epiberberine) was first isolated from natural sources. The compounds were tested for cytotoxicity against five tumor cell lines in vitro by SRB method, and also tested for the MDR reversal activities. Compound 4 was of significant P-gp MDR inhibition activity with ED50 value $0.018\;{\mu}g/mL$ in MES-SA/DX5 cell and $0.0005\;{\mu}g/mL$ in HCT15 cell, respectively.