• 방사성폐기물학회지
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.279-298
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• 2019

사용후핵연료의 효율적 관리를 위하여 한국원자력연구원에서 수행 중인 파이로 공정으로부터 발생되는 폐기물 처리기술에 대한 최근 연구동향을 종합적으로 고찰하였다. 파이로 폐기물 처리기술은 처분 대상 폐기물의 감용 및 포장, 저장과 최종 처분에 적합한 고화체 제조를 목표로 하고 있다. 한국원자력연구원에서 수행 중인 파이로 폐기물 처리 기술개발 접근 방향은 공정 흐름으로부터 발생한 폐기물내 주요 핵종들을 분리하고 회수한 물질 등을 재사용함으로서 폐기물 발생량을 최소로 하며 동시에 분리한 핵종을 별도로 고화처리하는 것이다. 폐기물 처리 주요 기술 특성은 먼저 전해환원용 원료물질 제조를 위하여 전처리 고온 열처리 공정을 사용하며, LiCl 과 LiCl-KCl 염으로부터 핵종을 분리하고 회수염의 재사용 및 핵종 함유량을 증대시킨 최종 고화체 제조 기술을 개발하는 것이다. 따라서 실험실 규모 실험 결과를 토대로 최근에는 공정 용량 증대를 위한 자료 확보를 목적으로 공학규모 시험을 수행 중에 있다.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제64권1호
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• pp.78-87
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• 2021

Objective : Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) has been widely used during spine surgery to reduce or prevent neurologic deficits, however, its application to the surgical management for cervical myelopathy remains controversial. This study aimed to assess the success rate of IONM in patients with cervical myelopathy and to investigate the factors associated with successful baseline monitoring and the effect of increasing the stimulation intensity by focusing on motor evoked potentials (MEPs). Methods : The data of 88 patients who underwent surgery for cervical myelopathy with IONM between January 2016 and June 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. The success rate of baseline MEP monitoring at the initial stimulation of 400 V was investigated. In unmonitorable cases, the stimulation intensity was increased to 999 V, and the success rate final MEP monitoring was reinvestigated. In addition, factors related to the success rate of baseline MEP monitoring were investigated using independent t-test, Wilcoxon rank-sum test, chi-squared test, and Fisher's exact probability test for statistical analysis. The factors included age, sex, body mass index, diabetes mellitus, smoking history, symptom duration, Torg-Pavlov ratio, space available for the cord (SAC), cord compression ratio (CCR), intramedullary increased signal intensity (SI) on magnetic resonance imaging, SI length, SI ratio, the Medical Research Council (MRC) grade, the preoperative modified Nurick grade and Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score. Results : The overall success rate for reliable MEP response was 52.3% after increasing the stimulation intensity. No complications were observed to be associated with increased intensity. The factors related to the success rate of final MEP monitoring were found to be SAC (p<0.001), CCR (p<0.001), MRC grade (p<0.001), preoperative modified Nurick grade (p<0.001), and JOA score (p<0.001). The cut-off score for successful MEP monitoring was 5.67 mm for SAC, 47.33% for the CCR, 3 points for MRC grade, 2 points for the modified Nurick grade, and 12 points for the JOA score. Conclusion : Increasing the stimulation intensity could significantly improve the success rate of baseline MEP monitoring for unmonitorable cases at the initial stimulation in cervical myelopathy. In particular, the SAC, CCR, MRC grade, preoperative Nurick grade and JOA score may be considered as the more important related factors associated with the success rate of MEP monitoring. Therefore, the degree of preoperative neurological functional deficits and the presence of spinal cord compression on imaging could be used as new detailed criteria for the application of IONM in patients with cervical myelopathy.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제45권2호
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• pp.264-272
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• 2021

Background: Gintonin is a ginseng-derived exogenous G-protein-coupled lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor ligand, which exhibits in vitro and in vivo functions against Alzheimer disease (AD) through lysophosphatidic acid 1/3 receptors. A recent study demonstrated that systemic treatment with gintonin enhances paracellular permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) through the LPA1/3 receptor. However, little is known about whether gintonin can enhance brain delivery of donepezil (DPZ) (Aricept), which is a representative cognition-improving drug used in AD clinics. In the present study, we examined whether systemic administration of gintonin can stimulate brain delivery of DPZ. Methods: We administered gintonin and DPZ alone or coadministered gintonin with DPZ intravenously or orally to rats. Then we collected the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) and serum and determined the DPZ concentration through liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis. Results: Intravenous, but not oral, coadministration of gintonin with DPZ increased the CSF concentration of DPZ in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Gintonin-mediated enhancement of brain delivery of DPZ was blocked by Ki16425, a LPA1/3 receptor antagonist. Coadministration of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) + gintonin with DPZ similarly increased CSF DPZ concentration. However, gintonin-mediated enhancement of brain delivery of DPZ was blocked by axitinip, a VEGF receptor antagonist. Mannitol, a BBB disrupting agent that increases the BBB permeability, enhanced gintonin-mediated enhancement of brain delivery of DPZ. Conclusions: We found that intravenous, but not oral, coadministration of gintonin facilitates brain delivery of DPZ from plasma via LPA1/3 and VEGF receptors. Gintonin is a potential candidate as a ginseng-derived novel agent for the brain delivery of DPZ for treatment of patients with AD.

• 대한임상독성학회지
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.66-77
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• 2020

Purpose: The aims of the present study were twofold. First, the research investigated the effect of an individual's risk factors and the prevalence of psychotropic drugs on QTc prolongation, TdP (torsades de pointes), and death. Second, the study compared the risk scoring systems (the Mayo Pro-QT risk score and the Tisadale risk score) on QTc prolongation. Methods: The medical records of intoxicated patients who visited the emergency department between March 2010 and February 2019 were reviewed retrospectively. Among 733 patients, the present study included 426 psychotropic drug-intoxicated patients. The patients were categorized according to the QTc value. The known risk factors of QTc prolongation were examined, and the Mayo Pro-QT risk score and the Tisadale risk score were calculated. The analysis was performed using multiple logistic regression, Spearman correlation, and ROC (receiver operating characteristic). Results: The numbers in the mild to moderate group (male: 470≤QTc<500 ms, female: 480≤QTc<500 ms) and severe group (QTc≥500 ms or increase of QTc at least 60ms from baseline, both sex) were 68 and 95, respectively. TdP did not occur, and the only cause of death was aspiration pneumonia. The statically significant risk factors were multidrug intoxications of TCA (tricyclic antidepressant), atypical antipsychotics, an atypical antidepressant, panic disorder, and hypokalemia. The Tisadale risk score was larger than the Mayo Pro-QT risk score. Conclusion: Multiple psychotropic drugs intoxication (TCA, an atypical antidepressant, and atypical antipsychotics), panic disorder, and hypokalemia have been proven to be the main risk factors of QTc prolongation, which require enhanced attention. The present study showed that the Tisadale score had a stronger correlation and predictive accuracy for QTc prolongation than the Mayo Pro-QT score. As a result, the Tisadale risk score is a crucial assessment tool for psychotropic drug-intoxicated patients in a clinical setting.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.26.1-26.14
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• 2020

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is a lethal cancer type that is associated with multiple gene mutations in somatic cells. Genetically engineered mouse is hardly applicable for developing a pancreatic cancer model, and the xenograft model poses a limitation in the reflection of early stage pancreatic cancer. Thus, in vivo somatic cell gene engineering with clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats is drawing increasing attention for generating an animal model of pancreatic cancer. In this study, we selected Kras, Trp53, Ink4a, Smad4, and Brca2 as target genes, and applied Campylobacter jejuni Cas9 (CjCas9) and Streptococcus pyogens Cas9 (SpCas9) for developing pancreatic cancer using adeno associated virus (AAV) transduction. After confirming multifocal and diffuse transduction of AAV2, we generated SpCas9 overexpression mice, which exhibited high double-strand DNA breakage (DSB) in target genes and pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) lesions with two AAV transductions; however, wild-type (WT) mice with three AAV transductions did not develop PanIN. Furthermore, small-sized Cjcas9 was applied to WT mice with two AAV system, which, in addition, developed high extensive DSB and PanIN lesions. Histological changes and expression of cancer markers such as Ki67, cytokeratin, Mucin5a, alpha smooth muscle actin in duct and islet cells were observed. In addition, the study revealed several findings such as 1) multiple DSB potential of AAV-CjCas9, 2) peri-ductal lymphocyte infiltration, 3) multi-focal cancer marker expression, and 4) requirement of > 12 months for initiation of PanIN in AAV mediated targeting. In this study, we present a useful tool for in vivo cancer modeling that would be applicable for other disease models as well.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제49권1호
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• pp.2-8
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• 2022

Humanity is in the midst of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and vaccines-including mRNA vaccines-have been developed at an unprecedented speed. It is necessary to develop guidelines for vaccination for people undergoing treatment with assisted reproductive technology (ART) and for pregnancy-related situations based on the extant laboratory and clinical data. COVID-19 vaccines do not appear to adversely affect gametes, embryos, or implantation; therefore, active vaccination is recommended for women or men who are preparing for ART. The use of intravenous immunoglobulin G (IVIG) for the treatment of immune-related infertility is unlikely to impact the effectiveness of the vaccines, so COVID-19 vaccines can be administered around ART cycles in which IVIG is scheduled. Pregnant women have been proven to be at risk of severe maternal and neonatal complications from COVID-19. It does not appear that COVID-19 vaccines harm pregnant women or fetuses; instead, they have been observed to deliver antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV-2) to the fetus. Accordingly, it is recommended that pregnant women receive COVID-19 vaccination. There is no rationale for adverse effects, or clinical cases of adverse reactions, in mothers or neonates after COVID-19 vaccination in lactating women. Instead, antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 can be delivered through breast milk. Therefore, breastfeeding mothers should consider vaccination. In summary, active administration of COVID-19 vaccines will help ensure the safe implementation of ART, pregnancy, and breastfeeding.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제46권3호
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• pp.348-356
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• 2022

Background: Gintonin is a ginseng-derived exogenous G-protein-coupled lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor ligand. Gintonin exerts its neuronal and non-neuronal in vitro and in vivo effects through LPA receptor subtypes. However, it is unknown whether gintonin can bind to the plasma membrane of cells and can transactivate the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor. In the present study, we examined whether gintonin-biotin conjugates directly bound to LPA receptors and transactivated the EGF receptor. Methods: We designed gintonin-biotin conjugates through gintonin biotinylation and examined whether gintonin-biotin conjugate binding sites co-localized with the LPA receptor subtype binding sites. We further examined whether gintonin-biotin transactivated the EGF receptor via LPA receptor regulation via phosphor-EGF and cell migration assays. Results: Gintonin-biotin conjugates elicit [Ca²⁺]_i transient similar to that observed with unbiotinylated gintonin in cultured PC3 cells, suggesting that biotinylation does not affect physiological activity of gintonin. We proved that gintonin-biotin conjugate binding sites co-localized with the LPA1/6 receptor binding sites. Gintonin-biotin binding to the LPA1 receptor transactivates the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor through phosphorylation, while the LPA1/3 receptor antagonist, Ki16425, blocked phosphorylation of the EGF receptor. Additionally, an EGF receptor inhibitor AG1478 blocked gintonin-biotin conjugate-mediated cell migration. Conclusions: We observed the binding between ginseng-derived gintonin and the plasma membrane target proteins corresponding to the LPA1/6 receptor subtypes. Moreover, gintonin transactivated EGF receptors via LPA receptor regulation. Our results suggest that gintonin directly binds to the LPA receptor subtypes and transactivates the EGF receptor. It may explain the molecular basis of ginseng physiology/pharmacology in biological systems.

• 대한화장품학회지
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• 제48권1호
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• pp.77-85
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• 2022

레틴알(RA)은 레티놀과 레티노익애씨드의 중간체로 비타민A 유도체이며 주름개선 효과가 우수하다. 본 연구에서는 drug-in-cyclodextrin-in-liposome (DCL)을 이용하여 레틴알의 안정성을 높였다. 레틴알과 hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) 복합체를 동결건조 방식으로 제조하였고, UV-Vis 분광법, FT-IR 및 SEM 이미지로 레틴알의 포접 여부를 확인하였다. 레틴알과 HP-β-CD의 비율이 1 : 15 (w/w)일 때 약 95.6% 포집되었다. 레틴알-HP-β-CD 복합체는 호모믹서 및 마이크로플루다이저로 리포좀에 담지시켰으며, 평균 입자 크기는 215.3 ± 4.2 nm, 제타포텐셜 -33.2 ± 1.5 mv로 나타났다. 레틴알의 분해 안정도 평가에서, 물에서 레틴알-HP-β-CD-리포좀의 레틴알 감소율은 1.8%로 레틴알-리포좀(5.8%), 레틴알-HP-β-CD복합체(9.7%), 레틴알 단독(37.6%)보다 높게 나타났다. 레틴알-HP-β-CD-리포좀이 함유된 크림(0.05% RA 함유)을 제조하여, 미간, 이마, 목, 눈가, 입가, 팔자 주름개선 효능 및 피부 치밀도를 2 ~ 4 주간 평가하였다. 그 결과 레틴알크림은 피부 자극 없이 유의한 주름 개선 효과를 보였다. 결론적으로, DCL시스템을 이용한 이중 안정화 기술은 레틴알의 안정화를 높여 피부 주름 개선 효과에 기여함을 확인하였다.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제32권2호
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• pp.148-154
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• 2022

국소접착인산화효소(FAK)는 국소접착부에서 세포부착, 세포이동, 세포역학적 신호전달 등에 관여한다고 알려져 있다. 그러나 세포 외 기질(ECM)과 상호작용하는 인테그린 막단백질과 함께 위치하는 세포막 미세영역(membrane microdomain)의 종류와 ECM 구성에 따른 FAK 활성은 여전히 불분명하다. 형광 공명 에너지 전달(FRET)을 기반으로 유전적으로 인코딩 된 바이오센서는 세포 내 FAK 신호를 높은 시공간 해상도로 제공할 수 있다. 본 연구에서는 유리, 제1형 콜라겐, 피브로넥틴, 라미닌의 ECM 조건에서 FRET 기반 막 표적 FAK 바이오센서를 사용하여 지질유동섬(Lipid raft) 및 비-지질유동섬(non-Lipid raft)에서 FAK의 활성을 분석하고 시각화 하였다. 흥미롭게도, 지질유동섬에서 라미닌 조건 하의 FAK 활성은 다른 ECM 조건보다 낮았고, 비-지질유동섬에서 FAK 활성은 다른 ECM 조건보다 낮았다. 동일한 ECM 조건 상의 비교에서는 피브로넥틴 조건일 때 지질유동섬에서 비-지질유동섬 보다 높은 FAK 활성이 관측되었다. 따라서 이번 연구는 FAK 활성도가 ECM 유형 및 세포막 미세영역에 따라 특이적으로 조절되는 것을 시각적, 정량적으로 보여준다.

• 한국인터넷방송통신학회논문지
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.87-94
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• 2023

최신의 무기체계 및 전자장비들은 아군의 생존성 향상을 위해 스텔스 기술에 대한 요구가 증가하고 있기 때문에, 레이다 반사 면적을 줄이는 저피탐 기술 구현이 필요하다. 이러한 스텔스 기술을 위해 형상 설계나 전파 흡수체를 적용한 저피탐 특성 구현 방법이 널리 사용되는데, 능동위상배열 안테나는 형상 설계에 구조적인 한계가 있고 전파 흡수체 적용 시 안테나의 전기적 성능이 저하되는 단점이 있다. 따라서 본 논문에서는 X-대역에서 동작하는 능동위상배열 안테나의 저피탐 특성 구현을 위해 전파 흡수체를 적용하기에 적합한 개별 복사소자를 선정하고, 13x13 배열 안테나를 설계 및 제작하였다. 다음으로 제작된 안테나의 흡수체 유무 및 종류에 따른 상대 RCS와 전기적 성능 측정 결과 비교를 통해 저피탐 특성은 확보하면서 전기적 성능은 동등 이상의 수준으로 유지됨을 보임으로써, 본 논문에서 제안한 저피탐 특성 구현 방법이 유효함을 보이고 전파 흡수체 적용 시 안테나 성능이 저하되는 한계를 극복할 수 있음을 확인하였다.