• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.39-48
• /
• 2023

Spinal nerve injury causes mechanical allodynia and structural imbalance of neurotransmission, which were typically associated with calcium overload. Storeoperated calcium entry (SOCE) is considered crucial elements-mediating intracellular calcium homeostasis, ion channel activity, and synaptic plasticity. However, the underlying mechanism of SOCE in mediating neuronal transmitter release and synaptic transmission remains ambiguous in neuropathic pain. Neuropathic rats were operated by spinal nerve ligations. Neurotransmissions were assessed by whole-cell recording in substantia gelatinosa. Immunofluorescence staining of STIM1 with neuronal and glial biomarkers in the spinal dorsal horn. The endoplasmic reticulum stress level was estimated from qRT-PCR. Intrathecal injection of SOCE antagonist SKF96365 dose-dependently alleviated mechanical allodynia in ipsilateral hind paws of neuropathic rats with ED₅₀ of 18 ㎍. Immunofluorescence staining demonstrated that STIM1 was specifically and significantly expressed in neurons but not astrocytes and microglia in the spinal dorsal horn. Bath application of SKF96365 inhibited enhanced miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents in a dosage-dependent manner without affecting miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents. Mal-adaption of SOCE was commonly related to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in the central nervous system. SKF96365 markedly suppressed ER stress levels by alleviating mRNA expression of C/ EBP homologous protein and heat shock protein 70 in neuropathic rats. Our findings suggested that nerve injury might promote SOCE-mediated calcium levels, resulting in long-term imbalance of spinal synaptic transmission and behavioral sensitization, SKF96365 produces antinociception by alleviating glutamatergic transmission and ER stress. This work demonstrated the involvement of SOCE in neuropathic pain, implying that SOCE might be a potential target for pain management.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.1-14
• /
• 2023

Objectives The anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic effects of Youngseonjeatonguem (靈仙除痛飮, YSJTU) was evaluated in a cellular model using RAW264.7 macrophages, which are involved in osteoarthritis (OA), and an animal model using Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, and a possible mechanism of anti-arthritic actions of YSJTU was presented. Methods RAW264.7 macrophages were activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-𝛼, interleukin [IL]-1𝛽, and IL-6) and inflammatory mediators (nitric oxide [NO] and prostaglandin E2 [PGE2]) was determined by ELISA and Griess assay, respectively. Western blot was performed to determine inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression. OA was induced by intra-articular injection of monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) into the right knee joint of SD rats. Results In RAW264.7 macrophages, YSJTU reduced LPS-induced production of TNF-𝛼, IL-1𝛽, and IL-6. In addition, YSJTU inhibited LPS-induced production of NO and PGE2 by suppressing iNOS and COX-2 expression. In SD rats, YSJTU improved MIA-induced OA by reducing swelling, skin heat, and cartilage degradation. In addition, YSJTU reduced serum levels of TNF-𝛼, IL-1𝛽, and IL-6, along with its significant decrease in serum levels of NO and PGE2. Conclusions These results suggest that YSJTU may exert anti-arthritic effect, at least in part, by inhibiting macrophage-mediated joint inflammation.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.48-54
• /
• 2021

Purpose In ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT, the absorption of ¹⁸F-FDG due to the activation of Brown Adipose Tissue (BAT) greatly interferes with the discrimination of lymph node malignant metastasis. Warming the patient's body temperature before and after injection of ¹⁸F-FDG to prevent FDG absorption by BAT is a safe and non-pharmacological approach. The purpose of this study was to identify and select patients with a high potential for BAT activation in advance, and to investigate whether BAT can inhibit FDG absorption when the body temperature is raised for a short time by directly applying heat to the target patient. Materials and Methods Among the patients who underwent ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT at the National Cancer Center from January 2020 to December 2020, 825 female patients (415 in the thermal group, 410 in the non-thermal group) under 50 years old were included. The thermal group was administered heat for 10 minutes before injection of ¹⁸F-FDG. For statistical analysis, the Z test comparing the ratios between the two groups was used, and logistic regression analysis was performed to correct for important variables (BMI, outdoor temperature, blood sugar) according to the results of the previous retrospective study. Results Among 825 patients, 19 patients with BAT activated (Thermal group: 5(1.2%), Non-thermal group: 14(3.41%)) accounted for 2.3% of the total. As a result of performing the Z test to compare the ratios between the two groups, the activation of BAT in the thermal group was significantly decreased (P=0.034). In the univariate logistic regression analysis, the activation of BAT was also decreased in the thermal group (OR: 0.34, P<0.05). In the multivariate results, BAT activation increased in patients younger than 45 years old (OR: 4.46, P<0.05) and outdoor temperature less than 13.2 degrees (OR: 9.97, P<0.05). BAT activation tended to decrease in the thermal group, but there was no significant difference (OR: 0.37, P=0.066). Conclusion We confirmed that the activation of BAT tends to decrease by 62.5% in the group subjected to the thermal method, and it will be of great help in preventing FDG absorption of BAT more effectively in the future.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.49 no.6
• /
• pp.459-467
• /
• 2016

Due to the limited areal space for installation, borehole heat exchangers (BHEs) at depths deeper than 300 m are considered for geothermal heating and cooling in the urban area. The deep vertical closed-loop BHEs are unconventional due to the depth and the range of the typical installation depth is between 100 and 200 m in Korea. The BHE in the study consists of 50A (outer diameter 50 mm, SDR 11) PE U-tube pipe in a 150 mm diameter borehole with the depth of 300 m. In order to compensate the buoyancy caused by the low density of PE pipe ($0.94{\sim}0.96g/cm^3$) in the borehole filled with ground water, 10 weight band sets (4.6 kg/set) were attached to the bottom of U-tube. A thermal response test (TRT) and fundamental basic surveys on the thermophysical characteristics of the ground were conducted. Ground temperature measures around $15^{\circ}C$ from the surface to 100 m, and the geothermal gradient represents $1.9^{\circ}C/100m$ below 100 m. The TRT was conducted for 48 hours with 17.5 kW heat injection, 28.65 l/min at a circulation fluid flow rate indicates an average temperature difference $8.9^{\circ}C$ between inlet and outlet circulation fluid. The estimated thermophysical parameters are 3.0 W/mk of ground thermal conductivity and 0.104 mk/W of borehole thermal resistance. In the stepwise evaluation of TRT, the ground thermal conductivity was calculated at the standard deviation of 0.16 after the initial 13 hours. The sensitivity analysis on the borehole thermal resistance was also conducted with respect to the PE pipe diameter and the thermal conductivity of backfill material. The borehole thermal resistivity slightly decreased with the increase of the two parameters.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.185-190
• /
• 2007

The objective of this study was to investigate the characteristics of various estrous behavior and ovulation time in dairy cows and heifers. In total, 73 ovulations and 61 estrous detection were observed in 89 Holstein cows. Various estrous behavior were observed during 72 hours from two days after $PGF_2{\alpha}$ injection and their relation with the time of ovulation(ultrasound examinations at 4-h intervals) was investigated. In estrous periods, the rate of sniffing, chin resting, mounting and standing heat was 81%, 78%, 78% and 56%, respectively in cows. In heifers, the rate of sniffing, chin resting, mounting and standing heat was 61%, 68%, 82% and 76%, respectively. Ovulation in cows and heifers occurred $25.58{\pm}7.94\;and\;25.55{\pm}5.72h$ after onset of estrus, and $13.42{\pm}7.14\;and\;7.48{\pm}7.41h$ after end of estrus, respectively. Interval between onset of estrus and ovulation time was significantly (p<0.05) shorter for standing heat ($17.33{\pm}5.83\;h$) than for mounting, sniffing and chin resting ($23.58{\pm}5.12\;h,\;24.25{\pm}6.09\;h,\;23.42{\pm}6.04\;h$) in cows but not significantly different in heifers. Interval between end of standing heat and ovulation time was significantly (p<0.05) shorter for heifer($6.38{\pm}4.80$) than for cows($13.05{\pm}4.53$). Our results show that characteristics of estrous behavior and ovulation in dairy heifers are different to that of cows.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.36 no.7
• /
• pp.514-520
• /
• 2014

In this study, the production potential of alternative coagulant ($Al_2(SO_4)_3$ solution) having the identical coagulation activity with respect to the commercial coagulant was investigated. The raw material of alternative coagulant was a spent catalyst including aluminium (waste activated alumina) generated in the manufacturing process of the polymer. The alternative coagulant was produced through a series of processes: 1) intense heat and grinding, 2) chemical polymerization and substitution with $H_2SO_4$ solution, 3) dissolution and dilution and 4) settling and separation. To determine the optimal operating conditions in the lab-scale autoclave and dissolver, the content of $Al_2O_3$ in alternative coagulant was analyzed according to changes of the purity of sulfuric acid, reaction temperature, injection ratio of sulfuric acid and water in the dissolver. The results showed that the alternative coagulant having the $Al_2O_3$ content of 7~8% was produced under the optimal conditions such as $H_2SO_4$ purity of 50%, reaction temperature of $120^{\circ}C$, injection ratio of $H_2SO_4$ of 5 times and injection ratio of water of 2.3 times in dissolver. In order to evaluate the coagulation activity of the alternative coagulant, the Jar-test was conducted to the effluent in aerobic reactor. As a result, in both cases of Al/P mole of 1.5 and 2.0, the coagulation activity of the alternative coagulant was higher than that of the existing commercial coagulant. When the production costs were compared between the alternative and commercial coagulant through economic analysis, the production cost reduction of about 50% was available in the case of the alternative coagulant. In addition, it was identified that the alternative coagulant could be applied at field wastewater treatment plant without environmental problem through ecological toxicity testing.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.211-219
• /
• 2006

The UET(ultrasound excited thermography) for the ,eat-time diagnostics of the object employs an infrared camera to image defects of the surface and subsurface which are locally heated using high-frequency putted ultrasonic excitation. The dissipation of high-power ultrasonic energy around the feces of the defects causes an increase In temperature. The defect's image appears as a hot spot (bright IR source) within a dark background field. The UET for nondestructive diagnostic and evaluation is based on the image analysis of the hot spot as a local response to ultrasonic excited heat deposition. In this paper the applicability of VET for fast imaging of defect is described. The ultrasonic energy is injected into the sample through a transducer in the vertical and horizontal directions respectively. The voltage applied to the transducer is measured by digital oscilloscope, and the waveform are compared. Measurements were performed on four kinds of materials: SUS fatigue crack specimen(thickness 14mm), PCB plate(1.8 mm), CFRP plate(3 mm) and Inconel 600 plate (1 mm). A high power ultrasonic energy with pulse durations of 250ms Is injected into the samples in the horizontal and vertical directions respectively The obtained experimental result reveals that the dissipation loss of the ultrasonic energy In the vertical injection is less than that in the horizontal direction. In the cafe or PCB, CFRP, the size of hot spot in the vortical injection if larger than that in horizontal direction. Duration time of the hot spot in the vertical direction is three times as long as that in the horizontal direction. In the case of Inconel 600 plate and SUS sample, the hot spot in the horizontal injection was detected faster than that in the vertical direction

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.141-146
• /
• 2004

Fungal products indirectly mediate anti-tumor effects in vitro and in vivo. To investigate whether Lentinus edodes might possess direct anti-tumor substance, L. edodes was extracted and tested on human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 oncogenes-associated animal tumor cells (TC-1) and in an animal tumor model. Only water extract displayed direct anti-proliferative effects in TC-1 tumor cells in vitro. This inhibition was dose-dependent, and inhibitory concentration ($IC_{50}$) was $800\;{\mu}g/mL$. Fungal extracts also showed growth inhibition to human cervical cancer cells (CaSki and HeLa) similarly to TC-1 tumor cells. When fungal extracts were added at a high dose (1.5 mg/mL), cell growth was inhibited within 6 hr following extract treatment. Cell growth inhibition was blocked by heat treatment, but not by low pH, which is indicative of heat sensitivity of this anti-proliferative substance. Cell growth suppression was mediated by apoptosis, as determined by Annexin V and propidium iodide staining. When challenged with TC-1 cells, direct intratumoral injection of fungal extracts resulted in some positive effect on tumor growth inhibition, as compared to oral delivery. Results suggest that heat labile substance of L. edodes suppresses growth of HPV oncogenes-associated tumor cells through apoptosis.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.96-103
• /
• 1998

Purpose : We performed this study to evaluate the immune responses and protective efficacies of the HBV vaccine in infants born from hepatitis B virus(HBV) carrier mothers. Methods : Seventy eight infants born from HBV carrier mothers, who were able to follow up for 12months in the Catholic University St. Vincents hospital, were involved in this study from July 1995 to December 1996. Samples were collected at birth, 4, 8 and 12months after injection of HBIG and HBV heat-inactivated plasma derived vaccines. We evaluated the changes and relationships of viral markers detecting by enzyme immunoassay and radioimmunoassay between HBV carrier mothers and their infants. Results : 1) A total of 5.0%(106/2,117) of pregnant women were found to be a HBV carrier. The rates of HBeAg positive and negative were 38.5%(37/96) and 61.5%(59/96), respectively. 2) The seroconversion rates of anti-HBs with infants of HBV carrier mothers at 4, 8 and 12 months were 85.9%(67/78), 75.6%(59/78) and 73.1%(57/78), respectively. Although these were statistically significant differences(P<0.05), they were not related to HBeAg status of the mothers. The geometric mean titers of anti-HBs at 8 and 12 months were significantly higher than at 4 months, statistically(P<0.05). The protective efficacy of the HBV vaccine and HBIG at 12 months in infants from HBeAg positive and negative mothers were 89.8% and 100%, respectively. 3) Five of 78(6.4%) infants became infected by HBV from only HBeAg positive mothers during the follow up period of 12 months. Three of 5 infected infants became HBV carriers. HBsAg positive at birth from HBeAg positive and negative mother were 4 infants, respectively. Three of 4 infants became infected by HBV from only HBeAg positive mothers. Conclusion : We confirmed that the seroconversion rate of HBV heat-inactivated plasma derived vaccine which was one of other vaccines manufacturing in Korea was 85.9%. The protective efficacy of this HBV vaccine and HBIG at 12 months in infants from HBeAg positive and negative mothers were 89.8% and 100%, respectively.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.115-123
• /
• 2013

Stoker type incinerator is one of the most popular one used as municipal solid waste (MSW) incineration because, in general, it is quite suitable for large capacity and need no preprocessing facility. Nowadays, however, since the combustible portion of incoming MSW increases together with the decrease of the moisture content due to prohibition of directly burying food waste in landfill, the heating value of waste is remarkably increasing in comparison with the early stage of incinerator installation. Consequently, the increased heating value in incinerator operation causes a number of serious problems such as reduction of waste amount to be burned due to the boiler heat capacity together with the significant NO generation in high temperature environment. Therefore, in this study, a series of numerical simulation have been made as parameters of waste amount and the fraction of moisture in air stream in order to investigate optimal operating condition for the resolution of the problems associated with the high heating value of waste mentioned above. In specific, a detailed turbulent reaction flow field calculation with NO model was made for the full scale incinerator of D city. To this end, the injection method of moisturized air as oxidizer was intensively reviewed by the addition of moisture water amount from 10% and 20%. The calculation result, in general, showed that the reduction of maximum flame temperature appears consistently due to the combined effects of the increased specific heat of combustion air and vaporization heat by the addition of water moisture. As a consequence, the generation of NOx concentration was substantially reduced. Further, for the case of 20% moisture amount stream, the afterburner region is quite appropriate in temperature range for the operation of SNCR. This suggests the SNCR facility can be considered for reoperation. which is not in service at all due to the increased heating value of MSW.