• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.65-73
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• 2007

Water and alcohol extracts were prepared from dried and powdered leaves of Thuja orientalis (T. orientalis). The reducing power, total phenolic content, the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl scavenging activity, inhibitory effect on Fe (II)-EDTA-$H_{2}O_{2}$ (Fenton reaction system) induced DNA damage and inhibitory effect on human red blood cell (RBC) hemolysis were evaluated in the present study. At a concentration of 200 mg, water and alcohol extracts of T. orientalis inhibited the hydrolysis of DNA by 72.859% and 65.312%, respectively. Water and alcohol extracts of T. orientalis also inhibited 2,2'-Azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride induced RBC hemolysis to the extent of 69.30% and 54.55%, respectively. The reducing power and antioxidative activity of water extract was found to be more than that of alcohol extract. This is attributable to the presence of higher amount of phenolic compounds in water extract. The present results indicate that the T. orientalis extracts are rich sources of natural antioxidants and can protect DNA and human red blood cells against free radical induced oxidative damage.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2022

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) evaluation is a useful tool for monitoring disease activity in various inflammatory and non-inflammatory conditions. ESR is known to be influenced by a multitude of confounding factors. The present study aimed to assess the possible determinants of the ESR and its relationship with various risk factors involved in ischemic stroke. ESR and other hematological and biochemical parameters were investigated in 163 ischemic stroke patients (107 males and 56 females) selected based on imaging techniques including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scans. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS 16.0 software. Linear regression analysis showed a significant inverse relationship of hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit or packed cell volume (PCV) (P<0.001 for females; P<0.01 for males) with the ESR. It was observed that the red blood cell (RBC) count was not strongly correlated with the ESR (P<0.05 for both males and females). It was also observed that sex significantly affected the variables determining the ESR levels, whereas age had no effect. Gender differences were also observed with respect to Hb, RBC, PCV, mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and ESR. The possible determinants of higher ESR levels in ischemic stroke may be sex, Hb, hematocrit, and RBC count, but the role of other clinical and laboratory parameters cannot be underestimated.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.179-186
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• 2005

The purpose of this paper was to concisely review the practical changes in MeHg concentrations in fetus and offspring throughout gestation and suckling from our recent animal and human studies. In the animal study, adult female rats were given a diet containing 5ug/g Hg (as MeHg) for 8 weeks. Then they were mated and subsequently given the same diet throughout gestation and suckling. On embryonic days 18, 20, 22 and at parturition, the concentrations of Hg in the brains of fetus were approximately 1.5-2.0 times higher than those in the mothers. However, during the suckling period Hg concentrations in the brain rapidly declined to about 1/10 of that during late pregnancy. Hg concentrations in blood also decreased rapidly after birth. In human study, Hg concentrations in red blood cells (RBC-Hg) in 16 pairs of maternal and umbilical cord blood samples were compared at birth and 3 months of age after parturition. RBC-Hg in the umbilical cords was about 1.6 times higher than those in the mothers at parturition. However, all the infants showed declines in Hg concentrations throughout the breast-feeding period. RBC-Hg at 3 months of age was about half that at birth. Both the animal and human studies indicated that MeHg exposure to the fetus might be especially high but it dramatically decreases during the suckling period. Therefore, close attention should be paid to the gestation rather than the breast-feeding period to avoid the risk of MeHg to human infants.

• Journal of the Optical Society of Korea
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.78-87
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• 2016

Red blood cells (RBCs) are customarily adhered to a bio-functionalised substrate to make them stationary in interferometric phase-imaging modalities. This can make them susceptible to receive alterations in innate morphology due to their own weight. Optical tweezers (OTs) often driven by Gaussian profile of a laser beam is an alternative modality to overcome contact-induced perturbation but at the same time a steeply focused laser beam might cause photo-damage. In order to address both the photo-damage and substrate adherence induced perturbations, we were motivated to stabilize the RBC in OTs by utilizing a laser beam of ‘arbitrary intensity profile’ generated by a source having cavity imperfections per se. Thus the immobilized RBC was investigated for phase-imaging with sinusoidal interferograms generated by a compact and robust Michelson interferometer which was designed from a cubic beam splitter having one surface coated with reflective material and another adjacent coplanar surface aligned against a mirror. Reflected interferograms from bilayers membrane of a trapped RBC were recorded and analyzed. Our phase-imaging set-up is limited to work in reflection configuration only because of the availability of an upright microscope. Due to RBC’s membrane being poorly reflective for visible wavelengths, quantitative information in the signal is weak and therefore, the quality of experimental results is limited in comparison to results obtained in transmission mode by various holographic techniques reported elsewhere.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.59-66
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• 2007

Three dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationships (3D-QSARs) on the fungicidal activity of N-phenyl-O-phenylthionocarbamate analogues against resistant and sensitive gray mold (Botrytis cinerea) (RBC & SBC) were studied quantitatively using CoMFA and CoMSIA methods. The correlation coefficient and predict- ability of optimized CoMFA model with the atom based fit alignment were better ($r^2$ & $q^2=CoMFA{\gg}CoMSIA$) than that of CoMSIA model. And statistical values of the models on the fungicidal activity against SBC were showed higher ($r^2=SBC{\gg}RBC$) than that of RBC. In CoMFA models, steric field on the activity was more influenced than electrostatic field. And in case of CoMSIA models, the influence of CoMSIA field on the activity against RBC and SBC was differ from each other but the influence of H-bond donor field was same to the two fungi. It is revealed that the selectivity factor with CoMFA model on the fungicidal activity between the two fungi was caused on the difference of steric field. Therefore, it is predicted that the large steric field with meta- and para-substituents on the N-phenyl ring will be improved to the fungicidal activity with SBC.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.387-394
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• 2007

Despite geographic barriers such as oceans, many freshwater algal species inhabit different continents of the world. A unicellular freshwater alga, Mallomonas caudeata, commonly occurring in Asia, Europe, and America of the northern Hemisphere, is closely related to human life such as monitoring blooms and defecting changes in climates. In order to demonstrate its occurrence in Korea and to infer its phylogeny, we sequenced nuclear SSU and plastid rbcL genes from isolates collected in six different reservoirs. We have also investigated transmission electron microscopy of the Korean isolates. SSU sequences of the species from Korea and USA were almost identical, having pair-wise divergences of 0.06% in SSU and 0.45% in rbcL. Both gene trees revealed that the species was clearly separated from other species of the genus, while the genus was not monophyletic. Rhizoplasts are composed of microfibrils organised in striated rootlets attached to the multilayered plate of basal bodies and arranged on the surface of the nucleus at their distal ends. The rhizoplast constitutes a basal body-nucleus connector similar to that of typical Synurophyceas. The results that Mallomonas was not supported by both SSU and rbeL data sets require a further study with additional taxon sampling.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.59 no.2
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• pp.100-103
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• 2016

Patients with hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) can rapidly develop profound anemia as the disease progresses, as a consequence of red blood cell (RBC) hemolysis and inadequate erythropoietin synthesis. Therefore, RBC transfusion should be considered in HUS patients with severe anemia to avoid cardiac or pulmonary complications. Most patients who are Jehovah's Witnesses refuse blood transfusion, even in the face of life-threatening medical conditions due to their religious convictions. These patients require management alternatives to blood transfusions. Erythropoietin is a glycopeptide that enhances endogenous erythropoiesis in the bone marrow. With the availability of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO), several authors have reported its successful use in patients refusing blood transfusion. However, the optimal dose and duration of treatment with rHuEPO are not established. We report a case of a 2-year-old boy with diarrhea-associated HUS whose family members are Jehovah's Witnesses. He had severe anemia with acute kidney injury. His lowest hemoglobin level was 3.6 g/dL, but his parents refused treatment with packed RBC transfusion due to their religious beliefs. Therefore, we treated him with high-dose rHuEPO (300 IU/kg/day) as well as folic acid, vitamin B12, and intravenous iron. The hemoglobin level increased steadily to 7.4 g/dL after 10 days of treatment and his renal function improved without any complications. To our knowledge, this is the first case of successful rHuEPO treatment in a Jehovah's Witness child with severe anemia due to HUS.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.1-8
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• 2020

Objectives : Angelicae gigas, A. sinensis and A. acutiloba are three types of plants used as Angelicae Radix (Dang-Gui). Many doctors of Korean medicine want to know the difference in clinical use of these three species. This study aimed to compare the hemoglobin-related activity of the extracts of Angelicae gigas, A. sinensis and A. acutiloba roots by measuring the intensity of binding oxygen to hemoglobin using Raman spectroscopy. Methods : Hemoglobin activity was measured by chemical analysis and Raman spectroscopy to compare the pharmaceutical efficacy of three Angelica root extracts. The oxygenated hemoglobin intensity, blood decursinol and acetylcholinestrase(AChE) concentration in mice were measured. In addition, the effects of three Angelica root extracts on oxygenated hemoglobin intensity, decursinol and AChE concentration in red blood cells (RBC) from human were also investigated. Results : The contents of decursin, decursinol and decursinol angelate, which affected physiological activity and RBC properties, were higher in the extract of A. gigas root than in those of A. sinensis and A. acutiloba roots. Moreover, oxygenated hemoglobin intensity in the A. gigas extract was higher than that of other two species in the blood of mice and human RBCs. Also, the blood decursinol and AChE concentrations of A. gigas root extract were higher than that of A. sinensis and A. acutiloba roots. Conclusions : These results suggest that A. gigas is more effective in treating disease related oxygen deficiency in RBC deformation under oxidative stress.

• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 2015

Chelating agents 1,4,7-triazacyclononanetriacetic acid (NOTA), 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) and 30-amino-3,14,25-trihydroxy-3,9,14,20,25-penta-azatriacontane-2,10,13,21,24-pentaone (desferrioxamine, DFO) were labeled with $^{68}Ga$ and tested in vitro properties to check the feasibility of using DFO as a bifunctional chelating agent or renal imaging agent. The chelating agents of concentration $2{\mu}M$ were labeled with $^{68}Ga$ in 0.1 M HCl at pH 1.7-10.3 at room temperature and $80^{\circ}C$ and the optimal pH for labeling each chelating agent was found. And then, the chelating agents were labeled with $^{68}Ga$ in various concentration of chelating agents at optimal pH. The labeled chelating agents were subject to stability test in human serum and to binding studies to human red blood cell (RBC) and plasma protein. The optimal pH's of NOTA, DOTA and DFO for $^{68}Ga$-labeling were 4.4, 3.6 and 5.6, respectively. DFO ($10{\mu}M$) showed high labeling efficiency (>97%) at pH 5.6. All the labeled chelating agents showed high stability in human serum. $^{68}Ga$-DFO showed low RBC binding but significant amount was bound to plasma protein. The results demonstrated that $^{68}Ga$-DFO can be used as a bifunctional chelating agent but not as a renal imaging agent.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.66-71
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• 2012

Cirsium japonicum var. ussuriense is often used in treatment of human disease such as hemorrhage, blood congestion and inflammation. This study was accomplished to evaluate the antioxidant properties of the leaf (CLE) and flower (CFE) extracts of C. japonicum var. ussuriense to protect normal human red blood cells (RBC) and plasma samples against oxidative damage in vitro. CLE and CFE were prepared by extracting with hot water. In red blood cells and plasma, oxidative hemolysis and lipid peroxidation induced by the aqueous peroxyl radical generator [2,2'-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride, AAPH] were significantly suppressed by CLE or CFE in a dose-dependent manner at the same time. CLE and CFE also prevented the depletion of cytosolic antioxidant glutathione (GSH) in RBC. These results suggest that the leaves and flowers of C. japonicum var. ussuriense may have the antioxidant properties.