• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.17-21
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• 2010

Objectives : The aim of this study was to evaluate the differential mechnism of vasodilation of alcohol steamed Rhei Tangutici Radix et Rhizoma. (ART) and Rhei Tangutici Radix et Rhizoma. (RT) in rat thoracic aorta. Methods : Rat aortic ring preparations were mounted in organ baths with oxygenated (95% $O_2$-5% $CO_2$) Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate solutions at $37{\pm}0.5^{\circ}C$ and subjected to contractions or relaxations. Results : ART exerted vasorelaxation on phenylephrine(PE)-induced contraction in a dose dependent manner. Vasorelaxation effects of ART and RT were endothelium-independent. In the $Ca^{2+}$-free high KCl (60 mM) baths, the contraction of aortic rings induced by accumulative addition of $Ca^{2+}$ (0.3-10.0 mM) was significantly reduced by pre-treatment with both ART and RT for 10 min. The magnitude of vasodilatation was biggerin ART. Moreover, verapamil ($0.001{\mu}M$) and diltiazem ($10{\mu}M$), voltage operative $Ca^{2+}$channel blockers, attenuated the relaxation effect of ART but not that of RT. In the absence of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$, pre-incubation of the aortic rings with RT ($1.0mg/m{\ell}$) significantly reduced the contraction caused by PE but not that of ART. $K^+$ channel inhibitors such as glibenclamide (Gli, $10^{-5}M$), tetraethylammonium (TEA, 1 mM) and 4-aminopyridine (4-AP, 0.2 mM) significantly reduced the ART's vasorelaxation efficacy, but not that of RT. However, the relaxation effects of ART and RT were not inhibited by pre-treatment with indomethacin ($10^{-5}M$), and atropine ($10^{-6}M$). Conclusions : These results suggest that the endothelium-independent relaxation is due to inhibition of $Ca^{2+}$ influx via the suppression of $Ca^{2+}$ release from intracelluar store in RT but via both voltage operative $Ca^{2+}$channel blockage and $K^+$ channel activation in ART.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Emergency Medicine
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.671-678
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• 2018

Objective: This study examined the predictive factors for prolonged length of stays of adult patients with acute appendicitis (AA) in an emergency department (ED). Methods: This was a retrospectively clinical study including patients in an ED. All patients were diagnosed from the clinical symptoms and a typical physical examination, and had undergone a computed tomography (CT) evaluation on the ED visiting date. All data were collected from the electrical medical records. The clinical parameters analyzed were the laboratory data, including the white blood cell count with differential values, C-reactive protein (CRP) level, initial vital signs, duration of admission, coexisting perforation of the appendix in the CT findings. The relationship between the clinical parameters and length of stay was assessed. Results: A total of 547 patients with AA were enrolled in this study. Among them, there were 270 male patients with a mean age of $40.7{\pm}15.8years$. The baseline characteristics, initial clinical features, laboratory, and imaging studies results of 129 patients in the prolonged length of stay (pLOS) group, and 418 patients of the non-pLOS group in AA were compared. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed the predictive factors related to pLOS in AA to be as follows: age 40 years or older, body temperature over $37.3^{\circ}C$, CRP level greater than 5.0 mg/dL, and evidence of perforation in CT findings (P<0.001). Conclusion: If we check age, fever, CRP level and find evidence of perforation, it might be helpful for predicting the increasing period of length of hospital stay for patients with AA in ED.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.36 no.3 s.104
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• pp.235-241
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• 2003

The effect of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on the characteristics of algae-derived dissolved organic matter (DOM) was examined by comparing the biodegradability and DOM fraction distribution of algal DOM before and after UV exposure. Algal DOM from two axenic cultures of Microcystis aeruginosa and Oscillatoria agardhii were irradiated for 24 h at a UV intensity of 42 W/$m^2$. A complete degradation of algal DOM during the UV exposure did not occur, remaining at constant concentrations of dissolved organic carbon(DOC). After UV exposure, however, microbial degradations were reduced by 17% in M. aeruginosa and 53% in O. agardhii, respectively, and decomposition rates also were two times lower in UV exposed algal DOM. In addition, the chemical compositions of algal DOM altered substantially after UV radiation exposure. The proportions of hydrophilic bases (HiB; protein-like DOM) decreased considerably in both algal DOM sources after UV exposure (16.8% and 20.0% of DOM, respectively), whereas those of hydrophilic acids (HiA; carboxylic acids-like DOM) increased as much as the decrease of the HiB fraction. Capillary ion electrophoresis (CE) analysis showed that several carboxylic acids increased significantly after UV exposure, further confirming an increase in HiA fractions. The results of this study clearly indicate that algal DOM can be changed in its chemical composition as well as biodegradability without complete degradation by UV radiation.

• Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.118-130
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• 2005

This study was conducted to evaluate the spent composts of selenium-enriched mushrooms as a feed selenium Source. Total selenium (Se) contents and Se profiles in the spent mushroom composts (SMC) were determined. In addtion, we also investigated the metabolism in relation to Se accumulation in the mushroom. Mushrooms used in this study were Flammulina velutipes and Se enriched mushrooms were grown for 60 days by adding 2 mg of inorganic Se (Na₂SeO₃) per kg of mushroom composts (MC) on as-fed basis and it was compared with mushrooms not to add Se to the MC. Total Se contents for Se-treated mushrooms were significantly increased (P<0.0001) by 20-fold (4.51 ㎍/g of dry) compared to Se-untreated (0.23 ㎍/g of dry). On the contrary, organic Se proportion was significantly lower (P<0.0001) in the Se-treated mushroom (72.3%) than Se-untreated (100%, not analytically detected of inorganic Se). Se distribution upon a length in the Se-treated mushrooms was the highest in the bottom part (6.86 ㎍/g of dry) near to MC, and top and middle parts were significantly lower (3.71 and 3.01 ㎍/g of dry, respectively) than the bottom (P<0.001). In the SMC from Se-treated mushrooms, a high concentration of Se (5.04 ㎍/g of dry) was still remained, but that from Se-untreated mushrooms was significantly low (P<0.0001) as 0.08 ㎍/g of dry. Se-treated SMC showed a high rate of organic Se (65.67%), suggesting that most of inorganic Se in the SMC was converted to organic Se by mushroom mycelia, and Se-untreated SMC showed 100% of organic Se, not being detected of inorganic Se. Prior to mycelia inoculation in the mushroom culture, the sterilization of MC brought approximately 18% of Se loss in the MC. This result is in accordance with facts generally known that Se is weak in the high temperature and it is consequently volatilized under that condition. Apparent and net accumulation rates (%) for Se into mushrooms were 14.81 and 10.14%, respectively and their difference (4.67%) is considered that it is due to the volatilization into the air via metabolic process of mushroom itself. From the result of this study, inorganic Se addition to MC for mushroom improved the Se content in the mushroom and SMC from Se-enriched mushrooms contained a high concentration of Se. Mycelium and fruiting body from mushrooms converted inorganic Se in MC to organic Se, indicating a high proportion of organic Se in the mushroom and SMC. Therefore, Se in Se-enriched mushroom and SMC was recognized as Se sources of food for human as well as feed for livestock.