• Environmental Engineering Research
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• 제14권3호
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• pp.186-194
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• 2009

Understanding the environmental fate of human and animal pharmaceuticals and their risk assessment are of great importance due to their growing environmental concerns. Although there are many potential pathways for them to reach the environment, effluents from sewage treatment plants (STPs) are recognized as major point sources. In this study, the removal efficiencies of the 43 selected priority pharmaceuticals in a conventional STP were evaluated using two simple models: an equilibrium partitioning model (EPM) and STPWIN$^{TM}$ program developed by US EPA. It was expected that many pharmaceuticals are not likely to be removed by conventional activated sludge processes because of their relatively low sorption potential to suspended sludge and low biodegradability. Only a few pharmaceuticals were predicted to be easily removed by sorption or biodegradation, and hence a conventional STP may not protect the environment from the release of unwanted pharmaceuticals. However, the prediction made in this study strongly relies on sorption coefficient to suspended sludge and biodegradation half-lives, which may vary significantly depending on models. Removal efficiencies predicted using the EPM were typically higher than those predicted by STPWIN for many hydrophilic pharmaceuticals due to the difference in prediction method for sorption coefficients. Comparison with experimental organic carbon-water partition coefficients ($K_{ocs}) revealed that log KOW-based estimation used in STPWIN is likely to underestimate sorption coefficients, thus resulting low removal efficiency by sorption. Predicted values by the EPM were consistent with limited experimental data although this model does not include biodegradation processes, implying that this simple model can be very useful with reliable Koc values. Because there are not many experimental data available for priority pharmaceuticals to evaluate the model performance, it should be important to obtain reliable experimental data including sorption coefficients and biodegradation rate constants for the prediction of the fate of the selected pharmaceuticals.

• 한국한의학연구원논문집
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• 제6권1호
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• pp.89-98
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• 2000

Cerebral ischemia, the most prevalent form of clinical stroke, is a medical problem of the first magnitude. Substantial efforts are being made to develop drugs which will protect the brain from the neurodegeneration followed by an ischemic stroke. A key factor in this process is the development of animal models that mimic the neuropathological consequences of stroke. Recently, there is increasing an evidence that free radical is involved in the mechanisms of ischemic brain damage. We investigated the macro scale gene expression analysis on the global ischemia induced by 4-vessel occlusion in Wister rats. The recent availability of microarrays provides an attractive strategy for elaborating an unbiased molecular profile of large number of genes during ischemic injury. This experimental approach offers the potential to identify molecules or cellular pathways not previously associated with ischemia. Ischemia was induced by 4-vessel occlusion for 10 minutes and reperfused again. RNA from sham control brain and time-dependent ischemed brain were hybridized to microarrays containing 4,000 rat genes. 589 genes were found to be at least 2 fold regulated at one or more time points. These survey data provide the foundation studies that should provide convincing proof for ischemia and oxidative stress on gene expression.

• Journal of the Optical Society of Korea
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.69-73
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• 2015

The mesothelium is an essential lining for maintaining the normal homeostasis of the closed body cavity and a central component of pathophysiologic processes. The mesothelium has been known as the end target for asbestos which induces asbestos-related lung diseases. Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a rare and fatal neoplasm predominantly due to asbestos exposure. Adaptation of an advanced and reliable technology is necessary for early detection of MM because it is difficult to diagnose this disease in its early stages. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) provides cross-sectional images of micro-tissue structures with a resolution of $2-10{\mu}m$ that can image the mesothelium with a thickness of ${\sim}100{\mu}m$ and, therefore, enable investigation of early development of MM. The mesothelium is typically located at the pleura and tunica vaginalis of the scrotum. In this study, we developed animal window models in the above two anatomical sites to visualize mesothelial layers within the mesothelium. OCT images at the two locations were also acquired.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제33권7호
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• pp.541-546
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• 2000

배경; 심막유착은 심장을 재수술하는 경우 큰 문제가 된다. 이 연구의 목적은 실험적 심막유착에서 sodium carboxymethyl cellulose의 효과를 관찰한 것이다. 대상 및 방법; 24마리의 토끼들을 12마리씩 2군으로 나누어 심막에 찰과상을 가하여 심막중피에 손상을 주었다. A군은 링거액을 주었고 B군은 3% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose액을 주었다. 수술 3주후에 A군과 B군의 유착정도를 비교하였다. 결과; 심막유착의 정도를 점도와 형태로 평가하였다. 점도에 따른 점수는 3이상일 경우 임상적으로 유착이 있다고 판단하였다. 대조군인 A군에서는 100%유착을 보였으나 연구군인 B군에서는 25% 의 심막유착을 나타냈다. (p<0.0001). 형태에 따른 점수도 두군사이에 유의성을 나타냈다. 결론; 3% sodium carboxymethyl celluosedor을 심막내로 주임하는 것은 동물실험에서 심막유착의 빈도를 감소시켰다.

• 농약과학회지
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• 제8권4호
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• pp.239-254
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• 2004

2년 발암성 독성시험의 실시와 평가에 대해서는 많은 논란이 있었다. 2년 발암성 시험의 유용성에 대한 많은 비판에도 불구하고 설치류를 이용한 발암성 시험은 사람의 발암성을 예측 할 수 있는 유일한 평가 시스템으로 인식되어 있으며, 아직 이를 대체할 만한 평가 방법은 없다고 할 수도 있다. 그간 규제기관과 학계에서는 다양한 발암성 평가모델을 제시해 왔지만 이런 시험 모델들이 과학적 타당성과 검증된 데이터에 근거하는지에 대해서는 논란이 있다. 2년 설치류 발암성 시험에 제기되는 문제들 즉, 종 및 품종의 선택, 용량설정, 시험기간, 군당 동물의 수, 배경병변, 검사항목, 시험 종료시 측정항목, 병리의 피어리뷰, 통계, 대체시험 모델, 종양의 평가, 그리고 위해성 평가 등에 대하여 검토하였다.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.118-125
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• 2011

Free radical scavenging and antioxidants have attracted attention as a way to prevent the progression of Parkinson's disease (PD). This study was carried out to investigate the effects of n-hexane fraction from Laurus nobilis L. (Lauraceae) leaves (HFL) on dopamine (DA)-induced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and apoptosis in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Compared with apomorphine (APO, $IC_{50}=18.1\;{\mu}M$) as a positive control, the HFL $IC_{50}$ value for DA-induced apoptosis was $3.0\;{\mu}g/ml$, and two major compounds from HFL, costunolide and dehydrocostus lactone, were $7.3\;{\mu}M$ and $3.6\;{\mu}M$, respectively. HFL and these major compounds significantly inhibited ROS generation in DA-induced SH-SY5Y cells. A rodent 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) model of PD was employed to investigate the potential neuroprotective effects of HFL in vivo. 6-OHDA was injected into the substantia nigra of young adult rats and an immunohistochemical analysis was conducted to quantitate the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive neurons. HFL significantly inhibited 6-OHDA-induced TH-positive cell loss in the substantia nigra and also reduced DA induced $\alpha$-synuclein (SYN) formation in SH-SY5Y cells. These results indicate that HFL may have neuroprotective effects against DA-induced in vitro and in vivo models of PD.

• 생약학회지
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• 제37권1호통권144호
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• pp.28-32
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• 2006

Hepatoprotective effects of an aqueous extract prepared from the aerial part of Agrimonia eupatoria L., a species of agrimmony, were investigated in experimental liver-damaged models. To investigate hepatoprotective effects, the agrimmony extract were fed orally to experimental animals. Thereafter a single dose of hepatotoxin, carbon tetrachloride $(CCl_4)$ or D-galac-tosamine was orally administrated. Chronic liver damage was induced by oral administration of $CCl_4$ for 2 weeks (1 time/day). Hepatoprotective effects were monitored by estimating serum AST and ALT levels. The results showed that the agrimmony extract significantly reduced AST and ALT levels compared with those of control group in both acute and chronic animal models. It was concluded that the agrimmony extract have hepatoprotective effects against rat liver injury induced by $CCl_4$ or D-galactosamine.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.50-56
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• 2012

WIN-34B showed analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects in various animal models of pain and osteoarthritis. However, the molecular mechanism by which WIN-34B inhibits pain and inflammation in vivo remains to be elucidated. We investigated the molecular mechanisms of the actions of WIN-34B using various in vitro models using fibroblast-like synoviocytes from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA FLSs), RAW264.7 cells and peritoneal macrophages. WIN-34B inhibited the level of IL-6, $PGE_2$, and MMP-13 in IL-$1{\beta}$-stimulated RA FLSs in a dose-dependent manner. The mRNA levels were also inhibited by WIN-34B. The level of $PGE_2$, NO, IL-$1{\beta}$, and TNF-${\alpha}$ were inhibited by WIN-34B at different concentrations in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. The production of NO and $PGE_2$ was inhibited by WIN-34B in a dose-dependent manner in LPS-stimulated peritoneal macrophages. All of these effects were comparable to the positive control, celecoxib or indomethacin. I${\kappa}B$B signaling pathways were inhibited by WIN-34B, and the migration of NF-${\kappa}B$ into the nucleus was inhibited, which is consistent with the degradation of $I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$. Taken together, the results suggest that WIN-34B has potential as a therapeutic drug to reduce pain and inflammation by inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory mediators.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.108-117
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• 2003

Objective : The central opioid mechanism of acupuncture analgesia has been fairly well documented in acute behavioral experiments, but little electrophysiological study has been performed on the peripheral mechanism and subtypes of opioid receptors responsible for acupuncture-induced antinociception in chronic animal models. In the present electrophysiological experiment, we studied the peripheral mechanism and opioid receptor subtypes which Were implicated in electroacupuncture-induced antinociception in the rat with chronic inflammatory and neurogenic pain. Methods : In the rat with complete Freund's adjuvant-induced inflammation and spinal nerve injury, dorsal horn cell responses to afferent C fiber stimulation were recorded before and after electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation applied to the contralateral Zusanli point for 30 minutes. Also studied Were the effects of specific opioid receptor antagonists and naloxone methiodide, which can not cross the blood-brain barrier, on EA-induced inhibitory action. Results : EA-induced inhibitory action was significantly attenuated by naloxone methiodide, suggesting that EA-induced inhibition was mediated through peripheral mechanism. Pretreatment, but not posttreatment of naltrexone and spinal application significantly blocked EA-induced inhibitory actions. In inflammatory and neurogenic pain models, ${\mu}-$ and ${\delta}-opioid$ receptor antagonists (${\beta}-funaltrexamine$ & naltrindole) significantly reduced EA-induced inhibitory action, but ${\kappa}-opioid$ receptor antagonist had weak inhibitory effect on EA-induced antinociception. Conclusion : These results suggest that 2Hz EA-stimulation induced antinoeiceptive action is mediated through peripheral as well as central mechanism, and mainly through ${\mu}-$ and ${\delta}-opioid$ receptors.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제43권6호
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• pp.539-550
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• 2020

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a fatal malignant tumor that is characterized by diffusive growth of tumor cells into the surrounding brain parenchyma. However, the diffusive nature of GBM and its relationship with the tumor microenvironment (TME) is still unknown. Here, we investigated the interactions of GBM with the surrounding microenvironment in orthotopic xenograft animal models using two human glioma cell lines, U87 and LN229. The GBM cells in our model showed different features on the aspects of cell growth rate during their development, dispersive nature of glioma tumor cells along blood vessels, and invasion into the brain parenchyma. Our results indicated that these differences in the two models are in part due to differences in the expression of CXCR4 and STAT3, both of which play an important role in tumor progression. In addition, the GBM shows considerable accumulation of resident microglia and peripheral macrophages, but polarizes differently into tumor-supporting cells. These results suggest that the intrinsic factors of GBM and their interaction with the TME determine the diffusive nature and probably the responsiveness to non-cancer cells in the TME.