• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.255-262
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• 2005

Striatum is involved in the control of movement and habitual memory. It receives glutamatergic input from wide area of the cerebral cortex as well as an extensive serotonergic (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) input from the raphe nuclei. In our study, the effects of 5-HT on synaptic transmission were studied in the rat corticostriatal brain slice using in vitro whole-cell recording technique. 5-HT inhibited the amplitude as well as frequency of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSC) significantly, and neither ${\gamma}-aminobutyric$ acid (GABA)A receptor antagonist bicuculline (BIC), nor $N-methyl-_{D}-aspartate$ (NMDA) receptor antagonist, $_{DL}-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric$ acid (AP-V) could block the effect of 5-HT. In the presence non-NMDA receptor antagonist, 2,3-dioxo-6-nitro-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrobenxo[f] quinoxaline-7-sulfonamide (NBQX), the inhibitory effect of 5-HT was blocked. We also figured out that 5-HT change the channel kinetics of the sEPSC. There was a significant increase in the rise time during the 5-HT application. Our results suggest that 5-HT has an effect on both pre- and postsynaptic site with decreasing neurotransmitter release probability of glutamate and decreasing the sensitivity to glutamate by increasing the rise time of non-NMDA receptor mediated synaptic transmission in the corticostriatal synapses.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.40-44
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• 2010

North Korea's discharge of water from a dam into the Imjin River that flows through the inter-Korean border swept away a riverside camping site early Sunday morning, killing six people. This tragic incident might have been prevented if the North had given prior notice of the release from its Hwanggang Dam to the South. Investigations are under way to determine the reasons behind the unexpected act. This incident was a man-made disaster not least death of six people. A water level monitoring system(WLMS) of the Imjin River was installed the bridge of Pilseung that operate three public institutions. The WLMS of the A institution set up warning siren and broadcasting as the water level has been rising the bridge of Pilseung in the Imjin River. But the A institution's system was already out of side before discharged of water a dam into the Imjin River and the operators were culpable negligence. The B institution's office employee on charges of negligence that might have contributed to the tragedy and one of the A institution's employees ignored 26 warning messages on the WLMS. This tragic incident was a man-made disaster not least death of six people and might have been prevented if the WLMS was normally operated and the system operators must be worked a tight.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.439-445
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• 1999

This study is to investigate the mechanism of inhibitory effect of imipramine on the calcium utilization in single cells isolated from canine detrusor. 2 mm thick smooth muscle chops were incubated in 0.12% collagenase solution at $36^{circ}C,$ and aerated with 95% $O_2/5%\;CO_2,$ and then cell suspension was examined. Acetylcholine (ACh) evoked a concentration-dependent contraction of the isolated detrusor cells in normal physiologic salt solution (PSS), and the ACh-induced contraction was significantly inhibited by imipramine. In $Ca^{2+}-free$ PSS, ACh-induced contraction was less than those in normal PSS and it was not affected by the pretreatment with imipramine. $Ca^{2+}-induced$ contraction in $Ca^{2+}-free$ PSS was supressed by imipramine, but addition of A 23187, a calcium ionophore, overcomed the inhibitory effect of imipramine. High potassium-depolarization (40 mM KCl) evoked cell contraction, which was inhibited by imipramine. Caffeine, a releasing agent of the stored $Ca^{2+}$ from sarcoplasmic reticulum, evoked a contraction of the cells that was not blocked by the pretreatment with imipramine. These results suggest that imipramine inhibits the influx of calcium in the detrusor cells through both the receptor-operated- and voltage-gated-calcium channels, but does not affect the release of calcium from intracellular storage site.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• v.1
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• pp.52-55
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• 2006

It's used to be said that tsunami is a rare event. The recurrence time of tsunami in Sumatra area is approximately 230 years as CalTech Research Group‘s study from paleocoral. However, the tsunami occurred in Indian Ocean on 26 December 2004, 28 March 2005 and 17 July 2006, because the earthquakes still release the energy. To cope with the tsunami disaster, we have to put the much effort on better disaster preparedness. The Tsunami Reduction Of Impacts through three Key Actions (TROIKA) was suggested by Eddie N. Bernard, the director of NOAA/PMEL (Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory). They are Hazard Assessment, Mitigation and Warning Guidance. The satellite remote sensing has potential on these actions. The medium and high resolution satellite data were used to assess the degree of damage at the six-damaged provinces on the Andaman seacoast of Thailand. Fast and reliable interpretation of the damage by remote sensing method can be used for inundation mapping, rehabilitation and housing plans for the victims. For tsunami mitigation, the satellite data can be used with GIS to construct the evacuation map (evacuation route and refuge site) and coastal zone management. It is also helpful for educational program for local residents and school systems. Tsunami is a kind of ocean wave, therefore any satellite sensors such as SAR, Altimeter, MODIS, Landsat, SPOT, IKONOS can detect the tsunami wave in 2004. The satellite images have shown the characteristics of tsunami wave approaching the coast. For warning, satellite data has potential for early warning to detect the tsunami wave in deep ocean, if there are enough satellite constellation to monitor and detect the first tsunami wave like the pressure gauge, seismograph and tide gauge with the DART buoy can do. Moreover, the new methods should be developed to analyse the satellite data more faster for early warning procedure.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.293-299
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• 2014

The bentonite, a buffer material, is essential for the deep geological disposal of HLW (high-level radioactive waste), and it is important to know its characteristic long-term evolution in the underground environment. With an assumption that the concentration of aqueous copper ions will increase if copper-coated materials on a metal canister are corroded, we examined some characteristic ion-exchanges and cation release phenomena occurring in the bentonite clay (montmorillonite) interacted with aqueous Cu cations. During the interaction between dissolved copper and bentonite, Na rather than Ca cations in the expandable clay were preferentially replaced by Cu ions in the experiment. In addition, the Cu-exchanged montmorillonite was characterized by an asymmetric X-ray diffracted pattern with relatively collapsed interlayers compared to the raw sample. These results indicate that the gradual change of the original bentonite property may occur in a underground disposal condition. We are going to further study the characteristic chemical and mineralogical changes of the bentonite buffer to be used for the disposal site by conducting additional experiments.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.10 no.1 s.30
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• pp.38-42
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• 2006

In this study, a simulation technology for refrigeration cycle which can liquefy and store liquified petroleum gas (LPG) using pure propane as a refrigerant has been introduced. Cooling water as the second cooling medium was used for the liquefaction of propane. Peng-Robinson equation of state was used for the entire refrigeration cycle. A new alpha formulation proposed by Twu et al. was used for the more accurate prediction of vapor pressures of pure propane component and LPG constituents. API method for the accurate estimation of liquid densities of propane and LPG was used instead of using Peng-Robinson equation of state. PRO/II with PROVISION release 7.1, a general purpose chemical process simulator was used for the simulation of the overall refrigeration system. Through this work, we can successfully simulate the real propane refrigeration plant operating at domestic site.

• BMB Reports
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.116-126
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• 2002

Nitric oxide (NO), synthesized from L-arginine by NO synthases, is a small, lipophilic, diffusible, highly reactive molecule with dichotomous regulatory roles in many biological events under physiological and pathological conditions. NO can promote apoptosis (pro-apoptosis) in some cells, whereas it inhibits apoptosis (anti-apoptosis) in other cells. This complexity is a consequence of the rate of NO production and the interaction with biological molecules such as metal ion, thiol, protein tyrosine, and reactive oxygen species. Long-lasting overproduction of NO acts as a pro-apoptotic modulator, activating caspase family proteases through the release of mitochondrial cytochrome c into cytosol, up-regulation of the p53 expression, and alterations in the expression of apoptosis-associated proteins, including the Bcl-2 family. However, low or physiological concentrations of NO prevent cells from apoptosis that is induced by the trophic factor withdrawal, Fas, $TNF{\alpha}$/ActD, and LPS. The anti-apoptotic mechanism is understood on the basis of gene transcription of protective proteins. These include: heat shock protein, hemeoxygenase, or cyclooxygenase-2 and direct inhibition of the apoptotic executive effectors caspase family protease by S-nitrosylation of the cysteine thiol group in their catalytic site in a cell specific way. Our current understanding of the mechanisms by which NO exerts both pro- and anti-apototic action is discussed in this review article.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.227-231
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• 2014

Cimicifuga heracleifolia extract (CHE) was investigated for its effects on the release of nitric oxide (NO) and at the level of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene expression in mouse macrophages. We found that C. heracleifolia elicited a dose-dependent increase in NO production and the level of iNOS mRNA. Since, iNOS transcription has been shown to be under the control of the transcription factor $NF-{\kappa}B$, the effects of CHE on $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation were examined. Transient expression assays with $NF-{\kappa}B$ binding sites linked to the luciferase gene revealed that the increased level of iNOS mRNA, induced by CHE, was mediated by the $NF-{\kappa}B$ transcription factor complex. By using DNA fragments containing the $NF-{\kappa}B$ binding sequence, CHE was shown to activate the protein/DNA binding of $NF-{\kappa}B$ to its cognate site, as measured by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. These results demonstrate that C. heracleifolia stimulates NO production and is able to up-regulate iNOS expression through $NF-{\kappa}B$ transactivation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.1508-1515
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• 1992

Between 1975 and 1992, forty five patients with trachea stenosis received tracheoplasty for relief of obstruction. The causes of airway problem are brain contusion[19 cases, 40%], cerebrovascular disease[3 cases, 7%], drug intoxication[8 cases, 18%], psychotic problem[2 cases, 4%], trachea tumor[3 cases, 7%], adult respiratory distress syndrome[9 cases, 20%] and direct trauma[1 case, 2%]. Direct causes of trachea stenosis were complications of tracheostomy[36 cases, 80%], complications of nasotracheal intubation[5 cases, 11%], tumor[3 cases, 6%] and trauma[1 case, 2%]. Thirty one patients underwent the sleeve resection and end-to-end anastomosis. Five patients performed a wedge resection and end-to-end anastomosis. Forteen patients received the Montgomery T-tube for relief of airway obstruction. Four patients have done simple excision of granulation tissue. Two, subglottic stenosis patients were received Rethi procedure[anterior division of cricoid cartilage, wedge partial resection of lower thyroid cartilage and Montgomery T-tube molding] and the other subglottic stenosis patient underwent permanent trachea fenestration. Including cervical flexion in all patients postoperatively, additional surgical techniques for obtain tension-free anastomosis were hyoid bone release technique in two cases, and hilar mobilization, division of inferior pulmonary ligament and mobilization of pulmonary vessel at the pericardium were performed in one case. Cervical approach was used in 39 cases, cervicomediastinal in 12 cases and transthoracic in one case. Complications of tracheoplasty were formation of granulation tissue at the anastomosis site[3 cases], restenosis[9 cases], trachea-innominate artery fistula[2 cases], wound infection[2 cases], separation of anastomosis[2 cases], air leakage[3 cases], injury to a recurrent laryngeal nerve[temporary 8 cases, permanent 2 cases] and hypoxemia[1 case]. Surgical mortality for resection with primary reconstruction was 6.7%, with one death due to postoperative respiratory failure and two deaths due to tracheo-innominate artery fistula.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1998.11a
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• pp.108-113
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• 1998

Egasyn is accessory protein of ${\beta}$-glucuronidase(${\beta}$-G) in the liver microsomes. Liver microsomal ${\beta}$-G is stabilized within the luminal site of the microsomal vesicles by complexation with egasyn which is one of carboxylesterase isozymes. We investigated the effects of organophosphorus compounds(OPs) such as insecticides on the dissociation of egasyn-${\beta}$-glucuronidase(EG) complex. The EG complex was easily dissociated by administration of OPs, i.e., Fenitrothion, EPN, Phenthionate, and bis-p-nitrophenyl phosphate(BNPP), and resulting ${\beta}$-G dissociated was released into blood, leading to the rapid and transient increase of plasma ${\beta}$-G level with a concomitant decrease of liver microsomal ${\beta}$-G level. In a case of phenthionate treatment, less increase in plasma ${\beta}$-G level was observed, as compared with those of other OPs. This may be explained by a fact that phenthionate was easily hydrolyzed by carboxylesterase. Similarly, carbamate insecticides such as Carbaryl caused rapid increase of plasma ${\beta}$-G level. In contrast, no significant increase of plasma ${\beta}$-G level was observed when pyrethroid insecticides were administered to rats. This is due to a fact that pyrethroids such as Phenthrin and Allethrin were easily hydrolyzed by A-esterase as well as carboxylesterase. On the other hand, addition of OPs to the incubation mixture containing liver microsomes caused the release of ${\beta}$-G from microsomes to the medium. From these in vivo and in vitro data, it is concluded that increase of the plasma ${\beta}$-G level after OPs administration is much more sensitive biomarker than cholinesterase inhibition to acute intoxication of OPs and carbamates.