• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.405-409
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• 2014

Objective : To determine the efficacy of endoscopic surgery in combination with long-acting somatostatin analogues (SSAs) in treating patients with growth hormone (GH)-secreting pituitary tumor. Methods : We performed retrospective analysis of 133 patients with GH producing pituitary adenoma who underwent pure endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery in our center from January 2007 to July 2012. Patients were followed up for a range of 3-48 months. The radiological remission, biochemical remission and complication were evaluated. Results : A total of 110 (82.7%) patients achieved radiological complete resection, 11 (8.2%) subtotal resection, and 12 (9.0%) partial resection. Eighty-eight (66.2%) patients showed nadir GH level less than 1 ng/mL after oral glucose administration. No mortality or severe disability was observed during follow up. Preoperative long-acting SSA successfully improved left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) and blood glucose in three patients who subsequently underwent success operation. Long-acting SSA (20 mg every 30 days) achieved biochemical remission in 19 out 23 (82.6%) patients who showed persistent high GH level after surgery. Conclusion : Endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery can biochemically cure the majority of GH producing pituitary adenoma. Post-operative use of SSA can improve biochemical remission.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.365-373
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• 1999

Somatostatin (SOM) is one of the major neuropeptides in dorsal root ganglion cells, but its role in spinal nociceptive process has not been well known. In present study we aimed to investigate the effect of SOM on the response of dorsal horn neurons to the various types of peripheral nociceptive stimuli in anesthetized cats. Using carbon-filament microelectrode, the single cell activities of wide dynamic range neurons were recorded from the lumbosacral enlargement after noxious mechanical (squeeze), thermal (radiant heat lamp) and cold (dry ice) stimulation to the receptive field. Sciatic nerve was stimulated electrically to evoke $A\;{\delta}-$ and C-nociceptive responses. SOM analogue, octreotide $(10\;{\mu}g/kg),$ was applied intravenously and the results were compared with those of morphine (2 mg/kg, MOR). Systemic SOM decreased the cellular responses to the noxious heat and the mechanical stimulation, but increased those to the cold stimulation. In the responses to the electric stimuli of sciatic nerve, $A\;{\delta}-nociceptive$ response was increased by SOM, while C-nociceptive response was decreased. On the other hand, MOR inhibited the dorsal horn cell responses to all the noxious stimuli. From the above results, it is concluded that SOM suppresses the transmission of nociceptive heat and mechanical stimuli, especially via C-fiber, while it facilitates those of nociceptive cold stimuli via $A\;{\delta}-fiber$.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.251-254
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• 2010

The formation of acylated peptide impurities in poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) formulations is one of the major challenges to the development of successful sustained-release product. Octreotide, synthetic analogue of somatostatin, has been identified to be acylated in PLGA microsphere formulations. The purpose of this study was to investigate the pH effect on the formation of acylated octreotides by PLGA. In the incubation with PLGA in 0.1 M phosphate buffer at pH 7.4, approximately 98% of octreotide adsorbed to PLGA through 14 days and 66.3% of acylated octreotides were produced after 42 days, whereas the interaction of octreotide with PLGA was significantly inhibited in the incubation at pH 4, in which the acylated octreotides were observed to be 9.2% after 42 days. In the interaction study at pH 4.1-7.4, the production of acylated octreotides was demonstrated to be dependent on environmental pH. Below pH 5.0, the acylation of octreotide was significantly inhibited. This study indicates that the pH is the major factor for the formation of acylated octreotide in PLGA formulations.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.91-94
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of peptide charge on the interaction between peptide and poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) for evaluating mechanism of acylated peptide formation in PLGA matrix. As a model peptide, octreotide, a synthetic somatostatin analogue and active ingredient of commercial PLGA product, was used. The disulfide group of octreotide was reduced with dithiothreitol and the sulfhydryl groups were modified with N-${\beta}$-maleimidopropionic acid (BMPA) to neutralize octreotide with positive charge in physiological conditions. The BMPA-conjugated octreotide was identified by measuring the molecular mass with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. In the interaction study with PLGA, native octreotide showed initial adsorption to PLGA and substantial production of acylated peptides (56% of overall peptide), whereas BMPA-conjugated octreotide showed minimal adsorption to PLGA and no acylation products for 42 days. Consequently, the neutralization of octreotide completely inhibited the peptide acylation by preventing interaction of peptide with PLGA. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that the initial polymer interaction of peptide is important step for peptide acylation in PLGA matrix and suggests the modulation of peptide charge as strategy for inhibiting the formation of acylated peptide impurities.