• Title/Summary/Keyword: actions and reactions

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Beneficial and adverse effects of toad venom, a traditional Oriental medicine

  • Xie Jing-Tian;Maleckar Spring A.;Yuan Chun-Su
    • Advances in Traditional Medicine
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    • v.2 no.1
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    • pp.28-35
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    • 2002
  • Toad venom, 'Chan su' in Chinese and 'somso' in Korean, is a well-known traditional oriental medicine obtained from the skin venom gland of the toad. Formulations of toad venom have been widely applied in China, Japan, Korea and other oriental countries for a long time. It is often found in traditional Chinese formulations, such as Jiuxin (or Kyushin in Japan), Yixin, Huoxin, Shexiang baoxin wan, Lu shen wan and Laryngitis pills. According to a pharmaceutical chemistry study, toad venom contains multiple biological active substances, such as bufalin, resibufogenin and cinobufagin. Modern pharmacological studies indicated that toad venom has multiple pharmacological actions, including acting as a cardiotonic, antitumor local anesthetic effects, stimulates the respiratory center, vasopressor action, anti-inflammatory and diuretic effects. Like other medications, toad venom also has certain toxicity and adverse effects, for example, inducing delayed afterdepolarization and triggered arrhythmia. The major chemical constituents, basic pharmacological actions and adverse reactions of toad venom are discussed in this article.

Hydrogen Peroxide produced by Two Amino Acid Oxidases Mediates Antibacterial Actions

  • Zhang Hongmin;Yang Qiuyue;Sun Mingxuan;Teng Maikun;Niu Liwen
    • Journal of Microbiology
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    • v.42 no.4
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    • pp.336-339
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    • 2004
  • The antibacterial actions of two amino acid oxidases, a D-amino acid oxidase from hog kidney and a L-amino acid oxidase from the venom of Agkistrodon halys, were investigated, demonstrating that both enzymes were able to inhibit the growth of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and that hydrogen peroxide, a product of their enzymatic reactions, was the antibacterial factor. However, hydrogen peroxide generated in the enzymatic reactions was not sufficient to explain the degree to which bacterial growth was inhibited. A fluorescence labeling assay showed that both of these two enzymes could bind to the surfaces of bacteria. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report regarding the antibacterial activity of the D-amino acid oxidases.

The Cytokines:An Overview (사이토카인의 소개)

  • Kim, Hee-Sun
    • Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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    • v.27 no.1
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    • pp.1-7
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    • 2010
  • Having an understanding of the properties of cytokines is essential for the immunologist, the researcher and the medical practitioner who need to understand immunologic diseases and immunological therapeutic approaches. Cytokines are redundant in their actions on target cells and promiscuous in their receptor reactions. (ED note: That is some cool use of English!) Moreover, many cells concomitantly produce several cytokines that have overlapping actions. Here this review provides conceptual framework to understand the intriguing aspects of the cytokine system.

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Effects of Panax ginseng on Type I Hypersensitivity (제1형 과민 반응에 미치는 고려인삼의 영향)

  • Kim, Young-Ran;Lee, Eun;Lee, Shee-Yong;Kim, Kyeong-Man
    • Journal of Ginseng Research
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    • v.20 no.1
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    • pp.1-6
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    • 1996
  • Effects of Panax ginseng on allergic reactions were studied uslng various in vivo and in vitro experimental models such as 48-hr passive cutaneous anaphylaxis, mediators-induced skin reactions, histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells, hexosaminidase release from RBL-2H3 cells, and lipoxygenase assay . In all of anti-allergic experiments we conducted, ginseng components (50% ethanol extract or ginseng total saponin or ginsenosides) extracted from Korean red ginseng, did not show significant anti-allergic actions. In 48-hr passive cutaneous anaphylaxis and mediators-induced skin reactions, 50% ethanol extract did not suppress hypersensitivity reactions. Total saponin, 50% ethanol extract, and 8 major ginsenosides did not show inhibitory effects on lipoxygeanse activity. Ginseng total saponin did not inhibit histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells. All of the ginseng components mentioned above were also tested on RBL-2H3 cells, but none of them inhibited hexosaminidase release from this cell line. These results suggest that Panax ginseng does not have effects on allergic reactions at the level of 50% ethanol extract or total saponin used. All of 8 major saponin components tested ($Rb_1$, $Rb_2$, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf, $Rg_1$, $Rg_2$), did not inhibit lipoxygenase activity and degranulation events.

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Effects of Panax ginseng on Immune Hypersensitivity

  • Lee, E.;Lee, S.-Y.;Kim, Y.-R.;Kim, K.-M.
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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    • 1995.04a
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    • pp.103-103
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    • 1995
  • There have been several reports regarding the effects of Panax ginseng on allergy reactions. However, they are very sporadic and no systemic yet. To study the effects of Panax ginseng on hypersensitivity, either ginseng total saponin (GTS, 200mg/kg, oral, two hours prior to experiments) or ethanol extract (50 and 200 mg/kg, oral, one week) was administered. Various parameters were employed to assess the anti-allergic actions of Panax ginseng 48hr passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA), skin reactions, histamine release from rat peritoneal mast eel Is, and lipoxygenase activity. In 48hr PCA, and in skin reactions induced by chemical mediators (histamine, serotonin) and mediator releaser (compound 48/80), Panax ginseng did not suppress sensitized immune functions, rather showed tendency to increase the histamine-induced vascular permeabi1ity. Panax ginseng did not inhibit lipoxygenase activity either.

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Organizational Liability for Adverse Reactions to the Contrast Media (조영제 부작용에 대한 조직책임)

  • Lim, Chang-Seon
    • Journal of radiological science and technology
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    • v.30 no.2
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    • pp.89-93
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    • 2007
  • Contrast medium is a very useful tool for X-ray examinations. But contrast medium has some unavoidable adverse reactions. For those patients who have never received contrast medium before, it is impossible to predict whether they will suffer from certain kinds of adverse reactions. Thus, radiologists should use strategies to minimize adverse events and be prepared to promptly recognize and manage any reactions to the contrast media. If a radiologist commits medical malpractice, he will face civil responsibility. Medical malpractice means a tort or breach of contract that occurs in a medical setting. Medical malpractices happen, despite the efforts of hospital staff. Many courts have applied the traditional doctrine of respondeat superior in actions against organizations for injuries caused by their employees. It is a legal doctrine, which states that an employer is responsible for employee actions performed within the course of the employment. A hospital is an organization for health purposes. An organization may be convicted of an offense committed by an employee of the organization acting in its behalf and within the scope of his office or employment. Organizational liability involves a wide variety of legal issues, including tort liability, wrongful employment practices, personal injury, breach of fiduciary duty, and so on. Many executive directors of organizations are aware of their personal and organizational risks of exposure to legal liabilities. The employer must have the right to control the physical conduct of the employee and must consent to receive the employee's services, while expecting some benefits from the services offered. Therefore, legal liability can be imposed for improper selection, assignment, training, and supervision of employees. In conclusion, the hospital itself has organizational liability for adverse reactions to the contrast medium.

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"I am not property": An Examination of Race and Gender in Octavia Butler's Kindred

  • Ramey, John Douglas II
    • American Studies
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    • v.43 no.2
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    • pp.111-136
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    • 2020
  • This paper aims to reveal how the fundamental assumptions informing race and gender issues in contemporary society have remained relatively unchanged by examining how such issues pervade Octavia Butler's Kindred. By exploring the protagonist of the novel, Dana's actions in her present (1976 Los Angeles) and the antebellum past in addition to her maternal ancestor, Alice's actions, a clear picture of contemporary and antebellum views of race and gender is provided. Particularly interesting are the reactions of the characters to Dana's and Alice's interracial relationships and the circumstances on the Weylin plantation. By juxtaposing the two times, a deeper commentary on the lack of fundamental change in the present treatment of such issues is then revealed. Furthermore, a potential path to addressing this lack of change is suggested by Butler through Dana and Kevin's successful interracial relationship.

Tactile Sensing for Virtual Interaction as a Part of Ubiquitous Game Development (유비쿼터스게임의 상호작용 구성요소 개발을 위한 촉각응용)

  • Lee, Young-Jae
    • Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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    • v.11 no.6
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    • pp.1062-1068
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    • 2007
  • In order to design and develop a ubiquitous game, it is necessary to develop a natural and flexible interface between the real world and the virtual world, based on social and physical context awareness. We design user interface model and the tactile sensing system that performs virtual interaction and collection of the sensor data. It is sensitive so the collected data should be filtered, rearranged and analyzed. This information is quite different from stylus input, keyboard, button or mouse for interaction. We detect kicked 3D force position of a ball, moment of area, moment of inertia and modified ball shape using tactile sensing system and analyzed data. The results demonstrate that the proposed approach is desirable and robust as well as the results can be used realistic actions and reactions considering attack force and to make interesting environments for ubiquitous game.

Towards a Dialogic Approach: Crisis Communications and Public Reactions in the World's Most Densely Populated City to Tackle COVID-19

  • Yuncg, Juliana Qi Xuan;Cheong, Angus Weng Hin;Seng, Athena I No;Li, Kim Jing
    • Asian Journal for Public Opinion Research
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    • v.8 no.3
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    • pp.265-296
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    • 2020
  • Macao, a special administrative region of China, has been able to maintain the records of zero deaths and keep confirmed cases under 50 since the outbreak of COVID-19 for more than half a year as of July 2020, despite being the world's most densely populated city. The current paper utilizes the dialogic public relations theory to analyze the situation using both literature review on how the various government actions and strategies during the pandemic were corresponding to the theory, and a quantitative random digital dialing (RDD) telephone survey, with a sample of 502 Macao residents aged 18 or above, to study the public reactions towards the government pandemic prevention actions. Survey results show a high level of public satisfaction towards epidemic prevention performance, as well as some forms of collaborative information redissemination behavior in social media platforms. Literature review and analysis from dialogic theory found that spirit of mutual equality, collaboration with local community, immediacy of presence in crisis time, engagements with stakeholders through maximum media channels and networks, supportiveness to public with both useful information and practical social support like subsidy program, as well as commitment to transparent and genuine communication, are all the dialogic communications strategies that describe what the Macao government has done in the crisis of COVID-19. The dialogic strategies that could be learned from the Macao government may be used as a reference for similar urbanized and densely populated cities in other territories.

The effects of Arctii fructus extract on the allergenic inflammation reactions. (牛蒡子추출물 및 분획층이 항알레르기에 미치는 實驗的 硏究)

  • Kim, Hong-Jin;Choi, Jung-Hwa;Kim, Jong-Han
    • The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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    • v.15 no.2
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    • pp.33-52
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    • 2002
  • The effects of Arctii fructus extract on allegenic inflammation were investigated using in vivo and in vitro test models. Firstly, the cytotoxicity of Arctii fructus extract was validated using MTT assay. As a result, Arctii fructus extract showed no cytotoxic potential, while SDS, a positive control, revealed strong cytotoxic effect. In LLNA assay, Arctii fructus extract showed no skin allergenicity. Next, the anti-allergic actions of Arctii fructus extract were evaluated using rodent experimental models. The oral, intraperitoneal and intradermal administration of Arctii fructus extract significantly inhibited the compound 48/80-induced vascular permeability documented by Evans blue extravasation. In addition, Arctii fructus extract showed potent inhibitory effect on passive cutaneous anaphylaxis activated by anti-dinitrophenyl (DNP) IgE when orally administered. In an in vitro study, Arctii fructus extract revealed to possess inhibitory potential on the compound 48/80-induced histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells. Moreover, Arctii fructus extract inhibited the IL-4 and TNF-${\alpha}$ mRNA induction by PMA and A23187 in human leukemia mast cells, HMC-1. Finally, it revealed that Arctii fructus extract significantly suppressed histamin-provoked antigenic inflammation reactions in human prick test. Taken together, these results suggest that anti-allergic action of Arctii fructus extract may be due to the inhibition of histamine release and cytokine gene expression in the mast cells.

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