• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.115-119
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• 2018

Background: The objective of this study was to determine the effects of Daegangwhal-Tang (DGHT) hot aqueous extract on production of inflammatory mediators and antioxidants in RAW 264.7 macrophage. Methods: DGHT was extracted with water, filtered, concentrated and freeze-dried to perform. Cytotoxicity of DGHT extract was performed by MTT assay. Activated macrophages were treated with varying concentrations of DGHT extract (10, 50, 100 and $200{\mu}g/mL$), and nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 ($PGE_2$) concentrations were measured to detect anti-oxidative effects. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1 beta ($IL-1{\beta}$) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha($TNF-{\alpha}$) concentrations were also measured to detect inflammatory responses to DGHT Results: Cytotoxicity of DGHT extract at concentrations of 10, 50, 100 and $200{\mu}g/mL$ were not observed. NO production was significantly decreased in the DGHT hot aqueous extract $200{\mu}g/mL$ concentration group. $PGE_2$, IL-6, $IL-1{\beta}$ and $TNF-{\alpha}$ production was significantly decreased in the DGHT hot aqueous extract 100 and $200{\mu}g/mL$ concentration groups. DGHT hot aqueous extract appeared to have DPPH free radical scavenging capability at all of concentrations, but did not exceed 50%. Conclusion: These results suggest that DGHT hot aqueous extract has concentration-dependent anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effect.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.72-80
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• 2020

Background: Antibiotics are widely used to treat animals from infections. After fertilizing, antibacterials can remain in the soil while adversely affecting the soil microorganisms. The concentration of oxytetracycline (OTC) in the soil and its effect on the soil microbial community was assessed. To assess the impact of OTC on the soil microbial community, it was added to the soil at concentrations of 50, 150, and 300 mg kg^-1 and incubated for 35 days. Results: The concentration of OTC added to the soil decreased from 150 to 7.6 mg kg^-1 during 30 days of incubation, as revealed by LC-MS. The deviations from the control values in the level of substrate-induced respiration on the 5th day of the experiment were, on average, 26, 68, and 90%, with OTC concentrations at 50, 150, and 300 mg kg^-1, respectively. In samples with 150 and 300 mg kg^-1 of OTC, the number of bacteria from the 3rd to 14th day was 2-3 orders of magnitude lower than in the control. The addition of OTC did not affect the fungal counts in samples except on the 7th and 14th days for the 150 and 300 mg kg^-1 contaminated samples. Genes tet(M) and tet(X) were found in samples containing 50, 150, and 300 mg kg^-1 OTC, with no significant differences in the number of copies of tet(M) and tet(X) genes from the OTC concentration. Conclusions: Our results showed that even after a decrease in antibiotic availability, its influence on the soil microbial community remains.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.295-300
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• 2018

Background: Removal of the plate following Le Fort I osteotomy and BSSO (bilateral sagittal split osteotomy) is a common procedure. However, patients who undergo plate removal experience intense pain and discomfort. This study investigated the half-maximal effective concentration ($Ce_{50}$) of remifentanil in the prevention of plate removal pain under sedation using dexmedetomidine. Methods: The study evaluated 18 patients, between 18 and 35 years of age, scheduled for elective surgery. Remifentanil infusion was initiated after sedation using dexmedetomidine, and started at a dose of 1.5 ng/mL on the first patient via target-controlled infusion (TCI). Patients received a loading dose of $1.0{\mu}g/kg$ dexmedetomidine over 10 min, followed by a maintenance dose of $0.7{\mu}g/kg/h$. When the surgeon removed the plate, the patient Modified Observer's Assessment of Alertness/Sedation (MOAA/S) score was observed. Results: The Ce of remifentanil ranged from 0.9 to 2.1 ng/mL for the patients evaluated. The estimated effect-site concentrations of remifentanil associated with a 50% and 95% probability of reaching MOAA/S score of 3 were 1.28 and 2.51 ng/mL, respectively. Conclusion: Plate removal of maxilla can be successfully performed without any pain or adverse effects by using the optimal remifentanil effect-site concentration ($Ce_{50}$, 1.28 ng/mL; $Ce_{95}$, 2.51 ng/mL) combined with sedation using dexmedetomidine.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.123-127
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• 2020

Background: This study was designed using a mouse model of atopic dermatitis [phthalic anhydride (PA)-treated mice], to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of bee venom pharmacopuncture (BVP) in keratinocytes. Methods: Western blot analysis was performed to investigate inflammation related protein expression of iNOS, COX-2, phospho-ERK (p-ERK), and ERK, in LPS (1 ㎍/mL)-activated keratinocytes, following BVP treatment, and in PA-treated mice, after BVP treatment. Griess reaction was performed to investigate NO concentration. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to determine the concentrations of interleukin (IL)-4+, IL-17A+, IL-13 and IL-4 in PA-treated mice after BVP treatment. In addition, monocyte, macrophage, neutrophil, and eosinophil counts were measured to observe the changes in white blood cell infiltration. Results: The keratinocytes of the BVP-treated group showed a decreased expression of iNOS, COX-2, ERK at 5 OX-2, ERK E, and p-ERK at 1, 2 and 5 RKRK ERK ERK, and a dose-dependent decrease in NO concentration at 2 and 5 ntrationof s. In the BVP-treated groups (0.1 μ.1-trea μ.1-treated gr), PA-treated mice showed recovery after 4 weeks which was dose-dependent, showing a significant decrease in clinical scores for AD, and a decreased concentration of IL-13 and IL-4 with BV treatment. There was a dose-dependent decrease in the infiltration of eosinophils, neutrophils, monocytes, macrophages, and a decreased thickness of the epidermis due to inflammation, and decreased expressions of iNOS, COX-2, p-ERK, ERK, especially in the 0.1 μ0/mL BVP-treated group, Conclusion: These results suggest that BVP may be an effective alternative treatment for atopic dermatitis.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.88-93
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• 2020

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether Sibseonsan (SSS) is an effective antiinflammatory, anti-wrinkling, and whitening agent. Methods: To determine whether SSS had an anti-inflammatory effect, a murine macrophage cell line was used (RAW 264.7) and production of DPPH, NO, TNF-α, and PGE₂ were measured. To ascertain potential anti-wrinkle effects of SSS in these cells, collagenase and elastase production were measured. To verify whether SSS had a whitening effect, tyrosinase activity and DOPA staining were performed using a melanoma cell line (B16/F10). Results: There was no significant reduction in survival of SSS-treated RAW 264.7 cells, up to 400 ㎍/mL. Free radical scavenging (23.96 ± 1.85%) was observed in RAW 264.7 cells treated with SSS at a concentration of 400 ㎍/mL. The SSS treatment group (400 ㎍/mL) significantly inhibited NO production compared with the LPS stimulated treatment group. The SSS treatment of macrophage cells appeared to reduce production of TNF-α in a concentration dependent manner. There was a significant reduction in the concentration of PGE₂ by about 25% in the SSS treatment (400 ㎍/mL) group (p = 0.05). Compared with the control, the production of collagenase and elastase in B16/F10 cells treated with SSS (400 ㎍/mL) was greater by 26.37% and 45.71%, respectively. The SSS treatment (400 ㎍/mL) group showed a significant reduction by about 17% in tyrosinase production in B16/F10 cells. The SSS treatment group showed little change in DOPA staining. Conclusion: SSS extract may be useful for the treatment and prevention of inflammatory diseases and may have anti-wrinkle and whitening effects. These results may support the use of SSS in clinical practice.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.181-186
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• 2015

Measurement of xenon radioisotopes from nuclear fission is a key element for monitoring underground nuclear weapon tests. $^{131m}Xe$, $^{133}Xe$, $^{133}mXe$ and $^{135}Xe$ in the air can be detected via low background systems such as a beta-gamma coincidence counting system. Radioxenon monitoring is performed through air sampling, xenon extraction, measurement and spectrum analysis. The minimum detectable concentration of $^{135}Xe$ can be significantly variable depending on the sampling time, extraction time and data acquisition time due to its short half-life. In order to optimize the acquisition time with respect to certain experimental parameters such as sampling and xenon extraction, theoretical approach and experiment using SAUNA system were performed to determine the time to minimize the minimum detectable concentration, which the results were discussed.

• Atmosphere
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.473-482
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• 2015

In this study, street canyons with a higher downwind building (so called, step-up street canyons) are considered for understanding characteristics of flow and reactive pollutants' dispersion as a basic step to understand the characteristics in wider urban areas. This study used a CFD_NIMR_SNU coupled to a chemistry module just including simple $NO_X-O_3$ photochemical reactions. First, flow characteristics are analyzed in step-up street canyons with four aspect ratios (0.33, 0.47, 0.6, 0.73) defined as ratios of upwind building heights to downwind building height. The CFD_NIMR_SNU reproduced very well the main features (that is, vortices in the street canyons) which appeared in the wind-tunnel experiment. Wind speed within the street canyons became weak as the aspect ratio increased, because volume of flow incoming over the upwind building decreased. For each step-up street canyon, chemistry transport model was integrated up to 3600 s with the time step of 0.5 s. The distribution patterns of $NO_X$ and $O_3$ were largely dependent on the mean flow patterns, however, $NO_X$ and $O_3$ concentrations were partly affected by photochemical reactions. $O_3$ concentration near the upwind lower region of the street canyons was much lower than background concentration, because there was much reduction in $O_3$ concentration due to NO titration there. Total amount of $NO_X$ in the street canyons increased with the aspect ratio, resulting from the decrease of mean wind intensity.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.1285-1292
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• 2016

Background: It is well established that mutations in the BRCA1 gene are a major risk factor for breast cancer. Induction of cancer cell death and inhibition of survival are the main principles of cancer therapy. In this context, autophagy may have dual roles in cancer, acting on the one hand as a tumor suppressor and on the other as a mechanism of cell survival that can promote the growth of established tumors. Therefore, understanding the role of autophagy in cancer treatment is critical. Moreover, defects in apoptosis, programmed cell death, may lead to increased resistance to chemotherapy. Purpose: The aim of the present study was to detect BRCA1 gene mutations in order to throw more light on their roles as risk factors for breast cancer in Egypt. Secondly the role of autophagy and apoptosis in determining response to a fluorouracil, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide (FAC) regimen was investigated. Materials and Methods: Forty-five female breast cancer cases and thirty apparently healthy females were enrolled in the present study. Serum levels of autophagic biomarkers, Beclin 1 and LC3 as well as the serum levels of apoptosis biomarkers Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 were measured before and after chemotherapy. Results: BRCA1 mutations were found in 5 (16.7%) and 44 (99.8%) of the controls and cancer patients, the most frequent being 5382insC followed by C61G and 185 delAG. The results revealed that chemotherapy caused elevation in serum concentration levels of the autophagic biomarkers (Beclin 1 and LC3). This elevation was associated with a significant decrease in serum concentration levels of Bcl-2 and significant increase in caspase-3 concentration levels (apoptotic markers). Conclusions: The results of the present study indicate a very high level of BRCA mutations in breast cancer cases in Egypt and point to involvement of autophagic and apoptotic machinery activation in response to FAC chemotherapy.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.134-137
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• 2014

BACKGROUND: Dissipation of herbicides in paddy water varies significantly, being dependent on environmental conditions such as sunlight. The photodegradation under natural sunlight may be one of natural degradation routes of herbicides dissipation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to monitor the degradation of butachlor and pyrazosulfuron-ethyl in paddy water under natural sunlight. METHODS AND RESULTS: The 12 water sample bottles of treatment were covered by quart glass plates, which allow about 90% of UV radiation (280-2000 nm) to pass through, to minimize the UV attenuation. The other 12 water sample bottles of the control were covered by glass lids and wrapped with aluminum foils to prevent the sunlight. The concentration of butachlor and pyrazosulfuron-ethyl in paddy water samples bottles was monitored under ambient conditions with and without natural sunlight. The concentration of butachlor and pyrazosulfuron-ethyl for treatment decreased from $355.3{\mu}g/L$ to $37.8{\mu}g/L$ and from $10.5{\mu}g/L$ to $3.9{\mu}g/L$, respectively, during consecutive 21 days after herbicide application under natural sunlight. CONCLUSION: The concentration of butachlor in paddy water decreased quickly under ambient conditions with natural sunlight. The degradation of butachlor in paddy water was enhanced by the natural sunlight. However, the degradation of pyrazosulfuron-ethyl was insignificant under natural sunlight.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.542-549
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• 2009

An in vitro study was conducted to determine the effect of nitrate-nitrogen used as a sole dietary nitrogen source on ruminal fermentation characteristics and microbial nitrogen (MN) synthesis. Three treatment diets were formulated with different nitrogen sources to contain 13% CP and termed i) nitrate-N diet (NND), ii) urea-N diet (UND), used as negative control, and iii) tryptone-N diet (TND), used as positive control. The results of 24-h incubations showed that nitrate-N disappeared to background concentrations and was not detectable in microbial cells. The NND treatment decreased net $CH_4$ production, but also decreased net $CO_2$ production and increased net $H_2$ production. Total VFA concentration was lower (p<0.05) for NND than TND. Suppression of $CO_2$ production and total VFA concentration may be linked to increased concentration of $H_2$. The MN synthesis was greater (p<0.001) for NND than UND or TND (5.74 vs. 3.31 or 3.34 mg/40 ml, respectively). Nitrate addition diminished methane production as expected, but also increased MN synthesis.