• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.83-91
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• 2006

Background : For unknown reasons, the serum ferritin concentrations are higher in patients with acute lung injury. A pretreatment with aspirin reduces the acute lung injury in rats subjected severe hemorrhage, and increases the rate of ferritin synthesis in vitro. This study investigated the effect of aspirin on the serum ferritin changes in rats subjected to severe hemorrhage. Methods : Hemorrhagic shock was induced by withdrawing blood (20 ml/kg of B.W.) through the femoral artery for 5 min. The rats were pretreated with aspirin (10 mg/kg, i.v.) 30 min before hemorrhage. Results : The protein content and leukocyte count in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, lung tissue myeloperoxidase activities were significantly higher after hemorrhage. The aspirin pretreatment prevented these changes. The serum and lavage fluid ferritin concentrations were elevated higher after hemorrhage. These were also attenuated by the aspirin pretreatment. Conclusion : The changes in the serum and lung lavage ferritin level might be closely related to the severity of hemorrhage-induced acute lung injury. Therefore, the serum and lavage ferritin concentrations can be a useful biomarker for patients with precipitating conditions.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.12
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• pp.1037-1043
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• 2015

The TAZ activator 2-butyl-5-methyl-6-(pyridine-3-yl)-3-[2'-(1H-tetrazole-5-yl)-biphenyl-4-ylmethyl]-3H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine] (TM-25659) inhibits adipocyte differentiation by interacting with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma. 1 TM-25659 was previously shown to decrease weight gain in a high fat (HF) diet-induced obesity (DIO) mouse model. However, the fundamental mechanisms underlying the effects of TM-25659 remain unknown. Therefore, we investigated the effects of TM-25659 on skeletal muscle functions in C2 myotubes and C57BL/6J mice. We studied the molecular mechanisms underlying the contribution of TM-25659 to palmitate (PA)-induced insulin resistance in C2 myotubes. TM-25659 improved PA-induced insulin resistance and inflammation in C2 myotubes. In addition, TM-25659 increased FGF21 mRNA expression, protein levels, and FGF21 secretion in C2 myotubes via activation of GCN2 pathways (GCN2-$phosphoelF2{\alpha}$-ATF4 and FGF21). This beneficial effect of TM-25659 was diminished by FGF21 siRNA. C57BL/6J mice were fed a HF diet for 30 weeks. The HF-diet group was randomly divided into two groups for the next 14 days: the HF-diet and HF-diet + TM-25659 groups. The HF diet + TM-25659-treated mice showed improvements in their fasting blood glucose levels, insulin sensitivity, insulin-stimulated Akt phosphorylation, and inflammation, but neither body weight nor food intake was affected. The HF diet + TM-25659-treated mice also exhibited increased expression of both FGF21 mRNA and protein. These data indicate that TM-25659 may be beneficial for treating insulin resistance by inducing FGF21 in models of PA-induced insulin resistance and HF diet-induced insulin resistance.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.522-531
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• 2003

Background : Hemorrhagic shock and trauma are two of the most common causes of acute lung injury. The activation of cyclooxygenase is one of the important causes of acute lung injury. This study investigated the effect of aspirin, a well-known cyclooxygenase inhibitor, on severe hemorrhage-induced acute lung injury in rats. Methods : The hemorrhagic shock was induced by withdrawing blood; 20ml/kg of B.W., through the femoral artery in 5 min. The mean arterial pressure was recorded through the femoral artery on a polygraph. Results : In the present investigation, the lung tissue myeloperoxidase activity, protein contents and leukocyte counts, in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, increased significantly 2 and 24 h after the hemorrhage induction. Although the decreased mean arterial pressure spontaneously recovered, acute lung injury occurred after severe hemorrhage. These changes were effectively prevented by a single intravenous injection of aspirin (10 mg/kg of B.W.) 30 min before the hemorrhage. Conclusion : These results suggest that severe hemorrhage-induced acute lung injury is mediated, in part, by the activation of cyclooxygenase. Furthermore, pretreatment of aspirin in acute lung injury-prone patients, or prophylactic treatment of aspirin to the patients with precipitating conditions, could be helpful in the prevention of acute lung injury.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.63-73
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• 1968

It is well known that mammalian alveolar membrane is covered with a very thin layer of surfactant film which characteristically reduces surface tension of alveolar membrane, and maintains alveolar stability. Since Clements in 1957 demonstrated that the surfactant is extractable by mincing the lung tissue in saline, various studies on the subject have been succeeded by many workers. However, the effect of radiation on the surfactant is not well clarified. Present study was attempted to observe the effect of x-irradiation on the activity of surfactant in rabbits. X-ray in dose of 300 r, 600 r or 900 r was irradiated to the chest of rabbits. The lung was removed from normal or irradiated rabbits sacrificed by arterial blood shedding, and lung-saline extract, adding 3 grams of lung tissue to 50 mili-liters of saline, was prepared by means of Vertis homogenizer. Tension-area diagram of lung extract was recorded automatically by a modified Langmuir-Wilhelmy balance with a synchronized recording system designed in this department. The surface tension of lung extract was measured at 1st, 2 nd, 3 rd, 7 th and 15 th post-radiation day in 300 r irradiated group, at 3 rd, 7 th and 15 th post-radiation day in 600 r irradiated group, 3 rd and 7 th post-radiation day in 900 r irradiated group respectively. For the histo-pathological study, lung tissue preparations were made in all irradiatiated groups on the day of experiment and in normal group. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. The minimal surface tension, maximal surface tension and stability index of normal rabbits lung extracts were 7.68 dynes/cm, 38.84 dynes/cm, and 1.39 respectively. 2. The activity of surfactant was depressed prominently by x-irradiation. However, increase in the dose of x-irradiation did not show any significant change in the degree of surfactant activity suppression. The most marked depression in surfactant was observed at the third post-radiation day in all irradiated groups. 3. Activity of surfactant depressed by x-irradiation showed a tendency of recovering to normal on 15 th post-radiation day. 4. The tendency of change in activity of surfactant following x-irradiation was somewhat correlative with histo-pathological changes. But the degree of depression of surfactant by x-irradiation did not correspond to the degree of histo-pathological changes, and recovery of lung tissue from radiation damage, tissue edema and congestion, seemed to be followed by restoration of surfactant activity. 5. The width of the tension-area diagram was measured at the surface area of 40% in lung extract of normal and x-irradiated rabbits. And it was found that the changes of the width corresponded well with that of minimum surface tension and of stability index in all normal and x-irradiated groups.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.117-127
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• 2021

Objectives Previously, we demonstrated that a 5% ethanol extract of unripe Rubus coreanus (5-uRCK) and ellagic acid has hypocholesterolemic and antiobesity activity in high-fat diet-fed animals. Therefore, we conducted a clinical study on the anti-obesity effect of 5-uRCK in 140 Korean adults (aged 19-70 years, body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m²). Methods The participants were randomly assigned to two groups and were administered the placebo (n=70) or 5-uRCK extract (800 mg, n=70) daily for 12 weeks. The subjects were instructed to maintain their usual dietary intake and normal physical activity. Anthropometrics, body composition (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), and blood parameters were compared between the two groups. Results Average body weight and BMI did not show any significant changes; however, changes in upper body fat mass between the two groups was significantly different, as determined using analysis of covariance adjusted for baseline of percent body fat and drinking units. Moreover, Although not significant, the trunk fat mass and percent trunk fat tended to decrease after 5-uRCK supplementation. There was no significant difference in other laboratory biomarkers between the two groups. All safety parameters were within normal ranges in the both group. Conclusions In the present study, 5-uRCK significantly reduced upper body fat in obese subjects after 12 weeks, which indicates that it may help improve android-type obesity. Furthermore, the supplement is safe and well tolerated.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.201-212
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• 2021

Olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) (Weight 110.9±17.1 g, length 22.3±1.2 cm) were exposed to waterborne nitrite at 0, 30, 60, 120, 240, 480 and 960 mg NO₂^-/L according to water temperature at 20℃ and 25℃ for 96 hours. The lethal concentration 50 (LC₅₀) of olive flounder, P. olivaceus exposed to waterborne nitrite was 513.87 mg NO₂^-/L at 20℃ and 208.35 mg NO₂^-/L at 25℃, which means a significant difference in LC₅₀ by the water temperature. Hemoglobin and hematocrit were significantly decreased by waterborne nitrite exposure. The inorganic component, plasma calcium, was significantly decreased, and the organic components such as plasma glucose and cholesterol were significantly decreased showing a similar tendency with calcium. In enzymatic components, the AST and ALP were also significantly decreased by nitrite exposure. The results of this study indicate that exposure to nitrite can affect the survival and hematological physiology of P. olivaceus, and the effect of exposure to nitrite had a significant effect on nitrite toxicity depending on the water temperature.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.225-232
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• 2019

Thymus vulgaris L. is widely used as an ingredient in cooking and in herbal medicine. However, there is little information about its toxicity. The present study was performed to evaluate the acute and repeated 28-day oral dose toxicity of thyme essential oil in rats. For the acute toxicity test, two groups of three rats were used. The rats received a single dose of essential oil: 300 or 2,000 mg/kg of body weight (bw). The rats were observed individually during the first four hours, and then daily until day 14. For the toxicity test with repeated doses, four groups of 10 rats were used. Doses of 100, 250, and 500 mg/kg/day were tested for 28 days. At the end of the experiment, blood was collected and the animals were sacrificed. Histopathological examination showed that in the lungs of rats given the 2,000 mg/kg bw dose, polymorph nuclear infiltrates, hemosiderin macrophages, and interstitial space thickening were present. In the repeated dose study, all rats survived the 28-day treatment period and apparently showed no signs of toxicity. The hematological and biochemical parameters were not altered. The histopathological study of the organs showed severe changes in the lung, with the dose of 500 mg/kg/day; in the other organs, no alterations were observed or the changes were slight. The body weight was only altered in male rats given the 500 mg/kg dose. The relative weight of the organs did not show any significant changes. Our studies revealed that the essential oil of Thymus vulgaris has moderate oral toxicity according to the results of the acute test, whereas the results of the 28-day oral toxicity test suggest that the no-observed-adverse effect level (NOAEL) is greater than 250 mg/kg/day.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.219-224
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• 2009

This study was aimed at investigating the correlation between Homocysteine and Serum Lipids in Cerebral Infarction Patients. This study was done with 69 cases of cerebral infarction patients who admitted to department of the internal medicine Jeonju Oriental Medical hospital, Wonkwang University from June in 2007 to May in 2008 and with 46 people without 6 major risk factors (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, ischemic heart disease, past history of CVA and TIA) as control group recruited at department of the internal medicine Iksan Oriental Medical hospital, Wonkwang University from March in 2008 to March in 2008. The general characteristics along with blood homocysteine and serum lipids are recorded and analyzed according to blood homocysteine levels. A total of 69 patients and 46 control groups were included in the trial. In cerebral infarction patients, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride were increased according to concentration of homocysteine, but no statistical significance was noted in this study. The Correlation between Homocysteine and Serum Lipids was not proven. Further research on the subject is needed.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.127-134
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• 2005

Purpose: Currently, there is a variety of systems available for predicting prognosis of trauma patients such as trauma score, Injury severity score (ISS) and acid-base variables. But it is not clear that the initial acid-base variables are predictors of prognosis in trauma patients at the emergency department. The objective of this study is to compare the base deficit, lactate and strong ion gap as an early predictor of mortality in trauma patients. Methods: Retrospective record review of 136 trauma patients needed to admit to intensive care unit via emergency department (June 2004 to February 2005). Data included age, injury mechanism, ISS, Revised trauma score (RTS), Multiple organ dysfunction score (MODS), Acute physiology and chronic health evaluation III (APACHE III), Glasgow coma scale (GCS), laboratory profiles, calculated anion gap and strong ion gap. Patients were divided into survivors and non-survivors, shock group and non-shock group with comparison by t-test;significance was assumed for p<0.05. Correlation between acid-base variables and mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) was evaluated. Results: There was a significant difference between the RTS (p=0.00), APACHE III (p=0.00), MODS (p=0.00), GCS (p=0.00) of survivors and non-survivors. There was no significant difference between the ISS (p=0.082), lactate (p=0.541), base excess (p=0.468) and SIG (p=0.894) of survivors and non-survivors. There was a significant difference between the RTS (p=0.023), APACHE III (p=0.002), lactate (p=0.000), base excess (p=0.000) and SIG (p=0.000) of shock and non-shock group. There was no significant difference between the ISS (p=0.270), MODS (p=0.442) and GCS (p=0.432) of shock and non-shock group. The base excess was most correlated to MABP (r2=0.150). Conclusion: Initial base deficit, serum lactate and SIG are not predictors of mortality in moderate to severe trauma patients. Initial base deficit, serum lactate and SIG are correlated with the mean arterial blood pressure in trauma patients in emergency department.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.78-88
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• 2002

Experimental animals were divided into 5 groups; normal, cadmium control, and 3 experimental groups. Cadmium control and experimental groups were exposed to 1 mg/㎥ of cadmium aerosol in air by inhalation exposure for 6 hours/day, 5 days/week during 4 weeks. Dosages of 20, 40, and 80mg/kg of extracts of persimmon leaves were intraperitoneally injected to experimental groups respectively and several toxicological parameters and induction of metallothionein were measured from the rats that inhaled cadmium aerosol in air. The results of this study were as follows. Cadmium concentration that cadmium control and experimental groups were inhaled was 0.980±0.061 mg/㎥. Mass median diameter of cadmium aerosol for inhalation exposure was 4.93±0.483㎛. Cadmium content of normal group in lung was 0.088㎍/g and the highest cadmium content in lung, 55.492㎍/g was from 80mg/kg dose group. Cadmium concentration of normal group in blood was 0.348㎍/100㎖ and the highest cadmium concentration in blood, 2.642㎍/100㎖ was from cadmium control. Cadmium concentration of normal group in liver was 0.010㎍/g and the highest cadmium concentration in liver, 31.100㎍/g was from 20mg/kg dose group. Cadmium concentration of normal group in kidney was 0.030㎍/g and the highest cadmium concentration in kidney, 2.526㎍/g was from cadmium control. Cadmium concentration of normal group in intestine was O.064㎍/g and the highest cadmium concentration in intestine, 0.300㎍/g was from 80mg/kg dose group. The highest cadmium concentration in urine by week was 6.080㎍/day from 20mg/kg dose group in the fouth week and the highest cadmium concentration in feces by week was 341.731㎍/day from 20mg/kg dose group in the fouth week. Metallothionein concentration of normal group in lung was 5.769㎍/g and the highest in lung, 30.986㎍/g was from 80mg/kg dose group. Metallothionein concentration of normal group in liver was 38.856㎍/g and the highest in liver, 169.378㎍/g was from 40mg/kg dose group. Metallothionein concentration of normal group in kidney was 22.228㎍/g and the highest in kidney, 47.898㎍/g was from 80mg/kg dose group. Metallothionein concentration of normal group in intestine was 2.170㎍/g and the highest in intestine, 13.642㎍/g was from 80mg dose group.