• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1784-1794
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• 2004

To study the effects between Cd inhalation toxicity and methanol extract of Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae, 4 rat groups were exposed to Cd aerosol by whole-body inhalation exposure for 6 hours/day, 5 days/week, and 4 weeks. Cd concentration in air was 0.98㎎/㎥ and mass median diameter(MMD) was 1.78㎛. 3 different dose intraperitoneal injections of methanol extract of Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae to 3 inhalation exposure groups applied for 4 weeks and the results were as follows: The highest body weight gain for 4 weeks and food intake per day were from inhalation exposure group Ⅲ(p<0.05). The highest lung weight was from inhalation exposure group Ⅲ and the highest liver and kidney weight were from inhalation exposure group Ⅱ(p<0.05). The lowest Cd content in lung was 22.77㎍/g from inhalation exposure group Ⅲ(p<0.05). The highest Cd concentration in blood was 11.71㎍/㎗ from inhalation exposure group Ⅰ(p<0.05). Cd concentrations of 14.87㎍/g in liver and 17.91㎍/g in kidney were the highest from inhalation exposure group Ⅰ(p<0.05). The lowest Cd concentration in liver and kidney were 5.71㎍/g and 3.17㎍/g from the control(p<0.05). For weekly Cd concentration in urine, the highest value was 0.48㎍/㎖ from inhalation exposure group Ⅲ of the 3rd week and inhalation exposure group Ⅰ, Ⅱ of the 4th week. For weekly Cd concentration in feces, the highest value was 0.32㎍/g from inhalation exposure group Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ. The highest metallothionein concentration in lung was 89.02㎍/g from inhalation exposure group Ⅲ(p<0.05). The highest metallothionein concentrations in liver and kidney were 265.47㎍/g and 214.21㎍/g from inhalation exposure group Ⅲ, respectively(p<0.05). The highest Hct, Hb, and WBC values were from inhalation exposure group Ⅱ and the highest RBC value was from inhalation exposure group Ⅲ(p<0.05). Mostly damaged part in liver tissue was hepatic lobule and the degrees of damage were lessened by the intraperitoneal injection of methanol extract of Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae. Proximal, distal convoluted tubules and glomerulus in kidney tissue were mostly damaged part. Degeneration and swelling were partially observed but the degrees of kidney tissue damage were lessened more or less by the intraperitoneal injection of methanol extract of Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.835-840
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• 2008

Acupuncture has long been contended to be effective in an ischemic stroke. A real-time monitoring of glutamate, an excitotoxin in the process of ischemic neuronal damage, in the striatum is tried in a rat model of global ischemia. Global ischemia was induced by the 11 vessel occlusion method for 10 minutes, during which acupuncture stimulation on GB34 and GB39 points was executed. Glutamate release in the rat striatum was monitored 256 times per second using real-time amperometric biosensor. Real time measurement data of 10 minutes prior to the induction of ischemia served as baseline data. Data acquisition continued for 30 minutes after the initiation of reperfusion. Peak concentration of glutamate release along with incidentally measured EEG and cerebral blood flow was compared between cases with and without acupuncture stimulation. Peak concentration of glutamate lowered when acupuncture stimulation was executed. A real time monitoring system of 11 vessel-occlusion induced global ischemia model was successfully established. The effect by acupuncture on acute global ischemia was successfully observed in this real-time monitoring setting, which may be one of the neuroprotective mechanism of acupuncture.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.1081-1086
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• 2007

This study was performed to investigate the medicinal effects of the herbal combination extracts-2 (HCE-2), consisting of Artemisia capillaris Thunb., Lonicera japonica Thunb., Prunella vulgaris var. lilacina, and Hovenia dulcis Thunb. on the alcohol-induced liver injury in rats. The rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal group (n =6), non-treated control group (n =6), saline-treated group (n =6) and the herbal combination extract (HCE-2)-treated group (n =6). The rats in the alcohol-loaded groups were orally administered with ethanol at a daily dose of 4 g/kg-body weight for 5 weeks. Thirty minutes before the ethanol injection, saline or herbal combination extracts was administered by using a gastrogavage. Blood and liver tissue samples were taken out from the hearts and livers of the rats, respectively, on 15th and 38th days. The activities of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We also investigated the protective effect of the herbal combination extracts by Hematoxylin-Eosin staining on histological sections of rat liver. In this study, the oral administration of the herbal combination extracts significantly reduced the serum levels of AST and ALT, which had been raised by alcohol-induced liver injury. Histological analysis and apparent observation of liver also showed the preventive effect of the herbal combination extracts in a chronic alcohol-induced rat model. Theses results revealed that the herbal combination extracts effectively prevented hepatic damage consequent to the chronic exposure to repetitive administration of ethanol and could be used as a primary resource of a health beverage or herbal medicine, alleviating the alcohol-induced hepatic injury and hangover symptoms.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.149-158
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• 2017

Variant surface antigens (VSAs) encoded by pir families are considered to be the key proteins used by many Plasmodium spp. to escape the host immune system by antigenic variation. This attribute of VSAs is a critical issue in the development of a novel vaccine. In this regard, a population genetic study of vir genes from Plasmodium vivax was performed in the Republic of Korea (ROK). Eighty-five venous blood samples and 4 of the vir genes, namely vir 27, vir 21, vir 12, and vir 4, were selected for study. The number of segregating sites (S), number of haplotypes (H), haplotype diversity (Hd), DNA diversity (${\pi}$ and ${\Theta}_w$), and Tajima's D test value were conducted. Phylogenetic trees of each gene were constructed. The vir 21 (S=143, H=22, Hd=0.827) was the most genetically diverse gene, and the vir 4 (S=6, H=4, Hd=0.556) was the opposite one. Tajima's D values for vir 27 (1.08530, P>0.1), vir 12 (2.89007, P<0.01), and vir 21 (0.40782, P>0.1) were positive, and that of vir 4 (-1.32162, P>0.1) was negative. All phylogenetic trees showed 2 clades with no particular branching according to the geographical differences and cluster. This study is the first survey on the vir genes in ROK, providing information on the genetic level. The sample sequences from vir 4 showed a clear difference to the Sal-1 reference gene sequence, whereas they were very similar to those from Indian isolates.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.474-483
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• 2004

To know the effects between Cd inhalation toxicity and extract of Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae, 4 rat groups were exposed to Cd aerosol in air using whole-body inhalation exposure for 6 hours/day, 5 days/week, and 4 weeks. Cd concentration in air was 1.03㎎/㎥ and mass median diameter(MMD) was 1.69㎛. 3 different dose intraperitoneal injections of extract of Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae to 3 inhalation exposure groups was done for 4 weeks and the results were as follows: The highest body weight gain for 4 weeks and food intake per day were from inhalation exposure group I and the highest lung and liver weight were also from inhalation exposure group I. The highest kidney weight was from inhalation exposure group III. The lowest Cd content in lung was 33.49㎍/g from inhalation exposure group I. The lowest Cd concentration in blood was 9.36㎍/㎗ from inhalation exposure control. Cd concentrations of 40.02㎍/g in liver and 69.18㎍/g in kidney were the lowest from inhalation exposure group I and III, respectively. The lowest Cd concentration in liver was 21.08㎍/g from inhalation exposure group III and The lowest Cd concentration in kidney was 15.78㎍/g from inhalation exposure group II. For weekly Cd concentration in urine, the value of the fourth week from inhalation exposure group III was the highest. For weekly Cd concentration in feces, the value of the first week from inhalation exposure group III was the highest. The highest metallothionein concentration in lung was 53.42 ㎍/g from inhalation exposure group III and the highest metallothionein concentration in liver was 188.18㎍/g from inhalation exposure group III. The highest metallothionein concentration in kidney was 143.92㎍/g from inhalation exposure group III. The highest Hct, Hb, and WBC values were from inhalation exposure group II and the highest RBC value was from inhalation exposure group III.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.330-336
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• 2015

Polycan originating from Aureobasidium pullulans is mostly composed of β-1, 3/1, 6 glucans and possesses an anti-osteoporotic effect. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to examine the efficacy and safety of the polycan on bone biochemical markers in healthy perimenopausal women. Sixty subjects were randomly allocated to 2 groups-group 1 received 400 mg of polycan and group 2 received placebo-these were administered once daily for 28 days. Fasting blood and urine samples were collected at baseline and 4 weeks after treatment. The primary outcome was change in osteocalcin (OSC) and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP). Changes in calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), C-telopeptide of collagen cross-links (CTx), N-telopeptide of collagen cross-links (NTx), and deoxypyridinoline (DPYR) were the secondary outcomes. A safety assessment was performed using adverse event (AE) and laboratory data. After 4 weeks of polycan treatment, OSC, DPYR, and BALP levels changed (P < 0.05) significantly from baseline in both groups. However, no significant differences were observed in any markers between the 2 groups, except for P (P < 0.05). Interestingly, group 2 showed a significant increase in CTx (65.2%, P < 0.05), while CTx in group 1 slightly increased (17.2%). Both groups showed no significant differences in AE. Although 4 weeks of polycan treatment did not have a statistically significant effect on bone metabolism biomarkers, increases in CTx were modestly inhibited by polycan. Further studies in a large population and longer treatment periods are needed to confirm the effect of polycan on bone turnover.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.381-388
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• 1996

The hemodynamic changes in septic patients produced by inhalational anesthetics are sufficient to threaten the anesthesiologists. The effect of hydroxocobalamin, a vitamin $B_{12a}$, on contractile responses to phenylephrine during administration of inhalational anesthetics were evaluated in aortic ring preparations obtained from LPS-treated rats. The sepsis was developed by intraperitoneal injection of LPS (1.5 mg/kg for l8h) and confirmed by iNOS expression using RT-PCR. Statistical significances (P<0.05) were analyzed by Student's t-test or paired t-test according to data characteristics. The blood pressure, but not heart rate, was decreased in LPS-treated rats as compared to control rats. The contractile response to phenylephrine were dose-dependently increased from the doses of $10^{-8}\;M$ to that of $10^{-5}$ and were attenuated in LPS-treated rings. Both halothane and enflurane, at the doses of 1 MAC, decreased the contractile responses to phenylephrine while isoflurane did not significantly affect the contractile responses. Hydroxocobalamin ($10^{-5}$ M) significantly potentiated the contractile responses in the LPS-treated aortic ring preparations during administration of each inhalational anesthetic or not. From these results, it is suggested that hydroxocobalamin may improve the hemodynamics of septic patients during inhalational anesthesia. Abbreviations: LPS, lipopolysaccharide; RT-PCR, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction; MAC, minimum alveolar concentration; iNOS, inducible nitric oxide synthase; GAPDH, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.245-251
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• 2016

The objective of this study was to externally validate a new dosing scheme for busulfan. Thirty-seven adult patients who received busulfan as conditioning therapy for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) participated in this prospective study. Patients were randomized to receive intravenous busulfan, either as the conventional dosage (3.2 mg/kg daily) or according to the new dosing scheme based on their actual body weight (ABW) ($23{\times}ABW^{0.5}mg\;daily$) targeting an area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) of $5924{\mu}M{\cdot}min$. Pharmacokinetic profiles were collected using a limited sampling strategy by randomly selecting 2 time points at 3.5, 5, 6, 7 or 22 hours after starting busulfan administration. Using an established population pharmacokinetic model with NONMEM software, busulfan concentrations at the available blood sampling times were predicted from dosage history and demographic data. The predicted and measured concentrations were compared by a visual predictive check (VPC). Maximum a posteriori Bayesian estimators were estimated to calculate the predicted AUC ($AUC_{PRED}$). The accuracy and precision of the $AUC_{PRED}$ values were assessed by calculating the mean prediction error (MPE) and root mean squared prediction error (RMSE), and compared with the target AUC of $5924{\mu}M{\cdot}min$. VPC showed that most data fell within the 95% prediction interval. MPE and RMSE of $AUC_{PRED}$ were -5.8% and 20.6%, respectively, in the conventional dosing group and -2.1% and 14.0%, respectively, in the new dosing scheme group. These findings demonstrated the validity of a new dosing scheme for daily intravenous busulfan used as conditioning therapy for HCT.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.661-670
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• 2018

Fimasartan, a new angiotensin II receptor antagonist, reduces myocyte damage and stabilizes atherosclerotic plaque through its anti-inflammatory effect in animal studies. We investigated the protective effects of pretreatment with fimasartan on ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) in a mouse model of ischemic renal damage. C57BL/6 mice were pretreated with or without 5 (IR-F5) or 10 (IR-F10) mg/kg/day fimasartan for 3 days. Renal ischemia was induced by clamping bilateral renal vascular pedicles for 30 min. Histology, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and apoptosis assays were evaluated 24 h after IRI. Compared to the untreated group, blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine levels were significantly lower in the IR-F10 group. IR-F10 kidneys showed less tubular necrosis and interstitial fibrosis than untreated kidneys. The expression of F4/80, a macrophage infiltration marker, and tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$, decreased in the IR-F10 group. High-dose fimasartan treatment attenuated the upregulation of $TNF-{\alpha}$, interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$, and IL-6 in ischemic kidneys. Fewer TUNEL positive cells were observed in IR-F10 compared to control mice. Fimasartan caused a significant decrease in caspase-3 activity and the level of Bax, and increased the Bcl-2 level. Fimasartan preserved renal function and tubular architecture from IRI in a mouse ischemic renal injury model. Fimasartan also attenuated upregulation of inflammatory cytokines and decreased apoptosis of renal tubular cells. Our results suggest that fimasartan inhibited the process of tubular injury by preventing apoptosis induced by the inflammatory pathway.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.384-390
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• 2020

Purpose: Organophosphate insecticide poisoning can have clinically fatal results. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the occurrence of death in patients with organophosphate insecticide poisoning. Methods: For this retrospective study, data on patients with organophosphate insecticide poisoning who visited the emergency room between January 2008 and November 2018 were collected. The NLR was measured at the time of arrival in the emergency room. The patients were divided into survival and death groups. Results: Overall, 150 patients were enrolled: 15 (10%) in the death group and 135 (90%) in the survival group. In the univariate analysis, the following variables were significantly different between the two groups: age, white blood cell count, amylase level, creatinine level, Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score, and NLR. In the logistic regression analysis of variables with significant differences in the univariate analysis, there were significant differences between the two groups with respect to age, APACHE II score, and NLR. The NLR was significantly higher in the death group than in the survival group (20.83 ± 22.24 vs. 7.38 ± 6.06, p=0.036). Conclusion: High NLR in patients with organophosphate insecticide poisoning may be useful in predicting mortality.