• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.298-305
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• 2016

Background: This study is to investigate the prescription patterns and factors related to the number of medications treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in patients under 65 years old according to GOLD guidelines. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of patients aged 40-64 years with a diagnosis of COPD from January to March 2016. Patients were classified by combined assessment of COPD (grades A, B, C, D) using spirometry, exacerbation history, mMRC, and/or CAT results. We analyzed prescribed medications, treatment options and factors related to the numbers of COPD medications. Results: The total number of prescriptions were 251. About 35.5% of patients were classified as GOLD A, 34.2% as GOLD B, 17.1% as GOLD C and 13.2% as GOLD D. Inhaled bronchodilator was prescribed for 86.9% of patients and the most frequent COPD medication was long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) followed by inhaled corticosteroids/long acting beta agonist (ICS/LABA). The majority of low risk patients (GOLD A/B) were prescribed a monotherapy with LAMA or LABA. For high risk patients (GOLD C/D), combination treatment with ICS+LAMA+LABA was mostly prescribed. The 21.2% of patients in GOLD D received systemic corticosteroid. The average number of medications per prescription was 3.7, and this number increased with increasing COPD grade, COPD duration and lung function reduction ($FEV_1$, $FEV_1/FVC$). Conclusion: Generally high adherence to GOLD guideline recommendations was reported. Given the progressive nature of the disease, results suggest that closer attention to respiratory symptoms for early detection, diagnosis, and appropriate treatment of COPD is warranted.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.1668-1674
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• 2016

Red ginseng, a steamed and sun-dried ginseng, is a popular health-promoting food in Korea and other Asian countries. We introduced nanofertilizer technology using gold nanoparticles in an effort to develop red ginseng with an elevated level of ginsenosides, the main active compounds of ginseng. Shoots of 6-year-old ginseng plants were fertilized three times with colloidal gold nanoparticle sprays. Red ginseng extract was prepared from the main roots. The concentrations of gold and ginsenosides were measured following gold nanoparticle treatment. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects, mouse peritoneal macrophages of male BALB/c mouse were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide plus interferon-γ in the presence of extracts from red ginseng with or without gold nanoparticle treatment. The content of ginsenosides, such as Rg1, Re, Rf, and Rb1, increased in ginseng treated with gold nanofertilizer whereas the steaming process increased only the levels of Rd and Rg3. The levels of nitric oxide, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and interleukin-6, but not tumor necrosis factor-α, were more suppressed in macrophages treated with extract from gold nanoparticle-treated red ginseng. Our results show that the use of a colloidal gold nanoparticle fertilizer improved the synthesis of ginsenosides in ginseng and enhanced the anti-inflammatory effects of red ginseng. Further research is required to elucidate the causal factors for the gold-induced change in ginsenoside synthesis and to determine the in vivo effect of gold nanoparticle-treated ginseng.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2009.11a
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• pp.33.2-33.2
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• 2009

Block copolymer lithography has attracted great attention for emerging nanolithography since nanoscaleperiodic patterns can be easily obtained through self-assembly process without conventional top-down patterning process. Since the morphologies of self-assembled block copolymer patterns are strongly dependent on surface energy of a substrate, suitable surface modification is required. Until now, the surface modification has been studied by using random copolymer or self-assembled mono layers (SAMs). However, the research on surface modifications has been limited within several substrates such as Si-based materials. In present study, we investigated the formation of block copolymer on Au substrate by $O_2$ plasma treatment with the SAM of 3-(p-methoxy-phenyl)propyltrichloro-silane [MPTS, $CH_3OPh(CH_2)_3SiCl_3$]. After $O_2$ plasma treatment, the chemical bonding states of the surface were analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The static contact angle measurement was performed to study the effects of $O_2$ plasma treatment on the formation of MPTS monolayer. The block copolymer nanotemplates formed on Au surface were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that the ordering of self-assembled block copolymer pattern and the formation of cylindrical nano hole arrays were enhanced dramatically by oxygen plasma treatment. Thus, the oxidation of gold surface by $O_2$ plasma treatment enables the MPTS to form the monolayer assembly leading to surface neutralization of gold substrates.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.61-66
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• 2015

Cyanidation has been used worldwide to recover gold from primary ore or concentrate. The use of cyanide is however becoming an emerging issue because of the toxic residue and wastewater made from the process. The cyanide-containing wastewater should be treated properly, obeying the environmental standard and regulations. In the present article, the domestic and international uses, regulations, and treatment technologies of cyanide in gold mining were investigated as a feasibility study to develop a cyanide treatment process as well as the cyanidation process. A biological cyanide treatment process to develop a zeroemission gold recovery and wastewater treatment process was also briefly introduced.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.142-147
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• 2010

We evaluated characteristics of ENEPIG (Electroless Nickel Electroless Palladium Immersion Gold) surface treatment for mobile equipment that requires high reliability, in addition to investigating surface treatment processes for semiconductor boards that require high reliability such as regular PCB-package systems, board-on-chip, chip-scaled package (CSP), etc and application for semiconductor package board of SIP, BOC. As a result, it appeared that ENEPIG has superior properties compared to ENIG surface treatment in corrosion resistance, solder junction, wetting, etc. We anticipate that these results will be able to lend credibility to ENEPIG as a low-cost alternative for producing mobile devices such as the cell phones, especially when applied to mass production.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.9
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• pp.67-83
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• 2008

This study is process of conservation treatment for textiles and custumes containing Jikgeum(weave with supplementary golden wefts) and Bugeum(Gold sticking) among excavated ones(including all of Sinsu751) of Cheongyeongunju (a princess) collected by the National Museum of Korea. Adhesive strength was reinforced by coating 2% solution of glue on layer of gold disintegrated in the course of depletion of gold(Au) on the surface after conducting nondestructive test(X-ray fluorescent analysis) of flat gold strip and gold sticking. To remove dust on the surface and polluted materials, dry cleaning through vacuum suction and spray-type wet cleaning were conducted simultaneously and damaged part was restored to recover the relics to original state.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.171-177
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• 2019

Parasitic infections have remained a significant burden on human and animal health. In part, this is due to lack of clinically-approved, novel antimicrobials and a lack of interest by the pharmaceutical industry. An alternative approach is to modify existing clinically-approved drugs for efficient delivery formulations to ensure minimum inhibitory concentration is achieved at the target site. Nanotechnology offers the potential to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of drugs through modification of nanoparticles with ligands. Amphotericin B, nystatin, and fluconazole are clinically available drugs in the treatment of amoebal and fungal infections. These drugs were conjugated with gold nanoparticles. To characterize these gold-conjugated drug, atomic force microscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were performed. These drugs and their gold nanoconjugates were examined for antimicrobial activity against the protist pathogen, Acanthamoeba castellanii of the T4 genotype. Moreover, host cell cytotoxicity assays were accomplished. Cytotoxicity of these drugs and drug-conjugated gold nanoparticles was also determined by lactate dehydrogenase assay. Gold nanoparticles conjugation resulted in enhanced bioactivity of all three drugs with amphotericin B producing the most significant effects against Acanthamoeba castellanii (p < 0.05). In contrast, bare gold nanoparticles did not exhibit antimicrobial potency. Furthermore, amoebae treated with drugs-conjugated gold nanoparticles showed reduced cytotoxicity against HeLa cells. In this report, we demonstrated the use of nanotechnology to modify existing clinically-approved drugs and enhance their efficacy against pathogenic amoebae. Given the lack of development of novel drugs, this is a viable approach in the treatment of neglected diseases.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.25-29
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• 2008

Purpose: To monitor the changes of location of prostate gland using DIPS and to examine the adjustment and proton beam therapy depending on the movement of prostate gland in proton beam therapy for prostate gland in which a fiducial gold marker was inserted. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in ten patients with prostate cancer who received proton beam therapy since April of 2008. To monitor the change of prostate location, three fiducial gold markers were inserted prior to the treatment. To minimize the movement of prostate gland, patients were recommended to urinate prior to the treatment, to intake a certain amount of water and to concomitantly undergo rectal balloon. In these patients, the set-up position was identical to that for a CT-simulation. The PA (posterior-anterior) and lateral images were obtained using both DIPS (digital image positioning system) and a plain radiography, and they were compared between the two imaging modalities. Thus, the changes of the location of fiducial gold marker were assessed based on three coordinates (x, y, z) and then adjusted. This was followed by proton beam therapy. Results: Images which were taken using a plain radiography were compared with those which were taken using DIPS. In ten patients, according to a reference bony marker, the mean changes of the location of fiducial gold marker based on an iso-center were X-axis: $\pm$0.116 cm, Y-axis: $\pm$0.19 cm and Z-axis: $\pm$0.176 cm. These ten patients showed a difference in the changes of location of prostate gland and it ranged between RT: 0.04 cm and RT: 0.24 cm on the X-axis; between Inf: 0.03 cm and Sup: 0.42 cm on the Y-axis; and Post: 0.05 cm and Ant: 0.35 cm on the Z-axis. Conclusion: To minimize the movement of prostate gland, as the pre-treatment prior to the treatment. In all the patients, however, three fiducial gold markers showed a daily variation which were inserted in the prostate gland. Based on the above data, Thus, the requirement of gold marker matching system depending on the daily variation in the proton beam therapy for which more accurate establishment of target was confirmed. It is assumed that an accurate effect of proton beam therapy would be enhanced by adjusting the target-center depending on the location change of prostate gland using DIPS which was used in the current study.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.201-207
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• 2018

Infrared(IR) heating has many advantages, such as energy efficiency, reduced heating time, cleanliness, equipment compactness, high drying rate and easy automation. These features of IR heating provide widely industrial applications, such as surface heat treatment in semiconductor fabrication, thermoforming of polymers, drying and disinfection of food products, heating to metal forging, and drying of wet materials. In this study, the characteristics of a protected gold mirror were examined by spectrophotometer and the lifetime of the coating layers were evaluated by a cross-cutting method and salt spray test. The effects of manufacturing conditions on the protected gold mirror were seen and remedies for these effects were noted in order to improve the properties of the protected gold mirror in the drying process. The reflectance and lifetime of the protected gold mirror was influenced by manufacturing conditions, such as surface roughness and forming conditions of the anti-oxide layer, the adhesion layer, the reflecting layer and the protection layer. The results of this study showed that the protected gold mirror manufactured using a buffing method for pre-treatment resulted in the most effective reflectance. In addition, $Al_2O_3$ coating on an Al substrate as an anti-oxide layer was more effective than the anodizing process in the test of reflectance. Furthermore, the protected gold mirror manufactured by layers forming of various materials resulted in the most effective reflectance and lifetime when coated with $Al_2O_3$ as the anti-oxide layer, coated Cr as the adhesion layer, and coated $MgF_2$ as the protection layer.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.809-814
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• 2014

An array structure of conducting polymer microtubule was fabricated for an amperometric biosensor. 3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) was electropolymerized in the microporous template membrane with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/poly(4-styrenesulfonic acid) (PEDOT/PSS) composite as a binder. The array structure can provide enhanced current collecting capability due to large active surface area compared to the macroscopic area of the electrode itself. For a biosensor application, the array electrode was tested for $H_2O_2$ detection and showed very sluggish electrochemical response to $H_2O_2$. To enhance the detection efficiency to the oxidation of $H_2O_2$, gold was treated on the electrode by two different approaches: sputtering and electrochemical deposition. Gold treatment with either method greatly enhanced the sensitivity of the electrode to $H_2O_2$. So, conducting polymer microtubule array with gold treatment was expected to be a sensitive amperometric biosensor system based on the detection of $H_2O_2$.