• Toxicological Research
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.263-269
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• 2005

This study was performed to investigate repeated-dose toxicities of Clean natural, a new disinfectant, in Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats. In the 4-week repeated oral toxicity study, Clean Natural was orally administered once daily via gavage to male and female rats at dose levels of 0, 500, 1,000 and 2,000 mg/kg body weight for 4-weeks. There were no deaths and clinical signs during the dosing period. In both sexes, there were no statistically significant differences between the administered and control groups in urinalysis indicators and hematological parameters. In serum biochemistry, aspartate aminotransferase(AST) was significantly decreased and sodium content was increased in the 2,000 mg/kg male group, while chlorine was significantly decreased in the 2,000 mg/kg female group. Also, albumin, total cholesterol and total bilirubin were significantly increased in the 2,000 mg/kg male and female group. In histopathological examinations, centrilobular hepatocellular hypertrophy in the liver was observed in the 2,000 mg/kg male and female groups. And pigmentation in the spleen was observed in the 2,000 mg/kg male group. In conclusion, four-week repeated oral dose of Clean Natural to rats did not cause apparent toxicological change at the dose less than 2,000 mg/kg body weight. Thus it is suggested that no-observed adverse-effect level(NOAEL) for Clean Natural in rats was considered to be 1,000 mg/kg/day.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.299-305
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• 2012

Endochondral bone formation is the process by which mesenchymal cells condense to become chondrocytes, which ultimately form new bone. The process of chondrogenic differentiation and hypertrophy is critical for bone formation and as such is regulated by many factors. In this study, we aimed to indentify novel factors that regulate chondrogenesis. We investigated the possible role of isopsoralen in induction of chondrogenic differentiation in clonal mouse chondrogenic ATDC5 cells. Isopsoralen treatment stimulated the accumulation of cartilage nodules in a dose-dependent manner. Further, ATDC5 cells treated with isopsoralen were stained more intensely with Alcian blue than control cells, suggesting that isopsoralen increases the synthesis of matrix proteoglycans. Similarly, isopsoralen markedly induced the activation of alkaline phosphatase activity compared with control cells. Isopsoralen enhanced the expressions of chondrogenic marker genes such as collagen II, collagen X, OCN, Smad4 and Sox9 in a time-dependent manner. Furthermore, isopsoralen induced the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 MAP kinase, but not that of c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Isopsoralen significantly enhanced the protein expression of BMP-2 in a time-dependent manner. PD98059 and SB 203580, inhibitors of ERK and p38 MAPK, respectively, decreased the number of stained cells treated with isopsoralen. Taken together, these results suggest that isopsoralen mediates a chondromodulating effect by BMP-2 or MAPK signaling pathways, and is therefore a possible therapeutic agent for bone growth disorders.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.107-114
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and long-term clinical effects of hypertension in Korean childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) patients. Methods: The medical records of SLE patients, diagnosed by 2019 SLE European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology (EULAR/ACR) classification criteria, who visited Samsung Medical Center from January 2009 to May 2019 were reviewed. Disease activity and long-term damage were evaluated using the Modified Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) and the Pediatric Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/ACR Damage Index (Ped-SDI), respectively. The sex-, age- and height-blood pressure standards recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics 2017 guideline was used to define hypertension. Results: A total of 32 patients were enrolled in this study. The median follow-up duration was 7.3 years and females were predominant. The median ages at SLE and hypertension diagnoses were 14.2 and 14.3 years, respectively. The biopsy-proven lupus nephritis was detected in 90.6% and 37.5% were class IV. During the follow-up, 12 patients (37.5%) had hypertension. Among them, 2 patients had 3 episodes of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome and 5 patients had left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Univariate analysis showed baseline hypertension was significantly correlated with a lower estimated glomerular filtration rate, higher body mass index and SLEDAI at baseline. The development of hypertension during the follow-up was significantly correlated with obesity, LVH, and higher Ped-SDI. Conclusion: Our study revealed that hypertension in pediatric SLE is associated with obesity and renal function at SLE diagnosis and could affect long-term damage.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.3-10
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• 2000

The present study was aimed at investigating the nutritional and physiological significance of rice bran as a source of dietary fiber as compared to pectin and wheat bran. The parameters for comparison included hypertrophy and morphology of intestines, stool weights and villus marker enzyme activity. For 6 weeks, 10 Sprague Dawley male rats were given one of six experimental diets: 1% cellulose control (CC), 5% pectin (P5), 5% rice bran(RB5), 10% rice bran(RB10), 5% wheat bran (WB5) or 10% wheat bran (WB10) based on the level of dietary fiber. Among experimental groups, food efficiency ratio and body weight gain was comparable. RB10 increased cecal and colonic tissue weights and content weights of cecum and colon as much as P5 did. Stool weight was positiviely correlated with colonic tissue weight (r=0.727, P<0.001), with colonic content weight(r=0.647, P<0.001). Small intestine length increased most in the P5 group, followed by the RB10 group. The scanning electron micrograph of jejunal villi from rice bran groups showed a leaf-shaped, smooth and regular pattern, whereas that of CC group produced a rather long shape. The wheat bran groups showed an irregular leafshaped pattern, and the pectin group typically produced leaf-shaped villi with surface damage. The activities of villus marker enzymes (maltase and sucrase) were higher in the bran-fed rats than in the control or pectin-fed rats. The results indicate than not only dietary fiber amounts but also fiber sources are closely related to the physiology and morphology of the large and small intestines in rats. Rice bran exerted effects on fecal output and trophic effects on the intestines similar to those of pectin.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.528-535
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• 2000

Objective : To investigate objectively the postoperative improvement of gait disturbance in patients with cervical myelopathy through a gait analysis. Patients and Methods : Ten patients who underwent cervical decompression and fusion for cervical myelopathy caused by spondylosis, OPLL, or concomitant hypertrophy of ligamentum flavum were studied. Preoperatively, gait disturbance was present in all patients. The patients were evaluated by gait analysis using three dimensional motion analyzer to collect data of linear and kinematic parameters before surgery, 1 week and 3 months after surgery. Statistical analysis of the related pre-and post-operative data were performed. Results : In the linear parameters, average value of cadence, walking speed, stride length, step time, width and double support were increased postoperatively compare to preoperative value. In the kinematic parameters, average value of knee flexion during initial swing phase, plantar flexion of ankle and range of motion of hip joint were increased as well. These differences were statistically significant(p<0.05). Conclusion : This study suggests that gait analysis can be used as a method of quantitative analysis of postoperative gait improvement in patients with cervical myelopathy.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.73 no.1
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• pp.55-62
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• 1986

Anatomy of Pinus koraiensis needles and Ginkgo biloba leaves was investigated after exposure to simulated acid rain, drought and salt solution. All of the stresses applied to the needle of Pinus koraiensis caused collapse of mesophyll tissues; epidermis was collapsed due to acid rain, severe compress and transformation of epidermis, mesophyll, and endodermis to drought, and collapse of phloem and transfusion tissue to salt solution. Spongy mesophyll tissues, however, collapsed in the leaves of Ginkgo biloba; epidermis and palisade tissues collapsed due to acid rain, compress and transformation of spongy mesophyll tissues to drought, and hypertrophy and collapse of endodermis and transfusion tissues to salt solution.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.400-404
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• 1995

Focal nodular hyperplasia is a benign hepatic tumor mainly composed of nodules of hepatocytes and Kupffer cells separated by fibrous septa. In general, it is difficult to differentiate focal nodular hyperplasia and hepatocellular carcinoma on ultrasonography, conventional CT(computerized tomography), and angiography. But IV bolus CT is of particular value in the diagnosis of focal nodular hyperplasia because it can divide enhanced CT into early and late phase and can characterize tumor vascularity and analyze any intratumoral elements. In our case, it was seen as a hypoechoic mass lesion on ultrasonography and hyperdense mass lesion on early-phase IV bolus CT and isodense mass lesion on late-phase IV bolus CT. On angiography, hypertrophy of the feeding artery and tumor staining were well visualized. The patient underwent operation and the mass was pathologically confirmed to a focal nodular hyperplasia. We report the first case of focal nodular hyperplasia on IV bolus CT in Korea.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.143-150
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• 1992

The clinical study was carried out the 33 patients with Allergic rhinitis who had been treated by Ga-Mi-tong-Gyu-tang from 1992.1 to 1992.9. The results were summarized as follows. 1. Distribution of sex : male($54.5\%$), female($45.5\%$) In the distribution of age, 30 age group made up $27.3\%$, and 10s, 40s, 20s in descending order. 2. Distribution of illness period : 1 - 5 under years($66.7\%$) , 6month-l under year($18.1\%$), 5-10 under years($15.2\%$). 3. Distribution of symptoms and signs, nasal discharge was $100\%$, sneezing was $93.9\%$, stuffy nose was $84.8\%$, nasal cooling sign was $33.3\%$. 4. Past history : Asthma was $15.1\%$, gastritis was $15.1\%$, genyantritis was $9.0\%$, deviation of the nasal septum was $3.0\%$, bronchitis was $3.0\%$. 5. In the general paranasal sinuses X-ray examination and anterior rhinoscopy : $45.4\%$ have hypertrophy of concha, $9.0\%$ have genyantritis, $6.0\%$ have deviation of the nasal septum. 6. Distribution of period in descending order: 1-10 days($57.6\%$), 11-20 days ($36.4\%$), 21-30 days($6.0\%$) 7. Distribution of Medicine for external in descending order : 11-20($42.4\%$), 21-30($22.7\%$), 31-40 were each $3.0\%$ 8. The improvement rate in symptoms and signs was $88.8\%$ expect None.

• Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.804-813
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• 2018

Objective To elucidate the effect of a 12-week horizontal vibration exercise (HVE) in chronic low back pain (CLBP) patients as compared to vertical vibration exercise (VVE). Methods Twenty-eight CLBP patients were randomly assigned to either the HVE or VVE group. All participants performed the exercise for 30 minutes each day, three times a week, for a total of 12 weeks. Altered pain and functional ability were evaluated using the visual analog scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), respectively. Changes in lumbar muscle strength, transverse abdominis (TrA) and multifidus muscle thicknesses, and standing balance were measured using an isokinetic dynamometer, ultrasonography, and balance parameters, respectively. These assessments were evaluated prior to treatment, 6 weeks and 12 weeks after the first treatment, and 4 weeks after the end of treatment (that is, 16 weeks after the first treatment). Results According to the repeated-measures analysis of variance, there were significant improvements with time on VAS, ODI, standing balance score, lumbar flexor, and extensor muscle strength (all p<0.001 in both groups) without any significant changes in TrA (p=0.153 in HVE, p=0.561 in VVE group) or multifidus (p=0.737 in HVE, p=0.380 in VVE group) muscle thickness. Further, there were no significant differences between groups according to time in any of the assessments. No adverse events were noticed during treatment in either group. Conclusion HVE is as effective as VVE in reducing pain, strengthening the lumbar muscle, and improving the balance and functional abilities of CLBP patients. Vibrational exercise increases muscle strength without inducing muscle hypertrophy.

• Integrative Medicine Research
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.204-210
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• 2014

The aim of this review was to understand the effects of ${\beta}$-adrenergic stimulation on oxidative stress, structural remodeling, and functional alterations in the heart and cerebral artery. Diverse stimuli activate the sympathetic nervous system, leading to increased levels of catecholamines. Long-term overstimulation of the ${\beta}$-adrenergic receptor (${\beta}AR$) in response to catecholamines causes cardiovascular diseases, including cardiac hypertrophy, stroke, coronary artery disease, and heartfailure. Although catecholamines have identical sites of action in the heart and cerebral artery, the structural and functional modifications differentially activate intracellular signaling cascades. ${\beta}AR$-stimulation can increase oxidative stress in the heart and cerebral artery, but has also been shown to induce different cytoskeletal and functional modifications by modulating various components of the ${\beta}AR$ signal transduction pathways. Stimulation of ${\beta}AR$ leads to cardiac dysfunction due to an overload of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ in cardiomyocytes. However, this stimulation induces vascular dysfunction through disruption of actin cytoskeleton in vascular smooth muscle cells. Many studies have shown that excessive concentrations of catecholamines during stressful conditions can produce coronary spasms or arrhythmias by inducing $Ca^{2+}$-handling abnormalities and impairing energy production in mitochondria, In this article, we highlight the different fates caused by excessive oxidative stress and disruptions in the cytoskeletal proteome network in the heart and the cerebral artery in responsed to prolonged ${\beta}AR$-stimulation.