• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.239-245
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• 2016

Objectives: This study was conducted to clarify the effects of agarwood on histamine release from mast cells in rats and on the scratching behaviors in mice. Methods: Histamine release from rat mast cells induced by compound 48/80 or concanavalin A (Con A) and compound 48/80-induced scratching behavior in mice were examined to investigate the effects of agarwood. The hyaluronidase activity and the 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels in mast cells were examined to investigate the mechanisms for the inhibition of histamine release. The correlation between the inhibitory effects of agarwood on histamine release and the content of its typical ingredients, a 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone derivatives, was analyzed using thin-layer chromatography. Results: Agarwood showed an inhibitory effect on mast-cell histamine release induced by compound 48/80 or Con A without any effect on hyaluronidase activity; this effect involves an increase in the cAMP levels in mast cells. Oral administration of agarwood showed an inhibitory effect on compound 48/80-induced scratching behavior in mice. The inhibitory effects of agarwood on histamine release were quite different, depending on the area where the agarwood was produced, its quality, and its market price. No correlation was found between the inhibitory effects of agarwood on histamine release and the typical ingredients of agarwood, which are 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone derivatives. Conclusion: These results show that agarwood inhibits histamine release from mast cells partially through an increase in the cAMP levels in cells. We suggest that some active ingredients of agarwood must be effective on oral intake and that agarwood can be used to treat patients with a number of conditions, including urticaria, atopic dermatitis, and bronchial asthma, in which an increase in histamine release occurs. Differences in the pharmacological effects of this crude drug among markets may provide important information for the quality control of this herbal medicine.

• Textile Coloration and Finishing
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.30-36
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• 2007

Cypermethrin-containing polyurea microcapsules were prepared by interfacial polymerization using aromatic 2,4-toluene diisocyanate(TDI) and Ethylene diamine(EDA) as wall forming materials. The effects of the protective colloids of polyvinylalcohol(PVA) and gelatin were investigated through experimentation. The mean size of the polyurea microcapsules was smaller and the surface morphology of the PVA was much smoother than gelatin. In addition the release behavior was much more controlled and better sustained. As the concentration of protective colloid increased, the wall membrane of the polyurea microcapsules became more stable, the thermal stability of the wall membrane increased, the mean particle size became smaller, and the particle distribution was more uniform. The release behavior of the core material changed according to the concentration. As the gelatin concentration was increased, a more controlled and sustained release behavior was observed. However, in the case of PVA, the increase of PVA concentration lead to a more rapid release rate.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.71-77
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• 2004

We have synthesized various types of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-ibuprofen conjugates by nucleophilic substitution of bromo-terminated PEG with ibuprofen-Cs salt. The conversion of the terminal hydroxyl groups to bromo-termini was quantitative, as was the drug conjugation process, which suggests that the present synthetic method is very useful for the preparation of PEG-based prodrugs from pharmaceuticals having carboxyl functionalities. The drug-release behavior of the prodrugs was examined in both phosphate buffer (PBS, pH 7.4) and rat plasma. From the drug-release behavior in PBS, we determined that each prodrug has high storage stability. The drug-release rate was observed to be much faster in rat plasma than in buffer solution as a result of the acceleration effect provided by enzymes present in the plasma. The drug-release rate in rat plasma depends on the degree of molecular aggregation of the prodrugs, which can be changed effectively by the nature of their spacer groups or by the use of Pluronic as the polymer carrier.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.283-290
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• 2003

Organic drugs including aspirin, omeprazole, and naproxen with three different levels of octanol/water partition coefficient were examined for their release behavior from the amphiphilic PCL-b-PEO-b-PCL (PCEC) matrix. Scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of PCEC illustrated a well defined two-phase morphology consisted of dispersed poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) domain and continuous polycaprolactone (PCL) phase. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD) experiments veri tied that three model drugs are dissolved as a molecular dispersion in PCEC matrix. The release of hydrophilic aspirin closely followed the water absorption profile of the matrix indicating that its major fraction is present in PEO domain. However, substantial amount of aspirin present in less hydrophilic region displayed discontinuous biphasic release pattern. In the case of omeprazole with intermediate hydrophobicity consistent release behavior was observed for a period of 24 hrs after the rapid liberation of ca. 10% of the drug presumably partitioned in PEO phase. It was ascribed to the fact that the progressive hydration of PCEC matrix gradually increased the chance of drug/water exposure to compensate the exhaustion of device. Naproxen with the highest octanol/water distribution coefficient among three model drugs exhibited a limited release of 35% for 24 hrs. Finally, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate (HPMCP)/PCEC blend matrix demonstrated an accelerated and quantitative release of hydrophobic naproxen by generating high porosity and thereby expanding polymer/water interface.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.397-402
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• 2005

To explore the potential of shell crosslinked micelle (SCM) as a drug carrier, the drug release behavior of poly($\varepsilon$-caprolactone)-b-poly(acrylic acid) (PCL-b-PAA) SCMs was investigated. PCL-b-PAA was synthesized by ring opening polymerization of $\varepsilon$-caprolactone and atom transfer radical polymerization of tert-butyl acrylate, followed by selective hydrolysis of tert-butyl ester groups to acrylic acid groups. The resulting amphiphilic polymer was used to prepare SCMs by crosslinking of PAA corona via amidation chemistry. The drug release behavior of the SCMs was studied, using pyrene as a model drug, and was compared with that of non-crosslinked micelles, especially below the critical micelle concentration (CMC). When the shell layers were crosslinked, the drug release behavior of the SCMs was successfully modulated at a controlled rate compared with that of the non-crosslinked micelles, which showed a burst release of drug within a short time.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.66-71
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• 2003

The release of residual stress by mechanical loading and unloading is often performed in the fabrication of box structure fur steel bridge. The proper degree of loading and unloading is significant at release method of residual stress by mechanical loading because that degree is changed by material and geometric shape of welded structure. Therefore, the simulation model that could exactly analyze the release of residual stress by mechanical loading is to be necessary. In this study, the non-linear behavior of weldments under external loading and unloading, such as the decrease and increase of structure stiffness, was investigated by monitoring of nominal stress and strain. Tensile loading and unloading test and the proper degree of stress relaxation was measured by sectioning technique using strain gauge. Analysis model that is indispensable for the effective application of MSR method was established on the basis of test and measurement result.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.984-990
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• 2022

Corrosion release behavior of Alloy 690 in high-temperature water was investigated under the conditions of injected Zn concentrations of 0 ppb, 10 ppb and 50 ppb. A protective oxide film composed of Zn(Fe_xCr_1-x)₂O₄ and Cr₂O₃ was formed with Zn injection, resulting in a better corrosion resistance. In comparison with the Zn-free condition, the corrosion release rate under the Zn-injection conditions was smaller. The corrosion release inhibiting factors were 1.7 and 1.9 under the conditions of 10 ppb and 50 ppb Zn-injection respectively. A foreseen application of the corrosion and corrosion release rates has been proposed and discussed.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.307-312
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• 2022

It is well known that dopamine transmission from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) modulates motivated behavior and reinforcement learning. Although dopaminergic neurons are the major type of VTA neurons, recent studies show that a significant proportion of the VTA contains GABAergic and type 2 vesicular glutamate transporter (VGLUT2)-positive neurons. The non-dopaminergic neurons are also critically involved in regulating motivated behaviors. Some VTA neurons appear to co-release two different types of neurotransmitters. They are VGLUT2-DA neurons, VGLUT2-GABA neurons and GABA-DA neurons. These co-releasing neurons show distinct features compared to the neurons that release a single neurotransmitter. Here, we review how VTA cell populations wire to the other brain regions and how these projections differentially contribute to motivated behavior through the distinct molecular mechanism. We summarize the activities, projections and functions of VTA neurons concerning motivated behavior. This review article discriminates VTA cell populations related to the motivated behavior based on the neurotransmitters they release and extends the classical view of the dopamine-mediated reward system.

• Coupled systems mechanics
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.543-556
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• 2022

Delamination of multilayered inhomogeneous beam that exhibits non-linear relaxation behavior is analyzed in the present paper. The layers are inhomogeneous in the thickness direction. The dealamination crack is located symmetrically with respect to the mid-span. The relaxation is treated by applying a non-linear stress-straintime constitutive relation. The material properties which are involved in the constitutive relation are distributed continuously along the thickness direction of the layer. The delamination is analyzed by applying the J-integral approach. A time-dependent solution to the J-integral that accounts for the non-linear relaxation behavior is derived. The delamination is studied also in terms of the time-dependent strain energy release rate. The balance of the energy is analyzed in order to obtain a non-linear time-dependent solution to the strain energy release rate. The fact that the strain energy release rate is identical with the J-integral value proves the correctness of the non-linear solutions derived in the present paper. The variation of the J-integral value with time due to the non-linear relaxation behavior is evaluated by applying the solution derived.

• Carbon letters
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.283-288
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• 2008

The composites of temperature-sensitive hydrogel and activated carbons were prepared in order to improve both the mechanical strength of hydrogel matrix and the loading capacity of drug in a hydrogel drug delivery system. The swelling of composite hydrogel was varied depending on the temperature. Both the swelling and the release behavior of the composite hydrogel were varied depending on the kind of activated carbon. The release behavior showed the high efficiency which is important for practical applications.