• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.253-262
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• 1991

Microencapsulation of sodium ascorbate with cellulose acetate phthalate(CAP) by coacervation/ phase separation method were carried out. Various factors affecting microencapsulation, i.e., surfactant concentration. CAP concentration, stirring speed and treatment of spermaceti as a sealing agent were studied. Dissolution rate. particle size distribution, surface feature and stability test were investigated. CAP microcapsules prepared using 0.5% span 80 as a surfactant showed smooth and round surfaces. The release of sodium ascorbate was retarded by microencapsulation with CAP and by sealant treatment with spermaceti. When triturated with sodium bicarbonate, CAP microcapsules were more stable than unencapsulated sodium ascorbate under various RH conditions at $37^{\circ}C$.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.503-509
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• 2014

Paraquat has been suggested to induce apoptosis by generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, little is known about the mechanism of paraquat-induced apoptosis. Here, we demonstrate that extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) is required for paraquat-induced apoptosis in NIH3T3 cells. Paraquat treatment resulted in activation of ERK, and U0126, inhibitors of the MEK/ERK signaling pathway, prevented apoptosis. Moreover, paraquat-induced apoptosis was associated with cytochrome C release, which could be prevented by treatment with the MEK inhibitors. Taken together, our findings suggest that ERK activation plays an active role in mediating paraquat-induced apoptosis of NIH3T3 cells.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.315-321
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• 2021

Background: Pillar pain may develop after carpal tunnel release surgery (CTRS). This prospective double-blinded randomized trial investigated the effectiveness of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) in pillar pain relief and hand function improvement. Methods: The sample consisted of 60 patients with post-CTRS pillar pain, randomized into two groups. The ESWT group (experimental) received three sessions of ESWT, while the control group received three sessions of sham ESWT, one session per week. Participants were evaluated before treatment, and three weeks, three months, and six months after treatment. The pain was assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS). Hand functions were assessed using the Michigan hand outcomes questionnaire (MHQ). Results: The ESWT group showed significant improvement in VAS and MHQ scores after treatment at all time points compared to the control group (P < 0.001). Before treatment, the ESWT and control groups had a VAS score of 6.8 ± 1.3 and 6.7 ± 1.0, respectively. Three weeks after treatment, they had a VAS score of 2.8 ± 1.1 and 6.1 ± 1.0, respectively. Six months after treatment, the VAS score was reduced to 1.9 ± 0.9 and 5.1 ± 1.0, respectively. The ESWT group had a MHQ score of 54.4 ± 7.7 before treatment and 73.3 ± 6.8 six months after. The control group had a MHQ score of 54.2 ± 7.1 before treatment and 57.8 ± 4.4 six months after. Conclusions: ESWT is an effective and a safe non-invasive treatment option for pain management and hand functionality in pillar pain.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.284-288
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• 2011

The test method for biologics of lot release system is based on 'Test procedure and specification for biological products,' generally, thimerosal content is measured by chemical analysis using O.D. In this study, the comparative analysis was carried out using the gold amalgamation method for thimerosal content was compared to the existing methods, which are described above. The gold amalgamation method, which uses atomic absorption spectrophotometry, was meets all the method validation acceptance criteria. It is considered to be proper as the assay and identification test for thimerosal. In this study, the comparative analysis was performed three times. As a result, gold amalgamation method is more convenient and easy to perform as this assay doesn't have pre-treatment procedure. Also this assay showed good precision and reproducibility compared to the conventional method. Therefore, it is appropriate to alternate the assay method of thimerosal from the conventional chemical analysis to gold amalgamation method to improve the credibility of lot release system and the quality control of biologics, by standardizing test method.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.34-38
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• 2004

High-pungency red pepper and capsaicin modulate circulating hormone levels and induce lipolysis in adipose tissue in vivo. This study was designed to investigate the lipolytic activity of adipocytes by high-pungency red pepper extract in vitro. High-pungency red pepper (var. Chungyang) powder showed 126.1 mg% of capsaicinoid which was 3 x higher than low-pungency red pepper powder (var. Daemyung). To study the effects of high-pungency red pepper extract on lipolytic activity, preadipocytes were separated from the epidermal fat of 14 day-old rats, induced to differentiate into adipocytes and were treated with red pepper extracts. The amount of glycerol released from adipocytes into the culture medium was analysed to measure lipolytic activity. Glycerol release from adipocytes was increased in a dose-dependent manner with high-pungency red pepper extract treatment. However, there was no significant change in the glycerol release when adipocytes were treated with low-pungency red pepper extract. To investigate whether lipolysis by high-pungency red pepper extract is caused by capsaicin, glycerol release was detected after the treatment of adipocytes with capsaicin. Glycerol release was significantly increased by capsaicin. These results suggest that high-pungency red pepper extract might have a direct lipolytic activity in adipocytes that is mediated by capsaicin.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.802-810
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• 2005

The tetrahydroisoquinolines included potent cytotoxic agents that showed antitumor activity,antimicrobial activity, and other biological properties. We studied the effect of CDST, 1-Chloromethyl-6,7-dimethoxy-3,4-dihydro-1H-isoquinoline-2-sulfonic acid amide, a newly synthesized anti-cancer agent. The cytotoxic activity of CDST in HL-60 cells was increased in a dose-dependent manner. CDST, tetrahydroisoquinolines derivative, was cytotoxic to HL-60 cells, with IC50 of $80{\mu}g/ml$. Treatment of CDST to HL-60 cells showed the fragmentation of DNA in a dose- and time dependent manner, suggesting that thesecells underwent apoptosis. Treatment of HL-60 cells with CDST was induced in a dose- and time-dependent activation of caspase-3, caspase-8 and proteolytic cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. In caspase activity assay, caspase-3 and -8 was activated after 12 h and 6 h posttreatment, respectively. CDST also caused the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria into the cytosol. CDST-induced cytochrome c release was mediated by caspase-8-dependent cleavage of Bid and Bax translocation. These results suggest that caspase-8 induced Bid cleavage and Bax translocation, caused mitochondrial cytochrome c release, and induce caspase-3 activationduring CDST-induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.187-195
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• 1998

In order to ameliorate disadvantages of buccal ointments and mucoadhesive tablets used for the treatment of aphthosis, a thin mucoadhesive patch containing triamcinolone acetoni de was designed and evaluated for the pharmaceutical properties. The adhesive gel layer consisting of Noveon AA-1, hydroxypropylcellulose-M and ethylcellulose N 100, and the protective gel layer of ethylcellulose N 100, Eudragit RSPO and castor oil have been formulated and various properties such as viscosity of drug gel layer, thickness, in vitro adhesion time, adhesive strength, surface pH, content uniformity and drug release are tested. The mean viscosity of drug-containing gel layer was found to increase with increasing amount of Noveon OAA-1 or hydroxypropylcellulose-M. The optimum formulation showed the thickness of 171 ${\mu}$m, surface pH of 4.6, in vitro adhesion time of 8 hours and adhesive strength of 272.7g/sheet. The drug content of each patch was relatively homogeneous with the value of 273${\pm}$6.77g. Drug release study showed that compared to mucoadhesive tablet, the patch showed a faster drug release. Drug release was delayed by hydroxypropylcellulose-M, but not by ethylcellulose N 100. The patches prepared were nonirritant and the muco adhesion was better than the commercial product (AftachR) on the market. Based on these results, this mucoadhesive patch is expected to be an effective dosage form for the treatment of aphthosis.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.225-235
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• 2015

During low-pressure membrane treatments of cyanobacterial cells, including microfiltration (MF) and ultrafiltration (UF), there have reportedly been releases of intracellular compounds including cyanotoxins and compounds with an earthy-musty odor into the water, probably owing to cyanobacterial cell breakage retained on the membrane. However, to our knowledge, no information was reported regarding the effect of growth phase of cyanobacterial cells on the release of the intracellular compounds. In the present study, we used a geosmin-producing cyanobacterium, Anabaena smithii, to investigate the effect of the growth phase of the cyanobacterium on the release of intracellular geosmin during laboratory-scale MF experiments with the cells in either the logarithmic growth or stationary phase. Separate detection of damaged and intact cells revealed that the extent of cell breakage on the MF membrane was almost the same for logarithmic growth and stationary phase cells. However, whereas the geosmin concentration in the MF permeate increased after 3 h of filtration with cells in the logarithmic growth phase, it did not increase during filtration with cells in the stationary phase: the trend in the geosmin concentration in the MF permeate with time was much different between the logarithmic growth and stationary phases. Adsorption of geosmin to algogenic organic matter (AOM) retained on the MF membrane and/or pore blocking with the AOM were greater when the cells were in the stationary phase versus the logarithmic growth phase, the result being a decrease in the apparent release of intracellular geosmin from the stationary phase cells. In actual drinking water treatment plants employing membrane processes, more attention should be paid to the cyanobacterial cells in logarithmic growth phase than in stationary phase from a viewpoint of preventing the leakage of intracellular earthy-musty odor compounds to finished water.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.350-358
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• 2019

Background Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common peripheral entrapment neuropathy with a high morbidity and healthcare-related costs. Currently there is no consensus about the best treatment option. The purpose of this prospective cohort study conducted at a single institution was to evaluate the clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction following a mini-open carpal tunnel release for idiopathic CTS. Methods A total of 72 patients (53 female and 19 male patients; mean age, $57.8{\pm}15.3$ years; range, 24-94 years) had a mini-open carpal tunnel release performed by a single senior surgeon between June 2015 and June 2016. The patients were evaluated preoperatively, and at 3 and 12 months post-intervention. At every follow-up, the Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire (BCTSQ) and visual analogue scale (VAS) scores for pain and satisfaction were completed. Digital sensibility (using Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments) was assessed and pinch and grip strengths were measured. Results Statistically significant and clinically relevant improvement was found in terms of digital sensibility, grip and pinch strength (except for 2-point pinch), BCTSQ scores and pain scores. The complication rate was minimal, and no major complications occurred. Two patients experienced recurrence. The availability of follow-up records (including patient-reported outcomes, BCTSQ and VAS scores, and the complication rate) at 1-year post-intervention varied between 69% and 74% (50-53 patients) depending on which parameter was assessed. Patient satisfaction was high (mean, $80.9{\pm}26.0$; range, 0-100). Conclusions This study demonstrates that mini-incision carpal tunnel release is clinically effective in the short and long term.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.57-62
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• 2013

Objectives : Lonicerae Japonicae Flos (LJF) has been shown anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-rheumatoid properties. However, it is still largely unknown whether LJF inhibits skin injury against oxidative stress in human keratinocyte, HaCaT cells. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the protective effects of LJF against hydrogen peroxide($H_2O_2$)-induced oxidative stress in human keratinocytes, HaCaT cells. Methods : To evaluate out the protective effects of LJF on oxidative injury in HaCaT cells, an oxidative stress model of HaCaT cells was established under a suitable concentration (500 ${\mu}M$) hydrogen peroxide. HaCaT keratinocyte cells were pre-treated with LJF (0.1, 0.25 or 0.5 mg/ml), and then stimulated with $H_2O_2$. Then, the cells were harvested to measure the cell viability, DNA damage, and release of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Results : LJF (0.1, 0.25 or 0.5 mg/ml) itself did not show any significant toxicity in HaCaT cells. The treatment of $H_2O_2$ caused the oxidative stress, leading to the cell death, and DNA injury. However, pretreatment with LJF reduced cell death, and DNA injury. The stimulation of $H_2O_2$ on HaCaT cells resulted in excessive release of ROS, which is the main factor of oxidative stress. The excessive release of ROS was inhibited by LJF treatment significantly. Conclusions : These results could suggest that LJF exhibited the protective effects of HaCaT cells against $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress by inhibiting ROS release. It could be explained that LJF inhibit skin damages against oxidative stress. Thus, LJF would be useful for the development of drug or cosmetics treating skin troubles.