• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.43-53
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• 2005

Objective : The use of herbal therapy is becoming an increasingly attractive approach for the treatment of various inflammatory disorders. The Alpiniae officinari Rhizoma is popular in Aisa as a traditional herbal medicine. Alpiniae officinari Rhizoma is a species of the ginger family(Zingiberacease). Method : This study was performed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of Alpiniae officinari Rhizoma extract by the methods of 'carrageenan induced paw edema' and 'Lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory mediators in mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells'. Result : We suggest that Alpiniae officinari Rhizoma extract decreased paw volume induced by plantar injection of carrageenan. Also Alpiniae officinari Rhizoma extract inhibited nitric oxide, prostaglandin $E_2$ production and induced nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2 protein expression in Mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide. Conclusion : This study shows that Alpinia officinari Rhizoma extract seems to have anti-inflammatory effect by inhibition of nitric oxide, prostaglandin $E_2$ production and nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2 protein expression.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.1086-1093
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• 2001

Object : With the recent variable treatment modalities and the development of microsurgical techniques, outcomes of surgical and medical management of aneurysm have shown much progress in the last 10 years. However, the management of posterior circulation aneurysm is still a debatable due to its difficulty in limited surgical approach, complicated anatomical structure and many small perforators to vital structure. The purpose of this study is to compare the results of clinical manifestation and outcome of surgery with respect to anterior and posterior circulation aneurysms. Material and Methods : We evaluated the 33 patients with PCAs(posterior circulation aneurysm) and 359 patients with ACAs(anterior circulation aneurysm) treated between 1994 and 1999, retrospectively. Results : Posterior circulation aneurysms showed higher tendency(5 cases, 14.7%) to have unusual shapes, such as dissecting or fusiform compared with anterior circulation aneurysm(15 cases, 4.2%). There were more multiple aneurysms in posterior circulation aneurysm(8 cases, 26.5%) than anterior circulation aneurysm(59 cases, 16.2%). The number of patients with Hunt-Hess grade III or IV on admission were 91(25.3%) in anterior circulation aneurysms, and 14(42.4%) in posterior circulation aneurysms. There were higher incidences of vasospasm and acute hydrocephalus in patients with posterior circulation aneurysm. In cases of anterior circulation aneurysm, neck clipping was possible in 97%. But, in posterior circulation aneurysm, neck clipping was possible only in 67.7% of each. Two hundred forty four cases(85.0%) of all anterior circulation aneurysms and 22 cases(78.6%) of all posterior circulation aneurysms showed good recovery(GR) or moderate disability(MD). The postoperative mortality rates of anterior and posterior circulation aneurysms were 4.9% and 10.7%, respectively. Conclusion : These results indicate that there exist substantial differences with respect to that there were few difference in the aspect of surgery and management outcome between posterior circulation aneurysms and anterior circulation aneurysms.

• BMB Reports
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.40-45
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• 2010

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a heterotrimeric enzyme that plays a central role in cellular metabolic stress. Modulation of nitric oxide (NO) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is considered a promising approach for the treatment of inflammation and neuronal diseases. In this study, the AMPK gene was fused in-frame with PEP-1 peptide in a bacterial expression vector to produce a PEP-1-AMPK fusion protein. Expressed and purified PEP-1-AMPK fusion proteins were transduced efficiently into macrophage Raw 264.7 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, transduced PEP-1-AMPK fusion protein markedly inhibited LPS-induced iNOS and COX-2 expression. These results suggest that the PEP-1-AMPK fusion protein can be used for the protein therapy of COX-2 and NO-related disorders such as inflammation and neuronal diseases.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.308-312
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• 2012

Argon-plasma jet (Ar-PJ) is generated by ionizing Ar gas, and the resulting Ar-PJ consists of a mixture of neutral particles, positive ions, negative electrons, and various reactive species. Although Ar-PJ has been used in various biomedical applications, little is known about the biological effects on cells located near the plasma-exposed region. Here, we investigated the effects of the Ar-PJ on actin cytoskeleton of mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) in response to indirect as well as direct exposure to Ar-PJ. This Ar-PJ was generated at 500 mL/min of flow rate and 100 V electric power by our device mainly consisting of electrodes, dielectrics, and a high-voltage power supply. Because actin cytoskeleton is the key cellular machinery involved in cellular movement and is implicated in regulation of cancer metastasis and thus resulting in a highly desirable cancer therapeutic target, we examined the actin filament architectures in Ar-PJ-treated MEFs by staining with an actin-specific phalloidin labeled with fluorescent dye. Interestingly, the Ar-PJ treatment causes destabilization of actin filament architectures in the regions indirectly exposed to Ar-PJ, but no differences in MEFs treated with Ar gas alone and in untreated cell control, indicating that this phenomenon is a specific cellular response against Ar-PJ in the live cells, which are indirectly exposed to Ar-PJ. Collectively, our study raises the possibility that Ar-PJ may have potential as anti-cancer drug effect through direct destabilization of the actin cytoskeleton.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.103-112
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• 2011

The main objective of this research was to estimate Nitrogen budget of South Korea in 2008. Input-output budgets for nitrogen fluxes were categorized into three sections: cities, agricultural area, and forest. Chemical and biological fixation, dry and wet deposition, imported food and feed were used as the nitrogen input. Crop uptake, volatilization, denitrification, leaching, runoff, and forest consumption were used as the nitrogen outputs. Annual total nitrogen input was 1,294,155 ton/yr, and output was 632,228 ton/yr. Comparison with a previous research in 2005 indicates that nitrogen input was decreased by 1.9% due to the decrease in nitrogen fertilizer while nitrogen output was decreased by 6.3%. Non-point source (NPS) pollution was also estimated by mass balance approach, which increased by 22% than the previous research in 2005. The emission of nitrous oxide ($N_2O$) caused by denitrification was newly examined in this research. About 8,289 ton/yr of $N_2O$ was released from agriculture area and domestic wastewater treatment plant.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.35 no.12
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• pp.918-928
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• 2013

The inequitable flow distribution to flocculation basins is an important problem faced in many water treatment plants. This is caused by the structure of a distribution channel, the height differences of outlet weirs etc. But, a modified approach for the structures has no effectiveness to achieve flow equality. The aim of this study is to reduce the inequality by adopting optimized inlet valve opening (%) of the flocculation basins using DOE (Design of Experiments) and RSA (Response Surface Analysis). The inlet valve openings (%) and inflow distributions (%) of 6 paralleled basins were set as factors (X) and characteristics(Y) respectively. 2 level factorial experiments and RSA were conducted for optimization and regression analysis (Y = f(X) + Const.). Adopting the optimized inlet valve opening (%) at field, standard deviation of flow distribution (%) and effluent turbidity was declined from 3.80% to 0.42% and from 0.29 NTU to 0.03 NTU respectively.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.341-351
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• 2009

The effects of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT), ecdysone (20-hydroxyecdysone, 20-E) and HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) on the ovarian maturation of the fleshy shrimp, Fenneropenaeus chinensis were investigated. Adult female fleshy shrimps were injected with 5-HT ($5{\mu}g$/g body weight (BW) or $20{\mu}g$/g BW), 20-E ($5{\mu}g$/g BW, $10{\mu}g$/g BW or $20{\mu}g$/g BW) or HCG (5 IU/g BW or 10 IU/g BW) three times at 5-day intervals and were sacrificed 10 days after the last injection. The effects were compared against an intact control group and sham control group which received the injection of sterile saline solution as a vehicle. 20-E and HCG showed no effectiveness on ovarian maturation in fleshy shrimps. However flesh shrimp given 5-HT of $20{\mu}g$/g BW showed significant increase in gonadosomatic index (GSI) in early spring. The results suggest that treatment of 5-HT of $20{\mu}g$/g BW or more is useful approach for the nursery production of the fleshy shrimp, Fenneropenaeus chinensis aquaculture.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.355-378
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• 2017

Because neurochemicals are related to homeostasis and cognitive and behavioral functions in human body and because they enable the diagnosis of numerous neurodegenerative disorders, there has been increasing interest in the development of analytical platforms for neurochemical profiling in biological samples. In particular, mass spectrometry (MS)-based analytical methods combined with chromatographic separation have been widely used to profile neurochemicals in metabolic pathways. However, development of delicate sample preparation procedures and highly sensitive instrumental detection is necessary considering the trace levels and chemical instabilities of neurochemicals in biological samples. Therefore, in this review, analytical trends in MS-based metabolomics approaches to neurochemicals in multiple biological samples, such as urine, blood, CSF, and biological tissues, are discussed. This paper is expected to contribute to the development of an analytical platform to discover biomarkers that will aid diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.348-354
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• 2007

Purpose : Perinatal hepatitis B viral infection is decreasing; however, 10% of babies to HBeAg positive mothers still become chronic carriers despite perinatal prophylaxis. Although, the cause of prophylaxis failure is still unclear, an importance of maternal HBV-DNA level at the delivery time has been suggested. This study was established to certify if it would be a useful predictable factor for the outcome of perinatal prophylaxis. Methods : Twenty-nine HBeAg positive mothers whose babies had known outcomes of prophylaxis were selected. To determine the amount of maternal HBV-DNA, a quantitative PCR was performed with the WHO International Standard for HBV DNA NAT assays. Results : The mean logarithm HBV-DNA level of mothers with failed outcomes was significantly higher than that of mothers with succeessful outcomes (7.99 vs. 6.72, P=0.015). The predictable maternal HBV-DNA cut-off level to prophylaxis outcome was $2.83{\times}10^7copies/mL$ (100 pg/mL). None out of the case 16 (0%) who had below this level, and 5 out of 13 (38.5%) who had above this level of maternal HBV-DNA failed in perinatal prophylaxis. Conclusion : Mothers with higher levels of HBV-DNA at delivery time would be prone to a worse outcome of prophylaxis using the conventional approach. Perinatal prophylaxis failure rate can be reduced, if we try to introduce more potent prophylactic treatment into the cases with this risk factor.

• Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.116-121
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• 2005

Purpose: Isolated capitellar fractures are rare, intra-articular fractures requiring an aggressive management regimen. Review the outcome after open reduction and internal fixation of the capitellar fractures. Materials and Methods: From 1998 to 2004, 4 patients with displaced fractures of the humeral capitellum were treated by open reduction and internal fixation of the capitellar fragments with cannulated screws. By use of the criteria of Bryan and Morrey et al, there were 3 type I fractures, 1 type III fracture. A lateral approach was used. The elbows were immobilized postoperatively for 4 to 28 days We evaluated the range of motion, stability, and pain using the criteria of Mayo score. Results: The follow-up period ranged from 12 to 36 months (mean, 15months). Three patients had a stable, pain-free elbow with good range of motion at follow-up. One patient with a neglected capitellar fracture have felxtion cpontracture of 40 degrees with 100 degrees of further felxion(total arc: 60) due to poor compliance to the postoperative rehabilitation. All fractures healed, and there was no evidence of avascular necrosis or degenerative change. Conclusion: Capitellar fractures, rare in case, gave a good result after open reduction and simple internal fixation with cannulated screws without any problem.