• Journal of the Korean Data and Information Science Society
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.605-612
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• 2011

In multi-center randomized clinical trial the treatment eect may be changed over centers. It is thus important to investigate the heterogeneity in treatment eect between centers. For this, uncorrelated random-eect models assuming independence between random-eect terms have been often used, which may be a strong assumption. In this paper we propose a correlated frailty modelling approach of investigating such heterogeneity using the hierarchical-likelihood method when the outcome is time-to-event. In particular, we show how to construct a proper prediction interval for frailty, which explores graphically the potential heterogeneity for a treatment-by-center interaction term. The proposed method is illustrated via numerical studies based on data from the design of a multi-center clinical trial.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2011

A simple mathematical model of simultaneous combined action of environmental agents has been proposed to describe the synergistic interaction of microwave and high ambient temperature treatment on animal heating. The model suggests that the synergism is caused by the additional effective damage arising from an interaction of sublesions induced by each agent. These sublesions are considered to be ineffective if each agent is taken individually. The additional damage results in a higher body temperature increment when compared with that expected for an independent action of each agent. The model was adjusted to describe the synergistic interaction, to determine its greatest value and the condition under which it can be achieved. The prediction of the model was shown to be consistent with experimental data on rabbit heating. The model appears to be appropriate and the conclusions are valid.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.127-140
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• 2011

Objectives : The aim of this study is to regulate the medical meaning about Kwan [self-denial] which is used by Jeongkyeok [reinforcing the weak body part] and Seungkyeok [consolidating the weak body part while inducing cathartic action of comparatively stronger body part] of Saam Acupuncture in common. Methods : This study generalized the method of understanding 'The Five Viscera Interaction' in Oriental Medicine from the perspective of literature and considering human organs in the medical context. Results and Conclusions : 1. There existed 'The Five Viscera Interaction' theory regulating the correlation between the five viscera headed by "Nankyeong" in the traditional Oriental medicine. The five viscera interaction theory was used as the standard of judging the symptom and the prognosis of a disease in the history of Oriental medicine and further used even as the method of preventing and treating diseases. 2. The treatment included in "Biyebaekyobang", a medical book in the period of Goryeo, can be rated as the most developmental form of medical theory which applied 'the five viscera interaction theory' to clinical treatment. The author of "Biyebaekyobang" managed to break away from the schematism of the five viscera interaction through the method of treating two internal organs using one organ treatment and applying the individually different relations between organs. "Biyebaekyobang" shows close similarities to Saam Acupuncture. 3. The organs handled in Saam Acupuncture has a significance in that it put forward the part which had not been aggressively dealt with in medical history up until then.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.311-317
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• 2009

Ginkgo biloba (G. biloba) extract is a widely used phytomedicine for the oral treatment of peripheral vascular disease. Cilostazol is a synthetic antiplatelet and vasodilating agent for the treatment of intermittent claudication resulting from peripheral arterial disease. It is likely to use concomitantly G. biloba extract and cilostazol for the treatment of peripheral arterial disease, which raises a concern of increasing their adverse effects of herbal-drug interactions. To clarify any possible herbal-drug interaction between G. biloba extract and cilostazol, the effect of the G. biloba extract on the pharmacokinetics of cilostazol was investigated. As cilostazol is known to be eliminated mainly by cytochrome P450 (CYP)-mediated metabolism, we investigated the effects of G. biloba extract on the human CYP enzyme activities and the effect of G. biloba extract on the pharmacokinetics of cilostazol after co-administration of the two agents to male beagle dogs. The G. biloba extract inhibited more or less CYP2C8, CYP2C9, and CYP2C19 enzyme activities in the in vitro microsomal study with $IC_{50}$ values of 30.8, 60.5, and $25.2{\mu}g/ml$, respectively. In the pharmacokinetic study, co-administration with the G. biloba extract had no significant effect on the pharmacokinetics of cilostazol in dogs, although CYP2C has been reported to be responsible for the metabolism of cilostazol. In conclusion, these results suggest that there may not be a pharmacokinetic interaction between G. biloba extract and cilostazol.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.298-303
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• 2009

(-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a major flavonoid in green tea has multiple health benefits including chemoprevention, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and anti-obesity effects. In connection with these effects, EGCG can be a candidate to help the treatment of metabolic diseases. Metformin is a widely used anti-diabetic drug regulating cellular energy homeostasis via AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation. Therefore, the combination of metformin with EGCG may have additive or synergistic effects on treatment of type 2 diabetes. Nevertheless, there is no report for the pharmacokinetic and/or pharmacodynamic interaction of EGCG with metformin. Here, we evaluated the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interaction between metformin and EGCG in rats. Pharmacokinetics parameters of metformin were measured after oral administration of metformin in rats pre-treated with EGCG (10 mg/kg) or saline for 7 days. The results showed that there is no significant difference in pharmacokinetic parameters between saline control and EGCG-treated group. In addition, the hepatic AMPK activation by metformin in EGCG-treated rats was also similar to the control. The lack of additive effects of EGCG on AMPK activation or intracellular uptake of metformin was also evaluated in cells in the presence or absence of EGCG. Treatment of HepG2 cells with EGCG inhibited the metformin-induced AMPK activation. Combined results suggested that EGCG has no effect on the pharmacokinetics of metformin but may contribute to metformin action.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.139-148
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• 2019

In this study, the removal of MB from saline solutions was evaluated by two methods by adsorption and electrodialysis; the adsorption of the mixture dye/salt on dried orange peel waste (OPW) was studied in batch method. In this study the biosorption of cationic dye by OPW was investigated as a function of initial solution pH, and initial salt (sodium chloride) concentration. The maximal dye uptake at $pH{\geq}3.6$ in the absence and in the presence of salt and the dye uptake diminished considerably in the presence of increasing concentrations of salt up to 8 g/L. The Redlich Peterson and Langmuir were the most suitable adsorption models for describing the biosorption equilibrium data of the dye both individually and in salt containing medium. As well, this work deals with the electrodialysis application to remove the dye. Synthetic solutions were used for the investigation of the main operational factors affecting the treatment performance; such as applied voltage, pH, initial dye concentration and ionic strength. The experimental results for adsorption and electrodialysis confirmed the importance of electrostatic interactions on the dye. The electrodialysis process with standard ion exchange membranes enabled efficient desalination of cationic dye solutions; there are two main factors in fouling: electrostatic interaction between cations of dyes and the fixed charged groups of the CEM, and affinity interactions.

• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.342-347
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• 2015

The expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is an important diagnostic marker for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells, which lack three hormonal receptors: estrogen and progesterone receptors as well as epidermal growth factor receptor 2. EGFR transactivation can cause drug resistance in many cancers including TNBC, but the mechanism underlying this phenomenon is poorly defined. Here, we demonstrate that insulin treatment induces EGFR activation by stimulating the interaction of EGFR with insulin-like growth factor receptor 1 (IGF-1R) in the MDA-MB-436 TNBC cell line. These cells express low levels of EGFR, while exhibiting high levels of IGF-1R expression and phosphorylation. Low-EGFRexpressing MDA-MB-436 cells show high sensitivity to insulinstimulated cell growth. Therefore, unexpectedly, insulin stimulation induced EGFR transactivation by regulating its interaction with IGF-1R in low-EGFR-expressing TNBC cells. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(6): 342-347]

• Journal of Distribution Research
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.1-22
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• 2006

Medical treatment for the aged has become an increasingly important concern as the aged population continues to grow. However, little research has been done on the issue. This study examines the roles of the expertise, convenience, and interaction of medical treatment systems applied by geriatric hospital. Medical treatment systems include oriental medicine, western medicine and integrated(oriental and western) medicine practices. The empirical results of the study are as follows. First, the relative impacts of the expertise, convenience and interaction on customer satisfaction are different depending upon the medical treatment systems. Second, convenience and interaction are shown to be more important factors in western medicine, while interaction is the case in oriental medicine. As for the integrated medicine practices, expertise is considered more important. Thus, it is necessary for the western medicine to make more efforts on interaction and convenience, while it is critical to enhance medical personnels' service quality in the oriental medicine. In the integrated medical treatment, actual and effective cooperation should be achieved to secure expertise. Third, the data demonstrate that customer satisfaction has a positive influence on relationship quality which, in turn, impacts on repurchase intention. Finally, relationship quality has a negative influence on intention to switch in the western medicine, whereas the impact of relationship quality is not significant in the oriental and integrated medicine practices.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.61-69
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• 2015

In this paper, we propose and examine the feasibility of the robot-assisted behavioral intervention system so as to strengthen positive response of the children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) for learning social skills. Based on well-known behavioral treatment protocols, the robot offers therapeutic training elements of eye contact and emotion reading respectively in child-robot interaction, and it subsequently accomplishes pre-allocated meaningful acts by estimating the level of children's reactivity from reliable recognition modules, as a coping strategy. Furthermore, for the purpose of labor saving and attracting children's interest, we implemented the robotic stimulation configuration with semi-autonomous actions capable of inducing intimacy and tension to children in instructional trials. From these configurations, by evaluating the ability of recognizing human activity as well as by showing improved reactivity for social training, we verified that the proposed system has some positive effects on social development, targeted for preschoolers who have a high functioning level.

• BMB Reports
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.459-467
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• 1998

A new set of functional group interaction energy descriptors relevant to the ACE (Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme) inhibitory peptide, QSAR (Quantitative Structure Activity Relationships), is presented. The functional group interaction energies approximate the charged interactions and distances between functional groups in molecules. The effective energies of the computationally derived geometries are useful parameters for deriving 3D-QSAR models, especially in the absence of experimentally known active site conformation. ACE is a regulatory zinc protease in the renin-angiotensin system. Therapeutic inhibition of this enzyme has proven to be a very effective treatment for the management of hypertension. The non bond interaction energy values among functional groups of six-feature of ACE inhibitory peptides were used as descriptor terms and analyzed for multivariate correlation with ACE inhibition activity. The functional group interaction energy descriptors used in the regression analysis were obtained by a series of inhibitor structures derived from molecular mechanics and semi-empirical calculations. The descriptors calculated using electrostatic and steric fields from the precisely defined functional group were sufficient to explain the biological activity of inhibitor. Application of the descriptors to the inhibition of ACE indicates that the derived QSAR has good predicting ability and provides insight into the mechanism of enzyme inhibition. The method, functional group interaction energy analysis, is expected to be applicable to predict enzyme inhibitory activity of the rationally designed inhibitors.