• Toxicological Research
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.353-362
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• 2007

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a common food borne mycotoxin and occurs predominantly in grains such as wheat, barley, oats, etc. DON induces systemic health problems such as loss of appetite, emesis and diarrhea in both human and farm animals. Reliable diagnostic parameters for DON intoxication are needed to prevent deep health impact. In order to establish useful diagnostic parameters, we investigated clinical signs, hematological values, serum biochemical values, gross-, histo- and toxico-pathological findings in B6C3F1 male mice after oral administration of DON (0.83, 2.5 and 7.5 mg/kg) for 8 days. Body weight gain was significantly decreased at the highest dose of DON. Anorexia, ataxia, for crudness and lack of vigor were observed at the highest dose DON group. In hematological values, the numbers of WBC and platelets and hemoglobin content were reduced with decreased neutrophil and monocytes by 7.5 mg/kg DON. Prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) were prolonged in a dose-dependent manner and the content of fibrinogen was elevated at high dose of DON. Of serum biochemical values, total protein, globulin, BUN, cholesterol and test-osterone were reduced but total bilirubin and albumin/globulin ratio increased. The enzyme activity of alkaline phosphatase was decreased while that of alanine aminotransferase was elevated. Relative organ weights of thymus, seminal vesicle/prostate and testes were dose-dependently reduced but those of liver and left adrenal gland increased with dose dependency. As for pathological findings, atrophy of thymus, seminal vesicle/prostate and testes and submucosal edema and ulceration in stomach and depletion of lymphocytes in thymus cortex were observed. In conclusion, these clinical, hematological, blood biochemical and patholgical parameters obtained in the present studies can be used for diagnosis of DON-mycotoxicosis, especially, low WBC, platelets, protein, BUN and testosterone and delayed prothrombin time can be available as for reliable diagnostic parameters.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.32-38
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• 2005

Impaired processing of facial information is one of the broad ranges of cognitive deficits seen in patients with schizophrenia. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the differences in brain activities involved in the process of facial working memory between schizophrenic patients and healthy comparison subjects. Ten patients with schizophrenia were recruited along with matched healthy volunteers as a comparison group. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to assess cortical activities during the performance of a 1-back working memory paradigm using images of neutral faces as mnemonic content. The patient group performed the tasks with reduced accuracy. Group analysis revealed that left fusiform gyrus, right superior frontal gyrus, bilateral middle frontal gyri/insula, left middle temporal gyrus, precuneus and vermis of cerebellum and showed decreased cortical activities in the patient group. On the other hand, an increased level of activation in lateral prefrontal cortex and parietal lobule was observed from the patient group, all in the right hemisphere. A decreased level of activity in the left fusiform gyrus among the patient group implicates inefficient processing of facial information. An increased level of activation in prefrontal and parietal neural networks from the patient group confirms earlier findings on the impaired working memory of patients with schizophrenia.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.16-23
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• 1978

This study was carried out for the purpose of observing the effect of Korean Acanthopanax Radicis Cortex on renal hypertension and to clarify the mechanism of this effect, making use of its ethanol extract. Adult male or female rats, weighing 180-250g, were divided into 3 groups; the first for normotensive control, the second for hypertensive control and the third for hypertensive Acantopanax-treatment. Rats in the normotensive and hypertensive control group were administered 0.9% saline subcutaneously only, whereas those in the Acanthopanax-treated hypertensive group were administered 50mg/kg Acanthopanax ethanol extract subcutanously once a day. Changes of original blood pressure, and responses of blood pressure to various 4gents(norepinephrine, angiotensin, acetylcholine, serotonin and histamine) were recorded for each group on the initial, 18th, 32nd and 46th days of the experiment. The results obtained in this experiment are as follows: 1) The initial blood pressure was $102.6{\pm}7.6mmHg$ on the average. The blood pressures of the normotensive control group were not observed to alter significantly at any period in the course of the experiment. 2) The mean blood pressures in the hypertensive control group were recorded at $120.3{\pm}10.4mmHg$ on the 18th day, at $134.5{\pm}9.2$ on the 32nd day and at $138.8{\pm}8.3$ on the 46th day, thus revealing significant elevation in comparison with the corresponding normotensive control group blood pressures. On the other hand, the mean blood pressures in Acanthopanax-treated hypertensive group on the 18th, 32nd and 46th days were $118.3{\pm}9.7,\;129.9{\pm}8.3\;and\;120.2{\pm}8.3mmHg$ respectively. The blood pressures of the hypertensive-Acanthopanax group recorded. on the 46th day revealed a significant difference as compared with those of the corresponding hypertensive control group. 3) On the 46th day of this experiment, the responses of blood pressure to acetylcholine in the hypertensive-Acanthopanax group were suppressed significantly as compared with those of the hypertensive control group, and in the latter group, angiotensin was decreased markedly as compared with the corresponding normotensive control group. In contrast, pressor action of norepinephrine and depressor action of serotonin and histamine did not differ significantly among the three groups. These results suggest that Acanthopanax ethanol extract suppresses the induction of renal hypertension by means of a cholinergic action such as that caused by acetylcholine.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.39-45
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• 2003

To investigate the changes of cortico-cortical connectivity during odor stimulation of subjects classified by occupations, the mutual information content of EEGs was examined, for general workers, perfume salespersons and professional perfume researchers. Analysis of the averaged-cross mutual information content (A-CMI) from the EEGs revealed that, among the professional perfume researchers,. changes in the A-CMI values during odor stimulation were more apparent in the frontal region of the brain, although for the general workers group and perfume salespersons group such changes were more conspicuous in the overall posterior temporal, parietal and frontal regions. These results indicate that the brains of professional perfume researchers respond to odors mainly in the frontal region, reflecting the function of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) due to the occupational requirement of these subjects to discriminate of identify odors. During odor stimulation, the perfume salespersons, although relatively more exposed to odors than the general workers, showed similar changes to the general workers. A-CMI value is in inverse proportion to psychological preferences of the professional perfume researchers and perfume salespersons, but this is not the case with the general workers. This suggests that functional coupling for people who are occupationally exposed to odors may be related to odors nay be related to psychological preference.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2000

Nowadays, mongolian gerbil is notably utilized for the research of brain and water deprivation because of a congenital incomplete willis circle structure in the brain, audiogenic seizure in low noise, and special cholesterol metabolism without water absorption for a long time. In this study, we are intend to identify the morphological changes of the catecholaminergic neuron of brain according to the time lapse in the condition of long term water deprivation. 55 mongolian gerbil were divided 10 groups(control, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 42th day water deprivation group), of which each group include 5 mongolian gerbils and 5 normal mongolian gerbils in control group were also used for brain atlas as a control. The brains were observed by the immunohistochemical stain using the TH, DBH and PMNT antibody. The results were as followings; 1. The nerve fibers of the TH-immunoreactive neuron were observed only in the and corpus striatum of the telencephalon. 2. Intensity of the immunostain of the nerve fiber in the cerebral cortex and corpus striatum was decreased gradually day by day after water deprivation. 3. The TH-immunoreactive nerve cells were observed in the paraventricular and periventricular nucleus of the 3rd ventricular in the hypothalamus of mongolian gerbil but the number of nerve cells were decreased from the first day of the water deprivation to the 10th day and increased until the 20th day, after than redecreased from the 20th day by the continuous water deprivation. The number of nerve fibers in this area were increased in the first day, but decreased from the 2nd day of water deprivation. The shape and density of the dopamine secreting cells in the brain of mongolian gerbil by the immunoreactive stain were changed in the continuous water deprivation. In this results, we can conclude that dopamine concerned in the water metabolism of mongolian gerbil, and mongolian gerbil could be used as an animal model for the research of water deprivation.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.35-46
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• 1996

Dopamine transporter concentrations have been known to decrease in Parkinson's disease (PD) or increase in Tourette's disorder. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of [I-123]N-(3-iodopropene-2-yl)-$2{\beta}$-carbomethoxy-$3{\beta}$-(4-chlorophenyl) tropane (IPT) as an imaging agent for measuring changes in transporter concentrations with PD. IPT labelled with 6.69+/-0.64 mCi(247.53+/-23.68 MBq) of I-123 was intravenously injected into ten patients(age: 55+/-11) with PD, and six normal controls(NC)(age: 46+/-14) as a bolus. Dynamic SPECT scans of the brain were then performed for 5 minutes each over 120 minutes on a triple headed camera. Time activity curves were generated for the left basal ganglia(LBG), right basal ganglia(RBC), and occipital cortex(OCC). The statistical parameters included the time to peak activity, the contrast ratio of LBG and RBG to OCC at several time points, and the accumulated specific binding counts/mCi/pixel(ASBC) from 0 to 115 minutes. The uptake of IPT in the brains of PD and NC peaked within 10 minutes of injection in all subjects. The maximum target to background ratio in the basal ganglia of PD and NC occurred at 85+/-20 min and 110+/-6 min of injection, respectively. The BG/OCC ratios at 115 minutes for PD and NC were 2.15+/-0.54 and 4.26+/-0.73, respectively. The ASBC at 115 minutes for PD and NC were 152.91+/-50.09 and 289.51+/-49.00, respectively. The ratio of BG/OCC for the NC was significantly higher than the ratio for PD. SPECT data matched with clinical diagnosis for PDs. The ratio between BG and OCC and the ASBC for PD were clearly separated from NC and may be useful outcome measures for clinical diagnosis. The findings suggest that IPT may be a very useful tracer for early diagnosis of PD and study of dopamine reuptake site.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.318-346
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• 1994

A Bibliographical study was done about lumbago in oriental internal Medicine. The results are as follows. 1. Shenxu,sexual active, senile, Feng, Han, Shi, shiji, Tanyin and Qi lumbago are applicable to internal medical lumbago in oriental medicine, and Shenxu is essential pathogenesis. 2. Shenxu lumbago is characterized by continous pain, improved after chiropsia, deep pulse in Chi pulse, and used QingeWan, LiuweiDihuangWan and AnshenWan in herb-medicine. and Cortex Eucommiae, Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata and Fructus Psoraleae in drugs for the purpose of ZishenYijing, and related to lumbago caused by chronic prostatitis, calculus or tumor in kidney and diabetes mellitus. 3. Sexual active lumbago is dim-aching and weak pain in or after sexual life at low back and knee joint, and classified to Shenyang Buzu, ShenjingKuisun. GanshenYinxu and XinshenBujiao ; Liuwei Dihuang Wan, ZuoguiWan In herb-medicine. Cornu Cervi Pantotrichum, Fructus Lycii and Fructus Corni in drug were used for treatment. 4. Senile Lumbago is a kind of consumptive disease due to exhaused essential energy and caused by lack of Shenjing, Yangqi ; and described as repeated mild dim pain and ErzhiWan, QingeWan and MoyaoGao were used frequently, supposed to connected with osteoporosis, osteomalacia and osteoarthropathy deformons caused by aging. 5. Feng lumbago is attacked by Liuyin, and characterized by chilling and fever. stabbing pain from thoracic and lumbar vertebrae to pedes, and used WujiXan, XiaoxumingTang for treatment. Han lumbago is caused by cold's attacking Shenjing, distinguished for chilling,icing sense improved by heat on low back, and used WujiXan, JiangfuTang. Shi lumbago is caused by damp's inflowing Shenjing, described as stone-like lumbago which was subsided low back pain growing worse by gloomy rain, and used ShenshiTang. ShenzhuTang for the purpose of ZaoshiXingqi. And it is supposed that lumbago occured in the initial of urinary track infection was belong to those of Feng,Han and Sill's. 6. Sillji lumbago is caused by pathogen being in the spleen and the stomach, and used ChenxiangJiangqiTang, PingweiSan for treatment. And it is supposed that it belong to lumbago caused by gastrointerstinal disease such as peptic ulcer. gastroduodenal tumor and colonic inflammatory disease. 7. Tanyin lumbago is caused by Tanyin's flowing meridian, characterized by thoracolumbar verterber's heaviness, covered sense with something on low back and painless massage. Kuaiqi-drug are added to ErchenTang, DaotanTang for treatment, and it supposed that Tanyin lumbago's belong to that accompanied with metabolic disease such as obesity and gout. 8. Qi lumbago is caused by excessive stress such as melancholy and fury, described as multiple stabbing pain, an unexpected on and improvement, ranging back pain until flank and abdomine. Tiaoqi-drugs were added to RenshenShunqiSan, WuyaoShunqiSan for treatment, and it supposed to connecting with emotional lumbago such as hysteria, feigned illness and anxiety psychosis.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.159-167
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• 2010

To provide a basis for studying the pharmacological actions of tetracaine HCl, we analyzed the membrane activities of this local anesthetic. The n-(9-anthroyloxy) stearic and palmitic acid (n-AS) probes (n = 2, 6, 9, 12 and 16) have been used previously to examine fluorescence polarization gradients. These probes can report the environment at a graded series of depths from the surface to the center of the membrane bilayer structure. In a dosedependent manner, tetracaine HCl decreased the anisotropies of 6-AS, 9-AS, 12-AS and 16-AP in the hydrocarbon interior of synaptosomal plasma membrane vesicles isolated from bovine cerebral cortex (SPMV), and liposomes derived from total lipids (SPMVTL) and phospholipids (SPMVPL) extracted from the SPMV. However, this compound increased the anisotropy of 2-AS at the membrane interface. The magnitude of the membrane rotational mobility reflects the carbon atom numbers of the phospholipids comprising SPMV, SPMVTL and SPMVPL and was in the order of the 16, 12, 9, 6, and 2 positions of the aliphatic chains. The sensitivity of the effects of tetracaine HCl on the rotational mobility of the hydrocarbon interior or surface region was dependent on the carbon atom numbers in the descending order 16-AP, 12-AS, 9-AS, 6-AS and 2-AS and on whether neuronal or model membranes were involved in the descending order SPMV, SPMVPL and SPMVTL.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.81 no.1
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• pp.80-87
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• 2018

Background: Asthma is a disease of chronic airway inflammation with heterogeneous features. Neutrophilic asthma is corticosteroid-insensitive asthma related to absence or suppression of $T_H2$ process and increased $T_H1$ and/or $T_H17$ process. Macrolides are immunomodulatory drug that reduce airway inflammation, but their role in asthma is not fully known. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of macrolides in neutrophilic asthma and compare their effects with those of corticosteroids. Methods: C57BL/6 female mice were sensitized with ovalbumin (OVA) and lipopolysaccharides (LPS). Clarithromycin (CAM) and/or dexamethasone (DXM) were administered at days 14, 15, 21, 22, and 23. At day 24, the mice were sacrificed. Results: Airway resistance in the OVA+LPS exposed mice was elevated but was more attenuated after treatment with CAM+DXM compared with the monotherapy group (p<0.05 and p<0.01). In bronchoalveolar lavage fluid study, total cells and neutrophil counts in OVA+LPS mice were elevated but decreased after CAM+DXM treatment. In hematoxylin and eosin stain, the CAM+DXM-treated group showed less inflammation additively than the monotherapy group. There was less total protein, interleukin 17 (IL-17), interferon ${\gamma}$, and tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}$ in the CAM+DXM group than in the monotherapy group (p<0.001, p<0.05, and p<0.001). More histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) activity was recovered in the DXM and CAM+DXM challenged groups than in the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Decreased IL-17 and recovered relative HDAC2 activity correlated with airway resistance and inflammation in a neutrophilic asthma mouse model. This result suggests macrolides as a potential corticosteroid-sparing agent in neutrophilic asthma.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.115-120
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• 2010

Purpose : To separate and evaluate the low frequency spontaneous fluctuation BOLD signals from the functional magnetic resonance imaging data using sensorimotor active task. Materials and Methods : Twenty female archery players and twenty three control subjects were included in this study. Finger-tapping task consisted of three cycles of right finger tapping, with a subsequent 30 second rest. Blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) data were collected using $T2^*$-weighted echo planar imaging at a 3.0 T scanner. A 3-D FSPGR T1-weighted images were used for structural reference. Image processing and statistical analyses were performed using SPM5 for active finger-tapping task and GIFT program was used for statistical analyses of low frequency spontaneous fluctuation BOLD signal. Results : Both groups showed the activation in the left primary motor cortex and supplemental motor area and in the right cerebellum for right finger-tapping task. ICA analysis using GIFT revealed independent components corresponding to contralateral and ipsilateral sensorimotor network and cognitive-related neural network. Conclusion : The current study demonstrated that the low frequency spontaneous fluctuation BOLD signals can be separated from the fMRI data using finger tapping paradigm. Also, it was found that these independent components correspond to spontaneous and coherent neural activity in the primary sensorimotor network and in the motor-cognitive network.