• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.7.1-7.24
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• 2021

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has severely impacted global health and economy. There is currently no effective approved treatment for COVID-19; although vaccines have been granted emergency use authorization in several countries, they are currently only administered to high-risk individuals, thereby leaving a gap in virus control measures. The scientific and clinical communities and drug manufacturers have collaborated to speed up the discovery of potential therapies for COVID-19 by taking advantage of currently approved drugs as well as investigatory agents in clinical trials. In this review, we stratified some of these candidates based on their potential targets in the progression of COVID-19 and discuss some of the results of ongoing clinical evaluations.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• 제1권2호
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• pp.262-268
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• 1996

In Korea, the health authorities and food industry emphasize the need of sanitary food production, which in mainly resulted from the recent growing of consumer's interest in the safety of food. For the reason, development of a new alternative technology to chemicals, currently used for decontamination and disinfestation, has become and urgent task in the domestic and worldwide food industry. Furthermore, the improvement of quality and manufacturing process of processed food is a requisite for winning the competition in export fields. Irradiation technology being practically applicable in the food industry has been well established on the basis of more than 40 years of R&D work in the fields of the increasing availability of food-stuffs, sanitary food production and quarantine treatment in the food trade. The wholesomeness of irradiation foods has been officially approved in 38 countries, of which 30 countries are commercially utilizing food irradiation technology. The first commercial irradiator in Korea(18.5PBq:500k{TEX}$Ci^{60}${/TEX} Co, max. cap; 4MCi) was established at Yeoju-gur, Kyung Ki-do with the technical assistance of Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute in June 1987. As of 1996, thirteen irradiated food groups (over 25 items)have been domestically approved for human consumption and an industrial irradiation facility is also available. However, the domestically approved for human consumption and an industrial irradiation facility is also available. However, the promotion of consumer acceptance to toward ir-radiated foods is considered as a confronted subject to be studied for a commercial utilization.

• 한국임상약학회지
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.171-177
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• 2015

Background: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA), one of alopecias, requires continuous treatment in order to prevent or stop it, and patient's compliance is very important. Currently, only two drugs (finasteride, minoxidil) have been approved for AGA by Food and Drug Administration of United States (US FDA). However, another ${\alpha}-2$ reductase inhibitor, dutasteride, is approved by Korea Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) through a phase III trial. For treatment, pharmacotherapy of AGA usually combines topical minoxidil 7% with one of oral <${\alpha}-2$ reductase inhibitor. Objectives: We evaluated the comparative efficacy and adverse effect between topical minoxidil 7%/finasteride 1 mg and topical minoxidil 7%/dutasteride 0.5 mg pharmacotherapy for outpatients with AGA. Also we evaluated the relationship between therapeutic effect and regular hospital visit. Method: This study was performed retrospectively based on electronic medical record (EMR) data of total 98 patients (topical minoxidil 7% with dutasteride 0.5 mg ($Avodart^{(R)}$) or finasteride 1 mg ($Alopecia^{(R)}$, $Propecia^{(R)}$) with diagnosis of AGA from department of dermatology at a secondary hospital from January $1^{st}$, to May $31^{st}$, 2014. Results: The efficacy and adverse event of topical minoxidil 7%/dutasteride 0.5 mg (DUTA group) were 100% and 45.7%, and of topical minoxidil 7%/finasteride 1 mg (FINA group) were 92.1% and 33.3%, respectively. The mean onset time of responses and adverse events in the FINA group were 3.86 months and 4.43 months. Those in the DUTA group were 3.97 months and 5.06 months. Conclusion: Both FINA and DUTA group were highly effective, but the DUTA group showed higher efficacy and adverse effects than those in the FINA group. Dutasteride may be another alternative in AGA treatment.

• 한국직업건강간호학회지
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.102-111
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was conducted to analyze the characteristics of work-related musculoskeletal diseases (MSD) and the factors for approving MSD by the parts of the body. Methods: The analysis was done using the data which were drawn from the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance that is operated by the Korea Worker's Compensation & Welfare Service. The data were composed of total cases related to the work-related diseases from 2006 to 2009. In addition, MSD data input by an investigator were collected. The factors associated with MSD were analyzed using ${\times}2$ and multiple logistic regression. Results: MSD approved cases have increased since 2006 and the proportion of the approved work-related MSD cases in the workers with work-related diseases in 2009 were 33.4%. Spinal approved cases were the highest percentage and upper and lower extremities cases gradually increased. The factors for approving upper extremity were found to be age, company size, type of industry, working duration, and in the case of spine to be company size and heavy lifting. Conclusion: Work-related MSD have increased and the factors that affected MSD by the parts of the body varied. Management strategy must be established to prevent MSD by the parts of the body.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.171-177
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• 2019

Parasitic infections have remained a significant burden on human and animal health. In part, this is due to lack of clinically-approved, novel antimicrobials and a lack of interest by the pharmaceutical industry. An alternative approach is to modify existing clinically-approved drugs for efficient delivery formulations to ensure minimum inhibitory concentration is achieved at the target site. Nanotechnology offers the potential to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of drugs through modification of nanoparticles with ligands. Amphotericin B, nystatin, and fluconazole are clinically available drugs in the treatment of amoebal and fungal infections. These drugs were conjugated with gold nanoparticles. To characterize these gold-conjugated drug, atomic force microscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were performed. These drugs and their gold nanoconjugates were examined for antimicrobial activity against the protist pathogen, Acanthamoeba castellanii of the T4 genotype. Moreover, host cell cytotoxicity assays were accomplished. Cytotoxicity of these drugs and drug-conjugated gold nanoparticles was also determined by lactate dehydrogenase assay. Gold nanoparticles conjugation resulted in enhanced bioactivity of all three drugs with amphotericin B producing the most significant effects against Acanthamoeba castellanii (p < 0.05). In contrast, bare gold nanoparticles did not exhibit antimicrobial potency. Furthermore, amoebae treated with drugs-conjugated gold nanoparticles showed reduced cytotoxicity against HeLa cells. In this report, we demonstrated the use of nanotechnology to modify existing clinically-approved drugs and enhance their efficacy against pathogenic amoebae. Given the lack of development of novel drugs, this is a viable approach in the treatment of neglected diseases.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제30권4호
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• pp.353-363
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• 2020

Objectives: Occupational diseases that occur due to or aggravated by work have commonly been recognized in the manufacturing industry, but there are now more incidences happening in the service industry due to changes in the industrial structure. Health workers are exposed to direct factors and various other causes of occupational disease at work, such as physical, chemical, biological, and psyco-social factors. This study aims to identify work-related diseases affecting health workers that are recognized as occupational diseases. Methods: The research is based on the data of workers whose diseases were accepted as work-related by the Industrial Accidents Compensation Insurance, and filed by the Korean Occupational Safety and Health Agency. Amongst the approved claims during 2011 to 2015, we focused on healthcare workers and health-related workers of the Korean Standard Classification of Occupations. Descriptive statistics were performed. Results: The number of health workers(HWs) with approved work-related disease was 1,707 over 5 years. The number of healthcare workers(HCWs) excluding caregivers was 370 (21.7%) and of health-related workers (HRWs) it was 736 (43.1%). Out of HWs who were approved for their illnesses, females were 80% of HCWs and 88% of HRWs. The most common occupational disease in HWs was musculoskeletal diseases, while that of nurses was infectious disease. Conclusions: HWs are exposed to various risks from their profession and are affected by occupational diseases. It is necessary to focus on this issue and provide preventive measures.

• 한국임상약학회지
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• 제33권4호
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• pp.290-304
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• 2023

Background: Innovative Alzheimer's disease drugs received approval in the United States in 2021 and 2023. This study aims to assess the safety and efficacy of these novel treatments, elucidate their mechanisms of action, and compare their impact on cognitive function improvement with approved drugs. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search of pivotal clinical studies related to Alzheimer's disease treatments in PubMed/Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Library databases from January 1st, 2020 to December 31st, 2022. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 software. Results: A total of 14 studies were included in this systematic review. When compared to the placebo, the new drugs did not exhibit a statistically significant effect on MMSE (Mini-Mental State Examination) (mean difference= -0.04, 95% confidence intervals [CIs]: -0.31, 0.23, N=3662, I²=0%). However, they demonstrated a significant impact on ADAS-cog (Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale) (standardized mean difference= -0.15, 95% CIs: -0.2, -0.1, N=6710, I²=17%). When compared to the approved drugs, the new drugs showed a statistically significantly lower effect on MMSE (test for subgroup difference Chi²=23.13, N = 5870, p<0.00001) but showed only a trend of decreased efficacy on ADAS-cog (Chi²=1.16, N = 8670, p=0.28). Conclusion: New drugs yielded diverse clinical endpoint results compared to the placebo, and in comparison to existing approved drugs, they exhibited lower efficacy in improving cognitive function. The safety profile of these new drugs, as reported in clinical trials, was generally well-tolerated.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제9권3호
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• pp.163-167
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• 1986

Twenty six urea analogues, most of which have already been approved for human use, were tested for their antiurease activity in vitro. Cell-free extracts obtained from a clinical isolate of Proteus mirabilis was used as the source of enzyme. Acetohydroxamic acid which is a proven potent urease inhibitor but not approved for human use was again shown to be the most active compound among the tested. Phenacemide, cycloserine, and deferoxamine were demonstrated to be moderate inhibitors. Oxtetracycline, trimethoprim, and cefamandole revealed a demonstrable antiruease activity, but only at very high concentrations. The antiurease activity of cycloserine, trimethoprim, and cefamandole was pH dependent-only active at acidic pH. The inhibitory activity of acetohydroxamic acid however was independent of change in pH. The inhibitory activity of acetohydroxamic acid however was independent of change in pH. Hydrogen ion concentration plays an important role in urease activity and acidification (pH 5. 5) alone eliminates approximately 65% of the enzymic activity. Adjustment of pH therefore appears to be an important adjunct in reducing unrease activity and should always be studied to maximize the effcacy of antiurease compounds under investigation.

• 설비공학논문집
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.39-43
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• 2015

The Energy and Green House Gas target management system was launched by the Korean Government in 2010. The Korea Emission Trading System will start in 2015. Therefore, simultaneous pursuit of energy saving and greenhouse emission reduction through energy use rationalization is an important obligation of Korean engineers, who import about 97% of domestic energy consumption. Economic analysis of the GHG emission reduction methodologies registered and approved by Korea Voluntary Emission Reduction (KVER) program was conducted. The results for waste heat recovery employed in an energy intensive pulp, paper and wood industry were reported. The emission reduction intensities were 9.7 kg $CO_2$/ton_pulp production. Net Present Value analysis showed that the GHG emission reduction was economically beneficial with an internal rate return of 60%. The results of exergy analysis indicated that the second law efficiencies of waste heat recovery system employed in KVER program were 77.3% and 53.6%. NPV decreased as the exergy decreased.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.1-4
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• 2015

In pediatric dentistry, chloral hydrate is habitually selected for sedation of uncooperative children. Although chloral hydrate has been used for decades, various adverse effects are reported and necessity for new alternative drugs has increased. Dexmedetomidine was approved by FDA for sedation at intensive care units (ICU) in 1999. Compared to conventional sedative drugs, dexmedetomidine has not only analgesic and sedative effects but also it barely suppresses the respiratory system. Due to these characteristics, dexmedetomidine is known as safe sedative drug for children and elderly patients. Furthermore, approved by KFDA in 2010 in Korea, the frequency of sedation using dexmedetomidine is increasing. However, due to its intravenous administration method, it was difficult to apply in pediatric dentistry. Recently, intranasal administration method was introduced which might be a new possible alternative of oral sedation. In this study, we compare the mechanisms, pros and cons of chloral hydrate and dexmedetomidine, introducing new possibilities.