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A Analysis of Effectiveness of Aluminium Filter in the added Compound Filtration by Detective Quantum Efficiency and Image Quality Evaluation (복합부가여과에서 알루미늄 여과판 사용 시 양자검출효율과 화질평가를 통한 효율성 분석)

  • Kim, Sang-Hyeon;Kim, Yun-Min;Kwon, Kyoung-Tae;Ma, Sang-Chull;Han, Dong-Gyoon
    • The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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    • v.15 no.10
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    • pp.362-373
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    • 2015
  • This study analysed the effectiveness of aluminium(Al) filter in the added compound filtration for the removal of characteristic radiation from high atomic number material by DQE and image evaluation. 1mm Al was applied to each 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 mm copper and befere and after use were evaluated. Beam quality and DQE were tested by IEC regulations and image quality was evaluated by PSNR, MAE, MSE, CNR, SNR and qualitative analysis was performed by 7 items for resolution and contrast from chest x-ray criteria of national cancer checkup. MTF 10 and 50% were the same by 4.6, 2.54 cycle/mm and NPS, DQE, PSNR MAE, MSE, CNR, SNR and qualitative analysis were all the same or slightly better when Al was not used. PSNR is over 30dB and all significant and at the qualitative analysis, the p-value of t-test was over 0.05. The DQE and image quality evaluation have little difference between before and after use of Al filter and it is effective to use the Al filter for the reduction of skin dose by removal of characteristic radiation.

The Role of Lymphocyte Compartment and Cytokine in Coal Workers Pneumoconiosis (진폐증환자에서의 임파구 분획 및 싸이토카인의 역할)

  • Lee, Jung-Yeon;Yoo, Kwang-Ha;Ahn, Hae-Ryon;Kim, Sung-Ryul;Lee, Hae-Woon;Ahn, Cheol-Min;Kim, Hyung-Joong
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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    • v.52 no.3
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    • pp.241-250
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    • 2002
  • Background : Coal-worker's pneumoconiosis(CWP) is characterized by a chronic inflammatory lung reaction associated with macrophage accumulation in the alveolar spaces. CWP is usually divided into two stage : simple pneumoconiosis(SP) where there are a limited number of fibrotic lesions remain limited, with radiological opacities smaller than 1cm and progressive massive fibrosis(PMF), which is characterized by the development of a perifocal extensive fibrotic response of the lung and severe alterations in pulmonary function. In this study, the lymphocyte compartment and cytokine were evaluated by measuring the serum levels in the control, SP and PMF groups. Materials and Methods : The coal workers selected for this study were employees(patients?) of the Tae-Baek and Dong-Hae hospital. All were men, 45-76 years old and the mean duration of their exposure to coal dust was 23.2 years in the lymphocyte compartment and 24.3 years in the cytokine checked group. According to X-ray examination results, the patients were classified into either one of the SP, PMF categories. The normal controls examined were 26-70 years old men. The serum cytokine levels were estimated by using an end point enzyme immunoassay technique. Results : T lymphocyte, helper and suppressor T cells were highly related to pneumoconiosis in this study. A statistically significant decrease in the number of suppressor T lymphocytes was observed in the simple pneumoconiosis patients and at the same time, there was an increase in the lymphocyte index. Howevere, there was no statistically difference in the serum cytokines levels among the SP, PMF and control groups. Conclusion : T lymphocyte, helper T, and suppressor T cells may be highly related to the development of CWP compared to the control group particularly in the early stage of pneumoconiosis. The changes observed in the immunological system in patients with pneumoconiosis may lie at the bottom of the pathogenesis of fibrosis. Further study is needed to evaluate the lymphocyte compartment as a marker for pneumoconiosis development in the early stage.

Diffusion-Weighted MR Imaging of Various Intracranial Diseases : Clinical Utility (다양한 두개강내 질환의 확산강조 자기공명영상 : 임상적 유용성)

  • 김영준
    • Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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    • v.2 no.1
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    • pp.104-112
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    • 1998
  • Purpose : To evaluate the clinical utility of diffusion-weighted imaging by analyzing the signal intersity of lesions in patients with various intracranial diseases. Materials and Methods : difusion-weighted MR imaging was prospectively perormed in randomly selected 70 patients with various intracranial idseases. They consisted of 20 patients with acute infarct, 21 patients with chronic infarct of small vessel disease, 14 patients with primary intracranial tumor, three patients with brain metastasis, five patient with brain abscess, five patients with brain abscess, five patients with cerebral hemorrhage, one patient with neurocysticercosis, and one patient with epidermoid cyst. the diffusion-weighted images were obtained immediately after routine T2-weighted imaging on a 1.5T MR unit using single shot spin echo EPI technique with 6500 ms TR, 107ms TE, $128{\times}128$ matrix, 1 number of excitation, $24{\times}24$ field of view, 5-7 mm slice thickness, 2-3 mm inter-slice gap. The diffusion-gradients (b value of ($1000s{\;}/{\;}textrm{mm}^2$)) were applied along three directions(x, y, z). On visual inspection of diffusion-weighted images, the signal intersity of lesions was arbitrarily graded as one of 5 grades. In quantitative assessment, we measured the signal intensity of all the lesions and the contralateral corresponding normal area using round region of interest(ROI), and then calculated the signal intensity ratio of the lesion to the normal brain parenchyma. Results : On visual inspection, markedly hyperintense signals were seen in all cases of acute infarct, brain abscess, epidermoid cyst, and neurocysticercosis in degenerating stage. In all cases of cerebral hematoma, the very high signal internsity was intermingled with low signal intensity. focal very high signal intersity was also seen in a solid portion of the tumor in a patient. the mean signal intensity ratios of all those lesions to the normal brain parenchyma were above 2.5. Gliosis, solid component of brain tumor, brain metastasis, and vasogenic dedma appeared isointense to the normal brain parenchyma in 71%, 64%, 100%, and 67%, respectively ; the mean signal intensity ratios of those lesions to the normal brain parenchyma ranged 1.15 to 1.28 and there was no significant difference among these(p>0.1). Cystic cerebromalacia and necrotic or cystic portions in tumor were markedly or slightly hypointense, and the mean signal intensity ratios were 0.45 and 0.42, respectively. Conclusion : Very high signal intensity of acute infarct, brain abscess, epidermoid cyst, and cystic neurocysticercosis in degenerating stage on diffusion-weighted images may be helpful in differentiating from other diseases that are hypointense or isointense to the normal brain parenchyma. It may be especially useful differentiation of brain abscess from brain tumor with necrotic or cystic portion.

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Hypofractionated Radiation Therapy for Early Glottic Cancer - Preliminary Results - (초기 성문암 환자에서의 소분할 조사법을 이용한 방사선치료 - 예비적 결과 -)

  • Wu Hong-Gyun;Hong Semie;Shin Seong Soo;Park Charn Il
    • Radiation Oncology Journal
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    • v.19 no.4
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    • pp.301-305
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    • 2001
  • Purpose : This study was peformed for the evaluation of the feasibility and toxicity of hypofractionated radiation therapy for early glottic cancer Methods and Materials : From February 1999 to February 2000, 20 patients with Histologically confirmed Stage I, II glottic cancer were enrolled into this study. There were 18 males and 2 females, the median age of the patients was 59 years. The distribution of stage distribution was as fellows; T1aN0-16 patients, T1bN0-1 patient, T2N0-3 patients. Eighteen patients underwent laryngomicroscopic biopsy only, and two patients underwent laser cordectomy. All patients received radical radiation therapy (2.5 Gy per fraction, 24 fractions, total 60 Gy). Median duration of treatment was 36 days (range $31\~45\;days$). Results : Radiation therapy were well tolerated. Most common acute reactions were odynophagia and hoarseness, and these reactions resolved after radiation therapy. There were one case of RTOG grade 3 odynophagia $(5\%)$, six cases of grade 3 hoarseness $(30\%)$. Response of radiation therapy was evaluated one month after completion of treatment. All patients revealed complete response. During follow up, total three cases of treatment failure were detected. two cases were local recurrence in 10 and 13 months of radiation therapy and one case was local recurrence and distant metastasis in 2 months of radiation therapy. Conclusion : This hypofractionated radiation therapy schedule was feasible and effective for control of early glottic cancer But longer follow up time would be required to assess the long-term disease control and the late complication by shortening radiation therapy duration.

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Studies on the ecological variations of rice plant under the different seasonal cultures -I. Variations of the various agronomic characteristics of rice plant under the different seasonal cultures- (재배시기 이동에 의한 수도의 생태변이에 관한 연구 -I. 재배시기 이동에 의한 수도의 실용제형질의 변이-)

  • Hyun-Ok Choi
    • KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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    • v.3
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    • pp.1-40
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    • 1965
  • To measure variations in some of the important agronomic characteristics of rice varieties under shifting of seedling dates, this study has been carried out at the Paddy Crop Division of Crop Experiment Station(then Agricultural Experiment Station) in Suwon for the period of three years 1958 to 1960. The varieties used in this study were Kwansan, Suwon #82, Mojo, Paltal and Chokwang, which have the different agronomic characteristics such as earliness and plant type. Seeds of each variety were sown at 14 different dates in 10-day interval starting on March 2. The seedlings were grown on seed bed for 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 and 80 days, respectively. The results of this study are as follows: A. Heading dates. 1. As the seeding date was delayed, the heading dates was almost proportionally delayed. The degree of delay was higher in early varieties and lower in late varieties and the longer the seedling stage, the more delayed the heading date. 2. Number of days to heading was proportionally lessened as seeding was delayed in all the varieties but the magnitude varied depending upon variety. In other words, the required period for heading in case of late planting was much shortened in late variety compared with early one. Within a variety, the number of days to heading was less shortened as the seedling stage was prolonged. Early variety reached earlier than late variety to the marginal date for the maximum shortening of days to heading and the longer the seeding stage, the limitted date came earlier. There was a certain limit in seeding date for shortening of days to heading as seeding was delayed, and days to heading were rather prolonged due to cold weather when seeded later than that date. 3. In linear regression equation, Y=a+bx obtained from the seeding dates and the number of days to heading, the coefficient b(shortening rate of days to heading) was closely correlated with the average number of days to heading. That is, the period from seeding to heading was more shortened in late variety than early one as seeding was delayed. 4. To the extent that the seedling stage is not so long and there is a linear relationship between delay of seeding and shortening of days to heading, it might be possible to predict heading date of a rice variety to be sown any date by using the linear regression obtained from variation of heading dates under the various seeding dates of the same variety. 5. It was found out that there was a close correlation between the numbers of days to heading in ordinary culture and the other ones. When a rice variety was planted during the period from the late part of March to the middle of June and the seedling ages were within 30 to 50 days, it could be possible to estimate heading date of the variety under late or early culture with the related data of ordinary culture. B. Maturing date. 6. Within (he marginal date for maturation of rice variety, maturing date was proportionally delayed as heading was delayed. Of course, the degree of delay depended upon varieties and seedling ages. The average air temperature (Y) during the ripening period of rice variety was getting lower as the heading date. (X) was delayed. Though there was a difference among varieties, in general, a linear regression equation(y=25.53-0.182X) could be obtained as far as heading date were within August 1 to September 13. 7. Depending upon earliness of a rice variety, the average air temperature during the ripening period were greatly different. Early variety underwent under 28$^{\circ}C$ in maximum while late variety matured under as low as 22$^{\circ}C$. 8. There was a highly significant correlation between the average air temperature (X) during the ripening period, and number of day (Y) for the maturation. And the relationship could be expressed as y=82.30-1.55X. When the average air temperature during the period was within the range of 18$^{\circ}C$ to 28$^{\circ}C$, the ripening period was shortened by 1.55 days with increase of 1$^{\circ}C$. Considering varieties, Kwansan was the highest in shortening the maturing period by 2.24 days and Suwon #82 was the lowest showing 0.78 days. It is certain that ripening of rice variety is accelerated at Suwon as the average air temperature increases within the range of 18$^{\circ}C$ to 28$^{\circ}C$. 9. Between number of days to heading (X) related to seeding dates and the accumulated average air temperature (Y) during the ripening period, a positive correlation was obtained. However, there was a little difference in the accumulated average air temperature during the ripening period even seeding dates were shifted to a certain extent. C. Culm- and ear-lengths. 10. In general all the varieties didn't show much variation in their culm-lengths in case of relatively early seeding but they trended to decrease the lengths as seeding was delayed. The magnitude of decreasing varied from young seedlings to old ones. Young seedlings which were seeded during May 21 to June 10 didn't decrease their culm-lengths, while seedlings old as 80 days decreased the length though under ordinary culture. 11. Variation in ear-length of rice varieties show the same trend as the culm-length subjected to the different seeding dates. When rice seedlings aged from 30 to 40 days, the ear-length remained constant but rice plants older than 40 days obviously decreased their ear-lengths. D. Number of panicles per hill. 12. The number of panicles per hill decreased up to a certain dates as seeding was delayed and then again increased the panicles due to the development of numerous tillers at the upper internodes. The seeding date to reach to the least number of panicles of rice variety depended upon the seedling ages. Thirty- to 40-day seedlings which were seeded during May 31 to June 10 developed the lowest number of panicles and 70- to 80-day seedlings sown for the period from April 11 to April 21 reached already to the minimum number of panicles. E. Number of rachillae. 13. To a certain seeding date, the number of rachillae didn't show any variation due to delay of seeding but it decreased remarkably when seeded later than the marginal date. 14. Variation in number of rachillae depended upon seedling ages. For example, 30- to 40-day old seedlings which, were originally seeded after May 31 started to decrease the rachillae. On the other hand, 80-day old seedlings which, were seeded on May 1 showed a tendency to decrease rachillae and the rice plant sown on May 31 could develop narrowly 3 or 4 panicles. F. Defective grain and 1.000-grain weights. 15. Under delay of the seeding dates, weight of the defective grains gradually increased till a certain date and then suddenly increased. These relationships could be expressed with two different linear regressions. 16. If it was assumed that the marginal date for ripening was the cross point of these two lines, the date seemed. closely related with seedling ages. The date was June 10- in 30- to 40-day old seedlings but that of 70- to 80-day old seedlings was May 1. Accordingly, the marginal date for ripening was getting earlier as the seedling stage was prolonged. 17. The 1.000-grain weight in ordinary culture was the heaviest and it decreased in both early and late cultures. G. Straw and rough rice weights. 18. Regardless of earliness of variety, rice plants under early culture which were seeded before March 22 or April 1 did not show much variation in straw weight due to seedling ages but in ordinary culture it gradually decreased and the degree was became greater in late culture. 19. Relationship between seeding dates (X) and grain weight related to varieties and seedling ages, could be expressed as a parabola analogous to a line (Y=77.28-7.44X$_1$-1.00lX$_2$). That is, grain yield didn't vary in early culture but it started to decrease when seeded later than a certain date, as seeding was delayed. The variation was much greater in cases of late planting and prolongation of seedling age. 20. Generally speaking, the relationship between grain yield (Y) and number of days to heading (X) was described with linear regression. However, the early varieties were the highest yielders within the range of 60 to 110, days to heading but the late variety greatly decreased its yield since it grows normally only under late culture. The grain yield, on the whole, didn't increase as number of days to heading exceeded more than 140 days.

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The Historical Study of Headache in Chinese Ming Dynasty (명대의가(明代醫家)들의 두통(頭痛)에 대한 인식변화에 관한 연구)

  • Chun, Duk-Bong;Maeng, Woong-Jae;Kim, Nam-Il
    • The Journal of Korean Medical History
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    • v.24 no.1
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    • pp.43-56
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    • 2011
  • Everyone once in a life experience headaches as symptoms are very common. According to a study in a country of more than a week and as many as those who have experienced a headache amounts to 69.4%. In addition, the high reported prevalence of migraine in 30s for 80% of all migraine sufferers daily life interfere with work or was affected. In Western medicine, the cause of headaches is traction or deformation of pain induced tissue like scalp, subcutaneous tissue, muscle, fascia, extracranial arteriovenous, nerves, periosteum. But it turns out there are not cause why pain induced tissue is being tracted or deformated. Therefore, most of the western-therapy is mainly conducted with regimen for a temporary symptom reduction. Therefore, I examined how it has been developed in Chinese Ming Dynasty, the perception of headache, change in disease stage and an etiological cause. Oriental medicine in the treatment of headache is a more fundamental way to have an excellent treatment. The recognition of head in "素問($s{\grave{u}}$ $w{\grave{e}}n$)" and "靈樞($l{\acute{i}}ng$ $sh{\bar{u}}$)" began to appear in 'Soul-神($sh{\acute{e}}n$) dwelling place' and 'where to gather all the Yang-'諸陽之會($zh{\bar{u}}$ $y{\acute{a}}ng$ $zh{\bar{i}}$ $hu{\grave{i}}$)'. Also, head was recognized as '六腑($li{\grave{u}}f{\check{u}}$) 淸陽之氣($q{\bar{i}}ng$ $y{\acute{a}}ng$ $zh{\bar{i}}$ $q{\grave{i}}$) and 五臟($w{\check{u}}$ $z{\grave{a}}ng$) 精血($j{\bar{i}}ng$ $xu{\grave{e}}$) gathering place'. More specific structures such as the brain is considered a sea of marrow(髓海-$su{\check{i}}$ $h{\check{a}}i$) in "內經($n{\grave{e}}i$ $j{\bar{i}}ng$)" and came to recognized place where a stroke occurs. Accompanying development of the recognition about head, there had been changed about the perception of headache and the recognition of the cause and mechanism of headache. And the recognition of headache began to be completed in Ming Dynasty through Jin, Yuan Dynasty. Chinese Ming Dynasty, specially 樓英($l{\acute{o}}u$ $y{\bar{i}}ng$), in "醫學綱目($y{\bar{i}}xu{\acute{e}}$ $g{\bar{a}}ngm{\grave{u}}$)", first enumerated prescription in detail by separating postpartum headache. and proposed treatment of headache especially due to postpartum sepsis(敗血-$b{\grave{a}}i$ $xu{\grave{e}}$). 許浚($x{\check{u}}$ $j{\grave{u}}n$) accepted a variety of views without impartial opinion in explaining one kind of headache in "東醫寶鑑($d{\bar{o}}ng-y{\bar{i}}$ $b{\check{a}}oji{\grave{a}}n)$" 張景岳($zh{\bar{a}}ng$ $j{\check{i}}ng$ $yu{\grave{e}}$), in "景岳全書($j{\check{i}}ng$ $yu{\grave{e}}$ $qu{\acute{a}}nsh{\bar{u}}$)", established his own unique classification system-新舊表裏($x{\bar{i}}nji{\grave{u}}$ $bi{\check{a}}ol{\check{i}}$)-, and offered a clear way even in treatment. Acupuncture treatment of headache in the choice of meridian has been developed as a single acupuncture point. Using the classification of headache to come for future generation as a way of locating acupoints were developed. Chinese Ming Dynasty, there are special treatments like 導引按蹻法($d{\check{a}}o$ y ${\check{i}}n$ ${\grave{a}}n$ $ji{\check{a}}o$ $f{\check{a}}$), 搐鼻法($ch{\grave{u}}$ $b{\acute{i}}$ $f{\check{a}})$, 吐法($t{\check{u}}$ $f{\check{a}}$), 外貼法($w{\grave{a}}i$ $ti{\bar{e}}$ $f{\check{a}}$), 熨法($y{\grave{u}}n$ $f{\check{a}}$), 點眼法($di{\check{a}}n$ $y{\check{a}}n$ $f{\check{a}}$), 熏蒸法($x{\bar{u}}nzh{\bar{e}}ng$ $f{\check{a}}$), 香氣療法($xi{\bar{a}}ngq{\grave{i}}$ $li{\acute{a}}of{\check{a}}$). Most of this therapy in the treatment of headache, it is not used here, but if you use a good fit for today's environment can make a difference.

Current Status of Korean Ginseng Research (한국인삼론(韓國人蔘論))

  • Han, Byung-Hoon
    • Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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    • v.3 no.3
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    • pp.151-160
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    • 1972
  • Recent achievements of scientific research on the pharmacologic activities and the chemical problems of dammalene glycosides, which are considered to be effective principles of Korean ginseng, are reviewed and analyzed in view of structure-activity relationship. 1) S. Shibata and his co-workers detected 12 glycoside spots of dammalene series on the two dimensional T.L.C. of total glycoside fraction from Japanese ginseng, and designated them Ginsenoside Rx(x=a, b, c, g, h, etc.) in the order of increasing Rf-value. The aglycones of those glycosides were characterized to be protopanaxadiol for the Ginsenoside $Rx(x=a,\;b_{1},\;b_{2},\;c,\;d,\;e,\;f)$ and protopanaxatriol for the Ginsenoside $Rx(x=g_{1},\;g_{2},\;g_{3},\;h_{1}\;'h_{2})$. Using Korean ginseng as the material for our study, the author and his coworkers isolated a new dammalene glycoside(Panax Saponin C), which comes under the category of protopanaxadiol glycosides based on the classification of S. Shibata et al., and characterized this saponin to be the glycoside of protopanaxatriol series. Furthermore, Panax Saponin C dissociated into $two\;components(C_{1}\;and\;C_{2}-acetate)$ by acetylation, both of which returned to original Panax Saponin C by deacetylation. Based on this result, more than 13 glycoside components of dammalene series will be expected in the Korean ginseng. 2) The structures of protopanaxadiol and protopanaxatriol, the genuine aglycones of dammalene glycosides, are fully established to be structural analogues by S. Shibata and his co-workers, therefore antagonistic and/or analogical activities will be expected for the pharmacologic activities of these glycoside series of structural analogues. K. Takaki and his co-workers found central nervous system (CNS) stimmulant activity from the glycosides of protopanaxatriol series and CNS-depressant activity from the glycosides of protopanaxadiol series. On the other hand, the author and his co-workers found stimmulating activity on the protein synthesis from both the series of dammalene glycosides with delayed and long-lasting characteristics. This delayed and long-lasting characteristics were also observed in the anti-inflammatory activity of glycosides of protopanaxatriol series on their time course tendency. For the convenience's sake of argument, pluralistic pharmacologic activities of dammalene glycosides, which were observed by many workers at various pharmacologic site, may be classified into two main categories; one is pan-cellular activity and the other is organ specific activity to the certain tissue which is a mass of cells differentiated to a certain direction for their special functions in the body. Based on the data of K. Takaki and those of the authors, following assumption will be probable; Pharmacologic activities of both series of glycosides of protopanaxadiol and protopanaxatriol aglycones may be antagonistic on their tissue-specific activities and analogic on their pan-cellular activities. Therefore, the mixture of these two series of glycosides in an appropriate ratio, as the case of total extract of Korean ginseng, will be probably beneficial to the host by increasing the synthesis of some functional proteins, due to the additive action of pan-cellular activity, and with the disappearance of any significant behavioral symptoms due to the antagonism of tissue specific activity. This fact will probably be the main reason why classical trials of pharmacologists failed in re-discovering the efficacy of Korean ginseng with their behavioral test. 3) The author and his co-workers achieved the synthesis of $C^{14}-labelled\;Panax\;Saponin\;A\;on\;C_{25}-C_{27}\;position\;of\;aglycone$ in the interest of tracer studies in vivo. The method will be applicable to other dammalene glycosides regardless of their chemical structure. 4) The author and his co-workers converted chemically betulafolienetriol, a triterpene component of Betula platyphylla, to the protopanaxadiol, one of genuine aglycone of dammalene glycosides.

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Effect of Claw Trimming on Milk Yield and Its Composition in Lactating Dairy Cows (젖소에 있어서 삭제(削蹄)가 유량 및 유성분에 미치는 영향)

  • Baek K.S.;Park S.B.;Park S.J.;Kim H.S.;Kim J.G.;Lee W.S.;Lee H.J.;Ki K.S.;Hur T.Y.;Kang S.J.;Suh G.H.;Jeon B.S.;Ahn B.S.
    • Journal of Embryo Transfer
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    • v.21 no.1
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    • pp.45-51
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    • 2006
  • This study was carried out to investigate effect of claw trimming on milk yield and its composition in Holstein at different lactation stages. 1 . There was no difference in daily milk yield between control and claw trimming in early, mid and late lactating Holsteins. 2. Somatic cell count (SCC) was lower in early lactation and it was higher in late lactation when claws were trimmed in Holstein. However, claw trimming did not affect SCC during mid lactation in Holstein. 3. Milk fat, protein and total solids were decreased during late lactation in Holstein after claw trimming. However, milk composition was not affected by claw trimming in early and mid lactating Holsteins.

Particle Size Analysis of Nano-sized Talc Prepared by Mechanical Milling Using High-energy Ball Mill (고에너지 볼 밀을 이용한 나노 활석의 형성 및 입도 분석)

  • Kim, Jin Woo;Lee, Bum Han;Kim, Jin Cheul;Kim, Hyun Na
    • Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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    • v.31 no.1
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    • pp.47-55
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    • 2018
  • Talc, hydrous magnesium phyllosilicate, is one of the most popular industrial minerals due to their chemical stability and adsorptivity. While micro-sized talc has long been used as a filler and coating, nano-sized talc recently is attracting attention as additives for improving the stability of nanocomposites. In this study, we produced the nano-sized talc powder by mechanical method using high energy ball mill and investigated the changes in particle size and crystallinity with increasing milling time up to 720 minutes. X-ray diffraction results show that the peak width of talc gradually as the milling proceeded, and after 720 minutes of pulverization, the talc showed an amorphous-like X-ray diffraction pattern. Lase diffraction particle size analysis presents that particle size of talc which was ${\sim}12{\mu}m$ decreased to ${\sim}0.45{\mu}m$ as the milling progressed, but no significant reduction of particle size was observed even after grinding for 120 minutes or more. BET specific surface area, however, steadily increases up to the milling time of 720 minutes, indicating that the particle size and morphology change steadily as the milling progressed. Scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope images shows that layered particles of about 100 to 300 nm was aggregated as micro-sized particles after pulverization for 720 minutes. As the grinding time increases, the particle size and morphology of talc continuously change, but the nano-sized talc particles form micro sized agglomerates. These results suggest that there is a critical size along the a, b axes in which the size of plates is reduced even though the grinding proceeds, and the reduction of plate thickness along the c axis leads the increase in specific surface area with further grinding. This study could enhance the understanding of the mechanism of the formation of nano-sized talc by mechanical grinding.

Induction of Phase I, II and III Drug Metabolism/Transport by Xenobiotics

  • Xu Chang Jiang;Li Christina YongTao;Kong AhNg Tony
    • Archives of Pharmacal Research
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    • v.28 no.3
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    • pp.249-268
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    • 2005
  • Drug metabolizing enzymes (DMEs) play central roles in the metabolism, elimination and detoxification of xenobiotics and drugs introduced into the human body. Most of the tissues and organs in our body are well equipped with diverse and various DMEs including phase I, phase II metabolizing enzymes and phase III transporters, which are present in abundance either at the basal unstimulated level, and/or are inducible at elevated level after exposure to xenobiotics. Recently, many important advances have been made in the mechanisms that regulate the expression of these drug metabolism genes. Various nuclear receptors including the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), orphan nuclear receptors, and nuclear factor-erythoroid 2 p45-related factor 2 (Nrf2) have been shown to be the key mediators of drug-induced changes in phase I, phase II metabolizing enzymes as well as phase III transporters involved in efflux mechanisms. For instance, the expression of CYP1 genes can be induced by AhR, which dimerizes with the AhR nuclear translocator (Arnt) , in response to many polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs). Similarly, the steroid family of orphan nuclear receptors, the constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) and pregnane X receptor (PXR), both heterodimerize with the ret-inoid X receptor (RXR), are shown to transcriptionally activate the promoters of CYP2B and CYP3A gene expression by xenobiotics such as phenobarbital-like compounds (CAR) and dexamethasone and rifampin-type of agents (PXR). The peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR), which is one of the first characterized members of the nuclear hormone receptor, also dimerizes with RXR and has been shown to be activated by lipid lowering agent fib rate-type of compounds leading to transcriptional activation of the promoters on CYP4A gene. CYP7A was recognized as the first target gene of the liver X receptor (LXR), in which the elimination of cholesterol depends on CYP7A. Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) was identified as a bile acid receptor, and its activation results in the inhibition of hepatic acid biosynthesis and increased transport of bile acids from intestinal lumen to the liver, and CYP7A is one of its target genes. The transcriptional activation by these receptors upon binding to the promoters located at the 5-flanking region of these GYP genes generally leads to the induction of their mRNA gene expression. The physiological and the pharmacological implications of common partner of RXR for CAR, PXR, PPAR, LXR and FXR receptors largely remain unknown and are under intense investigations. For the phase II DMEs, phase II gene inducers such as the phenolic compounds butylated hydroxyanisol (BHA), tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ), green tea polyphenol (GTP), (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and the isothiocyanates (PEITC, sul­foraphane) generally appear to be electrophiles. They generally possess electrophilic-medi­ated stress response, resulting in the activation of bZIP transcription factors Nrf2 which dimerizes with Mafs and binds to the antioxidant/electrophile response element (ARE/EpRE) promoter, which is located in many phase II DMEs as well as many cellular defensive enzymes such as heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), with the subsequent induction of the expression of these genes. Phase III transporters, for example, P-glycoprotein (P-gp), multidrug resistance-associated proteins (MRPs), and organic anion transporting polypeptide 2 (OATP2) are expressed in many tissues such as the liver, intestine, kidney, and brain, and play crucial roles in drug absorption, distribution, and excretion. The orphan nuclear receptors PXR and GAR have been shown to be involved in the regulation of these transporters. Along with phase I and phase II enzyme induction, pretreatment with several kinds of inducers has been shown to alter the expression of phase III transporters, and alter the excretion of xenobiotics, which implies that phase III transporters may also be similarly regulated in a coordinated fashion, and provides an important mean to protect the body from xenobiotics insults. It appears that in general, exposure to phase I, phase II and phase III gene inducers may trigger cellular 'stress' response leading to the increase in their gene expression, which ultimately enhance the elimination and clearance of these xenobiotics and/or other 'cellular stresses' including harmful reactive intermediates such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), so that the body will remove the 'stress' expeditiously. Consequently, this homeostatic response of the body plays a central role in the protection of the body against 'environmental' insults such as those elicited by exposure to xenobiotics.