• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2018

Rituximab (RTX) is a chimeric monoclonal antibody that inhibits CD20-mediated B-cell proliferation and differentiation. Several studies have examined its use in intractable nephrotic syndrome (NS) with some positive results. However, those studies examined such effects for a short-term period of 1 year, and some patients continued to relapse after a lapse in RTX treatment. Our use of RTX as a maintenance therapy (RTX injection when the CD19 cell count exceeded $100-200/{\mu}L$ before relapse) showed some noticeable efficacy. We used RTX in 19 patients with steroid-dependent NS (SDNS). In 12 patients treated with RTX maintenance therapy, only one relapse occurred. The mean treatment period was $23.4{\pm}12.7months$, and the mean number of RTX administrations was $3.9{\pm}1.6$. The relapse rates were decreased (from 2.68/year to 0.04/year), and the drug-free period also increased (from 22.5 days/year to 357.1 days/year) during maintenance therapy. The other seven patients were treated with one cycle of RTX or additional cycles in case of relapse (non-maintenance therapy). Relapse rates were significantly decreased after RTX treatment (from 1.76/year to 0.96/year, P=0.017). The relapse-free period was $15.55{\pm}7.38$ (range, 5.3-30.7) months. No severe side effects of RTX were found except for a hypersensitivity reaction such as fever and chills during its infusion. In conclusion, RTX is considered an effective and safe option to reduce the relapse rate by a single- or maintenance-interval therapy in SDNS.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.9-17
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• 2011

Positive effect of multiple-PGPR (Plan Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria), isolated from heavy metal contaminated soil, on the germination of Barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli var. frumentacea) was quantitatively estimated in 5 heavy metal (Cd, As, Ni, Cu, and Pb) contaminated liquid medium. The $EC_{50}$ value for respective heavy metal was estimated by TSK (Trimmed Speraman-Karber) model based on germination rate. The results showed overall increase in $EC_{50}$ with PGPR inoculation. The $EC_{50}$ value increased 1.4% from 96.0 mg/L (control) to 97.4 mg/L (PGPR-treated) in As contaminated medium. In Ni contaminated medium, the $EC_{50}$ value increased 31.9% from 148.0 mg/L (control) to 195.2 mg/L (PGPR-treated), while the $EC_{50}$ showed 4.8% increase from 63.4 mg/L (control) to 66.5 mg/L (PGPR-treated) in Cu medium. Overall seedling growth was stronger in the PGPR treated seeds than that in the control, but positive effect on seedling growth was not conspicuous. At effective concentration of 100 mg/L, the average seedling length of the PGPR treatment in As, Cd, Cu, and Ni medium, respectively, was 1.13, 0.14, 0.40, and 0.06 cm longer than that in the control. However, the increase of seedling growth was statistically insignificant (p < 0.05). These results suggest that inoculation of the isolated-PGPR exerts positive effects on seed germination by reducing heavy metal toxicity and can be an effective tool for application of phytoremediation on heavy metal contaminated soils.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.202-206
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• 2011

본 연구에서는 정체성 수역인 신갈호를 대상으로 저층 퇴적물의 오염물질에 대한 조사를 실시 하였다. 신갈호 저층 퇴적물의 분석 결과, 함수율의 범위는 49.0~68.2%로 조사되었으며, 평균 함수율은 60.8%로 나타났다. 함수비의 경우에는 지점별 96.1~214.6%의 넓은 범위를 보였으며 평균 함수비는 165.8%로 조사되었다. 퇴적물의 pH는 모든 지점에서 산성을 띄었으며, 하류부로 갈수록 더욱 낮아지는 경향을 보였다. 입도분석 결과, 토성은 SL(사양토) 및 SiL(실트질양토)로 나타났으며, 이러한 토성분포는 입자별 침강속도에 의한 것으로 퇴적물의 지점별 이 화학적 특성에 많은 영향을 줄 것으로 판단된다. 유기물 함량 분석결과, 강열감량의 경우 8.22~11.36%로 평균 10.22% 의 유기물 함량을 보였으며, COD는 24,92 mg/kg~27,38 mg/kg의 값으로 평균 26,16 mg/kg로 조사되었다. 영양물질 함량 분석결과, T-N의 경우 신갈호 저층 퇴적물 평균 2,916 mg/kg의 질소 함량을 보였으며, T-P의는 평균 710 mg/kg로 조사되었다. 영양물질 함량 분석결과 하류부로 갈수록 높아지는 경향을 보였으나 총질소의 경우 지점별 비슷한 값을 보인 반면, 총인은 지점별 큰 차이를 보였다. 퇴적물의 중금속 함량은 Cd, Cu, Zn, $Cr^{6+}$, Pb을 분석하였으며, Cd 0.10~0.12 mg/kg, Cu 18.33~20.67 mg/kg, Zn 82.73~110.15 mg/kg, $Cr^{6+}$ 0.78~0.93 mg/kg Pb 11.04~14.53 mg/kg의 범위를 보였으며, 지점별로 큰 차이를 보이지 않았다. 본 연구의 자료는 신갈호 유역의 개발계획 및 준설 검토에 대한 유용한 자료로 활용 가능할 것으로 판단된다.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.90-96
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• 2000

Organic electroluminescent (EL) device was fabricated with Alq$_3$ as an emitting material and PDPMA ultra thin film prepared by Langmuir-Boldgett technique as a polymer hole transport layer. A stable condensed PDPMA monolayer was obtained using arachidic acid as a surface active material. The thickness and absorbance of PDPMA LB film increased line-arly with the layer numbers. The organic multilayered device consisted of ITO/PDPMA LB film (19 layers)/Alq$_3$/Al emitted green light with brightness of 2500 cd/m$^2$ at a DC 14 V Especially, the drive voltage of EL device having PDPMA LB film of 15 layers exhibited the value as low as 4 V. The effects of thickness control and molecular orientation in the PDPMA LB film on EL performance were discussed.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.391-398
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• 1996

The pretreatment of bark powder with sodium hydroxide and formalin showed the most excellent adsorption ratio, but this method could not practically be used because of the occurrence of dark-colored pigments in filtrates during pretreatment. Instead, acid and formalin were the most affirmative and effective among the pretreatment methods tested, and could be used for this purpose. Among tested species, Quercus acutissima and Robinia pseudo-accacia showed the largest amount of metal adsorption, and $Pb^{2+}$ was the best(83 to 96%) among the four heavy metals tested. The order of adsorption ratios other metals was as follows; $Cu^{2+}$ > $Zn^{2+}$ > $Cd^{2+}$, and the ratio was approximately 45 to 55%. In addition, as the substrate amount increased, the amount of adsorbed heavy metals in subtrates gradually increased, but the adsorbed amount was not proportional to the substrate amount. The order of heavy metal adsorption was as follows; $Pb^{2+}$ > $Cu^{2+}$ > $Cd^{2+}$ > $Zn^{2+}$. Depending on flow rate and column size, pine bark power adsorbed more heavy metals in the 5ml/min flow rate and 3.5cm column size rather than the 10ml/min and 2.0cm. However, oak bark power showed contrary results compared with pine bark powder. The adsorption of $Pb^{2+}$ occurred rapidly in the incipient stagte. Even though bark powders were repeatedly used three times, there was no change in the adsorption ratio(45%), but after four times, the adsorption ratio was significantly reduced to 35%.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.369-376
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• 1998

This report shows that hydroxyl radical, generated by a Fenton reaction involving adenosine $5'-diphosphate/Fe^{2+}$ complex ($5-15\;{\mu}M$) and $H_2O_2$ ($2\;{\mu}M$), induced differentiation of HL-60 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. This is evidenced by the increases in 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate- and fMLP-stimulated superoxide production capability. The cells exposed to hydroxyl radical for defined periods (24∼96 hr) continued to differentiate even after the hydroxyl radical generating system had been removed. The differentiated cells displayed fMLP-stimulated calcium mobilization and increased expression of myeloid-specific antigen CD11b and CD14. The extent of the differentiation was markedly reduced by desferrioxamine ($100\;{\mu}M$), dimethylthiourea (5 mM), N,N'-diphenyl-1,4-phenylenediamine ($2\;{\mu}M$), and N-acetyl-L-cysteine (5 mM). The induction of differentiation by hydroxyl radical was enhanced by 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine ($200\;{\mu}M$) and Ro-20-1724 ($8\;{\mu}M$), and inhibited by dipyridamole (2 ${\mu}M$). These results suggest that hydroxyl radicals may induce commitment of HL-60 cells to differentiate into more mature cells of myelomonocytic lineage through specific signal-transduction pathway that is modulated by phosphodiesterase inhibitors.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.312-318
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• 2019

Background: To date, no study has described disease progression in Asian patients infected with HIV-1 subtype D. Methods: To determine whether the disease progression differs in patients infected with subtypes D and B prior to starting combination antiretroviral therapy, the annual decline (AD) in $CD^{4+}$ T cell counts over $96{\pm}59months$ was retrospectively analyzed in 163 patients and compared in subtypes D and B based on the nef gene. Results: $CD^{4+}$ T cell AD was significantly higher in the six subtype D-infected patients than in the 157 subtype B-infected patients irrespective of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) treatment (p < 0.001). Of these, two subtype D-infected patients and 116 subtype B-infected patients had taken KRG. AD was significantly lower in patient in the KRG-treated group than in those in the $KRG-na{\ddot{i}}ve$ group irrespective of subtype (p < 0.05). To control for the effect of KRG, patients not treated with KRG were analyzed, with AD found to be significantly greater in subtype D-infected patients than in subtype B-infected patients (p < 0.01). KRG treatment had a greater effect on AD in subtype D-infected patients than in subtype B-infected patients (4.5-fold vs. 1.6-fold). Mortality rates were significantly higher in both the 45 $KRG-na{\ddot{i}}ve$ (p < 0.001) and all 163 (p < 0.01) patients infected with subtype D than subtype B. Conclusion: Subtype D infection is associated with a >2-fold higher risk of death and a 2.9-fold greater rate of progression than subtype B, regardless of KRG treatment.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.87-96
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• 2022

Objective The purpose of this study was to confirm the effect of Sabaek-san extract on skin damage recovery and inflammation relief in atopic dermatitis-induced mice through Endocannabinoid system (ECS) control. Methods In this study, we used 6-week-old NC/Nga mice were divided into 4 group: control group (Ctrl), lipid barrier elimination group (LBEG), palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) treated group after lipid barrier elimination (PEAG), and Sabaek-san extract treatment group after lipid barrier elimination (SBSG). Each group was assigned 10 animals. After drug administration of three weeks duration following lipid barrier elimination, cannabinoid receptor (CB) 1, CB2, CD (Cluster of Differentiation) 68, phosphorylated inhibitor kappa B (p-IκB), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), Fc ε receptor, substance P and serotonin were observed to confirm the regulation of the ECS, macrophage activity and mast cell activity. Results We found that 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OXdG) positive reaction was significantly lower in the SBST group than in LBET and PEAT groups. Both CB1 and CB2 showed higher positive reactions in the SBST group than in the LBET and PEAT. CD68, p-IκB, iNOS, Fc ε receptor, Substance P and serotonin showed lower positive reaction in the SBST compared to the LBET and PEAT. Conclusion It was confirmed that the Sabaek-san extract can reduce the inflammation of atopic dermatitis by restoring the structural damage of the skin lipid barrier through ECS activity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.666-677
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• 2019

In order to understand the distribution of organic matter and heavy metal concentrations in the surface sediments of fishery resources protection areas (FRPAs), we measured the grain size, ignition loss (IL), chemical oxygen demand (COD), acid volatile sulfide (AVS), and concentrations of heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Pb, and Zn) in the surface sediments collected at 54 stations of 5 FRPAs (Gamak Bay, Yeoja Bay, Deukryang Bay, Wando coast, and Youngkwang coast) in the southwestern coast of Korea in February 2017. The surface sediments consisted of fine sediment such as mud, with 2.9~8.8Ø (7.4±0.1Ø) of mean grain size. The average concentrations of IL, COD, and AVS in the sediments were 4.63±0.96 %, 13.0±3.1 mgO₂/g·dry, and 0.092±0.124 mgS/g·dry, respectively, and were lower for sediments from the Youngkwang coast than those from other FRPAs. The average concentrations of heavy metals in the sediment were 7.5±0.9 mg/kg for As, 0.04±0.02 mg/kg for Cd, 70.2±9.7 mg/kg for Cr, 15.3±2.8 mg/kg for Cu, 3.3±0.5 % for Fe, 0.014±0.003 mg/kg for Hg, 25.0±6.0 mg/kg for Pb, and 99±14 mg/kg for Zn, respectively, and were relatively higher for sediments in the inner bays than those from the outer bays and coasts. Based on the assessment of sediment samples using the sediment quality guidelines (SQGs), the pollutant load index (PLI), and the ecological risk index (ERI), the surface sediments of FRPAs in the southwestern coast of Korea do not appear to be polluted by heavy metals, suggesting that the heavy metal concentrations in the sediments would not adversely impact aquatic and benthic organisms.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.10-19
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• 2020

BACKGROUND: This study was to carry out risk assessment of contamination of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and inorganic arsenic (I-As) in agricultural products of 25 crops from the abandoned mine areas. The 36 typical investigation sites located in Gyeongbuk provincial area were selected by considering the heavy metal levels, that had been known that the amount of the heavy metals exceeded the contamination level based on the previous survey. METHODS AND RESULTS: Cadmium, lead, and total arsenic (T-As) concentrations were determined using microwave device and ICP-MS. Inorganic arsenic was determined by HPLC-ICP-MS. The limits of quantification for heavy metals were 0.59 ㎍/kg for Cd, 0.42 ㎍/kg for Pb, 0.55 ㎍/kg for T-As, and sum of As (III) (1.74 ㎍/kg) and As (V) (2.25 ㎍/kg) for I-As, respectively. The contents of Cd, Pb, and I-As (only rice) were N.D.-0.958 mg/kg, N.D.-0.227 mg/kg, and 0.082 mg/kg, respectively, in the agricultural products. For risk assessment, dietary exposures of heavy metals through usual intake were 5.20×10^-4-7.15×10⁰ ㎍/day for Cd, 7.00×10^-5-7.75×10^-1 ㎍/day for Pb, and 1.17×10¹ ㎍/day for I-As, taking 0.01-14.37%, 0.01-2.05%, and 15.16% as risk indices, respectively. CONCLUSION: It requires to consider the critical levels of heavy metals in agricultural products due to unexpectedly high levels in a few places, while concentrations of heavy metals in the samples were relatively low in most areas.