• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.5-10
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• 2008

The effect of obesity on the drug-metabolizing enzymes remains an important issue for clinician since obesity is a world wide epidemic problem. However, little is known about the effects of obesity on flavincontaining monooxygenase (FMO) production and activity. We show here for the first time that in vivo FMO activity determined by urinary ranitidine (RA) metabolites ratio in human, was higher in subjects with a high body mass index (BMI, kg/$m^2$, 21.97-30.32) than in those with an intermediate BMI (range 19.38-21.83). Moreover, there was a significant correlation between FMO activity and BMI in 209 subjects. In high fat diet-induced obese mice, we also observed that the hepatic expression of FMO (225% of lean mice) and the activity measured by the RA Noxidation rate ($513{\pm}58.1$ vs. $349{\pm}66.0$ pmol/hr per mg protein) were significantly higher than in lean mice fed a control diet. Unknown factors rather than leptin or insulin appeared to regulate the hepatic FMO production. Thus, FMO activity may be increased in obese or overweight individuals. Moreover, the regulation of FMO activity in subjects with morbid obesity, with or without complications and its clinical implications, should be investigated further.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.11-15
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• 2008

The expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) is regulated by various spliced first exons (exon 1a-1i), sharing differentially common exon 2 in diverse human tissues. The highly complex structure and regulation of human nNOS gene gave limitations of information for the precise mechanism of nNOS regulation. In the present study, we report that the repeats of polymorphic dinucleotides $(GT)^nA(TG)^n$ repeats located in just upstream to the exon 1f in human nNOS gene play suppressive role in transcription, as shown in the characteristics of Z-DNA motif in other genes. In neuronal and trophoblast cells transfected transiently with luciferase construct without dinucleotide repeats at the 5'-flanking region of exon 1f in nNOS gene, the luciferase activity was increased markedly. However, the presence of the dinucleotide repeats dramatically suppressed the luciferase activity to the basal level, and which was dependent on the length of $(GT)^n$ and $(TG)^n$ repeats. More importantly, we found the polymorphisms in the length of dinucleotide repeats in human. Furthermore, we show for the first time here that there is a significant association of the lengths of polymorphic dinucleotide $(GT)^n$ and $(TG)^n$ repeats with the risk of schizophrenia.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.191-196
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• 2015

Attenuated functional exercise capacity in elderly and diseased populations is a common problem, and stems primarily from physical inactivity. Decreased function and exercise capacity can be restored by maintaining muscular strength and mass, which are key factors in an independent and healthy life. Resistance exercise has been used to prevent muscle loss and improve muscular strength and mass. However, the intensities necessary for traditional resistance training to increase muscular strength and mass may be contraindicated for some at risk populations, such as diseased populations and the elderly. Therefore, an alternative exercise modality is required. Recently, blood flow restriction (BFR) with low intensity resistance exercise (LIRE) has been used for such special populations to improve their function and exercise capacity. Although BFR+LIRE has been intensively studied for a decade, a comprehensive review detailing the effects of BFR+LIRE on both skeletal muscle and vascular function is not available. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to discuss previous studies documenting the effects of BFR+LIRE on hormonal and transcriptional factors in muscle hypertrophy and vascular function, including changes in hemodynamics, and endothelial function.

• 의학교육논단
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.68-77
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• 2023

Basic medical education is important for developing the competencies of medical doctors, and it includes basic biomedical sciences, preventive medicine, medical ethics, and clinical science. This study aimed to reveal the current status of the Korean Medical Licensing Examination (KMLE) regarding its evaluation of competencies in basic biomedical sciences. The basic medicine-related questions were screened and selected from the test forms of the KMLE (2016-2018) by personnel conducting basic biomedical science education, and the selected questions were analyzed by three independent groups of undergraduate students at Chonnam National University Medical School in terms of the learning outcomes of basic medical education. The study scope includes the proportion of basic medicine-related questions, which consist of basic medicine questions and basic medicine-related clinical medicine questions, its annual change, discipline distribution, and associated learning outcomes. The average proportions of basic biomedical sciences, preventive medicine and medical law, and clinical sciences were 2.3%, 5.8%, and 91.9% of all questions, respectively. The proportion of basic medicine-related questions, except those on preventive medicine and medical law, was 22.0% of the total, and questions on pharmacology and microbiology accounted for 83.0% of the basic medicine-related questions. The proportion of sub-enabling learning outcomes linked with basic medicine-related questions comprised 14.0% of the total outcomes for basic biomedical sciences and 30.4% for preventive medicine and medical law. It is concluded that the KMLE questions may not sufficiently cover the essential competencies of basic medical education for medical doctors, and the KMLE may need to be improved with regard to competencies in basic biomedical sciences.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제34권3호
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• pp.37-53
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• 2013

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the 1st class and 2nd class's satisfaction with clinical skills training in the Korean medical curriculum. A questionnaire was given to clinical clerkship students of Pusan National University School of Korean Medicine. Methods: These items covered overall satisfaction with training, learning support environment, curriculum interconnection, training and guidance, and self-assessment. Results: Most 1st class and 2nd class respondents were satisfied with their learning support environment. However, satisfaction with curriculum interconnection was lower. Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrate that students have a high level of satisfaction with clinical skills training. It might be concluded that clinical skills training has been effectively implemented into the Korean medical education.

• 대한임상약리학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한임상약리학회 2001년도 제10차 추계학술대회
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• pp.36-36
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• 2001

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제25권6호
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• pp.545-553
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• 2021

Fixed-dose combinations development requires pharmacokinetic drugdrug interaction (DDI) studies between active ingredients. For some drugs, pharmacokinetic properties such as long half-life or delayed distribution, make it difficult to conduct such clinical trials and to estimate the exact magnitude of DDI. In this study, the conventional (non-compartmental analysis and bioequivalence [BE]) and model-based analyses were compared for their performance to evaluate DDI using amlodipine as an example. Raw data without DDI or simulated data using pharmacokinetic models were compared to the data obtained after concomitant administration. Regardless of the methodology, all the results fell within the classical BE limit. It was shown that the model-based approach may be valid as the conventional approach and reduce the possibility of DDI overestimation. Several advantages (i.e., quantitative changes in parameters and precision of confidence interval) of the model-based approach were demonstrated, and possible application methods were proposed. Therefore, it is expected that the model-based analysis is appropriately utilized according to the situation and purpose.

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.226-240
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• 2018

Neuroprotection or prevention of neuronal loss is a complicated molecular process that is mediated by various cellular pathways. Use of different pharmacological agents as neuroprotectants has been reported especially in the last decades. These neuroprotective agents act through inhibition of inflammatory processes and apoptosis, attenuation of oxidative stress and reduction of free radicals. Control of this injurious molecular process is essential to the reduction of neuronal injuries and is associated with improved functional outcomes and recovery of the patients admitted to the intensive care unit. This study reviews neuroprotective agents and their mechanisms of action against central nervous system damages.

• Translational and Clinical Pharmacology
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.166-171
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• 2018

Although there are many commercially available training software programs for pharmacokinetics, they lack flexibility and convenience. In this study, we develop simulation software to facilitate pharmacokinetics education. General formulas for time courses of drug concentrations after single and multiple dosing were used to build source code that allows users to simulate situations tailored to their learning objectives. A mathematical relationship for a 1-compartment model was implemented in the form of differential equations. The concept of population pharmacokinetics was also taken into consideration for further applications. The source code was written using R. For the convenience of users, two types of software were developed: a web-based simulator and a standalone-type application. The application was built in the JAVA language. We used the JAVA/R Interface library and the 'eval()' method from JAVA for the R/JAVA interface. The final product has an input window that includes fields for parameter values, dosing regimen, and population pharmacokinetics options. When a simulation is performed, the resulting drug concentration time course is shown in the output window. The simulation results are obtained within 1 minute even if the population pharmacokinetics option is selected and many parameters are considered, and the user can therefore quickly learn a variety of situations. Such software is an excellent candidate for development as an open tool intended for wide use in Korea. Pharmacokinetics experts will be able to use this tool to teach various audiences, including undergraduates.

• 한국임상약학회지
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.119-126
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• 1999

The educational backgrounds and research interests of pharmacy educators in Korea were analyzed to investigate the possibility of migrating the pharmacy education system from basic science-oriented to pharmacy practice-oriented. There are 257 full-time faculty members and 190 part-time members in twenty pharmacy colleges in 1999. Most of the full-time professors are majoring in basic pharmacy areas focused on the drug itself. Thirty nine percent of full-time professors are specialized in the fields of Medicinal Chemistry, $20\%$ in Biochemistry, $19\%$ in Pharmaceutics, and $18\%$ in Pharmacology-Toxicology. Only $4\%$ are related to the Pharmacy Practice Field. When we consider only the educational backgrounds of the educators, $89\%$ of full-time professors are related to the subjects of Korean Pharmacists Licensure Examination. Changes in educator's inclination will lead to the changes in pharmacy education and the contents of the test. There will be at least 38 job-openings due to retirements within next five years, and this will lead to approximately $15\%$ changes of current full time professors in Korean pharmacy education. More full-time professors will be needed in the area of pharmacy practice in order to focus on the pharmacy practice-oriented pharmacy education. Many distinguished characteristics of pharmacy educators between the private schools and the national universities are also discussed in the paper.