• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.484-489
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• 2005

In order to determine the removal rate of non-biodegradable substances and the change of their structural properties, this study was carried out by an ozone-treatment experiment on leachate collected from the landfill area of D City in Chung chung nam-do and examined the change of the chemical properties of non-biodegradable substances. The main elements of non-biodegradable substances in landfill leachate were benzene, toluene, trichloroethane, trichloroethylene, xylene, etc. and the concentration of toluene was 15.7 mg/L on the average, benzene 7.2 mg/L, trichloroethane 1.1 mg/L, trichloroethylene 0.75 mg/L and xylene 0.5 mg/L. When leachate was treated with ozone for 10 min, 30 min and 60 min, UV absorbance was reduced with the increase of reaction time, and the reduction rate was 38.6% at 60 min. TOC was removed by 13.2% at 60 min. The low reduction rate of TOC may be because TOC reacts indirectly with OH radical produced from reaction with ozone while UV absorbance usually relies on direct reaction between organic matters and ozone molecules. Color was removed by up to 97%, which suggests that ozonation is highly effective in removing coloring elements in leachate. Sixteen kinds of non-biodegradable compounds were found in the leachate and most of them had the characteristic of aromatic hydrocarbon. Among them dibutyl phthalate was identical with a substance included in the list of US EPA, which is classified as a mutagen that may cause the mutation of genes and disorders in chromosomes. In addition, 2,5-Cyclohexadiene-1,4-dione, 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid and butyl octyl ester were found to be similar to substances listed by USEPA. According to the result of analyzing structural changes before and after ozonation using GC-MS, cyclic compounds and aromatic compounds were observed in the original water and aliphatic compounds were newly observed after ozonation. In addition, through ozonation, humic substances of high molecular weight were oxidized and decomposed and produced low-molecular compounds such as aldehyde, ketone and carboxyl acid and highly biodegradable aliphatic carbon, which suggests the bio-degradability of non-biodegradable substances.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.746-752
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• 2016

In this study, soft carbon was prepared by carbonization of carbon precursor (pitch) obtained from PFO (pyrolysis fuel oil) heat treatment. Three carbon precursors prepared by the thermal reaction were 3903 (at $390^{\circ}C$ for 3 h), 4001 (at $400^{\circ}C$ for 1 h) and 4002 (at $400^{\circ}C$ for 2 h). After the prepared soft carbon was ground to a particle size of $25{\sim}35^{\circ}C$, the soft carbon was synthesised by the chemical treatment with boric acid ($H_3BO_3$). The prepared soft carbon were analysed by XRD, FE-SEM and XPS. Also, the electrochemical performances of soft carbon were investigated by constant current charge/discharge test, cyclic voltammetry and impedance tests in the electrolyte of $LiPF_6$ dissolved inorganic solvents (EC:DMC=1:1 vol%+VC 3 wt%). The coin cell using soft carbon of $25{\sim}35^{\circ}C$ with 3903 soft carbon ($H_3BO_3$/Pitch=3:100 in weight) has better initial capacity and efficiency (330 mAh/g, 82%) than those of other coin cells. Also, it was found that the retention rate capability of 2C/0.1C was 90% after 30 cycles.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.223-228
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• 2012

This study was designed to adopt two estrus synchronization protocols in zebu and crossbred heifers and their effects on pregnancy rate after timed artificial insemination (TAI). A number of 120 cyclic heifers were allotted for two different treatment groups and one control group. Heifers under protocol A were injected with GnRH at first day followed by a single dose of $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ at Day 11 and injection of GnRH at the day of AI; and heifers belonged to protocol B were treated with GnRH, two $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ injections at 11 days apart and injection of GnRH at AI. AI was done at fixed time (within 72~96 hours after $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ injection) in both protocols and pregnancy was confirmed by rectal palpation on 80~120 days of post AI. In control group; local heifers were conceived higher (30%) proportion than that of crossbred heifers (25%; p<0.05). In protocol A, the local breed were conceived higher (38.9%) proportion compared with crossbred (25%; p<0.05). In protocol B, local breed heifers were conceived higher (38.9%) proportion compared with crossbred heifers (33.3%; p<0.05). The overall pregnancy rate in protocol A and protocol B was 33.3% and 36.6%, respectively. The proportion of pregnancy rate of local heifers (38.9%; Protocol A) was significant (p<0.05) in comparison with local heifers (30%) in control group (p<0.05). The overall pregnancy rate between pooled control group (28.3%) and treatment group (35%) was significantly (p<0.05) differ from each other's. Results of present study concluded that estrus synchronization followed by fixed time AI could be applied for higher pregnancy rate in zebu and crossbred heifers.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.123-128
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• 2016

The object of this study was to obtain accurate information about the co-administration effects of cardiotonic pills on the pharmacokinetics of cilostazol were observed as a process of the comprehensive and integrative medicine. Cilostazol is a synthetic anti-platelet and vasodilator agent developed for the treatment of intermittent claudication resulting from peripheral arterial disease. By increasing intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), cilostazol induces the activation of protein kinase A, which activates endothelial nitric oxide synthase. In order to evaluate the effect of a single or repeated cardiotonic pill dose on the pharmacokinetics of cilostazol, a single dose of pure_distilled water or a colloidal suspension of distilled water and cardiotonic pills were administered to the control and test groups, respectively. After 30 min, both groups were administered cilostazol. Plasma was collected 30min before administration, and 0.25, 0.5, 0.45, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 24h after the end of cilostazol treatment. We then evaluated the pharmacokinetic changes observed with cilostazol between the control and test groups. No statistically significant differences were observed. These findings demonstrated that a single dose of cardiotonic pills did not affect the pharmacokinetics of cilostazol. The results obtained in this study suggest that co-administration of cardiotonic pills and cilostazol may not affect the bioavailability of cilostazol as a potential drug interaction.

• Journal of Korean Medical Science
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• v.33 no.52
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• pp.346.1-346.11
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• 2018

Background: To evaluate the therapeutic benefits of the treat-to-target (T2T) strategy for Asian patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Korea. Methods: In a 1-year, multicenter, open-label strategy trial, 346 patients with early RA were recruited from 20 institutions across Korea and stratified into 2 groups, depending on whether they were recruited by rheumatologists who have adopted the T2T strategy (T2T group) or by rheumatologists who provided usual care (non-T2T group). Data regarding demographics, rheumatoid factor titer, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody titer, disease activity score of 28 joints (DAS28), and Korean Health Assessment Questionnaire (KHAQ) score were obtained at baseline and after 1 year of treatment. In the T2T group, the prescription for disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs was tailored to the predefined treatment target in each patient, namely remission (DAS28 < 2.6) or low disease activity (LDA) ($2.6{\leq}DAS28$ < 3.2). Results: Data were available for 163 T2T patients and 162 non-T2T patients. At the end of the study period, clinical outcomes were better in the T2T group than in the non-T2T group (LDA or remission, 59.5% vs. 35.8%; P < 0.001; remission, 43.6% vs. 19.8%; P < 0.001). Compared with non-T2T, T2T was also associated with higher rate of good European League Against Rheumatism response (63.0% vs. 39.8%; P < 0.001), improved KHAQ scores (-0.38 vs. -0.13; P = 0.008), and higher frequency of follow-up visits (5.0 vs. 2.0 visits/year; P < 0.001). Conclusion: In Asian patients with early RA, T2T improves disease activity and physical function. Setting a pre-defined treatment target in terms of DAS28 is recommended.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.117-131
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• 2000

Objectives: To develop a new immunohistochemical marker system for supplementation of the Noyes histological classification of the endometrium in women of child bearing age with regular menstrual cycles, and to employ this system to evaluate pathologic factors involved in endometriosis, and thus to ascertain if it is useful in diagnosis. Materials and Methods: Endometrial biopsies were sampled from the posterior fundus of 41 (24 proliferative phases, 17 secretory phases) women with regular menstrual cycles (28-32 days), and each sample was immunohistochemically stained according to Noyes et al (1975) for determination of expression for estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), integrin ${\alpha}_1$, ${\alpha}_4$, ${\beta}_3$, COX-1 and COX-2. Then, the PR, integrin ${\beta}_3$ and COX-2 which were clearly expressed in the luteal phase was with endometrial samples were obtained from 20 cases of normal patients (group 1) and 25 cases with endometriosis (group 2) after confirming the day of ovulation by sex steroid level measurements 7-8 days after ovulation Results: In the regular menstruation group the expression of ER showed a tendency to be increased in the proliferative phase and decreased in the secretory phase, and was the highest in the proliferative phase. However, PR in the stromal cells showed no change in the entire menstrual cycle while in the epithelial cells, PR reached a peak in the late proliferative phase and was almost absent in the secretory phase. Integrin (${\alpha}_1$, ${\alpha}_4$, and ${\beta}_3$ expression in the epithelial cells was absent in the proliferative phase but ${\alpha}_1$ was strongly expressed starting from the early secretory phase into the entire secretory phase. ${\alpha}_4$ was expressed strongly in the early and mid secretory phases and disappeared in the late proliferative phase, while ${\beta}_3$ appeared after the mid secretory phase and continued to be expressed until the late secretory phase. Expression in the stromal cells was weak overall and did not show any cyclic pattern. COX-1 expression was shown as a cyclic pattern in the stromal and epithelial cells and was particularly strongly expressed in the mid secretory phase of epithelial cells, and in the mid secretory and menstruation phase of stromal cells. In the endometrial epithelial cells there was strong expression during the entire cycle with stronger expression in the secretory phase compared to the prolferative phase. COX-2 was clearly expressed in the late proliferative, early and mid secretory phases in the stromal cells. No expression was observed in the proliferative phase of the epithelial cells, but which began to appear in the early secretory phase reaching a significant pattern from the mid secretory phase onwards. There was almost no expression in the stromal cells. In the cases with endometriosis showing normal endometrial maturation according to the Noyes classification, PR expression was increased while Integrin-${\beta}_3$의 expression was significantly decreased compared to the normal group. Also, COX-2 expression was slightly decreased in the stromal cells of patients with endometriosis while it was significantly increased in the stromal cells. Conclusion: Immunohistochemical markers can supplement the original Noyes classification of histological endometrial dating and therefore ascertain existing pathologic conditions. Particularly for patients with endometriosis with normally mature endometrial cells, changes in COX-2 and integrin expression patterns may assist in elucidating pathophysiologic mechanisms and therefore aid in the diagnosis of abnormal implantation conditions, and consequently determine a treatment modality.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.670-675
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• 2004

We have examined the effects of S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP), prostaglandin $E_2$ (PG $E_2$) and dibutric cyclic AMP (dbcAMP) on the methylation of interferon- ${\gamma}$ (IFN- ${\gamma}$ ) gene in human Jurkat T cells. The CpG dinucleotide which is critical for promoter function of IFN- ${\gamma}$ gene was methylated by treatment with SNAP, PG $E_2$ and dbcAMP, respectively. The DNA methylation induced by PG $E_2$ was suppressed by the addition of 2',5'-dideoxyadenosine (DDA), an inhibitor of adenylyl cyclase, but the suppression was not observed in SNAP treated cells. The NO production was not enhanced in PG $E_2$ or dbcAMP treated cells. The methylation induced by PG $E_2$ and dbcAMP was not suppressed by the addition of $N^{G}$-methyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA), NO synthase inhibitor. In conclusion, the inhibition of INF- ${\gamma}$ gene expression by PG $E_2$ was associated with the methylation of INF- ${\gamma}$ gene by elevation of intracellular cAMP in human Jurkat T cells. However, the methylation induced by PG $E_2$ might not be mediated through the NO production.rough the NO production.

• Clean Technology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.77-84
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• 2018

In this study, $Li_4Ti_5O_{12}$ anode materials for lithium ion battery were synthesized by dry ball-mill method. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) as a carbon source was added to improve electrochemical properties. When the PVC was added after $Li_4Ti_5O_{12}$ formation, the spinel structure was well synthesized and it was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) experiments. When the carbon material was added before the synthesis and the heat treatment was performed, it was confirmed that a material having a different crystal structure was synthesized even when a small amount of carbon material was added. In the case of $Li_4Ti_5O_{12}$ without the carbon material, the electrical conductivity value was about $10{\mu}S\;m^{-1}$, which was very small and similar to that of the nonconductor. As the carbon was added, the electrical conductivity was greatly improved and increased up to 10,000 times. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis showed that the size of semicircle corresponding to the resistance decreased with the carbon addition. This indicates that the resistance inside the electrode is reduced. According to the Cyclic voltammetry (CV) analysis, the potential difference between the oxidation peak and the reduction peak was reduced with carbon addition. This means that the rate of lithium ion insertion and deinsertion was increased. $Li_4Ti_5O_{12}$ with 9.5 wt% PVC added sample showed the best properties in rate capabilities of $180mA\;h\;g^{-1}$ at 0.2 C-rate, $165mA\;h\;g^{-1}$ at 0.5 C-rate, and $95.8mA\;h\;g^{-1}$ at 5 C-rate.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.484-491
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• 2016

The present study investigated the effect of Sinetrol-XPur (polyphenolic Citrus spp. and Paullinia cupana Kunth dry extract) and defined the action mode for cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent uncoupling protein (UCP)-2 activation. Leptin-deficient obese mice were treated with two different doses, 100 mg/kg body weight (BW) and 300 mg/kg BW of each AIN93G supplement, for 7 weeks. Treatment of obese mice with both low and high doses of Sinetrol-XPur significantly reduced body weight gain compared to control obese mice. White adipose tissue weight of mice was reduced by 30.96% in high dose-supplemented groups. Serum total cholesterol and triglyceride were reduced by a high dose of Sinetrol-XPur by 20.02% and 30.96%, respectively. Serum level of high density lipoprotein (HDL) was significantly increased by treatment with both doses, as the ratio of HDL to low density lipoprotein increased by 138.78% and 171.49%, respectively. Regarding expression of biochemical factors related to lipid metabolism, fatty acid synthase significantly decreased and UCP-2 increased upon treatment with a high dose of Sinetrol-XPur, but there was no significant difference in lipoprotein lipase and hormone-sensitive lipase. To define cellular mechanism, intracellular cAMP levels in 3T3-L1 adipocytes significantly increased in a dose-dependent manner over the range of $50{\sim}250{\mu}m/mL$. The phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine clearly blocked cAMP, suggesting that Sinetrol-XPur promotes lipolysis of adipocytes through inhibition of cAMP-dependent PDE, resulting in induction of cAMP response element binding protein and UCP-2. These results suggest that Sinetrol-XPur supplementation is a viable option for reducing body weight and fat by improving serum lipid profiles and genetic expression of lipid metabolic factors, especially activation of cAMP-dependent UCP-2.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.181-185
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• 2001

The naturally occurring chemical indole-3-carbinol (13C), found in vegetables of the Brassica genus, is a promising anticancer agent that was shown previ- ously to induce a Gl cell cycle arrest of human breast cancer cell lines, independent of estrogen receptor signaling. The anticancer activity of 13C and the possible mechanisms of its action were explored in a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, HepG2. Treatment of HepG2 cells with 13C suppressed the growth of the cells. The growth sup- pression caused by 13C ($IC_{50}$/: 444$\mu$M) was found to be partially due to its ability to stop the cell cycle in HepG2 cells. Western blot analysis for the Gl phase artiest demonstrated that the expression-levels of cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk4, Cdk6) and cyclic D were reduced strongly after treatment of Hep72 cells with 13C (4007M) for 24- 72 hrs. Furthermore, I3C selectively abolished the expression of Cdk6 in a dose- and time-dependent manner, and accordingly, inhibited the phosphorylation of retinoblastoma. Interestingly, after the HepG2 cells reached their max- imal growth arrest, the level of the p21, a well-known Cdk inhibitor, increased significantly. Therefore, it could be considered that the Gl arrest of HepG2 cells treated with 13C was due to the indirect inhibition of Cdk4/6 activities by p21 Western blot analysis for G2/M phase arrest of demonstrated the levels of Cdc2 and cyclin Bl werer reduced dramatically after the treatment of HepG2 cells with 13C ($40\mu$M) for 24-72 hrs. flow cytometry of propidium iodide-stained HepG2 cells revealed that 13C induces a Gl (53%,72hr incubation) and G2 (25%,24hr incubation) cell cycle arrest. Thus, our observations have uncovered a previously undefined antiproliferative pathway for r3C that implicates Cdk4/6 and Cdc2 as a target for cell cycle control in human HepG2 cells. However, the 13C-medi- ated cell cycle arrest and repression of Cdk4/6 production did not affect the apoptotic induction of HepG2 cell.