• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.287-295
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• 1998

Diazepam is known to have cardiovascular depressive effects through a combined action on benzodiazepinergic receptor and the GABA receptor-chloride ion channel complex. Moreover, it is known that barbiturates also have some cardiovascular regulatory effects mediated by the central GABAergic system. Therefore, this study was undertaken to delineate the regulatory actions and interactions of these systems by measuring the responses of the cardiovascular system and renal nerve activity to muscimol, diazepam and pentobarbital, administered intracerebroventricularly in rabbits. When muscimol $(0.03{\sim}0.3\;{\mu}\;g/kg)$, diazepam $(10{\sim}100\;{\mu}\;g/kg)$ and pentobarbital $(1{\sim}10\;{\mu}\;g/kg)$ were injected into the lateral ventricle of the rabbit brain, there were similar dose-dependent decreases in blood pressure (BP) and renal nerve activity (RNA). The relative potency of the three drugs in decreasing BP and RNA was muscimol ＞ pentobarbital ＞ diazepam. Muscimol and pentobarbital also decreased the heart rate in a dose-dependent manner; however, diazepam produced a trivial, dose-independent decrease in heart rate. Diazepam $(30\;{\mu}g/kg)$ augmented the effect of muscimol $(0.1\;{\mu}g/kg)$ in decreasing blood pressure and renal nerve activity, but pentobarbital $(3\;{\mu}g/kg)$ did not. Bicuculline $(0.5\;{\mu}g/kg)$, a GABAergic receptor blocker, significantly attenuated the effect of muscimol in decreasing BP and RNA, either alone or with diazepam, and that of pentobarbital in decreasing BP and RNA, either alone or with muscimol. We inferred that the central benzodiazepinergic and barbiturate systems help regulate peripheral cardiovascular function by modulating the GABAergic system, which adjusts the output of the vasomotor center and hence controls peripheral sympathetic tone. Benzodiazepines more readily modulate the GABAergic system than barbiturates.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.153-158
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• 2005

To investigate alleviation effects of salt stress by low dose gamma-irradiation on seedling growth of rice (Oryza shrive L), in plants of two rice cultivars (Ilpumbyeo and Gancheokbyeo), seeds were irradiated with the different doses $(0{\sim}32\;Gy)$ of gamma-ray by irradiator ($^{60}Co$, ca.150 TBq of capacity, AECL). The salt stress caused a remarkable decrease of seedling growth, particularly for dry weight. In addition, relative growth rate was decreased over 50% by the salt stress. However, the salt stress-induced inhibition of growth was alleviated by gamma-irradiation. Especially, the relative growth rate of shoot showed the reduction effect over 30% at 4 Gy-irradiated groups as compared with that of control. Also, electrolyte leakage and relative water content were damaged, respectively 4 times and 30% by the salt stress but the damages were alleviated by the gamma-irradiation. These alleviation effects were observed similarly in both the cultivars tested. These results suggest that the low dose gamma-irradiation may have a better protection or the salt stress.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.267-275
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• 1992

Remote afterloading high dose rate brachytherapy (HDRB) is a new technology and needs new biological principle for time and dose schedule. Here, authors attempt to evaluate the technique and clinical outcome in 116 patients, 590 procedures peformed at Asan Medical Center for 3 years. From Sep. 1989 to Aug 1992, 471 procedures of intracavitary radiation in 58 patients of cervical cancer and 26 of nasopharyngeal cancer,79 intraluminal radiation in 12 of esophageal cancer, 11 of endobronchial cancer and 1 Klatskin tumor and 40 interstitial brachytherapy in 4 of breast cancer, 1 sarcoma and 1 urethral cancer were performed. Median follow-up was 7 months with range $1\~31$ months. All procedures except interstitial were performed under the local anesthesia and they were all well tolerated and completed the planned therapy except 6 patients. 53/58 patients with cervical cancer and 22/26 patients with nasopharynx cancer achieved CR. Among 15 patients with palliative therapy, $80{\%}$ achieved palliation. We will describe the details of the technique and results in the text. To evaluate biologic effects of HDRB and optimal time/dose/fractionation schedule, we need longer follow-up. But authors feel that HDRB with proper fractionation schedule may yield superior results compared to the low dose rate brachytherapy considering the advantages of HDRB in safety factor for operator, better control of radiation dose and volume and patients comfort over the low dose brachytherapy.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.10 no.1 s.22
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• pp.109-119
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• 2007

In order to study the effects of Pinus densiflora on hyperlipidemia and lipid in rats, we divided the rats into groups(Normal group, Control group and Sample group) and perfomed the experimental research. Hyperlipidemia and lipid in rats were induced by high fat diets for 8weeks. The sample group was administerd the extract of Pinus densiflora for 14 days and control group was administerd equal dose of oral. And then we measured the amount of serum triglyceride, Total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, Free Fatty Acid, phospholipid, Insuline, Laptin, Body weight, epididymis fat weight & rate, epididymis fat cell, Cardiac Risk Factor(CRF). The results were as followers : 1. Sample Group showed decreasing effects on Total cholesterol, Trigylceride, LDL-cholesterol, and Phospholipid levels in serum and CRF significantly. 2. Sample Group showed increasing effects on HDL-cholesterol level in serum significantly. 3. Sample Group showed decreasing effects on Insuline in serum significantly. 4. Sample Group showed increasing effects on Laptin in serum significantly. 5. Sample Group showed decreasing effects on Body weight, epididymis fat weight & rate, epididymis fat cell significantly. According to the above results, Pinus densiflora showed significant decreasing effects on hyperlipidemia and lipid in rats, it is considered that it is appropriate to apply for hyperlipidemia, obesity.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.369-375
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• 1997

General pharmacological effects of SB-31$^{R}$, the extracts of Pulsatilla koreana, were investigated in mice, rats and guinea-pigs. Intravenous injection of SB-31 (3 and 6 ml/kg) produced almost no effect on central nervous system no effects on the general symptom and behaviors of mice, spontaneous locomotor activity, pentobarbital- induced sleeping time , rotared performance , electroshock and pentylenetertrazole -induced seizures, acetic acid-induced writhing and normal body temperature in mice. SB-31 showed little effects on the spontaneous movement of the isolated ileum and contraction induced by agonists in isolated ileum, suggesting no influence on autonomic nervous system. Administration of SB-31 also did not show any effect on blood pressure in conscious rats. However, a slight decrease in heart rate was observed at high doses (6 and 10 ml/kg) of SB-31 in conscious rats. Similarly, a slight increase in respiratory rate was observed at 6 m1/kg of SB-31 in anesthetized rats. SB-31 did not produce any effect at the dose of 3 ml/kg, but showed a tendency to increase the urinary volume at 6 ml/kg, and produced a decrease in urinary excretions of N $a_{+}$and $K_{+}$at 6 ml/kg. However, transport capacity within the gastrointestinal tract and the secretion of the gastric juice were not influenced by 6 ml/kg of SB-31. In conclusion, these results suggest that SB-31 did not pro-duce any acute effects on the central nervous system, autonomic nervous system, respiratory and circulatory systems, digestive system and kidney function at the dose of below 3 ml/kg.ml/kg.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.31-45
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• 1988

The author studied the histopathologic changes according to a single or a split dose and the time after irradiation on the acinar cells of rat parotid gland. 99 Sprague Dawley rats, weighing about l20gm, were divided into control and 3 experimental groups. In experimental groups, GroupⅠ and Ⅱ were delivered a single dose of l5Gy, 18Gy and Group Ⅲ and Ⅳ were delivered two equal split doses of 9Gy, 10.5Gy for a 4 hours interval, respectively. The experimental groups were delivered by a cobalt-60 teletherapy unit with a dose rate of 222cGy/min, source-skin distance of 50㎝, depth of l㎝ and a field size of l2×5㎝. The animals were sacrificed at 1, 2, 3, 6, 12 hours, 1, 3, 7 days after irradiation and examined by light and electron microscopy. The results were as follows: 1. As the radiation dose increased and the acinar cells delivered a single dose exposure were more damaged, and the change of acinar cells appeared faster than those of a split dose exposure. 2. The histopathologic change of acinar cells appeared at 1 hour after irradiation. The recovery from damaged acinar cells appeared at 1 day after irradiation and there was a tendency that the recovery from damage of a split dose exposure was somewhat later than that of a single dose exposure. 3. Light microscope showed atrophic change of acinar cells and nucleus, degeneration and vesicle formation of cytoplasm, widening of intercellular space and interlobular space. 4. Electron microscope showed loss of nuclear membrane, degeneration of nucleus and nucleoli, clumping of cytoplasm, widening and degeneration of rough endoplasmic reticulum, loss of cristae of mitochondria, lysosome, autophagosome and lipid droplet. 5. Electron microscopically, the change of rough endoplasmic reticulum was the most prominent and this appeared at 1 hour after irradiation as early changes of acinar cells. The nuclear change appeared at 2 hours after irradiation and the loss of cristae of mitochondria was observed at 2 hours after irradiation in all experimental groups.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.53-68
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• 2020

Background: International organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) reported public exposure doses due to radionuclides released in the Fukushima nuclear accident a few years after the event. However, the reported doses were generally overestimated due to conservative assumptions such as a longer stay in deliberate areas designated for evacuation than the actual stay. After these reports had been published, more realistic dose values were reported by Japanese scientists. Materials and Methods: The present paper reviews those reports, including the most recently published articles; and summarizes estimated effective doses (external and internal) and issues related to their estimation. Results and Discussion: External dose estimation can be categorized as taking two approaches-estimation from ambient dose rate and peoples' behavior patterns-and measurements using personal dosimeters. The former approach was useful for estimating external doses in an early stage after the accident. The first 4-month doses were less than 2 mSv for most (94%) study subjects. Later on, individual doses came to be monitored by personal dosimeter measurements. On the basis of these measurements, the estimated median annual external dose was reported to be < 1 mSv in 2011 for 22 municipalities of Fukushima Prefecture. Internal dose estimation also can be categorized as taking two approaches: estimation from whole-body counting and estimation from monitoring of environmental samples such as radioactivity concentrations in food and drinking water. According to results by the former approach, committed effective dose due to ¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs could be less than 0.1 mSv for most residents including those from evacuated areas. Conclusion: Realistic doses estimated by Japanese scientists indicated that the doses reported by WHO and UNSCEAR were generally overestimated. Average values for the first-year effective doses for residents in two affected areas (Namie Town and Iitate Village) were not likely to reach 10 mSv, the lower end of the doses estimated by WHO.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.170-179
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• 2017

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the occupational radiation exposures of emergency medical technicians(EMTs) in emergency medical centers in Korea. The results will provide a basis for developing prevention programs to minimize adverse health effects relating to radiation exposure among emergency medical technicians working in this area. Methods: Radiation exposure doses were measured for twenty-two EMTs working in six emergency medical centers. Thermo Luminescent Dosimeters(TLD) were placed on three representative body parts, including chest, neck, and a finger. Measurements were conducted over the entire working hours of the participants for foor weeks. Dosimeters were analyzed according to a standard method by a KFDA-designated lab. Detection rate, annual radiation exposure dose, and relative levels to dose limit were derived based on the measured doses from the dosimeters. SPSS/Win 18.0 software(IBM, US) was used for statistical analysis. Results: Detection rates were 45.5%, 36.4%, and 45.5% for the dosimeters sampled from chest, neck, and a finger, respectively. The average annual doses were $2.39{\pm}3.44mSv/year$(range 0.38-10.0 mSv/year) for the chest, $2.72{\pm}3.05mSv/year$(2.00-11.34) for the neck, and $20.98{\pm}17.57mSv/year$(1.25-53.50) for the hand dose. The average annual eye dose was estimated to $3.61{\pm}2.37mSv/year$(1.50-8.34). The exposure dose levels of EMTs were comparable to those of radiologists, who showed relatively higher radiation dose among health care workers, as reported in another study. Conclusions: EMTs working in emergency medical centers are considered to be at risk of radiation exposure. Although the radiation exposure dose of EMTs does not exceed the dose limit, it is not negligible comparing to other professionals in health care sectors.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.32-39
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• 2000

Purpose :The incidence of adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix is low. Traditionally, Low Dose Rate (LDR) brachytherapy has been used as a standard modality in the treatment for patients with carcinoma of the uterine cervix. The purpose of this report is to evaluate the effects of the High dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy in the patients with adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix compared with the LDR. : From January 1971 to December 1992, 106 patients of adenocarcinoma of uterine cervix were treated with radiation therapy in the Department of Radiation Oncology, Yonsei University with curative intent. LDR brachytherapy was carried out on 35 patients and 71 patients were treated with HDR brachytherapy. In LDR Group, 8 patients were in stage I, 18 in stage II and 9 in stage III. External radiation therapy was delivered with 10 MV X-ray, daily 2 Gy fractionation, total dose 40$\~$46Gy (median 48 Gy). And LDR Radium intracavitary irradiation was peformed with Henschke applicator, 22$\~$59 Gy to point A (median 43 Gy). In HDR Group, there were 16 patients in stage 1, 38 in stage II and 17 in stage III. The total dose of external radiation was 40$\~$61 Gy(median 45 Gy), daily 1.8$\~$2.0 Gy. HDR Co-60 intracavitary irradiation was peformed with RALS (Remote Afterloading System), 30 $\~$ 57 Gy(median 39 Gy) to point A, 3 times a week, 3 Gy per fraction. Conclusion : The 5-year overall survival rate in LDR Group was 72.9$\%$, 61.9$\%$, 45.0$\%$ in stage I, II, III, respectively and corresponding figures for HDR were 87.1$\%$, 58.3$\%$, 41.2$\%$, respectively (p>0.05). There was no statistical difference in terms of the 5-year overall survival rate between HDR Group and LDR Group in adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix. There was 11$\%$ of late complication rates in LDR Group and 27$\%$ in HDR Group. There were no prognostic factors compared HDR with LDR group. The incidence of the late complication rate in HDR Group stage II, III was higher than that in LDR Group(16.7$\%$ vs. 31.6$\%$ in stage II, 11.1$\%$ vs. 35.3$\%$ In stage III, p>0.05). Although the incidence of radiation induced late complication rate was higher in HDR Group stage II and III patients than that in the LDR Group, statistical significance was not detected and within acceptable level. Conclusion : There was no difference in terms of 5-year survival rate and failure pattern in the patients with adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix treated with HDR and LDR brachytherapy. Even late complication rates were higher in the HDR group It was an acceptable range. This retrospective study suggests that HDR brachytherapy seems to replace the LDR brachytherapy in the adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix. However, further studies will be required to refine the dose rate effects.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.267-271
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• 1995

A single large dose of ethanol as well as chronic ethanol consumption produces alcoholic fatty liver in human and experimental animals. We examined the effects of YH439, a potential hepatoprotective agent, on alcoholic fatty liver generation in adult female rats. In rats treated with YH439 (250 mg/kg, po) 4 hr prior to a single dose of ethanol (6 g/kg, po), a significant decrease in hepatic triglyceride accumulation was observed. YH439 also has an inhibitory effect on hepatic triglyceride and cholesterol accumulation induced by repeated ethanol treatments for one week. Because it has been known that induction of alcoholic fatty liver is associated with lipid peroxidation and/or hepatic glutathione depression, the effect of YH439 on these parameters was determined in the livers of rats treated with ethanol. Coadministration with YH439 inhibited MDA formation and gIutathione depression induced by acute or repeated ethanol administration. In order to determine the effect of YH439 on ethanol metabolism in vivo, disappearance of ethanol from blood was measured. In rats treated with a single dose of ethanol (6 g/kg, po), the ethanol concentration in blood reached a peak approximately 120 min following the treatment which declined linearly for 18 hrs. YH439 had no effect on the decline of blood ethanol concentration regardless of the dose of ethanol given to rats. These results in this study suggest that YH439 has an inhibitory effect on fatty liver generation induced by acute or repeated ethanol consumption through a mechanism not directly related to the rate of ethanol metabolism in vivo.