• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제34권1호
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• pp.48-56
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• 2024

Objectives: The coronavirus pandemic that began in 2019(COVID-19) has been one of the worst pandemics of the 21st century. Masks have been used to prevent COVID-19, but there are currently no standards for the long-term use of masks in the Republic of Korea. This study was conducted to assess the microbiological safety of KF94(Korea Filter 94) disposable face masks according to wearing duration by evaluating the bacterial filtration efficiencies of masks worn by research participants. Methods: A commercially available KF94 mask certified by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety(MFDS) in the Republic of Korea was selected as the test mask. The research participants(n = 15) wore masks for the durations of one, three, and seven days. Participants also reported several parameters, including wearing time, makeup frequency, and storage. Bacterial filtration efficiencies of the worn masks were measured by a mask bioaerosol filtration tester. Staphylococcus aureus(S. aureus) was used as the test bacteria and quantitatively measured through the cultivation method. Then, bacterial filtration efficiency was calculated using the formula suggested by the MFDS. Results: All worn masks showed over 99.98% of mean bacterial filtration efficiency for S. aureus. There were no significant differences among bacterial filtration efficiencies of face masks according to wearing duration. There was also no significant difference among bacterial filtration efficiencies among participants. There was no correlation between the results of bacterial filtration efficiencies and reported parameters from participants. Conclusions: In the absence of significant external damage to the mask, the bacterial filtration efficiency of the mask can be maintained even after seven days of wearing. This result suggests that KF94 masks certified by the MFDS can be used repeatedly for about a week without loss of bacterial filtration efficiency.

• 한국응용과학기술학회지
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• 제40권6호
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• pp.1567-1579
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• 2023

Sucralose는 식품 분야에서 sucrose 대체물로 사용되며 세계적으로 승인된 무열량 고강도 인공 감미료이다. 하지만 감미료가 뇌에 미치는 영향에 대한 조사는 미비하여 본 연구에서 scopolamine으로 유발된 기억력 손상 동물모델에서 sucralose 단기 섭취가 인지 및 기억 보호 효과를 가지는지 확인하였다. Sucralose 2, 5, 10 mg/kg를 경구투여하였으며 30분 후 대조군, 약물군에 scopolamine (1mg/kg) 복강투여를 진행하였고 정상군에는 식염수로 복강투여 후 행동실험을 수행하였다. 결과적으로 Y-maze, passive avoidance, Morris water maze에서 대조군과 비교해 10% 이상의 인지기능이 회복되는 결과를 도출하였다. 또한, 전염증성 사이토카인을 측정한 결과 sucralose가 IL-6와 TNF-α를 30% 이상 억제하는 것을 보였으며 세포 내 신호 메커니즘으로 ERK-CREB의 발현량을 관찰한 결과 농도 의존적으로 증가하였다. 따라서 sucralose는 건망증 환자의 예방과 치료를 위한 기능성 식품과 관련이 있다고 시사된다.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제62권1호
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• pp.42-52
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• 2024

Antimalarial drugs are an urgently need and crucial tool in the campaign against malaria, which can threaten public health. In this study, we examined the cytotoxicity of the 9 antimalarial compounds chemically synthesized using SKM13-2HCl. Except for SKM13-2HCl, the 5 newly synthesized compounds had a 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC₅₀) >100 μM, indicating that they would be less cytotoxic than SKM13-2HCl. Among the 5 compounds, only SAM13-2HCl outperformed SKM13-2HCl for antimalarial activity, showing a 3- and 1.3-fold greater selective index (SI) (CC₅₀/IC₅₀) than SKM13-2HCl in vitro against both chloroquine-sensitive (3D7) and chloroquine -resistant (K1) Plasmodium falciparum strains, respectively. Thus, the presence of morpholine amide may help to effectively suppress human-infectious P. falciparum parasites. However, the antimalarial activity of SAM13-2HCl was inferior to that of the SKM13-2HCl template compound in the P. berghei NK65-infected mouse model, possibly because SAM13-2HCl had a lower polarity and less efficient pharmacokinetics than SKM13-2HCl. SAM13-2HCl was more toxic in the rodent model. Consequently, SAM13-2HCl containing morpholine was selected from screening a combination of pharmacologically significant structures as being the most effective in vitro against human-infectious P. falciparum but was less efficient in vivo in a P. berghei-infected animal model when compared with SKM13-2HCl. Therefore, SAM13-2HCl containing morpholine could be considered a promising compound to treat chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum infections, although further optimization is crucial to maintain antimalarial activity while reducing toxicity in animals.

• 인삼문화
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• 제6권
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• pp.80-104
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• 2024

인삼은 우리나라를 대표하는 약용작물로 남한뿐만 아니라 북한에서도 매우 중요하게 취급되고 있다. 그러나 북한에 대한 정보 접근이 어렵기 때문에 실제 북한에서 인삼의 재배, 연구와 개발 동향, 관련 산업 현황에 대해서는 잘 알려지지 않고 있다. 본 논문에서는 비록 제한적이긴 하나 구할 수 있는 서지 자료를 통해 북한에서의 인삼 산업 현황과 연구 동향을 파악하고자 하였다. 북한약전에는 인삼이 "고려인삼"으로 수재되어 있으며 '개성지방에서 재배한 6년생 인삼의 뿌리'로 정의하고 있다. 또한 북한약전에는 22종의 인삼제제가 수재되어 있다. 북한에서는 필수약품(2002) 중 건위소화약, 지사약, 보약 등 10개 약품에 인삼이 들어가고, 그 외에도 다양한 건강보조식품과 화장품, 치약 등이 개발되어 유통·판매되고 있다. 2014년 이후 북한에서 인삼 산업과 연구가 전반적으로 활발해지고 있다. 이때 개성의 인삼재배지역을 대폭 확장하고 설비를 보수하였다. 2016년, 개성고려인삼가공공장을 무균화, 현대화, 무진화된 설비로 정비하여 가동 중이라고 한다. 2017년 이후 품질관리 연구에 관심을 돌려 2019년 품질관리규정과 인증제를 도입하기에 이르렀다. 1990년대에 인삼 제품개발 연구가 많았고 2000년부터 인삼의 약리작용 및 치료·임상연구에 대한 연구가 보고되었다. 또한, 수확량을 높이기 위한 인삼재배와 인삼가공업 관련 연구가 중시되고 있다. 인삼은 우리나라를 대표하는 약용작물이라는 점, 남과 북이 모두 중요시하고 있다는 점, 남과 북이 상호 협력하면 큰 시너지 효과를 얻을 수 있다는 점에서 남북 교류협력에 있어서 매우 적합한 소재이다.

• 대한임상검사과학회지
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• 제56권1호
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• pp.52-58
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• 2024

광역학 요법(photodynamic therapy)은 특정 파장의 빛에 의해 활성화되는 광민감제(photosensitizer)를 사용하여 세포 내 산소를 활성화시키는 치료 방법으로, 항생제 내성균에 의한 상처 감염의 치료에 유망한 접근 방법이다. 일반적으로 건강한 사람에게 비병원성인 녹농균(Pseudomonas aeruginosa, P. aeruginosa)은 특정 병원성 징후를 보이지 않지만, 피부 손상이나 면역력이 저하된 사람들에서는 패혈증과 같은 심각한 질병을 유발할 수 있다. 항생제는 P. aeruginosa 감염에 대한 전통적인 치료법이나 약물 오용으로 인한 항생제 내성의 증가는 이러한 감염을 관리하는 데 큰 어려움을 준다. 본 연구에서는 P. aeruginosa의 억제제로서 광민감제(PhotoMed, Methyl pheophorbide A, Radachlorin^®)와 다이오드 레이저를 이용한 광역학 치료 효과를 조사하는 것을 목표로 했다. P. aeruginosa 현탁액과 광민감제(PhotoMed, Methyl pheophorbide A, Radachlorin^®)를 페트리 접시에 접종하여 30분 후 다이오드 레이저를 사용하여 3 J/cm²의 에너지 밀도로 조사했다. 그 결과, P. aeruginosa는 PhotoMed에서 79.65%, Methyl pheophorbide A에서 47.36%, Radachlorin^®에서 40.91%의 사멸률을 보였다. 이번 연구는 P. aeruginosa를 억제하기 위한 가장 효과적인 접근법이 PhotoMed와 다이오드 레이저를 이용한 광역학 치료임을 보여준다.

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.1-13
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• 2024

Background: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the major complications of chronic hyperglycaemia affecting normal kidney functioning. The ayurvedic medicine curcumin (CUR) is pharmaceutically accepted for its vast biological effects. Objectives: The Curcuma-derived diferuloylmethane compound CUR, loaded on Poly (lactide-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) nanoparticles was utilized to combat DN-induced renal apoptosis by selectively targeting and modulating Bcl2. Methods: Upon in silico molecular docking and screening study CUR was selected as the core phytocompound for nanoparticle formulation. PLGA-nano-encapsulated-curcumin (NCUR) were synthesized following standard solvent displacement method. The NCUR were characterized for shape, size and other physico-chemical properties by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy studies. For in vivo validation of nephro-protective effects, Mus musculus were pre-treated with CUR at a dose of 50 mg/kg b.w. and NCUR at a dose of 25 mg/kg b.w. (dose 1), 12.5 mg/kg b.w (dose 2) followed by alloxan administration (100 mg/kg b.w) and serum glucose levels, histopathology and immunofluorescence study were conducted. Results: The in silico study revealed a strong affinity of CUR towards Bcl2 (dock score -10.94 Kcal/mol). The synthesized NCUR were of even shape, devoid of cracks and holes with mean size of ~80 nm having -7.53 mV zeta potential. Dose 1 efficiently improved serum glucose levels, tissue-specific expression of Bcl2 and reduced glomerular space and glomerular sclerosis in comparison to hyperglycaemic group. Conclusion: This study essentially validates the potential of NCUR to inhibit DN by reducing blood glucose level and mitigating glomerular apoptosis by selectively promoting Bcl2 protein expression in kidney tissue.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제66권
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• pp.213-220
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• 2023

본 연구는 비자나무(Torreya nucifera (L.) Siebold & Zucc, TN)와 생물전환 된 비자나무 추출물(TNB)의 항염증 효과를 평가하기 위해 수행되었으며 이를 위해 C. acnes에 의해 유도된 RAW264.7 염증 모델에서 염증인자의 발현을 조사하였다. 실험 결과, TNB는 50, 100, 200 ㎍/mL 농도에서 TN의 높은 세포독성을 개선하였으며 nitric oxide (NO)와 NO 합성 효소인 inducible NO synthase (iNOS) 및 prostaglandin의 합성 효소인 cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)의 발현을 유의하게 억제하였다. 또한 TNB는 염증성 사이토카인인 tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) 및 interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8의 발현을 유의하게 억제하였으며 특히 IL-6, IL-8의 경우 가장 고 농도인 200 ㎍/mL에서 정상세포 수준으로 감소하였다. 이후 진행된 western blot에서 인산화 된 IκB-α 및 NF-κB의 발현이 농도의존적으로 억제됨을 확인하였으며 인산화가 억제되면서 degradation이 감소하여 TNB처리 농도가 높아짐에 따라 IκB-α의 농도가 증가하는 경향을 보였다. 결론적으로, TNB는 NF-κB신호 전달 경로를 차단함으로써 다양한 염증 매개 인자의 발현을 효과적으로 하향 조절할 수 있으며 이를 통해 항 염증 활성을 유도하는 것으로 확인된다. 이러한 결과를 근거로 TNB가 C. acnes에 의해 유발된 염증성질환의 치료에 효과적인 천연물 소재로 적용될 수 있음을 제안한다.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.246-256
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• 2024

Purpose: Peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) presents a major challenge in the treatment of late-stage, solid tumors, with traditional therapies limited by poor drug penetration. We evaluated a novel hyperthermic pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (HPIPAC) system using a human abdominal cavity model for its efficacy against AGS gastric cancer cells. Materials and Methods: A model simulating the human abdominal cavity and AGS gastric cancer cell line cultured dishes were used to assess the efficacy of the HPIPAC system. Cell viability was measured to evaluate the impact of HPIPAC under 6 different conditions: heat alone, PIPAC with paclitaxel (PTX), PTX alone, normal saline (NS) alone, heat with NS, and HPIPAC with PTX. Results: Results showed a significant reduction in cell viability with HPIPAC combined with PTX, indicating enhanced cytotoxic effects. Immediately after treatment, the average cell viability was 66.6%, which decreased to 49.2% after 48 hours and to a further 19.6% after 120 hours of incubation, demonstrating the sustained efficacy of the treatment. In contrast, control groups exhibited a recovery in cell viability; heat alone showed cell viability increasing from 90.8% to 94.4%, PIPAC with PTX from 82.7% to 89.7%, PTX only from 73.3% to 74.8%, NS only from 90.9% to 98.3%, and heat with NS from 74.4% to 84.7%. Conclusions: The HPIPAC system with PTX exhibits a promising approach in the treatment of PC in gastric cancer, significantly reducing cell viability. Despite certain limitations, this study highlights the system's potential to enhance treatment outcomes. Future efforts should focus on refining HPIPAC and validating its effectiveness in clinical settings.

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• 제54권6호
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• pp.339-350
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• 2024

Background and Objectives: Ultimaster^TM, a third-generation sirolimus-eluting stent using biodegradable polymer, has been introduced to overcome long term adverse vascular events, such as restenosis or stent thrombosis. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the 12-month clinical outcomes of Ultimaster^TM stents in Korean patients with coronary artery disease. Methods: This study is a multicenter, prospective, observational registry across 12 hospitals. To reflect real-world clinical evidence, non-selective subtypes of patients and lesions were included in this study. The study end point was target lesion failure (TLF) (the composite of cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction [MI], and target lesion revascularization [TLR]) at 12-month clinical follow up. Results: A total of 576 patients were enrolled between November 2016 and May 2021. Most of the patients were male (76.5%), with a mean age of 66.0±11.2 years. Among the included patients, 40.1% had diabetes mellitus (DM) and 67.9% had acute coronary syndrome (ACS). At 12 months, the incidence of TLF was 4.1%. The incidence of cardiac death was 1.5%, MI was 1.0%, TLR was 2.7%, and stent thrombosis was 0.6%. In subgroup analysis based on the presence of ACS, DM, hypertension, dyslipidemia, or bifurcation, there were no major differences in the incidence of the primary endpoint. Conclusions: The present registry shows that Ultimaster^TM stent is safe and effective for routine real-world clinical practice in non-selective Korean patients, having a low rate of adverse events at least up to 12 months.

• International Journal of Molecular Medicine
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• 제43권6호
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• pp.2409-2419
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• 2019

The use of finasteride for alleviating hair loss has been investigated, and it has been applied as an oral dose medication. However, due to the inconvenience of daily drug administration over long period of time, novel controllable finasteride delivery has been actively investigated. As a novel method of finasteride delivery, the development of finasteride-loaded microspheres for subcutaneous administration is becoming increasingly pharmaceutically important. Therefore, the present study aimed to use finasteride-loaded microspheres in a controlled manner in an attempt to overcome the limitations of the oral administration of finasteride and to cause fewer adverse effects. Finasteride-loaded microspheres containing poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) and finasteride at a ratio of 4:1 were prepared, and a testosterone-induced androgenic alopecia mouse model was used. Following observation for 10 weeks, the percentage hair growth was 86.7% (total hair growth 60%, partial hair growth 26.7%) in the orally-applied finasteride-treated group as a positive control, and 93.3% (total hair growth 60%, partial hair growth 33.3%) in the finasteride-loaded microspheres-treated group. Serum dihydrotestosterone levels began to decrease at week 6 in the orally-applied finasteride- and finasteride-loaded microsphere-treated groups. In addition, the finasteride-loaded microspheres-treated group exhibited similar follicular number, follicular length, anagen/telogen ratio and hair bulb diameter values to those of the orally-applied finasteride-treated group. Furthermore, the finasteride-loaded microspheres increased the activities of phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B and Wnt/β-catenin in relation to hair follicle cell growth signaling in mouse skin, and suppressed the apoptosis of hair follicle cells by reducing the expression of transforming growth factor-β2 and caspase-3, which are indicators of apoptosis. In conclusion, the administration of a single injection of finasteride-loaded microspheres was effective in treating testosterone-induced alopecia. Furthermore, it led to equivalent hair growth effects when compared with orally-applied finasteride, thus revealing the possibility of effective treatment via different routes of administration.