• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.201-212
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• 2010

Self-organized nanogels from polysaccharide derivatives offer a promising approach in treatment of cancer due to their flexibility in chemistry and their ability to improve the therapeutic index of a drug by modifying biodistribution by their preferential localization at target sites and lower distribution in normal healthy tissues. These properties have promoted studies of active cancer targeting by self-organized nanogels for even better accumulation in solid tumors. However although many researchers have reported their potential by using cell culture systems and small animal tumor models in cancer therapy, these nanogels need more decoration such as conjugation with targeting moiety and endowment of stimuli-sensitivity for precise targeting of the cancer site. In this review, we summarize the recent efforts in developing novel targeting approaches via active endocytosis and stimuli-sensitive systems responding to hyperthermic or acidic tumor pH conditions.

• Journal of the Korean Statistical Society
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.239-250
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• 2006

A $2{\times}2$ crossover design including carryover effect is considered for assessment of population bioequivalence of two drug formulations in a Bayesian framework. In classical analysis, it is complex to deal with the carryover effect since the estimate of the drug effect is biased in the presence of a carryover effect. The proposed method in this article uses uninformative priors and vague proper priors for objectiveness of priors and the posterior probability distribution of the parameters of interest is derived with given priors. The posterior probabilities of the hypotheses for assessing population bioequivalence are evaluated based on a Markov chain Monte Carlo simulation method. An example with real data set is given for illustration.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.167-176
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• 1994

The microcapsules of amoxicillin using stearyl alcohol and polyethyleneglycol 8000 (PEG 8000) were prepared by a emulsion melted-cooled process in water phase. The size distribution, dissolution test, observation with SEM and in vivo test were investigated. The microcapsules obtained were spherical, uniform and free flowing particles. The release of drug from microcapsule was increased in proportional to the content of PEG 8000. As the PEG 8000 content increased, the particle size of microcapsule was decreased. Sanning electron micrograph study revealed that microcapsules had comparatively rough surfaces as drug content was increased. The $AUC_{0-12}$ after administration of amoxicillin microcapsules was more increased 40% as compared with the AUC after administration of amoxicillin powder in rabbits.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.208-212
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• 2011

In this work, the calculated nuclear quadrupole coupling constants of $^{17}O$ in some styrylquinoline conformers were presented. The calculations were carried out to find the relationships between the charge distribution of styrylquinolines and their pharmaceutical behavior and to explore the differences among the electronic structures of some conformers of these potent HIV IN inhibitors. Furthermore, the HIV IN inhibitory of R1 and R2 rotamers was compared. On the basis of our results: - Charge density on oxygen atoms of carboxyl moiety has a dominant role in the drug activity. - The a conformer in which a divalent hydrogen atom is a link, has more capability in antiviral drug treatment. - The R1 conformer, as a $Mg^{+2}$ chelating agent, is better than R2 conformer and thus it is more inhibitor of HIV IN.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.199-210
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• 2021

Ginseng has been used as a traditional herb in Asian countries for thousands of years. It contains a large number of active ingredients including steroidal saponins, protopanaxadiols, and protopanaxatriols, collectively known as ginsenosides. In the last few decades, the antioxidative and anticancer effects of ginseng, in addition to its effects on improving immunity, energy and sexuality, and combating cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, and neurological diseases, have been studied in both basic and clinical research. Ginseng could be a valuable resource for future drug development; however, further higher quality evidence is required. Moreover, ginseng may have drug interactions although the available evidence suggests it is a relatively safe product. This article reviews the bioactive compounds, global distribution, and therapeutic potential of plants in the genus Panax.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.83-94
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• 2024

Purpose: This article aims to investigate the influence of pricing and distribution on the level of satisfaction and purchase decisions among consumers of pharmaceutical products in Kazakhstan. Research design, data, and methodology: A mixed-methods research design was utilized, incorporating primary and secondary data. Primary data were collected through a survey administered to customers across various pharmacy types, with 100 valid responses analyzed. Secondary data involved an extensive review of existing literature and analysis of national statistics concerning the pharmaceutical market trends from 2008 to 2022. Results: The results reveal a complex relationship between price perceptions and customer satisfaction. A significant segment of the population views current drug prices as high, which affects their satisfaction levels and purchase decisions. The study also highlights the importance of service quality in enhancing customer satisfaction, suggesting that service improvements could mitigate some of the negative perceptions of pricing. Conclusions: This research contributes to the limited but growing body of knowledge on the impact of pricing strategies on consumer satisfaction in the pharmaceutical sectors of developing countries like Kazakhstan. Focusing on economic and behavioral aspects, this study provides a more holistic understanding of the factors driving consumer satisfaction and purchase behaviors in this critical sector.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.225-233
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• 1997

The authors attempted to examine the allelic association between the A1 allele of Dopamine $D_2$ receptor and schizophrenia, alcoholism, drug addiction in Koreans. Schizophrenic patients(n=31), alcoholism(n=65), drug addiction(n=18) and controls(n=52) were examined by case-control study for distribution of the TaqI polymorphism of the dopamine $D_2$ receptor gene in Korean population to minimize the effect of racial differencies in gene frequencies. In schizophrenics, the numbers of schizophrenics with A1A1, A1A2, A2A2 were 9(29.0%), 15(48.4%) and 7(22.6%) respectively and in alcoholics with A1A1, A1A2, A2A2 were 14(21.5%), 36(55.4%) and 15(23.1%) respectively and in drug addiction with A1A1, A1A2, A2A2 were 2(11.1%), 10(55.6%) and 6(33.3%) respectively and in controls with A1A1, A1A2, A2A2 were 4(7.6%), 24(46.2%) and 24(46.2%) respectively. The prevalence of the A1 allele in schizophrenics, alcoholics, drug addiction and controls were 77%, 76.9%, 67% and 53.8% respectively. And the frequency of the A1 allele in schizophrenics, alcoholics, drug addiction and controls were 0.53, 0.49 0.39 and 0.31 respectively. There was significant difference in the frequency of the A1 allele between schizophrenics, alcoholics and controls. We also classified our alcoholic population. For classification by severity, we used the median MAST score 30 in our samples. There was also significant difference in the frequency of the A1 allele between less severe group(0.42) and more severe group(0.57). This data suggest that the A1 allele is associated with schizophrenia and alcoholism in Koreans. Furthermore the prevalence of the A1 allele increassed in more severely affected alcoholics. The authors conclude that our data support an allelic association between the A1 allele at dopamine $D_2$ receptor and schizophrenia, alcoholism. These results suggest the A1 allele of the $DRD_2$ gene is associated with a number of behavior disorders in which it may act as a modifying gene rather than as the primary etiological agent.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.43-48
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• 2017

Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery are major methods to treat cancer. However, current cancer treatments report severe side effects and high recurrences. Recent studies about engineering nanoparticles as a drug carrier suggest possibilities in terms of specific targeting and spatiotemporal release of drugs. While many nanoparticles demonstrate lower toxicity and better targeting results than free drugs, they still need to improve their performance dramatically in terms of targeting accuracy, immune responses, and non-specific accumulation at organs. One possible way to overcome the challenges is to make precisely controlled nanoparticles with respect to size, shape, surface properties, and mechanical stiffness. Here, we demonstrate $500{\times}200nm$ discoidal polymeric nanoconstructs (DPNs) as a drug delivery carrier. DPNs were prepared by using a top-down fabrication method that we previously reported to control shape as well as size. Moreover, DPNs have multiple payloads, poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA), polyethylene glycol (PEG), lipid-Rhodamine B dye (RhB) and Salinomycin. In this study, we demonstrated a potential of DPNs as a drug carrier to treat cancer.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.59 no.6
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• pp.619-624
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• 2005

Background : The drug resistance rate in tuberculosis patients with history of chemotherapy is an important indicator of for evaluation of appropriateness of treatment regimens and compliance of patients. This study examined the long-term changes in the drug resistance rates among TB patients failed in treatment or reactivated. Methods : The results of drug susceptibility testing data from patients registered in health centers from 1981 to 2004 were analyzed. Results : The rate of resistance to isoniazid decreased from 90% to 20%, and the resistance to ethambutol decreased from 45% to 6%. The rate of resistance to rifampicin varied from 13% to 28% and the resistance to pyrazinamide was 5% to 10%. Multidrug resistance was about 2-3% lower than any rifampicin resistance rates. The second-line drug resistance was ranged from 1% to 3%. There was no difference between patients' genders. Patient numbers per 100,000 population increased with age. The regional distribution was even at 4-6 patients per 100,000 population, and drug resistance rates were significantly lower in big city areas than in small towns and rural areas. Conclusion : The rates of resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated from TB patients with history of chemotherapy to isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol, and isoniazid plus rifampin were significantly decreased during over two decades.

• The Korean Journal of Applied Statistics
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.203-213
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• 2020

The self-controlled case series (SCCS) study measures the relative risk of exposure to exposure period by setting the non-exposure period of the patient as the control period without a separate control group. This method minimizes the bias that occurs when selecting a control group and is often used to measure the risk of adverse events after taking a drug. This study used SCCS to examine the increased risk of side effects when two or more drugs are used in combination. A conditional Poisson model is assumed and analyzed for drug interaction between the narcotic analgesic, tramadol and multi-frequency combination drugs. Bayesian inference is used to solve the overfitting problem of MLE and the normal or Laplace prior distributions are used to measure the sensitivity of the prior distribution.