• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.106-116
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• 2023

Background: Pirarubicin (THP) is an anthracycline antibiotic used to treat various malignancies in humans. The clinical usefulness of THP is unfortunately limited by its dose-related cardiotoxicity. Ginsenoside F1 (GF1) is a metabolite formed when the ginsenosides Re and Rg1 are hydrolyzed. However, the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of GF1 on THP-induced cardiotoxicity remain unclear. Methods: We investigated the anti-apoptotic and anti-oxidative stress effects of GF1 on an in vitro model, using H9c2 cells stimulated by THP, plus trigonelline or AKT inhibitor imidazoquinoxaline (IMQ), as well as an in vivo model using THP-induced cardiotoxicity in rats. Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent test, the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), creatine kinase (CK-MB), cardiac troponin (c-TnT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) were determined. Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived2)-like 2 (Nrf2) and the expression of Nrf2 target genes, including heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), glutathione-S-transferase (Gst), glutamate-cysteine ligase modifier subunit (GCLM), and expression levels of AKT/Bcl-2 signaling pathway proteins were detected using Western blot analysis. Results: THP-induced myocardial histopathological damage, electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities, and cardiac dysfunction were reduced in vivo by GF1. GF1 also decreased MDA, BNP, CK-MB, c-TnT, and LDH levels in the serum, while raising SOD and GSH levels. GF1 boosted Nrf2 nuclear translocation and Nrf2 target gene expression, including HO-1, Gst, and GCLM. Furthermore, GF1 regulated apoptosis by activating AKT/Bcl-2 signaling pathways. Employing Nrf2 inhibitor trigonelline and AKT inhibitor IMQ revealed that GF1 lacked antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effects. Conclusion: In conclusion, GF1 was found to alleviate THP-induced cardiotoxicity via modulating Nrf2 and AKT/Bcl-2 signaling pathways, ultimately alleviating myocardial oxidative stress and apoptosis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.283-291
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• 1993

Background: Long-term low flow oxygen therapy not only increases survival, but also improves the quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with chronic hypoxemia. For the assessment and improvement of the status of home oxygen therapy, we analyzed clinical experience of 26 patients who have been administered low flow oxygen at home. Method: Twenty-six patients (18 men and 8 women) who have been received long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) at home were examined. We reviewed physical characteristics, clinical history, pulmonary function test, ECG, arterial blood gas analysis, hemoglobin and hematocrit, types of oxygen devices, inhalation time per day, concentration of administered $O_2$, duration of $O_2$ therapy, and problems in the home oxygen therapy. Results: The underlying diseases of patients were COPD 14 cases, far advanced old pulmonary tuberculosis 9 cases, bronchiectasis 2 cases, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis 1 case. The reasons for LTOT at home were noted for cor pulmonale 21 cases, for dyspnea on exertion and severe ventilatory impairment 4 cases, and for oxygen desaturation during sleep 1 case. The mean values of aterial blood gas analysis before home oxygen therapy were $PaO_2$ 57.7 mmHg, $PaCO_2$ 48.2 mmHg, and $SaO_2$ 87.7%. And the mean values of each parameters in the pulmonary function test were VC 2.05 L, $FEV_1$ 0.92 L, and $FEV_1$/FVC% 51.9%. Nineteen patients have used oxygen tanks as oxygen devices, 1 patient oxygen concentrator, 2 patients oxygen tank and liquid oxygen, and other 4 patients oxygen tank together with portable oxygen. The duration of oxygen therapy was below 1 year in 3 cases, 1~2 years in 15 cases, 3~5 years in 6 cases, 9 years in 1 case, and 10 years in 1 case. All patients have inhalated oxygen with flow rate less than 2.5 L/min. And only 10 patients have inhalated oxygen more than 15 hours per day, but most of them short time per day. Conclusion: For the effective oxygen administration, it is necessary that education for long-term low flow oxygen therapy to patients, their family and neighbor should be done, and also the institutional backup for getting convenient oxygen devices is required.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.120-127
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• 2009

Objectives: Sahyangsohapwon (SS) is a herbal medication that has been widely used with circulatory and neural diseases. This study was conducted to assess the effect of SS on the autonomic nervous system by using heart rate variability measurement. Methods: The eligible subjects were enrolled from the healthy male group of ages 20 to 35 years. They were divided into two groups, the SS group (n=26) and the control (n=24). We monitored the ECG of subjects from the time period 14:00 to 18:00. In the SS group, subjects were administered with a dose of SS at the time 15:00, whereas the control group had none. For each hour HRV measurement was monitored every 15 minutes for 512 seconds from the time period 14:00 to 18:00. The mean value, which was calculated using the 4 values during each hour (i.e. 14:00, 14:15, 14:30, 14:45), was used as the representative value for each individual hour. For the measurement values, RR-interval and SDNN (standard deviation of the NN intervals) were used as time domain analysis, and HF (high frequency), LF (low frequency), and LF/HF ratio were used as frequency domain analysis. Results: The LF value showed an increase after one hour of SS administration and showed gradual diminution for each and every hour. The repeated measures of ANOVA for the comparison of the LF value between the SS group and the control group showed significant differences. While, RR interval, SDNN, HF, and LF/HF ratio values showed no significant differences between the two groups. Conclusions: We suggest that the SS might be useful for stabilizing autonomic nervous system by inhibiting sympathetic nerve activation in healthy people.

• International Journal of Vascular Biomedical Engineering
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.19-24
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• 2006

Background: Pulse wave velocity (PWV), which is inversely related to the distensibility of an arterial wall, offers a simple and potentially useful approach for an evaluation of cardiovascular diseases. In spite of the clinical importance and widespread use of PWV, there exist no standard either for pulse sensors or for system requirements for accurate pulse wave measurement. Objective of this study was to assess the reproducibility of PWV values using a newly developed PWV measurement system in healthy subjects prior to a large-scale clinical study. Methods: System used for the study was the PP-1000 (Hanbyul Meditech Co., Korea), which provides regional PWV values based on the measurements of electrocardiography (ECG), phonocardiography (PCG), and pulse waves from four different sites of arteries (carotid, femoral, radial, and dorsalis pedis) simultaneously. Seventeen healthy male subjects with a mean age of 33 years (ranges 22 to 52 years) without any cardiovascular disease were participated for the experiment. Two observers (observer A and B) performed two consecutive measurements from the same subject in a random order. For an evaluation of system reproducibility, two analyses (within-observer and between-observer) were performed, and expressed in terms of mean difference ${\pm}2SD$, as described by Bland and Altman plots. Results: Mean and SD of PWVs for aorta, arm, and leg were $7.07{\pm}1.48m/sec,\;8.43{\pm}1.14m/sec,\;and\;8.09{\pm}0.98m/sec$ measured from observer A and $6.76{\pm}1.00m/sec,\;7.97{\pm}0.80m/sec,\;and\;\7.97{\pm}0.72m/sec$ from observer B, respectively. Between-observer differences ($mean{\pm}2SD$) for aorta, arm, and leg were $0.14{\pm\}0.62m/sec,\;0.18{\pm\}0.84m/sec,\;and\;0.07{\pm}0.86m/sec$, and the correlation coefficients were high especially 0.93 for aortic PWV. Within-observer differences ($mean{\pm}2SD$) for aorta, arm, and leg were $0.01{\pm}0.26m/sec,\;0.02{\pm}0.26m/sec,\;and\;0.08{\pm}0.32m/sec$ from observer A and $0.01{\pm}0.24m/sec,\;0.04{\pm}0.28m/sec,\;and\;0.01{\pm}0.20m/sec$ from observer B, respectively. All the measurements showed significantly high correlation coefficients ranges from 0.94 to 0.99. Conclusion: PWV measurement system used for the study offers comfortable and simple operation and provides accurate analysis results with high reproducibility. Since the reproducibility of the measurement is critical for the diagnosis in clinical use, it is necessary to provide an accurate algorithm for the detection of additional features such as flow wave, reflection wave, and dicrotic notch from a pulse waveform. This study will be extended for the comparison of PWV values from patients with various vascular risks for clinical application. Data acquired from the study could be used for the determination of the appropriate sample size for further studies relating various types of arteriosclerosis-related vascular disease.

• The Korean Nurse
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.108-117
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• 1997

This study was carried out to examine the standards for evaluation of laboratory facilities and equipment. These constitute the most important yet vulnerable area of our system of higher education among the six school evaluation categories provided by the Korean Council for University Education. To obtain data on the present situation of holdings and management of laboratory facilities and equipment at nursing schools in Korea, questionnaires were prepared by members of a special committee of the Korea Nursing Education Society on the basis of the Standards for University Laboratory Facilities and Equipment issued by the Ministry of Education. The questionnaires were sent to nursing schools across the nation by mail on October 4, 1995. 39 institutions completed and returned the questionnaires by mail by December 31 of the same year. The results of the analysis of the survey were as follows: 1. The Physical Environment of Laboratories According to the results of investigation of 14 nursing departments at four-year colleges, laboratories vary in size ranging from 24 to 274.91 pyeong ($1{\;}pyeong{\;}={\;}3.3m^2).$. The average number of students in a laboratory class was 46.93 at four-year colleges, while the number ranged from 40 to 240 in junior colleges. The average floor space of laboratories at junior colleges, however, was almost the same as those, of laboratories at four-year colleges. 2. The Actual State of Laboratory Facilities and Equipment Laboratory equipment possessed by nursing schools at colleges and universities showed a very wide distribution by type, but most of it does not meet government standards according to applicable regulations while some types of equipment are in excess supply. The same is true of junior colleges. where laboratory equipment should meet a different set of government standards specifically established for junior colleges. Closer investigation is called for with regard to those types of equipment which are in short supply in more than 80 percent of colleges and universities. As for the types of equipment in excess supply, investigation should be carried out to determine whether they are really needed in large quantities or should be installed. In many cases, it would appear that unnecessary equipment is procured, even if it is already obsolete, merely for the sake of holding a seemingly impressive armamentarium. 3. Basic Science Laboratory Equipment Among the 39 institutions, five four-year colleges were found to possess equipment for basic science. Only one type of essential equipment, tele-thermometers, and only two types of recommended equipment, rotators and dip chambers, were installed in sufficient numbers to meet the standards. All junior colleges failed to meet the standards in all of equipment categories. Overall, nursing schools at all of the various institutions were found to be below per in terms of laboratory equipment. 4. Required Equipment In response to the question concerning which type of equipment was most needed and not currently in possession, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) machines and electrocardiogram (ECG) monitors topped the list with four respondents each, followed by measuring equipment. 5. Management of Laboratory Equipment According to the survey, the professors in charge of clinical training and teaching assistants are responsible for management of the laboratory at nursing schools at all colleges and universities, whereas the chief of the general affairs section or chairman of the nursing department manages the laboratory at junior colleges. This suggests that the administrative systems are more or less different. According to the above results, laboratory training could be defined as a process by which nursing students pick up many of the nursing skills necessary to become fully qualified nurses. Laboratory training should therefore be carefully planned to provide students with high levels of hands-on experience so that they can effectively handle problems and emergencies in actual situations. All nursing students should therefore be thoroughly drilled and given as much on-the-job experience as possible. In this regard, there is clearly a need to update the equipment criteria as demanded by society's present situation rather than just filling laboratory equipment quotas according to the current criteria.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.719-734
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• 1993

The electrocardiographic(ECG) parameters on the standard limb leads in the normal Korean native cattle have been measured with a 3 channel Electrocardiograph built in a computed analysis. The study was conducted on the animals 98 heads of mean age of 17.7 months. Conduction parameters, waves, intervals and segments have been recorded. The recordings were analyzed as to shape and amplitude of the P and T waves and the components of the QRS complex. Heart rate was recorded by the Electrocardiogram which were a mean of $80.4{\pm}11.6beats/min$. And the younger had a higher heart rate than the older one. Average conduction times in the RP, the QRS complex and the QTc interval recorded $166.7{\pm}23.1msec.$, $79.7{\pm}8.8msec.$ and $395.5{\pm}30.4msec.$, in the P and T wave duration recorded $70.1{\pm}13.5msec.$ and $97.6{\pm}16.9msec.$, and in the PR and ST segment duration recorded $97.9{\pm}23.5msec.$ and $173.9{\pm}40.3msec.$, respectively. The wave forms in each lead observed various types. The amplitudes of wave type showed the highest frequency in each lead that were analyzed as follow : 1. In P wave, amplitudes of the positive type showed the frequency of 65.3%, 82.7% and 52.0% in leads I, II and III that were $103.1{\pm}47.8{\mu}V$, $115.2{\pm}37.3{\mu}V$ and $67.4{\pm}26.9{\mu}V$, and it showed the frequency of 54.1% and 85.7% in the leads aVL and aVF that were $63.7{\pm}23.0{\mu}V$, $88.0{\pm}83.6{\mu}V$, respectively. Average amplitude of the negative type showed the frequency of 78.6% in lead aVR which was $99.3{\pm}38.0{\mu}V$. 2. Average amplitude of the QRS complex were from $362.8{\pm}177.7{\mu}V$ to $532.8{\pm}253.9{\mu}V$(mean of $449.1{\pm}57.2{\mu}V$) that in all leads except lead I were manifested the Low-Voltage QRS complex(below 0.5mV). Average amplitudes of each wave type in the QRS complex aere $-50.2.4{\pm}258.2{\mu}V$ and $-428.6{\pm}195.1{\mu}V$ in the QS groups type that showed a frequency of 66.3%, 70.4% in the leads I and aVL, were $451.1{\pm}20.4.0{\mu}V$, $387.6{\pm}175.8{\mu}V$ and $299.3{\pm}146.5{\mu}V$ in the R groups type that showed a frequency of 48.0%, 53.1% and 34.7% in the leads III, aVR and aVF, and were $-307.5{\pm}180.3{\mu}V$, $201.4{\pm}77.2{\mu}V$ in the QR wave type which showed a frequency of 39.8% in lead II, respectively. 3. In T wave, amplitude of the positive type showed the frequency of 50.0%, 82.7%, 51.0% and 57.1% in leads II, III aVR and aVF which were $214.9{\pm}115.6{\mu}V$, $188.5{\pm}119.3{\mu}V$, $191.0{\pm}93.7{\mu}V$ and $165.7{\pm}91.9{\mu}V$, and the negative type showed a frequecny of 66.3% and 72.5% in leads I and aVL. that were $221.3{\pm}112.5{\mu}V$, $-173.6{\pm}86.7{\mu}V$, respectively. 4. Amplitude of ST segment in leads I, II and III were a mean of $-12.2{\pm}37.2{\mu}V$, $17.5{\pm}42.6{\mu}V$ and $28.3{\pm}40.4{\mu}V$, in leads aVR, aVL and aVF were $-3.9{\pm}32.5{\mu}V$, $-15.9{\pm}35.6{\mu}V$ and $26.2{\pm}37.5{\mu}V$, respectively.