• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.157-167
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• 2002

This study was performed to investigate what effect the taste and quality of drugs would have on the cold and heat mechanisms of human body. We administered Hwangryeunhaedok-tang composed of bitter-tasted, cold-qualified drugs and Gungangbuza-tang composed of spice-tasted. hot-qualified drugs, respectively to the mice 1 hr before exposure to heat stress or cold stress. Plasma corticosterone level of mice was measured. The results were as follows: 1. The elevated corticosterone level in the mice exposed to heat stress was significantly decreased after administration of Gungangbuza-tang but there was no decrease after administration of Hwangryeunhaedok-tang. 2. The elevated corticosterone level in the mice exposed to cold stress was significantly decreased after administration of Hwangryeunhaedok-tang but there was mild decrease after administration of Gungangbuza-tang. 3. When the doses, 3g/kg and 1g/kg were administerd to mice exposed to heat stress. both dose showed significant decrease of corticosterone level and the dose. 3g/kg was more effective. However, in the mice exposed to cold stress, the dose, 3g/kg showed mild decrease and 1g/kg showed significant decrease. These data suggested that HW decreased the plasma corticosterone level in the mice exposed to cold stress and GB also decreased the plasma corticosterone level in the mice exposed to heat stress. In conclusion, our study revealed that the taste and quality of drugs controled the cold and heat mechanism of human body.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.355-359
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• 2009

Objective : It has been suggested that elevated cardiac troponin T (cTnT) level is a marker of increased risk of mortality in acute ischemic stroke and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). However, the association of serum cTnT level and prognosis of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) has been sparsely investigated. The aim of this study was to identify the relationship between cTnT level and the outcome in patients with spontaneous ICH. Methods : We retrospectively investigated 253 patients identified by a database search from records of patients admitted in our department for ICH between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2007. The patients were divided into 2 groups; the patients in group 1 (n=225) with serum cTnT values of 0.01 ng/mL or less, and those in group 2 (n=28) with serum cTnT values greater than 0.01 ng/mL. Results : The serum cTnT level was elevated in 28 patients. There were significant differences in sex, hypertension, creatine kinase-myocardial band, midline shift, side of hematoma, and presence of intraventricular hemorrhage between the 2 groups. Logistic regression analysis identified the level of consciousness on admission, cTnT and midline shift as independent predictors of hospital mortality. Conclusion : Theses results suggest that increased serum cTnT level at admission is associated with in-hospital mortality and the addition of a serum cTnT assay to routine admission testing should be considered in patients with ICH.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.73-80
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• 1994

From December 1989 to February 1993, 108 patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancers(NSCLC) were studied retrospectively to evaluate radiotherapeutic significance of serum levels of NSE. We considered elevated serum neuron specific enolase(S-NSE) level as one of the neuroendocrine features in NSCLC. Histopathologic evaluation revealed 86 squamous cell carcinomas, 11 adenocarcinomas.3 large cell carcinomas, 3 mucoepidermoid carcinomas, and 5 unknown pathology. Eight Patients had stage 1,40 stage IlIA, and 60 stage lIIB.S-NSE level greater than 15 ng/ml was considered as elevated, and below this considered as normal. All patients recieved radiotherapy as primary treatment modality. The responders to radiotherapy had significantly higher mean S-NSE level than non-responders (28.5 ng/ml vs 20 ng/ml, p=0.01). Overall 2-year survival rate(YSR) was 23.6$ \% $. According to radiotherapy response, 2 YSR for Patients with CR, PR, and NR were 39.2$ \% $, 28.6$ \% $, and 6.2$ \% $ respectively(p=0.001). 2 YSR for patients with elevated and normal S-NSE were 14.6$ \% $ and 31.7$ \% $(p=0.02). The patients with NR showed no difference in survival according to S-NSE level. When we considered all patients, S-NSE level showed no significant impact on response. But for squamous cell carcinomas alone, patients with elevated S-NSE had more responders(80$ \% $ vs 61$ \% $, p=0.05). There was no correlation between tumor characteristics and S-NSE level. But the patients with elevated S-NSE had more patients with higher nodal stage, Based on our and other datas, NSCLC with neuroendocrine features have different response to treatment and clinical behavior compared to other NSCLC. Thus, this subgroup may need different treatment modality, and S-NSE level may have prognostic significance.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.339-347
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• 1997

Disulfiram (DSF) and diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC), a reduced form of DSF, protect the liver against toxicant-induced injury through inhibition of cytochrome P450 2E1. The effect of DSF and DDC on the levels of major hepatic microsomal epoxide hydrolase (mEH) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) expression was comparatively studied, given the view that these enzymes are involved in terminal detoxification events for high energy intermediates of xenobiotics. Treatment of rats with a single dose of DSF (20-200 mg/kg, po) resulted in 2- to 15-fold increases in the mEH mRNA level at 24 hr with the ED$_{50}$ value being noted as 60 mg/kg. The mEH mRNA level was elevated ~15-fold at 24 hr after treatment at the dose of 100 mg/kg, whereas the hepatic mRNA level was rather decreased from the maximum at the dose of 200 mg/kg, indicating that DSF might cause cytotoxicity at the dose. In contrast to the effect of DSF, DDC only minimally elevated the mEH mRNA level at the doses employed. DSF moderately increased the major GST mRNA levels in the liver as a function of dose, resulting in rGSTA2, rGSTA3/5 or rGSTM1 mRNA levels being elevated 3- to 4-fold at 24 hr post-treatment, whereas the rGSTM2 mRNA level was not altered. DDC, however, failed to stimulate the mRNA levels for major GST subunits, indicating that the reduced form of DSF was ineffective in stimulating the GST the expression. The effect of other organosulfides including aldrithiol, 2, 2'-dithiobis(benzothiazole) (DTB), tetramethylthiouram disulfide (TMTD) and allyl disulfide (ADS) on the hepatic mEH and GST mRNA expression was assessed in rats in order to further confirm the increase in the gene expression by other disulfides. Treatment of rats with aldrithiol (100 mg/kg, po) resulted in a 16-fold increase in the mEH mRNA level at 24 hr post-treatment. DTB, TMTD and ADS also caused 5-, 9- and 12-fold increases in the rnRNA level, respectively, as compared to control. Thus, all of the disulfides examined were active in stimulating the mEH gene in the liver. The organosulfides significantly increased the rGSTA2, rGSTA3, rGSTA5 and rGSTM1 mRNA levels at 24 hr after administration. In particular, aldrithiol was very efficient in stimulating the rGSTA and rGSTM genes among the disulfides examined. These results provide evidence that DSF and other sulfides effectively stimulate the mEH and major GST gene expression at early times in the liver and that DDC, a reduced form of DSF, was ineffective in stimulating the expression of the genes, supporting the conclusion that reduced form(s) of organosulfur compound(s) might be less effective in inducing the mEH and GST genes through the antioxidant responsive element(s).

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.59 no.9
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• pp.362-367
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• 2016

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the clinical significance of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in children with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and the effect of lifestyle intervention on NAFLD. Methods: The clinical data of 86 children diagnosed with NAFLD were reviewed retrospectively. Forty-six patients belonged to the elevated ALT group and 40 to the normal ALT group. The clinical parameters of patients with NAFLD were also compared based on the status of ALT levels after lifestyle intervention. Results: Patients with elevated ALT had significantly higher body mass index (BMI) scores than those with normal ALT (P<0.05). Of all the patients with elevated ALT, 89% exhibited moderate or severe degree of fatty change in the liver on ultrasonographic examination, whereas most patients with normal ALT exhibited mild or moderate degree changes. Liver biopsy was performed in 15 children with elevated ALT and all showed mild histological changes. Of all patients with elevated ALT, 49% achieved normal ALT levels after lifestyle intervention. Those with more severe histological changes tended to have continuously increasing ALT levels. There was no correlation between the normalization of posttreatment ALT level and BMI, as well as ultrasonographic findings at diagnosis. Conclusion: ALT elevation in NAFLD is highly associated with higher BMI scores and more severe degree of fatty changes on ultrasonographic examination. Lifestyle intervention can significantly improve ALT in children with NAFLD. The degree of histologic changes appears to be a predictor of the treatment response to NAFLD.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.62 no.2
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• pp.209-224
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• 2017

Elevated water tanks are considered as important structures due to its post-earthquake requirements. Elevated water tank on reinforced concrete frame staging is widely used in India. Different response reduction factors depending on ductility of frame members are used in seismic design of frame staging. The study on appropriateness of response reduction factor for reinforced concrete tank staging is sparse in literature. In the present paper a systematic study on estimation of key components of response reduction factors is presented. By considering the various combinations of tank capacity, height of staging, seismic design level and design response reduction factors, forty-eight analytical models are developed and designed using relevant Indian codes. The minimum specified design cross section of column as per Indian code is found to be sufficient to accommodate the design steel. The strength factor and ductility factor are estimated using results of nonlinear static pushover analysis. It was observed that for seismic design category 'high' the strength factor has lesser contribution than ductility factor, whereas, opposite trend is observed for seismic design category 'low'. Further, the effects of staging height and tank capacity on strength and ductility factors for two different seismic design categories are studied. For both seismic design categories, the response reduction factors obtained from the nonlinear static analysis is higher than the code specified response reduction factors. The minimum dimension restriction of column is observed as key parameter in achieving the desired performance of the elevated water tank on frame staging.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.49-58
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• 2009

Current sunshine regulations of our country, focused on common houses and general construction, are failing to reflect adequately the characteristics of roads and elevated structures. Besides, researches are chiefly being conducted on a pitch between common houses and its diverse effects, neglecting clearance between a road or elevated structure and a residential area, environmental elements brought on by structures, such as sunshine difficulty, and their resultant factors Therefore, this study, focused on the sunshine environment of elevated structures adjacent to a residential district, as part of all roads and elevated structures, looked over currently used clearance adequacy level and analyzed the characteristics of structures in relation to an angle of direction. Then, clearance ratio by heights was calculated through a pitch by characteristics of a structure. With a view to minimize the sunshine difficulty that might occur in the future construction, it aims to propose the basic data needed for calculating the minimum clearance, while emphasizing the necessity for institutional alignment on structures.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.117-121
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• 2005

Purpose: Elevated AST/ALT level in rotavirus gastroenteritis have been reported. We found elevated creatine kinase (CK) in those children. This study was carried out to define the relationship of major clinical presentation, laboratory findings, and level of creatine kinase. Methods: A retrospective analysis was made for thirty patients who were diagnosed rotavirus gastroenteritis from Jan 2001 to Mar 2005 in Department of Pediatrics, Gyeongsang National University Hospital. Serum creatine kinase was checked for the evaluation of high aminotransferase level among the patients. Results: Fourteen patients (8 males, 6 females) with high creatine kinase activity were included in this study. The mean age was $1.46{\pm}1.24year$ of age. The mean level of AST, ALT and CK were $127.5{\pm}136.2IU/L$, $126.1{\pm}154.3IU/L$, and $542.8{\pm}624.6IU/L$, respectively. Electrophoresis of CK isoenzyme was performed in four of them and the results revealed elevated CK-MM fraction (96~100%). Three of them revealed high serum creatine kinase acitivity (>1,000 IU/L) without acute renal failure and other symptom. However, none of them had muscular pain or trauma history. Elevated creatine kinase activity did not correlate with clinical implications (age, sex, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, symptom of URI, degree of dehydration or seizure) or laboratory findings. Conclusion: In this study, we found that serum creatine kinase acitivity also was elevated in infants with rotavirus gastroenteritis. This data support muscular damage due to rotavirus, but could not prove the mechanism of increased serum creatine kinase activity.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.22-28
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• 2014

This study was conducted to investigate the photosynthetic characters of Populus alba${\times}$glandulosa cuttings in response to elevated $CO_2$ concentration and air temperature for selecting tree species adaptive to climate change. The cuttings were grown in environment controlled growth chambers with two combinations of $CO_2$ concentration and air temperature conditions: (i) $22^{\circ}C$ + $CO_2$ 380 ${\mu}mol$ $mol^{-1}$ (control) and (ii) $27^{\circ}C$ + $CO_2$ 770 ${\mu}mol$ $mol^{-1}$ (elevated) for almost three months. The cuttings under the elevated treatment showed reduced tree height and photosynthetic pigment contents such as chlorophyll and carotenoid. In particular, the elevated treatment resulted in a marked reduction in the chlorophyll a closely associated with $CO_2$ fixative reaction system. Different levels of reduction in photosynthetic characters were found under the elevated treatment. A decrease was noted in photochemical reaction system parameters: net apparent quantum yield (7%) and photosynthetic electron transport rate (14%). Moreover, a significant reduction was obvious in $CO_2$ fixative reaction system parameters: carboxylation efficiency (52%) and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate(RuBP) regeneration rate (24%). These results suggest that the low level of photosynthetic capacity may be attributed to the decreased $CO_2$ fixative reaction system rather than photochemical reaction system.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.69-79
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• 1985

To evaluate the effect of dopaminergic activity on aldosterone secretion, the plasma renin activity, serum cortisol and aldosterone were measured by radioimmunoassay in 6 normal controls and 12 patients who had hyponatremia and generalized edema or ascites with possible condition with secondary aldosteronism before and after(15, 30, and 60 min) 15 mg of metoclopramide by iv bolus injection and same method with 500 mg of L-dopa by per oral in 6 normal controls and 12 patients with edema ascites. The result were as follows; 1) The basal level of PRA was higher in patients rather than normal controls but PRA was not influenced by MC or L-dopa administration on both normal controls and patients group. 2) The serum cortisol level was significantly elevated at 30 min after MC injection compared with basal level in normal controls but no significant change was noted in patients group. After L-dopa administration the serum cortisol level was not changed in both normal controls and patients group. 3) The serum aldosterone level was significantly elevated in 15, 30 and 60 min after MC injection in normal controls, and there also same tendency of aldosterone secretion was noticed in patients group. On the other hands, there was no changes in aldosterone level in both normal controls and patients group with L-dopa administration. Above result means that MC stimulate aldosterone secretion by dopaminergic antagonist and aldosterone secretion in normal subject is controlled by maximal tonic dopaminergic inhibition. In edematous patients, however, both of the dopaminergic inhibitory and stimulating effect of PRA, ACTH etc on the aldosterone secretion seems to be variable.