• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.174-180
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• 2011

Experiments were carried out to determine the role of Raf-1 kinase in the development of drug resistance to paclitaxel in v-H-ras transformed NIH 3T3 fibroblasts (Ras-NIH 3T3). We established a multidrug-resistant cell line (Ras-NIH 3T3/Mdr) from Ras-NIH 3T3 cells by stepwise increases in paclitaxel. Drug sensitivity assays indicated that the $IC_{50}$ value for drug-resistant Ras-NIH 3T3/Mdr cells was more than 1 ${\mu}M$ paclitaxel, 10- or more-fold higher than for the parental Ras-NIH 3T3 cells. Western blot and RT-PCR analysis showed that the drug efflux pump a P-glycoprotein were highly expressed in Ras-NIH 3T3/Mdr cells, while not being detectable in Ras-NIH 3T3 cells. Additionally, verapamil, which appears to inhibit drug efflux by acting as a substrate for P-glycoprotein, completely reversed resistance to paclitaxel in Ras-NIH 3T3/Mdr cell line, indicating that resistance to paclitaxel is associated with overexpression of the multidrug resistance gene. Interestingly, Ras-NIH 3T3/Mdr cells have higher basal Raf-1 activity compared to Ras-NIH 3T3 cells. Unexpectedly, however, the colocalization of Raf-1 and its negative regulator Spry2 was less observed in cytoplasm of Ras-NIH 3T3/Mdr cells due to translocation of Spry2 around the nucleus in the perinuclear zone, implying that Raf-1 may be released from negative feedback inhibition by interacting with Spry2. We also showed that shRNA-mediated knockdown of Raf-1 caused a moderate increase in cell susceptibility to paclitaxel. Thus, the results presented here suggest that a Raf-1-dependent pathway plays an important role in the development of acquired drug-resistance.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.319-328
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• 2020

Purpose: To examine the prevalence and clinical manifestations of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) in Korea children. Methods: The study was designed as a 1:2 matching case-control study. Using information from the endoscopic database of a tertiary center, we retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients aged 18 years or younger who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy between January 2014 and December 2017. A total of 21 patients were diagnosed with EoE based on current diagnostic criteria. In addition, 42 controls with normal esophageal biopsy findings matched to each EoE case by sex, age (±1 months), and season were randomly selected during the study period. Results: The mean age of EoE diagnosis was 12.1±4.0 years and the male-to-female ratio was 2:1. The proportion of allergic diseases in patients with EoE (28.6%) was higher than that in the controls (6.8%) (p=0.04). Most EoE patients tested for allergy were positive for at least one antigen, which was significantly different to the controls (88.2% vs. 47.4%, p=0.01). Characteristic endoscopic findings of EoE were noted in 19 patients (90.5%), but 2 patients (9.5%) showed normal esophageal mucosa. The clinical symptoms of EoE were improved by a proton-pump inhibitor in 10 patients (50.0%), and by an H₂ blocker in 9 patients (45.0%). Only one patient (5.0%) required inhaled steroids. Conclusion: While EoE is rare in the Korean pediatric population, the results of this study will improve our understanding of the clinical manifestations of the disease.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.68 no.2
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• pp.62-66
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• 2010

Background: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) during severe acute respiratory failure helps to recover the pulmonary function. This study evaluated our experience with veno-venous ECMO in adult patients with acute respiratory failure. Methods: From January 2007 to July 2009, ECMO was used on 54 patients. Of these 54 patients, 7 were placed on veno-venous ECMO for acute respiratory failure. The indications of ECMO were based on the lung dysfunction measured as a $PaO_2/FiO_2$ ratio <100 mm Hg on $FiO_2$ of 1.0, or an arterial blood gas pH <7.25 due to hypercapnia despite the optimal treatment. $EBS^{(R)}$, $Bio-pump^{(R)}$, and Centrifugal Rotaflow $pump^{(R)}$ were used and all cannulations were performed percutaneously via both femoral veins. When the lung function was improved, an attempt was made to wean on ECMO at moderate ventilator settings followed by decannulation. Results: Five of the 7 patients were male and the mean age was $46.3{\pm}18.3$. The causes of acute respiratory failure were 3 cases of pneumonia, 2 near-drownings, 1 pulmonary hemorrhage due to acute hepatic failure and 1 mercury vapor poisoning. The mean support time of ECMO was $17.3{\pm}13.7$ days. Of the 7 patients implanted with ECMO, 5 patients (71%) were weaned off ECMO and 3 patients (43%) survived to hospital discharge after a mean 89.6 hospital days. Conclusion: The early use of ECMO for acute respiratory failure in adults due to any cause is a good therapeutic option for those unresponsive to the optimal conventional treatments.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.55-59
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• 2001

Purpose: Several studies of an endoscopic mucosal resection(EMR) have been reported, but reports about benign protruding lesions that arise at the scar of EMR for early gastric cancer (EGC) or a gastric adenoma are rare. The purpose of this study was to elucidate endoscopic and histological characteristics of benign protruding lesions which arise at the scar of an EMR for EGC and a gastric flat adenoma. Materials and Methods: In 101 lesions (73 gastric flat adenomas and 28 EGCs) from 96 patients, 16 lesions developed new protruding lesions that arose at the scar of the EMR. We retrospectively analyzed the endoscopic findings of initial and protruding lesions, and several other clinical factors (H. pylori infection, eradication therapy, and proton pump inhibitor (PPI) or H2-blocker use). Results: 1. The mean duration until detection of the protruding lesion was 8.9 months ($1.5\∼27$). Protruding lesions arose at the scar of the EMR in 1 of 28 EGCs ($3.6\%$) and from 15 of 73 gastric flat adenomas ($20.5\%$). All of the patients were men. 2. With respect to the endoscopic findings, the shapes of the protruding lesions were as follows: 10 Yamada (Y) I, 4 Y-II, 1 Y-III, and 1 flat lesion. Histological examination of the protruding lesions revealed regenerating hyperplasia in 5 lesions, intestinal metaplasia in 5, and both in 6. 3. The incidence of these lesions was higher in cases of tubular adenomas with focal high-grade dysplasia than in cases of tubular adenomas without dysplasia (p<0.05). 4. The incidence of H. pylori infection was higher in patients ($81.7\%$) who developed a protruding lesion than in those ($51.8\%$) who did not develop (p=0.029); also, the incidence of use of PPI was higher in those patients (p=0.045). However, eradication therapy for H. pylori and duration of use of PPI or H2-blocker showed no difference between groups. Conclusions: It may be possible that the potential hyperplasia that may reside in normal mucosa surrounding EGC or a gastric adenoma might awaken during the healing process of the EMR ulcer and develop to benign protruding lesions. And, H. pylori and PPI might also be related to the development of the protruding lesions.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2007

Recently, due to narrow margin on design factor of flue gas desulfurization (FGD) systems or aging of systems, some problems such as decrease of $SO_2$ removal efficiency and difficulty on coping with unstable state are arising on FGD systems. On this study, to cope with these problems several methods such as adjustment of reagent pH, inlet $SO_2$ concentration, variation of units of operation pump, installation of liquid distribution ring (LDR) were attempted to increase the $SO_2$ removal using spray type simulated FGD system. Also, sulfite and Al/Fx ion effects on limestone blinding were experimented. When three absorber recirculation pumps were operated, $SO_2$ removal was increased by 12% in comparison with that of two pumps operation. $SO_2$ removal was increased by 2~7% after installation of LDR. Dissolved oxygen increased up to 0.5 ppm and limestone binding effect was alleviated after injection of dibasic acid (DBA) with the concentration of 500 and 1,000 ppm. When $Al^{3+}$ and $F^-$ ions were coexisting, the dissolution rate of limestone was decreased by 20%.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.735-742
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• 2010

Biogenic amines are synthesized by microbial decarboxylation for the putrefaction or fermentation of foods containing protein. Although biogenic amines such as histamine, tyramine, and putrescine are required for many physiological functions in humans and animals, consumption of high amounts of biogenic amines can cause toxicological effects, including serious gastrointestinal, cutaneous, hemodynamic, and neurological symptoms. In this study, a novel amperometric biosensor wasdeveloped to detect biogenic amines. The biosensor consisted of a working electrode, a reference electrode, a counter electrode, an enzyme reactor with immobilized diamine oxidase, an injector, a peristaltic pump and a potentiostat. A working electrode was fabricated with a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) by coating functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT-$NH_2$) and by electrodepositing Prussian blue (PB) to enhance electrical conductivity. A sensor system with PB/MWCNT-$NH_2$/GCE showed linearity in the range of $0.5 {\mu}M{\sim}100 {\mu}M$ hydrogen peroxide with a detection limit of $0.5 {\mu}M$. The responses for tyramine, 2-phenylethylamine, and tryptamine were 95%, 75%, and 70% compared to that of histamine, respectively. These results imply that the biosensor system can be applied to the quantitative measurement of biogenic amines.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.896-904
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• 2023

The texturization characteristics of textured vegetable protein (TVP) were investigated based on the extent of soybean decoating during the pretreatment of defatted soybean flour used for TVP. The raw materials for TVP consisted of 50% defatted soybean flour, 30% gluten, and 20% corn starch. The weight ratios of soybean seed coat to soybean flour were 9%, 6%, 3%, and zero. Extrusion was performed using an extruder equipped with a cooling die, maintaining a barrel temperature of 190℃ and screw speed of 250 rpm, Water was injected at a rate of 9 rpm using a metering pump. Regarding the textures of the extruded TVPs produced from defatted soybean flour, an increase in the soybean seed coat content led to a decrease in the apparent fibrous structural layer and an increase in hardness. However, there were no significant changes in elasticity and cohesion. Moreover, as the soybean seed coat content increased, the pH of TVPs decreased. A higher soybean seed coat content also tended to lower the moisture content, increasing water absorption, solids elution, and turbidity. These results suggest that an increased seed coat content reduces the proportion of protein, and the fibers present in the seed coats prevent texturization.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.219-223
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• 1995

Rectal absorption of opeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor, from suppositories was studied in rabbits. The suppositories were prepared by the conventional melting method with two types of bases, water-soluble polyethylene glycol (PEG) 4000 and oil-soluble Witepsol H15 bases, and administered intractally (ir) to rabbits at a dose of 10 mg omeprazole/kg. The plasma omeprazole concentration-time profiles of the two suppositories were compared with those following intravenous 9iv) administration of the same dose. There were no significant differences between the two suppositories in bioabailabilities and peak plasma concentrations $(C_{max})$. Bioavaiabilities and $C_{max}$ of PEG- and Witpsol suppositories were 30.3 and 33.9%, and 7.0 and $5.6\mug/ml$, resepectively. However, PEG suppository showed significantly (p<0.05) shorter time to reach peak plasma concentration $(T_{max})$ mean absorption time (MAT) and mean residence time in the plasma (MRT) than Witepsol suppository. The $T_{max}$ MRT nad MAT were 25.0, 83.0 and 38.5 min for PEG syppository, but were 90.0, 122.5 and 78.0 min for Wiepsol supposiotory, respectively. These differences between thw two suppositories could be explanined by the difference in the in vitro dissolution rates between the suppositories. The dissolution of omeprazole form PEG suppository was reportedly much faster than that from Witepsol suppository. It suggests that plasma profiles of omeprazole, especially $C_{max}$ MAT and MRT, could be controlled by modifying the in vitro dissolution rate of the drug from the suppositories. Above results suggest that rectal suppository is worth developing as an alternative dosage form of omeprazole to the conventional oral preparations which need sophisticated treatments, such as enterix coating, to prevent acid degradation of the drug in the stomach fluid.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.24 no.12
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• pp.1775-1780
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• 2003

A continuous flow system has been developed to determine trace Cu(II), Mn(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II) in a large volume of water samples by a solvent sublation technique. The mixed solution of 1,10-phenanthroline(phen) and thiocyanate ion was used as ligands for the formation of their ternary complexes. The continuous system was constructed in this laboratory with a peristaltic pump, a mini shaker, three mixing bottles and a flotation cell by connecting each part with a polyethylene tube. The flotation conditions such as the flow rate of sample solution and the injection rates of ligand, buffer and surfactant solutions have been investigated to obtain the best sublation efficiencies. Each solution flowed into the flotation cell through each polyethylene tube by the peristaltic pumps. The ternary complexes were floated and extracted into MIBK in a flotation cell of 2 L by bubbling a nitrogen gas. The absorbances of extracted analytes in MIBK were directly measured by graphite furnace-AAS. The concentrations of 1,10-phenanthroline and thiocyanate ion were $2.6\;{\times}\;10^{-3}$ M and $2.3\;{\times}\;10^{-2}$ M in the mixed solution, respectively. The pH of sample solution was adjusted to 5.0 with a buffer solution and 1%(m/v) sodium lauryl sulphate solution was added as a surfactant to support the effective flotation of the complexes. The $N_2$ gas was bubbled at 30 mL/min for 90 minutes for 20 L of sample. Reproducible results of less than 10% RSD and recoveries of 80-120% could be obtained in real samples.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.169-175
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• 2006

Potentiometric biosensor using flow injection analysis system was developed to determine citrate concentration in foods. Biosensor system consisted of sample injector, peristaltic pump, enzyme reactor, carbonate ion selective solid-state electrode, reference electrode, detector, and recorder. Enzyme reactor was prepared with immobilized citrate lyase and oxaloacetate decarboxylase. Carbonate ions produced through enzyme reactions of citrate were potentiometrically detected by ion selective electrode. Optimum conditions for biosensor system were investigated. Interference effect of major sugars and organic acids was less than 5% on citrate biosensor system. Citrate concentrations in fruit juices were determined by biosensor and gas chromatography. No significant difference was observed between two analytical methods. Results indicate citrate biosensor is useful in determining citrate concentration in foods.