• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.73-90
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• 2004

The Reg. Guide 1.109 model was reviewed against its applicability to calculating radionuclide concentrations in agricultural products for operating nuclear facilities and an improved method was proposed. The model was so modified that the radionuclides deposited since the start of operation could be considered in assessing the root uptake. Translocation factors were introduced in the equation for calculating the concentrations in edible parts due to direct plant deposition. Values specific to Korea were set up for the input parameters of the modified model. The concentrations of $^{54}Mn,\;^{60}Co,\;^{90}Sr\;and\;^{137}Cs$ in rice seeds, Chinese cabbage and radish root were calculated for various hypothetical deposition histories using the Reg. Guide 1.109 model and the modified model with parameter values in the guide and those specific to Korea put in alternately. Through comparisons among the results, it could be expected that the use of the modified model with the input of parameter values specific to Korea would result In a more resonable and realistic assessment.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.62 no.2
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• pp.105-112
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• 2007

Background: Oxidative stress may play an important role in the pathogenesis of endotoxin-induced acute lung injury (ALI). This study evaluated the therapeutic effect of ${\alpha}$-lipoic acid, a nonenzymatic antioxidant, in a rat model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced ALI. Materials and Methods: ALI was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by instilling LPS (E.coli, 3mg/Kg) into the trachea. The rats were classified into the control, control+${\alpha}$-lipoic acid, LPS, and LPS+${\alpha}$-lipoic acid groups.The lung lavage neutrophil count, cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC), lung myeloperoxidase (MPO), and cytokine concentrations (TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6 and IL-10) were measured at 2 h and 6 h after LPS administration. Results: The total cell and neutrophil counts of the LPS+${\alpha}$-lipoic acid groups were significantly lower than the LPS groups. The protein concentration in the BAL fluid was similar in the LPS groups and LPS+${\alpha}$-lipoic acid groups. The TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, and IL-6 concentrations in the BAL fluid were not decreased by the ${\alpha}$-lipoic acid treatment in the LPS treated rats. Conclusions: Although ${\alpha}$-lipoic acid decreased the level of LPS-induced neutrophil infiltration into the lung, it could not attenuate the LPS-induced ALI at the dose administered in this study.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.531-537
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• 2011

The effects of dietary supplementation of pacific saury on anti-hyperlipidemic activities were investigated using an animal test study in which normal rats were fed four different parts of saury, such as the whole body, meat, internal organs, or a mixture of head, caudal fin, and bone. Serum total lipid and triglyceride levels were significantly (p<0.05) reduced in rats fed saury meat at a dose of 200 mg/kg of body weight compared to hyperlipidemic control rats. There were also significant decreases in serum total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels in the rats fed saury meat at 200 mg/kg of body weight. In addition, the atheroscrelosis index and superoxide dismutase in blood lipids were significantly (p<0.05) lowered in rats fed saury meat at 200 mg/kg of body weight compared to the control rats. In conclusion, our results indicate that saury meat contains unknown physiologically active components as than compared to other parts of saury, and has potential for use in the prevention of hyperlipidemic arteriosclerosis.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.9-13
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• 2012

We previously reported that the extract of Taraxacum platycarpum (AF-343) had several biological properties such as skin hydration and anti-inflammatory effects, thereby AF-343 be a promising anti-atopic dermatitis agent. However, few studies have been conducted to evaluate its effect on modulation of extracellular matrix proteins in human skin fibroblasts. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expressions of type I collagen, MMP-1, Smad2/3, and TIMP-1 proteins in AF-343-treated human skin fibroblasts. Human skin fibroblasts were treated by various concentrations of AF-343 (0~2 mg/ml). The expressions of type I collagen, matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), Smad2/3, and TIMP-1 proteins were analyzed by Western blot analysis. In addition, level of type I collagen mRNA was analyzed by CAT assay. Expression of type I collagen protein was increased in AF-343-treated human skin fibroblasts by dose and time-dependent manners. Consistent with this result, the expressions of phospho-Smad2/3 in skin fibroblasts were increased and MMP-1 expression was decreased by AF-343 treatment. TIMP-1 expression was not significantly changed in AF-343 treated skin fibroblasts. Extract of Taraxacum platycarpum (AF-343)-induced up-regulation of type I collagen expression was through increased expression of phospho-Smad2/3. These results were occurred combined with down-regulation of MMP-1 in skin fibroblasts. Taken together, this study indicated that AF-343 has property of the modulation of ECM in tissue as well as skin hydration and anti-inflammation.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.525-533
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• 1997

Background : No ideal combination chemotherapy for lung cancer has been established even though lots of combination anticancer chemotherapies have been tried. For the combination of anticancer drugs, the interaction of anticancer drugs is very important but unpredictable factor. In this experiment, we designed and tested new experiment to measure the interaction of two anticancer drugs using MIT assay in an attempt to predict clinical response of the combination regimen. Methods : With human lung adenocarcinoma cell line (PC-14), the cytotoxic effect of cisplatin, adriamycin, mitomycin C and etoposide were measured by in vitro chemosensitivity test (MIT assay). The combined cytotoxic effects of combination of two drugs were also measured in every combination of the drug concentrations and analyzed the interaction by Anava analysis of two way factorial design. Results : Four individual drugs showed cytotoxic effects on PC-14 by dose dependent fashion. Comparison of two drug combinations revealed that mitomycin C + cisplatin and adriamycin + cisplatin combinations showed stronger synergistic cytotoxic effects. Conclusion : From this experiment, we suggest two combinations of mitomycin C + cisplatin and adriamycin + cisplatin as chemotherapeutic regimens for unresectable non-small cell lung cancer. Furthermore, this experimental design could be applied to other types of cancer requiring combination anticancer chemotherapy.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.46-61
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• 2009

Background and Objectives : Allergic Contact Dermatitis is the disease affected by industrialization. The more industrialization advanced, the more materials that could induce the allergic contact dermatitis have been increased. Therefore in oriental medicine, various studies have been performed. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of Naetakchunkeum-san on the Allergic Contact Dermatitis induced by 2,4-dinitro-chlorobezene(DNCB). Meterial and Methods : Twenty eight mice were divided into four groups ; normal, control, experimental group A and B. Control and experimental group were induced allergic contact dermatitis by DNCB. Experimental group A was orally administered the Naetakchunkeum-san and experimental group B was orally administered the prednisolone. In this study, ear thickness measurement, observation auricle microphotograph, Myeloperoxidase(MPO) activity measurement, Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) analysis of the mRNA level of $TNF-\alpha$, $IL-1\beta$, $INF-\gamma$ were performed on these four groups. In addition, the effect of Naetakchunkeum-san on cell viability and the effect of Naetakchunkeum-san on the compound 48/80-induced histamine release from HMC and RPMC were measured, Results : 1. In contact hypersensitivity assay, experimental group A and B showed decreased ear thickness compared with control group, 2. In experimental group A, pathological lesion of dermatitis were alleviated. In addition, the numbers of infiltrated cells were reduced, and cleft was not shown compared with control group, In experimental group B, similar results were shown. 3. There was a significant increase in MPO activity in control group compared with normal group, Experimental group A and B significantly inhibited the increase in MPO activity compared with control group. 4, The level of expression of $TNF-\alpha$, $IL-1\beta$, $INF-\gamma$ in experimental group A and B were significantly lower than those in control group. As the internal control, cyclophilin mRNA was also reverse-transcribed and amplified. 5, In MTT assay, there were no statistically significant differences in 100 ${\mu}g/ml$, 200 ${\mu}g/ml$, 500 ${\mu}g/ml$, 1000 ${\mu}g/ml$ Naetakchunkeum-san treated group from 0 ${\mu}g/ml$ Naetakchunkeum-san treated group as determined by the Tukey test. 6. Naetakchunkeum-san dose-dependently inhibited the compound 48/80-induced histamine release from both HMC and RPMC. Conclusions : According to above experiments, Naetakchunkeum-san may be applied to allergic contact dermatitis.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.176-190
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• 2011

There seems to be some controversy about the effect of total ginseng saponin (TGS) on the secretion of catecholamines (CA) from the adrenal gland. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine whether TGS can affect the CA release in the perfused model of the adrenal medulla isolated from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). TGS (15-150 ${\mu}g/mL$), perfused into an adrenal vein for 90 min, inhibited the CA secretory responses evoked by acetylcholine (ACh, 5.32 mM) and high $K^+$ (56 mM, a direct membrane depolarizer) in a dose- and time-dependent fashion. TGS (50 ${\mu}g/mL$) also time-dependently inhibited the CA secretion evoked by 1.1-dimethyl-4 -phenyl piperazinium iodide (DMPP; 100 ${\mu}M$, a selective neuronal nicotinic receptor agonist) and McN-A-343 (100 ${\mu}M$, a selective muscarinic M1 receptor agonist). TGS itself did not affect basal CA secretion (data not shown). Also, in the presence of TGS (50 ${\mu}g/mL$), the secretory responses of CA evoked by veratridine (a selective $Na^+$ channel activator (50 ${\mu}M$), Bay-K-8644 (an L-type dihydropyridine $Ca^{2+}$ channel activator, 10 ${\mu}M$), and cyclopiazonic acid (a cytoplasmic $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase inhibitor, 10 ${\mu}M$) were significantly reduced, respectively. Interestingly, in the simultaneous presence of TGS (50 ${\mu}g/mL$) and N${\omega}$-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride [an inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) synthase, 30 ${\mu}M$], the inhibitory responses of TGS on the CA secretion evoked by ACh, high $K^+$, DMPP, McN-A-343, Bay-K-8644, cyclopiazonic acid, and veratridine were considerably recovered to the extent of the corresponding control secretion compared with the inhibitory effect of TGS-treatment alone. Practically, the level of NO released from adrenal medulla after the treatment of TGS (150 ${\mu}g/mL$) was greatly elevated compared to the corresponding basal released level. Taken together, these results demonstrate that TGS inhibits the CA secretory responses evoked by stimulation of cholinergic (both muscarinic and nicotinic) receptors as well as by direct membrane-depolarization from the isolated perfused adrenal medulla of the SHRs. It seems that this inhibitory effect of TGS is mediated by inhibiting both the influx of $Ca^{2+}$ and Na+ into the adrenomedullary chromaffin cells and also by suppressing the release of $Ca^{2+}$ from the cytoplasmic calcium store, at least partly through the increased NO production due to the activation of nitric oxide synthase, which is relevant to neuronal nicotinic receptor blockade, without the enhancement effect on the CA release. Based on these effects, it is also thought that there are some species differences in the adrenomedullary CA secretion between the rabbit and SHR.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.87-94
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• 2013

An analytical methodology based on solid-space extraction (SPE) with with Bond Elut Certify cartridge (Varian, 130 mg) has been developed for the qualification and quantitation of strychnine in blood. After the elution layer was evaporated, the residue was reconstituted with methanol for GC/MS. Internal standard was used 10 mg/l dextromethorphan. Strychnine is a potent central nervous stimulant and convulsant, and an alkaloid found in seeds of Strychnos nux-vomica. It was used therapeutically to improve circulation and muscle tone in oral or intramuscular doses of 0.05~8 mg. The fatal dose of strychnine for humans is 50~100 mg. A man was found dead lying curled up the corner of the large room in a roof house after the fire fighter opened a locked door inside to put out the fire. The postmortem blood and gastric contents were analyzed for toxicological testing. Strychnine and brucine were detected using GC/MS first in gastric contents extracts. The contents of strychnine was 0.083 mg/l in heart blood, 0.088 mg/l in peripheral blood and 4.0 mg/kg in gastric contents, respectively. Method validation was carried out in terms of linearity, accuracy, precision (intraday, interday) in blood. The assay is linear over 0.05~10 mg/l ($r^2$=0.999). Limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) in blood were determined 0.02 mg/l (S/N=3) and 0.07 mg/l (S/N=10), respectively. Accuracy (bias%) of strychnine with 0.1, 1 and 10 mg/l was 12.0% (n=6), 9.3% (n=6) and 6.9% (n=6), respectively. Intraday precision (CV%) of strychnine with, 0.1, 1 and 10 mg/l were 6.4%, 10.4%, 1.2% (n=6), respectively. Interday precision (CV%) of strychnine with 0.1, 1 and 10 mg/l over three days were 24.0%, 18.5%, 13.8% (n=18), respectively. Relative recovery with 0.1, 1 and 10 mg/l (in blood) were 114.9%, 99.3% and 87.4% (n=6), respectively. The described method can be applied in forensic toxicology to determine strychnine in blood samples.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.271-278
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• 2008

Dialkylated phthalates have been commonly used as plasticizers and a variety of applications. Phthalate diesters have been shown to be developmental and reproductive toxicants. It is very difficult to exactly estimate the dose of dialkylated phthalates taken up by the general population because of environmental contamination. Urinary metabolites of phthalates enabled to estimate internal exposure. The objective of this study was quantitative determination of phthalate metabolites by LC/MS/MS with on-line cleanup method to analyze phthalate metabolites in Korean children's urine. We employed LC/MS/MS with on-line enrichment and column-switching techniques for this biological monitoring. Metabolites determined were 4 primary metabolites; MEHP, MnBP, MiBP, MEP and 2 secondary metabolites of DEHP; 5-OH-MEHP), 5-oxo-MEHP. We analyzed children's urine from 30 boys and 30 girls. The method detection limit of phthalate metabolites were 0.03 ng/mL for MEP, 1.05 ng/mL for MBP, 0.22 ng/mL for MEHP, 0.15 ng/mL for 5-OHMEHP and 0.16 ng/mL for 5-oxo-MEHP, respectively. Switching Column LC/MS/MS was proven to be a useful tool to determine metabolites of phthalate diesters in human urine. The correlation among phthalate metabolites was very high and statistically significant, except MEP. The children's age (months) was negatively correlated to the concentration of phthalate metabolites. The geometric mean concentration of phthalate metabolites (mg/g creatinine) in children's urine were 25.5 for MEP, 130.3 for MnBP, 56.8 for MiBP, 19.5 for MEHP, 85.6 for 5-OH-MEHP and 83.1 for 5-oxo-MEHP, respectively. Levels of estimated daily intake of parent phthalate compounds (${\mu}g$/kg bw/day) were 0.8 for DEP, 5.0 for DnBP, 1.9 for DiBP and $8.9{\sim}14.2$ for DEHP, respectively. Estimated daily intake for DEP and DiBP were lower than those of other studies but the value for DEHP was higher than that of other study.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.13-29
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• 1988

In order to elucidate the regulatory mechanism of intracellular calcium ion concentrations, contractions or contractures induced by $Na^{+}-removal$, calcium-application or ouabain-treatment as an index of $Na^+/Ca^{2+}$ exchange activity were studied in atrial muscle or vascular smooth muscle (aorta and renal artery) of the rabbit. The magnitude of low sodium contractures in atrial trabeculae increased with sigmoid shape when external sodium concentrations were reduced to sodium-free condition, whereas that of calcium contracture intensified in a parabolic pattern when external calcium concentrations were elevated to 8 mM. $Na^{+}-removal$ contractures were induced in a duration-dependent manner to $K^{+}-free$ exposure and same findings were observed with ouabain treatment. $Na^{+}-free$ contractures were not affected by verapamil treatment, but stimulated by $100{\mu}M\;Mn^{2+}$ and inhibited by high concentrations of $Mn^{2+}\;(2{\sim}8mM)$ in a dose-dependent manner. Ryanodine which is known to suppress the release of calcium from internal store abolished spontaneous twitch contractions induced by $K^{+}-free$ solution, but had no effect on the development $Na^{+}-free$ contractures. Na-free contractures were not always induced in vascular smooth muscle preparations. Contractures by $O\;mM\;Na^+$ were usually seen in aorta, but not often in renal artery.$50\;mM\;K^+$, noradrenaline (NA) and angiotensin II (AII) always evoked very large contraction in all preparations of vascular smooth muscle. Contractures developed by $O\;mM\;Na^+$ were not sensitive to verapamil treatment as in atrial trabeculae, but were abolished by $100{\mu}M\;Mn^{2+}$. In contrast to $Na^{+}-free$ contractures, $Mn^{2+}(100{\mu}M)$ had no effect on the contractures induced by NA or 50 mM$K^+$. Caffeine in the concentration of 10 mM evoked transient contracture in the distal renal artery. The rate of spontaneous relaxation in caffeine contracture was dependent upon the concentrations of external sodium, and had double component of relaxation when the rate of relaxation was plotted in the semilogarithmic scale of relative tension versus time. Especially late components of relaxation had more direct relation to $Na^+$ concentrations. It could be concluded that $Na^+/Ca^{2+}$ exchange mechanism in the heart has a large capacity, inhibited by $Mn^{2+}$ but not by verapamil and ryanodine, while $Na^+/Ca^{2+}$ exchange system in vascular smooth muscle has a very low capacity especially in small artery, inhibited by low concentration of $Mn^{2+}\;(100{\mu}M)$ but not affected by verapamil and ryanodine.