• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.171-183
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• 2007

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of Erythrinae Cortex herbal-acupuncture solution(EC-HAS) at the Joksamni($ST_{36}$) of mice with collagen II-induced arthritis(CIA). Methods : The author performed several experimental procedures to observe the effects of the EC-HAS at the arthritis. The severity of arthritis, changes of cytokine level and antibody level, histological changes of the CIA mouse joint were analyzed. Results : 1. The incidence of arthritis and arthritis index were significantly decreased in the cases which were treated with the EC-HA. 2. Cartilage destruction and synovial cell proliferation were reduced, and the expression of the collagen fibers was similar with that of the normal group. 3. The levels of IL-6, $IFN-{\gamma}$, $TNF-{\alpha}$, $IL-1{\beta}$ in serum of the CIA mice which were treated with the EC-HA were significantly decreased compared with those of the normal group. 4. The levels of IgG, IgM and anti-collagen II in serum of CIA mice when they treated with the EC-HA were significantly decreased compared with those of the normal group. 5. The expression ratio of $CD4^+$ to $CD8^+$ cells in the EC-HA treated mice were maintained as much as the normal group of the lymph nodes in the CIA mice. 6. The $CD3e^+CD69^+$ and $CD11b^+Gr-1^+$ cell populations in the knee joint were significantly decreased in the EC-HA treated group. Conclusions : These results suggest that the EC-HA at the ST36 may be responsible roles to control on the synovial cell proliferation and to prevent the cartilage destruction in rheumatoid arthritis. These results will be important supporting evidence for the practical use of the EC-HA at rheumatoid arthritis clinic in the future.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6585-6590
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• 2013

Background: Although FOLFOX (infusional fluorouracil/leucovorin plus oxaliplatin) is established as a standard chemotherapeutic regimen, the long term efficacy of adjuvant XELOX (oral capecitabine plus intravenous oxaliplatin) in Asian colorectal cancer (CRC) patients remains anecdotal. Moreover, uncertainties persist as to whether pharmacogenetic differences in Asian populations preclude equally tolerable and effective administration of these drugs. Method: One hundred consecutive patients with resected colorectal cancer received adjuvant XELOX (oxaliplatin 130 $mg/m^2$ on day 1 plus capecitabine 900 $mg/m^2$ twice daily on day 1 to 14 every 3 weeks for 8 cycles) at Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong. Endpoints monitored during follow-up were disease-free survival (DFS) and disease recurrence, overall survival (OS) and adverse events (AEs). Results: The median patient age was 56 years, 56% were diagnosed with rectal cancer and 44% with colonic cancer. After a median follow-up of 4.3 years (95% confidence interval, 3.2-4.7), 24 recurrences were confirmed including 13 patients who died due to progressive disease. Four-year DFS was 81% in colon cancer patients and 67% in rectal cancer patients (p=0.06 by log-rank test). For the cohort as a whole, OS was 90% at 3 years and 84% at 5 years. Treatment-related AEs led to early withdrawal in four patients. The commonest non-hematological AEs were neuropathy (91%), hand-foot syndrome (49%) and diarrhea (46%), while the commonest grade 3/4 AEs were neutropenia (11%) and diarrhea (10%). Conclusion: These results confirm the favourable long term survival benefit with good tolerability in using adjuvant XELOX in treating East Asian colorectal cancer patients.

• Plant Biotechnology Reports
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.149-155
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• 2010

Expression of the genes for carotenoid bio-synthesis (crt) is dependent on light, but little is known about the underlying mechanism of light sensing and signalling in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 (hereafter, Synechocystis). In the present study, we investigated the light-induced increase in the transcript levels of Synechocystis crt genes, including phytoene synthase (crtB), phytoene desaturase (crtP), ${\zeta}$-carotene desaturase (crtQ), and ${\beta}$-carotene hydroxylase (crtR), during a darkto-light transition period. During the dark-to-light shift, the increase in the crt transcript levels was not affected by mutations in cyanobacterial photoreceptors, such as phytochromes (cph1, cph2 and cph3) and a cryptochrome-type photoreceptor (ccry), or respiratory electron transport components NDH and Cyd/CtaI. However, treatment with photosynthetic electron transport inhibitors significantly diminished the accumulation of crt gene transcripts. Therefore, the light induction of the Synechocystis crt gene expression is most likely mediated by photosynthetic electron transport rather than by cyanobacterial photoreceptors during the dark-to-light transition.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.10 no.4 s.50
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• pp.67-76
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• 2006

In this paper the moment transfer efficiency of a web and the strain concentration at the RHS (Rectangular Hollow Section) column-to-steel beam connections was evaluated. Initially, non-linear finite element analysis of five bare steel beam models was conducted. The models were designed to have different detail at their beam-to-column connection, so that the flexural moment capacity was different respectively. Analysis results showed that the moment transfer efficiency of the analytical model with RHS-column was poor when comparing to model with WF(Wide Flnage)-column due to out-of-plane deformation of the RHS-column flange. The presence of scallop and thin plate of RHS column was also a reason of the decrease of moment transfer efficiency, which would result in a potential fracture of the steel beam-to-column connections. Analytical results were compared with the previous experimental results. The analytical and the previous experimental results showed that the strain concentration was inversely proportional to the moment transfer efficiency of a beam web and the deformation capacity of connection was poor as their moment transfer efficiency degrades. Further finite element analyses of composite beam with a floor slab revealed that the neutral axis moved toward the top flange and the moment transfer efficiency of a beam web decreased, which led to premature failure of the connection.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.266-276
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• 1996

Numerous factors are known to affect the accuracy of elastomeric impression materials. Factor often overlooked is the quality of the bond between putty and wash during corrective reline impression technique. The putty-wash bond strength must be strong enough to over-come the local stress at putty-wash interface. It is not always possible to avoid saliva contamination in making corrective wash impres-sion. And putty preliminary impression material con be used as a template for provisional restoration. Human saliva and the residual monomer of autopolymerizing acrylic resin are thought to affect the bond strength and the failure type. This study examined the effect of contaminants like human saliva, and residual resin monomer on the putty-wash bond strength and the effectiveness of treatment. 1. Of the tested three brands of Vinyl Polysiloxane impession meterial, Express Exhibited the greatest bond strength followed by Eamix and Perfect showed the lowest putty-wah bond strength. 2. Coating the putty substrates with human saliva did not produce decreased failure load in all the breands of Vinyl Polysiloxane impression meterail. 3. Of the three brands of VPS impression material that were exposed to methhylmethacry-late resin(Jet), only the putty-wash bond strength of the Perfect group diminished signifi-cantly. Moreover, all the specimens from group C of Perfect exhibited adhesive failure. 4. Exposing the substrates to ethylmethacrylate resin(SNAP. diminished the putty-wash bond strength significantly. With Perfect and Examix, failure occurred cohesively through the light-body, whereas with Express, failure occurred adhesive-cohesively. 5. Removing approximately 1mm thickness of the contaminated putty interface was the most effective treatment in countering the undesirable effect caused by residual resin monomer. The putty-wash bond strength of the groups that were treated with 1mm even putty reduction was not significantly different from those of control groups. With Perfect and Examix, cleaning the specimens with gauze soaked in 70% isopropyl alcohol increased the putty-wash bond strength, but was not as effective as 1mm even reduction of contaminated putty substrates. With Express, 70% isoproryl alcohol treatment exhibi0ted comparable putty-wash bond strength to that of control group.