• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.209-216
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• 2013

Soybean polyunsaturated phosphatidylcholine (PC) is thought to exert anti-inflammatory activities and has potent effects in attenuating acute renal failure and liver dysfunction. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of PC in protecting multiple organ injury (MOI) from lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Six groups of rats (N=8) were used in this study. Three groups acted as controls and received only saline, hydrocortisone (HC, 6 mg/kg, i.v.) or PC (600 mg/kg, i.p.) without LPS (15 mg/kg, i.p.) injections. Other 3 groups, as the test groups, were administered saline, HC or PC in the presence of LPS. Six hours after the LPS injection, blood and organs (lung, liver and kidney) were collected from each group to measure inflammatory cytokines and perform histopathology and myeloperoxidase (MPO) assessment. Serum cytokines (TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6 and IL-10) and MPO activities were significantly increased, and significant histopathological changes in the organs were observed by LPS challenge. These findings were significantly attenuated by PC or HC. The treatment with PC or HC resulted in a significant attenuation on the increase in serum levels of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6, pro-inflammatory cytokines, while neither PC nor HC significantly attenuated serum levels of IL-10, anti-inflammatory cytokine. In the organs, the enhanced infiltration of neutrophils and expression of ED2 positive macrophage were attenuated by PC or HC. Inductions of MPO activity were also significantly attenuated by PC or HC. From the findings, we suggest that PC may be a functional material for its use as an anti-inflammatory agent.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.41-54
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• 1991

This paper aimed to analyse dose sensitivity to the controllable parameters of indoor radon $(^{222}Rn)$ and its decay products (Rn-D) by applying the input~output linear system theory. Physical behaviors of $^{222}Rn\;&\;Rn-D$ were analyzed in terms of $(^{222}Rn)$ gas -generation, -migation and -infiltration to indoor environments, and the performance output-function, i. e. mean dose equivalent to Tracho-Bronchial (TB) lung region, was assessed to the following extented ranges of the controllable paramenters; a) the ventilation rate $constant({\lambda}_v)\;:\;0{\sim}50[h^{-l}].\;b)$ the attachment rate $constant({\lambda}_a)\;:\;0{\sim}500[h^{-l}].\;c)$ the unattached-deposition rate constant (${\lambda}^u_d)\;:\;0-50[h-l]$. A linear input-output model was reconstructed from the original models in literatures, as follows, which was modified into the matrices consisting of 111 nodal equations; a) indoor $^{222}Rn\;&\;Rn-D$ Behaviour; Jacobi-Porstendoerfer-Bruno model.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.11-17
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• 2014

Objective : Portulaca oleracea (PO) has been used as an important traditional medicine for inflammatory and bacterial diseases in East Asia. However, the protective effects of PO on acute pancreatitis (AP) is not well-known. Therefore, this study was performed to identify the anti-inflammatory and prophylactic effects of PO on cerulein-induced AP. Methods : AP was induced in mice via intraperitoneal injection of supramaximal concentrations of the stable cholecystokinin analogue cerulein ($50{\mu}g/kg$) given every hour for 6 times. Water extracts of PO (100, 300, or 500 mg/kg) was administrated intra-peritoneally 1 h prior to the first injection of cerulein. The mice were killed at 6 h after the final cerulein injection. Pancreas and lung were rapidly removed for morphologic and histochemical examination, myeloperoxidase (MPO) assay. Blood samples were taken to determine serum amylase and lipase activities. Results : Administration of PO significantly inhibited pancreatic weight/body weight ratio, pancreas and lung histological injury. And MPO activity which indicates neutrophil infiltration was inhibited by PO extracts on cerulein-induced pancreatitis. In addition, PO administration inhibited digestive enzymes such as serum amylase and lipase activity on cerulein-induced pancreatitis. Conclusion : Our results could suggest that pre-treatment of PO reduces the severity of cerulein-induced AP, thereby, PO could be used as a protective agent against AP. Also, this study could give a clinical basis that PO could be a drug or agent to prevent AP.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.60-71
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• 2023

Cockroaches can cause allergic sensitization in humans via contact with their feces or frass. Antibiotics can affect concentration of major allergen and total bacteria production in German cockroaches (Blattella germanica). This study examined the ability of antibiotic-treated German cockroaches to induce allergic airway inflammation and the effect of antibiotics on their lipopolysaccharide and Bla g1, 2, and 5 expression levels. Specifically, we measured the ability of German cockroach extract (with or without prior antibiotic exposure) to induce allergic inflammation in human bronchial epithelial cells and a mouse model of asthma. Bacterial 16S rRNA and lipopolysaccharide levels were lower in ampicillin-treated cockroaches than in the control group. The Bla g1, Bla g2, and Bla g5 expression in ampicillin-treated cockroaches decreased at both the protein and RNA levels. In human bronchial epithelial cell lines BEAS-2B exposed to the ampicillin-treated extract, expression levels of interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 were lower than that in the control group. The total cell count and eosinophil count in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was also lower in mice exposed to the ampicillin-treated extract than in those exposed to normal cockroach extract. Mouse lung histopathology showed reduced immune cell infiltration and mucus production in the ampicillin group. Our results showed that ampicillin treatment reduced the symbiont bacterial population and major allergen levels in German cockroaches, leading to reduced airway inflammation in mice. These results can facilitate the preparation of protein extracts for immunotherapy or diagnostics applications.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.82 no.4
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• pp.994-999
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• 2021

Late recurrence over 10 years after surgery and endobronchial metastasis are some of the specific biological behaviors of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The current report describes a case of solitary endobronchial metastasis at a subsegmental bronchus that developed 20 years after curative nephrectomy for RCC. A 71-year-old male was admitted to our hospital for pneumonia. Chest radiography showed multifocal ill-defined nodular opacities in the right lower lung zone, suggesting pneumonia. Subsequent chest CT confirmed pneumonic infiltration in the right lung. However, a 4.3-cm, well-defined, elongated mass with a branching pattern was also identified in the right lower lobe, and a right nephrectomy scar was detected on the covered upper abdomen. The patient had undergone right nephrectomy 20 years ago due to clear cell RCC. After right lower lobectomy, the postoperative pathological diagnosis was endobronchial metastatic clear cell RCC. Endobronchial metastasis should be considered in a patient with a history of RCC who presents with a suspected endobronchial tumor, even decades after curative surgery.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.424-430
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• 2009

IL-10 is an important anti-inflammatory cytokine that can inhibit the production of many pro-inflammatory cytokines. Both human and animal studies have shown that pro-inflammatory cytokines play an important role in pneumonia and other inflammatory lung diseases. In the present study, IL-10 knockout(KO) and wild-type mice were infected with Corynebacterium kutscheri to determine whether the severity of pathogenesis and whether protective immunity could be altered in the absence of IL-10. The survival rate was significantly lower in IL-10 KO mice than wild-type mice. The number of neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and blood were found to be higher in IL-10 KO mice than wild-type mice. IL-10 KO mice showed greater neutrophil infiltration, excessive inflammation, and weight-loss compared with wild-type mice. Furthermore, upregulation of IFN-$\gamma$ in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and upregulation of MIP-$1{\alpha}$ and IP-10 mRNA in the lungs of IL-10 KO mice compared with wild-type mice after C. kutscheri infection were observed. These results suggest that IL-10 plays an important role in the anti-inflammatory properties against C. kutscheri infection, and that lack of IL-10 leads to a more severe pulmonary inflammatory response. This increased susceptibility to C. kutscheri pneumonia is at least in part caused by IL-10 deficiency and severe recruitment of neutrophils.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.303-311
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• 2016

Objectives: Allergic asthma generally presents with symptoms of wheezing, coughing, breathlessness, and airway inflammation. Seonpyejeongcheon-tang (SJT) consists of 12 herbs. It originated from Jeong-cheon-tang (JT), also known as Ding-chuan-tang, composed of 7 herbs, in She-sheng-zhong-miao-fang. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of local delivery of SJT via inhalable microparticles in an asthma mouse model. Methods: Microparticles containing SJT were produced by spray-drying with leucine as an excipient. SJT microparticles were evaluated with respect to their aerodynamic properties, in vitro cytotoxicity, in vivo toxicity, and therapeutic effects on ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma in comparison with orally-administered SJT. Results: SJT microparticles provided desirable aerodynamic properties (fine particle fraction of $48.9%{\pm}6.4%$ and mass median aerodynamic diameter of $3.7{\pm}0.3{\mu}m$). SJT microparticles did not show any cytotoxicity against RAW 264.7 macrophages at concentrations of 0.01 - 3 mg/mL. Inhaled SJT microparticles decreased the levels of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, IL-17A, eotaxin and OVA-IgE in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in mice with OVA-induced asthma. These effects were verified by histological evaluation of the levels of infiltration of inflammatory cells and collagen, destructions of alveoli and bronchioles, and hyperplasia of goblet cells in lung tissues. The effects of SJT microparticles in the asthma model were equivalent to those of orally-administered SJT extract. Conclusion: This study suggests that SJT is a promising agent for inhalation therapy for patients with asthma.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.43-61
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• 2010

Objectives : This study was performed to analyse single dose toxicity of Sweet Bee Venom(Sweet BV) extracted from the bee venom in Beagle dogs. Methods : All experiments were conducted under the regulations of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) at Biotoxtech Company, a non-clinical study authorized institution. Male and female Beagle dogs of 5-6 months old were chosen for the pilot study of single dose toxicity of Sweet BV which was administered at the level of 9.0 mg/kg body weight which is 1300 times higher than the clinical application dosage as the high dosage, followed by 3.0 and 1.0 mg/kg as midium and low dosage, respectively. Equal amount of excipient(normal saline) to the Sweet BV experiment groups was administered as the control group. Results : 1. No mortality was witnessed in all of the experiment groups. 2. Hyperemia and movement disorder were observed around the area of administration in all the experiment groups, and higher occurrence in the higher dosage treatment. 3. For weight measurement, Neither male nor female groups showed significant changes. 4. To verify abnormalities of organs and tissues, thigh muscle which treated with Sweet BV, brain, liver, lung, kidney, and spinal cords were removed and histologocal observation using H-E staining was conducted. In the histologocal observation of thigh muscle, cell infiltration, inflammation, degeneration, necrosis of muscle fiber, and fibrosis were found in both thigh tissue. And the changes depend on the dose of Sweet BV. But the other organs did not showed in any abnormality. 5. The maximum dose of Sweet BV in Beagle dogs were over 9 mg/kg in this study. Conclusions : The above findings of this study suggest that Sweet BV is a relatively safe treatment medium. Further studies on the toxicity of Sweet BV should be conducted to yield more concrete evidences.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.265-269
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• 2001

Presently talc is one of the agents most commonly used for producing a pleurodesis in patients with either a recurrent pleural effusion or a spontaneous pneumothorax. Talc can be instilled into the pleural space either as an aerosol (insufflation) or as a suspension (slurry) in saline. They are quite effective in producing a pleurodesis. However, they rarely have acute serious adverse effects including acute respiratory distress syndrome, and recently a discussion for using pleurodesis has been reported. We experienced a case of acute respiratory distressed syndrome after talc pleurodesis. A 64 year old man, who was diagnosed lung cancer with a malignant pleural effusion at the same side, was treated by pleurodesis using talc to control the effusion. After 3 days, he suffered fever, chill and breathlessness. The chest P A and CT revealed a bilateral infiltration in both lungs and the blood gas analysis confirmed hypoxemia, which required mechanical ventilation.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.298-302
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• 2014

An 8-year-old castrated male domestic shorthair cat (Case 1) and 3-year-old castrated male Siamese cat (Case 2) was presented with acute paresis of the hindlimbs, constant open-mouth breathing, and hemoptysis. Heart murmur (Case 1) and gallop sound (Case 2) was ausculated on the left heart base. Radiographs revealed alveolar infiltration of the caudodorsal lung lobes with aerophagea in Case 1 and prominent cardiomegaly in Case 2. Marked concentric hypertrophy of the ventricular septum and free wall, and left atrial enlargement was detected through echocardiography in both cats. Based on the examinations including echocardiography, those cats were diagnosed as hypertropic cardiomyopathy. Abdominal ultrasound revealed echogenic material in the aortic trifurcation region, aortic thromboembolism (ATE). Although prognosis of those animals was guarded, interventional therapeutic approach through direct endovascular thrombolytic therapy was attempted. ATE was visualized through angiography; however dissolving the embolus using interventional thrombolytic approach was not successful due to the extensive thrombus.