• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.86-113
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• 2018

Objectives: We examined the effects of a mixed formula consisting of dried pomegranate concentrate powder (PCP) and the aqueous extracts of Eucommiae cortex (EC) and Achyranthis radix (AR) in rats with surgically induced osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: Two weeks after OA-inducing surgery, a PCP:EC:AR 5:4:1 (g/g) combination or single formula was orally administered. Changes in body weight, knee thickness, maximum knee extension angle, bone mineral density of the knee joints, femoral and tibial articular surfaces, and compressive strength of the femoral and tibial articular cartilage (AC) were assessed, along with the prostaglandin E2 level, 5-lipoxygenase, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 activity, and chondrogenic gene mRNA expression in the femoral and tibial AC with the synovial membrane (SM). In addition, the number of cleaved poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, cyclooxygenase and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$-immunoreactive cells in the femoral and tibial AC with SM were monitored, and the rate of cell proliferation was determined with a 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine uptake assay. Results : The signs of surgically induced OA in rats were significantly inhibited by both PCP, EC and AR combined and single formulas. In particular, the combination formula-treated OA model rats showed dose-dependent, significantly increased inhibitory activity against all tested criteria compared with single formula-treated rats. Conclusions: Taken together, our results suggest that the combination formula synergistically increased the anti-OA effects of its components through anti-inflammatory and chondrogenic activity in rats with surgically induced OA. In addition, 200, 100 and 50 mg/kg combination formula treatments showed dose-dependent inhibitory activity against all of the tested criteria.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.1261-1274
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• 2020

The characteristics of ammonia-nitrogen (NH4+-N) adsorption by a zeolitic material synthesized from Jeju scoria using the fusion and hydrothermal method was studied. The synthetic zeolitic material (Z-SA) was identified as a Na-A zeolite by X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence analysis and scanning electron microscopy images. The adsorption of NH4+-N using Jeju scoria and different types of zeolite such as the Z-SA, natural zeolite, and commercial pure zeolite (Na-A zeolite, Z-CS) was compared. The equilibrium of NH4+-N adsorption was reached within 30 min for Z-SA and Z-CS, and after 60 min for Jeju scoria and natural zeolite. The adsorption capacity of NH4+-N increased with approaching to neutral when pH was in the range of 3-7, but decreased above 7. The removal efficiency of NH4+-N increased with increasing Z-SA dosage, however, its adsorption capacity decreased. For initial NH4+-N concentrations of 10-200 mg/L at pH 7, the adsorption rate of NH4+-N was well described by the pseudo second-order kinetic model than the pseudo first-order kinetic model. The adsorption isotherm was well fitted by the Langmuir model. The maximum uptake of NH4+-N obtained from the Langmuir model decreased in the order of Z-CS (46.8 mg/g) > Z-SA (31.3 mg/g) > natural zeolite (5.6 mg/g) > Jeju scoria (0.2 mg/g).

• Advances in nano research
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.77-90
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• 2021

In the present study, novel chitosan coated magnetic magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles were successfully biosynthesized from mushroom, Agaricus campestris, extract. The obtained bio-nanocomposite material was used to investigate ultra-fast and highly efficient for removal of Ni2+ ions in a fixed-bed column. Chitosan was treated as polyelectrolyte complex with Fe3O4 nanoparticles and a Fungal Bio-Nanocomposite Material (FBNM) was derived. The FBNM was characterized by using X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), Fourier Transform Infrared spectra (FTIR) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) techniques and under varied experimental conditions. The influence of some important operating conditions including pH, flow rate and initial Ni2+ concentration on the uptake of Ni2+ solution was also optimized using a synthetic water sample. A Central Composite Design (CCD) combined with Response Surface Modeling (RSM) was carried out to maximize Ni2+ removal using FBNM for adsorption process. A regression model was derived using CCD to predict the responses and analysis of variance (ANOVA) and lack of fit test was used to check model adequacy. It was observed that the quadratic model, which was controlled and proposed, was originated from experimental design data. The FBNM maximum adsorption capacity was determined as 59.8 mg g-1. Finally, developed method was applied to soft drinks to determine Ni2+ levels. Reusability of FBNM was tested, and the adsorption and desorption capacities were not affected after eight cycles. The paper suggests that the FBNM is a promising recyclable nanoadsorbent for the removal of Ni2+ from various soft drinks.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.829-837
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• 2020

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of the maximum standardized uptake value (SUV_max) measured while restaging with F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (¹⁸F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) to predict the 3-year post-recurrence survival (PRS) in patients with recurrent gastric cancer after curative surgical resection. Materials and Methods: In total, 47 patients with recurrent gastric cancer after curative resection who underwent restaging with ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT were included. For the semiquantitative analysis, SUV_max was measured over the visually discernable ¹⁸F-FDG-avid recurrent lesions. Cox proportional-hazards regression models were used to predict the 3-year PRS. Differences in 3-year PRS were assessed with the Kaplan-Meier analysis. Results: Thirty-nine of the 47 patients (83%) expired within 3 years after recurrence in the median follow-up period of 30.3 months. In the multivariate analysis, SUV_max (p = 0.012), weight loss (p = 0.025), and neutrophil count (p = 0.006) were significant prognostic factors for 3-year PRS. The Kaplan-Meier curves demonstrated significantly poor 3-year PRS in patients with SUV_max > 5.1 than in those with SUV_max ≤ 5.1 (3-year PRS rate, 3.5% vs. 38.9%, p < 0.001). Conclusion: High SUV_max on restaging with ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT is a poor prognostic factor for 3-year PRS. It may strengthen the role of ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT in further stratifying the prognosis of recurrent gastric cancer.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.57 no.5
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• pp.440-446
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• 2024

Background: Patients with early-stage lung tumors that are highly suspicious for malignancy typically undergo a preoperative diagnostic workup, primarily through bronchoscopy or transthoracic biopsy. Those without a preoperative diagnosis may alternatively be treated with upfront surgery, contingent upon the potential for intraoperative diagnosis. Previous studies have yielded conflicting results regarding the impact of upfront surgery on the survival of these patients. Our study aimed to elucidate the effect of upfront surgery on the survival outcomes of patients undergoing surgery for early-stage lung cancer without a preoperative diagnosis. Methods: We analyzed the survival rate of 158 consecutive patients who underwent pulmonary resection for stage I lung cancer, either with or without a preoperative diagnosis. Results: A total of 86 patients (54%) underwent upfront surgery. This approach positively impacted both disease-free survival (p=0.031) and overall survival (p=0.017). However, no significant differences were observed across subgroups based on sex, smoking status, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, histologic tumor size, or histologic subtype. Univariate analysis identified upfront surgery (p=0.020), age (p=0.002), maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) exceeding 7 (p=0.001), and histological tumor size greater than 20 mm (p=0.009) as independent predictors. However, multivariate analysis indicated that only SUVmax greater than 7 (p=0.011) was a significant predictor of unfavorable survival. Conclusion: Upfront surgery does not appear to confer a survival advantage in patients with stage I lung cancer undergoing surgical intervention.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.371-376
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• 2003

To develop an efficient cultivation system to increase the productivity and the high quality of Chrysanthemum boreale M., the effects of pig manure (PM) application on the yield and the effective component were investigated in the pot scale (1/2000a scale). PM applied at the equivalent of six rates (with rate of 0, 2000, 4000, 6000, 8000, and 12000 kg $10a^{-1}$). Maximum plant biomass yield was achieved at 9510 kg $10a^{-1}$ and at 9940 kg $10a^{-1}$ for flower biomass. Nitrogen recovery efficiency was more than 42% for all nitrogen treatments and reached 66.6% at 4000 kg $10a^{-1}$. Proline $(7.4{\sim}9.2\;g\;kg^{-1})$ was the most abundant amino acid in the flower of C. boreale M. and the contents of amino acids increased with increasing PM application rate. Contents of cumambrin A. a sesquiterpene compound known to reduce blood-pressure, decreased with increasing PM application. The highly negative correlation was found ($R^2$ = -0.723, P<0.01) between content of cumambrin A and PM application. However, the amount of cumambrin A in flowers increased as PM rate increased, because of increasing flower yield. In conclusion, PM fertilization increases yields and enhances overall quality.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.303-309
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• 2017

This study investigated the potential use of steel slag (SS) (0.5~2.0 g/200 mL) for the removal of phosphate from wastewater compared with activated carbon (AC) (3.0~6.0 g/200 mL). The adsorption equilibrium data were best represented by Langmuir isotherm and its calculated maximum adsorption capacity was 91 mg/g for SS, 27 mg/g for AC. The adsorption kinetics was found to follow the pseudo-second order kinetics model and its rate constant was $0.0232{\sim}0.1357g/mg{\cdot}min$ for SS, $0.0247{\sim}0.1221g/mg{\cdot}min$ for AC. The overall uptake for the SS and AC was maximum at pH 2. Therefore, it can be concluded that steel slag could play an effective role in reducing phosphate concentration compared with activated carbon.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.14-20
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• 1996

Growth, nutrient uptake and photosynthesis as affected by submersion of shoot in pickerel weed (Monochoria vaginalis Presl.) were determined. The shoots of pickerel weeds in hydroponic culture were subjected to the submerged or emerged condition at 3- or 5-leaf stage for 8 or 10 days. Under submerged condition, growth in plant height was enhanced, but leaf number, leaf area, fresh and dry weight were reduced compared to those under the emerged condition. Similar responses in growth to submergence were obtained with the pickerel weeds rooted in the soil. Under submergence, chlorophyll content increased during the first 2 days, but thereafter remarkably decreased at 3-leaf stage and after the first 4 days at 5-leaf stage. Compared to the emerged condition, uptakes of $NH_4\;^+$-N, $NO_3\;^-$-N, $P_2O_5$ and $K^+$ were reduced, but uptakes of $Ca^{++}$ and $Mg^{++}$ increased under the submerged condition. Photosynthetic rate of shoot under water, measured by $CO_2$electrode, showed the maximum by 210 ${\mu}$moles $HCO_3\;^-$/g F.W. at the 8th day after submergence(DAS) at 3-leaf stage and 320 ${\mu}$moles $HCO_3\;^-$/g F. W. at 6 DAS at 5-leaf stage. These results indicate that pickerel weeds grow much better when the shoot is air-exposed and are less tolerable to submergence at 3 leaf-stage than at 5-leaf stage.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.208-214
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• 1985

An attempt to evaluate yield response and efficiency of N fertilizer was made with the data obtained from various rice cultivars during 1978 to 1983. 1. The optimum rate of N fertilizer for maximum yield varied from 13.9 to 28.0 kg/10a with rice varieties. 2. The cultivars with high optimum N levels were high in N content (straw) and N uptake (straw+grain) at harvesting stage, but low in production efficiency and use efficiency of N. 3. The yield increment at the optimum rates of N in comparison with no N application among the rice varieties were 29-101%. 4. The cultivars with hish yield increment at optimum rate were high in the N content (straw+grain), and production efficiency at harvesting stage.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.56-63
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• 1983

On a newly reclaimed soil, an experiment was carried out for the elucidation of proper rate of phosphorus fertilizer and application method to increase soybean yield in Honam area. 1. The yield was high in whole layer placement of phosphorus fertilizer and low in deep placement. 2. Broadcasting with 15% of phosphate fixation coefficent and whole layer and deep placement of fertilizer with 10% of phosphate fixation coefficent showed maximum yield. 3. Large application of phosphate increased stem diameter and number of blanches and podes. 4. Application of phosphorus fertilizer increased phosphate content in soil from 9 ppm to 48-223 ppm and contents of bases 5. Significant positive correlation was obtained between soybean yield and phosphorus uptake amount.