• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.100-109
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on the injury of putative parvalbumin positive interneurons defined by molecular marker and hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP), a marker of neural plasticity following acute carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Methods: Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to 1100 ppm CO for 40 minutes followed by 3000 ppm CO for 20 minutes. Animals received daily intraperitoneal injection of NAC (150 mg/kg) for 5 days after CO exposure. Changes in learning and spatial memory were evaluated by Y-maze test 5 days after the poisoning. In vivo LTP in hippocampal CA1 area was evaluated by using extracellular electrophysiological technique. Immunohistochemical staining were adopted to observe expressional damages of parvalbumin (PV) immunoreactive interneurons in the hippocampus following the poisoning. Results: Acute CO intoxication resulted in no changes in memory performance at Y-maze test but a significant reduction of LTP in the in hippocampal CA1 area. There was also a significant reduction of PV (+) interneurons in the hippocampal CA1 area 5 days after CO poisoning. Daily treatment of NAC significantly improved hippocampal LTP impairment and reduced immunoreactivity for PV in the hippocampus following the acute CO poisoning. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that reduction of hippocampal LTP and PV (+) interneurons in the hippocampus is sensitive indicator for brain injury and daily NAC injections can be the alternative therapeutics for the injury induced by acute CO poisoning.

• CELLMED
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.19.1-19.8
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• 2021

Background: Dysmenorrhea is the most common menstrual complaint in young women with a prevalence as high as 90% and is responsible for substantial repeated short-term absenteeism from school and work in young women. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of Commiphora myrrha and honey with mefenamic acid in primary dysmenorrhea. Materials and Methods: This prospective standard controlled trial was conducted at Luqman Unani Medical College Hospital and Research Center Vijayapura, India where 40 diagnosed patients of primary dysmenorrhea were randomly assigned to receive test drug (powdered Commiphora myrrha gum resin10g with 30g honey in two divided doses) or active control drug (mefenamic acid 250mg TID) for first 3days of menstruationfor two consecutive cycles. The primary outcome measure was reduction in severity of pain assessed by numerical pain rating scale (NPRS), and secondary outcome measures were improvement in quality of life (QOL) assessed by SF-36 and reduction in perceived stress score (PSS). Results: During first cycle treatment no significant difference was found in NPRS score (p=0.085) between the groups however significant difference in NPRS score (p<0.001) was seen during 2^nd treatment cycle. Significant reduction (p=0.022) in the perceived stress score was noted and overall quality of life was markedly improved after treatment in both the groups. Conclusion: These data suggest that Commiphora myrrha gum resin with honey is an effective herb in reducing symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea. These results need to be confirmed by a properly designed trial with a larger sample size. Trial registration: Clinical Trial Registry India CTRI/2017/09/009596.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.135-143
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to determine whether the methanol extract of Cassia mimosoides var. nomame Makino, a naturally growing plant in Korea, could prevent the renal-ischemia/reperfusion injury in a rat model or not. Methods : The radical scavenging activities of the extracts, and ascorbic acid as a positive control, were measured in vitro. At one hour after an intraperitoneal injection of the extract (400 mg/kg), renal ischemia/reperfusion injury was generated by 40 min clamping of the left renal artery in rats. After renal ischemia/reperfusion and 24 hr restoration of blood circulation, the serum creatinine concentration was measured. And the extent of epithelial cell injury and apoptosis was assessed by various staining technologies. The Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and activated caspase-3 were assessed by immunohistochemistry. Results : The extract showed a slightly lower level of radical scavenging activity than that of ascorbic acid. Compared to those of the vehicle-treated group, the extract-treated group displayed a significantly smaller tubular epithelial cell injury of 54% reduction in the outer medulla region and a lower serum creatinine concentration of 50% reduction. It seems that the reduction in cellular injury is due to the attenuation of the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and the inhibition of caspase-3 activation by the extract of Cassia mimosoides. Conclusions : Cassia mimosoides var. nomame Makino could be a good candidate for a prophylactic agent against the ischemia/reperfusion/induced kidney injury.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2023.05a
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• pp.170-170
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• 2023

Providing safe and readily available water is vital to maintain public health. One of the most prevalent methods to prevent the spread of waterborne diseases is applying chlorine injection to the treated water before distribution. During the water transmission and distribution, the chlorine will experience a reduction, which can imply potential risks for human health if it falls below the minimum threshold. The ability to determine the appropriate initial intensity of chlorine at the source would be significant to prevent such problems. This study proposes two methods that integrate hydraulic and water quality modeling to determine the suitable intensity of chlorine to be injected into the source water to maintain the minimum chlorine concentration (e.g., 0.2 mg/l) at each demand node. The water quality modeling employs the first-order decay to estimate the rate of chlorine reduction in the water. The first method utilizes a backtracking algorithm to trace the path of water from the demand node to the source during each time step, which helps to accurately determine the travel time through each pipe and node and facilitate the computation of time-dependent chlorine decay in the water delivery process. However, as a backtracking algorithm is computationally intensive, this study also explores an alternative approach using a water age. This approach estimates the elapsed time of water delivery from the source to the demand node and calculate the time-dependent reduction of chlorine in the water. Finally, this study compares the outcomes of two approaches and determines the suitable and effective method for calculating the chlorine intensity at the source to maintain the minimum chlorine level at demand nodes.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2005

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of ${\beta}-eudesmol$, one of various ingredients isolated and identified from the bark of Magnolia obovata Thunberg, on arterial blood pressure and vascular contractile responses in the normotensve rats and to establish its mechanism of action. ${\beta}-Eudesmol\;(30{\sim}300\;{\mu}g/kg)$ given into a femoral vein of the normotensive rat produced a dose-dependent depressor response. These ${\beta}-eudesmol-induced$ hypotensive responses were markedly inhibited in the presence of chlorisondamine (1.0 mg/kg, i.v.) or phentolamine (2.0 mg/kg, i.v.). Interestingly, the infusion of ${\beta}-eudesmol$ (1.0 mg/kg/30min) into a femoral vein made a significant reduction in pressor responses induced by intravenous norepinephrine. Furthermore, the phenylephrine $(10^{-5}\;M)-induced$ contractile responses were depressed in the presence of high concentrations of ${\beta}-eudesmol\;(10{\sim}40\;{\mu}g/ml)$, but not affected in low concentration of ${\beta}-eudesmol\;(2.5{\sim}5\;{\mu}g/ml)$. Also, high potassium $(5.6{\times}10^{-2}\;M)-induced$ contractile responses were greatly inhibited in the presence of ${\beta}-eudesmol\;(10{\sim}40\;{\mu}g/ml)$ in a dose-dependent fashion. Taken together, these results obtained from the present study demonstrate that intravenous ${\beta}-eudesmol$ causes a dose-dependent depressor action in the anesthetized rat at least partly through the blockade of vascular adrenergic ${\alpha}_1-receptors$, in addition to the some unknown mechanism of direct vasorelaxation.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.75-80
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• 2006

Changes in the levels of protein and free amino acids in the haemolymph of three selected races of the silkworm, Bombyx mori viz., PM, $NB_4D_2$ and $CSR_2$, were investigated during 4th moult, 5th instar and pupal period. The levels of total protein in the haemolymph, increased from first day of 5th instar till sixth day. From seventh day till spinning, the protein levels decreased in all the three races. A sustained decrease in the haemolymph proteins was observed during the pupal development in all the three races. The levels of free amino acids, which were high during 4th moult, declined through the 5th age of larval development till spinning. PM showed a relatively higher free amino acid level (3.192 mg/ml) in haemolymph followed by $NB_4D_2$ (2.601 mg/ml) and $CSR_2$ (2.35 mg/ml). The free amino acid levels decreased gradually from prepupal stage but increased again at the end of pupal period. Racial differences in the changes in the levels of protein and free amino acids in the haemolymph were observed in the larvae and pupae when subjected to two high temperature regimes of $30^{\circ}C$ and $35^{\circ}C$. The results showed that high temperature induces specific changes in the metabolism (reversible thermal stress) that have different adaptive value in different races of the silkworm. Relatively higher increase in the free amino acid levels in the haemolymph of Pure Mysore presumably provides protective cover to tissues against high temperature by an increase in osmolarity and reduction in evaporative water loss. The absence of such a mechanism may be responsible for temperature susceptibility of the bivoltine races like $NB_4D_2$ and $CSR_2$.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.475-482
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• 2015

This study was conducted to examine whether or not oligonol, a low molecular weight polyphenol derived from lychee fruit, has an ameliorative effect on diabetes-induced oxidative stress-related hepatic damage in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Oligonol (10 or 20 mg/kg body weight; O10 or O20, respectively) was orally administered every day for 10 days to STZ-induced diabetic rats, and its effects were compared to vehicle-treated diabetic (Veh) and non-diabetic rats. Administration of 20 mg/kg of oligonol significantly decreased liver weight compared with the Veh group (P<0.05). Elevated levels of hepatic glucose, reactive oxygen species, peroxynitrite, and lipid peroxidation were detected in diabetic vehicle rats, whereas oligonol treatment significantly attenuated these levels (P<0.05). In diabetic vehicle rats, hepatic antioxidant enzyme protein levels decreased, whereas oligonol treatment showed significant elevated results. For inflammation-related protein expression, oligonol-treated groups showed insignificant reduction. Oligonol improved expression of proapoptotic protein caspase-3 in the liver of diabetic rats (P<0.05). In conclusion, these results provide important evidence that oligonol exhibits an inhibitory effect on oxidative stress and apoptosis-related protein expression as well as a hepato-protective effect against the development of diabetic complications in STZ-induced type 1 diabetic rats.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.322-328
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• 2009

The advantage of simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) is to reduce requirement of oxygen as well as tank volume. The fludized media was used in the oxic (aerobic) tank of Membrane-BNR to enhance the efficiency of SND. Nowadays, the interest of applying membrane to the wastewater treatment plant has been increased, which is proved by a lot of research published about the MBR. The Membrane-BNR, consisted of total 5 reactors might be called the compact process by using the fludized media and having short HRT of 6.5 hr. It could attain the further removal of not only the organics but also nutrients such as T-N and T-P. The mode A and B were identified with or without the step feed of influent. The mode A was classified with 3 modes according to the different DO concentration in the fludized media aerobic reactor, and the mode B with step feed was operated with the optimum DO condition. The step-feed was capable of improving TN removal efficiency under the domestic wastewater with the low ratio C/N. On the other hand, the efficiency of SND with the 1.0~1.5 mg/L DO in the oxic media tank was better than the one with below 1.0 mg/L, on which the nitrification did not happen enough, and with above 3.5 mg/L, on which the reduction of anoxic area in the tank happened. It means that the profitable nitrification should be performed prior to the denitrification step. The removal efficiency of nitrogen by SND was about 20% among of total denitrified nitrogen. And some organic carbon consumed could be reduced by the endogeneous denitrification.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.138-142
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• 2000

Effects of ginsenosides (Rb$_1$, Rb$_2$, Rc, Re, Rg$_1$, Rf) on L-glutamate (glutamate)-induced swelling of cultured astrocytes from rat brain cerebral cortex were studied. Following the exposure to 0.5mM glutamate for 1 hr, the intracellular water space (as measured by [$^3$H]O-methyl-D-glucose uptake) of astrocytes increased by about two-fold. Simultaneous addition of ginsenosides Rb$_2$ and Rc with glutamate reduced the astrocytic swelling in a dose-dependent manner. These ginsenosides at 0.5 mg/ml did not affect the viability of astrocytes for up to 24 hr which was determined by a colorimetric assay (MTT assay) for cellular growth and survival. These ginsenosides at 0.3 mg/ml inhibited the increase of intracellular Ca$\^$2+/ concentration ([Ca$\^$2+/]$\_$i/) induced by glutamate. These data suggest ginsenosides Rb$_2$ and Rc prevent the cell swelling of astrocytes induced by glutamate, maybe via inhibition of Ca$\^$2+/ influx.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2010.06a
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• pp.83.2-83.2
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• 2010

최근, 원유 가격의 상승으로 인해 태양에너지에 대한 관심이 크게 증가되고 있다. 그러나 이러한 태양전지용 Si(SoG-Si)의 대부분을 차지하는 태양전지급 다결정 실리콘 원료를 대부분 수입에 의존하고 있는 실정이다. 이에 대한 기술적 대응으로서 최근에는 고비용의 기상법을 해결하기 위하여 야금학적인 정련법을 이용한 제조기술 개발이 세계적으로 주목받고 있으며, 야금학적 정련기술은 지적재산권에 관한 기술적 배타성을 제고 할 수 있을 뿐 만 아니라 기상법의 Si 대비 낮은 품위 에도 불구하고 태양전지용 실리콘의 사용가능성을 제시함으로서 활발한 연구와 함께 실용화기술로 대두되고 있다. 그러므로 본 연구는 기존 사용 중인 고가의 기상법 폴리실리콘 제조와 달리, 생산 가격경쟁력이 있는 규석광으로부터 고순도금속 및 태양전지급 폴리실리콘 생산 연속 종전기술을 개발하고자 하였다. 금속급 Si(이하 MG-Si)으로부터 경제적인 SoG-Si을 제조하기 위한 공정 개발을 일환으로 MG-Si 중 불순물인 P 원소를 효과적으로 정련할 수 있는 슬래그 정련기술 개발과 슬래그설계 기술개발을 기본목표로 설정하여 고찰하였다. 용융 Silicon과 슬래그계면에 설정되는 산소분압제어에 따른 슬래그의 P의 이온 안정성을 변화시킴으로서, MG-Si중 P를 분리제거를 기본개념으로 설정하였다. 염기성 산화물로 산소이온이 공급됨을 이용하여 염기도에 따른 분배비를 고찰한 결과, CaO의 활동도가 증가함에 따라 슬래그 중 $O^{2-}$의 활동도와 함께 phosphide 이온의 안정성이 증가함을 확인하였다. 그리고 슬래그로부터 실리콘 중 Ca의 용해도에 따른 분배비를 확인하기 위해 실험 후 Si에서 Ca의 성분을 분석한 결과, 실리콘 중 Ca 용해도는 염기도($a_{CaO}/\sqrt{a_{SiO_2}}$)의 증가와 함께 증가하였으며, Ca의 용해도 증가는 탈린능을 증가시킨다는 것을 알 수 있었다. 또한 수소분압을 변화시켜 인의 증기압변화 및 기화정련 효과를 알 수 있었으며, acid leaching을 통해 잔존해있는 불순물을 추가적으로 정련될 수 있는 가능성을 확인할 수 있었다.