• BMB Reports
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.180-188
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• 2007

In vivo studies have demonstrated that aldosterone is an independent contributor to glomerulosclerosis. In the present study, we have investigated whether aldosterone itself mediated glomerulosclerosis, as angiotensin II (Ang II) did, by inducing cultured renal mesangial cells to produce plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), and whether these effects were mediated by aldosterone-induced increase in transforming growth factor $\beta_1$ (TGF-$\beta_1$) expression and cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) activity. Quiescent rat mesangial cells were treated by aldosterone alone or by combination of aldosterone and spironolactone, Ang II, neutralizing antibody to TGF-$\beta_1$ or antioxidant Nacetylcysteme (NAC). This study indicate that aldosterone can increase PAI-1 mRNA and protein expression by cultured mesangial cells alone, which is independent of aldosterone-induced increases in TGF-$\beta_1$ expression and cellular ROS. The effects on PAI-1, TGF-$\beta_1$ and ROS generation were markedly attenuated by spironolactone, a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist, which demonstrate that mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) may play a role in mediating these effects of aldosterone.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.816-827
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• 1988

Since 1978, We have experienced 87 cases of Fontan operations and the candidates of that increased in numbers recently with the improvement of the diagnostic and operative technique. We studied the prerequisite factors and hemodynamics of 22 cases of Fontan operations, done during the last one year period, which were 3 tricuspid atresia, 16 functional single ventricle and 3 anatomic single ventricle. The mean age was 68 months and the mortality rate 24%, and 9 patients of under 4 years of age were operated with 22.2% mortality rate, but the youngest, 16 months of age, patient survived well without problems. The preoperative pulmonary artery pressure[PAP], pulmonary vascular resistance[PVR] and postoperative right atrial pressure[RAP], left atrial pressure[LAP] value influenced the mortality, but age, preoperative Hb, preoperative PaO2 and pulmonary artery index[PAI] did not. There were favorable survival tendency in under 15mmHg of preop. PAP, 2a of preop. PVR and under 25cmHyO of postop. RAP, under 15cmHyO of postop LAP. The younger, the more pleural effusion and the longer postoperative admission days. The higher preop. Hb related to the higher postop. transpulmonary pressure gradient and the lower preop. PaO2 and PAI. The higher preop. PaO2, the less pleural effusion and postop. admission days. Preop. PAP closely related to preop. PVR and postop. LAP and high PVR increased the pleural effusion and postop. admission days. The larger PAI, the larger CI. We concluded that there were so many factors influencing the postoperative condition, but preop. PAP, PVR, Hb, postop. RAP and LAP were the most ones.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.25 no.9
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• pp.492-496
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• 2015

Hydroxyapatite (HA), which is an important calcium phosphate mineral, has been applied in orthopedics, dentistry, and many other fields depending upon its morphology. HA can be synthesized with different morphologies through controlling the synthesis method and several parameters. Here, we synthesize various morphologies of HA using two simple methods: hydrothermal combustion and solution combustion. The phase purity of the synthesized HA is confirmed using X-ray diffractometry. It demonstrates that pure phased hydroxyapatite can be synthesized using both methods. The morphology of the synthesized powder is examined using scanning electron microscopy. The effects of pH and temperature on the final powder are also investigated. At $140^{\circ}C$, using the hydrothermal method, nano-micro HA rods with a hexagonal crystal structure can be synthesized, whereas using solution combustion method at $600^{\circ}C$, a dense cubic morphology can be synthesized, which exhibits monoclinic crystal structures.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.297-301
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• 2016

The effects of ambient temperature and diameter on the insulation lifetime of winding coils prepared with polyamideimide (PAI), flexural PAI (nanosilica 5 wt%) and anti-corona PAI (nanosilica 15 wt%) wires were investigated. The winding coils were made of enameled wire with enamel thickness of 30~50 μm. The thickness and width of the rectangular copper wires were 0.77~0.83 mm and 1.17~1.23 mm, respectively. The insulation breakdown lifetime decreased with increasing ambient temperature regardless of wire type and winding coil diameter under an inverter surge of 1.5 kV/20 kHz. The insulation breakdown lifetimes of φ5 mm winding coils at 150, 200, and 250℃ were 11.38, 5.19, and 4.22 min respectively, and those of φ10 mm winding coils at 150, 200, and 250℃ were 11.32, 5.79, and 4.57min respectively. The winding coil diameter had little effect on the insulation lifetime.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.75-82
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• 2005

This study were examined whether plasminogen activators (PAs) are produced by porcine fresh or frozen-thawed cumulus-oocytes complexes (COCs) and cumulus cell free-oocytes. In fresh or frozen-thawed COCs and oocytes for 0 hour cultured, no activity of PAs was detected. However, at 24 hours of culture urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) was detected in COCs and denuded oocytes. In the frozen-thawed COCs and cumulus cell free-oocytes cultured for 24 hours, no PAs were observed. After COCs were cultured for 48 hours, tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) and tPA-PAI were observed in COCs only. In the frozen-thawed COCs and cumulus cell free-oocytes cultured for 48 hours, no PAs were observed. These results suggest that uPA, tPA and tPA-PAI are produced by porcine COCs, but only uPA by oocytes during maturation for 24 hours. Only tPA, and tPA-PAI are produced by COCs cultured for 48 hours, and no PAs are produced by denuded-oocytes cultured for 48 hours. In all of the frozen-thawed groups, no PAs are observed by COCs and denuded-oocytes.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.209-214
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• 2002

Objective : To analyze the clinical characteristics of obese infertile women. Material and Method: Height, weight, body mass index, menstrual pattern, glucose, insulin, glucose/insulin ratio, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), testosterone, free testosterone and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) of 15 obese infertile women were tested. Results: Of 15 obese infertile women, the number of diabetes mellitus, hyperinsulinemia, and insulin resistance was 2 (13%), 2 (13%), 2 (13%), respectively. The incidence of increased DHEA-S, testosterone, and free testosterone was 7 (47%), 1 (7%), 6 (40%), respectively. Notably, all patients showed increased PAI-1. Conclusions: Obesity is associated with infertility as well as many kinds of health problems. Obesity is closely related to insulin resistance and it also causes hyperandrogenism. Increased PAI-1 is one of the important causes of thrombophilia. Consequently, in the workup of obese infertile patient, many aspects of health problems should be considered.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.448-453
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• 1997

Enzyme activities, production of killer toxin and some functionality of forty seven yeasts isolated from traditional Meju were investigated in culture broth and cell free extracts. Activities of $\alpha$-galactosidase, invertase and inulinase were detected in cell free extracts of 38 strains, 43 strains and 45 strains, respectively and acidic and neutral protease activities also were detected in culture broth of all the strains, $\beta$-Galactosidase activity was detected in cell free extracts of OE-20 and S-14 strains. Killer toxins were produced by OE-12, S-8 (Candida spp.), OE-19 (Zygosaccharomyces spp.) and S-3 (Saccharomyces spp.). Culture broth of OE-23 and S-9 showed 61.3% and 59.2% of antioxidant activity to $\alpha$, $\alpha$-diphenyl-$\beta$-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH), but nitrite-scavenging ability as well as inhibition of tyrosinase and polyphenol oxidase were not appeared in all the strains.

• The Journal of Natural Sciences
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 2005

We have developed an algorithm to determine the position from the image points in a lensmeter with 6-sided prism lens. The positions of the image points which are formed by six prisms depends on the decenter position of a test lens and can be calculated by skew ray tracing. The optical characteristics of the lens meter was analyzed using the Code V program and the positions of the image points was expressed as a function of the decenter position of the test lens. By minimizing the expectation error, we can determine the decenter position position of a test lens from the image positions.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.1383-1392
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• 2007

The purpose of this study is to provide suitable outdoor spaces for Korean elderly, examining characteristics and types of existing outdoor spaces and presenting design guideline of outdoor space for elderly. To do this, this study examined previous research papers and scholastic writings, related to elderly housing, and analyzed twelve cases of elderly housing complex. Additionally evaluation of usage pattern and physical trace carried out on twelve cases. As a result, first, the study showed that outdoor spaces for elderly were classified 5 types; entrance area of housing complex, building entrance area, outdoor living area, in & outdoor neutral area, and parking lots. Outdoor living area is subdivided into residents' public space, green space, health & sports space and landscape space. Characteristics of outdoor space are deeply related to safety, amenity, recognition and efficiency. Second, types of outdoor space in elderly facilities are very limited in verity, just facilitating with rest space, sport space, and garden space. Third, from a standpoint of barrier-free-design, twelve cases are not carefully concerning about outdoor space for elderly.

• BMB Reports
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• v.46 no.10
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• pp.484-489
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• 2013

Piperlonguminine (PL), an important component of Piper longum fruits, is known to exhibit anti-hyperlipidemic, antiplatelet and anti-melanogenic activities. Here, the anticoagulant activities of PL were examined by monitoring activated-partial-thromboplastin-time (aPTT), prothrombin-time (PT), and the activities of thrombin and activated factor X (FXa). The effects of PL on the expressions of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) and tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) were also tested in tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) activated HUVECs. The results showed that PL prolonged aPTT and PT significantly and inhibited the activities of thrombin and FXa. PL inhibited the generation of thrombin and FXa in HUVECs. In accordance with these anticoagulant activities, PL prolonged in vivo bleeding time and inhibited TNF-${\alpha}$ induced PAI-1 production. Furthermore, PAI-1/t-PA ratio was significantly decreased by PL. Collectively, our results suggest that PL possesses antithrombotic activities and that the current study could provide bases for the development of new anticoagulant agents.