• Toxicological Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.45-49
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• 2008

Formaldehyde has been identified as the most prevalent cause of sick building syndrome (SBS), which has become a major social problem, especially in developing urban areas. However, studies on the molecular mechanisms associated with formaldehyde toxicity have been limited, probably because it is difficult to relate the experimental results obtained from in vitro studies to human exposure in vivo. Using polymerase chain reaction-based suppression subtractive hybridization, we recently identified 27 different formaldehyde-inducible genes including platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha gene (PDGFRA) and mouse double minute 2 (MDM2) gene which were increased significantly in both formaldehyde-exposed human trachea cells, 680.Tr, and rat tracheas. To establish a possible relationship between induction of these formaldehyde-inducible genes and symptoms of SBS, we examined expression levels of these genes in peripheral lymphocytes of residents of new apartments. Here, we report that the expression of PDGFRA and MDM2 transcripts was significantly higher in peripheral blood lymphocytes obtained from 15 residents in new buildings than in seven control individuals. Our results suggest that the elevated levels of PDGFRA and MDM2 may be associated with the formaldehyde-induced pathophysiology that is closely related with SBS, and that they deserve evaluation as potential biomarkers for formaldehyde intoxication.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.135-145
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• 2008

The study was aimed at evaluating the antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities of ethanolic extract and its fractions of Cleome rutidosperma. The antioxidant activity, reducing power, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, superoxide anion scavenging activity, nitric oxide anion scavenging activity, in vitro antilipid peroxidation activity and in vitro non-enzymatic hemoglobin glycosylation were studied. The results obtained in the study indicate that Cleome rutidosperma is a potential source of natural antioxidant. All the parameters were found to be concentration dependent and increased with increasing amounts of sample. Flavonoids, phenolic compound like tannins, terpenoids may be responsible for the antioxidant activity of the plant. Variation of solubility parameters in various models may be attributed to non-linearity of activity of ethanol extract fractions models. Further investigation on the isolation and identification of antioxidant component(s) in the plant may lead to chemical entities with potential for clinical use.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.43-49
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• 2009

Aspirin or acetylsalicylic acid, a member of the salicylate family, is frequently used as an analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and antiplatelet drug. Because aspirin is chemically unstable in water and heat for tablet formulation, additives including lubricants are used in preparing aspirin tablets, using a dry-granulation process. Aspirin tablets are produced by a number of manufacturers which usually use their own unique combination of additives during the manufacturing process. In this study, we employed an NMR based metabolomics technique to identify the manufacturers of various aspirin tablets. Aspirin tablets from six different companies were analyzed by 1H 400 MHz NMR. The acquired data was then integrated and processed by principal component analysis (PCA). Based on the NMR data, we were able to identify peaks corresponding to acetylsalicylic acid in all of the six samples, whereas different NMR patterns were found in the aromatic and aliphatic regions depending on the unique additive used. These observations led to the conclusion that the differences in the NMR patterns among the different aspirin tablets were due to the presence of additives.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.61 no.3
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• pp.18.1-18.4
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• 2021

The small intestines of two rallid aquatic birds (Fulica atra Linnaeus, 1758 and Gallinula chloropus (Linnaeus, 1758) from Bahr Al-Najaf depression, southwest of Al-Najaf city, mid-Iraq), were infected with the nematode Amidostomum acutum Seurat, 1918 with a prevalence of 25% and 50%, respectively, and a mean intensity of 24.5 and 30, respectively. The infected birds showed several gross pathological and microscopic lesions in their small intestines due to the infection with this nematode. The gross lesions included hypertrophy in the anterior part of the duodenum and small rough nodules on the small intestine wall. Microscopic lesions included necrosis and shortening of villi with their fullness with inflammatory cells, degeneration of villi, and an increased number of acini at the base of the intestinal villi.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.227-230
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• 1989

The lowest excited state of styrylquinoxaline (StQx) has been studied by the SCF-MO-CI P-P-P and MM2 method. Results suggest that the lowest excited state is of a ${\pi},{\pi}^{\ast}(S_1$) nature with the n,${\pi}^{\ast}(S_2)$ state lying slightly above it. On the basis of these calculations the observed electronic spectra are discussed. The calculated absorption spectra are qualitatively similar to experimental ones with their characteristic visible bands. MM2 force field calculation suggested that the postulated conformers are different from each other in energy and planarity and are seperated by a barrier of about 4 Kcal/mole.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.430.1-430.1
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• 2002

The research was designed to identify the overall environment that the Korean pharmacists face in providing counselling to their patients. A nation-wide survey was conducted for both community pharmacists and hospital pharmacists. The results were used to highlight the environmental factors needed for better patient counselling. School curriculums in pharmacy school in Korea and the US were compared to identify future tasks in building more effective professional pharmacy education in Korea. Regulations in the US and Japan were also researched for this purpose. (omitted)

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.51-58
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• 2017

Background: Recently symptoms-based screening questionnaires have gained attention for screening for a neuropathic pain component (NePC) in various chronic pain conditions. The present study assessed the usefulness of four commonly used NePC screening questionnaires including the Self-completed douleur neuropathique 4 (S-DN4), the ID Pain, the painDETECT questionnaire (PDQ), and the Self-completed Leeds Assessment of neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (S-LANSS) questionnaire in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) to assess the presence of NePC. Methods: This is a single-center cross-sectional study where patients with CLBP, with or without leg pain, were included. Participants were initially screened for NePC presence by a physician according to the regular practice, and later assessed using screening questionnaires. The diagnostic accuracy of these questionnaires was compared assuming the physician-made diagnosis as the gold standard. Results: A total of 215 patients with CLBP of which 164 (76.3%, 95% CI, 70.2-81.5) had a NePC were included. S-DN4, ID Pain, and PDQ have an area under the curve (AUC) > 0.8 indicating excellent discrimination. However, S-LANSS has an AUC of 0.69 (0.62-0.75), indicating low discrimination. S-DN4 has a significantly higher AUC as compared to ID Pain (d(AUC) = 0.063, P < 0.01) and S-LANSS (d(AUC) = 0.197, P < 0.01). But the AUC of S-DN4 does not significantly differ from that of PDQ (d(AUC) = 0.013, P = 0.62). Conclusions: S-DN4, ID Pain, and PDQ, but not S-LANSS, have good discriminant validity to screen for NePCs in patients with CLBP. Despite using all the tests, 20-30% of patients with an NePC were missed. Thus, these questionnaires can only be used as an initial clue in screening for NePCs, but do not replace clinical judgment.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.197-206
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• 2017

Background: Pain with neuropathic characteristics is generally more severe and associated with a lower quality of life compared to nociceptive pain (NcP). Short form of the Douleur Neuropathique en 4 Questions (S-DN4) is one of the most used and reliable screening questionnaires and is reported to have good diagnostic properties. This study was aimed to cross-culturally validate the Hindi version of the S-DN4 in patients with various chronic pain conditions. Methods: The S-DN4 is already translated into the Hindi language by Mapi Research Trust. This study assessed the psychometric properties of the Hindi version of the S-DN4 including internal consistency and test-retest reliability after 3 days' post-baseline assessment. Diagnostic performance was also assessed. Results: One hundred sixty patients with chronic pain, 80 each in the neuropathic pain (NeP) present and NeP absent groups, were recruited. Patients with NeP present reported significantly higher S-DN4 scores in comparison to patients in the NeP absent group (mean (SD), 4.7 (1.7) vs. 1.8 (1.6), P < 0.01). The S-DN4 was found to have an AUC of 0.88 with adequate internal consistency (Cronbach's ${\alpha}=0.80$) and a test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.92) with an optimal cut-off value of 3 (Youden's index = 0.66, sensitivity and specificity of 88.7% and 77.5%). The diagnostic concordance rate between clinician diagnosis and the S-DN4 questionnaire was 83.1% (kappa = 0.66). Conclusions: Overall, the Hindi version of the S-DN4 has good internal consistency and test-retest reliability along with good diagnostic accuracy.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.1080-1085
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• 2006

A series of 8-alkoxy-4,5-dihydro-[1,2,4]triazole[4,3-a]quinoline-1-one derivatives were synthesized using 7-hydroxy-3,4-dihydro-2(1H)-quinolone as the starting material. Their anticonvulsant activities were evaluated by the maximal electroshock test (MES) and the subcutaneous pentylenetetrazole test (sc-PTZ), and their neurotoxicities were measured by the rotarod neurotoxicity test (Tox). The tests demonstrated that 8-hexyloxy-4,5-dihydro-[1.2.4]triazole[4.3-a]quinoline-1-one (4e) and 8-heptyloxy-4,5-dihydro-[1,2,4]triazole[4, 3-a]quinoline-1-one (4f) were the most potent anticonvulsants, with 4e having $ED_{50}$ values of 17.17 mg/kg and 24.55 mg/kg and protective index ($PI=TD_{50}/ED_{50}$) values of 41.9 and 29.3 in the MES and sc-PTZ tests, respectively, and 4f having $ED_{50}$ values of 19.7 mg/kg and 21.2 mg/kg and PI values of 36.5 and 33.9 in the MES and sc-PTZ tests, respectively. The PI values of 4e and 4f were many fold better than that of the marketed drugs phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital and valproate, which have PI values in the range of 1.6-8.1 in the MES test and <0.22-5.2 in the sc-PTZ test. Structure-activity relationships were also discussed.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.44-50
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between Trp64Arg polymorphism in the ${\beta}_3$-adrenergic receptor gene and complex phenotypes such as blood pressure, body compositions and bone parameters in young men about 20 years, and to collect the fundamental data in designing the exercise program. Eighty healthy young men including 41 controls and 39 athletes were recruited, Trp64Arg polymorphism in the ${\beta}_3$-adrenergic receptor gene was genotyped by PCR-RFLP method. By association study, there were no significance in genotype and allele frequencies of Trp64Arg polymorphism in the ${\beta}_3$-adrenergic receptor gene between controls and athletes, respectively (p>0.05). When the relationship between physiological parameters and Trp64Arg polymorphism in the ${\beta}_3$-adrenergic receptor gene was tested, this polymorphism was significantly associated with 3th lumber and left femoral neck Z-score values in controls (p<0.05), but these associations were not detected in athletic groups (p>0.05). It is likely that Trp64Arg polymorphism in the ${\beta}_3$-adrenergic receptor gene is a genetic marker for the bone mineral density index in young men, but environmental factors such as exercise modify the significant effect of this polymorphism. Thus, our results suggest that Trp64Arg polymorphism in the ${\beta}_3$-adrenergic receptor gene may be applicable as a predictive marker for osteoporosis in Korean young men, and regular exercise may prevent the disadventageous effect of this polymorphism for bone mineral density in male athletic group.