• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.11
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• pp.3284-3288
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• 2013

This paper describes first development and validation of pentafluorophenylprophyl ligand-based liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (PFPLC-MS/MS) method to determine metformin, a highly polar compound, in human plasma. Metformin and Phenformin (internal standard) were extracted from human plasma 50 ${\mu}L$ with a single-step protein precipitation. The chromatographic separation was performed using a linear gradient elution of mobile phase involving 5.0 mM ammonium formate solution with 0.1% formic acid (A) and acetonitrile (B) over 3.0 min of run time on a Phenomenex Luna PFP column. The detection was performed using a triple-quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer (Waters Quattro micro) with electrospray ionization in the mode of positive ionization and multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM). The developed method was validated with 5.0 ng/mL of lower limit of quantification (LLOQ). The calibration curve was linear over 5-3000 ng/mL of the concentration range ($R^2$ > 0.99). The specificity, selectivity, carry-over effect, precision, accuracy and stability of the method met the acceptance criteria. The method developed in this study had had rapidness, simplicity and ruggedness. The reliable method was successfully applied to high throughput analysis of real samples for a practical purpose of a pharmacokinetic study.

• Knowledge Management Research
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.105-121
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• 2020

With regard to the development of new drugs, what is most important for a Korean Biotech, where no global sales network has been established, is decision-making related to out-licensing of new drugs. The probability of success for each clinical phase is different, and the licensing amount and its royalty vary depending on which clinical phase the licensing contract is made. Due to the nature of such a licensing contract and Biotech's weak financial status, it is a very important decision-making issue for a Biotech to determine when to license out to a Big Pharma. This study defined a model called 'optimal timing for out-licensing of new drugs' and the results were derived from the decision tree analysis. As a case study, we applied to a Biotech in Korea, which is conducting FDA global clinical trials for a first-in-class new drug. Assuming that the market size and expected market penetration rate of the target disease are known, it has been shown that out-licensing after phase 1 or phase 2 of clinical trials is a best alternative that maximizes Biotech's profits. This study can provide a conceptual framework for the use of management science methodologies in pharmaceutical fields, thus laying the foundation for knowledge and research on out-licensing of new drugs.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.73 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2012

Care of patients with sepsis has improved over the last decade. However, in the recent two years, there was no significant progress in the development of a new drug for critically ill patients. In January 2011, it was announced that the worldwide phase 3 randomized trial of a novel anti-Toll-like receptor-4 compound, eritoran tetrasodium, had failed to demonstrate an improvement in the mortality of patients with severe sepsis. In October 2011, Xigris (drotrecogin alfa, a recombinant activated protein C) was withdrawn from the market following the failure of its worldwide trial that had attempted to demonstrate improved outcome. These announcements were disappointing. The recent failure of 2 promising drugs to further reduce mortality suggests that new approaches are needed. A study was published showing that sepsis can be associated to a state of immunosuppression and loss of immune function in human. However, the timing, incidence, and nature of the immunosuppression remain poorly characterized, especially in humans. This emphasizes the need for a better understanding of sepsis as well as new therapeutic strategies. Many clinical experiences of the extracorporeal membrane oxygenator (ECMO) treatment for adult acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients, which is caused by the H1N1 influenza A virus, were reported. The use of ECMO in severe respiratory failure, particularly in the treatment of adult ARDS, is occurring more commonly.

• Journal of mucopolysaccharidosis and rare diseases
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.50-51
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• 2016

Combining basal insulin therapy with a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) has clear clinical advantages, and is supported by the latest EASD/ADA position statement (1). IDegLira is a once-daily combination of the basal insulin, degludec, and the GLP-1RA, liraglutide, in one pen. The DUAL phase 3 clinical trial program provides important evidence about the efficacy and safety of IDegLira in three different populations of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D): insulin naïve subjects uncontrolled on oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs), subjects uncontrolled on OAD(s) and a GLP-1 RA, and subjects uncontrolled on OAD(s) and basal insulin. Treatment with IDegLira reduced mean HbA1c to below the EASD/ADA treatment target of 7.0% in all five trials. The mean reduction of HbA1c from baseline ranged from 1.3% and 1.9%. IDegLira resulted in weight loss for subjects uncontrolled on basal insulin, was weight neutral for subjects on OADs and weight gain was minimal (2 kg) for subjects previously treated with a GLP-1 RA. Rates of hypoglycaemia were low across all the trials, particularly considering the level of glycaemic control achieved.

• Journal of mucopolysaccharidosis and rare diseases
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.41-43
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• 2017

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a genetic disorder that is considered, especially on child, to cause poor feeding, hypotonia, failure to thrive, developmental delay and hypogonadism which is known to affect between 1 in 10,000 and 30,000 people. The children with PWS are viewed as affected by growth hormone (GH) insufficiency, although the exact mechanisms of GH deficiency are not fully understood. However, the benefits of GH treatment in children with PWS are well established. Myers, et al. (2006), Grugni, et al. (2016) indicated its positive effects on linear growth, body composition, motor function, respiratory function and psychomotor development. Despite of its effectiveness and advantages had been well known and proven in many other studies, there is only one recombinant GH product that is approved for PWS in Korea, $Genotropin^{(R)}$, till now. A phase III clinical study of GH treatment with $Eutropin^{TM}$, in 34 Korean PWS children is in progress, which is expected to have comparable effects and safety profile with the active control by assessing auxological changes such as height standard deviation score, body composition changes such as lean body mass and percent body fat, motor and cognitive development using Bayley scale, and safety profiles.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.418-425
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• 2021

Purpose: We designed a new regimen by combining intraperitoneal (IP) paclitaxel (PTX) with systemic S-1 plus oxaliplatin (SOX) for the treatment of advanced gastric cancer with peritoneal metastasis. This dose-escalation study aimed to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and recommended dose (RD) of IP PTX administered weekly to patients. Materials and Methods: Eight cycles of IP PTX plus SOX regimen were administered to the patients. S-1 was administered orally twice daily at a dose of 80 mg/m²/day for 14 consecutive days, followed by 7 days of rest. Intravenous oxaliplatin was administered at a fixed dose of 100 mg/m² on day 1, while IP PTX was administered on days 1 and 8. The initial dose of IP PTX was 40 mg/m², and the dose escalation was set in units of 20 mg/m² up to 80 mg/m². Dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) were defined as grade 3 non-hematologic toxicities, grade 4 leukopenia, grade 3 febrile neutropenia, and grade 3 thrombocytopenia. Results: Nine patients were included in the study. No DLTs were observed in any of the enrolled patients. Therefore, the MTD was not reached, and the RD of IP PTX was determined to be 80 mg/m². Four patients (44%) showed a decreased peritoneal cancer index score on second-look laparoscopic examination. Conclusions: The present study determined the dose for further clinical trials of IP PTX to be 80 mg/m², when combined with a systemic SOX regimen.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers
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• v.53 no.12
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• pp.180-190
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• 2016

This prospective pilot clinical trial mainly focuses on developing dual chamber-based assistive cups which are suitable for stroke patients who have struggled with using there affected arms. It is unable to provide motor and sensory enhancement during drinking activities and to examine the feasibility of the devices for acute phase, even for chronic stroke survivors. The stroke patients(n=16; male=8, female=8), in this trial, were provided informed consent to the investigation. All the individuals participated in 1 weeks of training for using cups, randomized over dedicated dual chamber based assistive cups(DC) or placebo-cups(PC) training. All the participants were assessed within 1 week before and after the intervention period. 3-dimensional motion analysis, sEMG(surface electromyography) and 3-dimensional trunk movement were assessed. The result presents DC data group compared with PC showed, they needed lesser ROM(range of motion) at the phase of drinking in shoulder movements and lesser muscle activities on upper trapezius, deltoid middle fiber and triceps brachii muscles, lesser tilting movement on front and back side in drinking phase, the differences were statistically significant(p<.05). Dual chamber-based assistive cup could be one of efficient way to complete ADLs(activities of daily living), especially drinking tasks, and these evidence data may contribute to determine certain rehabilitation policies related to assistive devise usage.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.153-164
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• 2024

This study aimed to identify metabolic biomarkers and investigate changes in intestinal microbiota in the feces of healthy participants following administration of Lactococcus lactis GEN-001. GEN-001 is a single-strain L. lactis strain isolated from the gut of a healthy human volunteer. The study was conducted as a parallel, randomized, phase 1, open design trial. Twenty healthy Korean males were divided into five groups according to the GEN-001 dosage and dietary control. Groups A, B, C, and D1 received 1, 3, 6, and 9 GEN-001 capsules (1 × 10¹¹ colony forming units), respectively, without dietary adjustment, whereas group D2 received 9 GEN-001 capsules with dietary adjustment. All groups received a single dose. Fecal samples were collected 2 days before GEN-001 administration to 7 days after for untargeted metabolomics and gut microbial metagenomic analyses; blood samples were collected simultaneously for immunogenicity analysis. Levels of phenylalanine, tyrosine, cholic acid, deoxycholic acid, and tryptophan were significantly increased at 5-6 days after GEN-001 administration when compared with predose levels. Compared with predose, the relative abundance (%) of Parabacteroides and Alistipes significantly decreased, whereas that of Lactobacillus and Lactococcus increased; Lactobacillus and tryptophan levels were negatively correlated. A single administration of GEN-001 shifted the gut microbiota in healthy volunteers to a more balanced state as evidenced by an increased abundance of beneficial bacteria, including Lactobacillus, and higher levels of the metabolites that have immunogenic properties.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.132-144
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• 2017

Purpose: To identify baseline prognostic factors for survival in patients with disease progression, during or after chemotherapy for the treatment of advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer. Materials and Methods: We pooled data from patients randomized between 2009 and 2012 in 2 phase III, global double-blind studies of ramucirumab for the treatment of advanced gastric or GEJ adenocarcinoma following disease progression on first-line platinum- and/or fluoropyrimidine-containing therapy (REGARD and RAINBOW). Forty-one key baseline clinical and laboratory factors common in both studies were examined. Model building started with covariate screening using univariate Cox models (significance level=0.05). A stepwise multivariable Cox model identified the final prognostic factors (entry+exit significance level=0.01). Cox models were stratified by treatment and geographic region. The process was repeated to identify baseline prognostic quality of life (QoL) parameters. Results: Of 1,020 randomized patients, 953 (93%) patients without any missing covariates were included in the analysis. We identified 12 independent prognostic factors of poor survival: 1) peritoneal metastases; 2) Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance score 1; 3) the presence of a primary tumor; 4) time to progression since prior therapy <6 months; 5) poor/unknown tumor differentiation; abnormally low blood levels of 6) albumin, 7) sodium, and/or 8) lymphocytes; and abnormally high blood levels of 9) neutrophils, 10) aspartate aminotransferase (AST), 11) alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and/or 12) lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Factors were used to devise a 4-tier prognostic index (median overall survival [OS] by risk [months]: high=3.4, moderate=6.4, medium=9.9, and low=14.5; Harrell's C-index=0.66; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.64-0.68). Addition of QoL to the model identified patient-reported appetite loss as an independent prognostic factor. Conclusions: The identified prognostic factors and the reported prognostic index may help clinical decision-making, patient stratification, and planning of future clinical studies.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.15-25
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• 2012

The relationship between occlusion and periodontal health has been extensively studied. However, reports on the effects of passive eruption using occlusal reduction has not been sufficient. The purpose of the present randomized clinical trial was to assess the influence of passive eruption using occlusal reduction on the clinical periodontal parameters consisting of attachment level, pocket depth, tooth mobility, width of keratinized gingiva and osseous defect. The study was performed on 40 teeth of 16 subjects who have been treated for the moderate periodontitis at the Department of Periodontology, Pusan National University Hospital. At the baseline examination, after hygienic-phase and after 6 month from passive eruption using occlusal reduction, clinical parameters were monitored and radiographs were taken. The 20 teeth in the test group received passive eruption using occlusal reduction while the 20 control teeth did not receive any occlusal reduction. The results were as follows; 1) Degree of inflammation of periodontium was improved by initial therapy 2) Teeth received passive eruption using occlusal reduction demonstrated significantly greater reduction in pocket depth, tooth mobility and amount of bone loss, and increase in the width of keratinized gingiva, but no significant changes in the attachment level compared to the control teeth 3) There was significantly greater reduction in pocket depth, mobility, amount of bone loss and attachment level in the test teeth after initial hygienic phase when compared with baseline data. Taken together, these results suggest that the passive eruption using occlusal reduction would be helpful to improve periodontal health.