• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.347-352
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• 2005

The effects of nitric oxide (NO) on inhibitory neurotransmitter receptors and some types of inhibitory receptors in dissociated rod bipolar cell (RBC) were investigated. In the whole cell voltage-clamping mode, the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) activated current showed both sustained and transient components. GABA activated transient current was fully blocked by bicuculine, a $GABA_A$ receptor antagonist. The cis-4-aminocrotonic acid (CACA), a $GABA_C$ receptor agonist, evoked the sustained current that was not blocked by bicuculline (BIC). Glycine activated the transient current. These results indicate that the RBCs possess $GABA_A$, $GABA_C$, and glycine inhibitory receptors. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a NO analogue, reduced the currents activated by $GABA_A$ receptor only, however, did not reduce the currents activated by either $GABA_C$ or glycine receptors. This study signifies further that only NO depresses the fast inhibitory response activated by $GABA_A$ receptor in RBC. We, therefore, postulate that NO might depress the light-on/off transient inhibitory responses in RBCs in the rat retina.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.139-146
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• 2011

This study investigated physical and physiological changes of normal young adults, who are cadets of the Air Force Academy, have kept long-term physical activities and healthy behavior. The physical and physiological indices were the blood and body composition. Data were collected at the first year period, and then 4th year period from same group of cadets. The amounts of blood components were not changed, but variation among cadets was significantly reduced in the 4th grade period. The red blood cells(RBCs) were significantly reduced and the concentration of hemoglobin(HGB) were significantly increased. The body weight was significantly decreased in the 1st grade period since the body fat was rapidly decreased after the basic military drill, and then it was recovered with building up of the skeletal muscle in the 4th grade period. Asymmetry of the arms was decreased with the increased physical activities and usage of various equipments. The muscular endurance were significantly enhanced in the 4th grade period. The long-term physical activities and healthy behaviors may keep the physical strength through enhanced blood stream and oxygen supply by reduction of the RBCs and increased HGB concentration, and fat and muscle control.

• 한국전산유체공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.03a
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• pp.186-196
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• 2008

The dependence of the rheological properties of blood on shape, aggregation, and deformability of red blood cells (RBCs) has been investigated using hybrid systems by coupling fluid with solid models. We present a simple approach for simulating blood as a multi-component fluid, in which RBCs are modeled as droplets of acquired biconcave shape. We used lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) due to its excellent numerical stability as a simulation tool. The model enables us to control the droplet static shape by imposing non-isotropic surface tension force on the interface between the two components. The use of the proposed non-isotropic surface tension method is justified by the Norris hypothesis. This hypothesis states that the shape of the RBC is due to a non-uniform interfacial surface tension force acting on the RBC periphery. This force is caused by the unbalanced distribution of the lipid molecules on the surface of the RBC. We also used the same concept to investigate the dynamic shape change of the RBC while flowing through the microvasculature, and to explore the physics of the Fahraeus, and the Fahraeus-Lindqvist effects.

• 한국전산유체공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.186-196
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• 2008

The dependence of the rheological properties of blood on shape, aggregation, and deformability of red blood cells (RBCs) has been investigated using hybrid systems by coupling fluid with solid models. We present a simple approach for simulating blood as a multi-component fluid, in which RBCs are modeled as droplets of acquired biconcave shape. We used lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) due to its excellent numerical stability as a simulation tool. The model enables us to control the droplet static shape by imposing non-isotropic surface tension force on the interface between the two components. The use of the proposed non-isotropic surface tension method is justified by the Norris hypothesis. This hypothesis states that the shape of the RBC is due to a non-uniform interfacial surface tension force acting on the RBC periphery. This force is caused by the unbalanced distribution of the lipid molecules on the surface of the RBC. We also used the same concept to investigate the dynamic shape change of the RBC while flowing through the microvasculature, and to explore the physics of the Fahraeus, and the Fahraeus-Lindqvist effects.

• Korea-Australia Rheology Journal
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.61-66
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• 2007

The aggregation characteristics of red blood cells (RBCs) are known as important factors in the microvascular flow system, and increased RBC aggregation has been observed in various pathological diseases, such as thrombosis and myocardial infarction. This paper describes a simple microfluidic device for measuring the RBC aggregation by integrating a microfluidic slit rheometry and laser-backscattering technique. While a decreasing-pressure mechanism was applied to the microfluidic rheometry, a syllectogram (the light intensity versus time) showed an initial increase and a peak caused by the high shear stress-induced disaggregation, immediately followed by a decrease in the light intensity due to RBC aggregation. The critical shear stress (CST) corresponding to the peak intensity was examined as a new index of the RBC aggregation characteristics. The CST of RBCs increased with increasing aggregation-dominating protein (fibrinogen) in the blood plasma. The essential feature of this design was the combination of the rheometric-optic characterization of RBC aggregation with a microfluidic chip, which may potentially allow cell aggregation measurements to be easily carried out in a clinical setting.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.1682-1686
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• 2004

A slit-flow apparatus with laser diffraction method has been developed with significant advances in ektacytometry design, operation and data analysis. In the slit-flow ektacytometry (or laser-diffractometry), the deformation of red blood cells subjected to continuously decreasing shear stress in slit flow is measured. A laser beam traverses a diluted blood suspension flowing through a slit and is diffracted by RBCs in the volume. The diffraction patterns are captured by a CCD-video camera, linked to a frame grabber integrated with a computer, while the differential pressure variation is measured by a pressure transducer. Both measurements of laser-diffraction image and pressure with respect to time enable to determine deformation index and the shear stress. The range of shear stress of 0 ${\sim}$ 35 Pa and measuring time is less than 2 min. When deforming under decreasing shear stress, RBCs change gradually from the prolate ellipsoid towards a circular biconcave morphology. The Deformation Index (DI) as a measure of RBC deformability is determined from an isointensity curve in the diffraction pattern using an ellipse-fitting program. The advantages of this design are simplicity, i.e., ease of operation and no moving parts, low cost, short operating time, and the disposable kit which is contacted with blood sample.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.1678-1681
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• 2004

The light-transmission technique has been applied to a slit rheometer for measuring red blood cell aggregation as well as blood viscosity over a range of shear rates. For measurement of blood viscosity and aggregation, instantaneous pressure and transmit-light intensity are measured with time. Using a precision pressure measurement, one can determine the shear stress and shear rate. In addition, a transmitted light through a blood sample indicates degree of RBC aggregation. With abruptly flowing with high shear rate, RBCs rapidly disaggregate and the intensity of the transmitted light becomes low. When continuously flowing with decreasing shear rate, RBCs tend to re-aggregate and the corresponding transmit-intensity gradually increases with time. The light intensity as a degree of RBC aggregation is plotted against shear rate and compared with blood viscosity. The advantages of this design are dual measurement at a time, simplicity, i.e., ease of operation and no moving parts, low cost, short operating time, and the disposable kit which is contacted with blood sample.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.165-169
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• 2022

Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) is autoimmune disease which is anemia caused by own immune system destroying the red blood cells (RBC). It can be diagnosed with spherocytosis, positive auto-agglutination of RBCs and direct antiglobulin test (DAT, Coomb's test). The treatment for IMHA are blood transfusion, immunosuppressive agents including glucocorticoids and other supportive therapies. Danazol is synthetic androgen that has effect of interfering the autoimmune reaction to RBCs. It can be used as an adjunctive agent in addition to glucocorticoids. To investigate its effectiveness, the medical records of 10 IMHA-diagnosed dogs were evaluated. All subjects were treated with blood transfusion, prednisolone, mycophenolate mofetil, and intravenous human immunoglobulin G. Additionally, 6 subjects were administered with danazol and 4 subjects were not. The results of initial blood examination and responses to the treatment for IMHA were compared between the groups. There were significant differences in the number of blood transfusions; once in group with danazol, twice in group without danazol, duration of recovery to normal hematocrit; 7.67±3.08 days in group with danazol, 22.00±5.66 days in group without danazol, and hospitalization; 5.17±0.75 days in group with danazol, 12.75±2.22 days in group without danazol. Therefore, danazol has potential effective on treating IMHA for rapid improvement.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.190-195
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• 2000

Tolaasin is a peptide toxin produced by Pseudomonas tolaasii and causes a brown blotch disease forming brown, slightly sunken spots and blotches on the cultivated mushrooms. It is a lipodepsipeptide consisting of 18 amino acids and its molecular mass is 1,985 Da. It forms a pore in plasma membranes, resulting in the disruption of membranes of fungal, bacterial, plant, and animal cells as well as mushroom tissue. In order to measure the toxicity of tolaasin, erythrocytes of blood were used to evaluate the tolaasin-induced hemolysis. Hemolytic activity of tolaasin was measured by observing the absorbance change either at 420 nm, representing the release of hemoglobins from red blood cells(RBCs), or at 600 nm, representing the density of residual cells. The hemolytic activity of culture-extract of P. tolaasii increased at early-stationary phase of growth and was maximal at late stationary phase. The hemolytic activity of tolaasin appeared high in the RBCs of dog and rat. The RBCs of rabbit and hen were less susceptible to tolaasin. The effects of various cations were also measured. $Cd^{2+}$ and $La^{3+}$. as well as $Zn^{2+}$ appeared inhibitory to the tolaasin-induced hemolysis. The effects of various anions on tolaasin-induced hemolysis were measured and carbonate showed the greatest inhibition to the hemolysis. However, phosphate stimulated the tolaasin-induced hemolysis and no effects were observed by chloride and nitrate.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.5 no.1_2
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• pp.45-50
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• 1990

In order to investigate the phototoxicity of five phenothiazine derivatives and one thioxanthen derivative were examined by using in vitro method based on growth inhibition of Candida albicans and red blood cell hemolysis. Effects of the test compounds on RBCs were monitored with a spectrophotometer and a drug PI in the Candida albicans was calculated on the basis of the lowest concentration giving a yeast-free zone. All phenothiazines phototoxic in the red blood cell hemolysis method were positive in the yeast test except promethazine. It was also observed that toxic photo-products were formed by perphenazine and chlorpromazine in the red blood cell hemolysis.