• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.599-608
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• 2017

Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) is a pharmacologically active substance extracted from the rhizome of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (also known as the Chinese herb Danshen), and is widely used to treat atherosclerosis. The pregnane X receptor (PXR) is a nuclear receptor that is a key regulator of xenobiotic and endobiotic detoxification. Tan IIA is an efficacious PXR agonist that has a potential protective effect on endothelial injuries induced by xenobiotics and endobiotics via PXR activation. Previously numerous studies have demonstrated the possible effects of Tan IIA on human umbilical vein endothelial cells, but the further mechanism for its exerts the protective effect is not well established. To study the protective effects of Tan IIA against hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), we pretreated cells with or without different concentrations of Tan IIA for 24 h, then exposed the cells to $400{\mu}M$ $H_2O_2$ for another 3 h. Therefore, our data strongly suggests that Tan IIA may lead to increased regeneration of glutathione (GSH) from the glutathione disulfide (GSSG) produced during the GSH peroxidase-catalyzed decomposition of $H_2O_2$ in HUVECs, and the PXR plays a significant role in this process. Tan IIA may also exert protective effects against $H_2O_2$-induced apoptosis through the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway associated with the participation of PXR. Tan IIA protected HUVECs from inflammatory mediators triggered by $H_2O_2$ via PXR activation. In conclusion, Tan IIA protected HUVECs against $H_2O_2$-induced cell injury through PXR-dependent mechanisms.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.165-171
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• 2023

Trauma remains a significant healthcare burden, causing over five million yearly fatalities. Notably, the liver is a frequently injured solid organ in abdominal trauma, especially in patients under 40 years. It becomes even more critical given that uncontrolled hemorrhage linked to liver trauma can have mortality rates ranging from 10% to 50%. Liver injuries, mainly resulting from blunt trauma such as motor vehicle accidents, are traditionally classified using the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma grading scale. However, recent developments have introduced the World Society of Emergency Surgery classification, which considers the patient's physiological status. The diagnostic approach often involves multiphase computed tomography (CT). Still, newer methods like split-bolus single-pass CT and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) aim to reduce radiation exposure. Concerning management, nonoperative strategies have emerged as the gold standard, especially for hemodynamically stable patients. Incorporating angiography with embolization has also been beneficial, with success rates reported between 80% and 97%. However, it is essential to identify the specific source of bleeding for effective embolization. Given the severity of liver trauma and its potential complications, innovations in diagnostic and therapeutic approaches have been pivotal. While CT remains a primary diagnostic tool, methods like CEUS offer safer alternatives. Moreover, nonoperative management, especially when combined with angiography and embolization, has demonstrated notable success. Still, the healthcare community must remain vigilant to complications and continuously seek improvements in trauma care.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.63-70
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• 2014

Purpose: In children, mild traumatic brain injuries (TBI) account for 70~90% of head injuries. Without guidelines, many of these children may be exposed to excess radiation due to unnecessary imaging. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a mild TBI guideline in imaging of pediatric patients. Methods: The medical records of all children who had head computed tomography and were admitted to our hospital with a TBI with Pediatric Glasgow Coma Scale and Glasgow Coma Scale of 14 to 15 were retrospectively reviewed and compared with PECARN Rule. Results: A total of 1260 children were included and all children checked with head computed tomography. 61 pediatrics had CT positive and presented skull fracture 40, hemorrhage 8, hemorrhagic contusion 7, and diffuse axonal injury 1. Also, 4 patients diagnosed both skull fracture and brain haemorrhage and 1 patient diagnosed both haemorrhage and haemorrhagic contusion. Conclusion: There are many pediatric traumatic patients who exposed to radiation due to CT. But, the most of results were negative. So, consider to follow the CT guideline for children and many do not require brain CT.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.81-87
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• 2013

Purpose: To describe chronic rectal mucosal damage after pelvic radiotherapy (RT) for cervical cancer and correlate these findings with clinical symptoms and radiation dose. Materials and Methods: Thirty-two patients who underwent pelvic RT were diagnosed with radiation-induced proctitis based on endoscopy findings. The median follow-up period was 35 months after external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and intracavitary radiotherapy (ICR). The Vienna Rectoscopy Score (VRS) was used to describe the endoscopic findings and compared to the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC)/Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) morbidity score and the dosimetric parameters of RT (the ratio of rectal dose calculated at the rectal point [RP] to the prescribed dose, biologically effective dose [BED] at the RP in the ICR and EBRT plans, ${\alpha}/{\beta}$ = 3). Results: Rectal symptoms were noted in 28 patients (rectal bleeding in 21 patients, bowel habit changes in 6, mucosal stools in 1), and 4 patients had no symptoms. Endoscopic findings included telangiectasia in 18 patients, congested mucosa in 20, ulceration in 5, and stricture in 1. The RP ratio, $BED_{ICR}$, $BED_{ICR+EBRT}$ was significantly associated with the VRS (RP ratio, median 76.5%; $BED_{ICR}$, median 37.1 $Gy_3$; $BED_{ICR+EBRT}$, median 102.5 $Gy_3$; p < 0.001). The VRS was significantly associated with the EORTC/RTOG score (p = 0.038). Conclusion: The most prevalent endoscopic findings of RT-induced proctitis were telangiectasia and congested mucosa. The VRS was significantly associated with the EORTC/RTOG score and RP radiation dose.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.226-232
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• 2015

Purpose: Toxicity of mucosa is one of the major concerns of radiotherapy (RT), when a target tumor is located near a mucosal lined organ. Energy of photon RT is transferred primarily by secondary electrons. If these secondary electrons could be removed in an internal cavity of mucosal lined organ, the mucosa will be spared without compromising the target tumor dose. The purpose of this study was to present a RT dose reduction in near target inner-surface (NTIS) of internal cavity, using Lorentz force of magnetic field. Materials and Methods: Tissue equivalent phantoms, composed with a cylinder shaped internal cavity, and adjacent a target tumor part, were developed. The phantoms were irradiated using 6 MV photon beam, with or without 0.3 T of perpendicular magnetic field. Two experimental models were developed: single beam model (SBM) to analyze central axis dose distributions and multiple beam model (MBM) to simulate a clinical case of prostate cancer with rectum. RT dose of NTIS of internal cavity and target tumor area (TTA) were measured. Results: With magnetic field applied, bending effect of dose distribution was visualized. The depth dose distribution of SBM showed 28.1% dose reduction of NTIS and little difference in dose of TTA with magnetic field. In MBM, cross-sectional dose of NTIS was reduced by 33.1% with magnetic field, while TTA dose were the same, irrespective of magnetic field. Conclusion: RT dose of mucosal lined organ, located near treatment target, could be modulated by perpendicular magnetic field.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.95-101
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• 2009

Protective behavior of radiological technologists against radiation exposure is important to achieve reduction of the patient doses without compromising medical achievements. This study attempts to provide a basic model for the sophisticated intervention strategy that increases the level of the protective behavior of the technologists. The model was applied to real situations in Korea to demonstrate its utility. The results of this study are summarized as follows: First, the protective environment showed the highest relationship in the factors considered, r=0.637 (p<0.01). Secondly, the important factors were protective environment in environment characteristics, expectation for the protective behavior 0.228 (p<0.001), self-efficacy 0.142 (p<0.001), and attitude for the protective behavior 0.178 (p<0.001) in personal characteristics, and daily patient -0.112 (p<0.001) and number of the participation in the education session for the protective behavior 0.074 (p<0.05). Thirdly, the final protective behavior model by a path analysis method had direct influence on the attitude 0.171 (p<0.01) and environment 0.405 (p<0.01) for the protective behavior, self efficacy 0.122 (p<0.01), expectation for the protective behavior 0.16 (p<0.01), and self-efficacy in the specialty of projects 0.154 (p<0.01). The acceptance of the model determined by the absolute fit index (GFI), 0.969, and by the incremental fit index (CFI), 0.943, showed very significant levels. Value of $x^2$/df that is a factor applied to verify the acceptance of the model was 37, which implies that the result can be accepted in the desirable range. In addition, the parsimonious fit index configured by AGFI (0.890) and TLI (0.852) was also considered as a scale that accepts the model in practical applications. In case of the establishment of some specific intervention strategies based on the protective behavior model against harmful radiation effects proposed in this study, the strategy will provide an effective way to prevent medical harmful radiation effects that could cause severe injuries to people.

• Proceedings of the Botanical Society of Korea Conference
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• 1994.09a
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• pp.29-39
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• 1994

Serious issues about the changes in the environmental conditions on earth associated with human activities have arisen, and the interest in these problems has increased. It is urgent to determine how the expansion of terrestrial UV-B radiation due to the stratospheric ozone depletion influences living matters. In this connection, we have been investigating the effects of UV-B radiation on the growth of rice cultivars (Oryza sativa L.). We report here some physiological and genetic aspects of resistance to inhibitory effects of UV-B radiation on growth of rice cultivars as described below. Elevated UV radiation containing large amount of UV-B and a small amount of UV-C inhibited the development of plant height, the photosynthetic rate and the chlorophyll content in rice plants in a phytotron. Similar results were obtained in experiments, in which elevated UV-V radiation. Similar results were obtained in experiments, in which elevated UV-B radiation (transmission down to 290 nm) was applied instead of UV-B radiation containing a small amount of UV-C. The inhibitory effects of UV radiation was alleviated by the elevated CO2 atmospheric environment or by the exposure to the high irradiance visible radiation. The latter suggested the possibility that the resistance to the effects of UV radiation was either due to a lower sensitivity to UV radiation or to a greater ability to recover from the injury caused by UV radiation through the exposure to visible radiation. The examination of cultivar differences in the resistance to UV radiation-caused injuries among 198 rice cultivars belonging to 5 Asian rice ecotypes (aus, aman, boro, bulu and tjeleh) from the Bengal region and Indonesia and to Japanese lowland and upland rice groups showed the following: Various cultivars having different sensitivities to the effects of UV radiation were involved in the same ecotype and the same group, and that the Japanese lowland rice group and the boro ecotype were more resistant. Among Japanese lowland rice cultivars, Sasanishiki (one of the leading varieties in Japan) exhibited more resistance to UV rakiation, while Norin 1 showed less resistance, although these two cultivars are closely related. It was thus indicated that the resistance to the inhibitory effects of UV radiation of rice cultivars is not simply due to the difference in the geographical situation where rice cultuvars are cultivated. Form the genetic analysis of resistance to the inhibitory effects of UV radiation on growth of rice using F2 plants generated by reciprocally crossing Sasanishiki and Norin 1 and F3 lines generated by self-fertilizing F2 plants, it was evident that the resistance to the inhibitory of elebated UV radiation in these rice plants was controlled by recessive polygenes.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.118-125
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• 2016

Purpose: The aims of this study were to evaluate the clinical characteristics of patients with altered sensation and/or pain, and to determine outcome predictors affecting persistent neuropathy. Methods: Patients who complained an altered sensation or pain following trigeminal nerve trauma were involved in this study. To determine outcome predictors affecting persistent neuropathy, the patients were divided into two groups; transient vs. persistent, and the clinical phenotypes are compared between groups. Data were analyzed with t-tests, chi-square, and multiple regression analyses with 95% confidence interval and p<0.05 significance level. Results: A total of 111 patients were included: 23 with transient and 88 persistent groups. The panoramic result and pin-prick test score were statistically different between the groups. Radiating symptoms after blunt and pinprick stimuli were also significantly different between groups. The results revealed that the presence of a neurologic lesion in the panoramic view result, reduced sensation in the pinprick test, and radiation in the pinprick test could affect the persistent group. Conclusions: The presence of a neurologic lesion in panoramic view result and reduced sensation and radiating symptoms in the pin prick test would be defining features of one of the main clinical features of persistent neuropathy. These features could serve as outcome predictors diagnosing the permanent nerve injury in trigeminal nerve.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.261-270
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• 1984

The intrauterine irradiation is essential to achieve adequate tumor dose to central tumor mass of uterine malignancy in radiotherapy. The complications of pelvic organ are known to be directly related to radiation dose and physical parameters. The simulation radiation and medical records of 203 patients who were treated with intrauterine irradiation from Feb. 1983 to Oct. 1983, were critically analized. The physical parameters to include distances between lateral walls of vaginal fornices, longitudinal and lateral angles of tandem applicator to the body axis, the distance from the external os of uterine cervix to the central axis of ovoids were measured for low dose rate irradiation system and high dose rate remote control afterloading system. The radiation doses and dose distributions within cervical area including interesting points and bladder, rectum, according to sources arrangement and location of applicator, were estimated with personal computer. Followings were summary of study results ; 1. In distances between lateral walls of vaginal fornices, the low dose rate system showed as $4\~7cm$ width and high dose rate system showed as $5\~6cm$. 2. In horizontal angulation of tandem to body axis, the low dose rate system revealed mid position$64.6\%$, left deviation $19.2\%$and right deviation $16.2\%$. 3. In longitudinal angulation of tandem to body axis, the mid position was $11.8\%$ and anterior angulation $88.2\%$ in low dose rate system but in high dose rate system, anterior angulation was $98.5\%$. 4. Down ward displacement of ovoids below external os was only $3\%$ in low dose rate system and $66.7\%$ in high dose rate system. 5. In radiation source arrangement, the most activities of tandem and ovoid were 35 by 30 in low dose rate system but 50 by 40 in high dose rate system. 6. In low and high dose rate system, the total doses an4 TDF were 50, 70 Gy and 141, 123, including 40 Gy external irradiation. 7. The doses and TDF in interesting points Co, B, were 93, 47 Gy and 230, 73 in high dose rate system but in low doss rate system, 123, 52 Gy and 262, 75 respectively. 8. Doses and TDF in bladder and rectum were 70, 68 Gy and 124, 120 in low dose rate system, but in high dose rate system, 58, 64 Gy 98, 110 respectively, and then grades of injuries in bladder and rectum were 25, $30\%$ and 18, $23\%$ respectively.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.55-64
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• 2024

Objectives: This study investigated the prevalence and characteristics of comorbid conditions in patients exposed to ionizing radiation and those who were involved in the Soviet-Afghan war. Methods: This study analyzed the frequency and spectrum of morbidity and comorbidity in patients over a long-term period (30-35 years) following exposure to ionizing radiation at the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site or the Chornobyl nuclear power plant, and among participants of the Soviet-Afghan war. A cohort study, both prospective and retrospective, was conducted on 675 patients who underwent comprehensive examinations. Results: Numerical data were analyzed using the Statistica 6 program. The results are presented as the mean±standard deviation, median, and interquartile range (25-75th percentiles). The statistical significance of between-group differences was assessed using the Student t-test and Pearson chi-square test. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. We found a high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension (55.0%) and cardiac ischemia (32.9%); these rates exceeded the average for this age group in the general population. Conclusions: The cumulative impact of causal occupational, environmental, and ultra-high stress factors in the combat zone in participants of the Soviet-Afghan war, along with common conventional factors, contributed to the formation of a specific comorbidity structure. This necessitates a rational approach to identifying early predictors of cardiovascular events and central nervous system disorders, as well as pathognomonic clinical symptoms in this patient cohort. It also underscores the importance of selecting suitable methods and strategies for implementing treatment and prevention measures.