• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.455-464
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• 2018

This study investigated whether the whitening effects of fullerene serum occurred through improvement of melanin production and skin tone and evaluated its potential for use as a cosmetic material for adult women aged 30-55 with dull skin color and pigmentation. Subjects were divided into a control group with fullerene-less serum (B) and an experimental group with serum containing 0.1% fullerene (A) and evaluated over 8 weeks. Visual assessment and measurement of skin conditions (melanin index, skin brightness) were conducted before use of and 4 and 8 weeks after use of the product, and a questionnaire survey and safety assessment were conducted at the end of the experiment. The results revealed that the highest decrease was 0.37% in the experimental group (A) after eight weeks of use of the product, but that this difference was not statistically significant. Moreover, no significant differences were observed upon inter-group comparison. Evaluation of changes in the melanin index and inter-group comparison revealed a significant decline in the experimental group (A) at all time points. Additionally, the $L^*$ value (skin brightness) of the experimental group (A) showed a significant increase (improvement) after eight weeks, while in inter-group comparison revealed a significant increase (improvement) at all time points (4 and 8 weeks later) (p<0.05). Based on a questionnaire survey of efficacy, positive response rates such as improvement of the target parts on week 8 were high in terms of 'improvement of skin color.' Moreover, the safety assessment revealed no adverse reactions. In conclusion, serum containing 0.1% fullerene revealed improved melanin production and skin tone (brightness) and confirmed its potential for use as a cosmetic material with brightening efficacy. Taken together, the results of this study indicate systematic investigation of the effective application and cosmetics formulations of this product are warranted.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.75-85
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• 2005

Purpose : Fungal infection is one of the important causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with hematologic malignancies. Amphotericin B(ABV) and itraconazole(ITZA) have been used as the standard empirical antifungal therapy in neutropenic patients with acute leukemia who have persistent fever that does not respond to antibiotic therapy. ABV is an antifungal drug associated with side effects such as fever and chills, symptoms which may be mediated by pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-$1{\beta}$(IL-$1{\beta}$) and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$(TNF-${\alpha}$). We assessed modulation of these pro-inflammatory cytokines as well as the anti-inflammatory cytokines(IL-4, IL-1Ra) by ABV and ITZA. Methods : From March 2004 to February 2005, a total of 30 episodes from acute leukemia patients with febrile neutropenia were analyzed for this study. They were randomly allocated to receive intravenous ABV or ITZA for 14 days. Clinical responses were evaluated at the completion of therapy, and cytokine IL-$1{\beta}$, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-4, and IL-1Ra were measured for determination to know the correlation between two antifungal agents and inflammatory cytokines. Results : Empirical antifungal agents were given to 37 patients(ABV 20, ITZA 17), and 30 patients(ABV 15, ITZA 15) were evaluable for efficacy. White blood cell and absolute neutrophil count in the group treated with ITZA increased early days of treatment, so the duration of neutropenia in ITZA group is shorter. Serum creatinine level is lower in ITZA group than in ABV group but this is not statistically significant. There was no significant difference in response rate between two groups. The IL-$1{\beta}$ was increased in ABV treatment group and the ratio of IL-1Ra/IL-$1{\beta}$ is markedly decreased in ABV treatment group while increased in ITZA group. Conclusion : ITZA and ABV have at least equivalent efficacy as empirical antifungal therapy in neutropenic children with acute leukemia. However ITZA is associated with significantly less toxicity in clinical and molecular aspects.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.293-299
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• 2000

Purpose :We conducted a prospective non-randomized clinical study to evaluate the efficacy and toxic of the preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced unresectable rectal cancer. Materials and Methods: Between January 1995 and June 1998, 37 conecutive patients with locally unresectable advanced rectal cancer were entered into the study. With 3- or 4- fields technique, a total of 45 Gy radiation was delivered on whole pelvis, followed by 5.4 Gy boost to the primary tumor in some cases. Chemotherapy was done at the first and fifth week of radiation with bolus i.v. 5-Fluorouracil (FU) 370$\~$450 mg/m$^{2}$, days 1$\~$5, plus Leucovorin 20 mg/m$^{2}$, days 1$\~$5. OF 37 patients, 6 patients did not receive all planned treatment course (refusal in 4, disease progression in 1, metastasis to lung in 1). Surgical resection was undergone 4$\~$6 weeks after preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Results :Complete resection rate with negative margins was 94$\%$ (29/31). Complete response was seen in 7 patients (23$\%$) clinically and 2 patients (6$\%$) pathologically. Down staging of tumor occured in 21 patients (68$\%$). Treatment related toxicity was minimal except grade III & IV leukopenia in 2 patients, respectively. Conclusion : Preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer was effective in inducing down staging and complete resection rate. Treatment related toxicity was minimal. Further follow up is on-going to determine long term survival following this treatment.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.1366-1381
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• 1997

Background : Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty(UPPP) has become the most common surgical treatment for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome(OSAS). However, the results of this therapeutic modality have been quite variable with successful results by several authors and poor results by others. Until recently, in Korea, there is only a few reports about the clinical efficacy of UPPP. A prospective study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness and complications of UPPP. Method : Twenty-six OSAS patients who had undergone UPPP with preoperative and postoperative polysomnographic studies were included in this study. Two definitions of surgical success were used. The responder was defined, using a conventional criteria, as a 50% or more reduction in apnea index(AI) or apneahypopnea index(AHI) after UPPP, or a postoperative AI of <10 or AHI of <20. The initial cure was defined, using our own criteria, as a postoperative AI of <5 or AHI of <10. Complications were categorized in two groups : early(disorders during the first 10 postoperative days) and late. Results : Eighteen patients(69.2%) were responders, and ten patients(38.5%) were considered as initial cure. On the other hand, in five patients (19.2%), postoperative polysomnographic data demonstrated deterioration compared with preoperative data. Reduction rate of AI or AHI following UPPP was not significantly related to the preoperative body mass index, AI or AHI. There was no significant change of sleep architecture before and after UPPP in responder and initial cure groups. Early complications such as pain, dyspnea, bleeding, nasal reflux, dysphagia or wound disruption were observed in all patients. Late complications such as nasal reflux, voice change, dysphagia, loss of taste, pharyngeal dryness or foreign body sensation were discovered in 22 patients (84.6%). However, all early and late complications were of minor importance. Conclusion : The response to UPPP was favorable in approximately 70% of OSAS patient. However, the initial Cure rate of UPPP was relatively low. We suggest that selection of more appropriate surgical candidates and adequate surgical protocol is necessary to obtain a more successful result with UPPP.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.305-313
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• 2021

This study verified the antioxidant and whitening activities of a Pinus koraiensis extract (PK) and a Hibiscus cannabinus L. extract (HC), and further evaluated the interaction of the extract ingredients when mixed at a 1:1 ratio (PKHC). The electron-donating and ABTS+ radical scavenging activities of the PKHC extract at 1,000 ㎍/ml concentration were 93.7% and 94%, respectively, indicating a higher efficacy than achieved with either extract alone. Measurements of the tyrosinase the activities in response to PK, HC, and PKHC extracts at 1,000 ㎍/ml concentrations showed inhibitions of 40%, 27.5%, and 43%, respectively, confirming a higher efficacy of the mixture due to the synergistic action of the ingredients. The cell toxicity values in melanoma cells treated with PK, HC, and PKHC at 1,000 ㎍/ml concentration were 87.4%, 80.2%, and 98%, confirming a higher viability in cells treated with the mixture due to antagonism. The expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1), tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP-2), and tyrosinase protein expression determined by Western blotting decreased by 53.9%, 64.8%, 67.3%, and 56.1%, respectively, when PKHC was administered at a concentration of 100 ㎍/ml. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT- PCR) results also showed that PKHC at a concentration of 100 ㎍/ml inhibited the mRNA expression of MITF, TRP-1, TRP-2, and tyrosinase mRNA by 54.4%, 64.9%, 66.6%, and 63.1%, respectively. Taken together, the data confirmed the antioxidant and whitening effect of the PKHC extract and verified the possibility that this extract mixture has great potential as a cosmetic ingredient.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.500-508
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• 2024

Recently, there has been increasing interest in enhancing the indoor air quality, particularly in response to the growing utilization of public facilities. The focus of this study was on assessing the efficacy and safety of an air sterilizer equipped with electrolytic salt catalysts. To that end, we evaluated the antimicrobial activity of the vapor spraying from the air sterilizer and its cytotoxicity in condensed form on human cell lines (HaCaT, BEAS-2B, and THP-1). Against the test organisms, which comprised five bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium) and one fungal strain (Candida albicans), the air sterilizer exhibited relatively high antimicrobial activities ranging from 10.89 to 73.98% following 1 and 3 hr of vapor spraying, which were notably time-dependent. Importantly, cytotoxicity assessments on human cells indicated no significant harmful effect even at a 1.0% concentration. Comprehensive safety evaluations included morphological observations, gene expression (Bcl-2, Bax) tests, and FACS analysis of intracellular ROS levels. Consistent with previous cytotoxicity findings, these estimates demonstrated no significant changes, highlighting the air sterilizer's safety and antimicrobial activities. In a simulated 20-hr operation within an indoor environment, the air sterilizer not only showed an 89.4% removal of total bacteria but also a 100.0% removal of Escherichia sp. and fungi. This research outlines the potential of the developed electrolytic salt catalyst air sterilizer to effectively remove indoor microbial pollutants without compromising human safety, underscoring the solution that it offers for improving indoor air quality.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.29-44
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• 1990

In 105 patients with the past history of poor response to the previous controlled ovarian hyperstimulation(COH) due to poor follicular growth or premature LH surge, the effectiveness of pituitary suppression with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist(GnRH agonist) in IVF/GIFT program was evaluated in 112 cycles of COH using a combination regimen of Leuprolide acetate (Lupron TAP Pharmaceuticals, USA) and FSH/hMG or pure FSH from May to December, 1989 at SNUH. Starting on day 21 of the menstrual cycle(MCD #21, Day 1), Lupron (1.0mg/day, subcutaneous) was administered once a day till next MCD #3(suppression phase). After the confirmation of pituitary suppression, ovarian follicular growth was stimulated with FSH/hMG or pure FSH from MCD #3(Day + 1), and Lupron was continued with hMG or FSH until hCG administration (D 0) (stimulation phase). After suppression phase, serum E2 level decreased from 183.7${\pm}$95.1(Day 1) to 17.4${\pm}$12.3pg/ml (Day +1), and serum progesterone level from 19.17${\pm}$8.67 to 0.12${\pm}$0.05ng/ml. But there was no decresas in serum LH and FSH levels; LH from 12.74${\pm}$6.21 to 15.49${\pm}$4.93mIU/ml,FSH from 7.60${\pm}$3.84 to 8.58${\pm}$3.15 rnlU/ml. There was no occurrence of premature LH surge during COH. Eleven cycles(9.8%) were cancelled due to poor follicular growth during stimulation phase, and 3 cycles (3.0%) failed in the transvaginal oocytes fretrieval. Serum E2 level was 1366.8${\pm}$642.4 on D 0 and 1492.3${\pm}$906.9pg/ml on D+1. 7.00${\pm}$3.32 follicles(FD${\geq}$12mm) were observed on D 0, and 6.11${\pm}$4.15 oocytes were retrieved, with the oocyte retrieval rate per follicle of 95.0%. 3.59${\pm}$2.57 oocytes were fertilized and cleaved with the oocyte cleavage rate of 55.7%. In 83 IVF patients, 4.08${\pm}$2.39 embryos were transferred, and 16 pregnancies were obtained with the pregnancy rate per ET 2.39 mebryos were transferred, and 16 pregnancies were obtained with the pregnancy rate per ET of 19.3%. In 6 GIFT patients, 7.83${\pm}$3.31 oocytes were retrieved and transferred with maximum number of 6, but no pregnancy was obtained. When compared with the previous 108 cycles of COH using FSH/hMG or pure FSH regimen, the cancellation rate during COH was significantly decreased, and all the parameters of the outcome of COH including the pregnancy rate were increased. These data suggest that GnRH agonist therapy for pituitary suppression is an effective adjunct to the current gonadotropin regimens for COH in IVF/GIFT and can increase the probability of oocytes retrieval and pregnancy, especially in the previous poor responders.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2013

Pyrifluquinazon is known to act as a feeding inhibitor in several insect species. In this study, we investigated the effect of pyrifluquinazon on the whiteflies, Trialeurodes vaporariorum and Bemisia tabaci. Pyrifluquinazon showed high insecticidal activity (> 90%) against adult T. vaporariorum and B. tabaci at 12.5 ppm to 50 ppm. However, there was no effect on eggs and nymphs of both species. Pyrifluquinazon showed low insecticidal activity in root and foliar uptake. Control efficacy of pyrifluquinazon was above 90% at 5 days after treatment. In order to investigate the behavioral response of the whiteflies initiated by application of pyrifluquinazon, we tested the contact toxicity and ingestion toxicity. After 1 h of contact, whitefly drop, wing convulsion, and paralysis were observed. Similar phenomenon of whitefly population was observed in test of ingestion toxicity after 3 h. In the choice test, pyrifluquinazon showed repellent activity against both species. These results suggest that pyrifluquinazon cause behavioral disorder rather than direct inhibition of feeding.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.229-244
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• 2014

Background: Antibiotic skin test(AST) is very useful for the diagnosis of drug allergies to prevent immediate allergic reactions. Although it is a safe and widespread method, it is performed very diversely by doctors and nurses without consistency and it also differs from countries and hospitals. This study aims to evaluate the current practice of AST by nurses in Korea and to compare it to the general guidelines. Methods: During January 1, 2013 to May 20, 2013, the study was conducted as questionnaires and case-based survey. The questionnaires were given to the nurses who were randomly selected in various University Hospitals (University Hospitals N=276, and Medical center N=19). The case-based surveys were given to the nurses who were conducting AST at various wards of a University Hospital (N=130). The analysis and evaluations of the responses were carried out. Results: The response rate for the questionnaires was 97.6% and 130 cases of the actual case-based surveys were collected. There were clear differences between the survey results and the general guidelines, such as the method of skin test (skin prick test was not conducted), the method of patient selection for AST, test drugs, concentration, volume and interpretation of AST. AST conducted by nurses was highly variable and inconsistent, even among nurses who worked in the same wards and hospitals. Manufactured standard concentration antibiotic solution of AST showed consistency of concentration to a certain degree. Conclusion: Although the general guidelines have been published by several countries including Korea, these are not a great help to nurses as they lack details for conducting AST, practical consideration for nurses in the clinical setting, propagation and education. Standardized guideline for nurses should be published and it should be a safe, clear, comfortable and easily accessible protocol. Futhermore, additional antibiotic solutions to standardize skin test should be developed and manufactured. Lastly, it would be the pharmacists role to compare their hospitals antibiotic skin test methods with the standard guidelines and develop a protocol within the hospital for patients' safety, and to strive to consistently implement it.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.1642-1649
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• 2003

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of phytase supplementation on the growth performance, nutrients utilization and bone mineralization in broiler chickens. Day-old broiler chicks (n=480) were equally devided into eight treatment groups and fed maize or wheat based isocaloric, isonitrogenous and isocalcium diets having two non phytate phosphorus (NPP) concentrations (0.50% and 0.30%) and two phytase levels (0 and 500 phytase units/kg diet) in a 42 days growth trial. Maize based dietary treatments were MC (NPP 0.50%, MN (NPP 0.30%), MNP (MN+500 units of phytase) and MCP (MC+500 units of phytase), whereas wheat based experimental diets were WC (NPP 0.50%), WN (NPP 0.30%), WNP (WN+500 units of phytase) and WCP (WC+500 units of phytase). The NPP levels were maintained by dicalcium phosphate. Reduction in dietary NPP depressed live weight gain and feed intake and increased feed conversion ratio (FCR). Phytase supplementation to low NPP (0.30%) diets significantly (p<0.05) improved the growth performances of broilers. The supplementation to low NPP diets allowed complete, safe and economic replacement of dietary inorganic P (dicalcium phosphate) to reduce feed cost per kg live weight gain of broilers. Reduction in dietary NPP did not affect retention of nutrients except phosphorus (P) but had a significant (p<0.05) depression in tibia ash and minerals (Ca, P) concentration in serum and tibia ash. Phytase supplementation at low NPP level was effective (p<0.05) in improving the retention of dry matter, Ca and P and Ca and P concentration in serum and tibia ash. However, the supplementation was not effective at high level of NPP (0.50%). There were no significant (p>0.05) differences in carcass quality among dietary treatments. The response of phytase was greater in low NPP and maize based diets as compared with high NPP and wheat based diets, respectively. The results show that phytase supplementation to low NPP (0.30%) diets improved the growth performance, relative retention of nutrients (N, Ca and P) and minerals (Ca, P) status of blood and bone in broiler chickens, with a better efficacy in maize based diets.