• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.234-237
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• 2014

Background: Inhalation of asbestos fibers can lead to adverse health effects on the lungs. This study describes lung function profiles among individuals with nonmalignant asbestos-related disorders (ARDs). Methods: The study population was from the Workers' Compensation (Dust Diseases) Board of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. Lung function measurements were conducted in males with asbestosis (n = 26), diffuse pleural thickening (DPT; n = 129), asbestosis and DPT (n = 14), pleural plaques only (n = 160) and also apparently healthy individuals with a history of asbestos exposure (n = 248). Standardized spirometric and single-breath diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide ($DL_{CO}$) measurements were used. Results: Mean age [standard deviation (SD)] was 66.7 (10.3) years for all participants. Current and ex-smokers among all participants comprised about 9.0% and 54.8%, respectively. Median pack-years (SD) of smoking for ex- and current-smokers were 22.7 (19.9). Overall 222 participants (38.6%) and 139 participants (24.2%) had forced expiratory volume in 1 second ($FEV_1$) and forced vital capacity (FVC) measurements < 80% predicted, and 217 participants (37.7%) had $FEV_1/FVC$ results < 70%. A total of 249 individuals (43.8%) had DLCO values < 80% predicted and only 75 (13.2%) had DLCO/VA results < 80% predicted. A total of 147 participants (25.6%) had peak expiratory flow (PEF) measurements < 80% predicted. The presence of ARDs lowered the lung function measurements compared to those of healthy individuals exposed to asbestos. Conclusion: Lung function measurement differs in individuals with different ARDs. Monitoring of lung function among asbestos-exposed populations is a simple means of facilitating earlier interventions.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.286-296
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• 2023

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of soil microbial fertilizer (SMF) containing Saccharomyces cerevisiae HS-1 and Streptococcus thermophiles HS-2 on the growth of creeping bentgrass. For the pot experiment, the treatments were as follows: no fertilizer (NF), control (3 N g/m²/month), SMF-1 (control+SMF 2 mL/m²/time), and SMF-2 (control+SMF 4 mL/m²/time). For the plot experiment, the treatments were as follows: NF, control, SMFp-1 (control+SMF 1 mL/m²/time), SMFp-2 (control+SMF 2 mL/m²/time), and SMFp-3 (control+SMF 4 mL/m²/time). In the pot experiment, visual turfgrass quality and the uptake amount of nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) were increased under the SMF treatments, whereas the content of chlorophyll (a, b, and a+b) and clipping yield were not considerably different compared with the control. In the pot experiment, the amount of SMF positively correlated with visual turfgrass quality and uptake amount of N and K. In the plot experiment, turfgrass density was increased by 12.9-19.2% under SMFp treatments compared with the control. These results indicated that the application of SMF containing Sa. cerevisiae HS-1 and St. thermophiles HS-2 improved the quality, density, and growth of creeping bentgrass via prompting the uptake of N and K.

• Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorders
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.59-70
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• 2022

Background and Purpose: Neurofilament light chain (NfL) has been considered as a biomarker for neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD). We measured plasma NfL levels in older adults with cognitive complaints and evaluated their clinical usefulness in AD. Methods: Plasma levels of NfL, measured by using the single molecule array method, were acquired in a total of 113 subjects consisting of subjective cognitive decline (SCD; n=14), mild cognitive impairment (MCI; n=37), or dementia of Alzheimer type (DAT; n=62). Plasma NfL level was compared among three groups, and its association with cognitive and functional status was also analyzed. Results: After adjusting for age, plasma NfL level was higher in subjects with DAT (65.98±84.96 pg/mL), compared to in subjects with SCD (16.90±2.54 pg/mL) or MCI (25.53±10.42 pg/mL, p=0.004). NfL levels were correlated with scores of the mini-mental state examination (r=-0.242, p=0.021), clinical dementia rating (CDR) (r=0.291, p=0.005), or CDR-sum of boxes (r=0.276, p=0.008). Just for participants who performed amyloid positron emission tomography (PET), the levels were different between subjects with PET (-) (n=17, 25.95±13.25 pg/mL) and PET (+) (n=16, 63.65±81.90 pg/mL, p=0.010). Additionally, plasma NfL levels were different between vascular dementia and vascular MCI, and between Parkinson's disease- dementia and no dementia. Conclusions: This pilot study shows that in subjects with DAT, plasma NfL levels increase. Plasma NfL level correlated with cognitive and functional status. Further longitudinal studies may help to apply the plasma NfL levels to AD, as a potential biomarker for the diagnosis and predicting progression.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.139-146
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• 2000

A trial was carried out to investigate the effect of fermented saw-dust pig manure (FSP) and N fertilizer application on physical, chemical properties and microbial population of soil on Cheju brown volcanic ash pasture during the period from September, 1997 to January, 1999. Average soil N contents during 3 different periods, August and October, 1998, and January, 1999 were 0.39, 0.41 and 0.39% for fertilizer N level 0, 150 and 300kg/ha, respectively. Soil N contents determined in January, 1999, was significantly increased by an increase of fertilizer N. Nitrogen contents in the soil applied with 0, 3, 6 and 12 tons 1 ha of FSP were 0.43, 0.40, 0.38 and 0.38%, respectively, showing decreasing tendency of soil with increasing levels of FSP application. Soil N contents determined in August, 1998 and January, 1999, were significantly decreased by increasing levels of FSP application. Organic matter contents of the soil applied with N 0, 150 and 300 kg/ha was 8.04, 8.37, and 9.08%. Soil organic matters determined on the 1st and 2nd period trended to increase with increasing level of fertilizer N. FSP application significantly decreased organic matter contents of pasture soil, (9.14, 8.79, 8.28 and 7.78% OM in soil applied with FSP 0, 3, 6 and 12 tonlha of FSP), respectively. Soil OM determined in October, 1998, also showed a significant decrease with increasing level of FSP. Soil pH, available phosphorus, exchangeable K, Ca, Mg and Na in soil studied were not influenced by fertilizer N or FSP application during all three periods. N application tended to increase soil bacteria count, ($27.0\;{\times}\;10^4\;cfu/g,\;29.4\;{\times}\;1-^4\;cfu/g$ and $53.6\;10^4\;cfu/g$ in the soil applied with 0, 150 and 300 kg N/ha, respectively). The number of colonies of soil bacteria and fungi determined in June and October, 1998 was not increased remarkably by FSP application, but the number of colonies of bacteria determined in March, 1998 showed a significant increase with increasing level of FSP application. In conclusion, N contents and OM of soil increased with increasing level of N application, but decreased with increasing level of FSP application.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.223-233
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• 2010

Spatio-temporal variations of long-term water qualities (COD, SS, $Chl-{\alpha}$, N-related nutrients (TN, TDN, $NO_3^-$, $NH_4^+$), P-related nutrients (TP, TDP, $PO_4^{3-}$)) at two stations (St. SD, St. GG) in the Geumgang Reservoir were investigated from August 2001 to July 2008. Statistical methods such as t-test, factor analysis, and multi-regression analysis were applied to the water quality data in the reservoir as well as mass balances on TP. From the temporal comparisons of the water qualities between 2002 and 2007, average concentrations of $NH_4^+$, $PO_4^{3-}$, and TDP gradually decreased down by 60%, 24%, 52% in 2007. However, those of TP and $Chl-{\alpha}$ increased to 99% and 423% during the period. From the spatial comparisons between the two stations, St. GG showed higher concentrations for all of the N- and P-related nutrients than in St. SD, while opposite result for the $Chl-{\alpha}$. The factor analysis showed that "the seasonal variations of N- and P-related nutrients" were the two dominant factors occupying 49% of total variances of water qualities. Based on this result, multi-regression analysis executed for the two most influential parameters (TP and $Chl-{\alpha}$) focusing on the seasonal variations of these parameters: SS and $Chl-{\alpha}$ has contributed decisively to the concentrations of TP during the wet and dry season, respectively. On the other hand, COD and TP has been important for the $Chl-{\alpha}$ during the wet and dry season, respectively. From the established mass balances of TP loadings in the Geumgang Reservoir, Other Sources (60%) occupied the greatest contribution and Fluvial Input (38%) and Sediment (1%) during the wet season. However, both Fluvial Water (48%) and Other Sources (47%) supplied comparable amount of inputs and Sediment (5%) showed significantly increased input during the dry seasons. Recently especially during the dry winter seasons, migrating bird's excretion was estimated to contribute up to 8% of total TP input and 21% of Other Sources.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.81-97
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• 2014

Objectives : The purpose of this study is analyzing the current research methodology of pharmacopucture for the treatment of animal cancer models. Methods : Four electronic databases were searched for animal studies published from January 2000 to September 2014 onward using these search terms "cancer, anticancer, pharmacopuncture, beevenom". Selected articles were described about animal cancer models. The methods used to induce cancer and the outcome measures used to assess the effects of pharmacopuncture on animal cancer models were analyzed. Results : 37 articles were included. For producing animal cancer models BALB/C mice(n=22) and C57BL/6 mice(n=17) were selected. And intravenous injection of B16-F10 melanoma cells into tail vein(n=14) or intraperitoneal injection of sarcoma-180 cells(n=14) were frequently used to induce cancer. Various pharmacopunctures were injected into acupoints $CV_{12}(n=19)$, $ST_{36}(n=8)$, $BL_{18}(n=8)$ or peritoneal cavity(n=6), tumor site(n=2), tail vein(n=2). Outcome measures were categorized into anti-cancer, anti-metastasis, general condition, cytotoxicity, immune response, toxicity. Median Survival Time(MST) and increase of life span(ILS)(n=26) was frequently used for evaluating anti-cancer effects. And pulmonary colonization assay(n=13) was frequently used for evaluating anti-metastasis effects Conclusions : Based on these data, further research would be needed to ascertain the effectiveness of pharmacopuncture for treating cancer and broaden the range of clinical applications.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.253-257
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• 2011

Amikacin is a semisynthetic derivative of kanamycin and primarily active against aerobic Gram-negative-pathogens with limited activity against Gram-positive bacteria. Meager study was reported on pharmacokinetic data on multi-days administration of amikacin. Hence, pharmacokinetics study was done in five clinically healthy goats (n = 5), after intravenous bolus injection of amikacin sulfate at the dose rate of 10 mg/kg body weight daily for three consecutive days. The amikacin concentrations in plasma and pharmacokinetics-parameters were analyzed by using microbiological assay technique and noncompartmental open-model, respectively. The mean peak plasma concentrations (Mean ${\pm}$ SD) of amikacin at time zero ($Cp^{0}$) was $114.19{\pm}20.78$ and $128.67{\pm}14.37{\mu}g/mL$, on day 1st and 3rd, respectively. The mean elimination half-life ($t_{1/2}ke$) was $1.00{\pm}0.28h$ on day 1st and $1.22{\pm}0.29h$ on day 3rd. Mean of area under concentration-time curve ($AUC_{0{\rightarrow}{\infty}}$) was $158.26{\pm}60.10$ and $159.70{\pm}22.74{\mu}g.h/mL$, on day 1st and 3rd respectively. The total body clearance ($Cl_{B}$) and volume of distribution at steady state (Vdss) on day 1st and 3rd were $Cl_{B}=0.07{\pm}0.02$ and $0.06{\pm}0.01L/h.kg$ and $Vdss=0.10{\pm}0.03$ and $0.11{\pm}0.05L/kg$, respectively. No-significant difference was noted in both drug-plasma concentration and pharmacokinetics-parameters, respectively. Amikacin concentration in plasma was found higher up-to 4 h and 6 h onward on down-ward trends favour to reduce toxicity. Which also support the pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic way of dosing of aminoglycosides and hence, amikacin may be administered 10 mg/kg intravenously daily to treat principally Gram-negative pathogens and limitedly Gram-positive-pathogens.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.330-339
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• 2012

Background : Hypertension is treated with both lifestyle modification and pharmacotherapy. The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC-7), published in 2003, provides a streamlined management approach to hypertension for the primary care physician. The JNC-7 is the gold standard also in Korea. According to the JNC-7, special therapeutic considerations are recommended for high-risk individuals with compelling indications. The presence of compelling indications in any given patient should be considered when selecting specific pharmacotherapy to treat hypertension. However, in patients with compelling indications, it is unknown that hepatotoxicity is caused by Calcium Channel Blocker (CCB), one of 1st anti-hypertensive drugs. Now, the CCB is the most used 1st anti-hypertensive drug in Korea Therefore, we evaluated the changes in blood liver function parameters (ALT, AST, Total bilirubin, serum albumin) for the study group. Methods : We randomly collected and retrospectively analyzed Electronic Medical Record data (n=28,788) of patients, and who took calcium channel blockers(non-dihydropyridines; diltiazem, verapamil, dihydropyridines; amlodipine, barnidipine, benidipine, clinidipine, efonidipine, felodipine, isradipine, lacidipine, lercanidipine, nicardipine, nifedipine, nimodipine), with having liver function tests (LFTs) from July 1st 2009 to June 30th 2010 at the Seoul National University Hospital in Korea. Control groups are two antihypertensive agents: RAS blockade (ARB; candesartan, irbesartan, losartan, olmesartan, telmisartan, valsartan, ACE-I; cilazapril, enalapril, fosinopril, imidapril, perindopril, ramipril) and, Diuretics (loop; furosemide, torsemide, thiazide; hydrochlorothiazide[HCTZ], indapamide). Patients not having LFT results at these three standard points of time(baseline, during, medication, and after finishing medication) were excluded. The collected data were analyzed by using the SPSS (Version12.0) and Microsoft Excel (Version2007). Results : 711 patients who were treated CCB (297), RAS blockade (232) or Diuretics (182) monotherapy were selected for the study. In selected patients, liver damage degree(changes of each LFTs value) was higher in diuretics group than other groups, followed by RAS blockade and CCB. In diuretics group's was loop-diuretics group was higher than thiazide-diuretics group. In CCB group, Nondihydropyridine-CCB's damage degree was higher than Dihydropyrine-CCB's that. Conclusions : Despite the limitations due to the retrospective study, among patients with abnormal LFTs, the use of CCBs led to a less liver damage than other 1st anti-hypertensive agents. It can be recommended CCBs as one of the initial treatments of hypertension in patients with liver disease.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.487-492
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• 2013

This study aimed to illuminate the correlatives between the surface processing of Zirconia core and the shear bond strength. The specimens were made by precipitating for two minutes in color liquid and drying to produce a colored Zirconia core following the manufacturer's instructions. The specimens were divided into 4 subgroups according to the surface treatment-sandblasted+liner treatment, SLT group; sandblasted treatment, ST group; liner treatment, LT group; non treatment (control), NT group. The specimens were put on the device with regard to ISO/TS 11405, then tested the shear bond strength with 1 mm shearing speed per minute using the Instron multi-purpose tester. The collected data was analysed by one way ANOVA and t-test. After applying the liner and sandblast to the Zirconia core, shear bond strength value were SLT (23.19 MPa), ST (21.17 MPa), LT (20.53 MPa) and NT (16.46 MPa) in the order. There was a significant difference in the surface roughness between NT and ST group (p<0.001), and in the compressive shear bond strength between NT and SLT group (p<0.05). Therefore, sandblasted plus liner treatment on pre-sintered substructure increased the bond strength of veneering ceramic, compared with other surface treatments.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.1299-1305
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• 1996

The rat thoracic aorta was harvested to determine whether either hyperkalemla or hypothermia impairs the endothelium-dependent re axation of the vascular smooth muscle. Isolated thoracic aorta segments were studied in five groups(n=10 in each group). In group I(control), the isolated aortic seglnents were suspended in organ bath without any intervention. In group ll(endotheilum removAl). the endothelium of the aortic segment was removed by gentle rubbing of the intimal surface with a pair of forceps. In group III(457), IV(4mST), and V(3757), the aortic segments were exposed for 45minutes to 4$^{\circ}C$ St. Thomas hospital cardioplegic solution(57 : NaCl, 144.3; KCI, 19.6, MgCl:, 15.7 : CaCl, 2.2 mmol/L).4$^{\circ}C$ modified St. Thomas hospital cardioplegic solution(NaCl, 144.3 : KCI. 140.0 : MgCl:, 15.7; CaCl:. 2.2 mmol/L). and 37$^{\circ}C$ 57, before suspending in the organ bath, respectively. Then, aorta segments were suspended in organ baths(physiologic salt solution, 37$^{\circ}C$, 95% oxygen and 5% carbon dioxide) for Isometric tension recording. The vasodilatation to acetylcholine (10-2 to 10-2mol/L) was not impaired in control, 457, 4mST, nd 3757 groups. The vasodilatation to acetylcholine was impaired in endothelium removal group. The vasodilatation to sodium nitroprusslde (10-2 to 10-2 mol/L) was not impaired in all groups. In conclusion, both hyperkalemia and hypothermia do not alter irreversibly the function of the rondothelium of the thoracic aorta of the rat.