• Proceedings of the Korea Association of Crystal Growth Conference
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• 2000.06a
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• pp.1-33
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• 2000

Silicon carbide ceramics with sintering additives from the system AlN-Y$_2$O$_3$ can be gas-pressure sintered to theoretical density. While commonly a combination of sesquioxides is used such as Al$_2$O$_3$-Y$_2$O$_3$, the oxynitrid additives offer the advantage that only a nitrogen atmosphere is require instead of a powder. By starting form a mixture of ${\beta}$-SiC and ${\alpha}$-SiC, and by performing dedicated heat treatments after densification, anisotropic grain growth is obtained which leads to a platelet microstructure showing enhance fracture toughness. In the present work, recent improvement of the mechanical behaviour of these materials at ambient and high temperatures is reported. By means of a surface oxidation treatment in air it is possible to obtain four-point bending strengths in excess of 1 GPa, and the strength retention at high temperatures is significantly improved.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.207-215
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• 2009

We carried out this study to investigate differences of physiological variables between patients with (DM group) and without type II diabetes mellitus (Non-DM group) undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG). Postoperative $Mg^{++}$ and $Ca^{++}$ levels were lower, whereas $Na^+$ level was higher in DM group than those in Non-DM group. ICU (intensive care unit) stay time in DM group was longer than that of Non-DM group. Postoperative platelet counts tended to decrease, whereas C-reactive protein (CRP) and cardiac troponin-I (cTNI) levels tended to increase in DM group compared with Non-DM group. Postoperative albumin level was lower, while blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine levels were greater in DM group than those in Non-DM group. DM group had higher incidence of post-operative arrhythmias than Non-DM group. These results reveal that type II DM patients undergoing OPCAB may have higher incidences of postoperative hypomagnesemia, hypocalcemia and arrhythmias, and increases of CRP, cTNI, BUN, and creatinine levels than in Non-DM patients undergoing OPCAB. The perioperative check and control (supplement) of $Mg^{++}$ levels should be considered in cardiovascular surgery combined with DM.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.9
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• pp.1178-1184
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• 2006

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of ethanol extract of antler velvet (EAV) on common serum chemistry panels and histopathological change in rats exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Administration of TCDD ($50{\mu}g/kg$ body weight) induced significant decrease in platelet count (p<0.01), creatine phosphokinase (CPK, p<0.01), lactatate dehydrogenase (LDH, p<0.05) and glucose (p<0.05) levels and increase in hemoglobin (p<0.05), aspartate aminotransferase (AST, p<0.01), alanine amino transferase (ALT, p<0.05) and lipase activities (p<0.05), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN, p<0.05), triglyceride (p<0.01) and low density lipoptotein cholesterol (LDL-C, p<0.05) levels. However, pretreatment of EAV at daily dose of 20 mg/kg b.w. from 1 wk before TCDD exposure for 5 wks attenuated the abnormality of the overall serum chemistry panels but statistical difference between TE and TA groups was observed only in testicular weight (p<0.01), LDH activity (p<0.05), glucose (p<0.05) and lipase activity (p<0.01). In addition, TCDD induced significant histopathological changes including swelling, fatty metamorphosis, and vacuolar degeneration in liver; edema in proximal and distal convoluted tubules, and glomerulus in kidney; severe atrophy of red purple and appearance of significant number of macrophage in spleen; prominent atrophy and decrease in immune cells in thymus. On the other hand, administration of EAV attenuated histopathological damage induced by TCDD. These results further suggest that administration of EAV attenuates TCDD induced testicular, liver, pancreatic, hematopoietic and nephrotic toxicities in rats.