• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.7-15
• /
• 2016

Objectives: Malaria has been a major global health problem in recent times with increasing mortality. Current treatment methods include parasiticidal drugs and vaccinations. However, resistance among malarial parasites to the existing drugs has emerged as a significant area of concern in anti-malarial drug design. Researchers are now desperately looking for new targets to develop anti-malarials drug which is more target specific. Malarial parasites harbor a plastid-like organelle known as the 'apicoplast', which is thought to provide an exciting new outlook for the development of drugs to be used against the parasite. This review elaborates on the current state of development of novel compounds targeted againstemerging malaria parasites. Methods: The apicoplast, originates by an endosymbiotic process, contains a range of metabolic pathways and housekeeping processes that differ from the host body and thereby presents ideal strategies for anti-malarial drug therapy. Drugs are designed by targeting the unique mechanism of the apicoplasts genetic machinery. Several anabolic and catabolic processes, like fatty acid, isopenetyl diphosphate and heme synthess in this organelle, have also been targeted by drugs. Results: Apicoplasts offer exciting opportunities for the development of malarial treatment specific drugs have been found to act by disrupting this organelle's function, which wouldimpede the survival of the parasite. Conclusion: Recent advanced drugs, their modes of action, and their advantages in the treatment of malaria by using apicoplasts as a target are discussed in this review which thought to be very useful in desigining anti-malarial drugs. Targetting the genetic machinery of apicoplast shows a great advantange regarding anti-malarial drug design. Critical knowledge of these new drugs would give a healthier understanding for deciphering the mechanism of action of anti-malarial drugs when targeting apicoplasts to overcome drug resistance.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.96-100
• /
• 2008

Diversity of lactic acid bacteria involved in 5 Korean fermented vegetables (Cot kimchi, Dongchimi, Baechu kimchi, Oisobagi, and Chonggak kimchi) was investigated using PCR-based method. PCR primer pairs targeted the recA gene were used for the detection of 7 species of lactic acid bacteria mainly found in kimchi and Lactobacillus acidophilus involved in dairy fermentation. Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus sakei were detected in all samples tested but Lactobacillus paraplantarum, Lactobacillus pentosus, and Lb. acidophilus were not detected. Lactobacillus brevis and Leuconostoc citreum were detected only from Baechu kimchi and Leuconostoc mesenteroides was detected from Got kimchi, Dongchimi, Baechu kimchi, and Oisobagi. The difference of detected species from fermented vegetables may be originated from the difference of main materials. Lb. plantarum and Lb. sakei are supposed to be broadly involved in Korean fermented vegetables.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.31-37
• /
• 2013

To acquire enhanced adsorption capacity for especially targeted VOCs, activated carbon fiber of which surface area was $1,100m^2/g$ was selected and active metals were loaded. After screening study, Cr and Cu were selected as a base metal for improving adsorption capacity of activated carbon fiber. For acquiring better performance, metal loading, loading temperature, loading hours and kinds of loaded metals were changed as preparing variables. Properties measurement and adsorption capacity evaluation were performed. We found that the best conditions for metal loading were 5 hours loading at $100^{\circ}C$ and the adsorption capacity was enhanced almost double. Also we confirmed that more than 0.5 seconds contact time is needed for best adsorbate diffusion and adsorption over activated carbon fiber.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
• /
• v.20 no.12
• /
• pp.2395-2400
• /
• 2016

Conventional drug carriers such as liposomes, nanoparticles, polymer micelles, polymeric conjugate and lipid microemulsion for cancer chemotherapy shield normal tissues from toxic drugs to treat cancer cells in tumors. However, inaccurate tumor targeting uncontrolled drug release from the carriers and unwanted accumulation in healthy sites can limit treatment efficacy with current conventional drug carriers with insufficient concentrations of drugs in the tumors and unexpected side effects as a result. Sickle red blood cells show natural tumor preferential accumulation without any manipulation due to the adhesive interaction between molecular receptors on the membrane surface and counter-receptor on endothelial cells. In addition, structural changes of microvascular in tumor sites enhances polymerization of sickle red blood cells. In this research, we examined the use of sickle red blood cells as a new drug carrier with novel tumor targeting and controlled release properties to quantify its therapeutic effects.

• KIPS Transactions on Computer and Communication Systems
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.23-30
• /
• 2014

In this paper, we propose an efficient agent framework for host-based vulnerability assessment system by analyzing the operational concept of traditional vulnerability assessment framework and proposed vulnerability assessment agent framework in virtualization environment. A proposed agent framework have concept by using the features of virtualization technology, it copy and execute checking agent in targeted virtual machines. In order to embody a propose agent framework, we design function block of checking agent and describe a vulnerability checking scenario of proposed agent framework. Also we develop pilot system for vulnerability checking scenario. We improve the shortcomings of the traditional vulnerability assessment system, such as unnecessary system load of the agent, inefficiency due to duplication agent installation. Moreover, the proposed agent framework is maximizing the scalability of the system because there is no agent installation when adding a targeted system.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.11
• /
• pp.4623-4628
• /
• 2015

Breast cancer still remains as the most frequent cancer with second mortality rate in women worldwide. There are no validated biomarkers for detection of the disease in early stages with effective power in diagnosis and therapeutic approaches. Cancer/testis antigens are recently promising tumor antigens and suitable candidates for targeted therapies and generating cancer vaccines. We conducted the present study to analyze transcript changes of two cancer/testis antigens, OIP5 and TAF7L, in breast tumors and cell lines in comparison with normal breast tissues by quantitative real time RT-PCR for the first time. Significant over-expression of OIP5 was observed in breast tumors and three out of six cell lines including MDA-MB-468, T47D and SKBR3. Not significant expression of TAF7L was evident in breast tumors but significant increase was noted in three out of six cell lines including MDA-MB-231, BT474 and T47D. OIP5 has ssignificant role in chromatin organization and cell cycle control during cell cycle exit and normal chromosome segregation during mitosis and TAF7L is a component of the transcription factor IID, which is involved in transcription initiation of most protein coding genes. TAF7Lis located at X chromosome and belongs to the CT-X gene family of cancer/testis antigens which contains about 50% of CT antigens, including those which have been used in cancer immunotherapy.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.8
• /
• pp.3911-3916
• /
• 2016

Background: Triple negative (TN) and triple positive (TP) breast cancers both are aggressive types but TN generally has a shorter survival. Objectives: To compare the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes for patients with TN versus TP breast cancer and to assess various prognostic factors affecting overall survival. Materials and Methods: A retrospective audit of 85 breast cancer patients was conducted in the Department of Radiation Oncology and Medical Oncology on patients from 2006 to 2013 for whom IHC for ER, PgR and Her-2 neu were available. The patients were stratified into: ER-, PR- and Her-2 neu- (Arm A, n=47) and ER+, PgR+ and Her-2 neu+ (Arm B, n=38). Results: TN subtype had higher numbers of premenopausal and advanced stage patients as compared to TP subtype. The locoregional recurrence (LRR) and distant metastatic rate was also higher in TN subtype but there was no definite pattern in both the arms. Among the prognostic factors, patients with premenopausal status and advanced stage in TN breast cancer had inferior survival (P=0.07) whereas for those with postmenopausal status and early stage there was no survival difference between the two arms. Conclusions: TN subtype tends to be more aggressive in terms of younger age and advanced stage at presentation, higher tumour grade, LRR and metastasis, suggesting need for future research efforts on providing aggressive treatment to these patients. We could attribute better outcome for TP subtype to receptor positivity enabling role of hormonal treatment and targeted therapy, although less number of patients received targeted therapy.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
• /
• v.62 no.3
• /
• pp.141-162
• /
• 2010

This paper tries to provide empirical support for a formal model of social policy development which has been presented in a former paper of this study. In the direct democracy, median voter's social policy preference is critical because he is Condorcet winner in a pair-wise pure majority voting. But, in the more general setting, we should think of various political institutions as a collective choice device. For this reason, I draw a formal model which formulates three contrasting types of political institutions which are distinguished by the developments of political democracy and the differences of electoral rules. Comparative patterns of key variables which measure political institutions, social policy developments, and social policy preference provide support for my arguments. My empirical results suggest that three political institutions are associated with very different policy outcomes. Compared to other institutions, committee system entails more targeted subsidy, less universal benefit. On the contrary, proportional elections produce more universal benefit, less targeted subsidy.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.101-108
• /
• 2011

Purpose: Despite the compelling scientific and clinical data supporting the use of early oral nutrition after major gastrointestinal surgery, traditional bowel rest and intravenous nutrition for several postoperative days is still being used widely after gastric cancer surgery. Materials and Methods: A phase II study was carried out to evaluate the feasibility and safety of postoperative early oral intake (water intake on postoperative days (POD) 1-2, and soft diet on POD 3) after a gastrectomy. The primary outcome was morbidity within 30 postoperative days, which was targeted at <25% based on pilot study data. Results: The study subjects were 90 males and 42 females with a mean age 61.5 years. One hundred and four (79%) and 28 (21%) patients underwent a distal and total gastrectomy, respectively. The postoperative morbidity rate was within the targeted range (15.2%, 95% CI, 10.0~22.3%), and there was no hospital mortality. Of the 132 patients, 117 (89%) successfully completed a postoperative early oral intake regimen without deviation; deviation in 10 (8%) due to gastrointestinal symptoms and in five (4%) due to the management of postoperative complications. The mean times to water intake and a soft diet were $1.0{\pm}0.2$ and $3.2{\pm}0.7$ days, respectively, and the mean hospital stay was $10.0{\pm}6.1$ days. Conclusions: Postoperative early oral intake after a gastrectomy is feasible and safe, and can be adopted as a standard perioperative care after a gastrectomy. Nevertheless, further clinical trials will be needed to evaluate the benefits of early oral nutrition after upper gastrointestinal surgery.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.254-263
• /
• 2016

Objective: Written information could be helpful for senior population to adhere to complex medication therapies, but must be well prepared and empirically assessed to achieve such end. We purposed to develop a drug information leaflet for senior citizens by applying 'performance-based user-testing.' Methods: We employed a user-testing, a mixed method to figure difficulties out with patients' leaflets from the user perspective. The cycle made of test and revision can be repeated as necessary. We recruited senior citizens with age of 65 or above who were taking antihypertensive medications at the point of participating and excluded the elderly who suffered illiteracy. We firstly rectified a drug information leaflet of antihypertensive medications for the general public distributed by the Korean authority based on focus group interviews (9 participants). The revised leaflets were tested four times with 8~12 participants in each round (40 seniors in total). We targeted to develop a leaflet which more than 80% of participants understood 10 key information. Main outcomes measures were to be able to find information and be able to understand information. This study was approved by the Yeungnam University Research Ethics Committee. Results: Focus group interviews identified difficulties with small font of words, professional language, long information, and a poor structure. The leaflet was revised and in the first round questionnaire found problems with 4/10 information points; interviews disclosed all but one (normal blood pressure range) were ill-understood. The second round questionnaire and interview found fewer problems but the comprehensiveness of participants was still poor in several points. For the third and fourth rounds we revised the leaflets in the individual-targeted manner. Finally, the fourth round showed all key information found and understood by at least 80% of participants except one question about drug name. Conclusion: The drug leaflets need to be developed in a personalized mode for the seniors. There was a limit for Korean seniors to understand nonproprietary name of their drugs because they used to producers' trade names which the Korean health system predominantly works with.