• The Korean Journal of Vision Science
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.531-541
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• 2018

Purpose : To evaluate the acute cytotoxic effect of polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB), epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and PHMB/EGCG mixture on the cultured human corneal epithelial cell (HCEpiC). Methods : HCEpiCs were cultured in the media of HCEpiC containing 0.00001~0.005% PHMB, 0.001~5% EGCG and 0.00005% PHMB/0.05% EGCG mixture respectively for 30, 60, 120 and 240 min. Cultured HCEpiCs were fixed and stained with Draq5 and cell viability and apoptosis were evaluated using confocal microscope and ImageXpress $Ultra^{TM}$. Results : Cultured HCEpiC did not show cytotoxic effect at below 0.00005% PHMB and below 0.05% EGCG concentration. In the media containing 0.00005% PHMB/0.05% EGCG, acute cytototoxic effect was not found, whereas damaged HCEpiCS were increased and survival cells were decreased in the media incubated for 240 min. Conclusion : The mixture of 0.00005% PHMB/0.05% EGCG showed non acute cytotoxic effect on the cultured HCEpiCs, however it is needed to investigate its chronic cytotoxic effect.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.45-63
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• 2019

In view of the growing industrial use of Bacterial cellulose (BC), and taking into account that it might become airborne and be inhaled after industrial processing, assessing its potential pulmonary toxic effects assumes high relevance. In this work, the murine model was used to assess the effects of exposure to respirable BC nanofibrils (nBC), obtained by disintegration of BC produced by Komagataeibacter hansenii. Murine bone marrow-derived macrophages ($BMM{\Phi}$) were treated with different doses of nBC (0.02 and 0.2 mg/mL, respectively 1 and $10{\mu}g$ of fibrils) in absence or presence of 0.2% Carboxymethyl Cellulose (nBCMC). Furthermore, mice were instilled intratracheally with nBC or nBCMC at different concentrations and at different time-points and analyzed up to 6 months after treatments. Microcrystaline $Avicel-plus^{(R)}$ CM 2159, a plant-derived cellulose, was used for comparison. Markers of cellular damage (lactate dehydrogenase release and total protein) and oxidative stress (hydrogen peroxidase, reduced glutathione, lipid peroxidation and glutathione peroxidase activity) as well presence of inflammatory cells were evaluated in brochoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids. Histological analysis of lungs, heart and liver tissues was also performed. BAL analysis showed that exposure to nBCMC or CMC did not induce major alterations in the assessed markers of cell damage, oxidative stress or inflammatory cell numbers in BAL fluid over time, even following cumulative treatments. $Avicel-plus^{(R)}$ CM 2159 significantly increased LDH release, detected 3 months after 4 weekly administrations. However, histological results revealed a chronic inflammatory response and tissue alterations, being hypertrophy of pulmonary arteries (observed 3 months after nBCMC treatment) of particular concern. These histological alterations remained after 6 months in animals treated with nBC, possibly due to foreign body reaction and the organism's inability to remove the fibers. Overall, despite being a safe and biocompatible biomaterial, BC-derived nanofibrils inhalation may lead to lung pathology and pose significant health risks.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.690-695
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• 2018

Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) composed of O3 and UV were applied to degrade penicillin (PEN). The degradation efficiency was evaluated in terms of changes in the absorbance (ABS) and total organic carbon (TOC). The combination of $O_3/H_2O_2/UV$ and $O_3/UV$ showed the best performance for the reduction of ABS (100% for 9 min) and TOC (70% for 60 min) values, although the mineralization was uncompleted under the experimental condition in this study. The change in biotoxicy was monitored with Escherichia coli susceptibility and Vibrio fischeri biofluorescence. The E. coli susceptibility was eliminated completely for 9 min by $O_3/UV$, and the toxicity to V. fischeri biofluorescence was 57% reduced by $O_3/H_2O_2/UV$. For the ultimate treatment of PEN, it is suggested that an AOP using $O_3/UV$ is followed by biological treatment, utilizing the enhanced biodegradability by the AOP. During 30 min of $O_3/UV$ treatment, the $BOD_5/COD$ ratio as an indication of biodegradability showed about 4-fold increment, compared to that of using a non-treated sample. TOC removal rate for AOP-pretreated PEN wastewater increased 55% compared to that of using the non-pretreated one through an aerobic biological treatment by Pseudomonas putida for artificial wastewater containing 20 mg/L of PEN. In conclusion, $O_3/UV$ process is recommended as a pretreatment step prior to an aerobic biological process to improve the ultimate degradation of penicillin.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.384-395
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• 2018

The aim of this study was to investigate whether a novel formulation of an herbal extracts has an inhibitory effect on obesity. To determine its anti-obesity effects, we performed anti-obesity-related experiments in vitro and in vivo. Thus, our present study was carried out to evaluate the anti-obesity effect of herbal extracts using a high fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mouse model and 3T3-L1 adipose cells. The effects of each herbal extracts on lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells were examined using Oil Red O staining. Results showed that treatment with each herbal extracts at $10{\sim}100{\mu}g/ml$ had no effect on cell morphology and viability. Without evidence of toxicity, herbal extracts treatment decreased lipid accumulation compared with the untreated adipocytes controls as shown by the lower absorbance of Oil Red O stain. Futhermore, compared with control-differentiated mature adipocytes, each herbal extracts significantly inhibited lipid accumulation in mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes. In the HFD-fed obese mice, body weight, liver weight and white adipose tissue weights were significantly reduced by mixture of herbal extracts administration in mouse skin. Futhermore, we found that mixture of herbal extracts administration suppressed serum triglyceride (TG), and total cholesterol (TCHO) in HFD-induced obese mouse model. The mixture of herbal extracts of permeability was estimated by measuring the transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) value in pig skin. The optimized formulations of herbal extracts (Test 3 formulation) showed skin permeation. However, test 1 formulation containing essential oil as enhancer showed maximum skin permeation. After confirming the enhanced skin permeability, in vivo studies were performed to assess whether skin irritation potential on the basis of a primary irritation index (PII) in rabbit skin. Reactions were scored for erythema/edema reactions at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h post-application. It was concluded that the test 1 formulation was not irritation (PII = 0). The present study suggests that the test 1 formulation might be of therapeutic interest with respect to the treatment of obesity.

• Clean Technology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.269-274
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• 2018

In this study, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of wet tissue manufacturing process was performed. The wet tissue manufacturing process consists of preparation of wetting agent (chemical liquid), impregnation of nonwoven fabric into wetting agent and primary and secondary packaging. Data and information were collected on the input and output of the actual process from a certain company and the database of the Korea Ministry of Environment and some foreign countries (when Korean unavailable) were employed to connect the upper and the lower process flow. Based on the above and the potential environmental impacts of the wet tissue manufacturing process were calculated. As a result of the characterization, Ozone Layer Depletion (OD) is 3.46.E-06 kg $CFC_{11}$, Acidification (AD) is 5.11.E-01 kg $SO_2$, Abiotic Resource Depletion (ARD) is $3.52.E+00\;1yr^{-1}$, Global Warming (GW) is 1.04.E+02 kg $CO_2$, Eutrophication (EUT) is 2.31.E-02 kg ${PO_4}^{3-}$, Photochemical Oxide Creation (POC) was 2.22.E-02 kg $C_2H_4$, Human Toxicity (HT) was 1.55.E+00 kg 1,4 DCB and Terrestrial Ecotoxicity (ET) was 5.82.E-04 kg 1,4 DCB. In order to reduce the environmental impact of the manufacturing process, it is necessary to improve the overall process as other general cases and change the raw materials including packaging materials with less environmental impact. Conclusively, the energy consumed in the manufacturing process has emerged as a major issue, and this needs to be reconsidered other options such as alternative energy. Therefore, it is recommended that a process system should be redesigned to improve energy efficiency and to change to an energy source with lower environmental impact. Due to the nature of LCA, the final results of this study can be varied to some extent depending on the type of LCI DB employed and may not represent of all wet tissue manufacturing processes in the current industry.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.241-246
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• 2019

To understand the characteristics of paralytic shellfish poisoning in a major production area of the bay scallop Argopecten irradians in Korea, the seasonal variation and anatomical distribution of paralytic shellfish toxin (PST) were determined in bay scallops collected from the Gyeongnam coast of Korea from March to May 2018. PST levels in bay scallops in the survey area showed remarkable seasonal variation. PST was first detected at a level of 0.42 mg/kg on April 2, 2018, and the highest toxin level (3.15 mg/kg) was recorded on April 12. Among the tissues of bay scallops, the highest proportion of PST was found in the viscera ($54.9%{\pm}17.8%$), followed by the adductor ($22.8%{\pm}10.9%$), gonads ($8.9%{\pm}4.6%$), gills ($7.1%{\pm}3.7%$), and mantle ($6.3%{\pm}.8%$). In addition, with higher PST levels in the whole tissues of bay scallops, the proportion of PST in the viscera increased, whereas those in the mantle, gill, and gonad tissues decreased. In a high-toxicity group with more than 2.0 mg/kg PST in the whole tissues, the proportion of PST in the viscera was $71.8%{\pm}6.7%$.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.435-444
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• 2019

In this study, two types of nonionic saccharide biosurfactants, GP-6 and GP-7, were prepared from coconut oil and the structure of resulting products was investigated by FT-IR, $^1H-NMR$ and $^{13}C-NMR$ spectrophotometer. The interfacial properties of GP-6 and GP-7 were found to be excellent from interfacial property measurements such as critical micelle concentration, static and dynamic surface tensions, interfacial tension, emulsification power, wetting property and foam stability. Detergency test evaluated by using a Terg-o-tometer showed moderately good detergency compared to that of conventional surfactants used in detergent formulations. Biodegradability, acute oral toxicity, acute dermal irritation and acute eye irritation tests revealed that both surfactants possess excellent mildness and superior environmental compatibility indicating the potential applicability to detergent products formulations. In particular, GP-6 can be considered as a strong candidate in detergent formulations since it is more surface active, mild and readily biodegradable than GP-7.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.117-129
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• 2019

In this study Anti-inflammatory activity was investigated for the extract of Prunus pendula for. ascendens (Makino) Ohwi by monitoring nitric oxide (NO) production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells. The P. pendula ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction showed to decrease the NO synthesis by 76.3% at $100{\mu}g/mL$ concentration. The inhibition occurred in a dose-dependent manner without causing cell toxicity. The EtOAc fraction also inhibited the production of $PGE_2$, $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and expression of iNOS, COX-2 protein in dose-dependent manner. From the phytochemical study to isolate the active constituents, five known compounds were identified, which are ursolic acid (1), prunasin (2), methyl p-coumarate (3), kaempferol (4), astragalin (5). All of the compounds 1 - 5 were isolated for the first time from the P. pendula. Among the isolates, the flavonoids 4 and 5 were verified to inhibit NO production with high efficiency. These results suggested that extract of P. pendula leaves could be useful as anti-inflammatory agents in pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.479-486
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• 2019

This study investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of mixed extracts of Achyranthes japonica Nakai (Aj) and Aralia continentalis Kitagawa (Ac) (ratios of 1 : 2, 1 : 3, 1 : 5, 2 : 1, 3 : 1 and 5 : 1) on RAW264.7 macrophages. Cell toxicity was determined using a cell counting kit (CCK) assay. We evaluated anti-inflammatory effects of the mixed extracts of Aj and Ac by measuring interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor $(TNF){\alpha}$ using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit assay. The mixed extracts of Aj and Ac inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced $IL-1{\beta}$ and $TNF{\alpha}$ in LPS-stimulated macrophages. Comparing different ratios of the mixed extracts, the 2 : 1 ratio of Aj and Ac has much more potency and inhibited the production of $TNF{\alpha}$ in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. The results of the present study showed that the mixed extracts of Aj and Ac have potential anti-inflammatory effects on RAW264.7 macrophages. Therefore, these extracts may be used as a good source of functional foods for the protection against inflammatory diseases.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.11-15
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• 2018

Background/Objectives: The efficacy of radiotherapy alone versus chemoradiotherapy has been studied in patients with T2N0M0 laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Materials & Methods: Thirty nine patients with newly diagnosed T2N0M0 laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma were treated with either radiotherapy(RT group, 66-70Gy) or chemoradiotherapy(CRT group, cisplatin based concurrent chemoradiation with or without 2 cycles induction chemotherapy including cisplatin, $5-FU{\pm}$ docetaxel / radiation therapy same with above mentioned). The mean follow-up was 73.5 months. Results: The overall survival (OS), disease specific survival (DSS), disease free survival (DFS), and larynx preservation survival (LPS) at 5 years were 70%, 79%, 67%, and 71%. The complete response rate was 82.4% in RT group, and was 95.5% in CRT group. OS (57% vs 80%), DSS (69% vs 86%), DFS (52% vs 77%), and LPS (63% vs 77%) at 5 years were higher in CRT group than RT group, but it was not statistically significant. In subsite analysis, CRT group tends to improve DFS, compared to RT group, in glottic cancer (p=0.06). The toxicities were tolerable and no fatal case was observed in both groups. Conclusion: Chemoradiotherapy is effective as primary therapy for T2 laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and showed manageable treatment induced toxicity.