• 약학회지
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• 제53권5호
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• pp.293-297
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• 2009

The abuse of methamphetamine (MA) is one of the most serious drug abuses in Asia. And, the prevention of precursor production for abuse drug is one of the most effective drug control system. Isotope ratio analysis at natural abundance levels have been used to establish the environmental source or the geographic origin of various biological and nonbiological materials. Ephedrine, the precursor of MA, is produced by one of three methods; extraction from Ephedra plants, full chemical synthesis or via a semi-synthetic process involving the fermentation of sugar, followed by amination. We investigated the origin of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine based on the carbon and nitrogen values for nineteen pharmaceutical powder materials (PPMs) obtained from pharmaceutical company in Korea by stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry coupled to an elemental analyser (EA-IRMS). The carbon delta values for the ephedrine and pseudoephedrine were -24.21~-22.72 (mean=-23.72) $^{\cir}/_{\circ\circ}$ and -23.79~-22.71 (mean=-23.48) $^{\cir}/_{\circ\circ}$. The nitrogen delta values were 3.51~5.55 (4.43) $^{\cir}/_{\circ\circ}$ and 2.24~8.22 (5.42) $^{\cir}/_{\circ\circ}$. These results indicate that PPMs are semi-synthetic products. Therefore the origins of ephedrine(natural, semi-synthetic or synthetic) could be discriminated by using carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios. we are sure tat this stable isotope ratio analysis can discriminate the origins of precursors of methamphetamine.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권5호
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• pp.2251-2255
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• 2014

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate 10 years of false positive urine cytology records, along with follow-up histologic and cytologic data, to determine the significance of suspicious urine cytology findings. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed records of urine samples harvested between January 2002 and December 2012 from voided and catheterized urine from the bladder. Among the 21,283 urine samples obtained during this period, we located 1,090 eligible false positive findings for patients being evaluated for the purpose of confirming urothelial carcinoma (UC). These findings were divided into three categories: atypical, indeterminate, and suspicious of malignancy. Results: Of the 1,090 samples classified as false positive, 444 (40.7%) were categorized as atypical, 367 (33.7%) as indeterminate, and 279 (25.6%) as suspicious of malignancy. Patients with concomitant UC accounted for 105 (23.6%) of the atypical samples, 147 (40.1%) of the indeterminate samples, and 139 (49.8%) of the suspicious of malignancy samples (p<0.0001). The rate of subsequent diagnosis of UC during a 1-year follow-up period after harvesting of a sample with false positive urine cytology initially diagnosed as benign was significantly higher in the suspicious of malignancy category than in the other categories (p<0.001). The total numbers of UCs were 150 (33.8%) for atypical samples, 213 (58.0%) for indeterminate samples, and 199 (71.3%) for samples categorized as suspicious of malignancy. Conclusions: Urine cytology remains the most specific adjunctive method for the surveillance of UC. We demonstrated the clinical value of dividing false positive urine cytology findings into three categories, and our results may help clinicians better manage patients with suspicious findings.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권8호
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• pp.3223-3227
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• 2015

Objective: We evaluated the association of body mass index (BMI) with perioperative outcomes in patients who underwent laparoscopic or open radical nephroureterectomy. Materials and Methods: This retrospective single-center study included 113 patients who had been diagnosed with upper urinary tract cancer from January 1998 to June 2013 and were treated with laparoscopic nephroureterectomy (Lap group, n=60) or open nephroureterectomy (Open group, n=53). Laparoscopic nephroureterectomy was performed via a retroperitoneal approach following an open partial cystectomy. The two surgical groups were stratified into a normal-BMI group (<25) and a high-BMI group ($BMI{\geq}25$). The high-BMI group included 27 patients: 13 in the Lap group and 14 in the Open group. Results: Estimated blood loss (EBL) in the Lap group was much lower than that in the Open group irrespective of BMI (p<0.01). Operative time was significantly prolonged in normal-BMI patients in the Lap group compared to those in the Open group (p=0.03), but there was no difference in operative time between the Open and Lap groups among the high-BMI patients. Multivariate logistic regression analysis of the data for all the cohorts revealed that the open procedure was a significant risk factor for high EBL (p<0.0001, hazard ratio 8.02). Normal BMI was an independent predictor for low EBL (p=0.01, hazard ratio 0.25). There was no significant risk factor for operative time in multivariate analysis. There were no differences in blood transfusion rates or adverse event rates between the two surgical groups. Conclusions: Laparoscopic radical nephroureterectomy via a retroperitoneal approach can be safely performed with significantly reduced EBL even in obese patients with upper urinary tract cancer.

• 폴리머
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.521-527
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• 2001

폴리카프로락톤 (PCL)/폴리염화비닐(PVC) 블렌드 시스템에서 PCL 조성 5 ~ 23%에 대한 상용성, 기계적 성질과 분자간의 상효작용에 대하여 연구하였다. 유리전이온도(T$_g$) 거동을 토대로 용융 혼합된 블렌드의 상용성을 측정한 결과 분자 수준으로 혼합되었다는 것을 관찰하였으며, PCL의 함량이 증가함에 따라 블렌드의 T$_g$는 낮은 온도 쪽으로 이동하였다. 또한 PCL/PVC 블렌드에 대하여 Fox식을 이용하여 예측한 T$_g$값과 실험에서 측정된 T$_g$값은 잘 일치하였다. 따라서 PCL/PVC 블렌드 시스템은 PCL 함량이 5 ~ 23%에서 무정형 고분자임을 나타낸다. 또한 분자간의 상호작용이 기계적 물성에 미치는 영향을 관찰하기 위하여 인장 강도, 탄성률 및 항복 강도와 같은 기계적 물성을 측정하여 관찰하였다. 그 결과 탄성률과 항복 강도 값은 PCL 함량이 약 5%에서, 인장 강도 값은 PCL 함량이 11%에서 최대값을 나타내었다. 그리고 PCL 함량 13%이상까지는 인장 강도 값이 순수 PVC보다 높았으며, 신장률은 낮은 값을 나타내었다. 결과적으로 PCL/PVC 블렌드 시스템은 PCL 함량이 약 13%까지 T$_g$값은 내려가고, 인장 강도는 증가하면서 신장률은 감소하는 반가소화 현상을 나타내었다.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• 제5권2호
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• pp.100-109
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• 2005

In South America, natural products with unknown drug effects are used as folk remedies and for preventive medicine. Among South American natural products, we directed our attention to Propolis, which have been known as medicinal plants, and examined the mechanisms by which these substances affect antioxidant activity, anti-tumor activity and immunoresponse. When the antioxidant activities of Propolis were examined by the DPPH and Rhoudan iron methods, since Propolis contains high levels of flavonoids, it is thought that flavonoids may be responsible for the antioxidant activity in this study. In the examination of immunoenhancement activity, we measured lymphocyte versus polymorphonuclear leukocyte ratios (L/P activity). The number of lymphocytes was significantly increased in groups treated with Proplolis. Specifically, slightly high levels of $IFN-{\gamma}$ were measured in mice bearing the S-180 carcinoma, after administration of Propolis. This strongly suggests that cellular immunity is especially activated by treatment with Propolis, because production of $IFN-{\alpha}$ is limited to the T cells and NK cells stimulated by mitogen and sensitized antigen. $TNF-{\alpha}$ shows a different extent and mechanism of action depending on the target cells. When $TNF-{\alpha}$ was measured in mice bearing the S-180 carcinoma, mice treated with Propolis showed slightly higher $TNF-{\alpha}$ levels as compared to the control group. This suggests that activated macrophages produce $TNF-{\alpha}$ in mice treated with Prapolis, since activated macrophages and lymphocytes are the source of most $TNF-{\alpha}$. When anti-tumor action was examined using two kinds of sarcoma (Ehrlich solid carcinoma and Sarcoma-180 carcinoma), tumor-suppressive ratios after treatment with Propolis was 29.1%. When Sarcoma-180 solid carcinoma was used, tumor-suppressive ratios were 62%. Thus, Propolis showed strong anti-tumor activity against two kinds of solid carcinoma. Taken altogether, this strongly suggests that Propolis enhances original functions of macrophages and NK cells, and as a result, secondarily enhances the immune reaction and suppresses tumor growth.