• The Korean Journal of Physiology
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.19-35
• /
• 1984

Since the first report of Drury and $Szent-Gy{\ddot{o}}rgyi$ in 1929, the inhibitory influences of adenosine on the heart have repeatedly been described by many investigators. These studies have shown that adenosine and adenine nucleotides have overall depressant effects, similar to those of acetylcholine. Heart beats become slow and weak. It is also well known that adenosine is a potent endogenous coronary vasodilator. Many investigations on the working mechanisms of adenosine have been focused mainly on the effects of the coronary blood flow. However, the cellular mechanisms underlying the inhibitory action of adenosine on sinus node are not well understood yet. Thus, this study was undertaken to examine the behavior of rabbit SA node under influence of adenosine. In these series of experiments three kinds of preparations were used: whole atrial pair, left atrial strip, and isolated SA node preparations. The electrical activity of SA node was recorded with conventional glass microelectrodes 30 to 50 $M{\Omega}$. The preparations were superfused with bicarbonate-buffered Tyrode solution of pH 7.35 and aerated with a gas mixture of $3%\;CO_2-97%\;O_2$ at $35^{\circ}C$. In whole atrial pair, adenosine suppressed sinoatrial rhythm in a dose-dependent manner. Effect of adenosine on atrial rate appeared at the concentration of $10^{-5}M$ and was enhanced in parallel with the increase in adenosine concentration. Inhibitory action of adenosine on pacemaker activity was more prominent in the preparation pretreated with norepinephrine, which can steepen the slope of pacemaker potential by increasing permeability of $Ca^{+2}$. Calcium ions in perfusate slowly produced a marked change in sinoatrial rhythm. Elevation of the calcium concentration from 0.3 to 8 mM increased the atrial rate from 132 to 174 beats/min, but over 10 mM $Ca^{+2}$ decreased. The inhibitory effect of adenosine on sinoatrial rhythm developed very rapidly. Atrial rate was recovered promptly from the adenosine-induced suppression by the addition of norepinephrine, but extra $Ca^{+2}$ was less suitable to restore the suppression of atrial rate. Adenosine suppressed also atrial contractility in the same dosage range that restricted pacemaker activity, even in the reserpinized preparation. In isolated SA node preparation, spontaneous firing rate of SA node at $35^{\circ}C$(mean{\pm}SEM, n=16) was $154{\pm}3.3\;beats/min. The parameters of action potentials were: maximum diastolic potential(MDP), $-73{\pm}1.7\;mV: overshoot(OS), $9{\pm}1.4\;mV: slope of pacemaker potential(SPP), $94{\pm}3.0\;mV/sec. Adenosine suppressed the firing rate of SA node in a dose-dependent manner. This inhibitory effect appeared at the concentration of $10^{-6}M$ and was in parallel with the increase in adenosine concentration. Changes in action potential by adenosine were dose-dependent increase of MDP and decrease of SPP until $10^{-4}M$. Above this concentration, however, the amplitude of action potential decreased markedly due to the simultaneous decrease of both MDP and OS. All these effects of adenosine were not affected by pretreatment of atropine and propranolol. Lowering extra $Ca^{2+}$ irom 2 mM to 0.3 mM resulted in a marked decrease of OS and SPP, but almost no change of MDP. However, increase of perfusate $Ca^{2+}$ from 2 mM to 6 or 8 mM produced a prominent decrease of MDP and a slight increase of OS and SPP. Dipyridamole(DPM), which is known to block the adenosine transport across the cell membrane, definately potentiated the action of adenosine. The results of this experiment suggest that adenosine suppressed pacemaker activity and atrial contractility simultaneously and directly, by decreasing $Ca^{2+}-permeability$ of nodal and atrial cell membranes.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.70 no.3
• /
• pp.199-205
• /
• 2011

Social welfare services for respiratory-disabled persons in Korea are offered based on the respiratory impairment grade, which is determined by 3 clinical parameters; dyspnea, forced expiratory volume in 1 second ($FEV_1$), and arterial oxygen tension. This grading system has several limitations in the objective assessment of respiratory impairment. We reviewed several guidelines for the evaluation of respiratory impairment and relevant articles. Then, we discussed a new grading system with respiratory physicians. Both researchers and respiratory physicians agreed that pulmonary function tests are essential in assessing the severity of respiratory impairment, forced vital capacity (FVC), $FEV_1$ and single breath diffusing capacity ($DL_{co}$) are the primarily recommended tests. In addition, we agreed that arterial blood gas analysis should be reserved for selected patients. In conclusion, we propose a new respiratory impairment grading system utilizing a combination FVC, $FEV_1$ and $DL_{co}$ scores, with more social discussion included.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.43 no.9
• /
• pp.1325-1333
• /
• 2014

Sasang constitutional medicine is a Korean traditional medicine in which individuals are classified into four constitutional types, Taeyangin, Taeumin, Soyangin, and Soeumin. To develop new functional Saengsik products, we investigated the immunostimulatory activities of raw materials of Saengsik (milled rice, barley, Job's tears, soybean, adzuki bean, millet, eggplants, radish, carrot, Lentinus edodes, Agaricus bisporus, and Auricularia auricula-judae) and Saengsik products (Mix 1~6) in primary immune cells (lymphocytes and macrophages) isolated from blood of Taeumin, Soyangin, and Soeumin types. Increased cell proliferation as well as NO and TNF-${\alpha}$ protein production by immune cells treated with extracts of materials of Saengsik and Saengsik products were measured as immunostimulatory parameters. We chose milled rice, adzuki bean, radish, and Lentinus edodes to study the immunostimulatory activity of Teaumin, barley, soybean, eggplants, and Agaricus bisporus to study the immunostimulatory activity of Soyangin, as well as Job's tears, adzuki bean, carrot, and Auricularia auricula-judae to study the immunostimulatory activity of Soeumin. The mixtures (Mix 1~6) were made with different kinds and ratios of Saengsik materials based on the immunostimulatory activities of Saengsik materials. The immunostimulatory activity of Taeumin was highest in Mix 2 (rice 60%, adzuki bean 20%, radish 10%, and Lentinus edodes 10%) extract-treated immune cells among all six mixtures. The immunostimulatory activity of Soyangin responded best to Mix 4 (barley 60%, soybean 20%, eggplants 10%, and Agaricus bisporus 10%) among the six extracts (Mix 1~6). The increased immunostimulatory activity of Mix 6 (Job's tears 60%, adzuki bean 20%, carrot 10%, and Auricularia auricula-judae 10%)-treated immune cells was higher than the other five extracts (Mix 1~5). Accordingly, Mix 2, Mix 4, and Mix 6 may be useful as mixtures for Saengsik products having personalized immunostimulatory activities.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.19-25
• /
• 2010

Purpose: Laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy (LAG) is gaining wider acceptance as a minimally invasive treatment for early gastric cancer, but the safety, efficacy and clinical benefits of this type of surgery are still unclear. The purpose of this study is to compare laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy (LADG) and conventional open distal gastrectomy (CODG) for early gastric cancer (EGC) according to the changes of the postoperative nutritional status and acute inflammatory reaction. Materials and Methods: Eighty seven patients with EGC and who underwent a LADG between March 2006 and May 2009 at Daegu Catholic University Hospital, was enrolled. Over the same period, we enrolled 30 patients who underwent CODG and they were confirmed to have EGC from their pathology. The clinico-pathological features and serologic parameters were evaluated from the medical records and then retrospectively analyzed. Results: There were no differences in the preoperative white blood cell (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP) level, albumin level, the T4/T8 ratio and the other clinical data between the two groups. The total WBC counts gradually increased and they were significant lower at the $1^{st}$ and $3^{rd}$ postoperative days in the LADG group than that in the CODG group (P=0.001 and 0.008, respectively). The postoperative CRP levels were significantly lower at postoperative $5^{th}$ day in the LADG group (P<0.001). The postoperative albumin and T4/T8 ratio gradually decreased, and the T4/T8 ratio was significantly higher at the $3^{rd}$ postoperative day in the LADG group compared to that in the CODG group (P=0.003). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the LADG has less of an influence on an acute inflammatory reaction than does CODG. Therefore, it is one of the safe and feasible procedures for the treatment of early gastric cancer.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.555-562
• /
• 2020

This study analyzed the total polyphenol (TP), total flavonoid (TF), and protein content, the Absorbance at 400 nm (A400), and the antioxidant and hemolytic activities of 150 Korean honey products, including 41 chestnut (CH), 42 acacia (AH), 62 multi-floral (MH), and five Styrax japonica (TH) varieties. Our results showed that the components and antioxidant activities of honey are dependent on botanical origin rather than farming area or farmer. CH showed the highest levels of TP (88.6±29.8 mg/100 g) and TF (1.20±0.82 mg/100 g), whereas TH had the highest protein (21.5±5.1 mg/100 g). A400 was the highest in CH (0.161±0.044). All of the honey products exhibited negligible hemolytic activity against human red blood cells up to 1 mg/ml. Potent radical scavenging activities for 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2-azobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6- sulfonate) (ABTS), nitrite and reducing power were also observed in CH. Correlation coefficients (CCs) between analysis parameters were calculated and the highest was identified between TP and ABTS scavenging activity (0.726). The CCs between A400 and TP and A400 and ABTS scavenging activity were 0.644 and 0.661, respectively, suggesting that A400 could be used as a quality indicator for the polyphenol content and antioxidant activity of particular honeys. Future research on polyphenol by flower origin and the identification of compounds for A400 is necessary.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.9-15
• /
• 2003

All diets were based on feeds of fattening period pigs(LY x D, ca. 90 kg) with six treatments, which were the control, containing 5% beef tallow(C), 3% beef tallows and 2% perilla seeds oil(T1), 250 ppm vit. E(${\alpha}$-tocopheryl acetate) in T1(T2), 3% beef tallow and 2% squid viscera oil(T3), 250 ppm vit. E in T3(T4), and 3% beef tallow and 2% CLA(T5), respectively. Produced porks and their carcass characteristics were as follows. The daily gain of pigs was higher in T2 and 73 than any other treatments(p<0.05). Its T2 and T3 was 3.71 and 3.80 respectively, however, there was no significance in feed intake. The highest back fat thickness was shown in control group on market weight, while there was no significant difference on their initial weight. Loin-eye muscle area did not show any significant difference on initial weight and on market weight, however, its T5 was about twice as large as T2's. Content of triglyceride in blood was high in control group as compared to others; especially, the values for T3, T4 and T5 were significantly low(p <0.05). There was no significant difference in total cholesterol contents, and the ratio of HDL cholesterol/total cholesterol was higher in vit. E treated samples than untreated sample. Atherogenic index was high in sample with T3 and low in sample with T2. The perilla seed oil, squid fish oil, and vit. E decreased atherogenic index. Dressing percentage, back fat thickness, and grade did not show any significant difference(p >0.05); however, T2, C and T3, T1 and T5 showed 4.67, 4.29, 4.00 respectively, in grades.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.50 no.3
• /
• pp.293-299
• /
• 2001

Background : Sustained-release theophylline, which is generally prescribed as a twice-daily equal-dose regimen, is one of the more common asthma treatments. The development of a sustained-release drug delivery technology that enables improved control of the theophylline blood levels represents a significant advancement in both the efficacy and safety of dosing. Method : A crossover study was conducted with 25 adult chronic asthmatic patients requiring daily bronchodilator therapy. The study group included thirteen males and twelve females with ages ranging from 19 to 71 years. The overall approach was to place the patients first on the twice-daily preparation($Etheophyl^{(R)}$) for 28 days at 8 AM and 8 PM, and measure the pulmonary function and theophylline level on the 28th day. The patients were subsequently switched to the once-daily preparation($Uniphyl^{(R)}$) in the same daily dose at 8 PM on the 29th day and the same parameters were measured on the 56th day. Results : The mean serum levels of theophylline were $8.18{\pm}1.66\;{\mu}g/ml$ in the $Etheophyl^{(R)}$-treated period and $8.00{\pm}1.75\;{\mu}g/ml$ in the $Uniphyl^{(R)}$-treated period. ln addition, the $FEV_1$ showed $71.40{\pm}7.48$ percent in the $Etheophyl^{(R)}$-treated and $69.18{\pm}9.00$ percent in the $Uniphyl^{(R)}$-treated period. Thus there were no significant differences between the once-daily and twice-daily preparation. Conclusion : The results indicated little clinical differences between the two medications. The two drugs are equally effective in controlling asthma over the four weeks of treatment.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.31-40
• /
• 2008

This study was aimed at evaluating the effect of red-yeast-rice supplementation on cholesterol-lowering and glucose control in subjects with impaired fasting glucose (IFT) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). We conducted a doubleblind, placebo-controlled study with 3 groups; placebo, low dose group (red yeast rice 210.0mg/capsule, 2.52g/day) and high dose group (red yeast rice 420.0mg/capsule, 5.04g/day), which were randomly assigned to subjects with impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance. We measured fasting serum concentrations of total-, LDL-, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose, insulin, free fatty acid (FFA) and 2 h oral glucose tolerence test (OGTT) before and after the supplementation. Both low dose and high dose groups had significant decrease in LDL cholesterol and atherogenic index (AI) compared with placebo group (p<0.05). Additionally, total and HDL cholesterol improved significantly in high dose group compared with placebo group (p<0.05). Fasting serum glucose decreased in test groups and increased in placebo group after intervention. However, it was not significant differences. In subjects which fasting blood glucose is more than 110mg/dL, fasting glucose had a tendency to decrease in high dose group (p<0.1) and Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) had significant decrease in low dose group (p<0.05), while insulin and HOMA-IR had a tendency to increase in placebo group after intervention. Mean changes of glucose related parameters (fasting glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR) compared with placebo group did not show significant differences. In conclusion, subjects with impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance were significantly improved in serum lipid profile by red yeast rice supplementation without serious side effects. These are more effective in the case of a high dose. The effects of red yeast rice supplementation on glucose control were insignificant.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.476-483
• /
• 2005

This experiment was planned to develop a functional supplement by food resources to prevent and lessen the deleterious effects caused by environmental pollutants such as polluted food, air, water and heavy metals. The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of peking-duck extracts supplemented with six kinds of medicinal herbs (DJ) on the intoxication of lead and mercury in rats. Sprague-Dawley rat weighing $150g\pm15g$ g, were randomly assigned to 5 groups, basal diet only (NCG), heavy metal without DJ injection (HCG), heavy metals and DJ (3 mg/mL) injection (HMLD), heavy metal and DJ (30 mg/mL) injection (HMMD), heavy metal and D] (300 mg/mL) injection (HMHD). Mecury (Hg) and lead (Pb) injected at the level of 50 ppm for 17 days. Also DJ oral feeding was continued for 31 days. The result of this study were as follows; Food intake and body weight gain in heavy metal administered groups were lower than those of control group (NCG). The activities of GOT, GPT and BUN level were significantly reduced in DJ-treated groups as compared to HCG. DJ was shown to suppress the accumulation of Hg and Pb in serum. The results suggest that DJ might have protective effect on Hg and Pb intoxication.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.374-381
• /
• 2010

This study was performed to examine the diet effect of green coffee bean extract on body fat reduction. Overweight/obese women (body mass index > $23\;kg/m^2$ or body fat > 27%) who were not diagnosed any type of disease were included in this study and subjects were randomly assigned to green coffee bean extract group (n = 23) or placebo group (n = 20). We measured anthropometric parameters, abdominal fat distribution by computed tomography and blood components before and after the 8-weeks intervention period. After supplementation, green coffee bean extract group showed a significant reduction of body weight (p < 0.01), body fat percent (p < 0.01), total fat area at L1 vertebra (-4.8%, p < 0.05) and visceral fat area at L4 vertebra was(-4.7%, p < 0.05). In addition, total fat area and visceral fat area at L1 vertebra decreased significantly in green coffee bean extract group compared with placebo group (p < 0.05, p < 0.05 respectively). The result of present study demonstrated that the supplementation of green coffee bean extract for 8 weeks can give beneficial effects on body fat reduction and visceral fat accumulation.