• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.569-575
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• 2020

Crotamiton is an anti-scabies drug, but it was recently found that crotamiton also suppresses non-scabietic itching in mice. However, the underlying mechanism is largely unclear. Therefore, aim of the study is to investigate mechanisms of the anti-pruritic effect of crotamiton for non-scabietic itching. Histamine and chloroquine are used as non-scabietic pruritogens. The effect of crotamiton was identified using fluorometric intracellular calcium assays in HEK293T cells and primary cultured dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. Further in vivo effect was evaluated by scratching behavior tests. Crotamiton strongly inhibited histamine-induced calcium influx in HEK293T cells, expressing both histamine receptor 1 (H1R) and transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1), as a model of histamine-induced itching. Similarly, it also blocked chloroquine-induced calcium influx in HEK293T cells, expressing both Mas-related G-protein-coupled receptor A3 (MRGPRA3) and transient receptor potential A1 (TRPA1), as a model of histamine-independent itching. Furthermore, crotamiton also suppressed both histamine- and chloroquine-induced calcium influx in primary cultures of mouse DRG. Additionally, crotamiton strongly suppressed histamine- and chloroquine-induced scratching in mice. Overall, it was found that crotamiton has an anti-pruritic effect against non-scabietic itching by histamine and chloroquine. Therefore, crotamiton may be used as a general anti-pruritic agent, irrespective of the presence of scabies.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.122-129
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• 2012

In this study, environmental problems(i.e., pH elevation and $Cr^{6+}$ detection) occurred by using the cement grout made from CA(calcium aluminate) were evaluated using viscosity agents(MC, chelate polymer). Ordinary portland cement and blaste-furnace slag cement were used by main materials and ACC(blended mixture of calcium aluminate) were used by accelerator for hardening of grout. In addition, viscosity agents were used for preventing pH elevation and heavy metal detection from grouting materials. From the results, it was noted that when chelate polymer was used, pH elevation and $Cr^{6+}$ detection were minimized. However, other cases showed higher pH elevation and $Cr^{6+}$ detection. At test 1 day, $Cr^{6+}$ detection with age presented over 97% of total value and, after that, additional increase was not distinct. As a result of this study, it was acknowledged that, to control pH elevation and heavy-metal (like $Cr^{6+}$) detection, the usage of BSC and chelate polymer is a very useful fact.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2016.10a
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• pp.106-107
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• 2016

Construction waste is recycled and used for the efficient and eco-friendly disposal of construction waste increasing due to reconstruction and redevelopment project and so on. There is recycled aggregate as a typical case. And this recycled aggregate shows strong alkalinity due to calcium hydroxide, and causes many environmental problems. Therefore, this is a study on reduction in the strong alkalinity of recycled aggregate by using phosphate of ammonium in order to reduce the pH of recycled aggregate. Besides, a possibility that a pH reducing agent of recycled aggregate could be applied to a site was evaluated. As a result, it was possible to verify that pH decreased as the percentage of pH reducing agent increased. It is thought that the pH reducing agent can be applied to a site by methods such as immersion and spray using the pH reducing agent in the process of producing recycled aggregates.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.138-143
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• 2023

In this study, the crack healing performance of each crack healing agent manufacturing method was analyzed by adding crack healing agents in the form of alginate gel and spore suspension inoculated with endospores of calcium carbonate-forming bacteria to mortar. In addition, by applying it to an full-scale structure in the form of a box-type culvert, we attempted to create an environment in which the developed crack healing agent can be applied not only to a laboratory environment but also to an actual field. The crack healing agent using the dry heat drying method showed crack healing performance, but in the case of the freeze drying method, many spores were killed by freeze hardening and therefore the crack healing performance was lost. As a result of SEM and XRD pattern analysis of the presumed crack healing material extracted from the crack of a full-scale structure, it was found to be calcite, one of the calcium carbonate crystals produced by microorganisms applied to the crack healing agent. In conclusion, it was found that the crack healing by microorganisms can be implemented in a real structure.

• Food Engineering Progress
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.269-274
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• 2009

The main objective of this study was to establish optimum condition of wet grinding process for manufacturing microparticulated seaweed calcium. Process parameters such as concentration of forming agent, rotor speed, bead size, feed rate, and grinding time were adapted during wet-grinding of seaweed calcium. The particle size range of the raw seaweed calcium was 10-20 $\mu$m. The calcium particles were reduced to under 1 $\mu$m as nano scale after grinding. Gum arabic was suitable for forming agent and 5%(w/v) concentration was the most effective in grinding efficiency. A wet-grinding process operated at 4,000 rpm rotor speed, 0,4 mm bead size, and 0.4 L/hr feeding rate, respectively, produced less than 600 mm(>>90%)-sized particles. In batch systems, 8 cycles of grinding showed higher efficiency, but 20 min of grinding time in continuous processing was more efficient to reduce particle size than the batch processing. Based on the result, the optimum conditions of the wet grinding process were established: operation time of 20 minutes, rotor speed of 4,000 rpm, bead size of 0.4 mm, feed rate of 40 mL/min and 30% mixing ration with water. The size of the resulting ultra fine calcium particles ranged between 40 and 660 mm.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.439-445
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• 1999

This study is to investigate the mechanism of inhibitory effect of imipramine on the calcium utilization in single cells isolated from canine detrusor. 2 mm thick smooth muscle chops were incubated in 0.12% collagenase solution at $36^{circ}C,$ and aerated with 95% $O_2/5%\;CO_2,$ and then cell suspension was examined. Acetylcholine (ACh) evoked a concentration-dependent contraction of the isolated detrusor cells in normal physiologic salt solution (PSS), and the ACh-induced contraction was significantly inhibited by imipramine. In $Ca^{2+}-free$ PSS, ACh-induced contraction was less than those in normal PSS and it was not affected by the pretreatment with imipramine. $Ca^{2+}-induced$ contraction in $Ca^{2+}-free$ PSS was supressed by imipramine, but addition of A 23187, a calcium ionophore, overcomed the inhibitory effect of imipramine. High potassium-depolarization (40 mM KCl) evoked cell contraction, which was inhibited by imipramine. Caffeine, a releasing agent of the stored $Ca^{2+}$ from sarcoplasmic reticulum, evoked a contraction of the cells that was not blocked by the pretreatment with imipramine. These results suggest that imipramine inhibits the influx of calcium in the detrusor cells through both the receptor-operated- and voltage-gated-calcium channels, but does not affect the release of calcium from intracellular storage site.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.285-296
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• 1994

Follicular oocytes were released from the graafian follicles of ovaries from 3-4 weeks old mice. The spontaenous maturation of these follicular oocyes was inhibited by the treatment of dbcAMP and progesterone and these oocytes were cultured for 2-8hr in the Modified Hank's balanced salt solution(MHBS). Ethylenediaminetetraaceticacid(EDTA) and calmoudulin antagonist, trifluoperazine (TFP) were treated to the culture medium in order to investigate whether these chemical agents inhibit calcium uptake into the oocyte and oocyte maturation. $^{45}Ca^{2+}$, 10-${\mu}$Ci/ml was added to the culture medium during the culture period. $^{45}Ca^{2+}$uptake into the oocytes was examined whether and when various kind of oocyte maturation inhibiting agents inhibit or stimulate the influx of calcium into oocytes. Dibutyryl cAMP and progesterone decrease $^{45}Ca^{2+}$uptake into the oocytes and synergistic inhibiting effect of dbcAMP and progesterone was prominent at much lower dosages. Calcium uptake into oocytes seems to be higher during first 2 hour culture period rather than next 4hr culture. After 8hr culture, calcium uptake level of the oocytes which GVBD already took place gradually approached to the level of those which were maintained at GV by the treatment of dbcAMP and progesterone. However, $^{45}Ca^{2+}$uptake into the GV maintained oocytes did not change at all even after 8hr culture period. In addition, calcium chelating agent, EDTA inhibited calcium uptake into oocytes as well as nuclear maturation of oocytes. Lower dosage used in the present study did not inhibit calcium uptake as well as oocyte maturation.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.206-212
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• 2004

Prickly pear extract (PPE) was fermented by Lactobacillus rhamnosus LS at 3$0^{\circ}C$ for 2 days. To improve the physicochemical properties of fermented PPE, it was fortified with food polysaccharides (0.2 %) or seaweed calcium before lactic acid fermentation. The viable cell counts, flow behavior, titratable acidity and color stability of fermented PPE were evaluated during 4 weeks of cold storage. Addition of xanthan gum or glucomannan increased the apparent viscosity and acid production, viable cell counts and red color of PPE were also well maintained during the cold storage. However, fermenting PPE with gellan gum resulted in a decrease in relative absorbance, indicating lower color stability. In particular, PPE fortified with carrageenan or alginic acid showed reduced acid production and lower viable cell counts. Addition of seaweed calcium at a 0.1 % level had positive effects on color stability, and helped maintain viable cell counts of 4.1 ${\times}$ 10$^{9}$ CFU/mL. This study demonstrated that xanthan gum could be used as a good thickening agent and stabilizer for retaining viable cell counts and red color during the cold storage in PPE fermented by lactic acid bacteria.

• International Journal of Molecular Medicine
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.2252-2258
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• 2019

Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) plays an important role in allergic disorders, including atopic dermatitis and asthma. Ursolic acid (UA) has various pharmacological properties, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer. However, the effect of UA on TSLP regulation has not been fully elucidated. The aim of the present study was to analyze how UA regulates the production of TSLP in the human mast cell line HMC-1. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis, western blotting, caspase-1 assay and fluorescent measurements of intracellular calcium levels were conducted to analyze the regulatory effects of UA. The results revealed that UA inhibited TSLP production and mRNA expression. In addition, UA reduced the activation of nuclear factor-κB and degradation of IκBα. Caspase-1 activity was increased by exposure to phorbol myristate acetate plus calcium ionophore, whereas it was reduced by UA. Finally, UA treatment prevented an increase in intracellular calcium levels. These results indicated that UA may be a useful agent for the treatment and/or prevention of atopic and inflammatory diseases, and its effects are likely mediated by TSLP downregulation.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.79-88
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• 2014

Appropriate use of local hemostatic agent is one of the important factors on the prognosis of endodontic microsurgery. However, most investigations to date focus on the hemostatic efficacy of the agents, whereas their biologic characteristics have not received enough attention. The purpose of this paper was to review the biologic response of local hemostatic agents, and to provide clinical guidelines on their use during endodontic microsurgery. Electronic database (PUBMED) was screened to search related studies from 1980 to 2013, and 8 clinical studies and 18 animal studies were identified. Among the materials used in these studies, most widely-investigated and used materials, epinephrine, ferric sulfate (FS) and calcium sulfate (CS), were thoroughly discussed. Influence of these materials on local tissue and systemic condition, such as inflammatory and foreign body reaction, local ischemia, dyspigmentation, delayed or enhanced bone and soft tissue healing, and potential cardiovascular complications were assessed. Additionally, biological property of their carrier materials, cotton pellet and absorbable collagen, were also discussed. Clinicians should be aware of the biologic properties of local hemostatic agents and their carrier materials, and should pay attention to the potential complications when using them in endodontic microsurgery.