• Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
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• 1999.06a
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• pp.61-62
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• 1999

;The mechanisms inducing hypertension are actively investigated and are still challenging topics. Basically hypertension must be caused by the disorder of $Ca^{2+}$ metabolism in vascular smooth muscle, such as the increase of $Ca^{2+}$ influx, the decrease of ci+ efflux, or the change of sensitivity of contractile protein etc. The one of cause of the increase of ci+ influx may be the change of ci+ channel activity. Even though the relationships of ci+ channel activity and hypertension were studied using various hypertension models, still it is not clear how much change of $Ca^{2+}$ channel activity in diabetes mellitus (DM) induced hypertension is occurred. We induced DM hypertension in SD rat and compared the $Ca^{2+}$ channel activity with age-matched normotensive SD rat. For inducing DM hypertension, left kidney was removed with 200 gm rat and, after 1 month, 60 mg/kg of streptozotocin was injected into peritoneal space to induce diabetes mellitus. Usually after 4-6 weeks, hypertension was fully induced. For isolating vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC), we used mesenteric arteriole (3rd - 4th branch of mesenteric artery) of which diameter is below 150 urn. VSMCs were isolated enzymatically. $Ca^{2+}$ current was measured using whole cell patch clamp technique. All experiments were performed at $37^{\circ}C$. The cell membrane area of VSMC of DM hypertensive rat is larger than that of control VSMC($36.6{\pm}3.64{\;}pF{\;}vs{\;}22.4{\pm}1.29{\;}pF, {\;}mean{\pm}S.E.$) When we compared the current amplitude, the $Ca^{2+}$ current amplitude in VSMC of DM hypertensive rat is much larger than that in VSMC of normotensive age-matched rat. After $Ca^{2+}$ current amplitude was normalized by cell membrane area, the current amplitude in DM hypertension is increased to $249.1{\pm}15.9{\;}%{\;}(mean{\pm}S.E.M)$, which means the ;absolute current amplitude is about 4 times larger in DM hypertension. When we compared the steady state activation and inactivation. there were no noticeable differences. From these results. one of cause of the DM hypertension is due to the increase of $Ca^{2+}$ current amplitude. But it need further study why the $Ca^{2+}$ current is so large in VSMC of DM hypertension and how much $Ca^{2+}$ influx through $Ca^{2+}$ channel contribute to the increase of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ and eventually contribute to development of hypertension.ypertension.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.13-23
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• 1990

Methylene Blue (MeB) and gentian violet $(10^{-6}{\sim}10^{-4}\;M)$ produced contractions in isolated thoracic aortic preparations of rabbits in a dose-dependent fashion, while other dyes, evans blue and eosine yellowish, did not affect the basal tension in the same range of doses. Porcine mesenteric arterial rings also responded to MeB with dose-dependent contractions. Single dose of $10^{-4}$ M MeB produced a biphasic response: contraction followed by relaxation. The contraction developed slowly within $2{\sim}4$ min and peaked in about 20 minutes and then slowly relaxed to the basal level. Tyramine $(10^{-4}\;M)$ also induced contraction but it developed faster and was more persistent than that of MeB. While the tyramine-induced tension was reproducible, the MeB-induced one wat not reiterable until 3 to 5 hours after washing out the MeB. Adding $10^{-4}$ M MeB further potentiated the contraction induced by $10^{-4}$ M tyramine. However, the MeB contraction was not affected by further addition or tyramine. Both tyramine- and MeB-induced tensions were abolished or significantly inhibited by pretreatment with various drugs acting on the sympathetic nervous system. The tyramine-induced tension was more sensitive to guanethidine and 6-hydroxydopamine than the MeB-induced tension, while the latter was more sensitive to $Ca^{2+}-free$ PSS and reserpine. But they have similar sensitivity to prazosin. The MeB-induced tension was significantly inhibited but not abolished by 6-hydroxydopamine pretreatment. However, either tyramine or 6-hydroxydopamine could not affect the basal tension of the ring that MeB once had been tested. These results suggest that MeB-induced contractions of rabbit thoracic aorta and porcine mesenteric artery result from a release of endogenous norepinephrine from adrenergic nerve endings and are dependent in part on extracellular calcium, and that the potency of MeB to release or to deplete norepinephrine is greater than that of either tyramine or 6-hydroxydopamine.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.349-354
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• 2004

Stress-susceptible pigs have been known as the porcine stress syndrome (PSS), swine PSS, also known as malignant hyperthermia (MH), is characterized as sudden death and production of poor meat quality such as PSE (pale, soft and exudative) meat after slaughtering. PSS and PSE meat cause major economic losses in the pig industry. A point mutation in the gene coding for the ryanodine receptor (RYR1) in porcine skeletal muscle, also known calcium (Ca$^{2+}$) release channel, has been associated with swine PSS and halothane sensitivity. We used the PCR-RFLP(restriction fragment length polymorphism) and PCR-SSCP (single strand conformation polymorphism) methods to detect the PSS gene mutation (C1843T) in the RYR1 gene and to estimate genotype frequencies of PSS gene in Korean pig breed populations. In PCR-RFLP and SSCP analyses, three genotypes of homozygous normal (N/M), heterozygous carrier (N/n) and homozygous recessive mutant (n/n) were detected using agarose or polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, respectively. The proportions of normal, carrier and PSS pigs were 57.1, 35.7 and 7.1％ for Landrace, 82.5, 15.8 and 1.7％ far L. Yorkshire, 95.2, 4.8 and 0.0％ for Duroc and 72.0, 22.7 and 5.3％ for Crossbreed. Consequently, DNA-based diagnosis for the identification of stress-susceptible pigs of PSS and pigs producing PSE meat is a powerful technique. Especially, PCR-SSCP method may be useful as a rapid, sensitive and inexpensive test for the large-scale screening of PSS genotypes and pigs with PSE meat in the pork industry.y.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.642-647
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• 2014

Although it is not a pathological symptom, Dentinal Hypersensitivity (DH) describes pain felt by patients whose tooth roots are exposed outside of the gums and are therefore sensitive to external stimuli. DH is caused by tooth brushing or gum diseases and treatment to reduce the sensitivity can include use of materials having stimulation activity for DH or a resin material applied periodontally. This study examined the hypersensitivity treatment effects of a four-week treatment with a toothpaste containing hydroxyapatite and tricalcium phosphate (Hap-TCP toothpaste). The Hap-TCP toothpaste was made by mixing a commercially available fluorine-containing toothpaste with 10% (W/W) hydroxyapatite and 19% (W/W) tricalcium phosphate (both 99% purity based on XRD analysis). The tooth hypersensitivity treatment effect was surveyed by scoring VRS values, and showed no significant initial difference compared with the control. However, after 1 week of use, the pain reduction value was 8% in the treatment group compared to the control group. This value increased to 30% and 60% after 2 and 4 weeks, respectively. Hypersensitivity to cold stimulation, which was used as a VAS value, showed no initial significant differences compared with the control, but was significantly decreased after 1, 2, and 4 weeks in the experimental group, with more than a 3-fold difference after 4 weeks. These findings confirmed that remineralization can alleviate DH as hydroxyapatite fills dentinal tubules and calcium, phosphorus, and tricalcium phosphate ion equilibrium is established.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.345-355
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• 2010

Background: Extracellular and intracellular pH ($pH_o$ and $pH_i$), which can be changed in various pathological conditions such as hypoxia, affects vascular contractility. To elucidate the mechanism to alter vascular contractility by pH, the effects of pH on reactivity to vasocontracting agents, intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ influx, and $Ca^{2+}$ sensitivity in vascular smooth muscle were examined. Material and Method: Isometric contractions in rat superior mesenteric arteries (SMA) were observed. Intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) was recorded by microfluorometer using Fura-2/acetoxylmethyl ester in muscle cells. $pH_o$ was increased from 7.4 to 7.8 or decreased to 6.9 or 6.4. $pH_i$ was decreased by applying $NH_4^+$ or propionic acid or modulated by changing $pH_o$ after increasing membrane permeability using $\beta$-escin. Result: Decreases in $pH_o$ from 7.4 to 6.9 or 6.4 shifted concentration-response curve by norepinephrine (NE) or serotonin (SE) to the right and significantly increased half maximal effective concentration (EC50) to NE or SE. Increase in $pH_o$ from 7.4 to 7.8 shifted concentration-response curve by norepinephrine (NE) or serotonin (SE) to the left and significantly reduced EC50 to NE or SE. NE increased $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ in cultured smooth muscle cells from SMA and the increased $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ was reduced by decreases in $pH_o$. NE-induced contraction was inhibited by $NH_4^+$, whereas the resting tension was increased by $NH_4^+$ or propionic acid. When the cell membrane of SMA was permeabilized using ${\beta}$-escin, SMA was contracted by increasing extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration from 0 to $10{\mu}M$ and the magnitude of contraction was decreased by a decrease in $pH_o$ and vice versa. Conclusion: From these results, it can be concluded that a decrease in $pH_o$ might inhibit vascular contraction by reducing the reactivity of vascular smooth muscle to vasoactive agents, $Ca^{2+}$ influx and the sensitivity of vascular smooth muscle to $Ca^{2+}$.

• Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.37-37
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• 2003

We have shown the $Ca^{2+}$-activated chloride current is present in cardiac myocyte in rabbit pulmonary vein (Kim et al., 2002). This current amplitude was increased as [N $a^{+}$]$_{i}$ was increased and we suggested this chloride current may be involve in the spontaneous action potential frequency change. Since this current is activated by the increase of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$, we would like to test what is the inducer of the increase of [C $a^{2+}$]$_{i}$ between a L-type $Ca^{2+}$-current or a reverse mode of N $a^{+}$-C $a^{2+}$ exchange current. White rabbit (1.5 kg) was used and anesthetized with Ketamin (100 mg/kg). Pulmonary vein (PV) was isolated and sleeve area between left atrium and PV was dissected. Using collagenase (Worthington 0.7 mg/cc), single cardiac myocytes were isolated. In the presence of 15 mM of N $a^{＋}$, three steps of voltage pulses were applied (holding potential : -40 ㎷, -80 ㎷ for 50 msec, 30 ㎷ for 5 msec, 10 ㎷ steps from -70 ㎷ to 60 ㎷). The inward and outward tail current was activated after brief 5 msec prepulse. The outward tail current was blocked by the removal of extracellular chloride substituted by glucuronic acid or by a chloride channel blocker, 5 mM 9-AC. But the inward tail current was still remained even though the amplitude was decreased. The reversal potentials were changed to the direction of the change of chloride equilibrium potential ( $E_{Cl}$ ) but the shift of equilibrium potential was not enough to match to the theoretical equilibrium potential shift. In the presence of L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker, nifedipine 1 uM, inward tail currents were greatly reduced but the outward current tail currents were still remained. In the presence of N $a^{+}$-C $a^{2+}$ exchange current blocker, 10 uM KB-R7943, the inward and outward tail currents were blocked almost completely. We tried to test the $Ca^{2+}$sensitivity of the chloride current with various [C $a^{2+}$]$_{i}$ in pipette solution from 100 nM to 1 uM but we failed to activate $Ca^{2＋}$-activated chloride currents even though the cell became contracted in the presence of 1 uM $Ca^{2+}$. From these results, we could conclude that the increase of [C $a^{2+}$]$_{i}$ to activate the outward $Ca^{2+}$-activated chloride current was mainly induced by the activation of the reverse mode of N $a^{+}$-C $a^{2+}$ exchanger, But for the increase of [C $a^{2+}$]$_{i}$ to activate the inward tail current, L-type $Ca^{2+}$ current may be the major provoking current. Since the cytosolic increase of [C $a^{2+}$]$_{i}$ through pipette solution have failed to activate $Ca^{2+}$-activated chloride current, this chloride current may have very low $Ca^{2+}$ sensitivity or a comparmental increase $Ca^{2+}$ such as in subsarcolemmal space may activate the chloride current. Since there are several reports and models that the increase of $Ca^{2+}$ in subsarcolemmal space would be over several to tens of uM, both possibility may be valid together.uM, both possibility may be valid together.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.65-78
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• 1992

Routine chest radiography is generally imaged by high voltage technique but some radiological technologists use low voltage for imaging. High voltage is usually said between $120\;kV{\sim}140\;kV$. Some RTs like using heavy filtration but others seldom like using it. However which is better for use calcium tungustate film screen system or ortho system and high contrast film or wide latitude c-type film for the exculusive use of chest radiography. We could not make a decision which is ideal method for use. In my opinion any method is not always exellent for chest radiography. In my experiments that I had at Kaken hospital in Japan last year I expect to keep the balance between image quality and diagnostic range and to reduce radiation dose for patients. My experiments are as follows. 1. We have looked into system characteristics(speed and contrast) in accordance with kVp($80{\sim}140$) and added filter($no{\sim}1/16\;VL$) in three screen film systems(BX3+CRONEX4, SRO750+MGH, SRO750+MGL). 2. We have looked into skin dose and film dose with same D=1.8 lung field density in accordance with kVp($80{\sim}140$) and added filter($no{\sim}1/16\;VL$) in three screen film systems. 3. We have compared with the evaluation between correlation of physical image quality(MTF) and optical diagnostic capability. Result are follows. 1. Speed of BX3+CRONEX4 became higher in accodance with kVp and thickness of filter but speed of ortho system was not as like regular system. Thicker filter diminished the speed over 100 kV range in SRO750+MGL. In case of SRO750+MGH speed of 1/16VL filter was looked into lower than speed of 1/4VL filter. Sensitivity of ortho system depends on tube voltage and added filter. 2. Skin dose has been detected $225\;{\mu}Gy{\sim}66\;{\mu}Gy$ in BX3+CRONEX4 from 80 kV, no filter to 140 kV, 1/16VL filter. SRO750+MGH could reduce the patient dose $1/2{\sim}1/3$ level in comparison to that of BX3+CRONEX4. 3. The higher kV was the worse MTF became the thicker filter was the worse MTF became too. MTF of BX3+CRONEX4 was detected better than MTF of SRO750+MGH but SRO750+MGH's optical detectability of small lesion in lung field came out better than that of BX3+CRONEX4. Conclusion Recently routine chest radiography is generally imaged by high voltage but it seems to be there are some questions in using of film screen combination. In high voltage chest radiography the subject contrast will come down that means latitude become wider. In this case if we select the low contrast film screen system(C or L type) the film contrast will fall down extremly and detectability of small lesion will be deteriorated. Wide latitude C, L type film has a merit of high detectability on mediastinum. Furthermore high contrast film screen system has the advantage to keep the high contrast in low density region as like mediastinum and heart shadow. Therefore in low subject contrast high voltage chest radiography we would rather choose the high contrast film screen system(H type) I think. From a view point of patient dose detectability of mediastinum and lung field. The optimum technical facter was found out 120 kV, 1/16VL filter : BX3+CRONEX4, 140 kV, 1/4VL filter : SRO750+MGH, 100 kV, 1/4VL filter : SRO750+MGL.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.38-47
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• 2009

The purpose of the study was to develop an eating habit checklist for screening elementary school children at risk of inadequate micronutrient intake. Eating habits, food intake, and anthropometric data were collected from 142 children (80 boys and 62 girls) in the $4^{th}$ to $6^{th}$ grades of elementary schools. Percentage of Recommended Intakes (RI) and Mean Adequacy Ratio (MAR) of six micronutrients; vitamin A, riboflavin, vitamin C, calcium, iron, zinc, and the number of nutrients the children consumed below EAR among the six nutrients were used as indices to detect the risk of inadequate micronutrient intake. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated between eating habit scores and inadequate micronutrient intake indices in order to select questions included in the checklist. Meal frequency, enough time for breakfast, regularity of dinner, appetite, eating frequencies of Kimchi, milk, fruits and beans showed significant correlations with indices of inadequate micronutrient intake. Stepwise regression analysis was performed to give each item a different weight by prediction strength. To determine the cut-off point of the test score, sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive values were calculated. The 8-item checklist with test results from 0 to 12 points was developed, and those with equal or higher than 6 points were diagnosed as high-risk group of inadequate micronutrient intake, and those with 4 or 5 points were diagnosed as moderate-risk group. Among our subjects 14.1% was diagnosed as high-risk group, and 30.3% as moderate-risk group. The proportions of the subjects who consumed below EAR of all micronutrients but vitamin C were highest in the high-risk group, and there were significant differences in the proportions of the subjects with intake below EAR of all micronutrients except vitamin B6 among the three groups. This checklist will provide a useful screening tool to identify children at risk of inadequate micronutrient intake.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.341-352
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• 2017

Along with Cs-137 (half-life: 30.17 years), Sr-90 (half-life: 28.8 years) is one of the most important environmental monitoring radioactive elements. Rapid and easy monitoring method for Sr-90 using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) has been studied. Strontium belongs to a bivalent alkaline earth metal such as calcium and has similar electron arrangement and size. Due to these similar chemical properties, it can easily enter into the human body through the food chain via water, soil, and crops when leaked into the environment. In addition, it is immersed into the bone at the case of human influx and causes the toxicity for a long time (biological half-life: about 50 years). It is a very reductive and related with the specific reaction that makes wet analysis difficult. In particular, radioactive strontium should be monitored by nuclear power plants but it is very difficult to be analysed from high-cost problems as well as low accuracy of analysis due to complicated analysis procedures, expensive analysis equipment, and a pretreatment process of using massive chemicals. Therefore, we introduce the Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) analysis method that analyzes the elements in the sample using the inherent spectrum by generating plasma on the sample using pulse energy, and it can be analyzed in a few seconds without preprocessing. A variety of analytical plates for samples were developed to improve the analytical sensitivity by optimizing the laser, wavelength, and time resolution. This can be effectively applied to real-time monitoring of radioactive wastewater discharged from a nuclear power plant, and furthermore, it can be applied as an emergency monitoring means such as possible future accidents at a nuclear power plants.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.14 no.1_2
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• pp.1-11
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• 1978

The $Na^+$-and $K^+$-induced $Ca^{++}$ release was measured isotopically by Milipore filter technique in mitochondria isolated from rabbit ventricles. The release of $Ca^{++}$ from mitochondria could be induced by 1-3 mM of $Na^+$ added in incubating medium under the presence of 0.5mM EGTA to prevent the released $Ca^{++}$ from rebinding with mitochondrial membrane. The amount of $Ca^{++}$ released was increased by increasing the concentration of $Na^+$ added. 100mM $K^+$, in itself, did not induce the $Ca^{++}$ release from cardiac mitochondria, the $Na^+$-induced $Ca^{++}$ release, however, was potentiated by the presence of $K^+$. The potentiation of $Na^+$-induced $Ca^{++}$ release by $K^+$ was proportional to the $Na^+/K^+$ ratio presented in the incubating medium. Among the monovalent cations other than $Na^+$, the release of $Ca^{++}$ from cardiac mitochondria was shared only by $Li^+$. The $Na^+$-induced $Ca^{++}$ release could be also observed in the mitochondria isolated from liver and kidney. However, the $Na^+$ sensitivity was somewhat lower in liver and kidney mitochondria than in heart mitochondria. The release of $Ca^{++}$ induced by $Na^+$ in the mitochondria isolated from the experimentally produced failured heart was not different from that in the normal heart mitochondria, and was not directly modified by $10^{-6}{\sim}10^{-5}$ M of Ouabain. From the experiments, it was suggested that the $Ca^{++}$ released from mitochondria by $Na^+$ could be used in excitation-contraction coupling process to initiate the contraction of the cardiac myofibrils. Futhermore, it appeared that the phenomenon of $Ca^{++}$ release from cardiac mitochondria by $Na^+$ and $K^+$ might be related to the inotropic effect of digitalis glycoside which could bring about the increase of $Na^+$ or the reduction of $K^+$ intracellulary through the inhibition of $Na^+$, $K^+$-ATPase.