• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.257-262
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• 2015

It is well known that cigarette smoke can cause erectile dysfunction by affecting the penile vascular system. However, the exact effects of nicotine on the corpus cavernosum remains poorly understood. Nicotine has been reported to cause relaxation of the corpus cavernosum; it has also been reported to cause both contraction and relaxation. Therefore, high concentrations of nicotine were studied in strips from the rabbit corpus cavernosum to better understand its effects. The proximal penile corpus cavernosal strips from male rabbits weighing approximately 4 kg were used in organ bath studies. Nicotine in high concentrations ($10^{-5}{\sim}10^{-4}M$) produced dose-dependent contractions of the corpus cavernosal strips. The incubation with $10^{-5}M$ hexamethonium (nicotinic receptor antagonist) significantly inhibited the magnitude of the nicotine associated contractions. The nicotine-induced contractions were not only significantly inhibited by pretreatment with $10^{-5}M$ indomethacin (nonspecific cyclooxygenase inhibitor) and with $10^{-6}M$ NS-398 (selective cyclooxygenase inhibitor), but also with $10^{-6}M$ Y-27632 (Rho kinase inhibitor). Ozagrel (thromboxane $A_2$ synthase inhibitor) and SQ-29548 (highly selective TP receptor antagonist) pretreatments significantly reduced the nicotine-induced contractile amplitude of the strips. High concentrations of nicotine caused contraction of isolated rabbit corpus cavernosal strips. This contraction appeared to be mediated by activation of nicotinic receptors. Rho-kinase and cyclooxygenase pathways, especially cyclooxygenase-2 and thromboxane $A_2$, might play a pivotal role in the mechanism associated with nicotine-induced contraction of the rabbit corpus cavernosum.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.481-492
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• 2020

The present study aimed to examine the effect of allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and to investigate whether upregulation of multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1) associated with the activation of the PARK7 (DJ-1)/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) axis. Lung function indexes and histopathological changes in mice were assessed by lung function detection and H&E staining. The expression levels of Nrf2, MRP1, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and DJ-1 were determined by immunohistochemistry, Western blotting and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Next, the expression of DJ-1 in human bronchial epithelial (16HBE) cells was silenced by siRNA, and the effect of DJ-1 expression level on cigarette smoke extract (CSE)-stimulated protein degradation and AITC-induced protein expression was examined. The expression of DJ-1, Nrf2, HO-1, and MRP1 was significantly decreased in the wild type model group, while the expression of each protein was significantly increased after administration of AITC. Silencing the expression of DJ-1 in 16HBE cells accelerated CSE-induced protein degradation, and significantly attenuated the AITC-induced mRNA and protein expression of Nrf2 and MRP1. The present study describes a novel mechanism by which AITC induces MRP1 expression by protecting against CS/CSE-mediated DJ-1 protein degradation via activation of the DJ-1/Nrf2 axis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Tobacco Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 2007

The measurement of physical properties such as apparent density and void fraction of tobacco materials, which is so bulky, is a main theme with regard to tobacco process, quality control, cigarette combustion and smoke generation. Except Solution Impregnation Method, there was no alternative method for measuring those properties in the porous material so far. However, experimental processes of that method are so complicated as to cost much time and labor, the main solution such as mercury to apply to the method is usually very hazard. Therefore, we had developed a new method to determine them easily in our other paper by the mathematical equations derived from the Ergun equation for the purpose of it, and then already evaluated our method through applying some basic data from Muramatsu et at. (1979) with regard to our developed equations. Then, we found our method best fit to experimental one (Oh et al., 2001). In this study we tried to establish our method to conveniently determine those physical properties. Especially, we have focused on the development the easy way to measure surface area and the volume of single shred in a tobacco column. As a result of that, we found that the computer image analyzer was best fit for it. Then, we have finally determined apparent density and void fraction for our domestic tobacco shred.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.908-917
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• 1999

This study was done to compare nutrient intakes, anthropometric indices, and psychosocial factors related to smoking by smoking status among adolescent girls in Seoul. Subjects were high school students, and smokers were 17.6%. Nutrient intakes were analyzed by convenient method, and anthropometric measurements were done by Inbody 2.0. Psychosocial factors of smoking were examined based on the Theory of Planned Behavior : 26 attitudinal, 9 normative, and 17 control beliefs were used. Smokers smoked 5-7 cigarettes a day on average, with 1.26 pack-years of smoking, There were no significant differences in anthropometric characteristics, except fat distribution, between smoking(n=92) and nonsmoking(n=92) and nonsmoking(n=94) group. The percentage of alcohol groups. Especially, caloric intake (63.6% of RDA) were much below the recommended level. With respect to psychosocial factors, 18 out of 26 attitudinal beliefs were significantly different between smokers and nonsmokers. Smokers responded less negatively on the items of bad health effects of relax(p<0.001). In addition, smokers were more convinced of advantages of smoking (test, etc.)but responded less negatively on the disadvantages of smoking(bothering others, yellow teeth, bad breath, etc.). Smokers expressed less pressure for not smoking from siblings, friends, school seniors than nonsmokers. In addition, smokers, expressed less confidence in controlling the urge to smoker or quitting smoking in several situations, such as 'after a meal', 'feel bored', 'with friends', 'when angry' offered a cigarette by friends', 'drinking coffee or tea', 'drinking alcohol', 'seeing others smoke'(p<0.001). Smokers also felt less developing in applying specific skills for controlling the urge to smoker or quitting smoking. These findings suggest the need for developing smoking cessation programs for adolescent females, focusing on specific beliefs identified in this study.

• Land and Housing Review
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.105-114
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• 2022

Non-fire activated fire alarms caused by such actions as cigarette smoke, cooking, and high humidity are fire safety risk factors. In such instances, it is important to quickly locate and replace the actuated detector. However, it is difficult to locate those detectors because most do not have an address function. While new apartments can incorporate addressable fire alarm detectors, in existing apartments there are limitations in converting over to addressable detectors due to cost and power line issues. This study developed an efficient address function for fire alarms in existing apartments. The newly developed system consists of the existing receiver, and a proposed addressable repeater and detector. Utilizing an experimental setup, the performance of the proposed address monitoring system was confirmed to be stable and compatible with the receiver and existing detectors.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.496-504
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• 2022

Background: Cigarette smoke (CS) is considered a principal cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is associated with mucus hypersecretion and airway inflammation. Ginsenoside compound K (CK), a product of ginsenoside metabolism, has various biological activities. Studies on the effects of CK for the treatment of COPD and mucus hypersecretion, including the underlying signaling mechanism, have not yet been conducted. Methods: To study the protective effects and molecular mechanism of CK, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced human airway epithelial (NCI-H292) cells were used as a cellular model of airway inflammation. An experimental mouse COPD model was also established via CS inhalation and intranasal administration of lipopolysaccharide. Mucin 5AC (MUC5AC), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 secretion, as well as elastase activity and reactive oxygen species production, were determined through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Inflammatory cell influx and mucus secretion in mouse lung tissues were estimated using hematoxylin and eosin and periodic acid-schiff staining, respectively. PKCδ and its downstream signaling molecules were analyzed via western blotting. Results: CK prevented the secretion of MUC5AC and TNF-α in PMA-stimulated NCI-H292 cells and exhibited a protective effect in COPD mice via the suppression of inflammatory mediators and mucus secretion. These effects were accompanied by an inactivation of PKCδ and related signaling in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion: CK suppressed pulmonary inflammation and mucus secretion in COPD mouse model through PKC regulation, highlighting the compound's potential as a useful adjuvant in the prevention and treatment of COPD.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.56-71
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• 2021

Objectives: This study is aimed to evaluate the protective effects of GGX on lung injury of Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (COPD) mice model. Materials and Methods: C57BL/6 mice were challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and cigarette smoke extract (CSE) and then treated with vehicle only (Control group), dexamethasone 3 mg/kg (Dexa group), gam-gil-tang 200 mg/kg (GGT group), GGX 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg (GGX group). After sacrifice, its bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) or lung tissue was analyzed with cytospin, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and hematoxylin & eosin (H&E), and Masson's trichrome staining. Results: In the COPD model, GGX significantly inhibited the increase of neutrophils, TNF-𝛼, IL-17A, CXCL-1, MIP2 in BALF and TNF-𝛼, IL-1𝛽, IL-10 mRNA expression in lung tissue. It also decreased the severity of histological lung injury. Conclusion: This study suggests the usability of GGX for COPD patients by controlling lung tissue injury.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.26 no.3 s.43
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• pp.359-370
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• 1993

To identify the smoking status and its related factors in middle and high school boys in Kwanju a study was performed from 15th to loth of June 1992. Population were selected by two-stage stratified random sampling method and total 3,959 students replied to the self-administered questionnaire survey (1,574 in middle school, 1,664 in academic high school, 712 in business high school). The results were as follows ; 1. The proportion of current smokers was 1.5% in middle schools and 20.1% in high schools. And the smoking rates increased with school grade years (p<0.01). 2. For the motivation of smoking, curiosity was the most frequent factor and the next was temptation by friends. 3. The most common situation on the first experience of smoking was that middle school boys smoked a cigarette which was found in a house, through curiosity, with friends, at home. High school boys smoked a cigarette taken from friends, through curiosity, with friend, on the road or at home. 4. The proportion of smokers who smoke a cigarette regularly was 34.8% among smokers in middle school and 70.2% among smokers in high school. The most proportion of duration of smoking was less than 1 month among middle school boys (20.8%) and more than 2 years among high school boys (43.9%). The first smoking experience was in elementary school among middle school boys and the third grade of middle school in high school students. Most current smokers (73.9% in middle school boys, 65.3% in high school boys) wanted to quit smoking. 5. Smokers had significant association with intimate friend's smoking, mother's and brother's smoking, inharmonious friendships, dissatisfied with home and school life, lower school grades, generous attitude to other smokers, lack of knowledge to passive smoking and no contact to mass media (TV) (p<0.01).

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.576-584
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• 2000

Background : With the increase of cigarette consumption by women and the young, the incidence of lung cancer is expected to increase during the next three or four decades in Korea. The purpose of this study was to analyze the smoking habits in patients with lung cancer and to identify the gender differences in terms of their susceptibility to cigarette related carcinogens. Method : This investigation was a hospital-based case control study, which included the data of 178 case subjects (72 females, 106 males) with lung cancer and 218 control subjects (97 females, 121 males) with diseases unrelated to smoking. The information was obtained through a direct personal interview and a questionnaire related to personal smoking history. Results : The relative frequency of the squamous cell carcinoma was substantially higher in males than in females (61.3% in males, and 29.2% in females), while adenocarcinoma including bronchoalveolar cell carcinoma was higher in females(31.9% in females, 18.9% in males). Kreyberg I lung cancer was of relatively higher frequencies in males and smokers, while Kreyberg II lung cancer was higher in females and never smokers. The odds ratios (ORs) at each exposure level were consistently higher in females than males. For all cell types, the risk of lung cancer was increased with the quantity of smoked cigarettes, duration of smoking, and depth of inhalation. Odds ratio was distinctly higher in Kreyberg I lung cancer than in total lung cancer and a steeper gradient of risk with increased smoking was observed in females. Conclusion : The relative risk for lung cancer was consistently higher in females than in males at every level of exposure to cigarette smoke. This is believed to be due to the higher susceptibility of females to tobacco carcinogens, such as gender associated differences of carcinogen activation and/or the elimination of smoking related metabolites.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.426-436
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• 2001

Background : Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) is one of the major contributors to morbidity and mortality among the adult population. Cigarette smoking(CS) is undoubtedly the single most important factor in the pathogenesis of COPD. However, its mechanism is unclear. The current hypothesis regarding the pathogenesis of COPD postulates that an imbalance between proteases and antiproteases leads to the destructive changes in the lung parenchyma. This study had two aims. First, to evaluate the effect of CS exposure on histologic changes of the lung parenchyme, and second, to evaluate the effect of CS exposure on the expression of the gelatinolytic enzymes in BAL fluid cells in guinea pigs. Methods : Two groups of five guinea pigs were exposed to the whole smoke of 20 commercial cigarettes per day, 5 hours/day, 5 days/week, for 6weeks, and 12 weeks, respectively, using a smoking apparatus. Five age-matched guinea pigs exposed to room air were used as controls. Five or more sections were microscopically extamined(${\times}400$) and the number of cellular infiltration of the alveolar wall was measured in order to evaluate the effect of CS exposure on the histologic changes of lung parenchyme. The statistical significance was analyzed by a linear regression method. To evaluate the expression of the gelatinolytic enzymes in intraalveolar cells, BAL fluid was obtained and the intraalveolar cells were separated by centrifugation (500 g for 10 min at $4^{\circ}C$). Two sets of culture plates were loaded with $1{\times}10^6$ intraalveolar cells. One plate, contained O.1mM EDTA, a inhibitor of matrix metalloproteases(MMPs), and the other plate had no EDTA. Both plates were incubated for 48 hours at $37^{\circ}C$. After incubation, gelatinolytic protease expression in the supernatants was analyzed by gelatin zymography. Results : At the end of CS exposure, the level of blood carboxy Hb had increased significantly(4.1g/dl in control group, 24g/dl immediately after CS exposure, 18g/dl 30 min after CS exposure, 15g/dl 1 hour after CS exposure). Alveolar inflammatory cells were identified in the CS exposed guinea pigs. The number of alveolar cellular cells observed in a microscopic field ($400{\times}$) was $121.4{\pm}7.2$, $158.0{\pm}20.2$, $196.8{\pm}32.8$, in the control, the 6 weeks, and the 12 weeks group, respectively. The increased extent of inflammatory cellular infiltration of the lung parenchema showed a statistically significant linear relationship with the duration of CS exposure(p=0.001, $r^2=0.675$). Several types of gelatinolytic enzymes in the intraalveolar cells of CS exposed guinea pigs were expressed, of which some were inhibited by EDT A. However, the gelatinolytic enzymes were not expressed in the control groups. Conclusion : CS exposure increases inflammatory cellular infiltration of the alveolar wall and the expression of gelatinolytic proteases in guinea pigs. EDTA inhibits some of the gelatinolytic proteases. These findings suggest a possibility that CS exposure may increase MMP expression in the lungs of guinea pigs.