• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제27권5호
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• pp.481-491
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• 2023

The β subunits of high voltage-gated calcium channels (HGCCs) are essential for optimal channel functions such as channel gating, activation-inactivation kinetics, and trafficking to the membrane. In this study, we report for the first time the potent blood pressure-reducing effects of peptide fragments derived from the β subunits in anesthetized and non-anesthetized rats. Intravenous administration of 16-mer peptide fragments derived from the interacting regions of the β1 [cacb1(344-359)], β2 [cacb2(392-407)], β3 [cacb3(292-307)], and β4 [cacb4(333-348)] subunits with the main α-subunit of HGCC decreased arterial blood pressure in a dose-dependent manner for 5-8 min in anesthetized rats. In contrast, the peptides had no effect on the peak amplitudes of voltage-activated Ca²⁺ current upon their intracellular application into the acutely isolated trigeminal ganglion neurons. Further, a single mutated peptide of cacb1(344-359)-cacb1(344-359)_K357R-showed consistent and potent effects and was crippled by a two-amino acid-truncation at the N-terminal or C-terminal end. By conjugating palmitic acid with the second amino acid (lysine) of cacb1(344-359)_K357R (named K2-palm), we extended the blood pressure reduction to several hours without losing potency. This prolonged effect on the arterial blood pressure was also observed in non-anesthetized rats. On the other hand, the intrathecal administration of acetylated and amidated cacb1(344-359)_K357R peptide did not change acute nociceptive responses induced by the intradermal formalin injection in the plantar surface of rat hindpaw. Overall, these findings will be useful for developing antihypertensives.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.126-136
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• 2022

Liver fibrosis is part of the wound healing process to help the liver recover from the injuries caused by various liver-damaging insults. However, liver fibrosis often progresses to life-threatening cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. To overcome the limitations of current in vivo liver fibrosis models for studying the pathophysiology of liver fibrosis and establishing effective treatment strategies, we developed a new mouse model of liver fibrosis using polyhexamethylene guanidine phosphate (PHMG-p), a humidifier sterilizer known to induce lung fibrosis in humans. Male C57/BL6 mice were intraperitoneally injected with PHMG-p (0.03% and 0.1%) twice a week for 5 weeks. Subsequently, liver tissues were examined histologically and RNA-sequencing was performed to evaluate the expression of key genes and pathways affected by PHMG-p. PHMG-p injection resulted in body weight loss of ~15% and worsening of physical condition. Necropsy revealed diffuse fibrotic lesions in the liver with no effect on the lungs. Histology, collagen staining, immunohistochemistry for smooth muscle actin and collagen, and polymerase chain reaction analysis of fibrotic genes revealed that PHMG-p induced liver fibrosis in the peri-central, peri-portal, and capsule regions. RNA-sequencing revealed that PHMG-p affected several pathways associated with human liver fibrosis, especially with upregulation of lumican and IRAK3, and downregulation of GSTp1 and GSTp2, which are closely involved in liver fibrosis pathogenesis. Collectively we demonstrated that the PHMG-p-induced liver fibrosis model can be employed to study human liver fibrosis.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제65권5호
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• pp.922-938
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• 2023

The current study was designed to evaluate the effect of sequential low and high dietary linseed oil (LO; as omega-3 enriched fatty acid; FA) before and post insemination, respectively, on different plasma variables of ewes. Fat-tailed Qezel ewes were assigned randomly to be fed a diet enriched with 3% LO (n = 30) or the saturated FA (SFA; n = 30) three weeks before insemination (Day 0). The lipogenic diet supplemented with 6% LO or SFA was fed after insemination until Day +21. The control ewes were fed an isocaloric and isonitrogenous diet with no additional FA during the study. Estrus was synchronized by inserting a vaginal sponge (Spongavet^®) for 12 days + 500 IU equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG; Gonaser^®), and ewes were inseminated via laparoscopic approach 56-59 h after eCG injection. The size of ovarian structures was assessed by transvaginal ultrasonography at -21, -14, -2, 0, and +10 days. Blood samples were collected weekly to measure the plasma's different biochemical variables and FA profile. Treatment did not affect the amounts of glucose, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, interleukin-10, interleukin-2, and non-esterified FA (p > 0.05). Conversely, concentrations of triglyceride, cholesterol, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and insulin-like growth factor-1 were higher in SFA-fed ewes relative to control animals (p < 0.05). LO feeding resulted in greater amounts of n-3 FA isomers in plasma, while higher amounts of stearic acid were detected in SFA fed group 0 and +21 (p < 0.05). The number of ovarian follicles and corpora lutea also were not affected by treatment. Other reproductive variables were not affected by treatment except for the reproductive rate. It seems that LO or SFA feeding of fat-tailed ewes peri-insemination period was not superior to the isocaloric non-additional fat diet provided for the control group during the non-breeding season.

• 한국전기전자재료학회논문지
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• 제36권6호
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• pp.588-593
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• 2023

The advantage of OTFT technology is that large-area circuits can be manufactured on flexible substrates using a low-cost solution process such as inkjet printing. Compared to silicon-based inorganic semiconductor processes, the process temperature is lower and the process time is shorter, so it can be widely applied to fields that do not require high electron mobility. Materials that have utility as electrode materials include carbon that can be solution-processed, transparent carbon thin films, and metallic nanoparticles, etc. are being studied. Recently, a technology has been developed to facilitate charge injection by coating the surface of the Al electrode with solution-processable titanium oxide (TiOx), which can greatly improve the performance of OTFT. In order to commercialize OTFT technology, an appropriate method is to use a complementary circuit with excellent reliability and stability. For this, insulators and channel semiconductors using organic materials must have stability in the air. In this study, carbon-doped Mo (MoC) thin films were fabricated with different graphite target power densities via unbalanced magnetron sputtering (UBM). The influence of graphite target power density on the structural, surface area, physical, and electrical properties of MoC films was investigated. MoC thin films deposited by the unbalanced magnetron sputtering method exhibited a smooth and uniform surface. However, as the graphite target power density increased, the rms surface roughness of the MoC film increased, and the hardness and elastic modulus of the MoC thin film increased. Additionally, as the graphite target power density increased, the resistivity value of the MoC film increased. In the performance of an organic thin film transistor using a MoC gate electrode, the carrier mobility, threshold voltage, and drain current on/off ratio (I_on/I_off) showed 0.15 cm²/V·s, -5.6 V, and 7.5×10⁴, respectively.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제57권3호
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• pp.298-303
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• 2024

Objectives: The aim of this study was to estimate drug prescription indicators in outpatient services provided at Iran Social Security Organization (SSO) healthcare facilities. Methods: Data on all prescribed drugs for outpatient visits from 2017 to 2018 were extracted from the SSO database. The data were categorized into 4 main subgroups: patient characteristics, provider characteristics, service characteristics, and type of healthcare facility. Logistic regression models were used to detect risk factors for inappropriate drug prescriptions. SPSS and IBM Modeler software were utilized for data analysis. Results: In 2017, approximately 150 981 752 drug items were issued to outpatients referred to SSO healthcare facilities in Iran. The average number of drug items per outpatient prescription was estimated at 3.33. The proportion of prescriptions that included an injection was 17.5%, and the rate of prescriptions that included an antibiotic was 37.5%. Factors such as patient sex and age, provider specialty, type of facility, and time of outpatient visit were associated with the risk of inappropriate prescriptions. Conclusions: In this study, all drug prescription criteria exceeded the recommended limits set by the World Health Organization. To improve the current prescription patterns throughout the country, it would be beneficial to provide providers with monthly and annual reports and to consider implementing some prescription policies for physicians.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• 제57권3호
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• pp.419-430
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• 2024

Huntington's disease (HD) is a hereditary condition considered by the progressive degeneration of nerve cells in the brain, resultant in motor dysfunction and cognitive impairment. Despite current treatment modalities including pharmaceuticals and various therapies, a definitive cure remains elusive. Therefore, this study investigates the therapeutic potential effect of Apelin-13 in HD management. Thirty male Wistar rats were allocated into three groups: a control group, a group with HD, and a group with both HD and administered Apelin-13. Apelin-13 was administered continuously over a 28-day period at a dosage of around 30 mg/kg to mitigate inflammation in rats subjected to 3-NP injection within an experimental HD model. Behavioral tests, such as rotarod, electromyography (EMG), elevated plus maze, and open field assessments, demonstrated that Apelin-13 improved motor function and coordination in rats injected with 3-NP. Apelin-13 treatment significantly increased neuronal density and decreased glial cell counts compared to the control group. Immunohistochemistry analysis revealed reduced gliosis and expression of inflammatory factors in the treatment group. Moreover, Apelin-13 administration led to elevated levels of glutathione and reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) level in the treated group. Apelin-13 demonstrates neuroprotective effects, leading to improved movement and reduced inflammatory and fibrotic factors in the HD model.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.150-159
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• 2001

목 적 : 현재 사용하고 있는 마우스 뇌조직 유래 Nakayama주 사백신 접종 방법의 의학적 타당성을 알아보고자 접종 실태와 부작용 발생 양상과 빈도를 조사하고 추가 접종 방법의 타당성을 확인하기 위하여 중화항체 지속률을 조사하였다. 방 법 : 15,487명의 접종아를 대상으로 이상반응 발생 여부를 조사하였고 초등학교 학생 2,277명을 대상으로 건강기록부와 설문지조사를 통하여 접종실태와 이상반응 발생 빈도를 확인하였으며 접종기록이 일치하는 311명의 학생을 대상으로 중화항체 검사를 시행하였다. 검사는 United States Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Science/Department of Virology, Bangkok(USAMC-AFRIMS)에서 시행되었고 50% 플라크 감소를 기준으로 1 : 10 이상을 양성으로 하였다. 결 과 : 건강기록부에 의한 초등학생 2,277명의 접종률은 47.5%였으나 설문지 조사에서는 접종률이 93.5%로 큰 차이가 있었다. 건강기록부에 나타난 취학 전 접종률은 남자 48.5%, 여자 46.4%로 차이가 없었다. 연령이 증가함에 따라 일본뇌염의 접종 횟수도 증가하는 양상을 보였다. 예방접종 여부가 건강기록부와 설문지 조사 결과가 일치하는 경우는 95년과 96년에 모두 접종 받았다고 응답한 경우만 75.6%로 높았고 그 외에는 일치도가 낮았다. 일본뇌염 예방접종 장소는 학교가 60.1%로 가장 많았고 그 외 보건소가 25.1%, 병 의원 14.1% 순이었다. 1995년 5~6월 사이 서울 소재 보건소에서 15,487명을 대상으로 일본뇌염 사백신을 접종한 후 0.13%에서 이상반응이 발생하여 의료 기관을 방문하였으며 이 중 57%는 고열 때문이었고 1례에서 접종 후 3분만에 실신 발작이 있었다. 전체 접종자의 0.02%에서 심한 두드러기 반응으로 의료기관을 방문하였으며 0.03%에서 두통 및 구토 등으로 의료 기관을 다시 찾았다. 1996년 봄에 초등학생을 대상으로 시행한 이상반응 설문지 조사에 의하면 주사 부위 발적이 17.4%, 주사 부위 동통이 14.8%, 발열 4.3%였고 그 외에 두통, 구토, 반점 등이 관찰되었다. 초등학생 311명 중 일본뇌염 접종력 조사에서 마지막 접종 후 6개월이 경과한 경우(1군)가 155명, 접종 후 18개월이 경과한 경우(2군) 104명, 30개월이 경과한 경우(3군)이 45명, 42개월이 경과한 경우(4군)가 7명이었다. 이들의 항체 양성률은 1군이 98.1%(152/155), 2군이 99.0%(103/104), 3군이 95.6%(43/45), 4군이 71.4%(5/7)로 양성률에 있어서 각 군간의 차이는 없는 것으로 나타났다. 결 론 : 현재 격년으로 시행하고있는 일본뇌염 사백신 추가 접종은 시기를 늘려 시행하여도 항체 지속률을 유지할 수 있을 것으로 추정된다.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• 제6권2호
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• pp.144-151
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• 2003

목적 : 본 연구의 목적은 화학요법을 받는 암환자의 증상과 통증조절을 위한 약물사용 및 그 치료방법의 현황을 살펴보기 위해 실시하였다. 방법 : 2001년 8월 7일부터 24일까지 광주광역시 일개 대학교 부속병원 혈액종양 내과병동에 입원치료중인 암환자와 주사실에서 화학요법을 받고 있는 전체환자 가운데 연구에 동의하고 질문에 응답을 허락한 66명과 chart audit 및 담당의사 19명을 대상으로 하였다. 대상의 일반적 특성 및 증상의 정도와 통증조절에 사용된 약물의 종류, 투여경로, 평균 투여량, 투여방법에 대하여 조사하였다. 일반적 특성은 수와 백분율로 제시하였으며, 증상의 빈도는 평균과 표준편차로 제시하였다. 진통제의 종류, 규칙적 또는 일시적(pm) 사용여부, 투여경로는 수와 백분율로 제시하였다. 결과 : 66명의 조사대상자 중 남성 35명(53.0%), 여성 31명(47.0%)이었고, 연령은 $61{\sim}69$세가 23명(34.8%)으로 가장 많았다. 진단명은 위암 19명(28.8%), 대장 직장암 17명(25.8%), 비뇨기계암 11명(16.7%) 순으로 나타났다. 진단명 기수는 3기 14명(29.2%), 2기 12명(25.0%), 1기 11명(22.9%), 4기 11명(22.9%) 순이었고, 진단기간은 3개월 이내가 25명(37.9%)로 가장 많은 것으로 나타났다. 화학요법을 받는 암환자의 증상으로는 '쇠약'($2.4193{\pm}1.2220$), '통증'($1.9333{\pm}1.2194$), '수면장애'($1.7142{\pm}1.0384$점), '성격변화'($1.5806{\pm}0.8971$) 순으로 나타났다. 화학요법을 받는 암환자의 통증조절을 위한 진통제는 마약성 진통제 66.2%, 비마약성 진통제 33.8%를 사용하고 있었다. 진통제의 규칙적인 투여는 21%, 일시적(pm)인 투여는 31.6%, 규칙적으로 투여하면서 필요시마다 pm으로 투여한 경우는 47.4%이었다. 진통제의 투여 경로는 경구 투여한 경우 50.7%, 주사로 투여한 경우 41.8%, 패치를 사용한 경우가 7.5%로 나타났다. 결론 : 화학요법을 받는 암환자의 증상으로는 쇠약과 통증을 가장 많이 호소하고 있었다. 그리고 통증조절을 위해서는 마약성 진통제를 우선적으로 사용하였지만 임상의사들의 21%에서만 진통제에 대한 규칙적인 투여가 이루어지는 것으로 나타나 통증조절 충분하다고 볼 수 없다. 이 같은 점을 고려하여 통증의 적절한 평가와 통증조절에 대한 실무와 교육이 필요하다고 생각된다.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• 제48권5호
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• pp.654-659
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• 2010

박막형 유기 태양전지의 효율 향상을 위하여 정공 수송층인 CuPc 층에 p형 유기 반도체인 rubrene을 함량 별로 도핑하여 ITO/PEDOT:PSS/CuPc: rubrene/CuPc:C60(blending ratio 1:1)/C60/BCP/Al의 이종접합구조를 가지는 p-i-n형 유기 박막형 태양전지 소자를 제조한 후, 유기 태양전지의 전류 밀도-전압(J-V) 특성, 단락 전류($J_{sc}$), 개방 전압($V_{oc}$), 충진 인자(fill factor:FF), 에너지 전환 효율(${\eta}_e$) 등을 측정하고 계산하여 성능 평가를 수행 하였다. 정공 수송층으로 사용된 CuPc 층에 rubrene을 도핑함으로써 에너지 흡수 스펙트럼에서 흡수 강도가 감소하였다. 그러나 CuPc 보다 큰 밴드갭을 가지며 높은 정공 이동도를 가지는 결정성 rubrene의 도핑에 의해 제조된 p-i-n형 유기 박막 태양전지의 성능은 향상 되는 것으로 확인되었다. 제조된 유기 태양전지의 에너지 전환 효율(${\eta}_e$)은 1.41%로 실리콘 태양전지와 비교해서 아직도 성능 향상을 위한 많은 노력이 필요함을 보여 준다.

• 한국진공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국진공학회 2012년도 제43회 하계 정기 학술대회 초록집
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• pp.269-269
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• 2012

A new ion source has been designed, fabricated, and installed at the NBTS (Neutral Beam Test Stand) at the KAERI (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute) site. The goalis to provide a 100 keV, 2MW deuterium neutral beam injection as an auxiliary heating of KSTAR (Korea Super Tokamak Advanced Research). To cope with power demand, an ion current of 50 A is required considering the beam power loss and neutralization efficiency. The new ion source consists of a magnetic cusp bucket plasma generator and a set of tetrode accelerators with circular copper apertures. The plasma generator for the new ion source has the same design concept as the modified JAEA multi-cusp plasma generator for the KSTAR prototype ion source. The dimensions of the plasma generator are a cross section of $59{\times}25cm^2$ with a 32.5 cm depth. The anode has azimuthal arrays of Nd-Fe permanent magnets (3.4 kG at surface) in the bucket and an electron dump, which makes 9 cusp lines including the electron dump. The discharge properties were investigated preliminarily to enhance the efficiency of the beam extraction. The discharge of the new ion source was mainly controlled by a constant power mode of operation. The discharge of the plasma generator was initiated by the support of primary electrons emitted from the cathode, consisting of 12 tungsten filaments with a hair-pin type (diameter = 2.0 mm). The arc discharge of the new ion source was achieved easily up to an arc power of 80 kW (80 V/1000 A) with hydrogen gas. The 80 kW capacity seems sufficient for the arc power supply to attain the goal of arc efficiency (beam extracted current/discharge input power = 0.8 A/kW). The accelerator of the new ion source consists of four grids: plasma grid (G1), gradient grid (G2), suppressor grid (G3), and ground grid (G4). Each grid has 280 EA circular apertures. The performance tests of the new ion source accelerator were also finished including accelerator conditioning. A hydrogen ion beam was successfully extracted up to 100 keV /60 A. The optimum perveance is defined where the beam divergence is at a minimum was also investigated experimentally. The optimum hydrogen beam perveance is over $2.3{\mu}P$ at 60 keV, and the beam divergence angle is below $1.0^{\circ}$. Thus, the new ion source is expected to be capable of extracting more than a 5 MW deuterium ion beam power at 100 keV. This ion source can deliver ~2 MW of neutral beam power to KSTAR tokamak plasma for the 2012 campaign.