• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.335-342
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• 2003

A simple disposable thick-film potentiometric strip has been developed and evaluated for hydroponics application. The strip consisted of low ion-selective electrodes (ISE) fabricated by screen-printing technology. The electrochemical responses of ion sensors for nitrate, ammonium, potassium, and magnesium were measured with specially designed 16-channel low voltage signal transducers. The analytical characteristics of the sensors were comparable with those of conventional ISE sensors. The thick-film sensors exhibit linear relationships over five concentration decades. The concentration of N $O_3$ - ion in standard solution can be determined by direct potentiometric measurements without any conditioning before measurements. However, measurement of $K^{+}$, N $H_4$$^{+}$, and $Mg^{2+}$ ionic concentrations in nutrient solutions seems not feasible.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.133-145
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• 1998

$Ca^{2+}-signals$ in endothelial cells are determined by release from intracellular stores and entry through the plasma membrane. In this review, the nature of $Ca^{2+}$ entry and mechanisms of its control are reviewed. The following ion channels play a pivotal role in regulation of the driving force for $Ca^{2+}$ entry: an inwardly rectifying $K^+$ channel, identified as Kir2.1, a big-conductance, $Ca^{2+}-activated$ $K^+$ channel (hslo) and at least two $Cl^-$ channels (a volume regulated $Cl^-$ channel, VRAC, and a $Ca^{2+}$ activated $Cl^-$ channel, CaCC). At least two different types of $Ca^{2+}$-entry channels exist: 1. A typical CRAC-like, highly selective $Ca^{2+}$ channel is described. Current density for this $Ca^{2+}$ entry is approximately 0.1pA/pF at 0 mV and thus 10 times smaller than in Jurkat or mast cells. 2. Another entry pathway for $Ca^{2+}$ entry is a more non-selective channel, which might be regulated by intracellular $Ca^{2+}$. Although detected in endothelial cells, the functional role of trp1,3,4 as possible channel proteins is unclear. Expression of trp3 in macrovascular endothelial cells from bovine pulmonary artery induced non-selective cation channels which are probably not store operated or failed to induce any current. Several features as well as a characterisation of $Ca^{2+}$-oscillations in endothelial cells is also presented.

• Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
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• 2002.06b
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• pp.39-39
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• 2002

Microglia are known to have an important function as brain macrophage during immunological processes, oncogenesis, and regeneration in the central nervous system (CNS). A wide variety of ion channels have been identified and characterized in microglia including inward rectifier $K^{＋}$ channel (Kir), voltage dependent $K^{＋}$ channel (Kv), $Ca^{2＋}$-release activated $Ca^{2＋}$ channel (CRAC).(omitted)

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.348-353
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• 2007

A solid state ion sensor module has been developed and evaluated for hydroponic nutrients analysis. The sensor module consisted of five ion-selective electrodes (ISE) fabricated by screen-printing technology. The electrochemical responses of ion sensors for nitrate, ammonium, potassium, calcium, and pH were measured with specially designed 7-channel low voltage signal transducers. The analytical characteristics of the sensors were comparable with those of conventional ISE sensors. The solid state ion sensors exhibit linear relationships over five concentration decades. Detection limit of the sensors were $5.6{\times}10^{-5}{\sim}1.6{\times}10^{-7}M$ depends on ions. Performance test results showed that relative errors of measured ion concentrations were less than 5% for $NO_3{^-},\;K^+,\;Ca^{2+}$ ion, and pH. The concentration of $NO_3{^-},\;NH_4{^+},\;K^+,\;Ca^{2+}$, and pH ion in standard solution and nutrient solutions could be determined by direct potentiometric measurements without any conditioning before measurements.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.267-275
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• 2023

Cardiotoxicity, particularly drug-induced Torsades de Pointes (TdP), is a concern in drug safety assessment. The recent establishment of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (human iPSC-CMs) has become an attractive human-based platform for predicting cardiotoxicity. Moreover, electrophysiological assessment of multiple cardiac ion channel blocks is emerging as an important parameter to recapitulate proarrhythmic cardiotoxicity. Therefore, we aimed to establish a novel in vitro multiple cardiac ion channel screening-based method using human iPSC-CMs to predict the drug-induced arrhythmogenic risk. To explain the cellular mechanisms underlying the cardiotoxicity of three representative TdP high- (sotalol), intermediate- (chlorpromazine), and low-risk (mexiletine) drugs, and their effects on the cardiac action potential (AP) waveform and voltage-gated ion channels were explored using human iPSC-CMs. In a proof-of-principle experiment, we investigated the effects of cardioactive channel inhibitors on the electrophysiological profile of human iPSC-CMs before evaluating the cardiotoxicity of these drugs. In human iPSC-CMs, sotalol prolonged the AP duration and reduced the total amplitude (TA) via selective inhibition of I_Kr and I_Na currents, which are associated with an increased risk of ventricular tachycardia TdP. In contrast, chlorpromazine did not affect the TA; however, it slightly increased AP duration via balanced inhibition of I_Kr and I_Ca currents. Moreover, mexiletine did not affect the TA, yet slightly reduced the AP duration via dominant inhibition of I_Ca currents, which are associated with a decreased risk of ventricular tachycardia TdP. Based on these results, we suggest that human iPSC-CMs can be extended to other preclinical protocols and can supplement drug safety assessments.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.331-340
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• 2022

Early afterdepolarization (EAD), a significant cause of fatal ventricular arrhythmias including Torsade de Pointes (TdP) in long QT syndromes, is a depolarizing afterpotential at the plateau or repolarization phase in action potential (AP) profile early before completing one pace. AP duration prolongation is related to EAD but is not necessarily accounted for EAD. Several computational studies suggested EAD can form from an abnormality in the late plateau and/or repolarization phase of AP shape. In this sense, we hypothesized the slope during repolarization has the characteristics to predict TdP risk, mainly focusing on the maximum slope during repolarization (dVm/dt_{max_repol}). This study aimed to predict the sensitivity of dVm/dt_{max_repol} to ion channel conductances as a TdP risk metric through a population simulation considering multiple effects of simultaneous reduction in six ion channel conductances of g_NaL, g_Kr, g_Ks, g_to, g_K1, and g_CaL. Additionally, we verified the availability of dVm/dt_{max_repol} for TdP risk prediction through the correlation analysis with qNet, the representative TdP metric. We performed the population simulations based on the methodology of Gemmel et al. using the human ventricular myocyte model of Dutta et al. Among the sixion channel conductances, dVm/dt_{max_repol} and qNet responded most sensitively to the change in g_Kr, followed by g_NaL. Furthermore, dVm/dt_{max_repol} showed a statistically significant high negative correlation with qNet. The dVm/dt_{max_repol} values were significantly different according to three TdP risk levels of high, intermediate, and low by qNet (p<0.001). In conclusion, we suggested dVm/dt_{max_repol} as a new biomarker metric for TdP risk assessment.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.543-553
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• 1992

Properties of unitary ATP-sensitive $K^+$ channels were studied using planar lipid bilayer technique. Vesicles were prepared from bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) skeletal muscle. ATP-sensitive $K^+$ (K (ATP)) channels were identified by their unitary conductance and sensitivity to ATP. In the symmetrical solution containing 200mM KCI, 10mM Hepes, 1mM EGTA and pH 7.2, single K (ATP) channels showed a linear current-voltage relations with slight inward rectification. Slope conductance at reversal potential was $60.1{\pm}0.43$ pS(n=3)). Micromolar ATP reversibly inhibited the channel activity when applied to the cytoplasmic side. In the range of -50~＋50 mV, the channel activity was not voltage-dependent, but the channel gating within a burst was more frequent at negative voltage range. Varying the concentrations of external/internal KCl(mM) to 40/200, 200/200, 200/100 and 200/40 shifted reversal potentials to $-30.8{\pm}2.9$(n=3), $-1.1{\pm}2.7$(n=3), 10.5 and 30.6(mV), respecrivety. These reversal potentials were close to the expected values by the Nernst equation, indicating nearly ideal selectivity for $K^+$ over $Cl^-$. Under bi-ionic conditions of 200mM external test ions and 200mM internal $K^+$, the reversal potentials for each test ion/K pair were measured. The measured reversal potentials were used for the calculation of the releative permeability of alkali cations to $K^+$ ions using the Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz equation. The permeability sequence of 5 cations relative to $K^+$ was $K^+$(1), $Rb^+$(0.49), $Cs^+$(0.27), $Na^+$(0.027) and $Li^+$(0.021). This sequence was recognized as Eisenman's selectivity sequence IV. In addition, modelling the permeation of $K^+$ ion through ATP-sensitive $K^+$ channel revealed that a 3-barrier 2-site multiple occupancy model can reasonably predict the observed current-voltage relations.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.33-41
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• 2022

Objectives: Drug-induced blockade of the human ether-à-go-go related gene (hERG) potassium ion channel causes acquired long QT syndrome, which is known to cause cardiac arrhythmias and be fatal. To establish safety evidence of herbal formulae, we evaluated the effects of 31 herbal formulae on hERG channel activity. Methods: The current through hERG channel was measured by changing the membrane voltage before and after treatment with 31 herbal formulae in HEK 293 cell overexpressing hERG channel using a whole-cell patch clamp system. The current-voltage curves and the activity curves were fitted, and the hERG activity and 50% inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) according to each herbal formula were calculated. Results: Chokyungjongok-tang, Oncheong-eum, and Cheongsangbangpung-tang strongly inhibited the hERG activity, with IC₅₀ values of 67.67, 141.2, and 296.3 ㎍/mL, respectively. Yeonkyopaedok-san, Eunkyo-san, Ukgan-san gajinphibanha, Daegunjoong-tang (except Oryzae gluten), Insamyangyoung-tang, Banhahubak-tang, SokyungHwalhyul-tang, Jodeung-san, Hyeonggaeyeongyo-tang, and Bangkeehwangkee-tang weakly inhibited hERG activity, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 400 to 1000 ㎍/mL. The other 18 herbal formulae showed very weak hERG activity inhibition of less than 50% at the highest concentration (1000 ㎍/mL). Conclusion: This study provided safety information on cardiotoxicity by cardiac arrhythmia risk assessment of herbal formulae, and is expected to be a reference data for predicting the safety and risk of herbal formulae.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.131-136
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• 1997

The ISFET(ion sensitive field effect transistor), a semiconductor ion sensor, has many advantages over conventional ion sensors. Various single-sensor type ISFET pH-meters have been developed. However, they could not be applied in fields because their performances are directly affected by the sensor condition. With only one sensor, the system could be easily damaged from environmental factors, and reliability of it is decreased. Therefore, a 4-channel PH-meter system is proposed to improve the reliability of ISFET pH-meter. It has 4 ISFETS as ion sensor, and a software which contains a new calibration and measurement algorithm appropriate to the system. The reliability of the system was proved by measuring hydrogen ion concentration in the pH standard solutions and buffer solutions.

• Proceedings of the KACD Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.581.1-581
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• 2001

Trigeminal nerve functions movement and sensation on orofacial region. Therefore, it is very important in dental clinic. Neurons with their cell bodies in trigeminal ganglion of trigeminal nerve root are primary sensory neurons and playa role of tactile sense, pressure, vibration and pain of orofacial area. Transmission of these senses depends on ion channels, we know that trigeminal ganglion neuron exists many kind of ion channels. Methods of definition on ion channel are several, but in this study we use immunostaining for detection of ion channels.(omitted)