• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.287-294
• /
• 2004

Diabetic complication is one of major risk factors leading to vascular disease such as atherosclerosis, stroke, coronary heart disease and etc. Several factors affecting the acceleration of diabetic vascular complication have been known such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, immune complex and genetic factors. To screen and develop new therapeutics agents for diabetic vascular complication, it is strongly needed to develop animal models for diabetic complications. However in rodents models, diabetic complications is not well developed. Furthermore to assess the possibility of new therapeutics for diabetic vascular complications, diabetic animal models which have the risk factors of diabetic complications is needed. We aim to develop and establish an diabetic animal model which have diabetic complications with hyperlipidemia which is one of risk factors for diabetic complications. We induced insulin -dependent diabetes by intra. venous injection of streptozotocin (35 mg/kg/day) in RICO rats which is a spontaneous animal model for hyperlipidemia. Our models (STZ RICO) showed hyperglycemia, persistent high level of plasma cholesterol and triglyceridemia with severe diabetic renal changes until 28 weeks after induction of diabetes. STZ-RICO rats could be used for the evaluations of newly developed diabetic drugs.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
• /
• 2008.04a
• /
• pp.89-99
• /
• 2008

GPCRs are large families of cell surface receptors that transmit signals through conformational changes upon ligand activation and an interaction with the heterotrimeric G-proteins. GPCRs regulate the cell-signaling pathways and participate in the regulation of physiological processes through the G-proteins defined by their ${\alpha}$ subunits. A family of 20 G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that provide a large class of tractable drug targets for new anti-inflammatory drugs and, in certain instances, for the treatment of the inflammatory indications such as atherosclerosis, rhinitis, asthma, pulmonary disease and arthritis. In view of the important findings showing that $G{\alpha}_{12}/G{\alpha}_{13}$ regulate the various cellular processes such as actin-stress fiber formation, neurite retraction, platelet aggregation, gene induction, and apoptosis, we became interested in whether, after coupling to the activated GPCRs, the G-proteins and their downstream molecules might be involved in the pathologic processes of chronic inflammatory diseases (e.g., liver fibrosis). In this symposium, the possible link of the G-proteins with the pathophysiology will be discussed with the aim of finding potential new drug targets.

• Biomaterials and Biomechanics in Bioengineering
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.65-86
• /
• 2020

As conventional drug delivery system is being improved rapidly by target-based drug delivery system, finding suitable Drug Delivery System (DDS) for new drugs remains a challenge. Although there are many drug delivery vehicles in existence, a significant improvement is required to some DDS such as for local, implant-based treatments used for musculoskeletal infections. Many polymers have been considered for providing the improvement in DDS. Synthetic polymer, for example, has gained popularity for broad-spectrum physicochemical and mechanical properties. This article reviews the biomedical applications of Poly(TriMethylene Carbonate-co-Caprolactone) (PTMCC), which has attracted attention due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability and rubber-like properties. Its synthesis, physical properties, and degradation are also discussed here. Although it is relatively new in biomedical applications, it is readily usable for the fabrication of differing format of DDS of superior mechanical strength and degradation properties. The use of PTMCC is expected to increase in coming years as more is revealed about its potentials.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.132-157
• /
• 2011

The purpose of this article is to examine the cause of policy non-compliance in the case of pharmaceutical rebates from the perspective of rational choice institutionalism. In Korea, there have been rebates practices between pharmaceutical companies and hospitals since the introduction of the Actual Remuneration System for insured medicine in 1999. The government has chosen the policy means of punishment to eliminate pharmaceutical rebates but the illegal practices are still widespread. Institution in rational choice institutionalism usually reflects the incentives and preferences of actors, and the Actual Remuneration System has resulted in a the lack of procedures to ensure savings on drug expenditures. Pharmaceutical rebates are the product of the institutions which reflect their incentives: the Actual Remuneration System, the current pricing policy for generic drugs, the drug distribution system, and so on. In the end, the problem of the rebates is the consequence of policy non-compliance as actors' rational choice because their incentives lead to opportunistic behaviors. We should therefore understand the incentive structure of policy stakeholders, which is derived from the view of new institutionalism; also, the newly designed Korean drug pricing policy reform must be compatible with the incentive structure.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.14-24
• /
• 2000

Objectives : To direct methods of management and development of herbs and their derived products, and at the end of this study to inform the process of making new herbal drug regulations in Korea. Methods : This study analyzed the regulations and laws of western medicine drugs. Results : We have got some herbal prescriptions which are not in the eleven books of oriental medicine now in use but which have proved effective. We need to establish standards for permissions to produce medical products through those prescriptions. Besides, we need the special permissions to produce herbal products through prescriptions, especially those which have been used to treat incurable diseases. And, we can contribute to globalization of oriental medicine and to well situating of herb products and medicinal acupunctures if we produce them according to international standards. It is thought that herbal medicine has no side effect in the medical society in Korea. But, it is getting popular to administer herbal medicine and western medicine together. Thus, the side effects of taking both medicines at the same time should be documented. Conclusions : Herbal medicines and herbal products should be under the control over the whole process of production, circulation, and sales. Now, it is time for herbal medicine to be known to all over the world. Therefore, herbal medicine must meet and adhere to the standards set by the western society and WHO.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.42 no.5
• /
• pp.494-499
• /
• 1998

As part of a drug discovery program to discover more effective platinum-based anticancer drugs, a series of platinum complexes of 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane(1,2-diaminopro pane)platinum(II)dinitrate (KHPC-070) has been evaluated in vitro against various tumor cell lines and normal kidney cells. The structure of this new compound was determined by elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy (IR) and $^{13}carbon$ nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). With the use of nine tumor cell lines, KHPC-070 exhibited a comparable cytotoxic to cisplatin. The cytotoxicity of KHPC-070 in normal cells was quite less than that of cisplatin using 3-(4.5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and [$^3H$]-thymidine uptake tests in rabbit renal proximal tubular cells and human renal cortical cells. Based on these results, KHPC-070 is considered to have more selective cytotoxicity toward cancer cells than normal human/rabbit kidney cells.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.245-255
• /
• 2012

Amyloid-${\beta}$ peptide ($A{\beta}$) is still best known as a molecule to cause Alzheimer's disease (AD) through accumulation and deposition within the frontal cortex and hippocampus in the brain. Thus, strategies on developing AD drugs have been focused on the reduction of $A{\beta}$ in the brain. Since accumulation of $A{\beta}$ depends on the rate of its synthesis and clearance, the metabolic pathway of $A{\beta}$ in the brain and the whole body should be carefully explored for AD research. Although the synthetic pathway of $A{\beta}$ is equally important, we summarize primarily the clearance pathway in this paper because the former has been extensively reviewed in previous studies. The clearance of $A{\beta}$ from the brain is accomplished by several mechanisms which include non-enzymatic and enzymatic pathways. Nonenzymatic pathway includes interstitial fluid drainage, uptake by microglial phagocytosis, and transport across the blood vessel walls into the circulation. Multiple $A{\beta}$-degrading enzymes (ADE) implicated in the clearance process have been identified, which include neprilysin, insulin-degrading enzyme, matrix metalloproteinase-9, glutamate carboxypeptidase II and others. A series of studies on $A{\beta}$ clearance mechanism provide new insight into the pathogenesis of AD at the molecular level and suggest a new target for the development of novel therapeutics.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.371-389
• /
• 2011

A new strategy for cancer therapy has emerged during the past decade based on molecular targets that are less likely to be essential in all cells in the body, therefore confer a wider therapeutic window than traditional cytotoxic drugs which mechanism of action is to inhibit essential cellular functions. Exceptional heterogeneity and adaptability of cancer impose significant challenges in oncology drug discovery, and the concept of complex tumor biology has led the framework of developing many anticancer therapeutics. Protein kinases are the most pursued targets in oncology drug discovery. To date, 12 small molecule kinase inhibitors have been approved by US Food and Drug Administration, and many more are in clinical development. With demonstrated clinical efficacy of bortezomib, ubiquitin proteasome and ubiquitin-like protein conjugation systems are also emerging as new therapeutic targets in cancer therapy. In this review, strategies of targeted cancer therapies with inhibitors of kinases and proteasome systems are discussed. Combinational cancer therapy to overcome drug resistance and to achieve greater treatment benefit through the additive or synergistic effects of each individual agent is also discussed. Finally, the opportunities in the future cancer therapy with molecularly targeted anticancer therapeutics are addressed.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.38 no.5
• /
• pp.586-594
• /
• 1994

The general pharmacological effects of DWQ-013, a new synthetic quinolone antibacterial agent, were examined on the central nervous system in experimentral animals and the following results were obtained. Drug interaction of DWQ-013 with theophylline, fenbufen and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs was also examined. DWQ-013 decreased touch escape effect on the general behavior and decreased body temperature at a concentration of 1000 mg/kg in mice. But DWQ 013 had no effect on the locomotor activity, rotarod perfomance and traction test in mice. Furthermore, DWQ-013 increased pentobarbital-induced sleeping time and affected the onset time in acetic acid-induced writhing test in mice. DWQ-013 reduced onset time and death time on strychnine-induced convulsions and death time on pentylenetetrazole-induced convulsions at a concentration of 1000 mg/kg in mice. But, the drug had no effect on the electroshock. DWQ-013 did not interact with fenbufen and any other NSAIDs but it did interact with theophylline. From these results, it could be suggested that DWQ-013 had less pharmacological effect than other quinolones on the central nervous system.

• Journal of the Korean Medical Association
• /
• v.61 no.11
• /
• pp.670-677
• /
• 2018

Many of the patients visit the doctors because of itching sensation. Itching is an unpleasant sensation. In the epidermal keratinocytes, various neurotransmitters and receptors are related itching. The itch signal is mainly transmitted through the lateral spinal ganglion-derived nerve fibers extending to the lower epidermis. Many mediators such as histamine are involved in the itching pathway. It can be helpful in the treatment of patients having itching sensation with a lot of new therapies from the basic medication such as antihistamines. Also, many drugs are currently under study.