• 대한약침학회지
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.277-283
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• 2018

Objectives: Ethanol withdrawal following its chronic use is a serious outcome and challenging to treatment. The chronic use of ethanol induces a progressive neuroplasticity in different reigns of brain. In this study we evaluated the effects of aqueous extract of Crocus sativus L. (saffron) and its active compound, crocin, on the withdrawal behavior induced after repeated administration of ethanol, in two regimens of prophylactic (administration of drugs concomitant with the induction of dependence) and treatment (administration of drugs during the period of ethanol withdrawal) in mice which received ethanol. Methods: Ethanol dependence was induced by oral administration of 10% v/v ethanol (2 g/kg) for 7 days. The aqueous extracts of saffron (40, 80 and 160) and crocin (10, 20 and 40 mg/kg) were administered to mice in two regimens of prophylactic (along with ethanol) and treatment (during withdrawal period). Diazepam (1 mg/kg) was used as a positive control. Six hours after discontinuation of the ethanol, seizure was evaluated by the sub-convulsive dose of pentyleneltetrazole (PTZ) (30 mg/kg). The open field test and Rota rod test were used for evaluation of locomotor activity and motor incoordination, respectively. Results: Both extracts and crocin increased the number of crossed lined in the open field test. PTZ kindling seizure was inhibited in animals received extract (80 and 160 mg/kg) in both regimens. Motor incoordination was only improved following administration of crocin. Conclusion: The aqueous extract of saffron and crocin can be considered as safe agents and reliable alternative to diazepam in management of ethanol withdrawal syndrome.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• 제7권2호
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• pp.225-232
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• 2000

목 적 : 올바른 항생제의 사용을 위해서는 우선 항생제 사용 실태의 파악과 함께 검사실의 확충, 의료진의 협조 등 다양한 노력과 보완이 요구된다. 본 연구는 적절한 항생제 사용의 기반을 마련하고자 현재 시행되고 있는 항생제 사용 실태를 조사하였다. 방 법 : 전북대학교병원에 입원한 환자 총 1,833명을 대상으로 의무기록을 통하여 항생제의 사용 여부, 종류, 사용 기간, 용량, 항생제의 투약 시작 시기 및 투여 목적을 조사하였다. 결 과 : 전체 조사 대상 환자 1,833명 중 입원 기간 중 항생제를 사용한 환자는 1,231명으로 67.2%였으며, 계별로 살펴보면 내과계는 전체 1,014명 중 497명(49.0%)이 항생제를 사용하였고, 외과계는 819명 중 734명(89.6%)에서 항생제를 사용하였다. 전체 항생제를 사용한 환자 1,231명 중 706명(57.4%)에서 예방 목적으로 사용하였고, 525명(42.6%)에서 치료 목적으로 사용하였다. 항생제를 사용한 환자의 경우 사용된 항생제의 갯수를 살펴보면 총 1,231명 중 1가지 항생제를 사용한 경우는 125명(10.2%)이었으며, 2가지를 사용한 경우는 311명(25.3%), 3가지를 사용한 경우는 562명(45.6%), 4가지 이상을 사용한 경우는 233명(18.9%)으로, 70% 이상의 환자에서 3가지 이상의 항생제가 사용하였다. 사용 항생제의 종류는 ${\beta}$-lactam, aminoglycoside, quinolone, macrolide, 항진균제, metronidazole, clindamycin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, glycopeptide, 그리고 fosfomycin 등으로 아주 다양하였다. 전체적인 그룹별 사용률을 보면 ${\beta}$-lactam은 57.0%, aminoglycoside는 34.5%, quinolone은 3.6% 그리고 기타 그룹은 4.9%로, ${\beta}$-lactam과 aminoglycoside가 가장 많이 사용되었다. 결 론 : 대부분의 환자에서 2가지 이상의 항생제의 병합요법이 보편화되어 있다는 점은 진지하게 검토되어야 할 것으로 생각된다. 아울러 임상적으로 전신 세균 감염이 확실한 경우에도 원인 병원체를 찾아내기 위한 적극적인 노력이 부족한 경우도 상당수 있어 이에 대해서도 검사실과 함께 적극적인 개선의 노력이 필요할 것으로 생각된다. 수술 환자의 예방적 화학 요법에 대해서도 개선이 필요할 것으로 생각된다.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제50권3호
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• pp.235-239
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• 2011

Radiation therapy has been widely applied for cancer treatment. Childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), characterized by frequent central nervous system involvement, is a well documented disease for the effect of prophylactic cranio-spinal irradiation. Irradiation, however, acts as an oncogenic factor as a delayed effect and it is rare that glioblastoma multiforme develops during the remission period of ALL. We experienced a pediatric radiation-induced GBM patient which developed during the remission period of ALL, who were primarily treated with chemotherapeutic agents and brain radiation therapy for the prevention of central nervous system (CNS) relapse. Additionally, we reviewed the related literature regarding on the effects of brain irradiation in childhood and on the prognosis of radiation induced GBM.

• KSBB Journal
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• 제13권6호
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• pp.649-655
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• 1998

Hantaviruses are rodent hosts-borne viruses belonging to the family Bunyaviridae, and are etiologic agents for two acute diseases, i.e., Haemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS) and Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS). There have been a lot of reports on prophylactic vaccines and diagnostics for the diseases, but most of viral antigens have been prepared by eukaryotic cell culture. Nucleocapsid proteins of Hantaviruses are known as the major viral antigens. Thereby, we prepared nucleocapsid genes of Hantaan virus and Seoul virus by RT-PCR and cloned into plasmid vectors, pET-3a and pKK223-3. Both genes were expressed in Escherichia coli with higher expression level of Seoul viral nucleocapsid protein compared to that of Hantaan in pET-3a. Hantaan viral gene was expressed much higher level in plasmid pET-3a that in pKK223-3. About 30% of expressed nucleocapsid protein was soluble and the rest was remained in insoluble fraction.

• 한국가금학회지
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• 제48권4호
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• pp.297-318
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• 2021

Coccidiosis is a major parasitic disease in the poultry industry, with great economic implications worldwide. It is a ubiquitous protozoan infection caused by several species of the genus Eimeria (host-specific) that colonize and reproduce in the intestine of birds, ultimately altering the health and performance of the flock. At present, several methods are used to diagnose coccidiosis in poultry, including field and laboratory techniques (intestinal lesion scoring, oocyst counting in feces, and biochemical and molecular diagnosis). Traditionally, diagnosed flocks have been treated either by vaccination to improve the active immunity of the birds against coccidiosis or supplementation of prophylactic anticoccidials to ameliorate the deleterious effects of coccidiosis. However, these methods has certain drawbacks such as vaccine-induced coccidiosis, drug resistance, and residual drug accumulation in the host. Consequently, alternative safe anti-coccidial agents, including the use of phytogenic compounds, have been explored for preventing coccidiosis. Here, we provide a simple overview of the literature on poultry coccidiosis by focusing on the etiology, diagnostic practices, and preventive measures.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.242-254
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• 2018

Defensins are antimicrobial peptides that participate in the innate immunity of hosts. Humans constitutively and/or inducibly express ${\alpha}$- and ${\beta}$-defensins, which are known for their antiviral and antibacterial activities. This review describes the application of human defensins. We discuss the extant experimental results, limited though they are, to consider the potential applicability of human defensins as antiviral agents. Given their antiviral effects, we propose that basic research be conducted on human defensins that focuses on RNA viruses, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), influenza A virus (IAV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and dengue virus (DENV), which are considered serious human pathogens but have posed huge challenges for vaccine development for different reasons. Concerning the prophylactic and therapeutic applications of defensins, we then discuss the applicability of human defensins as antivirals that has been demonstrated in reports using animal models. Finally, we discuss the potential adjuvant-like activity of human defensins and propose an exploration of the 'defensin vaccine' concept to prime the body with a controlled supply of human defensins. In sum, we suggest a conceptual framework to achieve the practical application of human defensins to combat viral infections.

• 한국재난정보학회 논문집
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.3-26
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• 2005

In recent years, there is growing concern about the potential use of biological agents in war or acts of terrorism accompanied an increased realization that rapid preparedness and response are needed to prevent or treat the human damage that can be caused by these agents. The threat is indeed serious, and the potential for devastating numbers of casualties is high. The use of agents as weapons, even on a small scale, has the potential for huge social and economic disruption and massive diversion of regional and national resources to combat the threat, to treat primary disease, and to clean up environmental contamination. Biological weapons are one of weapons of mass destruction (or mass casualty weapons, to be precise. since they do not damage non-living entities) that are based on bacteria, viruses, rickettsia, fungi or toxins produced by these organisms. Biological weapons are known to be easy and cheap to produce and can be used to selectively target humans, animals, or plants. Theses agents can cause large numbers of casualties with minimal logistical requirements (in wide area). The spread of disease cannot be controlled until there is awareness of the signs of infection followed by identification of agents; and if the organism is easily spread from person to person, as in the case of smallpox, the number of casualties could run into the tens of thousands. Biological weapons could be used covertly, there can be a lot of different deployment scenarios. A lot of different agents could be used in biological weapons. And, there are a lot of different techniques to manufacture biological weapons. Terrorist acts that make use of Biological Agents differ in a number of ways from those involving chemicals. The distinction between terrorist and military use of Biological Weapon is increasingly problematic. The stealthy qualities of biological weapons further complicate the distinction between terrorism and war. In reality, all biological attacks are likely to require an integrated response involving both military and civilian communities. The basic considerations when public health agencies establish national defence plan against bioterrorism must be 1) arraying various laws and regulations to meet the realistic needs, 2)education for public health personnels and support of concerned academic society, 3)information collection and cooperative project with other countries, 4)Detection and surveillance(Early detection is essential for ensuring a prompt response to biological or chemical attack, including the provision of prophylactic medicines, chemical antidotes, or vaccines) and 5) Response(A comprehensive public health response to a biological or chemical terrorist event involves epidemiologic investigation, medical treatment and prophylaxis for affacted persons, and the initiation of disease prevention or environmental decontamination measures). The purpose of this paper is providing basic material of preparedness and response for biological terrorism in modern society.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.76-79
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• 1999

The most significant factor in pathogenesis of vascular headaches like migraine and cluster headache is dynamic changes of diameters of the cerebral arteries. TCD is a valuable noninvasive tool to assess the cerebral hemodynamic status by measuring the flow velocities of the intracranial cerebral arteries around the circle of Willis. TCD can evaluate flow velocities and vasoreactivity of the patients with a vascular headache during the ictal phase as well as during intericatal phase. Distribution of the changes recorded differ between types of headaches and also between the major ictal symptoms. The changes suggest the presence of prolonged vasospasm interictally and more marked relaxation of the cerebral arteries. TCD can be used to monitor the long-term clinical course of patients with vascular headache by correlation the symptomatic improvement and TCD data before and after long-term pharmacological prophylactic treatments. During the ictal phases large intervention. The results may be used in selecting and evaluating the agents for abortive therapy for acute attacks. In conclusion TCD can quantitatively evaluate vascular headaches when making diagnosis and classification and can provide guidelines to choose more individualized therapeutic options for both acute and long-term treatment.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제24권2호
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• pp.167-176
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• 2007

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma ($PPAR{\gamma}$) is expressed at very high levels in the gastrointestinal epithelium. Many of the functions of $PPAR{\gamma}$ in gastrointestinal epithelial cells have been elucidated in recent years, and a pattern is emerging which suggests that this receptor plays an important role in gastrointestinal physiology. There is also strong evidence that $PPAR{\gamma}$ is a colon cancer suppressor in pre-clinical rodent models of sporadic colon cancer, and there is considerable interest in exploitation of $PPAR{\gamma}$ agonists as prophylactic or chemopreventive agents in colon cancer. Studies in mice and in human colon cancer cell lines suggest several mechanisms that might account for the tumor suppressive effects of $PPAR{\gamma}$ agonists, although it is not in all cases clear whether these effects are altogether mediated by $PPAR{\gamma}$. Conversely, several reports suggest that $PPAR{\gamma}$ agonists may promote colon cancer under certain circumstances. This possibility warrants considerable attention since several million individuals with type II diabetes are currently taking $PPAR{\gamma}$ agonists. This review will focus on recent data related to four critical questions: what is the physiological function of $PPAR{\gamma}$ in gastrointestinal epithelial cells; how does $PPAR{\gamma}$ suppress colon carcinogenesis; is $PPAR{\gamma}$ a tumor promoter; and what is the future of $PPAR{\gamma}$ in colon cancer prevention?

• 한국임상약학회지
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• 제10권2호
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• pp.57-61
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• 2000

Gastrointestinal (GI) medications have been administered to many patients without any gastrointestinal diseases. The objectives of this study were to evaluate use of GI drugs and assess related factors. Medical records of 600 outpatients were reviewed from January 1997 to December 1997 at A Hospital, Kyunggi-do, Korea. Fifty patients every month among all outpatients were randomly selected up to total 600 patients. Surgical patients, visitors for regular health examination and inpatients were excluded. GI symptoms included nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dyspepsia, constipation, heartburn, dysphagia and abdominal pain. The prescribed gastrointestinal drugs were antacids. $H_2$-antagonist, sucralfate, cisapride, omeprazole, laxatives, digestive enzymes and antidiarrheal agents. Patients without GI symptoms were 348 out of 600 outpatients who were screened. Two hundred and eighty two of 348 patients $(81\%)$ were given GI drugs though they did not have any GI symptoms. There were no differences in regard to sex and age of patients. Most of medical departments prescribed gastrointestinal drugs for these patients. The most frequently prescribed drugs were in order of digestive enzyme, antacids and $H_2$-antagonists. In view of economic aspects, patients paid 12.28 percents of total cost per prescription for unnecessary medicines. The medical practice of prescribing GI drugs should be assessed to define appropriate subgroups to have benefits with prophylactic administration and to reduce adverse effects caused by drug interactions. Pharmacists would have a significant role to promote rational drug therapy.