• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.115-127
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• 2009

Samsoeum (SSE) is used in traditional oriental medicine for various medicinal purposes. However, the exact mechanism that accounts for the anti-allergy and anti-inflammatory effects of the SSE is still not fully understood. The aim of the present study is to elucidate whether and how SSE modulates the allergic reactions in vivo, and inflammatory reaction in vitro. In this study, we showed that SSE significantly decreased compound 48/80-induced systemic anaphylaxis, ear-swelling response, histamine release from preparation of rat peritoneal mast cells and anti-dinitropheny IgE-induced passive cutaneous reaction. Also, SSE inhibited the expression of inflammatory cytokine and cyclooxygenase-2 in PMA plus A23187-stimulated human mast cells (HMC-1). In addition, we showed that anti-inflammatory mechanism of SSE is through suppression of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ activation and $I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$ phosphorylation/degradation in HMC-1. These results provided new insight into the pharmacological actions of SSE as a potential molecule for therapy of inflammatory allergic diseases.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.69 no.6
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• pp.426-433
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• 2010

Background: Persistent cough has recently been found to be associated with Chlamydia pneumoniae infection. We aimed to investigate the infection rate of C. pneumonia in adult patients with chronic cough. Methods: We recruited 68 patients with persistent cough lasting in excess of 3 weeks, who visited Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital from January 2005 to August 2005. On the first visit, chest and paranasal sinuses radiography, skin prick test of common allergens, and induced sputum samples for C. pneumoniae were performed in all of patients. Further evaluation for diagnosis included a methacholine provocation test and eosinophil counts in induced sputum. Results: The most common cause of chronic cough was upper airway cough syndrome (UACS) (26.5%), followed by eosinophilic bronchitis (20.6%) and cough variant asthma (16.2%). Idiopathic chronic cough was the cause in 33.8% of patients. The mean duration of cough was 11.7 months. C. pneumoniae was isolated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from one patient who had upper respiratory air way syndrome. Conclusion: Chlamydia pneumoniae appears to have a minor role as a cause of chronic cough in patients.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.67 no.4
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• pp.418-430
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• 2024

Objective : Isoflurane, a widely used common inhalational anesthetic agent, can induce brain toxicity. The challenge lies in protecting neurologically compromised patients from neurotoxic anesthetics. Choline alfoscerate (L-α-Glycerophosphorylcholine, α-GPC) is recognized for its neuroprotective properties against oxidative stress and inflammation, but its optimal therapeutic window and indications are still under investigation. This study explores the impact of α-GPC on human astrocytes, the most abundant cells in the brain that protect against oxidative stress, under isoflurane exposure. Methods : This study was designed to examine changes in factors related to isoflurane-induced toxicity following α-GPC administration. Primary human astrocytes were pretreated with varying doses of α-GPC (ranging from 0.1 to 10.0 µM) for 24 hours prior to 2.5% isoflurane exposure. In vitro analysis of cell morphology, water-soluble tetrazolium salt-1 assay, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, proteome profiler array, and transcriptome sequencing were conducted. Results : A significant morphological damage to human astrocytes was observed in the group that had been pretreated with 10.0 mM of α-GPC and exposed to 2.5% isoflurane. A decrease in cell viability was identified in the group pretreated with 10.0 µM of α-GPC and exposed to 2.5% isoflurane compared to the group exposed only to 2.5% isoflurane. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction revealed that mRNA expression of heme-oxygenase 1 and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α, which were reduced by isoflurane, was further suppressed by 10.0 µM α-GPC pretreatment. The proteome profiler array demonstrated that α-GPC pretreatment influenced a variety of factors associated with apoptosis induced by oxidative stress. Additionally, transcriptome sequencing identified pathways significantly related to changes in isoflurane-induced toxicity caused by α-GPC pretreatment. Conclusion : The findings suggest that α-GPC pretreatment could potentially enhance the vulnerability of primary human astrocytes to isoflurane-induced toxicity by diminishing the expression of antioxidant factors, potentially leading to amplified cell damage.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.77-95
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• 2022

The Gonamsan gabbroic complex in the Pocheon area, northwestern region of South Korea consists of a variety types of gabbroic rocks and associated Fe-Ti oxide deposits caused by magmatic differentiation. Post-magmatic intrusions (i.e., gabbroic pegmatite and pyroxene-apatite-zircon rocks) partly intruded into the gabbroic rocks. The gabbroic pegmatite occurs in monzodiorite and oxide gabbro of the complex, intimately and spatially associated with high-grade lenticular Fe-Ti oxide mineralization. The pegmatite can be subdivided into plagioclase-amphibole and pyroxene-olivine pegmatite, in which the contact surface is sharp. The plagioclase-amphibole pegmatite comprises plagioclase and amphibole, with lesser amount of pyroxene, ilmenite, sphene, apatite, and biotite. The pegmatite shows plagioclase-amphibole intergranular texture, in which the open space formed by large plagioclase laths (An_2-26Ab_72-98Or_0-2) are infilled by amphibole. The pyroxene-olivine pegmatite is dark gray to black in color and also contains magnetite, ilmenite, spinel, apatite, and calcite as a minor component. The pyroxene (En_35-36Fs_8-9Wo₅₅) and olivine (Fo_84-85Fa_15-16) partly show a poikilitic texture defined by smaller euhedral olivine enclosed by coarser clinopyroxene. Fe-Ti oxide minerals consist mainly of magnetite and ilmenite that are found interstitially to earlier formed silicates. Subsequently, they are encompassed by reaction rim (almost of amphibole and biotite) along the boundary with surrounding silicate minerals. Under the microscope, magnetite contains a lot of oxyexsolved ilmenite (trellis type) and spinel, and thereby is weakly enriched in magnetite-compatible elements such as Ti, Al, Mg, and V. The structure and textures at the contact zone as well as mineralogical disequilibrium between gabbroic pegmatite and the host gabbroic rocks suggest that the pegmatite may form as a result of accumulation from Fe-rich melt (or liquid) that occurred somewhere rather than in situ form from the host gabbroic rock during the magmatic differentiation. Consequently, the preliminary study suggests that further study on the post-magmatic activities can not only help us improve our understanding on magmatic fractionation but also provide critical information on Fe-Ti oxide mineralization in gabbroic rocks resulting from the magmatic differentiation.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.33-43
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• 2003

$LiMn_2O_4$ catalyst for $CO_2$ decomposition was synthesized by oxidation method for 30 min at 600$^{\circ}C$ in an electric furnace under air condition using manganese(II) nitrate $(Mn(NO_3)_2{\cdot}6H_2O)$, Lithium nitrate ($LiNO_3$) and Urea $(CO(NH_2)_2)$. The synthesized catalyst was reduced by $H_2$ at various temperatures for 3 hr. The reduction degree of the reduced catalysts were measured using the TGA. And then $CO_2$ decomposition rate was measured using the reduced catalysts. Phase-transitions of the catalysts were observed after $CO_2$ decomposition reaction at an optimal decomposition temperature. As the result of X-ray powder diffraction analysis, the synthesized catalyst was confirmed that the catalyst has the spinel structure, and also confirmed that when it was reduced by $H_2$, the phase of $LiMn_2O_4$ catalyst was transformed into $Li_2MnO_3$ and $Li_{1-2{\delta}}Mn_{2-{\delta}}O_{4-3{\delta}-{\delta}'}$ of tetragonal spinel phase. After $CO_2$ decomposition reaction, it was confirmed that the peak of $LiMn_2O_4$ of spinel phase. The optimal reduction temperature of the catalyst with $H_2$ was confirmed to be 450$^{\circ}C$(maximum weight-increasing ratio 9.47%) in the case of $LiMn_2O_4$ through the TGA analysis. Decomposition rate(%) using the $LiMn_2O_4$ catalyst showed the 67%. The crystal structure of the synthesized $LiMn_2O_4$ observed with a scanning electron microscope(SEM) shows cubic form. After reduction, $LiMn_2O_4$ catalyst became condensed each other to form interface. It was confirmed that after $CO_2$ decomposition, crystal structure of $LiMn_2O_4$ catalyst showed that its particle grew up more than that of reduction. Phase-transition by reduction and $CO_2$ decomposition ; $Li_2MnO_3$ and $Li_{1-2{\delta}}Mn_{2-{\delta}}O_{4-3{\delta}-{\delta}'}$ of tetragonal spinel phase at the first time of $CO_2$ decomposition appear like the same as the above contents. Phase-transition at $2{\sim}5$ time ; $Li_2MnO_3$ and $Li_{1-2{\delta}}Mn_{2-{\delta}}O_{4-3{\delta}-{\delta}'}$ of tetragonal spinel phase by reduction and $LiMn_2O_4$ of spinel phase after $CO_2$ decomposition appear like the same as the first time case. The result of the TGA analysis by catalyst reduction ; The first time, weight of reduced catalyst increased by 9.47%, for 2${\sim}$5 times, weight of reduced catalyst increased by average 2.3% But, in any time, there is little difference in the decomposition ratio of $CO_2$. That is to say, at the first time, it showed 67% in $CO_2$ decomposition rate and after 5 times reaction of $CO_2$ decomposition, it showed 67% nearly the same as the first time.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.221-230
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• 2022

The fire blight caused by Erwinia amylovora (Ea) was first reported in 2015 in Korea, and the disease has rapidly spread to 22 regions until 2021. In Korea, all host plants in the apple and pear orchards where fire blight occurred should be eliminated and buried by the Plant Protection Act. To prevent the spread of the disease, all burial sites were prohibited from planting the new host plants for the next three years. To confirm the eradication efficiency of Ea and the reoccurrence of fire blight, the surveillance facilities were established on three burial sites from 2019 to 2020 in Anseong-si, Gyeonggi-do, and Chungju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do. As host plants, five apple trees of fire blight-susceptible cultivar 'Fuji', were planted in each facility. All facilities were enclosed with fences and nets and equipped with two CCTVs, motion sensors, and several other sensors for recording weather conditions to monitor the environment of the sentinel plants in real-time. The sentinel plants were checked for the reoccurrence of fire blight routinely. Suspicious plant parts were collected and analyzed for Ea detection by loop-mediated isothermal amplification polymerase chain reaction and conventional polymerase chain reaction. Until November 2022, Ea has not been detected in all sentinel plants. These results might support that the burial control of infected plants in soil works efficiently to remove Ea and support the possibility to shorten the prohibition period of host plant establishment in the burial sites.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-21
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• 2011

Eoil basalt in the Eoil basin and Yeonil basalt and its related volcanic rocks in Guryongpo and Daebo area were researched and analyzed to purse the tectonic settings and magma characteristics of those Tertiary volcanic rocks in the south-east Korean peninsula. It is highly suggested that zoning, resorption and sieve texture in plagioclase and reaction rim in pyroxene indicate unstable tectonic environments and complex volcanism in the study area. Volcanic rocks from Janggi basin are identified as basalt and basaltic andesite in TAS diagram and sub-alkaline series in terms of magma differentiation. $Na_2O$ and $K_2O$ show positive trend however FeO, CaO, MgO and $P_2O_5$ indicate negative trend in Harker variation diagram with $SiO_2$. Basaltic rocks from Eoil area are identified as calc-alkaline series in AFM diagram and show medium K series calc-alkaline in $K_2O-SiO_2$ diagram. Compatible trace elements of Co, Ni, V, Zn, and Sc in Yeonil basalt show negative trend with crystallization but incompatible trace element of Ba, Rb show positive trend with $SiO_2$ 0.81~1.00 of $Eu/Eu^*$ value suggests minor effect of plagioclase fractionation in Yeonil basaltic rocks. Plagioclase composition of Eoil basalt ranges from $An_{63.46-98.38}\;Ab_{1.62-32.96}\;Or_{0-3.58}$ (anorthite-labradorite) in core to $An_{40.89-82.44}\;Ab_{17.10-46.43}\;Or_{0-12.68}$ (bytownite-labradorite) in rim. $^{87}Sr/^{86}Sr$ and 143Nd;t44Nd ranges 0.704090~0.704717 and 0.512705~0.512822 respectively. Negative linear trends in 87Sr/86Sr and $^{143}Nd/^{144}Nd$ correlation diagram indicate that magma produced Yeonil basalt and basaltic andesite has been originated as partial melting product of mantle wedge by subducting Pacific plate affected by oceanic crust with less effect of continental crust indicating calc-alkaline magma characteristics.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.317-321
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• 2009

In order to analyze the high temperature phase formation and the sinterability of super ionic conductor $K^+-{\beta}/{\beta}"-Al_2O_3$ which is commonly used as a solid oxide electrolyte, the pure $K^+-{\beta}/{\beta}"-Al_2O_3$ powder in the ternary system $K_2O-LiO_2-Al_2O_3$ was synthesized by solid state reaction and formed to tube and disk using slip casting method and cold isostatic pressing (CIP), respectively. The slip casting was conducted in an alumina mold with the slurry containing 40 wt% of solid contents and the CIP was carried out under 20 MPa. The samples were sintered at $1600^{\circ}C$, $1700^{\circ}C$ and $1750^{\circ}C$, respectively, and their phase formation and the sintering density were investigated according to the forming method. The samples produced by CIP showed far higher ${\beta}"-Al_2O_3$ fraction as compared with those by slip casting. On the other hand, the samples by slip casting showed slightly higher sintering density. The relative density reached to about 83% at $1750^{\circ}C$ and for 1 h, independent of the forming method. In the case of 90 min socking time, the density was decreased owing to the exaggerated grain growth and the pores by $K_2O$ evaporation.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.61-74
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• 1997

In case of tissue invading nematode, proteolytic enzyme was required at their parasitic life. Proteinases obtained from these parasites(Toxocara canis, Ansakis spp. and Trichinella spiralis) were extracted, isolated and further purified. And then the analysis for activity and inhibitory effect of proteinases were performed by appropriate substrate. Determination of protein as a circulating antigen was done in use of infected animal serum with above parasites, respectively. For above experimental objects, following procedures were performed. First, enzymatic activity was measured in use of azocasein and inhibitory effect of porteinase were studied by various inhibitors. Second, partially purified proteins containing enzymatic activity were obtained by ion exchange chromatography, ultrafiltration and electrophoretic elution. Third, role of the partially purified protein as a circulating antigen. The results obtained were as follows : 1. Enzymatic activity of each nematode proteinase was varied according to pH. Optimal pH of Toxocara canis, Ansakis spp. and Trichinella spiralis were pH 6.0, pH 5.5 and pH 6.5, respectively. The optimal molarity of buffer was 0.1M phosphate buffer. Although little difference between these proteinases was observed, temperature stability was at least maintained at $4^{\circ}C$ until 5 days. 2. In case of Ansakis spp. and Toxocara canis, enzymatic activity of these proteinases was considerably inhibited by Leupeptin and EDTA. For maximum enzymatic activity of above proteinases, it was required that cysteine residue of enzyme should be protected. And it was suggested that metallo type was contained in enzyme active site. Proteinase of Trichinella spiralis contained metallo type also. 3. Although partial purification was performed in Ansakis spp. and Toxocara canis, proteins maintaining enzymatic activity were identified as a circulating antigen. From SDS-PAGE and immunoblot, 25 kDa was presented in Ansakis spp.. Specific antigen of Toxocara cains was 110 kDa protein fraction. 55 and 42 kDa proteins were reacted with normal serum. Trichinella spiralis 60 kDa protein fraction was successfully purified from excretory materials in culture. As a result of immune-reaction with Trichinella spiralis infected serum, highly purified 60 kDa protein was maintained antigenicity until final purification step.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.43-48
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• 2017

With ultraviolet and visible light exposure, some pharmaceutical substances applied systemically or topically may cause phototoxic skin irritation. The major factor in phototoxicity is the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as singlet oxygen and superoxide anion that cause oxidative damage to DNA, lipids and proteins. Thus, measuring the generation of ROS can predict the phototoxic potential of a given substance indirectly. For this reason, a standard ROS assay (ROS assay) was developed and validated and provides an alternative method for phototoxicity evaluation. However, negative substances are over-predicted by the assay. Except for ultraviolet A (UVA), other UV ranges are not a major factor in causing phototoxicity and may lead to incorrect labeling of some non-phototoxic substances as being phototoxic in the ROS assay when using a solar simulator. A UVA stimulator is also widely used to evaluate phototoxicity in various test substances. Consequently, we identified the applicability of a UVA simulator to the ROS assay for photoreactivity. In this study, we tested 60 pharmaceutical substances including 50 phototoxins and 10 non-phototoxins to predict their phototoxic potential via the ROS assay with a UVA simulator. Following the ROS protocol, all test substances were dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide or sodium phosphate buffer. The final concentration of the test solutions in the reaction mixture was 20 to $200{\mu}M$. The exposure was with $2.0{\sim}2.2mW/cm^2$ irradiance and optimization for a relevant dose of UVA was performed. The generation of ROS was compared before and after UVA exposure and was measured by a microplate spectrophotometer. Sensitivity and specificity values were 85.7% and 100.0% respectively, and the accuracy was 88.1%. From this analysis, the ROS assay with a UVA simulator is suitable for testing the photoreactivity and estimating the phototoxic potential of various test pharmaceutical substances.