• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.39-48
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• 2024

Wogonin, extracted from the roots of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, has been shown to suppress collagen deposition in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). This study was performed to investigate the role and mechanism of wogonin underlying vascular remodeling in SHRs. After injection of SHRs with 40 mg/kg of wogonin, blood pressure in rats was measured once a week. Masson's trichrome staining was conducted to observe the changes in aortas and mesenteric arteries. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) isolated from rat thoracic aortas were treated with Angiotensin II (Ang II; 100 nM) in the presence or absence of varying concentrations of wogonin. The viability and proliferation of VSMCs were examined using Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine assay, respectively. The migration of VSMCs was examined using wound healing assay and transwell assay. We found that wogonin administration alleviated hypertension, increased lumen diameter, and reduced the thickness of the arterial media in SHRs. Ang II treatment enhanced the viability of VSMCs, which was inhibited by wogonin in a concentration-dependent manner. Wogonin reversed Ang II-induced increases in the viability, proliferation, and migration of VSMCs. Moreover, wogonin inhibited Ang II-induced activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling in VSMCs. Overall, wogonin repressed the proliferative and migratory capacity of VSMCs by regulating the MAPK signaling pathway, thereby attenuating vascular remodeling in hypertensive rats, indicating that wogonin might be a therapeutic agent for the treatment of vascular diseases.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.141-150
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• 2024

Background: Stingless bee propolis is a popular traditional folk medicine and has been employed since ancient times. This study aimed to evaluate the antinociceptive activities of the chemical constituents of aqueous propolis extract (APE) collected by Trigona thoracica in a nociceptive model in mice. Methods: The identification of chemical constituents of APE was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Ninety-six male Swiss mice were administered APE (400 mg/kg, 1,000 mg/kg, and 2,000 mg/kg) before developing nociceptive pain models. Then, the antinociceptive properties of each APE dose were evaluated in acetic acid-induced abdominal constriction, hot plate test, and formalin-induced paw licking test. Administration of normal saline, acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, 100 mg/kg, orally), and morphine (5 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) were used for the experiments. Results: HPLC revealed that the APE from Trigona thoracica contained p-coumaric acid (R² = 0.999) and caffeic acid (R² = 0.998). Although all APE dosages showed inhibition of acetic acid-induced abdominal constriction, only 2,000 mg/kg was comparable to the result of ASA (68.7% vs. 73.3%, respectively). In the hot plate test, only 2,000 mg/kg of APE increased the latency time significantly compared to the control. In the formalin test, the durations of paw licking were significantly reduced at early and late phases in all APE groups with a decrease from 45.1% to 53.3%. Conclusions: APE from Trigona thoracica, containing p-coumaric acid and caffeic acid, exhibited antinociceptive effects, which supports its potential use in targeting the prevention or reversal of central and peripheral sensitization that may produce clinical pain conditions.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.255-262
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• 2024

Background: Sutureless aortic valves may enable shorter procedure times, which benefits patients with elevated surgical risk. We describe the outcomes of patients with aortic stenosis who underwent aortic valve replacement (AVR) using the sutureless Perceval aortic bioprosthesis. Methods: Data from a retrospective cohort were obtained from a clinical database. The study enrolled patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis who underwent surgical AVR with a sutureless bioprosthesis between August 2015 and December 2020. In total, 113 patients were included (mean age, 75.3±8.4 years; 57.5% women; median Society of Thoracic Surgeons score, 9.7%; mean follow-up period, 51.19±20.6 months). Of these patients, 41 were octogenarians (36.2%) and 3 were nonagenarians (2.6%). Transthoracic echocardiography was employed to assess changes in ejection fraction (EF), left ventricular mass index (LVMI), and mean pressure gradient (MPG). Results: The in-hospital mortality rate was 2.6%, and 13 patients developed new-onset atrial fibrillation. A permanent pacemaker was implanted in 3 patients (2.6%). The median intensive care unit stay was 1 day (interquartile range [IQR], 1-2 days), and the median hospital stay was 12 days (IQR, 9.5-15 days). The overall survival rate at 5 years was 95.9%. LVMI and MPG were reduced postoperatively, while EF increased over the follow-up period. No structural valve deterioration was observed, and no meaningful paravalvular leakage developed during follow-up. Conclusion: The use of a sutureless valve in the aortic position is safe and feasible, even for high-risk elderly patients requiring surgical AVR. LVMI and MPG decreased postoperatively, while EF increased over the follow-up period.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.317-328
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• 2024

Adopting a rational engineering methodology for building structures on sandy-clay soil layers has become increasingly important since it is crucial when structures erected on them often face seismic and cyclic wave loads. Such loads can cause a reduction in the stiffness, strength, and stability of the structure, particularly under un-drained conditions. Hence, this study aims to investigate how the dynamic properties of sand-clay mixtures are affected by loading frequency and clay content. Cyclic triaxial tests were performed on a total of 36 samples, comprising pure sand with a relative density of 60% and sand with varying percentages of clay. The tests were conducted under confining pressures of 50 and 100 kPa, and the samples' dynamic behavior was analyzed at loading frequencies of 0.1, 1, and 4 Hz. The findings indicate that an increase in confining pressure leads to greater inter-particle interaction and a reduced void ratio, which results in an increase in the soil's shear modulus. An increase in the shear strength and confinement of the samples led to a decrease in energy dissipation and damping ratio. Changes in loading frequency showed that as the frequency increased, the damping ratio decreased, and the strength of the samples increased. Increasing the loading frequency not only reflects changes in frequency but also reduces the relative permeability and enhances the resistance of samples. An analysis of the dynamic properties of sand and sand-clay mixtures indicates that the introduction of clay to a sand sample reduces the shear modulus and permeability properties.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.27-36
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• 2024

This study established a BIM procedure considering manufacturing errors in the production process, and evaluated the flexural ductility of precast all-lightweight aggregate concrete special shear walls (PLASWs) with spliced sleeve technique. In the production process, the concrete cover thickness of PALSW was on average 1.28 times greater than the cross-sectional details of the specimen modeled with Revit BIM program. In particular, the bending inner radius of the hoop and inner-cross tie were greater than the designed details. Consequently, the confinement effect of core concrete reduced from 64% to 54% due to the manufacturing errors in the transverse reinforcing bars, resulting in a decrease in the ductility of PALSW by approximately 4.91%. Considering these findings, the BIM of PLASW with spliced sleeve technique should compliment the bending inner radius of the transverse reinforcing bars, and the defined brittleness increase coefficient reflecting the decreased core concrete confining pressure in the stress-strain relationship of confined concrete should be evaluated as 1.8.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.10
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• pp.1579-1587
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• 2014

This study aimed to determine the quality characteristics of fermented wine using Nuruk according to the type of aging container (jar or stainless container) and aging time. Alcohol analysis was initiated at 40.4~39.3%, and alcohol contents in the jar and stainless container decreased as aging time increased. Volatile acid content slightly increased in the reduced pressure (RP) jar and stainless container and showed a different result in the atmospheric pressure (AP) container. Amount of acetic acid did not change either in the jar or stainless container as aging time increased. In the case of 2-thiobarbituric acid (TBA), RP was lower than AP after distillation, and TBA value did not change much either in the jar or stainless container. In the case of fusel alcohol by aging time, n-propanol content did not increase either in the jar or stainless container as aging time increased. Iso-butanol content was reduced in the jar but did not change in the stainless container. In the AP container, more aromatic components were measured on the 180th day of aging time than after distillation. High boiling point aromatic components increased in particular. In the stainless container, more aromatic components were generated on the 180th day of aging, but their amount was relatively lower than in the jar. In the jar aging sensory test, the sensory score at RP 50 cmHg was highest on the 180th day of aging. In the case of AP $80^{\circ}C$ liquor, sensory score on the 180th day was the most improved.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.351-360
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the microleakage of class V compomers according to acid etching treatment and treatment times. Extracted 180 sound human molar teeth were selected then prepared physiologic pulpal pressure far this experiment. In this study class V cavities were prepared on buccal surface with gingival margin located in 1mm superior to CEJ under simulate physiological conditions. These specimens were randomly divided into 6 groups of 30 each and restored following methods : A: Dyract AP + Prime&Bond 2.1 Group 1 : No acid etching, according to manufacturer's instruction. Group 2 : 15 seconds acid etching and same method with Group 1. Group 3 : 30 seconds acid etching and same method with Group 1. B: F2000 groups + Single Bond adhesive Group 1 : No acid etching, according to manufacturer's instruction. Group 2 : 15 seconds acid etching and same method with Group 1 Group 3 : 30 seconds acid etching and same method with Group 1. After 500 thermocycling between $5^{\circ}C\;and\;55^{\circ}C$, the specimens were sealed with glass ionomer and nail varnish then placed in 5% methylene blue dye for 5 hours and rinsed with tab water. The specimens were embedded in orthodontic clear resin, then sectioned buccolingually through the center of restoration with a low speed diamond saw. The dye penetration on each of the specimens were then observed with a stereomicroscope at $\times20$ magnification. The results of this study were statistically analyzed using the indepedent sample t-test and analysis of variance. Results were as follows, 1. In occlusal walls, microleakage were significantly reduced in acid etched group restored with Dyract AP but no statistically significance in F2000 groups. 2. In gingival walls, microleakage were significantly reduced in group 2 restored with Dyract AP, and group 2 and group 3 in F2000 groups. 3. All groups, except group 3 in Dyract AP, showed significantly less microleakage in occlusal wall than gingival wall. 4. No statistical significance were showed between group 2 and group 3 in both materials.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.123-131
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• 1987

The possible inolvement of central opiate system in the control of cardiovascular function and in the antihypertensive action of clonidine has been examined in unanesthetized rats with shamoperated or 2-kidney, 1-clip (2K1C) renal hypertension. In both groups of rats, intraventricular clonidine $(3-30\;{\mu}g/kg)$ produced hypotension and bradycardia. Hypotensive action of clonidine was more potent in the hypertensive rats than in the normotensive sham-operated rats. Yohimbine $(30\;{\mu}g/kg,\;i.v.t.)$ inhibited the hypotension and bradycardia produced by clonidine. Naloxone ($50\;{\mu}g/kg$, i.v.t.) inhibited the action of clonidine in 2K1C hypertensive rats but not influenced in the sham-operated rats. Intraventricular morphine $(10-100\;{\mu}g/kg)$ also reduced rats. Intraventricular morphine $(10-100\;{\mu}g/kg)$ also reduced blood pressure and heart rate in both groups of rats. But these effects were not affected by yohimbine, but antagonized by naloxone ($50\;{\mu}g/kg$, i.v.t.). Chronic treatment of 2K1C rats with clonidine ($3{\times}20\;{\mu}g/kg$, p.o.,) for 14 days from 1 day after 2K1C operation) suppressed the development of hypertension and maintained the blood pressure in normal level and this errect of clonidine was abolished by naloxone (2 mg/kg, i. p.). In the 2K1C hypertensive rats, immunoreactive ${\beta}-endorphin$ content was significantly decreased, but maximum binding (Bmax) of $(^3H)-naloxone$ was significantly increased in brain of 2K1C hypertensive rats. However, Kd value was not changed. These results suggest that the opioidergic component might be involved in the antihypertensive action of clonidine only in hypertensive and that central opiate system might play important roles in pathophysiology of development and maintenance of hypertension.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.627-635
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• 2011

This study was conducted to assess the effects of the removal of pesticide residues and microorganisms from yuja (Citrus junos Sieb ex Tanaka) using a surface-washing system, under the following washing conditions: 0.11, 0.42, and 0.73 m/s spray rotation speeds; 0.6, 0.9, and 1.2 MPa water pressure and 0.046, 0.092, and 0.138 m/s conveying speeds. Tap-water treatment was used as the control. The washing efficiency when using squid ink was highly correlated with the conveying speed and the spray rotation speed. In addition, the highest washing efficiency was achieved when the water pressure was 0.9 MPa. The microorganisms were reduced to 0.40 log CFU/g for the tap-water treatment, and all the treatments, except those at the conveying speed of 0.138 m/s and the spray rotation speed of 0.11 rpm (6.07 log CFU/g), produced higher removal efficiencies compared with the tap-water treatment. Reductions of 2.20 and 2.05 log CFU/g were achieved at the spray rotation speeds of 0.42 and 0.73, respectively. The largest reductions were observed when the conveying speed was 0.046 m/s. Higher pesticide residue removal efficiency values were obtained at slower conveying speeds and higher spray rotation speeds. Higher than 50% removal efficiency was achieved when the spray rotation speed was 0.046 m/s for spirodichlofen, deltamethrin, benomyl, thiophanate-methyl, and acequinocyl. Especially, the removal efficiency for benomyl and thiophanate-methyl was more than 90%. It can thus be concluded that the pesticide residues in yuja can be effectively reduced by washing the latter with a less-than-0.092-m/s conveying speed and a higher-than-0.42-m/s spray rotation speed.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.229-242
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• 1998

Face-to-face interviews were carried out to investigate the relationship between social networks and hypertension in 958 rural residents(males=440, females=518) aged 60-64 of a community-dwelling sample of Dalsung County from April to September in 1996. Eight elements of social network were measured : marital status, regular religious attendance, membership in groups, number of friends, relatives, siblings, children, grandchildren. Hypertensives were defined as meeting at least one of following criteria : hypertension history, systolic blood pressure more than 160 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure more than 95 mmHg. In univariate logistic regression for males, having 1-4 friends vs. none showed odds ratio 0.43 (95% Confidence interval CI 0.19-0.96) and having 2-3, 4 and more than 5 children had reduced prevalence of hypertension with odds ratios 0.21 (95% CI 0.06-0.72), 0.14 (95% CI 0.04-0.49), 0.24 (95% CI 0.07-0.82), respectively when compared with persons without children. In females, there was no elements of social network statistically significant. Having 5-9 grandchildren vs. none showed a marginally significant odds ratio 0.42. In multivariate logistic regression models for males with adjustment for age, education, body mass index, smoking and drinking, number of friends and children showed increased odds ratios and number of close relatives gained a statistically significant odds ratios (0.44-0.50). In females, the adjustment yielded little changes of odds ratios except number of grandchildren which gained a statistically significance. These results suggest that only a certain elements of social network may be associated with reduced risk of hypertension and they may be different between genders in rural resident aged 60-64.