• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.47 no.6
• /
• pp.775-780
• /
• 2009

The efficacy of nitrifying sludge existed in biological nutrient removal process was examined for possible removal of endocrine disrupting chemical(EDC) in the effluent of wastewater treatment plant. Some of ammonia oxidizing bacteria causes ammonia oxidation mediated by ammonia monooxygenase(AMO) activity, which has low substrate specificity resulting in cometablic degradation of several chemicals. In this study, the removal of three model EDCs such as bisphenol A(BPA), nonylphenol(NP) and dibutyl phthalate(DBP) was studied in batch cultures using nitrifying sludge, BOD-oxidizing sludge with low nitrifying activity, and sterilized sludge. Nitrifying sludge showed higher initial removal rates in all batches of three EDCs when it was fed with ammonium as an energy source. The acclimation time was required for the removal of EDCs in batches using BOD-oxidizing sludge or nitritefed nitrifying sludge. That retardation seemed to attribute to the slow growth of cells using the EDCs while ammonium-fed nitrifying sludge could degrade EDCs through simultaneous cooxidation with ammonia oxidation. Sterilized sludge was also tested under the same conditions in order to find the contribution of physical adsorption to the removal of EDCs. About 10~20% of initial EDCs dose was removed when using sterilized sludge. Thus the biological activity is likely to play major role for the degradation of BPA, NP, and DBP rather than the physical adsorption from wastewater.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.327-338
• /
• 2012

Liquiritigenin and isoliquiritigenin are the major flavonoids present in licorice. These flavonoid compounds were prepared by submerged culture of Grifola frondosa (G. frondosa) HB0071 mycelia producing ${\beta}$-glucosidase in the aqueous extract of licorice. The contents of liquiritigenin and isoliquiritigenin were increased during the fermentation. This fungus produced a high ${\beta}$-glucosidase (activity of 91.5 mU/mL), thereby achieving high amounts of liquiritigenin and isoliquiritigenin ($568.5{\mu}g/mL$ and $89.6{\mu}g/mL$), respectively at 96 h. A reversed- phase high-performance liquid chromatography method was established for simultaneous determination of liquiritigenin and isoliquiritigenin in fermented licorice extract (FLEx). The anti-inflammatory activities were investigated by licorice extract (LEx) before and after fermentation with G. frondosa HB0071. The treatment of UVB-irradiated HaCaT keratinocytes with FLEx resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in the expression level of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mRNA. Furthermore, FLEx dose-dependently decreased mRNA of the pro-inflammatory cytokines of IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6 in UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells. These results suggest that FLEx may mitigate the effects of skin inflammation by reducing UVB-induced adverse skin reactions.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.32 no.6
• /
• pp.543-548
• /
• 1999

Background: These days, lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) is used as an alternative or a bridge operation to lung transplantation in treating patients with severe emphysema. The procedure can be used in patients with pulmonary nodules combined with severe emphysema. We report the results of 21 months follow up after lung volume reduction surgery in 7 cases including 2 cases of concurrent resection of pulmonary nodules. Material and Method: Seven patients with emphysema, including 2 cases of preoperatively suspected lung cancer were operated with LVRS technique between July 1996 and June 1997. Result: Postoperative mortality was observed in a case of squamous cell carcinoma in LUL with brain metastasis, detected at postoperative 13months. Average of 21months(19-25months) follow up was done for other cases without specific events. Conclusion: LVRS is a useful operation in the treatment of patients with severe emphysema, but further evaluation should be done about the long term results and precise criteria for patient selection. Simultaneous LVRS and tumor resection could be done in patients with emphysema with marginal reserve in the hope of maximizing postoperative lung functions.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
• /
• v.15 no.10
• /
• pp.15-21
• /
• 2014

In this study, biochemical methane potential test was conducted to estimate ultimate methane and carbon dioxide yield for anaerobic digestion and pretreatment with sewage sludge cake. Two of 0.2 % TS of sewage sludge cakes were treated with 5M NaOH or sonication of 0.51 W/mL during 30 min respectively. Another sample was treated simultaneously with NaOH and sonication in same condition. Then, initial soluble COD increased from 33.1 mg/L to 494 mg/L. After BMP test, methane production ranged from 3.12 and 84.2 mL $CH_4$ per g of Volatile Solid (VS) and 9.2 and 13.5 mL $CO_2$ per g of Volatile Solid (VS) for carbon dioxide. In other tests, injection of nutrient media or sludge supernatant produced 73.1 and 73.8 mL $CH_4$ per g of Volatile Solid (VS) and 11.2 and 13.6 mL $CO_2$ per g of Volatile Solid (VS) respectively. When BMP test finished, 62 % of initial volatile solids decreased to 33.8~45.4 %. Simultaneous pretreatment increased soluble COD, reduction rate of volatile solids and digestion efficiency than those for alkaline and ultrasonic pretreatment.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.39-46
• /
• 1982

A model of substrate removal by rotating discs has been developed for a better understanding of the process, and the performance of the system has been evaluated under steady and unsteady state. The model was constructed based upon mass transfer of the substrate from the bulk solution to the biofilm and a simultaneous removal of the substrate by the biomass. The model is composed of a few sets of differential equations representing mass balance within the elements of a liquid film and a biofilm, and in the bulk solution. Substrate removal efficiency of the process is largely dependent on a diffusion coefficient of the substrate within the biofilm and a maximum rate of substrate removal of the biomass. The efficiency is affected to a greater extent when the substrate concentration is low and the maximum substrate removal rate is high. The efficiency increases proportionally with increasing film depth when the biofilm is shallow, however, the rate of increase gradually decreases with an increase of the film depth. As the film reaches a limiting depth, the efficiency remains constant. Unlike the steady state, the effluent quality is affected by the tank volume under dynamic state. Increasing tank volume decreases peak concentration of the effluent under peak loading. Additional tank volume provides a buffer capacitya.gainst a peak loading and the holding tank behaves like an equalization tank.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.298-304
• /
• 2013

Objectives : We examined mutual inhibitory effects of combined acupoints in arthritic pain induce by carrageenan(CA). Electroacupuncture(EA) is considered a potentially useful treatment for arthritis. Although the analgesic effect of acupuncture is well documented, little is understood about its biological basis. There are many previous studies of positive effect of combined acupoint, this study was conducted to see the mutual inhibitory effects produced by combined acupoint(ST36 and PC7) on arthritic rats. Methods : For the induction of inflammatory pain rat model, CA was injected into the knee joint cavity. There are four groups; EA was applied to bilateral PC7 acupoints(PC7 group), ST36 acupoints(ST36 group), and both PC7 and ST36 acupoints(ST36+PC7 group) except for the control group. The pain level were assessed to determine the change in weight bearing force. We also examined the COX-2 expression in dorsal horn using immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. Results : The ST36+PC7 group data showed the significant reduction of weight bearing force and the induction of COX-2 protein expression compared with the ST36 group. Conclusions : Simultaneous EA applied to the ST36 and PC7 acupoints reduced the analgesic effect of the ST36 group on knee inflammatory pain.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.19 no.10
• /
• pp.1360-1367
• /
• 2009

Liver fibrosis is a process of healing and scarring in response to chronic liver injury. Following injury, an acute inflammation response takes place resulting in moderate cell necrosis and extracellular matrix damage. To develop a novel therapeutic approach in hepatic fibrogenesis, we examined the simultaneous suppression of the transcription factors NF-$\kappa$B and Sp1, which regulate acute inflammation and continuous deposition of extracellular matrix in liver fibrosis. We employed chimeric decoy oligodeoxynucleotide containing the consensus sequences of both NF-$\kappa$B and Sp1 binding sites, to suppress these transcription factors simultaneously. Treatment of chimeric decoy oligodeoxynucleotide reduced the activity of hepatic stellate cells in vitro, and decreased the expression of fibrotic and proinflammatory gene responses in a mouse model of liver fibrosis. These results suggest that chimeric decoy oligodeoxynucleotide strategy can be a potential therapeutic application to prevent liver fibrosis.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.56 no.5
• /
• pp.583-590
• /
• 2012

The HF (Hollow fiber) extraction method was optimized to analysis seven species of pesticides in aqueous sample and analyzing samples by GC/MS. Hollow fiber extraction showed good efficiency when it was conducted under these conditions: organic solvent was toluene and agitation speed was 1200 rpm. The 15% concentration of NaCl was optimized when it was experimented between 5% and 25%. The equilibrium time was determined at 15 minutes. The pH 5 showed the best effect on the extraction efficiency. The linearities of calibration curves of seven species were good with correlation of regression ($r^2$) over 0.995 when they were experimented over a concentration range of $5{\mu}g/L$ to $50{\mu}g/L$. The analytical data exhibited the detection of limits (LODs) range of $0.37{\mu}g/L$ to $1.23{\mu}g/L$ and the limit of quantification (LOQs) range of $1.19{\mu}g/L$ to $3.91{\mu}g/L$. The optimized HF-LPME extraction method provides a simple and effective preparation and requires small amount of organic solvents and samples compared to conventional pre-treatment methods.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.20
• /
• pp.8911-8916
• /
• 2014

Background: The aim of the present study was to determine the predictive/prognostic value of the secreted protein, acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) in cases of unresectable, locally advanced, non-small cell lung cancer. Materials and Methods: The study included 84 patients with Stage IIIA-B non-small cell lung cancer, undergoing simultaneous chemoradiotherapy including radiotherapy at a dose of 66 Gy and weekly docataxel ($20mg/m^2$) and cisplatin ($20mg/m^2$). SPARC expression was studied in biopsy material by immunohistochemical methods and correlations with treatment responses or survival were evaluated. Results: Median overall survival was $16{\pm}2.73$ (11.55-20.46) months for low expression vs $7{\pm}1.79$ months (7.92-16.08) months for high expression (p=0.039), while median local control was $13{\pm}2.31$ (8.48-17.5) months for low expression vs $6{\pm}0.85$ (4.34-7.66) months for high expression (p=0.045) and median progression-free survival was $10{\pm}2.31$ (5.48-14.5) months for low expression vs $6{\pm}1.10$ (3.85-8.15) months for high expression (p=0.022). In both univariate and multivariate analyses, high SPARC expression was associated with significantly shorter overall survival (p=0.003, p=0.007, respectively), local control (p=0.008, p=0.036) and progression-free survival (p=0.004, p=0.029) when compared to low SPARC expression. No significant difference was detected between high and low SPARC expression groups regarding age, sex, T stage, N stage, histopathology and stage-related patient characteristics. Conclusions: High SPARC expression was identified as a poor prognostic factor in cases with locally advanced NSCLC treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.119-126
• /
• 1985

To evaluate the performance characteristics of CA 19-9 radioimmunoassay and the clinical significance of serum CA 19-9 assay in patients with malignancy, serum CA 19-9 levels were measured by radioimmunoassay using monoclonal antibody in 135 normal controls, 81 patients with various untreated malignancy, 9 patients of postoperative colon cancer without recurrence and 20 patients with benign gastrointestinal diseases, who visited Seoul National University Hospital from June, 1984 to March, 1985. The results were as follows; 1) The CA 19-9 radioimmunoassay was simple to perform and can be completed in one work day. And the between-assay reproducibility and the assay recovery were both excellent. 2) The mean serum CA 19-9 level in 135 normal controls was $8.4{\pm}4.2U/mL$. Normal upper limit of serum CA 19-9 was defined as 21.0 U/mL. 4 out of 135(3.0%) normal controls showed elevated CA 19-9 levels above the normal upper limit. 3) One out of 20(5.0%) patients with benign gastrointestinal diseases showed elevated serum CA 19-9 level above the normal upper limit. 4) In 81 patients with various' untreated malignancy, 41 patients(50.6%) showed elevated serum CA 19-9 levels. 66.7% of 18 patients with colorectal cancer, 100% of 2 patients with pancreatic cancer, 100% of 3 patients with common bile duct cancer, 47.1% of 17 patients with stomach cancer, 28.6% of 28 patients with hepatoma and 60.0% of 5 other gastrointestinal tract cancers showed elevated serum CA 19-9 levels. 5) The sensitivities of serum CA 19-9 related to resectability in colorectal and stomach cancer were 33.3% in resectable colorectal cancer, 83.3% in unresectable colorectal cancer, 41.7% in resectable stomach cancer, 60.0% in unresectable stomach cancer respectively. 6) The sensitivity of serum CA 19-9 in 9 patients of postoperative colorectal cancer without recurrence were 33.3% and significantly decreased compared with that of untreated colorectal cancer, 66.7% (p<0.05). 7) In patients with colorectal cancer, simultaneous measurement of serum CA 19-9 and serum CEA levels increased sensitivities. From above results, we concluded that serum CA 19-9 radioimmunoassay is simple to perform and reproducible, and is a useful indicator reflecting tumor extent and responses to the treatment in patients with malignancy.