• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.10-25
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• 2011

Objectives : Asthma is considered an inflammation disease characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness and pulmonary eosinophilia. Chungsang boha-tang is a herbal medication which has been frequently used in traditional therapeutic agents for asthma. We aimed to observe the clinical effects of Chungsangboha-tang on blood eosinophil, serum IgE, AST, ALT and pulmonary function in asthmatic outpatients. Methods : The subjects consisted of 66 asthmatic patients who had been treated with Chungsangboha-tang among all the asthmatic patients who visited the 5th Internal Medicine of the Oriental Medicine Hospital of Kyung Hee University from November,2004 to November,2009. We observed blood eosinophil, serum IgE, AST, ALT levels and pulmonary function test results as well as medical records of patients to evaluate the effects. Results : Pulmonary function significantly improved after 8 weeks of treatment, and blood eosinophil and serum IgE level significantly decreased after 8 weeks of treatment. AST, ALT levels changed in normal ranges. Chungsangboha-tang was significantly effective on the male patients who had a smoking history and worse initial lab findings. We also observed a significant improvement of pulmonary function and decrease of eosinophil and serum IgE levels in the patient group who had a single treatment of Chungsangboha-tang without steroid therapy. Conclusions : This study shows that Chungsangboha-tang has effects on the improvement of pulmonary function and decrease of eosinophil and serum IgE levels as well as improvement of symptoms. And, 8 weeks of long-term treatment showed no negative effects such as significant increase of AST, ALT levels.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.154-162
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• 2020

Purpose: The Cow's Milk-related Symptom Score (CoMiSS^TM), which considers crying, regurgitation, stools, skin and respiratory symptoms, was developed as an awareness tool for evaluating cow's milk-related symptoms. The scoring ranges from 0 to 33. A score ≥12 was proposed as being likely cow's milk-related and suggestive of allergy to cow's milk. This study aimed to determine the age-related CoMiSS^TM values in presumed healthy infants in Poland. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in well-child clinics in two locations. Parents of the presumed healthy infants aged ≤6 months were approached during a routine checkup/vaccination visit. The exclusion criteria were as follows: presence of acute or chronic diseases, preterm delivery, treatment with therapeutic formula, and use of any food supplements (except vitamins) or medications. Results: Data from 226 infants were obtained (median age [Q1-Q3], 4 months [3-4]). The overall median (Q1-Q3) and mean (standard deviation) CoMiSS^TM values were 4 (2-7) and 4.7 (3.5), respectively. The 95th percentile was 11. Scores on some, albeit not all, components of the CoMiSS^TM significantly differed between age groups (crying, stools) or feeding type groups (stools and skin symptoms). Eleven children (4.9%) scored ≥12. Conclusion: This study adds to earlier age-related CoMiSS^TM data by providing CoMiSS^TM values in presumed healthy infants in Poland.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.207-224
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• 2011

Diseases caused by plant pathogenic bacteria constitute an emerging threat to global food security. Xanthomonas is a large genus of Gram-negative bacteria that cause disease in several host plants leading to considerable losses in productivity and quality of harvests. Despite the ranges of controlling techniques available, the microbiological safety of economically important crops and crop plants including fruits and vegetables continues to be a major concern to the agriculture industry. On the other hand, many of the currently available antimicrobial agents for agriculture are highly toxic, non-biodegradable and cause extended environmental pollution. Besides, the use of antibiotics has provoked an increased resistance among the bacterial pathogens and their pathovars. Thus, novel efficient and safe remedies for controlling plant bacterial diseases are necessary. There has been an increasing interest worldwide on therapeutic values of natural products such as essential oils, hence the purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the published data on the antibacterial efficacy of essential oils that could be considered suitable for application in agriculture as biocontrol measures against plant pathogenic bacteria of Xanthomonas species. The current knowledge on the use of essential oils to control Xanthomonas bacteria in vitro and in vivo models has been discussed. A brief description on the legal aspects on the use of essential oils against bacterial pathogens has also been presented. Through this review, a mode of antibacterial action of essential oils along with their chemical nature and the area for future research have been thoroughly discussed.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.347-354
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• 1993

This is a retrospective analysis of 67 patients with histologically proven invasive carcinoma of uterine cervix treated with surgery followed by adjuvant radiotherapy at Inje University Seoul Paik Hospital between october 1983 and september 1991, Postoperative radiotherapy was carried out in patients with high risks of locoregional recurrence such as positive pelvic lymph node (38 pts), large tumor size more than 3 cm (22 pts), cervical stromal invasion more than 2/3 (46 pts), parametrial involvement (9 pts), positive resection margin (14 pts), endo/myometrial extension (10 pts), and angiolymphatic invasion (13 pts). Stage I A, I B, and IIA were 2 $(3\%),$ 39 $(58.2\%),\;and\;26\;(38.8\%),$ respectively. Median follow-up period was 48 months with ranges from 13 to 115 months. All 67 patients were treated externally with standard pelvic field with radiation dose ranging from 4080 to 6120 cGy in 4~6 weeks period of time. Of these, 45 patients received intracavitary radiotherapy. The overall survival rate and disease free survival rate at 5-year were $88.0\%\;and\;82.1\%,$ respectively. The survival rates by stage were $87.1\%$ in IB and $88.4\%$ in IIA. Local control rate was $80.6\%(58\;pts).$ The treatment failure was noted in 12 of 67 patients $(17.9\%):$ locoregional failure in $7(10.4\%),$ distant metastasis in 3 $(4.5\%),$ and locoregional and distant metastasis in $2(3\%),$ The univariate analysis of prognostic factors disclosed endo/myometrial extension as a significant factor of survival and recurrence $(70.0\%\;vs\;91.1\%\;P<0.05\;&\;30.0\%\;vs\;15.8\%,\;respectively).$ The complication of postoperative radiothrapy was not significant and all patient were well tolerated. In conclusion, postoperative radiotherapy in patients with high risks of locoreginal recurrence is relatively well tolerated and it gives significantly improved survival rate especially in patients with positive lymph nodes, bulky tumor size $(\geqq3\;cm),$ parametrial involvement, cervical stromal invasion more than 2/3, positive resection margin and angiolymphatic invasion.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.34 no.3 s.134
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• pp.242-245
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• 2003

The effects of chelidonine, a benzophenanthridine isoquinoline alkaloid, on L-DOPA-induced cytotoxicity in PC12 cells were investigated. The treatment of PC12 cells with chelidonine $(1-4\;{\mu}M)$ decreased dopamine content in a dose-dependent manner (30.2% inhibition at $4\;{\mu}M)$. Chelidonine was not cytotoxic up to $4\;{\mu}M)$. However, chelidonine at concentrations higher than $5\;{\mu}M$ caused a cytotoxicity in PC12 cells. L-DOPA at concentrations higher than $50\;{\mu}M$ led to cell damage by oxidative stress in PC12 cells. Chelidonine at non-cytotoxic concentration ranges of $1-4{\mu}M$ aggravated L- DOPA $(20-50\;{\mu}M)$-induced cytotoxicity in PC12 cells. The L-DOPA-induced cytotocxicity was synergistically stimulated by chelidonine at concentrations grader than $5\;{\mu}M$. These data demonstrate that chelidonine exacerbates L-DOPA-induced cytotoxicity. Therefore, it is proposed that the long-term L-DOPA therapeutic patients with chelidonine may need to be checked for the adverse symptoms.

• Nano
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.1850131.1-1850131.19
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• 2018

In this paper, an electrochemical sensor for epinephrine (EP), a neurotransmitter was developed by anchoring molecularly imprinted polymeric matrix (MIP) on the surface of gold-coated quartz crystal electrode of electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) using starch nanoparticles (Starch NP) - reduced graphene oxide (RGO) nanocomposite as polymeric format for the first time. Use of EP in therapeutic treatment requires proper dose and route of administration. Proper follow-up of neurological disorders and timely diagnosis of them has been found to depend on EP level. The MIP sensor was developed by electrodeposition of starch NP-RGO composite on EQCM electrode in presence of template EP. As the imprinted sites are located on the surface, high specific surface area enables good accessibility and high binding affinity to template molecule. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and piezoelectrogravimmetry were used for monitoring binding/release, rebinding of template to imprinted cavities. MIP-coated EQCM electrode were characterized by contact angle measurements, AFM images, piezoelectric responses including viscoelasticity of imprinted films, and other voltammetric measurements including direct (DPV) and indirect (using a redox probe) measurements. Selectivity was assessed by imprinting factor (IF) as high as 3.26 (DPV) and 3.88 (EQCM). Sensor was rigorously checked for selectivity in presence of other structurally close analogues, real matrix (blood plasma), reproducibility, repeatability, etc. Under optimized conditions, the EQCM-MIP sensor showed linear dynamic ranges ($1-10{\mu}M$). The limit of detection 40 ppb (DPV) and 290 ppb (EQCM) was achieved without any cross reactivity and matrix effect indicating high sensitivity and selectivity for EP. Hence, an eco-friendly MIP-sensor with high sensitivity and good selectivity was fabricated which could be applied in "real" matrices in a facile manner.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 1996

Purpose : To evaluate the role of combination therapy of external radio-therapy and chemotherapy in the management of advanced esophageal cancer as a primary treatment compared with radiation therapy alone. Materials and Methods : A retrospective review of evaluable 55 esophageal cancer patients referred to the Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Paik Hospital for the external radiotherapy between Jul, 1983 and Dec. 1994 was undertaken. Combined therapy patients (A group) were 30 and radiation alone patients (B group) were 25. Median age was 60 years old in A group (ranges : 42-81) and 65 years old in B group (ranges : 50-81). The male patients were 53. The fifty patients had squamous cell carcinomas. Radiation doses of 2520-6480c0y were delivered over a period of 4-7weeks, using 4MV LINAC. Chemotherapy was administered in bolus injection before, after, or during the course of external radiotherapy. The local control rate and patterns of failure according to both treatment modalities and 1, 2 year survival rates according to prognostic factors (stage, tumor length, radiation dose etc.) were analysed. Resuts : Median follow up Period was 7 months (range : 2-73 months). Median survival was 7.5 months (20 days-29 months) in A group and 5 months (20 days-73 months) in B group. The 1, 2 YSRs were $26.7\%$, $8.9\%$ in A group, $12.7\%$, $4.3\%$ in B group (p>0.05), respectively. The 1, 2 YSRs according to stage(II/III), tumor length (5cm more or less). radiation dose (5000cGymore or less) of A and B group were analyzed and the differences of survival rates of both treatments were not statistically significant. But among group B, patients who received 5000cGy or more showed significant survival benefits (p<0.05). The treatment response rates of A and B group were $43.8\%$. $25.0\%$, respectively. Complete response rate of $25.0\%$ in A and $8.3\%$ in B were achieved. The local failure and distant metastsis were $52.4\%$. $23.8\%$ in A group, $64.3\%$, $14.3\%$ in 8 group, respectively. The combination therapy revealed more frequent leukopenia and nausea/vomiting than radiation alone group, but degree of side effects was only mild to moderate. Conclusion : The combined external radiotherapy and chemotherapy for advanced esophageal cancer appears to improve the response rate, local control rate and survival rate, but the improvement was not statistically significant. The side effects of combined modalities were mild to moderate without significant morbidity. Therefore it may be worthwhile to continue the present combined external radiotherapy and chemotherapy in the management of advanced esophageal cancer to confirm our result.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 2001

Purpose : Granulocyle-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) has been widely used to treat neutropenia caused by chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The efficacy of recombinant human hematopoietic growth factors in improving oral mucositis after chemotherapy or radiotherapy has been recently demonstrated in some clinical studies. This study was designed to determine whether G-CSF can modify the radiation injury of the intestinal mucosa in mice. Materials and Methods : One hundred and five BALB/c mice weighing 20 grams were divided into nine subgroups including G-CSF alone group $(I:10\;{\mu}g/kg\;or\;II:100\;{\mu}g/kg)$, radiation alone group (7.5 or 12 Gy on the whole body), combination group with G-CSF and radiation (G-CSF I or II plus 7.5 Gy, G-CSF I or II plus 12 Gy), and control group. Radiation was administered with a 6 MV linear accelerator (Mevatron Siemens) with a dose rate of 3 Gy/min on day 0. G-CSF was injected subcutaneously for 3 days, once a day, from day -2 to day 0. Each group was sacrificed on the day 1, day 3, and day 7. The mucosal changes of jejunum were evaluated microscopically by crypt count per circumference, villi length, and histologic damage grading. Results : In both G-CSF I and II groups, crypt counts, villi length, and histologic damage scores were not significantly different from those of the control one (p>0.05). The 7.5 Gy and 12 Gy radiation alone groups showed significantly lower crypt counts and higher histologic damage scores compared with those of control one (p<0.05). The groups exposed to 7.5 Gy radiation plus G-CSF I or II showed significantly higher crypt counts and lower histologic damage scores on the day 3, and lower histologic damage scores on the day 7 compared with those of the 7.5 Gy radiation alone one (p<0.05). The 12 Gy radiation plus G-CSF I or II group did not show significant difference in crypt counts and histologic damage scores compared with those of the 12 Gy radiation alone one (p>0,05). Most of the mice in 12 Gy radiation with or without G-CSF group showed intestinal death within 5 days. Conclusion : These results suggest that G-CSF may protect the jejunal mucosa from the acute radiation damage following within the tolerable ranges of whole body irradiation in mice.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.260-265
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• 2005

The initial burst of drug release is an important role in the controlled delivery of drug having hish toxicity and narrow therapeutic ranges. Nanosphere composed of monolayer could not achieve precisely controlled drug release because of the initial burst of drug on surface. In this study, double layered nanosphere was prepared for sustained drug delivery without initial burst. Double layered nanosphere composed of dextran and PLGA was fabricated by using conventional W/O/W double emulsion method. To control surface tension on the outer layer of nanospheres, PVA was used as a surfactant. Release behavior of dextran as model drug was observed as the $3{\times}1$mm wafers formed by compression mould in the deionized water for 7 days. Double layered nanosphere has sustained release behavior, in contast to single layered nanospheres. such as mechanical mixture and dextran nanospheres. Especially, nanosphere containing PVA $0.2\%$ has shown nearly the zero-order release profile. As a result of this study, double layered nanospheres has more sustained release profile of drug without the initial burst and the release behavior of dexoan on tile double layered nanospheres was controlled by the contents of PVA as a surfactant.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.207-217
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• 2017

For effective patient treatment in proton therapy, it is therefore important to accurately measure the beam range. For measuring beam range, various researchers determine the beam range by measuring the prompt gammas generated during nuclear reactions of protons with materials. However, the accuracy of the beam range determination can be lowered in heterogeneous phantoms, because of the differences with respect to the prompt gamma production depending on the properties of the material. In this research, to improve the beam range determination in a heterogeneous phantom, we derived a formula to correct the prompt-gamma distribution using the ratio of the prompt gamma production, stopping power, and density obtained for each material. Then, the prompt-gamma distributions were acquired by a multi-slit prompt-gamma camera on various kinds of heterogeneous phantoms using a Geant4 Monte Carlo simulation, and the deduced formula was applied to the prompt-gamma distributions. For the case involving the phantom having bone-equivalent material in the soft tissue-equivalent material, it was confirmed that compared to the actual range, the determined ranges were relatively accurate both before and after correction. In the case of a phantom having the lung-equivalent material in the soft tissue-equivalent material, although the maximum error before correction was 18.7 mm, the difference was very large. However, when the correction method was applied, the accuracy was significantly improved by a maximum error of 4.1 mm. Moreover, for a phantom that was constructed based on CT data, after applying the calibration method, the beam range could be generally determined within an error of 2.5 mm. Simulation results confirmed the potential to determine the beam range with high accuracy in heterogeneous phantoms by applying the proposed correction method. In future, these methods will be verified by performing experiments using a therapeutic proton beam.