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Posterior communicating artery aneurysms (PcomAAs) are the second most common type of aneurysm. Large cerebral aneurysms show various neurological symptoms, especially oculomotor nerve palsy (ONP), due to PcomAAs. Recent research has shown that stent-assisted coil embolization has many side effects. We report the effectiveness of Korean medicine in the treatment of ONP due to PcomAAs after stent-assisted coil embolization. A patient with ptosis and limitation of eye movement was treated with Korean medicine, including herbal medicine (Samlyeongbaegchul-san-byeonbang [參苓白朮散變方] and Uwhangchungsim-won [牛黃淸心元]), acupuncture, electroacupuncture, cupping, and moxibustion. Clinical symptoms were observed by images of the inter-palpebral fissure and eyeball movement. After the treatment, the inter-palpebral fissure and eyeball movement were noticeably improved. These findings suggest that treatment with Korean medicine can be an effective option for the treatment of ONP due to PcomAAs after stent-assisted coil embolization.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to report the improvement of tracheal granuloma after herbal medicine treatment.Methods: A patient with tracheal granuloma was treated with Sipyukmiyuki-eum, and we checked laryngoscopy images to observe the improvement of this condition.Results: After treatment with Sipyukmiyuki-eum and Korean medicine therapy, we found that tracheal granuloma showed improvements in the laryngoscopy image.Conclusion: This case suggests that Sipyukmiyuki-eum might be effective for patients who develop tracheal granuloma after tracheostomy. However, additional studies with more patients are required to verify this finding.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to report the improvement of a patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis after long-term combined Korean medical treatment.Methods: A patient diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis was treated with herbal medicine, acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, moxibustion, and rehabilitation for four separate hospital stays. To evaluate their respiratory discomfort and limb weakness, we used Manual Muscle Testing, the Pulmonary Function Test, and the Korean Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale-Revised.Results: The weakness of the muscles of the lower extremities and respiratory function was improved.Conclusion: We consider that combined Korean medicine treatments might be an effective treatment for muscle weakness and respiratory discomfort of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. To verify the effectiveness of these treatments, further research is required.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to report the effectiveness of Korean medicine in the treatment of persistent postural-perceptual dizziness.Methods: A patient with dizziness was treated with Banhabackchulchunma-tang and Gongjin-dan herbal medicines. The severity of symptoms was assessed with a daily visual analog scale (VAS) for dizziness and the frequency of subjective trembling feelings (over 30 minutes).Results: After the treatment, the severity of dizziness was reduced from VAS 5 to VAS 2, and fatigue was improved from VAS 5 to VAS 1. The frequency of subjective trembling feelings was reduced from once every 3-4 days to once every 10 days. Other symptoms, such as dyspepsia, sleep disturbance, and hot flashes, also showed improvement.Conclusion: Treatment with Korean medicine may be an effective option for the treatment of persistent postural-perceptual dizziness.

The purpose of this study is to report the effect of Korean medicine on a squamous cell lung cancer patient with chemotherapy induction peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). A 61-year old male patient, who had received 4 cycles of chemotherapy after lung surgery from squamous cell lung cancer, was treated with acupuncture and herbal medicines, including Uchasingi-hwan and Samchilchoongcho-capsule, to control CIPN and dyspnea on exertion. The degree of pain was assessed by a numeric rating scale (NRS). After receiving acupuncture and herbal medicines, the NRS score for CIPN symptoms was reduced from 4 to 1 and the NRS score for dyspnea on exertion decreased from 3 to less than 1. Korean medicine could therefore be useful in reducing peripheral neuropathy occurring after chemotherapy and dyspnea after lobectomy.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to report the improvement of Guillain-Barre syndrome after long-term combination treatment with Korean medicine.Methods: A patient was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome and treated with herbal medicine, acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, moxibustion, and exercise, including quadruped walking after three hospital admissions. To evaluate muscle strength and weakness, we measured manual muscle function, gait pattern, and the speed of quadruped walking.Results: The patient's muscle weakness in the extremities and gait stance were improved. The speed of quadruped walking was increased.Conclusion: We consider that combined treatment with Korean medicine might be effective for the muscle weakness of Guillain-Barre syndrome with a poor prognostic factor. To verify the effectiveness of this treatment, further research is needed.

Objective: This study evaluated a clinical case of a patient with Rovazet-induced abnormal liver function treated with intradermal acupuncture.Method: A 59-year-old woman with abnormal liver function induced by Rovazet ceased taking the drug and instead received intradermal acupuncture treatment. After 15 days, clinical symptoms and laboratory test results were evaluated.Results: Aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels decreased, and clinical symptoms such as nausea and fatigue improved after treatment with intradermal acupuncture and cessation of the Rovazet.Conclusion: This study meaningfully examined a clinical case of a patient with abnormal liver function induced by a lipid-lowering agent, which is uncommon in Korea. Unfortunately, the lack of clear evidence and the use of only one case are limitations of the study.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to review the status of numeric rating scale (NRS) usage and suggest the potential for use in multicenter retrospective studies of various diseases.Methods: Articles published from 2011 to 2021 that used the keywords “NRS", “Multi-center", and “RCT" were identified in foreign databases, including EMBASE, PubMed, CENTRAL. The articles were analyzed according to their use of "NRS" by symptoms and by disease group using the major classifications of the Korean Standard Classification of Diseases (KCD-7).Results: Classification by symptom in a total of 288 articles illustrates that the NRS was not only commonly used in pain evaluation but also for non-pain symptoms. In usage with non-pain symptoms, chief complaint of patients was the most common at 79%, and other factors included treatment satisfaction, evaluation of daily life, and sleep quality. In disease classification according to the KCD-7, the NRS was commonly used in connection with musculoskeletal and connective tissue diseases but was also utilized in various other disease groups.Conclusions: This study confirms usage of the NRS in multi-center RCTs, as the NRS was widely used in all types of diseases and symptoms. Considering the result and the advantages of the NRS, it is recommended for use as a daily evaluation tool for the collection of common data in multicenter retrospective studies.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of Heat-sensitive Moxibustion on Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Methods: We searched articles from Academic Journals(CAJ) online databases, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System (OASIS), Searching key words were ‘前列腺增生’, ‘熱敏灸’ and ‘열민구’, ‘전립선비대’. The search range included randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Among the articles published to 2020, 10 articles were found. After review the title, abstract and original, 3 articles were selected finally to rule out treatment combined with completely different treatments. Result: The Heat-sensitive moxibustion at acupoints in the treatment of Benign prostatic hyperplasia were significantly superior to control group after treatment in the symptoms of patients, IPSS, QOL, PVR and Qmax(P

As the representative targeted anticancer drug for colon cancer patients, cetuximab is the EGFR targeted therapeutic antibody and used for treatment of KRAS wild type cancers. Even some patient with KRAS wt gene did not respond cetuximab. However, there is no treatment available for cetuximab-resistant patient group, which is almost 50% of KRAS WT gene holders. Recently, our team identified cetuximab primary resistant related proteins named as mtRTK (mutant receptor tyrosine kinase) by array analysis based cetuximab responder or non-responder colon cancer patient tissues. We investigated mtRTK’s oncogenic potential as a novel anti-cancer target. A large proportion of colon cancer patients (36.2% Caucasian, 56.9% Korean) expressed the mtRTK was identified, using the sequencing analysis of patient samples. Based on these results, our efforts have led to the discovery of WM-S1, mtRTK inhibitor, which is the first mtRTK inhibitor in clinical development. The potent enzyme inhibitor showed a high anticancer activity confirmed in Patient-Derived Cells (PDC) and Patient-Derived Xenograft (PDX) animal models expressing the mutation. In preclinical studies demonstrate that WM-S1 is well tolerated in rats and dogs. Furthermore, WM-S1 has potent anticancer activities for various solid tumor (NSCLC, cholangiocarcinoma, etc.) including activated mtKRAS colon cancer expressing the mtRTK. Currently we are investigating WM-S1 in a phase 1a trial in AUS, which is the first mtRTK inhibitor in clinical development. Meanwhile, the mtRTK inhibitor WM-S1 drives antitumor immunity (with anti-PD-L1) in NSCLC. Combinational approaches with immunotherapy showed that synergistic effect of WM-S1 and anti-PD1 monoclonal antibody, suppressing tumor growth by 75% in anti-PD1 resistance NSCLC-derived humanized mouse model. A phase 1b trial is expected to develop WM-S1 through not only indication expansion but also combination therapy with immuno-checkpoint inhibitors in the USA, AUS and KOR from Q2 2022. In conclusion, mtRTK is a potential oncogenic driver mutation in various solid tumor. A first-in-class anticancer agent WM-S1 targeting mtRTK can be promising therapeutic agents for cetuximab-resistant colon cancer patients regardless of KRAS mutation status and other cancers. Citation Format: Joseph Kim, Jai-Hee Moon, Kyung-Mi Lee, Hyun Ryu, Eun Hye Park, Sang Hee Kim, Jeong Seok Kim, Young Ok Ko, Yong Seok Kim, Hyo Jin Kim, Tae Young Kim Kim, Moon Seong Yoo, Soll Jin, Seongrak Kim, Yoon Sun Park, Min Ki Lee, Mi So Lee, Ji Hyun Go, Yu Geun Ji, Jun Hyung Lee, Haneul Lee, Min Hwa Kim, Eun Hee Ko, Yeo Jin Lee, Seung-Mi Kim, Joon-yee Jeong, Yeon-seoung Choi, Seung-geon Bae, Jinwoo Lee, Won Jun Lee, Min-Kyeong Kim, Ji min Shin, Dong-in Koh, Sun-Chul Hur, Chun-Ho Park, Hyun Ho Lee, Dong-Hoon Jin. WM-S1, the novel small molecule inhibitor of mutant RTK/receptor tyrosine kinase, for the treatment of cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 6219.

Zinc oxide (ZnO), an inorganic compound that appears as a white powder, is used frequently as an ingredient in sunscreens. The aim of this review was to examine the toxicology and risk assessment of ZnO based upon available published data. Recent studies on acute, sub-acute, and chronic toxicities of ZnO indicated that this compound is virtually non-toxic in animal models. However, it was reported that ZnO nanoparticles (NP) (particle size, 40 nm) induced significant changes in anemia-related hematologic parameters and mild to moderate pancreatitis in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats at 536.8 mg/kg/day in a 13-week oral toxicity study. ZnO displayed no carcinogenic potential, and skin penetration is low. No-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) ZnO was determined to be 268.4 mg/kg/day in a 13-week oral toxicity study, and a maximum systemic exposure dose (SED) of ZnO was estimated to be 0.6 mg/kg/day based on topical application of sunscreen containing ZnO. Subsequently, the lowest margin of safety (MOS) was estimated to be 448.2, which indicates that the use of ZnO in sunscreen is safe. A risk assessment was undertaken considering other routes of exposure (inhalation or oral) and major product types (cream, lotion, spray, and propellant). Human data revealed that MOS values (7.37 for skin exposure from cream and lotion type; 8.64 for skin exposure of spray type; 12.87 for inhalation exposure of propellant type; 3.32 for oral exposure of sunscreen) are all within the safe range (MOS1). Risk assessment of ZnO indicates that this compound may be used safely in cosmetic products within the current regulatory limits of 25% in Korea.

A bead-shaped biosorbent for removal of Cr(VI) from industrial waste waters/aqueous media was fabricated using water soluble Spirulina platensis extract (SPE). The addition of LiCl to DMSO affected the solubility of SPE, and 1 M LiCl/DMSO was the optimal solvent system for the preparation of SPE beads. The shape of the SPE bead was determined by the concentration of SPE, and the type of coagulant affected the mechanical properties of the bead. The optimum pH for the Cr(VI) adsorption was 2.0. The maximum adsorption capacity of the SPE beads was 41.12 mg/g at pH 2.0, and the adsorption behavior of Cr(VI) on the SPE beads followed the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) isotherm. The results indicated that 0.1 M NaOH was the most effective desorption agent. The successive recycling of the adsorption–desorption process was stable for more than five cycles, and the recycling efficiency was 70%.

This study aimed to verify the positive effects of forest activities for children from economically underprivileged households in local children's centers and the effect of such activities on the protective factors of their development. One hundred and eighty five children participated in the Forest Activities Program, which conducted over a total 8 sessions. Pre-post tests of the subjective well-being scale, DAS, multiple life satisfaction scale, ego-resilience scale were conducted and the children then made picture stories during the program itself. The results of the analysis of differences between pre-post tests were as follows: first, the negative emotions of participating children decreased significantly. Second, the school-satisfaction and self-satisfaction levels of the participating children increased. Third the participating children's positive perceptions of self and interpersonal relationships also increased through the forest activities. Finally, there were differences of the change types of picture stories that children created while they were participating in the program; and these divergences were related to the effectiveness of the program. These forest activities had positive effects upon the economically disadvantaged children who participated in this study. However, in order to increase the effects of such forest activities qualitatively, greater support for the active involvement of children is required. Korean J. of Child Studies Vol. 35, No. 4, 223-247, August 2014 DOI:dx.org/10.5723/KJCS.2014.35.4.223 www.childkorea.or.kr pISSN1226-1688 eISSN2234-408X 2 Korean J. of Child Studies Vol. 35, No. 4, 2014 224

Sericin (SS) is a protein that is secreted by silkworms, but it is usually discarded during the degumming process. To obtain and make use of the sericin, we prepared sericin/glycerol/graphene oxide nanocomposite film. The inherent brittleness of pure sericin film was improved by the addition of glycerol (Glc) as a plasticizer. To compensate for the reduced stiffness, we added graphene oxide (GO) into the SS/Glc film. At concentrations of up to 0.8 wt% relative to SS, GO dispersed evenly in the SS matrix without any agglomeration. The maximum tensile strength (9.5±0.7 MPa) and Young’s modulus (414.4±23.2 MPa) were obtained when the GO content was 0.8 wt% relative to SS. The elongation of SS/Glc/GO nanocomposite film also increased by approximately 40 % compared to SS/Glc film. The strong interfacial interaction between the SS and the GO was responsible for the increased stiffness. The increased elongation was due to the reduced crystallinity of the sericin matrix in the presence of GO.

Silk sericin (SS) has been fabricated into beads using a 1 M LiCl/DMSO solvent and utilized as a heavy metal adsorbent. Among the various heavy metals, we targeted Cr(VI) for adsorption using SS beads and found that its adsorption depended on the coagulant used for the fabrication of the SS beads. When methanol was used as a coagulant, the beads had a better adsorption capacity than when ethanol was used except at pH 1. The adsorption behavior of Cr(VI) on the SS beads followed the BET isotherm. The maximum adsorption capacity was 33.76 mg/g at pH 2. The adsorption of Cr(VI) was confirmed by FT-IR and EDS analyses. Finally, the desorption was carried out using NaOH solution, and it was found that 73.19% of the adsorbed Cr(VI) could be detached.

To select proper soybean cultivars for producing functional cheonggukjang, a comparison was made of the physiological activities of different cheonggukjang prepared with 30 different soybean cultivars. The isoflavone content was highest in the cheonggukjang made from ‘Daepung’ soybeans at 208.75 mg%. In general, the contents of glycone types (and derivatives) of isoflavone, specifically daidzin, glycitin, genistin, and malonylgenistin, were higher than that of aglycone types. The polyphenol contents ranged from 30.62 to 80.32 mg%. The DPPH radical scavenging activity and superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity of the cheonggukjang made from yellow soybeans had a higher activity than those of black soybeans. Although there are no consistent tendencies in the functional activity of cheonggukjang according to soybean color and size, the antioxidative activity is highest in the cheonggukjang made of yellow soybeans. Additionally, the fibrinolytic and inhibitory activities against angiotensin I-converting enzyme are highest in the cheonggukjang made of black soybeans. From these results, it can be concluded that the DPPH free radical scavenging activity and SOD-like activity in cheonggukjang depends on the phenolic compound content in soybean.

In order to select the most ideal soybean cultivars for producing cheonggukjang, the protein degradation characteristics of cheonggukjangs prepared with 30 different soybean cultivars were compared. Cheonggukjang prepared with ‘Nampung’ (18.00±0.28%) and ‘Sohwang’ (17.91±0.63%) soybeans showed the highest contents of viscous substances. Acidic-protease activity was highest (590.24±2.92 μg/mL) in cheonggukjang prepared with small ‘Pungsannalmul’ soybeans. Neutral-protease activity was highest (528.13±3.11 and 527.36±0.44 μg/mL, respectively) in cheonggukjang prepared with ‘Singi’ and ‘Nampung’ soybeans. Cheonggukjang prepared with ‘Wonkwang’ and ‘Sohwang’ soybeans had amino-type nitrogen contents of 780.50±2.92 and 729.95±1.07 mg%, respectively. Glutamic acid, which is a major component of viscous substances, was also detected. Although total free amino acid levels in cheonggukjang prepared with ‘Daewon’ and ‘Wonkwang’ soybeans measured 2,551.21 and 2,340.02 mg%, respectively, cheonggukjang prepared with black soybeans exhibited low levels of total free amino acids. Therefore, based on protein degradation characteristics, large ‘Daewon’ soybeans and small ‘Wonkwang’ soybeans were the most suitable for producing cheonggukjang.

We demonstrated the successful growth of catalyst-free InN nanorods on (0001) Al2O3 substrates using metal-organic chemical vapor deposition. Morphological evolution was significantly affected by growth temperature. At 710 degrees C, complete InN nanorods with typical diameters of 150 nm and length of approximately 3.5 microm were grown with hexagonal facets. theta-2theta X-ray diffraction measurement shows that (0002) InN nanorods grown on (0001) Al2O3 substrates were vertically aligned along c-axis. In addition, high resolution transmission electron microscopy indicates the spacing of the (0001) lattice planes is 0.28 nm, which is very close to that of bulk InN. The electron diffraction patterns also revealed that the InN nanorods are single crystalline with a growth direction along (0001) with (10-10) facets.

We demonstrated the growth of catalyst-free InN nanostructures including nanorods on (0001) Al2O3 substrates using metal-organic chemical vapor deposition. As the growth time increased, growth rate along c-direction increased superlinearly with decreasing c-plane area fractions and increasing side wall areas. It was also found that desorption from the sidewalls of InN nanostructures during the InN nanorods formation was one of essential key parameters of the growth mechanism. We propose a growth model to explain the InN nanostructure evolution by considering the side wall desorption and re-deposition of indium at top c-plane surfaces.

100 nm InN layer was grown on sapphire c-plane using a metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) system. Low temperature (LT) GaN layer was grown on InN layer to protect InN layer from direct exposure to hydrogen flow during high temperature (HT) GaN growth and/or abrupt decomposition. Subsequently, thick HT GaN layer (2.5 μm thick) was grown at 1000 °C on LT GaN/InN/sapphire template. Microstructure of epilayer–substrate interface was investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). From the high angle annular dark field TEM image, the growth of columnar structured LT GaN and HT GaN with good crystallinity was observed. Though thickness of InN interlayer is assumed to be about 100 nm based on growth rate, it was not clearly shown in TEM image due to the InN decomposition. The lattice parameters of GaN layers were measured by XRD measurement, which shows that InN interlayer reduces the compressive strain in GaN layer. The relaxation of compressive strain in GaN layer was also confirmed by photoluminescence (PL) measurement. As shown in the PL spectra, red shift of GaN band edge peak was observed, which indicates the reduction of compressive strain in GaN epilayer.

Silk sericin (SS) can be obtained as a byproduct during the silk fiber process, but its application has been limited due to the brittleness of the SS film. To enhance the flexibility of the SS film, glycerol (Glc) has been added as a plasticizer. The addition of Glc enhanced the elongation property of the SS film when the Glc content was 50-70 wt% of SS. Glc also induced the structural transition of SS from a random coil structure to a β-sheet structure. The inconsistent increase of elongation and β-sheet structure of the SS/Glc film were explained by the content of moisture in the SS/Glc film. The moisture content of the SS/Glc film increased proportionally when the Glc content was higher than 50 wt% of SS, which was the same Glc content range that exhibited the plasticizing effect. Therefore, the plasticizing effect on the SS film may occur not only because of Glc but also because of water. Furthermore, water also contributed to the increase in the β-sheet structure development. Our results suggest that the moisture content in the plasticized protein film may play an important role when the plasticizer has hygroscopic properties.

Our previous report has showed that the treatment of 48 h with 22 mM glucose prevents hypoxia-induced cardiac cell death. In the present study, we investigated whether high glucose affects the mitochondrial death pathway during hypoxia, and if it does, what relates to the high glucose induced cardioprotection. Heart-derived H9c2 cells were incubated in low (5.5 mM) or high (22 mM) glucose medium for 48 h, then transferred to a normoxic or hypoxic condition. The hypoxia-induced reduction of mitochondrial redox potential, assessed by MTT assay, was inhibited in high glucose treated cells. The mitochondrial membrane potential was significantly decreased by hypoxia in low glucose treated cells, but not in high glucose treated cells. The hypoxia-induced cytoplasmic accumulation of cytochrome c, released from the mitochondria, was blocked by a treatment of high glucose. High glucose did not induce the expression of an antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2, nor did it reduce a proapoptotic protein Bax, but it did inhibit a hypoxia-induced downregulation of Bcl-2. The cellular ATP contents were not changed by the treatment of high glucose for 48 h, and the hypoxia-induced decline of intracellular ATP level was observed in high glucose treated cells and in low glucose. A glycolytic inhibitor, 2-deoxyglucose, did not reverse the high glucose induced reduction of LDH release. The elevation of [ROS](i) induced by hypoxia was inhibited in high glucose treated cells. These results suggest that high glucose induced cardioprotection may be accounted for in part by the preservation of MMP and the maintenance of a basal level of [ROS](i) during hypoxia.

In the present study, we investigated whether a novel benzopyranylindol analogue, KR-31466 (KR466) (1-[(2S,3R,4S)-3,4-dihydro-2-dimethoxymethyl-3-hydroxy-2-methyl-6-nitro-2H-1-benzopyran-4-yl]-1H-indole-2-carboxylic acid ethyl ester) can attenuate hypoxic injury in heart-derived H9c2 cells and, if so, whether the protective effect of KR466 is mediated through mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium (mtK(ATP)) opening. The treatment of H9c2 cells with KR466 (3 - 30 microM) significantly reduced hypoxia-induced cell death in a concentration-dependent manner, as shown by lactate dehydrogenase release and propidium iodide-uptake. In addition, KR466 (10 microM) significantly reduced the increase in hypoxia-induced TUNEL-positive cells, suggesting its anti-apoptotic potential in H9c2 cells. The protective effects of KR466 were abolished by 5-hydroxydecanoate, a specific blocker of the mtK(ATP) channel, suggesting the involvement of the mtK(ATP) channel in the protective effect of KR466. A specific inhibitor of protein kinase C (PKC), chelerythrine (3 microM), significantly attenuated the protective effect of KR466 against hypoxia-induced cardiac cell death. In conclusion, our results suggest that KR466 can protect H9c2 cells from hypoxia-induced death through mtK(ATP) channel opening and PKC activation.

In the present study, we investigated whether onion has antithrombotic effect in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. In diabetic rats, serum thromboxane B 2 (TXB 2 ) level was elevated compared to that in normal, and this elevation in diabetes was significantly inhibited by treatment with onion (0.5 g/ml/kg/day, i.p.) for 4 weeks. In normal rats, the serum TXB 2 level remained unaltered after the treatment with onion. To investigate in vitro effect of onion, we examined its effect on TXB 2 formation, platelet aggregation and arachidonic acid (AA)-release in platelets from diabetic and normal rats. Onion showed a significant inhibitory effect on collagen- or AA-induced TXB 2 formation with greater potency in diabetic platelets than in normal. Similarly, more potent inhibitory effects of onion in diabetes were observed in collagen- or AA-induced platelet aggregation and collagen-induced AA release response. In conclusion, these results suggest that onion can produce more beneficial antithrombotic effect in diabetes.

Driving Method on the panel is getting more important in LCD technology, because it can reduce the cost of source driver ICs and the number of module processes. Decrement of source driver IC can make cost competitiveness higher. In this paper, we have proposed a new driving method of advanced triple rate driving (Advanced TRD) which reduces the number of source driver ICs in notebook panel with HD (1366 X RGB X 768) resolution, with the same image quality compared to conventional data line sharing method (Conventional DLS) [1∼4]. In the Advanced TRD Structure, three neighboring pixels share one data line and become vertical stripe structure. By using this technology, we can reduce the number of source driver ICs by two thirds, compare to the conventional DLS. And it will be a technique to overcome the legibility problem of horizontal stripe TRD by simple changing the pixel rendering. We fabricated 13.3-inch HD notebook panel which can be driven with two source driver ICs by using advanced TRD method.

Antiplatelet actions of aqueous extract of onion were investigated in rat and human platelet. IC(50)values of onion extract for collagen-, thrombin-, arachidonic acid (AA)-induced aggregations and collagen-induced thromboxane A(2)(TXA(2)) formation were 0.17 +/- 0. 01, 0.23 + 0.03, 0.34 +/- 0.02 and 0.12 +/- 0.01 g/ml, respectively. [(3)H]-AA release induced by collagen (10 microg/ml) in rat platelet was decreased by onion compared to control (22.1 +/- 2.13 and 5.2 +/- 0.82% of total [(3)H]-AA incorporated, respectively). In fura-2 loaded platelets, the elevation of intracellular Ca(2+)concentration stimulated by collagen was inhibited by onion. Onion had no cytotoxic effect in platelet. Onion significantly inhibited TXA(2)synthase activity without influence on COX activity. Platelet aggregation induced by U46619, a stable TXA(2)mimetic, was inhibited by onion, indicating its antagonism for TXA(2)/PGH(2)receptor. These results suggest that the mechanism for antiplatelet effect of onion may, at least partly, involve AA release diminution, TXA(2)synthase inhibition and TXA(2)/PGH(2)receptor blockade.

The Herbei Spirit oil spill occurred in western Korea. A large number of people who participated in the cleanup tasks of the contaminated area were exposed to crude oil component. We developed a method to monitor volatile organic compound (VOC) metabolites in urine, and evaluate the acute exposure caused by the oil spill in exposed volunteer workers (n = 100, 20.7 +/- 2.1 years, mean +/- SD). Acidified urine samples were extracted by SPE, derivatized with trimethylsilyl, and analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Calibration curves were found to be linear from 3 to 1000 ng/mL (r(2) > 0.993). Accuracy was over 82.4%, and precision was less than 24.8%. Using this method, the VOC metabolites, except hippuric acid, were present at higher levels in the urine samples of volunteers after cleanup work. The levels of mandelic acid (MA) and trans,trans-muconic acid (t,t-MU) were increased significantly (p < 0.001). The exposure effect was greater in women than in men. The effect of smoking was analyzed in all exposed and non-exposed groups, with non-smokers showing increased MA and t,t-MU levels related to exposure. The present method was reliable to determine VOC metabolites in urine and could be useful for biomonitoring of acute exposure effects of VOCs.

Brx-019 (acetic acid 3,6a,9-triacetoxy-6, 6a,7,11b-tetrahydro-indeno[2,1-c] chromen-10-yl ester) was derived from brazilin (CAS 474-07-7) during a trial designed to search for immunomodulators with lower toxicity and more effective immunomodulating activities than brazilin. Brx-019 was selected as a potential immunomodulator based on its effects on Concanavalin A (Con A)-induced proliferation of splenocytes and the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Intraperitoneally administered Brx-019 significantly improved delayed type hypersensitivity and increased immunoglobulin M (IgM) plaque forming cells (PFCs) in multiple low dose streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice (MLDS-diabetic mice). This finding suggests that Brx-019 may increase suppressed humoral and cell-mediated immunity in type 1 diabetes. Brx-019 also significantly increased Con A- or alloantigen-induced proliferation of splenocytes, Con A-induced interleukin 2 (IL-2) production from splenocytes, and IL-2-induced proliferation of Con A-activated splenocytes in MLDS-diabetic mice. These results suggest that Brx-019 might improve immunity in diabetic mice by increasing IL-2 production in splenocytes and responsiveness of splenocytes to IL-2, which were suppressed in MLDS-diabetes.