Search

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) bleaching in ethanol-water media was used to improve the bleaching efficiency of the chemi-thermomechanical pulp (CTMP). The brightness of CTMP increased and the yellowness decreased when the ethanol ratio was increased to 50%. However, when more than 50% ethanol was added, the brightness decreased, and the yellowness increased. In general, H2O2 bleaching in ethanol-water media, except for 100% ethanol, improved the optical properties of CTMP compared to conventional H2O2 bleaching. Moreover, the chemical composition of CTMP did not alter significantly. The best bleaching condition for CTMP was observed in 50% ethanol at a bleaching temperature and time of 80 °C and 120 min, respectively. The brightness of CTMP under this condition increased by approximately 22% compared with conventional H2O2 bleached CTMP. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that the optical properties of bleached CTMP were affected by the structural changes of the aromatic ring and carbonyl group in lignin and carbonyl group in hemicellulose. Consequently, the specific optimal ratio of ethanol that could improve the optical properties of CTMP was determined. The results can serve as a reference for fabricating improved CTMP for its practical application in high-grade papermaking.

Background Research on remifentanil-induced chest wall rigidity is limited. Furthermore, its incidence is unknown, and the clinical factors influencing its development remain unclear. This prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled trial aimed to investigate the effects of the administration sequence of hypnotics and remifentanil as well as the type of hypnotic administered on the development of remifentanil-induced chest wall rigidity. Methods A total of 125 older patients aged \(\ge\)65 years, who were scheduled to undergo elective surgery under general anesthesia, were enrolled in this study. Participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups; Thio-Remi, Pro-Remi, Remi-Thio, or Remi-Pro. After confirming the loss of consciousness and achieving a target effect-site concentration of 3 ng/mL remifentanil, the development of remifentanil-induced chest wall rigidity was evaluated. Results The incidence of chest wall rigidity was significantly higher in the remifentanil-hypnotic group than in the hypnotic-remifentanil (opposite sequence) group (55.0% vs. 21.7%, P P

Pulping using organic solvents is an alternative to kraft pulping and can reduce environmental pollutants. Ethanol is a potential cooking liquor, as it improves the penetration of the cooking chemical due to its low surface tension, and it can be recovered via distillation. The chemical structure and alpha-cellulose content need to be controlled during cooking and bleaching processes to prepare dissolving pulp. Therefore, the effect of ethanol on the cooking efficiency and caustic extraction prior to sequential bleaching on the alpha-cellulose content of the pulp were analyzed. The cooking yield was 50.2% in cooking liquor with 20% NaOH and 50% ethanol at 160 °C for 120 min. The delignification extent was 83.2%, which was better than that of kraft cooking. Caustic extraction was effective in removing the hemicellulose content, and the removal rate of xylan was 61.1% with 10% NaOH added to 1.5% pulp slurry and reacted at 60 °C for 90 min. The alpha-cellulose of bleached pulp could be improved to over 94% by a sequential bleaching process consisting of chlorine dioxide, sodium hydroxide, and hydrogen peroxide.

Background Midazolam is frequently used for sedation during spinal anesthesia. However, external environmental factors, such as bright surgical lights, may hamper patient relaxation, which may lead to an increase in the dose of midazolam required and the likelihood of adverse drug effects. We investigated whether using an eye mask to block the external environment could reduce midazolam requirements during spinal anesthesia. Methods Participants aged 18–‒80 years, scheduled for elective surgery under spinal anesthesia, were randomly divided into a masked group (wearing eye masks during surgery, n = 20) and a control group (no mask, n = 18). The sedation level was assessed using a modified Observer Assessment of Alertness and Sedation (MOAA/S) scale. Midazolam (1 mg) was incrementally administered every 5 min until moderate sedation (MOAA/S score of 3) was achieved. The bispectral index (BIS) was monitored, and the onset and maintenance times of a BIS Results The two groups had similar demographic characteristics. The midazolam requirements were significantly lower in the masked group than in the control group (2.8 mg vs. 3.7 mg, P = 0.024). However, the onset and maintenance times for a BIS Conclusions Blocking the external environment with an eye mask during spinal anesthesia can reduce the requirement for sedatives, such as midazolam. Trial registration The trial was retrospectively registered with the Clinical Research Information Service (No. KCT0005528, 15/10/2020) entitled “Can we reduce an amount of sleeping pills just by blocking light?”.

Platycosides, saponins contained in balloon flower, which have been used as food health supplements for respiratory diseases, have diverse pharmacological effects. Platycosides exhibit better pharmacological activity by hydrolyzing their own sugars. However, to date, there have been no studies on the production of deglucosylated platycodin D suitable for food applications. In this study, Pluszyme 2000P, which was derived from Aspergillus niger, a food-grade microorganism, was used to completely convert platycoside E into deglucosylated platycodin D. For an efficient and economical production of deglucosylated platycodin D, the productivity was improved approximately 2.4 times by application of high hydrostatic pressure and the discarded balloon flower leaf was used as a substrate. As a result, deglucosylated platycodin D was produced with the highest concentration (3.49 mg/mL) and productivity (581.7 mg/L/h) reported so far. Our results contribute to functional saponin production and the related food industries., Platycoside; Pluszyme 2000P; Food additive; Aspergillus niger; Balloon flower; Medicinal herb.

Operative hysteroscopy intravascular absorption syndrome (OHIAS) results from systemic absorption of hypotonic solution during hysteroscopy, which may induce severe hyponatremia within hours. Depending on the serum sodium (Na+) level, this can be life-threatening and requires prompt and careful remedial treatment.A 53-year-old woman underwent hysteroscopic myomectomy for submucosal leiomyoma. Approximately 3 hours postoperatively, the serum Na+ level decreased to 82 mM/L, accompanied by pulmonary edema and lactic acidosis. The patient was strongly suspicious of OHIAS.A rapid correction was made using 3% NaCl to prevent brain edema as an initial response. After the serum Na+ level reached 120 mM/L, gradual correction was performed considering osmotic demyelination syndrome, and desmopressin was administered to prevent overcorrection caused by excessive water diuresis. Serum Na+ level normalized in 4 days and the patient recovered without any specific sequelae.The detection of OHIAS may be delayed under general anesthesia, and prior vigilance is important if the operation time is prolonged. In severe hyponatremia with an apparently rapid onset, such as OHIAS, a two-step correction process may be safe and useful: rapid correction followed by more gradual correction.

Herniation of the thoracic intervertebral disc (HTD) is a rare disease that accounts for1% of all disc herniations. Physicians may make diagnostic errors due to the variable clinical features and limited experience of HTD. In this report, we present 2 unusual cases of HTD.A 72-year-old woman (case 1) visited our pain clinic because of chronic abdominal discomfort with visible bulging on the left side. Atrophy of the abdominal wall muscle and quadratus lumborum was observed. The therapeutic effect of interfascial plane block to exclude the possibility of truncal neuropathy following muscular atrophy was temporary. The other patient, a 75-year-old man (case 2) complained of aggravation of previously diagnosed postherpetic neuralgia. An extension of the previously symptomatic area of the forward upper dermatome was observed. Radiofrequency treatment on the symptomatic dorsal root ganglion failed to relieve symptoms.Two patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging of the spine for further evaluation. The patients were diagnosed with multilevel HTD and foraminal herniated disc, compatible with their symptoms and without myelopathy.Two patients were conservatively treated with a fluoroscopy-guided transforaminal epidural block.The 2 patients experienced significant pain reduction up to 50% on a numeric rating scale after repeated treatment.Multilevel HTD of the mid- to lower-thoracic spine may present as abdominal bulging with atrophy of the abdominal wall muscles. We also report another case of concomitant symptomatic thoracic radiculopathy from HTD and postherpetic neuralgia at the adjacent level. Thoracic transforaminal epidural block may be considered a conservative therapeutic approach for HTD.

Platycosides, saponins contained in balloon flower, which have been used as food health supplements for respiratory diseases, have diverse pharmacological effects. Platycosides exhibit better pharmacological activity by hydrolyzing their own sugars. However, to date, there have been no studies on the production of deglucosylated platycodin D suitable for food applications. In this study, Pluszyme 2000P, which was derived from Aspergillus niger, a food-grade microorganism, was used to completely convert platycoside E into deglucosylated platycodin D. For an efficient and economical production of deglucosylated platycodin D, the productivity was improved by application of high hydrostatic pressure and the discarded balloon flower leaf was used as a substrate. As a result, deglucosylated platycodin D was produced with the highest concentration and productivity reported so far. Our results contribute to functional saponin production and the related food industries.

Petasites japonicus have been used since a long time in folk medicine to treat diseases including plague, pestilential fever, allergy, and inflammation in East Asia and European countries. Bioactive compounds that may prevent and treat infectious diseases are identified based on their ability to inhibit bacterial neuraminidase (NA). We aimed to isolate and identify bioactive compounds from leaves and stems of P. japonicas (PJA) and elucidate their mechanisms of NA inhibition. Key bioactive compounds of PJA responsible for NA inhibition were isolated using column chromatography, their chemical structures revealed using 1 H NMR, 13 C NMR, DEPT, and HMBC, and identified to be bakkenolide B (1), bakkenolide D (2), 1,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (3), and 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid (4). Of these, 3 exhibited the most potent NA inhibitory activity (IC50 = 2.3 &plusmn, 0.4 &mu, M). Enzyme kinetic studies revealed that 3 and 4 were competitive inhibitors, whereas 2 exhibited non-competitive inhibition. Furthermore, a molecular docking simulation revealed the binding affinity of these compounds to NA and their mechanism of inhibition. Negative-binding energies indicated high proximity of these compounds to the active site and allosteric sites of NA. Therefore, PJA has the potential to be further developed as an antibacterial agent for use against diseases associated with NA.

In this study, we measured the concentration of Particulate Matter (PM10), Formaldehyde (HCHO), and Total Bacteria Count (TBC) at three facilities: elderly care centers, day care centers, and postnatal care centers located in the cities of Seoul, Sejong, Daegu and Ulsan from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2015. PM10 concentration was the highest in the day care centers and HCHO concentration was the highest in the postnatal care centers. TBC concentration was the highest in the day care centers. Comparing the different cities, PM10 concentration was the highest in Sejong, HCHO concentration was the highest in Seoul, and TBC concentration was the highest in Daegu. This study is expected to be helpful in preventing damage to health from the contaminated indoor air at sensitive facilities, and can be used as basic data for indoor air quality management.

This study compared the radioprotective effects of high-molecular-weight poly-gamma-glutamate (γ-PGA, average molecular mass 3,000 kDa) and a reduced form of glutathione (GSH, a known radioprotector) on calf thymus DNA damage. The radiation-induced DNA damage was measured on the basis of the decreased fluorescence intensity after binding the DNA with ethidium bromide. All the experiments used ⁶⁰Co gamma radiation at 1,252 Gy, representing 50% DNA damage. When increasing the concentration of γ-PGA from 0.33 to 1.65 μM, the DNA protection from radiation-induced damage also increased, with a maximum of 87% protection. Meanwhile, the maximal DNA protection when increasing the concentration of GSH was only 70%. Therefore, γ-PGA exhibited significant radioprotective effects against gamma irradiation.

Camellia japonica L. is an ornamental species due to its beautiful red flowers blooming in winter. Here, we completed the chloroplast genome of C. japonica isolated in Soyeonpyeongdo located at the northernmost in South Korea. Its length is 156,971 bp long and has four subregions: 86,673 bp of a large single copy (LSC) and 18,394 bp of small single copy (SSC) regions are separated by 25,952 bp of inverted repeat (IR) regions including 135 genes (91 protein-coding genes, 8 rRNAs, and 36 tRNAs). The overall GC content of this chloroplast genome is 37.3% and those in the LSC, SSC, and IR regions are 35.3%, 30.5%, and 43.0%, respectively. Twenty-five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and two insertions and deletions (INDELs) are identified against Korean C. japonica isolated in Jeju island, while 78 SNPs and 643 INDELs are found against Chinese C. japonica. Phylogenetic trees show that Camellia chekiangoleosa is clustered with Korean C. japonica.

Although it has been a long subject of study why researchers prefer some cited documents to others, the existing relative researches have had a variety of perspectives on the nature and complexity of the citation behavior and not provided a complete answer to this question. In particular, Korea researchers mainly used statistical analysis of bibliographic information, which has limitations in revealing dynamic and complex cognitive aspects of the citation process. In this study, I investigate the citer perception of citing motives and bibliographic factors through survey and compared the responses according to the researchers’ characteristics. After extracting the 22 motivations and 21 factors through the literature analysis and configuring a 5-point Likert scale questions, I conducted a survey in the wat of an e-mail attachment. From the SPSS 22.0, the frequency analysis, t-test, and one-way ANOVA were performed on the 354 valid samples. As a result, it is found that supporting is considered the most important citing motive and social connection, self-citation have little influence. In the case of bibliographic factors, the journal’s reputation was recognized the most influential factor and the number of pages and authors was the least. Significant differences in fields of study and research careers were showed in some parts. These results can substantiate earlier studies, determine whether the factors assumed influential in selecting references were intended, and suggest the search point to the specialty library or academic database.

Camellia japonica L. usually blooms red flower in winter in Jeju island, Korea, considered a species which should not be planted in the garden. Here, we completed chloroplast genome of C. japonica ...

Hibiscus syriacus L. belonging to family Malvaceae is a hardy deciduous shrub and is distributed in warm-temperature region. To understand the genetic diversity of ‘Mamonde’ cultivar, of which flow...

In 2008, the National Archives of Korea initiated the Archive Village project for the purpose of protecting valuable private records and enhancing the awareness of archival culture. To justify the expense of the government-supported project and determine its future direction, it is necessary to analyze the current status of the project. To do that, the researchers visited an Archive Village in I county and examined its accessibility, exhibition contents, facilities, equipment, etc., through observation. Interviews were also conducted with the person in charge of the project in the National Archives of Korea, as well as eight residents and three persons who were involved in building and managing the Archive Village in I county. Based on the results of the observation and interviews, the study suggests recommendations to improve the operation of the Archive Village in I county. The findings of the study will help other villages plan acquisition and management, as well as how to make important private records in local areas available.

This study assessed gender differences of ‘solo eating’ perceptions and dietary behaviors among college students residing in Seoul and Kyongki province. Two types of questionnaires were used to analyze perception and dietary behaviors of subjects: a cross-sectional survey (N=893) and AGA (Associative Group Analysis; N=50). Women ate significantly more and intook a greater variety of foods when eating together (P

Psoriasis is a disorder caused by genetic and immunological factors. Leptin, a peptide hormone secreted predominantly from adipose tissue, regulates energy intake and expenditure, as well as the T-helper response. There have been conflicting reports regarding serum levels of leptin and adiponectin in patients with psoriasis. In the present study, we measured serum levels of leptin and adiponectin in Korean patients with psoriasis. Twenty-four patients with psoriasis and fifteen control subjects were included in the study. Serum leptin and adiponectin levels were determined by an immunometric sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mean serum leptin concentration in patients with psoriasis was higher than in controls, and the difference was statistically significant. In contrast, serum adiponectin levels in patients with psoriasis were significantly decreased compared with healthy controls. Leptin levels in vitamin D-deficient patients were statistically significantly higher than in vitamin D-sufficient patients. Serum adiponectin concentrations showed a negative correlation with body mass index (BMI) and psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) in patients with psoriasis. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that leptin and adiponectin may play a role in the immunopathogenesis of psoriasis and may be useful biomarkers indicating severity of psoriasis in Korean patients. Graphical Abstract Keywords: Adiponectin, Leptin, Metabolic Syndrome, Psoriasis INTRODUCTION Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder that is mediated by elements of the innate and adaptive immune systems (1). Although the influence of environmental factors on psoriasis is not precisely defined, body mass index (BMI) has been reported to be one of the important associated factors (2). Leptin, a protein secreted by adipose tissue, plays important roles in metabolism and immunity. It regulates body weight and exerts other biologic functions that modulate hematopoiesis, angiogenesis, and immune responses (3). Leptin is also involved in inflammatory processes involving T cells and has been reported to modulate T-helper cell activity in the cellular immune response. Hence, leptin has three roles in inflammation: it activates monocytes and macrophages; potentiates the production of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-9; and directs T-cell differentiation to the Th1 phenotype (4). Additionally, leptin has been shown to have stimulatory roles in keratinocyte proliferation, the expression of adhesion molecules, and angiogenesis (5, 6). Adiponectin is another adipocyte-specific secretory protein that is abundant in circulation. Serum levels of adiponectin are decreased in obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), and hypoadiponectinemia, which are diseases thought to be closely associated with the metabolic syndrome (5). In consideration of metabolic disorders seen in patients with psoriasis, it seems that there could be some abnormalities in serum leptin and adiponectin levels in psoriatic patients. However, the results regarding serum levels of leptin and adiponectin in patients with psoriasis have been conflicting (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15). Here, we measured the serum levels of leptin and adiponectin in Korean patients with psoriasis to investigate their roles in inflammatory and metabolic aspects.

Background The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose phthalate (HPMCP) coating on the digestive stability and intestinal transport of green tea catechins (GTCs). Methods Two types of HPMCP coating were prepared: one type with size smaller than 500 μm (S-HPMCP) and the other with size larger than 500 μm (L-HPMCP). An in vitro gastrointestinal model system coupled with Caco-2 cells was used for estimating the bioavailability of GTCs. Ultraperformance liquid chromatography with a photodiode array detector was performed to analyze GTCs. Results The digestive stability of GTCs was enhanced up to 33.73% and 35.28% for S-HPMCP and L-HPMCP, respectively. Intestinal transport of the GTCs was increased to 22.98% and 23.23% for S-HPMCP and L-HPMCP, respectively. Overall, the bioavailability of GTCs increased by 4.08 and 11.71 times for S-HPMCP and L-HPMCP, respectively. Conclusion The results of this study confirm that coating with HPMCP could be a way to improve the digestive stability and intestinal transport of GTCs.

The effect of green tea formulated with vitamin C and xylitol on intestinal cell transport of gallated and nongallated catechin was studied. The transport of catechins from both apical to basolateral and basolateral to apical directions was measured. The effect of vitamin C (4, 10, 20 ppm), xylitol (11, 27.5, 55 ppm), and combinations of both on the intestinal transport rate of catechins was examined. The efflux value (Pb→a/Pa→b) of (-)-epigallocatechin (EGC), (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), (-)-epicatechin (EC), and (-)-epicatechin gallate (ECG) was 0.26, 0.22, 1.22, and 0.17, respectively, indicating that EC appeared to be less absorbed compared with other catechins. The addition of xylitol (11, 27.5, 55 ppm) and vitamin C (4, 10, 20 ppm) and in combination enhanced transport rate of nongallated catechins such as EC and EGC. For EC, vitamin C was revealed to be the most effective on intestinal transport, implying the inhibition of the efflux transport mechanism of EC. Intestinal transport of gallated catechins significantly increased from catechins formulated with vitamin C and xylitol in a dose-dependent manner compared to the catechin-only formulation. Results provide a potential strategy to enhance the delivery and bioavailability of catechins in humans by modulating green tea formulation with vitamin C and xylitol.

Infraorbital laxity is a common problem that increases with age. Blepharoplasty with lipectomy is a very commonly performed surgical procedure to treat this problem; however, it is invasive and is associated with the potential for re-emergence. Therefore, young patients may prefer a non-surgical procedure rather than to a surgical procedure. Intense-focused ultrasound (IFUS) has emerged as an effective, non-surgical, tissue-tightening procedure.This study assessed the safety and efficacy of IFUS (Ulthera system, Ulthera Inc, Mesa, AZ, U.S.A.) for facial tightening in Asian patients with infraorbital laxity.We studied 15 patients who were treated with an IFUS device applied to both lower eyelids. The primary outcome measure was an objective improvement in a paired comparison of pre-treatment and post treatment (6 months) photographs. A secondary outcome measure was patient satisfaction as measured by a questionnaire.The mean patient age was 50 years (range, 27-69). All patients received one to two treatments with intense-focused ultrasound. All patients in the study experienced both subjective and objective improvement.IFUS can be used as a non-invasive, skin-tightening procedure for infraorbital laxity. No serious, permanent, or delayed side effects were noted up to 6 months post treatment. Thus, this procedure can be effective and safe in the treatment of decreased laxity of the lower eyelids.