Pharmacokinetic evaluation of formulated levodopa methyl ester nasal delivery systems.

The objective of this study was to investigate the pharmacokinetic characteristics of levodopa (L-dopa) from nasal powder formulations using highly water-soluble levodopa methyl ester hydrochloride (LDME). In vivo pharmacokinetic studies were carried out with formulated LDME nasal powders. After oral and intravenous administration of L-dopa and carbidopa and intranasal administration LDME to the rat, L-dopa concentrations were determined in plasma and the brain using high-performance liquid chromatography.

Effects of inflammatory cytokine gene polymorphisms on warfarin maintenance doses in Korean patients with mechanical cardiac valves.

Cytokines that are involved in inflammation are related to blood coagulation, which could indirectly affect warfarin dose requirements. This study aimed to examine the effects of inflammatory cytokine gene polymorphisms on warfarin dose requirements for Korean patients with mechanical heart valves. In total, 191 patients with mechanical heart valves who were on warfarin anticoagulation therapy and maintained INR levels of 2-3 for three consecutive occasions were retrospectively followed up.

Adequate intensity of warfarin therapy for Korean patients with mechanical cardiac valves.

Background And Aim Of The Study: The study aim was to identify adequate therapeutic ranges of the International Normalized Ratio (INR) in Korean patients receiving warfarin after prosthetic mechanical heart valve replacement.

Methods: Retrospective chart reviews were conducted of 818 patients for a total follow up period of 8,100 patient-years; all details of major complication events of thromboembolism and bleeding were recorded. The INR-incidence of complication curve was plotted, and an adequate INR determined from the intersections of 95% confidence interval (CI) curves of complication rates to ensure the lowest incidences of both thromboembolic and bleeding complications.

Effects of CYP4F2 gene polymorphisms on warfarin clearance and sensitivity in Korean patients with mechanical cardiac valves.

Background: Recently, a single nucleotide polymorphism of CYP4F2 (rs2108622) was reported to have a significant relationship with the stable warfarin dose. However, the underlying mechanism of CYP4F2 effects on the stable warfarin dose has not been studied. This study aimed to examine the effects of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 4F2 gene on warfarin clearance and sensitivity in Korean patients with mechanical heart valves.

Interaction between warfarin and Korean red ginseng in patients with cardiac valve replacement.

Background: The objective of this study was to determine whether an interaction exists between warfarin and Korean red ginseng.

Methods: A prospective, double-blind, randomized, two-period crossover study was conducted on 25 patients with cardiac valve replacement under warfarin therapy. Either Korean red ginseng 1 g or placebo (hop extract 0.

Value recognition and eating patterns of Kimchi in female middle school students and their mothers.

This study analyzed Kimchi eating culture in 178 households with female middle school children located in Incheon and Seosan areas, investigated the Kimchi eating patterns of female middle school students, and also analyzed the differences in value recognition for Kimchi between mothers and their female middle school students. Results showed that 23.0% of subject households answered eat Kimchi at every meal and the main reason for eating Kimchi in most households was good for taste.

Exploration of replicative senescence-associated genes in human dermal fibroblasts by cDNA microarray technology.

The aging process is known to be regulated by specific genes in various organisms, including yeast, the nematode C. elegans, fruitflies and mice. To explore the novel genes involved in aging process, we applied cDNA microarray technology to a replicative senescence model of human dermal fibroblasts (HDF).