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Alismatis rhizoma (AR), the dried rhizome of Alisma orientale (Sam.) Juzep, is a well-known, traditional medicine that is used for the various biological activities including as a diuretic, to lower cholesterol and as an anti-inflammatory agent. The present study was carried out to investigate the potential toxicity of the Alismatis rhizoma aqueous extract (ARAE) following 90-day repeated oral administration to Sprague-Dawley rats. ARAE was administered orally to male and female rats for 90 days at 0 (control), 500, 1,000 and 2,000 mg/kg/day (n = 10 for male and female rats for each dose). Additional recovery groups from the control group and high dose group were observed for a 28-day recovery period. Chromatograms of ARAE detected main compounds with four peaks. Treatment-related effects including an increase in the red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, albumin, total protein, and urine volume were observed in males of the 2,000 mg/kg/day group (p < 0.05). However, the diuretic effect of ARAE was considered, a major cause of hematological and serum biochemical changes. The oral no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) of the ARAE was > 2,000 mg/kg/day in both genders, and no target organs were identified.

The dry rhizome of Acorus gramineus Solander, known as Acori Graminei Rhizoma, is used to treat dementia, stroke, eczema, and indigestion in traditional Chinese medicine, traditional Korean medicine, and traditional Japanese Kampo medicine. Previous studies have reported that Acori Graminei Rhizoma extract ameliorated cognitive impairment in Aβ1-42 injected mice. However, the effect of Acori Graminei Rhizoma on type II collagen induced arthritis (CIA) has not been elucidated. Thus, we evaluated the water extract of Acori Graminei Rhizoma (WAG) in CIA mice models. Male DBA/1 mice were separated into five groups (NOR; n=10, CON; n=10, CIA + methotrexate (MTX); n=10, CIA + 100 mg/kg WAG; n=10, CIA + 500 mg/kg WAG; n=10). CIA was induced by injecting the mice with bovine type II collagen, after which the mice were treated with WAG and/or MTX. Hematological parameters and liver and kidney serum toxicity markers were analyzed. Further, serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6, TNF-α, and type II collagen IgG were analyzed via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Treatment with 500 mg/kg WAG decreased serum levels of IL-6, TNF-α, and collagen IgG in a CIA model. Moreover, WAG treatment decreased CIA-induced swelling of mouse hind legs, infiltration of inflammatory cells into the synovial membrane, and blood neutrophil levels. WAG administration did not influence hematological parameters or kidneys and liver toxicity markers. WAG may be used to treat arthritis by reducing the inflammation indicators. However, further experiments are required to determine how WAG affects inflammation mechanisms in vitro and in vivo.

Anti-cancer drugs such as cisplatin and doxorubicin are effectively used more than radiotherapy. Cisplatin is a chemotherapeutic drug, used for treatment of various forms of cancer. However, it has side effects such as ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity. Cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity increases tubular damage and renal dysfunction. Consequently, we investigated the beneficial effect of cynaroside on cisplatin-induced kidney injury using HK-2 cell (human proximal tubule cell line) and an animal model. Results indicated that 10 µM cynaroside diminished cisplatin-induced apoptosis, mitochondrial dysfunction and caspase-3 activation, cisplatin-induced upregulation of caspase-3/MST-1 pathway decreased by treatment of cynaroside in HK-2 cells. To confirm the effect of cynaroside on cisplatin-induced kidney injury in vivo, we used cisplatin exposure animal model (20 mg/kg, balb/c mice, i.p., once a day for 3 days). Renal dysfunction, tubular damage and neutrophilia induced by cisplatin injection were decreased by cynaroside (10 mg/kg, i.p., once a day for 3 days). Results indicated that cynaroside decreased cisplatin-induced kidney injury in vitro and in vivo, and it could be used for improving cisplatin-induced side effects. However, further experiments are required regarding toxicity by high dose cynaroside and caspase-3/ MST-1-linked signal transduction in the animal model.

Cassia tora Linn. is an annual or perennial plant of the Fabaceae/Leguminosae family. It is used in traditional medicine for various biological activities including anti-constipation, anti-inflammatory, visual acuity, and hepato-protective activities. The present study was carried out to investigate the potential toxicity of C. tora L. seed ethanol extract (CTSEE) following a 13-week repeated oral administration to Sprague-Dawley rats. CTSEE was administered orally to male and female rats for 13 weeks at 0 (control), 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg/day (n = 10, for male and female rats for each dose). Additional recovery groups from the control group and high dose group were observed for a 4-week recovery period. At the end of the treatment and recovery periods, animals were sacrificed, and their organs were weighed and blood samples collected. There were no treatment-related adverse effects in clinical signs, body weight, food consumption, estrous cycle, sperm parameters, urinalysis, hematology, serum biochemistry, necropsy findings, organ weight, and histopathology at any doses tested. Under the present experimental conditions, the no-observed-adverse-effect level of the CTSEE was >2000 mg/kg/day in both genders, and no target organs were identified.

The dry rhizome of Acorus gramineus Solander, known as Acori Graminei Rhizoma, is used to treat dementia, stroke, eczema, and indigestion in traditional Chinese medicine, traditional Korean medicine, and traditional Japanese Kampo medicine. Previous studies have reported that Acori Graminei Rhizoma extract ameliorated cognitive impairment in Aβ1-42 injected mice. However, the effect of Acori Graminei Rhizoma on type II collagen induced arthritis (CIA) has not been elucidated. Thus, we evaluated the water extract of Acori Graminei Rhizoma (WAG) in CIA mice models. Male DBA/1 mice were separated into five groups (NOR; n=10, CON; n=10, CIA + methotrexate (MTX); n=10, CIA + 100 mg/kg WAG; n=10, CIA + 500 mg/kg WAG; n=10). CIA was induced by injecting the mice with bovine type II collagen, after which the mice were treated with WAG and/or MTX. Hematological parameters and liver and kidney serum toxicity markers were analyzed. Further, serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6, TNF-α, and type II collagen IgG were analyzed via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Treatment with 500 mg/kg WAG decreased serum levels of IL-6, TNF-α, and collagen IgG in a CIA model. Moreover, WAG treatment decreased CIA-induced swelling of mouse hind legs, infiltration of inflammatory cells into the synovial membrane, and blood neutrophil levels. WAG administration did not influence hematological parameters or kidneys and liver toxicity markers. WAG may be used to treat arthritis by reducing the inflammation indicators. However, further experiments are required to determine how WAG affects inflammation mechanisms in vitro and in vivo.

Anti-cancer drugs such as cisplatin and doxorubicin are effectively used more than radiotherapy. Cisplatin is a chemotherapeutic drug, used for treatment of various forms of cancer. However, it has side effects such as ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity. Cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity increases tubular damage and renal dysfunction. Consequently, we investigated the beneficial effect of cynaroside on cisplatin-induced kidney injury using HK-2 cell (human proximal tubule cell line) and an animal model. Results indicated that 10 μM cynaroside diminished cisplatin-induced apoptosis, mitochondrial dysfunction and caspase-3 activation, cisplatin-induced upregulation of caspase-3/MST-1 pathway decreased by treatment of cynaroside in HK-2 cells. To confirm the effect of cynaroside on cisplatin-induced kidney injury in vivo, we used cisplatin exposure animal model (20 mg/kg, balb/c mice, i.p., once a day for 3 days). Renal dysfunction, tubular damage and neutrophilia induced by cisplatin injection were decreased by cynaroside (10 mg/kg, i.p., once a day for 3 days). Results indicated that cynaroside decreased cisplatin-induced kidney injury in vitro and in vivo, and it could be used for improving cisplatin-induced side effects. However, further experiments are required regarding toxicity by high dose cynaroside and caspase-3/MST-1-linked signal transduction in the animal model.

This paper proposes a capacitive touch switch using a switched-capacitor. The proposed method charges capacitance for measurement using the switched-capacitor until the voltage across the capacitance reaches a threshold voltage. As the proposed method uses the number of times being charged to measure the capacitance, the method has no relation with the operating frequency of the switched-capacitor. This paper also shows the quantization resolution of the proposed method is related to the capacitance in the switched-capacitor and the threshold voltage, i.e., the resolution is improved when the capacitance in the switched-capacitor is decreased and the threshold voltage is increased. Simulation result shows the method gives 31fF quantization resolution when the capacitance in the switched-capacitor is 50fF and threshold voltage is 80% of the supply voltage.

In this paper, we propose an analog-to-digital converter to set the address of a I2C slave chip. The proposed scheme converts a fixed voltage between 0 and VDD to the digital value which can be used as the address of the slave chip. The rising time and the falling time are measured with digital counter in a serially connected RC circuit, while the circuit is being charged and discharged with the voltage to be measured. The ratio of the two measured values is used to get the corresponding digital value. This scheme gives a strong point which is to be implementable all the parts except comparator using digital logic. Although the method utilizes RC circuit, it has no relation with the RC value if the quantization error is disregarded. Experimental result shows that the proposed scheme gives 32-level resolution thus it can be used to configure the address of the I2C slave chip.

This study aims to suggest desirable means to resolve conflicts in university libraries by measuring conflict levels and by revealing the causes of the conflicts with reference to the conflict level indices which were selected by university library staff. In order to attain the research objectives, a total of 36 university libraries (24 private universities and 12 public universities) were selected. Questionnaires were distributed to 739 library staff members and 515 answer sheets were collected. Among them, 512 sets of answers were taken as data for this research. Six hypotheses were tested through frequency analysis, correlation analysis, and step-by-step regression analysis using SPSS 12.0.

In this paper, we propose a full digital capacitive sensing touch key reducing the effects due to the variations of resistance and clock frequency. The proposed circuit consists of two capacitive loads to measure and a resistor between the capacitive loads. The method measures the delays of the resistor and two capacitive loads, respectively. The ratio of the two delays is represented as the ratio of the two capacitive loads and is irrelative to the resistance and the clock frequency if quantization error is disregarded. Experimental results show the proposed scheme efficiently reduces the effects due to the variations of clock frequency and resistance. Further more the method has 1.04[pF] resolution and can be used as a touch key.

Dendrobium moniliforme (L.) Sw., an herb of the Orchidaceae family, has long been used in traditional medicine to strengthen bones, nourish the stomach, and promote the production of bodily fluid. Recently, polysaccharides isolated from Dendrobium have been used in functional foods and nutraceutical products. A traditional method to process Dendrobium is to soak fresh stems in an ethanol solution, which is the most important factor to ensure high yields of aqueous-extractable polysaccharides. The present study was carried out to investigate the potential acute toxicity of D. moniliforme aqueous extract (DMAE), by a single oral dose in Sprague-Dawley rats. The test article was orally administered once by gavage to male and female rats at doses of 0, 2,500, and 5,000 mg/kg body weight (n=5 male and female rats for each dose). Throughout the study period, no treatment-related deaths were observed and no adverse effects were noted in clinical signs, body weight, food consumption, serum biochemistry, organ weight, or gross findings at any dose tested. The results show that a single oral administration of DMAE did not induce any toxic effects at a dose below 5,000 mg/kg in rats, and the minimal lethal dose was considered to be over 5,000 mg/kg body weight for both sexes. With respect to cytotoxicity, the cell viability of human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells was less than 50% when the cells were treated with 10 mg/mL aqueous extract for 24 h.

Valproic acid (VPA) is a well-known anti-epileptic and mood stabilizing drug. A growing number of reports demonstrate that VPA is neuroprotective against various insults. Despite intensive efforts to develop new therapeutics for stroke over the past two decades, all treatments have thus far failed to show clinical effect because of treatment-limiting side effects of the drugs. Therefore, a safety-validated drug like VPA would be an attractive candidate if it has neuroprotective effects against ischemic insults. The present study was undertaken to examine whether pre- and post-insult treatments with VPA protect against brain infarct and neurological deficits in mouse transient (tMCAO) and permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO) models. In the tMCAO (2 hr MCAO and 22 hr reperfusion) model, intraperitoneal injection of VPA (300 mg/kg, i.p.) 30 min prior to MCAO significantly reduced the infarct size and the neurological deficit. VPA treatment immediately after reperfusion significantly reduced the infarct size. The administration of VPA at 4 hr after reperfusion failed to reduce the infarct size and the neurological deficit. In the pMCAO model, treatment with VPA (300 mg/kg, i.p.) 30 min prior to MCAO significantly attenuated the infarct size, but did not affect the neurological deficit. Western blot analysis of acetylated H3 and H4 protein levels in extracts from the ischemic cortical area showed that treatment with VPA increased the expression of acetylated H3 and H4 at 2 hrs after MCAO. These results demonstrated that treatment with VPA prior to ischemia attenuated ischemic brain damage in both mice tMCAO and pMCAO models and treatment with VPA immediately after reperfusion reduced the infarct area in the tMCAO model. VPA could therefore be evaluated for clinical use in stroke patients.