• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.22-28
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• 2015

This study demonstrates a polyimide nerve cuff electrode with a conductive polymer for improving recording signal quality at peripheral nerve. The nerve cuff electrodes with platinum (Pt), iridium oxide (IrOx), and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): p-toluene sulfonate (PEDOT:pTS) were fabricated and investigated their electrical characteristics for improving recorded nerve signal quality. The fabricated nerve cuff electrodes with Pt, IrOx, and PEDOT:pTS were characterized their impedance and CDC by using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry. The impedance of PEDOT:pTS measured at 1 kHz was $257{\Omega}$, which was extremely lower than the value of the nerve cuff electrodes with IrOx ($15897{\Omega}$) and Pt ($952{\Omega}$), respectively. Furthermore, the charge delivery capacity (CDC) of the nerve cuff electrode with PEDOT:pTS was dramatically increased to 62 times than the nerve cuff electrode with IrOx. In ex-vivo test using extracted sciatic nerve of spaque-dawley rat (SD rat), the PEDOT:pTS group exhibited higher signal-to-interference ratio than IrOx group. These results indicated that the nerve cuff electrode with PEDOT:pTS is promising for effective implantable nerve signal recording.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.185-191
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• 2019

Nucleoporin 210 (Nup210) is associated with several physiological processes including muscle and neural cell differentiation, autoimmune diseases, and peripheral T cell homeostasis. Chicken Nup210 (chNup210) gene was originally identified as one of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the kidney tissues of chicken. To elucidate the role of Nup210 in metabolic disease of chicken, we studied the molecular characteristics of chNup210 and analyzed its gene expression under the stimulation of Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) ligands. The Nup210 genomic DNA and amino acid sequences of various species including fowls, fishes, and mammals were retrieved from the Ensemble database and subjected to bioinformatics analyses. The expression of Nup210 from several chicken tissues was probed through qRT-PCR, and chicken fibroblast DF-1 cell line was used to determine the change in expression of chNup210 after stimulation with TLR3 ligand, polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly (I:C)). The chNup210 gene was highly expressed in chicken lung and spleen tissues. Although highly conserved among the species, chNup210 was evolutionary clustered in the same clade as that of duck compared to other mammals. Furthermore, this study revealed that chNup210 is expressed in TLR3 signaling pathway and provides fundamental information on Nup210 expression in chicken. Future studies that offer insight into the involvement of chNup210 in the chicken innate immune response against viral infection are recommended.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.460-463
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• 2014

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) which is one of the common chemotherapy related toxicity poses a significant clinical challenge. Here we conducted a prospective pilot study to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture on CIPN. Patients with CIPN were administered acupuncture procedure with continuation of previous conventional medication. Acupuncture procedures were conducted three times per week for 3 weeks. We assessed patients with Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v4.0, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynecologic Oncology Group Neurotoxicity (FACT/GOG-Ntx) at the time of baseline and every week after the acupuncture procedures. Total 5 patients were included and treated with acupuncture. CTCAE grades were the same of 2 in all patients. VAS mean value changed from 5.2 to 3.2, and FACT/GOG-Ntx total score that suggests the higher relates to better quality of life changed from 93.3 to 110 as mean value at the end of the 3rd week, though this index difference did not show any statistically significant difference. This pilot study suggests that acupuncture procedure may have a role for CIPN treatment. Launching a more larger and properly controlled study will be required to ascertain the efficacy of acupuncture.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.35 no.11
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• pp.1185-1190
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• 2011

The lower limb somatosensory deficit observed among peripheral neuropathy patients is partially related to the decline in their balance ability. In general, balance ability has been examined by measuring the postural response (i.e., action). However, body motion is induced by integrated multisensory cues (i.e., motion perception). In this study, we hypothesized that the reduced lower limb somatosensation might also lower motion perception. We induced lower limb sensory deficits through ischemia and then measured the cutaneous sensory sensitivity and directional motion perception. The sensory deficit was successfully induced, and it also lowered the motion perception. However, the center of pressure (COP) variation did not significantly change under the sensory deficit. This result implies that measuring motion perception could enable the detection of precursors of sensory deficits.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2005

The hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal hormone axis is centrally controlled by a complex regulatory network of excitatory and inhibitory signals, that is dormant during infantile and juvenile periods and activated at puberty. The kisspeptins are the peptide products of the KiSS-1 gene and the endogenous agonists for the G protein-coupled receptor 54(GPR54). Although KiSS-1 was initially discovered as a metastasis suppressor gene, a recent evidence suggests the KiSS-1/GPR54 system is a key regulator of the reproductive system. Yet the actual role of the KiSS-1/GPR54 system in the neuroendocrine control of gonadotropin secretion remains largely unexplored, the system could be the first missing link in the reproductive hormonal axis. Central or peripheral administration of kisspeptin stimulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, increasing circulating gonadotropin levels in rodents, sheep, monkey and human models. These effects appear likely to be mediated via the hypothalamic GnRH neuron system, although kisspeptins may have direct effects on the anterior pituitary gland. The loss of function mutations of the GPR54(GPR54-/-) have been associated with lack of puberty onset and idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism(IHH). So kisspeptin infusion may provide a novel mechanism for HPG axis manipulation in disorders of the reproductive system.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.187-196
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• 2010

Recently, people have been suffering from stress-related fatigue and psychological disorders. Most people depend on medicine for pain relief; many treat pain also through alternative medicine or replacement therapy. However, drug therapy has many side effects, including increased stress after the therapy. In comparison, alternative therapies such as massage and foot reflexology are less damaging to the body, and such therapies can be provided without physical or psychological discomfort. In this regard, the author had previously co-developed color foot reflexology, which combines the merits of color therapy and foot reflexology; color foot reflexology has been shown to have beneficial effects without undue pain. This study investigates the effects of color foot reflexology on the physiological response of the body by comparing the body’s response to the signal with that to the placebo. Healthy adult subjects were selected for the experiment, which was conducted under optimal experimental conditions and design. The results indicated that when stimulated, parasympathetic nerves increased in HRV and that blood pressure, pulse, body heat, peripheral blood flow were dramatically activated. However, the results for the placebo indicated minimal changes or irregular outcomes. The results provide strong evidence for the beneficial effects of the color foot reflexology instrument on the autonomic nervous system and on the physiological response of the body. Future research is warranted to verify the results of the current study by examining patients suffering from diseases and disorders arising from irregular physiological functions in the context of the foot.