• Clinical Pain
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.24-30
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• 2019

Objective: Greater occipital nerve block (GONB) is a widely accepted treatment of primary headaches. Two ultrasound (US)-guided blockade techniques exist: 1) the classical distal nerve block technique performed medial to the occipital artery at the superior nuchal line, and 2) the new proximal nerve block technique performed at the obliquus capitis inferior muscle at the level of C2. Our study aim was to perform a head-to-head comparative study of these two US-guided techniques. Method: Forty-nine patients with primary headache treated in our university hospital were recruited. Patients were randomized into two groups of the classical nerve block and the new proximal nerve block techniques. The headache questionnaire was made to assess the intensity of the pain of headache attacks, number of days they experience headache, duration of headache, and amount of pain medication they consumed. Results: In both groups, a decrease in the severity and frequency of the headache was observed. There was no measurable difference in outcome between the two groups. Conclusion: Our study showed that the classic and new proximal techniques are equally effective in decreasing the headache severity and frequency.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.112 no.4
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• pp.544-553
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• 2023

The purpose of this study was to reveal the thermal comfort and physiological and psychological effects of spending time in broad-leaved forests in suumer. Thirty-one university students (with an average age of 21.4 ± 2.1 years) participated in the study, and a within-subjects experimental design methodology was used. The participants moved to an experimental site (with a crown closure of 76.6%) or a control site (25.9%), sat on a chair to eliminate the impact of movement, and rested for 5 minutes with closed eyes. At this time, thermal comfort, heart rate variability, heart rate, and forehead temperature were continuously measured. After that, blood pressure and pulse rate were measured, and a subjective evaluation was conducted. As a result, spending time at an experimental site showed a statistically significant decrease in the predicted mean vote and the percentage of dissatisfied values, enhancement of parasympathetic nerve activity, decrease of forehead temperature, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, pulse rate, and improvement of personal thermal sensation (thermal sensation vote and comfort sensation vote). In conclusion, it was found that a forest with high crown closure reduces thermal stress and induces physiological and psychological relaxation.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.227-235
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• 2024

Hepatocyte damage caused by medications or herbal products is one of the important problem when these compounds are chronically administrated. Thus, improving hepatocyte survival during treatment offers a wide range of opportunities. Valproic acid (VPA), a branched short-chain fatty acid derived from naturally occurring valeric acid, is commonly used to treat epilepsy and seizures. Although VPA exerts numerous effects in cancer, HIV therapy, and neurodegenerative disease, its effects on the liver and its mechanism of action have not been fully elucidated. Here, we demonstrated that VPA caused moderate liver cell toxicity and apoptosis. Interestingly, VPA treatment increased transcription levels of PPAR alpha (PPAR-α) and fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) in murine (Hepa1c1c7) hepatoma cells in a time and concentration dependent manner. VPA-induced FGF21 expression was significantly weaker under PPAR-α silencing condition than in cells transfected with non-targeting control siRNA. Subsequent experiments showed that cell viability was significantly lowered when the FGF21 signaling pathway was blocked by FGF receptor antagonist. Finally, we further determined that AMPK phosphorylation was not responsible for VPA-induced FGF21 expression and PPAR-a increments. These results indicate that increases of FGF21 expression alleviate VPA-induced hepatic toxicity, thereby making FGF21 a potential biomarker for predicting liver damage during VPA treatments.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.37-47
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• 2024

FUN14 domain-containing protein 1 (FUNDC1), an outer mitochondrial membrane protein, contributes to removal of damaged mitochondria through mitophagy. In this study, to elucidate the role of the FUNDC1 in the amyloid beta peptide (A_β)-induced neuropathy, changes in the degree of mitochondrial dysfunction and cell injury caused by A_β treatment were examined in the HT-22 neuronal cells in which the FUNDC1 expression was transiently silenced or overexpressed. We found that A_β treatment causes a time-dependent decrease of the FUNDC1 expression. In the A_β-treated cells, there were a drop in MTT reduction ability, depletion of cellular ATP, disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential, stimulation of cellular ROS production, and increased mitochondrial Ca²⁺ load. Activation of caspase-3 and induction of apoptotic cell death were also observed. Transient silencing of the FUNDC1 expression by transfection with the FUNDC1 small interfering RNA per se caused mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptotic cell death like the effect of A_β treatment. Conversely, in cells in which the FUNDC1 was transiently overexpressed by FUNDC1-Myc transfection, overexpression itself had no effect on the mitochondrial functional integrity and cell survival but showed a significant prevention effect against mitochondrial and cell injury caused by A_β treatment. Overall, these results suggest that the FUNDC1 is importantly involved in the A_β-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and cell injury in the HT-22 neuronal cells.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.94-103
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• 2004

Korean red ginseng is known to have anti-stress and memory enhancing effects. Recent studies suggested that stress-induced inhibition of adult neurogenesis in hippocampus may contribute, in part, to decreased negative feedback inhibition of HPA axis. In order to elucidate the mechanism of Korean red ginseng in anti-stress and memory enhancing effects, we observed the effects of repeated treatment of Korean red ginseng total saponin (GTS, 50 mg/kg, i.p.) in response to repeated unpredictable stress for 10 days. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (230 - 260 g) received with either GTS (50 mg/kg, i.p.) or vehicle (1 ml/kg, i.p.) 1 h before stress for 10 days. Rats were injected with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU, 50 mg/kg, i.p.) 16-18 he after last stress procedure, and were sacrificed 2 hr later by perfusion. Immunohistochemistry of BrdU was done to measure proliferation of neural progenitor cells in hippocampus, which was used as an index of neurogenesis. Repeated GTS treatment for 10 days increased neurogenesis in subgranular zone area of dentate gyrus (SGZ), but not hilus, compared with vehicle-treated rats. Repeated unpredictable stress did not affect the neurogenesis compared with controls, while repeated GTS treatment increased neurogenesis in SGZ in repeated unpredictable stress-exposed group. BDNF mRNA was also measured in subregions of hippocampus by in situ hybridization. BDNF mRNA expression in CA3 and CA1 pyramidal cell layer was increased by repeated GTS treatment but not in dentate granule cell layer. Repeated unpredictable stresses significantly decreased BDNF mRNA expression in all subregions of hippocampus, but repeated GTS treatment did not prevent stress-induced BDNF mRNA downregulation. Given that repeated GTS treatment increased proliferation of neural progenitor cells in repeated unpredictable stress-exposed rats in the presence of decreased BDNF mRNA expression in dentate granule cell layer, it raise the possibility that BDNF may not playa significant role in GTS-mediated increase of neurogenesis in adult rat hippocampus. Also, these results suggest that repeated GTS treatment increased neurogenesis of SGZ and BDNF mRNA expression, which may account for memory enhancing effect of Korean red ginseng. In addition, repeated GTS treatment appears not to have anti-stress effects in terms of neurotrophin, but GTS-mediated increase of neurogenesis in hippocampus may contribute to increase negative feedback inhibition of HPA axis.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.53-67
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• 2013

This study was aimed to evaluate the masticatory efficiency after botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) injection during 12 weeks using objective and subjective test. Also, we compared the difference of masticatory efficiency between group that injected into the masseter muscle only (M-group) and group that injected into the masseter and temporalis muscle (M-T group). The mixing ability index (MAI) was used as the objective indicator, and visual analogue scale (VAS) and food intake ability (FIA) index were used as the subjective indicators. It was concluded that masticatory efficiency was significantly lowered after a BTX-A injection into the masticatory muscle, but it gradually recovered in a predictable pattern by the 12 weeks. The disturbance of subjective masticatory efficiency was lasted longer than objective masticatory efficiency. The masticatory efficiency was lower in M-T group than M group. It was statistically significant in the VAS and FIA at 4 weeks, but the MAI showed no significancy. After 4weeks, there was rapid recovery of muscle function in M-T group, and the difference between two groups was not significant. It could be concluded that there will be no serious disturbance of mastication compared to injection is done only into the masseter muscle, even if injection is done into the masseter and temporalis muscle in dose of this study. According to the food properties, it was confirmed that people feel more discomfort on taking hard and tough foods after BTX-A injection and not only hard foods, but also intake of soft and runny foods were influenced by botulinum toxin injection.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.91-99
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• 2002

This study was carried out to develop a diabetic-oriented convenience flood using 7 medicinal plants (Schisandra chinensis, Coix lachryma-jobi, Dioscorea batatas, Ophipogon japonicus, Lyicium chinense, Houttuynia cordata, Polygonatum sibiricum) and chicken. Portion size was 310g, total calorie was 551.6 kcal and carbohydrate, lipid and protein were consisted of 53.0%, 20.9% and 26.1%, respectively. Calcium, zinc and iron content were 268.9mg, 5.4mg and 6.1mg, respectively. Crude fiber content was 22.9g. In sensory evaluation, the scores of taste, color, texture and overall acceptability were higher than normal diabetic meal. Hypoglycemic effect of the device meal for diabetic persons was excellent compared to that of normal diabetic meal. The above results indicate that the 7 medicinal plants can be used as functional ingredients fur diabetic-oriented convenience flood industry. Also, device meal can be used as ready-prepared food for weight control.

• Journal of the Korean Child Neurology Society
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.205-209
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• 2018

Purpose: Several studies have shown that magnesium plays an important role in modulating N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-related seizures by blocking NMDA ion channel receptors. Clinicians usually measure total serum magnesium levels instead of biologically active ionized magnesium levels. We compared the serum ionized magnesium ($iMg^{2+}$) level between epileptic children with and without a history of fever-triggered seizure (FTS). Methods: All epileptic children who visited the outpatient clinic or pediatric emergency department at Korea University Guro Hospital between January 2015 and July 2017 were included. Only epileptic children aged 1-8 years who were newly diagnosed within 2 years were included. Results: There were 12 children with FTS and 16 without FTS. Median serum $iMg^{2+}$ level was 0.93 (0.85-1.14, quartile) mEq/L. Serum $iMg^{2+}$ level was significantly lower in epileptic children with FTS (0.86 mEq/L) compared to those without FTS (1.10 mEq/L) (P=0.005). No difference was noted in clinical variables between the two groups. Lower serum $iMg^{2+}$ level significantly increased the risk of having FTS in epileptic children based on multivariable logistic regression analysis (odds ratio [OR]=0.028). Conclusion: Serum $iMg^{2+}$ level was significantly lower in epileptic children with FTS than in those without FTS. Measurement of biologically active serum $iMg^{2+}$ level could be considered in epileptic children with recurrent FTS. A large-scale prospective study is warranted.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.139-153
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• 1985

The passive tilt has been performed to study the orthostasis on the cardiovascular system. The orthostasis due to upright tilt was demonstrated as follows: the venous return, cardiac output and systemic arteiral blood pressure were decreased, whereas there was concomitant increase of heart rate, through the negative feedback mediated by such as the baroreceptor . Previous investigators have suggested that the tolerance to the orthostasis could he increased by blocking the cholinergic fiber with atropine which prevented vasodilation and bradycardia through the vasovagal reflex during the orthostasis. However, this hypothesis has not been clearly understood. This study was attempted to clarify the effect of atropine on the tolerance of the cardiovascular system to the upright and head-down tilt, and to investigate the change of the blood flow through head and lower leg with Electromagnetic flowmeter in both tilts before and after atropine state. Fourteen anesthetized dogs of $10{\sim}14kg$ were examined by tilting from supine position to $+77^{\circ}$ upright position (orthostasis), and then to $-90^{\circ}$ head-down position (antiorthostasis) for 10 minutes on each test. And the same course was taken 20 minutes after intravenous administration of 0.5mg atropine. The measurements were made of the blood flow(ml/min.) on the carotid artery, external jugular vein, femoral artery and femoral vein. At the same time pH, $PCO_2$, $PO_2$ and hematocrit (Hct) of the arterial and venous blood, and heart rate(HR) and respiratory rate (RR) were measured. The measurements obtained from upright and head-down tilt were compared with those from supine position. The results obtained are as follows: In upright tilt, the blood flow both on the artery and the vein through head and lower leg were decreased, however the decrement of blood flow through the head was greater than the lower leg And the atropine attenuated the decrement of the blood flow on the carotid artery, but not on the vessels of the lower leg. HR was moderately increased in upright tilt, but slightly in head-down tilt. The percent change of HR after the atropine administration was smaller than that before the atropine state in both upright and head-down tilts. Before the atropine state, RR was decreased in upright tilt, whereas increased in head-down tilt. However after the atropine state, the percent change of RR was smaller than that of before the atropine state in both upright and head-down tilts. In upright tilt, venous $PCO_2$ was increased, but arterial $PO_2$ and venous $PO_2$ were slightly decreased. Hct was increased in both upright and head-down tilts. The findings of blood $PCO_2$, $PO_2$ and Hct were not interferred by the atropine. In conclusion, 1;he administration of atropine is somewhat effective on improving the cardiovascular tolerance to postural changes. Thus, atropine attenuates the severe diminution of the blood flow to the head during orthostasis, and also reduces the changes of HR and RR in both orthostasis and antiorthostasis.

• Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.157-173
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• 2011

As the Internet use explodes recently, the malicious attacks and hacking for a system connected to network occur frequently. This means the fatal damage can be caused by these intrusions in the government agency, public office, and company operating various systems. For such reasons, there are growing interests and demand about the intrusion detection systems (IDS)-the security systems for detecting, identifying and responding to unauthorized or abnormal activities appropriately. The intrusion detection models that have been applied in conventional IDS are generally designed by modeling the experts' implicit knowledge on the network intrusions or the hackers' abnormal behaviors. These kinds of intrusion detection models perform well under the normal situations. However, they show poor performance when they meet a new or unknown pattern of the network attacks. For this reason, several recent studies try to adopt various artificial intelligence techniques, which can proactively respond to the unknown threats. Especially, artificial neural networks (ANNs) have popularly been applied in the prior studies because of its superior prediction accuracy. However, ANNs have some intrinsic limitations such as the risk of overfitting, the requirement of the large sample size, and the lack of understanding the prediction process (i.e. black box theory). As a result, the most recent studies on IDS have started to adopt support vector machine (SVM), the classification technique that is more stable and powerful compared to ANNs. SVM is known as a relatively high predictive power and generalization capability. Under this background, this study proposes a novel intelligent intrusion detection model that uses SVM as the classification model in order to improve the predictive ability of IDS. Also, our model is designed to consider the asymmetric error cost by optimizing the classification threshold. Generally, there are two common forms of errors in intrusion detection. The first error type is the False-Positive Error (FPE). In the case of FPE, the wrong judgment on it may result in the unnecessary fixation. The second error type is the False-Negative Error (FNE) that mainly misjudges the malware of the program as normal. Compared to FPE, FNE is more fatal. Thus, when considering total cost of misclassification in IDS, it is more reasonable to assign heavier weights on FNE rather than FPE. Therefore, we designed our proposed intrusion detection model to optimize the classification threshold in order to minimize the total misclassification cost. In this case, conventional SVM cannot be applied because it is designed to generate discrete output (i.e. a class). To resolve this problem, we used the revised SVM technique proposed by Platt(2000), which is able to generate the probability estimate. To validate the practical applicability of our model, we applied it to the real-world dataset for network intrusion detection. The experimental dataset was collected from the IDS sensor of an official institution in Korea from January to June 2010. We collected 15,000 log data in total, and selected 1,000 samples from them by using random sampling method. In addition, the SVM model was compared with the logistic regression (LOGIT), decision trees (DT), and ANN to confirm the superiority of the proposed model. LOGIT and DT was experimented using PASW Statistics v18.0, and ANN was experimented using Neuroshell 4.0. For SVM, LIBSVM v2.90-a freeware for training SVM classifier-was used. Empirical results showed that our proposed model based on SVM outperformed all the other comparative models in detecting network intrusions from the accuracy perspective. They also showed that our model reduced the total misclassification cost compared to the ANN-based intrusion detection model. As a result, it is expected that the intrusion detection model proposed in this paper would not only enhance the performance of IDS, but also lead to better management of FNE.