• Laboraroty Animal Research
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.76-83
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• 2017

Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) is an important disease featured as intense inflammation, protease imbalance, and air flow limitation and mainly induced by cigarette smoke (CS). In present study, we explored the effects of $Pycnogenol^{(R)}$ (PYC, pine bark extract) on pulmonary fibrosis caused by CS+lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure. Mice were treated with LPS intranasally on day 12 and 26, followed by CS exposure for 1 h/day (8 cigarettes per day) for 4 weeks. One hour before CS exposure, 10 and 20 mg/kg of PYC were administered by oral gavage for 4 weeks. PYC effectively reduced the number of inflammatory cells and proinflammatory mediators caused by CS+LPS exposure in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. PYC inhibited the collagen deposition on lung tissue caused by CS+LPS exposure, as evidenced by Masson's trichrome stain. Furthermore, transforming growth $factor-{\beta}1$ ($TGF-{\beta}1$) expression and Smad family member 2/3 (Smad 2/3) phosphorylation were effectively suppressed by PYC treatment. PYC markedly reduced the collagen deposition caused by CS+LPS exposure, which was closely involved in $TGF-{\beta}1$/Smad 2/3 signaling, which is associated with pulmonary fibrotic change. These findings suggest that treatment with PYC could be a therapeutic strategy for controlling COPD progression.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.498-508
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• 2019

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Lower circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels are associated with a higher risk of hypertension (HTN); however, it remains unclear whether the relationship is causal. We aimed to evaluate the causal effects of circulating 25(OH)D levels on the prevalence of HTN in the Korean population using the Mendelian randomization (MR) approach. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Epidemiological data, serum 25(OH)D data, and genomic DNA biospecimens were obtained from 2,591 participants, a subset of the study population in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey 2011-2012. Five 25(OH)D-related single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; DHCR7 rs12785878, CYP2R1 rs10741657, CYP2R1 rs12794714, CYP24A1 rs6013897, and GC rs2282679), identified a priori from genome-wide association studies, were used as instrument variables (IVs) for serum 25(OH)D levels. In the MR analysis, we performed IV analyses using the two-stage least squares method. RESULTS: In the observational analysis, circulating 25(OH)D levels were found to be inversely associated with the HTN prevalence in ordinary least squares models (odds ratio: 0.97, 95% confidence interval: 0.96, 0.99) after adjusting for the potential confounders. There were differences in the circulating 25(OH)D levels across genotypes of individual SNPs. In the MR analysis, using individual SNPs as IVs, 25(OH)D levels were not associated with the HTN prevalence. CONCLUSIONS: We found no association between genetically determined circulating 25(OH)D levels and HTN in Korean adults. Our results are listed owing to the relatively small sample size and possible weak instrument bias; therefore, further studies are needed to confirm these results.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.19-26
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• 2017

Objectives: Recently, bioceramic sealers like EndoSequence BC Sealer (BC Sealer) have been introduced and are being used in endodontic practice. However, this sealer has limited research related to its retreatability. Hence, the aim of this study was to evaluate the retreatability of two sealers, BC Sealer as compared with AH Plus using micro-computed tomographic (micro-CT) analysis. Materials and Methods: Fifty-six extracted human maxillary incisors were instrumented and randomly divided into 4 groups of 14 teeth: 1A, gutta-percha, AH Plus retreated with chloroform; 1B, gutta-percha, AH Plus retreated without chloroform; 2A, gutta-percha, EndoSequence BC Sealer retreated with chloroform; 2B, gutta-percha, EndoSequence BC Sealer retreated without chloroform. Micro-CT scans were taken before and after obturation and retreatment and analyzed for the volume of residual material. The specimens were longitudinally sectioned and digitized images were taken with the dental operating microscope. Data was analyzed using an ANOVA and a post-hoc Tukey test. Fisher exact tests were performed to analyze the ability to regain patency. Results: There was significantly less residual root canal filling material in the AH Plus groups retreated with chloroform as compared to the others. The BC Sealer samples retreated with chloroform had better results than those retreated without chloroform. Furthermore, patency could be re-established in only 14% of teeth in the BC Sealer without chloroform group. Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrate that the BC Sealer group had significantly more residual filling material than the AH Plus group regardless of whether or not both sealers were retreated with chloroform.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.20-27
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• 2017

This study aimed to assess microleakage of Endoseal MTA when it is used as a root canal sealer and a root canal filling material compared with conventional endodontic treatment materials Forty-two mature human permanent teeth with a single root canal were divided randomly into three experimental groups (n = 10) and two control groups (n = 6). Group A was obturated with AH $plus^{(R)}$ and gutta-percha (GP). Group E1 was obturated with Endoseal MTA and GP. Group E2 was obturated with Endoseal MTA only. The positive control group was obturated with GP only and the negative control group was obturated in the same way as the experimental groups. The samples were kept in saline solution for 24 hours and were immersed in 0.2% rhodamine B dye solution for 24 hours. Then the samples were split longitudinally and the micoleakage was assessed under a stereomicroscope. Complete microleakage was detected in all positive control group samples, whereas no microleakage was detected in the negative control group. There was no statistically significant difference between the experimental groups in the Kruskal-Wallis test. These results suggest that Endoseal MTA has potential use as a root canal sealer and a root canal filling material.

• Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.157-177
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• 2003

This paper presents a comprehensive and successful application of data mining methodologies to improve and predict wafer yield in a semiconductor wafer fabrication system. As the wafer fabrication process is getting more complex and the volume of technological data gathered continues to be vast, it is difficult to analyze the cause of yield deterioration effectively by means of statistical or heuristic approaches. To begin with this paper applies a clustering method to automatically identify AUF (Area Uniform Failure) phenomenon from data instead of naked eye that bad chips occurs in a specific area of wafer. Next, sequential pattern analysis and classification methods are applied to and out machines and parameters that are cause of low yield, respectively. Furthermore, radial bases function method is used to predict yield of wafers that are in process. Finally, this paper demonstrates an information system, Y2R-PLUS (Yield Rapid Ramp-up, Prediction, analysis & Up Support), that is developed in order to analyze and predict wafer yield in a korea semiconductor manufacturer.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.251-256
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• 1995

Opioids produce strong analgesic effect result with some side effects such as nausea, vomiting, urinary retention, somnolence, and respiratory depression. Nalbuphine, an agonist-antagonist has, at low doses, an analgesic potency comparable to morphine with little side effects. Analgesic effect after continuous infusion of fentanyl-ketorolac-droperidol, or $Nubain^{(R)}$-ketorolac-dropertiodl combination in Cesarean section patients were assessed by numerical rating scale (NRS) and Prince Hednry scale (PHS). The patients were divided into two groups. Each group consists of 30 patients. Group 1 received 20 ${\mu}g$ of fentanyl the end of surgery. And then continuously infused with additional 380${\mu}g$ of fentanyl plus 120 mg of ketorolac and 2.5 mg of droperidol. Group 2 initially received 2 mg of $Nubain^{(R)}$ at the end of surgery and the remaining dose of $Nubain^{(R)}$ 38 mg plus ketorolac 120 mg and droperidol 2.5 mg was continuously infused. With all patients, initial dose of drug was administered by bolus of i.v. injection and the remaining dose was administered via i.v. using a Baxter Two $Infusor^{(R)}$. Pain scores and side effects were recorded at the time of recovery room arrival, and at interval of 30 min, 1 hr, 6 hr, 14 hr, 24 hr, 48 hr after start of continuous infusion. No significant difference was found between the pain scores and side effects of both groups although pain control effect was excellent in both groups. We concluded that $Nubain^{(R)}$ could be an alternative to fentanyl for postoperative pain control.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.418-425
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• 2022

Background: Sorafenib is effective in treating hepatoma, but most patients develop resistance to it. STAT3 signaling has been implicated in sorafenib resistance. Artesunate (ART) and 20(R)-ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3) have anti-hepatoma effects and can inhibit STAT3 signaling in cancer cells. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Rg3 in combination with ART (Rg3-plus-ART) in overcoming sorafenib resistance, and to examine the involvement of STAT3 signaling in these effects. Methods: Sorafenib-resistant HepG2 cells (HepG2-SR) were used to evaluate the in vitro anti-hepatoma effects of Rg3-plus-ART. A HepG2-SR hepatoma-bearing BALB/c-nu/nu mouse model was used to assess the in vivo anti-hepatoma effects of Rg3-plus-ART. CCK-8 assays and Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining were used to examine cell proliferation and apoptosis, respectively. Immunoblotting was employed to examine protein levels. ROS generation was examined by measuring DCF-DA fluorescence. Results: Rg3-plus-ART synergistically reduced viability of, and evoked apoptosis in HepG2-SR cells, and suppressed HepG2-SR tumor growth in mice. Mechanistic studies revealed that Rg3-plus-ART inhibited activation/phosphorylation of Src and STAT3 in HepG2-SR cultures and tumors. The combination also decreased the STAT3 nuclear level and induced ROS production in HepG2-SR cultures. Furthermore, overactivation of STAT3 or removal of ROS diminished the anti-proliferative effects of Rg3-plus-ART, and removal of ROS diminished Rg3-plus-ART's inhibitory effects on STAT3 activation in HepG2-SR cells. Conclusions: Rg3-plus-ART overcomes sorafenib resistance in experimental models, and inhibition of Src/STAT3 signaling and modulation of ROS/STAT3 signaling contribute to the underlying mechanisms. This study provides a pharmacological basis for developing Rg3-plus-ART into a novel modality for treating sorafenib-resistant hepatoma.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.249-259
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• 2003

Objective : We aimed to identify the inhibitory effects of SocheongRyoungTang on Cytokine Production and Secretion of IgE in Highly Purified Mouse B cells. This experiment was designed to investigate the effect of SoCheongRyongTang(SCRT) on Antiallergy. Materials and Methods : We measured the cytotoxic activity for cytokines transcript expression, production of $IL-1{\beta},\;IL-4,\;IL-6,\;IL-10,\;IFN-{\gamma},\;TNF-{\alpha},\;TGF-{\beta}$ proliferation of B cell in anti-CD40mAb plus rIL-4 plus HRF stimulated murine splenic B cells and histamine in anti-CD40mAb plus rIL-4 plus HRF stimulated mast cells. Results : 1. SCRT increased the gene synthesis of $IFN-{\gamma}(m-RNA)$, the appearance of IL-10, $IFN-{\gamma}$. 2. SCRT decreased the gene synthesis of $IL-l{\beta},\;IL-4,\;TGF-{\beta}(m-RNA)$ and the appearance of $IL-l{\beta},\;IL-4,\;TGF-{\beta},\;IgE$ significantly. Conclusion : SCRT decreased the proliferation of B cell significantly. According to the above results, it is suggested that SCRT extract might be usefully applied for prevention and treatment of Allergic disease.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.375-384
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• 2017

Trichomonas vaginalis is a pathogen that triggers severe immune responses in hosts. T. vaginalis ${\alpha}$-actinin 2, $Tv{\alpha}$-actinin 2, has been used to diagnose trichomoniasis. This study was undertaken to examine the role of $Tv{\alpha}$-actinin 2 as an antigenic molecule to induce immune responses from humans. Western blot analysis using anti-$Tv{\alpha}$-actinin 2 antibodies indicated its presence in the secreted proteins of T. vaginalis. ELISA was employed to measure cytokine production by vaginal epithelial cells, prostate cells, mouse dendritic cells (DCs), or T cells stimulated with T. vaginalis or $Tv{\alpha}$-actinin 2 protein. Both T. vaginalis and $rTv{\alpha}$-actinin 2 induced cytokine production from epithelial cell lines, including IL-10. Moreover, $CD4^+CD25^-$ regulatory T cells (Treg cells) incubated with $rTv{\alpha}$-actinin 2-treated DCs produced high levels of IL-10. These data indicate that $Tv{\alpha}$-actinin 2 modulates immune responses via IL-10 production by Treg cells.

• Journal of the Korean Data and Information Science Society
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.519-529
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• 2008

Many statisticians have been using object-oriented languages such as S-PLUS, R, and MATLAB to make programs for new data analysis methods. S-PLUS and R are slower in computation as well as in processing large data sets than MATLAB. Recently MATLAB is often used for developing statistical analysis programs owing to its fast computing ability and abundant mathematical algorithm modules. Sometimes it is hard for non-statistician to understand MATLAB programs which are developed by statisticians. Therefore Graphical User Interface(GUI) is needed to facilitate the usage of MATLAB codes. In this paper, we introduce how to develop a GUI for MATLAB codes which is executable on Windows with examples.