• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.612-622
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• 2023

T-cell deficiency may occur in various clinical conditions including congenital defects, cell/organ transplantation, HIV infection and aging. In this regard, the development of artificial thymus has recently been attracting much attention. To achieve this aim, the development of techniques for 3D culture of thymic stromal cells is necessary because thymocytes grown only in a 3D thymic microenvironment can be differentiated fully to become mature, immunocompetent T cells; the same cannot be achieved for thymocytes grown in 2D. This study aimed to develop a nanotechnology-based 3D culture technique using polymeric scaffolds for thymic epithelial cells (TECs), the main component of thymic stromal cells. Scanning electron microscopic observation revealed that the pores of both PCL and PCL/PLGA scaffolds were filled with TECs. Interestingly, TECs grown in 3D on polydopamine-coated scaffolds exhibited enhanced cell attachment and proliferation compared to those grown on non-coated scaffolds. In addition, the gene expression of thymopoietic factors was upregulated in TECs cultured in 3D on polydopamine-coated scaffolds compared to those cultured in 2D. Taken together, the results of the present study demonstrate an efficient 3D culture model for TECs using polymeric scaffolds and provide new insights into a novel platform technology that can be applied to develop functional, biocompatible scaffolds for the 3D culture of thymocytes. This will eventually shed light on techniques for the in vitro development of T cells as well as the synthesis of artificial thymus.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.15-30
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• 2009

Purpose: In this rapidly aging society, the research and development of traditional oriental medicine treatment is one of the critical factors to protect the increasing neuro-degenerative disorders. In this study, we wanted to verify the effect of Yukul-tang (YUT) on neuro-degenerative disease model by assessing the antioxidant and anti-inflammation effects. Methods: To assess the antioxidant effects of YUT, we carried out DPPH radical and ABTS radical scavenging assays and determined the total polyphenolic contents in YUT. To evaluate the neuro-protective effects of YUT, we performed the MTT and ROS assays and TH immunohistochemistry, NO and TNF-${\alpha}$ assays in SH-SY5Y or mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons damaged by 6-OHDA. Results: The treatment of YUT showed eliminating effects on DPPH radical and ABTS radical. it showed deterring effects on ROS, NO and TNF-${\alpha}$ and protecting effects on TH-positive cell in SH-SY5Y cells or mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons. Especially in the case of the treatment of YUT with 0.2ug/mL + 6-OHDA 10uM, the protective effect on dopaminergic neurons was most outstanding. Conclusion: In this study, we have demonstrated that YUT has an antioxidant effect and a neuro-protective effect on neuro-degenerative disease model caused by neurotoxin such as 6-OHDA. The results of our present study suggest that YUT can be useful agent to prevent and to treat neuro-degenerative diseases.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.5-10
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• 2022

Recently, ground subsidence has been continuously occurring in downtown areas, threatening the safety of citizens. Various underground facilities such as water and sewage pipelines and communication pipelines are buried under the road. It is reported that the cause of ground subsidence is the deterioration of various facilities and the reckless development of the underground. In particular, it is known that the biggest cause of ground subsidence is the aging of sewage pipelines. As an existing study related to this, several representative factors of sewage pipelines were selected and a study to predict the risk of ground subsidence through statistical analysis has been conducted. In this study, a data SET was constructed using the characteristics of OO city's sewage pipe characteristics and ground subsidence data, The data set constructed from the characteristics of the sewage pipe of OO city and the location of the ground subsidence was used. The goal of this study was to present a classification model for the occurrence of ground subsidence according to the characteristics of sewage pipes through machine learning. In addition, the importance of each sewage pipe characteristic affecting the ground subsidence was calculated.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.290-300
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• 2023

This study was understood the risk mechanism of falls in the elderly and reviewed previous research data to see if the principle of Pilates rehabilitation exercise could have a positive effect on balance ability and postural stabilization in the elderly, and the purpose of this study is to present literature-based data on the fall prevention effect of rehabilitation Pilates exercise. First, the rehabilitation Pilates exercise makes it available for strengthening the center of the body to stabilize the spine and pelvis and stimulates the nerve root, thereby having an effect on the balance and the joint stabilization. Second, a proprioceptive sensory impairment and a musculoskeletal degenerative disease due to aging increase the loss of balance ability and the instability in posture maintenance, thereby coming to raise the risk of a fall damage caused by the difficulty in performing motor functions and by the gait disturbance. Third, the rehabilitation Pilates exercise leads to improving the core muscle strength in older adults, resulting in being capable of expecting the betterment in the balance and the reaction time motor function. And there is a positive impact on the improvement in body imbalance and on the stability in movement involved in the fall prevention, resulting in being able to suggest the possibility of likely contributing to a reduction in a fall risk rate. In conclusion, the rehabilitation Pilates as the elderly exercise program showed effects on the improvement in the body's muscular strength, on the upgrade in a sense of balance, and on the stabilization of core. Thus, it was considered to diminish the risk factors for a fall damage caused by musculoskeletal degeneration and to be capable of preventing a serious disorder of activity due to a chronic senile disease.

• 한국체육학회지인문사회과학편
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.375-386
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• 2018

Due to the rapid increase of the elderly population in Korea, there is a growing interest in 'Healthy Aging.' In this trend, it is important to identify the relationship between their lifestyle factors and quality of life. The purpose of this study was to identify the association of physical activity level, sedentary behavior and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among Korean older adults. A total of 4,589 older adults at the Sixth and Seventh National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was analyzed. The results showed that better HRQoL was observed among physically active older female, which was more evident among physically active female with central obesity while no such relationship was observed among older male. On the other hand, higher sedentary time was associated with lower HRQoL in both male and female subjects. Our analyses indicated that central obesity was closely related with HRQoL regardless of their physical activity levels in female subjects. Further analyses investigating association between sub-dimension of HRQoL and sub-domain of physical activity showed that higher transport physical activity was associated with better anxiety/depression score and higher sedentary time was associated with poorer score on mobility, usual activities among male and mobility, self-care, usual activity and anxiety/depression among female. Our finding suggests that physical activity level, sedentary behavior and central obesity associated with HRQoL.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.2D
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• pp.235-242
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• 2008

Due to the lack of judgement in an information processing on road sign, older drivers usually are having a hard time driving than young group. Furthermore, according to increasing in aging population, older drivers in Korea have been growing much faster. That means research for older drivers' characteristics and the number of guide name for road sign should be needed. In accordance with suggestions, this study was carried out the number of guide names for road sign with a variety of ages from the twenties to the seventies. For the sake of this study, statistical verification was conducted to confirm a change of speed, a reading time and a misreading rate with Driving Simulator and Electrooculogram tool. As the results of study, change of speed in the age range has shown that the higher the proportion of age, the lower the rate of velocity. Also reading time in the age range with regression analysis found that the higher the proportion of age, the higher the rate of reading time by 0.106sec. Finally, a binary logistic model was used to find the main factors. As the results, 4 number of guide names for road sign have been the best of them for older driver. The result of this study verified the importance of ideal guide numbers on road sign for older driver and proved itself to be an effective method to determine the road safety for the road signs.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.661-670
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to analyze influential factors for blood transfusion for patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty and total hip arthroplasty, which are chronic degenerative arthritis, using the 2017 sample data of Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service, to research the impact of blood transfusion on the usage of medical services among arthroplasty patients, and ultimately to provide some information on how to offer quality medical services. The findings of the study were as follows: First, whether there were any significant differences in the use or nonuse of transfusion during total knee arthroplasty according to hospital characteristics and patient characteristics was compared. As for significant variables, the type of health care institution, the level of sickbed, gender and anemia were found to have been statistically significantly related. Second. whether there were any significant differences in the use or nonuse of transfusion during total hip arthroplasty according to hospital characteristics and patient characteristics was compared. As for significant variables, the type of health care institution and the level of sickbed were found to have been statistically significantly related. Third, whether there were any significant differences in the presence or absence of diabetes among the total knee arthroplasty patients according to hospital characteristics and patient characteristics was compared. As for significant variables, the type of health care institution, the number of sickbed and anemia were found to have been statistically significantly related. In the case of the total hip arthroplasty patients, there were no variables that were significantly related.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.595-615
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• 2015

This study aims to develop well-being enhancement program for the female elderly living alone, and examine its effects. The program was structured by exploring the meaning of life and happiness with focused on self-disclosure, dealing with regret and resentment, forgiveness, gratitude, and resilience. At first, pilot program was applied to 6 female elderly living alone for predicting the effects and modified the program. For verification of the program effect, 11 female elderly living alone were assigned to developed well-being enhancement program, also 11 female elderly living alone were assigned to comparison group who participate in activity-focused program, and 12 female elderly living alone were assigned to control group. Results indicated that regret for interpersonal relations and resentment of the female elderly living alone who participate in well-being enhancement program were reduced after participating the program, while their self-disclosure increased. The female elderly living alone who participate in well-being enhancement program showed lowered level of anxiety, loneliness, and awareness of aging, which were factors of well-bing in senescence. Moreover, their level of negative emotion was decreased, and life satisfaction, positive emotion, and happiness were increased after participating the program. But, all of those enhancement were not found in control group as well as comparison group. These results suggest that well-being enhancement program for the female elderly living alone developed in this study could be utilized in various settings.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.59-67
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• 2023

This study aims to examine how individual variables (motivation to participate, leadership life skills, aging awareness), interpersonal variables (relations with subjects, colleagues, and employees), and institutional variables (recognition compensation, institutional education) affect the continuity of volunteer activities. To this end, a survey was conducted on women aged 40 to 64 working at volunteer centers and local volunteer institutions in Seoul for 20 days from August 2, 2019, and a total of 300 questionnaires were distributed and 298 copies were collected, of which 180 were used for the final analysis. For data analysis, frequency analysis, descriptive statistical analysis, correlation analysis, and hierarchical regression analysis were conducted. As a result of the analysis, it was found that leadership life skills and motivation for participation, relationships with colleagues as interpersonal variables, and recognition compensation as institutional variables had a positive effect on the continuity of volunteer activities. This study aims to provide practical and policy suggestions to revitalize and maintain the continuity of volunteer activities of middle-aged women, and basic data for the development of programs to be used in the field of practice.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.282-295
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• 2023

Background: Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) protects tissues from proteases and promotes cell proliferation and healing. SLPI also reduces periodontal inflammation and alveolar bone resorption by inhibiting proinflammatory cytokine expression in rat periodontal tissues and osteoblasts. However, little is known of the role of SLPI in the expression of osteoclast regulatory factors from osteoblasts, which are crucial for the interaction between osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Therefore, we aimed to determine the effects of SLPI on the regulation of osteoclasts and osteoblasts in LPS-treated alveolar bone and osteoblasts. Methods: Periodontitis was induced in rats using LPS. After each LPS injection, SLPI was injected into the same area. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed with antibodies against SLPI, RANKL, OPG, and Runx2 in the periodontal tissue. RT-PCR and western blotting were performed to determine the expression levels of SLPI, RANKL, OPG, and Runx2 in LPS- and SLPI/LPS-treated MC3T3-E1 cells. SLPI/LPS-treated MC3T3-E1 cells were also stained with Alizarin Red S. Results: Immunohistochemical analysis showed that the expression levels of SLPI, OPG, and Runx2 were higher while that of RANKL was lower in the LPS/SLPI group relative to those in the LPS group. The mRNA and protein expression of SLPI, OPG, and Runx2 was higher in SLPI/LPS/MC3T3-E1 cells than in LPS/MC3T3-E1 cells, and RANKL expression was lower. During differentiation, OPG and Runx2 protein levels were higher whereas RANKL levels were lower in SLPI/LPS/MC3T3-E1 than in LPS/MC3T3-E1 cells on days 0, 4, 7, and 10. In addition, mineralization and matrix deposition were higher in SLPI/LPS/MC3T3-E1 than in LPS/MC3T3-E1 on days 7 and 10. SLPI decreased RANKL expression in LPS-treated alveolar bone and osteoblasts but increased the expression of OPG and Runx2. Conclusion: SLPI can be considered as a regulatory molecule that indirectly regulates osteoclast activation via osteoblasts and promotes osteoblast differentiation.