• Smart Media Journal
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.38-45
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• 2022

Object detection models have become the current tool of choice for plant disease detection in precision agriculture. Most existing research improves the performance by ameliorating networks and optimizing the loss function. However, the data-centric part of a whole project also needs more investigation. In this paper, we proposed a systematic strategy with three different annotation methods for plant disease detection: local, semi-global, and global label. Experimental results on our paprika disease dataset show that a single class annotation with semi-global boxes may improve accuracy. In addition, we also studied the noise factor during the labeling process. An ablation study shows that annotation noise within 10% is acceptable for keeping good performance. Overall, this data-centric numerical analysis helps us to understand the significance of annotation methods, which provides practitioners a way to obtain higher performance and reduce annotation costs on plant disease detection tasks. Our work encourages researchers to pay more attention to label quality and the essential issues of labeling methods.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.72-81
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• 2022

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to report the case of a bilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss patient whose hearing had improved by Korean medical treatment combined with threshold sound. Methods : A woman diagnosed with bilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss has treated with Korean medical interventions(acupuncture combined with electromagnetic stimulation and pharmacoacupuncture) and threshold sound conditioning(TSC) for 20 weeks. Pure tone audiometry(PTA) was performed for the evaluation. Results : The average hearing level has improved from mild to normal level. The level of tinnitus has decreased from VAS 10 to VAS 4. Conclusions : We observed an improvement in a bilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss patient's hearing and hereby suggest the possibility of Korean medical treatment and TSC's ameliorating effect on sensorineural hearing loss.

• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.251-258
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• 2022

Innovative genome editing techniques developed in recent decades have revolutionized the biomedical research field. Liver is the most favored target organ for genome editing owing to its ability to regenerate. The regenerative capacity of the liver enables ex vivo gene editing in which the mutated gene in hepatocytes isolated from the animal model of genetic disease is repaired. The edited hepatocytes are injected back into the animal to mitigate the disease. Furthermore, the liver is considered as the easiest target organ for gene editing as it absorbs almost all foreign molecules. The mRNA vaccines, which have been developed to manage the COVID-19 pandemic, have provided a novel gene editing strategy using Cas mRNA. A single injection of gene editing components with Cas mRNA is reported to be efficient in the treatment of patients with genetic liver diseases. In this review, we first discuss previously reported gene editing tools and cases managed using them, as well as liver diseases caused by genetic mutations. Next, we summarize the recent successes of ex vivo and in vivo gene editing approaches in ameliorating liver diseases in animals and humans.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.99-107
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• 2023

Background: Excessive alcohol consumption is at the root of serious social problems such as hangovers, liver dysfunction, and alcoholism. Objectives: This study was carried out to determine the hangover ameliorating effect of fermented rice extract and a combination of yeast-fermented powder and lysate containing aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) (improved new ingredients) in an ethanol-induced rat study. Methods: The concentrations of alcohol, acetaldehyde, and malondialdehye in serum were evaluated to assess the anti-alcohol and anti-aldehyde hangover effect in two experiments, one with fermented rice extract) and a second with yeast-fermented powder and lysate, using animal studies. Results: Experiment 2 with yeast-fermented powder and lysate containing ALDH showed similar and higher activity, respectively, in reducing ethanol and acetaldehyde concentration compared with Experiment 1 with fermented rice extract. Experiment 2 also significantly reduced malondialdehyde, a type of lipid peroxide. The ALDH-related compound (ARC) lysate showed better hangover relief effect than ARC powder. Conclusions: These results indicate that ALDH-related compounds exhibit a hangover relief effect, and fermented lysate is considered to be a better candidate for hangover relief.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.823-830
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• 2023

Lactococcus lactis is a lactic acid bacterium and used in the dairy food industry. The ameliorating effects of Lactobacillus species on atopic dermatitis (AD) have been extensively studied, but the specific effect of L. lactis strains has not yet been investigated. In this study, the efficacy of L. lactis LB 1022, isolated from natural cheese, was evaluated using RAW 264.7, HMC-1 and HaCaT cell lines and an ovalbumin-sensitized AD mouse model. L. lactis LB 1022 exhibited nitric oxide suppression and anti-allergy and anti-inflammatory activity in vitro. Oral administration of L. lactis LB 1022 to AD mice significantly reduced the levels of IgE, mast cells, and eosinophils, and a range of T cell-mediated T helper Th1, Th2, and Th17-type cytokines under interleukin (IL)-10, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC), and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP). In addition, L. lactis LB 1022 treatment increased the concentration of short-chain fatty acids. Overall, L. lactis LB 1022 significantly modulated AD-like symptoms by altering metabolites and the immune response, illustrating its potential as candidate for use in functional food supplements to alleviate AD.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.15.1-15.10
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• 2021

Abnormal inflammatory responses are closely associated with intestinal microbial dysbiosis. Oral administration of Qmatrix-diabetes-mellitus complex (QDMC), an Aloe gel-based formula, has been reported to improve inflammation in type 2 diabetic mice; however, the role of the gut microbiota in ameliorating efficacy of QDMC remains unclear. We investigated the effect of QDMC on the gut microbiota in a type 2 diabetic aged mouse model that was administered a high-fat diet. Proinflammatory (TNF-α and IL-6) and anti-inflammatory (IL-4 and IL-10) cytokine levels in the fat were normalized via oral administration of QDMC, and relative abundances of Bacteroides, Butyricimonas, Ruminococcus, and Mucispirillum were simultaneously significantly increased. The abundance of these bacteria was correlated to the expression levels of cytokines. Our findings suggest that the immunomodulatory activity of QDMC is partly mediated by the altered gut microbiota composition.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.537-547
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• 2014

The object of this study was to observe the effect of Banhasasim-tang (BHSST) on the HCl/EtOH-induced gastric ulcer in mice. Three different dosages of BHSST extract (400, 200 and 100 mg/kg) were once orally administered 1 hr before HCl/EtOH mixture treatment. One hour after HCl/EtOH mixture single oral treatment, the changes on the gross hemorrhagic lesion scores, fundic histopathology, gastric nitrate/nitrite contents, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant defense system (catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities) were observed, and compared with that of ranitidine 100 mg/kg. As results of all three different dosages of BHSST extract treatment in the HCl/EtOH-induced gastric ulcer mice, significant and dose-dependent decreased gastric damages. BHSST extracts also increased gastric nitrate/nitrite contents and strengthened the antioxidant defense systems, and increased the activities of catalase and SOD, respectively. BHSST extracts 200 mg/kg showed similar anti-ulcerative effect as compared with ranitidine 100 mg/kg, in this experiment. BHSST has favorable protective effects against to the HCl/EtOH-induced gastric damages, through the strengthening of the body antioxidant defense systems. These gastroprotective effects of BHSST against HCl/EtOH-induced gastric ulcer considered as results of complicated synergic effects of their 8 kinds of herbal components, but exact synergic or individual herbal effects are difficult to discuss in this study. Therefore, more detail synergic effects between 8 kinds of individual herbal component of BHSST should be tested with screening of active anti-inflammatory chemical ingredients, in future.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.587-596
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• 2012

Alopecia is usually presented as patchy, no scarring hair loss. It seems to be a hormonal imbalance or an immune mediated disease, whereas genetic predisposition, environmental and psychological factors may be involved in its etiology. Many treatments of alopecia disease have been widely applied, but their side effects are also well known. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate efficacy and safety of a food supplement containing medicinal plant extracts, amino acid and vitamin complex on the prevention of hair loss in human. A total of 20 subjects aged between 29-50 years with subjective hair loss complaint were recruited for this study. Each subject took 1 g/day supplement for 3 months. 5-Scale self-assessment test, hair loss count and measurement of hair thickness were conducted to evaluate the effect of supplement on the improvement of hair loss. Subjective hair loss was decreased and hair damage and thickness were improved in self-assessment test. After 3 months of supplementation, hair loss counts were decreased (P<0.05) while hair thickness was increased(P<0.001) significantly. There was no side effect observed during the study. These results suggest that the supplement consist of medicinal plant extracts, amino acid and vitamin complex might be useful for the improvement of hair loss with no significant side effects.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.43-58
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• 2012

This study was designed to investigate the impact of a 12-week nutrition education program on 32 male industrial workers (average age: $44.5{\pm}3.8$ yrs, work duration period: $20.1{\pm}5.6$ yrs) diagnosed as having dyslipidemia in a medical checkup at their workplace. This program was implemented with a conceptual framework on strengthening self-efficacy for the improvement of the health conditions of the workers. Most of all, the study exhibited benefits in the industrial workers by ameliorating the risk factors associated with dyslipidemia via changes in dietary behaviors, nutritional knowledge, and attitudes, as well as anthropometric and biochemical parameters. After the nutrition education, overall lifestyle, including the ratios of smoking (P<0.05) and drinking (P<0.01), significantly improved. Exactly 65.6% of the subjects reported that their dietary habits changed. Body weight, BMI, percentage of body fat, and waist circumference all significantly decreased (P<0.001). The systolic (P<0.01) as well as diastolic blood pressures (P<0.001) decreased. Moreover, the degree of increase in serum HDL-cholesterol was appreciable (P<0.001), and the atherogenic index also decreased (P<0.01). Further, risk factors related to metabolic syndrome in subjects significantly decreased (P<0.001). The average scores for nutrition knowledge increased from 9.3 to 17.7 points (P<0.001). All of the participants agreed on the need for a nutrition education program at their workplace. Further, it should be pointed out that the participants strongly indicated the need for continuing nutrition intervention.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.9
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• pp.1262-1268
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• 2012

The present investigation was designed to determine whether supplementation of different level of vitamin E for 12 months to arsenic exposed goats (50 ppm as sodium arsenite) affords protection against the blood hemato-biochemical parameters caused by the metalloid. A total of 24 crossbred (Alpine${\times}$Beetal) lactating goats were assigned randomly into 4 equal groups (control, $T_1$, $T_2$ and $T_3$) of 6 in each, on the basis of average body weight ($36.10{\pm}0.11$ kg) and milk yield ($1.61{\pm}0.04$ kg/d). The animals in $T_1$, $T_2$ and $T_3$ were given 50 ppm arsenic, while in $T_2$ and $T_3$, additionally; vitamin E at the rate of 100 IU and 150 IU/kg dry matter (DM) respectively was additionally supplemented for the period of 12 months. Hemoglobin (Hb), total leukocyte (TLC) and blood lymphocyte % were decreased (p<0.05) in arsenic fed groups and vitamin E supplementation in the experimental group showed a protective potential. Significant increases (p<0.05) in aspertate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) activities among arsenic supplemented groups were recorded, however vitamin E supplementation at higher doses showed a protective effect (p<0.05) against AST but in the case of ALT no ameliorating effect was found in either of the doses. Plasma total protein was decreased (p>0.05) but creatinine level was periodically increased in all As supplemented groups and vitamin E supplementation did not produce any protective effect. It can be concluded that arsenic exposure resulted in varying degree of changes in hemato-biochemical parameters and activities of antioxidant enzymes in goats but concomitant treatment with Vitamin E is partially helpful in reducing the burden of arsenic induced effect.