• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.67 no.3
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• pp.333-344
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• 2024

Objective : Markers of neuroinflammation during ischemic stroke are well characterized, but additional markers of neural damage are lacking. The study identified associations of behavioral disorders after stroke with histologic neural damage and molecular biological change. Methods : Eight-week-old, 25 g male mice of the C57BL/6J strain were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) to induce ischemic stroke. The control group was a healthy wild type (WT), and the experimental group were designed as a low severity MCAO1 and a high severity MCAO2 based on post-stroke neurological scoring. All groups underwent behavioral tests, realtime polymerase chain reaction, triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining and Hematoxylin and Eosin staining. One-way analysis of variance was used to analyze statistical significance between groups. Results : In TTC staining, MCAO1 showed 29.02% and MCAO2 showed 38.94% infarct volume (p<0.0001). The pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-1β was most highly expressed in MCAO2 (WT 0.44 vs. MCAO1 2.69 vs. MCAO2 5.02, p<0.0001). From the distance to target in the Barnes maze test, WT had a distance of 178 cm, MCAO1 had a distance of 276 cm, and MCAO2 had a distance of 1051 (p=0.0015). The latency to target was 13.3 seconds for WT, 27.9 seconds for MCAO1, and 87.9 seconds for MCAO2 (p=0.0007). Prospero homeobox 1 (Prox1) was most highly expressed in MCAO2 (p=0.0004). Doublecortin (Dcx) was most highly expressed in MCAO2 (p<0.0001). Conclusion : The study demonstrated that histological damage to neural cells and changes in brain mRNA expression were associated with behavioral impairment after ischemic stroke. Prox1 and Dcx may be biomarkers of neural damage associated with long-term cognitive decline, and increased expression at the mRNA level was consistent with neural damage and long-term cognitive dysfunction.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.212-220
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• 2024

PURPOSE. This cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) study aimed to analyze the anatomical characteristics of alveolar bone at mandibular first molar (MFM) and their implications for immediate implant placement surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS. 100 patients with 140 MFMs were reviewed retrospectively. We first performed a 3D reconstruction of the patient's CBCT data to determine a reference plane with ideal implant placement and orientation. The following parameters of MFM region were analyzed: mesial-distal socket size (MDSS), buccal-lingual socket size (BL-SS), root furcation fornix to inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) distance (RF-I), interradicular bone thickness (IRB), mesial/distal root apex to the IAN distance (MRA-I/DRA-I), thickness of the buccal/lingual bone of the mesial root (MR-B/MR-L), thickness of the buccal/lingual bone of the distal root (DR-B/DR-L). RESULTS. The MD-SS of MFM was 8.74 ± 0.76 mm, and the BLSS was 8.26 ± 0.72 mm. The MR-B, DR-B was 1.01 ± 0.40 mm and 1.14 ± 0.50 mm, and the difference was statistically significant (P = .001). The values of the MR-L, DR-L were 2.71 ± 0.78 mm and 3.09 ± 0.73 mm, and the difference was also statistically significant (P < .001). The mean distance of RF-I was 15.68 ± 2.13 mm, and the MRA-I was 7.06 ± 2.22 mm, which was greater than that of DRA-I (6.48 ± 2.30 mm, P < .001). The IRB at 2 mm, 4 mm apical from the furcation fornix, and at apex level was 2.81 ± 0.50 mm, 3.30 ± 0.62 mm, and 4.44 ± 1.02 mm, respectively. CONCLUSION. There is relatively sufficient bone mass in interradicular bone in height, but an adequate width is lacking for the bone between the mesial and distal root after the extraction of the MFM for immediate implantation. The thickness of the MFM buccal bone is relative thin, especially for the mesial root.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.405-414
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• 2022

Background and Objectives: Chronic inflammation of bone tissue often results in bone defects and hazards to tissue repair and regeneration. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a natural cannabinoid with multiple biological activities, including anti-inflammatory and osteogenic potential. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and mechanisms of CBD in the promotion of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) osteogenic differentiation in the inflammatory microenvironment. Methods and Results: BMSCs isolated from C57BL/6 mice, expressed stem cell characteristic surface markers and presented multidirectional differentiation potential. The CCK-8 assay was applied to evaluate the effects of CBD on BMSCs' vitality, and demonstrating the safety of CBD on BMSCs. Then, BMSCs were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce inflammatory microenvironment. We found that CBD intervention down-regulated mRNA expression levels of inflammatory cytokines and promoted cells proliferation in LPS-treated BMSCs, also reversed the protein and mRNA levels downregulation of osteogenic markers caused by LPS treatment. Moreover, CBD intervention activated the cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) and the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. While AM630, a selective CB2 inhibitor, reduced phosphorylated (p)-p38 levels. In addition, AM630 and SB530689, a selective p38 MAPK inhibitor, attenuated the enhancement of osteogenic markers expression levels by CBD in inflammatory microenvironment, respectively. Conclusions: CBD promoted osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs via the CB2/p38 MAPK signaling pathway in the inflammatory microenvironment.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.1-19
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• 2024

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to analysis the clinical study trends on Korean Medicine treatment for Bell's palsy during pregnancy. Methods: Key words such as 'facial palsy', 'Bell's palsy, 'Korean medicine', 'herbal medicine', 'acupuncture', 'pregnancy' were searched through the 'RISS', 'OASIS', 'KISS', 'PubMed' and 'CNKI' databases. Results: Ten clinical studies with 107 patients were selected, and 1 randomized controlled trial and 9 case reports were included as the target studies. In the 9 case reports, the gestational age at the onset of facial palsy was most common in the third trimester (29-42 weeks) in 38 cases (56.7%). The most commonly used Korean medicine interventions were acupuncture, with the most frequently used acupoints being ST4, ST2, ST6, BL2, TE23, LI20, GB1, GB14, SI18, and CV24. The herbal medicine treatment most commonly utilized was Geumgwedanggwi-san (金匱當歸散), which is related to the principles of clearing heat, nourishing blood, and stabilizing the fetus (淸熱養血安胎). Among the 65 participants evaluated using the House-Brackmann facial nerve grading system, 81.5% showed complete recovery to grade 1, while 6% remained at grade 4 with no effect, indicating the efficacy of Korean medicine treatment for facial palsy during pregnancy. All the selected studies reported no abnormalities in the mothers or fetal growth, and all participants who had the reported delivery had full-term childbirth. Conclusions: The effect on Korean Medicine treatment for Bell's palsy during pregnancy had mostly positive results. However, further large, well-designed clinical trials are needed to establish the foundation of Korean Medicine treatment for Bell's palsy during pregnancy.

• Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.232-241
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• 2024

Purpose: Brucellosis, a zoonotic infectious disease, is a worldwide health issue affecting animals and humans. No effective human vaccine and the complications caused by the use of animal vaccines are among the factors that have prevented the eradication of the disease worldwide. However, bio-engineering technologies have paved the way for designing new targeted and highly efficacious vaccines. In this regard, the study aimed to evaluate immunity induced by mannosylated niosome containing Brucella recombinant trigger factor/Bp26/Omp31 (rTBO) chimeric protein in a mouse model. Materials and Methods: rTBO as chimeric antigen (Ag) was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) and, after purification, loaded on niosome and mannosylated niosome. The characteristics of the nanoparticles were assessed. The mice were immunized using rTBO, niosome, and mannosylated niosome-rTBO in intranasal and intraperitoneal routes. Serum antibodies (immunoglobulin [Ig]A, IgG, IgG1, and IgG2a) and splenocyte cytokines (interferon-gamma, interleukin [IL]-4, and IL-12) were evaluated in immunized mice. Finally, immunized mice were challenged by B. melitensis and B. abortus. A high antibody level was produced by niosomal antigen (Nio-Ag) and mannosylated noisomal antigen (Nio-Man-Ag) compared to the control after 10, 24, and 38 days of immunization. The IgG2a/IgG1 titer ratio for Nio-Man-Ag was 1.2 and 1.1 in intraperitoneal and intranasal methods and lower than one in free Ag and Nio-Ag. Cytokine production was significantly higher in the immunized animal with Ag-loaded nanoparticles than in the negative control group (p<0.05). Moreover, cytokine and antibody levels were significantly higher in the injection than in the inhalation method (p<0.05). Results: The combination of mannosylated noisome and rTBO chimeric proteins stimulate the cellular and humoral immune response and produce cytokines, playing a role in developing the protective acquired immune response in the Brucella infectious model. Also, the intraperitoneal route resulted in a successful enhancement of cytokines production more than intranasal administration. Conclusion: Designing an effective vaccine candidate against Brucella that selectively induces cellular and humoral immune response can be done by selecting a suitable nanoniosome formulation as an immunoadjuvant and recombinant protein as an immune response-stimulating Ag.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.69 no.3
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• pp.359-371
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• 2018

Repeated bouts of ulcerative colitis featured troublesome course of inflammatory bowel disease leading to fatal colitis-associated cancer, which is strongly associated with oxidative stress and sustained inflammation. Since oligonol, low molecular weighted polyphenol extracted from fruit lychee, showed antioxidative and anti-inflammatory actions, we hypothesized that oligonolcan prevent relapse of colitis. We compared oligonol with current gold standard therapeutics, sulfasalazine in preventive efficacy of relapse. First, dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis were made following pretreatment with oligonol, 10, 50, and 100 mg/kg for 7 days to measure therapeutic effect of oligonol and relapse model via repeated DSS administration was made following with either 50 mg/kg oligonol or 30 mg/kg sulfasalazine to explore relapse preventing action of oligonol in C57BL/6 mice. Detailed changes in colon were measured to explain molecular mechanisms. Pretreatment of 10, 50, 100 mg/kg oligonol (p.o.), significantly reduced DSS-induced colitis; total pathologic scores, colon length, and clinical symptom scores (P < 0.05). Oligonol pretreatment significantly decreased the levels of interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) as well as nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), c-Fos, and c-Jun in affected colon tissues, but the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and NADH: quinone oxidoreductase-1(NQO-1) as well as total antioxidant concentration (P < 0.005) was significantly increased with oligonol. A relapse model established with repeated DSS administration led to high mortality. However, oligonol significantly ameliorated exacerbations of colitis, while sulfasalazine did not (P < 0.01). Significantly decreased expressions of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), TNF-α, and macrophages inhibition were relapse preventing actions of oligonal, but significant action of oligonol relevant to relapse prevention was either significantly increased expressions of NQO-1 or significantly preserved mucin (P < 0.05). Concerted anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and host defense enhancing actions of oligonol can be applied during maintenance therapy of IBD to prevent relapse of IBD.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.491-496
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to assess the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immuno-enhancing effects of Daebong persimmon (DP) and Bansi (BS) in vivo. Two types of astringent persimmons (DP and BS) were used for this experiment. C57BL/6J mice were assigned to the following groups: 1) lean control, 2) high-fat diet control (HF), 3) A region DP (3% wt/wt) with HF diet (A-DP), 4) B region DP with HF diet (B-DP), 5) C region DP with HF diet (C-DP), 6) D region BS with HF diet (D-BS), and 7) E region BS with HF diet (E-BS). All mice were sacrificed after 4 weeks of treatment, after which blood and tissues were collected. Antioxidant enzyme activities, inflammatory markers, and immune factors were evaluated. DP and BS treatments did not alter food intake or body weight, compared with HF. Administration of B-DP increased catalase activities in serum. Hepatic levels of malondialdehyde, a product of lipid peroxidation, were significantly lower in A-DP mice than in the HF group. A-DP had down-regulatory effects against inflammation induced by high-fat diet feeding, as shown by significant reduction of interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$. Additionally, A-DP treatment exerted an immuno-stimulatory effect, as shown by increasing levels of immunoglobulin G. DP treatment improved the level of insulin-like growth factor-1. These results indicate that DP has beneficial health effects on oxidative stress, inflammation, and immunity in vivo.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.83-87
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for productive traits in swine. Productive traits were considered on average daily gain (ADG), body height (BH) and body length (BL). Genetic analysis was consisted of 18,668 heads for productive traits which were based on on-farm performance tested from May, 2007 to Apr, 2011. For estimating genetic parameters on productive traits, single best model was fitted after finding source of variance on fixed and random effects and estimated with a multiple trait animal model by using DF-REML (Derivative-Free Restricted Maximum Likelihood). The estimated heritabilities of Duroc, Berkshire, Landrace and Yorkshire 0.22-0.58 for the average daily gain, 0.34-0.41 for the body height and 0.4-0.52 for the body length, respectively. Phenotypic correlations of average daily gain with body height and body length for the four breeds were 0.42-0.48, 0.53-0.58, 0.34-0.46 and 0.47-0.56, respectively. Phenotypic correlations of body height with body length were 0.41, 0.57, 0.52, 0.59, respectively. The estimated genetic correlation coefficients of average daily gain with body height and body length estimated for the four breeds were 0.34-0.47, 0.70-0.75, 0.17-0.38 and 0.50-0.53, respectively. The estimated genetic correlation coefficients of body height with body length were 0.57, 0.69, 0.61 and 0.71, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.389-397
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of species by comparing the external shape traits and skull size of Tscherskia triton in Jeju Island from May 2014 to November 2016. Body weight, head-body length, ear length, and hind-foot length were not statistically significant (p>0.05), but tail length was statistically significant in females compared to males (p=0.003). To examine the secondary sexual dimorphism characteristics of the collected T. triton, B_HR, T_HR, E_HR, and H_HR were calculated based on the head-body length, and only T_HR was statistically significant (p=0.003). Because of comparing male and female averages, among the 21 traits, the greatest length of skull (GLS; p=0.020) and occipitonasal length (ONL; p=0.014) were statistically significant and length of incisive foramen (LIF) was statistically significant, when the significance level was 90%. However, the other 18 traits did not show statistically significant differences between males and females (p>0.05). Other than GLS, ONL, interorbital breadth (IB), and breadth of occipital foramen (BOF), there was female-biased SSD. The results of this study are the analysis of external morphology and skull characteristics of T. triton in Jeju Island and will be used as basic data to understand the morphological characteristics of T. triton. In addition, the data can be used as a basic information to compare characteristics of T. triton, which is known as a single species, inhabited in China and Russia. The data will play an important role in biogeography and ecology research of T. triton, based on geographical conditions, climate effects, and habitat environment.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.234-238
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• 2016

Purpose: Increasing use of computer aided design-computer aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) system and number of design software made design of restoration easy and quick. Outcome of restoration has been dependent on dental technician's wax up proficiency, dentists can design restoration for themselves now. This study aims to investigate the outcome of restoration designs, according to handling skill of CAD-CAM design tool. Materials and methods: A patient's mandibular right 1st molar was prepared. After taking impression, stone model was made, scanned the stone model with 3 shape intra-oral scanner, stereolithography (STL) file was extracted. With 3shape dental designer, one dental technician with more than 5 years work experience (designer 0) and three dental technicians with less than 2years work experience (designer 1, 2, 3-group DT) and 4 1st year residents (designer 4, 5, 6, 7-group RT) designed gold crown on the same STL file. Designed crown's MD (mesio-distal) and BL (bucco-lingual) diameter, height of crown, inter-cuspal distance, number of occlusal contact points were compared. Statistical analysis was carried out, test of normality within each group, using independent t-test. Number of contact points were compared, using Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: There was no significant difference between group DT and group RT. Number of contact points also resulted in no significant difference. Conclusion: The outcome of each designed crowns showed no statistical differences, in values which can be expressed as numbers. Subjective factors were different. With increasing proficiency in handling designing software, fabrication of restorations according to each designer's occlusal concept can be made easy.