• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.197-203
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• 2008

Background and Objectives : This case report aims to determine the effect of acupuncture and herbal medicine as a treatment for tinnitus. Subjects and Methods : 11 patients with tinnitus were treated by acupuncture combined with herbal medicine. Patients were evaluated with verbal numerical rating scale scores for loudness, annoyance, and awareness of tinnitus before and after treatment. Results : 9 patients reported reduction of loudness, annoyance, and awareness of tinnitus after treatment. Among them, complete suppression of the tinnitus was obtained in 1 case. 2 patients reported no improvement. Conclusions : This case study presents clinical possibility of acupuncture and herbal medicine for the treatment of tinnitus.

• IEIE Transactions on Smart Processing and Computing
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• v.2 no.6
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• pp.332-338
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• 2013

We propose a method for target detection in Infrared images. In order to effectively detect a target region from an image with noises and clutters, spatial information of the target is first considered by analyzing pixel distributions of projections in horizontal and vertical directions. These distributions are represented as Gaussian distributions, and Gaussian Mixture Model is created from these distributions in order to find thresholding points of the target region. Through analyzing the calculated Gaussian Mixture Model, the target region is detected by eliminating various backgrounds such as noises and clutters. This is performed by using a novel thresholding method which can effectively detect the target region. As experimental results, the proposed method has achieved better performance than existing methods.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.207-210
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• 2016

Under the assumption of the presence of a medium-scale E × B drift vortex of plasma in the daytime midlatitude F region, and using a simplified ionospheric model, we demonstrate that the E × B drift produces noticeable perturbations in the horizontal distribution of the plasma density in the upper F region. The pattern of ion density perturbations shows two separate medium scale domains of enhanced and reduced ion density with respect to the background. The E × B drift does not produce multiple small-scale ion density irregularities through plasma mixing because of the suppression effect of the field-aligned ambipolar plasma diffusion.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.105-119
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• 2012

Background: In contrast to the increased interest in constitutional medicine evidenced by clinical experiences, there has been no theoretical or mathematical analysis on the stability or number of constitutional types. Objectives: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the stability of possible constitutional types and to find stable constitutional types based on imbalanced structure of five energy elements using mathematical analysis. Methods: For the 120 constitutional types which are possible by the imbalanced combination of five energy elements, vitality, stability and continuity were evaluated mathematically based on mutual activation and suppression between the five energy elements. Results: 10 constitutional types were derived. They had the highest vitality and stability, and they had permanent continuity, never changing their order of imbalanced structure. Conclusions: 10 constitutional types are logical and most reasonable when we classify the body types based on imbalanced structure of five energy elements.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.12-21
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• 2012

Background and Objectives : Allergic rhinitis is one of the most common diseases in the otorhinolaryngology area. in oriental clinic, Hyunggaeyungyo-tang(HYT) has been used as a primary prescription to treat allergic rhinitis. However, there have been no studies so far performed on the effect of this HYT use. The purpose of this study was find out therapeutic effects of its exclusive use on the rat with allergic rhinitis. Material and Methods : Thirty BALB/c mice were divided into three group : normal group(NOR), control group(CON) inoculated with allergic rhinitis and sample group(SAM) treated with the HYT extract after it was treated the same as the control group. Rats were sensitized intraperitoneally with ovalbumin solution 4times at intervals of 2 days. After that time, rats in SAM were administered by HYT to treat the inflammation. Results : 1. The number of eosinophil in SAM noticeably decreased than CON and this decrease had probability. The inhibition of eosinophil distribution. The infiltration of eosinophil in SAM noticeably decreased than CON. 2. The damaged mucosa as disruption of cilia in respiratory cell, vacant mucose secreting cell and infiltration of inflammation intricate cells in CON were increased than NOR, but SAM same as normal configuration. Decrease of icthing and sneezing intricate neurotransmitter (substance P). Decrease of angiogenesis intricate cytokine(MIP-2). 3. Transcription factor(NF-${\kappa}B$ p65) was decreased. 4. Transcription factor inhibitor(p-$I{\kappa}B$) was decreased. 5. Inflammation cytokine(iNOS) was decreased. Conclusion : The results suggest that HYT is significantly effective in the treatment of inflammation caused by allergic rhinitis through the suppression of NF-${\kappa}B$ activation and iNOS production.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.133-144
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• 2009

Background and Objectives: Sinusitis, referring to an inflammatory disease that occurs on the mucus membrane inside the sinus, is one of the most common diseases in the otorhinolaryngology area. In oriental clinic, Sunbanghwalmyungeum (SHE) has been used as a primary prescription to treat inflammatory diseases and intumescence and to treat sinusitis. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects of SHE on acute sinusitis induced mice. Materials and Methods: BALB/c mice were divided into three groups: the normal group, the group inoculated with S. pneumoniae which caused them allergic rhinitis (control group), and the group treated with the SHE extract after it was treated the same as the control group (sample group). We investigated the inhibition of Th 2 cell differentiation by SHE and the suppression of NF-${\kappa}B$ activation. Results: NF-${\kappa}B$ activation was suppressed, and iNOS & COX-2 production were inhibited by SHE in acute sinusitis. IL-4 and STAT 6 also appeared to be suppressed. The number of eosinophils in the sample group noticeably decreased when compared to the control group. In the general morphologic change, the increase of damaged respiratory ciliated epithelium & eosinophil's infiltration were decreased in the sample group. Goblet cells were maintained in the sample group. MIP-2 and HSP-70 decreased in the sample group. Apocrine secretion decreased in the sample group. Conclusion: The results suggest that SHE is significantly effective in the treatment of inflammation caused by acute sinusitis through the suppression of NF-${\kappa}B$ activation and the inhibition of Th 2 cell differentiation.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.302-309
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• 2005

Background : Death by cancer, malignant tumor, is on the increase around the world. In South Korea, cancer is the number one cause of death, and, in South Korea, stomach cancer is the most common form of cancer. This may be due to genetic and enviornmental factors. Because stomach cancer is so prevalent here, this study was undertaken. Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the anti-cancer effects of Duchesnea indica(Andr.) Focke. in human stomach cancer cells(KATOIII). Materials & Methods: For human stomach cancer cells KATO III cells were obtained from Korea Cell Line Bank. The water decoction of Duchesnea indica(Andr.) Focke was added to cultures. First, morphological changes were examined under an inverted microscope. The destruction of stomach cancer cells was measured through Trypan blue exclusion testing, and suppression of viability of stomach cancer cells was measured via MTT assay. Anti-cancer mechanisms were assessed by analyzing the cell cycle. Results & Conclusions : In morphologic change, stomach cancer cells showed the withdrawn and floating appearance that is typical in cellular impairment. In each test group more stomach cancer cells were killed than in the control group to a statistically significant degree. Each test group showed more suppression of viability of stomach cancer cells than that of the control group to a statistically significant degree. Analysis of the cell cycle showed that Duchesnea indica(Andr.) Focke inhibited division of stomach cancer cells. This experiment yielded empirical evidence for Duchesnea indica(Andr.) Focke as a statistically significant anticarcinogen, specifically against stomach cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.2719-2725
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• 2014

Background: Secreted frizzled-related protein (SFRP) genes, new tumor suppressor genes, are negative regulators of the Wnt pathway whose alteration is associated with various tumors. In ovarian cancer, SFRPs genes promoter methylation can lead to gene inactivation. This study investigated mechanisms of SFRP and adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) genes silencing in ovarian cancer infected with high risk human papillomavirus. Materials and Methods: DNA was extracted from 200 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded ovarian cancer and their normal adjacent tissues (NAT) and DNA methylation was detected by methylation specific PCR (MSP). High risk human papillomavirus (HPV) was detected by nested PCR with consensus primers to amplify a broad spectrum of HPV genotypes. Results: The percentages of SFRP and APC genes with methylation were significantly higher in ovarian cancer tissues infected with high risk HPV compared to NAT. The methylated studied genes were associated with suppression in their gene expression. Conclusion: This finding highlights the possible role of the high risk HPV virus in ovarian carcinogenesis or in facilitating cancer progression by suppression of SFRP and APC genes via DNA methylation.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.579-585
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Sonchus asper is used extensively as an herbal anti-inflammatory for treatment of bronchitis, asthma, wounds, burns, and cough; however, further investigation is needed in order to understand the underlying mechanism. To determine its mechanism of action, we examined the effects of an ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) of S. asper on nitric oxide (NO) production and prostaglandin-E2 levels in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. MATERIALS/METHODS: An in vitro culture of RAW264.7 macrophages was treated with LPS to induce inflammation. RESULTS: Treatment with EAF resulted in significant suppression of oxidative stress in RAW264.7 macrophages as demonstrated by increased endogenous superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and intracellular glutathione levels, decreased generation of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation, and restoration of the mitochondrial membrane potential. To confirm its anti-inflammatory effects, analysis of expression of inducible NO synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, and the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6 was performed using semi-quantitative RT-PCR. EAF treatment resulted in significantly reduced dose-dependent expression of all of these factors, and enhanced expression of the antioxidants MnSOD and heme oxygenase-1. In addition, HPLC fingerprint results suggest that rutin, caffeic acid, and quercetin may be the active ingredients in EAF. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, findings of this study imply that the anti-inflammatory effect of EAF on LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells is mediated by suppression of oxidative stress.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.150-156
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• 2005

Background: Dendritic cells (DCs) playa critical role not only in the initiation of immune responses, but also in the induction of immune tolerance. In an effort to regulate immune responses through the modulation of antigen presenting cell (APC) function of DCs, we searched for and characterized APC function modulators from natural products. Methods: DCs were cultured in the presence of propolis components, WP and CP, and then examined for their ability to present exogenous antigen in association with major histocompatibility complexes (MHC). Results: WP and CP inhibited class I MHC-restricted presentation of exogenous antigen (cross-presentation) in a DC cell line, DC2.4 cells, and DCs generated from bone marrow cells with GM-CSF and IL-4. The inhibitory activity of WP and CP appeared to be due not only to inhibition of phagocytic activity of DCs, but also to suppression of expression of MHC molecules on DCs. We also examined the effects of WP and CP on T cells. Interestingly, WP and CP increased IL-2 production from T cells. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that WP and CP inhibit MHC-restricted presentation of exogenous antigen through down-regulation of phagocytic activity and suppression of expression of MHC molecules on DCs.