• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.61-67
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• 2007

In this study, the antioxidative effects of Equisetum arvense extracts were investigated. The free radical (1,1 diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, DPPH) scavenging activity ($FSC_{50}$) of extract/fractions of Equisetum arvense was in the order: 50 % ethanol extract ($182.04{\mu}g/mL$) < ethylacetate fraction ($54.50{\mu}g/mL$) < deglycosylated flavonoid aglycone fraction ($14.13{\mu}g/mL$). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activities ($OSC_{50}$) of some Equisetum arvense extracts on ROS generated in $Fe^{3+}-EDTA/H_2O_2$ system were investigated using the luminol- dependent chemiluminescence assay. The order of ROS scavenging activity was deglycosylated flavonoid aglycone fraction ($OSC_{50}$, $3.54{\mu}g/mL$) < 50 % ethanol extract ($0.80{\mu}g/mL$) < ethylacetate fraction ($0.006{\mu}g/mL$). Ethylacetate fraction showed the most prominent scavenging activity. The protective effects of extract/fractions of Equisetum arvense on the rose-bengal sensitized photohemolysis of human erythrocytes were investigated. The ethanol extract (50%) suppressed photohemolysis in a concentration dependent manner, particularly deglycosylated aglycone extract exhibited the most prominent celluar protective effect ($\tau_{50}$, 161.10 min at $10{\mu}g/mL$). These results indicate that extract/fractions of Equisetum arvense can function as antioxidants in biological systems, particularly skin exposed to UV radiation by scavenging $^1O_2$ and other ROS, and protect cellular membranes against ROS.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.397-402
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• 2009

The Portulaca oleracea (P. oleracea) is a popular herbal medicine in East Asia that was known to possess detoxification, antifebrile and antifungal effects. In the present study, we examined the biological activities of ethanol extracts of P. oleracea under various conditions with NIH3T3, B16F10, and MCF-7 cell line model systems. Extracts of P. oleracea (0.5 mg/ml) showed inhibition of expression of tyrosinase, but does not suppress either of TYRP-1 or DCT expression on B16F10 cells. Extracts of P. oleracea (2 mg/ml) showed anti-inflammatory effects on TNF-$\alpha$-stimulated NIH3T3/$NF{\kappa}B$-Luc cells and increase of the synthesis of collagen on NIH3T3 (wild type) cells. These results suggest that extracts of P. oleracea could be used as a functional biomaterial in developing a skin whitening agent and having the anti-inflammatory, anti-wrinkle, and anti-aging activities.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.157-162
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• 2003

Various extracts of higher plants have been used in traditional medicine systems for centuries. While tropical and sub-tropical plants have received considerable attention from the researchers for evaluation of their bioactivity, temeperate plants have always been neglected somewhat. Similarly, seeds of the plants have not been considered seriously compared to other plant parts, e.g. leaves, stems, roots, flowers, etc. as a potential source for biologically active compounds. As part of our on-going evaluation of the extracts of the seeds of temperate plants, especially from Scotland, for biological activity, Achillea millefolium, Angelica sylvestris and Phleum pratense have been chosen for the present study. Both A. millefolium and A. sylvestris are well known for their traditional medicinal uses in Europe and also in the orient, but there is no report on any medicinal properties of P. pratense available to date. Extracts of the seeds of these plants have been assessed for their antioxidant and antibacterial potential and also for general toxicity. Both DCM and MeOH extracts of A. millefolium showed the most significant broad spectrum antibacterial activity among the three plants and inhibited the growth of almost all test strains of bacteria. The DCM extracts of all three species were active against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Citrobacter freundii $(MIC=6.25{\times}10^{-1}\;mg/mL)$. While the MeOH extracts of A. millefolium and P. pratense were active against C. freundii, that of P. pratense was also active against MRSA. The MeOH extract of A. sylvestris did not show any antibacterial activity against any of the eight bacterial strains at test concentrations. The MeOH extract of P. pratense showed the most prominent antioxidant activity $(IC_{50}=145\;{\mu}g/ml)$ and there was no antioxidant activity observed with the DCM extract of A. millefolium. The DCM extract of P. pratense was the most toxic $(LC_{50}=20\;{\mu}g/ml)$ among the extracts.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.8
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• pp.742-752
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• 2018

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive degeneration of dopaminergic (DAergic) neurons, particularly in the substantia nigra (SN). Although circadian dysfunction has been suggested as one of the pathophysiological risk factors for PD, the exact molecular link between the circadian clock and PD remains largely unclear. We have recently demonstrated that $REV-ERB{\alpha}$, a circadian nuclear receptor, serves as a key molecular link between the circadian and DAergic systems. It competitively cooperates with NURR1, another nuclear receptor required for the optimal development and function of DA neurons, to control DAergic gene transcription. Considering our previous findings, we hypothesize that $REV-ERB{\alpha}$ may have a role in the onset and/or progression of PD. In the present study, we therefore aimed to elucidate whether genetic abrogation of $REV-ERB{\alpha}$ affects PD-related phenotypes in a mouse model of PD produced by a unilateral injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) into the dorsal striatum. $REV-ERB{\alpha}$ deficiency significantly exacerbated 6-OHDA-induced motor deficits as well as DAergic neuronal loss in the vertebral midbrain including the SN and the ventral tegmental area. The exacerbated DAergic degeneration likely involves neuroinflammation-mediated neurotoxicity. The $REV-erb{\alpha}$ knockout mice showed prolonged microglial activation in the SN along with the over-production of interleukin $1{\beta}$, a pro-inflammatory cytokine, in response to 6-OHDA. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates for the first time that genetic abrogation of $REV-ERB{\alpha}$ can increase vulnerability of DAergic neurons to neurotoxic insults, such as 6-OHDA, thereby implying that its normal function may be beneficial for maintaining DAergic neuron populations during PD progression.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.409-413
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• 2007

Polydiacetylene(PDA)-based sensors possess a number of properties that can be successfully applied for label-free detection system. PDA is one of the most attractive color-generating materials, with growing applications as sensors. Here we introduce various PDA-based devices, used as biosensor, chemosensor, thermosensor, and optoelectronics sensor. In general, PDA liposomes and films are closely packed and properly designed for polymerization via 1,4-addition reaction to form an ene-yne alternating polymer chain. PDA-based two/three dimensional structures have been used for colorimetric or fluorescent devices, sensing biological as well as chemical components. This color-generating material also present a very high charge carrier mobility, allowing its application as field-effect transistor (FET). The immobilized PDA structures or films have distinct advantages for the detection of low concentration target molecules over the aqueous solution-based detection systems. In the present review, reported detection methods by using various PDA structures are summarized with updated references.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences
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• v.36 no.3B
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• pp.275-286
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• 2011

As the 21st century paradigm of healthcare service changes from post-therapeutic treatment to disease prevention and management in advance, the M2M-based u-healthcare application service is increasingly important. M2M-based u-healthcare application service uses mobile handsets equipped with sensors to measure vital information, and the medical staff in remote locations can manage the health of the patient or the public in real time. In this paper, IEEE/HL7 translation gateway, utilizing the gateway based on M2M u-healthcare application service structure, which is based on international standards, has been designed and implemented. Specifically, the gateway between ISO/IEEE 11073 standards and ANSI HL7 has been developed. The former defines the protocol for the exchange of information between the agent device and the manger devices for measuring and handling biological signal, and the latter defines the application layer protocol for the exchange of various healthcare information systems. Finally, in order to demonstrate the functionality of the proposed architecture, the M2M-based U-healthcare application service based on IEEE/HL7 translation gateway, utilizing the gateway, has been developed which can measure, collect and process a variety of vital signs such as ECG or SpO2.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.531-536
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• 2004

In fracture treatment with external fixators, the inter-fragmentary movements at the fracture site affect the fracture healing process, and these movements are highly related to the stiffness of external fixation systems. Therefore, in order to provide the optimal fracture healing at the fracture site, it is essential to understand the relationship between the stiffness and the system configurations in external fixation system. In this study we investigated the influences of system configuration parameters on the stiffness in the finite element analysis of an external fixation system of a long bone. The system alignment, the geometric and the material non-linearity of the pin, the joint stiffness and the callus formation were considered in the finite element model. In the first, the system stiffness of the developed finite element model was compared with the experiment data for model validation. The consideration of the joint stiffness and nonlinearity of the model improved the system stiffness results. The joint stiffness, the non-alignment of the system decreased the system stiffness while the callus formation increased the system stiffness. The present results provided the biomechanical basis of rational guidelines for design improvements of external fixators and pre-op. planning to maximize the system stiffness in fracture surgery.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.479-487
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• 2004

Biopotential signals have been used as command in systems using electrical stimulation of motor nerves to restore movement after an injury to the central nervous system (CNS). In order to use the voluntary EMG (electromyography) among the biopotentials as a control signal for the electrical stimulation of the same muscle for CNS injury patients, it is necessary to remove M-wave of having high magnitude from raw data. We designed an optimal filter for removing the M-wave and preserving the voluntary EMG and showed that the optimal filter is eigen filter. We also proved that the previous method using the prediction error filter(PEF) is a suboptimal filtering in the sense of preserving the voluntary EMG. On basis of the data obtained from a model for M-wave and voluntary EMG and from actual CNS injury patients, with false-positive rate analysis, the proposed adaptive filter showed a very promising performance in comparison with previous method.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.267-272
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• 1997

he scintillation detector having $BaF^2$ crystal with 3.6cm dia${\times}$2.0 cm thick was provided. The energy and timing characteristics were measured and compared with NaI(Tl) scintillation detectors, which widely used in unclear medicine. In order to measure the energy spectrum, the radioactive sources used were $^{22}Na,\;^{54}Mn,\;^{57}Co,\;^{137}Cs$ and the source to detector distance was 7cm. For the timing characteristic, NaI(Tl)(1" ${\times}$ 1")-$BaF^2$ and NaI(Tl)(3" ${\times}$ 3")-$BaF^2$ timing coincidence systems were prepared and the used source was $^{22}Na$ emitting 511keV annihilation photons. For the 511keV gamma-ray emitted from $^{22}Na$, It was revealed that the timing response of the $BaF^2$ detector was faster than NaI(Tl)(1" ${\times}$ 1") and NaI(Tl)(3" ${\times}$ 3") detector used in this experimental investigation. The energy characteristics of the $BaF^2$ detector had a good values for about 500keV energy range.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.107-113
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to develop a miniature imaging gamma probe with high performance that can detect small or residual tumors after surgery. Gamma probe detector system consists of NaI(Tl) scintillator, position sensitive photomultiplier tube (PSPMT), and collimator. PSPMT was optically coupled with 6.5 mm thick, 7.62 cm diameter of NaI(Tl) crystal and supplied with -1000V for high voltage. Parallel hexagonal hole collimator was manufactured for characteristics of 40-mm hole length, 1.3-mm hole diameter, and 0.22 mm septal thickness. Electronics consist of position and trigger signal readout systems. Position signals were obtained with summing, subtracting, and dividing circuit using preamplifer and amplifier. Trigger signals were obtained using summing amplifier, constant fraction discriminator, and gate and delay generator module with preamplifer. Data acquisition and processing were performed by Gamma-PF interface board inserted into pentium PC and PIP software. For imaging studies, flood and slit mask images were acquired using a point source. Two hole phantom images were also acquired with collimator. Intrinsic and system spatial resolutions were measured as 3.97 mm and 5.97 mm, respectively. In conclusion, Miniature gamma probe images based on the PSPMT showed good image quality, we conclude that the miniature imaging gamma probe was successfully developed and good image data were obtained. However, further studies will be required to optimize imaging characteristics.