• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2014

Iron is an important element for brain oxygen transport, myelination, DNA synthesis and neurotransmission. However, excessive iron can generate reactive oxygen species and contribute neurotoxicity. Although brain iron deposition is the natural process with normal aging, excessive iron accumulation is also observed in various neurological disorders such as neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, Friedreich ataxia, and others. Magnetic resonance image (MRI) is a useful method for detecting iron deposits in the brain. It can be a powerful tool for diagnosis and monitoring, while furthering our understanding of the role of iron in the pathophysiology of a disease. In this review, we will introduce the mechanism of iron toxicity and the basics of several iron-related MRI techniques. Also, we will summarize the previous results concerning the clinical application of such MR imagings in various neurological disorders.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.145-156
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• 2022

Over the past few decades, few technologies have had a greater impact on clinical microbiology laboratories than matrix-assisted laser desorption time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). The MALDI-TOF MS is a fast, accurate, and low-cost and efficient method of microbial identification. This technology generates characteristic mass spectral fingerprints that is a unique signature for each microorganism, making it an ideal method for accurate identification at the genus and species levels of both bacterial and fastidious microorganism such as anaerobes, mycobacterium and fungi etc. In addition, MALDI-TOF MS has been successfully used in microbial subtyping and susceptibility tests such as determination of resistance genes. In this study, the authors summarized the application of MALDI-TOF MS in clinical microbiology and clinical research and explored the future of MALDI-TOF MS.

• Proceedings of the Korean Magnestics Society Conference
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• 2003.12a
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• pp.160-160
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• 2003

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.02a
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• pp.498-498
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• 2013

Atmospheric Pressure Plasmas have pioneered a new field of plasma for biomedical application bridging plasma physics and biology. Biological and medical applications of plasmas have attracted considerable attention due to promising applications in medicine such as electro-surgery, dentistry, skin care and sterilization of heat-sensitive medical instruments [1]. Traditional approaches using electronic devices have limits in heating, high voltage shock, and high current shock for patients. It is a great demand for plasma medical industrial acceptance that the plasma generation device should be compact, inexpensive, and safe for patients. Microwave-excited micro-plasma has the highest feasibility compared with other types of plasma sources since it has the advantages of low power, low voltage, safety from high-voltage shock, electromagnetic compatibility, and long lifetime due to the low energy of striking ions [2]. Recent experiment [2] shows three-log reduction within 180-s treatment of S. mutans with a low-power palm-size microwave power module for biomedical application. Experiments using microwave plasma are discussed. This low-power palm-size microwave power module board includes a power amplifier (PA) chip, a phase locked loop (PLL) chip, and an impedance matching network. As it has been a success, more compact-size module is needed for the portability of microwave devices and for the various medical applications of microwave plasma source. For the plasma generator, a 1.35-GHz coaxial transmission line resonator (CTLR) [3] is used. The way of reducing the size and enhancing the performances of the module is examined.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.25-30
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• 2009

Objectives: To find the potential acupuncture points by using Trypan blue staining on the skin of rat and Nude mouse. Methods: 0.4% Trypan blue was applied to the skin of rat or Nude mouse previously treated by surfactant. Washing by warm saline was followed after enough application of trypan blue and surfactant. Frequency of Trypan blue application should be varied to the experimental animals' condition for visualizing significant spots. Results: Blue spots appeared roughly in symmetry along kidney meridian or stomach meridian. Several spots outside of kidney or stomach meridian were also observed; however, the detail stereoscopic images of those blue spots were slightly different according to the position blue-colored. DiI signals were visualized along blood vessel after DiI injection into the Trypan blue-visualized blue spots. Conclusion: Our method to visualize the potential acupuncture points as a blue spot on rat and Nude mouse skins may contribute to the next step for finding specific flowing channels among blue spots.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.3-10
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Oligonol, mainly found in lychee fruit, is an antioxidant polyphenolic compound which has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. The detailed mechanisms by which oligonol may act as an anti-aging molecule have not been determined. MATERIALS/METHODS: In this study, we evaluated the ability of oligonol to modulate sirtuin (SIRT) expression in human lung epithelial (A549) cells. Oligonol was added to A549 cells and reactive oxygen species production, mitochondrial superoxide formation, and p21 protein levels were measured. Signaling pathways activated upon oligonol treatment were also determined by western blotting. Furthermore, the anti-aging effect of oligonol was evaluated ex vivo in mouse splenocytes and in vivo in Caenorhabditis elegans. RESULTS: Oligonol specifically induced the expression of SIRT1, whose activity is linked to gene expression, metabolic control, and healthy aging. In response to influenza virus infection of A549 cells, oligonol treatment significantly up-regulated SIRT1 expression and down-regulated viral hemagglutinin expression. Oligonol treatment also resulted in the activation of autophagy pathways and the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Furthermore, oligonol-treated spleen lymphocytes from old mice showed increased cell proliferation, and mRNA levels of SIRT1 in the lungs of old mice were significantly lower than those in the lungs of young mice. Additionally, in vivo lethality assay revealed that oligonol extended the lifespan of C. elegans infected with lethal Vibrio cholerae. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrated that oligonol may act as an anti-aging molecule by modulating SIRT1/autophagy/AMPK pathways.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.63-68
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• 2013

Activeness of exercise is critical for stroke rehabilitation so that application of stimulation in response to patient's intention would be effective in FES cycling. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between muscle reaction force (MRF) and electromyogram (EMG) during cycling exercise, for the future usage of MRF as patients' intention signal. Seven young men ($24{\pm}1.63$ yrs) participated in this study. Cycling speed was set to 20 RPM and 60 RPM. MRF and EMG were measured in the vastus lateralis muscle of right leg. Active cycling was performed at the maximal load (16 Nm) of an ergometer. Angle dependent artifact in MRF was measured from passive cycling and was subtracted from the MRF of active cycling. The delay of MRF with respect to EMG envelope and their correlation coefficients were derived from the best of cross correlation. MRF was significantly correlated with EMG amplitude in all subjects (p<0.01). Their mean correlations were 0.84 and 0.91 for 20 RPM and 60 RPM, respectively. Mean delay in MRF was 59.14 ms and 53.14 ms for 20 RPM and 60 RPM, respectively. The result suggests that MRF can be used to assess patient's intention for exercise as a substitute to EMG. The method may be applied to FES cycling to encourage patient's effort which is critical for stroke rehabilitation.

• Proceedings of the KACD Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.545-545
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• 2003

Chitosan is applied as a dressing for oral mucous wound and a tampon following radical treatment of maxillary sinus. Furthermore, it is being investigated as an absorbing membrane for endodontic and periodontic surgeries. A few studies have reported osteoconduction and osteogenesia at the site of chitosan implant in vivo. However, compared with soft tissue healing processes, the mechanisms concerning effects of chitosan for biological mineralization have not yet been resoil In the present study, we studied the gene expression pattern using cDNA microarray and RT-PCR analyses in hard tissue forming osteoblasts cultured with water-soluble and low molecular weight chitooligosaccharide. cDNA microarray analysis revealed that 16 genes were expressed at 〉1.5-fold higher signal ratio levels in the experimental group compared with the control group after 3 days. RT-PCR analysis showed that chitosan oligomer induced an increase in the expression of two genes, CD56 antigen and tissue-type plasminogen activator. Furthermore, the expression of mRNAs for BMP-2 was almost identical in the experimental and control groups after 3 days of culture, but slightly increased after 7 days of culture with chitosan oligomer. These results suggest that a super-low concentration of chitooligosaccharide could modulate the activity of osteoblastic cells through mRNA levels and that the genes concerning cell proliferation and differentiation can be controlled by water-soluble chitosan.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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• 2002.09a
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• pp.422-424
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• 2002

The accuracy of DXA(Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) highly depends on the detection and separation capability of dual energy X-ray X-ray photons. In addition both of scan time and patient exposure are affected by detection efficiency. A CZT detector with a good energy resolution and high detection efficiency was evaluated for the application of bone densitometry. Its performance was compared to a photomultiplier tube with a NaI(T1) scintillator in terms of energy resolution, detection efficiency and the accuracy of bone mineral density measurement. The comparison study was performed with CZT detector and PM tube using DXA equipments(OSTEO Plus, OSTEO Prima, ISOL Technology). The energy spectrum was acquired using MCA(Multi-Channel Analyzer). The used X-ray energy ranged from 20keV to 86keV. The MCA result of the CZT detector showed a slightly sharper energy spectrum than that of NaI(T1). Detection efficiency of the CZT detector at 59.5keV was 1.4 times better. Remarkably the final results of bone mineral density measurements demonstrate only less than 1% difference. The CZT detector appears to have many benefits for the application of bone densitometry. Its excellent energy resolution can enhance the counting accuracy of dual energy X-ray spectrum. Furthermore its compactness in physical dimension and no cooling requirement will be additional benefits for a more compact and accurate bone densitometer.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.04a
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• pp.231-231
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• 2005