• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• 제18권5호
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• pp.1204-1211
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• 2009

Hericium erinaceus is an edible mushroom used as a medicinal food in Asian countries. In this study, the chemopreventive effects of H. erinaceus mycelia hot water extract (HEW) were evaluated. HEW remarkably induced the luciferase activity of the antioxidant response element (ARE), located in the promoter region of phase 2 and antioxidant genes and regulated by nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). The up-regulation of ARE activity by HEW corresponded with the induction of Nrf2 and the antioxidant enzyme, hemeoxygenase-1. The inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) activity is a promising effective approach in cancer chemoprevention, and HEW prominently suppressed COX-2 protein expression in HepG2 cells. Furthermore, HEW showed anti-inflammatory activity by modulating inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO), inducible NO synthase, tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, interleukin-$1{\beta}$, and the transcription factor, nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$, in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. These results suggest that H. erinaceus possessed anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory effects via the modulation of Nrf2/ARE and inflammatory signaling pathways, and may therefore have potential use as a natural chemopreventive agent.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.23-29
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• 2015

In this paper, we propose a microscope system for detecting both a tumor and blood vessels in brain tumor surgery as fluorescence images by using multiple light sources and a beam-splitter module. The proposed method displays fluorescent images of the tumor and blood vessels on the same display device and also provides accurate information about them to the operator. To acquire a fluorescence image, we utilized 5-ALA (5-aminolevulinic acid) for the tumor and ICG (Indocyanine green) for blood vessels, and we used a beam-splitter module combined with a microscope for simultaneous detection of both. The beam-splitter module showed the best performance at 600 nm for 5-ALA and above 800 nm for ICG. The beam-splitter is flexible to enable diverse objective setups and designed to mount a filter easily, so beam-splitter and filter can be changed as needed, and other fluorescent dyes besides 5-ALA and ICG are available. The fluorescent images of the tumor and the blood vessels can be displayed on the same monitor through the beam-splitter module with a CCD camera. For ICG, a CCD that can detect the near-infrared region is needed. This system provides the acquired fluorescent image to an operator in real time, matching it to the original image through a similarity transform.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제87권4호
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• pp.524-531
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• 2024

Background: Endothelial activation and stress index (EASIX) reflects endothelial dysfunction or damage. Because endothelial dysfunction is one of the key mechanisms, a few studies have shown the clinical usefulness of original and age-adjusted EASIX (age-EASIX) in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We aimed to evaluate the clinical utility of age-EASIX in predicting intensive care unit (ICU) mortality in critically ill patients with COVID-19 in South Korea. Methods: Secondary analysis was performed using clinical data retrospectively collected from 22 nationwide hospitals in South Korea between January 1, 2020, and August 31, 2021. Patients were at least 19 years old and admitted to the ICU for severe COVID-19, demanding at least high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy. EASIX [lactate dehydrogenase (U/L)×creatinine (mg/dL)/platelet count (10⁹ cells/L)] and age-EASIX (EASIX×age) were calculated and log₂-transformed. Results: The mean age of 908 critically ill patients with COVID-19 was 67.4 years with 59.7% male sex. The mean log₂ age-EASIX was 7.38±1.45. Non-survivors (n=222, 24.4%) in the ICU had a significantly higher log₂ age-EASIX than of survivors (8.2±1.52 vs. 7.1±1.32, p<0.001). Log₂ age-EASIX was significantly associated with ICU mortality (odds ratio, 1.541; 95% confidence interval, 1.322 to 1.796; p<0.001) and had a better area under the receiver operating characteristic curve than of the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score in predicting ICU mortality (0.730 vs. 0.660, p=0.001). Conclusion: Age-EASIX is significantly associated with ICU mortality and has better discriminatory ability than the SOFA score in predicting ICU mortality.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• 제85권5호
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• pp.883-901
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• 2024

Various diseases can affect the esophagus. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), which provides precise information about the layers of the esophageal wall, is the primary approach used to investigate esophageal diseases. However, CT is one of the most important imaging modalities for diagnosing esophageal diseases as it can elucidate mediastinal involvement, adjacent lymphadenopathy, and distant disease spread. These two modalities complement each other in the diagnosis of esophageal diseases. Although radiologists may be unfamiliar with EUS procedures and their interpretation, understanding them aids in the differential diagnosis of esophageal conditions. This pictorial essay illustrates the EUS and CT findings of various esophageal diseases originating in the esophageal wall.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.26-31
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• 2017

Objectives A normal circadian rhythm of autonomic nervous system function stands for the daily change of sympathetic and parasympathetic modulation, which can be measured by heart rate variability (HRV). Generally, patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) are prone to sleep-wake cycle dysregulation, therefore, it may have an influence on the circadian rhythm of autonomic nervous system. This study was designed to interpret possible dysregulation of autonomic nervous system in ICU patients by using HRV. Methods HRV was assessed every 3 hours in 21 ICU patients during a 7-minute period. The statistical differences of HRV features between the morning (AM 6 : 00-PM 12 : 00), and the afternoon (PM 12 : 00-PM 18 : 00) periods were evaluated in time domain and frequency domain. Results Patients showed significantly increased normalized power of low frequencey (nLF), absolute power of low frequencey (LF)/absolute power of high frequencey (HF) in the afternoon period as compared to the morning period. However, normalized power of high frequency (nHF) was significantly decreased in the afternoon period. There was no statistically significant difference between the morning period and the afternoon period in the time domain analysis. Conclusions The increased sympathetic tone in the afternoon period supports possible dysregulation in the circadian rhythm of autonomic nervous system in ICU patients. Future studies can help to interpret the association between autonomic dysregulation and negative outcomes of ICU patients.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Fisheries Technology Conference
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• 한국어업기술학회 2002년도 춘계 수산관련학회 공둥학술발표회
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• pp.279-280
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• 2002

Genomic DNA from the muscle of marsh clam (Corbicula leana) from Gochang was extracted in order to identify genetic differences and similarity by randomly amplified polymorphic DNAs-polymerase chain reaction. 3.28 of the 23.0 polymorphic bands per lane were found to be polymorphic in marsh clam. Also, about 4.34% of total polymorphic bands were either specific to marsh clam. The major common bands of 0.28 kb generated by primer OPB-15 (GGAGGGTGTT) were present in every individuals, respectively, which were polymorphic. This common bands which present in every individuals should be diagnostic of specific strains, species and/or their relatedness. Primer OPB-19 (ACCCCCGAAG) produced the highest number of specific bands, which was 12. The specific minor band of 0.07 kb was present in lane 22, which were polymorphic. Especially, only a specific band (1.35 kb) identifying individuals was observed in lane 22.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.223-228
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• 2008

A more accurate method of measuring the electrical conductivity (L) of solutions was developed by applying dynamic temperature compensation for measurement of L. Temperature changes of a sample were induced by a heater probe and the changes in L per unit temperature were measured. An equation for L with respect to temperature change was developed and L at the standard temperature ($25^{\circ}C$) was computed. Based on our proposed method, it is possible to have temperature compensation without having the temperature coefficients in advance.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.1-13
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• 2010

There are a great numbers of disabled individuals who cannot freely move or control specific parts of their body because of serious neurological diseases such as spinal cord injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, brainstem stroke, and so on. Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) can help them to drive and control external devices using only their brain activity, without the need for physical body movements. Over the past 30 years, several Bel research programs have arisen and tried to develop new communication and control technology for those who are completely paralyzed. Thanks to the rapid development of computer science and neuroimaging technology, new understandings of brain functions, and most importantly many researchers' efforts, Bel is now becoming 'practical' to some extent. The present review article summarizes the current state of electroencephalogram (EEG)-based Bel, which have been being studied most widely, with specific emphasis on its basic concepts, system developments, and prospects for the future.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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• 한국의학물리학회 2002년도 Proceedings
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• pp.425-426
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• 2002

The bone densitometer is to investigate the bone mineral content and density for the osteoporosis assessment by using dual energy X-ray photons. For the clinical verification of the ISOL's OSTEO plus, the clinical study was performed with healthy and non-menopausal 30 female volunteers. The fan-beam DXA machine (Lunar, Expert) was chosen as a reference. After correlation analysis of their bone mineral densities, a strong correlation was obtained. From the results, it is claimed that the new forearm bone densitometer is clinically useful in osteoporosis diagnosis.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• 제63권12호
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• pp.1722-1725
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• 2014

An experimental investigation of COP(center of pressure) was performed using FSR(force sensing resistor) and force plate. The FSR sensor system is used as effective device to detect the movement of human body in activities of daily living. It has been shown that the FSR provides the trajectories of COP with repeatability and reliability.