• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.9
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• pp.975-985
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• 2017

To investigate the beneficial effects of an agar gel mask (AGM) on UV-induced photoaging, SKH-1 hairless mice were treated with a topical application of AGM and an AGM dipped in essence (AGMdE). The mice were divided into an no radiation group, UV + AGM, UV + AGMdE, and UV + vehicle (PBS) treatment groups. Alterations in skin wrinkles, skin phenotype, histological structures, oxidative status, and toxicity were then evaluated during 4 weeks of exposure. The topical application of AGM and AGMdE inhibited wrinkle formation, suppressed the erythema index, prevented transepidermal water loss, and enhanced skin hydration. In addition, epidermal thickness recovered to a similar level as that in the no irradiation group in the UV + AGM and UV + AGMdE treatment groups compared with the UV + vehicle (distilled water) group. Furthermore, the expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and tyrosinase were reduced in the UV + AGM and UV + AGMdE treatment groups, although the highest level varied. Moreover, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was significantly lower in the UV + AGM and UV + AGMdE treatment groups as compared with the UV + vehicle group. No significant alterations induced by most toxic compounds were measured in serum biochemical markers and liver and kidney histological features of the UV + AGM and UV + AGMdE treatment groups. These results suggest that AGM may protect against skin aging by regulating skin morphology, histopathological structures, and oxidative conditions.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.7
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• pp.532-541
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• 2022

Obesity induced by high-fat diet (HFD) is verified as a strong risk factor and negative prognostic factor for prostate cancer in several genetically engineered mice although it was not examined in the normal mice. To investigate whether HFD-induced obesity can affect the development and progression of cancer in the prostate of normal mice, alterations in the weight and histological structure of the prostate as well as the expression of cancer-related proteins were analyzed in obese C57BL/6N mice fed with 60% HFD for 16 weeks. First, HFD-induced obesity, including an increase in organ weight, body weight, fat accumulation, and serum lipid profile, was successfully induced in C57BL/6N mice after HFD treatment. The total weight of the prostate significantly increased HFD-induced obesity in the model mice compared with the control group. Among the four lobes of the prostate, the weight of the ventral prostate (VP) and anterior prostate (AP) were higher in HFD-induced obesity model mice than in the control group, although the weights of the lateral prostate (DLP) and seminal vesicle (SV) were constantly maintained. In addition, the incidences of hyperplasia and non-hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in the histological structure were remarkably increased in HFD-induced obesity model mice, while the epithelial thickness was higher in the same group. A significant increase in the phosphorylation levels of key proteins in the AKT (protein kinase B) signaling pathway was detected in HFD-induced obesity model mice. Therefore, these results suggest that HFD-induced obesity can promote hyperplasia and NHL in the prostates of C57BL/6N mice through the activation of the AKT signaling pathway.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.94-102
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• 2020

This study conducted a meta-analysis of the effects of self-management intervention for reducing the depression and anxiety of osteoarthritis patients. The research sources were PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Ovid-MEDLINE and Korean databases from the Korean and foreign literature published until September 30, 2019. The R version 3.5.1 program was used to identify the effectiveness of self-management intervention. As a result, 11 studies from a total of 1,877 articles in the relevant literature were analyzed, and the total number of participants was 2,751. The results showed that the overall effect size for reducing depression and anxiety was -0.44 (95% CI: -0.66, -0.22) in osteoarthritis patients (p <.001). On the sub-analysis, depression was -0.37 (95% CI: -0.66, -0.08), and anxiety was -0.56 (95% CI: -0.92, -0.20). To explain the heterogeneity, the meta-ANOVA was the setting, duration, and provider of intervention. Analysis of the publication bias was performed by a Funnel plot, which was visually relatively symmetrical and was not asymmetric according to Egger's Regression test (bias=0.19, p=.928). The results of this study established clinical evidence by identifying the effects of self-management intervention for reducing the depression and anxiety of osteoarthritis patients.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.45-50
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• 2015

Objectives: In this study, we investigated the 4-week repeated-dose oral toxicity of gami-jakyak gamcho buja decoction (Mecasin) to develop safe treatments. Methods: In order to investigate the 4-week oral toxicity of Mecasin, we administered Mecasin orally to rats. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into four groups of five male and five female animals per group: group 1 being the control group and groups 2, 3, and 4 being the experimental groups. Doses of Mecasin of 500, 1,000, and 2,000 mg/kg of body weight were administered to the experimental groups, and a dose of normal saline solution of 10 mL/kg was administered to the control group. We examined the survival rate, weight, clinical signs, and gross findings for four weeks. This study was conducted under the approval of the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee. Results: No deaths occurred in any of the four groups. No significant changes in weights or food consumption between the control group and the experimental groups were observed. Serum biochemistry revealed that some groups showed significant decrease in inorganic phosphorus (IP) (P < 0.05). During necropsy on the rats, one abnormal macroscopic feature, a slight loss of fur, was observed in the mid dosage (1,000 mg/kg) male group. No abnormalities were observed in any other rats. In histopathological findings, the tubular basophilia and cast of the kidney and extramedullary hematopoiesis of the spleen were found. However, those changes were minimal and had occurred naturally or sporadically. No other organ abnormalities were observed. Conclusion: During this 4-week, repeated, oral toxicity test of Mecasin in SD rats, no toxicity changes due to Mecasin were observed in any of the male or the female rats in the high dosage group. Thus, we suggest that the doses in a 13-week, repeated test should be 0, 500, 1,000, and 2,000 mg/kg respectively.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.3751-3758
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• 2014

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of arthritis and comorbid chronic conditions on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in the Korean older population. The study subjects were 2,708 Korean adults aged 65 and older from the $3^{rd}$ Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys data: 1,357 persons with a single chronic condition, such as arthritis, herniations of the intervertebral disc, osteoporosis, asthma, peptic ulcers, stroke, or cataract; 886 persons with arthritis and a second chronic condition described above; and 465 persons with no chronic condition. An analysis of covariance was performed to compare the EQ-5D index among the groups. The effects of arthritis, second chronic condition and their interactions were analyzed by multiple linear regression analysis. The results are as follows. Compared to men with arthritis only, men with stroke only, stroke and arthritis, or cataract and arthritis had a lower age adjusted EQ-5D index. Women with a stroke only, asthma only, cataract only, osteoporosis and arthritis, peptic ulcer and arthritis, stroke and arthritis, or cataract and arthritis had a lower age adjusted EQ-5D index than women with arthritis only. Arthritis and comorbid conditions had additive effects on the HRQol in both genders except for arthritis and stroke in women. In conclusion, comorbid chronic medical conditions in older people with arthritis may reduce the HRQoL in an additive manner.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.2929-2937
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• 2015

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS or NOS3) produces nitric oxide and genetic polymorphisms of NOS3 gene play significant roles in various processes of carcinogenesis. The results from published studies on the association between NOS3 G894T and NOS3 intron 4 (4a/b) polymorphisms and cancer risk are conflicting and inconclusive. However, i n order to assess this relationship more precisely, a meta-analysis was performed with PubMed (Medline), EMBASE and Google web searches until February 2014 to select all published case-control and cohort studies. Genotype distribution data were collected to calculate the pooled odd ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to evaluate the strength of association. A total of 10,546 cancer cases and 10,550 controls were included from twenty four case-control studies for the NOS3 G894T polymorphism. The results indicated no significant association with cancer risk as observed in allelic (T vs G: OR=1.024, 95%CI=0.954 to 1.099, p=0.508), homozygous (TT vs GG: OR=1.137, 95%CI=0.944 to 1.370, p=0.176), heterozygous (GT vs GG: OR=0.993, 95%CI=0.932 to 1.059, p=0.835), recessive (TT vs GG+GT: OR=1.100, 95%CI=0.936 to 1.293, p=0.249) and dominant (TT+GT vs GG: OR=1.012, 95%CI=0.927 to 1.105, p=0.789) genetic models. Similarly, a total of 3,449 cancer cases and 3,691 controls were recruited from fourteen case-control studies for NOS3 4a/b polymorphism. Pooled results indicated no significant association under allelic (A vs B: OR=0.981, 95%CI=0.725 to 1.329, p=0.902), homozygous (AA vs BB: OR=1.166, 95%CI=0.524 to 2.593, p=0.707), heterozygous (BA vs BB: OR=1.129, 95%CI=0.896 to 1.422, p=0.305), dominant (AA+BA vs BB: OR=1.046, 95%CI=0.779 to 1.405, p=0.763) and recessive (AA vs BB+BA: OR=1.196, 95%CI=0.587 to 2.439, p=0.622) genetic contrast models. This meta-analysis suggests that G894T and 4a/b polymorphisms of NOS3 gene are not associated with increased or decreased risk of overall cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.435-440
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• 2013

Background: Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death among women in Malaysia. A diagnosis is very stressful for women, affecting all aspects of their being and quality of life. As such, there is little information on quality of life of women with breast cancer across the different ethnic groups in Malaysia. The purpose of this study was to examine the quality of life in Malay and Chinese women newly diagnosed with breast cancer in Kelantan. Materials and Methods: A descriptive study involved 58 Malays and 15 Chinese women newly diagnosed with breast cancer prior to treatment. Quality of life was measured using the Malay version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) and its breast-specific module (QLQ-BR23). Socio-demographic and clinical data were also collected. All the data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Results: Most of the women were married with at least a secondary education and were in late stages of breast cancer. The Malay women had lower incomes (p=0.046) and more children (p=0.001) when compared to the Chinese women. Generally, both the Malay and Chinese women had good functioning quality-of-life scores [mean score range: 60.3-84.8 (Malays); 65.0-91.1 (Chinese)] and global quality of life [mean score 60.3, SD 22.2 (Malays); mean score 65.0, SD 26.6 (Chinese)]. The Malay women experienced more symptoms such as nausea and vomiting (p=0.002), dyspnoea (p=0.004), constipation (p<0.001) and breast-specific symptoms (p=0.041) when compared to the Chinese. Conclusions: Quality of life was satisfactory in both Malays and Chinese women newly diagnosed with breast cancer in Kelantan. However, Malay women had a lower quality of life due to high general as well as breast-specific symptoms. This study finding underlined the importance of measuring quality of life in the newly diagnosed breast cancer patient, as it will provide a broader picture on how a cancer diagnosis impacts multi-ethnic patients. Once health care professionals understand this, they might then be able to determine how to best support and improve the quality of life of these women during the difficult times of their disease and on-going cancer treatments.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.43-52
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to conduct a survey on awareness of the fourth industrial revolution being much debated recently and suggest the educational program for adult learner in order to create a new demand of university according to the social change. Based on earlier researches, the survey was conducted on employees working in the health and medical industry with questionnaire including the relevant educational field, areas of turnover and educational needs from July 1 to July 31, 2017. As a result, the bio-medical device, senior-friendly industry, environment and safety, clinical counselor and food service industry(coffee industry) were identified as necessary education areas. To enhance the validity of research results, in-depth interviews of relevant experts in each field were conducted from August 19 to September 22, 2017, and presented necessary education programs driven by the advent of the fourth industrial revolution and changes in each areas.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.41-50
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• 2018

Spirituality is an essential part of human beings. Spiritual care, designed to meet the spiritual needs of terminally ill patients and their families, is one of the most important aspects of hospice and palliative care (HPC). This study reviewed and analyzed literature utilizing the most commonly used Korean and international healthcare databases to identify care models that adequately address the spiritual needs of terminally ill patients and their families in practice. The results of this study show that spirituality is an intrinsic part of humans, meaning that people are holistic beings. The literature has provided ten evidence-based theories that can be used as models in HPC. Three of the models focus on how the spiritual care outcomes of viewing spiritual health, quality of life, and coping, are important outcomes. The remaining seven models focus on implementation of spiritual care. The "whole-person care model" addresses the multidisciplinary collaboration within HPC. The "existential functioning model" emphasizes the existential needs of human beings. The "open pluralism view" considers the cultural diversity and other types of diversity of care recipients. The "spiritual-relational view" and "framework of systemic organization" models focus on the relationship between hospital palliative care teams and terminally ill patients. The "principal components model" and "actioning spirituality and spiritual care in education and training model" explain the overall dynamics of the spiritual care process. Based on these models, continuous clinical research efforts are needed to establish an optimal spiritual care model for HPC.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.427-434
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• 2003

In this paper, we present a speech-based Environmental Control System(ECS) and its application. In the concrete, an ECS using the speech recognition and an portable wheelchair lift control system with the speech synthesis are developed through the simulation and the embodiment. The developed system apply to quadriplegic man and we evaluate the result of physical effect and of mental effect. Speech recognition system is constructed by real time modules using HMM model. For the clinical application of the device, we investigate the result applied to 54-years old quadriplegic man during a week through the questionnaires of Beck Depression Inventory and of Activity Pattern Indicator. Also the motor drive control system of potable wheelchair lift is implemented and the mechanical durability is tested by structural analysis. Speech recognition rate results in over 95% through the experiment. The result of the questionnaires shows higher satisfaction and lower nursing loads. In addition, the depression tendency of the subject were decreased. The potable wheelchair lift shows good fatigue life-cycle as the material supporting the upper wheelchair and shows the centroid mobility of safety. In this paper we present an example of ECS which consists of real-time speech recognition system and potable wheelchair lift. Also the experiments shows needs of the ECS for korean environments. This study will be the base of a commercial use.