• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.24 no.8
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• pp.1149-1157
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• 2017

Inflammation is the first response of the immune system to infection or irritation in our body. The use of medicinal plants has been widely applied as an alternative source for drug development. One of marine natural resources, the anti-inflammatory effect of Ishige sinicola ethanol extract (ISEE), was evaluated by using LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cell and mice model. As a result, the production of nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-$1{\beta}$, TNF-${\alpha}$) were inhibited with increasing concentration of ISEE without any cytotoxicity. Furthermore, ISEE suppressed the expression of not only inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$) p65, and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), including extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2, p38, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in a dose-dependent manner. In mice ear edema test, the formation of edema was reduced at the highest dosage of ISEE and the reduction of the number of infiltrated mast cells was observed in histological analysis. These results indicate that ISEE has a potent anti-inflammatory activity and can be used as a pharmaceutical material for many kinds of inflammatory disease.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.32 no.5 s.94
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• pp.327-342
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• 2002

Soft tissue profile is a critical area of interest in the development of an orthodontic treatment and diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to determine the facial profile preference of diversified group and to investigate the relationship between most Preferred facial Profile and existing soft tissue reference lines. A survey instrument of constructed facial silhouettes was evaluated by 894 lay person. The silhouettes had varied nose, lips, chin and soft tissue subnasale point. Seven sets of facial type were computer-generated by an orthodontist to represent distinct facial types. The varied facial profiles were graded on the basis of most preferred to least preferred. Every facial profile were measured by soft tissue reference lines(Ricketts E-line, Burstone B-line) to observe the most preferred facial profile. The results as follows: 1. In reliability test, the childhood group showed lower value than other groups, which means that this group has no concern on facial profile preference. 2. It appears that sexual and age difference made no significant difference in selecting the profile 3. An agreement to least preferred facial profile was higher than an agreement to most preferred facial profile. 4. Coefficient of concordance (Kendall W) was higher in the twentieth group. It means that a profile preference of the twentieth is distinct. 5. A lip protrusion (to Ricketts E-line and Burstone B-line) of most preferred facial profile was similar to measurements of previous study that investigate skeletal and soft tissue of esthetic facial profile of young Korean. So these reference lines can be used valuably in clinics. 6. Profile of excessive lip protrusion or retrusion to E-line & B-line was least preferred. 7. Most preferred profile of all respondents group was straight profile. Profile that showing convex profile was not pre(erred and the least preferred profile was concave profile.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.197-208
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• 2015

Objectives : The purposes of this study were to examine the reliability and validity of the Korean version of Social Communication Questionnaire (K-SCQ) and to determine cut-off scores for diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Methods : A total of 166 subjects with ASD and their 186 unaffected siblings were recruited through child psychiatry clinics of university hospitals. Board certified child psychiatrists screened all probands suspected to have ASD based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition. To confirm the diagnoses, the Korean versions of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule and the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (K-ADI-R) were administered to all the subjects. All parents completed the K-SCQ and Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS). The non-ASD siblings were evaluated with the same instruments as the probands with ASD. We performed a factor analysis to examine the structure of K-SCQ. For testing the validity of K-SCQ, we compared the difference in Lifetime and Current scores of probands with ASD and their non-ASD siblings using t-test and analysis of covariance. Correlations between the K-SCQ and other measurements of ASD symptomatology, including K-ADI-R totals and domain scores and SRS, were examined. Receiver operation characteristic curve analysis was performed to extract cutoff scores discriminating affection status. Results : Four factors were extracted through factor analysis of K-SCQ ; 1) social relation and play, 2) stereotyped behavior, 3) social behavior, and 4) abnormal language. Cronbach's internal consistency was .95 in K-SCQ Lifetime, and .93 in K-SCQ Current. There were significant differences in total score of K-SCQ, both in Lifetime and Current between the ASD group and non-ASD siblings group (p<.05). K-SCQ scores were significantly correlated with K-ADI-R subdomain scores and SRS total scores (p<.05). The best-estimate cut-off scores of K-SCQ for diagnosis of ASD were 12 for 48 months and over, and 10 for below 47 months. Conclusion : Our findings suggest that the K-SCQ is a reliable and valid instrument for screening autistic symptoms in the Korean population. Lower cut-off scores than the original English version might be considered when using it as a screening instrument of ASD.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.277-291
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• 2008

In order to carry out river basin management, it is necessary to evaluate the state of the river basin and make site-specific measures on the basis of management goals and objectives. A river basin is divided into several watersheds, which are composed of several components: water resources, social and economic systems, law and institution, user, land, ecosystems, etc. They are connected among them and form network holistically. In this study, a methodology for evaluating watershed management was developed by consideration of the various features of a watershed system. This methodology employed factor analysis to develop sub-indexes for evaluating water use management, environment and ecosystem management, and flood management in a watershed. To do this, first, the related data were gathered and classified into six groups that are the components of watershed systems. Second, in all sub-indexes, preliminary tests such as KMO (Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin) measure of sampling adequacy and Bartlett's test of sphericity were conducted to check the data's acceptability to factor analysis, respectively. Third, variables related to each sub-index were grouped into three factors by consideration of statistic characteristics, respectively. These factors became indicators and were named, taking into account the relationship and the characteristics of included variables. In order to check the study results, the computed factor loadings of each variable were reviewed, and correlation analysis among factor scores was fulfilled. It was revealed that each factor score of factors in a sub-index was not correlated, and grouping variables by factor analysis was appropriate. And, it was thought that this indicator system would be applied effectively to evaluating the states of watershed management.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.633-639
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• 2016

Biomaterials including polymer, metal, ceramic, and composite have been widely applied for medical uses as medical fibers, artificial blood vessels, artificial joints, implants, soft tissue, and plastic surgery materials owing to their physicochemical properties. However, the biocompatibility and toxicity for film- and plate-form biomaterials is difficult to measure in mammalian cells because there is no appropriate incubation system. To solve these problems, we developed a novel mammalian cell culture system consisting of a silicone ring, top panel, and bottom panel and we applied two polymer films (PF) and one metal plate (MP). This system was based on the principal of sandwiching a test sample between the top panel and the bottom panel. Following the assembly of the culture system, SK-MEL-2 cells were seeded onto Styela Clava Tunic (SCT)-PF, NaHCO₃-added SCT (SCTN)-PF, and magnesium MP (MMP) and incubated at 37℃ for 24 hr and 48 hr. An MTT assay revealed that cell viability was maintained at a normal level in the SCT-PF culture group at 24 or 48 hr, although it rapidly decreased in the SCTN-PF culture group at 48 hr. Furthermore, the cell viability in the MMP culture group was very similar to that of the control group after incubation for 24 hr and 48 hr. Together, these results suggest the sandwich-type mammalian culture system developed here has the potential for the evaluation of the biocompatibility and toxicity of cells against PF- and MP-form biomaterials.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.7
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• pp.956-962
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• 2009

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of dentifrice-contatning grapefruit seed extract (GSE) and processed sulfur solution (PSS) on antimicrobial effects against oral pathogens. We first evaluated the antimicrobial effects of GSE and PSS against oral microbes: Streptococcus mutans (Sm), Prevotella intermedia (Pi), Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) and Candida albicans (Ca). When antimicrobial activity against Sm, Pi, Pg and Ca was tested, at 40 $\mu$l/disk, the inhibition zones of GSE were 11.0, 9.5, 8.0 and 9.0 mm, respectively. With the same method, the inhibition zones of PSS were 2.0, 3.5, 0.0 and 1.5 mm, respectively. In the micro broth dilution method, the MIC values of GSE against Sm, Pi, Pg and Ca were 0.24, 0.06, 0.10 and 15.63 $\mu$l/rnl, respectively. The MIC values of PSS were 0.12, 3.91,>125 and 7.81 $\mu$l/ml, respectively. When pH, refractive index, viscosity and color value of dentifrice-containing GSE and PSS were measured, there were no significant changes in these physical properties compared to the control samples. Antimicrobial activities of dentifrice products containing 0.5% GSE and 0.5% PSS against oral pathogens were 7.3, 4.3, 2.2 and 1.5 mm, respectively. According to these results, we conclude that there may be a role for GSE and PSS in the development of new oral supplies.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.7
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• pp.949-955
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• 2009

Mucosal epithelia sense external stress signals and transmit them to the intracellular cascade responses. Ribotoxic stress-producing chemicals such as deoxynivalenol (DON) or other trichothecene mycotoxins have been linked with gastrointestinal inflammatory diseases by Fusarium-contamination. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that DON evokes the epithelial sentinel signals of RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR) and early growth response gene 1 (EGR-1), which together contribute to the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 8 (IL-8) in human intestinal epithelial cells. PKR suppression by the dominant negative PKR expression attenuated DON-stimulated interleukin-8 production. Moreover, 1L-8 transcriptional activation by DON was also reduced by PKR inhibition in the human intestinal epithelial cells. Treatment with the PKR inhibitor also suppressed EGR-1 promoter activity, mRNA and protein induction, although mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases such as extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases (ERK) 1/2, p38, c-Jun N-terminal Kinase (INK) were little affected or even enhanced in presence of a PKR inhibitor. These patterns were also compared in the EGR-1-suppressed cells, which showed much more suppressed production of 1L-8. All things taken into consideration, DON-activated sentinel signals of EGR-1 via PKR mediated interleukin-8 production in human intestinal epithelial cells, which provide insight into the possible general mechanism associated with mucosal inflammation as an intestinal toxic insult by ribotoxic trichothecene mycotoxins.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.1019-1026
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• 2010

Obesity and being overweight are strongly associated with the development of metabolic disease such as diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia. High-fat diet (HFD) is one of the most important factors which cause obesity. In this study, C57BL/6 mice were treated with a HFD for 22 weeks in order to induce obesity and hyperglycemia. Twenty-two weeks later, body weight and plasma glucose level of the HFD group were significantly increased, compared with the normal diet (ND) group. Intra-peritoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) showed glucose intolerance in the HFD group compared with the ND group. These results confirmed that a HFD induced obesity and hyperglycemia in C57BL/6 mice. Plasma levels of triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) were increased in the HFD group compared with the ND group. Hepatic levels of TG and TC were also increased by a HFD. To investigate the alteration of lipid metabolism in liver, proteins which are related to lipid metabolism were observed. Among lipid synthesis related enzymes, fatty acid synthase (FAS) and glycerol phosphate acyl transferase (GPAT) were significantly increased in the HFD group. Apolipoprotein B (apoB) and microsomal triglyceride transport protein (MTP), which are related to lipid transport, were significantly increased in the HFD group. Interestingly, protein level and phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which is known as a metabolic regulator, were significantly increased in the HFD group compared with the ND group. In the present study we suggest that HFD may physiologically increase the proteins which are related with lipid synthesis and lipid transport, but that HFD may paradoxically induce the activation of AMPK.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.366-377
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• 2016

Water use efficiency (WUE) is considered as an important ecological indicator which may provide information on the process-structure relationships associated with energy-matter-information flows in ecosystem. The WUE at ecosystem-level can be defined as the ratio of gross primary productivity (GPP) to evapotranspiration (ET). In this study, KoFlux's long-term (2007-2015) eddy covariance measurements of $CO_2$ and water vapor fluxes were used to examine the WUE of needle fir plantation in Korea National Arboretum. Our objective is to ascertain the seasonality and inter-annual variability in WUE of this needle fir plantation so that the results may be assimilated into the development of a holistic ecological indicator for resilience assessment. Our results show that the WUE of needle fir plantation is characterized by a concave seasonal pattern with a minimum ($1.8-3.3g\;C{\cdot}(kg\;H_2O)^{-1}$) in August and a maximum ($5.1-11.4g\;C{\cdot}(kg\;H_2O)^{-1}$) in February. During the growing season (April to October), WUE was on average $3.5{\pm}0.3g\;C\;(kg\;H_2O)^{-1}$. During the dormant seasons (November to March), WUE showed more variations with a mean of $7.4{\pm}1.0g\;C{\cdot}(kg\;H_2O)^{-1}$. These values are in the upper ranges of WUE reported in the literature for coniferous forests in temperate zone. Although the growing season was defined as the period from April to October, the actual length of the growing season (GSL) varied each year and its variation explained 62% of the inter-annual variability of the growing season WUE. This is the first study to quantify long-term changes in ecosystem-level WUE in Korea and the results can be used to test models, remote-sensing algorithms and resilience of forest ecosystem.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.40-50
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• 2004

Background : Radiation pneumonitis(RP) is the major serious complication of thoracic irradiation treatment. In this study, we attempted to retrospectively evaluate the long-term prognosis of patients who experienced acute RP and to identify factor that might allow prediction of RP. Methods : Of the 114 lung cancer patients who underwent thoracic radiotherapy between December 2000 and December 2002, We performed analysis using a database of 90 patients who were capable of being evaluated. Results : Of the 44 patients(48.9%) who experienced clinical RP in this study, the RP was mild in 33(36.6%) and severe in 11(12.3%). All of severe RP were treated with corticosteroids. The median starting corticosteroids dose was 34 mg(30~40) and median treatment duration was 68 days(8~97). The median survival time of the 11 patients who experienced severe RP was significantly poorer than the mild RP group. (p=0.046) The higher total radiation dose(${\geq}60Gy$) was significantly associated with developing in RP.(p=0.001) The incidence of RP did not correlate with any of the ECOG performance, pulmonary function test, age, cell type, history of smoking, radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy, once-daily radiotherapy dose fraction. Also, serum albumin level, uric acid level at onset of RP did not influence the risk of severe RP in our study. Conclusion : Only the higher total radiation dose(${\geq}60Gy$) was a significant risk factor predictive of RP. Also severe RP was an adverse prognostic factor.