• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제32권2호
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• pp.224-230
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• 2024

Pinitol (3-O-Methyl-D-chiro-inositol) has been reported to possess insulin-like effects and is known as one of the anti-diabetic agents to improve muscle, liver, and endothelial cells. However, the beneficial effects of pinitol on the skin are not well known. Here, we investigated whether pinitol had effects on human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs), and human dermal equivalents (HDEs) irradiated with ultraviolet A (UVA), which causes various damages including photodamage in the skin. We observed that pinitol enhanced wound healing in UVA-damaged HDFs. We also found that pinitol significantly antagonized the UVA-induced up-regulation of matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1), and the UVA-induced down-regulation of collagen type I and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP1) in HDEs. Electron microscopy analysis also revealed that pinitol remarkably increased the number of collagen fibrils with regular banding patterns in the dermis of UVA-irradiated human skin equivalents. Pinitol significantly reversed the UVA-induced phosphorylation levels of ERK and JNK but not p38, suggesting that this regulation may be the mechanism underlying the pinitol-mediated effects on UVA-irradiated HDEs. We also observed that pinitol specifically increased Smad3 phosphorylation, which is representative of the TGF-β signaling pathway for collagen synthesis. These data suggest that pinitol exerts several beneficial effects on UVA-induced damaged skin and can be used as a therapeutic agent to improve skin-related diseases.

• 한국전기전자재료학회논문지
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• 제37권3호
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• pp.286-291
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• 2024

Research on aged insulation of cables by stress is constantly being considered for reliable and stable power transmission of offshore wind farms. This study aimed to evaluate the insulation characteristic of aged XLPE (cross-linked polyethylene) insulation for application of offshore wind farms. In this study, The XLPE insulation of cable was set as various mechanical strains. The XLPE insulation is exposed to the mechanical stress below yield strain of 5%, 10%, and 20%. Aged samples were tested by using the method of AC BDV (alternative current breakdown voltage), tensile strength, elongation, and SEM (scanning electron microscope) to obtain insulation characteristics. The experimental results show that the dielectric breakdown of the sample with a strain 20% was 50% lower than the unaged sample; thereby, demonstrating that the mechanical strain that occurred in the submarine cables can weaken the insulation characteristics. Therefore, mechanical strain should be monitored when laying and operating submarine cables for offshore wind farms.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.151-162
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• 2024

PURPOSE. This study aimed to analyze factors influencing the success and failure of implant prostheses and to estimate the lifespan of prostheses using standardized evaluation criteria. An online survey platform was utilized to efficiently gather large samples from multiple institutions. MATERIALS AND METHODS. During the one-year period, patients visiting 16 institutions were assessed using standardized evaluation criteria (KAP criteria). Data from these institutions were collected through an online platform, and various statistical analyses were conducted. Risk factors were assessed using both the Cox proportional hazard model and Cox regression analysis. Survival analysis was conducted using Kaplan-Meier analysis and nomogram, and lifespan prediction was performed using principal component analysis. RESULTS. The number of patients involved in this study was 485, with a total of 841 prostheses evaluated. The median survival was estimated to be 16 years with a 95% confidence interval. Factors found to be significantly associated with implant prosthesis failure, characterized by higher hazard ratios, included the 'type of clinic', 'type of antagonist', and 'plaque index'. The lifespan of implant prostheses that did not fail was estimated to exceed the projected lifespan by approximately 1.34 years. CONCLUSION. To ensure the success of implant prostheses, maintaining good oral hygiene is crucial. The estimated lifespan of implant prostheses is often underestimated by approximately 1.34 years. Furthermore, standardized form, online platform, and visualization tool, such as nomogram, can be effectively utilized in future follow-up studies.

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• 제53권7호
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• pp.472-479
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• 2023

Background and Objectives: The association between bilirubin and atrial fibrillation (AF) has been evaluated previously in observational studies but with contradictory results. This study evaluated the causal association between serum bilirubin level and AF using Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Methods: This cross-sectional study includes 8,977 participants from the Dong-gu Study. In the observational analysis, multivariate logistic regression was performed to evaluate the association between bilirubin and prevalent AF. To evaluate the causal association between bilirubin and AF, MR analysis was conducted by using the UGT1A1 rs11891311 and rs4148323 polymorphisms as instrumental variables. Results: Elevated serum bilirubin levels were associated with an increased risk for AF in observational analysis (total bilirubin: odds ratio [OR], 1.31; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.15-1.48 per 1 standard deviation [SD]; direct bilirubin: OR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.18-1.46 per 1 SD), whereas the genetically predicted serum bilirubin levels in MR analysis did not show this association (total bilirubin: OR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.67-1.53 per 1 SD; direct bilirubin: OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.61-1.73 per 1 SD). Conclusions: Genetically predicted bilirubin levels were not associated with prevalent AF. Thus, the observational association between serum bilirubin levels and AF may be noncausal and affected by reverse causality or unmeasured confounding.

• 농촌계획
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.51-68
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• 2024

Since 1949, the UK has implemented a national land planning strategy to sustain rural areas, emphasizing the concept of 'Natural Beauty.' This involves designating "Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)" as a political approach to conserving rural landscapes and fostering a societal consensus on environmental conservation. AONB adopts an integrated and systematic approach to achieve harmony between the environment and human activities. This study investigates the implications of the AONB rural landscape management approach through case studies of the Cotswolds Conservation Board and Cannock Chase Joint Committee. It examines the legislative designation and supporting processes of AONB, analyzing the governance system to clarify the roles of authorities in policy decision-making. AONB's system revolves around joint committees or conservation boards of local authorities responsible for establishing, implementing, and monitoring management plans. The planning process involves a harmonious management plan system reflecting regional demands, including regular forums. AONB serves as a powerful tool for local residents to engage in the development of their region through stewardship. The study suggests that understanding the AONB model could provide a foundation for developing rural landscape conservation and spatial management plans tailored to Korea's context in the future.

• 한국건축시공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국건축시공학회 2023년도 가을학술발표대회논문집
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• pp.157-158
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• 2023

Doors that are opened and closed when entering or exiting a general building are connected to the door frame and open and close. They are equipped with door locking devices of various structures, and are either locked to the door frame for the closing operation or released from the door frame for the opening and closing operation. Here, a single-stage door binding device having a door latch that is independently disposed at the center of one axis of the door is commonly used. On the other hand, if the size of the door is over a certain size or if the door is medium to large, the opening and closing operation may not be performed smoothly with only a single stage binder, or the closing state may not be achieved stably during the closing operation. In particular, in the case of the single-stage binding device provided in medium to large fire doors, the door is fixed to the door frame unstable, causing fatal errors in the fire prevention function of the fire door. Accordingly, in order to fundamentally solve these problems, we researched and developed a three-stage door binding machine that combines a top and bottom fastening structure with a single-stage fastening structure. This 3-stage door binder not only has the fire resistance performance of a fire door, but also has a T-shaped terminal in its fastening method, so if you eliminate the upper and lower fastening, it is a 1-stage binder like a regular product, but if you remove the door latch of the 1st-stage binder, it functions as an upper and lower 2-stage binder and forms a single mold. We researched and developed a three-stage door binder that can manufacture and produce three products at the same time, satisfying both product performance and price.

• 한국군사과학기술학회지
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.304-310
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• 2024

Ricin is a highly toxic protein which is produced in the seeds of the castor oil plant. Ricin toxin A chain has ribosomal RNA N-glycosylase activity that irreversibly hydrolyses the N-glycosidic bond of the adenine residue at position 4324 within the 28S rRNA. In this study, we developed non-toxic recombinant ricin vaccine(R51) in E. coli expression system, and evaluated efficacy of the R51 according to adjuvants. When the R51 was administered using aluminum hydroxide as an adjuvant, the vaccine efficacy was higher than that of TLR agonists or aluminum phosphate. Because it is time-consuming to administer the vaccine three times at three-week intervals, we investigated the survival rate and antibody titer of mice according to the change of time interval of vaccination. Interestingly, there was no difference in survival rate and antibody titer when R51 was administered at 0, 1, and 3 weeks or 0, 2, and 4 weeks compared to when administered at 0, 3, and 6 weeks. Therefore, the developed R51 vaccine is promising to protect soldiers from Ricin attack.

• 대한영상의학회지
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• 제83권1호
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• pp.162-167
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• 2022

신장 점액종은 신장에서 발생하는 드문 양성 종양이다. 최근까지 영미권에서 적은 수의 증례 보고가 되어 있으나 대부분의 경우 비뇨의학적 혹은 병리학적으로 접근하여 점액종의 영상의학적 소견은 잘 분석되지 않았다. 우리는 62세 남자 환자에서 발생한 신장 점액종의 영상 소견을 보고하고자 한다. 해당 종양은 좌측 신장동에 위치하고 있었으며, 자기공명영상의 T2 강조영상에서는 중등도의 고신호강도로 T1 강조영상에서는 저신호강도로 보였다. 또한 종양은 역동적 조영증강 영상에서는 점진적인 조영증강을 보였다.

• 대한영상의학회지
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• 제84권3호
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• pp.731-735
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• 2023

쌀소체는 성인 류마티스 관절염 환자에서 종종 발생하나 소아의 경우에는 성인에 비해 드물게 발생한다. 저자들은 무릎 통증으로 내원한 11세 여자 환자의 무릎 자기공명영상에서 관절강 내 종괴를 발견하였고 관절경 검사에서 뭉쳐진 쌀소체들을 확인하였다. 소아에서 관절강 내 종괴 형태로 나타난 쌀소체의 자기공명영상 소견을 보고하고자 한다.

• 대한영상의학회지
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• 제84권3호
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• pp.726-730
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• 2023

긴엄지발가락폄근의 보조힘줄은 긴엄지발가락폄근 변이의 일종이며 드물지 않게 관찰된다. 저자들은 긴엄지발가락폄근 힘줄이 파열된 38세 여성 환자에서 신체진찰상 긴엄지발가락폄근의 부분파열이 의심이 되어 보존적 치료를 고려하였으나 자기공명영상에서 주힘줄은 완전 파열되고 주힘줄과 나란히 주행하는 보조힘줄이 발견되어 수술적 치료를 시행한 증례를 보고하고자 한다.