• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.57 no.11
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• pp.472-478
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• 2014

Kawasaki disease (KD), an acute vasculitis that primarily affects young children, is the most common acquired paediatric cardiovascular disease in developed countries. While sequelae of arterial inflammation in the acute phase of KD are well documented, its late effects on vascular health are increasingly unveiled. Late vascular dysfunction is characterized by structural alterations and functional impairment in term of arterial stiffening and endothelial dysfunction and shown to involve both coronary and systemic arteries. Further evidence suggests that continuous low grade inflammation and ongoing active remodeling of coronary arterial lesions occur late after acute illness and may play a role in structural and functional alterations of the arteries. Potential importance of genetic modulation on vascular health late after KD is implicated by associations between mannose binding lectin and inflammatory gene polymorphisms with severity of peripheral arterial stiffening and carotid intima-media thickening. The changes in cholesterol and lipoproteins levels late after KD further appear similar to those proposed to be atherogenic. While data on adverse vascular health are less controversial in patients with persistent or regressed coronary arterial aneurysms, data appear conflicting in individuals with no coronary arterial involvements or only transient coronary ectasia. Notwithstanding, concerns have been raised with regard to predisposition of KD in childhood to accelerated atherosclerosis in adulthood. Until further evidence-based data are available, however, it remains important to assess and monitor cardiovascular risk factors and to promote cardiovascular health in children with a history of KD in the long term.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.83-90
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• 2017

Advanced age is one of the risk factors for vascular diseases that are mainly caused by impaired nitric oxide (NO) production. It has been demonstrated that endothelial arginase constrains the activity of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and limits NO generation. Hence, arginase inhibition is suggested to be vasoprotective in aging. In this study, we examined the effects of intravenous injection of Piceatannol, an arginase inhibitor, on aged mice. Our results show that Piceatannol administration reduced the blood pressure in aged mice by inhibiting arginase activity, which was associated with NO production and reactive oxygen species generation. In addition, Piceatannol administration recovered $Ca^{2+}$/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II phosphorylation, eNOS phosphorylation and eNOS dimer stability in the aged mice. The improved NO signaling was shown to be effective in attenuating the phenylephrine-dependent contractile response and in enhancing the acetylcholine-dependent vasorelaxation response in aortic rings from the aged mice. These data suggest Piceatannol as a potential treatment for vascular disease.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.173-183
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• 2004

Objectives : Oxidative stress can induce negative responses such as growth inhibition or cell death by necrosis or apoptosis due to the intensity of the oxidative stress, as well as positive responses such as cellular proliferation or activation. We examined the effect of Jihwangeumja on this process. Methods and Results : We analyzed the influence of oxidative stress and agents that modify its effect in human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC). Oxidative stress was induced by $B_2O_2$. With induced oxidative stress the results obtained indicate that it has a harmful effect over cell function and viability, and that this effect is dose and time dependent. When oxidative stress increased, Jihwangeumja reduced cell damage and had protective functions. $B_2O_2$, induced the apoptosis of HUVEC through the activation of intrinsic caspases pathway as well as mitochondrial dysfunction. A significant increase in cell survival was observed in culture cells with oxidative stress when they were treated with Jihwangeumja. Conclusions : These results suggest that Jihwangeumja may be potentially useful to treat HUVEC against oxidative damages mediated by modulation of caspase protease and mitochondrial dysfunction.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.782-787
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• 2009

In prion disease, spongiform neurodegeneration is preceded by earlier synaptic dysfunction. There is evidence that soluble N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor attachment receptor (SNARE) complex formation is reduced in scrapie-infected in vivo models, which might explain this synaptic dysfunction because SNARE complex plays a crucial role in neuroexocytosis. In the present study, however, it is shown that prion protein (PrP) does not interfere with SNARE complex formation of 3 SNARE proteins: syntaxin 1a, SNAP-25, and synaptobrevin. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-resistant complex formation, SNAREdriven membrane fusion, and neuroexocytosis of PC12 cells were not altered by PrP. Thus, PrP does not alter synaptic function by directly interfering with SNARE complex formation.

• The Journal of Korean society of community based occupational therapy
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.61-69
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• 2011

This paper proposes that people with disability can be successfully supported by smart homes only when their needs of the technological interventions are understood and integrated in traditional universal design. Understanding the patient's home environment is an integral part of treatment and discharge planning. This paper suggests on architectural barriers commonly found in the home, ways to eliminate them and a general overview of methods for assessment and intervention. It is expected that the electronics, information and communication technology can be an alternative of traditional universal designs for motor dysfucntion, sensory dysfunction and cognitive dysfunction.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.329-336
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• 2017

A review study was conducted to examine the adverse effects of styrene, styrene mixtures, or styrene and/or styrene mixtures and noise on the auditory system in humans employed in occupational settings. The search included peer-reviewed articles published in English language involving human volunteers spanning a 25-year period (1990-2015). Studies included peer review journals, caseecontrol studies, and case reports. Animal studies were excluded. An initial search identified 40 studies. After screening for inclusion, 13 studies were retrieved for full journal detail examination and review. As a whole, the results range from no to mild associations between styrene exposure and auditory dysfunction, noting relatively small sample sizes. However, four studies investigating styrene with other organic solvent mixtures and noise suggested combined exposures to both styrene organic solvent mixtures may be more ototoxic than exposure to noise alone. There is little literature examining the effect of styrene on auditory functioning in humans. Nonetheless, findings suggest public health professionals and policy makers should be made aware of the future research needs pertaining to hearing impairment and ototoxicity from styrene. It is recommended that chronic styrene-exposed individuals be routinely evaluated with a comprehensive audiological test battery to detect early signs of auditory dysfunction.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.119-124
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• 2017

Taraxacum platycarpum H. Dahl. (Compositae) has been used as an anti-inflammatory or anti-cancer agent in the clinic. Although its antidepressant effect has been reported, however, its cognitive function is not investigated until yet. In the present study, we investigated whether the water extract of T. platycarpum (WETP) could improve cognitive function in cholinergic blockade-induced amnesia mouse model using the passive avoidance or Y-maze task. WETP (12.5, 25 or 50 mg/kg) significantly ameliorated the scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment both in the passive avoidance test and the Y-maze test. In addition, WETP significantly inhibited acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity measured by an ex vivo study using the mouse whole brain. These results suggest that WETP alleviates the cognitive dysfunction caused by the cholinergic blockade, in part, via AChE inhibition, and that it may be a useful for treating cognitive dysfunction.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.69-74
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• 2010

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is associated with significant cardiovascular morbidity and increased mortality. However, it was controversial whether obstructive sleep apnea syndrome could cause pulmonary hypertension. The controversy was resolved by several studies that have shown pulmonary hypertension in 20% to 40% of patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome without underlying other cardiopulmonary diseases and reductions in pulmonary arterial pressure in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome after treatment with nocturnal continuous positive airway pressure. Recent studies provide strong evidence for endothelial dysfunction in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and pulmonary hypertension. Endothelin-1 is a 21 amino acid peptide with diverse biologic activity such as highly potent vasoconstrictor and mitogen regulator that may play a key role in obstructive sleep ap-nea syndrome and pulmonary hypertension. Continuous positive airway pressure therapy is moderately effective in reducing pulmonary arterial pressure. Further researches are needed to assess the therapeutic efficacy of pharmacologic therapy with agents that inhibit the action of endothelin-1 in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome patients with pulmonary hypertension.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 1995

Thermography is a diagnostic procedures that measures infrared energy emitted by the skin. Thermography detects body temperature change which are controlled by the autonomic nervous system. It does show the thermal dysfunction that correlates closely with pain syndromes as well as normalization when the healing process takes place. Experienced clinical interpretation of the thermal pattern is necessary to diagnose and establish causation. Thermography is useful in the diagnosis of painful conditions such as herniated disc diseases, myofascial syndrome, myositis, musculoligamentous injury, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, athretic injuries, vascular diseases, arthritis, inflammation and breast tumors.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.1040-1046
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• 1990

Despite the improved diagnostic and treatment modalities recently introduced for a variety of esophageal disorders, a perforation or leak from the esophagus remains a sources of morbidity and mortality regardless of the cause of leak. After the perforation of esophagus, the contamination of mediastinum and pleural cavity with food, bacteria and corrosive gastric juice leads to sepsis and cardiopulmonary dysfunction. The early diagnosis and early treatment are very important, and the delayed treatment leads to high risk of morbidity and mortality. We experienced one case of esophageal perforation, after forced vomiting in 48 years old male patient. We used omentum on the treatment of ruptured esophagus, and it was successfully managed.