• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.176-183
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• 2014

Cognitive impairment is a result of dementia of diverse causes, such as cholinergic dysfunction and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Houttuynia cordata Thunb. (Saururaceae) has long been used as a traditional herbal medicine. It has biological activities including protective effects against amyloid beta ($A{\beta}$) toxicity, via regulation of calcium homeostasis, in rat hippocampal cells. To extend previous reports, we investigated the effects of water extracts of H. cordata herb (HCW) on tauopathies, also involving calcium influx. We then confirmed the effects of HCW in improving memory impairment and neuronal damage in mice with Ab-induced neurotoxicity. We also investigated the effects of HCW against scopolamine-induced cholinergic dysfunction in mice. In primary neuronal cells, HCW inhibited the phosphorylation of tau by regulating p25/p35 expression in $A{\beta}$-induced neurotoxicity. In mice with $A{\beta}$-induced neurotoxicity, HCW improved cognitive impairment, as assessed with behavioral tasks, such as novel object recognition, Y-maze, and passive avoidance tasks. HCW also inhibited the degeneration of neurons in the CA3 region of the hippocampus in Ab-induced neurotoxicity. Moreover, HCW, which had an $IC_{50}$ value of $79.7{\mu}g/ml$ for acetylcholinesterase inhibition, ameliorated scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment significantly in Y-maze and passive avoidance tasks. These results indicate that HCW improved cognitive impairment, due to cholinergic dysfunction, with inhibitory effects against tauopathies and cholinergic antagonists, suggesting that HCW may be an interesting candidate to investigate for the treatment of AD.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.270-274
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• 2001

A functional upper airway obstruction due to a vocal cord dysfunction(VCD) is characterized by a paradoxical adduction of the vocal cords throughout the respiratory cycle with no obvious organic cause for the obstruction. It commonly occurs paroxysmally and imitates acute asthmatic attacks, often in patients with coexisting asthma. They present with episodes of dyspnea associated with inspiratory wheezing that persists despite conventional asthma treatment and a flattening of the inspiratory limb of the flow-volume curve ; an adduction of the vocal cord during inspiration. Failure to recognize concurrent vocal cord dysfunction and asthma has led not only to the excessive use of bronchodilators and corticosteroids, but also to intubation and tracheostomy. Here, we report a case of coexistent obstructive pulmonary disease and functional upper airway obstruction due to a vocal cord dysfunction where a bronchoscopy showed a paradoxical vocal cord motion and typical features of a variable extrathoracic obstruction and a lower airway obstruction on the Flow-volume loop during a symptomatic period.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.680-684
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• 2006

This study was designed to investigate effects of KH-304 in improving erectile dysfunction (ED), particularly in terms of nitric oxide (NO)-cGMP pathways. After oral administration of the KH-304 water extract, 1OOmg, 300mg, 500mg or 700mg per 1 kg of Dody weigh for 10days, We examined the expression and activity of two enzyme: neuronal NO synthase (nNOS), endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) and that act upon the major NO-cGMP signaling pathway in penile tissue. Effect of KH-304 on COMP degradation was also examined using bovine vascular smooth muscle cells pretreated with an NO donor, S-nitroso-N-Acetylpenicillamine (SNAP), Also, it examined the endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) for seaching effecting period (100mg, 300mg/kg for 10 and 30days) and peak intracavernous pressures (ICPS) in penile tissues rabbit copus cavernosum contracted by 10-6 M phenylephrine. The severely reduced peak intracavernous pressures (ICPS) in penile tissues were restored completely after KH-304 treatment, and KH-304 treatment significantly made the latency period earlier. Furthermore, the penile expression levels of nNOS, eNOS dependent NOS activities and COMP concentrations were increased significantly in the KH-304 100, 300mg treated rats. These results suggest that KH-304 with high expression of NOS may be useful in erectile dysfunction.

• International Neurourology Journal
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.228-236
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• 2018

Neuromodulation was introduced for patients with poor outcomes from the existing traditional treatment approaches. It is well-established as an alternative, novel treatment option for voiding dysfunction. The current system of neuromodulation uses an open-loop system that only delivers continuous stimulation without considering the patient's state changes. Though the conventional open-loop system has shown positive clinical results, it can cause problems such as decreased efficacy over time due to neural habituation, higher risk of tissue damage, and lower battery life. Therefore, there is a need for a closed-loop system to overcome the disadvantages of existing systems. The closed-loop neuromodulation includes a system to monitor and stimulate micturition reflex pathways from the lower urinary tract, as well as the central nervous system. In this paper, we reviewed the current technological status to measure biomarker for closed-loop neuromodulation systems for voiding dysfunction.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers D
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• v.50 no.11
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• pp.541-549
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• 2001

The term 'silent period(SP)' refers to a transitory, relative or absolute decrease electromyography(EMG) activity, evoked in the midst of an otherwise sustained contraction. Masseteric SP is elicited by a tap on the chin during isometric contraction of masseter muscle. In this paper, a new EMG signal generation model including SP in masseter muscle is proposed. This work is based on the anatomical structure of trigeminal nerve system that related on temporomandibular joint(TMJ) dysfunction. And it was verified by comparing the real EMG signals including SP in masseter muscle to the simulated signals by the proposed model. Through this studies, it was shown that SP has relation to variable neurophysiological phenomena. A proposed model is based on the control system theory and DSP(Digital Signal Processing) theory, and was simulated using MATLAB simulink. As a result, the proposed SP model generated EMG signals which are similar to real EMG signal including normal SP and an abnormal extended SP. This model can be applied to the diagnosis of TMJ dysfunction and can effectively explain the origin of extended SP.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.60-67
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• 2000

Objectives : Radix Angelicae Gigantis(RAG) and Resina Ferulae(RF) have been used in oriental medicine or folk medicine to increase stamina. The aim of this study was the characterization of the mechanism of action of RAG and RF on smooth muscle and macrophages in rats to find new substances for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, cardiovascular diseases and immune dysfunction. Methods : We investigated the effects of the water extracts of RAG and RF on phenylephrine or KCl-contracted rat endothelium-denuded aorta, the production of NO in vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) and the production of NO and induction of iNOS in the $IFN-{\gamma}-primed$ RAW 264.7 cells. Results : The water extracts of the RAG and RF showed significant concentration-dependent relaxation effects on phenylephrine or KCl-contracted rat endothelium-denuded aorta. It also reduced the tension of the rat endothelium denuded aorta which was contracted in $Ca^{2+}-free$ media. On the other hand, it increased production of NO in VSMC which was stimulated with $IL-{\beta}$ or $IL-{\beta}$ plus $IFN-{\gamma}$. The water extracts of RAG and RF increased production of NO and induction of iNOS in the $IFN-{\gamma}-primed$ RAW 264.7 cells. Conclusions : According to the above results, the water extracts of RAG and RF relaxed the smooth muscle effectively and increased the production of NO in VSMC and macrophages. So, these herbs can be applied to erectile dysfunction, hypertension, angina pectoris, artherosclerosis and a defense defect for virus or microbe.

• KIISE Transactions on Computing Practices
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2018

The assessment and rehabilitation of patients with cognitive dysfunction is a field that currently requires assistive technology. While the paper-and-pencil test, such as the line tracing test (LTT), is one of the most commonly used assessment methods for cognitive dysfunction, it has become time-consuming due to its manual characteristic. The aim of this study was therefore to establish a computer-based real-time assessment system for patients without compromising the usefulness of the conventional paper-and-pencil based user tools. A digital pen-based assessment and rehabilitation system, the ePen System, could eliminate the time required for manual assessment while maintaining the measurement accuracy. The proposed system may assist rehabilitation specialists to assess and diagnose patients with unilateral visual neglect. This system can be applied to a range of assessment and rehabilitation modalities based on pen and paper. It can also be used for various patients such as those with Parkinson's disease, stroke, or different forms of brain lesions.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.205-211
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• 1987

Renal dysfunction can have pronounced effects on the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics of drugs. Because the exploration of these effects in patients may be limited by ethical and practical considerations, it often become necessary to perform studies on animals with experimental renal failure(ERF). ERF was produced in rats by the administration of uranyl nitrate, glycerol, salicylate, gentamicin and folate in this study. Changes in glomerular filtration rate(GFR) and renal secretion clearance of tetraethylammonium bromide$(CL^{scn}_{TEA})$, together with morphological changes of kidney cortex were evaluated and compared among ERF models. GFR(or glomeruli) and $CL^{scn}_{TEA}$(or renal tubules) were not damaged parallelly in some ERF model rats. Therefore, it seemed to be necessary to adjust dosage regimen of some basic drugs like TEA in renal dysfunction considering the functional changes of renal secretion in addition to glomerular filtration.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.164-168
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• 1988

Between November, 1984, and May, 1986, 93 patients underwent combined valvular and coronary artery operation. They were 70 male and 23 female, the age ranging from 29 to 82. From this population 89 patients underwent single valve replacement and 4 patients underwent double valve replacement. Patients with mitral valve disease were in the majority present in the age group between 50 till 70, where as in the group after 60 years, patients with aortic valve disease were dominant. The main indication for aortic valve replacement was aortic stenosis and the indication for mitral valve replacement was equal between mitral stenosis and mitral incompetence, the later was due to papillary dysfunction after myocardial infarction. Dyspnea was a very frequent symptom and it was found in nearly all patients. 28 patients had a previous myocardial infarction and severe left ventricular dysfunction. The grafts were placed prior to valve replacement and periods of myocardial ischemia were kept at a minimum by maintaining coronary perfusion throughout the operation. It is our opinion that simultaneous valve replacement and myocardial revascularization does not increase the risk of cardiac valve replacement substantially.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.24 no.12
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• pp.1200-1220
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• 2023

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is one of the most common types of non-ischemic cardiomyopathy. DCM is characterized by left ventricle (LV) dilatation and systolic dysfunction without coronary artery disease or abnormal loading conditions. DCM is not a single disease entity and has a complex historical background of revisions and updates to its definition because of its diverse etiology and clinical manifestations. In cases of LV dilatation and dysfunction, conditions with phenotypic overlap should be excluded before establishing a DCM diagnosis. The differential diagnoses of DCM include ischemic cardiomyopathy, valvular heart disease, burned-out hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, and non-compaction. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging is helpful for evaluating DCM because it provides precise measurements of cardiac size, function, mass, and tissue characterization. Comprehensive analyses using various sequences, including cine imaging, late gadolinium enhancement imaging, and T1 and T2 mapping, may help establish differential diagnoses, etiological work-up, disease stratification, prognostic determination, and follow-up procedures in patients with DCM phenotypes. This article aimed to review the utilities and limitations of CMR in the diagnosis and assessment of DCM.