• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.95-100
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• 2003

Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), is a widespread environmental pollutant. In this study, we investigated the effect of DDT on testosterone production through aromatase and investigated its molecular mechanism in testicular leydig cell, R2C. We investigated that the effects of DDT on testosterone production and its effects on aromatase activity in R2C cell by radio immunoassay (RIA). As the results, the potent leyding cell activator LH increased testosterone production compared to the control. DDT exposure significantly decreased testosterone production in R2C cell and DDT alone affected T reduction in a dose-dependent manner in R2C cell slightly. In addition, DDT was found to increase aromatase activity in R2C cell in a dose dependent manner. In order to assess whether the suppressive effects of DDT on LH-inducible testosterone production might be influenced by the ER, ICI 182.780, a pure antiestrogen, was used, and it was found that these inhibitory effects of DDT were antagonized by ICI 182.780, implying that the ER mediates the suppressive effects of DDT. Furthermore, the inducible effects of DDT on aromatase might be influenced by the ER, ICI 182.780 was used, and it was found that these enhancing effects of DDT were antagonized by ICI 182.780, implying that the ER mediates the inducible effects of DDT. Our results indicated that DDT inhibition of LH-inducible testosterone production in R2C is mediated through aromatase. However, the precise mechanisms by which DDT enhance in leyding cell remains unknown. The current study suggests the possibility that DDT might act as a modulator aromatase gene transcription.

• The Korean Journal of Applied Statistics
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.637-653
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• 2018

Rapid aging of the population affects population structure and population aging. Consequently, developed countries have focused on population aging as a major issue in regards to pension sustainability finances as well as health and the elderly welfare system. Mortality projections that result from population structure changes and population aging are increasingly important. This paper compares six mortality models using KOSTAT's life table from 1970 to 2016. The models are rooted in the Lee-Carter (LC) model (Lee and Carter, Journal of the American Statistical Association, 87, 659-671, 1992) and have been modified and improved on the assumptions of the LC model. We examined the improvement process and the check assumption by models in order to find a suitable mortality model for Korea. Korea shows rapid aging and declined mortality rate by age; therefore, it is desirable to estimate and predict mortality from LL&LC-ER models by combining LC-ER, LL, and LC-ER models that reflect the phenomena and modify age-specific mortality patterns without major changes in expected life expectancy.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.315-324
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• 2002

The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the efficiency of Er:YAG laser on calculus removal and the morphologic changes and hardness of the irradiated surface at different power settings. This experiment used human teeth which were extracted due to periodontal disease and had a band of calculus. Forty root slabs ($5{\times}5mm$) were made and divided into control group and irradiated groups. Experimental groups were as follows; Control group (root planing), Group1 (irradiated with laser at 30mJ), Group2 (irradiated with laser at 60mJ), Group3 (irradiated with laser at 100mJ). Twelve root slab embedded in resin block were used in each group. Er:YAG laser was applied under water irrigation with the tip held perpendicular to the root surface in contact mode. The treatment time was measured until the calculus was removed completely under naked eyes. The efficiency of calculus removal was evaluated by the time for removal. Morphological changes of laser irradiated site were observed under SEM and the surface hardness was measured using a VH tester. The results were as follows; 1. The efficiency of laser scaling was increased with increasing the energy level of irradiation(p<0.05). 2. The morphological changes such as carbonization, crater and scale-like defects in the irradiated root surface were frequently observed with increasing the energy level. 3. The surface hardness tended to increase at 60mJ and 100mJ irradiated groups than that of control group. From the results evaluting on the efficiency, morphological change and surface hardness, lower energy level was suggested for the clinical application of the Er:YAG laser in scaling.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.165-172
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• 2000

To investigate the defensive effect of green tea against the lead toxicity, Sprague-Dewley rats (150 gm) were divided into 5 groups; the control group, the group treated with lead for 4 weeks (Group A-1), the group treated with lead and green tea for 4 weeks (Group A-2), the group treated with lead for 8 weeks (Group B-1), and the group treated with lead and green tea for 8 weeks (Group B-2). The lead acetate (500 ppm) was injected two times for one week into the abdomen and green tea solution (3 g/100 ml distilled water) offered freely. In the liver cell, The cristae of mitochondria were enlarged, the rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER) extended and many lysosome observed on the Group A- 1. The cristae of mitochondria were enlarged and many lysosome observed, but nucleus was normal on the Croup A-2. All of observed parts on the Group B-1 deeply wounded by lead than the group A-1. In the Group B-2, the mitochondria and rER were increased in number than the Group B-1 and the nucleus was observed normally.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.601-606
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• 1989

The effects of temperature and retaining ion on the separation factor (${\alpha}$) and distribution ratio (D) of some lanthanides ($Pr^{3+},\;Nd^{3+},\;Sm^{3+},\;and\;Er^{3+}$) have been studied in the EDTA solution as an elutant by using Amberite IR 120 + resin. The retaining ions on the resin were ${NH_4}^+,\;Na^+,\;K^+,\;Mg^{2+},\;Ca^{2+},\;Zn^{2+}$and $Ce^{3+}$. Separation factor of Nd/Pr is much improved by using $Ce^{3+}$ as retaining ion. The distribution ratios were decreased with the increase of temperature, but separation factors did not always increase with the increase of temperature. However, in the case of $Ce^{3+}$ as retaining ion, separation factors of Nd/Pr and Sm/Nd were increased with the increasing of temperature. And also in the case of $Zn^{2+}$ as retaining ion, separation factor of Er/Sm was increased with the increasing of temperature.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.375-381
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• 2005

Er:YAG laser has been considered a promising alternative to dental drill and many researches indicate that adjustment to variable parameters, including water flow rate, pulse energy and pulse repetition rate, can be made to improve ablation ability and efficiency of the laser. Of these parameters, addition of water spray during irradiation has been thought to ablate dental hard tissue more rapidly and safely. The purpose of this study was to investigate tooth ablation amount by Er:YAG laser irradiation as related to varied water flow rates added and, ultimately to find the most effective water flow rate for ablation. In addition, the temperature change of pulp chamber during irradiation was also monitored on the irradiated and opposite pulpal walls, respectively. An Er:YAG laser with contact mode was employed. Extracted human molars were split into two pieces for ablation experiment. Pulse energies of 200 and 300 mJ with a pulse repetition rate of 20 Hz and 5 water flow rates (1.6, 3.0, 5.0, 7.0, and 10.0 ml/min) were applied. Each irradiation was performed for 3 seconds. According to these parameters, experimental groups were divided into 10 subgroups which consisted of 5 specimens. For temperature experiment, another 5 tooth-specimens were prepared in the manner that pulp chamber was open through access cavity preparation and two temperature-measuring probes were placed respectively on the irradiated and the opposite walls of pulp chamber. From the experiment on ablation amount related to different water flow rates, it was shown that the least water flow rate of 1.6 ml/min ablated more than any other water flow rates (p<0.000). When the irradiation for 3 seconds, combined with the pulse repetition time of 20Hz and the water flow rate of 1.6 ml/min was done to tooth specimen, the temperature rise was not noticeable both on the irradiated and the opposite pulpal walls (less than 3$^{\circ}C$) and there was no significant difference in temperature rise between the two pulse energies, 200 and 300 mJ. From the results of this study, it is suggested that tooth ablation with Er:YAG laser can be done effectively and safely at a energy between 200 and 300 mJ/pulse and a pulse repetition rate of 20 Hz when the lasing is conjugated with the water flow rate of 1.6ml/min.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.469-477
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of two dentin desensitizers and Er,Cr:YSGG laser for dentinal tubule occlusion. Twenty recently extracted single-rooted human teeth were used to obtain root dentinal fragments. The crowns were cut approximately 1mm below the cementum enamel junction(CEJ). A second cut was used to remove the apex of the root. Subsequently, a longitudinal cut was made in order to obtain 2 fragments from each root sample. The cementum from the cervical portion was removed using a high-speed diamond-coated bur in order to expose the dentin. To open dentinal tubules, forty samples were treated with 50% citric acid for 2 min and then rinsed under distilled water for 1 min. These were divided into four groups of ten samples each. The first group served as a control group. In group 2, the samples were irradiated with the Er,Cr:YSGG laser(Waterlase MD, Biolase, USA). In group 3, the samples were treated with Bisblock and ONE-STEP PLUS(Bisco, USA). In group 4, the samples were treated with Gluma comfort bond & Desensitizer(Heraeus Kulzer, Germany). All the samples were examined using Scanning electron microscopy(Hitachi, S-4700, Japan) with two different magnifications(X2000, X5000). These images were assessed by one examiner who was blind to the experimental procedure, using the index of smear layer removal. The distribution of smear layer removal grades was tested using Fisher's exact test. On the order hand, in order to evaluate the occluding effect of two dentin desensitizers and Er,Cr:YSGG laser, the number of exposed dentinal tubules was counted in each group. These were evaluated using the Kruskal-Wallis test with significance predetermined $\alpha$=0.05. There were statistically significant differences between the three groups(Er,Cr:YSGG laser, Bisblock+ONE-STEP PLUS, Gluma comfort bond & Desensitizer) and control group.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.583-595
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• 2020

Purpose: This study examined the effects of Sargassum horneri extracts on palmitic acid (PA)-induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in HepG2 cells. Methods: HepG2 cells were treated with varying concentrations of S. horneri extract or PA, and the cell viability was measured by water soluble tetrazolium salts analysis. The effective induction of ER stress and the effects of S. horneri were investigated through an examination of the ER stress-related genes, such as activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), X-box binding protein (XBP1s), C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), and 78-kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP78) by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The expression and activation levels of unfolded protein response (UPR) associated proteins, such as inositol-requiring enzyme-1α (IRE1α), eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 alpha submit (eIF2α), and CHOP were examined by western blot analysis. Results: The treatment with PA increased the expression of UPR associated genes significantly and induced ER stress in a 12-hour treatment. Subsequent treatment with S. horneri reduced mRNA expression of ATF4, GRP78, and XBP1s. In addition, the protein levels of phosphate (p)-IRE1α, p-elF2α, and CHOP were also reduced by a treatment with S. horneri. An analysis of sirtuin (SIRT) mRNA expression in the S. horneri and PA-treated HepG2 cells showed that S. horneri increased the levels of SIRT2, SIRT6, and SIRT7, which indicates a possible role in reducing the expression of ER stress-related genes. Conclusion: These data indicate that S. horneri can exert an inhibitory effect on ER stress caused by PA and highlight its potential as an agent for managing various ER stress-related diseases.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.190-199
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• 2017

Air-blown Gasification of coal and torrefied biomass mixture is conducted on fixed-bed gasifier. The various ratio (9:1, 8:2, 7:3) of coal and torrefied biomass mixture are used. The contents of $H_2$, CO in the syngas were increased with gasification temperature. Carbon conversion tend to increase with temperature and equivalence ratio (ER). However, cold gas efficiency showed maximum point in ER range of 0.26-0.36. The torrefied biomass showed highest cold gas efficiency of 67.5% at $934^{\circ}C$, ER 0.36. Gasification of 8:2 mixture showed the highest carbon conversion and cold gas efficiency and synergy effect.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.905-911
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• 2001

Phytoestrogens, especially soy-derived isoflavones, are receiving great scrutiny as a food supplement for preventing hormone dependent diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and osteoporosis. These beneficial effects of phytoestrogens are caused by functioning as partial agonists or antagonists of estrogens. In contrast to the common usage of soy bean, Yak-kong(Rhynchosia Molubilis ; ) has been used as supplements of estrogen fir preventing postmenopausal osteoporosis in Oriental medicine. To investigate estrogenic effects of Yak-kong and soy bean on the proliferation of MG-63 osteoblastic cells, each bean was extracted with 70% methanol and dried by freeze-drying. Yak-kong treatment of MG-63 cells resulted in an increase of cell proliferation to a maximum of 76% compared to 68% of soy bean treatment. Treatment of MG-63 cells with Yak-kong extract also resulted in an increase of transactivation of an ERE(estrogen response element)-luciferase reporter plasmid and IGF-I expression selectively. Despite increased effects of both bean treatments on the expression of estrogen receptor $\alpha$(ER$\alpha$) and $\beta$(ER$\beta$), soy bean treatment decreased transactivation of an ERE-luciferase reporter plasmid and did not further enhance IGF-I expression. Together, our data demonstrates that the greater estrogenic response of Yak-kong extract for MG-63 cell proliferation is mediated by ER derived transactivation of ERE and selective induction of IGF-I expression.