• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.271-281
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• 1996

The effect of superovulation (PMSG, FSH) on the ovarian response of matured cows were tested. The survival rates of bovine embryos and ovarian oocytes frozen by slow, rapid freezing and vitrification were investigated. A total of 15 heads of cow were devided into 3 groups by injection dose of GTH (PSMG, FSH). Each group was superrovulated with injections of 2, 500, 3, OOOJU PSMG and 40mg FSH followed by injection of 30mg PGF2a. Embryos were non-surgically recovered from superovulated cows 6~7days after estrus. The recovered embryos were frozen in 10% glycerol + 10% sucrose by slow and rapid freezing. Ovarian oncytes were frozen in 20% g]ycerol+l0% ethylene glycerol + 30% Ficol + 10% sucrose by vitrification and the survival of frozen embryos and ovarian oncytes were judged by FDA-test. The results are summarized as follows; 1. Estrus after the injection of 2500, 3000 I.U. PMSG and 4Omg FSH were 32.8, 35.0 and 43.4 and the duration of estrus were 18.6, 18.8 and 22.4 hours respectively. 2. The average sizes of the left ovaries were 5.4cm (2, 500 IU PMSG), 5.1cm (3, OOOIU PMSG) and 6.4cm (FSH), and the right were 6.2cm (2, 5001U PMSG), 5.7cm (3, OOOIU PMSG) and 7.&m (FSH) respectively. There were significant differences in the right overies among treatments (P<0.05). 3. The average number of ovarian follicles in the left ovaries were 4.8 (2, 500 IU PMSG), 5.2(3, 000 IU PMSG) and 7.8 (FSH) respectively. There were significant difference in the right ovaries among treatments (P<0.05). 4. In the average numbers of ovulation points in the left ovaries were 3.0 (2, 5001U PMSG), 3.2 (3, OOOIU PMSG) and 4.4 (FSH) respectively, and the right were 7.2 (2, 5001U PMSG), 7.8(3, 000IU PMSG) and 11.4 (FSH). There were significant differences in the right ovaries among treatments (P<0.05). 5. The numbers of the recovered embryos were 20 (2, 5001U PMSG), 19 (3, 000 IU PMSG) and 21 (FSH) respectively, and oncytes and degenerted oncytes were 6.5 and 11.0 Estrus periods of post parturation were 52.4days (2, 5001U PMSG), 69.8days (3, OOOIU PMSG) and 62.4days (FSH) respectively. 6. The FDA score of cow morulae frozen by slow freezing, sernirapid frezing and vitrified freezing was higher in slow (3.1) and vitrified freezing (3.0) than that in semirapid freezing (1.28). The FDA-scores of cow, pig and rabbit ovarian oocytes frozen in 20% glycerol + 10% ethylene glycol + 30% Ficoll + 10% sucrose by vitrification were higher in cows (3.3) than both in pigs (2.6) and rabbits (2.3).

• Medical Lasers
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.19-23
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• 2019

Background and Objectives The picosecond 755 nm alexandrite laser was first approved by the US FDA in 2012. A previous study described the use of a 1,064 nm picosecond laser with a micro-lens array (MLA) in peri-areolar scarring from breast reconstruction surgery and reported significant improvement in the texture and aesthetic appearance of the scar without other wound complications. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the improvement of overall scarring, not just pigmentation, in the picosecond laser treatment of patients with pigmentations. Materials and Methods Sixteen patients who underwent 1,064 nm picosecond laser treatment from June 2016 to December 2018 were enrolled in this study. Patients received two to six sessions of picosecond laser treatment at intervals of 4 weeks. Before and after the laser treatment, the patients evaluated their own satisfaction score and a physician evaluated the Vancouver Scar Scale. To evaluate the satisfaction score and complication rate, a retrospective chart review was done. Results Seven were female and nine were male. The mean of the patients' satisfaction score before the treatment was 1.44 (interquartile range [IQR], 1-2) and 3.00 (IQR 2.25-3.75) six months after treatment. The mean of the Vancouver Scar Scale before the treatment was 9.69 (IQR 8-11), and 6.25 (IQR 5-7.75) six months after treatment. All the results were statistically significant (p<0.01). Conclusion This study provides evidence that the use of a 1,064 nm picosecond laser treatment for pigmented scars can be effective in improving the pigmentation and overall scar status, including vascularity, height, and pliability, with the results of a decrease in the VSS scores between treatments.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.173-178
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• 2020

Objectives: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a prevalent and chronic, pruritic inflammatory skin condition that can influence all age groups. AD is associated with a poor health-related quality of life. This randomized clinical trial was performed to compare the effectiveness of Olivederma (combination of aloe vera and virgin olive oil) or betamethasone regarding disease severity, quality of life, serum IgE and eosinophil count. Methods: Thirty-six AD patients were randomly allocated to topical Olivederma or betamethasone, and were followed for 6 weeks. Results: Total SCORAD severity scores showed significant decrease in both groups, while it was more prominent in Olivederma group (64.5% improvement in Olivederma vs. 13.5% improvement in Betamethasone, p-value < 0.001). Quality of life (DLQI questionnaire) of AD patients was significantly improved after 6 weeks treatment with Betamethasone (22.3%, p < 0.001) and Olivederma (60.7%, p-value < 0.001). Olivederma group showed a significantly lower DLQI score in comparison with Betamethasone treated patients after 6 weeks of therapy (p < 0.001). Improvements in eosinophil count and serum IgE was observed. Conclusion: In summary, this study shows that Olivederma is superior to topical Betamethasone after 6 weeks of therapy with regard to disease severity, quality of life and eosinophil count.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.42 no.8
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• pp.579-588
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• 2019

Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) is a popular tool to identify underlying biological processes in clinical samples using their gene expression phenotypes. GSEA measures the enrichment of annotated gene sets that represent biological processes for differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in clinical samples. GSEA may be suboptimal for functional gene sets; however, because DEGs from the expression dataset may not be functional genes per se but dysregulated genes perturbed by bona fide functional genes. To overcome this shortcoming, we developed network-based GSEA (NGSEA), which measures the enrichment score of functional gene sets using the expression difference of not only individual genes but also their neighbors in the functional network. We found that NGSEA outperformed GSEA in identifying pathway gene sets for matched gene expression phenotypes. We also observed that NGSEA substantially improved the ability to retrieve known anti-cancer drugs from patient-derived gene expression data using drug-target gene sets compared with another method, Connectivity Map. We also repurposed FDA-approved drugs using NGSEA and experimentally validated budesonide as a chemical with anti-cancer effects for colorectal cancer. We, therefore, expect that NGSEA will facilitate both pathway interpretation of gene expression phenotypes and anti-cancer drug repositioning. NGSEA is freely available at www.inetbio.org/ngsea.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.19-30
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• 2008

Osteoporosis, a disease characterized by low bone mass and microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue leading to enhanced bone fragility and fracture risk, is a major public health problem. The diagnostic methods for osteoporosis include simple radiography, bone scan, DXA (Dual energy X-ray Absortiometry) and biochemical markers of bone turnover. Optimal treatment and prevention of osteoporosis require modification of risk factors, particularly smoking cessation, adequate physical activity, and attention to diet, in addition to pharmacologic intervention. The estrogens and raloxifene both prevent bone loss in postmenopausal women, and the estrogens probably also decrease the risk of first fracture. There is good evidence that raloxifene prevents further fractures in postmenopausal women who already have had fractures and some evidence that estrogen does as well. Bisphosphonate prevents bone loss and reduces fractures in healthy and osteoporotic postmenopausal women and in osteoporotic men as well. Risedronate is more potent and has fewer side effects than alendronate and reduces the incidence of fractures in osteoporotic women. Calcitonin increases bone mineral density in early postmenopausal women and men with idiopathic osteoporosis, and also reduces the risk of new fractures in osteoporotic women. All of the agents discussed above prevent bone resorption, whereas teriparatide and strontium increase bone formation and are effective in the treatment of osteoporotic women and men. New avenues for targeting osteoporosis will emerge as our knowledge of the regulatory mechanisms of bone remodeling increases, although issues of tissue specificity may remain to be addressed.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.2 s.62
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• pp.95-104
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• 2005

Objectives: This was a double blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical study for evaluation of safety and effective dose finding of Cardiotonic Pills$^{(R)}$ in patients with chest pain and discomfort. Cardiotonic Pills$^{(R)}$ are composed of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix (丹蔘), Notoginseng Radix (三七根) and Borneolum (龍腦). Major effects of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix and Notoginseng Radix are vasodilatation, sedation and analgesic action. Borneolum has an antibacterial effect, and can stimulate the central nervous system. All of these substances are oriental herbs that have been used for a long time in east Asia. Cardiotonic Pills fi received Investigational New Drug (IND) approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the USA and 40 million people in the world take this pill. We performed a phase IV clinical study to confirm its efficacy and safety in patients who have probable cardiogenic or psychogenic chest pain or chest stifling. Methods: This study was planned for a multi-center clinical trial including four university hospitals of oriental medicine in Korea. This was the first time to evaluate the 'planning treatment according to diagnosis (辨證施治)' of chest pain or chest discomfort according to oriental medical guidelines. The patients who were included in this trial were adult volunteers from 20 to 70 years old who had chest pain or chest discomfort more than twice during a recent month, and we received written consent to participate in this study from all of them. After administration of Cardiotonic Pills$^{(R)}$ for 8 weeks, number of occurrences, duration, appearance and degree of chest pain or chest discomfort was observed and degree of symptoms (severity of illness, global improvement) were measured using a patient's global assessment composite scale. Results: In the patient's global assessment scale, the severity of illness of the Cardiotonic Pills$^{(R)}$ group (n=25) was 14/25=0.56 but of the placebo group (n=25) was 7/25=0.28 (p-value=0.0449). This result indicates Cardiotonic Pills$^{(R)}$have a positive effect on the symptoms of chest pain and discomfort. However, the global improvement of the Cardiotonic Pills$^{(R)}$group was 23/25=0.92, and of the placebo group was 22/25=0.88 (p-value=0.6374). The total symptom score of the Cardiotonic Pills$^{(R)}$ group was $1.68\pm20.06$, and of the placebo group was $16.76\pm72.l4$(p-value=0.2285). The number of symptom events of the Cardiotonic Pills$^{(R)}$ group was $72\pm29.78$, and of the placebo group (n=25) was $10.80\pm38.42$ (p­value=0.3660). We could not find any effects on the other factors examined besides the severity of illness, beyond the difference of standard deviations. Conclusions: Cardiotonic Pills$^{(R)}$ significantly reduced chest pain and chest discomfort in patients. Therefore, we expect that Cardiotonic Pills$^{(R)}$ will be helpful for patients with chest pain and chest discomfort not only caused by heart disease but also by other diseases.