• Journal of The Korean Society of Emergency Medicine
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.457-466
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• 2017

Purpose: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Severity of the initial insult is one of the most significant factors affecting outcome following TBI. In order to investigate the mechanisms of cellular injury and develop novel therapeutic strategies for TBI, we designed a standardized animal TBI model and evaluated histological and functional outcomes according to the degree of impact severity. Methods: Male adult C57Bl/6 mice underwent controlled cortical impact (CCI) at varying depths of deflection (1.0-2.0 mm). We performed hematoxylin and eosin staining at 7 days after recovery from TBI. Neurobehavioral characterization after TBI was analyzed by the Barnes maze test, passive avoidance test, open field test, rotarod test, tail suspension test, and light/dark test. Results: We observed a graded injury response according to the degree of deflection depths tested (diameter, 3 mm; velocity, 3 m/s; and duration, 500 ms) compared to sham controls. In the Barnes maze test, the severe TBI (2 mm depth) group showed reduced spatial memory as compared with the sham and mild TBI (1 mm depth) groups at 7 days after TBI. There was a significant difference in the results of the open field test and light/dark test among the three groups. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that the graded injury responses following TBI resulted in differential histopathological and behavioral outcomes in a mouse experimental CCI model. Thus, a model of CCI with histologic/behavioral outcome analysis may offer a reliable and convenient design for preclinical TBI research involving mice.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.11
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• pp.1776-1788
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• 2019

Objective: The demands for measures to improve disease resistance and productivity of livestock are increasing, as most countries prohibit the addition of antibiotics to feed. This study therefore aimed to uncover functional feed additives to help enhance livestock immunity and disease resistance, using Acanthopanax sessiliflorus fruit extract (ASF). Methods: ASF was extracted with 70% EtOH, and total polyphenolic and catechin contents were measured by the Folin-Ciocalteu and vanillin assay, respectively. The 3D4/31 porcine macrophage cells ($M{\Phi}$) were activated by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), and cell survival and growth rate were measured with or without ASF treatment. Flow-cytometric analysis determined the lysosomal activity, reactive oxygen species levels (ROS), and cell cycle distribution. Nuclear factor kappa B ($NF-{\kappa}B$) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) protein expression levels were quantified by western blotting and densitometry analysis. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was applied to measure the lipid metabolism-related genes expression level. Lastly, the antibacterial activity of 3D4/31 $M{\Phi}$ cells was evaluated by the colony forming unit assay. Results: ASF upregulated the cell viability and growth rate of 3D4/31 $M{\Phi}$, with or without PMA activation. Moreover, lysosomal activity and intracellular ROS levels were increased after ASF exposure. In addition, the antioxidant enzyme SOD2 expression levels were proportionately increased with ROS levels. Both ASF and PMA treatment resulted in upregulation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ protein, tumor necrosis factor $(TNF){\alpha}$ mRNA expression levels, lipid synthesis, and fatty acid oxidation metabolism. Interestingly, co-treatment of ASF with PMA resulted in recovery of $NF-{\kappa}B$, $TNF{\alpha}$, and lipid metabolism levels. Finally, ASF pretreatment enhanced the in vitro bactericidal activity of 3D4/31 $M{\Phi}$ against Escherichia coli. Conclusion: This study provides a novel insight into the regulation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ activity and lipid metabolism in $M{\Phi}$, and we anticipate that ASF has the potential to be effective as a feed additive to enhance livestock immunity.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.401-412
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• 2013

Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) is an oriental herbal preparation obtained from Panax ginseng Meyer (Araliaceae). To expand our understanding of the action of KRG on central nervous system (CNS) function, we examined the effects of KRG on tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)/plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) expression in rat primary astrocytes. KRG extract was treated in cultured rat primary astrocytes and neuron in a concentration range of 0.1 to 1.0 mg/mL and the expression of functional tPA/PAI-1 was examined by casein zymography, Western blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. KRG extracts increased PAI-1 expression in rat primary astrocytes in a concentration dependent manner (0.1 to 1.0 mg/mL) without affecting the expression of tPA itself. Treatment of 1.0 mg/mL KRG increased PAI-1 protein expression in rat primary astrocytes to $319.3{\pm}65.9%$ as compared with control. The increased PAI-1 expression mediated the overall decrease in tPA activity in rat primary astrocytes. Due to the lack of PAI-1 expression in neuron, KRG did not affect tPA activity in neuron. KRG treatment induced a concentration dependent activation of PI3K, p38, ERK1/2, and JNK in rat primary astrocytes and treatment of PI3K or MAPK inhibitors such as LY294002, U0126, SB203580, and SP600125 (10 ${\mu}M$ each), significantly inhibited 1.0 mg/mL KRG-induced expression of PAI-1 and down-regulation of tPA activity in rat primary astrocytes. Furthermore, compound K but not other ginsenosides such as Rb1 and Rg1 induced PAI-1 expression. KRG-induced up-regulation of PAI-1 in astrocytes may play important role in the regulation of overall tPA activity in brain, which might underlie some of the beneficial effects of KRG on CNS such as neuroprotection in ischemia and brain damaging condition as well as prevention or recovery from addiction.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.376-381
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• 2021

Red beet (Beta vulgaris L.) is a root vegetable and a popular functional food ingredient of dark red-purple appearance due largely to betacyanins, principally betanine (75-95%) and its isomer, isobetanine (15-45%). This study developed an analytical method for beet red in terms of betanine and isobetanine in processed food products labeled with beet red as a food additive. High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Diode Array Detector (HPLC-DAD) was used with a C₁₈ column. Linearity, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantitation (LOQ), accuracy, precision and uncertainty in measurement were calculated for method validation. Matrix-matched calibration was applied to the candy, ice cream, and cocoa product, respectively, and R² was ≥0.9998, showing a high level of linearity. The LOD and LOQ were 0.16 to 0.32 and 0.48 to 0.97 mg/L, respectively. As a result of repeated intra-day and interday experiments to validate the accuracy and precision of the analytical method, the recovery rates were 96.0-103.1% and 100.0-102.2%, respectively and the RSD% was 0.5-3.3% and 0.9-3.8%, respectively. Moreover, the measurement uncertainty was estimated to be 1.71-12.43% depending on the matrix and the measured concentration. In this study, betanine and isobetanine were quantified (8.4-3,823.4 mg/kg) by applying the developed analytical method to processed food products (n= 26; e.g., candy, ice cream, and other processed foods) labeled with beet red as a food additive.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.478-485
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• 2018

Aids to Navigation (AtoN) is one of the marine traffic safety facilities that promotes the safety of maritime traffic and enhance ship's operational efficiency. However, functional failure of AtoN due to ship's collision or bad weather conditions leads to inconvenience or navigational risk to various users such as the ship operators. For insstance, the largest container port in Korea, Busan Port has experienced a total of 400 AtoN accidents in the past 12 years (2006-2017).Therefore, an average of 20.6 days of recovery time is required, which increases the maritime safety anxiety for AtoN users. is the objective of this study was to present the quantitative support of the users for the prevention of AtoN accidents and the improvement of the feasibility of implementing more efficient management in Korea. A survey was conducted on the users of Busan port areas to investigate general perception of AtoN in general and the accidents that have happened, and to estimate the economic value of navigational risk reduction by implementing effective AtoN management measure. Using the representative non-market valuation method for environmental or public goods known as contingent valuation method (CVM), the economic value granted to users for the AtoN services in Busan port was estimated to at least 16 billion won. Therefore, these finding could be used by AtoN managers and/or policy makers as a valuable data to identify the users' need of various AtoN services including Busan Port and to establish and implement more efficient management plan.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.194-200
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• 2018

Objectives : The significance of leukoaraiosis on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is uncertain, but it is often seen with vascular risk factors or in the context of cognitive impairment. We aimed to investigate the effect of leukoaraiosis on the severity and course of delirium. Methods : Periventricular hyperintensity and deep white matter hyperintensity on brain MRI were rated in 42 patients with delirium by semiquantative visual rating scale. Correlations between their grades and the scores of Korean version of Delirium Rating Scale-Revised-98 (K-DRS-R-98) were analyzed, and the interaction effects between the groups according to the levels of leukoaraiosis and two evaluation points were also analyzed. Results : The grade of deep white matter hyperintensity in the occipital lobe was positively correlated with the scores on the total, severity items, cognitive items, and non-cognitive items of K-DRS-R-98. The cognitive items scores of K-DRS-R-98 in the low grade group of periventricular hyperintensity showed significantly steeper decrease than the high grade group. Conclusions : A difference in severity or recovery speed of delirium according to the level of leukoaraiosis may result from disruption in brain functional connectivity. Our results have a clinical implication in that the severity and course of delirium can be possibly predicted using the level of leukoaraiosis.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.459-466
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• 2021

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its complications are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the world. Because of the side effects and incomplete recovery from current therapy, stem cell therapy emerges as a potential therapy for CVD treatment, and endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) is one of the key stem cells used for therapeutic applications. The effect of this therapy required the expansion of EPC function. To enhance the EPC activation, proliferation, and angiogenesis using dronedarone hydrochloride (DH) is the purpose of this study. DH received approval for atrial fibrillation treatment and its cardiovascular protective effects were already reported. In this study, DH significantly increased EPC proliferation, tube formation, migration, and maintained EPCs surface marker expression. In addition, DH treatment up-regulated the phosphorylation of AKT and reduced the reactive oxygen species production. In summary, the cell priming by DH considerably improved the functional activity of EPCs, and the use of which might be a novel strategy for CVD treatment.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.77-85
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• 2021

Glucosylceramides (GluCer) are known to play an important role in both water retention and epidermal permeability barrier function in the mammalian stratum corneum. In this study, we investigated the effects of pineapple fruit extract containing glucosylceramides (PFEG) on the maintenance and recovery of skin barrier function using atopic dermatitis-induced animal models. Five-week-old male Hos:HR-1 mice were divided into four groups fed on standard diet, unsaturated fatty acids-deficient (HR-AD) diet, and HR-AD diet supplemented with 0.01% or 0.1% pineapple-GluCer. Skin barrier function was evaluated by transepidermal water loss (TEWL), dermal moisture content, moisture content of the stratum corneum and wrinkle formation. The control group (HR-AD administration group) showed increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL), while the epidermal moisture content and the moisture content of the stratum corneum slowly decreased. However, in the PFEG groups (with 0.1% or 0.01% glucosylceramide), the TEWL levels were significantly reduced at 2 weeks. The PFEG also helped maintain skin moisturizing function by significantly suppressing the decrease of the epidermal moisture content and the moisture content of the stratum corneum. These results show that the PFEG is effective for maintaining and improving the function of the skin barrier. Therefore, this study suggests that PFEG is a potential candidate material for skin functional foods.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.205-212
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• 2021

Offshore jacket structures generally comprise steel members, and the safety standard for jacket structures typically focuses on the steel components. However, large amounts of concrete grouting is filled in the legs of the Gageocho jacket structure to aid in the recovery from typhoon damage. This paper proposes a safe and lightweight design for the Gageocho ocean research station comprising steel members instead of large amounts of concrete reinforcement in the legs. Based on the actual design, the structural members are grouped according to their functional roles, and the inner diameter of the cross-section in each design group is defined as a design variable. Structural optimization is carried out using a genetic algorithm to minimize the total weight of the structure. To satisfy the conservative safety standards in the offshore field, both the maximum stress and the unity check criteria are considered as design constraints during optimization. For enhanced safety confidence, extreme environmental conditions are assumed. The maximum marine attachment thickness and the section erosion in the splash zone are applied. Additionally, the design load is defined as the force induced by extreme waves, winds, and currents aligned in the same direction. All the loading directions surrounding the structure are considered to design the structure in a balanced and safe manner. As a result, compared with the current structure, the proposed structure features a 45% lighter design, satisfying the strict offshore safety criteria.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.283-292
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• 2022

For fixed prosthetic treatment using implants, implants must be placed in a suitable location for prosthetic treatment. During surgery, minimally invasive prosthetic restoration is possible using a flapless method using a surgical guide. The patient in this case was an 86-year-old male patient who wanted treatment due to discomfort when using conventional dentures. Due to systemic disease, the patient had difficulty using removable local dentures, so full dentures for the maxilla and fixed implants for the mandible were restored. Because there is a high risk of bleeding due to systemic disease, the implant was placed in a flapless method using a surgical guide. Finally, prostheses were fabricated with maxillary full denture and mandibular screw-retained zirconia, and this report shows satisfactory esthetic and functional recovery.