• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.46-54
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• 2019

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of a computer-aided detection (CAD) system used with automated breast ultrasonography (ABUS) for suspicious lesions detected on breast MRI, and CAD-false lesions. Materials and Methods: We included a total of 40 patients diagnosed with breast cancer who underwent ABUS (ACUSON S2000) to evaluate multiple suspicious lesions found on MRI. We used CAD ($QVCAD^{TM}$) in all the ABUS examinations. We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of CAD and analyzed the characteristics of CAD-detected lesions and the factors underlying false-positive and false-negative cases. We also analyzed false-positive lesions with CAD on ABUS. Results: Of a total of 122 suspicious lesions detected on MRI in 40 patients, we excluded 51 daughter nodules near the main breast cancer within the same quadrant and included 71 lesions. We also analyzed 23 false-positive lesions using CAD with ABUS. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of CAD (for 94 lesions) with ABUS were 75.5%, 44.4%, 59.7%, and 62.5%, respectively. CAD facilitated the detection of 81.4% (35/43) of the invasive ductal cancer and 84.9% (28/33) of the invasive ductal cancer that showed a mass (excluding non-mass). CAD also revealed 90.3% (28/31) of the invasive ductal cancers measuring larger than 1 cm (excluding non-mass and those less than 1 cm). The mean sizes of the true-positive versus false-negative mass lesions were $2.08{\pm}0.85cm$ versus $1.6{\pm}1.28cm$ (P < 0.05). False-positive lesions included sclerosing adenosis and usual ductal hyperplasia. In a total of 23 false cases of CAD, the most common (18/23) cause was marginal or subareolar shadowing, followed by three simple cysts, a hematoma, and a skin wart. Conclusion: CAD with ABUS showed promising sensitivity for the detection of invasive ductal cancer showing masses larger than 1 cm on MRI.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.359-369
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• 2021

This study aims to investigate pre-service primary English teachers' perceptions of multicultural education. For this study, the researchers surveyed 63 pre-service teachers at a national university of education using an online survey. A quantitative method is used in order to collect and analyze data. The results revealed the following: First, pre-service primary English teachers stand at a considerably high level in their overall understanding of elementary students and clearly recognize the necessity of multicultural education in school. Second, concerning the difference that the personal variables of gender, grade, and major make in the subjects' perception of English education based on multicultural education, grade showed no statistically significant difference, but gender and major are responsible for a slight difference. Third, an analysis was made of the correlation between the subjects having or not having received multicultural education and the personal variables of gender, grade, and major, yielding the following results: Gaining or not gaining multicultural education does not correlate with gender, but does significantly with grade and major.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.53 no.12
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• pp.1193-1201
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• 2020

This study aims to develop a regression model that estimates a low-flow index that can be applied to ungauged basins. A total of 30 midsized basins in South Korea use long-term runoff data provided by the National Integrated Water Management System (NIWMS) to calculate average low-flow, average minimum streamflow, and low-flow index duration and frequency. This information is used in the correlation analysis with 18 basin factors and 3 climate change factors to identify the basin area, average basin altitude, average basin slope, water system density, runoff curve number, annual evapotranspiration, and annual precipitation in the low-flow index regression model. This study evaluates the model's accuracy by using the root-mean-square error (RMSE) and the mean absolute error (MAE) for 10 ungauged, verified basins and compares them with the previous model's low-flow calculations to determine the effectiveness of the newly developed model. Comparative analysis indicates that the new regression model produces average low-flow, attributed to the consideration of varied basin and hydrologic factors during the new model's development.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.467-479
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• 2021

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the awareness of the performance and necessity of oral health promotion activities and seek ways to revitalize the professional role of dental hygienists in oral healthcare for the efficient oral care of the elderly. Methods: Eighty-five dental hygienists in charge of oral health promotion projects at public health centers and 38 dental hygienists in network dental clinical trials were investigated for their learning experience, performance experience, feasibility, and necessity of dental hygienists for general and oral health service items for the elderly. The collected data were analyzed using frequency analysis, chi-square test, and Mann-Whitney U test. Results: The degree of performance possibility according to the learning experience and performance experience of the dental hygienist for the whole body and oral health promotion activity items for the elderly showed that the degree of performance possibility was higher among those with experience compared to the non-experienced person, and it was statistically significantly higher (p<0.05). Conclusions: The dental hygienist's professional oral health service is a necessary system to improve practical knowledge and skills and to provide a wide range of professional oral health services for the elderly.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.612-620
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• 2021

To increase the utilization of Centella asiatica (CA), enzymes such as cellulase and pectinase were added and the physicochemical properties of the treated CA were analyzed. In addition, apple-CA jam was prepared using the enzyme-treated CA, which had the best antioxidant properties, and the physicochemical and sensory qualities of the jam were measured. There was a high content of ascorbic acid, polyphenols, flavonoids, reducing sugar, amino acid, minerals and DPPH radical scavenging activity in the enzyme-treated group. The antioxidant component and activity in the jam prepared by adding enzyme-treated CA increased with an increase in the amount of enzyme-treated CA. In the soluble solids, the higher the amount of enzyme-treated CA, the higher the value, but there was no significant difference in pH. The sensory evaluation of the jam, in particular the taste, showed that the highest preference was observed when the enzyme-treated CA was added in the range of 5.0~6.7%, and the control group showed the lowest preference. There was no significant difference in flavor and spreadability among the treatment groups, however, the control group showed the highest color preference. In the overall acceptability, when 5.0% of enzyme-treated CA was added, the highest acceptability was shown.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.51-55
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• 2022

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) enzymes are responsible for the degradation and formation of the extracellular matrix (ECM), and overproduction of MMPs is observed in several diseases, such as cancer and asthma, that progress with metastatic characteristics. Natural products, especially phytochemicals, have been an important source of MMP inhibitors with reduced side effects. Although the majority of phytochemicals inhibit the enzymatic activity of MMPs, some suppress MMP production. In this context, the current study evaluated the potential of Corydalis heterocarpa, a halophyte with reported bioactivities, to inhibit MMP expression in PMA-stimulated HT-1080 cells. A crude C. heterocarpa extract was shown to decrease the mRNA and protein expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 while increasing the endogenous MMP inhibitors TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 which regulate MMP expression in healthy tissues. In addition, our results show that the inhibitory effects of C. heterocarpa might occur through suppression of the phosphorylation of MAPK signaling, the upstream activator of MMP overexpression. In conclusion, C. heterocarpa is a potential source of antimetastatic compounds that might serve as lead molecules to develop novel MMP inhibitors.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.980-986
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• 2021

Natural products have always been an attractive source in terms of novel anti-metastatic compounds which can hinder MMP expression and activity. Corydalis heterocarpa is a salt marsh plant found in the seashores throughout Korea. Its yellow flowers and spikes have been an ingredient in folk medicine to treat spasm and contractions. The present study assessed the potential of different solvent-based fractions from the crude extract of Corydalis heterocarpa (CHE), a halophyte with reported bioactivities, to suppress the PMA-induced MMP expression in human fibrosarcoma HT-1080 cells. The solvent fractions which were named after the solvent used for fractionation (n-hexane, 85% aqueous (aq.) methanol (MeOH), n-butanol (BuOH), and H₂O were shown to inhibit the both elevated mRNA and protein expression levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and simultaneously relieved the suppression on the expression of the endogenous MMP inhibitors TIMP-1 and TIMP-2. Results indicated that the CHE fractions might intervene with the PMA-induced activation of the MAPK signaling which is the upstream activator of MMP overexpression. Among tested samples, 85% aq. MeOH and n-hexane fractions of CHE was determined to be the most active and future studies to isolate the bioactive substances responsible for the regulation of the MMP expression are, therefore, urged. In conclusion, C. heterocarpa was shown to be a potential source of anti-metastatic compounds and n-Hexane and MeOH fractions might yield lead molecules to develop novel MMP inhibitors.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.337-346
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• 2023

Background: Ginsenoside Rb2, a major active component of Panax ginseng, has various physiological activities, including anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects. However, the mechanisms underlying the rejuvenation effect of Rb2 in human skin cells have not been elucidated. Methods: We performed a senescence-associated β-galactosidase staining assay to confirm cellular senescence in human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). The regulatory effects of Rb2 on autophagy were evaluated by analyzing the expression of autophagy marker proteins, such as microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain (LC) 3 and p62, using immunoblotting. Autophagosome and autolysosome formation was monitored using transmission electron microscopy. Autophagic flux was analyzed using tandem-labeled GFP-RFP-LC3, and lysosomal function was assessed with Lysotracker. We performed RNA sequencing to identify potential target genes related to HDF rejuvenation mediated by Rb2. To verify the functions of the target genes, we silenced them using shRNAs. Results: Rb2 decreased β-galactosidase activity and altered the expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins in senescent HDFs. Rb2 markedly induced the conversion of LC3-I to LC3-II and LC3 puncta. Moreover, Rb2 increased lysosomal function and red puncta in tandem-labeled GFP-RFP-LC3, which indicate that Rb2 promoted autophagic flux. RNA sequencing data showed that the expression of DNA damage-regulated autophagy modulator 2 (DRAM2) was induced by Rb2. In autophagy signaling, Rb2 activated the AMPK-ULK1 pathway and inactivated mTOR. DRAM2 knockdown inhibited autophagy and Rb2-restored cellular senescence. Conclusion: Rb2 reverses cellular senescence by activating autophagy via the AMPK-mTOR pathway and induction of DRAM2, suggesting that Rb2 might have potential value as an antiaging agent.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.993-1000
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• 2023

Recently, enviromentally friendly natural substances derived from plants have been attracting attention as cosmetic materials, and research on various physiological activities of natural substances is being actively conducted. This study investigated the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, and antibacterial effects of three types of extracts of mixtures containing different mixing ratios, Polygala tenuifolia, Angelica dahurica, and Elsholtzia splendens, known to have various physiological activities. The mixing ratio is 7 conditions (M1, 1:1:1; M2, 0.5:1.5:1; M3, 1.5:0.5:1; M4, 0.1:0.95:0.95; M5, 0.5:0.5:2; M6, 0.95 :1.95:0.1; M7, 1.45:0.1:1.45), and the optimal mixing ratio was confirmed for use as a cosmetic material. DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities showed scavenging abilities of 75.37% and 99.19%, respectively, at 1,000 ㎍/mL of M6. At a concentration of 200 ㎍/mL of M6, it showed 50% of nitric oxide production inhibition compared to the lipopolysaccharide-treated that induced an inflammatory response. It was confirmed that M3 and M6 produced hyaluronic acid 1.47 and 1.49 times higher than the control at a concentration of 50 ㎍/mL, respectively. Through the disc diffiusion test, the clear zone was 9.75 mm at 8 ㎍/mL of M6, confirming the inhibition of growth of staplylococcus aureus strain. Based on the above results, it is believed that the mixed extract of Polygala tenuifolia, Angelica dahurica, and Elsholtzia splendens can be used as a functional natural material for cosmetics.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.1043-1055
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• 2023

This study was conducted to suggest an extraction method for preparing the extract from green tea leaves that possess enhanced antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Different ethanol concentrations were tested to recover phenolics and flavonoids, and 50% ethanol was the best under heat treatment (121℃, 15 min). The ethanol extract exhibited excellent DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity and growth inhibition against B. cereus, B. licheniformis, S. aureus subsp. aureus, and A. hydrophila subsp. hydrophila. To enhance the antioxidant and antibacterial activities, cell-wall degrading enzymes (2.5% cellulose+2.5% pectinase, v/w dry sample) treatment and Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation were applied singly or in combination. The enzymatic treatment of green tea leaves notably increased extraction yield. However, the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the extract were lower than those of the control (heat-treated 50% ethanol extract). In contrast, the yeast fermentation alone did not affect the yield, but enhanced antioxidant and antibacterial activities, contributing to the increase in the extract's total phenolic and flavonoid contents.