• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.319-328
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to quantitatively assess treatment effect of physical therapy on experimentally-induced masseter muscle fatigue by two parameters of muscle stiffness and elasticity. Three physical therapeutic modalities inducing electroacupunture stimulation therapy(EAST), Microwave diathermy and low-level laser therapy(LLLT) were compared. 10 healthy volunteers with normal occlusion (mean age of $26.3{\pm}1.16$ years, M:F=1:1) were participated in this study. All subjects were asked to chew gum on the right side until they felt pain(more and VAS 5 (0 to 10)) and their masseter muscles were examined with a tactile sensor in order to evaluate changes of stiffness and elasticity according to gum chewing and three physical therapeutic modalities. Subjective discomfort or pain was self-estimated by VAS as well. Unilateral gum chewing increased stiffness and decreased elasticity only on the chewing side but VAS increased on the both sides(p<0.05). EAST or Microwave diathermy greatly decreased stiffness and VAS and increased elasticity(p<0.05) but LLLT did not exhibit significant difference. From the results of this study, it is concluded that both EAST and Microwave diathermy have favorable effect on stiffness and elasticity of muscles and pain relief while effect of LLLT is not reliable. In addition, experimental unilateral gum chewing compromises stiffness and elasticity of masseter muscles only the chewing side while subjective discomfort or pain can be felt on the both sides.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.228-236
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• 2017

Purpose: Enolase is a cytoplasmic enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of 2-phosphoglycerate to phosphoenolpyruvate in the glycolytic pathway. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the overexpression of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) can serve as a prognostic factor in patients with gastric cancer (GC). Materials and Methods: To assess its prognostic value in GC, NSE expression was measured by immunohistochemistry in a clinically annotated tissue microarray comprising of 327 human GC specimens. Cytoplasmic NSE expression was scored from 0 to 4, reflecting the percentage of NSE-positive cells. Results: In terms of histology as per the World Health Organization criteria (P=0.34), there were no differences between the NSE overexpression (NSE-OE) and NSE underexpression (NSE-UE) groups. The NSE-OE group showed a significantly lower rate of advanced GC (P<0.01), lymph node metastasis (P=0.01), advanced stage group (P<0.01), cancer-related death (P<0.01), and cancer recurrence (P<0.01). Additionally, a Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that the NSE-OE group had longer cumulative survival times than the NSE-UE group (log-rank test, P<0.01). However, there were no significant differences in the serum levels of NSE expression in patients with GC and healthy volunteers (P=0.28). Conclusions: Patients with NSE overexpressing GC tissues showed better prognostic results, implying that NSE could be a candidate biomarker of GC.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.277-282
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• 2015

This study was to investigate the effects of the hot compress pack on alleviating local muscular discomfort, stiffness in limbs as well as the chronic pains such as migraine in terms of hemodynamics. In this study, the hot compress band was put on the neck and the local physiological change on the stimulation site and the cranial blood circulation change were examined. We recruited healthy volunteers (n=8, mean age: 32.13 (4.61)), who participated in the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study. Local skin color and temperature were measured for the local effect of the hot compress band and the changes of intra-cranial and extra-cranial blood vessels were examined with MR angiography (MRA) images. The skin temperature increased from $36.4^{\circ}C$ at the rest condition to $36.7^{\circ}C$ and $37.1^{\circ}C$ after 15 min and 30 min stimulation, respectively. The change of the extra-cranial blood vessels between pre-stimulation and post-stimulation of 30 min was significantly increased (+38.8%), while the change of the intra-cranial blood vessels was negligible. In this study, we demonstrated that the hot compress band on the neck yielded the increase of local skin temperature on the stimulation site and it made an effect on the extracranial circulation. In conclusion, the stimulation with a hot compress could facilitate the blood circulation, causing to relieve the muscular discomfort, stiffness in limbs as well as the chronic pains such as migraine.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.59-66
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• 2006

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between insomnia severity, depression, anxiety, and anxiety sensitivity and to find out the explanatory variables that account for the insomnia severity among depression, anxiety, and anxiety sensitivity in general population. 95 mentally healthy volunteers who visit health promotion center of Kangbuk Samsung hospital for their regular medical examination were requested to complete Athens Insomnia Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Anxiety Sensitivity Index. Association between total scores of Athens Insomnia Scale and other variables (total scores of Beck Depression Inventory excluded item 16, total scores of State Anxiety, total scores of Trait Anxiety, and total scores of Anxiety Sensitivity Scale) was assessed individually with partial correlations adjusted by age and then together using multiple regression analysis. The total scores of Athens Insomnia Scale were significantly associated with total scores of Beck Depression Inventory excluded item 16 (r=0.541, p<0.001), total scores of Trait Anxiety (r=0.642, p<0.001), total scores of State Anxiety (r=0.267, p<0.05), and total scores of Anxiety Sensitivity Index (r=0.312, p<0.01). Total scores of trait anxiety showed the highest correlation with the total scores of Athens Insomnia Scale and was the significant predictor to total scores of Athens Insomnia Scale among the other predictor variables (p<0.001). These results show that insomnia severity is positively correlated with depression, anxiety, and anxiety sensitivity. The correlation was strongest with trait anxiety. In addition, our results suggest that trait anxiety is associated with insomnia severity in general populations.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.338-348
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• 1997

Background : Endotoxin, the component of outermembrane of gram negative organism, plays an important role in the initiation and amplification of inflammatory reaction by its effects on inflammatory cells. Until recently, there have been continuing efforts to delinate the mechanisms of the signal trasduction pathway of endotoxin stimuli on inflammatory cells. By uncovering the mechanisms of signal transduction pathway of endotoxin stimuli, we can expect to have tools to control the excessive inflammatory responses which sometimes may be fatal to the involved host. It was generally accepted that endotoxin exerts its inflammatory effects through inflammatory cytokines that are produced by endotoxin-stimulated inflammatory cells and there were some reports on the importance of protein kinase C and protein tyrosine kinase activation in the production of inflammatory cytokines by endotoxin So we evaluated the effect of pretreatment of protein kinase C inhibitors (H7, Staurosporin) and protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors(Herbimycin, Genistein) on the endotoxin-stimulated cytokines(IL-8 & TNF-$\alpha$) mRNA expression. Method : Peripheral blood monocytes were isolated from healthy volunteers by Ficoll-Hypaque density gradient method and purified by adhesion to 60mm Petri dishes. Endotoxin(LPS 100ng/ml) was added to each dishes except one control dish, and each endotoxin-stimulated dishes was preincubated with H7, Staurosporin(protein kinase C inhibitor), Herbimycin or Genistein(protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor) respectively except one dish. Four hours later the endotoxin stimulation, total RNA was extracted and Northern blot analysis for IL-8 mRNA and TNF-$\alpha$ mRNA was done. Result : Endotoxin stimulation increased the expression of IL-8 mRNA and TNF-$\alpha$ mRNA expression in human peripheral blood monocyte as expected and the stimulatory effect of endotoxin on TNF-$\alpha$ mRNA expression was inhibited by protein kinase C inhibitors(H7, Staurosporin) and protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors (Herbimycin, Genistein). The inhibitory effect of each drugs was increased with increasing concentration. The stimulatory effect of endotoxin on IL-8 mRNA was also inhibited by H7 and protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors (Herbimycin, Genistein) dose-dependently but not by Staurosporin. Conclusion : Protein kinase C and protein tyrosine kinase are involved in the endotoxin induced signal transduction pathway in human peripheral blood monocyte.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.523-532
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• 2010

The proposed method is simple, sensitive and specific Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LCESI-MS/MS) method for the quantification of Entacapone (EA) in human plasma using Entacapone-d10 (EAD10) as an internal standard (IS). Chromatographic separation was performed on Zorbax SB-C18, $2.1{\times}50\;mm$, $5\;{\mu}m$ column, mobile phase composed of 10 mM Ammonium formate (pH 3.0): Acetonitrile (60:40 v/v), with a flow-rate of 0.7 mL/min, followed by Liquid-liquid extraction. EA and EAD10 were detected with proton adducts at m/z $306.1{\rightarrow}233.1$ and $316.3{\rightarrow}233.0$ in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) positive mode respectively. The method was validated over a linear concentration range of 1.00 - 2000.00 ng/mL with correlation coefficient ($r^2$) $\geq$ 0.9993. Intra and inter-day Precision within 3.60 to 7.30 and 4.20 to 5.50% and Accuracy within 97.30 to 104.20 and 98.30 to 105.80% proved for EA. This method is successfully applied in the bioequivalence study of healthy Indian human volunteers.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.43-50
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• 1998

This study was performed to determine the effects of nitric oxide on human sperm cell function. Semen samples were obtained from normal healthy volunteers. Motile spermatozoas collected by swim-up method were incubated up to 24 hours in Ham's F-10 medium supplemented with a various concentration of sodium nitroprusside (nitric oxide releasing agent). Sperm motility, hyperactivation, acrosome reaction rate, and acrosin activity were determined. The results are as follows; 1. 1mM of SNP resulted in a significant decrease in sperm motility ($44.8%{\pm}8.9%:78.1%{\pm}6.3%$, and hyperactivation $(10.4%{\pm}6.4%:47.7%:{\pm}9.5%)$ after incubation for 3 hours compared with the control group (Ham's F-10 alone), but had no effect on acrosome reaction. 2. At $100{\mu}M$ SNP, sperm motility was reduced after incubation for 6 hours $(54.8%{\pm}3.2%)$ compared with that of the control group $(82.7%{\pm}8.9%)$, but hyperactivation and acrosome reaction were not affected. 3. However, a lower concentration (less than $10{\mu}M$) of SNP had no effect on sperm motility and hyperactivation for 8 hours of incubation but significantly decreased them when incubation periods were increased up to 24 hours compared with the control group. On the other hand, $1{\mu}M$ and $10{\mu}M$ SNP significantly increased the acrosome reaction rate in both acrosomal status ($17.3%{\pm}5.2%$, $23.5%{\pm}4.7%$, respectively) and acrosin activity ($34.3{\mu}IU{\pm}10.5{\mu}IU,\;45.6{\mu}IU{\pm}5.6{\mu}IU$, respectively) as compared with the control group $(7.0%{\pm}4.0%,\;9.5{\mu}IU{\pm}3.4{\mu}IU)$. These results indicate that SNP, NO releasing agent, has a dose-dependent effects on the sperm cell function. Therefore it may positively affect the fertilization by promoting acrosomal reaction at a lower concentration (less than $10{\mu}M$).

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.191-200
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• 2018

In this study, we conducted research to find anti-wrinkle skin care ingredients from natural sources via the measurement of procollagen type 1 levels in the medium of normal human dermal fibroblast (NHDF) and found that a Nelumbo nucifera leave extract (NLE) was as the best effective ingredient. By the high performance liquid chromatography analysis, we confirmed isoquercitrin was one of the main compounds of NLE. Moreover, it also increased the procollagen type 1 production without cytotoxicity of NHDF. NLE and isoquercitrin exerted free radical scavenging activity. Especially, isoquercitrin exhibited strong intracellular antioxidant capacity in human skin-derived cells, HaCaT and NHDF. Finally, we performed clinical test for the inhibitory effect of NLE on skin wrinkle formation. A randomized study was conducted in 22 healthy female volunteers, aged between 30 and 65 yrs, with moderate to moderately severe facial wrinkles. Volunteer applied a 1.7% NLE cream (isoquercitrin 51 ppm) and a control cream at each facial side (left/right) twice daily for 8 weeks. The 1.7% NLE cream improved skin roughness through reducing the wrinkle of the craw's feet significantly without any skin side effect. Our results demonstrate that NLE and isoquercitrin can increase the collagen production and exert antioxidant activity. Therefore, we expect that the new non-toxic herbal extract, isoquercitrin-containing NLE will be interesting natural ingredient of cosmetics with anti-wrinkle efficacy.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.360-368
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• 1998

Background: Endothelin(ET), a potent vasoconstrictor peptide produced by endothelial cells and degraded predominantly in the pulmonary vasculature, have been implicated in the development of various organ dysfunctions. Plasma concentrations of ET-1 are reported to be elevated in patients with diffuse interstitial lung disease(DILD). But, there is no study to establish the exact source and mechanisms involved in the increased plasma ET-1 concentrations in DILD patients. Methods: 12 patients with IPF, 2 patients with sarcoidosis, 2 patients with scleroderma, 1 patient with SLE and 11 healthy volunteers were studied. ET was detected by radioimmunoassay in plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) as well as in 24-hr urine specimens. For each subjects, arterial/venous(A/V) ET ratio and renal ET clearance were calculated. Results: Elevated plasma, urine and BALF ET concentrations were found in patients with DILD compared with controls. But, no significant difference was observed in ET A/V ratio and ET renal clearance between patients with DILD and controls. Conclusion: We observed that plasma ET concentrations were elevated in patients with DILD, and that the main site of ET production may be lung parenchyme.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.461-471
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• 2006

In order to achieve a satisfactory esthetic result of periodontal surgery or implant in maxillary anterior area, periodontists must be aware of normal alveolar bone anatomy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship of alveolar bone morphology to tooth shape and form. 78(mean age : 25 yrs) periodontally healthy volunteers participated in this study. Two maxillary central incisor and one lateral incisor were selected to study. With minimal local anesthesia, gutta-percha cone inserted to labial gingival sulcus of selected teeth just after bone sounding with periodontal probe. Metal ball (4mm diameter) attached to palatal fossa of central incisor. Then, periapical radiograph was taken according to long cone paralleling technique. After film scan, labial alveolar bone profile reproduced along interproximal bone and apical ends of gutta-percha cones on computer screen. By utilizing computer program, the distance from height of interproximal bone to the labial bone crest in central incisor-central incisor and central incisor-lateral incisor area was measured and converted to real distance by using vertical length of metal ball on film. After measuring crown length & width of central incisor, the 10 individuals ranked lowest GW/L ratio (crown width/length ratio) and the 10 ranked highest were selected as having a long-narrow(group N), or a short-wide(group W) form of the central incisors. Means of the distance from height of interproximal bone to the labial bone crest of group N, W were calculated and compared by means of independent t-test. The results were as follows: 1. Mean distance from the height of the interproximal bone to the labial bone crest was $3.5{\pm}0.7mm$ between two central incisor, and $2.8{\pm}0.6mm$ between central and lateral incisor. 2. Mean GW/L ratio of group N was 0.57, and group W was 0.8. Mean distance from the height of the interproximal bone to the labial bone crest of group N was higher than group W in both measured area(measurements of group N, W were $3.9{\pm0.2mm$ and $3.5{\pm}0.2mm$ between two central incisor, $3.0{\pm}0.2mm$ and $2.8{\pm}0.2mm$ between central and lateral incisor), but there were no statistically significant differences when the groups were compared. Within the limits of the present study, there was a tendency that subjects with long-narrow teeth have more scalloped alveolar bone profile than subjects with short-wide teeth in upper anterior area, but no statistically significant differences were found.