• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.119-128
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• 2024

Glucocorticoids play a physiologic role in the adult male reproductive functions, modulating gonadal steroid synthesis and spermatogenesis, through the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). The expression of GR has been described in several key testicular cell types, including somatic cells and early germ cell populations. Nothing is known on GR in human spermatozoa. Herein, we explored the GR expression and its possible role in normal and testicular varicocele semen samples from volunteer donors. After semen parameter evaluation by macro- and microscopic analysis, samples were centrifuged; then spermatozoa and culture media were recovered for further investigations. By western blotting and immunofluorescence analyses we evidenced for the first time in spermatozoa the presence of GR-D3 isoform which was reduced in sperm from varicocele patients. By treating sperm with the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone (DEXA), we found that survival, motility, capacitation, and acrosome reaction were increased in both healthy and varicocele samples. GR involvement in mediating DEXA effects, was confirmed by using the GR inhibitor mifepristone (M2F). Worthy, we also discovered that sperm secretes different cortisol amounts depending on its physio-pathological status, suggesting a defence mechanism to escape the immune system attach in the female genital tract thus maintaining the immune-privilege as in the testis. Collectively, our data suggests a role for glucocorticoids in determining semen quality and function, as well as in participating on sperm immune defensive mechanisms. The novelty of this study may be beneficial and needs to take into account in artificial insemination/drug discovery aimed to enhancing sperm quality.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SC
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.172-180
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• 2003

The purpose of this study is to observe the heat transfer process in in-vivo human muscle based on Proton Resonance Frequency(PRF) method in Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI). MRI was obtained to measure the temperature variation according to the heat transfer in phantom and in-vivo human calf muscle. A phantom(2% agarose gel) was used in this experiment. MR temperature measurement was compared with the direct temperature measurement using a T-type thermocouple. After heating agarose gel to more than 5$0^{\circ}C$ in boiling hot water, raw data were acquired every 3 minutes during one hour cooling period for a phantom case. For human study heat was forced to deliver into volunteer's calf muscle using hot pack. Reference data were once acquired before a hot pack emits heat and raw data were acquired every 2 minutes during 30minutes. Acquired raw data were reconstructed to phase-difference images with reference image to observe the temperature change. Phase-difference of the phantom was linearly proportional to the temperature change in the range of 34.2$^{\circ}C$ and 50.2$^{\circ}C$. Temperature resolution was 0.0457 radian /$^{\circ}C$(0.0038 ppm/$^{\circ}C$) in phantom case. In vivo-case, mean phase-difference in near region from the hot pack is smaller than that in far region. Different temperature distribution was observed in proportion to a distance from heat source.

• 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.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.175-181
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• 2000

Background: Pain is often measured using psychophysical scaling techniques. However, all of these methods found their limits, since they were based on the subjective sensations reported by the subjects. It is, therefore, desirable to validate psychophysical pain measures by simultaneously measuring some physiological correlate of nociception. We studied an objective method for measuring pain in human volunteer using R(III) nociceptive flexion reflex. Methods: Four different intensity of electrical stimuli between perception and 1.4 times the R(III) nociceptive flexion threshold were delivered to the sole of the feet in 8 normal volunteers. We measured the flexion reflex activity in the skin over the ipsilateral tibialis anterior muscle and subjects rated each stimulus on a visual analog scale (VAS) Results: Both R(III) nociceptive flexion reflex activity and VAS ratings showed a linear relationship with stimulus intensity and with each other in all volunteers. Conclusions: R(III) nociceptive flexion reflex elicited through electrical stimulation may used as an objective pain measurement, previsionary based on our study paradigm.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.23 no.1 s.29
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• pp.57-64
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• 1990

Since the reservoir of leptospires organism is consisted of a broad spectrum of animals, the best method of prevention is vaccination. The clinical trial of leptospires vaccine conducted on human volunteer for its immunogenicity and safety. Summarized results are as following : 1. The Oral temperature among vaccinated group ranged from $36.7{\pm}0.46^{\circ}C\;to\;37.0{\pm}0.34^{\circ}C$, while in placebo injected group it ranged from $36.4{\pm}0.46^{\circ}C\;to\;36.7{\pm}0.53^{\circ}C$. There was no association between vaccination and fever (p>0.05) 2. Mild local reactions revealed in vaccinees were swelling (50-75% ), Redness($75{\sim}90%$), and induration ($25{\sim}40%$). Placebo injected group revealed only redness in 12.5% in 1st injection and 37.5% in second injection. The duration local reactions on injection site for th vaccinees and place groups disappeared within 48 hours. 3. Generalized Symptoms complained by the vaccinees were myalgia (25%), back pain(15%), headache (15%), pruritus(15%), and abdominal pain(10%), whereas placebo group complained of headache (25%), myalgia(12.5%), back pain(12.5%), pain in eyes(12.5%), abdominal pain(12.5%) pruritus (12.5%) and nausea(12.5%). 4. The serological test(MAT) of vaccinees showed geometric mean antibody titer as follows : a. L. icterohemorrhagiae lai 1 week after 1st vaccination : 22.45 1 week after 2nd vaccination : 111.23 3 week after 2nd vaccination : 266.64 b. L. canicola canicola 1 week after 1st vaccination : 24.62 1 week after 2nd vaccination : 123.92 3 week after 2nd vaccination : 276.55 c. L. icterohemorrhagiae copenhageni 1 week after 1st vaccination : 28.28 1 week after 2nd vaccination : 128.55 3 week after 2nd vaccination : 247.88 Whereas all of the place injected group showed below 1:20 titers. The sero-conversion rate of vaccinees were 100 percent.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.455-466
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• 2014

This study examines the effectiveness of CSR through the expectancy disconfirmation theory. The change of CSR belief after a corporate social irresponsibility (CSIR) crisis was investigated in terms of activity timing (proactive activities before CSIR crisis/reactive activities after CSIR crisis). Study 1 explores the influence of CSR belief perceptions formed through usual CSR activities on CSR belief decline after a CSIR crisis and the moderating effect of CSR activity types. Higher CSR belief perceptions are formed through usual CSR activities that result in a large CSR belief decline. The moderating effect of CSR activity types on CSR belief decline is found. Volunteer activity has the strongest depending effect on CSIR crisis. Study 2 explores the influence of CSR belief perceptions formed through CSIR crisis on a CSR belief incline after CSR activities and the moderating effect of CSR activity types. The lower CSR belief perception after CSIR crisis results in a high CSR belief incline after CSR activities. The moderating effect of CSR activity types on CSR belief incline is found. Cause-related marketing has the strongest overcoming effect on a CSIR crisis.

• Journal of KIISE:Computing Practices and Letters
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.492-496
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• 2010

Wikipedia as an open encyclopedia contains immense human knowledge written by thousands of volunteer editors and its reliability is also high. In this paper, we propose to automatically construct a Korean named entity dictionary using the several features of the Wikipedia. Firstly, we generate class hierarchies using the class information from each article of Wikipedia. Secondly, the titles of each article are mapped to our class hierarchies, and then we calculate the entropy value of the root node in each class hierarchy. Finally, we construct named entity dictionary with high performance by removing the class hierarchies which have a higher entropy value than threshold. Our experiment results achieved overall F1-measure of 81.12% (precision : 83.94%, recall : 78.48%).

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.4149-4154
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• 2016

Background: Cervical carcinoma is one of the main causes of mortality in women worldwide as well as in India. It occurs as a result of various molecular events that develop from the combined influences of an individual's genetic predisposition and external agents such as smoking and menstrual hygiene, for example. However, infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) is the established major risk factor. The aim of the current study was to investigate p16 CpG island methylation and establish any correlation with mRNA expression in north Indian population. Materials and Methods: We analyzed 196 woman volunteer out of which 98 were cases and 98 healthy controls. For the analysis of methylation pattern, DNA extracted from blood samples was modified with a bisulfate kit and used as template for methylation specific PCR (MSP). Quantitative real-time PCR (QRT-PCR) was performed to check mRNA expression. Results: Correlation between methylation status of p16 gene and poor menstrual hygiene was significant (p=0.006), high parity cases showed methylation of p16 gene (p=0.031) with increased risk up to 1.86 times for cervical cancer and smoking was a strong risk factor associated with cervical cancer. We analyzed methylation pattern and found 60.3% methylation in cases with low mRNA expression level (0.014) as compare to controls (1.24). It was also observed that promoter methylation of p16 gene was significantly greater in FIGO stage III. Conclusions: We conclude that p16 methylation plays an important role in cervical cancer in the north Indian population and its methylation decreases mRNA expression. It can be used as an important and consistent blood biomarker in cervical cancer patients.

• Journal of the Optical Society of Korea
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.546-550
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• 2014

To investigate the minimum near-infrared ray intensity required (quantifiable threshold value) for consistent measurements of axial length (AL) using partial coherence interferometry (PCI), we attached two polarizing lenses (PL) to two types of PCI (IOLmaster, ALscan). The near-infrared ray intensity of PCI was modified by rotating the axis of one PL at intervals of 5 degrees. The right eye of each volunteer was measured three times and the AL and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) was recorded five times for each measurement. Reduction of light intensity was theoretically estimated using Malus' Law. AL was measured consistently with both IOLmaster and ALscan until they reached 55 degrees (1.33 % of intensity) and 60 degrees (0.77%), respectively (P = 0.343, Log-rank test). In contrast, SNR decreased as light intensity decreased. In addition, to analyze media opacities that precluded measurement of AL, we retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients unmeasurable by PCI (ALscan) from May to November 2013. Thirty-eight of 473 eyes (8.0%) could not be measured using ALscan due to media opacities, such as severe posterior subcapsular cataract (PSC, 11 eyes), hypermature cataract (9 eyes), and vitreous hemorrhage (18 eyes). The mean grades of vitreous haze and PSC were $7.72{\pm}0.96$ and $4.45{\pm}1.04$, respectively. In conclusion, up to 0.77-1.33% of near-infrared rays decreased, and AL could be measured consistently.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.513-518
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• 1998

Fluoxetine is a nontricyclic antidepressant which blocks serotonin reuptake selectively. Its N-demethyl metabolite, norfluoxetine is also selective inhibitor of serotonin uptake . This study was carried out to compare the bioavailability of Myung-in fluoxetine (20mg/cap.) with that of Prozac$^{\circde{R}}$. The bioavailability was conducted on 24 healthy volunteers who received a single dose (80mg) of each drug in the fasting state, in a randomized balanced 2-way crossover design. After closing, serial blood samples were collected for a period of 48 hours, Plasma was analyzed for fluoxetine and norfluoxetine by a sensitive and validated HPLC assay. The major pharmacokinetic parameters ($AUC_{0-48\;hr}$, Cmax, Tmax , $AUC_{inf.}$, MRT. $T_{1/2}$, Vd and Cl) were, calculated from the plasma fluoxetine concentration-time data of each volunteer. The microcomputer program, 'WinNonlin' was used for compartmental analysis. A two-compartment model with first-order input, first-order output and no lag time was chosen as the most appropriate pharmacokinetic model. The data were best described by using a weighting factor of $1/y^2$. Though the plasma fluoxetine concentrations of Myung-in fluoxetine were higher than those of Prozac$^{\circde{R}}$ at all observed time from 7.9% to 16.9% (P<0.05 at 6.7 and 10 hr), the bioavailability of Myung-in fluoxetine appeared to be bioequivalent with that of Prozac$^{\circde{R}}$. There were no statistical significant differences between the two drugs in all pharmacokinetic parameters including $AUC_{0-48\;hr}$ of norfluoxetine.