• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
• /
• v.47 no.1
• /
• pp.1.1-1.13
• /
• 2022

Objectives: This study assessed the shape and anatomical relationship of the mental foramen (MF) to mandibular posterior teeth in an Indian sub-population. Materials and Methods: In total, 475 existing cone-beam computed tomography records exhibiting 950 MFs and including the bilateral presence of mandibular premolars and first molars were assessed. Images were evaluated 3-dimensionally to ascertain the position, shape, and anatomical proximity of MFs to mandibular teeth. The position and shape of MFs were measured and calculated. The Pythagorean theorem was used to calculate the distance between the root apex of the mandibular teeth and the MF. Results: MFs exhibited a predominantly round shape (left: 67% and right: 65%) followed by oval (left: 30% and right: 31%) in both males and females and in different age groups. The root apices of mandibular second premolars (left: 71% and right: 62%) were closest to the MF, followed by distal to the first premolars and mesial to the second premolars. The mean vertical distance between the MF and the nearest tooth apex calculated on sagittal sections was 2.20 mm on the right side and 2.32 mm on the left side; no significant difference was found according to sex or age. The distance between the apices of the teeth and the MF was ≥ 4 mm (left; 4.09 ± 1.27 mm and right; 4.01 ± 1.15 mm). Conclusions: These findings highlight the need for clinicians to be aware of the location of the MF in treatment planning and while performing non-surgical and surgical endodontic procedures.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.44 no.3
• /
• pp.418-438
• /
• 2023

Objective: This study was conducted to review the effects of herbal medicine on respiratory diseases induced by the treatment of particulate matter in in vivo animal models. Methods: Literature searches were performed in seven databases (Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Library, KISS, KTKP, OASIS, and ScienceON). After the searched studies were screened based on the inclusion/exclusion criteria, the publication date, origin, used animals, induction of particulate matter models, herbal medicine used for intervention, study design, outcome measure, and results of studies were analyzed. Results: Among a total of 972 studies primarily searched, 34 studies were finally included in our study. Of this number, 29 studies induced animal models by using only particulate matter, and 5 studies induced animal models with respiratory diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, by using particulate matter and other materials. In the selected studies, the treatments of herbal medicine in particulate matter models suppressed oxidative stress and inflammation in lung tissue, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and blood as well as lung injury in histological analysis. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that herbal medicine is effective in treating respiratory diseases induced by particulate matter. These results are also expected to be useful data for designing further studies. However, more systematically designed in vivo studies related to particulate matter are needed.

• Herbal Formula Science
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.111-124
• /
• 2023

Objectives : Oxidative stress is an important cause of many diseases including liver injury. Therefore, adequate regulation of oxidative stress plays a pivotal role in maintaining liver function. Until recently, there has been no studies on the hepatoprotective effect of Samchulgeonbi-tang (SCGBT). Therefore, the hepatoprotective effect of SCGBT was investigated in HepG2 cells. In this study, oxidative stress was induced by arachidonic acid (AA) and iron. Methods : To analyze the hepatoprotective effects of SCGBT against oxidative stress induced by AA + iron, the cell viability, apoptosis-related proteins and intracellular ROS, glutathione (GSH), and mitochondrial membrane permeability (MMP) were measured. In addition, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) transcription activation and expressions of Nrf2 target gene were analyzed through immunoblot analysis. Results : SCGBT increased the cell viability from AA + iron - induced cell death and inhibited apoptosis by regulating apoptosis related proteins. SCGBT protected cells by inhibiting ROS production, GSH depletion, and MMP degradation against AA + iron induced oxidative stress. Furthermore, Nrf2 activation was increased by SCGBT, and the Nrf2 target genes were also activated by SCGBT. Conclusions : These results suggest that the SCGBT has a hepatocyte protection effect and antioxidant effect from AA + iron induced oxidative stress.

• 한국노년학
• /
• v.39 no.4
• /
• pp.883-893
• /
• 2019

The purpose of this study is to analyze the characteristics of the elderly patients with depression who were admitted to the hospital with intentional self-harm. 3,280 patients were selected from KCDC database(2011-2015) using STATA 12.0. Analysis results show that gender(female), residence(micropolitan city), result of suicide(death), risk factors(financial problems, psychological problems, physical disease, conflicts with family, place(non-residence) method of suicide(poisoning) were statistically significant. The hospital should detect the elderly patient with depression when they admitted.

• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.13-21
• /
• 2019

[Purpose] Chronic stress is a precipitating factor for depression, whereas exercise is beneficial for both the mood and cognitive process. The current study demonstrates the anti-depressive effects of regular exercise and the mechanisms linked to hippocampal neurogenesis. [Methods] Mice were subjected to 14 consecutive days of restraint, followed by 3 weeks of treadmill running, and were then subjected to behavioral tests that included the forced swimming and Y-maze tests. Protein levels were assessed using western blot analysis and newborn cells were detected using 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU). [Results] Three weeks of treadmill running ameliorated the behavioral depression caused by 14 days of continuous restraint stress. The exercise regimen enhanced BrdU-labeled cells and class III β-tubulin levels in the hippocampal dentate gyrus, as well as those of thioredoxin-1 (TRX-1) and synaptosomal β2-adrenergic receptors (β2-AR) under stress. In vitro experiments involving treatment with recombinant human TRX-1 (rhTRX-1) augmented the levels of phospho-extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2), nuclear β-catenin, and proliferating cell nuclear antigens, which were previously inhibited by U0216 and FH535 (inhibitors of ERK1/2 and β-catenin/T cell factor-mediated transcription, respectively). The hippocampal neurogenesis elicited by a 7-day exercise regimen was abolished by a selective inhibitor of β2-AR, butoxamine. [Conclusion] These results suggest that TRX-1-mediated hippocampal neurogenesis by β2-AR function is a potential mechanism underlying the psychotropic effect of exercise.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.231-241
• /
• 2023

Purpose: Overtriage and undertriage rates are critical metrics in trauma, influenced by both trauma team activation (TTA) criteria and compliance with these criteria. Analysis of undertriaged patients at a level I trauma center revealed suboptimal compliance with existing criteria. This study assessed triage patterns after implementing compliance-focused process interventions. Methods: A physician-driven, free-text alert system was modified to a nonphysician, hospital dispatcher-guided system. The latter employed dropdown menus to maximize compliance with criteria. The preintervention period included patients who presented between May 12, 2020, and December 31, 2020. The postintervention period incorporated patients who presented from May 12, 2021, through December 31, 2021. We evaluated appropriate triage, overtriage, and undertriage using the Standardized Trauma Assessment Tool. Statistical analyses were conducted with an α level of 0.05. Results: The new system was associated with improved compliance with existing TTA criteria (from 70.3% to 79.3%, P=0.023) and decreased undertriage (from 6.0% to 3.2%, P=0.002) at the expense of increasing overtriage (from 46.6% to 57.4%, P<0.001), ultimately decreasing the appropriate triage rate (from 78.4% to 74.6%, P=0.007). Conclusions: This study assessed a workflow change designed to improve compliance with TTA criteria. Improved compliance decreased undertriage to below the target threshold of 5%, albeit at the expense of increased overtriage. The decrease in appropriate triage despite compliance improvements suggests that the current criteria at this institution are not adequately tailored to optimally balance the minimization of undertriage and overtriage. This finding underscores the importance of improved compliance in evaluating the efficacy of TTA criteria.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2023.04a
• /
• pp.52-52
• /
• 2023

Ageing has been known to be deeply related to oxidative activities. Furthermore, inflammation is a response initiated by conditions such as infection and injury. It has been known that complex connections occur between oxidative stress and the inflammatory response, however underlying mechanism needs to be investigated. Chinese resource plants have been widely used as functional food and medicine for a long time, however it is not studied well how many of these resource plants work. We first decided testing anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities with 95% ethanol extracts of the chinese resource plants, Boehmeria pilosinscula (Blume) Hassk., Carlemannia tetragona Hook f. and Clausena emarginata C.C.Huang. To measure anti-oxidant activity, we performed DPPH assay in Raw264.7 cells with 95% ethanol extracts. Clausena extracts showed significantly higher anti-oxidant activity than those of Boehmeria and Carlemannia. We then performed Nitric Oxide assay to measure the inflammation suppression levels with 95% ethanol extracts of these plants. Clausena extracts showed significantly higher suppression of nitric oxide production than those of Boehmeria and Carlemannia. This indicates that inflammation levels are significantly reduced by Clausena. After measuring anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, we then performed MTT assay to measure the cell survival rate of Raw264.7 cells treated with these extracts. Boehmeria showed much more cell survival rate than Carlemannia and Clausena. Taken together, this result suggests that Clausena extracts have more anti-oxidant and antiinflammatory activities than Boehmeria and Carlemannia, while Boehmeria extracts have more cell survival rate than Carlemannia and Clausena.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
• /
• v.22 no.5
• /
• pp.801-810
• /
• 2021

Objective: To investigate imaging biomarkers of microperfusion in contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) using contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). Materials and Methods: The CIN model was fabricated by administering indomethacin (10 mg/kg), L-NAME (15 mg/kg), and iopamidol (10 mL/kg) to Sprague-Dawley rats. After 24 hours, CEUS was performed on CIN (n = 6) and control (n = 6) rats with sulphur hexafluoride microbubbles (SonoVue). From time-intensity curves obtained from the kidney arriving time (AT), acceleration time (AC), time to peak (TTP), and peak enhancement (PE) were measured and compared between the groups. After CEUS, the rats were sacrificed, and cell apoptosis markers were evaluated to confirm the development of CIN. Results: Among CEUS parameters, AT (7.8 ± 1.6 vs. 4.2 ± 0.5 s, p = 0.002), AC (4.7 ± 1.4 vs. 2.0 ± 0.4 s, p = 0.002), and TTP (12.5 ± 2.9 vs. 6.2 ± 0.6 s, p = 0.002) were significantly prolonged in the CIN group compared to controls. PE was significantly higher in the control group than in the CIN group (17.1 ± 1.9 vs. 12.2 ± 2.0 dB, p = 0.004). In kidney tissue, mRNA and protein levels of the apoptotic makers were significantly higher in the CIN group than in the control group (p = 0.003 and p = 0.002). Conclusion: CEUS parameters can be used as imaging biomarkers for microperfusion in CIN. In rats with CIN, AT, AC, and TTP were significantly prolonged, while PE was significantly lower compared to controls.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• v.37 no.2
• /
• pp.97-105
• /
• 2024

Purpose: Massive transfusion protocols (MTPs) implementation improves clinical outcomes of the patient's resuscitation with hemorrhagic trauma. Various predictive scoring system have been used and studied worldwide to improve clinical decision. However, such research has not yet been studied in Korea. This systematic review aimed to assess the predictors of MTPs activation in patients with trauma in Korea. Methods: The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Research Information Sharing Service databases, KoreaMed, and KMbase were searched from November 2022. All studies conducted in Korea that utilized predictors of MTPs activation in adult patients with trauma were included. Results: Ten articles were eligible for analysis, and the predictors were assessed. Clinical assessments such as systolic and diastolic blood pressure, shock index (SI), prehospital modified SI, modified early warning system (MEWS) and reverse SI multiplied by the Glasgow Coma Scale (rSIG) were used. Laboratory values such as lactate level, fibrinogen degradation product/fibrinogen ratio, and rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) were used. Imaging examinations such as pelvic bleeding score were used as predictors of MTPs activation. Conclusions: Our systematic review identified predictors of MTPs activation in patients with trauma in Korea; predictions were performed using tools that requires clinical assessments, laboratory values or imaging examinations only. Among them, ROTEM, rSIG, MEWS, SI, and lactate level showed good effects for predictions of MTPs activation. The application of predictors for MTP's activation should be individualized based on hospital resource and skill set, also should be performed as a clinical decision supporting tools.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
• /
• v.56 no.1
• /
• pp.109-121
• /
• 2023

Thioacetamide (TAA) exposure and hepatitis C virus infection are usually associated with renal dysfunction. Sofosbuvir (SFV) and daclatasvir (DAC) drugs combination has great value in the treatment of hepatitis C. The study aimed to identify the nephrotoxic effects of TAA and to evaluate the ameliorative role of SFV and DAC in this condition. Forty-eight adult male albino rats were divided into eight groups and received saline (control), SFV, DAC, SFV+DAC, TAA, TAA+SFV, TAA+DAC and TAA+SFV+DAC for eight weeks. Kidney and blood samples were retrieved and processed for histological (Hematoxylin and Eosin and Masson's trichrome), immunohistochemical (α-smooth muscle actin), and biochemical analysis (urea, creatinine, total protein, albumin, malondialdehyde, reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and tumor necrosis factor-α). Examination revealed marked destruction of renal tubules on exposure to TAA with either hypertrophy or atrophy of glomeruli, increase in collagen deposition, and wide expression of α-smooth muscle actin. Also, significant disturbance in kidney functions, oxidative stress markers, and tumor necrosis factor-α. Supplementation with either SFV or DAC produced mild improvement in the tissue and laboratory markers. Moreover, the combination of both drugs greatly refined the pathology induced by TAA at the cellular and laboratory levels. However, there are still significant differences when compared to the control. In conclusion, SFV and DAC combination partially but greatly ameliorated the renal damage induced by TAA which might be enhanced with further supplementations to give new hope for those with nephropathy associated with hepatitis.