• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.407-415
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• 2013

In this study, we investigated the antioxidant activities on HaCaT and the whitening effects on B16F1 melanoma cells of Dendropanax morbifera leaf extract. In an antioxidative activity assay using HaCaT cells, the ethyl acetate ($50{\mu}g/ml$) and aglycone fractions ($25{\mu}g/ml$) of the D. morbifera leaf extract didn't exhibit any characteristics of cytotoxicity. When HaCaT cells were exposed to a single large dose ($800mJ/cm^2$) of UVB, the extracts protected the cells against UVB radiation. When HaCaT cells were treated with 10 mM $H_2O_2$ and $4{\mu}M$ rose bengal, the ethyl acetate ($6.25{\sim}50{\mu}g/ml$) and aglycone ($6.25{\sim}25{\mu}g/ml$) fractions protected the cells against oxidative damage in a concentration dependent manner. When the whitening effects of D. morbifera leaf extract were tested in melanoma B16/F1 cells treated with the a-melanocyte stimulating hormone (${\alpha}$-MSH), the extracts inhibited ${\alpha}$-MSH-stimulated intra/extracellular melanogenesis in a concentration dependent manner. The inhibitory effects of the ethyl acetate and aglycone fractions of D. morbifera leaf extract were 21% and 44% at $25{\mu}g/ml$, respectively. Both are more effective than arbutin (15% at $25{\mu}g/ml$) which is known as a whitening agent. These results indicate that fractions of the D. morbifera leaf can function as cell protectants and natural antioxidants in biological systems, particularly skins exposed to UV radiation by quenching and/or scavenging $^1O_2$ and other ROS, and protecting cells against ROS. In addition, fractions of the D. morbifera leaf can be applied to new whitening cosmetics because of their inhibitory effects on ${\alpha}$-MSH stimulated melanogenesis in B16F1 melanoma cells.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.33 no.12
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• pp.907-912
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• 2011

Development of visible light responsive photocatalysts is a promising research area to facilitate utilization of solar energy for hydrogen production via photocatalytic water splitting. In this study two groups of samples, nitrogen (N)-doped niobium pentoxide ($Nb_2O_5$) and titanium dioxide ($TiO_2$) ($Nb_2O_5-N$, $HNb_3O_8-N$, $TiO_2-N$) and N-undoped ones ($Nb_2O_5$ and $TiO_2$) were tested. In order to utilize visible light, nitrogen atoms were doped in selected photocatalysts by using urea. A shift of the absorption edges of the Ndoped samples in the visible light region was observed. Under visible light irradiation, N-doped samples were more prominent photocatalytic activities than the N-undoped samples. Specifically, 99.7% of rhodamine B (RhB) was degraded after 60 minutes of visible light irradiation with $TiO_2-N$. Since $TiO_2-N$ shows the highest activity of RhB degradation, it was supposed to generate the highest current response. However, $HNb_3O_8-N$ showed the highest current response ($63.7mA/cm^2$) than $TiO_2-N$. More interestingly, when we compare the hydrogen production, $Nb_2O_5-N$ produced $19.4{\mu}mol/h$ of hydrogen.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.124-129
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• 2011

PC12 neuronal cell-protective effects of hot water extracts of guava fruit and leaf were evaluated. Total phenolic levels in fruit and leaf were 11.75 and 293.25 mg/g, respectively. Gallic acid, the predominant phenoic, was detected in both extracts. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation after $H_2O_2$ treatment was significantly reduced when the hot water extract of guava leaf was added to cell medium, compared to PC12 cells treated with $H_2O_2$ only. In a cell viability assay using 3-(4,5-dimethyl-thiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl- tetrazoliumbromide (MTT), the hot water extracts of fruit and leaf protected against $H_2O_2$-induced neurotoxicity. The leaf extract was more effective in terms of inhibition of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release into medium, compared to the fruit extract. These in vitro data suggest that hot water extracts of guava fruit and leaf may be useful in treatment of neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.1-14
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• 2007

Backgrounds : Rheumatoid Arthritis(RA) is known as the chronic inflammatory diseasethat induces persistent inflammation in the joint cavity. The destruction of cartilage occurs as the result of bones destoyed by pannus, several influential cytokines induced by the synovial capsulitis, varieties of proteinases, $O_2$ radicals, and the secondary degenerative changes of articular cartilage. The type 2 collagen-induced arthritis model is used in recent experimental research on rheumatoid arthritis. Cervus elaphus sibiricus (Nockyong) has the effect of relieving pain by nourishing the muscles, joints, and bones. It is also known to be efficacious in promoting and enhancing the immune system. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of Cervus elaphus sibiricus herbal acupuncture to inhibit the generation of proinflammatory enzyme on type 2 collagen-induced arthritis. I investigated the inhibition of mRNA transcription of MIF(macrophage migration inhibitory factor), $TNF-{\alpha}$(Tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$) and MMP-9 (matrix metalloproteinase-9) of Cervus elaphus sibiricus herbal acupuncture using an in vitro test. Also investigated was the inhibition of differentiation of Th 1 cells and activation of cytokines(MIF, $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-6, MMP-9), which are known to cause initial RA ,and are also related to the morphology of the synovial membranes of the joint capsule, by an in vivo test, using CIA(collagen induced arthritis) model mice. Materials & methods : The laboratory animals used in this experiment were 4 week-old DBA female mice, weighing approximately 20 grams, and adjusted to the laboratory environment. The experiment was divided into the normal group(NOR)-no treated group, control group(CON)-CIA induced group, and sample group(SAM)-Cervus elaphus sibiricus herbal acupuncture treated group. RA was induced in the mice via injection of $50{\mu}{\ell}$ C II mixed CFA. The Cervus elaphus sibiricus herbal acupuncture solution was applied on $GB_{35}$(陽陵泉) for 26 days from the 3rd day of RA inducement. The concentration of the solution was determined via a MTT assay. To research the effect on the expression of MIF, $TNF-{\alpha}$ and MMP-9 mRNA, RT-PCR was performed on synovial membrane cells from the knee joint of CIA mice. C II induced RA knee joint's histo-chemical synovial membrane was observed using a specimen model via the Hematoxilin and Eosin dying technique. Results : The expression of mRNA of RA-related cytokines such as MIF, $TNF-{\alpha}$, and MMP-9 dosedependently decreased in the cell from the synovial membranes of the joint, which is treated with Cervus elaphus sibiricus herbal acupuncture solution. In mice treated with Cervus elaphus sibiricusherbal acupuncture, the damage of synovial membranes of the joint was lessened, and differentiation of Th 1 cells was suppressed. The activation of RA-related cytokines such as MIF was suppressed, and the generation of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and MMP-9 showed a statistically significant decreas. Conclusions : It is speculated that Cervus elaphus sibiricus herbal acupuncture has the therapeutic effect of palliating the damage of the tissue impaired by RA by inhibition of the initial RA progression and by regulating excessive differentiation of Th 1 cell as it suppresses the generation of RA-related cytokines during the highest stage of RA by acting on pro-inflammatory enzymes.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.26-32
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• 2012

The magnification technique has recently become popular in bone radiography, mammography and other diagnostic examination. However, because of the finite size of X-ray focal spot, the magnification influences various imaging properties with resolution, noise and contrast. The purpose of study is to investigate the influence of magnification and focal spot size on digital imaging system using eDQE (effective detective quantum efficiency). Effective DQE is a metric reflecting overall system response including focal spot blur, magnification, scatter and grid response. The adult chest phantom employed in the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was used to derive eDQE from eMTF (effective modulation transfer function), eNPS (effective noise power spectrum), scatter fraction and transmission fraction. According to results, spatial frequencies that eMTF is 10% with the magnification factor of 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 are 2.76, 2.21, 1.78, 1.49 and 1.26 lp/mm respectively using small focal spot. The spatial frequencies that eMTF is 10% with the magnification factor of 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 are 2.21, 1.66, 1.25, 0.93 and 0.73 lp/mm respectively using large focal spot. The eMTFs and eDQEs decreases with increasing magnification factor. Although there are no significant differences with focal spot size on eDQE (0), the eDQEs drops more sharply with large focal spot than small focal spot. The magnification imaging can enlarge the small size lesion and improve the contrast due to decrease of effective noise and scatter with air-gap effect. The enlargement of the image size can be helpful for visual detection of small image. However, focal spot blurring caused by finite size of focal spot shows more significant impact on spatial resolution than the improvement of other metrics resulted by magnification effect. Based on these results, appropriate magnification factor and focal spot size should be established to perform magnification imaging with digital radiography system.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.154-164
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• 2003

Background : Until the early 1990's in Korea, treatment outcomes of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in the private sector were reported to be inferior to those of the public health center under the National Tuberculosis Programme. The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinical characteristics and the treatment efficacy of the patients with pulmonary tuberculosis recently diagnosed at a private general hospital. Materials and Methods : The study included all pulmonary tuberculosis patients diagnosed at Samsung Medical Center and notified to the public health center from August 2000 to January 2001. Results : Of the 232 patients included in the study during a 6-month period, 188 were (81.0%) initial treatment cases and 44 (19.0%) were re-treatment cases. Eighty-three (35.8%) patients had smear-positive sputa, and 27 (11.6%) had smear-negative, culture-positive sputa. Initial sputum examinations were not performed in 47 (20.3%) patients. A six-month, short-course treatment using isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol and pyrazinamide was prescribed for 31.4% of the patients under the initial treatment. The success rate (cured plus treatment completed) of the initial treatment for the smear-positive patients was 69.1%. Eleven (13.3%) of the 83 patients with smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis discontinued their treatment without notice. Conclusions : To improve the treatment efficacy and decrease the default rates of the patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in the private sector, further efforts are required in line with the Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Disease Treatment Guidelines and in the implementation of an appropriate model of public-private mix for tuberculosis control in Korea.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.59 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 2005

Background : Chronic obstructive lung disease is characterized by smoke-related, gradually progressive, fixed airflow obstructions. However, some studies suggested that a reversible bronchial obstruction is common in chronic obstructive lung disease. Such reversibility persists despite the continued treatment with aerosolized bronchodilators and it appears to be related to the diminution in symptoms. The isolated volume response to a bronchodilator is defined as a remarkable increase in the FVC in response to the administration of a bronchodilator whereas the $FEV_1$ remains unchanged. This has been suggested in patients with severe emphysema. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the response to a bronchodilator and the severity of an airflow obstruction in COPD patients using the GOLD classification. Methods : This study examined 124 patients with an airway obstruction. The patients underwent spirometry, and the severity of the airflow obstruction was classified by GOLD. The response groups were categorized by an improvement in the FVC or $FEV_1$ > 12%, and each group was analyzed. Results : Most subjects were men with a mean age of $65.9{\pm}8.5$ years. The mean smoking history was $41.26{\pm}20.1$ pack years. The isolated volume response group had relatively low $FEV_1$ and FVC values compared with the other groups. (p<0.001) Conclusion : In this study, an isolated volume response to a bronchodilator is a characteristic of a severe airway obstruction, which is observed in patient with a relatively poorer baseline lung function.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.69 no.1
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• pp.16-23
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• 2010

Background: Most lung cancer patients receive systemic chemotherapy at an advanced stage disease. Cisplatin-based chemotherapy is the main regimen for treating advanced lung cancer. Recently, autophagy has become an important mechanism of cellular adaptation under starvation or cell oxidative stress. The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not autophagy can occurred in cisplatin-treated lung cancer cells. Methods: H460 cells were incubated with RPMI 1640 and treated in $5{\mu}M$ or $20{\mu}M$ cisplatin concentrations at specific time intervals. Cells surviving cisplatin treatment were measured and compared using an MTT cell viability assay to cells that underwent apoptosis with autophagy by nuclear staining, apoptotic or autophagic related proteins, and autophagic vacuoles. The development of acidic vascular organelles was using acridine orange staining and fluorescent expression of GFP-LC3 protein in its transfected cells was observed to evaluate autophagy. Results: Lung cancer cells treated with $5{\mu}M$ cisplatin-treated were less sensitive to cell death than $20{\mu}M$ cisplatin-treated cells in a time-dependent manner. Nuclear fragmentation at $5{\mu}M$ was not detected, even though it was discovered at $20{\mu}M$. Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavages were not detected in $5{\mu}M$ within 24 hours. Massive vacuolization in the cytoplasm of $5{\mu}M$ treated cells were observed. Acridine orange stain-positive cells was increased according in time-dependence manner. The autophagosome-incorporated LC3 II protein expression was increased in $5{\mu}M$ treated cells, but was not detected in $20{\mu}M$ treated cells. The expression of GFP-LC3 were increased in $5{\mu}M$ treated cells in a time-dependent manner. Conclusion: The induction of autophagy occurred in $5{\mu}M$ dose of cisplatin-treated lung cancer cells.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.535-541
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• 2010

Excessive intake of sodium is known as a risk factor for hypertension, and Korean adults consume sodium 3 times higher than Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the difference on sodium content between analyzed and estimated by food composition table and food exchange list. Seven days of low salt diet and seven days of high salt diet were prepared, and sodium contents were estimated by food composition table and food exchange list and measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Sodium contents of diet per day estimated by food exchange list significantly differed from analyzed content, but those estimated by food composition table were not. However, when absolute differences from analyzed content were compared by dishes in the low and high salt diet periods, there were significant differences among estimated sodium content by food composition table and food exchange list and analyzed sodium content. The discrepancy between those results was due to that absolute value was used to compare sodium contents of dishes but not to compare sodium contents of days. In addition, main dish, side dish, and soup were significantly different among estimated sodium content by food composition table and food exchange list and analyzed sodium content. Actual sodium contents of Jap-Chae Deop-Bap and Roasted chicken with oyster sauce differed to a great extent from estimated contents by food exchange list and food composition table. In conclusion, actual sodium contents of Korean dishes were significantly different from those estimated by food composition table and food exchange list, and thus these differences in salt content should be considered on planning of low-salt menu for hypertensive patients.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.362-371
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• 2004

It is essential to have adequate knowledge of the timing of root resorption of deciduous teeth for diagnosis and treatment planning in pediatric and orthodontic dentistry. Dental development is also influenced by hereditary characteristics, environmental factors, race, sex, endocrine reaction, nutrition, socioeconomic condition and secular factor. The aims of the present study were to determine the mean age of root resorption of deciduous teeth in contemporary Korean children and to compare the mean age of root resorption time of deciduous teeth between early 1990s and early 2000s. The study population was made up of Korean children attending the pediatric dentistry ward of Kyungpook National University Hospital. One thousand thirty seven children's panoramic radiograph (girls: 528 persons, boys: 509 persons) in $1990{\sim}1992$ and one thousand sixty five children's panoramic radiograph (girls: 394 persons, boys: 671 persons) in $2001{\sim}2003$ were examined. This study utilized a cross-sectional design. Due to the problems of imaging in the maxillary region and the mandibular incisor region, the mandibular deciduous canine, the mandibular deciduous first molar and the mandibular deciduous second molar were chosen for examination. The results were as follows. 1. There is a tendency for the teeth to resort earlier in the early 2000s group than the in early 1990s group. At the Res c stage, the difference of the mean age was 0.4 years. 2. At the Res c stage, the order of difference of the mean age from smaller to larger for the girls was the mandibular deciduous canine, the mandibular first deciduous molar, and the mandibular second deciduous molar. On the other hand, for the boys, the order was the mandibular second deciduous molar, the mandibular first deciduous molar, and the mandibular deciduous canine. The difference was larger with aging in girls and smaller with aging in boys. 3. There is a tendency for the teeth to resort earlier in girls in both the early 1990s group and the early 2000s group. The difference of the mean age between girls and boys was 0.3 year. 4. The commencement of root resorption of the mandibular deciduous canine was slower than that of the mandibular first deciduous molar. However, the completion of root resorption of the mandibular deciduous canine is faster than that of the mandibular first deciduous molar. The total elapsed time of root resorption from commencement to completion was shortest in the mandibular deciduous canine. 5. For each of the teeth in the early 1990s and the early 2000s groups, the speed of root resorption was in the later stage faster than in the earlier stage. In order to know about the exact timing of root resorption of deciduous teeth, periodic and longitudinal studies preferably covering the entire period of growth, is required.