• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.435-442
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• 2011

In this study, to investigate the effects of herb aroma components, the BDI test was performed with the 124 students of the Youngdong University and the subjects whose score was 16 or higher were selected and allocated to the herb-extracted aroma-treated group and the non-treated group, 27 and 10 students for each group. The BDI and SDS tests were carried out at each stage (before and after the treatment, 10 days later and 30 days later). The result showed that the pre-treatment BDI test result was significantly different from all those of the post-treatment test, and the tests after 10 days and 30 days in the aroma-treated group. In the SDS test, the pre-treatment test result was significantly different from the results of the post-treatment test and the test after 10 days, while it was not significantly different from the result of the test after 30 days. Additionally, to verify whether the change within the group is larger than that by natural recovery or not, ANCOVA was performed with respect to the difference in the pre-treatment test score between the groups depending on whether the treatment was given or not, having the SDS pre-treatment score as the covariate, and the result showed that the post-treatment test scores were significantly different. Thus, it was verified that, if the SDS test score is considered as the depression indicator, the effect of aromatherapy was greater than the change by natural recovery. The difference in the post-treatment test score was analyzed depending on whether the treatment was given or not, having the BDI pre-treatment test score as the control variable, and the result showed that the post-treatment test scores were not significantly different. Based on such a theoretical verification, it is assumed that the nature-friendly treatment method using herb aroma components can be a great help in suppressing depression. Therefore, it is expected that herb aroma components can provide systematic therapeutic effect on the suppression of depression.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.47-55
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• 2010

UV-screening agents have some adverse effects that raise consumers' concern. The organic agents often cause irritation and may penetrate into human body while the inorganic agents raise aesthetic issues because they often turn opaque. Organic agents with high molecular weights and nano-sized inorganic agents have been developed respectively to minimize transdermal intrusion into human body and suppress turning opaque. Recently, we reported preparation of powdery UV-screening agents made of polysilsesquioxane, an organic-inorganic hybrid material. Powders would not penetrate into epidermis and organic-inorganic hybrid nature would suppress the opaqueness problem. In this study, we continued our research on this powdery polysilsesquioxane UV-screening agent, SESQUV, regarding its chemical composition, its synergic UV-screening effects when mixed with other organic agents, and its applicability in practical formulation. Results showed SESQUV was promising UV-screening agents useful in sunscreen formulation.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.74-80
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• 2009

Purpose : To evaluate the characteristic MR imaging findings of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) in the skull and to compare them with those of plain radiography and computed tomography. Materials and Methods : A total of 10 lesions in 9 patients (Age range; 5-42 years, Mean age; 18, all women) with Langerhans cell histiocytosis in the skull were included in our study. Nine lesions in nine patients were histologically confirmed by surgery or fine needle aspiration biopsy. All patients performed with MRI, and plain radiography and CT scan were done in 7 patients (8 lesions). Two experienced neuroradiologists reviewed the radiological examinations independently with attention to location, size, shape and nature of the lesions in the skull and compared the extent and extension of the lesions to adjacent structures. Results : The lesions were distributed in all of the skulls without predilection site. On MRI, the masses were shown as well-enhancing soft tissue masses (10/10) mainly in diploic spaces (8/10) with extension to scalp (9/10) and dura mater (7/10). Dural enhancement (7/10) and thickening (4/10) were seen. The largest diameter of the soft tissue masses ranged 1.1 cm to 6.8 cm, shaped as round (5/10) or oval (5/10). On CT scans, the lesions were presented as soft tissue masses involving diploic space (6/8) and scalp extension (7/8) were also well visualized. Although bony erosion or destruction was more clearly seen on CT rather than those of MRI, enhancement of soft tissue masses and dura were not well visualized on CT. In contrast, all of the lesions in LCH were seen as punched out (4/8), beveled-edge appearance (4/8) osteolytic masses in plain radiography, but scalp and dural extension could not be seen. Conclusion : Characteristic MR findings in patients with LCH are soft tissue mass in diploic space with extension to dura and scalp, and MRI would be better imaging modality than plain radiography or CT.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.196-200
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• 2008

Kimura's Disease is a very rare, chronic inflammatory disorder with an unknown etiology, and this illness is primarily seen in young Asian males. The typical clinical features consist of painless subcutaneous masses in the head or neck region, and especially in the salivary gland and submandibular region. It is often accompanied with a regional lymphadenopathy, peripheral blood eosinophilia and elevated serum IgE levels. Histologically, it is characterized by prominent germinal centers in the involved lymph nodes, together with eosinophilic infiltration in these lymph nodes. The treatment modalities for this disease are steroid therapy, radiation therapy and surgical excision. Its clinical course is of a benign nature. We report here on a case of a 28 year old man who had a soft tissue mass in his left arm. We excised this mass and the microscopy confirmed that he suffered from Kimura's disease on microscopic examination in his left distal arm.

• Proceedings of the Microbiological Society of Korea Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.77-81
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• 2001

Microsporidia in humans emerged with the AIDS epidemic. Enterocytozoon bieneusi is the most significant species' and causes chronic diarrhea, wasting, papillary stenosis, acaculous cholecystitis, bile duct dilatation and sclerosing cholangitis and is responsible for $30-50\%$ of all cases of in people with AIDS. Microsporidiosis has been reported in immunosuppressed, and in immunologically normal individuals. Variety of study has revealed the mode of transmission and possible reservoir of E. bieneusi. Its sites of infection suggest that transmission occurs by ingestion. Transmission has been speculated to occur via infected animals to human, person to person. There is evidence that E. bieneusi occurs in pigs, monkeys, and possibly other animals such as cattle, dogs, cats, llamas and rabbits. E. bieneusi from infected humans has been transmitted experimentally to macaques and to pigs. These observations reflect indirectly the zoonotic nature of E. bieneusi and indicate that cross species transmission is a real possibility. Meanwhile, In recent report, thirty-two percent of the pigs were found to be positive with rates higher over the summer months in US.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.127-134
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• 1984

As a series of studies to clarify clonorchicidal substances in body surface mucus of some freshwater fishes, the substance in the epidermal mucus of Cyprinus carpio was isolated by silica gel column and thin layer chromatography and analysed for its chemical nature. Wormicidal trial was done in vitro, and the results obtained are summarized as follows: The mucus was extracted by ethyl ether and separated into 4 fractions by column chromatography using benzene as solvent. The second fraction with yellowish red colour among them showed the strongest clonorchicidal effect. The yellowish red fraction obtained by column chromatography was then fractionated into 6 spots by thin layer chromatography with petrol/ etherjchloroform (30/70, v/v), and the Rf. 0.714 spot among the 6 spots showed the strongest effect. The Rf. 0.714 spot was further fractionated into 6 spots by thin layer chromatography with benzene/acetone (90/10, vlv), and the Rf. 0.800 spot among the later 6 spots revealed the strongest effect. The Rf. 0.800 spot was chromatographed on column with benzene and 2 fractions were obtained. The second fraction of light brown colour represented the final purified fraction. By these Purification Procedures, clonorchicidal substance was Purified 15-fold with 0.035 yield from the mucus of C. carpio, and 10mg of the final fraction killed the cercaria in 26 min, the metacercaria in 115 min, and the adult in 443 min. Infra red and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometric analysis of the purified substance revealed that the substance belongs to an ethyl ester of unsaturated fatty acid with 2 double bonds, 15 methylene groups and 1 methyl group.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.3 s.83
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• pp.444-453
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• 2007

Our genome exists in the form of chromatin, and its structural organization should be precisely regulated with an appropriate dynamic nature for life. The basic unit of chromatin is a nucleosome, which consists of a histone octamer. These nucleosomal histones are subject to various covalent modifications, one of which is methylation on certain lysine residues. Recent studies in histone biology identified many histone Iysine methyltransferases (HKMTs) responsible for respective lysine residues and uncovered various kinds of involved chromatin associating proteins and many related epigenetic phenotypes. With the aid of highly precise experimental tools, multi-disciplinary approaches have widened our understanding of how lysine methylation functions in diverse epigenetic processes though detailed mechanisms remain elusive. Still being considered as a relatively more stable mark than other modifications, the recent discovery of lysine demethylases will confer more flexibility on epigenetic memory transmitted through histone lysine methylation. In this review, advances that have been recently observed in epigenetic phenotypes related with histone lysine methylation and the enzymes for depositing and removing the methyl mark are provided.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.62-66
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• 2008

Purpose : In addition to epileptic seizures (ES), a variety of physiologic, organic and psychogenic disorders can manifest as paroxysmal behavioral events. Paroxysmal nonepileptic events (PNEs) are quite encountered in infants, young children, and adolescents. In a substantial proportion of cases, a careful history and examination will elucidate their nature. However, in other cases, it is necessary to differentiate PNEs from ES by video-electroencephalographic (EEG) monitoring. We report our experiences with PNEs in a group of children and adolescents who underwent video-EEG monitoring. Methods : From September, 2004 to June, 2006, one hundred thirty patients were monitored in the Pediatric Epilepsy Monitoring Units of Korea University Guro and Ansan hospitals. Their hospital charts were reviewed and video records of these events were analyzed. We observed all patients after video-EEG monitoring for more than 3 months. Results : Typical spells occurred during monitoring in 33 patients, not associated with a seizure pattern on EEG recordings. Two patients were diagnosed as frontal lobe epilepsy on basis of typical semiology and clinical characteristics, so 31 patients were documented to have PNEs finally. The mean age of patients was $7.2{\pm}5.8\;years$. The male to female ratio was 15 (48.4%) to 16 (51.6%). Among 31 patients, fifteen patients had associated disorders such as epilepsy, developmental delay, cerebral palsy, gastric ulcer, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or depressive disorder. Somatoform disorder and factitious disorder was frequently seen in children more than 5 years old (P<0.05). Psychogenic disorder was more frequent in female (n=6) than in male (n=2) but there was no statistical significance (P>0.05). Conclusion : Our study suggests that video-EEG monitoring is an important diagnostic tool in the evaluation of paroxysmal behavioral events. With correct diagnosis of the PNEs, several unnecessary treatment could be avoided.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.10
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• pp.976-981
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• 2007

Purpose : Aortic valve or aortic root (AoRo) replacement is occasionally required because of AoRo dilatation and aortic regurgitation (AR) in repaired tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). We evaluated AoRo size and possible factors associated with its hemodynamic nature in patients with repaired TOF. Methods : We investigated 130 repaired TOF patients more than 15 years of age who followed-up by echocardiography from January 2002 to December 2003. Of 130 patients, we identified 17 patients with AoRo dilatation, which was defined as ratio of expected AoRo size by standard nomogram (AoRo ratio) >1.5 (dilator group), and 113 TOF controls, with AoRo ratio <1.5 (non-dilator group). Results : Mean indexed AoRo size ($mm/m^2$) in the first echo was $24{\pm}3.2$ in the dilator group and $18{\pm}3.4$ in the non-dilator group (P<0.0001). AoRo rate of change (mm/year) from the first to latest echo study was $1.6{\pm}3.8$ in dilator group and $0.05{\pm}1.6$ in the non dilator group (P=0.0021). Patients from the dilator group showed a higher prevalence of pulmonary atresia (P=0.031) and a history of aortopulmonary shunt before repair (P=0.048), moderate to severe AR (P=0.0065), and increased left ventricular end-diastolic dimensions (P=0.003). Conclusions : A subset of patients late after TOF repair may show progressive dilatation of AoRo. To identify and prevent long-term sequelae in this patient group, regular follow-up and speculation about AoRo after TOF repair is recommended.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.904-915
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• 2019

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most metastatic tumor. Although hormone therapy or surgical castration is mostly conducted to treat PCa, it has a lot of side effects. Recently, many researchers have been exploring the tumor microenvironment to remedy these circumstances. Immune cells, especially macrophages, are an important composition of the tumor microenvironment. Under normal conditions, macrophages exhibit mild tumoricidal activity against tumors. However, once activated by interferon gamma or lipopolysaccharides, macrophages can kill cancer cells directly or indirectly by secreting cytokines and chemokines. In this study, murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells were treated with Phellinus linteus extract. To analyze their pro-inflammatory phenotype, we were used several assays such as a real-time polymerase chain reaction, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent and nitric oxide assay. Prostate cancer cells were treated with the RAW 264.7-conditioned media, which was identified as a pro-inflammatory nature, for 48 h, and the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related genes was determined. Not only N-cadherin, Snail, Twist, Slug, and Cadherin 11, which are mechenchymal-related proteins, were decrease, but epithelial marker of E-cadherin was increased. In addition, the mRNA level of vimentin, ccl2, and vegfa were decreased, as the EMT is closely related to the migration and invasion of cancer cells. In conclusion, the RAW 264.7-conditioned media stimulated with P. linteus extract inhibited migration and invasion and regulated the EMT pathway in human prostate cancer cells.