• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.100-110
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• 2017

Purpose: This paper describes the basic principles and the feasibility of the field of dental diagnosis of optical coherence tomography (OCT) used in diverse field of medical diagnosis. Materials and methods: In this review, the research data of OCT were searched from PubMed, medical journal and related papers. Results: Generally, OCT is noninvasive and is possible to secure an excellent spatial resolution and real-time images of biological microstructure. Conclusion: This review discusses not only the basic principles of operation, types, advantages, disadvantages of OCT but also the future applications of OCT technology and their potential in the field of dental diagnosis.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.41-50
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• 2017

Purpose: The aims of the present study were to compare the image quality and visibility of tooth cracks between conventional methods and swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) and to develop an automatic detection technique for tooth cracks by SS-OCT imaging. Methods: We evaluated SS-OCT with a near-infrared wavelength centered at 1,310 nm over a spectral bandwidth of 100 nm at a rate of 50 kHz as a new diagnostic tool for the detection of tooth cracks. The reliability of the SS-OCT images was verified by comparing the crack lines with those detected using conventional methods. After performing preprocessing of the obtained SS-OCT images to emphasize cracks, an algorithm was developed and verified to detect tooth cracks automatically. Results: The detection capability of SS-OCT was superior or comparable to that of trans-illumination, which did not discriminate among the cracks according to depth. Other conventional methods for the detection of tooth cracks did not sense initial cracks with a width of less than $100{\mu}m$. However, SS-OCT detected cracks of all sizes, ranging from craze lines to split teeth, and the crack lines were automatically detected in images using the Hough transform. Conclusions: We were able to distinguish structural cracks, craze lines, and split lines in tooth cracks using SS-OCT images, and to automatically detect the position of various cracks in the OCT images. Therefore, the detection capability of SS-OCT images provides a useful diagnostic tool for cracked tooth syndrome.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.364-370
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• 2006

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is high resolution medical imaging system which is obtaining image inside biological objects with non-destructive method. OCT system is based on Michelson interferometer with a reciprocating mirror in the reference arm and a biological object in the sample arm. The obtained OCT image suffers from a granular or mottled image, called speckle. Speckle is caused by random interferences between reflected coherence waves. In this paper, we propose effective speckle reduction method that uses wavelet transform. With wavelet domain image, sub-windowing and thresholding are performed. Finally, speckle reduction experiments for Misgurnus mizolepis skin and rat eye images are shown.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.639-642
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• 2012

Optical coherence tomography(OCT) can provide real-time and non-invasive subsurface imaging with ultra-high resolution of micrometer scale. However, conventional OCT systems generally have a limited imaging depth range within a depth of only 1-2 mm. To overcome the limitation, we have proposed an active surface tracking algorithm used in common-path Fourier-domain OCT system in order to extend the imaging depth range. The surface tracking algorithm based on the threshold and Savitzky-Golay filter of A-scan data was applied to real-time tracking. The algorithm has controlled a moving stage according to the sample's surface variance in real time. An OCT image obtained by the algorithm clearly show an extended imaging depth range. Consequently, the proposed algorithm demonstrated the potential for improving the conventional OCT systems with limitary depth range.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.15-18
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• 1975

In man, ornithine carbamyl transferase is localized mainly in the liver and to a lesser extent in the smll intestine. Because of these findings, one might expect damage only to the liver or perhaps the small intestine to cause elevated ornithine carbamyl transferase activity in serum $(_S-OCT)$. Serum ornithine carbamyl transferase activity was determined in thirty normal subjects, and fifteen patients with viral hepatitis and fifteen patients with liver cirrhosis. The correlation of $_S-OCT$ with $_S-GPT$ and $_S-GOT$ was studied. The mean $_S-OCT$ activity in thirty normal Korean subjects was $0.094{\pm}0.043$I.U./L of serum. Elevated $_S-OCT$ activity was observed in patients with liver disease. The correlation coefficient was 0.18 for $_S-OCT$ and $_S-GPT$, ana 0.40 for $_S-OCT$ and $_S-GOT$.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.126-131
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• 2004

As a noninvasive imaging method, optical coherence tomography system has been extensively studied because it has some advantages such as imaging of high resolution, low cost, and compact size configuration. In order to improve the SNR of OCT system, two types of interferometers were configured and then, we compared simulation with measurement of reference sample. In the OCT system is configured with Michelson interferometer, the contrast of cross-sectional image is reduced with low SNR detection which is due to loss of feedback interference signal from light source part. Also, in order to image measured data with real time, image processing program is constructed. From results of simulation, it is confirmed that improved Michelson interferometer is improved about 10[dB] with a 50 : 50 fiber coupler. And from the measurement of reference sample, about 5[dB] is improved with a 50 : 50 fiber coupler. It is confirmed that the OCT system is configured with the improved Michelson interferometer which has a good distinctive cross-sectional image due to higher contrast.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.822-828
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• 2004

Nopaline-type Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain C58 cannot utilize octopine (Oct) as the sole carbon and nitrogen sources. This strain harbors two plasmids; a virulent plasmid, pTiC58, and a megaplasmid, pAtC58. From strain NT1, which is a derivative of C58 harboring only pAtC58, we isolated spontaneous mutants that utilize Oct as the sole nitrogen source. These Oct-catabolizing mutants, however, could not utilize the opine as the sole carbon source. In contrast, strain UIA5, a plasmid-free derivative of C58, could not give rise to such mutants. The mutations isolated from NT1 were mapped to socR in pAtC58, which is a negative regulator of the soc operon responsible for the uptake and catabolism of an Amadori opine, deoxyfructosyl glutamine (Dfg). A derivative of UIA5 carrying a clone of the soc operon with a transposon inserted in socR also utilizes Oct as the sole nitrogen source. However, UIA5 harboring the operon with mutations in each of the structural genes in the soc operon, socA, B, C, and D, lost the ability to generate spontaneous Oct-utilizing mutants, suggesting that soc genes in pAtC58 are required for the utilization of Oct as a nitrogen source, and that derepressed expression of these genes allows cells to utilize Oct. In contrast, Oct-catabolizing mutants derived from C58, which grew using Oct as the sole nitrogen source, could also utilize the opine as the sole carbon source. These mutants did not carry any detectable mutations in socR or the region upstream to the gene in pAtC58, suggesting that mutations occurring elsewhere in the genome, most likely in pTiC58, allow the uptake and catabolism of the opine.

• BMB Reports
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.242-248
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• 2018

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) show great promise for replacing current stem cell therapies in the field of regenerative medicine. However, the original method for cellular reprogramming, involving four exogenous transcription factors, is characterized by low efficiency. Here, we focused on using epigenetic modifications to enhance the reprogramming efficiency. We hypothesized that there would be a new reprogramming factor involved in DNA demethylation, acting on the promoters of pluripotency-related genes. We screened proteins that bind to the methylated promoter of Oct4 and identified Zinc finger protein 127 (Zfp127), the functions of which have not yet been identified. We found that Zfp127 binds to the Oct4 promoter. Overexpression of Zfp127 in fibroblasts induced demethylation of the Oct4 promoter, thus enhancing Oct4 promoter activity and gene expression. These results demonstrate that Zfp127 is a novel regulator of Oct4, and may become a potent target to improve cellular reprogramming.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.91-96
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• 2013

In this study, we developed an integrated optical coherence tomography - photoacoustic microscopy (OCT-PAM) system to simultaneously provide optical absorption and scattering information. Two different laser sources, such as a pulsed laser for PAM and a superluminescent diode for OCT, were employed to implement the integrated OCT-PAM system. The performance of the OCT-PAM system was measured by imaging carbon fibers. We then imaged black and white hairs to demonstrate the simultaneous OCT-PAM imaging capabilities. As a result, OCT can produce 3-D images of both black and white hairs, whereas PAM is only able to image the black hair due to strong optical absorption of black hair.

• Journal of the Optical Society of Korea
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.175-181
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• 2015

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a noninvasive technique for microscopic investigation of tissue. We thought that the OCT method could be a potential tool for monitoring the healing process of a tendon. In this study we used two rat models, denervated and non-denervated groups, to observe a variety of healing phases of Achilles tendon (AT) injury. We made samples of AT injury lesions, to take OCT images and to make histopathological samples of serial sectional tissue. In an OCT image the denervated rat showed no specific finding, but the non-denervated rat showed a large defect lesion that was scaffolding tissue. OCT findings combined with pathologic findings showed advantages in visualization of tendon microstructure over other imaging modalities such as MRI and US, and OCT is beneficial to making a treatment plan, especially the timing and intensity of rehabilitation. Therefore a multimodal platform using OCT for evaluation of tendon injury may be potentially useful for many applications.