• The Korean Journal of Vision Science
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.505-511
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• 2018

Purpose : This study investigated the visual functions of drivers aged over 65 year olds and drivers aged 50~65 year olds. In addition, difference of visual functions between professional drivers and normal drivers were investigated. Methods : Forty Driver aged over 65 year olds and 67 drivers aged less than 67 year olds were participated. All participants had more than 5 years of driving experiences and had no ocular pathology. Demographic data(gender, job, age, body condition) and visual functions such as contrast sensitivity(CS), stereopsis, glare recovery time and discomfort glare index were measured. Results : Constrast sensivity under photopic condition was higher with bus driver group. In addition, difference of CS at 12cpd and 18cpd were signifcantly different between normal drivers(1.57) and bus drivers(1.70) (p<0.05). There was no significant difference for glare recovery time, despite of trend of longer recovery time with age. Discomfort glare index was significantly different that normal drivers with more than 65 year olds had 3, taxi and truck driver presented almost 5 index score (p<0.05). Conclusion : Analysis of visual function of elderly drivers, it was confirmed that their visual functions decreased with age. Therefore, visual function tests such as CS, discomfort glare index and stereopsis in addition to current available test may need to be considered for drivers aged over 65.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.474-483
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• 2019

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a pivotal role in pathologic ocular neovascularization and vascular leakage via activation of VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2). This study was undertaken to evaluate the therapeutic mechanisms and effects of the tetrapeptide Arg-Leu-Tyr-Glu (RLYE), a VEGFR2 inhibitor, in the development of vascular permeability and choroidal neovascularization (CNV). In cultured human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRMECs), treatment with RLYE blocked VEGF-A-induced phosphorylation of VEGFR2, Akt, ERK, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), leading to suppression of VEGF-A-mediated hyper-production of NO. Treatment with RLYE also inhibited VEGF-A-stimulated angiogenic processes (migration, proliferation, and tube formation) and the hyperpermeability of HRMECs, in addition to attenuating VEGF-A-induced angiogenesis and vascular permeability in mice. The anti-vascular permeability activity of RLYE was correlated with enhanced stability and positioning of the junction proteins VE-cadherin, ${\beta}$-catenin, claudin-5, and ZO-1, critical components of the cortical actin ring structure and retinal endothelial barrier, at the boundary between HRMECs stimulated with VEGF-A. Furthermore, intravitreally injected RLYE bound to retinal microvascular endothelium and inhibited laser-induced CNV in mice. These findings suggest that RLYE has potential as a therapeutic drug for the treatment of CNV by preventing VEGFR2-mediated vascular leakage and angiogenesis.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.125-133
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• 2019

A microscope is the fundamental research and diagnostic apparatus for clinical investigation of signaling transduction, morphological changes and physiological tracking of cells and intact tissues from patients in the biomedical laboratory science. Proper use, care and maintenance of microscope with comprehensive understanding in mechanism are fully requested for reliable image data and accurate interpretation for diagnosis in the clinical laboratory. The standard operating procedure (SOP) for light microscopes includes performance procedure, brief information of all mechanical parts of microscopes with systematic troubleshooting mechanism depending on the laboratory capacity. Maintenance program encompasses cleaning objective, ocular lenses and inner optics; replacement and calibration of light source; XY sample stage management; point spread function (PSF) measurement for confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM); quality control (QC) program in fluorescent microscopy; and systematic troubleshooting. Laser safety is one of the concern for medical technologists engaged in CLSM laboratory. Laser safety guideline based on the laser classification and risk level, and advisory lab wear for CLSM users are also expatiated in this overview. Since acquired image data presents a wide range of information at the moment of acquisition, well-maintained microscopes with proper microscopic maintenance program are impulsive for its interpretation and diagnosis in the clinical laboratory.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Sensory Integration
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.24-38
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• 2021

Objective : This study aimed to create a Korea translation of the Evaluation in Ayres Sensory Integration (EASI) and to then test the adapted version for construct validity. Methods : The translation and content validation process were conducted in accordance with a four-step process, namely translation, integration, content validity examination, and backward translation. The construct validity of the translated version was evaluated using the EASI for children aged 3~12 years with and without sensory integration problems, comparing the two groups as well as preschool and school-aged groups. The group comparison was analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test in SPSS. Results : In terms of content validity, all 20 items averaged more than 3.17 points. Of the four EASI categories, there was a difference in Sensory Perception (p=0.044) between the typical and sensory integration groups, and there was a statistical difference between tactile and vestibular sensations. Between the preschool and school-aged children, statistical difference was observed in two categories, namely Praxis and Ocular-Postural-Bilateral Motor Integration. Conclusion : Based on its construct validity, the Korean version of EASI is suitable for use in research. The construct validity study highlighted items that explain differences between typical and diagnostic children and items that explain those differences by age. Our findings could therefore be considered when interpreting EASI results.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.64-77
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• 2023

Objectives : Recently, the number of patients with dry eye syndrome has been steadily increasing. However, established treatment for it does not yet exist. This study compared electronic moxibustion with acupuncture for patients with dry eye in terms of efficacy and safety. Methods : This trial was designed as an investigator-initiated, single-blinded, comparative, randomized controlled trial. Thirty patients with dry eye were randomized to the electronic moxibustion treatment group(EMG) or the acupuncture treatment group(AG) in equal proportion. The participants who assigned to the EMG were treated with electronic moxibustion to ten acupoints including both sides of BL2, GB14, TE23, and LI4 for 12 minutes. The participants who were assigned to the AG were treated with acupuncture to the same acupoints for 15 minutes. Over 4 weeks, each intervention was carried out twelve times in total. The primary outcome was the ocular surface disease index(OSDI). The secondary outcomes were the subjective symptoms visual analog scale(VAS), quality of life(QoL), Schirmer I test(SIT), and general assessment. Adverse events and vital signs were also investigated for safety assessment. Results : In intragroup comparisons, both the EMG and the AG significantly improved the OSDI scores, the subjective symptoms VAS scores, the QoL scores, and the SIT results after 4 weeks of the trial. However, there were no statistical differences in intergroup comparisons between the two groups after 4 weeks. The safety of electronic moxibustion and acupuncture was confirmed by no occurrence of serious adverse events. Conclusions : Both electronic moxibustion and acupuncture were effective for dry eye syndrome, and they were safe. Electronic moxibustion and acupuncture can be used for dry eye syndrome as equivalent treatments.

• 한국체육학회지인문사회과학편
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.363-372
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• 2012

One of the major ocular complications of diabetes mellitus(DM) is retinopathy, which is characterized by increased neovascularization and neural degeneration in the retina. In the present study, we investigated the effects of treadmill exercise on retinopathy in the rats with DM. Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups(n = 8 in each group): control group, exercise group, DM-induction group, and DM-induction and exercise group. DM was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. The rats in the exercise groups were made to run on the treadmill for 30 min five times per a week, during 12 weeks. The expressions of phosphoinositide 3-kinase(PI3K), phospho-protein kinase B(pAkt), hypoxia inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α), and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) in the retina were determined using western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. In the present results, the expressions of PI3K, pAkt, HIF-1α, and VEGF in the retina of the diabetic rats were increased. Treadmill exercise suppressed HIF-1α and VEGF expressions through inhibition of PI3K/pAkt pathway in the diabetic rats. These results suggest that treadmill exercise may ameliorate the progression of diabetes-induced retinopathy by inhibiting neovascularization in the retina.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.82 no.4
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• pp.1005-1010
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• 2021

We report a case of Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) related disease involving the pterygoplataine fossa. A 83-year-old male presented with left ocular pain and visual disturbance. CT showed an isodense soft tissue lesion in the left pterygopalatine fossa with bony sclerotic changes and erosion. MRI revealed an infiltrative soft tissue mass in the left pterygopalatine fossa as a T2 slightly low signal intensity and heterogeneous enhancement. The patient underwent left ethmoidectomy, and biopsy of the mass was conducted. The histopathological diagnosis was IgG4-related disease. In this case, it was difficult to differentiate invasive aspergillosis, which is common in immunocompromised patients, considering the patient's clinical history of diabetes mellitus. This report describes the imaging findings of IgG4-related disease mimicking invasive sinusitis such as invasive aspergillosis.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.329-340
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• 2024

Mangiferin is a kind of natural xanthone glycosides and is known to have various pharmacological activities. However, since the beneficial efficacy of this compound has not been reported in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, this study aimed to evaluate whether mangiferin could protect human RPE ARPE-19 cells from oxidative injury mimicked by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). The results showed that mangiferin attenuated H₂O₂-induced cell viability reduction and DNA damage, while inhibiting reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and preserving diminished glutathione (GSH). Mangiferin also antagonized H₂O₂-induced inhibition of the expression and activity of antioxidant enzymes such as manganese superoxide dismutase and GSH peroxidase, which was associated with inhibition of mitochondrial ROS production. In addition, mangiferin protected ARPE-19 cells from H₂O₂-induced apoptosis by increasing the Bcl-2/Bax ratio, decreasing caspase-3 activation, and blocking poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage. Moreover, mangiferin suppressed the release of cytochrome c into the cytosol, which was achieved by interfering with mitochondrial membrane disruption. Furthermore, mangiferin increased the expression and activity of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and nuclear factor-erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2). However, the inhibition of ROS production, cytoprotective and anti-apoptotic effects of mangiferin were significantly attenuated by the HO-1 inhibitor, indicating that mangiferin promoted Nrf2-mediated HO-1 activity to prevent ARPE-19 cells from oxidative injury. The results of this study suggest that mangiferin, as an Nrf2 activator, has potent ROS scavenging activity and may have the potential to protect oxidative stress-mediated ocular diseases.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.41-58
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• 2023

Objectives: This retrospective observational study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of Cheongpebaedok-tang, a traditional Korean herbal medicine, provided via telemedicine to patients with asymptomatic to mild COVID-19 in Korea. Methods: From February to April 2020, a retrospective analysis investigated COVID-19 patients treated via Korean telemedicine. The study involved asymptomatic to mild cases receiving Cheongpebaedok-tang more than three times, along with continuous Korean medicine care in convalescence. Diagnoses and treatment adhered to the telemedicine guidelines of the Association of Korean Medicine, with varied Cheongpebaedok-tang prescriptions based on symptom severity. Symptom evaluation involved a detailed assessment using a 15-item tool at initial and final sessions. Results: The study included 27 patients, with a mean age of 48.7 ± 2.3 years (mean ± standard error). Patients began self-administering oral Cheongpebaedok-tang for an average of 19.4 ± 1.8 days after the date of COVID-19 diagnosis confirmation and continued the medication for 15.8 ± 1.2 days. The reported side effects of the Cheongpebaedok-tang included palpitations (11.1%), insomnia (7.4%), dizziness (3.7%), and diarrhea (3.7%). All side effects disappeared after adjusting the prescription according to standard treatment guidelines. The occurrence of all COVID-19-related adverse symptoms, except fatigue and myalgia, decreased. Fatigue was the most common chronic symptom persisting after 6 months (51.9%), followed by ocular symptoms (37.0%) and sore throat (22.2%). Conclusions: This study implies Cheongpebaedok-tang may offer a potentially safe, symptom-alleviating approach for managing mild COVID-19 cases via telemedicine, although further comprehensive research is warranted.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.288-294
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• 2024

A juvenile of long-snout tonguefish, Symphurus longirostris belonging to the family Cynoglossidae, was collected from the waters around Jeju Island, Korea in August 2023. Molecular analysis revealed that our juvenile specimen was identical to S. longirostris adult from Japan (Kimura-2-parameter distance, d=0.002) based on mitochondrial DNA 16S ribosomal RNA region sequences 475 base pairs, and differed from its congeneric S. orientalis (d=0.199). The juvenile of S. longirostris has the following morphological traits: obvious dermal spots on both sides of the bases of the dorsal and anal fins; and peritoneum bluish black on its dorsalmost aspect. The juvenile of S. longirostris is also distinguished from S. orientalis in that they do not have a patch of melanophores above the abdominal cavity on the ocular-side. This is the first record of S. longirostris in Korea, and we propose a new Korean name "Gin-ko-bo-seop-seo-dae" for this species.