• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.395-400
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• 2010

Hypertension is the chronic disease that the 16% of total population are suffering, and it needs to be studied to find alternative treatment because of the tolerance and side effect of medications that may bother some patients. in this paper, we verified practicality of implantable electrical stimulator that can readily change stimulus magnitude and frequency. And this device is possible to stimulate baroreflex or parasympathetic nerve. Therefore we performed in vitro tests and animal experiment for device's operating conditions. This device consist of implantable electrical stimulator and extracorporeal control/monitoring system. Stimulator was designed to make 1Hz~100Hz pulses and it can change continuous or periodic pulse train type. And this device can control stimulator's function and monitor stimulator's status and patients' blood pressure at exterior of body using ZigBee module as wireless telecommunication. We verified that stimulator have error rate under 5% at 50mm depth of organs and, stimulator makes high-efficiency energy with closer position of two electrodes. Also we can confirm the performance of device that decreasing blood pressure and heart rate of a rat by electrical stimulation.

• CELLMED
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.23.1-23.6
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• 2015

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practice is still popular among the Malaysian population nowadays although western or allopathic medicine is the first line of treatment. Dissatisfaction with health services and therapeutic effects of western medicine or preference for holistic, integrative approach in treatment are common reasons favouring the increasing popularity of CAM practices. The efforts toward integration of CAM and western medicine in Malaysia were rather slow and in a piece-meal fashion. Strategic efforts in strengthening government and self-regulation among practitioners, formalizing education, promoting research, and cultivating national and international networks are necessary to achieve an integrative system. Regulations to restrict the practice and sale of CAM products to licensed practitioners, strict and mandatory registration of the practitioners, inclusion of CAM in essential medicines list, and pricing regulations must be comprehensively discussed. Development of curriculum, offers of scholarship and incentives, promotion of courses and seminars for professionals is necessary to increase the numbers of CAM experts. Malaysia should follow the efforts of other countries on the production and documentation of local CAM data, allocation of funding, and establishment of research centres to assess the efficacy of potentially useful local products. Local and international collaboration in research and continuous education is important for exchange of knowledge and skills. In conclusion more coordinated efforts in regulation of CAM practice and products, formalizing CAM training and education would significantly move the process forward and allow the public to enjoy more health benefits from CAM practice in Malaysia.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.129-134
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• 2013

Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is defined by a 20-mm Hg difference of systolic blood pressure (dtSBP) and/or a 10-mm Hg difference of diastolic blood pressure (dtDBP) between supine and standing, and OH is associated with a failure of the cardiovascular reflex to maintain blood pressure on standing from a supine position. To understand the underlying genetic factors for OH traits (OH, dtSBP, and dtDBP), genome-wide association studies (GWASs) using 333,651 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were conducted separately for two population-based cohorts, Ansung (n = 3,173) and Ansan (n = 3,255). We identified 8 SNPs (5 SNPs for dtSBP and 3 SNPs for dtDBP) that were repeatedly associated in both the Ansung and Ansan cohorts and had p-values of < $1{\times}10^{-5}$ in the meta-analysis. Unfortunately, the SNPs of the OH case control GWAS did not pass our p-value criteria. Four of 8 SNPs were located in the intergenic region of chromosome 2, and the nearest gene (CTNNA2) was located at 1 Mb of distance. CTNNA2 is a linker between cadherin adhesion receptors and the actin cytoskeleton and is essential for stabilizing dendritic spines in rodent hippocampal neurons. Although there is no report about the function in blood pressure regulation, hippocampal neurons interact primarily with the autonomic nervous system and might be related to OH. The remaining SNPs, rs7098785 of dtSBP trait and rs6892553, rs16887217, and rs4959677 of dtDBP trait were located in the PIK3AP1 intron, ACTBL2-3' flanking, STAR intron, and intergenic region, respectively, but there was no clear functional link to blood pressure regulation.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.17-24
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• 2009

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors are a promising class of anticancer agents that inhibit cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo. Previous report has shown that apicidin inhibited SK-OV-3 cells proliferation and down-regulation of cyclin B1 and CDK1, and up-regulation of $p21^{WAF1}$ and p27. However, the mechanism of apicidin-mediated apoptotic cell death is not clearly understood. For this study, we investigated the mechanism of apoptotic pathway induced by apicidin in human ovarian cancer cell. We found that SK-OV-3 cells treated with apicidin caused an increase in the percentage of cells in the G2/M phase, which preceded apoptosis characterized by the appearance of cells with sub-G1 population. To further investigate the mechanism of apoptosis induction by apicidin, we measured TUNEL assay, poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) cleavage, and caspase activity in SK-OV-3 cells treated with apicidin for 48 h. Apicidin significantly enhanced apoptosis as measured by TUNEL positive apoptotic cells, PARP cleavage, and increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. Induction of apoptosis was confirmed by the release of cytochrome c to cytosol. Our data suggest that apicidin-induced apoptosis in SK-OV-3 cells was accompanied by caspase-3 activation and the increase in Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. These data suggest that apicidin may be effective in the treatment of ovarian cancer through activation of intrinsic apoptotic pathway.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.198-210
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• 1999

The goal of respiratory management in high risk infants is to maintain proper oxygenation by supporting respiration, therefore to minimize the secondary complications and to promote the maximum growth and development. While on artificial ventilator to achieve this goal, the infants require endotracheal suctioning(ETS) to remove lung secretions. However, the negative effects of ETS in neoates have been documented and include hypoxia, bradycardia, mucosal damage, increased intracranial pressure, and death result. The purpose of the study was to investigate how ETS is currently performed in NICU, which would be beneficial to develop the standardized ETS protocol and to apply it to these population. A national-wide survey on clinical protocol of ETS was performed to 149 neonatal nurses with the average of 3 years and 6 months experience in neonatal nursing, 34.2% of whom was bachelor in nursing. The results showed that about 89% of the nurses initiate En primarily based on the need of the subjects. The aseptic regulation on ETS was used in 83.9% of the subjects. There was no regulation on the length of catheter in 32.9% and on ID/OD ratio in 17.4%. Many nurses administered hyperoygenation/hyperinflation/hyperventilation based on personal knowhow, rather than scientific rationals (77.2%, 40.9%, 75.2%, retrospectively). About 41% of the nurse regulate subjectively the suction power, while 73.8% of them rotate the sub ject's head during suctioning and the half of the nurses was favorable in adapting the closed-suctioning protocol. With the findings of the study, the current clinical application of E% in neonates appears to be based on adult care practices, or personal preference, rather than scientific validation of the safety and effectiveness of the procedure. This study support the needs for developing and applying the standardized ETS protocolin conjunction with the consideration given to the physiologic characteristics of the neonates in respiratory distress.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.54-61
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• 2018

Objective: The current study aimed to investigate the accessibility and usability of the disabled person while using the everyday facility. Background: The national laws regulated accommodation of persons with disabilities, but our knowledge on the practical usefulness of the laws and acceptance by the users is still far from complete. Method: Compliance with laws was checked throughout the actual measurement of 87 engineering designs in the facilities of a national university, and the practical usability of the facilities was investigated by in-depth interviews with eight disabled persons. New design solutions were developed by the anthropometric methodology for better accommodation. The target-specific anthropometry database such as sitting knee height with wheelchair was employed. Results: First, the statistic showed that 28.7% of facility designs comply with the law, 29.9% of facility designs doesn't comply with the law, and 41.4% of facility designs doesn't have related law or regulation. Second, the law of table height(71cm in current) can accommodate only 49.3% of wheelchaired population. The following test for 95% accommodation revealed that the table with 80cm high is required. Third, the current law in the door width(90cm) can only accommodate 82.6% of disabled persons, so the new design solution was calculated and suggested that 100cm in the door width is necessary for 99% accommodation of disabled persons. Conclusion: Even with the laws and regulations for the disabilities it was clear that the accessibility and usability of the disabled persons in everyday facilities was still limited. An investigation for the new solutions about a wide range of facilities is necessary for better practical accessibility and usability of the handicapped persons. Application: The results of current study can be a basement of developing a new guideline or regulation of the facility design for the disabled persons.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.90-97
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• 2018

Objectives: Thirdhand smoke (THS) refers to residual tobacco smoke pollutants that remain after cigarette smoking. The purpose of this study was to determine predictors of the belief among adults in Korea that THS is harmful to children. Methods: A population-based sample of 3,000 adults (${\geq}19$ years) among a web-based panel in Korea was obtained in November 2016. The respondents filled out questionnaires, including THS beliefs, smoking status, presence of voluntary smoke-free rules at home, and support for the implementation of smoke-free regulations at home. THS beliefs were assessed with a statement that staying in a room today where people smoked yesterday can harm the health of children. Results: Overall, 92.2 % of adults believed that THS exposure could harm the health of children. Respondents who were nonsmokers, believed that SHS exposure were associated with pneumonia of children, lived in home with complete smoke-free rule at home, and supported the implementation of smoke-free regulation at home were more likely to believe that THS could harm for health of children. Conclusions: The majority of Korean adults believed that THS exposure could harm the health of children. Predictors identified in the study can be useful to address the risk of THS beliefs and promote implementation of tobacco control policies.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.269-274
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• 2013

In this study, we investigated the anticancer effect of rice bran extract in HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells. The extract of rice bran inhibited the proliferation of HL-60 cells. When treated with the rice bran extract, we could observe the apoptotic characteristics such as apoptotic bodies and the increase of sub-G1 hypodiploid cell population, increase of Bax level, decrease of Bcl-2 expression, cleavage of procaspase-3, cleavage of procaspase-9 and cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase(PARP) in HL-60 cells. Furthermore, the apoptosis induction of HL-60 cells treated with the rice bran extract was also accompanied by the inactivation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) such as ERK1/2 MAPK and p38 MAPK. In addition, the rice bran extract induced the down-regulation of c-myc. These data suggested that the rice bran extract could induce the apoptosis via the inactivation of ERK1/2 MAPK and p38 MAPK, and the down-regulation of c-myc in HL-60 acute pomyelocytic leukemia cells. The results support that the rice bran extract might have potential for the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.357-365
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• 2020

The aim of present study was to investigate regulatory mechanism of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) during in vitro maturation (IVM) on nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation of porcine oocytes. Basically, immature cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were incubated for 22 h in IVM-I to which hormone was added, and then further incubated for 22 h in IVM-II without hormone. As a result, relative cumulus expansion was increased at 22 h after IVM and it was enhanced by treatment of ALA compared with control group (p < 0.05). During IVM process within 22 h, cAMP level in oocytes was decreased at 6 h (p < 0.05) and it was recovered at 12 h in ALA-treated group, while oocytes in control group recovered cAMP level at 22 h. In cumulus cells, it was reduced in all time point (p < 0.05) and ALA did not affect. Treatment of ALA enhanced metaphase-I (MI) and MII population of oocytes compared with oocytes in control group at 22 and 44 h, respectively (p < 0.05). Intracellular GSH levels in ALA group was increased at 22 and 44 h after IVM (p < 0.05), whereas it was increased in control group at 44 h after IVM (p < 0.05). In particular, the GSH in ALA-treated oocytes during 22 h of IVM was higher than control group at 22 h (p < 0.05). Lipid amount in oocytes from ALA group was higher than control group (p < 0.05). Treatment of ALA did not influence to absorption of glucose from medium. Cleavage and blastocyst formation of ALA-treated oocytes were enhanced compared with control group (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that supplementation of ALA could improve oocyte maturation and development competence through increasing GSH synthesis, lipid storage, and regulation of cAMP accumulation during early 22 h of IVM, and these might be mediated by cumulus expansion.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.255-264
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• 2023

Background: Red ginseng (RG) alleviates psychiatric disorders. Fermented red ginseng (fRG) alleviates stress-induced gut inflammation. Gut dysbiosis causes psychiatric disorders with gut inflammation. To understand the gut microbiota-mediated action mechanism of RG and fRG against anxiety/depression (AD), we investigated the effects of RG, fRG, ginsenoside Rd, and 20(S)-β-D-glucopyranosyl protopanaxadiol (CK) on gut microbiota dysbiosis-induced AD and colitis in mice. Methods: Mice with AD and colitis were prepared by exposing to immobilization stress (IS) or transplanting the feces of patients with ulcerative colitis and depression (UCDF). AD-like behaviors were measured in the elevated plus maze, light/dark transition, forced swimming, and tail suspension tests. Results: Oral gavage of UCDF increased AD-like behaviors and induced neuroinflammation, gastrointestinal inflammation, and gut microbiota fluctuation in mice. Oral administration of fRG or RG treatment reduced UCDF-induced AD-like behaviors, hippocampal and hypothalamic IL-6 expression, and blood corticosterone level, whereas UCDF-suppressed hippocampal BDNF⁺NeuN⁺ cell population and dopamine and hypothalamic serotonin levels increased. Furthermore, their treatments suppressed UCDF-induced colonic inflammation and partially restored UCDF-induced gut microbiota fluctuation. Oral administration of fRG, RG, Rd, or CK also decreased IS-induced AD-like behaviors, blood IL-6 and corticosterone and colonic IL-6 and TNF-α levels, and gut dysbiosis, while IS-suppressed hypothalamic dopamine and serotonin levels increased. Conclusion: Oral gavage of UCDF caused AD, neuroinflammation, and gastrointestinal inflammation in mice. fRG mitigated AD and colitis in UCDF-exposed mice by the regulation of the microbiota-gut-brain axis and IS-exposed mice by the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.