• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.195-207
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• 2016

This study examined the effectiveness of micro-current stimulation (MCS) to improve the facial skin qualities by performing clinical test. The MCS is generally known that provide healing response in the damaged tissue and pain relief through activating the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and protein synthesis. In here, we can hypothesize that the improvement of facial skin qualities may occur due to MCS, since the induction of micro-current from outside may enhance the cellular activity according to ATP activation. From the clinical test, our results showed that a variety of evaluating categories, which is able to assess the skin qualities, significantly enhanced due to stimulation of micro-current after 7 and 14 days. Therefore, we can estimate that MCS in human facial skin may be effective to improve the skin qualities.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
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• v.63 no.5
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• pp.102-114
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• 2013

This study performed the evaluation of skin temperature, heart rate, humidity and temperature inside clothing, and subjective sensation to estimate the physiological responses of the human body and its feeling of comfort for developing value-added dox fabric. Experiments were performed on five healthy adult women whose average age was 21, at climate chamber in which temperature, relative humidity and air current were set up below $28{\pm}5^{\circ}C$, $50{\pm}10%$, 0.2m/s, respectively. Two kinds of clothes were used for the experiments: 100% cotton and dox clothes. The clothes were identical in size and form, and the attire consisted of long-sleeved shirts, long trousers, and socks. The experiment was performed for 30 minutes using ergometer. The results are as follows. 1) It showed low skin temperature of forearm, breast, back, forehead and lower leg in exercise, but high skin temperature of them in recovery. However skin temperature of thigh and foot increased from rest to recovery. 2) It showed significant difference (p<0.001, p<0.01) in average skin temperature between cotton and dox clothes. Cotton clothes had a higher average skin temperature compared to dox. Not only was there a significant difference in temperature inside clothing (p<0.001), this was also the case with humidity inside the clothing (p<0.001).

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.49-52
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• 1994

Measurement of skin temperature is most frequently used to evaluate effect of sympathetic block. Sticker type skin temperature indicator, $ProChecker^{(R)}$, uses metamocolor, which changes the darkness of the color by giving and taking of electrons in response to temperature. We examined the accuracy of this skin temperature indicator in pain clinic patients who were treated with stellate ganglion block. Ten minutes before, and 10~20 minutes after stellate ganglion block, skin temperature on both dorsum of hand were measured using both $ProChecker^{(R)}$ and thermography concurrently. The results showed that skin temperature measured by $ProChecker^{(R)}$ was feasible, in correlation to thermography. Sticker type temperature indicator ($ProChecker^{(R)}$) is concluded as a useful monitor of skin temperature during nerve block in outpatient clinics.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.203-212
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• 2016

This study examined the prevention of deep vein thrombosis and skin response after the application of boots or calf intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) devices in immobile patients with intracranial surgery. The subjects of this study included 60 patients in a surgical intensive care unit after receiving intracranial surgery from May to November in 2015. The blood flow velocity was measured daily to assess the deep vein thrombosis for 7 days, and the skin response of the legs was observed regularly. As a result, the boots IPC group showed an increased blood flow velocity over time compared to the calf IPC group. A significant statistical difference was observed in both the boots IPC group and calf IPC group over time (Right side; F=64.41, p<.001, Left side; F=58.21, p<.001). The dorsum circumference over time and the correlations between two groups (Right side; F=9.13, p <.001, left side; F=9.29, p<.001) also showed a significant difference. In addition, the boots IPC group showed no skin complications. In conclusion, the boots type IPC is a more effective method for preventing deep vein thrombosis for immobile patients with intracranial surgery.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.85-90
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• 2010

Several studies have demonstrated that ginseng-berry extract has several beneficial properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and vasodilation properties. Ginseng-berry extract has also been shown to have the great potential against skin aging. Its beneficial mechanism against skin aging, however, has not been examined in detail. Also, the effects of ginseng-berry extract on microcirculation and skin cellular responses have not been investigated. Inhibition of skin microcirculation is the primary cause of many adverse biological effects, which is responsible for the skin aging and darkening. We investigated the beneficial effects of ginseng-berry extract on blood circulation, transcutaneous oxygen pressure in vivo model and also on skin microcirculation, cellular response and skin brightening effect in clinical trial. We found that oral administration of ginseng-berry extract markedly increased blood flow rate and transcutaneous $O_2$ pressure, but decreased transcutaneous $CO_2$ pressure. Also, it improved skin tone on cheeks, as is skin brighteness. These results suggest that ginseng-berry extract is a potent candidate for the treatment of skin aging and brightening by improving skin microcirculation.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.59-75
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• 1999

Skin is continuously exposed to external stimuli including ultraviolet radiation, which is a major cause of skin photoaging. According to recent discoveries, UVA with a lower energy but deep-penetrating properties, compared to UVB, is likely to play a major part in causing skin photoaging. The clinical and histochemical changes of photoaging are well characterized, but the biochemical mechanisms are poorly understood partly due to the lack of suitable experimental systems. In this work, three-dimensional, reconstituted skin culture models were prepared. After certain period of maturation, the equivalent models were shown to be similar in structure and biochemical characteristics to normal skin. Mature dermal and skin equivalent models were exposed to sub-lethal doses of UVA, and the effects of UVA relevant to dermal photoaging were monitored, including the production of elastin, collagen, collagenase(MMP-1), and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1). Interestingly, dermal and skin equivalents reacted differently to acute and chronic exposure to UVA. Elastin production was increased as soon as one week after commencing UVA irradiation by chronic exposure, although a single exposure failed to do so. This early response could be an important advantage of equivalent models in studying elastosis in photoaged skin. Collagenase activity was increased by acute UVA irradiation, but returned to control levels after repeated exposure. On the other hand, collagen biosynthesis, which was increased by a single exposure, decreased slightly during 5 weeks of prolonged UVA exposure. Collagenase has been thought to be responsible for collagen degeneration in dermal photoaging. However, according to the results obtained in this study, elevated collagenase activity is not likely to be responsible for the degeneration of collagen in dermal photoagig, while reduced production of collagen may be the main reason. It can be concluded that reconstituted skin culture models can serve as useful experimental tools for the study of skin photoaging. These culture models are relatively simple to construct, easy to handle, and are reproducible Moreover the changes of dermal photoaging can be observed within 1-4 weeks of exposure to ultraviolet light compared to 4 months to 2 years for human or animal studies. These models will be useful for biochemical and mechanistic studies in a large number of fields including dermatology, toxicology, and pharmacology.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.149-158
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• 2016

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with a complex etiology that encompasses immunologic responses. AD is frequently associated with elevated immunoglobulin (Ig) E levels, and common environmental factors contribute to its pathogenesis. Several recent studies have documented the role of specific lactic acid bacteria in the treatment and prevention of AD in humans and mice. In this study, the efficacy of Duolac ATP, a probiotic preparation, was determined in a mouse model with AD-like skin lesions. Alterations in the cytokine levels and histological staining suggested the alleviation of AD. The in vivo test showed that T helper (Th)2 cytokines, IgE, interleukin (IL)-4, and IL-5, were significantly downregulated, whereas Th1 cytokines, IL-12p40 and interferon (IFN)-${\gamma}$, were upregulated in all groups of mice treated with Duolac ATP compared to that observed in the group of mice treated with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB) alone. Moreover, the scratch score decreased in all mice treated with Duolac ATP. Staining of the dorsal area of the mice in each group with hematoxylin and eosin and toluidine blue further confirmed the alleviation of AD in mice orally treated with Duolac ATP. These results suggest that Duolac ATP inhibits the development of AD-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice by suppressing the Th2 cell response and increasing the Th1 cell response. Thus, Duolac ATP is beneficial and effective for the treatment of AD-like skin lesions.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.251-257
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• 2013

Inflammatory skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis (AD) and rosacea were complicated by barrier abrogation and deficiency in innate immunity. The first defender of epidermal innate immune response is the antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that exhibit a broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against multiple pathogens, including Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, viruses, and fungi. The deficiency of these AMPs in the skin of AD fails to protect our body against virulent pathogen infections. In contrast to AD where there is a suppression of AMPs, rosacea is characterized by overexpression of cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide (CAMP), the products of which result in chronic epidermal inflammation. In this regard, AMP generation that is controlled by a key ceramide metabolite S1P-dependent mechanism could be considered as alternate therapeutic approaches to treat these skin disorders, i.e., Increased S1P levels strongly stimulated the CAMP expression which elevated the antimicrobial activity against multiple pathogens resulting the improved AD patient skin.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.442-448
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• 2004

Wogonin (5,7-dihydroxy-8-methoxyflavone) is a down-regulator of cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression, contributing to anti-inflammatory activity in vivo. For further characterization of modulatory activity on ploinflammatory gene expression in vivo, the effect of wogonin was examined in this experiment using animal models of skin inflammation. By topical application, wogonin inhibited an edematic response as well as ploinflammatory gene expression against contact dermatitis In mice. Wogonin inhibited ear edema ($19.4-22.6\%$) at doses of $50-200\;{\mu}g$/ear and down-regulated interleukin-$1{\beta}$ induction ($23.1\%$) at $200{\mu}g$/ear in phenol-induced simple irritation. Wogonin ($2{\times}50-2{\times}200{\mu}g$/ear) also inhibited edematic response ($51.2-43.9\%$) and down-regulated ploinflammatory gene expression of cyclooxygenase-2, interleukin-$1{\beta}$, interferon-$\gamma$, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and inducible nitric oxide synthase with some different sensitivity against picryl chloride-induced delayed hypersensitivity reaction. All these results clearly demonstrate that wogonin is a down-regulator of ploinflammatory gene expression in animal models of skin inflammation. Therefore, wogonin may have potential for a new anti-inflammatory agent against skin inflammation.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.280-286
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• 2007

The wearable sensor glove was developed using EDA sensors and conducting fabric. EDA(Electro-dermal Activity) signal is an electric response of human skin. There are SIL(Skin Impedance Level) and SIR(Skin Impedance Response) in EDA. SIL consists mostly of a DC component while SIR consists of an AC component. The relationship between drowsiness and the EDA signal is utilized. EDA sensors were made using a conducting fabric instead of AgCl electrodes, for a more suitable, more wearable device. The EDA signal acquisition module was made by connecting the EDA sensor gloves through conductive fabric lines. Also, the EDA signal acquisition module can be connected to a PC that shows the results of the EDA signal processing analysis and gives proper feedback to the user. This system can be used in various applications to detect drowsiness and prevent accidents from drowsiness for automobile drivers.