• IEIE Transactions on Smart Processing and Computing
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• 제2권5호
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• pp.277-281
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• 2013

Modern speaker verification systems based on support vector machines (SVMs) use Gaussian mixture model (GMM) supervectors as their input feature vectors, and the maximum a posteriori (MAP) adaptation is a conventional method for generating speaker-dependent GMMs by adapting a universal background model (UBM). MAP adaptation requires the appropriate amount of input utterance due to the number of model parameters to be estimated. On the other hand, with limited utterances, unreliable MAP adaptation can be performed, which causes adaptation noise even though the Bayesian priors used in the MAP adaptation smooth the movements between the UBM and speaker dependent GMMs. This paper proposes a sparse MAP adaptation method, which is known to perform well in the automatic speech recognition area. By introducing sparse MAP adaptation to the GMM-SVM-based speaker verification system, the adaptation noise can be mitigated effectively. The proposed method utilizes the L0 norm as a regularizer to induce sparsity. The experimental results on the TIMIT database showed that the sparse MAP-based GMM-SVM speaker verification system yields a 42.6% relative reduction in the equal error rate with few additional computations.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.1193-1196
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• 2016

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the commonest malignancy in the lower gastrointestinal tract in both men and women. It is the third leading cause of cancer-dependent death in the world. In Iran the incidence of colorectal cancer has increased during the last 25 years. Materials and Methods: In this article we analyzed the survival of 447 colorectal patients of Taleghani hospital in Tehran using parametric competing-risks models. The cancers of these patients were diagnosed during 1985 - 2012 and followed up to 2013. The purpose was to assess the association between survival of patients with colorectal cancer in the presence of competing-risks and prognostic factors using parametric models. The analysis was carried out using R software version 3.0.2. Results: The prognostic variables included in the model were age at diagnosis, tumour site, body mass index and sex. The effect of age at diagnosis and body mass index on survival time was statistically significant. The median survival for Iranian patients with colorectal cancer is about 20 years. Conclusions: Survival function based on Weibull model compared with Kaplan-Meier survival function is smooth. Iranian data suggest a younger age distribution compared to Western reports for CRC.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제49권2호
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• pp.275-284
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• 2022

Background Population aging has led to an increased incidence of pressure ulcers, resulting in a social burden and economic costs. We developed a three-dimensional knitted fabric (3-DKF) with a pressure-reducing function that can be applied topically in the early stages of pressure ulcers to prevent progression. Methods We evaluated the effects of the 3-DKF in a streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus pressure ulcer mouse model, and the fabric was preliminarily applied to patients. Twelve-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were used for the animal experiments. In the pressure ulcer mouse model, an ischemia-reperfusion injury was created using a magnet on the dorsa of the mice. Pressure was measured with BodiTrak before and after applying the 3-DKF to 14 patients at risk of sacral pressure ulcers. Results In the 3-DKF-applied mice group, the ulcers were shallower and smaller than those in the control group. Compared with the mice in the control group, the 3-DKF group had lower platelet-derived growth factor-α and neutrophil elastase expression, as parameters related to inflammation, and increased levels of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, TGF-β3, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and α-smooth muscle actin, which are related to growth factors and proliferation. Additionally, typical normal tissue staining patterns were observed in the 3-DKF group. In the preliminary clinical analysis, the average skin pressure was 26.2 mm Hg before applying the 3-DKF, but it decreased to an average of 23.4 mm Hg after 3-DKF application. Conclusion This study demonstrated that the newly developed 3-DKF was effective in preventing pressure ulcers through testing in a pressure ulcer animal model and preliminary clinical application.

• 대한전자공학회논문지SP
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• 제44권2호
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• pp.37-45
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• 2007

국부통계처리에 근거한 금석문영상의 적응영상향상 기법을 제안한다. 영상의 국부통계처리 값들을 영상향상을 위한 적응실현으로 활용하여 평활화와 상세화의 경로를 조정한다. 미세부분에서는 영상이 향상되고 평활영역에서는 잡음이 억제된다 금석 문영상의 모델링을 위해 한지밀착본(韓紙密着本)디지털영상(HSDI, Hanzi squeezed digital image)의 전처리 과정을 수행하였다. HSDI 분석을 통해 국부통계처리 값들을 산출하고 영상을 모델링한다. 본 기법을 HSDI에 적용하여 에지부분의 미세한 변화를 향상시키고 배경영역을 평활시킴으로 결국 문자영역의 시각적 효과를 증대하였다 실험결과들은 제시한 알고리즘이 기존의 영상향상기법보다 우수함을 보여준다.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• 제38권
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• pp.37.1-37.5
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• 2016

Background: The dimensions and shape of the forehead determine the esthetics of the upper third of the face. Korean young people consider a broad and smooth, rounded forehead more attractive. As a result, frontal augmentation becomes more popular in patients with dentofacial deformities. Various surgical procedures and materials have been used in frontal augmentation surgery, with associated advantages and disadvantages. Silicone is a good candidate for frontal augmentation. The author presents two cases of esthetic frontal augmentation with a prefabricated silicone implant in female patients with dentofacial deformities. Case presentation: In case 1, a 24-year-old female patient underwent frontal augmentation surgery with simultaneous maxillomandibular and zygomatic osteotomies to correct facial asymmetry. A silicone implant was fabricated preoperatively using a positive template stone mold of her forehead. In case 2, a 23-year-old female patient underwent total facial contouring surgery including frontal augmentation for improved facial esthetics. A computed tomography (CT)-guided rapid prototype (RP) model was used to make the silicone implants. The operative procedure was safe and simple, and the silicone implants were reliable for a larger degree of frontal augmentation. Six months later, both patients had recovered from the surgery and were satisfied with their frontal shape and projection. Conclusions: Frontal augmentation with silicone implants can be an effective adjuvant strategy to improve facial esthetics in patients with a flat and narrow forehead who undergo orthognathic reconstruction or total facial contouring surgery.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제82권1호
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• pp.71-80
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• 2019

Background: Efficacy and safety of tiotropium bromide, a muscarinic receptor antagonist, in treatment of asthma have been reported. However, its effect on airway remodeling in chronic asthma of the elderly has not been clearly verified. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of tiotropium and expression of muscarinic receptors as its related mechanism in an aged mouse model of chronic asthma with airway remodeling. Methods: BALB/c female mice age 6 weeks, 9 and 15 months were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA) for three months. Tiotropium bromide was administered during the challenge period. Airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and pulmonary inflammation were measured. Parameters of airway remodeling, and expression levels of $M_2$ and $M_3$ receptors were examined. Results: Total cell with eosinophils, increased in the OVA groups by age, was decreased significantly after treatment with tiotropium bromide, particularly in the age group of 15 months. AHR and levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-13 were decreased, after tiotropium administration. In old aged group of 9- and 15-months-treated groups, hydroxyproline contents and levels of ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin were attenuated. Tiotropium enhanced the expression of $M_2$ but decreased expression of $M_3$ in all aged groups of OVA. Conclusion: Tiotropium bromide had anti-inflammatory and anti-remodeling effects in an aged mouse model of chronic asthma. Its effects seemed to be partly mediated by modulating expression $M_3$ and $M_2$ muscarinic receptors. Tiotropium may be a beneficial treatment option for the elderly with airway remodeling of chronic asthma.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.186-191
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• 2016

Background and Objectives: With the global demand for dairy protein for consumption growing annually, there has been increasing activity in the research field of dairy protein synthesis and production. From a manipulation perspective, it is more difficult to use live cattle for laboratory studies on the production of milk as well as of dairy protein such as casein, as compared with using laboratory animals like rodents. Therefore, we aimed to develop a mouse model of bovine mammary alveolar ducts for laboratory-scale studies. We studied the formation of the bovine mammary gland ductal structure by transplanting the MAC-T bovine alveolar cell line into mice. Methods and Results: MAC-T cells ($1{\times}10^7$) were suspended in Matrigel and injected into the dorsal tissue of 8-week-old male BALB/C nude mice. Histological analysis of tissue dissected from the MAC-T cell-transplanted mice after 6 weeks showed the typical morphology of the tubuloalveolar female gland, as well as glands made up of branching ducts that were surrounded by smooth muscle with small alveoli budding off the ducts. In addition, the epithelial markers CK14 and CK18 were expressed within the duct-like structure. Prolactin was detected in the duct interior in these CK14+ and CK18+ cells but not in the non-transplanted MAC-T cells. Conclusions: These results showed that duct-like tissue had been successfully formed after 6 weeks of transplantation of the CK14+ and CK18+ MAC-T cells into mice dorsal tissue. This mouse model will be a useful tool for further research on the bovine mammary gland.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제47권2호
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• pp.237-245
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• 2023

Background: Ginsenoside Rg2 (Rg2) has a variety of pharmacological activities and provides benefits during inflammation, cancer, and other diseases. However, there are no reports about the relationship between Rg2 and atherosclerosis. Methods: We used 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) to detect the cell viability of Rg2 in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The expression of inflammatory factors in HUVECs and the expression of phenotypic transformation-related marker in VSMCs were detected at mRNA levels. Western blot method was used to detect the expression of inflammation pathways and the expression of phenotypic transformation at the protein levels. The rat carotid balloon injury model was performed to explore the effect of Rg2 on inflammation and phenotypic transformation in vivo. Results: Rg2 decreased the expression of inflammatory factors induced by lipopolysaccharide in HUVECs-without affecting cell viability. These events depend on the blocking regulation of NF-κB and p-ERK signaling pathway. In VSMCs, Rg2 can inhibit the proliferation, migration, and phenotypic transformation of VSMCs induced by platelet derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB)-which may contribute to its anti-atherosclerotic role. In rats with carotid balloon injury, Rg2 can reduce intimal proliferation after injury, regulate the inflammatory pathway to reduce inflammatory response, and also suppress the phenotypic transformation of VSMCs. Conclusion: These results suggest that Rg2 can exert its anti-atherosclerotic effect at the cellular level and animal level, which provides a more sufficient basis for ginseng as a functional dietary regulator.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.52-65
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• 2023

Background and Objectives: Epithelial-Mesenchymal transition (EMT) is one of the origins of myofibroblasts in renal interstitial fibrosis. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) alleviating EMT has been proved, but the concrete mechanism is unclear. To explore the mechanism, serum-free MSCs conditioned medium (SF-MSCs-CM) was used to treat rat renal tubular epithelial cells (NRK-52E) fibrosis induced by transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) which ameliorated EMT. Methods and Results: Galectin-3 knockdown (Gal-3 KD) and overexpression (Gal-3 OE) lentiviral vectors were established and transfected into NRK-52E. NRK-52E fibrosis model was induced by TGF-β1 and treated with the SF-MSCs-CM for 24 h after modelling. Fibrosis and autophagy related indexes were detected by western blot and immunocytochemistry. In model group, the expressions of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), fibronectin (FN), Galectin-3, Snail, Kim-1, and the ratios of P-Akt/Akt, P-GSK3β/GSK3β, P-PI3K/PI3K, P-mTOR/mTOR, TIMP1/MMP9, and LC3B-II/I were obviously increased, and E-Cadherin (E-cad) and P62 decreased significantly compared with control group. SF-MSCs-CM showed an opposite trend after treatment compared with model group. Whether in Gal-3 KD or Gal-3 OE NRK-52E cells, SF-MSCs-CM also showed similar trends. However, the effects of anti-fibrosis and enhanced autophagy in Gal-3 KD cells were more obvious than those in Gal-3 OE cells. Conclusions: SF-MSCs-CM probably alleviated the EMT via inhibiting Galectin-3/Akt/GSK3β/Snail pathway. Meanwhile, Gal-3 KD possibly enhanced autophagy via inhibiting Galectin-3/Akt/mTOR pathway, which synergistically ameliorated renal fibrosis. Targeting galectin-3 may be a potential target for the treatment of renal fibrosis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제40권4호
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• pp.264-272
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• 2007

배경: 혈관내피 성장인자(vascular endothelial growth factor, VEGF)는 혈관평활근세포(vascular smooth muscle cell)의 증식과 이동을 촉진함으로써 혈관신생에 중요한 역할을 한다. 당뇨병은 VEGF의 발현과 연관되어 정상 혈당상태에서 보다 세포의 증식을 더욱 촉진시킨다. 당뇨병쥐에서 VEGF 수용체의 선택적 차단이 손상된 혈관에서 신내막 형성과 혈관평활근세포의 이동에 미치는 영향에 대해 알아보고자 했다. 대상 뜻 방법: 당뇨병 쥐의 경동맥 풍선손상 모델에서 위약을 투여하거나, 혈관내피 성장 인자 수용체-1(VEGFR-1)에 선택적으로 작용하는 항-Flt-1 펩타이드(anti-Flt-1 peptide; Gly-Asn-Gln-Trp-Phe-Ile)를 풍선손상 2일 전부터 0.5mg/kg의 용량으로 2주간 매일 투여한 군으로 나누어 Hematoxylin-Eosin 염색을 하여 신내막의 형성정도와 혈관내강의 협착정도를 비교하였으며, proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)에 대한 면역조직화학염색법을 시행하여 세포의 증식정도를 관찰하였다. 혈관평활근세포를 고혈당환경에서 배양하고 transwell assay를 시행하여 혈관평활근세포의 이동 정도를 측정하였다. 고혈당 환경에서 자라고 있는 혈관평활근세포에 50ng/mL의 VEGF를 단독 또는 3ug/mL의 항-Flt-1 펩타이드와 함께 처리하고 일정시간이 지난 후 matrigel filter를 통과한 세포를 세어 아무런 처치를 받지 않은 세포가 이동한 정도와 비교하였다. 또한, 혈관평활근세포에 세포이동 정도 측정 시와 같은 처리를 한 후, RNA를 분리하고 reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)을 시행하여 기질금속단백분해효소(matrix metalloprotenase, MMP)의 발현 정도를 관찰하였다. 결과: 신내막의 면적은 위약 투여 쥐는 $0.24{\pm}0.03 mm^2$이었으나, 항-Flt-1 펩타이드의 처리에 의해 $0.15{\pm}0.04 mm^2$로 유의하게 감소하였으며(p<0.01), 신내막 형성에 따른 내강의 협착 정도도 위약 투여 쥐는 $61.85{\pm}5.11%$, 항-Flt-1 펩타이드 투여 쥐는 $36.03{\pm}3.78%$로 항-Flt-1 펩타이드 투여에 의하여 유의하게 감소하였다(p<0.01). 신내막의 전체 세포수에 대한 PCNA(+)인 세포를 백분율로 구하였으며, 위약 투여 쥐와 항- Flt-1 펩타이드 투여 쥐에서 각각 $52.82{\pm}4.20%,\;38.11{\pm}6.89%$로 나타나 항-Flt-1 펩타이드를 투여한 쥐에서 PCNA(+)인 세포가 유의하게 적음을 보이고 있다(p<0.05). 혈관평활근세포의 이동 정도 측정에서는 항-Flt-1 펩타이드 처리에 의하여 VEGF에 의한 혈관평활근 세포의 이동이 유의하게 감소하였다(p<0.01). 또한, 항-Flt-1 펩타이드 처리에 의하여 VEGF에 의한 MMP-3와 MMP-9 mRNA의 발현 증가가 억제되었다. 결론: 항-Flt-1 펩타이드는 당뇨병쥐의 경동맥손상모델에서 신내막 형성을 억제하였으며, 고혈당 환경에서 배양된 혈관평활근세포의 이동과, MMP-3와 MMP-9의 활성을 억제하였다.