• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.654-664
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• 2021

Background: Ginsenoside Rg3, isolated from Panax ginseng, has anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activities. It is known to reduce inflammation in acute lung injury in mice, and to reduce the expression of inflammatory cytokines and COX-2 in human asthmatic airway epithelium. In this study, we attempted to determine whether ginsenoside Rg3 inhibits airway inflammation, oxidative stress, and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in the lungs of asthmatic mice. We also investigated its effects on oxidative stress and the inflammatory response in tracheal epithelial cells. Methods: Asthma symptoms were induced in female BALB/c mice sensitized with ovalbumin (OVA). Mice were divided into five groups: normal controls, OVA-induced asthmatic controls, and asthmatic mice treated with ginsenoside Rg3 or prednisolone by intraperitoneal injection. Inflammatory BEAS-2B cells (human tracheal epithelial cells) treated with ginsenoside Rg3 to investigate its effects on inflammatory cytokines and oxidative responses. Results: Ginsenoside Rg3 treatment significantly reduced eosinophil infiltration, oxidative responses, airway inflammation, and AHR in the lungs of asthmatic mice. Ginsenoside Rg3 reduced Th2 cytokine and chemokine levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids and lung. Inflammatory BEAS-2B cells treated with ginsenoside Rg3 reduced the eotaxin and pro-inflammatory cytokine expressions, and monocyte adherence to BEAS-2B cells was significantly reduced as a result of decreased ICAM-1 expression. Furthermore, ginsenoside Rg3 reduced the expression of reactive oxygen species in inflammatory BEAS-2B cells. Conclusion: Ginsenoside Rg3 is a potential immunomodulator that can ameliorate pathological features of asthma by decreasing oxidative stress and inflammation

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.44-52
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• 2023

Objectives: Dental caries is one of the most prevalent human diseases worldwide. The disease initiates with bacterial adherence to the tooth surface followed by the formation of dental plaques. Mutans streptococci and Candida albicans are principal oral microorganisms involved in the initiation and development of dental caries. Phytochemicals have been shown to possess promising antimicrobial properties against a wide range of microorganisms and can be used for the prevention and treatment of dental caries. Herein, we reviewed literature on plants that are traditionally used for their antimicrobial properties or possess promising anticariogenic activity. We selected aerial parts of Scrophularia striata (S. striata) and galls of Quercus infectoria (Q. infectoria) and investigated their antimicrobial activity against cariogenic microorganisms. Methods: Water soluble fractions were obtained from hydroalcoholic extracts of S. striata and Q. infectoria and their antimicrobial activity against Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans), Streptococcus sobrinus (S. sobrinus), and Candida albicans (C. albicans) was evaluated separately and in combination. The extracts were then used for preparing an herbal mouthwash whose stability and tannic acid content were evaluated over 60 days. Results: Q. infectoria gall extract possesses efficient antimicrobial activity that was synergistically enhanced in the presence of S. striata extract. Mouthwash prepared using these extracts showed desirable organoleptic characteristics, antimicrobial activity, and stability. Conclusion: Extracts of S. striata and Q. infectoria galls can be used together for preparing dental products with effective anticariogenic properties. Our study highlights the importance of extensive pharmacological investigations when using herbal products alone or in combination with other chemical substances.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.31-39
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• 2014

Objectives : This study aimed to investigate the psychiatric status of HIV-infected/AIDS inpatients in a general hospital over the past 2.5 years. Methods : A retrospective chart review was conducted of psychiatric consultations performed between January 1, 2011, and July 30, 2013. The records of 97 HIV-infected/AIDS patients were analyzed. These included a total of 282 psychiatric consultations. Results : Of the 97 patients, 91(93.8%) were male, the mean age was 48 years, and mean number of consultations was 2.8. Depressed mood was reported in 102 consultations(23.8%), insomnia in 60(14.0%), and anxiety in 31(7.2%). Psychiatric disorders diagnosed on initial consultation included depressive disorder(37 patients ; 37.0%), cognitive disorder(11 ; 11.0%), and delirium(9 ; 9.0%). Recommended psychotropic medication included Lorazepam(99 ; 17.2%), Escitalopram(90 ; 15.7%), and Quetiapine(84 ; 14.6%). Conclusions : The main complaints of HIV-infected/AIDS patients were depressed mood, insomnia, and suicidal ideation(including suicide attempts). In total, 85(93.3%) patients of those consulted were diagnosed as meeting the criteria for a psychiatric condition. However, considering that only 16.9% of patients consulted received follow-up treatment, longitudinal research is needed to examine the influence of psychiatric disorders on the transmission of HIV-infection/AIDS, as well as on prognosis and treatment adherence.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.582-588
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• 2002

IrO$_2$-RuO$_2$ films were deposited on plasma sprayed TiO$_2$ buffer layer above Ti metal by sol-gel and dip-coating method. Organic vehicle (ethyl cellulose and $\alpha$-terpineol) and glass frit were added to improve adherence of the coatings. Taguchi method and L$_{18}$ (2$^1$$\times$3$^{7}$ ) orthogonal arrays were evalvated in terms of current density to determine the optimal combination of levels of factors that best satisfy the bigger is better quality characteristic. The observed conditions were as fellows: ethyl cellulose (100 cp), drying temperature and time (17$0^{\circ}C$,20 min), heat treatment temperature and time (75$0^{\circ}C$,10 min), the weight ratio of IrO$_2$-RuO/powders to glass frit (99:5), final heat treatment time (120 min) and flow rate of air (5 sccm), respectively. ANOVA analysis suggested that the influence of the factors within $\alpha$= 0.1 was significant with a 90% confidence level.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2017.05a
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• pp.77-77
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• 2017

Titanium and its alloys offer attractive properties in a variety of applications. These are widely used for the field of biomedical implants because of its good biocompatibility and high corrosion resistance. Titanium anodizing is often used in the metal finishing of products, especially those can be used in the medical devices with dense oxide surface. Based on SAE/AMS (Society of Automotive Engineers/Aerospace Material Specification) 2488D, it has the specification for industrial titanium anodizing that have three different types of titanium anodization as following: Type I is used as a coating for elevated temperature forming; Type II is used as an anti-galling coating without additional lubrication or as a pre-treatment for improving adherence of film lubricants; Type III is used as a treatment to produce a spectrum of surface colours on titanium. In this study, we have focused on Type II anodization for the medical (dental and orthopedic) application, the anodized surface was modified with gray color under alkaline electrolyte. The surface characteristics were analyzed with Focused Ion Beam (FIB), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), surface roughness, Vickers hardness, three point bending test, biocompatibility, and corrosion (potentiodynamic) test. The Ti-6Al-4V alloy was used for specimen, the anodizing procedure was conducted in alkaline solution (NaOH based, pH>13). Applied voltage was range between 20 V to 40 V until the ampere to be zero. As results, the surface characteristics of anodic oxide layer were analyzed with SEM, the dissecting layer was fabricated with FIB method prior to analyze surface. The surface roughness was measured by arithmetic mean deviation of the roughness profile (Ra). The Vickers hardness was obtained with Vickers hardness tester, indentation was repeated for 5 times on each sample, and the three point bending property was verified by yield load values. In order to determine the corrosion resistance for the corrosion rate, the potentiodynamic test was performed for each specimen. The biological safety assessment was analyzed by cytotoxic and pyrogen test. Through FIB feature of anodic surfaces, the thickness of oxide layer was 1.1 um. The surface roughness, Vickers hardness, bending yield, and corrosion resistance of the anodized specimen were shown higher value than those of non-treated specimen. Also we could verify that there was no significant issues from cytotoxicity and pyrogen test.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.111-124
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• 2013

Purpose: We should prepare proper medical service for disaster control as South Korea is not free from terrorism and war, as we experienced through the two naval battles of the Yeonpyeong, one in 1999 and the other in 2002, the sinking of Cheonan in 2010, and the attack against the border island of Yeonpyeong in 2010. Moreover, North Korea's increasingly bellicose rhetoric and mounting military threats against the world demand instant action to address the issue. The aim of this article is to describe our experience with three patients with combat-related gunshot and explosive injuries to their extremities and to establish useful methods for the management of patients with combat-related injuries. Methods: Three personnel who had been injured by gunshot or explosion during either the second naval battle of the Yeonpyeong in 2002 or the attack against the border island of Yeonpyeong in 2010 were included in our retrospective analysis. There were one case of gunshot injury and two cases of explosive injuries to the extremities, and the injured regions were the left hand, the right foot, and the right humerus. In one case, the patient had accompanying abdominal injuries, and his vital signs were unstable. He recovered after early initial management and appropriate emergency surgery. Results: All patients underwent emergent surgical debridement and temporary fixation surgery in the same military hospital immediately after their evacuations from the combat area. After that, continuous administration of antibiotics and wound care were performed, and definite reconstructions were carried out in a delayed manner. In the two cases in which flap operations for soft tissue coverage were required, one operation was performed 5 weeks after the injury, and the other operation was performed 7 weeks after the injury. Definite procedures for osteosynthesis were performed at 3 months in all cases. Complete union and adequate functional recovery were achieved in all cases. Conclusion: The patient should be stabilized and any life-threatening injuries must first be evaluated and treated with damage control surgery. Staged treatment and strict adherence to traditional principles for open fractures are recommended for combat-related gunshot and explosive injuries to the extremities.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.171-185
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• 2000

The treatment objectives of the complete oral rehabilitation are : (1) comfortably functioning temporomandibular joints and stomatognathic musculature, (2) adherence to the basic principle of occlusion advocated by Schuyler, (3) anterior guidance that is in harmony with the envelope of function, (4) restorations that will not violate the patient's neutral zone. There may be many roads to achieving these objectives, but they all convey varing degrees of stress and strain on the dentist and patient. There are no "easy" cases of oral rehabilitation. Time must be taken to think, time must be taken to plan, and time must be taken to perform, since time is the critical element in both success and failure. Moreover, a systematized and integrated approach will lead to a prognosis that is favorable and predictable. This approach facilitates development of optimum oral function, comfort, and esthetics, resulting in a satisfied patient. Such a systematized approach consists of four logical phase : (1) patient evaluation, (2) comprehensive analysis and treatment planning, (3) integrated and systematic reconstruction, and (4) postoperative maintenance. Firstly, we must evaluate the mandibular position. The results of a repetitive, unstrained, nondeflective, nonmanipulated mandibular closure into complete maxillomandibular intercuspation is not so much a "centric" occlusion as it is a stable occlusion. Accordingly, we ought to concern ourselves less with mandibular centricity and more with mandibular stability, which actually is the relationship we are trying to establish. The key to this stability is intercuspal precision. Once neuromuscular passivity has been achieved during an appropriate period of occlusal adjustment and provisionalization, subsequent intercuspal precision becomes the controlling factors in maintaining a stable mandibular position. Secondly, we must evaluate the planned vertical dimension of occlusion in relationship to what may now be an altered(generally diminished), and avoid the hazard of using such an abnormal position to indicate ultimate occlusal contacting points. There are no hard and fast rules to follow, no formulas, and no precise ratios between the vertical dimension of occlusion. Like centric relation, it is an area, not a point.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.23-37
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• 2007

Background: Even though cervical cancer poses a significant global cancer burden, successful implementations for early detection offer an opportunity to prevent deaths and reduce the cancer burden. In Korea, cervical cancer is the most prevalent type of cancer among adult women, but it is one of the few cancers in which a consensus-approved screening test exists for early diagnosis, Pap test, that can be combined with highly efficacious treatment regimens for early-stage disease. Purpose: This study was carried out to identify the cognitive-behavioral factors associated with cervical cancer screening behavior among adult women, aged 40 to 59, and to develop tailored messages and to evaluate the effectiveness of stage-matched educational program. Method: A total of 283 women who aged 40 years or older was recruited in Seoul, from September, 1st to November, 14th, 2003. The intervention group (N=162) and the control group (N=121) were selected from five sub-districts in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Building on the TTM, a quasi-experimental study was conducted to test the effectiveness of stages-matched intervention addressed at the five stages of cervical cancer screening behavior. Women in the intervention group were randomly assigned to one of two conditions, internet or postal services. Results: In our results, 88.9% of participants had received a Pap test at least once in their life-time, and 65.4% had got it in the past two years. With regard to cognitive-behavioral factors, the stages-matched educational program increased attitude and process of change for cervical cancer screening. The percentage changed was the largest in maintenance stage. With regard to delivery methods for tailored messages, the print materials were more effective at increasing screening adherence than the e-mail. Whereas the postal service group showed remarkable the change of behavior stage, the internet service group did not. Also it was not shown any difference of the satisfaction with stages-matched educational program between internet and postal service groups. Conclusion: This study suggested that cervical cancer screening behavior could be changed by tailored messages which had developed with cognitive-behavioral factors. The stages-matched educational program was effective to promote the screening adherence for cervical cancer.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.315-322
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• 2009

Objectives : Knowledge about the management status of diabetic melitus (DM) is essential to improve diabetic management. Moreover, low income is associated with poor adherence to treatment and increased mortality. This study was performed to evaluate the management status of DM in low-income patients in a rural area. Methods : We enrolled 370 patients with type 2 DM living in Gokseong county, JeollaNamdo. A well-trained examiner measured the height, weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting blood sugar and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels. Carotid ultrasonography was used to measure carotid artery carotid artery intima media thickness (IMT) and plaque. anklebrachial index (ABI) was used to evaluate peripheral artery disease. A fundoscopic examination was performed to evaluate diabetic retinopathy. A history of diabetes complications and health-related questionnaires were also completed. Results : The age of diabetic subjects was 68.7$\pm$8.7 years and the duration of diabetes was 8.9$\pm$8.2 years. Most (63.5%) had hypertension, and 45.7% had triglycerides below 150 mg/dl, 38.1% had low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) cholesterol below 100 mg/dl, 48.7% had urine albumin to creatinine ratio (UACR) below 30 mg/g. Less than half (45.9%) achieved the goal of HbA1c less than 7% suggested by the American Diabetes Association (ADA). 10.6% had peripheral vascular disease, 11.9% had retinopathy, and 60.8% had chronic kidney disease. Conclusions : DM management in low income patients is very poor and requires further work to improve.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.687-692
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• 2012

Schizandra chinensis extract has been known to possess a variety of efficacy including antitumor. However, it remains unclear how schizandrin, which is a major biological active ingredient of Schizandra chinensis, exerts antitumor effect. This study was designed to investigate the mechanism by which schizandrin inhibits tumor growth and metastasis. In in vivo test using tumor model mice injected with B16BL6 cell line, mice treated with 10 and 100 ${\mu}g/ml$ schizandrin showed a significant inhibition by $73.79{\pm}6.43%$ and $90.46{\pm}1.72%$, respectively, compared with positive tumor controls. Schizandrin did not exert a significant toxicity for the normal cells (HUVECs) and tumor cell lines (A549, B16BL6, Du145, Huh7). Treatment with schizandrin at 10 and 100 ${\mu}g$/head significantly inhibited the tumor-induced angiogenesis by $68.04{\pm}32.21%$ and $103.8{\pm}34.99%$ compared with the positive control group, respectively. Using in vivo lung metastasis model, tumor metastasis assay revealed that 10 and 100 ${\mu}g$/head schizandrin significantly decreased the metastatic lung tumor by $37.51{\pm}8.15%$ and $75.53{\pm}4.38%$ compared with positive controls, respectively. On the other hand, schizandrin did not affect the adherence of B16BL6 cell line to extracellular matrix protein. These results demonstrate that schizandrin exerts inhibitory effect on tumor growth and metastasis by inhibiting angiogenesis. This study thus suggest that schizandrin may be a candidate molecule target for cancer drug development.