• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.46.1-46.10
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• 2018

Objectives: This study was to evaluate the antibacterial effect of different instrumentation and irrigation techniques using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) after root canal inoculation with Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis). Materials and Methods: Mesiobuccal and mesiolingual canals of extracted mandibular molars were apically enlarged up to a size 25 hand K-file, then autoclaved and inoculated with E. faecalis. The samples were randomly divided into 4 main groups according to the system of instrumentation and irrigation: an XP-endo Shaper (XPS) combined with conventional irrigation (XPS/C) or an XP-endo Finisher (XPF) (XPS/XPF), and iRaCe combined with conventional irrigation (iRaCe/C) or combined with an XPF (iRaCe/XPF). A middle-third sample was taken from each group, and then the bacterial reduction was evaluated using CLSM at a depth of $50{\mu}m$ inside the dentinal tubules. The ratio of red fluorescence (dead cells) to green-and-red fluorescence (live and dead cells) represented the percentage of bacterial reduction. The data were then statistically analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test for comparisons across the groups and the Dunn test was used for pairwise comparisons. Results: The instrumentation and irrigation techniques had a significant effect on bacterial reduction (p < 0.05). The iRaCe/XPF group showed the strongest effect, followed by the XPS/XPF and XPS/C group, while the iRaCe/C group had the weakest effect. Conclusions: Combining iRaCe with XPF improved its bacterial reduction effect, while combining XPS with XPF did not yield a significant improvement in its ability to reduce bacteria at a depth of $50{\mu}m$ in the dentinal tubules.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2019.05a
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• pp.528-532
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• 2019

The dorsal root ganglion (DRG) was isolated from mouse embryos and Schwann cells and neuronal cells were cultured in vitro. The neurons and Schwann cells were cultured separately and the two kinds of cells were cultured together for three weeks. Generation of myelination was confirmed by transmission electron microscope and confocal microscope using a myelinaion protein, myelin protein zero (MPZ) antibody. The sindbis virus was infected for three days in the myelinated culture cells and then demyelination was carried out. The process of demyelination was also confirmed by transmission electron microscopy and confocal microscopy using myelin protein zero (MPZ) antibody. The study was supported by a Basic Research Program through the National Research Foundation (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology, ICT and Future Plans (NRF-2016R1A2B4016552 and 2017R1A2B3005753).

• Current Optics and Photonics
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.550-564
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• 2022

Optical microscopy is a useful tool for study in the biological sciences. With an optical microscope, we can observe the micro world of life such as tissues, cells, and proteins. A fluorescent dye or a fluorescent protein provides an opportunity to mark a specific target in the crowd of biological samples, so that an image of a specific target can be observed by an optical microscope. The optical microscope, however, is constrained in resolution due to diffraction limit. Super-resolution microscopy made a breakthrough with this diffraction limit. Using a super-resolution microscope, many biomolecules are observed beyond the diffraction limit in cells. In the case of volumetric imaging, the super-resolution techniques are only applied to a limited area due to long imaging time, multiple scattering of photons, and sample-induced aberration in deep tissue. In this article, we review recent advances in super-resolution microscopy for volumetric imaging. The super-resolution techniques have been integrated with various modalities, such as a line-scan confocal microscope, a spinning disk confocal microscope, a light sheet microscope, and point spread function engineering. Super-resolution microscopy combined with adaptive optics by compensating for wave distortions is a promising method for deep tissue imaging and biomedical applications.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.299-311
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• 2022

Rocks exposed to the surface are subject to long-term weathering, and such effects weaken their engineering stability. Especially as weathering progresses, the surface of rocks will be changed by weathering, and such surface changes will affect the engineering safety of the rock mass. In addition, the chemical species produced in the weathered rock have a direct effect on the surrounding environment or on the structure. In areas where rocks are exposed, such as mining areas, chemical species produced by weathering can have a serious impact on the surrounding natural environment. In this study, accelerated weathering experiments using freeze/thaw system were conducted on rocks that had already been weathered and fresh rocks, and surface changes of each rock were observed with confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM), and chemical species were analyzed using IC/ICP-MS. As the weathering progressed, the surface roughness decreased, and the amount of chemical species produced increased. The results of this study can be used as basic data for evaluating engineering/environmental safety in areas where rocks are exposed.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.15-21
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• 2022

Diamond reinforced Cr-based coating has been proposed as wear-resistant materials. In this study, the friction and wear characteristics of diamond reinforced Cr-based coating are experimentally assessed. The experiments are performed using a pin-on-reciprocating plate tribo-tester under various normal forces with boundary lubrication. The stainless-steel ball is used as a counter material. Prior to the experiments, mechanical properties such as elastic modulus and hardness are determined using nanoscale instrumented indentation. The hardness of the specimen is further determined using a Vickers hardness tester. The specimens before and after the experiments are carefully observed using a confocal microscope to understand the wear characteristics. In addition, the wear volume and wear rate of the specimens are determined based on the confocal microscope data. The results show that the friction coefficients are 0.096-0.100 under 20-40 N normal forces. Furthermore, the wear rates of the diamond reinforced Cr-based coating and the stainless steel ball under 20-40 N normal forces are found to be 12.8 × 10^-8 mm³/(Nm)-15.5 × 10^-8 mm³/(Nm) and 1.9 × 10^-8 mm³/(Nm)-3.9 × 10^-8 mm³/(Nm), respectively. However, the effect of the normal force on wear rates is not clearly observed, which may be associated with the flattening of the ball. The results of the study may be useful for the tribological applicability of diamond reinforced Cr-based coating as wear-resistant materials.

• Proceedings of the SCSK Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.162-177
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• 2003

It has been known that the color of skin reflects the blood flow within. In lips, the capillaries close to the skin surface are numerous; hence lips are redder than the rest of face. However, dermatological research on lips is not as advanced as research on facial or body skin, and little was known about the relationship between relatively dull-colored lips and skin blood flow. The physiological differences between colorful and dull-colored lips were studied by a two-dimensional laser Doppler blood flow analyzer, a spectrometer for the measurement of the degree of oxygen saturation, and a confocal microscope for observing inside lips non-invasively. Dull-colored lips and the corner of lips (dull-colored compared to the center) showed relatively poor blood flow and lower oxygenated hemoglobin. It was found that colorful lips (generally the young) had a blood flow that tended to run straight in parallel with the skin surface. This unique blood-capillary structure can express clear red blood. Those with dull-colored lips had lost this unique structure. Their blood ran perpendicularly from the deep of the skin and down back again into the deep part as like the blood circulation patterns of facial skin. Therefore, the lips of the latter group had fewer blood capillaries near skin surface in the lips than that of the colorful-lips group. A lipstick containing a-glucosyl-hesperidin, which is derived from certain citrus fruits and can enhance blood circulation, was applied for evaluating its effects. Blood flow was increased 30 min after the application. After two weeks of daily application, the lips' condition became noticeably less dull. These findings suggest that the decrease of blood flow in dull-colored lips is caused by the loss of the unique capillary structure and the use of the lipstick to increase blood flow can give a vivid color to lips.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.61-74
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• 2023

The global increase in multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria has inspired researchers to develop new strategies to overcome this problem. In this study, 23 morphologically different, soil-isolated actinomycete cultures were screened for their antibacterial ability against MDR isolates of ESKAPE pathogens. Among them, isolate BOGE18 exhibited a broad antibacterial spectrum, so it was selected and identified based on cultural, morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics. Chemotaxonomic analysis was also performed together with nucleotide sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, which showed this strain to have identity with Streptomyces lienomycini. The ethyl acetate extract of the cell-free filtrate (CFF) of strain BOGE18 was evaluated for its antibacterial spectrum, and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranged from 62.5 to 250 ㎍/ml. The recorded results from the in vitro anti-biofilm microtiter assay and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) of sub-MIC concentrations revealed a significant reduction in biofilm formation in a concentration-dependent manner. The extract also displayed significant scavenging activity, reaching 91.61 ± 4.1% and 85.06 ± 3.14% of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), respectively. A promising cytotoxic ability against breast (MCF-7) and hepatocellular (HePG2) cancer cell lines was obtained from the extract with IC₅₀ values of 47.15 ± 13.10 and 122.69 ± 9.12 ㎍/ml, respectively. Moreover, based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis, nine known compounds were detected in the BOGE18 extract, suggesting their contribution to the multitude of biological activities recorded in this study. Overall, Streptomyces lienomycini BOGE18-derived extract is a good candidate for use in a natural combating strategy to prevent bacterial infection, especially by MDR pathogens.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.21.1-21.11
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• 2022

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the bonding effects of cleaning protocols on dentin impregnated with endodontic sealer residues using ethanol (E) or xylol (X). The effects of dentin acid etching immediately (I) or 7 days (P) after cleaning were also evaluated. For bonding to dentin, universal adhesive (Scotchbond Universal; 3M ESPE) was used. The persistence of sealer residues, hybrid layer formation and microshear bond strength were the performed analysis. Materials and Methods: One hundred and twenty bovine dentin specimens were allocated into 4 groups (n = 10): G1 (E+I); G2 (X+I); G3 (E+P); and G4 (X+P). The persistence of sealer residues was evaluated by SEM. Confocal laser scanning microscopy images were taken to measure the formed hybrid layer using the Image J program. For microshear bond strength, 4 resin composite cylinders were placed over the dentin after the cleaning protocols. ANOVA followed by Tukey test and Kruskal-Wallis followed by Dunn test were used for parametric and non-parametric data, respectively (α = 5%). Results: G2 and G4 groups showed a lower persistence of residues (p < 0.05) and thicker hybrid layer than the other groups (p < 0.05). No bond strength differences among all groups were observed (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Dentin cleaning using xylol, regardless of the time-point of acid etching, provided lower persistence of residues over the surface and thicker hybrid layer. However, the bond strength of the universal adhesive system in etch-and-rinse strategy was not influenced by the cleaning protocols or time-point of acid etching.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.393-401
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• 2024

Background/Aims: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is a highly accurate method for diagnosing pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs); however, some PNETs are difficult to diagnose. Recently, the efficacy of needle-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (nCLE) in diagnosing solid pancreatic masses has been reported. However, the efficacy of nCLE in the diagnosis of PNETs remains unknown and only a small number of cases have been reported. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of nCLE in the diagnosis of PNETs. Methods: This single-center retrospective study evaluated 30 consecutive patients with suspected PNETs on contrast-enhanced computed tomography, who consented to nCLE combined with EUS-FNA and were diagnosed using EUS-FNA or surgical resection. The diagnostic criteria for PNETs using nCLE were based on the nesting and trabecular and glandular arrangement of tumor cell clusters surrounded by capillary vessels and fibrosis, as reported in previous studies. Results: The diagnosis using nCLE was classified into three categories: misdiagnosis in three cases (10%), non-diagnostic in six cases (20%), and diagnostic in 21 cases (70%). nCLE was able to diagnose PNET in one of the two cases with inconclusive EUS-FNA. Conclusions: Although further development of the resolution and optimization of the diagnostic criteria are required, nCLE may constitute a useful diagnostic option in cases of inconclusive EUS-FNA for PNETs.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a new resin monomer, filler size and polishing technique on the surface roughness of composite resin restorations using confocal laser scanning microscopy. By adding new methoxylated Bis-GMA (Bis-M-GMA, 2,2-bis[4-(2-methoxy-3-methacryloyloxy propoxy) phenyl] propane) having low viscosity, the content of TEGDMA might be decreased. Three experimental composite resins were made: EX1 (Bis-M-GMA/TEGDMA = 95/5 wt%, 40 nm nanofillers); EX2 (Bis-M-GMA/TEGDMA = 95/5 wt%, 20 nm nanofillers); EX3 (Bis-GMA/TEGDMA = 70/30 wt%, 40 nm nanofillers). Filtek Z250 was used as a reference. Nine specimens (6 mm in diameter and 2 mm in thickness) for each experimental composite resin and Filtek Z250 were fabricated in a teflon mold and assigned to three groups. In Mylar strip group, specimens were left undisturbed. In Sof-lex group, specimens were ground with #1000 SiC paper and polished with Sof-lex discs. In DiaPolisher group, specimens were ground with #1000 SiC paper and polished with DiaPolisher polishing points. The Ra (Average roughness), Rq (Root mean square roughness), Rv (Valley roughness), Rp (Peak roughness), Rc (2D roughness) and Sc (3D roughness) values were determined using confocal laser scanning microscopy. The data were statistically analyzed by Two-way ANOVA and Tukey multiple comparisons test (p = 0.05). The type of composite resin and polishing technique significantly affected the surface roughness of the composite resin restorations (p < 0.001). EX3 showed the smoothest surface compared to the other composite resins (p < 0.05). Mylar strip resulted in smoother surface than other polishing techniques (p < 0.05). Bis-M-GMA. a new resin monomer having low viscosity, might reduce the amount of diluent, but showed adverse effect on the surface roughness of composite resin restorations.