• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.497-501
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• 2008

3D facial scanner for an accurate analysis is measured precisely a distance in straight, a distance in curved line, an angle in 3D data, the area of surface. We can easy acquire 3D data by the method of 0.8sec in each scan with easy handling, simple merge to whole face, harmless and fast process. In the HyungSang medicine, the inspection of the facial shape includes the Dam(gall bladder) - Bang Kwang(urinary bladder) body, the Jung${\cdot}$Gi${\cdot}$Shin${\cdot}$Hyul, the six merdian types etc. And we will collect the evidence based date verifing in the HyungSang clinical medicine. As we will analyze the facial whole form and the size${\cdot}$length${\cdot}$angle of the facial part, put the facial form's standardization on a solid foundation.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.101-112
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• 2011

Objectives : This study was done to investigate the degree of the pulse wave parameter of post-mastectomy women and to identify the relationships between each of them. Methods : Data were obtained from public health center in Busan Metropolitan city. Participants were 82 post-mastectomy women aged 31-82. the data collection was from Oct, 1, 2010 to Oct, 31, 2010. the data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, Duncan test. A p-value less than .05 was considered significant by 2-tailed test. All statistical analyses were performed with SPSS/Win(ver 12.0). Results : As for the difference in the pulse wave by the general characteristics. The pulse energy was showed highly in the order of Chon, Quan and Chuk of left and right pulse respectively. In the pulse energy of left Quan and right Chon, the case of both mastectomy was showed highly and in the pulse energy of left Chuk, the case of right mastectomy was showed highly. Left and right pulse energy of menopause female were significantly higher than normal range except left Chon and Chuk. In h1, h2, h4, h5, t1, t2, AP and Aw, the pulse energy of left Chon was showed the largest significantly. In As, the pulse energy of right Chon was showed the smallest and in Ad, right Chuk was showed the largest. In RAI, right and left Chuk was showed the highest respectively. Conclusions : From these result, we can see that there are relation between women's age, area of operation breast and menopause after mastectomy in pulse wave. The result of this study will become basic data necessary for the Oriental Medicine treatment to reduce or prevent women's functional difficulties, symptomatology after mastectomy.

• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.41-48
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• 2012

Objectives: The aims of this study are to design a optimized mechanical structure of digital tongue imaging system (DTIS) equipped with LEDs in aspects of object distance and camera angle of coverage. Methods and Results: We tried to find optimized object distance while recording a rectangular object of common tongue size. In case object distance is 22 cm or less, edge of the rectangle was not taken beyond the shooting range. In contrast, if object distance is 40 cm or more, the rectangle image was too small. Therefore when considering the variation of subjects, we selected distance of 35-40 cm as appropriate object distance for the DTIS. We also tried to find optimized angle between camera view axis and horizontal line. We photographed from the side of the face of 7 adults with exposed tongue. We drew an exposed tongue lines to connect the tongue tip points and the tongue root points by using the photos acquired from the side faces. And then we calculated the tongue exposure angles between the vertical line and the exposed tongue lines. Mean tongue exposure angle was $28.3^{\circ}$ when tongue was lightly exposed and $13.3^{\circ}$ when maximally. So we determined $73^{\circ}$ as appropriate slope angle of part in contact with face of the DTIS and by considering that the standard variation was great, we designed control gears to adjust the slope of the camera view axis and to regulate the object distance. Conclusions: We designed a optimized mechanical structure in object distance and slope angle of part in contact with face of the DTIS.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.1187-1195
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• 2006

Panax notoginseng exhibit several beneficial effects including anti-oxidant effects. P. notoginseng is used as a therapeutic agent to stop haemorrhages and a tonic to promoted health in Korean and Chinese medicine. The pharmacokinetic profiles of the main P. notoginseng are still not accurately investigated. The exact mechanism of the anti-oxidant activitys of water extracts of P. notoginseng, however, has not been determined. in present study, I examined the effects of water extracts of P. notoginseng on high cholesterol diet atherosclerosis-induced rats in serum and abdominal aorta. A total of 3-week old 9 male rats of Sprague-Dawley were divided into 3 groups and fed with the basal diet (normal group), high cholesterol diet (atherosclerosis induced group) for 8 weeks, high cholesterol diet supplemented with water extracts of P. notoginseng (P. notoginseng group) for 4 weeks. And rats were sacrificed, serum lipid level, abodominal aortic anti-oxidant activities and lipid peroxide were measured. These results indicated that serum total cholesterl, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides concentration significently lowered in P. notoginseng group than high cholesterol diet group. But HDL-cholesterol concentraion significently higher in P. notoginseng group than high cholesterol feed group. And abdominal aortic xanthine oxidase activity was significantly reduced by dietary water extracts of P. notoginseng supplementation (p<0.05) Also abdominal aortic superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase activities were significantly increased by dietary water extracts of P. notoginseng supplementation (p<0.05) Especially, abdominal aortic level of lipid peroxide tended to increase in high cholesterol feed group, but water extract of P. notoginseng intake reduced the value (p<0.05).

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.1658-1663
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• 2006

Panax notoginseng (Buck) F.H chen. root (PNS) is used as a therapeutic agent to stop haemorrhages and a tonic to promote health in Korean and Chinses medicine. The pharmacokinetic profiles of the main PNS are still not accurately investigated. Our preliminary aim is to elucidate the pharmacokinetics features of the PNS in rats. Objective of this study is to determine whether PNS affects hepatic microvascular dysfunction elicited by gut ischemia and reperfusion (I/R), since gut I/R causes hepatic microvascular dysfunction, and to investigate the role of nitric oxide (NO). No has been found to be a modulator of the adhesive interactions between platelet and endothelial cells. Male Wistar rats were exposed to 30 min of gut ischemia followed by 60 min of reperfusion. Intravital microscopy was used to monitor the number of non-perfused sinusoids (NPS). In another set of experiments, PNS (1 g/kg pre day intragastrically) was administered to rats for 7 days. In some experiments, dexamethasone (ST) (2 mg/kg per day intravenously) was administered. In control rats, gut I/R elicited increases in the number of NPS, and plasma TNF-${\alpha}$ and ALT activities, and these changes were mitigated by the pretreatment with PNS. Pretreatment with an No synthase inhibitor diminished the protective effects of PNS on the increase in NPS and plasma TNF-${\alpha}$ levels, but not its effect on the increase in plasma ALT activities. Pretreatment with PNS increased plasma nitrite/nitrate levels. The responses caused by gut I/R were attenuated by the pretreatment with ST. Pretreatment with an NO synthase inhibitor did not affect the effect of ST. These results suggest that PNS attenuates the gut I/R-induced hepatic microvascular dysfunction and inflammatory responses such as TNF-${\alpha}$ production in the early phase via enhancement of NO production, and sequential hepatocellular damage via its anti-inflammatory effect like corticosteroid effect.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.59 no.2
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• pp.113-119
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• 2021

The computer vision diagnostic approach currently generates several malaria diagnostic tools. It enhances the accessible and straightforward diagnostics that necessary for clinics and health centers in malaria-endemic areas. A new computer malaria diagnostics tool called the malaria scanner was used to investigate living malaria parasites with easy sample preparation, fast and user-friendly. The cultured Plasmodium parasites were used to confirm the sensitivity of this technique then compared to fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis and light microscopic examination. The measured percentage of parasitemia by the malaria scanner revealed higher precision than microscopy and was similar to FACS. The coefficients of variation of this technique were 1.2-6.7% for Plasmodium knowlesi and 0.3-4.8% for P. falciparum. It allowed determining parasitemia levels of 0.1% or higher, with coefficient of variation smaller than 10%. In terms of the precision range of parasitemia, both high and low ranges showed similar precision results. Pearson's correlation test was used to evaluate the correlation data coming from all methods. A strong correlation of measured parasitemia (r²=0.99, P<0.05) was observed between each method. The parasitemia analysis using this new diagnostic tool needs technical improvement, particularly in the differentiation of malaria species.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.49-64
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• 2022

Objectives: Peer role-play (PRP) has been used in health care training simulations because standardized patient training requires considerable time and expense. This study described the implementation of clinical simulation using PRP and examined the effect. Methods: Final year students from a single college of Korean medicine engaged in PRP as part of clinical skills practice. Education tools from clinical practice guidelines were used to structure the PRP. Communication competency was assessed with the Korean Version of the Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (KSE-12). Whether this training helped to achieve graduate outcomes was evaluated on a five-point scale. Results: Fifty-nine students (53.2%) participated in the survey. Among 12 items on the KSE-12, the score for "How certain are you that you are able to successfully listen attentively to the patient?" was the highest. Further, PRP was found to be helpful for self-directed learning, establishment of one's professional identity, and the ability to communicate and manage patients. Three themes ("Benefits of role-play", "The importance of positive feedback", "Limitations and problems of role-play"), 15 categories, and 16 central meanings were derived by categorizing learners' subjective opinions about PRP. Conclusions: Study findings indicate that PRP may contribute to improving communication skills and establishing a professional identity for future Korean medicine doctors. We suggest using PRP in clinical education in colleges of Korean Medicine.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.52.1-52.10
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• 2023

Accurate and efficient microbial diagnosis is crucial for effective molecular diagnostics, especially in the field of human healthcare. The gold standard equipment widely employed for detecting specific microorganisms in molecular diagnosis is quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). However, its limitations in low metagenomic DNA yield samples necessitate exploring alternative approaches. Digital PCR, by quantifying the number of copies of the target sequence, provides absolute quantification results for the bacterial strain. In this study, we compared the diagnostic efficiency of qRT-PCR and digital PCR in detecting a particular bacterial strain (Staphylococcus aureus), focusing on skin-derived DNA samples. Experimentally, specific primer for S. aureus were designed at transcription elongation factor (greA) gene and the target amplicon were cloned and sequenced to validate efficiency of specificity to the greA gene of S. aureus. To quantify the absolute amount of microorganisms present on the skin, the variable region 5 (V5) of the 16S rRNA gene was used, and primers for S. aureus identification were used to relative their amount in the subject's skin. The findings demonstrate the absolute convenience and efficiency of digital PCR in microbial diagnostics. We suggest that the high sensitivity and precise quantification provided by digital PCR could be a promising tool for detecting specific microorganisms, especially in skin-derived DNA samples with low metagenomic DNA yields, and that further research and implementation is needed to improve medical practice and diagnosis.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.101-112
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• 2022

Background/Aims: The aim of our study was to determine the efficacy of computed tomography colonography (CTC) in screening for colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods: A total of 612 females and 588 males aged 45 to 75 years were enrolled in CTC screening. CTC was performed following standard bowel preparation and colonic insufflation with carbon dioxide. The main outcomes were the detection rate of CRC and advanced adenoma (AA), prevalence of colorectal lesions in relation to socio-demographic and health factors, and overall diagnostic performance of CTC. Results: Overall, 56.5% of the 1,200 invited subjects underwent CTC screening. The sensitivity for CRC and AA was 0.89 and 0.97, respectively, while the specificity was 0.71 and 0.99, respectively. The prevalence of CRC and AA was 3.0% (18/593) and 7.1% (42/593), respectively, with the highest CRC prevalence in the 66-75 age group (≥12 times; odds ratio [OR], 12.11; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.45-32.92). CRC and AA prevalence were inversely correlated with Asian descent, physical activity, and negative fecal immunochemical test results (OR=0.43; 95% CI, 0.22-0.83; OR=0.16; 95% CI, 0.04-0.68; OR=0.5; 95% CI, 0.07-3.85, respectively). Conclusions: Our study revealed high accuracy of CTC in diagnosing colonic neoplasms, good compliance with CTC screening, and high detection rate of CRC.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.3851-3864
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• 2014

Cytokine research is currently at the forefront in cancer research. Deciphering the functions of these multiple small molecules, discovered within the cell and in intercellular spaces, with their abundance and pleotrophism, was initially a great challenge. Advances in analytical chemistry and molecular biology have made it possible to unravel the pathophysiological functions of these polypeptides/proteins which are called interleukins, chemokines, monokines, lymphokines and growth factors. With more than 5 million women contracting cervical cancer every year this cancer is a major cause of mortality and morbidity the world over, particularly in the developing countries. In more than 95% of cases it is associated with human papilloma virus (HPV) infection which is persistent, particularly in those with a defective immune system. Although preventable, the mere magnitude of prevalence of HPV in the world population makes it a dominating current health hazard. The discovery of cytokine dysregulation in cervical cancer has spurted investigation into the possibility of using them as biomarkers in the early diagnosis of cases at high risk of developing cancer. Their critical role in carcinogenesis and progression of cervical cancer is now being revealed to a great extent. From diagnostics to prognosis, and now with a possible role in therapeutics and prevention of cervical cancer, the cytokines are being evaluated in all anticancer approaches. This review endeavours to capture the essence of the astonishing journey of cytokine research in cervical neoplasia.