• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2014.10a
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• pp.981-984
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• 2014

Volumetric measurement of hippocampus using IBASPM, the 20's normal adults 10 people's brain images were acquired in order to assess the changes according to the type of the Atlas. Images was obtained using MPRAGE of a 3-D gradient echo pulse sequence on Head matrix coil of 1.5T MRI system. The results of Paired t-test using obtained volume of hippocampus depending on the type of the Atlas, Atlas69-Altas84, Atlas69-Atlas116(p=0.729, 0.729) in the left hippocampus and Atlas69-Atlas84, Atlas69-Atlas116(p=0.219, 0.219) in right hippocampal formation were no significant differences but in the area except this, there was significant difference(p=0.000). The volume of the hippocampus using Atlas84 and Atlas116, represented the same value and there was no significant difference. In the image analysis using the overlay of atlas image and original image, Atlas71 could be found that the area of hippocampus did mismatch. In the case of atlas used in this study, because it has been developed by the westerners, there are differences between brain of asian. It would be needed to development of new Atlas for high accuracy measurement of the volume of hippocampus.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.9
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• pp.93-102
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• 2019

This study examined the nurse's emotional exhaustion and influencing factors, and the relationship between emotional burnout and hospital nursing workload using multilevel logistic regression analysis. The study subjects were 3,083 nurses of 65 hospitals, who participated in the training conducted by the Healthcare Industry Trade Union in 2010 and responded to the questionnaire. First, 71.6% of nurses experienced emotional exhaustion, and the average score of emotional exhaustion was 33.53. Second, the 'non - nursing work experience' showed a significant effect on emotional exhaustion. Third, the 'sufficient nursing staff' variable increased the emotional exhaustion. Fourth, the nursing grades were correlated significantly with emotional exhaustion compared to those with more than four beds per nurse. Fifth, in the case of working in the internal ward, the shorter the clinical career, the higher the emotional exhaustion. In other words, higher emotional exhaustion was associated with more nursing work experience, more perceived insufficient nursing staff, more nurses per bed, the department of internal medicine, and a shorter clinical career.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.302-309
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• 2019

BACKGOURND/OBJECTIVES: Vascular inflammation is an important feature in the atherosclerotic process. Recent studies report that leaves and branches of Carpinus turczaninowii (C. turczaninowii) have antioxidant capacity and exert anti-inflammatory effects. However, no study has reported the regulatory effect of C. turczaninowii extract on the arterial inflammatory response. This study therefore investigated modulation of the arterial inflammatory response after exposure to C. turczaninowii extract, using human aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (HAoSMCs). MATERIALS/METHODS: Scavenging activity of free radicals, total phenolic content (TPC), cell viability, mRNA expressions, and secreted levels of cytokines were measured in LPS-stimulated (10 ng/mL) HAoSMCs treated with the C. turczaninowii extract. RESULTS: C. turczaninowii extract contains high amounts of TPC ($225.6{\pm}21.0mg$ of gallic acid equivalents/g of the extract), as well as exerts time-and dose-dependent increases in strongly scavenged free radicals (average $14.8{\pm}1.97{\mu}g/mL$ $IC_{50}$ at 40 min). Cell viabilities after exposure to the extracts (1 and $10{\mu}g/mL$) were similar to the viability of non-treated cells. Cytokine mRNA expressions were significantly suppressed by the extracts (1 and $10{\mu}g/mL$) at 6 hours (h) after exposure. Interleukin-6 secretion was dose-dependently suppressed 2 h after incubation with the extract, at $1-10{\mu}g/mL$ in non-stimulated cells, and at 5 and $10{\mu}g/mL$ in LPS-stimulated cells. Similar patterns were also observed at 24 h after incubation with the extract (at $1-10{\mu}g/mL$ in non-stimulated cells, and at $10{\mu}g/mL$ in the LPS-stimulated cells). Soluble intracellular vascular adhesion molecules (sICAM-1) secreted from non-stimulated cells and LPS-stimulated cells were similarly suppressed in a dose-dependent manner after 24 h exposure to the extracts, but not after 2 h. In addition, sICAM-1 concentration after 24 h treatment was positively related to IL-6 levels after 2 h and 24 h exposure (r = 0.418, P = 0.003, and r = 0.524, P < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that C. turczaninowii modulates the arterial inflammatory response, and indicates the potential to be applied as a therapeutic use for atherosclerosis.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.414-422
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• 2019

There is accumulating evidence that microRNAs are emerging as pivotal regulators in the development and progression of neuropathic pain. MicroRNA-15a/16 (miR-15a/16) have been reported to play an important role in various diseases and inflammation response processes. However, whether miR-15a/16 participates in the regulation of neuroinflammation and neuropathic pain development remains unknown. In this study, we established a mouse model of neuropathic pain by chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerves. Our results showed that both miR-15a and miR-16 expression was significantly upregulated in the spinal cord of CCI rats. Downregulation of the expression of miR-15a and miR-16 by intrathecal injection of a specific inhibitor significantly attenuated the mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia of CCI rats. Furthermore, inhibition of miR-15a and miR-16 downregulated the expression of interleukin-$1{\beta}$ and tumor-necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ in the spinal cord of CCI rats. Bioinformatic analysis predicted that G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2), an important regulator in neuropathic pain and inflammation, was a potential target gene of miR-15a and miR-16. Inhibition of miR-15a and miR-16 markedly increased the expression of GRK2 while downregulating the activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and $NF-{\kappa}B$ in CCI rats. Notably, the silencing of GRK2 significantly reversed the inhibitory effects of miR-15a/16 inhibition in neuropathic pain. In conclusion, our results suggest that inhibition of miR-15a/16 expression alleviates neuropathic pain development by targeting GRK2. These findings provide novel insights into the molecular pathogenesis of neuropathic pain and suggest potential therapeutic targets for preventing neuropathic pain development.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.401-408
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• 2019

This study was conducted to analyze the industrial concentration of the districts, cities and counties among clinics, dental clinics, and Oriental clinics. For this purpose, the sales from 1996 to 2015 in five-year intervals were analyzed by the Heifindal-Hirschmann index (HHI). The results of this study showed that the competition index represented by the HHI tended to intensify as a whole. Especially in the county area, HHI tended to be in comparison with other regions, but decreased with statistically significance. On average, the HHI was higher in the county than in the district and city areas. In the case of the clinic, the HHI of the county area tended to decrease. In the case of the dental clinic, the HHI tended to decrease in the city and county, while in the Oriental clinic the HHI tended to decrease in the district, city and county. Overall, monopolies were present in the county, but competition strengthened over time. In the case of clinics, competition is intensifying in country. area. In the case of dental clinics, competition in the city and country areas has not yet reached saturation. In the case of Oriental clinics, competition in all regions has not yet been saturated, and competition in the distinct market has been most intense.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.805-813
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• 2018

The research was conducted with the purpose of providing effective safety and quality control system for assistive products for handicapped those are used extensively. Assistive products couldn't be classified independently due to collision with the act of medical device and lack in legal basis. The issues about safety and quality have been solved by other legal frames on a case by case basis. We couldn't find any abroad case of independent safety and quality control policy. For the practical solution, this article suggested hybrid classification system mixed with existing policies. Each classified branches are allocated to the appropriate policy of safety and quality control so those are ease of understanding and prospect. And also a delicacy process was suggested not to leave off any assistive products. Through these suggests of the improvement it is expected that blind areas of safety and quality control for assistive products for handicapped could be solved and identity of assistive products could be established to provide product safety for handicapped and boost relevant industries.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.221-234
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• 2019

Cancer is genetically, metabolically and infectiously induced life threatening disorder showing aggressive growing pattern with invasive tendency. In order to prevent this global menace from jeopardizing human life, enormous studies on carcinogenesis and treatment for chemotherapy resistance have been intensively researched. Hinokitiol (${\beta}$-thujaplicin) extracted from heart wood of cupressaceous is a well-known bioactive compound demonstrating anti-inflammation, anti-bacteria and anti-cancer effects on several cancer types via apoptosis and autophagy. This study proposed that hinokitiol activates transcription factor EB (TFEB) nuclear translocation for autophagy and lysosomal biogenesis regardless of nutrient condition in cancer cells. Mitophagy and ${\beta}$-catenin translocation into the nucleus under treatment of hinokitiol on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells and HeLa cells were investigated. Hinokitiol exerted cytotoxicity on HeLa and HCC827 cells; moreover, artificially induced autophagy by overexpression of TFEB granted imperfect sustainability onto HeLa cells. Taken together, hinokitiol is the prominent autophagy inducer and activator of TFEB nuclear translocation. Alternative cancer therapy via autophagy is pros and cons since the autophagy in cancer cells is related to prevention and survival mechanism depending on nutrition. To avoid paradox of autophagy in cancer therapy, fine-tuned regulation and application of hinokitiol in due course for successful suppressing cancer cells are recommended.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.143-148
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• 2019

The synthesis of captopril as an important chiral drug in commerce needs expensive resolution process of racemic mixture. Microorganisms, producing a thermostable esterase that catalyzes the stereo-selective hydrolysis of methyl DL-${\beta}$-acetylthioisobutyrate (DL-ester) to D-${\beta}$-acetylthioisobutyric acid (DAT) were screened from soils. Among the strains tested, strain No CJ-317 and strain No CJ-187 with highest activity were selected as the best DAT producer. The newly isolated microorganisms were identified respectively, as Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas putida. The cell activity of esterase from K. pneumoniae CJ-317 and P. putida CJ-187 were showed an optimal reaction activity at $75^{\circ}C$ and $60^{\circ}C$, respectively. Also the cell activity of K. pneumoniae CJ-317 was stable up to $80^{\circ}C$ for 1 h, while that of P. putida CJ-187 was not over $60^{\circ}C$. By varying the concentration of DAT in the reaction mixture, the cell activity of P. putida CJ-187 showed about 55% and 80% of product inhibition in the presence of 2.5% (w/v) and 5.0% of DAT respectively. K. pneumoniae CJ-317 had less product inhibition than P. putida CJ-187 by about 35% and 44% at the same concentrations respectively. The esterase of newly isolated K. pneumoniae CJ-317 could be useful for the stereo-selective hydrolysis of DL-ester to DAT.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.42-50
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• 2019

Purpose: We investigated the clinical features and epidemiology of staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS) from year 2006 to 2015 in Changwon city, Korea. Methods: We reviewed medical records of 69 patients diagnosed with SSSS from year 2006 to 2015. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed by agar dilution method. Methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was phenotypically identified by oxacillin susceptibility testing and genotypically confirmed by the existence of the mecA gene. Results: The median age of patients was 2.0 years (range 0.2-6 years). Three (4.3%), 53 (76.8%), and 13 (18.9%) patients showed the generalized type, the intermediate type, and the abortive type, respectively. Patients occurred throughout the year, but most patients occurred between July and October. MRSA was isolated from 54 of the 60 patients regardless of the clinical types. All patients recovered without any complications. Conclusions: There was a constant occurrence of SSSS patients caused by MRSA in Changwon area during 2006 and 2015. It is needed to constantly monitor the occurrence of patients with SSSS.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.61-67
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• 2018

Purpose: To evaluate the association between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and occurrence of aspiration pneumonia in drug intoxication (DI) patients in the emergency department (ED) and to evaluate the relationship between NLR and length of hospital admission/intensive care unit (ICU) admission Methods: A total of 466 patients diagnosed with DI in the ED from January 2016 to December 2017 were included in the analysis. The clinical and laboratory results, including NLR, were evaluated as variables. NLR was calculated as the absolute neutrophil count/absolute lymphocyte count. To evaluate the prognosis of DI, data on the development of aspiration pneumonia were obtained. Also, we evaluated the relationship between NLR and length of hospital admission and between NLR and length of ICU admission. Statistically, multivariate logistic regression analyses, receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, and Pearson's correlation (${\rho}$) were performed. Results: Among the 466 DI patients, 86 (18.5%) developed aspiration pneumonia. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed NLR as an independent factor in predicting aspiration pneumonia (odds ratio, 1.7; p=0.001). NLR showed excellent predictive performance for aspiration pneumonia (areas under the ROC curves, 0.815; cut-off value, 3.47; p<0.001) with a sensitivity of 86.0% and a specificity of 72.6%. No correlations between NLR and length of hospital admission (${\rho}=0.195$) and between NLR and length of ICU admission (${\rho}=0.092$) were observed. Conclusion: The NLR is a simple and effective marker for predicting the occurrence of aspiration pneumonia in DI patients. Emergency physicians should be alert for aspiration pneumonia in DI patients with high NLR value (>3.47).