• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제32권10호
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• pp.1245-1252
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• 2022

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can be generated from somatic cells using Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc (OSKM). Small molecules can enhance reprogramming. Licochalcone D (LCD), a flavonoid compound present mainly in the roots of Glycyrrhiza inflata, acts on known signaling pathways involved in transcriptional activity and signal transduction, including the PGC1-α and MAPK families. In this study, we demonstrated that LCD improved reprogramming efficiency. LCD-treated iPSCs (LCD-iPSCs) expressed pluripotency-related genes Oct4, Sox2, Nanog, and Prdm14. Moreover, LCD-iPSCs differentiated into all three germ layers in vitro and formed chimeras. The mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET) is critical for somatic cell reprogramming. We found that the expression levels of mesenchymal genes (Snail2 and Twist) decreased and those of epithelial genes (DSP, Cldn3, Crb3, and Ocln) dramatically increased in OR-MEF (OG2^+/+/ROSA26^+/+) cells treated with LCD for 3 days, indicating that MET effectively occurred in LCD-treated OR-MEF cells. Thus, LCD enhanced the generation of iPSCs from somatic cells by promoting MET at the early stages of reprogramming.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제35권4호
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• pp.391-402
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• 2022

Background: The mechanism of peripheral axon transport in neuropathic pain is still unclear. Chemokine ligand 13 (CXCL13) and its receptor (C-X-C chemokine receptor type 5, CXCR5) as well as GABA transporter 1 (GAT-1) play an important role in the development of pain. The aim of this study was to explore the axonal transport of CXCL13/CXCR5 and GAT-1 with the aid of the analgesic effect of botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) in rats. Methods: Chronic constriction injury (CCI) rat models were established. BTX-A was administered to rats through subcutaneous injection in the hind paw. The pain behaviors in CCI rats were measured by paw withdrawal threshold and paw withdrawal latencies. The levels of CXCL13/CXCR5 and GAT-1 were measured by western blots. Results: The subcutaneous injection of BTX-A relieved the mechanical allodynia and heat hyperalgesia induced by CCI surgery and reversed the overexpression of CXCL13/CXCR5 and GAT-1 in the spinal cord, dorsal root ganglia (DRG), sciatic nerve, and plantar skin in CCI rats. After 10 mmol/L colchicine blocked the axon transport of sciatic nerve, the inhibitory effect of BTX-A disappeared, and the levels of CXCL13/CXCR5 and GAT-1 in the spinal cord and DRG were reduced in CCI rats. Conclusions: BTX-A regulated the levels of CXCL13/CXCR5 and GAT-1 in the spine and DRG through axonal transport. Chemokines (such as CXCL13) may be transported from the injury site to the spine or DRG through axonal transport. Axon molecular transport may be a target to enhance pain management in neuropathic pain.

• 한국응용곤충학회지
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• 제61권1호
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• pp.117-128
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• 2022

본 연구는 피레스로이드계 살충제인 퍼메트린이 Heliothis virescens의 중추신경세포의 나트륨채널에 어떻게 작용하는 가를 전기생리학적으로 관찰하였다. 퍼메트린은 나트륨채널의 꼬리전류(I_Na-tail)를 지속적으로 증가시켰으며 이러한 비정상적인 나트륨 전류증가가 나방류의 신경계에 과도한 흥분을 일으겨 살충작용을 하는 것으로 생각된다. 이러한 살충작용은 전갈독과 함께 사용했을때 약 8배의 증가가 있었음을 확인하였다. 전갈독이 살충제의 독성을 강화하는 분자생리학적 기전연구가 계속되면 해충방제에 많은 기여를 할 것으로 생각된다.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제35권3호
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• pp.291-302
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• 2022

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the most debilitating disorders throughout the world, causing persistent sensory-motor dysfunction, with no effective treatment. Oxidative stress and inflammatory responses play key roles in the secondary phase of SCI. Naringenin (NAR) is a natural flavonoid with known anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties. This study aims at evaluating the effects of intrathecal NAR administration on sensory-motor disability after SCI. Methods: Animals underwent a severe compression injury using an aneurysm clip. About 30 minutes after surgery, NAR was injected intrathecally at the doses of 5, 10, and 15 mM in 20 µL volumes. For the assessment of neuropathic pain and locomotor function, acetone drop, hot plate, inclined plane, and Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan tests were carried out weekly till day 28 post-SCI. Effects of NAR on matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 activity was appraised by gelatin zymography. Also, histopathological analyses and serum levels of glutathione (GSH), catalase and nitrite were measured in different groups. Results: NAR reduced neuropathic pain, improved locomotor function, and also attenuated SCI-induced weight loss weekly till day 28 post-SCI. Zymography analysis showed that NAR suppressed MMP-9 activity, whereas it increased that of MMP-2, indicating its anti-neuroinflammatory effects. Also, intrathecal NAR modified oxidative stress related markers GSH, catalase, and nitrite levels. Besides, the neuroprotective effect of NAR was corroborated through increased survival of sensory and motor neurons after SCI. Conclusions: These results suggest intrathecal NAR as a promising candidate for medical therapeutics for SCI-induced sensory and motor dysfunction.

• Journal of Audiology & Otology
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.83-88
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• 2019

Background and Objectives: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a disorder that usually occurs in the elderly, leading to dementia in some progressive cases. The purpose of this study is to examine the utility of central auditory processing tests as early diagnostic tools for identifying the elderly with MCI. Subjects and Methods: This study was conducted on 20 elderly patients with MCI and 20 healthy matched peers. The speech perception ability in a quiet environment and in the presence of background noise and also temporal resolution were assessed by using Speech Perception in Noise (SPIN) and Gap in Noise (GIN) tests, respectively. Results: The results indicated that the ability to understand speech in a quiet environment did not differ significantly between the two groups. However, SPIN at the three signal-to-noise ratios and the temporal resolution scores were significantly different between the two groups (p<0.001). Conclusions: Individuals with MCI appear to have poorer speech comprehension in noise and a lower temporal resolution than those of the same age, but without cognitive defects. Considering the utility of these tests in identifying cognitive problems, we propose that since the GIN test seems to be less influenced by intervening factors, this test can therefore, be a useful tool for the early screening of elderly people with cognitive problems.

• 한국엔터테인먼트산업학회논문지
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.119-129
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• 2019

연기교육에서 기존의 화술교육은 장단음 찾기, 자음과 모음의 조음연습, 딕션연습 등 대사를 표현하는 기술적인 측면에 치중되어 있었으며, 이러한 교육으로 대사가 말처럼 살아나기에는 한계가 있었다. 대사가 살아나는 순간은 배우가 대사를 말하는 사이 단어 이면의 멘탈 이미지를 구체적으로 보는 순간이다. 필자는 뇌과학 분야에서 인지뇌과학과 NLP (Neural Linguistic Programing)의 지식을 빌려와 멘탈 이미지가 무엇인지, 왜 멘탈 이미지가 생각과 감정의 기본 요소인지를 추적한다. 또한, 멘탈 이미지를 섬세하게 떠올리는 과정(하위양식)에서 신체의 근육들이 어떻게 반응하게 되고, 그 반응하는 근육들을 이용해 어떻게 강세, 사이, 피치, 억양 등의 말하기 재료들(강세, 사이, 피치, 억양 등)이 살아나는지를 살펴본다. 이러한 연구를 바탕으로 화술교육에서 왜 멘탈 이미지 교육이 선행되어야 하는지를 증명한다. 결론에서는 멘탈 이미지를 공부하는 과정에서 배우가 만나게 되는 장애물에 대해 열거하고, 장애물을 제거하는 방법 중 하나로 '호흡의 활성화'를 후속논문으로 계획한다.

• 한국산업정보학회논문지
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.31-45
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• 2023

본 연구는 유튜브 이용자의 사용 시간이 양적으로 증대하면서 나타나는 질적 단계와 경로에 주목하였다. 그리고 심리학과 신경과학의 이론을 적용하여 추천시스템의 개인화 알고리즘과 적극이용의 구간을 세분화하였고, 이론연구와 실증연구를 병행하였다. 이론연구에서 심리학과 신경과학의 관점으로 포그의 행동모델(FBM), 가변적 보상, 도파민 중독을 적용하였다. 포그의 행동모델(FBM)은 연관 콘텐츠 제시 기능인 개인화 추천 알고리즘이 트리거(계기)로서 쉬운 클릭을 유발하고, 가변적 보상은 검색하는 콘텐츠에 대한 예측불가능성으로 동기부여의 효과성을 높이며, 도파민 중독은 도파민 신경을 자극하면 지속적 적극적으로 콘텐츠를 소비하게 하는 것으로 요약된다. 본 연구는 개인화 추천 알고리즘과 적극이용 구간에서 콘텐츠의 이용 목적을 심리적 측면에서 처음이용, 재이용, 지속이용, 적극이용의 4단계로 구분하고, 경로를 분석하였다는 점에서 학문적 실무적 기여를 할 것으로 기대한다.

• 대한청각학회지
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.83-88
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• 2019

Background and Objectives: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a disorder that usually occurs in the elderly, leading to dementia in some progressive cases. The purpose of this study is to examine the utility of central auditory processing tests as early diagnostic tools for identifying the elderly with MCI. Subjects and Methods: This study was conducted on 20 elderly patients with MCI and 20 healthy matched peers. The speech perception ability in a quiet environment and in the presence of background noise and also temporal resolution were assessed by using Speech Perception in Noise (SPIN) and Gap in Noise (GIN) tests, respectively. Results: The results indicated that the ability to understand speech in a quiet environment did not differ significantly between the two groups. However, SPIN at the three signal-to-noise ratios and the temporal resolution scores were significantly different between the two groups (p<0.001). Conclusions: Individuals with MCI appear to have poorer speech comprehension in noise and a lower temporal resolution than those of the same age, but without cognitive defects. Considering the utility of these tests in identifying cognitive problems, we propose that since the GIN test seems to be less influenced by intervening factors, this test can therefore, be a useful tool for the early screening of elderly people with cognitive problems.

• 한국정보통신학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국정보통신학회 2021년도 춘계학술대회
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• pp.474-476
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• 2021

신경 교세포에서 발생하는 가장 흔한 뇌 악성종양인 교모세포종은 조기 진단 및 치료계획 수립이 중요하다. 주로 조영제를 통해 촬영된 T1CE 영상을 통해 암의 진단이 이뤄지는데, 최근 가돌리늄 기반 조영제 주입의 위험이 보고되고 있다. 의료영상에서 새로운 영상을 합성하는 GAN 모델과 영역분할에 대한 심층신경망 모델에 대한 연구가 활발히 진행되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 교모세포종 환자의 T1CE 영상의 생성과 암의 영역분할을 동시에 학습하는 하나의 모델을 제안한다. 제안된 모델의 성능은 평균 제곱오차, 최대신호대잡음비 등의 유사성 측정을 통해 평가되어 0.002, 55dB의 평균 결과 값을 보여준다.

• 턱관절균형의학회지
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.1-6
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• 2022

Objectives: For the deviation phenomenon occurring during the treatment process in temporo-mandibular balancing medicine (TBM), hypotheses were established regarding the cause and mechanism of formation from the perspective of neuro-science and material mechanics, and a verification method was proposed. Methods: The deviation phenomenon was theoretically analyzed based on the structure theories of material mechanics of the joint and the neurological pain mechanism. Results: Deviation occurs due to temporary yield by the accumulation of heterogeneous stress in the temporo-mandibular joint and the affected joint. Because the joint structures are corresponding with material mechanics showing compressive and tensile properties. The size of the deviation is expressed in terms of strain. The occlusal surface of the teeth is level with the axial joint. Since the magnitude of the deviation has a proportional relationship with the degree of abnormality of the temporo-mandibular joint, the magnitude of the deviation calculated by the balance measurement can be replaced by the strain. The major variables involved in the occurrence of deviations are the strength of joint structures and neurological conditions. Therefore plastic deformation and adaptation occur as a long-term depression of neural circuits is strengthened in different ways at different locations each time in various clinical situations. This is the reason why the sequence of the restoration process while correcting deviations is following reverse order of the accumulation in many layers in the muscular nervous system. Conclusions: From the above results, it can be inferred that the occurrence and correction of the deviations are corresponding with the plastic deformation and neuro-plasticity.