• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.89-94
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• 2010

Melatonin is induced by light information through the retina and leads to growth factor activation. Thus, we investigated the effects of melatonin by controlling the photoperiod of growing young rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=6; 4 weeks old) were divided into two experimental groups: the L/D group (normal photoperiod; light/dark: 12/12 h; lights on at 9:00 a.m.) and the L/L group (light/light: 24 h). Rat body weight and food consumption were measured daily for 8 weeks. After 8 weeks, the rats were anesthetized with a mixture of ketamine (50 mg/kg) and xylazine (10 mg/kg) and sacrificed. Tissue was then collected for RNA isolation (from brain, heart, liver, kidney, adrenal gland, testis, tibia, hind limb muscles). Also, serum was isolated from blood using a centrifugal separation. The L/L group had significantly lower body weight than the L/D group from 4 to 6 weeks (p<0.05). The L/D group had increased tissue mass, compared with the L/L group, but the difference was not statistically significant. The L/D group had a significantly higher melatonin concentration than the L/L group between the hours of midnight and 2:00 a.m (p<0.01). These results indicate that photoperiod length may affect the secretion of melatonin from the pineal gland. Also, the reduction of nocturnal melatonin secretion may retard the development of growing young rats. In future studies, we plan to compare exogenous melatonin administration with endogenous melatonin concentration induced by photoperiod control. Moreover, we will confirm whether the effects seen in pathological animal models can be reversed by controlling the photoperiod.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.35-82
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• 2001

In the Encyclopedia Medica Koreana(Dongeuibogam), I have researched 245 prescriptions in which Panax Ginseng plays an important role. And I have got the following results. The healing scope and frequency of ginseng-mainly-included prescriptions are Child Part 29(11.83%), Violent Cough Part 23(9.38%), Sick-by-Cold Part 21(8.57%), Oncosis Part 16(6.53%), Overwork Part 14(5.71%), Gynecologic Part 14(5.71%), Internal Part 13(5.3%), Apoplexy Part 11(4.48%), Mind Part 10(4.08%) and Fecal Part 10(4.08%) prescriptions. And also each of Nausea Part, Anger Part, and Spirit parts has the same 5 (2.04%) prescriptions. And each of Qi Part, Diabetes Meatus Part, Malaria Part, and Humoral Part has 4(1.63%) prescriptions. And each of Foot Part, Choleraic Part, Genital Part, Blood Part, and Voice Part has 3 (1.2%). All of these prescriptions cover 88.88%. And besides listed parts above, Panax Ginseng is all used in 48 Parts: Body-Mind Part. Mouth-Tongue Part, Breast Part, Muscle Part, Swelling Part, Urine Part, Epidermis Part, Heat Part, Anus Part, Stomach Part, Eye Part, Laryngopharynx Part. Uterus Part" Heavy Stomach Part, Head Part, Pulse Part, Hair Part, Navel Part, Emetic Part, Costal Part, Edema Part, Vomiting Part, Superstitious Part, and Cardiac Part, etc. Of the prescriptions in which Panax Ginseng plays an important role, the most representative diseases, which more than 86.8% prescriptions cure, are shock, numbness from cold, Taeeum disease, oncosis, overwork, sick from eating, numbness of extremities, diarrhea, tachycardia, forgetfulness, nausea, heat from kidney, nocturnal emission, short breath, diabetes meatus, malaria, sweating, sweating overnight, beriberi, cholera, insomnia from enervation, sialitis, navel pain, hemorrhage, and loss of voice. The pathology of the prescriptions in which Panax Ginseng plays an important role is divided into the organ problems, six natural factors, seven extreme feelings, unbalanced humoral status, overwork, and, unbalance of qi and blood. Spleen, heart, and uterus is the main cause of organ problems; wind and cold are the main cause of six natural factors; heavy humors are the main cause of unbalanced humoral status; the stasis of seven feelings are the main cause of seven extreme feelings; the lack of stamina and overwork are the main cause of the overwork; the lack of qi, the lack of blood, and, the lack of qi and blood are the main cause of the unbalance of qi and blood. After I have researched the contents of the prescriptions in which Panax Ginseng plays an important role, I could understand the addition of the different prescriptions, combination of medicines, and the role of medicine groups associated with Panax Ginseng. So from now on, the results I have got could be used as the data which show the theoretical basis on the prescriptions.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2017

Purpose: The aims of this study were to evaluate the clinical characteristics and polysomnographic results of patients visited the Seoul National University Dental Hospital (SNUDH) and to suggest guidelines for the management of sleep disordered-breathing patients in a dental clinic. Methods: Five hundred sixty-two patients who visited the Snoring and Sleep Apnea Clinic of SNUDH were evaluated for clinical characteristics including associated comorbidities, age, gender, body mass index (BMI), neck circumference, and daytime sleepiness and among them 217 patients were performed nocturnal polysomnography for evaluating respiratory disturbance index, apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), oxygen saturation levels, and sleep stages. The associations among clinical characteristics, sleep parameters, and positional and rapid eye movement (REM) dependencies of the patients were analyzed. Results: The most common co-morbidities of the patients were cardiovascular (30.2%), endocrine (10.8%), and respiratory diseases (7.9%). Age (${\beta}=0.394$), total AHI (${\beta}=0.223$), and lowest $O_2$ saturation levels (${\beta}=0.205$) were significantly associated with the number of co-morbidities in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Mean $O_2$ saturation was not significantly associated with number of co-morbidities. Non-positional OSA patients had higher BMI, longer neck circumferences, more severe AHI values, and lower mean and lowest $O_2$ saturation levels compared to positional OSA patients. Not-REM-related patients were older and had more severe AHI values compared to REM-related patients. Not-REM-related patients have longer duration of stage I sleep and shorter stage II, III, and REM sleep than REM-related patients. There were no significant differences in each sleep stage between positional and non-positional patients. Neck circumference, positional dependency, REM dependency, and percentage of supine position were significantly associated with severity of OSA. Conclusions: Age, total AHI, and lowest $O_2$ saturation level were significantly associated with the number of co-morbidities in patients with OSA. Neck circumference, positional dependency, REM dependency, and percentage of supine position were significantly associated with severity of OSA.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.87-101
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• 2012

Bruxism is extensively defined as a diurnal or nocturnal parafunctional habit of tooth clenching or grinding. The etiology of bruxism may be categorized as central factors or peripheral factors and according to previous research results, central factors are assumed to be the main cause. Bruxism may cause tooth attrition, cervical abfraction, masseter hypertrophy, masseter or temporalis muscle pain, temporomandibular joint arthralgia, trismus, tooth or restoration fracture, pulpitis, trauma from occlusion and clenching in particularly may cause linea alba, buccal mucosa or tongue ridging. An oral appliance, electromyogram or polysomnogram is used as a tool for diagnosis and the American Sleep Disorders Association has proposed a clinical criteria. However the exact etiology of bruxism is yet controversial and the selection of treatment should be done with caution. When the rate of bruxism is moderate or greater and is accompanied with clinical symptoms and signs, treatment such as control of dangerous factors, use of an oral appliance, botulinum toxin injection, pharmacologic therapy and biofeedback therapy may be considered. So far, oral appliance treatment is known to be the most rational choice for bruxism treatment. For patients in need of esthetic correction of hypertrophic masseters, as well as bruxism treatment, botulinum toxin injection may be a choice.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.50-55
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• 2009

To understand the status of the migrating Oriental Honey Buzzard(Pernis ptilorhynchus) in Korea, we carried out a preliminary study on the number and local movements of the Honey Buzzard from September 2005 to October 2007 at Hongdo Island, Jeonnam Province, Korea. A total of 702 Honey Buzzards in 2005, 404 individuals in 2006, and 659 individuals in 2007 were recorded during the fall migration season, but during the spring migration season only two and eight birds were observed in 2006 and 2007 respectively. The migrating Honey Buzzard showed peak numbers from 20 September to 5 October at the study site. According to observation of arrival time of538 Honey Buzzard in October 2007, a total of 2l6 birds(40.l %) were passing over Hongdo Island between 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM, rising skyward on columns of warm air. This suggests the use of thermal currents and avoidance of nocturnal movement for crossing water. They preferred moderate winds(<5 m/s in speed) from northwest, but the migrating number apparently decreased in case of strong winds (${\geqq}5 m/s$). This suggests that wind speed and direction are important environmental factors for migration of the Oriental Honey Buzzard. At present, it is unclear which breeding population(from north-eastern China or Japan) passes over Hongdo Island. Moreover, it is difficult to prove migration route and to understand migratory behaviors of the Oriental Honey Buzzard in Korea. To prove the breeding sites and routes of the migrants over the study site, we need more detailed and further studies such as satellite tracking researches.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.27-32
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• 1977

Diospyros Kaki Thunberg is the species of persimmon tree that grows in Korea. Although its fresh or dried fruits are often served as a desert, it has little been known if persimmon tree has any specific pharmacological action. The leaves and branches of persimmon tree has long been used as folk remedies for palsy and frostbite in the southern part of Korea and it is also in use for the treatment of hiccup and nocturnal enuresis in chinese herbal medicine. Recently it was reported that an intravenous administration of Diospyros Kaki Thunberg ethanol extract (KTEE) into the animals lowered arterial blood pressure. Lee concluded from his study on the mechanism of depressor action of KTEE that at least a part of depressor response he observed was caused by acetylcholine-like action of KTEE. On the other hand little study has been made on the effect of KTEE on the motility of isolated animal intestines. Therefore the present study was undertaken to investigate effect of KTEE and the mechanism of its action on the motility of isolated rabbit duodenum. Ethanol extract of Diospyros Kaki Thunberg was prepared by boiling 1 kg of dried branches of persimmon tree in 1 liter of ethanol and the motility of isolated rabbit duodenum was recorded on physiograph by means of force transducer connected with Magnus apparatus. Doses of KTEE used were $5{\times}10^{-4}gm/ml,\;1{\times}10^{-3}gm/ml,\;and\;2{\times}10^{-3}gm/ml$. And the isolated duodenum was separately pretreated with acetylcholine $(5{\times}10^{-7}gm/ml)$, pilocarpine $(2.5{\times}10^{-6}gm/ml)$, histamine $(5{\times}10^{-6}gm/ml)$ and barium chloride $(2.5{\times}10^{-5}gm/ml)$ in order to find out interactions of these drugs with KTEE. The results obtained are as follows: 1. At doses of $5{\times}10^{-4}gm/ml,\;1{\times}10^{-3}gm/ml$ KTEE reduced contractions of isolated duodenum, while tonus as well as contaction of duodenum were depressed with $2{\times}10^{-3}gm/ml$ of KTEE. 2. Since the inhibitory effect of KTEE on the intestinal motility was not blocked by pretreatment with acetylcholine, pilocarpine, and barium chloride, it was strongly suggested that the inhibitory action of KTEE on intestinal motility is mainly Caused by its antihistamine effect. 3. It is also concluded that the principal substance of KTEE responsible for inhibition of intestinal motility may also have a vasodilating activity and would not be an acetylcholine-like substance in case it is same substance as that cause depressor responses.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.340-348
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• 1997

Sledge net samples were taken over the neap and spring tide cycles in January 1993 from the bottom and surface of 1 m depth and at the water's edge in the sandy shore surf zone of Dolsando, southern Korea. Zonation pattern of three dominant gammarid amphipods was compared. The amphipods were more abundant on the bottom and at water's edge than in the surface. Average densities at both sites of Pontogeneia rostrata and Allorchestes angusta were higher during the neap tide than the spring tide, whereas that of Synchelidium lenorostralum was lower during the neap tide. P. rostrata migrated horizontally during the flooding and ebbing tides, but S. lenorostralum and A. angusta did not. Unlike other species, P. rostrata was significantly more abundant at night, suggesting its active nocturnal movement. During flooding tide, P. rostrata was not found on the shore above the mean sea level (MSL) during daytime, but found in 100 cm above MSL at night. Zonal distribution of P. rostrata which was restricted from MSL to 250 cm below MSL, however, did not vary with the day-night cycle during ebbing tide. S. lenorostralum and A. angusta were not found during flooding tide but ebbing tide. The upper distribution limit of the former was 150 cm below MSL, and the distribution of the latter ranged from MSL to 150 cm below MSL. The highest densities of P. rostrata, S. lenorostralum and A. angusta were 32, 26 and 3 ind. $m^{-2}$, respectively. We discussed the relationships between the distribution pattern of three dominant species of gammarid amphipods and their life styles in the sandy shore.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.373-380
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• 2018

We examined activities of adult (n=9, 3 females and 6 males) and juvenile (n=4) Schlegel's Japanese gecko (Gekko japonicus) in an indoor vivarium for 47 days to study the preference and competition for shelters at day and night. The result showed the strong correlation between the temperature inside the shelter and the body temperature of Schlegel's Japanese gecko and more individuals observed outside the shelters at nighttime than daytime. Both adults and juveniles showed a preference for certain shelters. The adults preferred the warmer shelters in the daytime while the juveniles preferred the same shelter in both daytime and nighttime. Both adults and juveniles observed outside the shelter at the nighttime had higher body temperature than those found inside. In the daytime, the body temperature of adults was higher than that of juveniles, but there was no significant difference in the nighttime. The results imply that G. japonicus, which is the nocturnal lizard, prefers the shelters with higher temperature and that there is the competition for shelters between adults and juveniles. This study provides the reference data on the relationships between the body temperature and the activities of G. japonicus.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.68-71
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• 2005

We report a case of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, which occurred primarily during the REM sleep stage. A 55-year-old female patient who complained of chronic insomnia on the initial visit turned out to have obstructive sleep apnea syndrome of a mild degree (respiratory disturbance index (RDI) of 13.8/hour, %time spent below 90% of SaO2=5.0%) on nocturnal polysomnography. Interestingly, apnea episodes and desaturations mainly occurred during REM sleep stage. And RDI and destaturations during REM sleep stage were found to be severe enough to classify as a severe degree of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. These findings suggest that severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome might be masked under the symptom of chronic insomnia and that apneas can be predominantly localized within REM sleep epochs. In terms of treatment, "REM sleep-dependent" apneas may call for different methods of treatment, especially REM sleep-specific pharmacological intervention.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.52-58
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• 2006

Objectives: Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is effective in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), but the major limitation of CPAP may be poor compliance. The aims of the study were to investigate the compliance and side effects of CPAP, and to evaluate the efficacy of CPAP in patients with OSAS. Methods: This study enrolled 106 patients with OSAS who took the CPAP treatment. The severity of daytime sleepiness was measured using Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and sleep quality and depressive symptoms were assessed by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), respectively. Results: During 29 months of the study period, 41.5% of patients were using CPAP and 38.7% of patients stopped using it. Compared to non-compliant patients, compliant patients had a higher PSQI score and obstructive apnea index. Among non-compliant patients, 51.2% of them stopped using CPAP within 1months. 85.7% of non-compliant patients were discomforted by the CPAP, but much more nasopharyngeal symptoms were reported in the compliant group. ESS (p<0.01), PSQI (p<0.01) and BMI (p<0.01) were reduced significantly after CPAP treatment but not BDI (p=0.86). Conclusions: We concluded that CPAP can reduce the daytime sleepiness, nocturnal sleep disturbance, and body mass index. To increase the compliance of CPAP, we suggest that some education and support are needed at the early stage of the CPAP treatment.