• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.40-43
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• 2019

Mature silkworms (MS) of Bombyx mori have enlarged silk glands, which are known to be enriched with various functional materials. A special steaming method has been developed for processing MS with enlarged silk glands edible, by which the MS have become a potential health supplement for improving the quality of life. Steamed and lyophilized MS powder (SMSP) has been strongly believed to have various unidentified beneficial effects for humans. Therefore, the purpose of this mini-review is to summarize the various health promoting functionalities of SMSP, which have been published in the paper so far. Firstly, SMSP increased healthspan as well as lifespan, locomotor ability, and resistance to Parkinson's disease by enhancing olfaction and mitochondrial activity in neurons. Secondly, SMSP increased resistance to carcinogens causing liver cancers, improved both acute and chronic liver function with alcohol metabolism, and prevented alcohol induced stomach ulcers. Thirdly, SMSP reduced UVB-induced skin pigmentations and melanogenesis. Taken together, SMSP can be regarded as a promising natural health product to increase incomes for sericultural farm households in Korea as well as global human health and welfare.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.332-339
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• 2022

Purpose: Bus drivers are at high risk of chronic diseases due to risk factors associated with poor diet, physical inactivity, high levels of sedentary behaviors, and unfavorable working environments. This study developed a mHealth program for bus drivers, and examined the effectiveness of a mHealth program for promoting physical activity among bus drivers using wearable devices and health coaching. Methods: Forty-seven workers from two bus companies were allocated to the experimental group and the control group. Participants were asked to wear a wearable device (Fitbit Charge HR) during waking hours for a day. Participants in the experimental group were provided with a Fitbit, weekly face-to-face health coaching, a mHealth workbook, and text and photo messaging for 12 weeks. The control group only received a Fitbit. Results: By week 12, there were significant differences between the experimental and control groups in exercise self-efficacy (p<.015) and daily walking steps (p<.001). Conclusion: The findings have demonstrated that the mHealth program using wearable devices and health coaching is effective for bus drivers for promoting physical activity. Based on our findings, it is recommended to encourage the mHealth program using wearable devices and health coaching for bus drivers' wellness.

• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.72-80
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• 2022

Odorant receptors (ORs), the largest subfamily of G protein-coupled receptors, detect odorants in the nose. In addition, ORs were recently shown to be expressed in many nonolfactory tissues and cells, indicating that these receptors have physiological and pathophysiological roles beyond olfaction. Many ORs are expressed by tumor cells and tissues, suggesting that they may be associated with cancer progression or may be cancer biomarkers. This review describes OR expression in various types of cancer and the association of these receptors with various types of signaling mechanisms. In addition, the clinical relevance and significance of the levels of OR expression were evaluated. Namely, levels of OR expression in cancer were analyzed based on RNA-sequencing data reported in the Cancer Genome Atlas; OR expression patterns were visualized using t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE); and the associations between patient survival and levels of OR expression were analyzed. These analyses of the relationships between patient survival and expression patterns obtained from an open mRNA database in cancer patients indicate that ORs may be cancer biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.181-185
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• 2023

We present a case report of a 52-year-old male patient who suffered head trauma in a car accident and subsequently experienced taste and smell disorders. Following the accident, the patient reported difficulty detecting salty and sour tastes and diminished olfactory perception. Neurosurgical evaluation revealed subarachnoid and subdural hemorrhages, while otolaryngology investigations revealed hyposmia-a decreased sense of smell. Upon referral to the Department of Oral Medicine, a comprehensive assessment revealed a general bilateral reduction in taste sensation, particularly ageusia for salty taste. Electric taste-detection thresholds significantly exceeded the normal ranges. Integrating our findings from neurosurgery, otolaryngology, and oral medicine resulted in a diagnosis of mixed chemosensory disorder attributed to head trauma. This case highlights the intricate interplay of alterations in taste and smell following head injury, emphasizing the significance of multidisciplinary evaluations in diagnosing mixed chemosensory disorders resulting from traumatic brain injury.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.503-513
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• 2008

The vomeronasal organ (VNO) is a sensory organ that influences social and/or reproductive behavior and, in many cases, the survival of an organism. The VNO is believed to mediate responses to pheromones; however, many mechanisms of signal transduction in the VNO remain elusive. Here, we examined the expression of proteins involved in signal transduction that are found in the main olfactory system in the VNO. The localization of many signaling molecules in the VNO is quite different from those in the main olfactory system, suggesting differences in signal transduction mechanisms between these two chemosensory organs. Various signaling molecules are expressed in distinct areas of VNO sensory epithelium. Interestingly, we found the expressions of groups of these signaling molecules in glandular tissues adjacent to VNO, supporting the physiological significance of these glandular tissues. Our finding of high expression of signaling proteins in glandular tissues suggests that neurohumoral factors influence glandular tissues to modulate signaling cascades that in turn alter the responses of the VNO to hormonal status.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.65-68
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• 2018

The anatomical study of the olfactory organ in Liobagrus somjinensis, being related to the habitat environment and ecological habit, was carried out using a stereomicroscopy and digital camera. The paired olfactory organs are situated at the dorsal part of the snout, and consisted of two opening (anterior and posterior nostrils) and the olfactory chamber. The tubular anterior nostril is located between the tip of upper lip and the nasal barbel. The posterior nostril flat to the surface is adjacent entirely to the basement of the nasal barbel. The olfactory chamber has a rosette structure with 22~24 lamellae of linguiform, arranged transversely and radially from the medium raphe. These results may prove that L. somjinensis is dependent on olfaction, related to the hiding, the feeding and the nocturnal lifestyle in rapids.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.92-96
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• 2017

Background: All nasal bone fractures have the potential for worsening of olfactory function. However, few studies have studied the olfactory outcomes following reduction of nasal bone fractures. This study evaluates posttraumatic olfactory dysfunction in patients with nasal bone fracture before and after closed reduction. Methods: A prospective study was conducted for all patients presenting with nasal bone fracture (n=97). Each patient consenting to the study underwent the Korean version of Sniffin' Sticks test (KVSS II) before operation and at 6 month after closed reduction. The nasal fractures were divided according to the nasal bone fracture classification by Haug and Prather (Types I-IV). The olfactory scores were compared across fracture types and between preoperative and postoperative settings. Results: Olfactory dysfunction was frequent after nasal fracture (45/97, 46.4%). Our olfactory assessment using the KVSS II test revealed that fracture reduction was not associated with improvements in the mean test score in Type I or Type II fractures. More specifically, the mean posttraumatic Threshold, discrimination and identification score decreased from 28.8 points prior to operation to 23.1 point at 6 months for Type II fracture with septal fracture. Conclusion: Our study has revealed two alarming trends regarding post-nasal fracture olfactory dysfunction. First, our study demonstrated that almost half (46.4%) of nasal fracture patients experience posttraumatic olfactory dysfunction. Second, closed reduction of these fractures does not lead to improvements olfaction at 6 months, which suggest that olfactory dysfunction is probably due to factors other than the fracture itself. The association should be further explored between injuries that lead to nasal fracture and the mechanism behind posttraumatic olfactory dysfunction.

• BMB Reports
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.234-239
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• 2020

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease characterized by spontaneous recurrent seizures and caused by various factors and mechanisms. Malfunction of the olfactory bulb is frequently observed in patients with epilepsy. However, the morphological changes in the olfactory bulb during epilepsy-induced neuropathology have not been elucidated. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the expression of parvalbumin (PV), one of the calcium-binding proteins, and morphological changes in the rat main olfactory bulb (MOB) following pilo-carpine-induced status epilepticus (SE). Pilocarpine-induced SE resulted in neuronal degeneration in the external plexiform layer (EPL) and glomerular layer (GL) of the MOB. PV immunoreactivity was observed in the neuronal somas and processes in the EPL and GL of the control group. However, six hours after pilocarpine administration, PV expression was remarkably decreased in the neuronal processes compared to the somas and the average number of PV-positive interneurons was significantly decreased. Three months after pilocarpine treatment, the number of PV-positive interneurons was also significantly decreased compared to the 6 hour group in both layers. In addition, the number of NeuN-positive neurons was also significantly decreased in the EPL and GL following pilocarpine treatment. In double immunofluorescence staining for PV and MAP2, the immunoreactivity for MAP2 around the PV-positive neurons was significantly decreased three months after pilocarpine treatment. Therefore, the present findings suggest that decreases in PV-positive GABAergic interneurons and dendritic density in the MOB induced impaired calcium buffering and reciprocal synaptic transmission. Thus, these alterations may be considered key factors aggravating olfactory function in patients with epilepsy.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.197-211
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• 2017

Modernization drastically changed the cosmetic culture of Korea and Japan. A classic case that shows this is the appearance of the term 'Hyangjang (香粧)'. This paper investigated the background to the formation of the term Hyangjang (香粧), and reviewed the aspects of cosmetic culture that changed with the emergence of Hyangjangpum (香粧品), or cosmetics containing perfume. The investigation revealed that the term Hyangjang (香粧) appeared for the first time in Hirano (1899), a literature published in the Meiji period in Japan, and that the new term Hyangjang (香粧) had been formed against the background of advanced Western synthetic perfume and played an important role in contemporary techniques for the manufacture of cosmetics. The term Hyangjang (香粧) and cosmetics containing perfume, or Hyangjangpum (香粧品) were then introduced from Japan to Korea. In Korea, the term 'Hyangjang (香粧)' appeared for the first time in an advertising copy written by Hyeon Hui-un, a pioneer of the Korean modern theater movement during the period of Japanese colonial rule. At that time, cosmetic companies in Korea and Japan were releasing cosmetic products that contained perfume that stimulated a women's desire to purchase them by emphasizing 'fragrance' in their advertising. Existing public tendencies to regard a fragrant smell from a made-up face as vulgar were changing and the public perception of fragrance were also changing. The appearance of Hyangjangpum (香粧品) indicates that the existing cosmetic culture revolving around visual sense changed into a complex cosmetic culture involving olfaction. This change in culture is significant in that it heralded the direction of future development towards cosmetic culture that uses increase combinations of different senses including touch, taste, and hearing.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.162-173
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• 2013

The purpose of this paper is to classify VOC gases by emulating the characteristics found in biological olfaction. For this purpose, we propose new signal processing method based a polymeric chemical sensor array consisting of 4096 sensors which is created by NEUROCHEM project. To remove unstable sensors generated in the manufacturing process of very large scaled chemical sensor array, we used discrete wavelet transformation and cosine similarity. And, to remove the supernumerary redundancy, we proposed the method of selecting candidates of representative sensor representing sensors with similar features by Fuzzy c-means algorithm. In addition, we proposed an improved algorithm for selecting representative sensors among candidates of representative sensors to better enhance classification ability. However, Classification for very large scaled sensor array has a great deal of time in process of learning because many sensors are used for learning though a redundancy is removed. Throughout experimental trials for classification, we confirmed the proposed method have an outstanding classification ability, at transient state as well as steady state.