• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.3179-3185
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• 2012

Background: Most of the epidemiology studies on the effects of sun exposure and prostate cancer were conducted among the temperate countries of North America and Europe. Little is known about the influence on Asian populations. The purpose of current study was to evaluate any association of sun exposure with risk of prostate cancer in Chinese, Malays and Indians who reside in the tropics. Methods: The Singapore Prostate Cancer Study is a hospital-based case-control study of 240 prostate cancer incident cases and 268 controls conducted in Singapore between April 2007 and May 2009. Detailed information on outdoor activities in the sun, skin colour, sun sensitivity and other possible risk factors were collected in personal interviews. Cases were further classified by Gleason scores and TNM staging. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using unconditional logistic regression analysis, adjusted for age, ethnicity, education, family history of any cancers, BMI and skin colour. Results: We found that prostate cancer risk was increased in subjects with black/dark-brown eyes (OR 5.88, 95%CI 3.17-10.9), darker skin colour e.g. tan/dark brown/black (OR 7.62, 95%CI 3.41-17.0), frequent sunburn in lifetime (OR 4.30, 95%CI 1.7-11.2) and increased general sun exposure in adulthood per week (OR 2.03, 95%CI 1.09-3.81). The increased risk was consistent for high grade tumours and advanced stage prostate cancers. Conclusion: The findings from this study suggest that excessive sun exposure is a risk factor for prostate cancer in Asians.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.241-247
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• 2013

This study was carried out to examine the action mechanism of Chamaecyparis obtusa oil (CO) on hair growth in C57BL/6 mice. For alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and ${\gamma}$-glutamyl transpeptidase (${\gamma}$-GT) activities in the skin tissue, at week 4, the 3% minoxidil (MXD) and 3% CO treatment groups showed an ALP activity that was significantly higher by 85% (p < 0.001) and 48% (p < 0.05) and an ${\gamma}$-GT activity that was significantly higher by 294% (p < 0.01) and 254% (p < 0.05) respectively, as compared to the saline (SA) treatment group. For insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) mRNA expression in the skin tissue, at week 4, the MXD and CO groups showed a significantly higher expression by 204% (p < 0.05) and 426% (p < 0.01) respectively, as compared to the SA group. At week 4, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in the MXD and CO groups showed a significantly higher expression by 74% and 96% (p < 0.05) respectively, however, epidermal growth factor (EGF) expression in the MXD and CO groups showed a significantly lower expression by 66% and 61% (p < 0.05) respectively, as compared to the SA group. Stem cell factor (SCF) expression in the MXD and CO groups was observed by immunohis-tochemistry as significant in a part of the bulge around the hair follicle and in a part of the basal layer of the epidermis. Taking all the results together, on the basis of effects on ALP and ${\gamma}$-GT activity, and the expression of IGF-1, VEGF and SCF, which are related to the promotion of hair growth, it can be concluded that CO induced a proliferation and division of hair follicle cells and maintained the anagen phase. Because EGF expression was decreased significantly, CO could delay the transition to the catagen phase.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.7-10
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• 2012

Objectives: The root of Lithospermum erythrorhizon Sieb. et Zucc. (Lithospermi Radix, LR) is a kind of heat clearing and blood cooling medicinal herbs. It can clear away heat and cool the blood, reduce toxins and disperse maculae. LR has long been used as efficacious therapy for inflammation, burns, frostbite and skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis. Methods: In the present study, we investigate anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory effects of LR by using the 1-fluoro-2, 4- dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB)-induced contact dermatitis mouse model. Results: Topical application of 10 mg/mL of LR effectively inhibited skin lesions induced by repeated paintings with DNFB. Topical application of LR also inhibited hyperplasia, edema, spongiosis and infiltrations of mononuclear cells. In addition, production levels of total immunoglobulin and IgG1 in serum were decreased by using LR in vivo. Conclusions: These data suggest that LR acts as an antiinflammatory agent, improving skin lesions in CD mice.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.4412-4420
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• 2013

Alcohol affects human body very seriously by causing different types of disease. Therefore, a great deal of studies on alcohol addiction have been conducted. There is little, however, on skin problem in relation to alcohol abuse in domestic researches. This study, with this reason, has been conducted on alco holic women, especially who have sensitive skin, with pruritus. From May 1st until 20th, 2013, surveys using same questionnaires had been carried out for the two different groups. one with 114 female alcoholics from four different clinics for acoholics through the nation, the other with 106 residents without alcoholic problems in Cheong-ju and Seong-nam city. From the comparative study of those surveys, alcohol addicts showed higher scores on pruritus than those without alcoholic problems. In addition, Audit-K score had positive correlation with pruritus score, and drinking cycle and quantity, too, had been found related to pruritus. It is expected that the findings will be used as a fundamental data for treating alcohol addicts with skin disease and leading more active researches on this field for the future.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.11-19
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• 2003

chest Indirect radiography were taken at 44 medical facilities in Seoul area. The results were as follows: 1. The average tube voltage was 98.2 kVp in case of 100 mm film and 91.3 kVp in case of 70 mm film. 2. The average tube current was 18.1 mAs in case of 100 mm film and 42.5 mAs in case of 70 mm film. 3. In the physical evaluation of chest Indirect radiographs, the density in case of 100 mm film was similar to that in case of 70 mm film. 4. In the visual evaluation of chest Indirect radiographs, the score of identification in case of 100 mm film was higher than that in case of 70 mm film. 5. The average dose of radiation into the skin was 1.38 mGy in case of 100mm film and 4.59 mGy in case of 70 mm film. In conclusion, the image quality of chests was excellent and the dose of radiation into the skin decreased in case of 100 mm film.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.286-288
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• 2018

Moraxella osloensis NP7 was isolated from human skin of a collage male and showed resistance to ${\beta}-lactam$ and aminoglycoside antibiotics. Herein, we report the complete whole-genome sequence and gene annotations of M. osloensis NP7. It possesses single circular chromosome and seven plasmids. Chromosome is 2,389,582 bp in length with the G + C content of 43.9% and encodes 2,065 protein-coding genes. The combined seven plasmids are 654,202 bp in size with the average G + C content of 40.5% and code for a total of 667 protein-coding genes. The chromosome of NP7 strain contains four ribosomal RNA operon copies, one transfer-messenger RNA gene, forty-seven tRNA genes, three riboswitch genes and three CRISPR arrays. Additional CRISPR array is found in the plasmid pNP7-1. The genes conferring resistance to ${\beta}-lactam$ and aminoglycoside antibiotics were predicted to reside in the plasmid pNP7-1.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.318-325
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• 2021

Purpose: Although insulin is usually injected into the abdominal subcutaneous fat, in pregnancy women tend to avoid abdominal injections due to concern about fetal damage. Prior studies have been limited to only measuring skin-subcutaneous fat thickness (S-ScFT) at one site at specific pregnancy points. This study aimed to measure S-ScFT across several abdominal sites and over the gestational period in Korean pregnant women. This can identify which site would be relatively safe for subcutaneous injection during pregnancy. Methods: Healthy women over 24 weeks of pregnancy in Korea were invited to voluntarily participate in this descriptive study. For the 142 women, S-ScFT of 12 sites in the abdomen were measured by ultrasound, several times over the pregnancy. Each incidence was treated as a case and a total of 262 cases were analyzed. Results: The mean S-ScFT during pregnancy was 1.14±0.47 cm (1.25±0.54 cm at 24⁺⁰-27⁺⁶ weeks; 1.17±0.48 cm at 28⁺⁰-31⁺⁶ weeks; 1.09+0.40 cm at 32⁺⁰-35⁺⁶ weeks; and 1.06±0.47 cm at 36⁺⁰-40 weeks of pregnancy). Most S-ScFT were thicker than 10 mm. But S-ScFTs in the lateral abdomen and some sites were suboptimal (<6 mm), especially in the pre-pregnancy underweight body mass index group, who had a high rate of suboptimal thickness (27.1% overall and 33.9% in the lateral side). Conclusion: The whole abdomen seems to be appropriate for subcutaneous injection in most Korean women during pregnancy, with a 4 to 5-mm short needle. However, for the lateral abdomen, making the skin fold might be needed for fetal safety.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.150-160
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• 2017

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. It is characterized by eczematous lesions, skin dryness, and pruritus. The existing treatment drugs for AD have side effects, especially if the drugs are taken for extended periods. Therefore, new alternative therapies are necessary. The aim of this study was to investigate the combined effects of curcumin administration and LED irradiation on AD. AD-like lesions were induced in BALB/c mice by repeated application of 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB) to the shaved skin of the ear and neck. Thirty male BALB/c mice were divided into five groups: vehicle, DNCB, curcumin, LED, and curcumin+LED groups. Curcumin (0.1 g/kg/day) was administrated repeatedly during a period of 14 days (experimental period) and 630 nm LED irradiation ($5J/cm^2/day$) was performed in the acryl box once a day for 10 days, after inducing AD-like lesions via DNCB application. The severity of AD-like lesions was evaluated during the experimental period, using a modified SCORAD index. Both ear and neck skin tissues were examined histologically for epidermal thickness, mast cell, eosinophil counting, and dermal collagen density. Epidermal cell proliferation and apoptosis were detected using immunohistochemistry and TUNEL, respectively. These were all reduced in SCORAD index, epidermal thickness, collagen density, number of mast cell and eosinophil in dermis, and number of proliferating cell and apoptotic cell in epidermis by curcumin administration and 630 nm LED irradiation. Moreover, all parameters were significantly lower in the curcumin+LED group compared with the curcumin group and LED group. These results suggest that the combined therapy of curcumin and LED is more effective than a single treatment. We recommend that this can be a feasible alternative therapy to manage AD.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.333-340
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• 2019

This paper was described about the preparation of the multi-functional mask pack and its evaluation. Here, the multi-functional effects means the far-infrared emissivity effect due to polyphosphoric acid, the freckles treatment effect and peeling effects due to inclusion complexes, and the skin temperature decreasing effect due to Lavender-extraction compounds. The the hazardous chemicals, viscosity, and pH were determined blow 0.01%, 280 cP, and pH=6.92 in the prepared multi-functional mask pack solution, respectively. The multi-functional mask pack prepared with dipping method in the solution were showed the value of $0.882{\mu}m$ (Far-infrared emissivity) and $3.40{\times}10^2W/m$ at $37^{\circ}C$ (Far-infrared radiation energy), respectively. After taking multi-functional mask pack, the skin moisturizing rate was indicated 35.5%, and the skin temperature was showed in the range of $24{\sim}26^{\circ}C$. The skin stimulation test for the 30 volunteer was showed very strong stability.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.355-361
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• 2022

Melanin pigments are the main cause of skin color. They are produced in melanocytes and then transferred to keratinocytes, which eventually gives the skin surface a variety of colors. Although many skin-lightening or depigmenting agents have been developed, the demand for materials to reduce pig- mentation is still increasing. Here, we tried to find materials for skin-lightening or depigmentation using natural compounds and found that mistletoe (Viscum album var. coloratum) extracts (ME) had an inhibitory effect on tyrosinase activity. As a result, ME significantly reduced pigmentation in human primary melanocytes. In addition, a promoter reporter assay revealed that ME inhibited the transcription of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), melanophilin (MLPH), tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP-2), and tyrosinase (TYR) genes in HM3KO melanoma cells. In addition, ME decreased the protein level for pigmentation-related molecules, such as TYR and TRP-1. Furthermore, it markedly inhibited the melanogenesis of zebrafish embryos, an in vivo evaluation model for pigmentation. To elucidate the action mechanism of ME, we investigated its effects on intracellular signaling. Eventually, the ME dramatically decreased the phosphorylation of the cAMP responsive element binding protein (CREB), AKT, and ERK. The data suggest that ME may inhibit the melanogenesis pathway by regulating the signaling pathway related to pigmentation. Taken together, these data propose that ME can be developed as a depigmenting or skin-lightening agent.