• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.678-690
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was performed to identify skin health status and the factors influencing skin hydration in the institutionalized elderly. Methods: The subjects were 139 elders living in 2 nursing homes in Seoul. Data for skin health status were collected by measurement of skin hydration, sebum, trans-epidermal water loss and pH using Corneometer, Sebumeter, Tewameter and Skin pH-meter on face, flank, arm and leg. Baseline data were collected by a structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed by SPSS/WIN 12.0 program. Results: Skin hydration and pH were relatively low especially on arms and legs but sebum and TEWL were not low, relatively. There were significant differences in skin health status according to gender, smoking, alcohol intake, and bath cleanser. There was significant positive correlation between skin-hydration and bath-time, TEWL and bath-frequency. Smoking, bath-cleanser, bath-time. pH and gender were identified as the significant influencing factors of skin hydration. Conclusion: Smoking, bath-time and pH need to be considered as important control factors for increasing skin health status in the institutionalized elderly.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.156-166
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• 2021

Objectives The purpose of this study is to confirm the regulate effect of T helper (Th) 2 differentiation that Baekho-tang extract may produce to improves skin lipid barrier damages. Methods Four-weeks-old NC/Nga mice were divided into four groups: control group (Ctrl, n=10), lipid barrier eliminated group (LBE, n=10), Dexamethasone treatment after lipid barrier elimination group (DxT, n=10), and Baekho-tang extract treatment group after lipid barrier elimination group (BHTT, n=10). Baeko-tang extract was administered for 3 days after removal of the skin fat barrier in BHTT group. Then, we identified changes in external symptoms of the skin, factors affecting skin barrier such as potential of hydrogen (pH), filaggrin (FLG), transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and Th2 differentiation factors like Interleukin (IL)-4, Kallikrein Related Peptidase 7 (KLK7) and protease activated receptor 2 (PAR-2) through our immunohistochemistry. Results After lipid barrier elimination, the reduction of morphological skin inflammations was less in BHTT group than in LBE group and DxT group. Also, pH and TEWL were significantly decreased with BHTT group. However, FLG was significantly increased in BHTT group compared to LBE, DxT, and Ctrl group. All kinds of Th2 differentiation factors (IL-4, KLK7 and PAR-2) were also decreased in BHTT compared to the LBE and DxT. Conclusions As a result of this study, BHT administration decreased pH, TEWL, and increased FLG, thus participating in recovering damaged skin barrier. Since Th2 differentiation factors were decreased as well, BHT's regulatory effect in sequential immune reactions may be a possible explanation of how it enhances recovery of the damaged lipid barrier.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.57-64
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• 2022

Objectives The purpose of this study is to confirm the regulate effect of T helper (Th) 2 differentiation that Sabaek-san extract may produce to improves skin lipid barrier damage. Methods Four-weeks-old NC/Nga mice were divided into four groups: control group (Ctrl, n=10), lipid barrier eliminated group (LBE, n=10), Dexamethasone treatment after lipid barrier elimination group (DXT, n=10), and Sabaek-san extract treatment group after lipid barrier elimination (SBT, n=10). Sabaek-san extract was administered for 3 d after removal of the skin fat barrier in SBT group. Then, we identified changes in external symptoms of the skin, factors affecting skin barrier such as potential of hydrogen (pH), filaggrin, transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and Th2 differentiation factors like Interleukin (IL)-4, Kallikrein Related Peptidase 7 (KLK7), and protease activated receptor 2 (PAR-2) through our immunohistochemistry. Results After lipid barrier elimination, the reduction of morphological skin inflammations was less in SBT group than in LBE and DXT group. Also, pH and TEWL were significantly decreased with SBT group. However, filaggrin was significantly increased in SBT group compared to LBE, DXT, and Ctrl group. All kinds of Th2 differentiation factors (IL-4, KLK7 and PAR-2) were also decreased in SBT compared to the LBE and DXT. Conclusions As a result of this study, SBT administration decreased pH, TEWL, and increased filaggrin, thus participating in recovering damaged skin barrier. Since Th2 differentiation factors were decreased as well, SBT's regulatory effect in sequential immune reactions may be a possible explanation of how it enhances recovery of the damaged lipid barrier.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.63-71
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• 2016

Purpose: Skin pH, an indicator of skin health, is maintained by various organic factors, which include lactate, free amino acid (FAA), and free fatty acid (FFA). As skin ages or with illness, skin pH becomes less acidic, and functional food has been developed to maintain the acidic pH of skin. In this study, we determined the dietary effect of green tea extract (GTE) on skin pH of photo-aged mice, as measured by epidermal levels of lactate, FAA, and FFA. The protein expression and activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), an enzyme of pyruvate reduction for lactate generation, was further determined. Methods: Albino hairless mice were fed a control diet (group UV+) or a diet with 1% GTE (group GTE) in parallel with UV irradiation for 10 weeks. A normal control group was fed a control diet without UV irradiation for 10 weeks (group UV-). Results: Skin pH was higher (less acidic) in group UV+ than in group UV-. In parallel, epidermal levels of lactate and FFA, as well as of LDH protein expression and activity, were reduced in group UV+. Dietary supplementation of GTE (group GTE) reduced skin pH to similar to the level of group UV-, and inversely increased epidermal levels of lactate, LDH protein expression and activity, but not of FFA. Although epidermal levels of FAA were similar in groups UV- and UV+, it was increased in group GTE to a level higher than in group UV-. In further analysis of major FFA, epidermal levels of palmitic acid [16:0], oleic acid [18:1(n-9)], and linoleic acid [18:2(n-6), but not of stearic acid [18:0] in group GTE were similar to or lower than those in group UV+. Conclusion: Dietary GTE normalized skin pH with increased levels of lactate and FAA, as well as with increased protein expression and activity of LDH in the epidermis of UVB irradiated hairless mice.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.297-307
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• 2017

Skin properties are influenced by a variety of internal or external factors. This study was conducted to investigate and compare the skin characteristics in Asian women. We evaluated values of skin physical parameters, and then assessed the correlations among the parameters, and regional differences in 1,500 Asian subjects in seven countries (Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, India, China, and South Korea). The values of transepidermal water loss (TEWL), pH, skin hydration, sebum content, skin sensitivity, elasticity, crow's feet wrinkles, and skin brightness were measured. New Delhi's women were observed to have a lower level of hydration in stratum corneum, sebum content, stinging scores, and darker skin color than others. Furthermore, their skin surface pH on all sites is the highest among seven countries. Vietnamese had the lowest pH values in skin surface. Korean and Chinese had generally higher elasticity and fewer wrinkles. Both the skin hydration and TEWL had positive correlations with the stinging test, and there was a negative correlation between wrinkles and stinging test. These results represent that there was no clear trend related to the area or region. Skin physical parameters should be studied along with understanding of regional differences and various factors (skin care habits, lifestyle and personal sensitivity).

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.747-758
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• 2017

Chronic wounds, pressure sores, lesions, and infections of microbial origin in bedridden, paralyzed, or malnutrition patients remain the object of study of many researchers. A variety of factors behind the development of these disorders are related to the patient's immune system, making it unable to respond effectively to the treatment of the wound. These factors can be properly controlled, giving particular importance to the ethiology and stage of the wound, as well as the time periods corresponding to the replacement of the dressings. The present research reports a novel foam/soft material, ${{\small}L}$-Cys-g-PCL, with an application for decubitus/pressure ulcers, especially for wounds with a difficult healing process due to infections and constant oxidation of the soft tissues. During this work, the interactions between S. aureus and ${{\small}L}$-Cys-g-PCL foam were studied under conditions that simulate decubitus ulcers; namely, pH and exudate. The effects of duration of grafting (1 or 8 h) and pH (7.0 and 8.9) on wettability, surface energy, swelling, and porosity were also evaluated. Results showed an effective microbicidal activity exhibiting an inhibition ratio of 99.73% against S. aureus. This new ${{\small}L}$-Cys-g-PCL soft material showed saftey to contact skin, ability to be shaped to fill in sunken holes (craters) - pressure ulcers stage III - and to act as a smart material responsive to pH, which can be tailored to develop better swelling properties at alkaline pH where exudates are normally higher, so as to address exudate self-cleaning and prevention of desiccation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.446-453
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• 1995

The improtant components of extracellular matrix(ECM) are collagen and chondroitin sulfate. The hydrophobic surface of collagen is one of the determining factors of diameter of collagen fiber and also is closely related to the aging phenomena. The controlling mechanism of the diameter of collagen fiber influenced by the interaction with chondroitin sulfate was evaluated using bis-ANS as a hydrophobic probe. Hydrophobic surface area of collagen molecule shielded by chondroitin sulfate was evaluated. Relative fluorescence intensity of collagen in thepresence of chondroitin sulfate was measured using bis-ANS as a hydrophobic probe. The fluorescence intensity decreased with the increase in chondroitin sulfate up to 3.8 chondroitin sulfate/collagen(mole/mole). Further increase in the ratio of chondroitin sulfate to collagen did not change the fluorescence intensity. Similar changes in the relative fluorescence intensity were observed for both rat tail and lathyrific rat skin collagen. The fluorescence intensity indicated by the binding between bis-ANS and hydrophobic sites of collagen was pH dependent, and the shielding effect of collagen-chondroitin sulfate interaction could not be detected at pH above 6.0. This is probably due to the charge repulsions caused by negative charged collagen molecules at higher pH.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.347-352
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• 2017

Background: Panax ginseng (PG) has a long history of use in Asian medicine because of its multiple pharmacological activities. It has been considered that PG in a type of white ginseng may induce undesirable thermogenic effects, but not in a type of red ginseng. However, there is a lack of evidence about the correlation between ginsenoside and thermogenesis. Methods: We investigated the effects of PG with different ginsenoside compositions on body temperature, blood pressure, and thermogenesis-related factors in rats. Results: With increasing steaming time (0 h, 3 h, 6 h, and 9 h), the production of protopanaxadiol ginsenosides increased, whereas protopanaxatriol ginsenosides decreased in white ginseng. In both short- and long-term studies, administration of four ginseng extracts prepared at different steaming times did not induce significant changes in body temperature (skin, tail, and rectum) and blood pressure of rats compared to saline control. In addition, there were no significant differences in the molecular markers related to thermogenesis (p > 0.05), mRNA expressions of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-$1{\alpha}$ and uncoupling protein 1 in brown adipose tissue, as well as the serum levels of interleukin-6, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and nitrite among the treatment groups. Conclusion: These observations indicate that the potential undesirable effects of PG on body temperature could not be explained by the difference in ginsenoside composition.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.66-74
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• 2005

Objective: Stress is one of the most important etiological factors in our lives. Human body makes effort to keep his homeostasis from stress by using autonomic nerve system. So we need markers which can evaluate autonomic nerve system easily. HRV represents such markers. Sympathetic and Parasympathetic nerve system are part of autonomic nerve system, related with cur body and diseases in ENT, Dermatology, Ophthalmology are also deeply related with stress, Sympathetic and Parasympathetic nerve system. So we can expect that it can help understanding patients to evaluate autonomic nerve system with HRV Research Methods and Procedures: Forty one patients who have seif-recognized stress in Dept. of Oph & Otolaryngo & Dermatology were selected. SDNN. RMSSD, LF, HF, norm-LF, norm-HF, LF/HF ratio, LnLF, LnHF were checked. Results: Men showed lower SDNN, HF, and LnHF than women(p<0.05). Age over-forty group showed significant lower SDNN, LF, HF, LnLF, LnH(p<0.01), and lower RMSSD(p<0.05) than age under-forty group. There's no big differences for age at norm-LF, norm-HF, and LF/HF ratio. Skin disease group showed higher SDNN, RMSSD, LF, HF, LnLF, LNHF than the others, facial palsy group showed higher norm-HF. LF/HF ratio, and mouth-throat group showed higher norm-LF, but there's no statically significant difference. Comparing skin disease group with the others, the others showed statically significant low SDNN(P<0.01), RMSSD, LF, HF, LnLF and LnHF(P<0.05).

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.143-154
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• 2002

The effect of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) on cerebral physiology during heart surgery remains incompletely understood. This study was carried out to investigate changes of cerebral metabolism and the association between the changes and clinical factors during heart surgery. Seventy adult patients (n=70) scheduled for elective cardiac surgery were participated in the present study. Middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity (V$_{MCA}$), cerebral arteriovenous oxygen content difference (C(a-v)O$_2$), cerebral oxygen extraction (COE), and modified cerebral metabolic rate for oxygen (MCMRO$_2$) were measured during six phases of the operation; Pre-CPB, CPB-10 min, Rewarm-1 (nasopharyngeal temperature 34$^{\circ}C$), Rewarm-2 (nasopharyngeal temperature 37$^{\circ}C$), CPB-off, and Post-OP (at skin closure after CPB-off). Each relationship of age, arterial blood gas parameters, or other variables to V$_{MCA}2$, C(a-v)O$_2$, COE, or MCMRO$_2$ was evaluated. V$_{MCA}$ increased (P<0.0001) whereas C(a-v)O$_2$ decreased (P<0.01) throughout the five phases of the operation compared to Pre-CPB value (control). COE diminished at CPB-10, Rewarm-1, and CPB-off (P<0.05) while MCMRO$_2$ reduced at CPB-10 and Rewarm-1 (P<0.05) compared to Pre-CPB value. Positive correlation was found between age and cerebral metabolic parameters (V$_{MCA}$, C(a-v)O$_2$, COE, or MCMRO$_2$) during CPB (range r=0.24 to 0.38, p<0.05). Four cerebral metabolic parameters had partially negative or positive correlation with arterial blood gas parameters and other variables (arterial blood pH, $O_2$ tension, $O_2$ content, $CO_2$ tension, blood pressure, blood flow, temperature, or hematocrit) during the operation. In conclusion, CPB led to marked alterations of cerebral metabolism and age, pH, and $CO_2$ tension profoundly influenced the changes during cardiac surgery.