• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.523-532
• /
• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to measure the effect of factors analyes the associated by the dental treatment fear of level dental hygiene and non-dental hygiene students, and then to provide basic material which can help to improveoral health and effective dental treatment. Methods : The subject in this study were 275 students in Jeolla region. The data were collected from March through April 2010, by way of the self-reported questionnaire. Results : 1. Subjects, who correspond to 'high fear level' which is more than 60 points in the scale of Dental Fear Survey, were indicated to be larger in collegians of general-related departments(38.9%) than collegians of health-related department(36.3%).2. Among three detailed factors, the treatment-stimulator response factor showed the higher fear sense than other 2 factors. In the physiological response, 'muscular tension' was 2.72 points, there by having been indicated to be the highest.3. The more belonging to the group with high fear was indicated to lead to the more in direct pain experience, in non-anesthesia pain experience, and in indirect pain experience through brothers and sisters. Even the symptom and syndrome in oral disease were indicated to be much. 4. As a result of comparing difference in dental fear level depending on pain experience, it was indicated that the more belonging to the group with high fear leads to the more in direct pain experience, in non-anesthesia pain experience, and in indirect pain experience through brothers and sisters. Conclusions : Dental fear must be controlled carefully in order to promote oral health and effective dental treatment.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
• /
• v.11 no.11
• /
• pp.2143-2149
• /
• 2007

Visual Cortex Stimulator is among artificial retina prosthesis for blind man, is the method that stimulate the brain cell directly without processing the information from retina to visual cortex. In this paper, we propose image construction and recognition model that is similar to human visual processing by recognizing the feature data with orientation information, that is, the characteristics of visual cortex. Back propagation algorithm based on Delta-bar delta is used to recognize after extracting image feature by Kirsh edge detector. Various numerical patterns are used to analyze the performance of proposed method. In experiment, the proposed recognition model to extract image characteristics with the orientation of information from retinal cells to visual cortex makes a little difference in a recognition rate but shows that it is not sensitive in a variety of learning rates similar to human vision system.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.68-74
• /
• 2019

Lateral epicondylitis is caused by repeated use of the wrist, which causes inflammation and pain in the wrist extensor and tendon of the humerus. Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) caused by repetitive resistance exercise affects the tendons connected in series with the muscle, leading to lateral epicondylitis. Although micro-current stimulation has been suggested as a possible treatment for tendinitis, there are insufficient studies on specific variables such as frequency. In this study, 15 healthy adult males and females developed DOMS in the wrist extensor and tendon in the humerus. The experimental group consisted of a low frequency group applying 20 Hz and a high frequency group applying 100 Hz according to the micro-current frequency. Each subject underwent an experiment for 5 days after DOMS, and the recovery rates were compared by measuring AROM, GPT, MST, PPT, and VAS. As a result, the 20 Hz group showed significant changes in AROM, MST, and VAS compared to the control group on the 4th day, and the recovery rate was also higher than that of the 100 Hz group. On the 5th day, recovery rate of 100 Hz group was higher than 20 Hz in AROM and PPT, and MST showed higher recovery rate than 20 Hz group, but there was no significant difference. These results indicate that microcurrent stimulation is effective for the treatment of delayed myalgia and tendon inflammation and that the 100 Hz group has faster recovery than the 20 Hz group.

• Journal of fish pathology
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.21-28
• /
• 2019

It has been reported that various anti-oxidant substances stimulate non-specific immune responses in fishes. In this study it was examined whether N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a precusor for anti-oxidant glutathione (GSH) synthesis, can modulate non-specific immune function in Far Eastern catfish Silurus asotus. Immune functions were assessed using the respiratory burst activity monitored by chemiluminescence (CL) responses in isolated leucocyte. NAC stimulated CL responses with doses of 10 or 100 mg/kg, but not with 1 mg/kg after 48 hr injection. It was observed with 10 mg/kg NAC that CL activity continued to elevate from 24 hr through 96 hr post-dosing, and returned to the near preinjection level by 10 days. To understand whether NAC can also activate CL activity in vitro, NAC was directly added to isolated catfish leucocytes. It was observed, however, that NAC can not stimulate CL at reasonable concentration ranges in vitro. As NAC is a precursor for the strong anti-oxidant glutathione (GSH), a putative immune stimulator, it was assessed whether GSH can also stimulate CL responses. Observed results show that GSH activated CL both in vivo and in vitro. The data obtained collectively support the proposition that NAC indirectly stimulates non-specific immune functions in catfish by enhancing GSH biosynthesis, but not by direct action of NAC. Such effects may have beneficial significance in aquaculture for practical utilization.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.47-50
• /
• 2019

Background: It is uncommon for patients who have received a permanent implant to remove the spinal cord stimulator (SCS) after discontinuation of medication in complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) due to their completely painless state. This study evaluated CRPS patients who successfully removed their SCSs. Methods: This 10-year retrospective study was performed on patients who had received the permanent implantation of an SCS and had removed it 6 months after discontinuation of stimulation, while halting all medications for neuropathic pain. Age, sex, duration of implantation, site and type of CRPS, and their return to work were compared between the removal and non-removal groups. Results: Five (12.5%, M/F = 4/1) of 40 patients (M/F = 33/7) successfully removed the permanent implant. The mean age was younger in the removal group ($27.2{\pm}6.4$ vs. $43.5{\pm}10.7$ years, P < 0.01). The mean duration of implantation in the removal group was $34.4{\pm}18.2$ months. Two of 15 patients (13.3%) and 3 of 25 patients (12%) who had upper and lower extremity pain, respectively, had removed the implant. The implants could be removed in 5 of 27 patients (18.5%) with CRPS type 1 (P < 0.01). All 5 patients (100%) who removed their SCS returned to work, while only 5 of 35 (14.3%) in the non-removal group did (P < 0.01). Conclusions: Even though this study had limited data, younger patients with CRPS type 1 could remove their SCSs within a 5-year period and return to work with complete pain relief.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.52 no.5
• /
• pp.336-341
• /
• 2019

The cGAS-STING pathway plays an important role in pathogen-induced activation of the innate immune response. The 29-kDa amino-terminal fibronectin fragment (29-kDa FN-f) found predominantly in the synovial fluid of osteoarthritis (OA) patients increases the expression of catabolic factors via the toll-like receptor-2 (TLR-2) signaling pathway. In this study, we investigated whether 29-kDa FN-f induces inflammatory responses via the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)/stimulator of interferon gene (STING) pathway in human primary chondrocytes. The levels of cGAS and STING were elevated in OA cartilage compared with normal cartilage. Long-term treatment of chondrocytes with 29-kDa FN-f activated the cGAS/STING pathway together with the increased level of gamma-H2AX, a marker of DNA breaks. In addition, the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF/CSF-2), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF/CSF-3), and type I interferon ($IFN-{\alpha}$), was increased more than 100-fold in 29-kDa FN-f-treated chondrocytes. However, knockdown of cGAS and STING suppressed 29-kDa FN-f-induced expression of GM-CSF, G-CSF, and $IFN-{\alpha}$ together with the decreased activation of TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1), interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3), and inhibitor protein ${\kappa}B{\alpha}$ ($I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$). Furthermore, NOD2 or TLR-2 knockdown suppressed the expression of GM-CSF, G-CSF, and $IFN-{\alpha}$ as well as decreased the activation of the cGAS/STING pathway in 29-kDa FN-f-treated chondrocytes. These data demonstrate that the cGAS/STING/TBK1/IRF3 pathway plays a critical role in 29-kDa FN-f-induced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.228-237
• /
• 2022

In this study, the effects of the immune stimulator Euglena gracilis (Euglena) in cyclophosphamide (CCP)-induced immunocompromised mice were assessed. The key component β-1,3-glucan (paramylon) constitutes 50% of E. gracilis. Mice were orally administered Euglena powder (250 and 500 mg/kg body weight (B.W.)) or β-glucan powder (250 mg/kg B.W.) for 19 days. In a preliminary immunology experiment, ICR mice were intraperitoneally injected with 80 mg of CCP/kg B.W. during the final 3 consecutive days. In the main experiment, BALB/c mice were treated with CCP for the final 5 days. To evaluate the enhancing effects of Euglena on the immune system, mouse B.W., the spleen index, natural killer (NK) cell activity and mRNA expression in splenocytes lungs and livers were determined. To detect cytokine and receptor expression, splenocytes were treated with 5 ㎍/ml concanavalin A or 1 ㎍/ml lipopolysaccharide. The B.W. and spleen index were significantly increased and NK cell activity was slightly enhanced in all the experimental groups compared to the CCP-only group. In splenocytes, the gene expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interferon-γ, interleukin (IL)-10, IL-6, and IL-12 receptor were increased in the E. gracilis and β-glucan groups compared to the CCP-only group, but there was no significant difference. Treatment with 500 mg of Euglena/kg B.W. significantly upregulated dectin-1 mRNA expression in the lung and liver compared to the CCP-only group. These results suggest that Euglena may enhance the immune system by strengthening innate immunity through immunosuppression.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.47 no.4
• /
• pp.543-551
• /
• 2023

Background: Panax ginseng Meyer is a representative Chinese herbal medicine with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. 20(S)-Protopanaxadiol (PPD) has been isolated from ginseng and shown to have promising pharmacological activities. However, effects of PDD on pulmonary fibrosis (PF) have not been reported. We hypothesize that PDD may reverse inflammation-induced PF and be a novel therapeutic strategy. Methods: Adult male C57BL/6 mice were used to establish a model of PF induced by bleomycin (BLM). The pulmonary index was measured, and histological and immunohistochemical examinations were made. Cell cultures of mouse alveolar epithelial cells were analyzed with Western blotting, coimmunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, siRNA transfection, cellular thermal shift assay and qRT-PCR. Results: The survival rate of PPD-treated mice was higher than that of untreated BLM-challenged mice. Expression of fibrotic hallmarks, including α-SMA, TGF-β1 and collagen I, was reduced by PPD treatment, indicating attenuation of PF. Mice exposed to BLM had higher STING levels in lung tissue, and this was reduced by phosphorylated AMPK after activation by PPD. The role of phosphorylated AMPK in suppressing STING was confirmed in TGF-b1-incubated cells. Both in vivo and in vitro analyses indicated that PPD treatment attenuated BLM-induced PF by modulating the AMPK/STING signaling pathway. Conclusion: PPD ameliorated BLM-induced PF by multi-target regulation. The current study may help develop new therapeutic strategies for preventing PF.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.69-80
• /
• 1998

This research was designed to investigate how the exercise program affects paraplegic standing and walking employing functional electrical stimulation(FES). Emphasis was also given to fatigue of major lower extremity muscles induced by different types of electrical stimulation. We applied continuous and intermittent rectangular pulse trains to quadriceps of 10 normal subjects and 4 complete paraplegic patients. The frequencies were 20Hz and 80Hz, and the knee angle was fixed at 90$^{\circ}$and 150$^{\circ}$to investigate how muscle fatigue is related to muscle length. The knee extensor torque was measured and monitored. We have been training quadriceps and gastrocnemius of a male paraplegic patient by means of electrical stimulation for the past two year. FES standing was initiated when the knee extensors became strong enough to support the body weight, and then the patient started FES walking utilizing parallel bars and a walker. We used an 8-channel constant-voltage stimulator and surface electrodes. The experimental results indicated that paralyzed muscles fatigued rapidly around the optimal length contrary to normal muscles and confirmed that low frequency and intermittent stimulation delayed fatigue. Our exercise program increased muscle force by approximately 10 folds and decreased the fatigue index to half of the initial value. In addition, the exercise enabled the patient to voluntarily lift each leg up to 10cm, which was of great help to the swing phase of FES walking. Both muscle force and resistance to fatigue were significantly enhanced right after the exercise was applied every day instead of 6 days a week. Up to date, the patient can walk for more than two and half minutes at 10m/min while controlling the on/off time of the stimulator by pushing the toggle switch attached to the walker handle.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.44-49
• /
• 2004

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of non-specific immuno-stimulator(NIS) supplementation on growth performance and carcass characteristics in finishing pigs. A total of eighty[Duroc${\times}$Yorkshir${\times}$Landrace] pigs(60.55${\pm}$3.72 kg in average initial body weight) were used for a 9-week assay. Dietary treatments included as follows 1) CON(basal diet), 2) NIS1(basal diet for 6 weeks and 0.05% NIS for 3 weeks), 3) NIS2(basal diet for 3 weeks and 0.05% NIS for 6 weeks) and 4) NIS3(0.05% NIS for 9 weeks). Average daily gain during the feeding period was not significantly different among the treatments (p>0.05). However, average daily feed intake was higher in NIS2 than CON(p<0.05). Backfat thickness did not differ among the treatments(p>0.05). The appearance rate of A or B carcass grade was much higher in NIS1 (58%) and NIS3 (75%) than CON(50%) and NIS2(50%). L＊(lightness) value of loin was higher in NIS1 and NIS3 than CON and NIS2. However, there was no effect by dietary NIS(p>0.05). Although a＊(redness) value of loin was lower in CON than other treatments, there was no significant difference among the treatments(p>0.05). No remarkable differences were found in sensory properties(marbling, firmness and color) among the treatments. The results from the present study suggest that NIS could be an effective feed additive to improve pork quality. However, further research is needed to investigate effect of carcass characteristics.