• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.119-124
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of newly developed endodontic root canal cleanser (MTAD) on the apical leakage of obturated root canal using an electrochemical method. Canals of 60 extracted single-rooted human teeth were prepared by using a crown-down technique with rotary nickel-titanium files. In Group 1 (positive control group) and 2 (negative centre) group), 5.25% NaOCl was used as a canal irrigant and no canal wall treatment was done. In group 3 only 5.25% NaOCl were used as canal irrigant, canal wall treatment and final rinse. In group 4, specimens were irrigated with 5.25% NaOCl, treated with 5 ml of 17% EDTA for 5 minutes and final rinsed with 5.25% NaOCl Specimens of group 5 were irrigated with 1 3% NaOCl and treated with 5 ml of MTAD for 5 minutes. All root canals are dried with paper points and obtuated with gutta-percha and AH plus as a sealer using a continuous wave of condensation technique except in the group 1. The electrical resistance between the standard and experimental electrodes in canals was measured over a period of 10 days. Rising of apical leakage with time was observed for all the groups. Group 4 and 5 showed lower apical leakage than group 3 but differences between the group 3, 4 and 5 were no statistical significance at any measurement time.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.283-290
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• 2005

Objectives : The aim of this paper was to examine the relationship between the summertime (June to August) heat index, which quantifies the bioclimatic apparent temperature in sultry weather, and the daily disease-related mortality in Seoul for the period from 1991 to 2000. Methods : The daily maximum (or minimum) summertime heat indices, which show synergetic apparent temperatures, were calculated from the six hourly temperatures and real time humidity data for Seoul from 1991 to 2000. The disease-related daily mortality was extracted with respect to types of disease, age and sex, etc. and compared with the time series of the daily heat indices. Results : The summertime mortality in 1994 exceeded the normal by 626 persons. Specifically, blood circulation-related and cancer-related mortalities increased in 1994 by 29.7% (224 persons) and 15.4% (107 persons), respectively, compared with those in 1993. Elderly persons, those above 65 years, were shown to be highly susceptible to strong heat waves, whereas the other age and sex-based groups showed no significant difference in mortality. In particular, a heat wave episode on the 22nd of July 2004 ($>45^{\circ}C$ daily heat index) resulted in double the normal number of mortalities after a lag time of 3 days. Specifically, blood circulation-related mortalities, such as cerebral infraction, were predominant causes. Overall, a critical mortality threshold was reached when the heat index exceeded approximately $37^{\circ}C$, which corresponds to human body temperature. A linear regression model based on the heat indices above $37^{\circ}C$, with a 3 day lag time, accounted for 63% of the abnormally increased mortality (${\geq}+2$ standard deviations). Conclusions : This study revealed that elderly persons, those over 65 years old, are more vulnerable to mortality due to abnormal heat waves in Seoul, Korea. When the daily maximum heat index exceeds approximately $37^{\circ}C$, blood circulation-related mortality significantly increases. A linear regression model, with respect to lag-time, showed that the heat index based on a human model is a more dependable indicator for the prediction of hot weather-related mortality than the ambient air temperature.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.81-90
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• 1998

Electromagnetic waves may induce various effects on nervous tissues either by thermal or non-thermal mechanisms. This paper intoduces a method to evalute the non-thermal effect to central nervous system by measuring the EEGs of the rabbits treated by nimodipine before exposed to weak microwave field. 20 rabbits were divided into 2 groups and their EEGs were measured after their head section were exposed to 2,450 MHz microwave with the power density of 10 dBm and 20 dBm respectively for 10 minutes and compared with those of the 3rd group of 10 rabbits which were not exposed. The 4th group of 10 rabbits were intravenously given with nimodipine before exposed to 20 dBm field to determine whether this drug would reverse the EEGs changes induced by weak microwave irradiation. As field poser exceeded 20 dBm although no significant physiological changes were observed, total induced EEGs power was remarkably decreased suggesting the presence of CNS activation. Using Fourier analysis on the EEGs signal it was found that remarkable decrease in delta band and increase in the alpha and beta bands in a significant manner(P<0.05) compared to control group. The changes were, however, not reversed by nimodipine-treatment. The effects may be pure thermal in nature because no significant change has been observed in nimodipine treated rabbits.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.105-110
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• 2010

Purpose: It has been reported that low-level semiconductor diode lasers could enhance the wound healing process. The periodontal ligament is crucial for maintaining the tooth and surrounding tissues in periodontal wound healing. While low-level semiconductor diode lasers have been used in low-level laser therapy, there have been few reports on their effects on periodontal ligament fibroblasts (PDLFs). We performed this study to investigate the biological effects of semiconductor diode lasers on human PDLFs. Methods: Human PDLFs were cultured and irradiated with a gallium-aluminum-arsenate (GaAlAs) semiconductor diode laser of which the wavelength was 810 nm. The power output was fixed at 500 mW in the continuous wave mode with various energy fluencies, which were 1.97, 3.94, and 5.91 $J/cm^2$. A culture of PDLFs without laser irradiation was regarded as a control. Then, cells were additionally incubated in 72 hours for MTS assay and an alkaline phosphatase (ALPase) activity test. At 48 hours post-laser irradiation, western blot analysis was performed to determine extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activity. ANOVA was used to assess the significance level of the differences among groups (P<0.05). Results: At all energy fluencies of laser irradiation, PDLFs proliferation gradually increased for 72 hours without any significant differences compared with the control over the entire period taken together. However, an increment of cell proliferation significantly greater than in the control occurred between 24 and 48 hours at laser irradiation settings of 1.97 and 3.94 $J/cm^2$ (P<0.05). The highest ALPase activity was found at 48 and 72 hours post-laser irradiation with 3.94 $J/cm^2$ energy fluency (P<0.05). The phosphorylated ERK level was more prominent at 3.94 $J/cm^2$ energy fluency than in the control. Conclusions: The present study demonstrated that the GaAlAs semiconductor diode laser promoted proliferation and differentiation of human PDLFs.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.29-41
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• 2018

The objective of this study was to evaluate the chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) effect of amino acids and neurotransmitters, which exist in the human brain, depending on the concentration, pH, and amplitude of the saturation radiofrequency field. Phantoms were developed with asparagine (Asn), ${\gamma}-aminobutyric$ acid (GABA), glutamate (Glu), glycine (Gly), and myoinositol (MI). Each chemical had three different concentrations of 10, 30, and 50 mM and three different pH values of 5.6, 6.2, and 7.4. Full Z-spectrum CEST images for each phantom were acquired with a continuous-wave radiofrequency (RF) saturation pulse with two different $B_1$ amplitudes of $2{\mu}T$ and $4{\mu}T$ using an animal 9.4T MRI system. A voxel-based CEST asymmetry was mapped to evaluate exchangeable protons based on amide (-NH), amine ($-NH_2$), and hydroxyl (-OH) groups for the five target molecules. For all target molecules, the CEST effect was increased with increasing concentration and B1 amplitude; however, the CEST effect with varying pH displayed a different trend depending on the characteristics of the molecule. On CEST asymmetric maps, Glu and MI were well visualized around 3.0 and 0.9 ppm, respectively, and were well separated macroscopically at a pH of 7.4. The exchange rates of Asn, Glu, BABA, and Gly usually decreased with increasing pH. The CEST effect was dependent on the concentration, acidity of the target molecules, and B1 amplitude of the saturation RF pulse. The CEST effect for Asn can be observed in a 9.4T MRI system. The results of this study are based on applying the CEST technique in patients with neurodegenerative diseases when proteins in the brain are increased with disease progression.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.360-368
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• 2005

Background & Object: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Traditional Korean medical therapy on gastric myoelectrical activity in patients with functional dyspepsia. Methods: 29 patients(male 10, female 19) were divided into two groups; Inpatient group(N=10, male 1, female 9) and outpatient group(N=19, male 9, female 10). 10 healthy people participated in this study as normal controls. Gastric motility was recorded and analyzed by electrogastrography(EGG) during fasting and postprandial periods. Hospital treatment included electroacupuncture on ST36, acupuncture, and herbal medicine. Outpatients were treated with herbal medicine and acupuncture. Inpatients underwent hospital treatment for two weeks, and after discharge they were treated as outpatients for six weeks. In inpatient group, EGG was recorded before and after hospital treatment and it was recorded at six weeks after discharge. In outpatient group, EGG was recorded before starting treatment and it was recorded once a every six weeks for twelve weeks. Results: There was no significant difference in EGG parameters between before and after therapy in outpatient group. In inpatient group, postprandial normal slow wave increased after hospital treatment(from $33.94{\pm}14.13$ to $62.63{\pm}20.18$, p<0.05) and postprandial tachygastria decreased(from $43.53{\pm}13.99$ to $28.30{\pm}16.63$, p<0.05) and arrhythmia decreased(from $20.35{\pm}15.91$ to $5.67{\pm}6.80$, p<0.05). Conclusions: Results suggest that hospital treatment through electroacupuncture on ST36, acupuncture, and herbal medicine is useful to improve gastric myoelectrical activity in Patients with Functional Dyspepsia.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.453-468
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• 2012

This study investigated the effects of Lavandula angustifolia (L. angustifolia) aroma on the brain electrical activity evaluated by an electroencephalogram (EEG) in the male adults since many researches were performed with females and few with males. Sleep quality of 35 male adults were analyzed by Pittsburgh sleep quality index, and they were divided into two groups of good sleep quality and poor sleep quality. EEG electrodes were attached at the frontal (F3, F4), temporal (T3, T4), occipital (O1, O2), and parietal (P3, P4) regions according to the International 10-20 system. EEG was measured for 3 min per each period of before, during, and after L. angustifolia aromatherapy. Subjects with good sleep quality showed increases in the delta power at the parietal region of both cerebral hemispheres and in the theta power at the temporal region of right hemisphere (p<0.05), and a decrease in the alpha at the parietal region of both cerebral hemispheres (p<0.05). And subjects with poor sleep quality showed increases in the delta power at the frontal region of left cerebral hemisphere and in the theta power at the frontal region of both hemispheres (p<0.05). It is concluded that L. angustifolia aroma has effects on decreasing an awakening status related-brain wave and increasing the sleep status related-brain waves in the male adults with good sleep quality, and has also effects on increasing the sleep status related-brain waves in the male adults with poor sleep quality.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.187-193
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• 2009

Purpose : Adiponectin is a molecule that plays an important role in the metabolic syndrome. In addition, its concentration is known to be decreased in obesity, type 2 diabetes, and coronary artery disease. Although a relationship between hypertension and serum adiponectin concentrations has been reported by several authors, such findings continue to be debated. We investigated whether hypoadiponectinemia is related to hypertension in adolescents and studied the associated genetic polymorphism. Methods : Forty hypertensive adolescents (Age 16-17 years old) and twenty normotensive matched subjects were included. Serum adipo-nectin, insulin, renin, aldosterone and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) levels were compared. Their carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) were measured. Polymorphisms of the adiponectin I164T gene were investigated using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results : The hypertensive adolescents had significantly greater cIMT and PWV. In addition, the serum aldosterone, renin and insulin levels were significantly higher in the hypertensive group. The plasma concentrations of adiponectin did not differ significantly between the two groups. TC genotype was not found in our study subjects; they all had the TT genotype of the adiponectine gene. Conclusion : The results of our study showed that adiponectin levels were not significantly different in adolescents with hypertension. There was no distinctive genetic polymorphism observed in this group of patients. Further large scale studies are needed to clarify the association between genetic variations and adiponectin in hypertensive adolescents.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• v.38 no.10
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• pp.1217-1224
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• 2014

This paper provides a practical scaling method to solve an old problem for scaling and developing the speed and resistance of a model to full-scale submarine in fully submerged underwater test. In every experimental test in towing tank, water tunnel and wind tunnel, in the first step, the speed of a model should be scaled to the full-scale vessel (ship or submarine). In the second step, the obtained resistance of the model should be developed. For submarine, there are two modes of movement: surface and submerged mode. There is no matter in surface mode because, according to Froude's law, the ratio of speed of the model to the full-scale vessel is proportional to the square root of lengths (length of the model on the length of the vessel). This leads to a reasonable speed and is not so much for the model that is applicable in the laboratory. The main problem is in submerged mode (fully submerged) that there isn't surface wave effect and therefore, Froude's law couldn't be used. Reynold's similarity is actually impossible to implement because it leads to very high speeds of the model that is impossible in a laboratory and inside the water. According to Reynold's similarity, the ratio of speed of the model to the full-scale vessel is proportional to the ratio of the full-scale length to the model length that leads to a too high speed. This paper proves that there is no need for exact Reynold's similarity because after a special Reynolds, resistance coefficient remains constant. Therefore, there is not compulsion for high speeds of the model. For proving this finding, three groups of results are presented: two cases are based on CFD method, and one case is based on the model test in towing tank. All these three results are presented for three different shapes that can show; this finding is independent of the shapes and geometries. For CFD method, Flow Vision software has been used.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.119-129
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• 2000

The skin is an organ that has many important roles, including protection against infection, regulation of temperature and fluid loss, and sensory function. Injury to the skin, wound repair normally involves: (1) balanced activity of inflammation, (2) the re-epithelial phase and (3) the matrix formation of remodeling phase. Thus, skin wound healing is a finely controlled biological process involving a series of complex cellular interactions. Laser therapy is being implemented with increasing frequency in medicine. Low intensity laser is one that is capable of producing an energy density so low that any biologic alterations are the result of direct irradiation effect, not thermal events. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of low intensity laser therapy on skin wound healing in rabbits. A total of 10 male rabbits (New Zealand White Rabbit), age 8 weeks were used. Skin wound were surgically created dorso-lateral on the flank of 10 rabbits (2$\times$2 cm/damage areas). The experimental animals were treated with 5Hz (830 nm wave length) low-intensity laser (MILTA-01 Model) daily for 10 min (1.6 J/$cm^2$) for 12 days. Control animals were sham treated with the laser head. Laser irradiation animals showed a complete remodeling of the epithelial layer, a positive repair of connective tissues, and enhanced the wound closure rate over time as compared to the control animals. Especially, laser irradiation groups improved fibroblast activity, cellular content, granulation tissue formation, and collagen deposition which is resulted in improving the tensile strength of the wound. These findings suggest that laser photostimulation could accelerate healing of open wound in rabbits, and may be benefit in the treatment of open wound, including decubitis ulcers.