• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
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• 제33권3호
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• pp.141-147
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• 2012

In this paper, we have investigated effects of two specific meditations (Chinese qigong meditation and Kundalini yoga meditation) on the heart rate variability (HRV), which is a well-known quantitative measure of autonomic balance, of skilled students. To analyze the effects, the MIT/BIH physionet database was utilized. The database includes RR intervals of eight skilled Chinese qigong meditators (5 women and 3 men; age range 26-35) and four skilled Kundalini yoga meditators (2 women and 2 men; age range 20-52). RR intervals of each subject were measured before and during the meditations. For HRV analysis, we have used typical four HRV parameters - the low frequency to high frequency power ratio (LF/HF ratio), SD2/SD1 ratio, sample entropy, and fractal dimension. The LF/HF ratio was calculated by the autoregressive spectrum and the SD2/SD1 ratio was derived from the Poincar$\grave{e}$ plot. The sample entropy was computed from the phase space plot and the fractal dimension was estimated by the Higuchi's algorithm. In the experiments, the Wilcoxon signed rank test was employed because we used small datasets and compared HRV parameters before and during the meditations. As a result, we have found increment of the LF/HF and SD2/SD1 ratios in both meditations; whereas the sample entropy is decreased during the meditations. In addition, the fractal dimension is increased during the Chinese qigong meditation; whereas it is decreased during the Kundalini yoga meditation. The results show that the sympathetic nervous system is generally more activated in skilled Chinese qigong and Kundalini yoga meditators, but the activation of the parasympathetic nervous tone is suppressed.

• 한국약용작물학회지
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• 제28권1호
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• pp.38-46
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• 2020

Background: Although Sancho (Zanthoxylum schinifolium Siebold & Zucc) oil has traditionally been used for its antibiotics properties, there is currently a lack of scientific evidence regarding its biological activities. In this study, we investigated the antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of Sancho oil against food-hazardous microorganisms, phytopathogens, and dermatophytes. Methods and Results: We investiated the antimicrobial activity of Sancho oil against 11 food-hazardous microorganisms, nine phytopathogens, and six dermatophytes. The Sancho oil was found to show the strongest antibacterial activity against Shigella flexneri and Listeria spp. Sancho oil also showed high antifungal activity against plant pathogens, particularly Fusarium oxysporum, and showed antimicrobial activity against dermatophytes such as Trichophyton rubrum, Microsporum canis and Candida albicans. The antioxidant activity of Sancho oil was measured using the DPPH method, and was found to be stronger than that of unrefined oil. Moreover, this activity increased with increasing oil concentration. Conclusions: We found that Sancho oil showed differing antimicrobial activities against food-hazardous microorganisms, dermatophytes, and plant pathogens. The antimicrobial activity spectrum of Sancho oil was not broad and varied among microbial strains. On the basis of our findings, we consider that Sancho oil could be used an antibacterial material for food-borne S. flexneri and Listeria spp., a biopesticide for Fusarium spp., and a treatment for dermatophytes such as T. rubrum.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.47-52
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• 2010

The Malassezia fungi are responsible for various human skin disorders including dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis. Of the Malassezia fungi, Malassezia globosa (M. globosa) is one of the most common in human scalp. The completed genome sequence of M. globosa contains four putative cytochrome P450 genes. To determine the roles of Malassezia P450 enzymes in the biosynthesis of ergosterol, we isolated MGL3996 gene from M. globosa chromosomal DNA by PCR. The MGL3996 gene encodes an enzyme of 616 amino acids, which shows strong similarity with known CYP52s of other species. MGL3996 gene was cloned and expressed in Pichia pastoris (P. pastoris) heterologous yeast expression system. Using the yeast microsomes expressing MGL3996 protein, a typical P450 CO-difference spectrum was shown with absorption maximum at 448 nm. SDS-PAGE analysis revealed a protein band of apparent molecular weight 69 kDa and Western blot with anti-histidine tag antibody showed that MGL3996 was successfully expressed in P. pastoris. Cloning and expression of a new P450 gene is an important step to study the P450 monooxygenase system of M. globosa and to understand the role of P450 enzymes in pathophysiology of dandruff.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제31권2호
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• pp.265-274
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• 1998

To investigate the change of nitric oxide(NO), copper, and zinc in serum on smoking and alcohol ingestion in young adults, this study was performed in a cross-sectional study in 127 healthy men in Korea who had HBsAg(-), HCVAb(-), and no symptomatic liver, heart, gastrointestinal, chronic diseases, and inflammatory sign(lower than 10,000 white blood cell count in CBC). At the men's entry into the study, blood samples were drawn from each subject and immediately centrifuged for analysis of NO, copper, and zinc. Each man completed a questionnaire that provided information on smoking, alcohol intake and present and past medical history NO was analyzed by HPLC(Green et al., 1982), copper and zinc by atomic absorption spectrophotometer with air-acetylene flame and total cholesterol(TC) by Spectrum EPX. Smoking(number of cigarettes per day and pack-year) and alcohol intake was grouped fertile. Copper was adjusted for age and zinc and for age and TC. NO, copper, and zinc on smoking and alcohol ingestion were analyzed in general linear models, respectively. NO, copper and zinc in serum did not show statistical differences between non-smoking and high-smoking group and no-alcohol intake and high-alcohol intake group. This study suggested that copper, zinc, and NO was not. good biological marker for early effect by smoking and alcohol intake in young adults. However, selection bias should be considered in evaluation of this result. A large prospective study will be needed in advance on usefulness of copper, zinc, and NO as a marker for risk factors and early change of atherosclerosis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.879-894
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• 2016

In micro-fluid systems, fluids are injected into extremely narrow polymer channels in small amounts such as micro-, nano-, or pico-liter scales. These channels themselves are embedded on tiny chips. Various specialized structures in the chips including pumps, valves, and channels allow the chips to accept different types of fluids to be entered the channel and along with flowing through the channels, exert their effects in the framework of different reactions. The chips are generally crystal, silicon, or elastomer in texture. These highly organized structures are equipped with discharging channels through which products as well as wastes of the reactions are secreted out. A particular advantage regarding the use of fluids in micro-scales over macro-scales lies in the fact that these fluids are much better processed in the chips when they applied as micro-scales. When the laboratory is miniaturized as a microchip and solutions are injected on a micro-scale, this combination makes a specialized construction referred to as "lab-on-chip". Taken together, micro-fluids are among the novel technologies which further than declining the costs; enhancing the test repeatability, sensitivity, accuracy, and speed; are emerged as widespread technology in laboratory diagnosis. They can be utilized for monitoring a wide spectrum of biological disorders including different types of cancers. When these microchips are used for cancer monitoring, circulatory tumor cells play a fundamental role.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• 제8권1호
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• pp.19-27
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• 2010

To discover genetic markers for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), we previously applied genome-wide BAC array comparative genomic hybridization (array-CGH) to 28 autistic patients and 62 normal controls in Korean population, and identified that chromosomal losses on 8p23.1 and on 17p11.2 are significantly associated with autism. In this study, we developed an 8.5K ASD-specific BAC array covering 27 previously reported ASD-associated CNV loci including ours and examined whether the associations would be replicated in 8 ASD patient cell lines of four different ethnic groups and 10 Korean normal controls. As a result, a CNV-loss on 8p23.1 was found to be significantly more frequent in patients regardless of ethnicity (p<0.0001). This CNV region contains two coding genes, DEFA1 and DEFA3, which are members of DEFENSIN gene family. Two other CNVs on 17p11.2 and Xp22.31 were also distributed differently between ASDs and controls, but not significant (p=0.069 and 0.092, respectively). All the other loci did not show significant association. When these evidences are considered, the association between ASD and CNV of DEFENSIN gene seems worthy of further exploration to elucidate the pathogenesis of ASD. Validation studies with a larger sample size will be required to verify its biological implication.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.42-50
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• 2009

Fifty-four Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum strains isolated in Korea were characterized by a spectrum of antibacterial activities against 7 indicator strains chosen to represent various regions and host plants. All P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum isolates tested could be grouped into 4 classes depending on the pattern of antibacterial substance production. All tested strains had DNA fragment(s) homologous to the genes encoding carotovoricin and 21 of them had genes homologous to DNA invertase. Sixteen strains had genes homologous to the genes encoding carocin S1. Several isolates produced antibacterial substances active against strains in Brenneria, Pantoea, and Pectobacterium genera that belonged formerly to the genus Erwinia. Strains in Pseudomonas or Xanthomonas sp. were not sensitive to the antibacterial substances produced by P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum, except for X. albilineans that was sensitive to antibacterial substances produced by most strains in P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum and P. betavasculorum KACC10056. These results demonstrated the diverse patterns of antibacterial substance production and the possibility of the existence of new antibacterial substance(s) produced by P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum isolated in Korea.

• 대한의용생체공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한의용생체공학회 1989년도 춘계학술대회
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• pp.51-54
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• 1989

지난 몇년동안 생체에서의 MR 스펙트로 스코피(Mangetic Resonance Spectroscopy)를 위하여 ISIS, VSE, SPARS, STEAM 등과 같은 여러 체적 선택의 방법이 연구되어 왔다. 그러나 이들 3차윈 체적 선택의 방법은 여러 RF 펄스를 사용하여야 되었으며 상대적으로 오랜시간 동안의 RF여기시간(Radio frequency excitation time) 때문에 T1과 T2 감소효과의 영향을 크게 받았다. 본 논문에서는 3차원의 체적을 선택하기 위하여 단일 RF펄스의 사용을 제안하고 있는데, 이 방법은 원통형 체적을 선택하기 위한 방사형 경사 코일 (a radial gradient coil) 방법과 진동자계 (oscillating selection gradient) 방법을 결합하고 있다. 이렇게 하므로 단일 RF 펄스만을 사용하여 체적 선택 시간을 최소화하여 여러 RF 펄스를 사용할 경우 발생하는 파생적인 에코 신호(echo signal)를 피할 수 있었다. 제안된 방법에 의한 실험적 연구결과로서 펜톰(phantom)에 대하여 선택된 체적에 대한 영상과 스펙트럼 (spectrum)을 제시하였다.

• 대한의용생체공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한의용생체공학회 1997년도 추계학술대회
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• pp.403-406
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• 1997

Electrogastrogaphy(EGG) is the technique by which gastric myoelectrical activity is recorded noninvasively, from electrodes on the abdominal skin. Despite many attempts made over the decades, the clinical application of the EGG signal has not improved to the identification of waveform characteristics using comparison of EGG signal to be detected other EGG system. Cutaneous measurements of EGG are yet to be standardized in methods of detection and analysis. This may be responsible in part for some of the variability in the results. Thus, we develope EGG system composed of amplifiers, analysis methods, patient database or standardization. we introduce configurations of EGG system and their functions. Several important EGG parameters are introduced, including the dominant frequency and power of the EGG, the relative, period EGG-dominant frequency and power, the instability coefficient of EGG-dominant frequency and power, standard deviation, the percentage of running spectrum activity of gastric slow waves.

• 상하수도학회지
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.201-212
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• 2011

Nanotechnology is the applied science which develops new materials and systems sized within 1 to 100 nanometer, and improves their physical, chemical, and biological characteristics by manipulating on an atomic and molecular scale. This nanotechnology has been applied to wide spectrum of industries resulting in production of various nanoparticles. It is expected that more nanoparticles will be generated and enter to natural water bodies, imposing great threat to potable water resources. However their toxicity and treatment options have not been throughly investigated, despite the significant growth of nanotechnology-based industries. The objective of this study is to provide fundamental information for the management of nanoparticles in water supply systems through extensive literature survey. More specifically, two types of nanoparticles are selected to be a potential problem for drinking water treatment. They are carbon nanoparticles such as carbon nanotube and fullerene, and metal nanoparticles including silver, gold, silica and titanium oxide. In this study, basic characteristics and toxicity of these nanoparticles were first investigated systematically. Their monitoring techniques and treatment efficiencies in conventional water treatment plants were also studied to examine our capability to mitigate the risk associated with nanoparticles. This study suggests that the technologies monitoring nanopartilces need to be greatly improved in water supply systems, and more advanced water treatment processes should be adopted for better control of these nanoparticles.