• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.135-141
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• 2019

Background: The fear of needle insertion and pain during anesthesia is a source of patient dissatisfaction in dentistry. Inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) remains the most common type of block and is in itself painful. Computer-controlled local anesthetic delivery (CCLAD) has been proven to reduce the pain associated with injection of anesthetics in various blocks. However, the efficacy of CCLAD for IANB in adults remains unknown. Methods: Sixty-four adult patients requiring bilateral IANB were selected and divided into two groups: group A (50 patients receiving IANB via CCLAD) and group B (50 patients receiving IANB using a conventional cartridge syringe). Pain perception and patient comfort were assessed using the visual analog scale and the 5-point semantic scale, respectively. Results: The pain perception was compared between the two groups using the Mann-Whitney U-test, and the P value was 0.003. The patient comfort was also compared using the same test, and the P value was 0.484. Conclusion: A significant difference was observed in the pain perception of the patients during CCLAD. The patient comfort was grossly equal for both techniques.

• New & Renewable Energy
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.35-45
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• 2022

The renewable energy based MG is becoming one of the prominent solutions for greenhouse gas and constructing less power lines. However, how to procure the economics of MG considering the CO₂ emission and utility network impact is one of major issues as the proportion of renewable resource increases. This paper proposes the feasibility study scheme of campus MG and shows that the LCOE and CO₂ emission can be reduced by utilizing the excess power and introducing hydrogen system and plus DR. For this, the three cases: (a) adding the PV and selling excess power to utility, (b) producing and selling hydrogen using excess power, and (c) participating in plus DR are considered. For each case, not only the topology and component capacity of MG to secure economic feasibility, but also CO₂ emission and utility network effects are derived. If an electrolyzer with a capacity of 400 kW participates in plus DR for 3,730hours/year, the economic feasibility is securable if plus DR settlement and hydrogen sale price are more than 7.08¢/kWh and 8.3USD/kg or 6.25¢/kWh and 8.6USD/kg, respectively. For this end, continuous technical development and policy support for hydrogen system and plus DR are required.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.543-559
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• 2009

Dr Lillehei (1918$\sim$1999) pioneered cardiac surgery with his landmark operations using cross-circulation in 1954 and 1955. With his dedications to open heart surgery, he is generally considered to be the father of open heart surgery by many medical historians. Dr Lillehei expanded his contributions to cardiac surgery with training 134 cardiothoracic surgeons at the University of Minnesota Hospital and he trained an additional 20 surgeons at the Cornell Medical Center. Dr Lillehei's trainees came from all over the world and Dr YK lee (1921$\sim$1994) of Seoul National University was among them. He joined the University of Minnesota Hospital in 1957 as a part of the Minnesota project. During his stay for two years, in addition to experimental research, he learned clinical cardiac surgery as part of Dr Lillehei's team. In 1959, after returning to Korea, Dr Lee began his career as. a full-time cardiac surgeon with establishing the Division of Cardiac Surgery at Seoul National University. Hospital. Yet he encountered many difficult barriers in the process. During that time, Dr Lillehei was willing to share his experience and he provided many valuable resources for cardiac operations. With Dr Lillehei's kind help, the open heart surgery program was gradually and successfully established at Seoul National University Hospital. These two surgical titans from across the Pacific Ocean died in 1994 (Dr Lee) and 1999 (Dr Lillehei). They are gone, yet the proud Korean people have not forgotten them.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.1028-1040
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• 2019

The current study was performed to investigate the magnitude of exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) after downhill running (DR) of different intensities and to examine the availability of muscle echo intensity as biomarkers to detect regional damage within quadriceps muscle group (QG) following DR. Healthy college-age men (n=11) were experienced twice DR sessions [$50%HR_{max}$ DR, LDR; $70%HR_{max}$ DR, HDR] separated by a 2-week wash-out period with the random order. After DR, severity of EIMD according to exercise intensity were determined by serum creatine kinase (CK) activity, muscle tenderness, and neuromuscular function indicators such as a maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) and range of motion (ROM). Transvaginal B-mode imaging had been employed to evaluate regional muscle echo intensity within QG [rectus femoris, RF; vastus lateralis, VL; vastus medialis, VM; vastus intermedius, VI]. After both DR sessions, changes in serum CK activity and muscle tenderness have tended to more increase in HDR compared to those of LDR. There was a significant interaction effect between exercise intensity during DR and the time course of serum CK activity(p<.05). However, there were no statistical differences between sessions in muscle tenderness. The time course of changes in the neuromuscular functions after DR were similar to those of regional muscle echo intensity regardless exercise intensity. Although neuromuscular function showed to decline in HDR more than those of LDR after DR, no statistical differences between sessions. In contrast, there were significant interaction effects between sessions and time course of changes in RF and VL muscle echo intensity(p<.01), but not shown in those of VI and VM. These results indicated that each muscles within the QG show different response profiles for EIMD during DR, exercise intensity influences on these responses as well. In particular, current findings suggested that muscle echo intensity derived from ultrasound imaging is capable of detecting regional muscle damage in QG following DR.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.87-98
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• 2014

Objectives : We investigated whether snake venom toxin(SVT) from Vipera lebetina turanica sensitizes HT29 human epithelial colorectal cancer cells to tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand(TRAIL) induced apoptosis in cancer cells. Methods : Cell viability assay was used to assess the inhibitory effect of TRAIL on cell growth of HT29 human colorectal cancer cells. And 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole(DAPI), terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay(TUNEL) staining assay were used to evaluate cell-apoptosis. Western blot analysis were conducted to observe apoptosis related proteins and death receptor. To assess whether the synergized inhibitory effect of SVT and TRAIL on reactive oxygen species(ROS) generation was reversed by strong anti-oxidative agent. Results : SVT with TRAIL inhibited HT29 cell growth different from TRAIL alone. Consistent with cell growth inhibition, the expression of TRAIL receptors; Expression of death receptor(DR)4 and DR5 was significantly increased and intrinsic pro-apoptotic cleaved caspase-3, -9 was subsequently increased together with increase of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and extrinsic pro-apototic caspase-8 was also activated. In addition, the expression of anti-apoptotic survival proteins, a marker of TRAIL resistance(eg, cFLIP, survivin, X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein(XIAP) and Bcl-2) was suppressed by the combination treatment of SVT and TRAIL. Pretreatment with the ROS scavenger N-acetylcysteine abolished the SVT and TRAIL-induced upregulation of DR4 and DR5 expression and expression of the intrinsic pro-apoptotic caspase-3 and-9. Conclusion : The collective results suggest that SVT facilitates TRAIL-induced apoptosis in $HT_{29}$ human epithelial colorectal cancer cells through up-regulation of the TRAIL receptors; DR4 and DR5 and consecutive induction of bilateral apoptosis via regulating apoptosis related proteins.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.271-275
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• 2017

The expression of Deinococcus radiodurans dr1558 and pprM genes was examined for enhanced lysine production in recombinant Corynebacterium glutamicum. These genes are known to confer high tolerance to pH and osmotic shock in Escherichia coli. D. radiodurans dr1558 and pprM genes were expressed in C. glutamicum by using 6 synthetic promoters of different strengths, to evaluate the effect of expression efficiency on lysine production. Recombinant C. glutamicum expressing DR1558 under the L26 and I64 promoters showed higher lysine production than that expressing DR1558 under other promoters. Similarly, recombinant C. glutamicum expressing PprM under same promoters (L26 and I64) showed a higher increase in lysine production compared to that expressing PprM under other promoters. In the absence of $CaCO_3$ in the medium, the expression of DR1558 or PprM also increased lysine concentration in C. glutamicum depending on the promoter used. Together, these results suggest that genes involved in radiation tolerance in D. radiodurans can be used to enhance production of amino acids and their derivatives.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.1371-1374
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• 2015

Background: Tongue cancer is one of the leading sites of cancer in our population. Aim: To evaluate the socio-demographic profiles and stages at diagnosis of oral tongue (OT) and base of tongue (BT) cancers, and identify any possible variations in characteristics. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on tongue cancer cases, divided into OT and BT, registered at the hospital cancer registry of North-East India during January 2010 to May 2013. Cases were analyzed for age, gender, residential status and different levels of education for patients, the stage at diagnosis and presence of distant metastasis. Results: A total of 1,113 cases of tongue cancers were registered, 846(76.1%) of BT and 267(23.9%) of OT. While 33.9% of BT cancer patients were above 65 years of age, the figure for OT cancers was 18.4%, stages III and IV accounting for 90.8% and 77%, respectively. The relative risk for distant metastasis in OT cancers was 3.3 (95% CI 1.08-10.1, p=0.03). Conclusions: In the subsites of tongue cancers in our population, the majority arose from the base of tongue, these tending to occur in older individuals and presenting at late stage.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.239-254
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• 2006

The 3rd Japan-Korea Workshop on Acupuncture and EBM was held at Kanazawa on June $16^{th}$. From Korea team, 4 papers were presented. Dr. Hahn introduced a new approach of data analysis on series of n-of-1 trials using the Bayesian statistics. It offered important information for the future n-of-1 trials. Dr. Park clearly demonstrated the significance of various sham devices proposed and stressed the importance of research questions when we choose the control intervention in RCT. Dr. Lee reported the results of survey in Korean Medical Doctors (KMD) for their point selection and techniques to the distal and local points. Dr. Kim presented the results of face to face survey on the KMD with 28 items for acupuncture treatment on the knee OA. Finally, a draft of protocol was introduced by Dr. Kim. The title was "multi-center, a randomized, single blinded, two arms, parallel-group study to compare the effectiveness and safety of 'individualized acupuncture' and 'standardized minimal acupuncture' in Korean and Japanese patients with knee osteoarthritis (Phase IV)". From Japan team, 7 speakers presented their comments and proposals on the protocol. Dr. Takahashi introduced several issues regarding n-of-1 trials and pointed out the importance of obtaining generalizability from n-of-1 trials. Dr. Shichidou pointed the importance of research design, selection of outcome measures and reduction of biases. Dr. Itoh presented the results of point selection for the knee OA based on the literature survey. Dr. Sumiya introduced several differences between KMD and Japanese acupuncturists based on the questionnaire used in KMD survey. Dr. Furuya demonstrated a result of press tack needle and its sham device on shoulder stiffness. Dr. Yamashita introduced the results of literature survey regarding adverse events occurred by acupuncture on knee OA. Dr.Tsukayama stressed the importance of responsibility of Institutional Review Board (IRB) for the conduction of clinical trials. After several issues were discussed, the need of continued meeting for final protocol development was agreed, then the workshop was closed.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.146-155
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• 2023

Background: Despite the recent increasing trend in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes among older individuals, the relationship between diabetic retinopathy (DR) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) in these patients remains unclear. This study investigated the severity of renal dysfunction according to the degree of DR in older patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: A total of 116 patients with diabetes and CKD stage ≥3 who visited both the nephrology and ophthalmology outpatient departments between July 2021 and January 2022 were screened. There were 53 patients in the no DR group, 20 in the nonproliferative DR (NPDR) group, and 43 in the proliferative DR (PDR) group. Results: DR severity was related to the deterioration of renal function. The proportion of patients with advanced CKD significantly increased with DR severity (p for trend <0.001). In the multivariate regression model adjusted for age of ≥80 years, male sex, poorly controlled diabetes, macroalbuminuria, insulin use, diabetes duration of ≥10 years, cerebrovascular accident, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and cardiovascular disease history, the odds ratio compared with the no DR group was approximately 4.6 for the NPDR group and approximately 11.8 for the PDR group, which were both statistically significant (p=0.025 and p<0.001, respectively). Conclusion: DR severity in older patients with diabetes may be associated with deterioration of renal function and high prevalence of advanced CKD. Therefore, periodic examination for DR in older patients with diabetes is important for predicting renal function deterioration and CKD progression.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.8
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• pp.1408-1415
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• 2008

To produce polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) from inexpensive substrates by bacteria, vegetable-oil-degrading bacteria were isolated from a rice field using enrichment cultivation. The isolated Pseudomonas sp. strain DR2 showed clear orange or red spots of accumulated PHA granules when grown on phosphate and nitrogen limited medium containing vegetable oil as the sole carbon source and stained with Nile blue A. Up to 37.34% (w/w) of intracellular PHA was produced from corn oil, which consisted of three major 3-hydroxyalkanoates; octanoic (C8:0, 37.75% of the total 3-hydroxyalkanoate content of PHA), decanoic (C10:0, 36.74%), and dodecanoic (C12:0, 11.36%). Pseudomonas sp. strain DR2 accumulated up to 23.52% (w/w) of $PHA_{MCL}$ from waste vegetable oil. The proportion of 3-hydroxyalkanoate of the waste vegetable-oil-derived PHA [hexanoic (5.86%), octanoic (45.67%), decanoic (34.88%), tetradecanoic (8.35%), and hexadecanoic (5.24%)] showed a composition ratio different from that of the corn-oil-derived PHA. Strain DR2 used three major fatty acids in the same ratio, and linoleic acid was the major source of PHA production. Interestingly, the production of PHA in Pseudomonas sp. strain DR2 could not occur in either acetate- or butyrate-amended media. Pseudomonas sp. strain DR2 accumulated a greater amount of PHA than other well-studied strains (Chromobacterium violaceum and Ralstonia eutropha H16) when grown on vegetable oil. The data showed that Pseudomonas sp. strain DR2 was capable of producing PHA from waste vegetable oil.