• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.62-67
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• 2009

For diagnoses of digestive organs, capsule endoscopes are widely used and offer valuable information without patient's discomfort. A general capsule endoscope which consists of image sensing module, telemetry module and battery is able to move along gastro-intestinal tracts passively only through peristaltic waves. Thus, it is likely to have some limitations for doctor to acquire images from the desired organs and to diagnose them effectively. As solutions to these problems, a locomotive function of capsule endoscopes has being developed. We have proposed a capsule-type microrobot with synchronized multiple legs. However, the proposed capsular microrobot also has some limitations, such as low speed in advancement, inconvenience to controlling the microrobot, lack of an image module, and deficiency in a steering module. In this paper, we will describe the limitations of the locomotive microrobot and propose solutions to the drawbacks. The solutions are applied to the capsular microrobot and evaluated by in-vitro tests. Based on the experimental results, we conclude that the proposed solutions are effective and appropriate for the locomotive microrobot to explore inside intestinal tracts.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.47-59
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• 2013

Objective : Syndrome differentiation(辨證) has clinical importance in East Asian Traditional Medicine. There are several ways for Syndrome differentiation. However, Eight Principle Pattern Identification(八綱辨證) is the base of other Syndrome differentiations. Of the physicians focused on Eight Principle Patterns(八綱), I have researched for Eight Principle Pattern Identification concerning with Zhang Jie-Bin(張介賓), Cheng Guo-Peng(程國彭), and Jiang Han-Tun(江涵暾) in Ming(明) and Qing(淸.) Method : Applying to Eight Principle Pattern Identification, I have researched comparatively for 3 kinds for. First, Zhang Jie-Bin's Jingyuequanshu(景岳全書) that involves Yinyangpian(陰陽篇), Liubianbian(六變辨), Biaozhengpian(表證篇), Lizhengpian(裏證篇), Xushipian(虛實篇), and Hanrepian(寒熱篇), secondly, Cheng Guo-Peng's Yixuexinwu(醫學心悟) Hanrexushibiaoliyinyangbian(寒熱虛實表裏陰陽辨), at lastly Jiang Han-Tun's Bihuayijing(筆花醫鏡) Biaolixushihanreyinyangbian(表裏虛實寒熱辨). Results : All of sick cases can be explained totally by Eight Principle Patterns. Of Eight Principle Patterns, Yin(陰) and Yang(陽) include last Six Principle Patterns(六綱 : 表裏, 寒熱, 虛實). Six Principle Patterns can be divided normally by 6 pulses(六脈 : 浮沈 遲數 虛實). In all of pain cases, feeling comfortable(可按) or discomfortable(拒按) to palpation can be important foundation for distinguishing Xu(虛) from Shi(實). Physical constitution(體質) for Hanre Xushi(寒熱 虛實) and tongue-diagnosis(舌診) for Biaoli Hanre(表裏 寒熱) are used effectively. Related with tongue-diagnosis, tongue-coating(舌苔) for Biaoli and tongue status(舌質) for Hanre are used effectively. Symptoms should be divided following this sequence, Biaoli ${\rightarrow}$ Hanre ${\rightarrow}$ Xushi and lastly should be summarized of Yinyang. Conclusion : Diagnosing with Eight Principle Patterns, digestive function, urine, and feces should be checked at first. In addition, the pulse, tongue, physical constitution, and good or bad from palpation(觸診), these should be checked and give a result. And then the result can be an important evidence of syndrome differentiation. As a result, it would be the best to diagnosis that discriminating the sequence as Biaoli Hanre Xushi and summarizing with Yinyang.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.127-142
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• 2004

Objective : To evaluate the effect of Oriental medical treatment on a patient with Ramsay Hunt syndrome with poor prognosis on EMG. Methods : We applied various methods of Oriental Medical treatment including Acupuncture, Electroacupuncture, Herb medicine, Vesiculation therapy using Mylabris and Crontonis Fructus, Massage, Self-excercise of face muscles. Results : 1. Herb medicine was applied on the basis of Differentiation of Syndromes(辨證): We tried Herb medicine to improve the function of Digestive System. The patient's stool condition, subjective sensation related with abdominal pain and general condition improved. 2. We used the Vesiculation therapy using Mylabris which was used traditionally to treat Facial Palsy. We powdered Mylabris and mixed it with Crontonis Fructus to make a paste. We put it on Ye-poong(?風), Nae-gwan(內關) at left side. It induced vesicles at the applied area, but it disappeared in 48 hours without any scar. 3. We applied acupuncture, electroacupunture, massage and self-excercise of face muscles. On gross scale assessment, there was some improvement. And assessment with regional scale also showed changes. The patient and the guardian were satisfied with the result. Conclusion : We experienced a case of Ramsay Hunt syndrome with poor prognosis on EMG. She also showed poor response to conservative treatment. Through various modalities of Oriental medical treatment, we attained some clinical improvement.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.187-196
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• 2006

The mammalian trematode Paragonimus westermani is a typical digenetic parasite, which can cause paragonimiasis in humans. Host tissues and blood cells are important sources of nutrients for development, growth and reproduction of P. westermani. In this study, a cDNA clone encoding a 47 kDa hemoglobinase of P. westermani was characterized by sequencing analysis, and its localization was investigated immunohistochemically. The phylogenetic tree prepared based on the hemoglobinase gene showed high homology with hemoglobinases of Fasciola hepatica and Schistosoma spp. Moreover, recombinant P. westermani hemoglobinase degradaded human hemoglobin at acidic pH (from 3.0 to 5.5) and its activity was almost completely inhibited by E-64, a cysteine proteinase inhibitor. Immunohistochemical studies showed that P. westermani hemoglobinase was localized in the epithelium of the adult worm intestine implying that the protein has a specific function. These observations suggest that hemoglobinase may act as a digestive enzyme for acquisition of nutrients from host hemoglobin. Further investigations may provide insights into hemoglobin catabolism in P. westermani.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.25-34
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• 2002

In view of increasing environmental pollution, the organic farming in animal production is becoming increasingly urgent. The problems of veterinary medicine have not diminished through the most dangerous epidemic diseases. Organic farming attempts to function in harmony with the environment. The first criterion of the organic farm is that the animal must be self-sustaining. Their food must be produced to a large extent on the farm. The position of ruminants in biological systems is determined by the fact that this group of farm animals is provided with a digestive system which optimizes the utilization of the products of gut microfloral fermentation. The cattle do not require large amounts of concentrate feeling nor gross ugly farm building for intensive rearing. The economic profitability of a cow depends. on the first instance, on the level of milk production and the number of lactations. The length of life is an important factor since the tilde to maturing is relatively high in a cow. The result is that dairy cows in organic farming have greater length of live, and produce more milk in their life time than the shorter lived high input cow. This paper. therefore, discussed the problems of modern cattle farming and development trends of organic farming in Germany and Korea.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.176-182
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• 2006

Sorghum bicolor L. Moench(Sorghum, Su-Su) is a major cereal food crop used in many parts of the world. It is used as a human food resource and folk medicines in Asia and Africa. The stem of sorghum has been used as a digestive aid and an anti-diarrheal agent. Sorghum hybrids contain high levels of diverse phenolic compounds that may provide health benefits. High levels of polyflavanols, anthocyanins, phenolic acids, and other antioxidant compounds have been reported in sorghums, which have also been shown to possess various biological activities such as anti-mutagenic, anti-carcinogenic, and HMG-CoA reductase inhibitory activities. In an in vitro experiment, we examined mice splenocyte proliferation and production of three types of cytokine($IL-1{\beta},\;IL-6,\;TNF-{\alpha}$) by peritoneal macrophages cultured with ethanol and water extracts of Sorghum bicolor L. Moench. A single cell suspension of splenocytes was prepared and the cell proliferation of the splenocytes was examined by MTT assay. The splenocyte proliferation was increased when water extracts of Sorghum bicolor L. Moench were used as supplements in all concentrations investigated. The production of cytokine($IL-1{\beta},\;IL-6,\;TNF-{\alpha}$) by activated peritoneal macrophage was detected by ELISA using the cytokine kit. $IL-1{\beta},\;IL-6,\;and\;TNF-{\alpha}$ production by activated macrophages were increased by supplementation with Sorghum bicolor L. Moench water extracts. This study suggests that supplementation of with Sorghum bicolor L. Moench water extracts may enhance immune function by regulating the splenocyte proliferation and enhancing the cytokine production by activated macrophages in vitro.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1569-1575
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• 2016

Two experiments were conducted to examine the influence of kaolinite clay supplementation (0%, 1%, or 2% diet dry matter [DM] basis) on characteristics of digestion (Trial 1) and growth performance (Trial 2) in calf-fed Holstein steers fed a finishing diet. In Trial 1, 6 Holstein steers ($539{\pm}15kg$) with ruminal and duodenal cannulas were used to evaluate treatment effects on characteristics of digestion. Kaolinite clay supplementation decreased total tract DM digestion (linear effect, p<0.01) without effects ($p{\geq}0.10$) on site and extent of digestion of organic matter, neutral detergent fiber, starch and N, or ruminal microbial efficiency. There were no treatment effects on ruminal pH, volatile fatty acids molar proportions or estimated methane production. In Trial 2, 108 Holstein steers ($132.4{\pm}5.6kg$) were used in a 308-d study to evaluate growth performance and carcass characteristics. There were no treatment effects (p>0.10) on average daily gain (ADG) and gain efficiency (ADG/dry matter intake). Kaolinite supplementation tended (linear effect, p = 0.08) to increase dietary net energy (NE) during the initial 112-d period. However, the overall (308-d) effect of supplementation dietary NE was not appreciable (p>0.20). However, due to the inertness of kaolinite, itself, the ratio of observed-to-expected dietary NE increased with kaolinite supplementation. This effect was more pronounced (linear effect, $p{\leq}0.03$) during the initial 224 d of the study. Overall (308 d), kaolinite supplementation tended to increase (linear effect, p = 0.07) dietary NE by 3% over expected. Kaolinite supplementation did not affect carcass weight, yield grade, longissimus area, kidney, pelvic and heart fat, and quality grade, but decreased (linear effect, p = 0.01) dressing percentage. It is concluded that kaolinite supplementation up to 2% of diet DM may enhance energetic efficiency of calf-fed Holstein steers in a manner independent of changes in characteristics of ruminal and total tract digestion.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.4291-4295
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• 2015

Background: Chemokines and their receptors influence carcinogenesis and cysteine-cysteine chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) directs spread of cancer to other tissues. A 32 base pair deletion in the coding region of CCR5 that might alter the expression or function of the protein has been implicated in a variety of immune-mediated diseases. The action of antiviral drugs being proposed as adjuvant therapy in cancer is dependent on CCR5 wild type status. In the present study, distribution of CCR5${\Delta}32$ polymorphism was assessed in North Indian esophageal cancer patients to explore the potential of using chemokine receptors antagonists as adjuvant therapy. Materials and Methods: DNA samples of 175 sporadic esophageal cancer patients (69 males and 106 females) and 175 unrelated healthy control individuals (69 males and 106 females) were screened for the CCR5${\Delta}32$ polymorphism by direct polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: The frequencies of wild type homozygous (CCR5/CCR5), heterozygous (CCR5/${\Delta}32$) and homozygous mutant (${\Delta}32/{\Delta}32$) genotypes were 96.0 vs 97.72%, 4.0 vs 1.71% and 0 vs 0.57% in patients and controls respectively. There was no difference in the genotype and allele frequencies of CCR5${\Delta}32$ polymorphism in esophageal cancer patients and control group. Conclusions: The CCR5${\Delta}32$ polymorphism is not associated with esophageal cancer in North Indians. As the majority of patients express the wild type allele, there is potential of using antiviral drug therapy as adjuvant therapy.

• KIPS Transactions on Software and Data Engineering
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• v.3 no.6
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• pp.231-236
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• 2014

The transit time of contrast agents and the parameters of time-intensity curves in ultrasonography are important factors to diagnose various diseases of a digestive organ. We have implemented an automatic parametric imaging method to overcome the difficulty of the diagnosis by naked eyes. However, the micro-bubble noise and the respiratory motions may degrade the reliability of the parameter images. In this paper, we introduce an optimization technique based on MRF(Markov Random Field) model to enhance the quality of the parameter images, and present an image tracking algorithm to compensate the image distortion by respiratory motions. A method to extract the respiration periods from the ultrasound image sequence has been developed. We have implemented the ROI(Region of Interest) tracking algorithm using the dynamic weights and a momentum factor based on these periods. An energy function is defined for the Gibbs sampler of the image enhancement method. Through the experiments using the data to diagnose liver lesions, we have shown that the proposed method improves the quality of the parametric images.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2010

Objectives This study is to find out how fungiform papillae count, which represents the density of taste buds, is related to eating behavior of children and adolescents. Methods The authors measured fungiform papillae count, height, and weight of 50 healthy children aged from 2 to 15. To evaluate the severity of anorexia, parents of the subjects answered modified version of Korean Children's Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (K-CEBQ). Children with weight of less than 50th percentile were assigned to low-weight group, while the others to high-weight group. Pearson's correlation test was conducted in order to evaluate the relationship between modified K-CEBQ score and fungiform papillae count. Results Low-weight children scored $29.8{\pm}9.1$, while high-weight children scored $24.5{\pm}7.1$. (p<0.05) on modified K-CEBQ Pearson's correlation coefficient between modified K-CEBQ score and fungiform papillae count was 0.503 (p<0.05) in low-weight group, 0.260 in high-weight group, and 0.339 (p<0.05) in total. However, there were no statistical significance in correlations between modified K-CEBQ score and percentile of weight, height, or BMI. Conclusions Severity of anorexia was correlated to the density of taste buds, especially in children who weighed less than average. The analysis on each single question indicated that children with high taste bud density had poor appetite not because of their inadequate digestive function, but because of their fastidious eating habit. Further study should be focused on finding out which specific aspect of appetite is related to the taste bud density.