• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.43-46
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• 1998

Background and Objectives : Singers, the vocal equivalents of Olympic athletes, may present with vocal dysfunction in the singing voice before adverse effects are noted in the speech mode. For the classically trained singers, any imbalance in the respiratory, laryngeal or resonatory subsystems may manifest first in technical compensations. Therefore it is necessary that baseline values be available in order to differentiate technique related dysfunction from abnormalities within the phonatory system. Materials and Methods : Vocal efficiency measures were collected from 55 classically trained singers and 20 untrained adults. All singers was divided into 3 groups : (1) Singers who have normal larynx with out voice symptoms. (2) Singers who have vocal nodule without voice symptoms. (3) Singers who have vocal nodule with voice complaints. Results and Conclusion : Results were compared with each other. Differences in each group wert found, suggesting the need for separate normative data to be used for the evaluation of the classically trained singers.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.356-361
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• 2015

Mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with insulin resistance and diabetes. We previously showed that retinoid X receptor ${\alpha}$ ($RXR{\alpha}$) played an important role in transcriptional regulation of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) genes in cells with mitochondrial dysfunction caused by mitochondrial DNA mutation. In this study, we investigated whether mitochondrial dysfunction induced by incubation with OXPHOS inhibitors affects insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) mRNA and protein levels and whether $RXR{\alpha}$ activation or overexpression can restore IRS1 expression. Both IRS1 and $RXR{\alpha}$ protein levels were significantly reduced when C2C12 myotubes were treated with the OXPHOS complex inhibitors, rotenone and antimycin A. The addition of $RXR{\alpha}$ agonists, 9-cis retinoic acid (9cRA) and LG1506, increased IRS1 transcription and protein levels and restored mitochondrial function, which ultimately improved insulin signaling. $RXR{\alpha}$ overexpression also increased IRS1 transcription and mitochondrial function. Because $RXR{\alpha}$ overexpression, knock-down, or activation by LG1506 regulated IRS1 transcription mostly independently of mitochondrial function, it is likely that $RXR{\alpha}$ directly regulates IRS1 transcription. Consistent with the hypothesis, we showed that $RXR{\alpha}$ bound to the IRS1 promoter as a heterodimer with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\delta}$ ($PPAR{\delta}$). These results suggest that $RXR{\alpha}$ overexpression or activation alleviates insulin resistance by increasing IRS1 expression.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.103-109
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• 2008

Purpose: This review illustrates an importance of oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) generation in association with eye disease, especially of cataract, and discusses an important role of lipid peroxide as a mediator of oxidative stress-related ocular dysfunction. Methods: Oxidative stress, resulted from the cellular production of ROS and RNS, is known to cause various forms of cellular damages such as protein oxidation, DNA breaks, apoptosis, and lipid peroxidation. These damages can be developed to human diseases. Accumulating evidence strongly suggests that continuous or constant exposure of eye tissues to oxidative stress is a main cause of cataractogenesis. Therefore, we investigated the action of oxidative stress in ocular dysfunction. Results: The ocular lens is continuously attacked by ROS inevitable generated from the process of cellular metabolism and the chronic exposure to ultraviolet. Excessive generation of ROS, resulting in degradation, oxidation, crosslinking and aggregation of lens proteins, is regarded as an important factor in development of cataract. Conclusions: These oxidative stress and oxidant/antioxidant imbalance produces the excess ROS which can lead to eye dysfunction. Even though known results, it should be noted that there is limited information on the molecular mechanism which can be better defined with the interrelation of oxidative stress and optic abnormalities.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.317-326
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• 1999

Background: Neural control of airway function is through parasympathetic, sympathetic and non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic mechanisms. The autonomic nervous system controls the airway smooth muscle tone, mucociliary system, permeability and blood flow in the bronchial circulation and release of mediators from the mast cells and other inflammatory cells. The cardiovascular and respiratory autonomic efferent fibers have a common central origin, so altered cardiovascular autonomic reflexes could reflect the altered respiratory autonomic status. Therefore, we performed this study to assess the autonomic abnormality and determine the correlating factors of severity of autonomic neuropathy in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) using easily reproducible cardiovascular autonomic reflex function test. Method: The study included 20 patients with COPD and 20 healthy persons obtained on Health Promotion Center in Yeungnam university hospital. All the patients had history and clinical features of COPD as defined by the American Thoracic Society. Any patients with myocardial ischemia, cardiac arrythmia, hypertension, central or peripheral nervous system disease, diabetes mellitus, or any other diseases known to produce autonomic neuropathy, has excluded. The autonomic nervous system function tests included three tests evaluating the parasympathetic system and two tests evaluating the sympathetic system. And also all subjects were subjected to pulmonary function test and arterial blood gas analysis. Results: Autonomic dysfunction was more commonly associated with patients with COPD than healthy person The parasympathetic dysfunction was frequent in patient with COPD, but sympathetic dysfunction seemed preserved. The severity of parasympathetic dysfunction in patients with COPD was correlated with the degree of duration of disease, smoking, reductions in the value of $FEV_1$ and FVC, and arterial hypoxemia but no such correlation existed for age, type of COPD, $FEV_1$/FVC, or $PaCO_s$. Conclusion: There is high frequency of parasympathetic dysfunction associated with COPD and the parasympathetic abnormality in COPD is increased in proportion to severity of airway disease. In COPD, parasympathetic dysfunction probably does not the cause of disease, but it may be an effect of disease progression.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.24-29
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• 2018

In order to define the effect of Torilis Fructus(TF) extract which has been used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, experiments were carried out by organ bath study, histochemical and immunohistochemical methods. First, in the organ bath study, when TF extract was administered to the maxillary contracted corpus cavernosum by PE ($10^{-6}M$), there was a significant relaxation effect on corpus cavernosum at concentration of 1, $3mg/m{\ell}$. Compared with the absence of $\text\tiny{L}$-NNA pretreatmen, pretreatment of $\text\tiny{L}$-NNA was inhibited the relaxation effect of penile corpus cavernosum. In the immunohistochemical study, the eNOS positive reaction was significantly increased, and the PDE5 positive reaction was significantly decreased due to the administration of TF extract. Therefore, it show that the TF enhances the production of eNOS and NO, inhibits PDE5 which blocks the action of increased cGMP, relaxes the corpus cavernosum. So TF relaxes the corpus cavernosum and it can be used as a safer erectile dysfunction treatment.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.103-109
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• 2009

It was described in "Somun Jogyeongron" that Eum(Yin)-Yang' deficiency, excess and exuberance. According to "Somun Jogyeongron", It was known that the syndrome of Yang deficiency and exuberance is belong to external contraction, Eum deficiency and exuberance is belong to internal damage. The syndrome of Yang deficiency is belong to Gyejitang[contraction of wind] which constitutional weakness as the main etiological factor of deficiency conditions. The syndrome of Yang exuberance is belong to Mahwangtang[cold damage] which constitutional strong as the main etiological factor of exuberance conditions. Eum deficiency is so dysfunction of the spleen and stomach that Eum fluid and essence is not engender, distributed. So the dysfunction of spleen and stomach makes dampness-heat obstruction and then makes Internal heat at last. The syndrome of Eum deficiency is applicable to bojungikgitang. As contrasted with Eum deficiency, Eum exuberance is occurred cold-dampness obstruction, which we call 'Eum exuberance'. The syndrome of Yang exuberance is applicable to Ijungtang. In the light of "Somun Jogyongron", We explain that the syndrome of Yin deficiency and Yin exuberance, which was caused by dampness-heat, cold-dampness obstruction and internal damage based on disorder of the spleen and stomach.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.13-20
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• 2016

Recently, the concern of aging society is 'Healthy life' for the elderly and pre-elderly. Especially, realizing the 'Healthy life', it is very important for the elderly to establish living environment for holding and maintaining mental depression. Mental depression is related to dysfunction of sensory organ included physical functions. Therefore, the dysfunction of elderly's sensory organ is required to the guideline of environmental planning. In this study, among five senses, I focused visual sense due to the large proportion of environmental perception. The purpose of this study is to analyze the degree of geriatric depression and preference of simulated images applying preferable color for the elderly. This study conducted literature review and questionnaire survey. Firstly, the previous studies related with the melancholy, sense of isolation, self-regard for the elderly analyzed. Secondly, the questionnaire tool measuring the degree of geriatric depression developed. Thirdly, the tool investigating the preference for the simulated images applied main, sub, and accent colors produced. Applied preferable colors were used from the results previous study. Lastly, based on the result, the basic data of color planning were suggested. It was judged that this study is an useful as the basic guideline of color planning for the elderly's residential spaces and the potential value of considering geriatric depression and the color planning in terms of the elderly's visual sense.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.523-528
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• 2016

Urotensin II (UII) is a potent vasoactive peptide and mitogenic agent to induce proliferation of various cells including vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). In this study, we examined the effects of a novel UII receptor (UT) antagonist, KR-36676, on vasoconstriction of aorta and proliferation of aortic SMCs. In rat aorta, UII-induced vasoconstriction was significantly inhibited by KR-36676 in a concentration-dependent manner. In primary human aortic SMCs (hAoSMCs), UII-induced cell proliferation was significantly inhibited by KR-36676 in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, KR-36676 decreased UII-induced phosphorylation of ERK, and UII-induced cell proliferation was also significantly inhibited by a known ERK inhibitor U0126. In mouse carotid ligation model, intimal thickening of carotid artery was dramatically suppressed by oral treatment with KR-36676 (30 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks compared to vehicle-treated group. From these results, it is indicated that KR-36676 suppress UII-induced proliferation of VSMCs at least partially through inhibition of ERK activation, and that it also attenuates UII-induced vasoconstriction and vascular neointima formation. Our study suggest that KR-36676 may be an attractive candidate for the pharmacological management of vascular dysfunction.

• Journal of Information Technology Applications and Management
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.27-40
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• 2019

As reliance on information and communication becomes widespread, a variety of information dysfunctions such as hacking, viruses, and the infringement of personal information are also occurring. Korean adolescents are especially exposed to an environment in which they are experiencing information dysfunction. In addition, youth cybercrimes are steadily occurring. To prevent cybercrime and the damage caused by information dysfunction, information security practices are essential. Accordingly, the purpose of this study is to discuss the factors affecting the information security practices of Korean youths, considering information security education, perceived severity, and perceived vulnerability as leading factors of the theory of planned behavior. A questionnaire survey was administered to 118 middle and high school students. Results of the hypothesis test show that information security education affects perceived behavior control, and perceived severity affects attitude. Subjective norms, information security attitudes, and perceived behavioral control were found to influence adolescents' practices of information security. However, perceived vulnerabilities did not affect youths' information security attitudes. This study confirms that information security education can help youths to practice information security. In other words, information security education is important, and it is a necessary element in the information curriculum of contemporary youth. However, perceived vulnerability to youth information security threats did not affect information security attitudes. Consequently, we suggest that it is necessary to strengthen the contents of the information security education for Korean youths.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.68 no.3
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• pp.125-139
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• 2010

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) frequently complain of dyspnea on exertion and reduced exercise capacity, which has been attributed to an increase in the work of breathing and in impaired of gas exchange. Although COPD primarily affects the pulmonary system, patients with COPD exhibit significant systemic manifestations of disease progression. These manifestations include weight loss, nutritional abnormalities, skeletal muscle dysfunction (SMD), cardiovascular problems, and psychosocial complications. It has been documented that SMD significantly contributes to a reduced exercise capacity in patients with COPD. Ventilatory and limb muscle in these patients show structural and functional alteration, which are influenced by several factors, including physical inactivity, hypoxia, smoking, aging, corticosteroid, malnutrition, systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and ubiquitin-proteasome pathway activation. This article summarizes briefly the evidence and the clinical consequences of SMD in patients with COPD. In addition, it reviews contributing factors and therapeutic strategies.