• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.287-293
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• 2012

Knowledge of the prevalence of human Toxoplasma gondii infection is required in the Republic of Korea. In this study, we surveyed the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection and analyzed the risk factors associated with seropositivity among residents in 2 administrative districts; Seoul and the island of Jeju-do, which have contrasting epidemiologic characteristics. Sera and blood collected from 2,150 residents (1,114 in Seoul and 1,036 in Jeju-do) were checked for IgG antibody titers using ELISA and for the T. gondii B1 gene using PCR. In addition, participants completed a questionnaire that solicited information on gender, age, occupation, eating habits, history of contact with animals, and travel abroad. The T. gondii B1 gene was not detected in all residents examined. However, ELISA showed 8.0% (89 of 1,114 sera) positive for IgG antibodies against T. gondii in Seoul and 11.3% (117 of 1,036 sera) in Jeju-do. In both districts, the positive rates were higher in males than in females, and those 40-79 years of age showed higher rates than other ages. In Seoul, residents older than 70 years of age showed the highest positive rate, 14.9%, whereas in Jeju-do the highest prevalence, 15.6%, was in those in their sixties. The higher seropositive rate in Jeju-do than in Seoul may be related to eating habits and occupations. The present results and a review of related literature are indicative of an increased seroprevalence of T. gondii in Korea in recent years.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.118-122
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• 2017

Background and Objectives : In unilateral vocal fold paralysis (VFP), medialization thyroplasty (MT), arytenoid adduction (AA) and injection layrngoplasty (IL) are the most common procedures to correct phonatory problems. There is no consensus that which procedure is superior to the other for correcting the glottal insufficiency. The purpose of this study was to compare the phonatory parameters between MT, AA and AA with IL (AA+IL) in patients with unilateral VFP. Materials and Methods : This retrospective study enrolled patients from 2005 to 2016. Total 72 patients (49 male, 23 female, mean age 54.5 years) were classified into three groups ; MT (n=28), AA (n=12), and AA+IL (n=32). GRBAS scales, maximum phonation time (MPT), jitter, shimmer, noise to harmonic ratio (NHR), and voice handicap index (VHI)-10 and VHI-30 were preoperatively and postoperatively collected and compared between the three groups. Results : Age, gender and cause of VFP were not significantly different between the three groups. In MT and AA groups, MPT, VHI, G (overall grade) and B (breathiness) were significantly improved. In AA+IL group, jitter, shimmer, NHR, MPT, VHI, G and B were significantly improved. In analysis of differences (pre-postoperative values), ${\Delta}$ jitter (p<0.001), ${\Delta}$ shimmer (p=0.031), and ${\Delta}$ NHR (p=0.002) were significantly different and AA+IL group showed the greatest improvement. Conclusion : Analysis of voice parameters showed that all the three procedures for patients with unilateral VFP are effective in the improvement of voice ; especially in MPT, VHI-10, G and B scales. Compared to the others, AA+IL provided the better acoustic values including jitter, shimmer and NHR.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.738-742
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• 2005

This study was designed to investigate the anti-dementia effects of acorn (Quercus acutissima CARR.) in brain of the mouse. Dementia model was induced by administration of scopolamin (30 mg/kg BW) Male ICR mouse $(30{\pm}2g\;BW)$ were fed basal diet (control group), and experimental diets (AP-5 and AP-10 groups) added $5\%\;and\;10\%$ of dried acorn powder to basal diet for 8 months. Acetylcholine content significantly increase in AP-5 and AP-10 groups ($4.2\%\;and\;11.3\%$, respectively) compared with control group. Acetylcholinesterase activities were significantly inhibited ($13.5\%\;and\;17.6\%$, respectively) in brain of AP-5 and AP-10 groups. Monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) activities were significantly inhibited ($10.0\%\;and\;12.7\%$, respectively) in brain of AP-S and AP-10 groups. These results suggest that acorn (Q. acutissima CARR.) may play an effective role in an attenuating various age-related changes such as dementia including learning and memory impairments in brain.

• The KIPS Transactions:PartB
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• v.14B no.6
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• pp.431-436
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• 2007

Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI) has chemical shift phenomenon between fat and water, and the phenomenon has influence on structure enclosed by fat. Strong signals emitted from fat often generate false artefact, which reflects the importance of fat suppression techniques. There have been a number of researches on fat suppression techniques, but using fat suppression method alone in MRI can cause difficultproblems in diagnosis. This paper aims to study a fat suppression method by Chemical Shift Selective saturation(CHESS). This research describes the theoretical background and the experiment on water and fat phantom with MR instruments. In the experiment, CHESS pulse was designed by utilising Matlap program, and the pulse diagram was generated for the Pre-saturation process. The experiment using water and fat phantom was applied to C-spine, L-spine and Breast, and produced successful fat suppression results. This experiment has proved that the CHESSpulse fat suppression is a very helpful technique in diagnosing medical imaging. This method is a robust and useful technique for both clinical and basic investigators..(Experiment with Chungnam national university hospital G.E 1.5T MR)

• The KIPS Transactions:PartB
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• v.15B no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2008

With the growing proliferation of mobile computing devices, several industrial and academic research groups have a vigorous studying to remote control for various appliances with mobile devices such as Notebooks, PDAs, and Smartphones in home network environments. We can utilize the good points of mobile devices such as portability and usability so that we can remote control and manage the mobile devices connected on home networks anytime, anywhere. However, mobile devices use different languages. Therefore, they cause some problems because their interfaces and the methods of operation are different each other. To solve these problems, there are two consideration. First, we may be solved development of the user interface and difficulty of maintenance in order to control various heterogeneous devices. Second, we may provide the user interface which is dynamically adapting user's preferences and device characteristics. To satisfy these considerations, we describe the design of an adaptive user interface for home network environments using the UIML (User Interface Markup Language) based on XML (eXtensible Markup Language) and the profile information of the user and device. Therefore, we present several implementation examples that show how the framework can form the basis of prototypical applications.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.406-412
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• 2012

This study was performed to examine the hepatoprotective effect of isorhamnetin-3-O-galactoside, a flavonoid glycoside isolated from Artemisia capillaris Thunberg (Compositae), against carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-induced hepatic injury. Mice were treated intraperitoneally with vehicle or isorhamnetin-3-O-galactoside (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) 30 min before and 2 h after $CCl_4$ (20 ${\mu}l/kg$) injection. Serum aminotransferase activities and hepatic level of malondialdehyde were significantly higher after $CCl_4$ treatment, and these increases were attenuated by isorhamnetin-3-O-galactoside. $CCl_4$ markedly increased serum tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ level, which was reduced by isorhamnetin-3-O-galactoside. The levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) protein and their mRNA expression levels were significantly increased after $CCl_4$ injection. The levels of HO-1 protein and mRNA expression levels were augmented by isorhamnetin-3-O-galactoside, while isorhamnetin-3-O-galactoside attenuated the increases in iNOS and COX-2 protein and mRNA expression levels. $CCl_4$ increased the level of phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase, extracellular signal-regulated kinase and p38, and isorhamnetin-3-O-galactoside reduced these increases. The nuclear translocation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$), activating protein-1, and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) were significantly increased after $CCl_4$ administration. Isorhamnetin-3-O-galactoside attenuated the increases of NF-${\kappa}B$ and c-Jun nuclear translocation, while it augmented the nuclear level of Nrf2. These results suggest that isorhamnetin-3-O-galactoside ameliorates $CCl_4$-induced hepatic damage by enhancing the anti-oxidative defense system and reducing the inflammatory signaling pathways.

• Kidney Research and Clinical Practice
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.48-57
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• 2017

Background: Hepatic steatosis measured with controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) using transient elastography predicts metabolic syndrome in the general population. We investigated whether CAP predicted metabolic syndrome in chronic kidney disease patients. Methods: CAP was measured with transient elastography in 465 predialysis chronic kidney disease patients (mean age, 57.5 years). Results: The median CAP value was 239 (202-274) dB/m. In 195 (41.9%) patients with metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus was more prevalent (105 [53.8%] vs. 71 [26.3%], P < 0.001), with significantly increased urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (184 [38-706] vs. 56 [16-408] mg/g Cr, P = 0.003), high sensitivity C-reactive protein levels (5.4 [1.4-28.2] vs. 1.7 [0.6-9.9] mg/L, P < 0.001), and CAP (248 [210-302] vs. 226 [196-259] dB/m, P < 0.001). In multiple linear regression analysis, CAP was independently related to body mass index (${\beta}=0.742$, P < 0.001), triglyceride levels (${\beta}=2.034$, P < 0.001), estimated glomerular filtration rate (${\beta}=0.316$, P = 0.001), serum albumin (${\beta}=1.386$, P < 0.001), alanine aminotransferase (${\beta}=0.064$, P = 0.029), and total bilirubin (${\beta}=-0.881$, P = 0.009). In multiple logistic regression analysis, increased CAP was independently associated with increased metabolic syndrome risk (per 10 dB/m increase; odds ratio, 1.093; 95% confidence interval, 1.009-1.183; P = 0.029) even after adjusting for multiple confounding factors. Conclusion: Increased CAP measured with transient elastography significantly correlated with and could predict increased metabolic syndrome risk in chronic kidney disease patients.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.79-87
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• 2010

Ultraviolet is the one of the main environmental factors promoting aging process via increased intracellular generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decreased expression of endogenous antioxidant enzymes and molecules. Therefore, in this study, we tried to search for natural skin-protective antioxidant materials from marine origins (Porphyra Thalli, Laminariae japonicae thallus, Ostreae Concha, Sargassum Thallus, Undaria thallus, Haliotidis Concha, Codium thalli, Syngnathoides biaculeatus, Hippocampus, Stichopus Stichopus, Thalli, Hizikia fusiforme thalli) which exhibit free radical scavenging activity and protect against UVB-induced cytotoxicity and oxidative cell death. Free radical scavenging activity was shown in order of Undaria thallus. Sargassum Thallus, Laminariae japonicae thallus, Hippocampus, Haliotidis Concha, Ostreae Concha, Syngnathoides biacuJeatus. In another experiment, UVB-induced cytotoxicity and cell death were effectively suppressed by treatment of Sargassum Thallus, Haliotidis Concha, Codium thalli, or Hippocampus water extract. Furthermore, UVB-induced cell death was mediated by intracellular accumulation or ROS, which was significantly inhibited by treatment with aforementioned extracts. The protective effect of these marine natural products seemed to be mediated by increased expression of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase, superoxide dismutase, and heme oxygenase-1. These results suggest that Sargassum Thallus, Haliotidis Concha, Codium thalli, and Hippocampus may have preventive and protective potentials as new functional cosmetics against oxidative stress-mediated skin damages and aging with antioxidant properties.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.15-24
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• 2020

With the development of the chemical industry, the chemical accident is increasing every year, thereby increasing the risk of accidents caused by chemicals. The Ministry of Environment provides the criteria for determining shelter-in-place or outdoor evacuation by material, duration of accident, and distance from the toxic substance leak. However, it is hard to say that the criteria for determining the transition point are not clear. Transition point mean the time that evacuation method is switched from shelter-in-place to outdoor evacuation. So, the purpose of this study was to calculate appropriate transition point by comparing the cumulative toxic load. Namdong-gu in Incheon Metropolitan City was finally selected as the target area, considering the current status of the population of Incheon Metropolitan City in 2016 and the statistical survey of chemicals in 2016. The target materials were HCl, HF, and NH₃. Modeling was simulated by ALOHA and performed assuming that the entire amount would be leaked for 10 min. Residents' evacuation scenarios were assumed to be shelter-in-place, immediate outdoor evacuation, and outdoor evacuation at an appropriate time after shelter-in-place. Based on the above method, the appropriate transition point from residents located in A(800 m away), B(1,200 m away), C(1,400 m away) and D(2,200 m away) was identified. In HCl, appropriate transition point was after 15 min, after 16 min, after 17 min, after 20 min in order by A, B, C and D. In HF, appropriate transition point was before 1 min or after 16 min, before 4 min or after 19 min, before 5 min or after 20 min, before 14 min or after 26 min in order by A, B, C and D. In NH₃, appropriate transition point at A was before 4 min or after 16. Others are not in chemical cloud. This study confirmed the transition point to minimize the cumulative toxic load can be obtained by quantitative method. Through this, it might be possible to select evacuation method quantitatively that cumulative toxic load are minimal. In addition, if the shelter-in-place is maintained without transition to outdoor evacuation, the cumulative toxic load will increase more than outdoor evacuation. Therefore, it was confirmed that actions to reduce the concentration of chemicals in the room were necessary, such as conducting ventilation after the chemical cloud passed through the site.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.361-376
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• 2023

Purpose: This study evaluates the potential protective effects of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) seed oil supplementation in rats fed a high-cholesterol diet. Methods: Rats were fed a 1.25% cholesterol diet for 8 weeks, followed by oral administration of either of the two doses of hemp seed oil (HO) (0.5 mL/kg (HOL group) or 1 mL/kg (HOH group) body weight/day) or simvastatin at 10 mg/kg body weight/day. Oxidative stress, lipids, liver enzymes, and renal markers were measured in the serum. Western blot analysis was applied for evaluating the expressions of inflammatory makers. Results: Except for HDL-cholesterol, the altered levels of lipoproteins, aminotransferases, urea, and creatine kinases in hypercholesterolemic rats were significantly corrected by HO administration. Especially, compared to the HOH group, HOL treatment further reduced AST, ALT, creatinine, TC, and LDL-cholesterol levels. Moreover, both the atherogenic index and cardiac risk factor (CRF) in the HOL group were more restrained compared to the HOH group. Increased levels of p-AMPK coincided with the inhibition of SREBP-2 activation which subsequently suppressed the expression of HMGCR. Nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation coincided with the PI3K/Akt pathway activation and the increased phosphorylation of p38; these levels were significantly suppressed by HO treatment. In addition, HO treatment markedly reversed the changes in chemokines such as ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and MCP-1. Histological alterations induced by cholesterol overload in cardiac and hepatic tissues were ameliorated by HO supplementation. Conclusion: Taken together, our results indicate a low concentration of HO demonstrates improved dysfunctions caused by a high-cholesterol diet via inhibition of the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway.