• International Journal of Oral Biology
• /
• v.37 no.2
• /
• pp.57-62
• /
• 2012

The nasal cavity encounters various irritants during inhalation such as dust and pathogens. To detect and remove these irritants, it has been postulated that the nasal mucosa epithelium has a specialized sensing system. The oral cavity, on the other hand, is known to have bitter taste receptors (T2Rs) that can detect harmful substances to prevent ingestion. Recently, solitary chemosensory cells expressing T2R subtypes have been found in the respiratory epithelium of rodents. In addition, T2Rs have been identified in the human airway epithelia. However, it is not clear which T2Rs are expressed in the human nasal mucosa epithelium and whether they mediate the removal of foreign materials through increased cilia movement. In our current study, we show that human T2R receptors indeed function also in the nasal mucosa epithelium. Our RT-PCR data indicate that the T2R subtypes (T2R3, T2R4, T2R5, T2R10, T2R13, T2R14, T2R39, T2R43, T2R44, T2R 45, T2R46, T2R47, T2R48, T2R49, and T2R50) are expressed in human nasal mucosa. Furthermore, we have found that T2R receptor activators such as bitter chemicals augments the ciliary beating frequency. Our results thus demonstrate that T2Rs are likely to function in the cleanup of inhaled dust and pathogens by increasing ciliary movement. This would suggest that T2Rs are feasible molecular targets for the development of novel treatment strategies for nasal infection and inflammation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
• /
• 2011.02a
• /
• pp.304-304
• /
• 2011

We investigated the effect of different spin direction of anti-ferromagnetic layer on the magnetic properties of ferromagnetic layer in Fe-NiO and Fe-CoO bi-layer systems. For Fe-NiO system, we prepared the clean MgO(001) surface half-covered with 20 nm Ag films as a substrate for magnetic layers. Then we grew NiO wedge layers on the substrate, and added 8 monolayer(ML) Fe layers on the wedge layer. We examined magnetic properties of the bi-layer system using the surface magnetic optical Kerr effect(SMOKE) and X-ray magnetic linear dichroism(XMLD). From SMOKE measurement we observed the coercivity enhancement due to the set-up of anti-ferromagnetic order of NiO films in both of the Fe/NiO/MgO(001) and Fe/NiO/Ag/MgO(001) system. The most remarkable results in our observation is that the coercivity enhancement of Fe/NiO/Ag/MgO(001) is much larger than that of Fe/NiO/MgO(001). XMLD experiments confirmed the out-of-plane spin direction of NiO layers in Fe/NiO/MgO(001) and in-plane spin-direction of NiO layers in Fe/NiO/Ag/MgO(001), and we concluded that the origin of large enhancement of coercivity is due to the strong parallel coupling between Fe layers and NiO layers. We also confirmed that this strong parallel coupling maintained across the thin Ag layer inserted between Fe and NiO layers. For Fe-CoO system, we prepared Fe/CoO/Ag(001) and Fe/CoO/MnO(001) systems and observed much larger coercivity enhancement in Fe/CoO/Ag(001).

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.27 no.7
• /
• pp.1242-1248
• /
• 2017

Several medicinal plants are ethnomedically used in Korea as agents for treating infection, anti-inflammation, and pain relief. However, beyond typical inhibitory effects on cell growth, little is known about the potential anti-biofilm activity of these herbs, which may help to prevent cavities and maintain good oral health. This study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activities of the methanol extracts of 37 Korean medicinal plants against dental pathogens Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans, which synergize their virulence so as to induce the formation of plaque biofilms in the oral cavity. The antimicrobial activities were investigated by broth dilution and disk diffusion assay. The anti-biofilm and antioxidant activities were evaluated based on the inhibitory effect against glucosyltransferase (GTase) and the DPPH assay, respectively. Among 37 herbs, eight plant extracts presented growth and biofilm inhibitory activities against both etiologic bacteria. Among them, the methanol extracts (1.0 mg/ml) from Camellia japonica and Thuja orientalis significantly inhibited the growth of both bacteria by over 76% and over 83% in liquid media, respectively. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of these methanol extracts were determined to be 0.5 mg/ml using a disk diffusion assay on solid agar media. Biofilm formation was inhibited by more than 92.4% and 98.0%, respectively, using the same concentration of each extract. The present results demonstrate that the medicinal plants C. japonica and T. orientalis are potentially useful as antimicrobial and anti-biofilm agents in preventing dental diseases.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.230-237
• /
• 2019

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical efficacy of Korean medicine combination treatments for recurring back pain after medical procedures. Methods: This was a retrospective study performed on 311 patients admitted to Daejoen Jaseng hospital who were diagnosed with lumbar spine herniated intervertebral discs. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to whether or not they had undergone at least one medical procedure on the lumbar spine. They were assessed with Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and EuroQol-5 Dimensions Index (EQ-5D) before and after treatment. Results: Patients who experienced a medical procedure on the lumbar spine in the prehospital phase (Group A), statistically significantly improved EQ-5D and ODI scores. The NRS scores also decreased however it was not statistically significant. Patients who had not undergone a medical procedure on the lumbar spine in the prehospital phase (Group B) had statistically significantly improved ODI and NRS scores. The average EQ-5D score decreased however, there was no statistically significant difference before and after scores in Group B. There was no statistically significant difference in variation in EQ-5D, ODI, and NRS scores before and after treatment between the groups. Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that even after a bilateral procedure and surgery, when pain in patients with lumbar spine herniated intervertebral disc did not decrease, (as in failed back surgery syndrome), Korean medicine combination treatment of postoperative pain was helpful and there was improvement in daily life.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
• /
• v.44 no.1
• /
• pp.50-57
• /
• 2024

Silage inoculants, crucial in modern silage production, comprise beneficial microorganisms, primarily lactic acid bacteria (LAB), strategically applied to forage material during ensiling. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of various inoculants produced by different companies. Five treatments were evaluated, including a control group: T1 (Lactobacillus plantarum), T2 (Lactobacillus plantarum + Pediococcus pentosaceus), T3 (Lactobacillus plantarum + Pediococcus pentosaceus + Lactobacillus buchneri), T4 (Lactobacillus plantarum + Lactobacillus acidophilus + Lactobacillus bulgaricus), and T5 (Lactobacillus plantarum + Pediococcus pentosaceus + Enterococcus faecium). Italian ryegrass was harvested at the heading stage and treated with these silage inoculants. Samples were collected over a 60-day ensiling period. Co-inoculation with L. plantarum and P. pentosaceus (T2) resulted in significantly higher CP compared to the control group co-inoculation exhibited with resulted in Lactobacillus plantarum and Pediococcus pentosaceus in the T2 treatment exhibited higher CP content of 106.35 g/kg dry matter (DM). The T3 treatment, which included heterofermentative bacterial strains such as Lactobacillus buchneri, exhibited an increase in acetic acid concentration (11.15 g/kg DM). In the T4 treatment group, which utilized a mixed culture of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus, the NH₃-N/TN content was observed to be the lowest (20.52 g/kg DM). The T5 containing Enterococcus faecium had the highest RFV (123) after 60 days. Expanding upon these findings, the study underscores not only the beneficial effects of particular inoculant treatments on silage quality but also underscores the potential of customized inoculation strategies in maximizing nutrient retention and overall silage preservation.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
• /
• v.9 no.4
• /
• pp.75-84
• /
• 2010

In this study, the long-term performance tests, which have extensibility, creep deformation, installation resistance and durability characteristic, is conducted to apply geosynthetic strip in field. The strength reduction factors using the test results are evaluated in order to calculate long-term design tensile strength. First, the creep deformation was evaluated by both the stepped isothermal method(SIM) and the time-temperature superposition(TTS) method. The creep reduction factor is reasonable to apply 1.6. Second, the result of installation damage test had little damage of yarn, which affected strength of reinforcement. Therefore, it can be analyzed that the installation damage of geosynthetic strip has little effect of long-term design tensile strength. Finally, the durability reduction factor considering chemical, biological and outdoor exposure resistance is reasonable to apply 1.1, which is considered the stability and economic efficiency of reinforced earth wall using geosynthetic strip.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
• /
• 2012.08a
• /
• pp.139-139
• /
• 2012

With angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), the surface electronic band structures of Pt3Co (111) and Pt3Ni (111) single crystals are investigated, which allow to study the bonding interaction between chemically absorbed atomic oxygen and its surfaces. The d-band electrons of subsurface TM are separated from the direct chemical bonding with atomic oxygen. That is, the TM does not contribute to direct chemical bonding with oxygen. From the density functional theory (DFT) calculations, it is identified that the main origin of improved oxygen absorption property, i.e. softening of Pt-O bonding, is due to the suppression of Pt surface-states which is generated from change of interlayer potential, i.e. charge polarization, between Pt-top and TM-subsurface. Our results point out the critical roles of subsurface TM in modifying surface electronic structures, which in turn can be utilized to tune surface chemical properties.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.32 no.8
• /
• pp.2666-2670
• /
• 2011

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and capillary electrophoresis (CE) were used to identify five active components in the modified herbal decoction Bo-Yang-Hwan-O-Tang (mBHT), i.e., amygdalin, decursin, paeoniflorin, salvianolic acid B, and calycosin-7-O-${\beta}$-D-glycoside. These components were identified by comparing their retention times and mass spectra with those of reference compounds. The conditions of both analytical methods were optimized and validated. Sufficient separation of target analytes was achieved using a buffer consisting of 40 mM sodium borate and 60 mM sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) containing 10% methanol (pH 9.5) at 250 nm for CE analysis and gradient elution with a water-methanol mobile phase and ultraviolet (UV) photodiode array detector (DAD) at 250 nm for HPLC analysis. The mBHT components were determined within 65 min by HPLC and 16 min by CE. All calibration curves showed high linearity (R > 0.999) within the ranges tested. Intra-day and inter-day precision were less than 1.6% and 1.8% for HPLC and 2.5% and 4.8% for CE, respectively. The accuracy of the methods ranged from 98.8% to 102.3% for HPLC and from 95.9% to 108.2% for CE.

• The Academic Congress of Korean Shoulder and Elbow Society
• /
• 1997.05a
• /
• pp.164-166
• /
• 1997

MR arthrography is a useful modality for evaluating the labrocapsular ligamentous complex(LOLC) of the shoulder. This study was performed to describe normal anatomic variations and pitfalis in image interpretation related to evaluation of the LOLC. MR Arthrogram of 56 shoulders in 41 asymptomatic young, active volunteers were prospectively reviewed to evaluate the labral shapes. capsular insertions and images which may mimic the lesions of glenohumoral instability. The anterior and posterior parts of the labra. respectively. varied in shape: triangular$(72\%,\; 36\%)$. round $(13\%,\; 35\%)$. cleaved$(8\%,\; 1\%)$. notched$(2\%,\; 0\%)$. flat$(5\%,\; 24\%)$ and absent$(0\%,\; 4\%)$. The anterior and posterior capsular insertions. respectively. varied in sites: Mosely and Oevergaard type I$(82\%,\;62\%)$, type II$(13\%,\; 3\%)$ and type III $(5\%,\; 2\%)$. A number of pitfalls in image interpretation were discovered. Articular cartilage undercutting the labrum$(29\%)$ and middle glenohumoral ligament in proximity to anterior labrum $(5\%)$ simulated a labral tear. Joint fluid interposed in the central. superior portion of the sublabral sulci$(25\%)$ simulated a SLAP lesion. Synovial fold$(38\%)$ in axillary pouch resembled a loose body. Knowledge of normal variations and pitfalls in MR arthrogram image interpretation of labral capsular - ligamentous complex will help the orthopedist to accurately detect debilitating derangements associated with the glenohumeral instability.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.20-34
• /
• 2018

Background: Polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) influencing cellular growth and differentiation is recognized to promote wound healing by stimulating tissue repair. Although PDRN can be extracted from human placentas, PDRN medications have recently been extracted from the semen of trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and salmon (Oncorhynchus keta). The present study was designed to evaluate the wound healing effects of O. keta-derived PDRN for injection (Rejuvenex) and PDRN cream (Rejuvenex Cream) in comparison with those of O. mykiss-derived PDRN injection (Placentex). Methods: Full-thickness skin defects were made on the back of mice (n=60). The mice were divided into the following four groups according to the dressing used for the wounds: O. mykiss-derived PDRN injection group, O. keta-derived PDRN injection group, O. ketaderived PDRN cream group, and normal saline soaked dressing group (control group). We analyzed the gross findings, wound sizes, histological findings, immunohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for the groups immediately after the treatment, and again after 4, 7, and 10 days of treatment. Results: The wound healing effects were the greatest in the O. keta-derived PDRN injection and O. mykiss-derived PDRN injection groups, which showed similar scores, followed by the O. keta-derived cream and normal saline soaked dressing groups. Conclusion: The injection of PDRN extracted from O. keta was found to be as effective at healing full-thickness skin defects as the O. mykiss-derived PDRN injection, which is currently used in the clinic. Moreover, the O. keta-derived PDRN injection was also found to reduce the time required for wound healing.