• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.88-93
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• 2019

Objectives Psychological stress has been known to increase the risk of schizophrenia. Because stress responses are mainly mediated by cortisol, the action of the glucocorticoid receptors (Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 3 Group C Member 1, NR3C1) is possibly related to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. In this study, we investigated the associations between polymorphisms of NR3C1 and schizophrenia. Methods Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs17100236, rs2963155, rs9324924, and rs7701443) of NR3C1 were genotyped in 208 patients with schizophrenia and 339 healthy individuals. A chi-square test was performed to test differences in allele distributions among groups. A multiple logistic regression model was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and multiple inheritance models to analyze the associations between schizophrenia and SNPs (the dominant, recessive and additive models). Results The minor allele frequencies of two SNPs were significantly higher in the schizophrenia group than in those of the control group (rs2963155 G > A : 0.25 vs. 0.18, p = 0.0066 ; rs7701443 A > G : 0.40 vs. 0.33, p = 0.012). The genotype frequencies of two SNPs were found to be significantly different between patients with schizophrenia and controls in the dominant model (rs2963155 : AG/GG vs. AA, OR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.16-2.38, p = 0.0055, rs7701443 : AG/AA vs. GG, OR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.11-2.34, p = 0.01) and the log-additive model (rs2963155 : AG vs. GG vs. AA, OR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.13-2.10, p = 0.0067). Conclusions This study showed significant associations between NR3C1 polymorphisms and schizophrenia. It suggests that NR3C1 may play a role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.

• Journal of Korea Society of Industrial Information Systems
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.31-39
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• 2020

According to lessons learned from an accident of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, it is advisable to make a comprehensive radiation survey by the accident phase for efficient response and risk management using diverse survey platforms. This study focuses on the technical status of environmental radiation monitoring using a UAV (Unmanned aerial vehicle) and the performance test of developed aerial survey system based on two detectors with an high energy resolution through the field application to contaminated areas. Finally, the performance of aerial survey at diverse flight heights was successfully achieved by introducing the correction factor to represent the results into ambient dose rate at 1m above the ground.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.3-8
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• 2006

Functional damage to microvascular endothelial cells by hyperglycemia is thought to be one of the critical risk factor.; in the impaired wound healing seen with diabetes mellitus. It is also thought that oxidative stress plays a significant role in this endothelial cell dysfunction. The present study examined the differential effects of flavonoids on endothelial cell dysfunction under high glucose conditions. Human endothelial cells exposed to 30 mmol/L glucose for 7 d were pre-treated with various flavonoids and pulse-treated with 0.2 mmol/L $H_2O_2$ for 30 min. High glucose markedly decreased cell viability with elevated oxidant generation and nuclear condensation. $H_2O_2$ insult exacerbated endothelial cytotoxicity due to chronic exposure to high glucose. (-)Epigallocatechin gallate and quercetin improved glucose-induced cell damage with the disappearnnce of apoptotic bodies, whereas apigenin intensified the glucose cytotoxicity. In addition, cell viability data revealed that these flavonoids of (-)epigallocatechin gallate and quercetin substantially attenuated both high glucose- and $H_2O_2$- induced dual endothelial damage. These results suggest that (-)epigallocatechin gallate and quercetin may be beneficial agents for improving endothelial cell dysfunction induced by high glucose and may prevent or reduce the development of diabetic vascular complications.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.530-539
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• 2019

Brain aging is an inevitable process characterized by structural and functional changes and is a major risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases. Most brain aging studies are focused on neurons and less on astrocytes which are the most abundant cells in the brain known to be in charge of various functions including the maintenance of brain physical formation, ion homeostasis, and secretion of various extracellular matrix proteins. Altered mitochondrial dynamics, defective mitophagy or mitochondrial damages are causative factors of mitochondrial dysfunction, which is linked to age-related disorders. Etoposide is an anti-cancer reagent which can induce DNA stress and cellular senescence of cancer cell lines. In this study, we investigated whether etoposide induces senescence and functional alterations in cultured rat astrocytes. Senescence-associated ${\beta}$-galactosidase (SA-${\beta}$-gal) activity was used as a cellular senescence marker. The results indicated that etoposide-treated astrocytes showed cellular senescence phenotypes including increased SA-${\beta}$-gal-positive cells number, increased nuclear size and increased senescence-associated secretory phenotypes (SASP) such as IL-6. We also observed a decreased expression of cell cycle markers, including PhosphoHistone H3/Histone H3 and CDK2, and dysregulation of cellular functions based on wound-healing, neuronal protection, and phagocytosis assays. Finally, mitochondrial dysfunction was noted through the determination of mitochondrial membrane potential using tetramethylrhodamine methyl ester (TMRM) and the measurement of mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate (OCR). These data suggest that etoposide can induce cellular senescence and mitochondrial dysfunction in astrocytes which may have implications in brain aging and neurodegenerative conditions.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.62-70
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• 2019

The APR1400 reactor may be operated for a long time under high temperature and pressure conditions, causing damage to the stud holes and causing stud bolts and holes to stick. The present practice is to manually remove the anti-sticking agent and foreign matter remaining in the APR1400 reactor stud hole and to visually check the surface condition of the thread to check the damage status of the threads. In the case of the APR1400 reactor stud holes, manually cleaning the threads increases the risk of radiation exposure and operator's fatigue. To avoid this, the autonomous mobile robot is used to automatically clean the reactor stud holes. The purpose of this study is to optimize the cleaning performance of the mobile robot by looking at the behavior of the surface roughness of the stud surface cleaned by the brush attached to the mobile robot due to changes in brush material, thickness of wire, and rotation speed. A microscopic approach to the surface roughness of the flank is needed to investigate the effects of the newly proposed brush of the autonomous mobile robot on the thread holes. According to this experiment, it is reasonable to use STS brush rather than Carbon one. Optimal operating conditions are derived and the safety of APR1400 reactor stud holes maintenance can be improved.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.863-876
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• 2019

Farm animals such as piglets are often affected by environmental stress, which can disturb the gut ecosystem. Antibiotics were commonly used to prevent diarrhea in weaned piglets, but this was banned by the European Union due to the development of antibiotic resistance. However, the use of probiotics instead of antibiotics may reduce the risk posed by pathogenic microorganisms and reduce the incidence of gastrointestinal diseases. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the effects of Lactobacillus casei Zhang on the mechanical barrier and immune function of early-weaned piglets infected using Escherichia coli K88 based on histomorphology and immunology. Fourteen-day-old weaned piglets were divided into a control group and experimental groups that were fed L. casei Zhang and infected with E. coli K88 with or without prefeeding and/or postfeeding of L. casei Zhang. The L. casei Zhang dose used was $10^7CFU/g$ diet. Jejunum segments were obtained before histological, immunohistochemical, and western blot analyses were performed. In addition, the relative mRNA expression of toll receptors and cytokines was measured. Piglets fed L. casei Zhang showed significantly increased jejunum villus height, villus height-crypt depth ratio, muscle thickness, and expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and tight junction proteins ZO-1 and occludin. The use of L. casei Zhang effectively reduced intestinal inflammation after infection. We found that L. casei Zhang feeding prevented the jejunum damage induced by E. coli K88, suggesting that it may be a potential alternative to antibiotics for preventing diarrhea in early-weaned piglets.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2016.10a
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• pp.807-808
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• 2016

With the recent rise in nuclear families and single-member families, there is a need for the kind of home management unaffected by neither space nor time. Moreover, electronic devices in and around the home need to be managed efficiently and prevented from overheating, and there is an increasing risk of fire, theft, and leak of personal data with these devices, which is leading to an increase in the economic costs. Accordingly, there is a growing need for an efficient and secure smart home management system. This paper proposes a home management system that uses smart devices. This system has addressed the shortcomings of a conventional Internet-based home network. Furthermore, it communicates with IoT-enabled devices and features intelligent information home appliances that are isolated from personally identifiable information and which are secure against advanced persistent threats, a type of cyber-attack.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.114-118
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• 2021

Background: Exposure to particulate matter (PM) emitted from vehicle exhaust might disrupt systemic function and elevate the risk of cardiovascular disease. In this study, we examined the changes of cardiometabolic biomarkers among vehicle inspectors exposed daily to PM0.25 and components. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at two vehicle inspection centers, Pulogadung and Ujung Menteng, located in East Jakarta, Indonesia. The exposed respondents were 43 workers from vehicle inspection centers, and the unexposed group consisted of 22 staff officers working in the same locations. Vehicle exhaust particulate matter was measured for eight hours using a Leland Legacy personal pump attached to a Sioutas Cascade Impactor. The used filters were 25 and 37-mm quartz filters. The particulate matter concentration was analyzed using a gravimetric method, whereas trace elements were analyzed using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence. An EEL Smoke Stain Reflectometer analyzed black carbon. Results: The personal exposure concentrations of PM0.25 were 10.4-fold higher than those in unexposed groups. Calcium and sulfur were the major components in the obtained dust, and their levels were 3.3- and 7.2-fold higher, respectively, in the exposed group. Based on an independent-samples t-test, high-density lipoprotein, triglyceride, HbA1c, total immunoglobulin E, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and nitric oxide levels were significantly different between the groups. Conclusions: In summary, it was suggested that PM0.25 exposure from vehicle exhaust might affect cardiometabolic biomarkers change.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.47-58
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• 2022

Purpose: Obesity and a high-fat diet (HFD) are risk factors for colorectal cancer. We have previously shown that luteolin (LUT) supplementation in HFD-fed mice markedly inhibits tumor development in chemically induced colon carcinogenesis. In this study, we evaluated the anticancer effect of LUT in the inhibition of cell proliferation in HFD-fed obese mice and HT-29 human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells grown in an adipocyte-derived medium. Methods: C57BL/6 mice were fed a normal diet (ND, 11.69% fat out of total calories consumed, n = 10), HFD (40% fat out of total calories consumed, n = 10), HFD with 0.0025% LUT (n = 10), and HFD with 0.005% LUT (n = 10) and were subjected to azoxymethane-dextran sulfate sodium chemical colon carcinogenesis. All mice were fed the experimental diet for 11 weeks. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and HT-29 cells were treated with various doses of LUT in an adipocyte-conditioned medium (Ad-CM). Results: The weekly body weight changes in the LUT groups were similar to those in the HFD group; however, the survival rates of the LUT group were higher than those of the HFD group. Impaired crypt integrity of the colonic mucosa in the HFD group was observed to be restored in the LUT group. The colonic expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) receptors were suppressed by the LUT supplementation in the HFD-fed mice. The LUT treatment (10, 20, and 40 µM) inhibited the proliferation and migration of HT-29 cells cultured in Ad-CM in a dose-dependent manner, as well as the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Conclusion: These results suggest that the anticancer effect of LUT is probably due to the inhibition of IGF-1 signaling and adipogenesis-related cell proliferation in colon cancer cells.

• International Journal of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.145-155
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• 2021

With the recent rapid improvement in the standards of life and westernization of dietary lifestyles, the consumption of high-calorie diets such as high-fat and high-protein red meat and instant foods has increased, while less vegetables containing dietary fiber are consumed. In addition to that, stress, erroneous dietary behaviors, and contaminated environments are linked to the risk of developing ulcerative colitis, which is on the rise. Another cause of ulcerative colitis is that involve laxative abuse, including repeated, frequent use of laxatives, and include such conditions as deteriorated bowel function, irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea, intestinal inflammation, etc. The present study aimed to investigate the comparative evaluation of pharmacological efficacy between sulfasalazine alone and combination with herbal medicine on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced UC in mice. Balb/c mice received 5% DSS in drinking water for 7 days to induce colitis. Animals were divided into five groups (n = 9): group I-normal group, group II-DSS control group, group III-DSS + sulfasalazine (30 mg/kg), group IV-DSS + sulfasalazine (60 mg/kg), group V-DSS + sulfasalazine (30 mg/kg) + Radish Extract mixture (30 mg /kg) (SRE). DSS-treated mice developed symptoms similar to those of human UC, such as severe bloody diarrhea and weight loss. SRE supplementation, as well as sulfasalazine, suppressed colonic length and mucosal inflammatory infiltration. In addition, SRE treatment significantly reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory signaling molecules through suppression both mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathways, and prevented the apoptosis of colon. Moreover, SRE administration significantly led to the up-regulation of antioxidant enzyme including SOD and Catalase. This is the first report that Radish extract mixture combined with sulfasalazine protects against experimental UC via the inhibition of both inflammation and apoptosis, very similar to the standard-of-care sulfasalazine.