• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.52-58
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• 2014

To determine whether Fourier transform (FT)-IR spectral analysis combined with multivariate analysis of whole-cell extracts from ginseng leaves can be applied as a high-throughput discrimination system of cultivation ages and cultivars, a total of total 480 leaf samples belonging to 12 categories corresponding to four different cultivars (Yunpung, Kumpung, Chunpung, and an open-pollinated variety) and three different cultivation ages (1 yr, 2 yr, and 3 yr) were subjected to FT-IR. The spectral data were analyzed by principal component analysis and partial least squares-discriminant analysis. A dendrogram based on hierarchical clustering analysis of the FT-IR spectral data on ginseng leaves showed that leaf samples were initially segregated into three groups in a cultivation age-dependent manner. Then, within the same cultivation age group, leaf samples were clustered into four subgroups in a cultivar-dependent manner. The overall prediction accuracy for discrimination of cultivars and cultivation ages was 94.8% in a cross-validation test. These results clearly show that the FT-IR spectra combined with multivariate analysis from ginseng leaves can be applied as an alternative tool for discriminating of ginseng cultivars and cultivation ages. Therefore, we suggest that this result could be used as a rapid and reliable F1 hybrid seed-screening tool for accelerating the conventional breeding of ginseng.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.375-381
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• 2016

Background: We evaluated the drug interaction profile of Red Ginseng (RG) with respect to the activities of major cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes and the drug transporter P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in healthy Korean volunteers. Methods: This article describes an open-label, crossover study. CYP probe cocktail drugs, caffeine, losartan, dextromethorphan, omeprazole, midazolam, and fexofenadine were administered before and after RG supplementation for 2 wk. Plasma samples were collected, and tolerability was assessed. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated, and 90% confidence intervals (CIs) of the geometric mean ratios of the parameters were determined from logarithmically transformed data using analysis of variance after RG administration versus before RG administration. Results: Fourteen healthy male participants were evaluated, none of whom were genetically defined as poor CYP2C9, 2C19, and CYP2D6 metabolizers based on genotyping. Before and after RG administration, the geometric least-square mean metabolic ratio (90% CI) was 0.870 (0.805-0.940) for caffeine to paraxanthine (CYP1A2), 0.871 (0.800-0.947) for losartan (CYP2C9) to EXP3174, 1.027 (0.938-1.123) for omeprazole (CYP2C19) to 5-hydroxyomeprazole, 1.373 (0.864-2.180) for dextromethorphan to dextrorphan (CYP2D6), and 0.824 (0.658-1.032) for midazolam (CYP3A4) to 1-hydroxymidazolam. The geometric mean ratio of the area under the curve of the last sampling time ($AUC_{last}$) for fexofenadine (P-gp) was 0.963 (0.845-1.098). Administration of concentrated RG for 2 wk weakly inhibited CYP2C9 and CYP3A4 and weakly induced CYP2D6. However, no clinically significant drug interactions were observed between RG and CYP and P-gp probe substrates. Conclusion: RG has no relevant potential to cause CYP enzyme- or P-gp-related interactions.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.53-61
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• 2016

Objectives: Considering high prevalence of myopia in Asian countries, social cost paid for myopia may gradually increase in Korea. However, studies for developing myopia treatment are deficient. The study was to evaluate whether the periocular acupressure with a medical massager is effective for suppressing myopia progression. Methods: This study was an investigator-sponsored, prospective, open-labeled, and superiority pre and post single-armed study. 14 myopia children aged 7-12 years wore a medical massager for 15 minutes to stimulate periocular acupoints. For 24 weeks, the participants used the device twice a day. Based on prior studies, the refraction change of naturally proceeded myopia was set as -0.38 D. The axial length change of naturally proceeded myopia was set as 0.228 mm. To assess the safety, we performed vital sign check, physical examination, visual acuity test, slit lamp examination, IOP measurement, and fundus examination. Results: The refraction and axial length of the participants increased. For 24 weeks, the change in refraction was -0.38 D at the right eye and -0.40 D at the left. The change in axial length was 0.21 mm at the right and 0.22 mm at the left. In the safety assessment, any adverse event did not occur. Conclusions: There was no significant difference between the control group and the intervention group. The effect of growth may have more contributed to our result than that of acupressure. Based on our result, a full-scale study will not be conducted.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.1464-1467
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• 2006

Artemisia princeps Pampanini, which is named as Sajabalssuk (SJ-1) in Korea, was fermented with lactic acid bacteria (LAB), and their antiallergic activities were investigated. When SJ-l was fermented with some LAB isolated from human feces, the inhibition of NO production in RAW264.7 cells and antioxidant activities of SJ-1 were not affected. However, the inhibitory activity of SJ-1 against degranulation of RBL-2H3 cells induced by IgE was increased by LAB fermentation. Among the LAB tested, Bifidobacterium infantis K-525 provided the most potent inhibitory effect of SJ-1 against degranulation of RBL-2H3 cells. SJ-1 extract fermented with B. infantis K-525 (F-SJ-1) potently inhibited the mouse passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reaction induced by IgE with antigen, skin dermatitis induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, and scratching behaviors induced by compound 48/80. These inhibitory activities of F-SJ-1 were more potent than those of SJ-1. These findings suggest that the inhibition of SJ-1. extract against IgE-induced allergic diseases, such as rhinitis and asthma, can be enhanced by LAB fermentation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.422-430
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• 2012

Previous studies have demonstrated that repeated restraint stress in rodents produces increases in depression and anxiety-like behaviors and alters the expression of corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) in the hypothalamus. The current study focused on the impact of Bupleurum falcatum (BF) extract administration on repeated restraint stress-induced behavioral responses using the forced swimming test (FST) and elevated plus maze (EPM) test. Immunohistochemical examinations of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression in rat brain were also conducted. Male rats received daily doses of 20, 50, or 100 mg/kg (i.p.) BF extract for 15 days, 30 min prior to restraint stress (4 h/day). Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation in response to repeated restraint stress was confirmed base on serum corticosterone levels and CRF expression in the hypothalamus. Animals that were pre-treated with BF extract displayed significantly reduced immobility in the FST and increased open-arm exploration in the EPM test in comparison with controls. BF also blocked the increase in TH expression in the locus coeruleus of treated rats that experienced restraint stress. Together, these results demonstrate that BF extract administration prior to restraint stress significantly reduces depression and anxiety-like behaviors, possibly through central adrenergic mechanisms, and they suggest a role for BF extract in the treatment of depression and anxiety disorders.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.29-35
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• 2016

The conventional educational robots, which are commonly industrial robots or toy robots, use text-based programming to teach the students. Therefore, students have difficulty in studying robotics due to the difficulties of text based language. The developed robot in this study have a camera, which have the color tracking function, and it has various sensors and actuators. It supports the open hardware and uses graphic language based programming. The developed educational robot is programmed by Scratch, which uses graphic modular language. We also present a curriculum, which is based upon the developed robot and Scratch. We applied the robot and curriculum to the primary school students. We obtained satisfactory results comparing it with the conventional robot education. Furthermore, the imagination and execution ability of students showed enhancement in learning robotics. Thus, this fact means the validity and effectiveness of the proposed approach.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 2012

Purpose : This study was conducted to examine the effects of unstable surface training and galvanic vestibular stimulation on balance and proprioception. Methods : 4-week training was applied to 40 normal adults in their twenties (unstable surface training group 10, galvanic vestibular stimulation group 10, unstable surface training and galvanic vestibular stimulation group 10, control group 10). Balance and proprioception was measured before the experiment, after two weeks, and after four weeks. Repeated ANOVA was used for balance and proprioception analysis. Results : As a result of repeated ANOVA on balance changes in double support, a significant difference was found in open sight in interaction among groups and periods (p<0.05). As a result of repeated ANOVA on balance changes in double support, there was a significant difference in closed sight and interaction among groups and periods (p<0.05). As a result of repeated ANOVA on balance changes in proprioception, there was no statistically significant difference in interaction among groups and periods. Conclusion : In conclusion, both unstable surface training and galvanic vestibular stimulation had positive effect on balance control and proprioception improvement, and their excellence was not greatly different. Thus, it is possible to use unstable surface training and galvanic vestibular stimulation for physical therapy intervention to improve balance and proprioception. Since the results showed that simultaneous application of two methods had greater effects on difference compared with a single application, it is suggested to use this intervention in the clinical field.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.367-376
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• 2014

This survey research investigates the relationship in adolescent attitudes toward sexual consciousness and intimate relationships according to their exposure to internet pornography. The results of the study indicated that 57.1% of the participants have experienced contact with internet pornography with most participants (48.7%) having first encountered internet pornography while in fourth, fifth or sixth grade. As students progress in school, their exposure to the internet increases thus increasing their potential to be exposed to pornography. Adolescents with no experience encountering internet pornography had a more positive attitude towards sexual consciousness, while adolescents with experience encountering pornography had more uninhibited libidos and were more open to romantic relationships. From the results above, there is a need for preventative measures against problematic behavior stemming from the influences of direct and indirect pornographic exposure on adolescent attitudes towards sexual consciousness and intimate relationships. Mental health services need to be provided for high risk adolescents addicted to pornography like mental health schools or help from specialists.

• Korean journal of communication and information
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• v.18
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• pp.99-130
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• 2002

This study examines whether cyberspace produced by computer mediated communication(CMC) would perform the public sphere through the agenda-setting process. By doing this, this study focused on how the cyberspace agenda is set and on how the characteristics of cyberspace and the mass media influence the cyberspace agenda-setting process. Through this study, the possibility of cyberspace as the public sphere is found although the characteristics of cyberspace decide this possibility. In particular, in order for cyberspace to contribute to enhancing democracy as a form of alternative media, the interaction among cyberspace, mass media and the off-line arena is a necessary condition. The interaction between cyberspace and mass media regarding the Sungsoo Women's Middle School violence case provides two very important points. First, cyberspace helps the individual agenda to be adopted by mass media as the media agenda. Second, mass media confirmed the credibility of cyberspace agenda through reporting. In addition, this study reveals that cyberspace would perform as the public sphere only when the interaction between on-line and off-line is provided.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.195-205
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop the dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) diet education program tailored to Korean adults and to examine the effect of the DASH diet education program on bone mineral density in middle aged women. Methods: The subjects of this study were 26 middle aged women, pre and post menopause, who attend a church located in Kyung-In district. The DASH group I (n=13) was provided with the DASH diet education program only, while the DASH group II (n=13) was provided with DASH diet education program along with calcium supplements (1 g/day). The DASH diet education program included one lecture on DASH diet, one face to face counseling, and five telephone counseling sessions during the 8 weeks period. Results: The knowledge and subjective compliance level of DASH diet increased significantly in both groups, at 4 and 8 weeks after the intervention. The level of objective compliance of DASH diet in both groups increased over the study period, but it was not significant as compared to those of the baseline. Bone mineral density of both groups decreased at 8weeks as compared to the baseline after the intervention. Conclusion: Although 8weeks of DASH diet education program increased the knowledge and compliance of DASH diet, it was not effective to bring the changes in bone mineral density among the middle aged women.