• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.36-44
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• 2023

Essential oils and aromatherapy have traditionally been used for the treatment of anxiety and depression with few side effects. This study aimed to investigate the effects of essential oils from six herbal prescriptions known to be effective in treating anxiety and depression in Korean medicine. The neuroprotective and anti-neuroinflammatory effects of six essential oils, including Gamisachil-tang (GMSCT), Guibi-tang (GBT), Sihogayonggolmoryeo-tang (SYM), Danchisoyosan (DCSYS), Sihosogansan (SHSGS), and Soyosan (SYS), were examined in PC12 and BV2 cells. In corticosterone (CORT)-stimulated PC12 cells, all six essential oils ameliorated the CORT-induced decrease in cell viability at a concentration of 10 ㎍/ml. GMSCT, GBT, and SHSGS recovered CORT-induced cytotoxicity at concentrations of 1 ㎍/ml and 10 ㎍/ml. In lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 cells, GBT (10 ㎍/ml) decreased interleukin (IL)-1β production, whereas SHSGS (1 ㎍/ml) inhibited tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α production. In the MK-801-induced anxiety in zebrafish, electroencephalogram (EEG) assessment indicated that GMSCT and SHSGS induced recovery in the delta and beta power densities and reduced theta/beta and delta/beta ratios. DCSYS and SYS decreased theta power density and theta/beta ratio, whereas GBT and SYM showed no effects on EEG signals. In the tail suspension test (TST) in mice, GBT, DCSYS, SHSGS, and SYS exhibited antidepressant-like effects by decreasing immobility time. These results suggest that the essential oils from the six herbal prescriptions, except SYM, may have beneficial effects on anxiety and/or depression. Further studies should be conducted to investigate the molecular signaling pathways that mediate the effects of these essential oils on anxiety and depression.

• Journal of Korea Society of Industrial Information Systems
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.53-60
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• 2010

Biometrics are methods of recognizing a person based on the physiological or behavioral characteristics of his of her body. They are highly secure with little risk of loss or falsification by others. This paper has designed and implemented a security system of biometrics by precisely measuring heartbeat signals at two fingertips and using a photoplethysmogram, which is applicable to biometrics. A performance evaluation has led to the following result. The security system of biometrics for personal authentication which has been designed and implemented by this study has achieved a recognition rate of 90.5%. The security system of biometrics suggested here has merits of time saving and easy accessibility. The system is touch-based and collects the necessary biometrics information by simply touching the machine with fingers, so anyone can utilize the system without any difficulty.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2021.04a
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• pp.60-60
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• 2021

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), especially including non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is one of the common diseases with 25% of prevalence globally, but there is no thera-peutic access available. Amomum villosum var. xanthioides (Wall. ex Baker) T.L.Wu & S.J.Chen (AX), which is a medicinal herb and traditionally used for treating digestive tract disorders in Asia countries. We aimed to examine pharmacological effects of ethyl acetate fraction of AX (AXEF) against ER stress-induced NASH mice model using C57/BL6J male mice by tunicamycin (TM, 2 mg/kg) injection focusing on the oxidative stress. Mice were orally administrated AXEF (12.5, 25, or 50 mg/kg), silymarin (50 mg/kg) or distilled water daily for 5 days, and outcomes for fatty liver, inflammation, and oxidative stress were measured in serum or liver tissue levels. AXEF drastically attenuated hepatic ER stress-induced NASH which were evidenced by decreases of li-pid droplet accumulations, serum liver enzymes, hepatic inflammations, and cell death signals in the hepatic tissue or serum levels. Interestingly, AXEF showed potent antioxidant effects by quenching of reactive oxidative stress and its final product of lipid peroxide in the hepatic tissue, specifically increase of metallothionein (MT). To confirm underlying actions of AXEF, we ob-served that AXEF increase MT1gene promoter activities in the physiological levels. Collectively, AXEF showed antioxidant properties on TM-induced ER stress of NASH by enhancement of MTs.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.3.1-3.14
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• 2023

Microvilli are outer membrane organelles that contain cross-linked filamentous actin. Unlike well-characterized epithelial microvilli, T-cell microvilli are dynamic similar to those of filopodia, which grow and shrink intermittently via the alternate actin-assembly and -disassembly. T-cell microvilli are specialized for sensing Ags on the surface of Ag-presenting cells (APCs). Thus, these finger-shaped microprotrusions contain many signaling-related proteins and can serve as a signaling platforms that induce intracellular signals. However, they are not limited to sensing external information but can provide sites for parts of the cell-body to tear away from the cell. Cells are known to produce many types of extracellular vesicles (EVs), such as exosomes, microvesicles, and membrane particles. T cells also produce EVs, but little is known about under what conditions T cells generate EVs and which types of EVs are released. We discovered that T cells produce few exosomes but release large amounsts of microvilli-derived particles during physical interaction with APCs. Although much is unanswered as to why T cells use the same organelles to sense Ags or to produce EVs, these events can significantly affect T cell fate, including clonal expansion and death. Since TCRs are localized at microvilli tips, this membrane event also raises a new question regarding long-standing paradigm in T cell biology; i.e., surface TCR downmodulation following T cell activation. Since T-cell microvilli particles carry T-cell message to their cognate partner, these particles are termed T-cell immunological synaptosomes (TISs). We discuss the potential physiological role of TISs and their application to immunotherapies.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.43-54
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• 2000

Previously two papers dealing with YoungSu(against the meridian course and following the course of the meridian) Acupuncture were published by our group. Here we are reporting the further analysis of YoungSu and WonBang(by twisting and rotating the needle) acupuncture methods. It is very important to understand objectively the Qi variation induced by the reinforcing-reducing manipulation method in the acupuncture therapy. We decided the medical treatment by utilizing the PyongChi Method (a kind of method to figure out the way of treatment by observing the unbalanced state of five phases). The Qi variation in the meridian treated by YoungSu and WonBang, the recovery of five phases deviation were measured by choosing single acupoint instead of complex acupoints. By using Youngsu and WonBang, we increased or decreased the Qi of the phase which caused the unbalanced state. We observed whether the Qi of the treated meridian can be increased and if the state of unbalance can be recovered. To achieve the effect of reinforcing-reducing, we needed a correct choice of treating method and a selection of a proper meridian in advance. This study was carried out by adding another way of acupuncture from the previous paper. We discovered that the effects of reinforcing-reducing by each manipulation method could be superposed each other when two counteracting Youngsu and WonBang methods were treated at the left and the right side of human body which was correspondent with our previous paper. We found that the Qi variation of the treated meridian, which was induced by Youngsu and WonBang, was linearly proportional to the reduction of five phase deviations. The slope of Qi variation was almost similar (y = -0.413x - 0.138) as that of previous paper (y = -0.266x - 0.038, Y = -0.446x - 0.079). It is assumed that the addition of other basic methods on the top of reinforcing-reducing manipulation method would magnify the effect of acupuncture.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.185-197
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• 1993

The rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) includes vasopressor neurons, which transmit activation signals to the intermediolateral nucleus (IML) of the spinal cord, where the preganglionic sympathetic nucleus is located, to raise arterial blood pressure (BP). However, controversy exists as to the possible depressor area in the RVLM and the pathway involved. The present study persued evidence far the location of depressor neurons and the pathway by simultaneously observing changes in BP and the firing rate (FR) of cardiovascular neurons (CVNs) in the RVLM during the somatosympathetic reflex (SSR) elicited by peripheral nerve stimulation, since CVNs are known to contribute to the generation of the sympathetic nerve discharge. In 42 cats, anaesthetized with $\alpha-chloralose$, single unit recording was performed, using carbon filament electrodes inserted into the RVLM, enabling estimation of the post R wave unit histogram (PR-UNlT) and the spike triggered average of sympathetic nerve discharge (STA-SND), allowing identification of CVNs. Antidromic stimulation of spinal $T_2$ segment was followed to determine whether the identified CVN projects axonal endings to the spinal cord (reticulospinal neuron). The sciatic nerve was electrically stimulated at $A\delta-intensity$ (1 mA, 0.1 ms), 1 Hz and C-intensity (10 mA, 0.5 ms), 20 Hz to elicit the depressor, and pressor responses of the SSR, respectively. Simultaneous measurement of CVN firing rate was made. Experimental results are summarized as follows. 1) 20 out of 98 CVNs had axonal projections to the spinal cord and 17 out of 98 CVNs showed FR changes during SSR. 2) Response patterns of FR and BP during SSR were classified into 8 types. 3) These 8 different response patterns could be further classified into those from pressor and depressor neurons. These results demonstrate that some CVNs were identifiable as reticulospinal neurons responding to anti-dromic stimulation and that CVNs operating as depressor neurons as well as pressor neurons exist in the RVLM, both of which are involved with SSR mediation. Therefore, evidence was found that an independent depressor pathway might be involved in the mediation of SSR.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.39-46
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• 2012

Electrical impedance tomography(EIT) can produce functional images with conductivity distributions associated with physiological events such as cardiac and respiratory cycles. EIT has been proposed as a clinical imaging tool for the detection of stroke and breast cancer, pulmonary function monitoring, cardiac imaging and other clinical applications. However EIT still suffers from technical challenges such as the electrode interface, hardware limitations, lack of animal or human trials, and interpretation of conductivity variations in reconstructed images. We improved the KHU Mark2 EIT system by introducing an EIT electrode interface consisting of nano-web fabric electrodes and by adding a synchronized biosignal measurement system for gated conductivity imaging. ECG and respiration signals are collected to analyze the relationship between the changes in conductivity images and cardiac activity or respiration. The biosignal measurement system provides a trigger to the EIT system to commence imaging and the EIT system produces an output trigger. This EIT acquisition time trigger signal will also allow us to operate the EIT system synchronously with other clinical devices. This type of biosignal gated conductivity imaging enables capture of fast cardiac events and may also improve images and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) by using signal averaging methods at the same point in cardiac or respiration cycles. As an example we monitored the beat by beat cardiac-related change of conductivity in the EIT images obtained at a common state over multiple respiration cycles. We showed that the gated conductivity imaging method reveals cardiac perfusion changes in the heart region of the EIT images on a canine animal model. These changes appear to have the expected timing relationship to the ECG and ventilator settings that were used to control respiration. As EIT is radiation free and displays high timing resolution its ability to reveal perfusion changes may be of use in intensive care units for continuous monitoring of cardiopulmonary function.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.13-20
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• 2007

In all female mammals, reproductive system is one of the first biological systems to show age-related decline. Female mammals in reproductive aging, though the phenomena is somewhat species-specific, start to show declining fertility and changes of numerous physiological functions. This review will present a current information on the aging of the female reproductive hormonal axis and introduce three useful rodent models for studying this field. Middle age($8{\sim}12$ months old) in female rats and mice is comparable to the stage prior to the entry of menopause in human. In this period pulsatile and surge GnRH secretion from hypothalamus gradually attenuated, then reduced pulsatile and surge LH secretion is followed consequently. This age-related defects in GnRH-LH neuroendocrine axis seem to be highly correlated with the defects in brain signals which modulate the activities of GnRH neuron. Many researchers support the idea which the age-related hypothalamic defects are the main cause of reproductive aging, but some ovarian factors such as inhibin response also could contribute to the induction of reproductive senescence. Some rodent models are quite valuable in studying the reproductive aging. The follitropin receptor knockout(FORKO) mice, both of null and haploinsufficient state, could produce depletion of oocyte/follicle with age. Dioxin/aryl hydrocarbon receptor(AhR) knockout mice also show severe ovarian defects and poor reproductive success early in their life compared to the age-matched normal mice. Further studies on the reproductive aging will be a great help to evaluate the benefits and risks of hormone replacement therapy(HRT) and to improve the safety of HRT.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.1226-1232
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• 2007

Phellinus linteus is a well-known Oriental medicinal fungus that has various biological activities, including immunomodulatory and anti-tumor activities, the mechanisms of which are poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated the anti-proliferative activity of the methanol extract of P. linteus-Barley corn (MEPLB) in human lekemic U937 cells. It was found that exposure of U937 cells to MEPLB resulted morphological change and growth inhibition in a dose-dependent manner as measured by trypan blue count and MTT assay. Upon treatment with MEPLB, U937 cells developed many of the hallmark features of apoptosis, including condensation of chromatin and an increase in the sub-G1 population suggesting that the anti-proliferative effect of MEPLB is associated with the induction of apoptosis. The anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects of MEPLB were connected with a marked induction of the pro-apoptotic Bax and cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitor p21 in a p53-independent manner. Additionally, MEPLB treatment significantly induced the caspase-3 activity in U937 cells. Taken together, the present results suggest that apoptotic signals evoked by MEPLB in human leukemic U937 cells may converge caspase-3 activation through an up-regulation of Bax rather than a down-regulation of Bcl-2 or Bel-xL.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.111-119
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• 2016

This study aimed to analyze postures that were frequently conducted in manufacturing industry. To find grip strength and muscle activities of each posture, Maximum Voluntary Contraction (MVC) and ElectroMyoGraphy (EMG) were measured. Based on the results of this study, the most appropriate posture could be suggested and used as a basic information for preventing musculoskeletal disorders. Most work-related musculoskeletal disorders have been occurred in the fields of manufacturing industry. According to previous studies, it was reported that the rate of musculoskeletal diseases of upper extremity was higher than that of other body parts. Accordingly, there were many studies about discomfort and grip strength of upper extremity. However, these studies dealt with single selection of wrist, elbow and shoulder. So, it was insufficient for comprehensive studies about upper extremity. And in order to improve the work posture, the physiological changes being generated by the combination of wrist, elbow and shoulder postures should be observed and analyzed. In order to conduct this study, thirty university students who had no records of MSDs involved were recruited. Independent variables were postures of wrist(pronation, neutral, supination), postures of elbow(flexion $45^{\circ}$, $90^{\circ}$) and postures of shoulder(flexion $0^{\circ}$, $90^{\circ}$). And dependent variables were MVC values and EMG values. Jamar dynamometer and TeleMyo 2400T G2 was used to measure MVC and EMG. MVC and EMG for 12 postures were measured for three second and for three times. Experiment was performed randomly. A 10 minutes rest period was provided after each t. To measure muscle load, the EMG signals of eight muscles (Biceps, Medial triceps, Lateral triceps, Brachioradialis, Extensor carpi ulnaris, Extensor carpi radialis, Flexor carpi ulnaris and Flexor carpi radialis) were evaluated. MVC values and EMG values were analyzed using Minitab ver. 14. The results showed that MVC value was the highest at shoulder $0^{\circ}$, elbow $45^{\circ}$ and wrist supination. In case of wrist postures, MVC of supination is the highest. In case of elbow and shoulder postures, MVC of flexion $45^{\circ}$ and $0^{\circ}$ was the highest. It was found that there were interaction between wrist and elbow posture under shoulder flexion and between shoulder and wrist under elbow flexion $45^{\circ}$. In case of the angle of shoulder $0^{\circ}$, elbow $45^{\circ}$ and wrist supination, the EMG values of four muscles(Medial Triceps, Extensor carpi ulnaris, Extensor carpi radialis, Flexor carpi ulnaris) were the highest. Based on this study, it is worth to note that the combination postures of upper extremity have a large impact on the MVC and EMG. The optimal condition upper extremity was shoulder flexion $0^{\circ}$, elbow flexion $45^{\circ}$ and wrist supination for preventing work-related musculoskeletal disease.