• Laboraroty Animal Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.279-287
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• 2018

Placenta specific 8 (PLAC8, also known as ONZIN) is a multi-functional protein that is highly expressed in the intestine, lung, spleen, and innate immune cells, and is involved in various diseases, including cancers, obesity, and innate immune deficiency. Here, we generated a Plac8 knockout mouse using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. The Cas9 mRNA and two single guide RNAs targeting a region near the translation start codon at Plac8 exon 2 were microinjected into mouse zygotes. This successfully eliminated the conventional translation start site, as confirmed by Sanger sequencing and PCR genotyping analysis. Unlike the previous Plac8 deficient models displaying increased adipose tissue and body weights, our male Plac8 knockout mice showed rather lower body weight than sex-matched littermate controls, though the only difference between these two mouse models is genetic context. Differently from the previously constructed embryonic stem cell-derived Plac8 knockout mouse that contains a neomycin resistance cassette, this knockout mouse model is free from a negative selection marker or other external insertions, which will be useful in future studies aimed at elucidating the multi-functional and physiological roles of PLAC8 in various diseases, without interference from exogenous foreign DNA.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.9-25
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• 2021

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to analyze Methods of Acupuncture Therapies(鍼法) that are currently practiced in Korean medicine(韓醫學) and to consider the directions in further research and development. Methods : Methods of Acupuncture Therapies(鍼法) were selected based on Acupuncture Medicine textbook of College of Korean Medicine and published researches. Then, selected Methods of Acupuncture Therapies(鍼法) were categorized by characteristics. Also, the selected Methods of Acupuncture Therapies(鍼法) were comprehensively classified according to new models, Heaven-Earth-Human(天地人) model and Dimensional model. The directions of further research and development in Methods of Acupuncture Therapies(鍼法) were considered based on this. Results & Conclusions : In the categorization by characteristics, sufficient basic references were unavailable to consider the directions in further research and development. However, comprehensive classification using Heaven-Earth-Human(天地人) model and Dimensional model was able to be used as references for estimating the relative positions of each Method of Acupuncture Therapies(鍼法) and also, establishing the directions in further research and development. Regarding the results from comprehensive classification, the studies on Physiology of Four Seasons and Day and night(晝夜) are required. Besides, the acceptance of Western medical contents which include anatomical structures is unavoidable to achieve the development in Methods of Acupuncture Therapies(鍼法). In addition, it is necessary to propose researches founded on an integrated theory of Viscera and Bowels(藏府) and Meridian and Collateral(經絡) which enables to embrace the physiological function of human body. Upon this, the creation of a Four-dimensional Methods of Acupuncture Therapy(鍼法) is also required.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.189-204
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• 2024

Purpose: This pilot study was conducted to develop a novel test setup for the in vitro assessment of the primary stability of dental implants. This was achieved by characterising their long-term behaviour based on the continuous recording of micromotions resulting from dynamic and cyclic loading. Methods: Twenty screw implants, each 11 mm in length and either 3.8 mm (for premolars) or 4.3 mm (for molars) in diameter, were inserted into the posterior region of 5 synthetic mandibular models. Physiological masticatory loads were simulated by superimposing cyclic buccal-lingual movement of the mandible with a vertically applied masticatory force. Using an optical 3-dimensional (3D) measuring system, the micromotions of the dental crowns relative to the alveolar bone resulting from alternating off-centre loads were concurrently determined over 10,000 test cycles. Results: The buccal-lingual deflections of the dental crowns significantly increased from cycle 10 to cycle 10,000 (P<0.05). The deflections increased sharply during the first 500 cycles before approaching a plateau. Premolars exhibited greater maximum deflections than molars. The bone regions located mesially and distally adjacent to the loaded implants demonstrated deflections that occurred synchronously and in the same direction as the applied loads. The overall spatial movement of the implants over time followed an hourglass-shaped loosening pattern with a characteristic pivot point 5.5±1.1 mm from the apical end. Conclusions: In synthetic mandibular models, the cyclic reciprocal loading of dental implants with an average masticatory force produces significant loosening. The evasive movements observed in the alveolar bone suggest that its anatomy and yielding could significantly influence the force distribution and, consequently, the mechanical behaviour of dental implants. The 3D visualisation of the overall implant movement under functional cyclic loading complements known methods and can contribute to the development of implant designs and surgical techniques by providing a more profound understanding of dynamic bone-implant interactions.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.71-80
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• 2012

Biotechnologies for cloning animals and in vitro embryo production have the potential to produce biomedical models for various researches. Especially, pigs are a suitable model for xenotransplantation, transgenic production and various areas of reproductive research due to its physiological similarities to human. However, utilization of in vitro-produced embryos for transfer remains limited. Despite improvement over past few decades, obstacles associated with the production of good quality embryos in vitro still exist which limit the efficiency of cloning. One of major problems includes improper in vitro maturation (IVM) and culture (IVC). Oxidative stress caused from in vitro culture conditions contributes to inadequate IVM and IVC which leads to poor developmental competence of oocytes, failure of fertilization and embryo development. To reduce the oxidative stress, various antioxidants have been used to IVM and IVC system. However, limited information is available on the effects of resveratrol on livestock reproductions. Resveratrol is a polyphenolic natural product and well known as an antioxidant in foods and beverages (e.g. in grapes and red wine). Resveratrol is known to be cardioprotective, anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiapoptotic. This paper will review the effects of resveratrol on in vitro maturation of oocytes and embryo development.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.1119-1128
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• 2011

The aim of this study is to collect and analyze clinical studies on acupuncture therapies of Post-stroke depression, and to suggest a method on study about acupuncture therapies. In this thesis, electronic searches were performed. Also, 6 major journals associated with oriental medicine in Korea were searched manually. Through searching, 27 studies were selected and analyzed. There were 24 controlled studies and 3 non-controlled studies. Treatment methods were acupuncture, electronic-acupuncture, eye-acupuncture, abdominal-acupuncture and pharmaco-puncture. The percentages of these treatment method were 59.2%, 29.6%, 3.7%, 3.7% and 3.7%, respectively. Acupuncture points such as GV20, PC6, ST36, SP6, LV3, GV24, GV26, LI14, LI11, H7, ST40, GB20, GB34 and LI15 were used. In comparison of results before and after acupuncture treatment, there were statistically significant improvement in 26 studies. Based on the results from above, the studies on acupuncture for Post-stroke depression needs to be standardized and more appropriate high-quality study models should be introduced.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.99-110
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• 2018

Research confirms that healthful benefits accrued when people connect with nature and insect by viewing and interacting with them. Insect rearing is easy, relatively inexpensive, and can breed small space. This study aimed to investigate the physiological effects of animal assisted activity using insect(Oriental garden cricket) with diets and a rearing manual. The group of insect activity whose ages ranged from 65 to 82 years old that attending a community center in Daegu, Korea, were enrolled in the study between April and May 2014. The collected data was analyzed using qualitative analysis. Qualitative study is utilized to explore mental models, and their linguistic, affective, cognitive, social and cultural significance. The result showed that people-insect interactions promote well being of the elders, and the important aspect of insect activity aids in improvements in their social, emotional and cognitive functioning which were enhancing life satisfaction, reducing loneliness and increasing activities of daily life.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.217-223
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• 1998

Oxygen-derived free radicals have been implicated in many important functions in the biological system. Electrical field stimulation (EFS) causes arterial relaxation in animal models. We found that EFS applied to neither muscle nor nerve but to Krebs solution caused a relaxation of rat aorta that had been contracted with phenylephrine. In the present study, therefore, we investigated the characteristics of this EIRF (electrolysis-induced relaxing factor) using rat isolated aorta. Results indicated that EIRF acts irrespective of the presence of endothelium. EIRF shows positive Griess reaction and is diffusible and quite stable. EIRF-induced relaxation was stronger on PE-contracted aorta than on KCl-contracted one, and inhibited by the pretreatment with methylene blue. Zaprinast, a cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase inhibitor, potentiated the EIRF-induced relaxation. $N^G-nitro-L-arginine$, NO synthase inhibitor, did not inhibit the EIRF-induced relaxation. Deferroxamine, but not ascorbic acid, DMSO potentiated the EIRF-induced relaxation. These results indicate that electrolysis of Krebs solution produces a factor that relaxes vascular smooth muscle via cGMP-mediated mechanism.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.354-361
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• 1999

In this study, the effects of tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) on ischemia/ reperfusion injury were investigated on isolated heart perfusion models. Hezrts were perfused with oxygenated Krebs-henseleit solution (pH 7.4, $37^{\cire}C$) on a Langendorff apparatus. After equilibration, isolated hearts were treated with TUDCA 100 and 200 $\mu\textrm{M}$ or vehicle (0.02% DMSO) for 10 min before the onset of ischemia in single treatment group. In 7 day pretreatment group. TUDCA 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight were given orally for 7 days before operation. After global ischemia (30 min), ischemic hearts were reperfused for 30 min. The physiological (i.e. heart rate, left ventricdular developed pressure, coronary flow, double product, time to contracture formation) and biochemical (lactate dehydrogenase; LDH) parameters were evaluated. In vehicle-treated group, time to contracture formation was 810 sec during ischemia, LVDP was 34.0 mmHg at the endpoint of reperfusion and LDH activity in total reperfusion effluent was 34.3 U/L. Single treatment with TUDCA did not change the postischemic recovery of cardiac function, LDH and time to contractur compared with ischemic control group. TUDCA pretreatment showed the tendency to decrease LDH release and to increase time to contracture and coronary flow. Our findings suggest that TUDCA does not ameliorate ischemia/reperfusion-reduced myocardial damage.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.287-296
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• 2011

Mammalian fertilization is a complex cascade process consisting of sperm migration through the female reproductive tract, physiological changes to sperm such as sperm capacitation and acrosome reaction, and sperm-egg interaction in the oviduct in vivo. On the other hand, in vitro fertilization (IVF) is a process by which egg cells are fertilized by sperm outside the body: in vitro. IVF has been used for a variety of purposes in reproductive biotechnology for human and animals. The discovery of sperm capacitation in 1951 promoted the development of IVF technology. In the initial stage of IVF, sperm capacitation in preincubation medium was shown to be essential to fuse with eggs. Besides, sperms should detour some of the in vivo regulations for IVF. This review introduces a general mammalian fertilization process, including sperm capacitation, removal of cumulus matrix, acrosome reaction, and sperm-egg fusion and focuses on the roles of key biochemical molecules, signal mechanisms, and genes involved during IVF and novel results of sperm-oocyte interaction elucidated in various gene-knockout mice models.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1938-1944
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• 2004

In this study, when we make a diagnosis of constitution using QSCC Ⅱ(Questionnaire of Sasang Constitution Classification). data mining techniques are applied to seek the classification function for improving the accuracy. Data used in the analysis are the questionnaires of 1051 patients who had been treated in Dong Eui Oriental Medical Hospital and Kyung Hee Oriental Medical Hospital. The criteria for data cleansing are the response pattern in the opposite questionnaires and the positive proportion of specific questionnaires in each constitution. And the criteria for variable selection are the test of homogeneity in frequency analysis and the coefficients in the linear discriminant function. Discriminant analysis model and decision tree model are applied to seek the classification function into Sasang constitution. The accuracy in learning sample is similar in two models, the higher accuracy in test sample is obtained in discriminant analysis model.