• Applied Microscopy
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.121-130
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• 1997

It has been demonstrated that majority of cells in the mammalian body such as myocytes and epithelial cells of skin and intestine respond to mechanical force or environmental factors and exhibit partial disruption of cell membrane, i. e., cell wounding, even in a physiological condition. Myocardial cells are rather apt to be wounded than other cells since they are definitely exposed to mechanical stress by contraction-relaxation and blood flow. However, the mechanism how myocardial cells protect themselves against cell wounding is not yet clarified. On this background, the present study was performed to elucidate whether albumin leakage is related to cell wounding and to assess whether diltiazem, a potent calcium channel blocker, is beneficial in isoproterenol-induced cell wounding in the heart. Hearts isolated from New Zealand White rabbits ($1.5\sim2.0kg$ body weight, n=20) were perfused with Tyrode solution by Langendorff technique. After stabilization of baseline hemodynamics, the hearts were subjected to bolus administration of isoproterenol and diltiazem as following order: $1.6{\mu}M$ isoproterenol at zero min (the beginning point): $16{\mu}M$ diltiazem at 20min; $1.6{\mu}M$ isoproterenol at 25min; $16{\mu}M$ isoproterenol at 45 min; $160{\mu}M$ diltiazem at 65 min; $16{\mu}M$ isoproterenol at 70 min. During all experiments, the left ventricular function was recorded, albumin leakage in the coronary effluents was analyzed by electrophoresis and Western blot, and myocardial cell membranes were examined by conventional transmission electron microscopy. Data were analyzed by t-test and linear regression test. Isoproterenol significantly increased the inotropic and chronotropic contractions, coronary flow, and frequency of arrhythmia, however, diltiazem did not influence on hemodynamics except decrease in the frequency of arrhythmia and a slight decrease in contractility. Isoproterenol also resulted partial disruption of myocardial cell membrane and inclose in albumin leakage, while diltiazem pretreatment showed number of electron-dense plaques in the cell membrane and a tendency of decrease in albumin leakage. These results indicate that albumin leakage may be an indirect index of cell wounding in the heart and diltiazem nay be beneficial to protect myocardial cells against isoproterenol-induced cell wounding. It is likely that diltiazem promotes resealing process of the cell membrane.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.93-98
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• 2016

Objectives : Hwangheuk-san is a complex prescription composed of oriental traditional medicine and has been reported for antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer effects in the recent study. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of important causes of fatal infectious diseases such as septicemia, endocarditis, toxic shock syndrome, pneumonia, skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs). S. aureus is reported as being for a variety of human diseases and its epidemiological relevance is mainly due to their ability of becoming highly resistant to common antimicrobials such as tetracycline, penicillin, cphalosporin and aminoglycoside. The objective of this study is to determine the antimicrobial effect of Hwangheuk-san ethanol extracts (HHS) and synergistic effects with antibiotics oxacillin against MRSA.Methods : The antimicrobial activity of HHS was measured by the disc diffusion method, broth microdilution method and the checkerboard dilution test, time-kill curve assay was performed to investigate synergistic effects with antibiotics oxacillin against MRSA.Results : HHS showed antimicrobial activity against MRSA with a MIC value of 125 ㎍/㎖. In the checkerboard test, the interaction of HHS with antibiotics oxacillin produced almost synergy or partial synergy against MRSA. This study showed that HHS reduced the MICs of oxacillin tested, and a remarkable antibacterial effect of HHS, with membrane permeability enhancers.Conclusions : These results suggest that HHS has the antimicrobial effect and synergistic effects with antibiotics oxacillin against MRSA. This study thus can be a valuable source for the development of a new drug with low MRSA resistance.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.227-240
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• 1987

Infection has assumed increased importance as a cause of death among thermally injured individuals. Decreased treatment effectiveness and an increase in mortality are the hallmarks of nosocomial infection. Infection control is a monumental task that must be achieved to reduce mortalities. This was a retrospective study to survey the epidemiological features of nosocomial infections in a burn unit and to identify the possibilities for infection control. During the past 6 year 2 month period from July, 1981 to August, 1987, 306 burn patients were treated in the burn unit of university hospital. Among of these, 290 cases were the subjects of this study. The data were collected from the patients' records after discharge. All data collected were analyzed using percent, x$^2$-test, t-test with SPSS program. The results of this study are summariged as follows: 1) Infection rate was 40%. According to site, there were 67 cases of wound infection, 60 cases of post-operative skin graft infection, 20 cases of septicemia and 20 cases of donor site infection. As far as the burn size was concerned, the infection rate for patients whose burn size ranged 61 to 70%, was shown to be 100%, followed by the infection rate of 93.8%, for patients whose burn size ranged from 41~50%. As far as the period of time over which the infection developed, 5 to 7 days showed the highest frequency. Further infection was the main cause of deaths and complications. 2) Based upon the results obained by comparing the general characteristics, between a hospital infection-group and non-hospital infection group, there was a significant defference according to age, the time of the year when the accident happened, the place of accident or length of hospital-admission. And according to the result obtained by comparing the general characteristics of the burn, there was a significant difference according to burn size, burn depth, burn type, and burn site. And also based upon the result obtained by comparing the two groups according to method of treatment, there was a significant difference according to the use of antibiotics and to the type of wound-treatment, and for the 8 different binds of treatment related to infection, there was a significant difference for all. In conclusion, age, length of hospital-admission, burn size, burn type, burn site, burn depth, type of woundtreatment and the 8 different binds of treatment, which are related to burns, were shown to be the factors which affect the infection rate in burn patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.71 no.1
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• pp.24-29
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• 2011

Background: The rising prevalence of asthma worldwide may be associated with the rising prevalence of obesity in developed nations. Although several studies have suggested a relationship between asthma and obesity, controversy still remains. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between obesity and asthmatic factors such as atopy, eosinophilia, serum total Ig E and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in chronic cough patients. Methods: This study was a retrospective, observational study in two centers done between January 2007 and June 2008. The subjects included individuals who had a chronic cough. We examined body mass index (BMI) to measure obesity and pulmonary function. We did a metacholine provocation test for airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), a skin prick test for atopy, and tests for blood eosinophils and serum IgE. Results: A total of 1022 subjects were included. Airway hyperresponsiveness was not related with obesity (p=0.06), and atopy incidence was significant higher in non obese patients (p=0.00). There was no significant difference in serum IgE and blood eosinophil counts between obese and non obese patients. Forced expiratory volue in one second ($FEV_1$)/forced vital capacity (FVC) was significantly reduced in obese patients (p=0.03), but FEV1 and FVC were no significant difference between obese and non obese patients. Conclusion: There is no relationship between obesity and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. The nonobese group appears to have more atopy. The relationship between obesity and bronchial hyperresponsiveness and atopy need further investigation.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.367-373
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of backward walking training on the balance capability(Functional Gait Assessment; FGA, Timed Up & Go Test; TUG) and gait performance(10 meter Walking Test; 10 mWT) of stroke patients. Eighteen with stroke patients were randomly allocated to an experimental and contral group of nine patients each. both groups received general neurorehabilitative physical therapy for 45 minutes per day 5 times per week during 4 weeks. The experimental group also performed additional backward walking training for 20 minutes per day 3 times per week during 4 weeks. There were signicantly increase by backward walking training in outcome of the balance capability from the FGA was increase from $17.67{\pm}1.00scores$ to $19.22{\pm}1.00scores$(p<.05), TUG was decrease from $26.45{\pm}1.37sec$ to $23.28{\pm}1.35sec$(p<.05) and 10 mWT was decreased from $21.74{\pm}1.35sec$ to $18.33{\pm}1.10sec$ (p<.05). These result suggest that backward walking training for stroke patients is effective in improving balance capability(FGA, TUG) and gait performance(10 mWT).

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.297-306
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• 2017

The study was performed to determine the impact of the gastrocnemius taping with balance training on spasticity and balance ability of the ankle joint. A total of 25 stroke subjects were divided into two groups: a taping with balance training (n=14), a sham taping with balance training (n=11). Spasticity assesment was scored by modified ashworth scale. Balance ability assesment was performed by functional reach test (FRT), the timed up & go test (TUG). The stability index (SI), the left-right weight distribution (left-right WD), the toe-heel weight distribution (toe-heel WD) were analyzed in the eyes open conditions(EO) and eyes closed conditions(EC) conditions using by the Tetrax interactive balance system. The experimental group showed a significant improvement in SI, left-right WD and toe-heel WD in the EO and EC, MAS, FRT, TUG. In comparison between the groups, a significant improvement was detected in FRT, TUG, SI and left-right WD in the EO, and left-right WD and toe-heel WD in the EC. It was found out that a short period of balance training with taping is effective on spasticity and balance ability in stroke patients. Therefore, any stroke patient without skin damage is encouraged to use the gastrocnemius taping for balance rehabilitation.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.69 no.6
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• pp.426-433
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• 2010

Background: Persistent cough has recently been found to be associated with Chlamydia pneumoniae infection. We aimed to investigate the infection rate of C. pneumonia in adult patients with chronic cough. Methods: We recruited 68 patients with persistent cough lasting in excess of 3 weeks, who visited Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital from January 2005 to August 2005. On the first visit, chest and paranasal sinuses radiography, skin prick test of common allergens, and induced sputum samples for C. pneumoniae were performed in all of patients. Further evaluation for diagnosis included a methacholine provocation test and eosinophil counts in induced sputum. Results: The most common cause of chronic cough was upper airway cough syndrome (UACS) (26.5%), followed by eosinophilic bronchitis (20.6%) and cough variant asthma (16.2%). Idiopathic chronic cough was the cause in 33.8% of patients. The mean duration of cough was 11.7 months. C. pneumoniae was isolated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from one patient who had upper respiratory air way syndrome. Conclusion: Chlamydia pneumoniae appears to have a minor role as a cause of chronic cough in patients.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.557-563
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• 2004

A new vacuum assisted auto-lancing technique is proposed to minimize pain. Specially designed lancing device was introduced, which applied -100mmHg right after skin puncture on the forearm. Sampled blood volumes were measured in 58 normal females. Mean volume of 464 samples was approximately 2.6$\muL$ and the frequency of more than 0.5$\muL$ was 86%. Thus the success rate of blood sugar test should also be the same when using modern glucose meters capable of testing with only 0.3~0.5$\muL$ of capillary blood. When pain scores were quantitatively evaluated by the visual pain measure, only 23% pain of the traditional finger sampling was experienced, demonstrating that capillary blood sampling was performed on the forearm with almost no pain. The present technique reduced pain to a great degree, though resampling might be unavoidable due to 14% of test failure rate estimated for modern glucose meters. However, minimized pain makes the present technique of great convenience for diabetic patients who need blood sampling a few times a day.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.8
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• pp.88-98
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of product selection of hospital workers cosmeceutical cosmetics on marketing communication among hospital workers who use cosmeceutical cosmetics that have emerged in line with the recent growing medical skin care field.Coping with complaints from consumers who buy cosmeceutical cosmetics in hospitals where cosmeceutical cosmetics are mainly used and sold, and minimizing the influence of negative issues will potentially strengthen consumer relationships. The study was conducted on 520 hospital workers who use cosmeceutical cosmetics in hospitals (dermatology, plastic surgery, women's clinic, and other hospitals) in Seoul, Gyeonggi and Incheon. A total of 502 questionnaires were used for the final analysis. The data analysis consisted of Cronbach's alpha, one-way ANOVA, exploratory factor analysis and Duncan test. Correlation analysis was performed to investigate the correlation between variables, and regression analysis was conducted to test hypotheses. The study results revealed that when choosing cosmetic cosmetics, marketing communication is influential. Especially, product value, quality, and price factors strongly affect marketing communication. This shows that we value the product and quality the most and we want a reasonable price. Considering this, we will pursue differentiated products only from cosmeceutical cosmetics and provide them as basic data necessary for securing potential customers and increasing the sales of cosmeceutical cosmetics in accordance with the changing trends.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.3323-3332
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to investigated the effects of alcohol intake on blood pressure, serum lipids, liver function tests and obesity indices in middle-aged male workers. The 2,175 male workers aged 30-59 years who examined health checkup were recruited as the study subjects during the period between January to December, 2013. We observed the relationships between the amount of alcohol intake and blood pressure, serum lipids, liver function tests and obesity indices. As a result, the mean score of SBP, DBP, LDL-C and TG were significantly higher increasing with amount of alcohol increased, but HDL-C were significantly lower increasing with amount of alcohol increased. AST, ALT, ALP and ${\gamma}$-GTP were significantly higher increasing with amount of alcohol increased, but obesity indices were not significant. Age adjusted odds ratios(ORs) increasing with abnormal levels of SBP, DBP, HDL-C, LDL-C, TG, AST and ALT were significantly increased in heavy drinking group than light drinking group. Above results suggested that the heavy drink related with blood, serum lipid levels and liver function test levels, but not find out with obesity indices.