• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.317-330
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• 1995

The purpose of this study is to observe the stimulant effect of the isolated nerve segment on the peripheral nerve regeneration using silicone tube in rats. Sprague-Dawley female albino rats were used as experimental animals and nerve defects were made by resection of 14 mm-long segment of right sciatic nerves. In control group, the defects were bridged with the silicone tubes. In experimental group, the defects were bridged with the same manner and additionally, 2mm-long nerve segments were inserted at the center of the silicone tubes. 3 months later, the regenerated nerve tissue within the silicone tubes were examined by histologic study. Axonal diameters and numbers of axons were measured and all data were analyzed by using SAS package program. The results obtained were as follows : 1. The experimental group was increased than the control group in general diameters of the regenerated nerve fiber.(P<0.05) 2. The diameters of axons were increased in the experimental group compare to the control group.(P<0.05) 3. The numbers of axons were increased in the experimental group compare to the control group.(P<0.05)

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.5-12
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• 2013

Caffeine is an alkaloid of the methylxanthine family known as a central nervous system stimulant, temporarily warding off drowsiness and restoring alertness in humans. There is a recommended upper limits of caffeine for health because a high dose can cause negative effects. Chlorogenic acid is a natural polyphenol compound known to have an antioxidant activity. In this study, the contents of caffeine and chlorogenic acid in coffee beans from different origins(Costa Rica, Indonesia, Vietnam) were determined by using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(LC-MS/MS). The experiment offers more selectivity and sensitivity for those compounds compared with conventional methods such as UV/VIS spectrophotometry. The average concentrations of caffeine and chlorogenic acid in coffee beans origined in Costa Rica were 15.05 mg/g and 5.33 mg/g respectively. In the case of coffee beans origined in Indonesia, the average concentrations were 13.10 mg/g for caffeine and 3.75 mg/g for chlorogenic acid. Vietnamese coffee showed that the average concentrations were 17.79 mg/g for caffeine and 1.12 mg/g for chlorogenic acid. This study can contribute to a better understanding of the contents of caffeine and chlorogenic acid in various coffee beans in order to evaluate dietary intake.

• BMB Reports
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.59-64
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• 2018

The airway epithelium is the first place, where a defense mechanism is initiated against environmental stimuli. Mucociliary transport (MCT), which is the defense mechanism of the airway and the role of airway epithelium as mechanical barriers are essential in innate immunity. To maintain normal physiologic function, normal oxygenation is critical for the production of energy for optimal cellular functions. Several pathologic conditions are associated with a decrease in oxygen tension in airway epithelium and chronic sinusitis is one of the airway diseases, which is associated with the hypoxic condition, a potent inflammatory stimulant. We have observed the overexpression of the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1), an essential factor for oxygen homeostasis, in the epithelium of sinus mucosa in sinusitis patients. In a series of previous reports, we have found hypoxia-induced mucus hyperproduction, especially by MUC5AC hyperproduction, disruption of epithelial barrier function by the production of VEGF, and down-regulation of junctional proteins such as ZO-1 and E-cadherin. Furthermore, hypoxia-induced inflammation by HMGB1 translocation into the cytoplasm results in the release of IL-8 through a ROS-dependent mechanism in upper airway epithelium. In this mini-review, we briefly introduce and summarize current progress in the pathogenesis of sinusitis related to hypoxia. The investigation of hypoxia-related pathophysiology in airway epithelium will suggest new insights on airway inflammatory diseases, such as rhinosinusitis for clinical application and drug development.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1285-1288
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• 2012

Background: The Fagerstrom Test for Cigarette Dependence (FTCD) (formally FTND) is widely used for measuring physical dependence on nicotine. Objective: To explore the cross cultural validity and reliability of FTCD amongst Arabic speaker cigarette consumers who chew khat leaf, a stimulant green leaf. Methods: The psychometric properties of the FTCD were assessed in a subsample (91regular cigarette smokers) of purposively selected 204 UK-resident Yemeni khat chewers recruited during random visits to khat sale outlets. Data were collected via a structured face-to-face interview. Data analyses included descriptive tests and factor analysis. Results: Two factors were obtained by a principle axis factor analysis and these were termed as urgency of restoring the level of nicotine after abstinence during sleeping and maintaining the level of nicotine during waking. The internal reliability (Cronbach's alpha coefficient) of the whole FTCD is low (.68) as well as for the two subscales (.60) and (.62) respectively. Conclusion: The psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the FTCD scale in this sample of Yemeni khat chewers who smoked regularly confirmed what has been established in other cultural settings. The findings of this study have yet to be cross validated amongst other appropriately representative sample of Arabic speakers.

• Journal of mucopolysaccharidosis and rare diseases
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.35-39
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• 2015

Sleep problems occur frequently among patients with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). The most common problem is excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) that are closely related to of sleep-related breathing disorder (SRBD) such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and congenital hypoventilation syndrome. Obesity, craniofacial dysmorphism and muscular hypotonia of patients with PWS may increase the risk of SRBD. Sleep apneas can interrupt the continuity of sleep, and these disruptions result in a decrease in both the quality and quantity of sleep. In addition to SRBD, other sleep disorders have been reported, such as hypersomnia, a primary abnormality of the rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and narcolepsy traits at sleep onset REM sleep. Patients with PWS have intrinsic abnormalities of sleep-wake cycles due to hypothalamic dysfunction. The treatment of EDS and other sleep disorders in PWS are similar to standard treatments. Correction of sleep hygiene such as sufficient amount of sleep, maintenance of regular sleep-wake rhythm, and planned naps are important. After comprehensive evaluation of sleep disturbances, CPAP or surgery should be recommended for treatment of SRBD. Remaining EDS or narcolepsy-like syndrome are controlled by stimulant medication. Bright light therapy might be beneficial for disturbed circadian sleep-wake rhythm caused by hypothalamic dysfunction.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.148-151
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• 2003

Seeds of broomrape (Orobanche cernua) were exposed to 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 mM NaCl solutions during their preconditioning period (14 days of moisture) under laboratory conditions and induced to germinate by synthetic germination stimulant (GR24). There was significant reduction in seed germination with increased salt concentration as shown in 35.2, 32.5, 23.6, 14.3, and 9.2% germination, respectively. Exposure of Orobanche cernua seeds to 0.0, 1.0, 1.25, and 1.5 M levels of NaCl for 9 hours resulted in 29.4, 21.3, 20.5, and 17.4% germination, respectively. Water preconditioned seeds showed Heavier protein profile bands of 6.5-14.2 KDa than those of dry seeds. Seeds treated with 0.75 M NaCl showed profile similar with that of water preconditioned ones, plus an extra band at 29-36 KDa. The protein profiles of 1.0 and 1.5 M NaCl treated seeds showed weaker bands with the absence of 29-36 KDa band.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.5 s.133
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• pp.92-98
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• 2005

This study was performed to get the basic information concerned to the optimum culture condition of Inonotus obliquus. Several solid media, PDA, MEA and Czapek-Dox, and three liquid media were adopted for the in vitro cultivation. Some main features of the fungal morphological characteristics under cultivation conditions were observed and described. Preliminary results showed that appearance of the mycelial mat, hyphal size and substrate pigmentation differed according to the media. The PDA medium was the most favorable substrate for the growth on solid culture, followed by MEA and Czapek-Dox media. Concerned to the addition of amino acids, 5 amino acids, such as alanine, alginine, isoleucine, leucine and threonine, enhanced to the mycelial growth. Isoleucine was shown the best fungal growth. An important morphological hyphal structure for the fungus, the setae, was found in abundance and diverse its shape and size. In liquid culture, fresh potato broth was the best growth stimulant of the fungus, followed by Malt extract and potato broth. Addition of yeast extract to the liquid media had improved the biomass, but not laccase production.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.81-93
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• 2002

There were no specific effects for test materials on Sprague-Dawiey (S.D.) rats in clinical symptoms, amounts of food intakes, weight changes, laboratory findings, and pathology after whole body 1, 1-Dichloro-1-fluoroethane (used as coolant, metal cleaner and solvents) exposure (0, 1,500, 3,000, and 6,000 ppm) for 13 weeks (6 hour/day, 5 days/week). However, the loss of capillary vessels in eyeball (pupil) was observed in a female rat among 6,000 ppm group. Though there was a tendency for MCHC (Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration) in rat to be decreased (p<0.05), it was not regarded as abnormal because the values were within normal limits. In asthma-stimulation related evaluations. there was also a tendency for inflammatory cell counts in bronchoalveolar lavages to be increased. But it had no statistical significance, and also no dependency on sex and the exposed concentration . Based on this result, the non observed effect level (NOEL) induced by 1, 1-Dichloro-1-fluoroethane inhalation was evaluated in groups with 3,000 ppm below (S.D. Rats, 13 weeks). Finally, it was concluded that the short term exposal of 1, 1-Dichloro-1-fluoroethane is not considered as a asthma stimulant by inhalation despite of some study limitations such as test animals use and short-term exposure.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.155-163
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• 2002

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder(ADHD) is a childhood syndrome characterized by short attention span. impulsiveness, and hyperactivity, which often leadㄴ to learning disabilities and various behavioral problems. For the treatment of ADHD, medication and cognitive-behavior therapy is applied in recent yearn Although psycho-stimulant medication has been widely used for many rears. current findings suggest that, as the sole treatment for ADHD, it is an inadequate form of intervention in that parents don't want their child to use drug and the effects are limited to the period in which the drugs are physiologically active. On the other hand, EEG biofeedback treatment studies for ADHD have reported promising results not only in significant reductions in hyperactive, inattentive, and disruptive behaviors, but also improvements in academic performance and IQ scores. However it is too boring for children to finish the whole treatment. The recent increase in computer usage in medicine and rehabilitation has changed the way health care is delivered. Virtual Reality technology provides specific stimuli that can be used in removing distractions and providing environments that get the subjects'attention and increasing their ability to concentrate. VR technology can hold a patient's attention for a longer period of time than other methods can, because VR is immersive, interactive and imaginal. Based on these aspects, we developed Attention Enhancement System (AES) using VR technology, EEG biofeedback, and cognitive training method for enhancing attention and made a clinical trial to people who have attention difficulty and behavioral problems.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.109-114
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• 2005

Leucas aspera Link. (Lamiaceae) is an important medicinal plant in indigenous systems of medicine in India and commonly known as 'Thumbai'. It has various ethnomedicinal values as various traditional communities find diverse medicinal properties. It is used as antipyretic, stimulant, expectorant and diaphoretic drug. The present communication deals with the detailed pharmacognostical evaluation of whole plant of L. aspera collected from five different geographical zones of the country-Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Karnataka, West Bengal and Gujarat. The botanical characters and TLC fingerprint profile of all the samples were quite similar but some variations were observed in physicochemical parameters. However, some microscopical characters and TLC profile can be used as diagnostic characters for identification of L. aspera, for example amphistomachic leaves and two types of trichomes-abundant, non glandular, uniseriate, 1-3 celled and few glandular, 2-5 celled stalk with rounded tip. Presence of some components at $R_fs-0.56$, 0.65 and 0.76 under UV 366 and at $R_fs-0.31$, 0.43, 0.60, 0.76 and 0.82 under visible light after derivetization in TLC profile may also be used as diagnostic character.