• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.53 no.6
• /
• pp.886-893
• /
• 2020

The seaweed Hizikia fusiformis is rich in protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. This study investigated the antioxidant and physiological activities of H. fusiformis extracts prepared with 70% ethanol, 80% methanol, or distilled water. The extraction yields of these various solvent extracts were as follows: ethanol extract, 15.26%; methanol extract, 17.95%; and water extract, 45.62%. The methanol extract showed the highest total polyphenol content (24.06 mg GAE/g), but total flavonoid content was similar in all extracts. ABTS (2,2'-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)) radical scavenging activity was highest in the ethanol extract (IC50: 0.90 mg/mL), while the methanol extract exhibited the strongest DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity (IC50: 8.09 mg/mL), reducing power (EC50: 0.40 mg/mL), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (0.28 mM). By contrast, tyrosinase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities were higher in the ethanol extract than in the other extracts. The high BACE1 (β-secretase) inhibitory activity was observed in the ethanol extract (IC50: 1.03 mg/mL). These results indicate that H. fusiformis ethanol extracts may be useful for their antioxidant and functional properties in food and pharmaceutical materials.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.40 no.3
• /
• pp.252-264
• /
• 2023

Background: The primary aim of this study is to statistically analyze and compare the difference in treatment outcomes based on the frequency and duration of acupotomy treatment for lumbar disk herniation. Methods: The evaluation of efficacy and safety involved using visual analog scale (VAS), numeric rating scale (NRS), Roland Morris disability questionnaire (RMDQ), EuroQol 5-dimention (EQ-5D), and similar parameters. This was achieved through the establishment of a comparable cohort using propensity score matching. Group A comprised 46 patients who underwent 4 sessions of acupotomy treatment for 2 weeks, while Group B consisted of 15 patients who received 6 acupotomy sessions for 3 weeks. Results: For Group A, the average amount of change in VAS values at weeks 4 and 6 was significantly decreased. However, the average amount of change in RMDQ values was not significant. Notably, the average amount of change of EQ-5D values at week 6 increased significantly. As for Group B, the average amount of change of NRS values in weeks 2 and 3 was significantly decreased. Conversely, the average amount of change in RMDQ and EQ-5D values was not significant. In comparing the 2 groups at the final follow-up, the average amount of change in all evaluation values was not significant. Further, no significant interaction effect was observed in the changes over time in all evaluation values between the 2 groups. Conclusion: This study establishes that there was no statistically significant difference in pain reduction, functional impairment, and quality of life improvement between 2 group.

• Medical Lasers
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.64-73
• /
• 2019

Background and Objectives The effectiveness of many physiotherapy modalities in reducing subcutaneous fat has been investigated in numerous previous studies. However, to the best of our knowledge, there have been no attempts to determine the effectiveness of physiotherapy modalities in body contouring. The present report determined the effect of 448-kHz capacitive resistive monopolar radiofrequency (CRMRF) in a porcine model. Materials and Methods This study investigated the effect of selective destruction of the subcutaneous fat layer in abdominal fat tissue using CRMRF. The effects of two types of CRMRF (capacitive electric transfer (CET) and resistive electric transfer (RET)) treatment were evaluated using regular digital photography in addition to thermal imaging evaluation, ultrasound measurement, hematological evaluation, and histologic analyses (H&E (hematoxylin and eosin), Oil red O, and immunohistochemistry staining). Results Preclinical evaluation was performed to obtain the data for comparison of the safety and efficacy of the subcutaneous fat reduction after applying CRMRF using CET and RET. After treatment, the thermal transmission was effective, and a 42-47℃ temperature change was observed in the fat layer while an approximately temperature of 42℃ was confirmed on the skin surface. Moreover, after the application of both types of CRMRF treatment, fibrotic septa were observed in the adipose tissue induced by heat at the treatment sites. TUNEL staining was also performed to confirm the process of apoptosis in the adipocytes. Conclusion These results suggest that both CET and RET for CRMRF treatment are safe and effective for subcutaneous fat reduction in a porcine model.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.62-72
• /
• 2023

Objective: Although balance training has been used as an effective ankle injury rehabilitation program to restore neuromuscular deficits in patients with chronic ankle instability, it is not effectively used in terms of motor learning. Attentional focusing can be an effective method for improving ankle kinematics to prevent recurrent ankle injuries. This study aimed to 1) evaluate the effects of attentional focus, including internal and external focus, and 2) determine a more effective focusing method for patients with chronic ankle instability to learn balance tasks. Method: Twenty-four patients with chronic ankle instability were randomly assigned to three groups (external focus, internal focus, and no feedback) and underwent four weeks of progressive balance training. The three-dimensional ankle kinematics of each patient were measured before and after training as the main outcomes. Ensemble curve analysis, discrete point analysis, and post hoc pairwise comparisons were performed to identify interactions between groups and time. Results: The results showed that (1) the external focus group was more dorsiflexed and everted than the internal focus group; (2) the external focus group was more dorsiflexed than the no feedback group; and (3) the no feedback group was more dorsiflexed than the internal focus group. Conclusion: Because dorsiflexion and eversion are ankle motions that oppose the mechanism of lateral ankle sprain, using the external focus method during balance training may be more effective in modifying these motions, thereby reducing the risk of ankle sprain.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.22.1-22.17
• /
• 2021

Chitinase-3-like-1 (CHI3L1) is known to induce inflammation in the progression of allergic diseases. Previous our studies revealed that 2-({3-[2-(1-cyclohexen-1-yl)ethyl]-6,7-dimethoxy-4-oxo-3,4-dihydro-2-quinazolinyl}sulfanyl)-N-(4-ethylphenyl)butanamide (K284-6111; K284), the CHI3L1 inhibiting compound, has the anti-inflammatory effect on neuroinflammation. In this study, we investigated that K284 treatment could inhibit the development of atopic dermatitis (AD). To identify the effect of K284, we used phthalic anhydride (5% PA)-induced AD animal model and in vitro reconstructed human skin model. We analyzed the expression of AD-related cytokine mediators and NF-κB signaling by Western blotting, ELISA and quantitative real-time PCR. Histological analysis showed that K284 treatment suppressed PA-induced epidermal thickening and infiltration of mast cells. K284 treatment also reduced PA-induced release of inflammatory cytokines. In addition, K284 treatment inhibited the expression of NF-κB activity in PA-treated skin tissues and TNF-α and IFN-γ-treated HaCaT cells. Protein-association network analysis indicated that CHI3L1 is associated with lactoferrin (LTF). LTF was elevated in PA-treated skin tissues and TNF-α and IFN-γ-induced HaCaT cells. However, this expression was reduced by K284 treatment. Knockdown of LTF decreased the expression of inflammatory cytokines in TNF-α and IFN-γ-induced HaCaT cells. Moreover, anti-LTF antibody treatment alleviated AD development in PA-induced AD model. Our data demonstrate that CHI3L1 targeting K284 reduces AD-like skin inflammation and K284 could be a promising therapeutic agent for AD by inhibition of LTF expression.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.84 no.6
• /
• pp.1257-1265
• /
• 2023

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a fatal hereditary disorder that primarily affects Caucasians and is rare in Asian populations, including Koreans. Diagnosing CF is often challenging and delayed owing to its rarity and its overlapping features with non-CF diseases, ultimately affecting the patient prognosis. Radiologists can provide initial clues for clinically unsuspected cases and play a crucial role in establishing an early childhood diagnosis. This pictorial essay reviews the clinical and imaging features of genetically confirmed CF in Korean children and increases awareness of this rare disease, thereby facilitating early diagnosis.

• Korean Circulation Journal
• /
• v.53 no.11
• /
• pp.758-771
• /
• 2023

Background and Objectives: Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) is a major potential cause of embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS). However, identifying AF remains challenging because it occurs sporadically. Deep learning could be used to identify hidden AF based on the sinus rhythm (SR) electrocardiogram (ECG). We combined known AF risk factors and developed a deep learning algorithm (DLA) for predicting AF to optimize diagnostic performance in ESUS patients. Methods: A DLA was developed to identify AF using SR 12-lead ECG with the database consisting of AF patients and non-AF patients. The accuracy of the DLA was validated in 221 ESUS patients who underwent insertable cardiac monitor (ICM) insertion to identify AF. Results: A total of 44,085 ECGs from 12,666 patient were used for developing the DLA. The internal validation of the DLA revealed 0.862 (95% confidence interval, 0.850-0.873) area under the curve (AUC) in the receiver operating curve analysis. In external validation data from 221 ESUS patients, the diagnostic accuracy of DLA and AUC were 0.811 and 0.827, respectively, and DLA outperformed conventional predictive models, including CHARGE-AF, C2HEST, and HATCH. The combined model, comprising atrial ectopic burden, left atrial diameter and the DLA, showed excellent performance in AF prediction with AUC of 0.906. Conclusions: The DLA accurately identified paroxysmal AF using 12-lead SR ECG in patients with ESUS and outperformed the conventional models. The DLA model along with the traditional AF risk factors could be a useful tool to identify paroxysmal AF in ESUS patients.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.48 no.4
• /
• pp.339-344
• /
• 2005

Rice blast, which is caused by the fungus Magnaporthe grisea, is one of the most destructive diseases of rice. To identify genes involving in the signal transduction pathways that mediate rice blast resistance, we screened over 2,000 mutant lines of a highly resistant variety RIL260 that were generated by using a DEB (1, 3-Butadiene diepoxide) treatment method. In the mutant population, the frequency of albino plants was 6.7%, indicating that this population has a high frequency of mutations in the genome. The primary screening identified 29 mutant plants that exhibit a complete or partial loss of the resistance to rice blast. Among them, M5465, the most susceptible line, was subsequently examined by DNA gel-blot experiments using DNA molecular markers of Pi5(t) that has been previously identified as a durable resistance locus in RIL260. The result revealed that a large deletion and rearrangement of genomic DNA occurred in the Pi5(t) locus. The results suggest that DEB can be used as an efficient mutagen to induce large scale mutations in the rice genome. The isolated mutants should be useful for elucidating the Pi5(t)-mediated signaling pathways of rice blast resistance.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.183-189
• /
• 2013

Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify the optimal insertion angle between the skin and the needle in ultrasound-guided internal jugular vein (IJV) catheterization with trauma patients. Methods: From March 2012 to December 2012, consecutive trauma patients who were planned to receive IJV catheterization were prospectively enrolled. We measured the distances from the skin to IJV's anterior-posterior (AP) vessel wall on the longitudinal scan's midline in supine-positioned patients. We calculated the AP diameter of IJV and the angle between skin and the imaginary line from the puncture site to the IJV's internal center on screen's midline (defined as optimal angle which is considered as the safest approach) on the longitudinal scan. We divided the patients into 3 groups based on the CVP (low CVP <5 $cmH_2O$, $5{\leq}$ middle CVP ${\leq}10\;cmH_2O$, and high CVP>10 $cmH_2O$) and compared their mean anterior posterior (AP) diameters and optimal angles. Results: A total of 56 patients were enrolled. Of these 21 were women(35.4%). The mean AP diameter of low CVP group was significantly lower than middle and high CVP groups($0.68{\pm}0.30$, $1.06{\pm}0.31$, and $1.23{\pm}0.49$ cm respectively, p=0.003 vs. 0.002). There was no significant difference among 3 groups' mean optimal angles ($28.1{\pm}6.1$, $30.1{\pm}4.5$, and $28.0{\pm}5.0$ degree respectively). Conclusion: The optimal angle between the skin and the needle in ultrasound-guided IJV catheterization with trauma patients is not changed as about 30 degrees regardless of CVP even though IJV's diameter is altered in proportion to the CVP.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.329-348
• /
• 2011

This research analyzed 168,010 cases of death of the aged over 65 from 244,867cases of death excluding 7 unknown age cases from 244,874 all age cases of death by using the death data of the National Statistical Office for 2007 to figure out factors affecting the quality of causes of death statistics of the aged and to suggest the ways of improving the quality of death statistics of the aged in korea. This research tried to derive factors affecting ill-defined cause of death category in acordance with WHO's guidelines and to find causes of lowering the accuracy of causes of death statistics of the aged. This research identified the problems of causes of death statistics of the aged by using both demographic characteristics such as sex, age, marital status, educational attainment, residential region, region size and factors of death items as independent variable to find causes of ill-defined cause of death of the aged. Logistic regression analysis was executed to calculate the hazard ratio about the ill-defined causes of death of the aged and multiple regression analysis was conducted to derive factors affecting the ill-defined cause of death by regional groups through using these independent variables such as the component ratio of over age 65, female death rates, doctors insitutions rate, medical institutions rate, attaching rates of death certificate by neighborhood. As a results of this research, R-code was the highest of ill-defined causes of death, accounting for 82.1%, and senility death(R54) of R-code was the highest, accounting for 91.2%. through subdivided order distribution of the ill-defined causes of death of the aged. As ill-defined causes of death by regional groups, attaching rates of death certificate by neighborhood was the most important factor(p<0.05) and also showed regression model's description with 83.8% ($R^2$=83.8%). Furthermore, Jeon-nam was the highest in the regional groups and these regions such as Je-ju, Jeon-buk, Chung-nam were not only attaching the death certificate by neighborhood but also were high at the rate of ill-defined causes of death. Therefore, this research found that both reconsideration about death certificate by neighborhood and education for doctors who write death certificate were needed the most.