• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.867-874
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• 2021

Epalrestat (EPS) is a brain penetrant aldose reductase inhibitor, an approved drug currently used for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy. At near-plasma concentration, EPS induces glutathione biosynthesis, which in turn reduces oxidative stress in the neuronal cells. In this study, we found that EPS reduces neurodegeneration by inhibiting reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced oxidative injury, mitochondrial membrane damage, apoptosis and tauopathy. EPS treatment up to 50 µM did not show any toxic effect on SH-SY5Y cell line (neuroblastoma cells). However, we observed toxic effect at a concentration of 100 µM and above. At 50 µM concentration, EPS showed better antioxidant activity against H₂O₂ (100 µM)-induced cytotoxicity, ROS formation and mitochondrial membrane damage in retinoic acid-differentiated SH-SY5Y cell line. Furthermore, our study revealed that 50 µM of EPS concentration reduced the glycogen synthase kinase-3 β (GSK3-β) expression and total tau protein level in H₂O₂ (100 µM)-treated cells. Findings from this study confirms the therapeutic efficacy of EPS on regulating Alzheimer's disease (AD) by regulating GSK3-β and total tau proteins phosphorylation, which helped to restore the cellular viability. This process could also reduce toxic fibrillary tangle formation and disease progression of AD. Therefore, it is our view that an optimal concentration of EPS therapy could decrease AD pathology by reducing tau phosphorylation through regulating the expression level of GSK3-β.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.77-87
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• 2021

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of the tunnel technique for root coverage using a new xenogeneic acellular dermal matrix vs. connective tissue grafting (CTG) for the treatment of multiple maxillary adjacent recessions (recession type 1) at 12 months postoperatively. Methods: This study enrolled 12 patients with at least 3 contiguous, bilateral, symmetrical maxillary gingival recessions (i.e., at least 6 recessions per patient). In total, 74 recessions were treated using the modified coronally advanced tunnel (MCAT) technique combined with a novel porcine-derived acellular dermal matrix (PADM) at 37 test sites or CTG at 37 control sites. The following clinical parameters were measured: recession height, clinical attachment level, width of keratinized tissue, probing depth, recession width, gingival thickness, mean root coverage (MRC), and complete root coverage (CRC). Comparisons between test and control groups were made for pain visual analog scale scores at 14 days. Results: At 12 months, the MCAT with PADM (test) yielded a statistically significant improvement in all clinical parameters studied. MRC was significantly higher on the control sides (80.6%±23.7%) than on the test sides (68.8%±23.4%). Similarly, CRC was 48.7%±6.8% on the control sides (CTG), in contrast to 24.3%±8.2% on the test sides (PADM). Statistically significant differences were observed in favor of the control sides for all clinical parameters studied. Nevertheless, the MCAT in adjunction with PADM was clearly superior at reducing mean and maximum patient-reported postoperative pain intensity and pain duration in the first week after surgery. Conclusions: The use of PADM to treat multiple recessions improved clinical parameters at 12 months, but these outcomes were nevertheless poorer than those observed for CTG. However, PADM reduced morbidity, particularly the pain experienced by patients.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.332-339
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• 2020

Lentinus edodes (LE) is the first medicinal macrofungus to enter the realm of modern biotechnology. Lentinus edodes is well-known to have anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects. In this study, osteoporosis was induced by ovariectomy in female rats, and the prevention and treatment efficacy of the climacteric disease the postmenopausal type I pattern was examined using the experimental substance. Female rats were either sham-operated (sham; n = 5) or surgically ovariectomized (OVX; five animals per group) and then administered to OVX control, raloxifene hydrochloride 1 mg/kg/day, or LE (20 and 200 mg/kg/day) for 12 weeks. LE treatment suppressed the ovariectomy-induced reduction of bone mineral density in the entire tibia as well as its metaphysis with a decrease of serum osteocalcin and interleukin-6 levels. In addition, LE is suggested to elevate the serum levels of progesterone hormones and prevent bone loss in ovariectomized rats. In conclusion, LE 200 mg/kg/day may have inhibitory effects on osteoporosis in OVX rats.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.129-140
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• 2021

Psychotherapy in Korean Medicine is characterized not only by management of mental issues, but also a holistic perspective of the mind and body, which includes physical treatment. In this case report, we describe the efficacy of Korean psychotherapy for couples with physical symptoms of heartache, emotional tension and marital relationships by addressing the challenges at the Mind and Body levels. For the physical treatment of the couple, the wife was treated with a Bunshimgi-Eum and the husband was administered a Cheonwangbosimdan, combined with a psychiatric interview based on Korean Medicine. It involves listening to the couple's story, YiJungBeongi therapy, understanding and learning about vases and defense mechanisms, self-understanding and understanding of the husband through self-understanding and expansion, and husband's understanding of the wife's position, self-interpretation and acceptance. Based on counseling, the couple's personal characteristics and expansion for self-growth, the progress and results of the couple's challenges and relationship improvement in a relatively short period of time are presented. In response, we hope that the evidence based on Korean Psychotherapy supporting the counseling for couples will continue to accumulate. We would like to report and share a few opinions.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.130-134
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• 2021

Background and Objectives Voice therapy (VT) is considered to be the gold standard of treatment of vocal fold nodule in children. This study was designed to analyze the success rate of pediatric VT and investigate the predictive factors for good response of periatic VT for vocal fold nodule. Materials and Method This was a retrospective cohort study of 23 patients under 18 years old who were diagnosed with vocal fold nodule and received pediatric VT. We divided the patients into responding and non-responding groups. We analyzed clinical and voice parameters related to the voice results. Results Twelve patients showed improved findings after VT. By univariate analysis, female patients (85.7%) and adolescence children (100%) showed a good response to VT. In multivariate analysis, female sex (p<0.05) and adolescence children (p<0.05) were significantly related to a successful voice response. Proton pump inhibitor or antihistamine, mucolytics treatment and pre-VT voice parameters did not significantly influence voice outcomes. Conclusion Pediatric VT is more effective in female and adolescence children.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.46-55
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• 2022

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a significant cause of hospital-acquired and antibiotic-mediated intestinal diseases and is a growing global public health concern. Overuse of antibiotics and their effect on normal intestinal flora has increased the incidence and severity of infections. Thus, the development of new, effective, and safe treatment options is a high priority. Here, we report a new probiotic strain, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (BA PMC-80), and its in vitro/in vivo anti-C. difficile effect as a prospective novel candidate for replacing conventional antibiotics. BA PMC-80 showed a significant anti-C. difficile effect in coculture assay, and its cell-free supernatant (CFS) also exhibited a considerable anti-C. difficile effect with an 89.06 ㎍/ml 50% minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) in broth microdilution assay. The CFS was stable and equally functional under different pHs, heat, and proteinase treatments. It also exhibited a high sensitivity against current antibiotics and no toxicity in subchronic toxicity testing in hamsters. Finally, BA PMC-80 showed a moderate effect in a hamster CDI model with reduced infection severity and delayed death. However, further studies are required to optimize the treatment condition of the hamster CDI model for better efficacy and identify the antimicrobial compound produced by BA PMC-80.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.65 no.1
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• pp.22-29
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• 2022

Objective : Despite many advancements in endovascular treatment, the benefits of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in patients with large infarctions remain uncertain due to hemorrhagic complications. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of recanalization via MT within 6 hours after stroke in patients with large cerebral infarction volumes (>70 mL). Methods : We retrospectively reviewed the medical data of 30 patients with large lesions on initial diffusion-weighted imaging (>70 mL) who underwent MT at our institution within 6 hours after stroke onset. Baseline data, recanalization rate, and 3-month clinical outcomes were analyzed. Successful recanalization was defined as a modified treatment in cerebral ischemia score of 2b or 3. Results : The recanalization rate was 63.3%, and symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage occurred in six patients (20%). The proportion of patients with modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores of 0-3 was significantly higher in the recanalization group than in the non-recanalization group (47.4% vs. 9.1%, p=0.049). The mortality rate was higher in the non-recanalization group, this difference was not significant (15.8% vs. 36.4%, p=0.372). In the analysis of 3-month clinical outcomes, only successful recanalization was significantly associated with mRS scores of 0-3 (90% vs. 50%, p=0.049). The odds ratio of recanalization for favorable outcomes (mRS 0-3) was 9.00 (95% confidence interval, 0.95-84.90; p=0.055). Conclusion : Despite the risk of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage, successful recanalization via MT 6 hours after stroke may improve clinical outcomes in patients with large vessel occlusion.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.80-89
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• 2022

The targeting of DNA methylation in cancer using DNA hypomethylating drugs has been well known to sensitize cancer cells to chemotherapy and immunotherapy by affecting multiple pathways. Herein, we investigated the combinational effects of DNA hypomethylating drugs and ionizing radiation (IR) in human sarcoma cell lines both in vitro and in vivo. Clonogenic assays were performed to determine the radiosensitizing properties of two DNA hypomethylating drugs on sarcoma cell lines we tested in this study with multiple doses of IR. We analyzed the effects of 5-aza-dC or SGI-110, as DNA hypomethylating drugs, in combination with IR in vitro on the proliferation, apoptosis, caspase-3/7 activity, migration/invasion, and Western blotting using apoptosis- or autophagy-related factors. To confirm the combined effect of DNA hypomethylating drugs and IR in our in vitro experiment, we generated the sarcoma cells in nude mouse xenograft models. Here, we found that the combination of DNA hypomethylating drugs and IR improved anticancer effects by inhibiting cell proliferation and by promoting synergistic cell death that is associated with both apoptosis and autophagy in vitro and in vivo. Our data demonstrated that the combination effects of DNA hypomethylating drugs with radiation exhibited greater cellular effects than the use of a single agent treatment, thus suggesting that the combination of DNA hypomethylating drugs and radiation may become a new radiotherapy to improve therapeutic efficacy for cancer treatment.

• The Journal of Korea Institute of Information, Electronics, and Communication Technology
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.396-404
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• 2022

Chrysanthemum coronarium L. contains various antioxidants such as beta-carotene, vitamins A and C, and polyphenols, and is known to have anti-inflammatory effects. Under the assumption that the PDRN contained in the extract can mediate the anti-inflammatory response, the mouse macrophages, RAW264.7 cells, were stimulated with LPS to induce the conversion to inflammatory cells, and then the addition of PDRN extracted from the extract was effective in inhibiting inflammation. It was analyzed whether there was The gene expression of IL-1β and TNF-α was used as an anti-inflammatory index, and the relative expression levels of each gene were confirmed by RT-PCR. As a result, RT-PCR confirmed the effect of PDRN-induced inhibition of inflammation in both IL-1β and TNF-α genes. Therefore, based on this study, it is considered to be a precedent data that can be developed as a treatment for inflammatory diseases, and it will be helpful in research and development of a treatment that can improve the anti-inflammatory mechanism.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.245-254
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• 2022

In this study, we tried to investigate the efficacy of combined light therapy using low-power lasers at 655 nm and LEDs emitting wavelengths at 625 ± 5 nm and 850 ± 10 nm in hair loss and scalp. A total of 33 subjects were enrolled in this clinical trial. Each subject used the LLLT and LED device on the scalp for 10 min on a daily basis for 12 weeks. After 12 weeks of LLLT and LED device use, there were significant improvements in redness, elasticity, and hydration of the scalp. Additionally, hair luster and tensile strength were improved. A remarkable decrease in total shed hairs was observed in all subjects at 4, 8, and 12 weeks without any serious adverse event. Combined light therapy using LLLT and LEDs proved to be an effective treatment for reducing hair loss and improving scalp condition.