• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.213-220
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• 2023

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of each lower trapezius muscle exercise performed according to the abduction position (Y type - shoulder joint abduction 145 °, T type - shoulder joint abduction 90 °, and MPC type - shoulder joint 45 ° abduction) of the shoulder joint on the muscle activity of the round shoulder and lower trapezius muscle. Methods : This study was conducted on 31 adult men and women. Through random assignment, they were assigned to the Y group, T group, and MPC group. A 4-week intervention was performed for each group of 31 subjects who participated in the experiment, and shoulder height and lower trapezius muscle activity were measured before and after the intervention. Shoulder height measurement is a test to measure rounded shoulder posture. When the value is low, it means that rounded shoulder posture is improved. The muscle activity of the lower trapezius muscle was measured using the %MVIC method, and when the value is high, it means that the lower trapezius muscle is active. All measured data were verified using dependent t-tests for before and after comparisons and one-way analysis of variance for comparisons between groups. Results : The results of this study showed a significant decrease after intervention only in shoulder height. Muscle activity of the lower trapezius muscle decreased after intervention, but did not show a significant difference. Both variables showed no significant differences between groups. Conclusion : The results of this study show that three lower trapezius muscle exercises were performed on subjects in rounded shoulder posture. All three groups showed a significant decrease in the shoulder height value, a method of measuring rounded shoulder posture, and no significant differences between groups could be confirmed. Therefore, all three exercises can be considered effective in reducing shoulder posture.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.42-51
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• 2022

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the direction of tissue contraction after microwave ablation in ex vivo bovine liver models. Materials and Methods: Ablation procedures were conducted in a total of 90 sites in ex vivo bovine liver models, including the surface (n = 60) and parenchyma (n = 30), to examine the direction of contraction of the tissue in the peripheral and central regions from the microwave antenna. Three commercially available 2.45-GHz microwave systems (Emprint, Neuwave, and Surblate) were used. For surface ablation, the lengths of two overlapped square markers were measured after 2.5- and 5-minutes ablations (n = 10 ablations for each system for each ablation time). For parenchyma ablation, seven predetermined distances between the markers were measured on the cutting plane after 5- and 10-minutes ablations (n = 5 ablations for each system for each ablation time). The contraction in the radial and longitudinal directions and the sphericity index (SI) of the ablation zones were compared between the three systems using analysis of variance. Results: In the surface ablation experiment, the mean longitudinal contraction ratio and SI from a 5-minutes ablation using the Emprint, Neuwave, and Surblate systems were 28.92% and 1.04, 20.10% and 0.53, and 24.90% and 0.45, respectively (p < 0.001). A positive correlation between longitudinal contraction and SI was noted, and a similar radial contraction was observed. In the parenchyma ablation experiment, the mean longitudinal contraction ratio and SI from a 10-minutes ablation using the three pieces of equipment were 38.60% and 1.06, 32.45% and 0.61, and 28.50% and 0.50, respectively (p < 0.001). There was a significant difference in the longitudinal contraction properties, whereas there was no significant difference in the radial contraction properties. Conclusion: The degree of longitudinal contraction showed significant differences depending on the microwave ablation equipment, which may affect the SI of the ablation zone.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.632-643
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was two-fold. First was to evaluate whether the molecular sieving model was appropriate for ionic dissociation experiment. Second was to compare the dissociation of calcium and hydroxyl ions from five types of calcium hydroxide pastes (Pure calcium hydroxide paste, DT temporary $dressing^{\circledR},{\;}Metapaste^{\circledR},{\;}Chidopex^{\circledR},{\;}Metapex^{\circledR}$) in three vehicles (aqueous, viscous and oily) and the antibacterial effect. Each calcium hydroxide pastes was placed into 0.65ml tube with cap and then 15% polyacrylamide gel was placed onto calcium hydroxide pastes. After the gel was hardened, the tubes were filled with tridistilled water (pH 7.14) and closed with cap. The tubes were stored in $37^{\circ}C$ 100% incubator The pH reading and the concentration of calcium ions were taken at 1, 4, 7. 10, and 14 days. The brain heart infusion agar plates with S. mutans and A. actinomycetemcomitans were used far antibacterial activity test. Middle of agar plate was filled with the calcium hydroxide pastes. The plates were incubated at $37^{\circ}C$ and observations were made to detect the zones of inhibition. These data were evaluated statistically by use of the analysis of variance and duncan test. The results were as follows. 1. In fresh mixing state, the pH of five types of calcium hydroxide pastes were measured between 12.5 and 12.8. 2. The pH was increased in all five types of calcium hydroxide pastes compared with control group. In 14 days, Pure calcium hydroxide paste (11.45) and DT temporary $dressing^{\circledR}$ (11.33) showed highest pH, followed by $Metapaste^{\circledR}$ (9.49), $Chidopex^{\circledR}$ (8.37) and $Metapex^{\circledR}$ (7.59) 3. Calcium was higher in all five types of calcium hydroxide pastes compared with control group. In 14 days, Pure calcium hydroxide paste (137.29 mg%) and DT temporary $dressing^{\circledR}$ (124.6 mg%) showed highest value, followed by $Metapaste^{\circledR}$ (116.74 mg%), $Chidopex^{\circledR}$ (111.84 mg%) and $Metapex^{\circledR}$ (60.22 mg%). 4. The zones of bacterial inhibition were seen around all five types of calcium hydroxide pastes. $Chidopex^{\circledR}{\;}and{\;}Metapex^{\circledR}$ groups which include iodoform were observed significantly larger zone of inhibition in A. actinomycetemcomitans compared with the other calcium hydroxide groups (p<0.05) However, $Metapex^{\circledR}$ showed the least antibacterial effect on S. mutans compared with other groups (p<0.05). The molecular sieving model was found to be acceptable in dissociation experiment of hydroxyl and calcium ions when compared with the previous tooth model study. But this model was not appropriate for the antibacterial test.

• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.112-124
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• 2005

Background: PWV is determined by dividing the distance by the time taken for the pulses traveling between two measuring sites, used as a marker of arterial stiffness and an important indicator for cardiovascular disease. Methods: A PWV measurement system, which offers a non-invasive, simple method of measurement, and simultaneous recording of six signlas(ECG, PCG and four pulse waves from carotid, femoral, radial and dorsalis pedis arteries) was developed. Seventeen healthy subjects with a mean age of 33 years(22 to 52) without any cardiovascular disease were participated for the experiment. Two observers(A and B) performed two consecutive measurements from the same subject in a random order. For the evaluation of stability and accuracy of the PWV measurement system, reproducibility of PWV from between-observer were also evaluated. Results: PWV $values(Mean{\pm}SD)$ measured by A were $7.07{\pm}1.48m/s$, $8.43{\pm}1.14m/s$ , $8.09{\pm}0.98m/s$ for aorta, arm, and leg, respectively. The values obtained from B were $6.76{\pm}1.00m/s$, $7.97{\pm}0.80m/s$, and $7.97{\pm}0.72m/s$ for aorta, arm, and leg, respectively. Between-observer $differences(mean{\pm}SEM)$ from the aorta, arm and leg were $0.14{\pm}0.15m/s$, $0.18{\pm}0.10m/s$ and $0.07{\pm}0.10m/s$. Reproducibility coefficients(2SD) from the aorta, arm, and leg were 0.62m/s, 0.84m/s and 0.86m/s. Correlation coefficients were significantly higher in aortic PWV, 0.93, compared to the coefficients for arm and leg. Coefficient of variance which reflects the reproducibility of the system ranged from $4.4{\sim}5.8%$ in all regional PWV. , Conclusion: Reproducibility of PWV in the study shows that the developed system has reliable and reproducible characteristics. The PWV measurement system used for the study offers comfortable and simple operation and provides accurate analysis and results with high reproducibility. Results of the PWV measurement system could contribute to various clinical applications in the future.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.131-136
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• 2006

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the bioequivalence of two losartan tablets, $Cozaar^{TM}$ tablet (MSD Korea. Co., Ltd., Seoul, Korea, reference drug) and $Losartan^{TM}$ tablet (DaeWon Pharm. Co., Ltd., Korea, test drug), according to the guidelines of Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA). Twenty-four healthy male Korean volunteers received two tablets at the losartan kalium dose of 100 mg in a $2\;{\time}\;2$ crossover study. There was a one-week washout period between the doses. Plasma concentrations of losartan were monitored by an LC-MS/MS for over a period of 12 hr after the administration. $AUC_t$ (the area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to 12 hr) was calculated by the linear trapezoidal rule method. $C_{max}$ (maximum plasma drug concentration) and $T_{max}$ (time to reach $C_{max}$) were compiled from the plasma concentration-time data. Analysis of variance was carried out using logarithmically transformed $AUC_t$ and $C_{max}$. No significant sequence effect was found for all of the bioavailability parameters indicating that the crossover design was properly performed. The 90% confidence intervals of the $AUC_t$ ratio and the $C_{max}$ ratio for $Cozaar^{TM}/Losartan^{TM}$ were $log\;0.97{\sim}log\;1.12\;and\;log\;0.93{\sim}log\;1.23$, respectively. These values were within the acceptable bioequivalence intervals of $log\;0.80{\sim}log\;1.25$. Taken together, our study demonstrated the bioequivalence of $Cozaar^{TM}$ and $Losartan^TM$ with respect to the rate and extent of absorption.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.1083-1093
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• 2011

A microorganism utilizing rice hulls as a substrate for the production of carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase) was isolated from seawater and identified as Bacillus lincheniformis by analyses of its 16S rDNA sequences. The optimal carbon and nitrogen sources for production of CMCase were found to be rice hulls and ammonium nitrate. The optimal conditions for cell growth and the production of CMCase by B. lincheniformis LBH-52 were investigated using the response surface method (RSM). The analysis of variance (ANOVA) of results from central composite design (CCD) indicated that a highly significant factor ("probe>F" less than 0.0001) for cell growth was rice hulls, whereas those for production of CMCase were rice hulls and initial pH of the medium. The optimal conditions of rice hulls, ammonium nitrate, initial pH, and temperature for cell growth extracted by Design Expert Software were 48.7 g/l, 1.8 g/l, 6.6, and 35.7$^{\circ}C$, respectively, whereas those for the production of CMCase were 43.2 g/l, 1.1 g/l, 6.8, and 35.7$^{\circ}C$. The maximal production of CMCase by B. lincheniformis LBH-52 from rice hulls under optimized conditions was 79.6 U/ml in a 7 l bioreactor. In this study, rice hulls and ammonium nitrate were developed to be substrates for the production of CMCase by a newly isolated marine microorganism, and the time for production of CMCase was reduced to 3 days using a bacterial strain with submerged fermentation.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.93-100
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• 2010

Background: Auricular acupressure is one of the traditional health care treatments in oriental medicine. Approximately, 30~40% of the cancer patients have said to be suffering from insomnia and half of them having chronic and severe insomnia at the same time. Insomnia caused cancer patients feel more pain, fatigue, depression and anxiety and it sometimes let the power to have the best of cancer pull down. Objective: To investigate how effective the auricular acupressure treatment to cancer patients suffering from insomnia. Methods: We recruited participants from East-West Cancer Center of Daejeon University. Finally, of the people whose age range from 20 to 75, 12 patients who got less than 40 points from the score of Oh's sleeping score (OSS) were recruited. Single-blind, randomized pilot study was performed. The treatment group received auricular acupressure treatment (AAT) on active points and the control group had received sham acupressure treatment (SAT) for five times. Sleep parameters were checked by using OSS and numeric rating scale (NRS). We checked the scale everytime, both before and after treatment. We analyzed the data statistically by using independent T-test, paired T-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) test. (p<0.05) Results: Twelve cancer patients participated in this pilot study and there was no significant difference between control and treatment group. Only 7 of them had completed the whole treatment process, 4 patients of AAT group and 3 participants of SAT. The OSS of AAT group had increased from $34.0{\pm}4.3$ to $39.5{\pm}3.1$ and that of SAT group had increased from $38.3{\pm}3.5$ to $40.0{\pm}0.0$. There was no significant difference between them. The NRS of AAT group had increased from $6.3{\pm}2.9$, $04.8{\pm}2.1$ and that of SAT group had increased from $7.0{\pm}1.0$ to $5.0{\pm}2.6$. No significant difference was observed between them. Conclusion: Although both groups did not show significant differences, most of the experimental participants showed increasing OSS and NRS after treatments. Significant participants' number will be needed in the next study.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.41-55
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• 1999

In order to evaluate the effects of knowledge, attitude and practice on noise-induced hearing loss or hearing threshold level, questionnaire survey was performed and hearing thresholds of 1 kHz and 4 kHz were measured on 1,040 subjects with workers exposed to noise, safety and health officers. industrial hygienists, analysts rind office workers. The results were as follows ; 1. The following 6 factors were obtained by factor analysis and factor rotation of 30 questionnaire of knowledge, attitude and practice about noise; knowledge of noise (F1), concern of hearing protective devices (F2), concern of noise induced hearing loss (F3), concern of noise level and hearing impairment (F4), concern of noise in workplace (F5) and recognition of noised-induced hearing loss (F6). 56.1% of variance was explained by 6 factors. 2. Significant variables influencing knowledge, attitude and practice about noise were education level and age in F1, personal protective devices (PPE) and education level in F2, age and education level in F3, education level, age and sex in F4, PPE, education level, age and work duration in F5, and work duration and PPE in F6. 3. Hearing thresholds of 4 kHz were significantly higher in workers exposed to noise than that of in the other subjects and tended to be higher in industrial hygienists, safety and health officers and analysts than that of the office workers. 4. Significant variables influencing hearing thresholds of 1 kHz were age, education level, F5 and F6 in workers exposed to noise, and F1 in industrial hygienists. 5. Significant variables influencing hearing thresholds of 4 kHz were age, F6, sex, work duration, F1, F5, F2 and F3 in workers exposed to noise, F1 and age in safety and health officers, and F6, sex and F4 in industrial hygienists. With the above results, it suggested that workers exposed to noise be needed the education of knowledge, attitude and practice about noise in hearing conservation program for the prevention of noise induced hearing loss. Also, it suggested that health managers in workplace be needed countermeasures to prevent hearing loss although they are intermittently exposed to noise.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.336-341
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• 2007

This study was carried out to investigate geographic variation in needle characteristics of Pinus densiflora, one of the most economically important tree species in Korea. Needles were collected from 35 natural populations and their morphological and anatomical characteristics were studied. ANOVA showed statistically significant differences among populations as well as among individuals within populations in needle length, needle width, number of stomata row, density of stomata in $0.25mm^{2}$, number of serrations in 0.5mm, and number of resin ducts. In all these traits, variance components among individuals within populations were larger than those among populations. The density of stomata in $0.25mm^{2}$ increased as the latitudes and elevations of the populations increased, while the number of serrations in 0.5mm decreased as the decrease of latitudes and elevations. The number of resin ducts was higher in inland populations than in coastal populations. The resin duct index appeared to be higher in western populations than in eastern populations. Cluster analysis based on morphological characteristics divided populations into three groups. The third group was composed of populations selected from the Taebaek mountains. The number of serrations in 0.5mm of this group was lower than that of other two groups, while the density of stomata in $0.25mm^{2}$ was higher.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.191-196
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• 2011

In this study simple and sensitive high performance liquid chromatographic method using a commercially available column, was developed and validated for the determination of zolpidem tartrate in human plasma. The developed method with suitable validation was applied to a bioequivalence study of two different kinds of zolpidem tartrate. Two different formulations containing 10 mg of zolpidem tartate (CAS : 99294-93-6) were compared in 24 healthy male volunteers in order to compare the bioavailability and prove the bioequivalence. The study was performed in an open, single dose randomized, 2-sequence, cross-over design in 24 healthy male volunteers with a one-week washout period. Blood samples for pharmacokinetic profiling were drawn at selected times during 12 h. The mean $AUC_{0-12h}$, $C_{max}$, $T_{max}$ and $T_{1/2}$ were $676.6{\pm}223.4$ $ng{\cdot}h{\cdot}mL^{-1}$, $177.4{\pm}34.2$ $ng{\cdot}mL^{-1}$, and $0.8{\pm}0.4$ and $3.5{\pm}2.1$, respectively, for the test formulations, and $640.7{\pm}186.6$ $ng{\cdot}h{\cdot}mL^{-1}$, $193.0{\pm}64.5$ $ng{\cdot}mL^{-1}$, and $0.9{\pm}0.4$ and $2.7{\pm}0.9$, respectively, for the reference formulation. Both primary target parameters $AUC_{0-12h}$ and $C_{max}$ were log-transformed and tested parametrically by analysis of variance (ANOVA). 90% confidence intervals of $AUC_{0-12h}$ and $C_{max}$ were in the range of acceptable limits of bioequivalence (80-125%). Based on these results, the two formulations of zolpidem tartate are considered to be bioequivalent.