• BMB Reports
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.10-19
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• 2020

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease characterized by the accumulation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain. The AD pathophysiology entails chronic inflammation involving innate immune cells including microglia, astrocytes, and other peripheral blood cells. Inflammatory mediators such as cytokines and complements are also linked to AD pathogenesis. Despite increasing evidence supporting the association between abnormal inflammation and AD, no well-established inflammatory biomarkers are currently available for AD. Since many reports have shown that abnormal inflammation precedes the outbreak of the disease, non-invasive and readily available peripheral inflammatory biomarkers should be considered as possible biomarkers for early diagnosis of AD. In this minireview, we introduce the peripheral biomarker candidates related to abnormal inflammation in AD and discuss their possible molecular mechanisms. Furthermore, we also summarize the current state of inflammatory biomarker research in clinical practice and molecular diagnostics. We believe this review will provide new insights into biomarker candidates for the early diagnosis of AD with systemic relevance to inflammation during AD pathogenesis.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers D
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• v.55 no.11
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• pp.495-501
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• 2006

Diagnostics of unborn baby is mainly aimed at prediction and detection of occurrence of intrauterine hypoxia. Consequences resulting from fetal hypoxia appear in its heart activity. In this study, we have developed a new non-invasive system for fetal hypoxia diagnosis which provides systolic time interval(STI) parameters on the basis of analysis of electrical and mechanical heart activity together. For this we have worked on 1) the proper lead system for the acquisition of abdominal ECG, 2) the independent component analysis based signal processing and fetal ECG separation, 3) the development of a hardware which consists of an abdominal ECG amplifying module and an ultrasound module and 4) the detection of characteristic points of FECG and Doppler signal and the extraction of diagnostic parameters. The developed system was evaluated by the clinical experiments in which 33 subjects were participated. The acquired STI by the system were distributed within the ranges from the well-established invasive results of other researchers. From this, we can conclude that the developed non-invasive fetal hypoxia diagnosis system is useful.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.759-765
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• 2006

In order to provide the methodology of researching constitutional theories, the original meaning and the source of the term, ti(體) and zhi(質) written in and other text were reviewed, and then components of constitution(體質) and some evaluative norms and prospect on constitutional theories were proposed. Ti(體) means body or 5 tissues or patterns of them and zhi(質) means quality in , so the temporary meaning of constitution was generally same with present one. But the temperament originated from Greek and Elizabethan era is thought that it corresponds with constitution, but it means generally body type and character and mental pathologic features. The fundamental requirements of constitutional theories are needed stability, creativity, clinical efficiency and reproductiveness for differentiating with classical diagnostics over the range of disease and aging of the subject. And heredity, universality and extensiveness were recommended as additional requirements for making level up the theories through long-term follow-up, and to evaluate these requirements detail items were proposed. More of these, weight rendering should be made respectively afterwards.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2019

Models of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) are still difficult to grasp from the view of a Western-cultural background. For proper integration into science and clinical research, it is vital to think "out of the box" of classical sciences. Modern sciences, such as quantum physics, system theory, and information theory offer new models, that reveal TCM as a method to process information. For this purpose, we apply concepts of information theory to propose a "Chinese black box model," that allows for a non-deterministic, bottom-up approach. Considering a patient as an undeterminable complex system, the process of getting information about an individual in Chinese diagnostics is compared to the input-process-output principle of information theory and quantum physics, which is further illustrated by Wheeler's "surprise 20 questions." In TCM, an observer uses a decision-making algorithm to qualify diagnostic information by the binary polarities of "yang" (latin activity) and "yin" (latin structivity) according to the so called "8 principles" (latin 8 guiding criteria). A systematic reconstruction of ancient Chinese terms and concepts illuminates a scattered scientific method, which is specified in a medical context by Latin terminology of the sinologist Porkert [definitions of the Latin terms are presented in Porkert's appendix [1] (cf. Limitations)].

• BioChip Journal
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.257-267
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• 2018

Inertial microfluidics has attracted significant attention in recent years due to its superior benefits of high throughput, precise control, simplicity, and low cost. Many inertial microfluidic applications have been demonstrated for physiological sample processing, clinical diagnostics, and environmental monitoring and cleanup. In this review, we discuss the fundamental mechanisms and principles of inertial migration and Dean flow, which are the basis of inertial microfluidics, and provide basic scaling laws for designing the inertial microfluidic devices. This will allow end-users with diverse backgrounds to more easily take advantage of the inertial microfluidic technologies in a wide range of applications. A variety of recent applications are also classified according to the structure of the microchannel: straight channels and curved channels. Finally, several future perspectives of employing fluid inertia in microfluidic-based cell sorting are discussed. Inertial microfluidics is still expected to be promising in the near future with more novel designs using various shapes of cross section, sheath flows with different viscosities, or technologies that target micron and submicron bioparticles.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.228-236
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• 2021

Objective : The purpose of this study is to report the clinical effectiveness of herbal decoction(Samul-tang hap Soyo-san.) on whole body nummular eczema. Method : A patient suffering from nummular eczema received herbal decoction(Samul-tang hap Soyo-san), acupuncture, and electronic-moxibustion treatment. The effectiveness of treatment was evaluated by EASI, DLQI, photography and subjective evaluation of the patient's improvement of symptoms. Results : After treatment, eczema lesions were remarkably improved. Compared to its peak, EASI improved by 69% and DLQI by 53%. According to photo and symptom changes, purulent exudates were stopped and pruritus was decreased. Conclusion : This study suggests that Samul-tang hap Soyo-san could show effectiveness on nummular eczema.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.209-216
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• 2021

Sjögren syndrome is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of exocrine glands, predominantly the parotid and lacrimal glands, thereby resulting in oral and ocular dryness. It has been reported to occur most frequently in women between 40 and 50 years of age. Sjögren syndrome has an insidious onset, is slowly progressive, and presents a wide range of clinical manifestations, leading to delays or challenges in the diagnosis. Early diagnosis of this condition is essential to prevent the associated complications that affect patients' quality of life. This report presents 3 cases of Sjögren syndrome in female patients aged between 40 and 75 years who presented with complaints of persistent dry mouth and burning sensation. The cases highlight the diagnostic value of 3-dimensional cone-beam computed tomographic sialography in the detection of salivary gland pathologies at an early stage.

• Journal of Korean Dental Science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.101-111
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• 2022

The purpose of laboratory tests in the field of oral medicine can be divided into two categories: (1) medical evaluation of patients with systemic diseases that are planning to receive dental care and (2) diagnosis of patients with certain oral diseases. First, laboratory tests are commonly used to evaluate patients with systemic diseases who need dental management. A combination of multiple tests is usually prescribed as a test panel to diagnose and assess a specific disease. Test panels closely related to oral medicine include those for rheumatoid arthritis, connective tissue disease/lupus, liver function, thyroid screening, anemia, and bleeding disorders. Second, laboratory tests are used as auxiliary diagnostic methods for certain oral diseases. They often provide crucial diagnostic information for infectious diseases caused by bacteria, fungi, and viruses that are associated with pathology in the oral and maxillofacial regions. Laboratory tests for infectious diseases are composed of growth-dependent methods, immunologic assays, and molecular biology. As the field develops, further application of laboratory tests, including synovial fluid analysis in temporomandibular joint disorders, salivary diagnostics, and hematologic biomarkers associated with temporomandibular disorders and orofacial pain conditions, is currently under scrutiny for their reliability as diagnostic tools.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.233-240
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• 2022

Objectives : This study aims to propose a processing method for dosage units of medicinal materials and the database schema to manage formula data in Korean medicine ontology. Methods : All dosage units of medicinal materials are collected from the seven textbooks that contain formula data of Korea medicine ontology. Dosages are converted to Arabic numerals and units that are frequently used are converted to representative units. Database schema is designed for processing and managing the formulas and medicinal materials with dosage units. Results : Seven representative units are selected out of 77 units. They will be used in the addition or subtraction of medicinal materials in a formula support system. The remaining units will be made available for references. Conclusions : EMR or chart programs used in clinical hospitals contain formula data that is already standardized. However, the formula data in Korean medicine literature and textbook is not refined, so it is necessary to process the dosages and units of medicinal materials to use in the formula support system. This result is a processing method to utilize the formula data of Korean medicine textbooks and it will be implemented this method in the established formula support system in the future.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.319-338
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• 2022

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the research trend of Korean traditional medicine for edema under Korean healthcare facilities. Methods : We collected data from search engines for research including domestic online database using the keywords edema, Hydrocele, emphysema and Pneumocranium Results : Total of 41 articles were about Lower body edema, General edema, edema of the eyelid, Lymphedema, Hydrocele, Bone marrow edema, hand edema, Brain edema, emphysema, Pneumocranium The treatment methods used were acupuncture and pharmacopuncture treatment, moxibustion treatment, herbal medicine treatment, cupping treatment, massage treatment, radio frequency treatment, and Chuna treatment. Twenty-nine studies used only oriental medicine treatment, and 12 studies combined oriental medicine and western medicine. the most commonly used measurement was Measurement of the perimeter of the area. Conclusions : This study shows the research trend of edema. Through the collected data, the treatment methods and for specific information of treatments were organized. This study can be used in clinical environments and will contribute for further study in edema.