• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.75-83
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• 2008

Objectives : The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of Hyperici Japonici Herba on the proliferation and activation of eosinophils which were prepared from lung cells of asthma-induced mice by ovalbumin(OVA) treatment. Methods : C57BL/6 mouse was exposed to OVA three times a week for 6 weeks. The mouse lung tissues were dissected out, chopped and dessiciated with collagenase(1${\mu}g$/ml). Eosinophils were activated by rIL-3/rmIL-5 co-treatments. The lung cells were treated with extract of Hyperici Japonici Herba(EHH), incubated for 48 hr at $37^{\circ}C$, and analyzed by flow cytometer. ELBA, RT-PCR, immunocytochemistry stain. Results : The cell number ratio of granulocyte, $CD3e^-$/$CCR3^+$, $CD3e^+$/$CD69^+$, $CD4^+$, $CD23^+$/$B220^+$ cells was increased in rmIL-5/rIL-3 treated control group compared to the normal group. Cells numbers in the experimental animal group treated with EHH was all decreased. In ELISA analysis, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 protein levels and histamine release level were greatly increased in the control group compared to the normal animal group, then significantly decreased in the experimental group with 100 ${\mu}g$/ml of EHH treatment. In RT-PCR analysis, the HT value of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, CCR3, Eotaxin were increased in the control group compared to the normal animal group, then decreased in the experimental group with 100 ${\mu}g$/ml of EHH treatment. And eosinophil proliferation levels were 18847${\pm}$1527(cpm) in the control group, 4676${\pm}$972(cpm) in the positive control group, and 8675${\pm}$159(cpm), 11352${\pm}$1005(cpm), 14325${\pm}$677(cpm) in the experimental group with 100 ${\mu}g$/ml, 10 ${\mu}g$/ml, 1 ${\mu}g$/ml of EHH treatment. Conclusions : The present data suggested that Hyperici Japonici Herba may have an effects on the inhibition of parameters associated with asthma responses in eosinpophils, and thus implicate the possibility for the clinical application of EHH.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.491-497
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to compare apical sealing ability of continuous wave canal filling technique according to various heat source plugging depths. Eighty one extracted human premolars with straight root were cleaned and shaped to size 35 using .06 taper rotary NiTi file. After cleansing and shaping, the teeth were divided into 5 groups following the heat source probing depths from the apex; 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 mm. All specimens were filled using E&Q plus with #35/.06 tapered gutta-percha cone. The positive control teeth were not filled. All teeth were coated with nail varnish except the apical 1 mm around the apical foramen. Negative control teeth were completely sealed include the apical foramen. All specimens were immersed in 1% methylene blue solution for 72 hours. Then the specimens were sectioned horizontally at 1, 2 and 3 mm from the root apex. Each sectioned surface was photographed using a digital camera attached to the stereomicroscope at $12.5{\times}2.5$ fold magnification. All points at 1, 2 and 3 mm were summed as final score of one specimen. Statistical analysis of the collected data was performed. Under the condition of this study. there was no significant difference between the heat source plugging depths of 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 mm in apical sealing ability. All of apical heat source plugging depth from 3 to 7 mm including Buchanan's protocol -from 5 to 7 mm- seems to be acceptable in clinical application.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.93-102
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• 1998

Normal and abnormal follicular growth and steroidogenesis depend on gonadotropins as well as intraovarian peptides, which may mediate or potentiate gonadotropin action. Inhibin also affect follicular development and steroidogenesis and may play a role in dominant follicle selection and follicular atresia. Therefore, we studied the differences of serum inhibin, gonadotropin and androgen levels in the women with only the ultrasound findings and no disorder, and polycystic ovary (PCO) with ovulatory disturbance. We prospectively analysed forty-three women with PCO. The diagnosis of PCO was based on typical appearance of the ovaries on TVS. Twelve women with regular menstrual cycle and normal ovarian morphology were selected as control. Basal levels of inhibin, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol $(E_2)$, testosterone (T), androstenedione (ADD), dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DS), prolactin and TSH in serum were determined. There were significant differences in basal LH levels and LH/FSH ratio between the control and the women with PCO. The basal levels of inhibin and $E_2$ in the oligo-amenorrheic PCO (N=34) were significantly higher than those in the control. There was higher negative correlation between the inhibin and T levels in the oligo-amenorrheic PCO, but, not in the regular cycling PCO. Also, there was higher positive correlation between the LH and T levels in the oligo-amenorrheic PCO, but not in the regular cycling PCO. These data presume that the initial event of PCO is elevated pituitary LH secretion. Elevated levels of LH may down-regulate LH receptors on granulosa cells and also cause hypertrophy of the thecal layer. High level of androgen secreted by the hypertrophied thecal layer may stimulate inhibin secretion from granulosa cells and can be converted to estrogen by extraovarian tissues and could serve to augment pituitary sensitivity to GnRH with a resultant secretion of more LH than FSH. Inhibin may inhibit FSH action on granulosa cell in the PCO follicle, impairing follicular development and dominant follicle selection resulted in ovulatory disturbance.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.174-181
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• 2009

Statement of problem: There is a reduction of dentin bonding strength when the bonding procedure is carried out immediately after bleaching with peroxides. Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate a proper time interval for in-office bleaching technique using 35% hydrogen peroxide. Material and methods: Fifty extracted non-caries human third molars were used in this study. Buccal enamel of each tooth was removed and polished by 600 grits silicone carbide paper. They were randomly divided into five groups and bleached 35% hydrogen peroxide except control group. All groups were bonded with Single Bond/Z 350 after each time intervals ; Group-A: control, no bleaching treatment. Group-B: resin bonding immediately after bleaching. Group-C: resin bonding 1day after bleaching. Group-D: resin bonding 2 days after bleaching. Group-E: resin bonding 7days after bleaching. Shear bond strengths were measured with a cross-head speed of 1.0 mm/min using an Instron machine. The data of results were statistically analyzed by analysis of variance(ANOVA) and Tukey multiple comparison test.(P=.05) Results: There were significant decreases in mean shear strength in immediately bonding group after bleaching. The reduction of bond strengths was 78% compared with the group of no bleaching treatment. Group C showed the recovery of 51%, and Group D showed recovery of 63%. Both of them have no statistical difference with non-bleaching group. Group E showed no statistical difference with no bleaching treatment group. Conclusion: Dentin bonding strength is significantly reduced when bonding is performed immediately after bleaching for in-office bleaching regimens using 35% hydrogen peroxide, and increases as time goes by. One week of elapsed time between bleaching and resin bonding significantly increases bonding strengths for the in-office bleaching technique.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.901-908
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the bleaching effect of 3% hydrogen peroxide containing strip with primer in vivo. Methods : 22 female subjects aged from 20 to 39 years old were recruited after informed consent. They were divided into two groups with control and experimental group. Experimental group was bleached with 3% HP strip with primer, and control group received placebo for 14 days. Color changes were measured with Shade Eye-NCC (Shade Eye-NCC, SHOFU Co., Japan), Shade guide (VITA classical shade guide, $VIDENT^{TM}$, CA, USA) and digital camera image. All collected data were analyzed using SPSS 18.0. Results : At baseline, $L^*$ was $71.75{\pm}3.2$ and $b^*$ was $14.90{\pm}3.6$ in control, and $L^*$ was $71.3{\pm}3.4$ and $b^*$ was $15.61{\pm}3.7$ in experimental group. At day 14, $L^*$ was $71.35{\pm}3.2$ and $b^*$ was $13.97{\pm}4.3$ in control, and $L^*$ was $73.51{\pm}2.0$, $b^*$ was $9.10{\pm}3.0$ in experimental group. ${\Delta}E^*$ of all teeth were statistically significant between the two groups. Final ${\Delta}E^*$ was $7.15{\pm}2.09$ at experimental group and $2.78{\pm}2.93$ at control group, and the difference was significant (p<0.005). Color changes using shade guide also significantly decreased at 14th day compared with baseline at experimental group (p<0.005). Conclusions : 3% hydrogen peroxide strip with primer revealed effective enough to bleaching the human enamel during 14 days without any soft and hard tissue irritations.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.161-169
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• 2008

Purpose: To better understand the corneal regeneration after alkali burn regarding the initial clinical progression and the therapy, we investigated the changes of the multi factors following chemical injury in cornea. Methods: This study was performed to observation on the healing process of alkali burned cornea in aspect of immunohistochemistry by immunofluorescence or H-E staining and TUNEL assay. Results: The results showed that although a healing process occurred after alkali burn, apoptosis of epithelial, stromal and endothelial cells in the cornea was continuously observed. Neovascularization and expression of ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin (${\alpha}$-SMA) from limbus and from injured cornea, respectively, were observed after 3 days of alkali burn. Formation of collagen III in corneal stroma and increased expression of chondroitin sulfate are coincident with expression of ${\alpha}$-SMA and transforming growth factor-${\beta}$ (TGF-${\beta}$). Conclusions: These data suggest that medical treatment within 3 days of alkali burn will be effective to inhibit neovascularization and formation of collagen III and chondroitin sulfate. This study extends our immumohistochemical understanding of healing process in alkali burned cornea, and the results get in this study will be cornerstones in the development of therapeutic agent for accelerating renewal of chemical damaged cornea.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.64-72
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• 2023

Despite several advances in identification of cardiac transcription factors, there are still needs to find new bioactive molecules that promote cardiomyogenesis from stem cells to highly efficient myocardial differentiation. We analyzed Illumina expression microarray data of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs)-derived cardiomyocytes. 276 genes were upregulated (≥ 4fold) in mESCs-derived cardiomyocytes compared undifferentiated ESCs. Secreted phosphoprotein 2 (Spp2) is one of candidates and is known to inhibit bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) signal transduction as a pseudoreceptor for BMP2. However, its function in cardiomyogenesis is unknown. We confirmed that Spp2 expression increased during the differentiation into functional cardiomyocytes using mESCs, TC-1/Kh2 and E14. Interestingly, Spp2 secretion transiently increased 3 days after formation of embryoid bodies (EBs), indicating that the extracellular secretion of Spp2 is involved in the differentiation of ESCs into cardiomyocytes. To characterize Spp2, we performed experiments using the C2C12 mouse myoblast cell line, which has the property of shifting the differentiation pathway from myoblastic to osteoblastic by treatment with BMP2. Similar to the differentiation of ESCs, transcription of Spp2 increased as C2C12 myoblasts differentiated into myotubes. In particular, Spp2 secretion increased dramatically in the early stage of differentiation. Furthermore, treatment with Spp2-Flag recombinant protein promoted the differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts into myotubes. Taken together, we suggest a novel bioactive protein Spp2 that differentiates ESCs into cardiomyocytes. This may be useful for understanding the molecular pathways of cardiomyogenesis and for experimental or clinical promotion of stem cell therapy for ischemic heart diseases.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.44-52
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• 2023

Objective: The DNA integrity of spermatozoa that attach to fallopian tube (FT) cells is higher than spermatozoa that do not attach. FT epithelial cells can distinguish normal and abnormal sperm chromatin. This study investigated the effects of sperm with a high-DNA fragmentation index (DFI) from men with unexplained repeated implantation failure (RIF) on the Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathway in human FT cells in vitro. Methods: Ten men with a RIF history and high-DFI and 10 healthy donors with low-DFI comprised the high-DFI (>30%) and control (<30%) groups, respectively. After fresh semen preparation, sperm were co-cultured with a human FT epithelial cell line (OE-E6/E7) for 24 hours. RNA was extracted from the cell line and the human innate and adaptive immune responses were tested using an RT2 profiler polymerase chain reaction (PCR) array. Results: The PCR array data showed significantly higher TLR-1, TLR-2, TLR-3, TLR-6, interleukin 1α (IL-1α), IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12, interferon α (IFN-α), IFN-β, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), CXCL8, GM-CSF, G-CSF, CD14, ELK1, IRAK1, IRAK2, IRAK4, IRF1, IRF3, LY96, MAP2K3, MAP2K4, MAP3K7, MAP4K4, MAPK8, MAPK8IP3, MYD88, NFKB1, NFKB2, REL, TIRAP, and TRAF6 expression in the high-DFI group than in the control group. These factors are all involved in the TLR-MyD88 signaling pathway. Conclusion: The MyD88-dependent pathway through TLR-1, TLR-2, and TLR-6 activation may be one of the main inflammatory pathways activated by high-DFI sperm from men with RIF. Following activation of this pathway, epithelial cells produce inflammatory cytokines, resulting in neutrophil infiltration, activation, phagocytosis, neutrophil extracellular trap formation, and apoptosis.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.143-151
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• 2004

Objectives : Child and adolescent onset obsessive compulsive disorder(C-OCD) is known to be associated with poor drug response, high comorbid rate and strong genetic tendencies. Till now studies for C-OCD have been very rare in Korea. We conducted this study to investigate the informations about clinical features, familial psychiatric loading, treatment profiles and course of server C-OCD from the retrospective analysis of inpatient data of Seoul National University Children's Hospital. Method : Retrospective chart review and data analysis was performed. Twenty(male 16 : female 4) patients with final C-OCD diagnosis by DSM-IV at discharge from 1994 to 2002 were found and their medical chart, psychological data, family interview data and nursing reports were collected and analyzed. Results : 1) The sex ratio of C-OCD was male dominant(4:1). 2) Phenomenological, most common obsession was pathologic doubt, contamination fear, followed by aggressive obsession, need for symmetry, sexual obsession, most common compulsion was checking and washing, followed by breathing, movement, symmetry, repetitive asking, hoarding, mental compulsion. 3) Most common comorbid diagnosis was depression. Other axis-I diagnosis associated OCD were anxiety disorder, tic disorder, conduct and oppositional defiant disorder and psychosis. 4) Regarding psychiatric familial loadings, 17 patients(85%) had relatives with psychiatric disorders, OC-spectrum disorders(OCD or OCPD) were found in 9 patients(45%). 5) The majority of patients(75%) have received SSRI and antipsychotics treatment. The response rate above 'moderate improved" by CGI was 75%. 6) During follow-up period in outpatient clinic, five patients(25%) showed continuous complete remission, 10 patients (50%) did residual symptoms with chronic course. Conclusion : This seems to be the first systemic investigation of severe pediatric OCD patients in Korea. The children & adolescents with severe OCD in inpatient-setting showed the high comorbid rate, familial psychiatric loading, and combined pharmacotherapy with antipsychotics, As for symptoms, high rate of aggressive-sexual obsession and atypical compulsions like breathing and moving was reported in this study. Severe pediatric OCD patients, however, responded well to the combined SSRI and antipsychotics regimen.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.105-113
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• 2006

Objectives : To establish an effective collaborate medicine treatment of acupuncture and western medicine for treating frozen shoulder patients. Methods : 59 voluntary patients were randomly assigned to Eastern treatment group(E group, n=22), Western treatment group(W group, n=17) and East-West treatment group(EW group, n=20). The E group received acupuncture treatment on LI15, TE14, GB21 and Master Dong's acupuncture points, Shin-gwan and Gyun-joong, twice a week for 4 weeks. The W group received suprascapular nerve block, subacromial injection and trigger point injection, twice a week for 4 weeks. The EW group received acupuncture and injection treatment including nerve block All groups were instructed to practice self exercise during their daily lives. Evaluations were made before treatment and after treatment based on the change in shoulder Range of Motion(ROM) and the patient's satisfaction concerning the treatment was measured by Visual Analogue Scale(VAS). The obtained data were analyzed and compared. Results : The patient's satisfaction scores were E group 5.67, W group 7.73 and EW group 7.67. The E group and the EW group showed significant improvement in abbduction, adduction and flexion(p<0.05). The W group showed significant improvement in adduction(p<0.05). Abduction significantly improved(p<0.05) in the EW group compared to E group and W group. Flexion also showed improvement in the EW group, but the difference among the 3 groups was statistically insignificant. The three group's difference of change in extension and adduction was insignificant(p>0.05). Conclusion : Acupuncture and nerve block alone significantly improved ROM in frozen shoulder patients. Also collaborate treatment of acupuncture and nerve block significantly improved ROM in frozen shoulder patients. But the difference of the three treatments were significant only for improving abduction(p<0.05).