• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.83-94
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• 2009

Background and Objectives: The skin barrier protects skin against a harmful environment. Its function includes an antimicrobial barrier as well as a physical barrier. Stress is harmful to the skin barrier and there are many studies on this, but there are few about the effect of stress during pregnancy on the skin barrier of offspring. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of stress during pregnancy on the skin barrier of offspring by examination with the naked eye, cortisol, weight, TEWL and histologic tests. Materials and Methods: Male hairless mice ten weeks old were coupled with females for three days. After twelve days the females were divided into two groups. We stressed one group and not the other group. The offspring from the non-stressed (N group) and stressed (S group) grew up until four weeks. The S group was exposed to chronic mild stress using the chronic stress model protocol modified method of Wilner and Towell for a week. We made examinations with the naked eye, assessment of cortisol, weight, TEWL, and histologic test to contrast the S group with the N group. Statistical analysis was performed by using Mann-Whitney and Friedman test. Statistical significance was achieved if the probability was less than 5% (p<0.05). Results: 1. By making an examination with the naked eye, S group showed papules, creases and dryness on their skin, but N showed no change compared with normal skin. 2. There was no statistically significant difference between S group and N group in cortisol (p>0.05). 3. There was no statistically significant difference between S group and N group in weight. N group had less weight than S group (p<0.05). 4. There was no statistically significant difference between S group and N group in TEWL (p>0.05). 5. There was no statistically significant difference between S group and N group in TEWL recovery (p>0.05). 6. In TEWL and TEWL recovery, there was statistically significant difference by time between S group and N group (p<0.005). Histologically, S group showed a thicker epidermis and epidermal crest than N group. Conclusions: We found that stress during pregnancy has negative effects on the skin barrier of offspring. Though there were no statistically significant differences between S group and N group in TEWL recovery, we found evidence that the recovery of skin barrier function is interrupted by stress during pregnancy by examination with both the naked eye and histology.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2014

Objectives : The aim of this study is to examine the effect of external application containing herbal extracts (Betula platyphyllae Cortex, Viticis Fructus, Agrimoniae herba) to patients with atopic dermatitis. Methods : Twenty patients (experiment group) were treated with the external application containing herbal extracts (Betula platyphyllae Cortex, Viticis Fructus, Agrimoniae herba) and other twenty patients (control group) were treated with normal external application that doesn't contain herbal extracts for 2weeks. We observed comparisons between experiment and control group after 1week, 2weeks. Degrees of severity of atopic dermatitis were measured by SCORAD index (Scoring of Atopic Dermatitis Index). Statistical significance was achieved if the probability was less than 5% (p<0.05). Results : 1. After 1week of external application treatment, SCORAD Index in experiment group was significantly decreased comparing with control group, which is a marginally significant result between two groups. But after 2weeks the experiment group showed no statistically significant result. 2. After 1week of external application treatment, Intensity Criteria (Erythema, Edema/papulation, Total) in experiment group was significantly decreased comparing with control group, which is a statistically significant result between two groups. But after 2weeks the experiment group showed no statistically significant result. 3. After 1week and 2weeks of external application treatment, comparison of changes in Subjective Symptoms (Pruritus, Insomnia) indicated that the experiment group showed no statistically significant result. 4. After 1week of external application treatment, Total Quality of life through Skindex-29 in experiment group was significantly decreased comparing with control group, which is a marginally significant result between two groups. But after 2weeks the experiment group showed no statistically significant result. Conclusions : As a result of applying the external application containing herbal extracts to patients with atopic dermatitis and watching the progress, we can speculate that the external application containing herbal extracts has especially short-term therapeutical effects in mitigating the symptoms of Atopic Dermatitis. Thus, it is concluded and considered that the external application containing herbal extracts can be used by atopic patients effectively with almost no side-effect.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.234-240
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• 2016

The Y-maze is widely used to test working memory in behavioral science. For this purpose, spontaneous alternation behavior is monitored, and an increased percentage of spontaneous alternation is regarded as enhanced working memory. However, in some cases, the percentage of spontaneous alternation does not accurately reflect the extent of working memory in rodents. To complement the short-comings of this measure, we developed a new method to evaluate working memory on the Y-maze. This is done by defining all spontaneous alternation cases and P_i, the probability that the rodent achieved spontaneous alternation from each alternation case. After all P_i-values acquired in each animal are summarized, the result is considered as entropy. To validate the new analytical method, mice were raised under either control or an enriched environmental condition for 10 weeks, and working memory behavior on the Y-maze was monitored. The results showed that the new analytical method successfully reproduced significance. In addition, the new method turned out to be more accurate than measurement of the percentage of spontaneous alternation, meaning that, to get higher entropy, alternation should be recorded in all arms and directions. Together, these data indicate that the new analytical method is a useful supplement to the method that compares the percentage of spontaneous alternation, and thus is a good tool with which to evaluate working memory in rodents.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.60 no.5
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• pp.577-583
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• 2017

Objective : Laminoplasty is an effective surgical method for treating cervical degenerative disease. However, postoperative complications such as kyphosis, restriction of neck motion, and instability are often reported. Despite sufficient preoperative lordosis, this procedure often aggravates the lordotic curve of the cervical spine and straightens cervical alignment. Hence, it is important to examine preoperative risk factors associated with postoperative kyphotic alignment changes. Our study aimed to investigate preoperative radiologic parameters associated with kyphotic deformity post laminoplasty. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 49 patients who underwent open door laminoplasty for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) or ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) at Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital between January 2011 and December 2015. Inclusion criteria were as follows : 1) preoperative diagnosis of OPLL or CSM, 2) no previous history of cervical spinal surgery, cervical trauma, tumor, or infection, 3) minimum of one-year follow-up post laminoplasty with proper radiologic examinations performed in outpatient clinics, and 4) cases showing C7 and T1 vertebral body in the preoperative cervical sagittal plane. The radiologic parameters examined included C2-C7 Cobb angles, T1 slope, C2-C7 sagittal vertical axis (SVA), range of motion (ROM) from C2-C7, segmental instability, and T2 signal change observed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Clinical factors examined included preoperative modified Japanese Orthopedic Association scores, disease classification, duration of symptoms, and the range of operation levels. Results : Mean preoperative sagittal alignment was $13.01^{\circ}$ lordotic; $6.94^{\circ}$ lordotic postoperatively. Percentage of postoperative kyphosis was 80%. Patients were subdivided into two groups according to postoperative Cobb angle change; a control group (n=22) and kyphotic group (n=27). The kyphotic group consisted of patients with more than $5^{\circ}$ kyphotic angle change postoperatively. There were no differences in age, sex, C2-C7 Cobb angle, T1 slope, C2-C7 SVA, ROM from C2-C7, segmental instability, or T2 signal change. Multiple regression analysis revealed T1 slope had a strong relationship with postoperative cervical kyphosis. Likewise, correlation analysis revealed there was a statistical significance between T1 slope and postoperative Cobb angle change (p=0.035), and that there was a statistically significant relationship between T1 slope and C2-C7 SVA (p=0.001). Patients with higher preoperative T1 slope demonstrated loss of lordotic curvature postoperatively. Conclusion : Laminoplasty has a high probability of aggravating sagittal balance of the cervical spine. T1 slope is a good predictor of postoperative kyphotic changes of the cervical spine. Similarly, T1 slope is strongly correlated with C2-C7 SVA.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.45-56
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• 2012

Objective : This study was done to investigate the correlation between general quality of life(QOL) and disease specific QOL of tinnitus patients. Methods : 2009 National health and nutrition survey(NHNS) data were employed for analyzing the mean estimates of total population and tinnitus sub-group patients, and predicting the regression equation of mapping between EQ-5D and disease severity. Baseline statistical analyses and normality tests were done by using Student t-test, Chi-square test, Shapiro-Wilk test and ladder test. Hierarchial regression analyses were performed using related variables and predicted the optimal regression equations. Statistical significance was achieved if the probability was less than 5%. Results : Firstly, the standardized prevalence of tinnitus patient in South Korea was 18.69% and over 90th age-group was relatively higher than other groups. Mean value of domestic QOL measured by EQ-5D was estimated as 0.9486 and QOL of tinnitus subgroup(0.9169) was lower than the non-tinnitus subgroup(0.9559), significantly. Stratified by age and sex, QOLs of all sub-groups with tinnitus were lower than without tinnitus sub-groups significantly. Regression equations from 2009 NHNS data were developed using hierarchial regression analysis which is as follows. $$Y_{EQ-5D}=0.9224-0.0079{\times}T1-0.0261{\times}T2-0.0951{\times}T3+\sum_{i=1}^{n}{\beta}_i{\times}X_i\\{\hspace{95}}(0.0106){\hspace{3}}(0.0037){\hspace{30}}(0.0072){\hspace{30}}(0.0038)$$ ($X_i$=Other explanatory variables except Tinnitus QOL1, 2, 3, ${\beta}$= Regression Coefficient of Model 4) Conclusion : We confirmed the correlation among THI and EQ-5D and HUI-III, and developed the inference for regression equation of EQ-5D.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.110 no.4
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• pp.577-589
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• 2021

Soil seed bank community contributes to the long-term conservation of plant diversity and vegetation dynamics, and their decreasing diversity and density with soil depth provide critical perspectives (deterministic and stochastic) for understanding the community disassembly process. We analyzed changes in species composition and diversity and structuring patterns by soil layer (top and bottom), including surface vegetation, in Gwangneung Forest, a mature forest with a vegetation climate in the temperate central part of the Korean Peninsula. From two layers of soil collected with a vertical difference of 10 cm, 934 specimens of 27 families, 40 genera, 44 species, three varieties, and 47 taxa, germinated. Although species diversity and germination density decreased in most comparative characteristics, including growth type, there was no statistical significance due to large deviations. Within-group variability of species composition was similar in the upper and lower soils, as was the decline pattern in co-occurred species (ζ-diversity) and change in species retention probability. The structuring process of the community composition in the two soil layers was fitted with an exponential correlation rather than a power function, demonstrating the dominance of the stochastic process. The pattern in diversity and species turnover according to soil depth in Gwangneung Forest was discovered to be structured by stochastic random events, such as seed vertical movement rather than interaction with trait characteristics.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.153-158
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to compare and analyse the differences between a customized small finger made by 3D printing technology, a real small finger, and the other made from plaster of an orthotic company. The areas and the volumes of each cross-section were measured by Computer tomography(CT) and a 3D scanner and analysis of variance was performed to find out the differences of each shape. The areas of the point of 15.69mm, Distal Interphalangel Joints, were measured 30 times respectively using the caliper toll function of Picture Archiving Communication System(PASC) program. The volumes were measured by Configure Units of Meshmixer Program. There was no significant difference in the areas between three of them and there was 0.2 mm gap in the volume, which was more than the significance probability. Therefore, the result of this study shows the availability of finger orthoses made by 3D printing technology in the medical field.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.1-14
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• 2021

Excessive development and urbanization have destroyed animal, plant, habitats and reduced biodiversity. In order to preserve species diversity, habitat prediction studies are have been conducted at home and overseas using various modeling techniques. This study was conducted to suggest optimal habitat modeling research by comparing HSI and MaxEnt, which are widely used among habitat modeling techniques. The study was targeted on the endangered species of Prionailurus bengalensis in nearby areas (5460.35km2) including Cheonan City, and the same data were used for analysis to compare those models. According to the HSI analysis, Prionailurus bengalensis's habitat probability was 74.65% for less than 0.5 and 25.34% for more than 0.5 and the top 30% were forest (99.07%). MaxEnt's analysis showed that 56.22% of those below 0.5 and 43.79% of those above 0.5 were found to have a high explanatory power of 78.3% of AUC. The Paired Wilcoxn test, which evaluated the significance of thoes models, confirmed that the mean difference between the two models was statistically significant (p<0.05). Analysis of the differences in the results of those models using the matrix table shows that score 24.43% HSI and MaxEnt was accordance,12.44% of the 0.0 to 0.2 section, 7.22% of the 0.2 to 0.4 section, 2.73% of the 0.4 to 0.6 section, 1.96% of the 0.6 to 0.8, and 0.08% of the 0.9 to 1.0. To verify where the score difference appears, the result values of those models were reset to values from 1 to 5 and overlaid. Overlapping analysis resulted in 30.26% of the Strongly agree values, 56.77% of the agree values, and 11.92% of the Disagree values. The places where the difference in scores occurs were analyzed in the order of forest (45.23%), agricultural land (34.57%), and urbanization area (7.65%). This confirmed that the analysis of the same target species within the same target site also has differences in forecasts depending on the modelling method. Therefore, a novel analysis method combining the advantages of each modeling in habitat prediction studies should be developed, and future study may be used to select Prionailurus bengalensis and species-protected areas and species protection areas in the future. Further research is judged to require higher accuracy studies through the use of various modeling techniques and on-site verification.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.798-809
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• 2020

Evidence-based policymaking and assessments for scientific administration have increased the importance of statistics (data) utilization. Statistics can explain specific phenomena by providing numerical values and are a public resource for national decision making. Due to these inherent attributes, statistics are utilized as baseline and base data for government policy determinations and the analysis of various phenomena. However, compared to the importance, the role of statistics is limited, and statistics are often used as simple abstracts, produced mainly for suppliers, not for consumers' perspectives to create value. This study explores the statistical data and other attributes that can be utilized for policies or research to address the problems mentioned above. The baseline statistical data used in this study is from the Maritime Distress Accident Statistical Yearbook published by the South Korean Coast Guard, and other additional attributes are from text analyses of vessel casualty situation reports from the South Korean Maritime Police. Collecting 56 attributes drawn from the text analysis and executing an EDA resulted in 88 attribute unions: 18 attribute unions had a satisfactory significance probability (p-value < .05) and a strong correlation coefficient above 0.7, and 70 attribute unions had a middle correlation. (over 0.4 and under 0.7). Additionally, to utilize the extra attributes discovered from the EDA politically, a keyword analysis for each detailed strategy of the disaster Preparation basic plan was executed, the utilization availability of the attributes was obtained using a matching process of keywords, and the EDA deducted attributes were examined.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.8-26
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• 2022

Objectives: This study is designed to statistically analyze characteristics, treatment effect and prognosis of patients who were treated for the recurrent Bell's palsy Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed the medical records and telephone questionnaire of 82 patients treated with the recurrent Bell's palsy at the OO Korean Medicine hospital from August 01, 2018 to July 31, 2021. Results: The lower the EQ-VAS^® and HB scale before and after treatment, the higher the satisfaction with the treatment. The average of the number of days and duration of outpatient treatment for male was longer than that for female. The average number of days and duration of outpatient treatment in the group that received combined treatment was longer than that of patients who received Korean Medicine only. The higher the satisfaction of treatment, the higher the willingness to receive treatment in the event of recurrent facial palsy. HB scale after treatment was the lowest in their 40s, and the average value of HB scale after treatment tended to increase as age increased except for those in their 40s. Conclusion: This study showed that the lower the HB scale after treatment, the lower the EQ-VAS®, the higher the treatment satisfaction, and the higher the probability receiving treatment if the facial paralysis recurs. Those in their 10s to 40s showed excellent results after treatment. Comparatively, those in their 50s and above showed a little effect after treatment. Gender, affected side, history of facial palsy, season of onset, age, hypertension and diabetes had no statistically significance with recurrent Bell's palsy prognosis.