• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.465-473
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the desensitizing effects of a Nd:YAG laser (Sunlase, SUNRISE Technologies, Inc., USA) irradiation on cervically exposed hypersensitive dentine. 45 patients was irradiated with pulsed Nd:YAG laser (1.5 W, 20 Hz, 75 mJ/pulse, 4 minutes) as the experimental group, 27 patients was mock irradiated as the control group. The degree of sensitivity to the thermal and tactile stimuli were determined qualitatively with an evaporative stimulus defined as two times air blast at a distance of 3 mm from each site to be tested and with a mechanical stimulus as a slightly scratching the cervical site with a dental explorer. A qualitative registration of the degree of discomfort was determined according to a numerical pain scale(NPS) in an 11-point scale in which 0= "no pain" and 10="most excruciating pain imaginable". Recordings were assessed before treatment, immediately after, 1 and 2 weeks after treatment. Pain tolerance threshold and pulp vitality were evaluated with electric pulp tester before and immediately after treatment. 1. Desensitizing of hypersensitive dentine with Nd:YAG laser irradiation was more effective than that with mock irradiation. 2. The placebo effect of mock irradiation was recognized for severe sensitive teeth($NPS\;{\geqq}\;6$), but not for moderate sensitive teeth(NPS < 6). 3. Laser irradiation did not affect the pain tolerance threshold and pulp vitality of the hypersensitive teeth. 4. Desensitizing effect of laser irradiation for the hypersensitive teeth had been continuing at least 2 weeks. It was concluded that desensitizing of hypersensitive dentine with a Nd:YAG laser is effective and the maintenance of the positive result was more prolonged than the placebo effect.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.250-261
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• 2021

Background: Complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS-I) consists of disorders caused by spontaneous pain or induced by some stimulus. The objective was to verify the effects of photobiomodulation (PBM) using 830 nm wavelength light at the affected paw and involved spinal cord segments during the warm or acute phase. Methods: Fifty-six mice were randomized into seven groups. Group (G) 1 was the placebo group; G2 and G3 were treated with PBM on the paw in the warm and acute phase, respectively; G4 and G5 treated with PBM on involved spinal cord segments in the warm and acute phase, respectively; G6 and G7 treated with PBM on paw and involved spinal cord segments in the warm and acute phase, respectively. Edema degree, thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia, skin temperature, and functional quality of gait (Sciatic Static Index [SSI] and Sciatic Functional Index [SFI]) were evaluated. Results: Edema was lower in G3 and G7, and these were the only groups to return to baseline values at the end of treatment. For thermal hyperalgesia only G3 and G5 returned to baseline values. Regarding mechanical hyperalgesia, the groups did not show significant differences. Thermography showed increased temperature in all groups on the seventh day. In SSI and SFI assessment, G3 and G7 showed lower values when compared to G1, respectively. Conclusions: PBM irradiation in the acute phase and in the affected paw showed better results in reducing edema, thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia, and in improving gait quality, demonstrating efficacy in treatment of CRPS-I symptoms.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.171-187
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• 2001

Objective : Moxibustion has been proved efficacious for many diseases, but isn't widespread in the clinics due to a danger of skin burning, the smoke produced while burning a moxa combustion and so on. Therefore, another type of moxa that can be resolved these troubles is required. To improve the effect of moxibustion and develop the new thermal stimulating treatment, the performance of commercial moxibustion widely used are studied systematically and found out quantitatively. Methods : We have selected two types (small-size moxa A(sMA), small-size moxa B (sMB)) among small-size moxaes used widely in the clinic. We examined combustion time, various temperatures, temperature gradient in each period during a combustion of moxa. Results : 1. The combustion time in the preheating period appeared somewhat longer in sMA than in sMB. 2, The combustion time in the heating period appeared longer in sMA by 26% than in sMB. 3. The average temperature in the heating period was $37.6{\sim}37.8^{\circ}C\;in\;sMA\;and\;36.2{\sim}36.8^{\circ}C$ in sMB and the maximum temperature measured at a center of contact surface in sMA was $48.6^{\circ}C$, higher by over $2.8^{\circ}C$ than that of sMB moxibustion. 4. The average ascending temperature gradient in the heating period was $0.08{\sim}0.1^{\circ}C/sec$ in both moxaes, and the average ascending temperature gradient of heating period in sMB appeared larger. The maximum ascending temperature gradient appeared higher in sMB, and the time reaching maximum ascending temperature gradient appeared much earlier in sMA than in sMB. 5. The combustion time in the retaining period was around 100 sec in sMA and around 275 sec in sMB. 6. The average temperature in the retaining period was $42.2{\sim}46.0^{\circ}C\;in\;sMA\;and\;39.3{\sim}41.4^{\circ}C/sec$ in sMB. The minimum temperature in the retaining period was over $38.80^{\circ}C$ in sMA but just $34.7^{\circ}C$ in sMB. 7. The average descending temperature gradient in sMA was $-0.050{\sim}0.067^{\circ}C/sec$ and in sMB was $-0.030{\sim}0.037^{\circ}C/sec$ 8. The combustion time in the cooling period appeared longer over two times in sMA than in sMB, and the time which the cooling period (minimum temperature) finished at appeared later in sMB by 55 sec. 9. We classified the combustion process that the measured temperature rose over body heat($37^{\circ}C$) into the effective combustion period. The effective combustion time was 233.3 sec in sMA and 300.4 sec in sMB respectively, and was longer by about 29% in sMB. The average temperature and maximum temperature in the effective combustion time appeared higher in sMA. The time taken until the maximum temperature was reached was 225.1 sec in sMA and 244.5 sec in sMB, faster by about 20 sec in sMA. The maximum ascending temperature gradient during the effective combustion period appeared larger about 1.4 times in sMB, but the time when the maximum ascending temperature gradient happened was faster in sMA. Conclusion : It appears that sMB, compared with sMA, is proper if necessary to apply the long time and weak stimulus, because of the gentle stimulus during the relatively longer time. In contrast, sMA that the symmetrical combustion happened is proper if necessary to apply the short time and strong stimulus.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.195-200
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• 2003

Alginate is a natural ionic polymer including numerous anionic groups and can be actuated by the ionic group under the electric field. The crosslinked alginate films were fabricated with CaCl$_2$. The thermal, mechanical and electroresponse properties of the films were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis, tensile and bending tests. The initial degradation and tensile strength increased according to the degree of crosslinking. Also, the swelling ratio of the films increased with decreasing degree of crosslinking and increasing pH due to free volume and electrostatic repulsion. The films actuated by an electric stimulus exhibited gentle and flexible action like a pendulum. In the electric field, the electric stimuli such as the applied voltage, ionic strength and kind of electrolyte solution had an effect on the electroresponse of the films. Alginate films with 5 wt% crosslinking agent showed the highest bending angle and reversible bending behavior. When the ionic strength of NaCl and KCl electrolyte solution was 0.1 M, the films showed the highest electroresponse. The bending behavior of the films increased with the applied voltage.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.155-160
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• 2015

Objectives: Achieving adequate anesthesia with inferior alveolar nerve blocks (IANB) is of great importance during dental procedures. The aim of the present study was to assess the success rate of two anesthetic agents (bupivacaine and lidocaine) for IANB when treating teeth with irreversible pulpitis. Materials and Methods: Sixty volunteer male and female patients who required root canal treatment of a mandibular molar due to caries participated in the present study. The inclusion criteria included prolonged pain to thermal stimulus but no spontaneous pain. The patients were randomly allocated to receive either 2% lidocaine with 1:80,000 epinephrine or 0.5% bupivacaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine as an IANB injection. The sensitivity of the teeth to a cold test as well as the amount of pain during access cavity preparation and root canal instrumentation were recorded. Results were statistically analyzed with the Chi-Square and Fischer's exact tests. Results: At the final step, fifty-nine patients were included in the study. The success rate for bupivacaine and lidocaine groups were 20.0% and 24.1%, respectively. There was no significant difference between the two groups at any stage of the treatment procedure. Conclusions: There was no difference in success rates of anesthesia when bupivacaine and lidocaine were used for IANB injections to treat mandibular molar teeth with irreversible pulpitis. Neither agent was able to completely anesthetize the teeth effectively. Therefore, practitioners should be prepared to administer supplemental anesthesia to overcome pain during root canal treatment.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.603-611
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• 2021

Taste-responsive neurons in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NST), the first gustatory nucleus, often respond to thermal or mechanical stimulation. Alcohol, not a typical taste modality, is a rewarding stimulus. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of ethanol (EtOH) and/or temperature as stimuli to the tongue on the activity of taste-responsive neurons in hamster NST. In the first set of experiments, we recorded the activity of 113 gustatory NST neurons in urethane-anesthetized hamsters and evaluated responses to four basic taste stimuli, 25% EtOH, and 40℃ and 4℃ distilled water (dH₂O). Sixty cells responded to 25% EtOH, with most of them also being sucrose sensitive. The response to 25% EtOH was significantly correlated with the sucrose-evoked response. A significant correlation was also observed between sucrose- and 40℃ dH₂O- and between 25% EtOH- and 40℃ dH₂O-evoked firings. In a subset of the cells, we evaluated neuronal activities in response to a series of EtOH concentrations, alone and in combination with 32 mM sucrose (EtOH/Suc) at room temperature (RT, 22℃-23℃), 40℃, and 4℃. Neuronal responses to EtOH at RT and 40℃ increased as the concentrations increased. The firing rates to EtOH/Suc were greater than those to EtOH or sucrose alone. The responses were enhanced when solutions were applied at 40℃ but diminished at 4℃. In summary, EtOH activates most sucrose-responsive NST gustatory cells, and the concomitant presence of sucrose or warm temperatures enhance this response. Our findings may contribute to elucidate the neural mechanisms underlying appetitive alcohol consumption.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.34-39
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• 2015

In this study, portective effect on DNA damage several mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus, Flammulina velutipes, Lentinula edodes) according to cooking methods was investigated using Comet assay. Three edible mushrooms were cooked by grilling, blanching, pan-frying, or by preparing 'Jeon' (traditional Korean pancake). Cells were incubated in medium with 4 kinds of samples for 48 h ($37^{\circ}C$) were further treated with hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) for 5 min as an oxidative stimulus. Oxidative damage was evaluated by single-cell gel electrophoresis (Comet assay) and quantified by tail DNA% (TD), tail length (TL), tail moment (TM). Though oxidative DNA damages expressed as TD, TL, TM of 4 cooked samples were higher than raw sample, which means lower protective activities, all samples including raw sample had significantly higher protective effects than the positive control (p<0.05). The protective effect on DNA damage of cooked samples decreased much more when soybean oil added, likely due to the thermal oxidation of oil during cooking. Although heat treatment could degrade protective effect on DNA damage of mushrooms, the cooked mushroom had significant effect on oxidative stress. In conclusion, grilling and blanching were the most advantageous cooking methods to protect oxidative DNA damage induced by $H_2O_2$.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.19-24
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• 2003

Artificial spawning, larval and spat developments of the bay scallop, Argopecten irradians, which was transplanted from China on 16 August 1996, were investigated monthly until August 1997 in the Deukyang Bay, Jangheung-gun, Jeollanam-do, Korea. Sufficient amount of cultured microalgae supplemented seawater were supplied as food (6 kinds of phytoplankton) for fully grown adult individuals at 17.1-23.2$^{\circ}C$ for 44 days. A total of 45,320,000 eggs were spawned by way of 2 times of artificial spawning inductions such as exposure stimulus to the air and thermal shock (with water temperature) on 29 January and 31 January in 1997. Artificially fertilized eggs were developed to D-shaped larvae (77.5 ${\times}\;63.8\;{\mu}m)$ and metamorphosed to larvae (191.8 ${\times}\;181.2\;{\mu}m)$ 181.2 m) in the attached larval stage on the collectors. A total of 110,000 spats (average 3.04 mm in shell length) were produced at 22.8-26.3$^{\circ}C$ and 31.0-34.4 psu in the indoor rearing tank from 14 February through 7 May in 1997. In case of Argopecten irradians, if the attached larvae in the attachment stage are detached from the collector, they could not live. Accordingly, it is assumed that survival (%) of the attached larvae of A. irridians showed very low because of weak power attached to the collector due to the small number of the byssuses of the attached larva, not the short attachment period by the byssus as seen in other scallops such as Argopecten balloti.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.114-127
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• 2002

Objective : The purpose of this study is to investigate the mechanism and effect of moxibustion objectively and to be used as the quantitative data for developing the new thermal stimulating treatment by observing the combustion time and temperature of commercial moxaes. Methods : We have selected two types(large-size moxa A(LMA), large-size moxa B (LMB)) among large moxaes used widely in the clinic. We examined combustion times, temperatures in each period during a combustion of moxa. Results : 1. The combustion time in the preheating period was about 30sec in both moxaes on the non-contact heated surface. 2. The combustion time in the heating period was about 345sec in LMA and about 1391 sec in LMB, about 4 times longer in LMB on the non-contact surface. 3. The maximum temperature in the heating period was $44.5^{\circ}C$ in LMA and $45.4^{\circ}C$ in LMB respectively, higher by $0.9^{\circ}C$ in LMB. The average temperature in the heating period was $35.5{\sim}37.6^{\circ}C$ in LMA and $36.0{\sim}39.8^{\circ}C$ in LMB, a little higher in LMB. 4. The combustion time in the retaining period in LMA was 45.4sec and 13% of that in the heating period, and in LMB 594.7sec and 43% of that in the heating period on the non-contact surface. 5. On the point(PH) measured maximum temperature, the average temperature during the retaining period was $44.0^{\circ}C$, $42.9^{\circ}C$ respectively and the temperature at an end of the retaining period was $43.0^{\circ}C$, $40.2^{\circ}C$ respectively. 6. The time at a beginning of the cooling period was about 418 sec from ignition in LMA and 2021sec in LMB, and the temperature at that time was $36.9{\sim}39.1^{\circ}C$ on the non-contact surface. Conclusion : It was thought that not only the figure of moxicombustion device, but also the form and size of moxa had influence on the combustion characteristics deciding the performance of stimulus seriously.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2012

There have been many emotion researches to investigate physiological responses on specific emotions with physiological parameters such as heart rate, blood volume flow, and skin conductance. Very few researches, however, exists by detecting them with facial skin temperature. The purpose of present study was to observe the differences of facial skin temperature by using thermal camera, when participants stimulated by monitor scenes which could evoke fear or joy. There were totally 98 of participants; undergraduate students who were in their adult age and middle, high school students who were in their adolescence. We measured their facial temperature, before and after presenting emotional stimulus to see changes between both times. Temperature values were extracted in these regions; forehead, inner corners of the eyes, bridge of the nose, end of the nose, and cheeks. Temperature values in bridge and end of the nose were significantly decreased in fear emotion stimulated. There was also significant temperature increase in the area of forehead and the inner corners of the eyes, while the temperature value in end of the nose decreased. It showed decrease in both stimulated fear and joy. These results might be described as follows: When arousal level going up, sympathetic nervous activity increases, and in turn it makes blood flow in peripheral vessels under the nose decrease. Facial temperature changes by fear or joy in this study were the same as the previous studies which measured temperature of finger tip, when participants experiencing emotions. Our results may help to develop emotion-measuring techniques and establish computer system bases which are to detect human emotions.