Deviated Saccadic Trajectory as a Biometric Signature of Glaucoma.

Purpose: To investigate whether the trajectories of saccadic eye movements (SEMs) significantly differ between glaucoma patients and controls.

Methods: SEMs were recorded by video-based infrared oculography in 53 patients with glaucoma and 41 age-matched controls. Participants were asked to bilaterally view 24°-horizontal, 14°-vertical, and 20°-diagonal eccentric Goldmann III-sized stimuli.

3D Reconstruction of a Unitary Posterior Eye by Converging Optically Corrected Optical Coherence and Magnetic Resonance Tomography Images via 3D CAD.

Purpose: In acquiring images of the posterior eye, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides low spatial resolution of the overall shape of the eye while optical coherence tomography (OCT) offers high spatial resolution of the limited range. Through the merger of the two devices, we attempted to acquire detailed anatomy of the posterior eye.

Methods: Optical and display distortions in OCT images were corrected using the Listing reduced eye model.

Comparison of the Attitudes of Nurses and Physicians toward Palliative Care in Neonatal Intensive Care Units.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the attitudes of nurses and physicians toward neonatal palliative care and identify the barriers to and facilitators of neonatal palliative care, with the goal of improving palliative care for infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).

Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from the NICUs of seven general hospitals with 112 nurses and 52 physicians participating. Data were collected using the Neonatal Palliative Care Attitude Scale questionnaire.

IK acts as an immunoregulator of inflammatory arthritis by suppressing T17 cell differentiation and macrophage activation.

Pathogenic T helper cells (T) and macrophages have been implicated in the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which can lead to severe synovial inflammation and bone destruction. A range of therapies have been widely used for RA, including specific monoclonal antibodies and chemical inhibitors against inflammatory cytokines produced by these cells. However, these have not been sufficient to meet the medical need.

Homology differences between complete Sacbrood virus genomes from infected Apis mellifera and Apis cerana honeybees in Korea.

Sacbrood virus (SBV) represents a serious threat to the health of managed honeybees. We determined four complete SBV genomic sequences (AmSBV-Kor1, AmSBV-Kor2, AcSBV-Kor3, and AcSBV-Kor4) isolated from Apis mellifera and Apis cerana in various regions of South Korea. A phylogenetic tree was constructed from the complete genomic sequences of these Korean SBVs (KSBVs) and 21 previously reported SBV sequences from other countries.

Comparative study on efficacy and safety of 1550 nm Er:Glass fractional laser and fractional radiofrequency microneedle device for facial atrophic acne scar.

Background: The 1550 nm Er:Glass fractional laser is widely used for the treatment of atrophic acne scar. A novel fractional radiofrequency microneedle device has recently emerged as an alternative for treating acne scars.

Objectives: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of a Er:Glass fractional laser and fractional radiofrequency microneedle device in the treatment of facial atrophic acne scars and to assess the difference between the treatment modalities depending on facial compartment.

Analysis of the RdRp, intergenic and structural polyprotein regions, and the complete genome sequence of Kashmir bee virus from infected honeybees (Apis mellifera) in Korea.

Kashmir bee virus (KBV) is one of the most common viral infections in honeybees. In this study, a phylogenetic analysis was performed using nine partial nucleotide sequences of RdRp and the structural polyprotein regions of South Korean KBV genotypes, as well as nine previously reported KBV genotypes from various countries and two closely related genotypes of Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV) and Acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV). The Korean KBV genotypes were highly conserved with 94-99 % shared identity, but they also shared 88-95 % identity with genotypes from various countries, and they formed a separate KBV cluster in the phylogenetic tree.

Cytotoxicity and gene expression profiling of polyhexamethylene guanidine hydrochloride in human alveolar A549 cells.

In Korea, lung disease of children and pregnant women associated with humidifier disinfectant use has become a major concern. A common sterilizer is polyhexamethylene guanidine (PHMG), a member of the guanidine family of antiseptics. This study was done to elucidate the putative cytotoxic effect of PHMG and the PHMG-mediated altered gene expression in human alveolar epithelial A549 cells in vitro.

Characteristics of Ge-Sb-Te films prepared by cyclic pulsed plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition.

Ge-Sb-Te (GST) thin films were deposited on TiN, SiO2, and Si substrates by cyclic-pulsed plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) using Ge{N(CH3)(C2H5)}, Sb(C3H7)3, Te(C3H7)3 as precursors in a vertical flow reactor. Plasma activated H2 was used as the reducing agent. The growth behavior was strongly dependent on the type of substrate.

Effects of cranberry powder on serum lipid profiles and biomarkers of oxidative stress in rats fed an atherogenic diet.

This study investigated that the antioxidative effect of freeze-dried cranberry powder against protein and lipid oxidation and ameliorative effect of serum lipid profile in rat fed atherogenic diet. Six weeks old male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the following four groups: normal diet group with 5% corn oil (control), atherogenic diet group with 5% corn oil, 10% lard, 1% cholesterol, and 0.5% sodium cholate (HFC), atherogenic plus 2% cranberry powder diet group (HFC + C2), and atherogenic plus 5% cranberry powder diet group (HFC + C5), and respective diet and water were fed daily for 6 weeks.

Effect of supplementing terpenoid biosynthetic precursors on the accumulation of bilobalide and ginkgolides in Ginkgo biloba cell cultures.

The effect of precursor feeding on the production of bilobalide and ginkgolides was studied with suspension cell cultures of Ginkgo biloba. The precursors greatly influenced the productivity of bilobalide and ginkgolides. Precursor supplementation increased the accumulation of both bilobalide and ginkgolides, and with positive effect on cell growth.

Suppression of Th2-type immune response-mediated allergic diarrhea following oral administration of traditional Korean medicine: Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz.

Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz (AMK) is well-known as a digestive and tonic material and is widely used in traditional Korean herbal medicines. Previously, we found that protein samples obtained from the medicines could induce a preferential stimulation of type 1, rather than type 2, helper T lymphocytes (Th) immune responses in vitro. Since immune response induction is controlled by the balanced activation between Th1- and Th2-type immune responses, we tested to see whether or not the AMK protein sample could inhibit the ovalbumin (OVA)-mediated allergic diarrhea, whose induction has been known to be mediated by the Th2-type immune responses.

Glycoproteins contained within Soamsan, a traditional Oriental medicine, are the main class of active ingredients responsible for the medicine-induced immune stimulation.

In our previous study, Soamsan, a traditional Oriental medicine, was shown to enhance the induction of antigen-specific immune responses, and it was speculated that the enhancing activity might be closely associated with glycoproteins contained within the medicine. To elucidate this speculation, protein samples from each component, used in the preparation of Soamsan, were obtained and their immune stimulating activities were tested with mouse splenocytes. All the samples markedly enhanced the lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine secretion by the mouse splenocytes.

Selective priming of Th1-mediated antigen-specific immune responses following oral administration of mixed prescriptions of traditional Korean medicines.

Background: In previous studies, we showed that oral administration of traditional Korean medicines, Soamsan (SA) and Bo-yang-hwan-o-tang (BHT), modulated antigen-specific immune responses in mice.

Methods: We attempted to strengthen cell-mediated immune responses in mice using two mixed prescriptions composed mainly of components used in SA and/or BHT. The effect of oral administration of the medicines on the induction of antigen-specific immune responses was investigated using hen egg-white lysozyme (HEL) as a model antigen system.