Comparison of predicted and measured axial length for ophthalmic lens design.

Ocular parameters have been applied to ophthalmic lens designs in order to satisfy individual wearers. An axial length (AL) of them can be used in individual ophthalmic lens designs. Our aim was to propose a reliable formula that predicts an individual's AL using the corneal radius and refractive error, and to demonstrate the applicability of this formula.

Comparison of orbicularis oris muscle strength and endurance in young and elderly adults.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to compare the strength and endurance of the orbicularis oris muscle in healthy Korean (young vs. elderly adults). [Participants and Methods] A total of 60 participants (30 young adults and 30 elderly adults) were recruited.

Oropharyngeal swallowing function in patients with presbyphagia.

[Purpose] This study investigated the characteristics of oropharyngeal swallowing function in patients with presbyphagia. [Participants and Methods] Data for 25 patients with presbyphagia were retrospectively analyzed. The oropharyngeal swallowing function was evaluated using VDS based on videofluoroscopic swallowing study.

Effect of orbicularis oris muscle training on muscle strength and lip closure function in patients with stroke and swallowing disorder.

[Purpose] We aimed to investigate the effect of resistance training of the orbicularis oris muscles on lip muscle strength and closure function in patients with swallowing disorder with facial palsy after stroke. [Participants and Methods] This study recruited 10 patients with swallowing disorder and facial palsy after stroke. All the participants received orbicularis oris muscle training at an intensity of 70% of 1 repetition maximum by using an Iowa oral performance instrument.

The Processing Time for Recanalization and Size of Ischemic Lesions on DWI is Related With Complete Reperfusion After Mechanical Thrombectomy.

Recent studies demonstrated that modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (TICI) 3 reperfusion have better functional outcomes than modified TICI 2b after mechanical thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke with large vessel occlusion. The purpose of this study was to determine significant factors to forecast the presence of complete reperfusion after mechanical thrombectomy based on multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We investigated 96 consecutive patients with acute large intracranial artery occlusion of anterior circulation who based on multimodal MRI.

Effect of physical activity on cognition and daily living activities of the elderly with mild dementia.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a physical activity program on cognitive function and ADLs in elderly people with mild dementia. [Subjects and Methods] Both groups (n=60) participated in a cognition program three times a week for 30 minutes each time over an eight-week period. In addition, the experimental group (n=30) underwent a physical activity program for 30 minutes three times a week over an eight-week period.

A practical double-sided frequency selective surface for millimeter-wave applications.

Analysis, design, and implementation of a practical, high-rejection frequency selective surface (FSS) are presented in this paper. An equivalent circuit model is introduced for predicting the frequency response of the FSS. The FSS consists of periodic square loop structures fabricated on both sides of the thin dielectric substrate by using the low-cost chemical etching technique.

Nano-graphene oxide incorporated into PMMA resin to prevent microbial adhesion.

Objective: Although polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is widely used as a dental material, a major challenge of using this substance is its poor antimicrobial (anti-adhesion) effects, which increase oral infections. Here, graphene-oxide nanosheets (nGO) were incorporated into PMMA to introduce sustained antimicrobial-adhesive effects by increasing the hydrophilicity of PMMA.

Methods: After characterizing nGO and nGO-incorporated PMMA (up to 2wt%) in terms of morphology and surface characteristics, 3-point flexural strength and hardness were evaluated.

Pre-stroke glycemic control is associated with early neurologic deterioration in acute atrial fibrillation-related ischemic stroke.

Background: It has been suggested that AF-related ischemic stroke (IS) that is accompanied by atherosclerotic burden have poorer outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the importance of pre-stroke glycemic control (PSGC) on the early neurologic deterioration (END) of patients with acute AF-related IS.

Methods: We retrospectively recruited 121 patients with AF-related IS who also had Diabetes mellitus (DM).

Retained binding mode of various DNA-binding molecules under molecular crowding condition.

Meso-tetrakis(N-methyl pyridinium-4-yl)porphyrin (TMPyP) intercalates between the base-pairs of DNA at a low [TMPyP]/[DNA base] ratio in aqueous solutions and molecular crowding conditions, which is induced by the addition of Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). Studied DNA-binding drugs, including TMPyP, 9-aminoacridine, ethidium bromide, and DAPI (4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) showed similar binding properties in the presence or absence of PEG molecules which is examined by circular and linear dichroism. According to the LD (reduced linear dichroism) results of the binding drugs examined in this work, PEG molecules induced no significant change compared to their binding properties in aqueous buffering systems.

Anti-oxidative and Anti-microbial Activities of Purified MPN-1-1 from Persicaria nepalensis (Meisn.) Miyabe.

Background: Persicaria is a genus of flowering plants generally used for traditional medicine and nutritional supplements in tropical and subtropical East Asian countries. Previous studies have shown that Persicaria extracts alleviate lipid peroxidation, hypertension, and inflammation.

Objective: We investigated the anti-oxidative and anti-microbial effects of ethanol extracts of Persicaria nepalensis (Meisn.

Enantioselective light switch effect of Δ- and Λ-[Ru(phenanthroline) dipyrido[3,2-a:2', 3'-c]phenazine] bound to G-quadruplex DNA.

The interaction of Δ- and Λ-[Ru(phen)DPPZ] (DPPZ = dipyrido[3,2-a:2', 3'-c]phenazine, phen = phenanthroline) with a G-quadruplex formed from 5'-GTGTGTGTG'(15-mer) was investigated. The well-known enhancement of luminescence intensity (the 'light-switch' effect) was observed for the [Ru(phen)DPPZ] complexes upon formation of an adduct with the G-quadruplex. The emission intensity of the G-quadruplex-bound Λ-isomer was 3-fold larger than that of the Δ-isomer when bound to the G-quadruplex, which is opposite of the result observed in the case of double stranded DNA (dsDNA); the light switch effect is larger for the dsDNA-bound Δ-isomer.

Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi induces caspase-dependent apoptosis via mitogen activated protein kinase activation and the generation of reactive oxygen species signaling pathways in MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi extract (SBGE) is used in traditional herbal medicine and has also been used clinically to ameliorate the symptoms of various inflammatory diseases and cancer. In women, breast cancer is one of the most common diseases and numerous women succumb to it. The present study was undertaken to investigate the mechanism responsible for the SBGE‑induced apoptosis of MCF‑7 human breast cancer cells.

Doxycycline as a new chiral selector in capillary electrophoresis.

Doxycycline (DOX) is one of the tetracycline class of antibiotics and has not been examined for its enantioseparation abilities previously. The purpose of the present work was to evaluate DOX as a chiral selector (CS) using capillary electrophoresis (CE) in nonaqueous mode. Systematic experiments were performed to investigate the effects of concentration of CS, compositions of organic solvents and background electrolytes, applied voltage on chiral separation of a set of acidic chiral compounds.

The effects of exercise using an ergometer with swaying saddle on chronic lower back pain.

[Purpose] This study aims to investigate the effects of exercise using an ergometer with swaying saddle on chronic lower back pain. [Subjects and Methods] Thirty-three normal adults (university students) with chronic lower back pain were randomly recruited. The flexibility and strength of muscles were measured before and after an 8-week intervention.

Luteolin-induced apoptosis through activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress sensors in pheochromocytoma cells.

Luteolin [2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-4-chromenone] is an active flavonoid compound from Lonicera japonica (Caprifoliaceae). Luteolin inhibits tumor cell proliferation, inflammatory and oxidative stress better, when compared with other flavonoids. In the present study, it was demonstrated that luteolin induces typical apoptosis in PC12 cells (derived from a pheochromocytoma of the rat adrenal medulla) accompanied by DNA fragmentation and formation of apoptotic bodies.

Effectiveness of participatory training for the promotion of work-related health and safety among Korean farmers.

This study was conducted to explore the effectiveness of participatory training for promoting farmer's health and reducing agricultural work-related injuries. Candidates for this study included 595 farmers in 8 rural villages of South Korea. The one-day course participatory training was administered to 217 (36.

Design of a 75-140 GHz high-pass printed circuit board dichroic filter.

A new high-performing PCB (Printed Circuit Board) dichroic filter, which can be used for the KSTAR (Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research) electron cyclotron emission imaging system, is proposed. The current dichroic filter consists of a triangular lattice array of circular holes on the 6-mm thick metal plate, while circular hole spacing limitation caused relatively narrow passband (∼20 GHz). On the other hand, the proposed PCB dichroic filter utilizes the inexpensive commercial PCB fabrication process with a flexible adjustment of circular hole spacing.

Development of polymorphic microsatellite loci in Odontobutis obscura using Illumina paired-end sequencing and the test of cross-species amplification.

Odontobutis obscura is a bottom-dwelling freshwater fish native to East Asia. Its range encompasses southwest China, western Japan, and Geoje Island in South Korea. Despite its widespread range in China and Japan, only a small and spatially isolated population is found in South Korea.

Interplay between Leucine-Rich Repeat Kinase 2 (LRRK2) and p62/SQSTM-1 in Selective Autophagy.

The deposit of polyubiquitinated aggregates has been implicated in the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease (PD), and growing evidence indicates that selective autophagy plays a critical role in the clearance of ubiquitin-positive protein aggregates by autophagosomes. The selective autophagic receptor p62/SQSTM-1, which associates directly with both ubiquitin and LC3, transports ubiquitin conjugates to autophagosomes for degradation. Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2), a PD-associated protein kinase, is tightly controlled by autophagy-lysosome degradation as well as by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway.

Effects of muscle strength asymmetry between left and right on isokinetic strength of the knee and ankle joints depending on athletic performance level.

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to collect basic data on the effect of asymmetry on the muscle strength of the left and right knee and ankle joints of soccer players at varying athletic performance levels, to guide the development of improved exercise programs. [Subjects and Methods] Forty-nine soccer players at three athletic performance levels participated: 15 professional, 16 amateur, and 18 college. Knee extensor and flexor strength were measured at 60°/sec and 180°/sec, and ankle plantar flexor and dorsiflexor strength were measured at 30°/sec and at 120°/sec.

Complete mitochondrial genome of endangered and its implications for the reconstruction of phylogenetic relationship among Acheilognathinae species.

is a native bitterling to the Korean Peninsula and found in very limited areas with small census size. Here, its complete mitochondrial genome was analyzed to provide novel data for the reconstruction of phylogenetic relationship among Acheilognathinae species. The genome was a 16,574 bp long consisting of 1 putative control region, 2 rRNA genes, 22 tRNA and 13 protein-coding genes.