Textile Relics Conservation and Effective Cleaning Methods - Conservation of the Korean Youth Baseball Tournament Championship Flag

This study analyzes the effectiveness of the cleaning methods applied to the Korean Youth Baseball Tournament championship flag, Korean cultural asset no. 498, which is currently owned by the Korean Sports Council. This championship flag was first given to the winning baseball team during the Chosun National Athletic Meet in July, 1920 and therefore carries importance in Korean sports history. The conservation process began with the following goals: to understand the current condition of the relic, to reduce the soils, to repair and reinforce the deteriorated areas, and to prevent further major damages to the relic

Effects of 7 days of Grape Seed Extract Supplementation on Heart Rate Recovery in Young Prehypertensive Individuals

Evidence suggested heart rate recovery (HRR) is a useful maker to evaluate cardiac sympathetic function. Prehypertension is characterized by overactive sympathetic output and dysfunction of cardiac parasympathetic activity and associated with delayed HRR. Even though dietary supplementation with grape seed extract (GSE) elicits the production of nitric oxide, limited evidence has reported regarding the potential beneficial effects of this extract on HRR. Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare effects of 7 days of GSE supplementation and placebo (PL) on HRR for 5 min after graded exercise. Methods: Subjects were randomly assigned via a double-blind, cross-over design to receive either GSE (600 mg) or PL (600 mg) with a 1 wk washout period. A maximal exercise test was performed using the Bruce protocol. HRR was measured as peak heart rate (HR) minus every minute HR immediately after cession of exercise. The VO2max criteria were as follows: a plateau in VO2 despite an increase in work rate, RER\u3e1.0, and \u3e90% of age-predicted maximal HR. Results: There were no difference in HRR after graded exercise before and after PL treatment (148±7 vs 159±4, 127±6 vs 134±4, 117±5 vs 124±4, 112±6 vs 117±4, and 109±5 vs 112±4, respectively). However, post-GSE treatment increased HRR only at the first and second minute compared to pre-treatment (155±4 vs 150±5, 134±2 vs 127±4, 121±3 vs 115±4, 116±3 vs 112±3, and 103±3 vs 108±3, respectively). Conclusion: Our results suggest that GSE is effective in improving HRR in prehypertensive individuals. The current study may have potential clinical significance that this extract at least partially improves autonomic dysfunction in pathological conditions such as hypertension and heart failure

Effects of Chronic Grape Seed Extract Supplementation on Muscle Metaboreflex in Young Prehypertensive Individuals

Previously, our laboratory demonstrated that acute grape seed extract (GSE) substantially reduced mean arterial pressure (MAP) in response to static exercise (SE) and post exercise muscular ischemia (PEMI) in normotensive young adults. However, limited evidence has reported regarding the potential beneficial effects of this extract on blood pressure (BP) induced by the muscle metaboreflex (MMR) activation in prehypertensive individuals. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare effects of 7 days of GSE supplementation and placebo (PL) on hemodynamic response to SE and PEMI. METHODS: Subjects were randomly assigned via a double-blind, cross-over design to receive either GSE (600 mg) or PL (600 mg) with a 1 wk washout period. The changes from rest in systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP), MAP, heart rate (HR), stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), and total peripheral resistance (TPR) during SE and PEMI. Subjects completed 3 min of SE at 30% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) followed by 2 min of PEMI. The cold pressor test (CPT) was compared before and after either supplementation. RESULTS: MAP was significantly increased during SE in both conditions, but the rise was significantly accentuated following PL treatment compared to GSE supplementation (PL: 22±1 mmHg vs. 23±1 mmHg; GSE: 22±2 mmHg vs. 18±1 mmHg). There was no difference in CO between GSE and PL conditions. TPR was significantly increased in both conditions, but the rise was significantly higher following PL treatment compared to GSE treatment (PL: 2.3±0.5 mmHg/L/min vs 2.2±0.6 mmHg/L/min; GSE: 2.2±0.5 mmHg/L/min vs 1.5±0.6 mmHg/L/min). The similar results persisted during the PEMI. The MAP response to CPT was attenuated after GSE treatment compared to the PL. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that GSE is effective in reducing exaggerated BP response mediated by the MMR activation in prehypertensive individuals

Walking with Blood Flow Restriction Elicits Postexercise Hypotension in Prehypertensive Individuals

It is well documented that prehypertension is associated with increased risk of developing into the future hypertension and cardiovascular events. Exercise is well known as one of the best nonpharmacological treatments for prehypertension to prevent future hypertension development. Blood flow restriction (BFR) training have been known to improve health-related components of physical fitness such as body composition, muscular strength and endurance, and aerobic capacity. However, there is still paucity of research that BFR exercise induces postexercise hypotension. PURPOSE: accordingly, the goal of this study was to assess that BFR exercise is more effective in reducing blood pressure (BP) compared to traditional aerobic exercise. METHODS: 9 healthy prehypertensive individuals were assigned to either 10 min walking (6.2 kph at 0% grade) with or without BFR via a cross-over design. Participants were outfitted with a specialized pressure cuff on their proximal thigh with high pressure applied by the cuff (~ 140 mmHg). The exercise trials were separated by 48-72 h. The systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP), mean arteria pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), and total peripheral resistance (TPR) were assessed before, every 10 min immediately after exercise for 1 h. RESULTS: compared with non-BFR condition, BFR walking significantly reduced SBP and MAP at 10 min (SBP: 122±3 vs. 119±4; MAP: 94±3 vs.91±2). This observation persisted throughout the experiment. These results were mainly due to a reduction in TPR. CONCLUSION: our study suggests that BFR walking could be safe and effective in eliciting postexercise hypotension in prehypertensive individuals

Amniotic fluid exerts a neurotrophic influence on fetal neurodevelopment via the ERK/GSK-3 pathway

Background: The fetus is surrounded by the amniotic fluid (AF) contained by the amniotic sac of the pregnant female. The AF is directly conveyed to the fetus during pregnancy. Although AF has recently been reported as an untapped resource containing various substances, it remains unclear whether the AF could influence fetal neurodevelopment. Results: We used AF that was extracted from embryos at 16 days in pregnant SD rat and exposed the AF to the neural cells derived from the embryos of same rat. We found that the treatment of AF to cortical neurons increased the phosphorylation in ERK1/2 that is necessary for fetal neurodevelopment, which was inhibited by the treatment of MEK inhibitors. Moreover, we found the subsequent inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3), which is an important determinant of cell fate in neural cells. Indeed, AF increased the neural clustering of cortical neurons, which revealed that the clustered cells were proliferating neural progenitor cells. Accordingly, we confirmed the ability of AF to increase the neural progenitor cells through neurosphere formation. Furthermore, we showed that the ERK/GSK-3 pathway was involved in AF-mediated neurosphere enlargement. Conclusions: Although the placenta mainly supplies oxygenated blood, nutrient substances for fetal development, these findings further suggest that circulating-AF into the fetus could affect fetal neurodevelopment via MAP kinases-derived GSK-3 pathway during pregnancy. Moreover, we suggest that AF could be utilized as a valuable resource in the field of regenerative medicine

The relationship between hormone replacement therapy and periodontal disease in postmenopausal women: a cross-sectional study the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2007 to 2012

Background The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and periodontal disease in postmenopausal women using data from the 4th and 5th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Methods The study included data from 5,482 postmenopausal women aged 45–74 years in the 2007–2012 KNHANES. The use of female HRT for at least one month was reclassified as HRT+/HRT-. The Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN) was used to assess periodontal status. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to control selection bias, and factors affecting education, family income, and age of menopause were used as covariates in PSM. A chi-square test was used to confirm the bivariate relationship between the variables. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to adjust for confounders (age, education, family income, body mass index, age of menopause, alcohol, smoking, dental clinic visits in the past one year, use of oral care products and frequency of tooth brushing per day). Results After adjusting for all covariates, HRT was associated with periodontal disease (OR: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.66–0.94). In particular, the relationship between HRT and periodontal disease was more evident in those with menopause under 45 years of age disease (OR: 0.55; 95% CI: 0.35–0.87). Conclusions The results of this study supported that it is important that hormone therapy be actively considered in the policy towards postmenopausal women. Especially, health programs such as hormone replacement therapy, non-smoking, and use of oral care products are needed for women who undergo premature menopause

THE GEOMETRY OF STEAM GENERATOR TUBE AND ITS RELEVANCE TO THE OCCURRENCE OF STRESS CORROSION CRACKING IN OPERATING NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

INTRODUCTION Occurrences of a stress corrosion cracking in the steam generator tubes of operating nuclear power plants are closely related to the residual stress existing in the local region of a geometric change, that is, expansion transition, u-bend, ding, dent, bulge, etc. Therefore, information on the location, type and quantitative size of a geometric anomaly existing in a tube is a prerequisite to the activity of a non destructive inspection for an alert detection of an earlier crack and the prediction of a further crack evolution In order to verify the performance of the D-probe including the accuracy of the profile measurement and a applicability of the probe to the plant inspection, the quantitatively measured profile data are compared with those from the laser profilometry (measurement resolution of 0.013mm) for the steam generator tube samples of geometric anomalies with various types and sizes, and the relationship between the tube geometry and the evolution of ID and OD side stress corrosion cracking at various tube locations of a steam generator is discussed with the results from the inservice inspections of operating nuclear power plants using a D-probe

Superficial Endobronchial Lung Cancer: Radiologic-Pathologic Correlation

Objective: To analyze the plain chest radiographic and CT findings of superficial endobronchial lung cancer and to correlate these with the findings of histopathology. Materials and Methods: This study involved 19 consecutive patients with pathologically proven lung cancer confined to the bronchial wall. Chest radiographs and CT scans were reviewed for the presence of parenchymal abnormalities, endobronchial nodules, bronchial obstruction, and bronchial wall thickening and stenosis. The CT and histopathologic findings were compared. Results: Sixteen of the 19 patients had abnormal chest radiographic findings, while in 15 (79%), CT revealed bronchial abnormalities: an endobronchial nodule in seven, bronchial obstruction in five, and bronchial wall thickening and stenosis in three. Histopathologically, the lesions appeared as endobronchial nodules in 11 patients, irregular thickening of the bronchial wall in six, elevated mucosa in one, and carcinoma in situ in one. Conclusion: CT helps detect superficial endobronchial lung cancer in 79 % of these patients, though there is some disagreement between the CT findings and the pathologic pattern of bronchial lesions. Although nonspecific, findings of bronchial obstruction or bronchial wall thickening and stenosis should not be overlooked, and if clinically necessary, bronchoscopy should be performed. Index terms: Lung, radiograph

Differentiation of Recently Infarcted Myocardium from Chronic Myocardial Scar: The Value of Contrast-Enhanced SSFP-Based Cine MR Imaging

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate whether the signal intensity (SI) of myocardial infarction (MI) on contrast enhanced (CE)-cine MRI is useful for differentiating recently infarcted myocardium from chronic scar. This study included 24 patients with acute MI (36-84 years, mean age: 57) and 19 patients with chronic MI (44-80 years, mean age: 64). The diagnosis of acute MI was based on the presence of typical symptoms, i.e. elevation of the cardiac enzymes and the absence of any remote infarction history. The diagnosis of chronic MI was based on a history of MI or coronary artery disease of more than one month duration and on the absence of any recent MI within the previous six months. Retrospectively, the ECG-gated breath-hold cine imaging was performed in the short axis plane using a segmented, balanced, turbo-field, echo-pulse sequence two minutes after the administration of Gd-DTPA at a dose of 0.2 mmol/kg body weight. Delayed contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE MRI) in the same plane was performed 10 to 15 minutes after contrast administration, and this was served as the gold standard of reference. The SI of the infarcted myocardium on the CE-cine MRI was compared with that of the normal myocardium on the same image. The area of abnormal SI on the CE-cine MRI was compared with the area of hyperenhancement on the DCE MRI. The area of high SI on the CE-cine MRI was detected in 23 of 24 patients with acute MI (10 with homogenous high SI, 13 high SI with subendocardial low SI, and one with iso SI). The area of high SI on the CE-cine MRI was larger than that seen on the DCE MRI (p < 0.05). In contrast, the areas of chronic MI were seen as iso-SI with thin subendocardial low SI on the CE-cine MR in all the chronic MI patients. The presence of high SI on both the CE-cine MRI and the DCE MRI is more sensitive (95.8%) for determining the age of a MI than the presence of myocardial thinning (66.7%). This study showed the different SI patterns between recently infarcted myocardium and chronic scar on the CE-cine MRI. CE-cine MRI is thought to be quite useful for determining the age of myocardial infarction, in addition to its utility for assessing myocardial contractility