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Biomedical subjects

Yong-Jin Cho

Publications and source records attributed to Yong-Jin Cho.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Application of a taste evaluation system to the monitoring of Kimchi fermentation.

As an objective method, taste evaluation with an instrument is able to supplement the subjective sensory evaluation and to be applied to the optimization of food processing. Kimchi, a Korean traditional pickle fermented with lactic acid bacteria, is expanding its consumption worldwide. The fermentation control of it has been routinely done by measuring titratable acidity and pH. In this study, an eight-channel taste evaluation system was prepared, followed by an application to the monitoring of Kimchi fermentation. Eight polymer membranes which individually responded to cationic or anionic substances were prepared by mixing electroactive materials such as tri-n-octylmethylammonium chloride, bis(2-ethylhexyl)sebacate as the plasticizer and polyvinyl chloride in the ratio of 1:66:33. Each membrane prepared was separately installed onto the sensitive area of an ion-selective electrode to produce the respective taste sensor. The eight-channel sensor array and a double junction reference electrode were connected to a 16-channel high input impedance amplifier. The amplified sensor signals were stored to a personal computer via a multi-channel A/D converter. Two sensor groups composed of the cation-selective and anion-selective polymer membrane electrodes showed characteristic concentration-dependency to various artificial taste substances. As a whole, the response potentials of the sensor array increased during the fermentation period at 4, 10 and 25 degrees C. Even the response potentials of the anion-selective taste sensors slightly increased possibly due to the protonation of anions by liberated H+ ions, thereby leading to a decrease in the anion concentration. When the signal data were interpreted by principal component analysis (PCA), the first PC at 4 degrees C explained most of the total data variance. A close correlation was found between the values of titratable acidity and the first PC, which indicated a possible applicability of the multi-channel taste sensor of this study to the process monitoring of various pickle.

Biomimetics↗

Cilostazol prevents the progression of the symptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis: the multicenter double-blind placebo-controlled trial of cilostazol in symptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Cilostazol, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, has been reported to reduce restenosis rate after coronary angioplasty and stenting. This study was performed to investigate the effect of cilostazol on the progression of intracranial arterial stenosis (IAS). METHODS: We randomized 135 patients with acute symptomatic stenosis in the M1 segment of middle cerebral artery or the basilar artery to either cilostazol 200 mg per day or placebo for 6 months. Aspirin 100 mg per day was also given to all patients. Patients with potential embolic sources in the heart or extracranial arteries were excluded. IAS was assessed by magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA) and transcranial Doppler (TCD) at the time of recruitment and 6 months later. The primary outcome was the progression of symptomatic IAS on MRA and secondary outcomes were clinical events and progression on TCD. RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients were prematurely terminated. Dropout rates and reasons for dropouts were similar between the cilostazol and placebo groups. There was no stroke recurrence in either cilostazol or placebo group, but there was 1 death and 2 coronary events in each group. In cilostazol group, 3 (6.7%) of 45 symptomatic IAS progressed and 11 (24.4%) regressed. In placebo group, 15 (28.8%) of symptomatic IAS progressed and 8 (15.4%) regressed. Progression of symptomatic IAS in cilostazol group was significantly lower than that in placebo group (P=0.008) CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that symptomatic IAS is a dynamic lesion and cilostazol may prevent its progression.

Aged↗

Diffusion changes suggesting predominant vasogenic oedema during partial status epilepticus.

Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) has demonstrated a focal area of cytotoxic oedema during partial status epilepticus (PSE). However, vasogenic oedema related to the breakdown of the blood-brain-barrier (BBB) and ictal hyperperfusion could be the predominant DWI findings in the epileptogenic area during PSE. We report a case of PSE with ictal aphasia, right hemiparesis, and repetitive focal motor seizure of the right side. T2-weighted image (T2WI) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps obtained during PSE showed an increased signal in the left temporo-parietal area, indicative of vasogenic oedema. EEG documented the ictal activities and single photon emission tomography (SPECT) showed asymmetrically increased perfusion in the corresponding area. Follow-up T2WI, DWI, and ADC maps obtained 3 months later showed the disappearance of the previous abnormalities. However, T2WI showed cortical atrophy and newly developed white matter changes in the corresponding area. This case shows that DWI findings may be variable during PSE, dependent on the predominance of cytotoxic and vasogenic oedema.

Aged↗

Radiological analysis on a mummy from a medieval tomb in Korea.

Although naturally mummified corpses have frequently been found in medieval tombs of Korea, there have been no scientific reports on the physical status of the mummies. In this study, we first tried to investigate the mummy using radiological methods. On physical examination, there were no findings suggestive of the cause of the death. From the radiological studies, we found that some internal organs were well preserved, while the bones showed similar appearances to those of living cases. From the stage of development of the teeth and carpal bones, the age of the mummy was estimated to be 4.5 to 6.6 years old. Although the exact cause of the mummification could not be clearly elucidated, it may be due to the lime-soil mixture outside the outer coffin, completely sealing the inner coffin from the outer spaces. In this study, as the mummy in the medieval tomb has proved to be well preserved over the last 400 years, similar cases could give invaluable clues to the physical status of medieval Koreans.

Age Determination by Skeleton↗