Earticle

In Oriental medicine, the status of tongue is the important indicator to diagnose one's health, because it represents physiological and clinicopathological changes of inner parts of the body. The method of tongue diagnosis is not only convenient but also non-invasive, therefore, tongue diagnosis is one of the most widely used in Oriental medicine. But tongue diagnosis is affected by examination circumstances a lot. It depends on a light source, degrees of an angle, doctor's condition and so on. So it is not easy to make an objective and standardized tongue diagnosis. As part of way to solve this problem, in this study, we tried to design a discriminant function for white and yellow coating with multi-dimensional color vectors. There were 62 subjects involved in this study, among them 48 subjects diagnosed as white-coated tongue and 14 subjects diagnosed as yellow-coated tongue by oriental doctors. And their tongue images were acquired by a well-made Digital Tongue Diagnosis System. From those acquired tongue images, each coating section were extracted by oriental doctors, and then mean values of multi -dimensional color vectors in each coating section were calculated. By statistical analysis, two significant vectors, R in RGB space and H in HSV space, were found that they were able to describe the difference between white coating section and yellow coating section very well. Using these two values, we designed the discriminant function for coating classification and examined how good it works. As a result, the overall accuracy of coating classification was 98.4%. We can expect that the discriminant function for other coatings can be obtained in a similar way. Furthermore, if an automated segmentation algorithm of tongue coating is combined with these discriminant functions, an automated tongue coating diagnosis can be accomplished.

한의학에서 혀는 인체 내 생리, 병리적 변화를 반영하여 진단에 있어 중요한 지표자료로 사용하고 있다. 하지만 설진은 진단환경에 의한 영향을 많이 받게 되어 객관적이고 정량화된 결과를 얻기 힘들며, 그로 인해 한의사의 진단에 대한 신뢰성도 낮아 널리 활용되지 못하고 있다. 이를 해결하기 위해 본 연구에서는 제한된 측정환경을 제공하는 디지털 설진 시스템을 통해 한의사로부터 황태라 진단받은 48명과 백태라 진단받은 14명의 설 영상을 획득하고, 설태의 컬러벡터값을 구하여 백태와 황태를 구분하는데 유의한 변수를 도출하였으며, 이를 이용하여 한의사의 설태 진단과 일치율이 높은 판별함수를 도출하였다. 이와같은 연구방법은 백태, 황태 뿐 아니라 회태나 흑태 또는 후태나 박태를 구분하는 데에도 유용하게 쓰일 수 있을 것이며 앞으로 한의사의 설진과정을 객관화, 과학화하는 과정에 기여할 수 있을 것이다.

Objectives : The elicit of DeQi, a composite of sensation including numbness and fullness that develops at the site of acupuncture stimulation, is considered to be clinically essential to establish treatment efficacy. However, there was little studies investigating the relationship between the subjective feeling of acupuncture sensation and acupuncture analgesia, The current study was therefore performed to determine the correlation between the acupuncture sensation scale (ASS) and the degree of acupuncture analgesia. Methods : Ninety-two female subjects were stimulated at LI4 acupoint on non-dominant hand with real (RA) or sham acupuncture (SA). Finger withdrawal latency (FWL) of each group was also measured to evaluate analgesic effect of acupuncture on the noxious heat stimuli on the dominant hand. All subjects were asked to complete seven point-Likert scale ASS developed by Vincent et al. Results : The increase rate of FWL of the RA group was significantly higher than that of the SA group(36.03 ${\pm}$ 4.45% vs 24.50 ${\pm}$ 3.73%). RA stimulation produced significantly higher rating of all the ASS except for dull sensation, compared to SA stimulation. Significant correlations between analgesic effect of RA, but not of SA, and the degree of the ASS, including burning sensation(r=0.349), Intense sensation(r=0.299), pulsating sensation (r=0.335), and stinging sensation (r=0.306) were found. Conclusions : The results of our study indicate that the DeQi sensation are associated with acupuncture analgesia. Our findings suggest that the evocation of DeQi might be useful clinical indicator of acupuncture treatment.

The purpose of this study was to investigate interaction patterns and characteristics of small group discussions during elementary school science classes. Four heterogeneous groups were formed according to preferences and non-preferences, consisting of male and female students. Verbal interactions during small group discussions were audio and videotaped, transcribed and analyzed. The interaction frequency of each group was compared in terms of their cognitive and affective aspects. The results in terms of the cognitive aspect showed that there were no significant differences in the frequency of interaction between preference and non-preference groups' verbal behaviors. However, the quality of interaction was superior and the number of high level types of interaction were more frequent in the preference group. From the affective perspective, both groups of students exhibited a positive attitude in the preference group and a negative attitude in the non-preference group. The differences of interaction between the male and female student's groups were that in the case of the female group, the frequency and the quality of interaction was higher. Moreover, in contrast to male students, female students revealed satisfaction and favorable attitudes in their non-preference group because they felt more a acceptable atmosphere and attitude in that group. These results suggest that the interactions of the preference group are more interactive and elaborate in nature than those of the non-preference group.

Objectives : Epilepsy is one of the most common serious brain disorders that affect people of all ages, and it is characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures. We examined whether acupuncture can reduce both the incidence of seizures and hippocampal cell death in dentate gyrus (DG) using a mouse model of kainic acid (KA)-induced epilepsy. Methods : ICR mice ($20{\sim}25$ g) were given acupuncture once a day at acupoint HT8 (sobu) bilaterally during 2 days before KA injection. After an intracerebroventricular injection of 0.1${\mu}g$ of KA, acupuncture treatment was subsequently administered once more (total 3 times), and the degree of seizure was observed for 20 min. Three hours after injection, we confirmed the neural cell death using cresyl violet staining and silver impregnation staining, and determined the expressions of c-Fos and glutamate decarboxylase (GAD)-67 using immunohistochemistry techniques in the DG. Results : KA induced epileptic seizure, neural cell death, increased c-Fos expression and decreased GAD-67 expression in the DG. Acupuncture treatment at HT8 reduced the severity of the epileptic seizure and inhibited neural cell death from KA. In addition, acupuncture normalized the expressions of c-Fos and GAD-67 in the same areas. Conclusions : These results demonstrated that acupuncture treatment at HT8 may reduce the KA-induced epileptic seizure and neural cell death in the DG possibly by normalizing c-Fos expressions and the gamma-aminobutyric acid neurons.

Qi intention. Temperature variations on the outer skin above measured at acupuncture points, PC8, LI4, and ST7. Results : The change of temperature in PC8 of the Qigong trainees were significantly higher than that of non-trainees ($0.97{\pm}0.20$ vs. $0.45{\pm}0.10$ respectively, p< 0.05 ). The change of temperature of the other acupoints areas was not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusions : Qi intention resulted in temperature change at the outer skin on the specific acupoints.

The inhibitory effect of the food processing agent on growth of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella Enteritidis, and Listeria monocytogenes was performed with organic acid, and combination of citric acid, acetic acid, propionic acid and vanillic acid. The minimun inhibitory concentration(MIC) of propionic acid was 5,000 ppm in E. coli O157:H7, 2,500 ppm in Salmonella Enteritidis and Listeria monocytogenes. MIC of citric acid was 10,000 ppm in E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella Enteritidis, 2,500 ppm in Listeria monocytogenes. MIC of acetic acid was 2,500ppm, while in vanillic acid was 5,000 ppm in Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella Enteritidis, and Listeria monocytogenes. MIC of combined organc acid in E. coli O157:H7 were 2,500ppm in PC, 1,250 ppm in PA, PV, CA, CV and AV. MIC of combined organc acid in Salmonella Enteritidis were 2,500 ppm in PC, PA, PV, CA, and CV, 1,250 ppm in AV. MIC of combined organc acid in Listeria monocytogenes were 1,250 ppm in all treatment group. MIC of combined treatment of three organc acid in E. coli O157:H7, S. Enteritidis and L. monocytogenes were 1,250 ppm in PCA, PCV, PAV and CAV. The inhibitory effect of organc acid in E. coli O157:H7, S. Enteritidis and L. monocytogenes could be confirmed from the result of this experiment. Therefore, it was expected that the food process would increase or maintain by using organic acid.

The object of this study is to evaluate confounding effect of sleeping behavior on heart rate variability (HRV) in healthy volunteers during a randomized clinical trial. From 6 healthy volunteer, we acquired circadian electrocardiography(ECG) with a Holter monitoring device(DigiTrak Plus, Philips). The compatible analytical program, Zymed, was used for calculation of RR intervals of 24h ECG signal. Then, we generated HRV signals and calculated 9 HRV parameters in time domain and frequency domain for every 30 minute with Matlab 6.x software. We also encoded participants' activities as follows; stable condition(1), sleeping behavior(2), eating behavior(3), and undefined condition(4). Using SPSS 12.0, we tested if there was any difference between HRV parameters of day-time and night-time and between those of a subject in stable condition and in sleeping behavior. As a result, one of the most important parameter-LF/HF ratio, which indicates the autonomic balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, as same the other parameters, showed large inter-individual variations in circadian profiles. And, the mean LF/HF ratio of each participant was different between in stable condition and in sleeping behavior (p<.05). Consequently, the effect of sleeping behavior must be considered when one or more of HRV parameters, especially LF/HF ratio, are used as assessment index in clinical studies.

Introduction: In Oriental medicine, the status of tongue is the important indicator to diagnose one's health, because it represents physiological and clinicopathological changes of inner parts of the body. The method of tongue diagnosis is not only convenient but also non-invasive, so tongue diagnosis is most widely used in Oriental medicine. By the way, since tongue diagnosis is affected by examination circumstances a lot, its performance depends on a light source, degrees of an angle, a medical doctor's condition etc. Therefore, it is not easy to make an objective and standardized tongue diagnosis. In order to solve this problem, in this study, we tried to design a discriminant function for thick and thin coating with color vectors of preprocessed image. Method: 52 subjects, who were diagnosed as white-coated tongue, were involved. Among them, 45 subjects diagnosed as thin coating and 7 subjects diagnosed as thick coating by oriental medical doctors, and then their tongue images were obtained from a digital tongue diagnosis system. Using those acquired tongue images, we implemented two steps: Preprocessing and image analyzing. The preprocessing part of this method includes histogram equalization and histogram stretching at each color component, especially, intensity and saturation. It makes the difference between tongue substance and tongue coating was more visible, so that we can separate tongue coating easily. Next part, we analyzed the characteristic of color values and found the threshold to divide tongue area into coating area. Then, from tongue coating image, it is possible to extract the variables that were important to classify thick and thin coating. Result : By statistical analysis, two significant vectors, associated with G, were found, which were able to describe the difference between thick and thin coating very well. Using these two variables, we designed the discriminant function for coating classification and examined its performance. As a result, the overall accuracy of thick and thin coating classification was 92.3%. Discussion : From the result, we can expect that the discriminant function is applicable to other coatings in a similar way. Also, it can be used to make an objective and standardized diagnosis.

Objectives : Placebo phenomena have been considered as a confounding factor of clinical trial. Expectancy and belief of acupuncture have not been evaluated quantitatively. The present study was performed to analyze the emotional and cognitive factor .of acupuncture and investigate whether the expectancy of acupuncture treatment is associated with the cognition of acupuncture. Methods : The expectancy and the perception of bodily sensation (PBS) of 22 participants were assessed using self-reported questionnaire. The subjects used the self assessment manikin (SAM) to rate each of the standard affective image of the international affective picture system (lAPS) and other acupuncture-related image. Based on the degree of expectancy, the high expectant (HE) and the low expectant (LE) group were classified. The thermal and pressure pain threshold was objectively evaluated using radiant-heat device and algometer. The degree of expected pain of acupuncture and the actual pain of painful stimulation was subjectively evaluated using facial pain scales (FPS). Results : Using SAlVI analysis, we identified the negative correlation between hedonic valence and arousal dimension on acupuncture-related visual cue. The degree of the PBS and general pain threshold did not show any significant difference between the HE and the LE group. The HE group rated the acupuncture images as more pleasant, more arousing, than the LE group. In addition, we also found that the higher expectancy marked the lower FPS of the expected pain of acupuncture, but not of the actual pain of painful stimulation. Conclusions : Our preliminary study identified the psychological dimensions of acupuncture-related visual cue. These findings indicate that the expectancy of acupuncture could affect the cognition of acupuncture.

목 적 : 흡연에 따른 건강적 피해가 많이 알려져 있음에도 불구하고 특히 여성 및 청소년 계층의 흡연이 증가하고 있으며 폐암 사망자수는 급격히 늘어나고 있는 상황이다. 완전한 금연이 실패하는 주요 이유는 담배의 중독성에서 비롯되며 금단현상을 극복하지 못해 일어나는 것으로 알려져 있다. 흡연의 중독성은 담배 주요성분 중의 하나인 니코틴(nicotine)에 의해 유발되며 따라서 모든 금연 요법 및 금연 치료보조제 들은 이 니코틴 작용을 어떻게 효과적으로 억제 또는 대체하느냐에 초점을 맞추고 있다. 최근 금연치료 요법으로 한방 침이 주목 받고 있으며 본 논문을 통해 한방 침의 금연효과에 대한 신경학적 기전을 고찰하고자 한다. 방 법 : 금연을 돕는 전형적인 보조 치료제 및 치료법이 몇 종류 개발되어 사용 중에 있으며 대표적으로 니코틴 대체 요법(nicotine replacement therapy, NRT)이나 항우울제로 사용되는 bupropion 등을 들 수 있다. 이 치료 방법들은 뇌의 도파민계 신경전달 체계에 영향을 미쳐 금연 효과를 발휘하게 되는데 실질적인 금연성공확률은 그리 높지 않은 것으로 알려져 있다 따라서 침의 자극에 대한 도파민계 신경전달 조절효과를 중심으로 고찰함으로써 침의 금연효과에 대한 의과학적 기전을 설명하고자 하였다. 결 과 : 침자극은 우수한 금연효과를 가져올 수 있는 치료법으로 기존의 금연 치료요법 및 치료제 들을 보완할 수 있는 보다 확실한 치료요법 중의 하나이며 특히 금연 후에 오는 금단현상을 효과적으로 완화시키는 작용을 한다. 그리고 이 같은 효과는 부분적으로 도파민계를 비롯한 신경전달계를 조절함으로써 가능한 것으로 판단된다. 결 론 : 본 논문을 통해 니코틴에 의한 금단현상의 신경학적 기전과 금연과 관련된 신경전달체계에 대한 침자극의 효능에 대해 고찰하였으며 기존의 금연보조치료법을 대체할 수 있는 우수한 의학적 치료법으로써의 침치료법을 제시하였다.

치열한 유통업체의 경쟁에서 오프라인매장을 가진 업체에서는 제한된 시공간에서 보다 많은 상품을 팔 수 있는 시스템이 필요하다. 본 연구에서는 오프라인매장에서 수익률이 낮은 상품을 제거하고 그 상품을 대체해서 판매할 상품을 선정하는 시스템을 설계하고자 한다. 현재 신제품이 활발하게 출시되고 있고, 전자매장에서 꾸준한 판매량을 보이고 있는 PMP(Portable Multiplayer Player)를 신상품선정시스템에 적용하여 판매상품과 개발상품을 선정하는 과정을 보여준다.

얼굴모델링과 애니메이션에 대한 기술은 컴퓨터 그래픽스 분야에서 오랫 동안 연구되어 오고 있는 분야 중 하나이다. 얼굴모델링 기술은 가상현실, MPEG-4 등의 연구목적과 영화, 광고, 게임 등의 산업 분야에서 많이 활용되고 있다. 따라서 좀 더 사실적인 인터페이스의 구현을 위하여 컴퓨터 의인화를 통해 인간과 상호작용 할 수 있는 3D 얼굴모델 개발은 필수적이다. 본 연구에서는 임의의 정면 얼굴 이미지를 이용하여 간편한 조작으로 3D 얼굴모델을 생성하는 시스템을 개발하였다. 이 시스템은 한국인 표준 얼굴모델을 이용하여 메쉬상의 조정점을 얼굴 부위와 윤곽에 맞게 정합한 다음 유동적이고 탄력적으로 조정하여 3D 얼굴모델을 생성하며, 그 결과인 3D 얼굴모델을 이동, 확대, 축소, 회전시켜 가며 실시간으로 확인 및 수정할 수 있다. 개발한 시스템의 유용성을 검증하기 위해 $630{\times}630$의 크기를 가지는 30개의 임의의 정면 얼굴이미지를 가지고 실험했다.

The facial modeling and animation technology had been studied in computer graphics field. The facial modeling technology is utilized much in virtual reality research purpose of MPEG-4 and so on and movie, advertisement, industry field of game and so on. Therefore, the development of 3D facial model that can do interaction with human is essential to little more realistic interface. We developed realistic and convenient 3D facial modeling system that using a optional facial image only. This system allows easily fitting to optional facial image by using the Korean standard facial model (generic model). So it generates intuitively 3D facial model as controling control points elastically after fitting control points on the generic model wire to the optional facial image. We can confirm and modify the 3D facial model by movement, magnify, reduce and turning. We experimented with 30 facial images of $630{\times}630$ sizes to verify usefulness of system that developed.

Objectives : Acupuncture restores the flow of vital energy in the body by stimulating the organ-specific meridians and enhances cardiac vagal activity and suppresses sympathetic activity. The purpose of this review is to summarize and evaluate the acupuncture studies on autonomic nervous system (ANS). Methods : We conducted a PubMed search to obtain a fair sample of acupuncture studies related ANS published in English in 2007. Each article was reviewed for study objectives and outcomes, as well as acupuncture points, experimental and control interventions. Results : We reviewed a total of 15 studies published from 1997 to 2007. In normal states, acupuncture enhanced either vagal or sympathetic tone depending on the stimulated acupuncture point sites. On the other hand, most of studies demonstrated that acupuncture restored the autonomic dysfunctions in various kinds of stressful states. Conclusions : We reviewed studies that contributed to an understanding of the autonomic mechanisms of acupuncture with the hope that this review will be of benefit to the future studies. Although the relationship between acupuncture and ANS response is still uncertain, acupuncture would be a noteworthy modality for modulating autonomic dysfunction.

Objectives : The repeatability and reproducibility of MIR-2, a newly developed impedance measurement device (four electrode method) on skin are of the meridian system, is evaluated and a method to improve the reliability is discussed. Methods : Multiple gage R&R studies were conducted for the impedance measurements over bilateral KI3 acupoint in ten participants by three assessors using MIR-2 device. Gage R&R studies were repeated after controlling the acupoint locating method or one value correction by replacing one assessor's outlying value with an average of the other assessors' values to explore any feasibility of improvement of measurement reliability. Results : Controlling acupoint locating method and replacing one value with an average of other assessors' value led to improved variation metrics in a gage R&R study. Conclusions : Measurement reliability can be improved by controlling measurement procedures or by using repeated measurement method, which will facilitate development of clinically applicable measurement device with reliability.

The study aims to measure and analyze the thickness and depth of blood vessel on the pulse diagnosis locations and the blood velocity through the use of ultrasonic waves (LOGIQ5PRO, GE Medical, U.S.) in order to understand the structural difference of pulse diagnosis locations. The subjects included 44 healthy men and women(22.28${\pm}$2.62 age) considered normal in terms of Body Mass Index(BMI). The thickness and depth of the blood vessel and the blood velocity were measured three times on CHON, KWAN and CHUCK to obtain the average value. Results showed there is a statistically significant difference among the variables measured on CHON, KWAN and CHUCK. A difference according to gender was also observed. This explains why an oriental medical doctor can tell the difference in pulses depending on the location of CHON, KWAN and CHUCK. In addition, the difference in pressure between CHON and KWAN was higher than that in pressure between KWAN and CHUCK. The findings explain why oriental medical doctors take pulses by dividing CHON, KWAN and CHUCK in the short length of the three fingers. It can be used to develop a pulse diagnosis device enabling accurate measurement according to the characteristics of blood vessel structure based on where the pulse is taken. Furthermore, the results can be used as basic data for the development of a pulse diagnosis simulator.

Objectives : Accurate and reproducible location of an acupuncture point (AP) have been considered an essential component of meaningful acupuncture research as well as clinical practice. Several kinds of devices have been developed and widely used for the convenience of locating APs. However, the accuracy and convenience of these devices have not been systematically evaluated. The present study was performed to find out the most suitable tools for the location accuracy and location easiness of APs among the devices respectively. Methods : Twenty subjects attempted to locate APs, including PC5 and SP6 in the arm and leg, using four different AP positioning methods: one Conventional Ruler method and three alternative methods including Cunometer, Transparent AP meter, and Elastic Ruler method. The position marked on each AP was plotted onto a thin, flexible, and transparent plastic film, and the dispersion rate of the positions was determined and recorded. The elapsed time for locating each AP was measured. After that each subject was answered to a short questionnaire regarding the degree of convenience and confidence of use of each method for AP location. Results : All of three alternative methods took less time than Conventional Ruler method did. Among these alternative methods, the accuracy of Elastic Ruler method was markedly higher than others. The degree of convenience of the Cunometer and the confidence of Elastic Ruler method were the highest among these alternative methods. Conclusions : The present study indicates that the Elastic Ruler method was the most compatible for the conventional Ruler methods. However, there are many factors need to be reconsidered. Improved devices for locating AP are imperatively needed for clinical practice.