• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.321-329
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• 2006

Background : To evaluate the clinical characteristics of lung cancer patients in Korea, where there is a higher number of smokers than in Western countries. Methods : A retrospective study was performed on 1655 lung cancer patients, who were diagnosed at a university hospital between September 1996 and August 2005. Age, gender, cell types and clinical stage were analysed. Of 941 patients, who responded to a questionnaire at the time of diagnosis, the smoking habits, occupational history, family history of lung cancer in the first-degree relatives, coexisting diseases (diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease), body weight loss, ECOG performance status and presenting symptoms, were examined prospectively. In addition, coexisting diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and active pulmonary tuberculosis were evaluated. Results : Of the 1655 patients, the male to females ratio was 3.6. Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common cancer whereas adenocarcinoma was more common in lifetime nonsmokers or women. 19.9% of the patients were non smokers and 80.1% ever smokers. Since 2000, there was an increase in the incidence of adenocarcinoma with a corresponding decrease in the incidence of squamous cell carcinoma. 6.2% of patients were asymptomatic. A coincident diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, active pulmonary tuberculosis, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis was made in: 44.1%, 22.2%, 10.7%, 3.9%, and 1.6% of patients, respectively. A positive family history of lung cancer in the first-degree relatives was identified in 4.4% of patients. An occupational history relevant to lung cancer was identified in 12.2% of patients. Conclusion : There is a high proportion of cigarette smokers in Korean lung cancer patients. The most common cell type was squamous cell carcinoma. However, a more detailed, prospective study of the clinical characteristics will be needed to better characterize lung cancer in Korea.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.95-99
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• 2009

Prenatal diagnosis of rare autosome mosaicism involvingchromosomes other than chromosome 13, 18, 21 or the sex chromosome is encountered prognostic dilemma during genetic counseling. We report four cases of level III uncommon mosaicism of trisomy 5, 16 and 20,diagnosed prenatally. In case 1 with mosaic trisomy 20, there was a higher mosaic ratio of trisomy 20 in the repeat amniocentesis (62.1%) than in the first (36.6%) with normal fetal ultrasound finding except for a relatively small aorta on a 3-vessel view of the fetal heart. Case 2 showed a low rate of mosaic trisomy 20 (5.25%) in cultured amniocytes but normal karyotype in the repeat amniocentesis, who delivered a normal healthy baby. Case 3 showed a 13.6% of trisomy 16 mosaicism in the 30 cells of cultured amniocytes. Sixty cells from a fetal blood sample at termination showed non-mosaic 46,XX normal karyotype, while skin fibroblasts had 22.5% trisomy 16 in 40 metaphases. The autopsy showed ventricular septal defect (VSD). Case 4 with low grade mosaicism (10.5%) of trisomy 5 resulted in elective termination, though the ultrasoumd showed growsly normal fetus. Although level III mosaicism is regarded as true mosaicism, it is difficult to predict the outcome of the fetus with rare mosaic autosome trisomy. Therefore mosaic autosome trisomy of fetus should be carefully interpreted with more various approaches including repeat sampling and targeted fetal ultrasound.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.912-918
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• 1999

The chemical compositions of korean and Chinese safflower (Carthamus tinctorious L.) seed were compared in this study. The proximate compositions were 0.73 and 0.05% of moisture, 19.74 and 18.82% of crude protein, 15.47 and 14.61% of crude fat, 3.78 and 3.87% of crude ash, 14.53 and 10.46% of crude fiber, 46.49 and 52.23% of N-free extracts in the non-roasted safflower seed (NRS) and roasted safflower seed (RS), respectively. Crude fat contents in non-roasted chinese safflower seed (NRCS) and roasted chinese safflower seed (RCS) were 33.30 and 31.22%, which were higher than those of NRS and RS. Unsaturated fatty acid in NRS was 83.2% and 90.9% in NRCS. Linoleic acid was the most predominant fatty acid in NRS (74.0%) and NRCS (74.2%). Sucrose (216.5 mg/100 g) and raffinose (117.5 mg/100 g) were major free sugars in NRS, but sucrose, glucose, fructose and raffinose were in NRCS. Glutamic acid, aspatic acid and arginine were major in total amino acids. 24 kinds of free amino acid were detected in NRS and 11 kinds in RS. Total essential amino acid in NRS ($28.0\;{\mu}g/100\;g$) was higher than that in NRCS ($9.2\;{\mu}g/100\;g$). The organic acids in safflower seed were composed of formic acid, succinic acid, malic acid, oxalic acid and fumaric acid. The content of vitamin E $({\alpha}-tocopherol)$ in NRS and NRCS were 10.5 mg/100 g, 6.2 mg/100 g, NRCS and RCS were 12.8 mg/100 g, 9.4 mg/100 g, respectively. Total carotenoid content in NRCS was $452.0\;{\mu}g/100\;g$ and it was higher than in NRS. The major minerals of safflower seed were K, P, Ca, Mg.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.35-46
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• 2015

Recently, much attention has been paid to the development of a value-added food category containing probiotics so as to improve human health and prevent diseases. Among various foods, the health benefits of milk and dairy products are known to humanity, and could be attributed to the bioactive components present in milk. In fermented milk products, the health benefits could be due to suitable modulation activities produced by the action of probiotic bacteria. Besides the modification of various milk components, probiotics might also act directly as preventive and therapeutic agents against some severe diseases. Probiotics promote health via their positive effects on the immune response, stimulation of natural immunity, and modulation of the production of antimicrobial peptides, cytokines, and so on. Whey proteins, a byproduct of cheese production could also have anticarcinogenic, immunostimulatory, antimicrobial, and health-promoting activities such as improving insulin sensitivity and reducing fat deposition. Therefore, milk and dairy products containing probiotics could provide various opportunities in the field of functional foods. Additionally, these functional foods may be important in the human diet and may help improve human health and prevent diseases.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.104 no.3
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• pp.337-351
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• 2015

The articles, published in the Journal of Korean Forest Society from Volume 1 (1962) to Volume 102 (2013), were investigated for the research trend analysis about forest plants for special purposes, i.e., edible plants, medicinal plants, feed resources, landscape plants, fiber plants, industrial usage, bee plants, bioenergy/phytoremediation uses, dye materials, and rare/endangered/endemic plants. These research articles were classified again based on the contents of research into following categories - habitat environment, ecology, physiology, propagation, silviculture (including planting and tending), genetics and breeding, identification, pest and disease control, animal-related research, components analysis and extracts, vegetation survey, biotechnology, management, recreation and forest healing, and research review. Among the total 2,433 articles published, 611 (25.1%) were related to plants for special usage or purposes. The highest frequency (14.9%) in publications was found in the field of silviculture followed by physiology, propagation, identification, and genetics and breeding, respectively. On the bases of usage, edible plants showed higher frequency (26.5%) than others, followed by industrial purpose, bioenergy/phytoremediation usage, landscape plants, medicinal plants, and rare/endangered/endemic plants. Populus plant species was the most popular in research, showing 62 articles; and Castanea crenata 36; Pinus koraiensis 35; Robinia pseudoacacia 20; Ginko biloba 17, etc. Based on the survey and analysis, the following points are suggested: 1) improved evaluation of forest plants as non-wood resources, 2) expanding research topics on the basis of production, management, and utilization of non-wood forest resources, 3) management of database of forest plant information and encouragement needed to strengthen cooperative researches satisfying the needs of other industrial and scientific areas, and 4) encouraging to promote traditional knowledge based research on forest plants.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.416-427
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• 2011

This study investigated the association among parental socioeconomic level, overweight, and eating habits with diet quality in Korean sixth grade school children. A 3-day dietary survey was conducted, and a questionnaire and anthropometric data were collected from the Korean child obesity cohort (320 boys and 345 girls). The children were classified into two groups (low or high level) based on monthly household income and paternal and maternal education status. Lower maternal education status was associated with a higher risk for overweight in girls (odd ratio, 1.91; 95% confidence interval 1.07-3.44), whereas belonging to a higher socioeconomic group in terms of parental income or parental education level resulted in the consumption of significantly more fruit. Boys did not show significant differences in the intake of most nutrients or diet quality regardless of socioeconomic status. However, girls in the lower socioeconomic group had a lower food habit score (higher frequency of breakfast skipping and ramen noodle consumption), diet quality, and intake of nutrients (carbohydrate, vitamin C, potassium, and fiber) than those in the higher socioeconomic group. Therefore future nutrition policies and interventions should support parents and children with lower socioeconomic status to develop health-related behaviors that may prevent childhood overweight.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.247-257
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• 2014

Purpose: It is reported that most senior people consume a high carbohydrate diet, while a high carbohydrate diet could contribute to the risk of chronic disease. The aim of this study is to determine whether a high carbohydrate diet can increase the risk of chronic disease in elderly Koreans. Methods: Using the 2007-2009 Korean National Health Nutrition Examination Survey data, out of a total of 3,917 individuals aged 65 and above, final 1,535 subjects were analyzed, divided by dietary carbohydrate energy ratio into two groups of moderate carbohydrate ratio (MCR, 55-70%) and excessive carbohydrate ratio (ECR, > 70%). All data were processed after the application of weighted value, using a general linear model or logistic regression. Results: Eighty one percent of elderly Koreans consumed diets with carbohydrate energy ratio above 70%. The ECR group included more female subjects, rural residents, lower income, and lower education level. The ECR group showed lower waist circumference, lower diastolic blood pressure, and lower frequency of consumption of meat and egg, milk, and alcohol. The intake of energy and most nutrients, with the exception of fiber, potassium, vitamin A, and carotene, was lower in the ECR group compared to the MCR group. When analyzed by gender, the ECR group showed lower risk of dyslipidemia in male and obesity in female subjects, even though the ECR group showed low intake of some nutrients. No difference in the risk of hypertension, diabetes, and anemia was observed between the two groups in male or female subjects. Conclusion: This result suggested that a high carbohydrate diet would not be a cause to increase the risk of chronic disease in the elderly. Further study is needed in order to determine an appropriate carbohydrate energy ratio for elderly Koreans to reduce the risk of chronic disease.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.332-345
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to evaluate the nutritional status of elementary and middle school students by gender with an emphasis on comparison of nutritional intake between weekday and weekend. Survey construct included one 24-hour diet recall and two diet records, short food frequency questionnaire, and anthropometry. Eating behaviors and nutritional intake were largely different for four groups divided by age and gender: ME, FE, MM, and FM. Frequency of consumption of healthful foods was significantly higher in the ME and FE groups. The highest and lowest scores for frequency of eating with parents were observed in the FE and FM groups, respectively. The amount of consumption of food groups was lower on weekends than on weekdays and this trend was more prominent in elementary schoolers compared with middle schoolers. In terms of food group consumption as well as energy and nutrient intake, the ME group showed the greatest differences between weekday and weekend, followed by FE, MM, and FM, in descending order. A significantly higher amount of potassium, phosphorus, and calcium was consumed on weekdays than on the weekend in the ME and FE groups. The amount of energy and nutrient intake was smallest in the FM group; however, the difference between weekday and weekend was minimal as well. In comparison of the subjects' energy and nutrient intake with their Korean Dietary Reference Intakes values (%KDRI), the MM group showed the most undesirable results for energy, protein, dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin $B_1$, vitamin $B_2$, niacin, vitamin $B_6$, calcium, and zinc. Overall, findings indicated that nutritional intake status may differ between weekday and weekend for elementary and middle schoolers by gender, suggesting that youth may benefit from nutritional education programs that stress the impact of gender and weekend effect on their dietary intake.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.34-42
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• 2014

Purpose : To evaluate the correlation of lesion-to-normal ratio (LNR) of signal intensity from double inversion recovery MR imaging and total choline-containing compound (tCho) resonance from single voxel MR spectroscopy in breast cancers. Materials and Methods: Between August 2008 and December 2009, 28 patients who were diagnosed as breast cancer and had undergone both double inversion recovery (DIR) MR imaging and MR spectroscopy (MRS) were included in this study. The signal intensities of the lesion (L) and ipsilateral normal breast tissue (N) were measured in region of interest of each breast cancer in DIR and contrast enhance MR image (CE-T1WI) to calculate the LNR value for each technique. MRS was performed using single-voxel MR spectroscopy. The height, width and area of tCho resonance were compared with each LNR of DIR and CE-T1WI. We used Pearson's correlation coefficient(r) for correlation analysis and the significance level was p=0.05. Results: There was no statistically significant correlation between LNR of CE-T1WI and height (r=-0.322, p=0.094), width (r=-0.233, p=0.232) and area (r=-0.309, p=0.109) of MRS tCho. There was no statistically significant correlation between LNR of DIR and height (r=0.067, p=0.735), width (r=-0.287, p=0.139) and area (r=0.012, p=0.953) of MRS tCho, either. The Pearson's correlation coefficient was 0.186 between LNRs of CET1WI and DIR (p=0.344). Conclusion: There was no statistically significant correlation between LNR of DIR and relative amount of tCho resonance of MRS.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.127-135
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• 2000

Purpose: Cyclosporine(CsA) is a potent immunosuppressant but the use of CsA is associated with various side effects, especially nephrotoxicity. In tile kidney, salt depletion activates tile renin-angiotensin-aldosteron(RAS) system and accentuates chronic CsA nephropathy. We postulate that angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors(ACEI) can prevent chronic CsA nephropathy, since ACEI may inhibit this cascades. This study was aimed to assess the effect of ACEI on chronic cyclosporin nephropathy in salt depleted rats. Methods: 36 Fischer-344 rats were divided into 6 goups. Group I received normal salt diet(NSD). Group II received a low salt diet(LSD). Group III received CsA with a NSD. Group IV received CsA with a LSD. Group V received NSD+CsA with ACEI. Group VI received LSD+CsA with ACEI. Rats were sacrificed after six weeks and the glomerular filtration rate(GFR), serum sodium, potassium and whole blood cyclosporine levels were measured. Renal tissues me sampled for the observation of histological changes. Results: No differences in blood CsA level & serum sodium were found between groups during the course of this experiment. Serum potassium in group VI was significantly increased compared with group IV and V (P<0.05). In groups treated with CsA only and in those where CsA was combined with ACEI, GFR was found to be significantly more decreased in LSD than NSD, and GFR in group V was significantly decreased in comparison with group III (P<0.05). Renal histologic lesions associated with CsA which consisted of cortical interstitial fibrosis, tubular atrophy and hyalinization of arterioles were more severe in tile LSD group. But, no differences were observed between tile groups treated with CsA and ACEI, and the groups treated with only CsA. Conclusion: Salt depletion associated with the activation of the RAS system accentuated chronic CsA nephrotoxicity, but, ACEI could not reduce the functional and morphological changes of salt depleted kidneys, in which nephropathy can be exacerbated in spite of the blocking of the angiotensin II pathway. further studies are required to elucidate whether Am ameliorated the effect of salt-depleted CsA nephrotoxicity upon the effective renal blood flow.