• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
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• 제32권2호
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• pp.158-164
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• 2011

Breast cancer is the most frequently appearing cancer in women, these days. To reduce mortality of breast cancer, periodic check-up is strongly recommended. X-ray mammography is one of powerful diagnostic imaging systems to detect 50~100 um micro-calcification which is the early sign of breast cancer. Although x-ray mammography has very high spatial resolution, it is not easy yet to distinguish cancerous tissue from normal tissues in mammograms and new tissue characterizing methods are required. Recently ultrasound elastography technique has been developed, which uses the phenomenon that cancerous tissue is harder than normal tissues. However its spatial resolution is not enough to detect breast cancer. In order to develop a new elastography system with high resolution we are developing x-ray elasticity imaging technique. It uses the small differences of tissue positions with and without external breast compression and requires an algorithm to detect tissue displacement. In this paper, computer simulation is done for preliminary study of x-ray elasticity imaging. First, 3D x-ray breast phantom for modeling woman's breast is created and its elastic model for FEM (finite element method) is generated. After then, FEM experiment is performed under the compression of the breast phantom. Using the obtained displacement data, 3D x-ray phantom is deformed and the final mammogram under the compression is generated. The simulation result shows the feasibility of x-ray elasticity imaging. We think that this preliminary study is helpful for developing and verifying a new algorithm of x-ray elasticity imaging.

• 생약학회지
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• 제43권1호
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• pp.72-78
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• 2012

Alnus japonica Steud (A. japonica) have long been used in the traditional medicine for gastric disorder, hepatitis and fatty liver in Korea. Antiulcer effects of A. japonica hot water extract (AJ ext) were evaluated by in vitro antibacterial activity against H. pylori, by the inhibitory action against the in vitro gastric $H^+/K^+$-ATPase and using rat models of gastric mucosal damage and gastric ulcer induced by HCl-ethanol, indomethacin, and restraint and water-immersion stress. For the determination of antibacterial activity of AJ ext against H. pylori, the activity of urease which released from H. pylori was measured in culture. AJ ext showed weak antibacterial activity against H. pylori with the growth inhibitions of 37% and 61% by adding final concentrations of 500 and $1000{\mu}g/ml$ culture, respectively at 24 h. To observe the inhibitory activity of AJ ext against the $H^+/K^+$-ATPase in hog gastric membrane vesicle, $IC_{50}$ value of AJ ext was $806.3{\mu}g/ml$. Pretreatment of AJ ext (200, 500 mg/kg, p.o.) prevented in a dose-dependent manner the acute gastritis in HCl-ethanol model and the formation of gastric ulcer in indomethacin model and restraint and water-immersion stress model. These results suggest that the AJ ext can be used for prevention and treatment of gastric mucosal damage and ulcers induced by various stress.

• 한국약용작물학회지
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• 제18권5호
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• pp.338-344
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• 2010

Our paper shows the results of 302 samples of herb medicines about fungal contamination at Yakyeang markets in Seoul. The sample medicines were treated VICAM pretreatment and analysed by post column derivatisation procedure(PHRED-HPLC) with a fluorescence detector. Aflatoxin B1 was founded from 50.3% of samples, aflatoxin B2 was 39.7%, aflatoxin G1 was 21.2% and aflatoxin G2 was 23.5%. The detected ranges of aflatoxin B1, B2, G1 and G2 were from 0.1 to $57.2\;{\mu}g/kg$, 0.1 to $42.6\;{\mu}g/kg$, 0.1 to $23.5\;{\mu}g/kg$ and 0.1 to $9.5\;{\mu}g/kg$ respectively. Among total samples, 26 samples contained aflatoxin B1 violated the regulation (less than 10 ug/kg) for aflatoxin B1 of KFDA. From the result, we could presumed that more than a half of samples were contaminated by aflatoxins. Therefore, it seems to be necessary that the new safety giudeline will be established aflatoxin B2, G1 and G2 from herb medicines as aflatoxin B1.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.29-33
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• 2009

Phellinus gilvus (PG) is a widely used mushroom for health promotion. We studied the hepatoprotective effect of the polysaccharide aqueous extract of PG (PGP) against carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-induced liver injury in rats. Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups: Normal control, $CCl_4$ control, PGP 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg + $CCl_4$. The levels of serum biochemical parameters, liver lipid peroxide and antioxidant enzymes, and histological appearances were evaluated. The $CCl_4$-induced increments of alanine aminotransferase, asparate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase levels in serum were significantly decreased by PGP-pretreatments. The PGP dose-dependently decreased hepatic malondialdehyde formations in $CCl_4$-treatment groups. Hepatic antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase) were elevated by PGP in $CCl_4$-treatment groups. Histopathological evaluation of liver showed that the loss of hepatocytes, fatty changes, swelling and extensive necrosis of hepatocytes in centrilobular regions of the $CCl_4$-treated rats were ameliorated by PGP pretreatment. The PGP has hepatoprotective and antioxidative effects in $CCl_4$-induced liver injury of rat.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.713-717
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• 2008

In the present study, chronic effects of the hot water extracts of walnut seed (Juglans regia L.) (WSE) and Nelumbo nucifera seed (NSE) were investigated in mice exposed to 2 hr of restraint stress each day for 4 weeks. Corticosterone levels in serum were significantly increased in the vehicle-treated stressed group ($25\;{\mu}g/dL$) compared to that in the control group ($13\;{\mu}g/dL$). This stress induced gastric redness and lesions. However, treatment with WSE and/or NSE significantly protected the stomach from this lesion by 50-60% compared to that in the vehicletreated group. In the amygdala, the administration of WSE and/or NSE also reduced the immediate early gene (c-fos) expression by 70-90% vs. the vehicle-treated group. These suggest that WSE and/or NSE may reduce the appearance of symptoms induced by stress and these materials are useful as anti-stress foods, as natural products tend to be relatively safe compared to chemical products.

• 한국식품조리과학회지
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.139-148
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• 2005

This study was carried out to investigate the dietary behaviors and nutrient intake of high school girls in Iksan and Seoul cities. The subjects consisted of 122 students in Iksan city, and 136 students in Seoul city. The proportion of subjects who eat meals irregularly was higher in Iksan ($94.8\%$) than in Seoul ($80.9\%$). The proportion of subjects who skip meals was also higher in Iksan ($61.5\%$) than in Seoul ($56.6\%$), and most of them ($69.7\%$) skipped breakfast, even thought they thought that it was the most important meal ($86.4\%$). The subjects tended to overeat at lunch ($41.9\%$) and dinner ($55.4\%$). The main reasons that the subjects skipped a meal were a lack of time (50.7%) and poor appetites ($23.7\%$). Most of the subjects ($57.4\%$) had tried to control their body weight by taking drugs ($40.5\%$), doing exercise ($34.5\%$), and controlling their diet ($25\%$). The average intake of nutrients and energy was significantly higher (P<0.05, p<0.01) in Iksan than in Seoul. The intake was below the RDA recommendations except for phosphorus in I ksan, but was above it except for calcium, iron, and vitamin B2, in Seoul. The indexes of nutritional quality (INQ) of calcium (0.5), iron (0.6), vitamin A (0.8), vitamin B2 (0.7), niacin (0.9), and vitamin C (0.9) were under 1.0 but those of protein (1.0), phosphorus (1.2) and thiamin (1.0) were over 1.0. The INQ of the other nutrients, except protein and vitamin C, was significantly higher in Seoul than in Iksan.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권6호
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• pp.2917-2921
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• 2016

Background: To explore factors that influence quality of life (QOL) in patients receiving breast conserving therapy (BCT). Materials and Methods: In this sequential mixed methods study, 118 women from Songklanagarind Hospital were included. We used participants' characteristics, Body Image Scale (BIS), and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy with the Breast Cancer Subscale (FACT-B) for analysis. The BIS transformed into presence of body image disturbance (BID). Factors that influenced QOL were determined by stepwise multiple linear regression. Forty-one participants were selected for qualitative analysis. Our female researcher performed the semi-structured interviews with questions based on the symbolic interaction theory. Final codes were analysed using thematic analysis along with investigator triangulation methods. Results: Ninety percent had early stage breast cancer with post-completed BCT, for an average of 2.7 years. The median BIS score and FACT-B score were 2 (IQR=10) and 130 (IQR=39). In the regression analysis, an age of more than 50 years and BID were significant factors. As for the value of conserved breasts, two themes emerged: a conserved breast is an essential part of a participant's life and also the representation of her womanhood; the importance of a breast is related to age. Conclusions: Body image influenced QOL in post BCT participants. The conserved breasts also lead to positive and better impact on their body image as an essential part of their life.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.383-393
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• 2019

Objectives: The proportion of those working beyond 53 hours a week in 2018 has reached 16.8% of the total number of workers in the Republic of Korea (Statistics Korea, 2018). Although there are many studies that have dealt with the correlation of long working hours and increasing risk of work-related health problems, studies dealing with the factors impacting work-related health problems of workers according to their working hours are few. This study aims to ascertain factors impacting work-related health problems of workers based on their working hours through thorough research on their work environment. Methods: Necessary factors for this study were extracted from 'the 4th Korean Working Conditions Survey to analyze details on normal characteristics and work environments used for the study analysis, work hours, and health problems related to work. Results: The results are as follows: First, men showed a greater probability of exposure to work-related health problems than did women, especially in the 50s age group, which showed the highest potential for health problems from work among age groups. Second, service providers and sales professionals showed a higher probability of work-related health problems. Third, for the work environment, health problems at work related to vibration, noise, chemical and poison exposure, exhaustion, pain, standing position, and repeated motion showed a higher probability if the work hours are long. Conclusions: This study suggests that the minimization of overtime labor would prevent work-related health problems and diseases, improve the well-being of workers, and decrease the negative impact on workers in the subject area.

• 약학회지
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• 제50권6호
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• pp.381-385
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• 2006

Previously we have reported that black ginseng was produced by nine-time repeated steaming 5-year fresh ginsengs at 95${\circ}$C for 3hr in pottery apparatus and drying at 60${\circ}$C for 12${\sim}$36 hr and had an outstanding anticancer activity. This study was designed to examine the ability of black ginseng to suppress body weight gain appetite, and to investigate the effect of black ginseng on lipid profile in male rats fed normal diets. The extract of black ginseng was administered daily for 3 weeks, and the changes of body weight and food intake were measured. After administering the extracts for 3 weeks, the fat weight and serum lipid levels were also measured. Black ginseng persistently suppressed weigh gain and food intake was also reduced, but not significantly; The weight of both epididymal and abdominal fats was decreased In black ginseng-treated rats. Serum triglyceride level in rats administered with black ginseng was also significantly lowered. Therefore, these results reveal that the repeated administration of black ginseng causes a suppression of body weigh gain by decreasing triglyceride level in blood and body fat deposit.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.93-99
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• 2011

In this study, a total of 350 households contained 700 individuals in Iganzo village were surveyed to study their literate and poverty levels and their impacts to conservation of the Mbeya Range Forest Reserve. The study included 350 women and 350 men. The majority of respondents were between the ages of 31-40 years old (53%), while the rest were between 41-50 years old (25%) and 21-30 years old (22%). The total income per day per household was calculated and averaged to 4,570 Tanzanian shillings that is equal to about 3 U.S. dollars. The average number of members per household was seven. It was reported that, there is a tremendous decrease in biodiversity composition of the reserve mainly due to poverty (80%) and ignorance (76%) of the people on the importance of the reserve. Other causes for this decrease were reported to be grazing of livestock in the reserve (23%), poor farming systems (68%), which resulted in soil erosion, encroachment (64%) through expansion of farms towards the reserve boundary and charcoal burning (34%). Respondents from Mbeya Urban Water Supply Authority and District Forest Office mentioned lack of funds (49%) and lack of experts (56%) as challenges that face the conservation of the reserve. It was revealed that 25% of respondents had never gone to school, 53% had primary level of education as their highest level of education, 20% had secondary education and 2% had first degree. The null hypothesis that poverty and illiteracy have a positive correlation to forest degradation was accepted based on these findings at a probability of p>0.85. Thus, it was concluded that poverty and illiteracy among Iganzo village residents are the main causes for the degradation of biodiversity in Mbeya Range Forest Reserve.