• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.167-175
• /
• 2005

Houttuynia cordata THNUB (He; Uh-Sung-Cho) is a medicinal plant which has been widely used as a component of blood-building decoctions. This study was performed to investigate the immunomodulative effect of He in mice. In vitro experiment, the mice splenocytes proliferation and three kinds of cytokines (IL-1$\beta$, IL-6, TNF- $\alpha$) production by mice peritoneal macrophages cultured with six (methanol, hexane, chloroform, ethylacetate, butanol and water) fractions of He were used to indicate the immunomodulative effect. Ex vivo experiment, the different concentrations of He water extract was orally administrated every other day for two weeks. The production of cytokines IL-1$\beta$, IL-6, TNF- $\alpha$) secreted by activated macrophages and the mice splenocytes proliferation were used as an index for the immunocompetence. The supplementation of all six fractions of He enhanced the splenocytes proliferation at the level of 6.58$\pm$1.23∼47.82$\pm$5.48 compared to that of control in the range of 1∼50 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL. IL-1$\beta$ production was significantly increased with the supplementation of chloroform and water extract of He. Higher level of IL-6 production was detected by the supplementation of ethylacetate, butanol and water extract. TNF - $\alpha$ production was enhanced by the supplementation of all six fractions of He. From the ex vivo study, the highest proliferation of splenocytes was seen from the mice orally administrated with the He water extract at the concentration of 500 mg/kg bw In case of cytokines production, IL-1$\beta$, IL-6, and TNF- $\alpha$ release by activated peritoneal macrophages were augmented by the oral administration of He water extract. These results indicated that He may enhance the immune function by regulating the splenocytes proliferation and cytokines production capacity in mice.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.113-119
• /
• 1998

Purpose : Because adenocarcinomas of the uterine cervix have lower 5-year survival rate than squamous cell carcinomas due to early lymph node metastasis and local extension, scrutiny of lymph node metastasis and local extension by radiologic examination is necessary in case of clinically diagnosed or suspected adenocarcinomas. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether there are specific findings of these tumors, compared with squamous cell carcinomas, through the analysis of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings. Materials and Methods : Of 21 pathologically proven cervical adenocarcinomas, MR imaging findings of 18 tumors (histologic staging : two Ib, four IIa, two IIb, one IIIa, and one IIIb) were retrospectively analyzed and compared with those of 40 wquamous cell carcinoma in consecutive patients as a control group. T1-wetighted and fast spin echo T2-weighted images were obtained on the axial and sagittal planes, using a 1.5-T MR scanner. The largest diameter, location, signal intensity and degree of contrast enhancement contour, shape and longitudinal extent of the tumor and associated findings on MR image were analyzed. Results : The largest diameters of cervical adenocarcinomas ranged from 0.8 to 4.1 cm(mean, 2.2 cm). Of 18 adenocarcinomas, nine were of endocervical type. All adenocarcinomas were isointense to surrounding cervical stroma on T1-weighted images and hyperintense(homogeneous in ten, inhomogeneous in eight) on fast spin echo T2-weighted images. Adenocarcinomas enhanced on contrast study in all patients (homogeneous in six, inhomogeneous in 12 with hyperintese enhnacing rim in two). Eight adenocarcinomas had smooth contours and ten had irregular ones. The shape of adenocarcinoma was irregular in eight patients, barrel shape in six, papillary/polypod in three, and nodular in one. All adenocarcinomas involved lower half of the uterine cervix and six tumors extended up to the upper half. Pelvic lymph nodes of more than 1.5cm in diameter in two adenocarcinomas pateints and no detectable small pelvic lymph nodes on MR imaging in one patient were pathologically positive. Hydrometra was associated in two adenocarcinomas patients, and hematometra in one patient. Compared with squamous cell carcinomas, more frequent MR findings of endocervical type and barrel shape in cervical adenocarcinomas were statistically significant. Conclusion : Cervical adenocarcinomas had more frequent MR findings of endocervical type and barrel shape, compared with wquamous cell carcinomas. Adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix may be suspected on MR imaging, when a cervical carcinoma is of barrel shape along the endocervical canal and tends to involve lymth nodes in earlier stages.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.113-118
• /
• 2011

Purpose: Placental corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor type 1 (CRHR1) expression is reduced in pregnancies with abnormal placental function such as preeclampsia (PE), and the levels and/or function of CRHR1 are genetically influenced. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the c.33+8199C>T polymorphism in the CRHR1 gene and PE in a Korean population. Materials and Methods: Using a case-control design, the association between the CRHR1 polymorphism and the risk of PE was investigated in 203 individuals with PE and 211 normotensive controls. Genotypes were determined using a SNapShot kit and an ABI Prism 3100 Genetic analyzer. Results: Genotypes and allele frequencies for the CRHR1 polymorphism did not differ between PE and normotensive pregnancies. The variant T allele was more frequent than the ancestral C allele in both of the groups and was more frequent in the controls than in the cases. In risk analysis for PE, there was not an increased risk of preeclampsia in subjects who were concomitant homozygous rare allele genotypes (CC) (OR, 0.3; P=0.15) or heterozygous rare allele genotypes (TC) (OR, 0.8; P=0.29). There were no differences in the complications of PE such as severity or preterm delivery in patients with the CRHR1 polymorphism. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that the CRHR1 polymorphism was not associated with PE in the present Korean study group.

• Journal of Popular Narrative
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.39-85
• /
• 2020

This paper examines the aspects of disaster narrative, which makes the most of the concept of 'masterplot' as a narrative simulation to solve problems. By analyzing and comparing the remnants of 'masterplots' operating in the disaster narratives of Korea, the United States, and Japan, the differences between each country and social community problem recognition and resolution will be discussed. Disaster narrative is the most suitable genre for applying the 'masterplot' toward community problem solving in today's global risk society, and the problem-solving method has cognitive differences for each community. First, in the case of American disaster narratives, civilian experts' response to natural disasters tracks the changes of heroes in today's 'Marvel Comic Universe' (MCU). Compared to the past, the close relationship between heroism and nationalism has been reduced, but the state remains functional even if it is bolstered by the heroes' voluntary cooperation and reflection ability. On the other hand, in Korea's disaster narratives, the disappearance of the country and paralysis of the function are foregrounded. In order to fill the void, a new family narrative occurs, consisting of a righteous army or people abandoned by the state. Korea's disaster narratives are sensitive to changes after the disaster, and the nation's recovery never returns to normal after the disaster. Finally, Japan's disaster narratives are defensive and neurotic. A fully state-led bureaucratic system depicts an obsessive nationalism that seeks to control all disasters, or even counteracts anti-heroic individuals who reject voluntary sacrifices and even abandon disaster conditions This paper was able to diagnose the impact and value of a 'masterplot' today by comparing a series of 'masterplots' and their variations and uses. In a time when the understanding and utilization of 'masterplots' are becoming more and more important in today's world where Over-the top(OTT) services are being provided worldwide, this paper attempt could be a fragmentary model for the distribution and sharing of global stories.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.35 no.6
• /
• pp.1297-1308
• /
• 2015

In Korea, the local traffic safety master plan has been established and implemented according to the Traffic Safety Act. Each local government is required to establish a customized traffic safety policy and share roles for improvement of traffic safety and this means that local governments lead and promote effective local traffic safety policies fit for local circumstances in substance. For implementing efficient traffic safety policies, which accord with many-sided characteristics of local governments, the prediction of community-based traffic accidents, which considers local characteristics and the analysis of accident influence factors must be preceded, but there is a shortage of research on this. Most of existing studies on the community-based traffic accident prediction used social and economic variables related to accident exposure environments in countries or cities due to the limit of collected data. For this reason, there was a limit in applying the developed models to the actual reduction of traffic accidents. Thus, this study developed a local traffic accident prediction model, based on smaller regional units, administrative districts, which were not omitted in existing studies and suggested a method to reflect traffic safety facility and policy variables that traffic safety policy makers can control, in addition to social and economic variables related to accident exposure environments, in the model and apply them to the development of local traffic safety policies. The model development result showed that in terms of accident exposure environments, road extension, gross floor area of buildings, the ratio of bus lane installation and the number of crossroads and crosswalks had a positive relation with accidents and the ratio of crosswalk sign installation, the number of speed bumps and the results of clampdown by police force had a negative relation with accidents.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.51 no.1
• /
• pp.7-13
• /
• 2015

Hydrotrope-combined copper (HCC) is a copper ($Cu^{2+}$)-based algicide, which is combined with a hydrotrope that keeps copper ion in solution to improve performance. This study assessed the growth inhibition effect of HCC against Microcystis aeruginosa which is one of the most common toxic cyanobacterium in eutrophic freshwater environment. Various HCC doses, ranging from 5.5 to $550{\mu}g/L$ as $Cu^{2+}$, were applied to either BG-11 or 1/4 diluted medium with low- or high-inoculum density of M. aeruginosa. Growth inhibition was monitored based on a decrease in chlorophyll-a content in culture medium during the incubation. Results showed that HCC significantly inhibited the growth of M. aeruginosa in a dose-dependent manner. In case of 1/4 diluted BG-11 medium, HCC dose as low as $5.5{\mu}g$ $Cu^{2+}/L$ completely inhibited the production of chlorophyll-a by M. aeruginosa. It was found that HCC did not induce any significant release of microcystin-LR from M. aeruginosa. Acute toxicity of HCC was tested using Daphnia magna, and the 24-h $EC_{50}$ value was 0.30 mg/L as $Cu^{2+}$ which was much higher than the actual inhibition dose. Ames test was performed using Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium TA100, and HCC showed no increase in the number of revertant colonies. The result suggested that HCC does not have any mutagenic potential in the aquatic environment. In addition, no genotoxic effect of HCC was also confirmed based on the SOS ChromoTest using Escherichia coli PQ37. Therefore, HCC could be used as a relatively safe and effective pre- and post-treatment agent to control hazardous algal blooming in aquatic environments.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.29-33
• /
• 2011

Background and Purpose: Uniformity is the one of the important quality control features with respect to gamma cameras. To maintain adequate uniformity, we must acquire suitable flood table (=flood map) data because the flood table effects energy, and the type or dose of input radiation. Therefore, in this study we evaluated the difference in uniformity when uniformity does not match between the type of input radiation and the flood table data or collimator type. Subjects and Methods: For input radiation, we prepared 370 MBq of $^{57}Co$, $^{99m}Tc$, and $^{201}Tl$. Using SKYLight (Philips) and Infinia gamma cameras (GE), we acquired nine uniformity data that were corrected by technetium, cobalt flood table and did not corrected image for the three sources. Additionally, we acquired two uniformity images with a collimator that were corrected by intrinsic and extrinsic flood tables. Using this data, we evaluated and compared the uniformity values. Results: In the case of the SKYLight gamma camera, the uniformities of the images that matched between the input radiation and flood table with respect to $^{99m}Tc$ and $^{57}Co$ were better than the unmatched uniformity (3.96% vs. 5.69% ; 4.9% vs. 5.91%). However, because there was no thallium flood table, the uniformities of images at Tl were significantly incorrect (7.49%, 7.03%). The uniformities of the Infinia gamma camera had the same pattern as the SKYLight gamma camera (3.7% vs. 4.5%). Moreover, the uniformity of the $^{99m}Tc$ image acquired with a collimator and corrected by an extrinsic flood table was better than the intrinsic flood table (3.96% vs. 6.28%). Conclusion: Correcting an image by a suitable flood table can help achieve better uniformity for a gamma camera. Therefore, we have to acquire images with suitable uniformity correction, and update the flood table periodically. Whenever we acquire a nuclear medicine image, we always have to check the appropriate flood table according to the acquired condition.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.99-128
• /
• 2008

Nearly all Koreans are insured through National Health Insurance(NHI). While NHI coverage is nearly universal, it is not complete. Coverage is largely limited to minimal level of hospital and physician expenses, and copayments are required in each case. As a result, Korea's public insurance system covers roughly 50% of overall individual health expenditures, and the remaining 50% consists of copayments for basic services, spending on services that are either not covered or poorly covered by the public system. In response to these gaps in the public system, 64% of the Korean population has supplemental private health insurance. Expansion of private health insurance raises negative externality issue. Like public financing schemes in other countries, the Korean system imposes cost-sharing on patients as a strategy for controlling utilization. Because most insurance policies reimburse patients for their out-of-pocket payments, supplemental insurance is likely to negate the impact of the policy, raising both total and public sector health spending. So far, most empirical analysis of supplemental health insurance to date has focused on the US Medigap programme. It is found that those with supplements apparently consume more health care. Two reasons for higher health care consumption by those with supplements suggest themselves. One is the moral hazard effect: by eliminating copayments and deductibles, supplements reduce the marginal price of care and induce additional consumption. The other explanation is that supplements are purchased by those who anticipate high health expenditures - adverse effect. The main issue addressed has been the separation of the moral hazard effect from the adverse selection one. The general conclusion is that the evidence on adverse selection based on observable variables is mixed. This article investigates the extent to which private supplementary insurance affect use of health care services by public health insurance enrollees, using Korean administrative data and private supplements related data collected through all relevant private insurance companies. I applied a multivariate two-part model to analyze the effects of various types of supplements on the likelihood and level of public health insurance spending and estimated marginal effects of supplements. Separate models were estimated for inpatients and outpatients in public insurance spending. The first part of the model estimated the likelihood of positive spending using probit regression, and the second part estimated the log of spending for those with positive spending. Use of a detailed information of individuals' public health insurance from administration data and of private insurance status from insurance companies made it possible to control for health status, the types of supplemental insurance owned by theses individuals, and other factors that explain spending variations across supplemental insurance categories in isolating the effects of supplemental insurance. Data from 2004 to 2006 were used, and this study found that private insurance increased the probability of a physician visit by less than 1 percent and a hospital admission by about 1 percent. However, supplemental insurance was not found to be associated with a bigger health care service utilization. Two-part models of health care utilization and expenditures showed that those without supplemental insurance had higher inpatient and outpatient expenditures than those with supplements, even after controlling for observable differences.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.115-130
• /
• 2013

In this study, lateral-torsional buckling (LTB) strength of high-strength H-beams built up from 800MPa tensile-strength steel was experimentally and analytically evaluated according to current lateral stability provisions (KBC 2009, AISC-LRFD 2010). The motivation was to evaluate whether or not current LTB provisions, which were originally developed for ordinary steel with different stress-strain characteristics, are still applicable to high-strength steel. Two sets of compact-section specimens with relatively low (Set A) or high (Set B) warping stiffness were prepared and tested under uniform moment loading. Laterally unbraced lengths of the test specimens were controlled such that inelastic LTB could be induced. All specimens exhibited LTB strength exceeding the minimum limit required by current provisions by a sufficient margin. Moreover, some specimen in Set A reached a rotation capacity required for plastic design, although its laterally unbraced length belonged to the inelastic LTB range. All the test results indicated that extrapolation of current provisions to high-strength steel is conservative. In order to further analyze the test results, the relationship between inelastic moment and laterally unbraced length was also derived in explicit form for both ordinary- and high-strength steel based on the effective tangent modulus of inelastic section. The analytical relationship derived again showed that extrapolation of current laterally unbraced length limit leads to a conservative design in the case of high-strength steel and that the laterally unbraced length to control the inelastic LTB behavior of high-strength steel beam should be specified by including its unique post-yield strain-hardening characteristics.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.53-63
• /
• 1974

For the elucidation of the nutritional status of residences of apartments located in various areas in Seoul city, the food and nutrition survey was undertaken by the graduate students from Department of Food & Nutrition, Ewha Womans University in 1973. The socioeconomic stratification was mainly considered for the selection of sample apartments included in this study. Hangang Mansion, KIST, Munwhachon & Bukahyun apts were selected in this respect. A. Common living circumstances. Through the questionaries, author concluded nutritional concept on everyday food life as follows; 1. Higher income seems less effective in everyday food life on the nutritional view point than higher education does. 2. It needs to be urgently improved to be accustomed to use exact measuring concept of foods when they cook. 3. It needs to be improved to serve meals for individual portion at meal table, because the portion control at meal table will effect to national food policy. B. Nutrition Survey. Average daily calroie intake was the highest in Hangang Mansion and lowest in Bukahyun apt., in accordance with their economic living standard, but most of their calorie intakes were lower than the R.D.A. (3000ca1 for male, 2200 Cal for female). But the composition ratio of the total calorie intake was near to the ideal, carbohydrate 60%, protein 15%, fat 25%. Although there were differences in their economic living situations in urban area, most people ingested relatively good quality and large amounts of protein and fat. Vitamin A and Niacine intake exceeded the R.D.A., but the intake of Ca, Thiamine, Riboflavin, Ascorbic Acid were far less than that of R.D.A. C. food Intake. Amounts of total daily food intake were highest in Bukahyun apt. and lowest in Hangang Mansion. These showed adverse aspects to the total calorie intakes and their income levels. The ratio of cereals, $40%{\sim}50%$ of the total food intake, was higher than any other kinds of foods in all apartments. Among the other foods except cereals, there represented the highest level of meats in Hangang Mansion and KIST apt., while intake of Kimchies were highest in Munwhachon and Bukahyun apt. In the case of vegetables and fruits intake, the ratio of them in Hangang Mansion and KIST apt. were high, on the other hand the ratio of starchy roots appeared lowest in Hangang Mansion. For the main sources of protein, meats were ingested in Hangang Mansion and KIST apt., meats and fishery were used in Munwhachon apt., and beans were eaten highly in their meals in Bukahyun apt. These food contents and distributions showed the significant differences not only their economic classes but also regional characteristics.