• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.55-60
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• 2013

Objectives : Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by eczematous inflammtion of the skin. The chestnut inner shell extracts (CI) has been used as a cosmetic material for a long time in Korea. However, the precise anti-allergy effects of CI have yet to be clearly elucidated. In this study, we attempted to evaluate the effect of CI on mast cell-mediated allergy inflammation. Methods : To find the anti-allergy and inflammatory effect of CI, we investigated the inhibitory effect of CI on the production of inflammatory mediators using by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) plus calcium ionophore (A23187) stimulated-human mast cell (HMC-1). Results : In this study, we found that CI did not show cytotoxic effect at up to 10 ug/ml on HMC-1. CI inhibited the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 in stimulated HMC-1. Maximal rate of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6 and IL-8 inhibition by CI (10 ug/ml) were about 47.6%, 44.1% and 22.5% respectively. In addition, we showed that Fr.3 isolated from n-Butyl alcohol layer of CI attenuated the production of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6 and IL-8 in HMC-1. Conclusion : Taken together, the findings of this study provide us with a novel insight action of CI as a potential molecule for use in the treatment of allergic inflammation diseases.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.287-299
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• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyze the trend of natural product-based products for sleep improvement in Korean patents, to enhance the development and application of natural-products for sleep disorder in terms of Korean medicine. Methods: We collected patent data using the KIPRIS database and ScienceON database. Two authors independently screened patents that potentially met the criteria, and assessed full texts of screened patents for eligibility. Included patents were analyzed, quantitatively as well as qualitatively. Results: A total of 60 patents were selected 2008-July 2022. The number of patents have been on the rise since 2017, and reached 12 in 2018. Companies have registered the most patents, followed by the Industry-University Cooperation Foundation. Zizyphi semen (n=6), Lactuca sativa L. (n=5), Valeriana fauriei/officinalis (n=4), Poria cocos (n=4) were frequently used herbs among 60 patents. Twenty-one patents (35%) included medicinal herbs with sleep improving effects. Among 60 patents, alcohol extraction (70%) was mostly used, followed by water immersion (50%), and hot water extraction (48.3%). Conclusions: Analysis results showed that various Korean medicine herbs, are being used for natural-products for sleep disorder. The results will be helpful towards inventing new patents using Korean medicine, developing natural product extracts for sleep improvement, and extending the range of these products in clinical use.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.79-84
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• 2023

This study was analyzed based on 1051 analyzes of questionnaires in order to examine the status and perception of abused drugs according to the gender of the young people entering the adult group from the adolescents. The gender of the young people who participated in the survey was 686 males and 365 females, and the types of abused drugs and their perceptions of harmful effects of narcotics and abused drugs were analyzed according to gender. As a result of the study, the experience of using alcohol, tobacco, appetite suppressants, sedatives, and opioid analgesics was statistically significant according to gender. Among the harmful effects of narcotic drugs and drugs of abuse, significant results were shown on the recognition of risks, induced problems, and sympathy for risks. As for the desirable way to improve the problem of narcotics and substance abuse, 257 women (68.2%) of women wanted publicity (enlightenment) activities, and about effective education for preventing narcotics and substance abuse, 379 men (54.2%) of men %) appeared as online online education. It is considered that proper education and publicity about drug use is necessary in the reality that drug addiction among young people due to drug abuse is increasing.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.99-115
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• 2023

Purpose: Exclusive breastfeeding promotes gut microbial compositions associated with lower rates of metabolic and autoimmune diseases. Its cessation is implicated in increased microbiome-metabolome discordance, suggesting a vulnerability to dietary changes. Formula supplementation is common within our low-income, ethnic-minority community. We studied exclusively breastfed (EBF) neonates' early microbiome-metabolome coupling in efforts to build foundational knowledge needed to target this inequality. Methods: Maternal surveys and stool samples from seven EBF neonates at first transitional stool (0-24 hours), discharge (30-48 hours), and at first appointment (days 3-5) were collected. Survey included demographics, feeding method, medications, medical history and tobacco and alcohol use. Stool samples were processed for 16S rRNA gene sequencing and lipid analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Alpha and beta diversity analyses and Procrustes randomization for associations were carried out. Results: Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria were the most abundant taxa. Variation in microbiome composition was greater between individuals than within (p=0.001). Palmitic, oleic, stearic, and linoleic acids were the most abundant lipids. Variation in lipid composition was greater between individuals than within (p=0.040). Multivariate composition of the metabolome, but not microbiome, correlated with time (p=0.030). Total lipids, saturated lipids, and unsaturated lipids concentrations increased over time (p=0.012, p=0.008, p=0.023). Alpha diversity did not correlate with time (p=0.403). Microbiome composition was not associated with each samples' metabolome (p=0.450). Conclusion: Neonate gut microbiomes were unique to each neonate; respective metabolome profiles demonstrated generalizable temporal developments. The overall variability suggests potential interplay between influences including maternal breastmilk composition, amount consumed and living environment.

• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.1-14
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• 2023

Purpose : Sleep disturbances in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) are related to health problems after discharge. Therefore, active prevention and management are required. Hence, identification of the factors that affect sleep in patients who are critically ill is necessary. Methods : The PubMed, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases were searched. Selection criteria were observational and experimental studies that assessed sleep as an outcome, included adult patients admitted to the ICU, and published between November 2015 and April 2022. Results : A total of 21,136 articles were identified through search engines and manual searches, and 42 articles were selected. From these, 22 influencing factors and 11 interventions were identified. Individual factors included disease severity, age, pain, delirium, comorbidities, alcohol consumption, sex, sleep disturbance before hospitalization, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cardiovascular disease, and high diastolic blood pressure (DBP), low hemoglobin (Hb), and low respiratory rate (RR). Environmental factors included light level, noise level, and temperature. Furthermore, treatment-related factors included use of sedatives, melatonin administration, sleep management guidelines, ventilator application, nursing treatment, and length of ICU stay. Regarding sleep interventions, massage, eye mask and earplugs, quiet time and multicomponent protocols, aromatherapy, acupressure, sounds of the sea, adaptive intervention, circulation lighting, and single occupation in a room were identified. Conclusion : Based on these results, we propose the development and application of various interventions to improve sleep quality in patients who are critically ill.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.757-764
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to investigate the dietary habits and demand for nutrition service of university dormitory residents. Out of 450 questionnaires distributed to the undergraduate and graduate students residing in a university dormitory, 335(74.4%) returned and 265(58.8%) were analyzed. The analyzed sample included 140 males(52.8%) and 125 females(47.2%). The number of undergraduate and graduate students were 183(69.1%) and 82(30.9%), respectively. Male and undergraduate students tend to more frequently use dormitory foodservice than the respective counterpart. About 21% of respondents skipped breakfast everyday and almost 2/3 of respondents skipped breakfast more often than $3{\sim}4$ times a week. The most often chosen reason for skipping meals was 'lack of time' for lunch and dinner as well as breakfast. Graduate students tend to drink coffee more often than undergraduate students. Male students were more likely to drink carbonated drinks and alcohol compared with female students. Over half(59%) of respondents were taking multivitamins and mineral supplements. About 80% of respondents perceived their health average or above. New residents having moved in to the dormitory less than a semester before tend to perceive their heath status worse than the residents having lived longer in the dormitory. The demand for nutrition service was high as shown by the high percentage of respondents willingness to receive the service: 76% for nutrition assessment service and 63% for nutrition counseling service. Such demand did not differ between males and female respondents. However, graduate students were more willing to participate in nutrition counseling service than undergraduates.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.35-58
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to identify the moderating effect of social support between daily life stress and suicidal ideation of North Korean refugee women in South Korea. We survey with self-report questionnaires for 156 refugee women, conduct descriptive and regression analysis. As results, (1) almost half of the surveyed experience suicidal ideation in a year, (2) daily life stress affects suicidal ideation controlling with depression, PTSD, alcohol use, income, and age, (3) social support which North Korea refugee women perceive buffers the relationship between life stress and suicidal ideation. From these results, implications are suggested. Gender cognitive policies are needed in North Korea refugees in South Korea. Also, community mental health services and sustainable community program for North Korea refugee women are important to prevent their suicidal attempts.

• Mood & Emotion
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.128-136
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• 2014

Objectives : This study was undertaken to investigate the prevalence of depressive symptoms and their related factors among a group of medical students. Method : A total of 874 (529 male and 345 female) medical students were randomly selected to participate in a survey. Depressive symptoms, satisfaction with life, health behavior including alcohol use, stress, sleep disturbance and happiness were collected using self-reported questionnaires. Results : The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 10.8%. In stepwise multiple regression analysis, lower satisfaction of life, daytime dysfunction due to sleepiness, history of suicidal attempt, stress, sleep disturbance were found to be significant relating factors of depressive symptoms. In moderated regression analysis, the result showed that the impact of life stress were moderated by satisfaction of life on depressive symptoms, but the moderating effect of happiness was not significant. Conclusion : This study showed considerably high prevalence of depressive symptoms and BDI score in medical students. The findings suggest that early detection of depressive symptoms and intensive mental health promotion program is needed in order to improve medical student's mental health status.

• Korean Medical Education Review
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.155-166
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• 2024

This study utilized cohort data, student lifestyle surveys, and mental health examination results from a medical school to investigate the impact of factors such as hometown, alcohol use, smoking, university life adaptation, and aptitude on academic failure, with mental health serving as a mediator. We analyzed data from 409 of the 549 incoming students at Keimyung University School of Medicine, excluding 140 individuals with missing data, from the academic years 2015 to 2021. Significant differences were found according to hometown in feelings of depression, suicidal tendencies, and internet addiction. There were also significant differences based on university life adaptation in feelings of depression, suicidal tendencies, and internet addiction, as well as significant differences according to academic aptitude in feelings of depression and internet addiction. Academic failure showed significant differences based on hometown, university life adaptation, and academic aptitude. Furthermore, students' hometown had a complete mediating effect on academic failure together with feelings of depression, suicidal tendencies, and internet addiction. University life adaptation exhibited a complete mediating effect with suicidal tendencies and a partial mediating effect with feelings of depression and internet addiction. Academic aptitude demonstrated partial mediating effects on feelings of depression, suicidal tendencies, and internet addiction. Based on these results, we suggest establishing counseling programs tailored to the characteristics of medical students, and various programs for university life adaptation are necessary. There is also a need for diverse programs not only for clinical training, but also for different career paths.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.39-51
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• 2008

The objectives of this study were to analyze the socio-economical factors related to smoking and drinking behaviors using the Korea Welfare Panel data. The key variables were sex, age, frequency of health and medical facilities visit, subjective health level, smoking level, drinking level, depression symptoms, and low income level. Since the health variables in the Welfare Panel data were limited, the analysis was exploratory. In male population of those older than 30 years old, low income group people were more likely to smoke cigarettes than the general income population. In the result of the Chi square analysis, the smoking rate showed significantly different relationships with the different age groups, gender and income level. According to the descriptive analysis, persons with low income level were more likely to experience health risk behaviors and showed more medical service utilization. The utilization of the local public health centers was 4.6% for the Bow income level and 1% for the general level. The higher smoking rate was associated with the younger age, and the lower income. The smoking rate in the age category from 20 to 29 was 23.3% for the general level and 25% for the low income level. On the other hand, the drinking rate was even higher in the general families. The rates of non use of alcohol was 36.7% in the general families and 58.4% for the low income families. For both smoking and high risk drinking issues, demographic and sociological variables such as sex, age, education levels and income levels were analyzed, and there wer significant relationships. Health risk factors were serious for males, with age groups of 20's and 30's, lower education level, and in a low income family. In general, females were more unhealthy. The rates of smoking and drinking were higher in the low income level. Even in the health and nutrition survey results in 2005, persons in the low income class were experiencing poorer health in health level or the degree of action restriction. Since the effects of the health promotion could not be measured in a short period of time, it has not been easy to create the basis for the substantial effects. Factors related to health risks needs to be continuously studied using data from diverse field.