• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.1879-1888
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• 2019

Background: The treatment of pain in the iliotibial band friction syndrome has been difficult to determine, according to studies to date. However, recent studies have suggested that flexibility in the subacute stage of pain in the iliotibial band friction syndrome may help reduce pain. Objective: To investigate the immediate effect on pressure pain threshold and flexibility of the tensor fascia latae and iliotibial band by applying static and dynamic myofascial release foam rolling and self-stretching to adults with shortening iliotibial band. Design: Randomized controlled trial Methods: In this study, 50 subjects who were selected in advance as a randomized controlled trial were randomly allocated using a R Studio program. The included subjects were randomly allocated to three intervention groups. The static self-myofascial release 18 people, dynamic self-myofascial release group 16 people separated the self-stretching group 16 people and conducted a homogeneity check in advance. Before the start of the experiment, after of the experiment, 5 minutes after the end of the experiment, the pressure pain threshold and flexibility change for each part were measured. Results: The results of this study showed that the static self-myofascial release showed a significant difference in the pressure pain threshold in the tensor fascia latae and middle, lower part of the iliotibial band, compared with the other intervention groups (p<.05). In change of flexibility, the static self-myofascial release was significantly different than the other intervention groups (p<.05). Conclusion: The result of this study suggest that static self-myofascial release using foam roller may help to improve the pain and flexibility of the iliotibial band and to apply it as a more discerning intervention.

• Gut and Liver
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.633-640
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• 2018

Background/Aims: Obesity is a risk factor for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), with several studies demonstrating positive associations between body mass index (BMI) and GERD symptoms. However, little is known about the effect of BMI changes on erosive esophagitis (EE). In this study, we investigated whether BMI reduction could resolve EE. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed to assess the natural course of EE according to changes in BMI. Participants undergoing health check-ups from 2006 to 2012 were enrolled, and 1,126 subjects with EE were included. The degree of esophagitis was measured by upper endoscopy and serially checked over a 5-year follow-up. Logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models were used to investigate the association between BMI reduction and EE resolution. Results: Substantial weight loss is associated with EE resolution. The adjusted odds ratio for EE resolution was 1.44 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09 to 1.92) among participants with a decrease in BMI compared to those with no decrease in BMI. The EE resolution rate was related to the degree of BMI reduction. The effect of weight loss on EE resolution was higher among subjects who lost more weight. Compared with subjects with no decrease in BMI, the hazard ratios for EE resolution were 1.09 (95% CI, 0.89 to 1.35), 1.31 (95% CI, 1.01 to 1.72) and 2.12 (95% CI, 1.44 to 3.12) in subjects with BMI reductions of ${\leq}1$, 1-2, and >$2kg/m^2$, respectively. Conclusions: EE resolution is associated with a decrease in BMI, and weight loss is potentially an effective GERD treatment.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.734-743
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• 2021

Background: The underlying mechanisms of the potential tumor-suppressive effects of ginsenoside Rh2 are complex. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation is usually dysregulated in cancer. This study explored the regulatory effect of ginsenoside Rh2 on m6A RNA methylation in cancer. Methods: m6A RNA quantification and gene-specific m6A RIP-qPCR assays were applied to assess total and gene-specific m6A RNA levels. Co-immunoprecipitation, fractionation western blotting, and immunofluorescence staining were performed to detect protein interactions and distribution. QRT-PCR, dual-luciferase, and ChIP-qPCR assays were conducted to check the transcriptional regulation. Results: Ginsenoside Rh2 reduces m6A RNA methylation and KIF26B expression in a dose-dependent manner in some cancers. KIF26B interacts with ZC3H13 and CBLL1 in the cytoplasm of cancer cells and enhances their nuclear distribution. KIF26B inhibition reduces m6A RNA methylation level in cancer cells. SRF bound to the KIF26B promoter and activated its transcription. SRF mRNA m6A abundance significantly decreased upon KIF26B silencing. SRF knockdown suppressed cancer cell proliferation and growth both in vitro and in vivo, the effect of which was partly rescued by KIF26B overexpression. Conclusion: ginsenoside Rh2 reduces m6A RNA methylation via downregulating KIF26B expression in some cancer cells. KIF26B elevates m6A RNA methylation via enhancing ZC3H13/CBLL1 nuclear localization. KIF26B-SRF forms a positive feedback loop facilitating tumor growth.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.390-395
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• 2021

Background: Health-care providers typically undergo shift work and are subjected to increased stress. Night shift work may induce disturbed sleep cycles and circadian rhythm. The objective of this study was to explore if night shift workers (NSWs) show an increased risk of abnormal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 574 employees without thyroid disease and abnormal TSH at baseline who underwent annual check-ups between 2007 and 2016 in a medical center. NSWs were defined as those with working time schedules other than daytime hours. We calculated the incidence rate and estimated the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for incident abnormal TSH and subclinical hypothyroidism compared with non-NSWs using a Cox regression model. Results: A total of 56 incident abnormal TSH cases and 39 subclinical hypothyroidism cases in NSWs were identified during 3000 person-years of follow-up. In models adjusted for age, sex, obesity, and working departments, we found no increased relative risk for incident abnormal TSH (HR: 0.72, 95% confidence interval: 0.33-1.60) or subclinical hypothyroidism (HR: 0.52, 95% confidence interval: 0.19-1.45) when comparing NSWs to non-NSWs; nor were incidence rates significantly different among exclusively medical employees after excluding administrative staff. Conclusion: In this hospital-based nine-year follow-up retrospective cohort study, NSWs were not associated with increased relative risk of incident abnormal TSH and subclinical hypothyroidism, in contrast to previous cross-sectional studies.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.272-279
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• 2021

Background: Korea's health screening program has been faced the need for changes as the population and diseases structure are changing. In addition to Korea, many countries operate state-led health check-up programs to improve the health level of the people, and the operating methods of the program appear in various forms according to each country's health insurance system. This study examines other state-led health screening programs and proposes a direction for the development of Korea's health screening program. Methods: The study was conducted using the literature review method, and the "country" was set as a unit for the case analysis. The operating method of the health screening programs and the financial resources were compared according to the health insurance system. Five countries were selected as Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Taiwan. Results: The analyzed countries mainly operate the health screening program as a management method for chronic diseases, but there were differences in the operating method, financing, and targeted subjects and examination items. In most countries, a risk assessment was performed prior to the examination (screening), and the subjects who needed the examination were first selected, and a follow-up management service was provided in accordance with the risk each individual exposed. Conclusion: Rather than applying the same screening method to populations with different risk levels, a health screening program will be constructed in consideration of the individual's health level and exposure risk, and the healthcare delivery system will be reorganized so that screening and treatment services can be linked.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.179-185
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• 2021

BACKGROUND: Tomato genome editing using CRISPR-Cas9 is being actively conducted in recent days, and lots of plant researches have been aiming to develop high valued crops by editing target genes without inserting foreign genes. Many researchers have been involved in the manipulation of the crop ripening process because fruit ripening is an important fruit phenotype for increasing fruit shelf life, taste, and texture of crops. This paper intends to evaluate target sgRNA to edit the two ripening-related genes encoding pectate lyase (PL) and phytoene synthase (Psy) with the CRISPR-Cas9 system. METHODS AND RESULTS: The CRISPR-Cas9 expression vector was cloned to target the PL (Solyc03g111690), Psy1 (Solyc03g031860), and Psy2 (Solyc02g081330) genes, which are the ripening genes of tomatoes. Tomatoes injected with Agrobacterium containing the CRISPR-Cas9 expression vector were further cultured for 5 days and used to check gene editing efficiency. As a result of the target gene sequence analysis by the next generation sequencing method, gene editing efficiency was calculated, and the efficient target location was selected for the PL and Psy genes. CONCLUSION: Therefore, this study was aimed to establish target sgRNA data that could have higher efficiency of the CRISPR-Cas9 system to obtain the delayed ripening phenotype of tomato. The developed method and sgRNA information is expected to be utilized in the development of various crops to manage its ripening processes.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.48.1-48.15
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• 2021

Background: Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is a swine enteropathogenic coronavirus that has devastated the swine industry in South Korea over the last 30 years. The lack of an effective method to control the endemics has led to a surge in PEDV recurrences in affected farms throughout the country. Objectives: In the first step toward establishing systematic monitoring of and active control measures over the swine populations, we constructed an assessment model that evaluates the status of (1) biosecurity, (2) herd immunity, and (3) virus circulation in each of the PEDV-infected farms. Methods: A total of 13 farrow-to-finish pig farms with a history of acute PEDV infection on Jeju Island were chosen for this study. The potential risk of the recurrence in these farms was estimated through on-site data collection and laboratory examination. Results: Overall, the data indicated that a considerable number of the PEDV-infected farms had lax biosecurity, achieved incomplete protective immunity in the sows despite multi-dose vaccination, and served as incubators of the circulating virus; thus, they face an increased risk of recurrent outbreaks. Intriguingly, our results suggest that after an outbreak, a farm requires proactive tasks, including reinforcing biosecurity, conducting serological and virus monitoring to check the sows' immunity and to identify the animals exposed to PEDV, and improving the vaccination scheme and disinfection practices if needed. Conclusions: The present study highlights the significance of coordinated PEDV management in infected farms to reduce the risk of recurrence and further contribute towards the national eradication of PEDV.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.462-470
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• 2021

Background: Fatigue is pervasive, under-reported, and potentially deadly where flight operations are concerned. The aviation industry appears to lack a standardized, practical, and easily replicable protocol for fatigue risk assessment which can be consistently applied across operators. Aim: Our paper sought to present a framework, supported by real-world data with subjective and objective parameters, to monitor aircrew fatigue and performance, and to determine the safe crew configuration for commercial airline operations. Methods: Our protocol identified risk factors for fatigue-induced performance degradation as triggers for fatigue risk and performance assessment. Using both subjective and objective measurements of sleep, fatigue, and performance in the form of instruments such as the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale, Samn-Perelli Crew Status Check, Psychomotor Vigilance Task, sleep logs, and a wearable actigraph for sleep log correlation and sleep duration and quality charting, a workflow flagging fatigue-prone flight operations for risk mitigation was developed and trialed. Results: In an operational study aimed at occupational assessment of fatigue and performance in airline pilots on a three-men crew versus a four-men crew for a long-haul flight, we affirmed the technical feasibility of our proposed framework and approach, the validity of the battery of assessment instruments, and the meaningful interpretation of fatigue and work performance indicators to enable the formulation of safe work recommendations. Conclusion: A standardized occupational assessment protocol like ours is useful to achieve consistency and objectivity in the occupational assessment of fatigue and work performance.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.471-476
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• 2018

Background: Astragalus membranaceus belonging to the Leguminosae family is often utilized as a traditional medicine. The aim of this study was to elucidate the basic breeding information required to develop short stem A. membranaceus cultivars. Methods and Results: Roots of A. membranaceus advanced yield trial (AYT) lines were harvested in late October 2017. Root yield of six AYT lines were increased in a range of 8.9 - 74.8% compared with 'Aseong' as control (check variety). The height of seven AYT lines were shorter than that of 'Aseong'. In addition, stem diameter of nine AYT lines was thicker than that of 'Aseong'. Consequently, 1502-56, 1503-90, and 1510-80 were selected as elite lines for the development of short stem cultivars. HPLC analysis was perfromed to identify lines with high level active components such as calycosin-7-O-${\beta}$-D-glucoside and calycosin. The levels of both active components were higher in 1502-56, and 1503-90, but not in 1510-80 compared to 'Aseong'. In addition, 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity was higher in the 1502-56 compared to 'Aseong'. Considering these results, two AYT lines, 1502-56 and 1503-90 were selected as short stem lines with high calycosin-7-O-${\beta}$-D-glucoside and calycosin content. Conclusions: Taken together, Two short stem lines were identified in this study. In our future study, regional yield trial (RYT) will be conducted using these selected lines to develop new cultivars.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.398-410
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• 2019

Purpose: This study used a system dynamics methodology to identify correlation and nonlinear feedback structures among factors affecting adolescent cyberbullying victims (CV) in Korea and to construct and verify a simulation model. Methods: Factors affecting CV were identified by reviewing a theoretical background in existing literature and referencing various statistical data. Related variables were identified through content validity verification by an expert group, after which a causal loop diagram (CLD) was constructed based on the variables. A stock-flow diagram (SFD) using Vensim Professional 7.3 was used to establish a CV model. Results: Based on the literature review and expert verification, 22 variables associated with CV were identified and the CLD was prepared. Next, a model was developed by converting the CLD to an SFD. The simulation results showed that the variables such as negative emotions, stress levels, high levels of conflict in schools, parental monitoring, and time spent using new media had the strongest effects on CV. The model's validity was verified using equation check, sensitivity analysis for timestep and simulation with 4 CV adolescent. Conclusion: The system dynamics model constructed in this study can be used to develop intervention strategies in schools that are focused on counseling that can prevent cyberbullying and assist in the victims' recovery by formulating a feedback structure and capturing the dynamic changes observed in CV. To prevent cyberbullying, it is necessary to develop more effective strategies such as prevention education, counseling and treatment that considers factors pertaining to the individual, family, school, and media.