• Journal of Korea Society of Industrial Information Systems
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.21-28
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• 2022

Fine dust enters the lungs or blood vessels through the respiratory tract through the air. Recently, due to the fine dust problem, the demand for air purifiers in Korea is also increasing rapidly. Moss is the oldest terrestrial plant, and it is known that it has the property of adsorbing and decomposing heavy metals and fine dust. To compare the effect of reducing fine dust between moss and the existing chemical filter (Hepa), a cube of 1 m³ was manufactured and the amount of fine dust reduction under a controlled environment was compared. Under the fine dust conditions, an umbrella moss filter, rat tail moss filter, feather moss filter, and silk moss filter were inserted for a total of 40 experiments, 10 times each in 4 different situations. The difference between the amount after 30 minutes was statistically significant for all filters. However, as a result of the test, it was confirmed that there was no statistically significant difference between filters for fine dust, mixed gas, CO₂, and O₂. In particular, it was confirmed that the previously claimed effect of oxygen generation was almost nonexistent. Through this result, it was confirmed that the reduction of fine dust is effective regardless of the species view of moss, and it is expected to replace or supplement the chemical filter of the existing air purifier through future improvement.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2023

The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between diabetes and liver function test results. Unlike type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hepatogenous diabetes is caused by abnormal liver function. In this study, the relationship between liver enzymes, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and the AST/ALT ratio (De Ritis ratio), indicating liver function, and diabetes-related tests was analyzed. The results of the study showed a positive correlation between AST and glucose (r=0.14, P<0.01), ALT and glucose (r=0.21, P<0.01), AST and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (r=0.15, P<0.01), and ALT and HbA1c (r=0.20, P<0.01). The De Ritis ratio showed a negative correlation with glucose (r=-0.20, P<0.01) and HbA1c (r=-0.14, P<0.01). The results of regression analysis with AST, ALT, and the De Ritis ratio as independent variables and glucose (R²=0.05) and HbA1c (R²=0.04) as dependent variables revealed that the independent variables had a statistically significant effect on the dependent variables. AST showed a lower correlation between blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin than ALT, and an increase in ALT caused a decrease in the De Ritis ratio. Therefore, the De Ritis ratio can be said to be meaningful in relation to diabetes-related tests.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.112 no.1
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• pp.93-104
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• 2023

Life expectancy is increasing due to the aging of the population, which is in turn exacerbating problems such as the prevalence of various geriatric diseases. This study was established to provide basic data for the expansion of forest healing activities for the elderly by systematically analyzing the literature on how such activities affect this age group. For the collection of studies, the Korean databases RISS, KISS, Korea Med, and Science On were used, while PubMed, Cochrane Central, MDPI, and Google Scholar were used to identify reports published elsewhere. To assess the quality of the methodology used in the collected studies, the risk of bias was analyzed using Cochrane's RoB2 and RoBANS. Among 1,856 reports initially identified, 21 were finally selected for analysis in this study, which were limited to research papers on forest healing activities for the elderly published between 2000 and January 2022. In this review, the subjects were those aged 60 or older, with a total of 750 participants, ranging from at least 7 to a maximum of 88 per study. The analysis showed that the most frequently performed tests in each category were on depression as a psychological indicator in 7 studies, MMSE(Mini Mental State Examination) as a cognitive indicator in 2 studies, on blood pressure as a physiological indicator in 4 studies, on melatonin as a biochemical indicator in 2 studies, and on body fat and muscle strength as physical indicators in 3 studies. Of the 21 studies, 19 used two or more test items, with psychological indicators being most commonly measured. For the future application of forest healing activities for the elderly, various forest healing programs to prevent cognitive function decline should be developed and distributed, and follow-up studies should be continuously presented to provide the basis for forest healing activities.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.40-45
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• 2006

Objectives : This study was aimed to assess the distribution of Sasang constitution(SC) in acute stroke patients. Methods : We assessed the type of SC of acute stroke patients in the oriental medical hospitals of 3 universities located in metropolitan region from October 2005 to October 2006 by Questionnaire for the Sasang Constitution Clssification II(QSCCII). We investigated general characteristics, stroke type, blood test results, alcohol drinking, smoking and dietary preferences according to SC. Results : 236 subjects were included into the final analysis. 1. This study showed that the proportion of So-yang was highest of all constitutions(45.3%). And the body weight, body mass index, the waist circumference(WC), the hip circumference(HC), and the WC/HC ratio recorded the significantly high result in Tae-eum. 2. In the TOAST classification, SVO was the major type occupying 81.7% in the total subjects. 3. In Tae-eum, total cholesterol, triglyceride and 2 hours postprandial plasma glucose level were the highest and fasting glucose was significantly highest of all constitutions. Conclusion : From this study, we could roughly seize the distribution of Sasang constitution in acute stroke patients. For the further research, it seems to be necessary to construct fundamental databases for stroke by increasing the number of patients and by analyzing delicate characteristics of each constitution type.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.465-472
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• 2023

In predicting vascular disease, this study attempted to identify changes in the carotid intima-media thickness in patients who underwent carotid artery ultrasonography and hematological tests and to find out the effect of risk factors on the expression of atherosclerotic plaque. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 469 healthy adults who visited the hospital for the purpose of medical examination and performed carotid artery ultrasonography. As a result, carotid intima-media thickness, age, body mass index, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and glucose were analyzed as significant predictors of atherosclerotic plaque (p<0.001). The risk ratio was calculated based on the cut off value of the risk factors of the atherosclerotic plaque determined through ROC curve analysis, followed by 8.06 times the carotid intima-media thickness, 7.53 times the age, 3.97 times the waist circumference and 2.02 times the glucose. Therefore, in this study it was possible to prepare a Korean standard for clinical risk factors that affect the presence of absence of atherosclerotic plaque and observation of carotid artery ultrasonography is thought to help diagnose or predict cardiovascular disease early.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.17-24
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• 2023

Purpose: In the past, detection of metabolic abnormalities in plasma amino acid (PAA) and urine organic acid (UOA) has been widely used to diagnose clinical mitochondrial diseases, such as mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS). In this study, the diagnostic values of PAA and UOA were reviewed, and their effectiveness in the diagnosis of MELAS was examined retrospectively. Methods: Blood and urine samples at the time of diagnosis were collected from all clinically diagnosed MELAS patients (n=31), and PAA and UOA tests were performed. All samples were collected in a fasting state to minimize artifacts in the results. The difference in the ratio of abnormal metabolites of PAA and UOA at initial diagnosis was statistically compared between the MELAS with genetic confirmation (n=19, m.3243A>G mutation) and MELAS without genetic confirmation (n=12) groups. The MELAS without genetic confirmation group was used as control. Results: Comparison of PAA and UOA between the two groups revealed that no abnormal metabolites showed characteristic differences between gene-confirmed MELAS patients with and those without genetic confirmation. Conclusions: Abnormal values of metabolites in PAA or UOA might be useful as a screening test but are not sufficient to diagnose MELAS patients.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.439-454
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• 2023

Objectives: As Korea transitions into an aging society, the incidence of cerebrovascular disease is expected to increase. Herbal medicine is commonly used in Oriental medicine to treat cerebrovascular disease. However, there is insufficient clinical evidence to actively support the safety of herbal medicine in clinical practice. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the toxicity and safety of four herbal medicines (Cheongsimyeonja-tang, Dodam-tang, Hyeolbuchukso-tang, and Boshiniknai-tang) in patients with cerebrovascular disease. Methods: This study used electronic medical records to analyze patients admitted to an oriental medicine hospital from April 1, 2017, to December 31, 2020. Liver and renal function values at the time of admission and discharge were compared. Results: A total of 25 patients were included in this study. We found no significant differences in various variables, such as complete blood count, liver-renal function test, and urine, before and after the administration of the four herbal medicines. Additionally, no significant adverse events related to herbal medicine were observed. Conclusions: This study confirmed the safety of the four herbal medicines in patients with cerebrovascular disease who were hospitalized in a single Oriental medicine hospital.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.1-15
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• 2023

Objectives We aimed to find out the improvement effect of Baekhogainsam-tang (Baihu Jia Renshen-tang, BIT) on metabolic syndrome and alteration of microbiota and gene expression. Methods We used male C57BI/6 mice and randomly assigned them into three groups. Normal control group was fed 10% kcal% fat diet, high-fat diet (HFD) group was fed 45% kcal% fat diet and 10% fructose water. BIT group was fed same diet as HFD group and treated by BIT for once daily, 6 days per week, total 8 weeks. We measured their body weight and food intake every week and performed oral glucose tolerance test 1 week before the end of the study. Then we collected the blood sample to measure triglyceride, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, insulin, and hemoglobin A1c. We harvested tissue of liver, muscle, fat, and large intestine for quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and histopathological examination. Fresh fecal samples were collected from each animal to verify alterations of gut microbiota and we used RNA from liver tissue for microarray analysis. Results The body weight and fat weight of BIT group were reduced compared to HFD group. The qPCR markers usually up-regulated in metabolic syndrome were decreased in BIT group. Bacteroides were higher in BIT group than other groups. There were also differences in gene expressions between two groups such as Cyp3a11 and Scd1. Conclusions We could find out BIT can ameliorate metabolic syndrome and suggest its effect is related to gut microbiota composition and gene expression pattern.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.157-165
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• 2007

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of fructose(F) or sucrose(S) and guar gum intake on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in 15-week-old male Goto-Kakizaki(GK) rats. Fifty rats were randomly assigned to 5 groups which were different in carbohydrate(25% of carbohydrate) and fiber(5% w/w) sources. The carbohydrate(CHO) sources of each group were comstarch(control group, 100% of CHO), fructose with cellulose(F), fructose with guar gum(FG), sucrose with cellulose(S), and sucrose with guar gum(SG). Each group was fed exterimental diet for 4 weeks. We measured food intake, body weight gain, adipose tissues weight and organs weight. We conducted oral glucose tolerance test(OGTT) and measured plasma insulin concentration to examine carbohydrate metabolism. To evaluate lipid metabolism, we measured the lipid profile of plasma, liver and feces. Food intake and weight gain of FG or SG groups tended to be less than those of F or S groups. Perirenal and epididymal fat pad weights of SG group were significantly lower than those of S group and those of FG group tended to be lower than those of F group. In OGTT, blood glucose values of F or S groups were significantly higher than those of C group, and FG or SG groups tended to be lower than those of F or S groups during the experimental time. The area under the curve(AUC) of C group was significantly highest among the groups, AUC and plasma insulin concentration of FG or SG groups tended to be lower than those of F or S groups. Plasma and hepatic triglyceride (TG) of FG and SG groups were significantly lower than those of F and S groups, plasma and hepatic total lipid(TL) and total cholesterol(TC) of FG and SG groups tended to be lower than those of F and S groups. Fecal TL, TG and TC of FG or SG groups tended to be higher than those of F and S groups. In conclusion, intake of guar gum should improve carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in partial substitution of fructose or sucrose for cornstarch in GK rats.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.435-446
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of strength exercise program(60 minutes/day, 3 times/week) on health-related fitness and the factor of metabolic syndrome in the older at senior care facilities during 12 weeks. Twenty-seven volunteers were recruited for the study and divided into two groups: 15 persons(82.6yrs) undertook a continuous 12 weeks strength exercise program(EG), and 12 persons(78.9yrs) served as a control group(CG). The data process of this study calculated as mean(M) and standard Deviation(SD) of all measured value, used repeated measure ANOVA, and paired t-test. The significant level of hypothesis verification is set-up as α=.05. After 12 weeks in EG, health-related fitness increased by an average of 15.2% for right grip strength(p<.05), 26.9% for left grip strength(p<.05), 32.7% for chair stand(p<.05), 92.5% for one leg stand(p<.05), 29.6% for sit and reach(p<.05), and 34.5% for TUG(p<.05); CG showed no difference between pre and post. In the factor of metabolic syndrome, Systolic BP(3.1mmHg) and fasting blood glucose(7.4mg/dl) decreased in the EG group(p<.05). In summary, the strength exercise program leads to a genuine increase in health-related fitness and decrease in the factor of metabolic syndrome in the older adults. The well planned strength exercise seems to be an important intervention to improve function fitness in this population.