• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.347-368
• /
• 2017

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of Zizyphus jujuba var. spinosa Composite oil(ZjJ-C_oil) and Aralia cordata var. continentalis Composite oil(ARC-C_oil) to NC/Nga mice induced in Atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions by DNCB. NC/Nga mice which have been induced to Atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions by DNCB are divided into 4 groups, the first is the mice which have been spread with izyphus jujuba var. spinosa Composite oil(ZjJ-C_oil), the second is the mice which have been spread with Aralia cordata var. continentalis Composite oil(ARC-C_oil), the third is which have been spread with dexamethasone (Dexa.) 0.5% on their Atopic lesion, the last is the control group. Then We analyzed skin clinical score, blood sample of each group of measure state of the dorsal skin, the number of immunocytes, and resect the skin lesion to anlayze the state of cells. There are meaningful results of measuring the number of IgE, IL-4, IL-13, $IFN-{\gamma}$, IL-5, the total cells in ALN, dorsal skin, CD4+ Th, CD11b+/Gr-1+ in PBMCs, CD4+ Th, B220+/CD23+ in ALN, $CD4^+$, $CD8^+$ Th in dorsal skin, the level of COX-2, $TNF-{\alpha}$, $TGF-{\beta}1$, IL-4, IL-13 mRNA, the state of the skin lesion and cells in the group with ZjJ-C_oil, ARC-C_oil cream in comprarison with the control group.

• Journal of Mushroom
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.176-183
• /
• 2021

In this study, the anti-inflammatory activity of an extract of the fruiting body of the Tuber himalayense (TH) truffle collected from oak growing areas in Korea was investigated. The extract was not cytotoxic at concentrations below 100 ㎍/mL in an experiment evaluating inflammation inhibitory effect in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE₂) production was inhibited by the extract in a concentration-dependent manner. Western blot assay results indicated that the anti-inflammatory activity of TH extract was likely caused by the reduced production of NO and PGE₂ via suppression of induced NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 gene expression. In addition, TH extract effectively inhibited the production of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 by macrophages. Thus, TH extract effectively inhibits the overexpression of various inflammatory mediators and could be valuable in formulating anti-inflammatory foods and medicines that target these components.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
• /
• v.48 no.4
• /
• pp.221-249
• /
• 2017

This study aims to investigate determinants that affect job retention of injured workers depending upon types of return to work in order to suggest define the intervention priority for those who returned to original works and for those who did not. After constructing explaining variables based on literature reviews, determinants were verified analyzing 1,292 people using Panel Study of Worker's Compensation Insurance(PSWCI) data. The job retention period turned out to be 46.6 months for those who returned to original work and 34.2 month for those who returned to new works. Injured workers who return to new works tend to have more unemployment experiences. As a result of Cox proportional regression analysis, the longer it takes to return to work, the longer both groups tend to retain after the accident. Age, recuperation period, health status, psycho-social rehabilitation, education and occupational training also affect on job retention probability for those who return to new work. Based upon the analyzed result, setting up an adequate duration for return-to-work, intervention for injured workers who experienced vulnerable working condition before the accident and continuous case management after return-to-work are suggested.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
• /
• v.19 no.6
• /
• pp.1089-1098
• /
• 2018

Objective: To investigate the diagnostic yield of contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) in Crohn's disease (CD) patients presenting with acute severe lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB), and the role of CT in predicting the risk of rebleeding. Materials and Methods: A consecutive series of 110 CD patients presenting with acute severe LGIB between 2005 and 2016 were analyzed. Among them, 86 patients who had undergone contrast-enhanced CT constituted the study cohort. The diagnostic yield of CT for detecting contrast extravasation was obtained for the entire cohort and compared between different CT techniques. In a subgroup of 62 patients who had undergone CT enterography (CTE) and showed a negative result for extravasation on CTE, the association between various clinical and CTE parameters and the risk of rebleeding during subsequent follow-up was investigated using Cox regression analysis. Results: The diagnostic yield of CT was 10.5% (9 of 86 patients). The yield did not significantly differ between single-phase and multiphase examinations (p > 0.999), or between non-enterographic CT and CTE (p = 0.388). Extensive CD (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 3.27; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09-9.80; p = 0.034) and bowel wall-to-artery enhancement ratio (adjusted HR, 2.81; 95% CI, 1.21-6.54; p = 0.016) were significantly independently associated with increased rebleeding risks, whereas anti-tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ therapy after the bleeding independently decreased the risk of rebleeding (adjusted HR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.07-0.95; p = 0.041). Conclusion: The diagnostic yield of contrast-enhanced CT was not high in CD patients presenting with acute severe LGIB. Nevertheless, even a negative CTE may be beneficial as it can help predict the risk of later rebleeding.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.275-284
• /
• 2021

Survival analysis was used to analyze whether there is a difference in the effect of leverage on corporate failure according to the firm size. A total of 25,250 (year-company) companies listed on the Korea Stock Exchange and KOSDAQ market from 1999 to 2019 were analyzed. First, the increase in leverage generally acts as a factor that increases the possibility of corporate failure. On the other hand, the increase in the trade payable ratio lowered the possibility of failure of the company. The increase in corporate trade payable was perceived as a factor in reducing the possibility of corporate failure because it was considered the active development of business activities or active use of interest-free debt rather than leading to an increase in corporate risk. Second, a higher leverage ratio and trade payable ratio in large firms lowered the possibility of corporate failure. In the SMEs, all types of leverage increases are a factor that increases corporate failure. Overall, the effect of leverage on corporate failure differs according to the size of the company.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.56 no.1
• /
• pp.70-85
• /
• 2023

Purpose: Several studies have been conducted on the relationship between green tea intake and metabolic syndrome. However, compared to the studies carried out internationally, there is inadequate research on the relationship between domestic green tea consumption and metabolic syndrome. Therefore, in this study, the general characteristics of Koreans according to their green tea intake and its association with metabolic syndrome were examined. Methods: A total of 44,611 subjects were included in the study, and analysis was carried out using data from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES) for Korean adults aged 40 or older. Green tea consumption was estimated using 106 verified food frequency questionnaires (FFQ). Metabolic syndrome was defined using the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III) parameters. After adjusting for confounding variables by performing a Cox regression analysis, the association between green tea consumption and metabolic syndrome was confirmed through the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: The average incidence of metabolic syndrome was 18.7% (20.8% in men and 17.8% in women). Compared to those who drank almost no green tea, in subject groups consuming more than one cup of green tea a day, the metabolic syndrome incidence was significantly reduced by 15% (HR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.74-0.96; p trend = 0.0200) among men and by 19% (HR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.73-0.90; p trend < 0.0001) among women. In addition, the biomarkers related to metabolic syndrome also tended to decrease overall in these groups. Conclusion: This study concluded that as the intake of green tea increased, the incidence of metabolic syndrome and related indicators decreased. Therefore, green tea intake is believed to have a positive effect on the prevention and management of the metabolic syndrome.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.17-26
• /
• 2023

Objectives : A persistent inflammatory response can cause diseases such as fibrosis, cancer, and allergies. This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of Curcumae longae Rhizoma and Cinnamomi Ramulus Mixture (CCM) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Methods : The total polyphenol and flavonoid contents of CCM were confirmed through an in vitro experiment. Also, radical scavenging activities of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and Hydroxyl were confirmed. Moreover, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) activity were confirmed. After, CCM (50, 100, and 200 ㎍/mL) were applied to 0.1 ㎍/mL LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. The levels of nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines in the supernatant fraction were determined. Also, the expressions of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathways were detected using Western blot. Results : As a result of in vitro experiments, there was an excellent antioxidant activity in CCM-treated cells. In addition, in RAW264.7 cells stimulated with LPS, the increased NO level was inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner by the treatment of CCM. In addition, inflammatory cytokines production were significantly inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner in CCM-treated group. CCM treatment significantly decreased the protein expressions of MAPKs. Moreover, the expressions of NF-κBp65 and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were significantly decreased when 200 mg/kg of CCM was applied, and phospho-inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B-α (p-IκBα) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were significantly decreased at all concentrations treated with CCM. Conclusion : Our findings show that CCM exhibited excellent antioxidant activity and exhibited superior anti-inflammatory effect through the MAPKs and NF-κB pathways in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.56 no.3
• /
• pp.155-161
• /
• 2023

Background: Surgical closure of an atrial septal defect (ASD) is infrequently indicated during infancy. We evaluated the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients who underwent surgical ASD closure during infancy. Methods: A single-center retrospective review was performed for 39 patients (19 males) who underwent surgical ASD closure during infancy between 1993 and 2020. The median body weight percentile at the time of operation was 9.3. Results: During a median follow-up of 60.9 months, 4 late deaths occurred due to chronic respiratory failure. A preoperative history of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) was the only risk factor for late mortality identified in Cox regression (hazard ratio, 3.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.75-163.04; p=0.015). The 5-year survival rate was significantly lower in patients with preoperative history of BPD (97.0% vs. 50.0%, p<0.001) and preoperative ventilatory support (97.1% vs. 40.4%, p<0.001). There were significant postoperative increases in left ventricular end-diastolic (p=0.017), end-systolic (p=0.014), and stroke volume (p=0.013) indices. A generalized estimated equation model showed significantly better postoperative improvement in body weight percentiles in patients with lower weight percentiles at the time of operation (<10th percentile, p=0.01) and larger indexed ASD diameter (≥45 mm/m², p=0.025). Conclusion: Patients with ASD necessitating surgical closure during infancy are extremely small preoperatively and remain small even after surgical closure. However, postoperative somatic growth was more prominent in smaller patients with larger defects, which may be attributable to an increase in postoperative cardiac output due to changes in ventricular septal configuration. The benefits of ASD closure in patients with BPD are undetermined.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.425-434
• /
• 2021

Objective: To investigate the potential value of ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT in predicting the survival of patients with primary tracheal malignant tumors. Materials and Methods: An analysis of FDG PET/CT findings in 37 primary tracheal malignant tumor patients with a median follow-up period of 43.2 months (range, 10.8-143.2 months) was performed. Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were used to assess the associations between quantitative ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT parameters, other clinic-pathological factors, and overall survival (OS). A risk prognosis model was established according to the independent prognostic factors identified on multivariate analysis. A survival curve determined by the Kaplan-Meier method was used to assess whether the prognosis prediction model could effectively stratify patients with different risks factors. Results: The median survival time of the 37 patients with tracheal tumors was 38.0 months, with a 95% confidence interval of 10.8 to 65.2 months. The 3-year, 5-year and 10-year survival rate were 54.1%, 43.2%, and 16.2%, respectively. The metabolic tumor volume (MTV), total lesion glycolysis (TLG), maximum standardized uptake value, age, pathological type, extension categories, and lymph node stage were included in multivariate analyses. Multivariate analysis showed MTV (p = 0.011), TLG (p = 0.020), pathological type (p = 0.037), and extension categories (p = 0.038) were independent prognostic factors for OS. Additionally, assessment of the survival curve using the Kaplan-Meier method showed that our prognosis prediction model can effectively stratify patients with different risks factors (p < 0.001). Conclusion: This study shows that ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT can predict the survival of patients with primary tracheal malignant tumors. Patients with an MTV > 5.19, a TLG > 16.94 on PET/CT scans, squamous cell carcinoma, and non-E1 were more likely to have a reduced OS.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.91-105
• /
• 2024

Plantago asiatica L. (P. asiatica) is a perennial plant belonging to the plantaginaceae and is useful in treating a various diseases such as wounds, bronchitis, and chronic constipation. The bioactive effects of P. asiatica extract was evaluated to determine its potential for use as a variety materials in the food, pharmaceutical, and agricultural industries. Polyphenol and flavonoid contents, free radical scavenging, reducing power activity, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) expression were measured to identify the antioxidative activity. Anti-inflammatory effects were evaluated via analysis of nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory protein expression in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cell. As a result of measuring the antioxidant activities of the P. asiatica extract, the total polyphenol content was 50.91±0.78 mg gallic acid equivalents/g and the flavonoid content was 100.99±0.44 mg rutin equivalents/g, and both DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities and reducing power increased depending on the concentration. Also, intracellular ROS production was inhibited by the P. asiatica extract. No cytotoxicity was observed when P. asiatica extract was treated, and NO and inflammatory protein expression were inhibited, and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) phosphorylation was also inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner. In conclusion, P. asiatica is a functional natural resources of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents that can be used in various industries, including food and agriculture.