• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.1-9
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• 2015

Objectives : The present study was conducted to examine whether Toosendan Fructus has an ameliorative effect on diabetes-induced alterations such as oxidative stress and inflammation in the pancreas of non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, a model of human type I diabetes. Methods : Extracts of Toosendan Fructus (ETF) were administered to NOD mice at three doses (50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg). Mice at 18 weeks of age were measured glucose tolerance using intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test. After 28 weeks of ETF treatment, glucose, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and proinflammatory cytokines in serum, western blot analyses and a histopathological examination in pancreas tissue, and on the onset of diabetes were investigated. Results : The results showed that levels of glucose, glucose tolerance, TC, TG, interferon-${\gamma}$, interleukin (IL)-1 ${\beta}$, IL-6, and IL-12 in serum were down-regulated, while IL-4, IL-10, SOD, and catalase significantly increased. In addition, ETF improved protein expression of proinflammatory mediaters (such as cyclooxygenase-2, and inducible nitric oxide synthase) and a proapoptotic protein (caspase-3) in the pancreatic tissue. Also, in the groups treated with ETF (100 mg/kg or 200 mg/kg), insulitis and infiltration of granulocytes were alleviated. Conclusions : Based on these results, the anti-diabetic effect of ETF may be due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect. Our findings support the therapeutic evidence for Toosendan Fructus ameliorating the development of diabetic pancreatic damage via regulating inflammation and apoptosis. Our future studies will be focused on the search for active compounds in these extracts.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.161-169
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• 2021

Objectives: Adolescent suicide is a serious social problem. Adolescent alcohol use is one of the most important risk factors for adolescent suicide. This study aimed to identify the relationship between drinking habits and suicide among Korean adolescents. Methods: Data from the 14th and 15th Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey, conducted in 2018 and 2019, were used for analysis. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify the relationship between drinking habits-including the age of drinking initiation, frequency of drinking, average drinking amount, frequency of drunkenness-and suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts. Results: Even after adjusting for age, sex, school grade, academic achievement, socioeconomic status, depression, stress, and drinking habits, the frequencies of drinking and drunkenness increased the risk of suicide attempts. Suicide attempts were associated with the frequency of drinking in girls and middle school students, and with the frequency of drunkenness in boys and high school students. Conclusion: This study identified associations between drinking habits (the age of drinking initiation, frequency of drinking, average amount of drinking, frequency of drunkenness) and suicidal behavior in adolescents. Our findings suggest that to prevent adolescent suicide, it might be necessary to investigate drinking habits, including the frequencies of drinking and drunkenness. Moreover, considering the differences in sex and school grade, it is important to include the individual group characteristics when evaluating drinking habits.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.79-88
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aims to identify the factors that influence the experience of falls among older adults living in the community. Methods: The study participants were 70,887 65-year-olds who participated in the 2021 Community Health Survey. The study employed the Rao-scott x 2 test to examine the variation in fall experiences based on the characteristics of the older adults. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to investigate these characteristics' impact on older adults' fall experiences. Results: The proportion of subjects in fall experience was 16.6%. The factors influencing the subject's fall experience were sex (odds ratio [OR]=1.47, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.37~1.57), age (OR=1.48, 95% CI=1.34~1.65), family structure (OR=1.23, 95% CI=1.15~1.31), body mass index (OR=1.13, 95% CI=1.06~1.20), diabetes (OR=1.12, 95% CI=1.06~1.20), depression experiences (OR=1.56, 95% CI=1.42~1.70), stress (OR=1.12, 95% CI=1.05~1.19), subjective health status (OR=1.77, 95% CI=1.63~1.92), life satisfaction (OR=1.57, 95% CI=1.41~1.76), and chewing discomfort (OR=1.29, 95% CI=1.21~1.38). Conclusion: Efforts should be made to effectively educate and develop various programs aimed at reducing falls among older adults. It is essential to emphasize the importance of continuous and active attention to falls in the older adult population.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2023

The ventral midline approach (VMA) and right flank approach (RFA) are common procedures for the sterilization of bitches. This study compared the different parameters viz. total duration of surgery, recovery time, and length of the incision as well as body temperature, heart rate, respiration rate, and SpO2 in each approach. Twenty (20) bitches were divided randomly for the RFA and VMA. Meloxicam (0.2 mg/kg) was administered subcutaneously half an hour before the induction to provide preemptive analgesia. Diazepam and ketamine were administered intravenously at dose rates of 0.25 mg/kg and 2.5 mg/kg, and 0.17 mg/kg and 3.33 mg/kg, respectively to produce and maintain anesthesia. Each parameter was recorded at the pre-operative, operative and post-operative times. The average duration of surgery and length of incision of RFA (16.1 ± 5.13 min and 2.44 ± 0.83 cm) were significantly lower (p < 0.05) than the VMA (21.3 ± 5.48 min and 3.53 ± 0.7 cm). The operated bitches showed hypothermia (p < 0.05) at 1 hour compared to baseline and 24 hours of surgery. Heart and respiration rates increased significantly (p < 0.05) during traction and severing of ovarian ligaments in bitches within the RFA group, but there was no significant difference within VMA approaches. The sedation score was significantly higher (p < 0.05) at 1 hour after surgery in both approaches. Based on the duration of surgery and length of incision RFA approach was quick and minimal skin wound. Further studies on bitches considering molecular investigations of surgical stress are imperative.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.84 no.4
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• pp.547-560
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• 2022

By presetting various reinforcement diameters in topology optimization with the discrete model finite element analysis, an algorithm of bidirectional evolutionary structural optimization of multi-level reinforcement diameter is presented to obtain the optimal reinforcement topologies which describe the degree of stress of different parts. The results of a comparative study on different reinforcement feasible domain demonstrate that the more angle types of reinforcement are arranged in the initial domain, the higher utilization rate of reinforcement of the optimal topology becomes. According to the nonlinear finite element analysis of some deep beam examples, the ones designed with the optimization results have a certain advantage in ultimate bearing capacity, although their failure modes are greatly affected by the reinforcement feasible domain. Furthermore, the bearing capacity can be improved when constructional reinforcements are added in the subsequent design. However the adding would change the relative magnitude of the bearing capacity between the normal and inclined section, or the relative magnitude between the flexural and shear capacity within the inclined section, which affects the failure modes of components. Meanwhile, the adding would reduce the deformation capacity of the components as well. It is suggested that the inclined reinforcement and the constructional reinforcement should be added properly to ensure a desired ductile failure mode for components.

• Journal of Advanced Technology Convergence
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.1-7
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• 2024

This study was conducted on 2,380 people aged 40-64 years old among the subjects of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2021, the 3rd year of the 8th period. In order to identify factors influencing disease morbidity and health-related quality of life according to household type, general characteristics, diseases, etc. Morbidity and physical factors were compared and analyzed. The data were analyzed after creating a weighted complex sample plan file using the spss 25.0 program, and the significance level was set at .05. As a result of the analysis, factors affecting single-person households were education level, restrictions of activity, and depression, and factors affecting multi-person households were gender, smoking, restrictions of activity, dyslipidemia, and depression. Subjective health status showed a positive correlation with health-related quality of life, and anxiety and stress showed a negative correlation. Based on the results of this study, It is that propose individual quality-of-life improvement interventions that take into account each influencing factor for each household type.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.15-26
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• 2024

Objectives: The objective of this study is to develop a specialized clinical research protocol for acupuncture treatment specifically designed for disaster survivors based on insights from an expert survey. Methods: An expert panel comprising specialists in neuropsychiatry, acupuncture, and clinical research methodology was assembled. Initial data to inform the clinical research protocol design was collected utilizing open-ended responses, multiple-choice questions, and a 5-point Likert scale to gauge agreement levels. Next, this data was disseminated to a panel of experts. A cohesive clinical research protocol was then formulated during a core panel meeting by integrating insights from a panel of 10 experts. Results: The protocol developed herein entails a non-randomized controlled study involving participants aged 19~64 years old who have been identified as high-risk or cautious according to the National Trauma Center screening test. The study design includes the establishment of an active control group, which allows for the assessment of an additional effect through comparison with conventional therapy. The selected acupuncture approach involves a combination of manual acupuncture and ear acupuncture. For clinical outcome assessment, the Clinician-Administered Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Scale for DSM-5 was proposed to gauge trauma symptoms. Representative scales for various domains such as depression, anxiety, anger, insomnia, pain, and quality of life were also provided for reference. Conclusions: The developed protocol is anticipated to streamline the swift design and initiation of clinical trials during disaster scenarios. It is also designed to be scalable, thereby enabling its application in both non-randomized control group studies and single-group before-and-after comparisons.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.38 no.11
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• pp.69-86
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• 2022

The railway is widely used to transport passengers and freight due to its punctuality and large transport capacity. The recent remarkable development in construction technology enables various subsea railway tunnels for continent-continent or continent-island connectivity. In Korea, design and construction experience is primarily based on the successful completion of the Boryeong subsea tunnel (2021) and the Gadeok subsea tunnel (2010). However, frequent earthquakes with diverse magnitudes, globally induced and continuously increased the awareness of seismic risks and the frequency of domestic earthquakes. The effect of an earthquake on the subsea tunnel is very complicated. However, ground conditions and seismic waves are considered the main factors. This study simulated four ground types of 3-dimensional numerical models, such as soil, rock, composite, and fractured zone, to analyze the effect of ground type and seismic wave. A virtual subsea railway shield tunnel considering external water pressure was modeled. Further, three different seismic waves with long-term, short-term, and both periods were studied. The dynamic analyses by finite difference method were performed to investigate the displacement and stress characteristics. Consequently, the long-term period wave exhibited a predominant lateral displacement response in soil and the short-term period wave in rock. The artificial wave, which had both periodic characteristics, demonstrated predominant in the fractured zone. The effect of an earthquake is more noticeable in the stress of the tunnel segment than in displacement because of confining effect of ground and structural elements in the shield tunnel. 

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.395-404
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• 2024

Background: Ginsenoside Rg₁ (Rg₁) is one of the main active components in Chinese medicines, Panax ginseng and Panax notoginseng. Research has shown that Rg₁ has a protective effect on the cardiovascular system, including anti-myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, anti-apoptosis, and promotion of myocardial angiogenesis, suggesting it a potential cardiovascular agent. However, the protective mechanism involved is still not fully understood. Methods: Based on network pharmacology, ligand-based protein docking, proteomics, Western blot, protein recombination and spectroscopic analysis (UV-Vis and fluorescence spectra) techniques, potential targets and pathways for Rg₁ against myocardial ischemia (MI) were screened and explored. Results: An important target set containing 19 proteins was constructed. Two target proteins with more favorable binding activity for Rg₁ against MI were further identified by molecular docking, including mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1) and adenosine kinase (ADK). Meanwhile, Rg₁ intervention on H9c2 cells injured by H₂O₂ showed an inhibitory oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) pathway. The inhibition of Rg₁ on MAPK1 and OXPHOS pathway was confirmed by Western blot assay. By protein recombination and spectroscopic analysis, the binding reaction between ADK and Rg₁ was also evaluated. Conclusion: Rg₁ can effectively alleviate cardiomyocytes oxidative stress injury via targeting MAPK1 and ADK, and inhibiting oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) pathway. The present study provides scientific basis for the clinical application of the natural active ingredient, Rg₁, and also gives rise to a methodological reference to the searching of action targets and pathways of other natural active ingredients.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Sensory Integration
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.65-78
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• 2023

Objective : In this study, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of family-centered intervention conducted with caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in South Korea through a systematic literature review. Methods : Previous studies published from 2011 to 2021 were searched through RISS, KISS, and DBpia. The search terms applied included "autism spectrum" OR "general developmental disorder" OR "high-functioning autism" OR "Asperger's" AND "parent education" OR "family-centered intervention" OR "parent coaching" OR "parent training" OR "family participation." A total of 11 experimental studies were chosen based on the selection criteria. Results : According to the findings on the general characteristics of the study participants, intervention strategies, and effects of the intervention, it was observed that the majority of children with ASD who participated in the study were preschool-aged, and the majority of participating caregivers were mothers. The effects of family-centered interventions were evident in both children and parents. In children, the most significant effects were observed in interaction and communication skills. In parents, a reduction in parenting stress and an improvement in parenting efficacy were observed. The intervention strategies employed in the study varied, with sensory integration intervention, responsive communication, and interaction-centered intervention being the most commonly used, followed by developmental-centered intervention, positive behavior support (PBS), and parent-mediated intervention based on pivotal response treatment (PRT). Conclusion : The results of this study are significant in that they confirm that family-centered intervention is effective not only in improving the functioning of children with autism spectrum disorder, but also in reducing parenting stress and enhancing parenting efficacy, and provide evidence for clinical use.