• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.420-432
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• 2021

Background: Many ginsenosides have been shown to be efficacious for major depressive disorder (MDD), which is a highly recurrent disorder, through several preclinical studies. We aimed to review the literature assessing the antidepressant effects of ginsenosides on MDD animal models, to establish systematic scientific evidence in a rigorous manner. Methods: We performed a systematic review on the antidepressant effects of ginsenoside evaluated in in vivo studies. We searched for preclinical trials from inception to July 2019 in electronic databases such as Pubmed and Embase. In vivo studies examining the effect of a single ginsenoside on animal models of primary depression were included. Items of each study were evaluated by two independent reviewers. A meta-analysis was conducted to assess behavioral changes induced by ginsenoside Rg1, which was the most studied ginsenoside. Data were pooled using the random-effects models. Results: A total of 517 studies were identified, and 23 studies were included in the final analysis. They reported on many ginsenosides with different antidepressant effects and biological mechanisms of action. Of the 12 included articles assessing ginsenoside Rg1, pooled results of forced swimming test from 9 articles (mean difference (MD): 20.50, 95% CI: 16.13-24.87), and sucrose preference test from 11 articles (MD: 28.29, 95% CI: 22.90-33.69) showed significant differences compared with vehicle treatment. The risk of bias of each study was moderate, but there was significant heterogeneity across studies. Conclusion: These estimates suggest that ginsenosides, including ginsenoside Rg1, reduces symptoms of depression, modulates underlying mechanisms, and can be a promising antidepressant.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.1149-1161
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• 2022

Purpose: This systematic review was conducted to evaluate the clinical effects of Injinho-tang on hyperbilirubinemia in hepatobiliary disorders. Methods: We searched for randomized controlled clinical trials that had administered Injinho-tang as an intervention in the following medical databases: Public/Publisher MEDLINE (PubMed), Excerpta Medica dataBASE (EMBASE), Cochrane library, Research Information Sharing Service (RISS), ScienceON, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System (OASIS), and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). Among the retrieved studies, only trials that met the inclusion criteria were selected, and serum total bilirubin values were extracted and analyzed from the finally selected trials. Results: The serum total bilirubin values of 1,302 patients with various hepatobiliary diseases were synthesized through a meta-analysis, which confirmed a decrease in serum total bilirubin of 21.03 𝜇mol/L (95% CI -29.58~-12.49, p<0.01) in the group administered with Injinho-tang compared with the control group. Conclusions: Injinho-tang is effective in alleviating hyperbilirubinemia in hepatobiliary diseases when administered with conventional treatment. However, the potential risk of bias, high heterogeneity among the included trials, and differences in herbal composition are limitations of the results of this meta-analysis.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.39-57
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• 2022

This study aims to analyze the factors influencing exports of agricultural products(HS01~HS24) from China to Korea by estimating the gravity model with panel data from 31 provinces in China. The results of the empirical analysis from the panel Tobit model are as follows: The effects of GDP and GDP per capita on agricultural exports are reversed, but their impacts are different on exports of each product, notably HS03, HS07 and HS20. As expected, distance decreases Chinese agricultural exports, and the impact of the relative exchange rate variable is also statistically significant, although it differs from product to product. However, differences in latitude, which considers the heterogeneity of climate and agricultural production conditions between Korea and each Chinese region, does not seem to affect agricultural exports to Korea. The road length, which affects the logistical conditions of each province in China, is not statistically significant either. On the other hand, increases in the number of Chinese visitors to Korea raises the amount of Chinese agricultural exports, including exports of HS03 and HS20. The results also shows that after the Korea-China FTA agreements, agricultural exports have actually decreased, especially exports of non-processed agricultural products, such as HS07.

• Asian Journal for Public Opinion Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.75-101
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• 2024

This study investigates the variation in anxiety levels across income classes in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia. The research is based on data from nationally representative surveys conducted in 2017 and 2021, and it employs a multilevel mixed-effects ordered logistic model. The unique aspect of this investigation lies in its utilization of the Cantril ladder, a commonly employed tool in public opinion research, to gauge anxiety levels. Participants are prompted to assess their present life circumstances concerning their daily worries and anxieties. The empirical findings provide evidence that individuals in provinces with higher exposures to COVID-19 reported heightened anxiety levels. Furthermore, the results highlight a consistent association between higher household income and lower levels of anxiety. Notably, individuals from the highest income group experienced a substantial decline in anxiety levels during the pandemic. When examining specific income classes, the study reveals heightened anxiety among women in higher-income brackets and among lower-income households residing in urban areas. Furthermore, regarding macroeconomic circumstances, the results illustrate a positive correlation between economic prosperity and anxiety levels among members of low-income households. The study also uncovers a positive connection between income inequality and self-assessed anxiety within upper-middle and high-income brackets.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.550-558
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• 2024

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a biologically heterogeneous tumor characterized by varying degrees of aggressiveness. The current treatment strategy for HCC is predominantly determined by the overall tumor burden, and does not address the diverse prognoses of patients with HCC owing to its heterogeneity. Therefore, the prognostication of HCC using imaging data is crucial for optimizing patient management. Although some radiologic features have been demonstrated to be indicative of the biologic behavior of HCC, traditional radiologic methods for HCC prognostication are based on visually-assessed prognostic findings, and are limited by subjectivity and inter-observer variability. Consequently, artificial intelligence has emerged as a promising method for image-based prognostication of HCC. Unlike traditional radiologic image analysis, artificial intelligence based on radiomics or deep learning utilizes numerous image-derived quantitative features, potentially offering an objective, detailed, and comprehensive analysis of the tumor phenotypes. Artificial intelligence, particularly radiomics has displayed potential in a variety of applications, including the prediction of microvascular invasion, recurrence risk after locoregional treatment, and response to systemic therapy. This review highlights the potential value of artificial intelligence in the prognostication of HCC as well as its limitations and future prospects.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.87 no.1
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• pp.91-99
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• 2024

Background: Tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE) and parapneumonic effusion (PPE) are often difficult to differentiate owing to the overlapping clinical features. Observational studies demonstrate that the ratio of lactate dehydrogenase to adenosine deaminase (LDH/ADA) is lower in TPE compared to PPE, but integrated analysis is warranted. Methods: We conducted a systematic review to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the LDH/ADA ratio in differentiating TPE and PPE. We explored the PubMed and Scopus databases for studies evaluating the LDH/ADA ratio in differentiating TPE and PPE. Results: From a yield of 110 studies, five were included for systematic review. The cutoff value for the LDH/ADA ratio in TPE ranged from <14.2 to <25. The studies demonstrated high heterogeneity, precluding meta-analysis. Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies Tool 2 assessment revealed a high risk of bias in terms of patient selection and index test. Conclusion: LDH/ADA ratio is a potentially useful parameter to differentiate between TPE and PPE. Based on the limited data, we recommend an LDH/ADA ratio cutoff value of <15 in differentiating TPE and PPE. However, more rigorous studies are needed to further validate this recommendation.

• Clinical Nutrition Research
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.130-138
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• 2024

Numerous studies have indicated that low levels of serum adiponectin are linked with the development of various chronic diseases. While some recent research has suggested that soy has a positive impact on serum adiponectin levels, the results are inconsistent. Therefore, we aim to conduct a thorough systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigate the effects of soy on serum adiponectin levels in adults. The search was conducted until March 2024 on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases to identify RCTs that studied the effects of soy supplementation on serum adiponectin levels. A random-effects model was used to pool the weighted mean differences (WMDs). Ten and nine RCTs were selected for the systematic review and meta-analysis, respectively. After analyzing data from 9 eligible RCTs, it was found that soy supplementation did not significantly impact the concentrations of adiponectin (WMD = -0.24㎍/mL; 95% confidence interval, -1.56 to 1.09; p = 0.72). However, there was significant heterogeneity between the studies (I² = 89.8%, p < 0.001). Sensitivity analysis showed that overall estimates were not affected by the elimination of any study. We did not observe any evidence regarding publication bias. In conclusion, soy supplementation did not have a significant effect on adiponectin levels in adults. However, further RCTs are needed with longer intervention duration, higher doses, and studies conducted in different countries.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.25 no.7
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• pp.623-633
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• 2024

This study systematically reviewed the role of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the assessment of molecular prognostic biomarkers in breast cancer, focusing on the correlation of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) with hormone receptor status and prognostic biomarkers. Our meta-analysis includes data from 52 studies examining ADC values in relation to estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), and Ki-67 status. The results indicated significant differences in ADC values among different receptor statuses, with ER-positive, PgR-positive, HER2-negative, and Ki-67-positive tumors having lower ADC values compared to their negative counterparts. This study also highlights the potential of advanced DWI techniques such as intravoxel incoherent motion and non-Gaussian DWI to provide additional insights beyond ADC. Despite these promising findings, the high heterogeneity among the studies underscores the need for standardized DWI protocols to improve their clinical utility in breast cancer management.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.19
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• pp.8051-8055
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• 2014

Background: A common genetic variant rs3757318, located in intron of C6orf97, was firstly identified to be associated with breast cancer (BC) risk by a genome-wide association (GWA) study. However, subsequent validation studies with different ethnicities have yielded conflicting results. Materials and Methods: We performed a meta-analysis to synthesize all available data for evaluating the precise effect of this variant on BC susceptibility. Results: A total of 8 articles containing 11 studies with 62,891 cases and 65,635 controls were included in this meta-analysis. When compared to the G allele, the rs3757318-A allele was significantly associated with BC risk with the pooled OR of 1.21 (95% CI=1.15 - 1.29, P<0.001) but with obvious between-study heterogeneity (P=0.040). Stratified analysis suggested that diversity of ethnicity along with control source may explain part of the heterogeneity. Similarly, significant associations were also identified in heterozygote, homozygote, dominant and recessive genetic models. Sensitivity and publication bias analyses indicated robust stability of our results. Conclusions: Our present meta-analysis demonstrated that the variant rs3757318 is associated with increased BC risk. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to clarify the underlying biological mechanisms.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.38 no.7 s.156
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• pp.517-526
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• 2005

In Korea, the methods of estimating groundwater recharge can categorized into two groups. One is baseflow separation method by means of groundurater recession curve, the other is water level fluctuation method by using the data from groundwater monitoring wells. Baseflow separation method is based on annual recharge and lumped concept, and water-table fluctuation method is largely dependent on monitoring wells rather than water budget in watershed. However, groundwater recharge rate shows the spatial-temporal variability due to climatic condition, land use and hydrogeological heterogeneity, these methods have various limits to deal with these characteristics. For this purpose, the method of estimating daily recharge rate with spatial variability based on distributed rainfall-runoff model is suggested in this study. Instead of representative recharge rate of large watershed, the subdivided recharge rate with heterogeneous characteristics can be computed in daily base. The estimated daily recharge rate is an advanced quantity reflecting the heterogeneity of hydrogeology, climatic condition, land use as well as physical behaviour of water in soil layers. Therefore, the newly suggested method could be expected to enhance existing methods.