• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.664-676
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• 2006

Objective : Although chronic non-bacterial prostatitis is a common disease, it is very difficult to treat effectively. Lygodium japonicum has been traditionally used in treatment of urinary tract inflammation and voiding disturbance. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects and action mechanism of Lygodium japonicum in the rat model of non-bacterial prostatitis induced by castration and testosterone treatment. Methods : Five-month-old rats were treated with 17$\beta$-estradiol after castration for induction of experimental non-bacterial prostatitis, which is similar to human chronic prostatitis in histopathological profiles. Lygodium japonicum and testosterone were administered as an experimental specimen and a positive control. respectively. The prostates were evaluated by histopathological parameters including the epithelial score and epithelio-stromal ratio for glandular damage. PCNA labeling index for cyto-proliferation and a TUNEL(deoxyuridine triphosphate biotin nick end-labeling) assay for cell apoptosis. Results : While prostates of control rats revealed severe acinar gland atrophy and stromal proliferation, the rats treated with Lygodium japonicum showed a diminished range of tissue damage. Epithelial score was improved in the Lygodium japonicum group over that of the control (P<0.05). The epithelio-stromal ratio was lower in the Lygodiutn japonicum group when compared to that of the control (P<0.05). Although there was no difference in PCNA and TUNEL positive cells of the glandular epithelia. we found an decreased number of PCNA positive cell and concurrent increase of TUNEL positive cells in the stroma of Lygodium japonicum treated rats (P<0.01). Conclusions : These findings suggest that Lygodium japonicum may protect the glandular epithelial cells and also inhibit stromal proliferation in association with suppression of cyto-proliferation and stimulation of apoptosis. We concluded that Lygodium japonicum could be a useful remedy agents for treating chronic non-bacterial prostatitis.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.63-76
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• 2010

The Jangdo wetland is located on a very gentle slope of the mountain area in Daejangdo island, Shinan-gun, Korea, in which the area of the watershed is estimated at 147,000 m². The wetland has been regarded as a peat bog without any sedimentological evidence. This study was conducted to analyze the geomorphological and sedimentological characteristics of the wetland. The geographic information system (GIS) was used to analyze the drainage system, and field surveys were conducted to measure the range and depth of wetland deposits. The grain size analysis, organic matter determination, elements analysis and radiocarbon dating were performed on samples from the wetland. As a result, the wetland deposits were about 30 cm deep on average, the mean grain sizes ranged from 50 to 500 μm, and the average C/N ratio was 11.5. The portion of organic matter it contained was only 5~26%, which did not satisfy the peat standards. The radiocarbon ages from the wetland deposits range 180±50 ¹⁴C yr BP to modern, which indicated that natural and anthropogenic interferences including agricultural activities have continuously happened. We conclude that the Jangdo wetland is still in its infancy, not a steady state, so that it could be very sensitive to a small disturbance.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.112 no.1
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• pp.11-22
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• 2023

This study was established to provide basic information necessary for ecological management to restore the naturalness of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) plantations located in the mountains of Gyeongbuk, Korea. Using vegetation data collected from 200 black locust stands, vegetation types were classified using the TWINSPAN method, the spatial arrangement status according to the environmental gradient was identified through DCA analysis, and a synoptic table of communities was prepared based on the diagnostic species determined by determining community fidelity (Φ) for each vegetation type. The vegetation types were classified into seven types, namely, Quercus mongolica-Polygonatum odoratum var. pluriflorum type, Castanea crenata-Smilax china type, Clematis apiifolia-Lonicera japonica type, Rosa multiflora-Artemisia indica type, Quercus variabilis-Lindera glauca type, Ulmus parvifolia-Celtis sinensis type, and Prunus padus-Celastrus flagellaris type. These types usually reflected differences in complex factors such as altitude, moisture regime, successional stage, and disturbance regime. The mean relative importance value of the constituent species was highest for black locust(39.7), but oaks such as Quercus variabilis, Q. serrata, Q. mongolica, Q. acutissima, and Q. aliena were also identified as important constituent species with high relative importance values, indicating their potential for successional trends. In addition, the total percent cover of constituent species by vegetation type, life form composition, species diversity index, and indicator species were compared.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.11-24
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• 2022

This study aimed to investigate the flora of Jinjosan Mt. (Uljin-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do). The vascular plants were surveyed 9 times between March 2019 and April 2020. The results of this survey revealed a total of 414 taxa comprising of 87 families, 274 genera, 365 species, 12 subspecies, 32 varieties, and 5 forms. Among them, 9 taxa were Korean endemic plants and 5 taxa were rare plants of Korea. In addition, the specific plants by floristic region were 66 taxa including 1 taxon of grade IV, 18 taxa of grade III, 24 taxa of grade II, and 23 taxa of grade I. Additionally, eight taxa were classified as plants adaptable to climate change. Thirty-one taxa were of alien plants and three taxa were of ecosystem disturbance species, which were also investigated. The percentage of naturalized plants species and the urbanization index were estimated to be 7.5% and 5.0%, respectively. Our results provide basic data on vascular plants flora, and will guide the conservation processes of plant resources such as plant diversity and distributional changes in Jinjosan Mt.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.29-38
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• 2016

This case report is to show the effects of Traditional Korean medicine (TKM) on the patient with delayed encephalopathy after carbon monoxide poisoning. A patient with delayed encephalopathy after carbon monoxide poisoning occurs rarely and only a few cases have been reported. We treated a patient with cognitive deficit, gait disturbance was treated with herbal medicine(Boshiniknoe-tang-gami), acupuncture, moxibustion. We evaluated the improvements of symptoms by Korean Version of Mini Mental Status Examination score(K-MMSE), Modified Barthel Index(MBI) and Glasgow Coma Scale(GCS). After 3 weeks, total score of K-MMSE was increased from 12 to 17 and it was maintained to week 6. After 6 weeks, total score of MBI was increased from 30 to 86. And GCS was increased from 11 to 14. This report proved effect of Traditional Korean medicine on the improvement of delayed encephalopathy after carbon monoxide poisoning

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.407-418
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• 2023

This study conducted an analysis of terrain change indicators in major development projects in Korea, examining the correlation between terrain change indicators to derive foundational terrain change metrics based on different land use and slope types. The aim is to contribute to sustainable development by enhancing the efficiency of land utilization and landscaping, while minimizing environmental impacts in future development endeavors. Additionally, to apply the research findings in practical contexts, domestic regulations related to terrain were surveyed, and the compatibility and usability between these regulations and research analysis results were discussed. Based on this, the study seeks to explore strategies for more accurate and useful utilization of terrain change indicators in future research. As a result, in the tourism development, terrain changes predominantly occur in the order of flat land, hillly land, and mountain land, with the analysis indicating higher terrain changes in undulating hilly and mountainous lands compared to flat land. Furthermore, in industrial complex development, very steep (20°-30°) and extreme (30°-40°) slopes; in urban development projects, steep slope (15°-20°); in athletic service facility and tourist development, steep (15°-20°) and very steep (20°-30°) exhibit higher average terrain change indicators compared to other slope categories. The findings of our study can contribute to the formulation of strategies aimed at minimizing terrain disturbance in future domestic development projects and serve as foundational data for environmental impact assessments.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-18
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• 2016

This study was carried out to investigate the flora of the western front (Paju-Yencheon Area) of the Civilian Control Zone. Vascular plants collected in these areas were a total of 558 taxa composing of 501 species, 3 subspecies, 48 varieties and 1 forma of 330 genera under 109 families This shows that 11% of the 4,880 vascular plant species that are known to exist in Korea is distributed in the western part of the DMZ. 1 taxa of endangered species designated by the Ministry of Environment was found: the Polygonatum stenophyllum Maxim in the edge of the military operation road from Taepung observatory to Imjin river. For the floristically specific ones of the Korean floristic zones, 3 taxa of the $5^{th}$ grade, 3 taxa of the $4^{th}$ grade, 13 taxa of the $3^{rd}$ grade, 13 taxa of the $2^{nd}$ grade and 22 taxa of the $1^{st}$ grade were found. For the endemic species of Korea, 4 taxa including Cirsium setidens (Dunn) Nakai were confirmed to be distributed mostly on the slope or the cutting area. Among the collected rare plants (11 taxa), there were 1 taxa of endangered species, 4 taxa of vulnerable species and 6 taxa of least concern species. Also, 51 taxa of naturalized plants were identified and 4 taxa of ecosystem disturbance organism designated by the Ministry of Environment were identified. The urbanization index and naturalization index for all species were estimated to be 15.89% and 9.14% respectively. Our survey is expected to be considered as primary data of biological diversity and ecological axis in the DMZ and the western part of the DMZ. According to the results of this study, it is thought to be necessary to establish policies for conservation and protection of the DMZ.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.433-446
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to investigate the sociopsychological factors which might influence the course of the temporomandibular disorders and to develop models for prediction of treatment outcome related to pain, dysfunction and sound. For this study, 268 patients with temporomandibular disorders were selected from the patients presented to department of Oral Medicine, Wonkwang university dental hospital. Chief complaints of these subjects were largely grouped into three categories such as pain, dysfunction and sound, and 10 cm visual analogue scale(VAS) was used to record the state of the three complaints every visit and Treatment Index(VAS TI) was calculated from VAS. All the forty-two items obtained from clinical examination or questionnaire were statistically processed with $SPSS^{(R)}$ windows. The results of this study were as follows: 1. The items showed a difference between male and female subjects were maximum mouth opening, palpation score, jaw jerk during mandibular movement, and sleep disturbance. Among questionnaires such as SRRS, HAD scale and PSQI, the HAD scales showed the most highly significant correlation with the each scale item of the SCL-90R. 2. Among the groups classified by VAS TI, the group with the lowest VAS TI showed the highest VAS score in the start of treatment but showed the lowest score in the end of treatment, without respect to the type of chief complaint. From these results, it is assumed that the active treatment duration for the subjects with lower VAS score in the first visit would be longer than the subjects with higher score with the somewhat poor treatment outcome. 3. With regard to all the three complaints, the items showing significant effect in the model for prediction of treatment outcome were from questionnaire, except one item, maximum mouth opening, which suggest that the sociopsychological factors would be strongly related to development and progress of the symptoms.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.62-71
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• 2010

Objectives : The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence by gender and to evaluate associations of depression, anxiety and sleep disturbances in a large sample of adolescents from the general population. Methods : 1422 subjects, aged 14 years students were recruited in the seven middle-school of the local community. The self-report questionnaire(Children's Depression Inventory : CDI, Beck Anxiety Inventory : BAI and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index : PSQI) was used for screening depression, anxiety and sleep disturbances in adolescent. CDI, BAI, and PSQI score was categorized into the following quartiles : $\leq$21, 22-25, 26-28, and $\geq$29 ; $\leq$21, 22-26, 27-31, and $\geq$32 ; $\geq$5, <5. The cut-off score is that CDI is 22, BAI is 22 and PSQI is 5. The result was analyzed using the independent t-test, the chi-square test and logistic regression analyses. Results : The mean CDI score($12.52{\pm}8.32$ vs. $10.39{\pm}7.52$ ; p=0.003), BAI($7.77{\pm}7.93$ vs. $9.84{\pm}9.04$ ; p<0.001) and PSQI($4.57{\pm}2.67$ vs. $3.64{\pm}2.30$ ; p=0.013) of girls were significantly higher than for boys. But, boys in the fourth quartile of CDI(CDI$\geq$29) and BAI(BAI$\geq$32) were at significantly elevated risk for sleep disturbances more than for girls after adjustment for sex, history of psychiatric treatment(CDI odd ratio, 14.66 ; 95% CI, 4.17-51.53, BAI odd ratio, 32.99 ; 95% CI, 4.26-255.39). Conclusion : The results suggest that high CDI, BAI score appears to increase the risk for developing sleep disturbances in boys more than girls.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.303-309
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• 1999

Mass mortality of the Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarum has been reported all along the west and south coast of Korea for the past several years. As a pathogenic agent, Perkinsus sp., an endoparasitic protozoan has been identified in this study and believed to be responsible for the mass mortalities. Prevalence and infection intensity of Perkinsus sp. was investigated from a Manila clam population inhabiting at Komsoe Bay in the west coast where mass mortality of the clam has been reported. A total of 142 Manila clam, 50 oyster, Crassostrea gigas, 10 ark shell, Scapharca broughtonii, and 5 predatory gastropada, Rapana venosa were examined for the presence and the quantity of Perkinsus sp. Ray's fluid thioglycollate medium method (FTM method) with modified Mackin's infection intensity scale and Choi's quantitative method were used in detecting and quantifying the parasite. All individuals of R. philippinarum examined in this study were infected with Perkinsus sp., indicating $100\%$ prevalence while none of the oysters and the gastropods exhibited the parasite. Six to ten individual hypnospores of Perkinsus sp. were counted from the ark shells. The number of hypnospores in the clam tissues varied from 16,667 to 4,091,667, with a mean number of 1,077,628. Average infection intensity according to Mackin's was 2.87, indicating a moderate infection. A negative correlation was observed between the number of Perkinsus sp. in the tissue and the condition index, a ratio tissue wet weight to shell cavity volume. The clam size and the infection intensity in terms of total number of parasites were positively correlated; the bigger clam, the heavier infection. Such high number of Perkinsus sp. counted in the clams could be enough to cause physiological disturbance of clams, such as retarded growth and reproduction. It is also believed that such a high infection leads mortality of the clam via continuous draining of the energy by metabolic activities and reproduction of the parasites. Correlation between the condition index and the infection intensity observed in this study supports this hypothesis.