• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.88-95
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to estimate the clinical utilization of radiation therapy (RT) in Korea between 2009 and 2013. Materials and Methods: We analyzed open claims data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. The subjects were patients who had diagnostic codes C00-C97 or D00-D48 according to the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases, with procedure codes indicating RT treatment. Results: The total number of patients who received RT in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 were 45,571, 49,593, 54,671, 59,172, and 61,485, respectively. Among them, the total numbers of male and female patients were 20,780/24,791 in 2009, 22,711/26,882 in 2010, 24,872/29,799 in 2011, 27,101/32,071 in 2012, and 27,941/33,544 in 2013. The five cancers that were most frequently treated with RT between 2009 and 2012 were breast, lung, colorectal, liver, and uterine cervical cancers. However, the fifth most common cancer treated with RT that replaced uterine cervical cancer in 2013 was prostate cancer. The three leading types of cancer among the male patients were lung, colorectal, and liver cancers, whereas in female patients, they were breast, uterine cervical, and lung cancers. The type of cancer most commonly treated by RT was cancer of the central nervous system in patients aged 20 years or less, breast cancer in patients aged 30-50 years, and lung cancer in patients aged 60 years or more. Conclusion: Data from this study provided the clinical utilization of RT in Korea between 2009 and 2013.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.210-217
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• 2006

Many types of interspinous distraction devices (IDDs) have been recently developed as an alternative surgical treatment to laminectomy and fusion with pedicle screws for the treatment of the lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). They are intended to keep the lumbar spine in a slightly flexed posture to relieve pain caused by narrowing of the spinal canal and vertebral foramen. However, their biomechanical efficacies are not well known. In this study, we evaluated the kinematic behaviors and changes in intradiscal pressure (IDP) of the porcine lumbar spine implanted with IDD. For kinematics analysis, five porcine lumbar spines (L2-L6) were used and the IDD was inserted at L4-L5. Three markers (${\phi}{\le}0.8mm$) were attached on each vertebra to define a rigid body motion for stereophotogrammetric assessment of the spinal motion in 3-D. A moment of 7.5Nm in flexion-extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation were imparted with a compressive force of 700N. Then, IDD was implanted at L3-L4. IDPs were measured using pressure transducer under compression (700N) and additional extension moment (700N+7.5Nm). In kinematic behaviors, insertion of IDD resulted in statistically significant decrease 42.8% at the implanted level in extension. There were considerable changes in ROM at the adjacent levels, but statistically insignificant. In other motions, there were no significant changes in ROM as well regardless of levels. IDPs at the surgical level (L3-L4) under compression and extension moment decreased by 12.9% and 18.8% respectively after surgery (p<0.05). At the superiorly adjacent levels, IDPs increased by 19.4% and 12.9% under compression and extension, respectively (p<0.05). Corresponding changes at the inferiorly adjacent levels were 29.4% and 6.9%, but they were statistically insignificant (p>0.05). The magnitude of pressure changes due to IDD, both at the operated and adjacent levels, were far less than the previously reported values with conventional fusion techniques. Our experimental results demonstrated the IDDs can be very effective in limiting the extension motion that may cause narrowing of the spinal canal and vertebral foramens while maintaining kinematic behaviors and disc pressures at the adjacent levels.

• The Journal of Korea Institute of Information, Electronics, and Communication Technology
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.421-429
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to identify the change in the girth of anthropometric variables during menstrual cycle, and to provide basal data for health promotion program development during pre-menstrual phase and menstrual phase. Participants were 10 healthy women university students without menstrual irregularity, subjective premenstrual syndrome, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, dymenorrhea, obstetrician and gynecologic disease. Chest girth(axillary and papillary), waist girth(half point between iliac crest and 12th rib, and navel), and hip girth were repeatedly measured in menstrual phase, follicular phase, luteal phase during single menstrual cycle. As a result, axillary chest girth in menstrual phase was significantly increased than that in luteal phase. Papillary chest girth and waist girth at half point between iliac crest and 12th rib in menstrual phase were significantly increased than those in follicular phase. No significance was shown in chest and waist girth between follicular and luteal phase. No significance was shown in hip girth during menstrual cycle. In conclusion, signicant difference was shown in chest and waist girth during menstrual cycle. And it is suggested that succeeding research should be carried out with reference to body weight, body fat, blood and local hormone concentration during menstrual cycle.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.73.1-73.16
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• 2023

Background: Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) is considered a global threat to both human health and the poultry industry. MicroRNAs (miRNA) can modulate the immune system by affecting gene expression patterns in HPAIV-infected chickens. Objectives: To gain further insights into the role of miRNAs in immune responses against H5N1 infection, as well as the development of strategies for breeding disease-resistant chickens, we characterized miRNA expression patterns in tracheal tissues from H5N1-infected Ri chickens. Methods: miRNAs expression was analyzed from two H5N1-infected Ri chicken lines using small RNA sequencing. The target genes of differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs were predicted using miRDB. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis were then conducted. Furthermore, using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, we validated the expression levels of DE miRNAs (miR-22-3p, miR-146b-3p, miR27b-3p, miR-128-3p, miR-2188-5p, miR-451, miR-205a, miR-203a, miR-21-3p, and miR-200a3p) from all comparisons and their immune-related target genes. Results: A total of 53 miRNAs were significantly expressed in the infection samples of the resistant compared to the susceptible line. Network analyses between the DE miRNAs and target genes revealed that DE miRNAs may regulate the expression of target genes involved in the transforming growth factor-beta, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and Toll-like receptor signaling pathways, all of which are related to influenza A virus progression. Conclusions: Collectively, our results provided novel insights into the miRNA expression patterns of tracheal tissues from H5N1-infected Ri chickens. More importantly, our findings offer insights into the relationship between miRNA and immune-related target genes and the role of miRNA in HPAIV infections in chickens.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.15 no.11
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• pp.591-601
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between psychomotorik and brain function in domestic and foreign literature, and to clarify the mechanism of psychomotorik from the viewpoint of brain science, and to provide the teachers, therapists, The purpose of this study is to provide basic data which can enhance the understanding of the mechanism of psychomotorik. From the viewpoint of brain science, the study of domestic and foreign literature related to the mechanism of psychomotorik and the positive learning environment and various physical experiences in early life through the movement of psychomotorik are very important from the brain physiological point of view. The results of this study showed that the more the children move, the more the learning is improved and the healthy emotional control ability is improved and the brain is more likely to be optimized. Therefore, it is considered that this study, which has been studied through the brain science approach, provided very important basic information to understand the relation between movement of psychomotorik and brain function. In particular, understanding the possibility of optimizing the brain by cultivating a healthy emotional control ability and improving learning as children move more and more is considered to be a necessary process for educating our children well in the future. Until now, research on psychomotorik and brain function was lacking. Through this study, I hope that more people will have an opportunity to expand their understanding of the psychomotorik.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.835-841
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• 1998

This study was devoted to the manufacturing process of activated carbon(AC) using and anthracite and bituminous coals which were regarded as appropriate for AC manufacturing, and the physcial properties a AC prepared with coal blends were characterized by the ultimate and proximate analysis. Generally, as the fraction of antheracite in AC from anthracite and bituminous coal blends was increased, AC yield was increased whereas iodine value($I_2$) was decreased. Being not related to mixing ratio of coal blends, the apparent density of AC remained constant. Pore development and iodine value of AC based on coal blends(Fushun and Dandong, 75:25 wt. %) were examined, varing carbonization and steam activation conditions. These results showed that the average pore diameter of AC was below $20{\AA}$ in the activation temperature range of 850 to $900^{\circ}C$ and the iodine value was above $1000m^2/g$. When the adsorption capacity of manufactured AC was compared with commercial AC, it is found that the AC from coal blends was comparable to the commercial AC. Therefore, it was confirmed that the characteristics of manufactured AC were changed with manufacturing conditions and the ratios and types of coal blends.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.122-130
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• 2011

Objective: Although recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) has revolutionized the treatment of anemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD) receiving hemodialysis (HD) with no need of blood transfusion, some patients have a blunted or appear to be resistant to rhEPO. There is a controversy in the causes of rhEPO resistance in maintenance HD patients with anemia. This study is to examine current anemia treatment outcomes and the factors influencing the rhEPO responsiveness in HD patient with CKD. Methods: The clinical parameters or factors relating to erythrompoietin treatment outcomes and erythropoietin responsiveness were collected from the HD patients in two large dialysis centers for three months. The collected paramenters included serum iron, total iron biding capacity (TIBC), transferrin saturation rate, ferritin, albumin, intact PTH, C-reactive protein (CRP), nPCR and medications such as an angiotensin converting enzyme inhbitor, an angiotension II receptor blocker and an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (HMG-CoA RI). The data were analyzed to examine the degree of acheiveing the anemia treatment goal and factors relating to ERI. Results: Among total 111 patients, 42 (42.3%) and 47 (37.8%) patients achieved the target Hct and Hb based on the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Services (HIRA) reimbursement criteria. In the higher ERI group (upper quartile), the patients had higher CRP levels (0.5 mg/dl) (p=0.0096), and lower TIBC score (<$240{\mu}g/dl$) (p=0.0027), and less patients were taking HMG-CoA RI (p=0.0019). Male patients (p=0.0204), patients with high TIBC score ($R^2$=0.084, p=0.0021) and patients taking HMG-CoA RI (p=0.0052) required to administer less dose of rhEPO meaning higher erythropoietin responsiveness. Conclusion: Less than 50% of CKD patients were achieving the goals of anemia by erythropoietin administration in large hospitals in Korea even though the goals were lower than those of NKF-K/DOQI practice guideline. The factors influencing ERI were sex, TIBC and HMG-CoA RI administration status, and neither an ACEI nor an ARB did not influence ERI.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.87-95
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• 2008

Probiotics are live organisms that when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on hosts. The administration of direct-fed microbials (DFM) such as lactobacilli and bacillus, may be a more direct approach to beneficially alter gastrointestinal microflora than altering dietary ingredients or supplementing with growth-promoting levels of antibiotics. It is apparent that microbes have an important influence on immune development and resistance to infection; that microbes are not static colonizers of our bodies, but are dynamic, symbiotic coresidents. And it can improve the surrounding environments; decrease the malodor caused by degrade the excrement. Recently, new paradigm such as environment protection and safe food have been settled. In domestic farm house, there is a great demand for probiotics as a substitute of antibiotics for the improvement of environmental quality and the production of a competitive goods. Probiotics circulated in a country have three categories: an animal medicine permitted by national veterinary research quarantine service (NVRQS), a support feed registered in city or country house, and not-registered goods. However, lots of unqualified goods were produced and circulated. And thus, it is in urgent need of evaluating the present situation and effect of probiotics. This study was conducted to evaluate the system of a probiotics as a livestock-environment improving agents for the alternation of antibiotics and quality control of it.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.417-425
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• 2006

The purpose of this study were to a) investigate operation of human resource in contract foodservice management company (CFMC), b) identify the staffing indices for the establishment an labor productivity for CFMC, and c) develop standardized model of staffing demand as foodservice's scale in CFMC. The data was collected using FS intra-net system from 138 contract-managed foodservice operations in A CFMC and statistical analysis was completed using the SAS/win package (ver. 8.0) for description analysis, ANOVA, Duncan multiple comparison, pearson correlation analysis, and regression analysis. The types of operation were included factory (45%), small scale operation (26%), office (11%), department store (10%), training institute (4%), and hospital (3%). The distribution of foodservice scale was classified by meal served was as follows; 'less than 500 meals (47%)', 'from 500 to 1500 meals (25%)', 'from 1500 to 2500 meals (17%)', and 'more than 2500 meals (12%)'. There was two types of contract method, fee-contract (53%) and profit-and-loss contract (46%) Some variables were significantly high operation indices such as selling price, food cost, monthly sales, net profit and others were significantly low operation indices such as labor, meal time a day in the small foodservice on meal scale (p<.001). The more foodservice was large, the more human resource was disposed on dietitian, cook, cooking employee altogether (p<.001). Foodservice in A CFMC was divided into 2 groups by 500 meals a day, according to comparative analysis of labor productivity as meal scale per working hour, meal scale a day and operation indices as meal per foodservice employee, meal per cooking employee (p<.001). The regression equation model was developed as 'the number of employees=1.82+0.014 ${\times}$ meal served' in the operation of less than 500 meals, 'the number of employees=9.42+0.013 ${\times}$ meal scale a day -0.94 ${\times}$ meal scale per working hour' in the operation over 500 meal scale using labor productivity indices and operation indices. Therefore, CFMC could be enhanced efficiency of human resource arrangement using the standardized model of staffing demand and would be increased effectiveness of profit.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.467-475
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• 2006

The necessity of adequate pregnancy weight gain for optimal pregnancy outcome has been recognized. However, the specific components of pregnancy weight gain that might be critical for fetal growth and development have not been elucidated clearly. The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation of pregnancy weight gain and birth weight with serum leptin levels in women delivered newborns. The subjects were recruited from K university hospital. The subject's characteristic data (age $32.1\;{\pm}\;4.3\;y$, gestational age $39.5\;{\pm}\;1.1wk$, pre-pregnancy weight $58.0\;{\pm}\;8.6\;kg$, pregnancy weight gain $12.7\;{\pm}\;5.5\;kg$, newborn's birth weight $3.5\;{\pm}\;0.5\;kg$) were gathered. Maternal dietary assessment was carried out at the end of pregnancy. After delivery, blood samples were collected from 20 mother-newborn pairs. Serum levels of various lipids and leptin were analyzed. Maternal daily consumption of iron, zinc, folate were lower than the RDA of each nutrient and index of nutritional quality was less than 1 showing that the quality of maternal diet was low. The levels of serum leptin of mothers and infants were $10.2\;{\pm}\;6.7\;ng/ml$ and $1.7\;{\pm}\;0.6\;ng/ml$, respectively. The serum leptin concentrations of male infants $(1.9\;{\pm}\;0.7\;ng\;ml)$ were not different from that of females $(1.7{\pm}0.5\;ng/ml)$. A negative correlation was found between the maternal pre-pregnant BMI and weight gain during pregnancy (r = -0.54, p < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between the pregnancy weight gain and the newborn's birth weight (r=0.59, p < 0.01 There were also positive correlation between newborn's birth weight and newborn's serum leptin levels (r = 0.57, p < 0.01). No correlations were found between maternal serum leptin levels and that of newborn's. Efforts should be made to attain adequate diet and weight gain during the pregnancy to reduce the likelihood of low or over birth weight of newborns.